Weekly Roundup #15: Olympics and tech scares
The Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, so much was going on last week. But I somehow ended up reading lots of tech stuff. A hint at the danger of our screen love, perhaps? Looking forward to the coming week—Valentine's Day, which has always been one of my favorite holidays (yes, I know it's a commercial holiday, but I love showering my loved ones in heart-shaped everything, plus who doesn't love Galentine's Day??), and my birthday, which I happen to love. So read on for last week's hits and happy Monday!
Reading
I Let You Go, Clare Mackintosh. The TWIST! So good.
Always Never Yours, Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. This book will be out in May, best for the YA audience and theater lovers.
'Pillar of the community' deported from US after 39 years to a land he barely knows, CNN. Absolutely horrible. I’m disgusted. Thank god for people like Congressman Tim Ryan who are trying to help the deserving from being unceremoniously ripped away from their families.
A northern English town offers a glimpse of life when migrants leave, The Economist. Maybe not the best peek into the future because the town is lacking the university crowd, but it is an interesting look at the possibilities of a migrant outflow in light of current immigration issues.
American Snowboard Phenom Chloe Kim Is Already a Huge Star at the Winter Olympics. Her Next Goal? The School Prom, Time. She is adorable and so SO talented and inspiring. What's not to love? Also, “ 'The Koreans, if they don’t have anyone to cheer for in snowboarding, I want them to cheer for me,' says Kim. 'Because you know what? I’ll do it for both.' " Love it.
If we gave everyone a decent standard of living, could we sustain it?, Ars Technica. If we started trying now...how long do we think this would take?
Muhiyidin Moye, Black Lives Matter Activist, Is Shot and Killed in New Orleans, The New York Times. This is absolutely tragic. I honestly don't know if it would be worse that he was intentionally targeted or victim of a horrific accident. Another promising, inspiring youngperson struck down in their prime.
This Is What It’s Like To Not Own A Smartphone In 2018, Fast Company. Love this article. Unfortunately, it didn't convince me to give up my smartphone...not getting news alerts would make me feel uninformed, despite the writer's insistence that hasn't happened to her. However, I called out that photo from the Super Bowl in last week's roundup of Justin Timberlake in the stands and everyone shoving their phone in his face, staring at him through their screens. That photo scared me. It's moments like that or when I realize everyone standing in line at the bank is on their phone or all my friends at dinner that make me refuse to look at my phone, choosing to people watch instead or brainstorm new post ideas. Even at home, if my brother is on his phone, I put mine away because I don't want to be those "typical Millennials" always on their phones. While I may not be giving up my iPhone, The Light Phone is sounding more and more tempting... And it doesn't hurt to remember that life is about living, and living for yourself, not for the 'gram.
Meet the dogs of Chernobyl – the abandoned pets that formed their own canine community, The Guardian. My heart...
It’s time to address the elephant in the room: Influencers don’t really influence anything or anyone!, Medium. This is a great read in our culture of social media, constantly bombarded with subtle ads, sometimes only noted with a #ad at the end of a lengthy post. Cohen makes a great point that people who may have less followers, but actually care about the topic would be so much more useful to a brand than the “influencer” with 50K followers. Because, it’s true. After The New York Times’ recent story on Devumi, who knows who has actually organically gained their followers and reach, and who’s paid for it. I’ve always thought that if I were an influencer, I would only talk about products I loved, otherwise, what’s the point? If you’re not clearly passionate about a product or brand you’re promoting, why would anyone believe you actually love any of the products you hawk? Take Tiffany Haddish and Groupon. Now that girl loves that brand.
It's Time for a Serious Talk About the Science of Tech "Addiction," Wired. This article wasn't what I was expecting, kind of in a good way. It was a little like being talking off the ledge of a total digital detox, which is nice to read compared to all the other stories talking about the radiation, the killing off of brain cells, the lowering of empathy, etc. due to over tech-overloaded society.
Spread of breast cancer linked to compound in asparagus and other foods, The Guardian. Asparagine is found in pretty much everything, so you can't just stop eating it. Now people will be freaking out about eating their legumes and soy. When are we going to discover food that will stop the metastasization of cancer? Cheese and chocolate...perhaps?
Like Warhol But for 2018 Is Poppy enacting a meta-commentary on fame in the YouTube era? Or does she simply want to be famous?, The Cut. This is a fascinating article. And, sure, you can say Moriah Rose Pereira (possibly) is actually criticizing our society and it's all just a massive joke or visual commentary. I'd love to believe that. But, in the end, I think she and the creepy puppeteer "Sinclair" just want to be famous. No doubt. I came across this girl a few months ago and was blown away by the utter stupidity of her videos. They're creepy, bizarre and the breathy, yet automated baby girl voice is incredibly obnoxious. She's basically trying to be a sex robot, no brain and all. The fact that she has a cult following just scares me.
2015 letter belies pope’s claim of ignorance, AP. Oh, come ON. How many cover ups have to be discovered before you all finally just sack up and get ahead of it? Call out the abusers and victimizers before others do. Get rid of them. Punish them. STOP. PROTECTING THEM.
Facebook and Google Employees Can Ask Each Other Out Once, But Only Once, The Cut. "Ambiguous answers such as “I’m busy” or “I can’t that night,” count as a “no,” said Heidi Swartz, Facebook’s global head of employment law." Love this. It (should) take so much pressure off. You said no once, you never have to do it again. It's done.
Eating Leafy Greens Each Day Tied to Sharper Memory, Slower Decline, NPR. Well, thank god I had kale this week.
Jason Kelce gives epic, profanity-laced speech at Eagles Super Bowl parade, CBS. Amazing.
Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles's Post-Game Interview Is a Powerful Lesson in Leadership, Inc. Gotta love a humble winner.
‘Game of Thrones’ Executives to Take on Disney ‘Star Wars’ Films, The New York Times. Let's be real, I'd watch anyways because Star Wars, but now? I'll host watch parties.
This year's Super Bowl commercials are more expensive than ever — here's your complete guide to all the ads that will air, Business Insider. Yes, this was clearly published before the game, but if you missed them, now you can watch most of them. You're welcome.
Super Bowl Ads 2018: The Best, The Weirdest And The Most Complicated, NPR. And if you don't want to scroll through all the commercials in the above article, here's a condensed version of just the must-sees.
Someone Managed To Scam Their Way Into New York Fashion Week, Nylon. GIRL. I'd be more impressed if she got all the way through though...
Lady Doritos (and other lady snacks), The Washington Post. Get. OUT. Seriously. Get out. When will brands realize women do NOT need special, quiet, tiny, pink, polite versions of products?? I have no shame in licking nacho powder off my fingers or crunching away, my boyfriend has actually filmed me eating chips loudly in bed (I didn't say he liked it), so get out of here with your misogyny. I'ma go back to my loud-ass chips, though it just may not be Doritos anymore. But also, this post had me dying..."Lady Twinkies: These are real sponges, not sponge cakes, so that women can catch up on cleaning around the kitchen and fix a real dessert as they surely want to do."
The Football-Playing Homecoming Queen Breaking The News Cycle, Refinery29. GRL PWR. I'm so impressed by all the girls who have played football across the country. They're facing possible backlash, but continue breaking those stereotypes.
I Got Chipped: A Dispatch From The Frontier Of Wearable Tech, Fast Company. I immediately thought, nope, would never do that, but then it made things like grocery shopping and protecting your information seem easier and more doable. What if this is our future? A Black Mirror-esque version where this is normal. I doubt we have long to find out.
Krysten Ritter Confronts Her Past In ‘Jessica Jones’ Season 2 Trailer, Nylon. FIN.A.LLY. It's BACK!!
Kylie Jenner Welcomes 'Beautiful and Healthy' Baby Girl, People. F***ing FINALLY. Now, please, gtf off my news headlines. All of them.
Cops realize tiger is stuffed animal after 45-minute standoff, New York Post. L. O. L.
Listening
I Am, Jorja Smith. If you haven't listened to the Black Panther album yet, do it now.
Dinosaurs (feat. Nevve), CHOCO
Lottery, Jade Bird. Newest song from a folksy up-and-coming Brit.
Watching
This Is Us, NBC. I fiiinally got on this bandwagon and have been watching for a few weeks. Honestly? I have yet to cry. It's definitely a sweet show, but I put off watching for so long because I didn't want to spend my free time constantly sobbing, but it hasn't happened. I know it's coming though, when I finally watch Jack's death.
