Readers!
It’s time for my semi-regular round up of recommendations, writing and art related and not. Before I go there, reminder that I will be speaking at the ASBPE seminar series on freelancing! They kick off in September.
On with the recommendations:
- Donald Duck on Hot Ones. My guy! On hot ones! Yes, this was a promotion for Donald Duck’s 90th birthday, but that’s fine with me! I liked that they added what felt to me like some old school touches, like what happens to Donald’s eyes when the sauce is too hot, and he brought his frenemy Mickey Mouse along. And no HE DOES NOT EAT CHICKEN WINGS. It’s cauliflower. No need to worry about cannibalism.
- Knowledge Fight Podcast. Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz really kicked something off when he said “these people are weird.” I wanted to ask if he’d been listening to the Knowledge Fight podcast, which has, over 950 episodes, meticulously broken down the world of Alex Jones show and, as a natural extension, the far right. I’ve been listening since 2022, and while it’s sometimes distressing to know what on earth is going on in that realm, I’m glad that I do to be better prepared for this moment.
- Mask Together America. I am a dedicated indoor masker, and given we’re in yet another COVID spike, there’s no time like the present to get back to it. This group makes me feel less alone, because I’m often the only one masking wherever I go. Also: CVS and Walgreens are scheduling for the new COVID shots this week. I’m scheduled to go Thursday. Go go!
- For All Mankind. I know I’ve written about my intense love of this Apple TV+ show, which is an alternative reality where Russia got to the moon first. But I can’t stop thinking about it given the news that two astronauts are stuck on the International Space Station and aren’t scheduled to return until next year. If you’ve seen the show, you’ll get what I’m about to say. If not, better catch up: “Hi, Bob.”
- Brian Grubb on the Paralympics. I know I’ve recommend Grubb’s newsletter before (subscribe already!) but in his latest edition, he writes about getting hyped for the Paralympics. Not only is Grubb a borderline rabid Philadelphia sports fan (aren’t we all), but he’s also a disabled writer, and that’s who I want to read right now.
- The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell. You’re going to be hearing about the Mitford sisters a lot with the upcoming Outrageous miniseries, which is based on the book. But I also thought of them when I read the latest (gross) animal story about RFJ, Jr. and his daughter, Kick Kennedy. You might be thinking…Kick? She’s named after JFK’s sister Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, who had a very complicated personal life, and is connected to the Mitfords. This book of the sisters was a critical point in me understanding key players of WW II because they are so connected to them. Not only do they show up in non-fictions books I’ve read, but they’re often in historical fiction too.
- Trusting someone about their own medical history. This one is a bit more personal, but I think could genuinely be helpful. I’m allergic to eggs. Fortunately, I can eat them if they’re baked into cakes or cookies, and mayo doesn’t bother me. Unfortunately, if I do run into them in the form of surprise, like in egg in a salad, or bread has been dipped in an egg batter a la French toast, I will projectile vomit. I was in New York City last week when I had one such unfortunate encounter courtesy of the bread of a grilled cheese (????) being given French toast egg treatment, without a disclosure on the menu. I got sick in a Nordstrom bathroom and then again in Central Park. DO NOT recommend. What I can recommend is my friend Jess’ response. She stayed with me the entire time and kept asking me what I needed, and helped steer me through a CVS to get Gatorade and crackers, and then to a hotel I booked last minute so I could lie down for a few hours. Never once did she say “I think you should…” I’ve had this allergy all my life, and she trusted me when I said I knew what was going to happen and that I was going to be OK, but it might be ugly for a bit. If you’re with someone who has a known medical condition, and you’re with them when they have an incident, do what Jess did: trust that the person knows what they need, and support them. It was also nice to have someone there who, when I started to feel better, confirmed that I looked better to her. Phew.
And now I am headed TO THE SEA, as I am not quite recovered from all that, but also because, uh, I feel like it.
What I’m Reading
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. When college student Margot is impregnated by her (married) professor, and she decides to keep the baby, her life is of course turned upside down. But what she does to survive, including starting an OnlyFans with the showmanship of professional wrestling (getting help from her former pro-wrestler father), is what makes this book different than anything I’ve ever read. It also shows what a terrible position women are put in: yes, she had the baby, but there is no support system for single mothers (she is fired from her job when she can’t find a sitter, and daycare is beyond the scope of what she can afford). While she enjoys doing sex work, which pays well and lets her stay home with her baby, she becomes a target for it. It’s a mostly light read with heavy themes coursing through it. I recommend it.
What I’m Watching
- Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife. I knew the story about world famous surgeon — and dangerous man — Paolo Macchiarini because I listened to the third season of the Doctor Death podcast, which is very good. I watched this documentary anyway because seeing some of these things, including lengthy on-camera interviews with his victims and their families, added another dimension to the story. The way he just kept lying and lying and lying was just astounding. How did he think he’d never be caught?
- American Murder: Laci Peterson. Another one where…don’t I know this story already? However, I thought the framing of this as a story about domestic violence, including the highlight that the number one cause of death during pregnancy is murder, made it extremely important to look at again, especially right now in this political climate.
- The Rape of Europa. I knew about the Nazi looting of art during World War II, but I didn’t know how awful it was, including the destruction of historical architecture, until I watched this documentary. I have a copy of the book it’s based on, but seeing videos of what happened, particularly the destruction of the Royal Castle in Poland, and also propaganda movies produced by both sides, gave a different point of view. I watched it for free via Amazon Prime. If this is of interest, I also recommend The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter and The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Anne-Marie O’Connor. Subjects of both of these books are interviewed in The Rape of Europa (and yes there are fictionalized movies of both books. Been a while since I saw them, though I remember liking them both).
Nail Polish of the Week
I was supposed to run a 50K last Saturday, which obviously didn’t happen. I’d painted my nails O Suzy Mio by OPI, a very deep purple, because dark nail polish helps me know quickly if my fingers are swollen i.e. I’m dehydrated, when I’m running. Oh well! Still a lovely shade, even I normally wouldn’t wear such a dark color in August.
Until next time,
Jen A. Miller
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