The Reading List: August 22, 2020
Moira
I will forever proselytize for the flu shot (do it, if not for yourself, then for any elderly or immunocompromised people you encounter), and it is SO IMPORTANT to get one this year. Did you know you could, in theory, get the flu and COVID at the same time?? Why don’t you go ahead and get one this week.
Bro science makes me laugh so much. Did you know that James Blunt (blast from the past) gave himself scurvy by going on the carnivore diet? It’s almost like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are important.
Anyone else absolutely stumped/bamboozled/sickened by the Stauffers (influencer couple) re-homing their special needs child? Here’s a deep dive.
Fun story that will make some of you cancel me: I can’t seem to make myself care about the environment. Intellectually, I understand we’re ruining it, that it’s awful, polar bears are dying, etc. I recycle and everything! Don’t worry, I’m not being reckless. I just…don’t care about it. Anyway, one small thing I do is buy a lot of my clothes from upscale-ish consignment stores, as it’s both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Also, if you have thick thighs it’s great to have someone else break in jeans for you. So here is a round-up of some online upscale consignment stores you may not have heard of.
A satirical list of RNC speakers that wouldn’t actually shock me if it were real.
Elizabeth
I mentioned this in my review earlier this week, but I was an intern backstage at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and I had been scheduled to attend this year before waves hands in the air 2020. To be honest, I didn’t hate a virtual convention as much as I thought I would — and I loved this look at how the Biden campaign delegate director planned for it. Spoiler: she did an amazing job.
Last week was the centennial celebration of women getting the right to vote. To be honest, I was today years old when I actually thought about how that was mostly white women. Let’s unpack that legacy and reckon with how the 19th Amendment’s history has largely been whitewashed.
Love this: The Cut goes to the Jamaica Post Office.
I need all of these small-space organizational tips. And someone to come motivate me to organize my small space.
And to end on a weird note: they’ve figured out what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
Shannon
Jia Tolentino (one of our faves!) on writing. (My review of her book of essays is here.)
I watched “How I Met Your Mother” in my first few years after college (so, 2009-2012 or so), and finally powered through the last few seasons fairly recently. Here’s a deep dive on how the finale ruined an otherwise OK show (the lack of diversity and misogynistic undertones make it hard to watch now) and how it basically disappeared from the public consciousness.
I’m sure I’m not the only one experiencing a massive range of emotions and productivity levels on a daily basis. Some days I feel super productive and ride it out, and others it’s a struggle to get off the couch and do a workout video or go for a walk. Here’s a good read on why the pandemic has been so hard to adjust to (short answer: because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and there is no way to prepare for this).
The lack of a commute has really demonstrated what I already know—with no other commitments, I will stay up until 2 a.m. and sleep until 9 a.m. if possible. Don’t make me be a morning person.
Well, this is terrifying: how Instagram has made QAnon more palatable for the masses.
