Weekly Roundup #30: Bateman and "Little Rocket Man"
I've started switching up the order of my "Reading" recommendations, if anyone's noticed! Books will always come first, but I used to order it kind of in order of importance to what was going on in the world. However, I found that I was getting so drained, mentally, with all the negative news out there and I realized my readers might feel that way too when looking at a massive list of stories talking about Trump, nuclear war, gun rights, etc. Especially if you didn't realize all the "fun" stories were at the bottom, for a little mental refresh and mood lift. So now I've turned it upside down and all my light-hearted (my light-hearted might be different than yours...see, the piece on the new show about Dee Dee and Gypsy Blanchard), gossipy, silly stories are at the top, so, if you don't want to see this week's depressing news cycle, you can scroll right past to the next sections. Like this? Let me know in the comments! Hate it? Eh, all right, you can let me know too. Have a wonderful week, my beauties!
Reading
How To Sleep Well: A CBD Endorsement, Into the Gloss. I wish I could've recommended this to one of my college roommates back in the day. Maybe then my other roommate and I could've taken showers after 10 pm and watched TV without having to sit a mere foot away.
Your Signature Emoji, According to Your Zodiac Sign, PureWow. I'm a cusp baby and I fully support both my possible emojis. 🤘🌈
SZA Pulled From TDE Championship Tour Due to Swollen Vocal Cords, Billboard. NOOOOOOOO!!!!! Desperately hoping she makes a full recovery (yes, her recovery is what's most important) by June 17 for Firefly.
Jessica Wu, E-Commerce Director and Stylist, Into the Gloss. This is one of the better, more interesting "Top Shelf" articles I've read. I love when the person being profiled actually talked about a variety of brands, cost-wise. Not all of us can afford everything in Sunday Riley's line (though I wish I could), or even one product.
‘Arrested Development’: We Sat Down With the Cast. It Got Raw. New York Times. I'm obsessed with this cult comedy so I was super disappointed with Jason Bateman and Tony Hale, who I both love, trying to blow past Tambor verbally harassing Jessica Walter and brush over her feelings.
Jason Bateman Apologizes to Jessica Walter Over Jeffrey Tambor Comments, New York Times. Good apology, would have been better if you hadn't made it necessary in the first place.
Michelle Obama tweets out first look at cover of new book, The Hill. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Multiple Women Accuse Morgan Freeman of Sexual Harassment, Inappropriate Behavior, CNN. This is so upsetting. I loved Freeman and never thought he would be one of the men called out, but here we are, and he's loathsome.
Hulu's New True Crime Series Features a Sinister Mom and BDSM, Paper. Still haven't watched Mommy Dead and Dearest, whoops, gotta get on that. Buuut first, this one?
Ariana Grande Says Her Relationship With Mac Miller Was “Toxic,” Nylon. This makes me sad, but also, all hail, Queen Ariana!
The Truth About How Men Behave When You’re A Female Solo Traveler, Huffington Post. So, this was an interesting story. On one hand, I'm not surprised at all by how her trip has turned out. On the other, some of the anecdotes are straight up shocking (and nasty). But, I couldn't help but blame her sometimes. I get the whole, it's easier to just hook up with him than keep fighting, but, in my mind, that applies more to people you know. If it were up to me, I'd say fuck this, bolt to my room and barricade the door. Also, I would never be staying with guys if I could help it in the first place. Yes, hostels aren't always super safe, but at least there's safety in numbers and you can look up reviews. I hate that I was putting the writer semi-at fault while reading, but there's a difference between being the chill, go with the flow traveler and a smart solo traveler, especially when you're a woman.
Parents sue deadbeat son to get out of their house, New York Post. DUDE. Giving us millennials all a bad name, come on! Why would he even want to stay, I don't understand. And no job? What does he do all day?? What is this mysterious business he owns? Will we ever find out?? Tune in next week. 😉
Georgia Jury Awards $1 Billion In Lawsuit Over Girl's Rape, NPR. ""They said a little black girl in Clayton County who was raped is worth $1 billion. That was a big win for us," he said." 😭
France's Catcalling Fine Is Seriously Significant (Financially & Culturally), Bustle. This is a seriously beautiful thing. Honestly, if we had this in the US, we could probably put that money toward our national debt and pay off a significant amount of it.
Security troops on US nuclear missile base took LSD, AP. Oh, good. Good good good. Paranoia is exactly what we need around nuclear missiles. Perfect, ladies and gents.
Harvey Weinstein will be charged with rape, source says, CNN. The fact that he supposedly intends to turn himself in is huge. Finally, he could be brought to an actual court, instead of the court of public opinion (where he's been deemed guilty many times over) and his victims can hopefully see true justice.
Twitter Rolls Out Political Ad Rules Ahead of Midterm Elections, Bloomberg. Here's hoping this helps, but the amount of bot accounts out there is staggering...
Facebook launches searchable archive of U.S. political ads, Reuters. Here's to transparency.
Facebook to label election-related 'issue ads' in US, ABC. See above.
The Bachelorette’s Meredith Phillips Claims She Was Drugged and Sexually Assaulted by the Show’s Masseuse, Vulture. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I don't watch The Bachelor or any of its spinoffs, but I would not be surprised if this were true. And, if it were, ugh, I feel dirty just reading the allegations, I can't imagine how Phillips would feel.
Roger Goodell's statement on national anthem policy, NFL. So players on the field will be required to stand; however, players may stay in the locker room. This is a good little work-around, keeping in mind, the NFL would love to squash any display of rebellion...
Kobe Bryant Talks About 'Completely' Disagreeing With Kanye West's Slavery Comments, Billboard. Yeah...I have no history here that I know of to really talk about this, but I'm still shocked and disgusted at his words.
Irish abortion referendum: Ireland overturns abortion ban, BBC. They voted "overwhelmingly." What a beautiful, historic moment.
Trump Violates First Amendment by Blocking Twitter Users, Judge Says, New York Times. Lol.
Amazon asked to stop selling facial recognition technology to police, CNN. I'm honestly on the fence here. I appreciate being able to find and ID suspects and missing people quickly, but this is also very 1984, which skeeves me out. Also, I completely agree this could be misused and thus detrimental to immigrants and people of color. Any thoughts you think may sway me? Let me know in the comments!
R. Kelly sued for alleged sexual assault, CNN. Yeah...no shit? Also, these last little paragraphs thrown in at the end are repulsive: "In April 2018, Rodgers filed a complaint with the Dallas Police Department alleging that Kelly had knowingly given her a sexually transmitted disease. A Dallas police spokesperson told CNN the incident is not being investigated as a sexual assault since both parties were consenting adults at the time of the alleged act." I'm sorry? So because the 19-year-old having sex with a 51-YEAR-OLD (excuse me while I vomit) is considered of consenting age, she's supposed to also know he has a STD?! WTF.
Brandi Chastain on HOF Plaque: 'It's Not the Most Flattering, but It's Nice,' Bleacher Report. Oy vey.
Stacey Abrams wins Democratic primary in Georgia. She could become the nation's first black woman governor. CNN. I see you, girl! "In the interview, Abrams also recounted a story about being rejected as a high school student at the gates of the Georgia Governor's Mansion at an event honoring the state's top students." My heart breaks for her, but look what she's done now!
The Number Of Female Fortune 500 CEOs Has Dropped 25%, Refinery29. Considering it was already super low (2017 was actually the all-time high at a staggering 😑 32 women), that's not encouraging.
Barack and Michelle Obama Sign Netflix Production Deal, Variety. I would watch literally anything they create over The Apprentice every time.
Jack Johnson pardoned for violation of Mann Act in 1913, ABC. I'll give you this one, Trump.
Philip Roth, fearless and celebrated author, dies at 85, AP. I think this says it all where his work is concerned, "He never promised to be his readers’ friend."
200 USC professors demand Nikias step down; trustees express 'full confidence' in president, Los Angeles Times. Campus gynecologist + sexual harassment + numerous misconduct complaints + continued employment for decades = nauseating. I can't even imagine being one of those affected students. Bye bye, pres.
‘Almost No One Agrees With Us’: For Rural Students, Gun Control Can Be a Lonely Cause, New York Times. It’s times like these I’m reminded how lucky I am to live in a liberal and modern area, and especially to work in New York. I have Republican friends, family even, but, generally, the people I’m surrounded by have the same views as me. I can’t imagine being those teens. I’m so impressed they’re willing to continue fighting. High school can be hard enough as it is!
Border Patrol agent detains women for speaking Spanish at Montana gas station, NBC. What an idiot. "CBP policy also says agents cannot stop or detain someone solely on their race or ethnicity." Might need to add "or what language they're speaking."
Saudi Women's Activists Arrested Prior To Lifting Of Driving Ban, NPR. And it's thought to be all because of a smear campaign against them. I bow down to the women willing to fight for their rights in Saudi Arabia. It's certainly not an easy thing, to say the least, you're constantly flirting with prison time.
A High School Teacher Beat the House Majority Leader in Kentucky's Republican Primary, Time. Should be interesting after Teachers' Spring. Props to people trying to make a difference starting at the local and state levels!
Pope Francis tells gay man: 'God made you like this,' The Guardian. Be still my heart. What a wonderful thing.
Australian archbishop convicted of child sex abuse cover-up, AP. Meanwhile, in the shittier side of Catholicism...
Hawaii lava finally reaches the Pacific—only to create another deadly danger, CNN. Hawaii is like one of those ridiculous end of the world movies right now. Thousands of earthquakes, lava, fissures, sulfur dioxide and now laze? Where's the Rock?? Those poor residents.
Olympian files lawsuit against USA Swimming alleging sexual abuse cover-up, USA Today. Ugh, these young athletes are so vulnerable, why do people not care and pay closer attention?!
Lawmakers Want To Know How Ridesharing Companies Are Dealing With Sexual Assault and Harassment, Gizmodo. Shoving it under the rug...
Trump cancels summit with Kim; North Korea still wants talks, AP. Honestly, I'm going to pretty much stop paying attention until they're in the same room together. I've had enough of the petty back and forth.
U.S. FDA approves Amgen drug for prevention of migraines, Reuters. Awesome, migraine sufferers are a huge group of people who have been passed over in the past. However, over $500 a month seems expensive as fuck to me.
Royal wedding 2018: Ceremony celebrating diversity took note of slavery, quoted Martin Luther King Jr., ABC. Bring in the new era of royalty.
Divided Supreme Court sides with businesses over workers, AP. This is messed up. They're saying businesses are more important than the actual Americans who work for them. This allows for workers to be taken advantage of and shut up. So disappointing.
In Texas School Shooting, 10 Dead, 10 Hurt and Many Unsurprised, New York Times. I don't know how many times we have to say this—kids should NEVER be subjected to this kind of horror. How many shootings will there have to be before our government takes action?
‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens, The Onion. See "and many unsurprised" in the above headline and read this story, which has been republished after every school shooting since 2014.
Texas lieutenant governor suggests violent video games, abortion show 'devalued life,' bear part of blame for gun violence, ABC. I CANNOT. His idiocy is actually incomprehensible.
Texas official says that fewer doors could mean fewer school shootings. We had experts weigh in. The Washington Post. You don't need an expert to tell you that fewer doors also means fewer exits in case of emergency. And not just a shooting, but, for instance, god forbid there was a fire and everyone couldn't escape in time because there's ONE FUCKING DOOR. There. Done. No experts needed. Doors don't kill people.
Congress Rolls Back Part Of Dodd-Frank, Easing Rules For Midsize, Smaller Banks, NPR. See y'all after the next crash.
Trump Jr. and Other Aides Met With Gulf Emissary Offering Help to Win Election, New York Times. Aka another country, more fake social media accounts. The fact that his campaign even responded positively to this dirty lobbying is so indicative of the type of presidency we're now stuck with.
Justice Dept. put a 'spy' in campaign to 'frame' him, NBC. I honestly cannot take anything he says seriously. Even if I believed him, the way he speaks, like someone for whom English isn't his first language, is just too distracting.
DOJ asks watchdog to probe Trump campaign surveillance claims, The Hill. Over 👏🏼 stepping 👏🏼 presidential 👏🏼 powers 👏🏼
There's no deal with China on ZTE, and I'm not satisfied with trade talks, CNBC. So, let me get this straight. He's trying to save Chinese company ZTE, who admitted violating our sanctions, while, at the same time, he's blaming China for the North Korea meeting possibly not happening. Yay China or nay China?
China trade war 'on hold' as Trump pauses tariffs, Politico. "Trump said last week that he would look into helping the company escape some of its harshest penalties. After talking with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump wrote on Twitter that he and Xi were working together to get ZTE back in business 'fast.' " Why.
North Korea threatens to withdraw from summit with Trump, ABC. And again, anyone surprised?
US demands wholesale changes in Iran policies post-nuke deal, AP. Aka 12 demands Iran will not agree to.
Listening
Bye Bye, Theia. Love. Her.
Sanctuary, Welshly Arms.
Watching
13 Reasons Why, Netflix. Season 2 is here! We're only a few episodes in, but I'm not loving the role Hannah is playing right now and everything is kind of slow. Kate Walsh is killing it though and we've heard it picks up at the end.
