Weekly Roundup #28: Mother's Day and Met Gala
Happy belated Mother's Day to all those moms out there! My whole family was able to be together this past weekend (a very rare occurrence) and my mom kept telling us how happy it made her, which, of course, made me want to cry and fly out to California every month. I'm sure this was her intention. It was just a reminder that the smallest gesture can mean the world to your parents, or anyone who loves you, so I'll be brainstorming new small (aka cheap cuz' ya girl's broke) gestures for the rest of this week.
Reading
The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers.
Why the Dancing Makes 'This Is America' So Uncomfortable to Watch, The Atlantic. This is such a great piece by a fellow writer in a group I'm in and it's so. good. It helped me understand my own reaction while and after watching. “An internal struggle begins in the viewer’s body, which is pulled between joy and horror.” One particular part really got to me, "our faces perhaps displaying discomfort while our bodies betray us.” This reminded me of rape, which adds to my discomfort when thinking of the video, but I think also emphasizes its importance. It’s an interesting juxtaposition throughout from the head bopping melody to dark trap and the sometimes almost goofy dancing to the sudden violence.
This Story Has Already Stressed Ryan Reynolds Out, The New York Times. And here I thought I couldn't adore him any more than I already do.
Tired of Millennial Pink? Try Melodramatic Purple, The Cut. Oh hey, my hair was on trend before it was a trend.
This is why everyday racial profiling is so dangerous, CNN. I know how privileged I am to not have to deal with implicit bias towards me, but it doesn’t mean I’m any less horrified at the anecdotes in this article. I hope all these people calling the cops and then proved wrong are so thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
FKA twigs Tumor Announcement. I've loved this incredible woman's music since first hearing "Water Me" in 2013. She's always been a source of inspiration for me and even more so now.
Starting With R. Kelly, Spotify Pulls Artists From Playlists For 'Hateful Conduct', NPR. Yaaass, Spotify! You go, Glen Coco!
*Ironically, an artist I've promoted in my Listening category below is also on the list, XXXTENTACION. I'm going to leave the song because I'm not an expert in this stuff, I make mistakes too. So, I'm not going to hide that I had no idea about his alleged domestic abuse charges because I'm embarrassed. I'm going to let my lack of knowledge sit there. I don't pretend to know everything and that's okay, no one does.
Georgina Chapman on Life After Harvey Weinstein, Vogue. I actually feel for her and, I suppose this was the point of the profile, but she seems lovely.
Woman Discovers Her Dog that Never Barks or Eats Dog Food Is Actually a Fox, People. Ok, I was fully prepared to mercilessly mock this woman, maybe make a Darwin joke, but I'll give her credit. This fox looks like a Japanese Spitz.
Met Gala 2018, Vogue. SZA and Zoë Kravitz slayed. Kate Bosworth looked like she stepped out of a Victorian era painting. Chadwick Boseman brought it. Madonna was a goth queen and Alicia Vikander added a touch of "Black Swan" eeriness. Frances McDormand was, well, Frances McDormand. Greta Gerwig was an extra from "Doubt." And Kylie Jenner wore the dress version of her go-to tracksuits.
Kellogg's went from zero to 60 on digital thanks to 2 campaigns, Marketing Dive. Impressive, Kellogg's, impressive. Also, Bill Hader can do no wrong.
Here’s Grimes And Elon Musk At The Met Gala As A Couple, Nylon. As they say, I AM SHOOKETH.
Millennials are taking over the workforce, Moneyish. "A study from ManPowerGroup found that millennials are working harder than other generations, putting in more than 45 hours per week, with 21% taking on another job to make ends meet." Lazy and entitled, my ass.
Kylie Jenner’s Instagram posts are worth $1m, The Drum. I'm clearly doing so much wrong in life.
Why 'Stories' Took Over Your Smartphone, The Atlantic. I certainly don't think feeds have grown "stale." I, personally, am super excited about being able to post my Spotify link directly into my stories. Social media will always be a growing organism, you can hate it or you can grow with it.
Grey Goose shifts focus to digital for latest content series featuring celebrities, Marketing Dive. Interesting approach. Also interesting—"Celebrity partnerships, however, can be risky for brands according to Roth Capital Partners research, which found that 78% of millennials, a major target for alcohol brands, either don’t like or are indifferent to celebrity endorsements." I honestly wouldn't have expected that high of a stat.
Yes, It’s Bad. Robocalls, and Their Scams, Are Surging. The New York Times. I get SO many of these, I block a new number every other day. I gave up on the Do Not Call List years ago. There was no way I could keep up with the number of calls. I tried and it just stressed me out so now I just ignore them. I never respond to unknown numbers because, if it's someone trying to get in contact with me, they'll leave a message and this has worked for me so far. Also, the government, your bank, etc. will NEVER call you, they'll send you something in the mail. Do. Not. Fall. For these scams.
A soldier needed an ear transplant. Army doctors 'grew' a new one in her arm, The Washington Post. Cuh-RAZY.
Inside The Ecosystem That Fuels Amazon’s Fake Review Problem, Buzzfeed. This is fucked up. This is the exact reason Amazon skeeves me out a lot of the time. It and eBay are just not legitimate enough for me.
Lava flow intensifies in Hawaii eruptions, spews 200 feet in air, ABC. This would be so scary. The photos are like a still from any number of disaster movies. And five HUNDRED earthquakes in 24 hours?!
Kennedy Relative's Murder Conviction Vacated; New Trial Ordered, AP. I'd love to know for certain what really happened that night.
Sunscreen Chemicals Are Destroying Coral Reefs And Now Hawaii Is Banning Them, Buzzfeed. When buying sunscreen this year, look at the ingredients and avoid products with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Our oceans will thank you!
FEC allows candidate to use campaign funds for child care, The Hill. "There’s a reason more than half of Congressmembers are millionaires: running for office takes a huge toll on a family’s budget, especially while raising children," she said in a statement to Buzzfeed News. "This groundbreaking decision will remove a major financial obstacle for working families and mothers at a time when women are increasingly considering elected office." Get it, girl.
House Democrats Release 3,500 Russia-Linked Facebook Ads, Wired. The depth the deception goes is horrific. A future with this kind of technology spam scares me. How will we ever know what's real? This is a very real possibility even two years from now. Facebook's list of changes sound good, but we'll have to wait and see for the results.
Deadly E. coli outbreak tied to romaine spreads, CNN. Honestly didn't know this was still going on...still getting Chop't for lunch today.
There's a shortage of EpiPens in the US, Business Insider. Well, that's alarming. (By the way, the EpiPen still costs over $600 despite the CEO being brought to court.)
Uber expands partnership with NASA on flying taxi project, The Verge. This would be CRAZY. Still not downloading Uber again anytime soon though.
2 Chainz Proposed To His Girlfriend Natasha Ward on the Met Gala Red Carpet, Harper's Bazaar. "When Complex asked the rapper when he decided to make the bold move on the carpet, 2 Chainz admitted, 'about a minute ago.' " Lol, love it.
A White Police Officer Choked A Black Man Shortly After He Attended A Prom, Buzzfeed. I got whole body chills watching this. I can't even imagine.
Yale officers admonished the white student who called police on a napping black student, CNN. GOOD.
The Upside of Envy, The New York Times. “Envy keeps no holidays.” Particularly with the prevalence of social media and the falsified lives we all lead on our feeds and profiles, it's easy for that green eyed monster to rear its head.
The Lie That Perfectionists Tell Themselves, Harvard Business Review. Biggest takeaway—More time does not equal better quality work. As someone who constantly feels guilty about leaving earlier than others (despite getting in earlier) because I have to catch a train, this is a big thing I struggle with.
This Female-Founded Media Collective is Out of This World, Milk.xyz. Loving the 70s and Charlie's Angels vibes.
Gmail will soon be able to finish some sentences for you, CNBC. As helpful as autocorrect or as annoying?
In Malaysia, the Old Prime Minister Promises a New Order, The New York Times. He's 92...should be interesting what his changes will be.
Military finds multiple failures led to deadly Niger ambush, AP. "And the report said lax communication and poor attention to details led to a 'general lack of situational awareness and command oversight at every echelon.' " Can you imagine if your loved one died and this was the response to "why?" Also, of the 800 U.S. troops in Niger, none are supposed to be in direct combat. Why 800? Apparently to help support and defend our allies.
Job hunting service Glassdoor sold to Japan’s Recruit for $1.2 billion, TechCrunch.
President Trump welcomes 3 Americans freed by North Korea, CNN. I can't even imagine what those poor people have gone through.
Mueller team questioned Novartis and AT&T over Michael Cohen payments, Politico. Another episode of "Things just keep getting worse for Michael Cohen."
NBC's Matt Lauer Report Finds "No Evidence" That Leadership Knew of Behavior Complaints, The Hollywood Reporter. Huh, an internal investigation found no wrongdoing by leadership...interesting.
Retired 3-star general and Fox Business guest says torture 'worked' on John McCain, ABC. Piece. Of. Shit.
"Sale of the century": Crown jewels of Rockefeller art collection break auction records, CBS. My crown jewels consist of one pair of tiny diamond hoops and one stud. So basically the same.
Taylor Swift Announces the End of Her Katy Perry Feud With a Literal Olive Wreath, Elle. Good. This is so old and I'm so over hearing about it. Also, please look at the suggested article at the bottom of the page "The 21 Stars Taylor Swift's Had Bad Blood With"...I'm dead. This is exactly why I love the times Taylor is actually not in the news. She's clearly one of those girls who wasn't "popular" in high school and now that she's been deemed "cool," she feels the need to try and throw it in everyone's face. It's petty and obnoxious. Stay off my feeds, girl.
NHL Player Brad Marchand Stops Licking Opponents, On League's Orders, NPR. Grow up...
Congo Declares New Ebola Outbreak After 2 Confirmed Cases, NPR. Ebola has terrified me since we watched "Outbreak" in my freshman year, high school Biology class. Yes, I know, that depicts a fictional disease, but it's close enough in my brain to give me nightmares of weeping blood.
Economists focus too little on what people really care about, The Economist. "Economists are at their least useful when a measuring stick should not be used at all."
Extra time: how smart exercise keeps you younger for longer, The Guardian. "It is not ageing that causes a decline in fitness; rather, that a decline in fitness causes ageing."
America is more diverse than ever — but still segregated, The Washington Post. The maps included are just sad...but I highly recommend the chart at the bottom that allows you to check your own area's segregation stats.
US ends immigration protections for thousands of Hondurans, AP. People have been here for decades. They have children who have never known anything but America. And you're just going to try and force them out?
Mormons cutting ties with Boy Scouts, ending long alliance, CBS. Byeee!
Trump says U.S. pulling out of ‘rotten’ nuclear deal, Politico. Poor Obama, just watching everything his administration accomplished and tried to protect decimated by tiny orange hands.
Iran president: Uranium enrichment may resume if deal fails, AP. Good. Great. Awesome. Good job, everyone.
Mueller's team questions Russian oligarch about payments to Cohen, CNN. Poor Mikey, just not the best couple of months for this dude.
Four more Nike executives exit amid workplace misconduct investigation, The Hill. Get those applications to Nike, they're hiring!
New York AG Eric Schneiderman resigns over assault allegations, CNN. Come ON, people! It's really not hard to NOT assault someone.
Christiane Amanpour Is Replacing Charlie Rose on PBS, The Cut.
Charlie Rose Will Reportedly Host a Show About Men Brought Down by #MeToo, The Cut. I want to laugh, but if this were true...how despicable to try and make money and publicity off your misconduct and assault.
Nestle and Starbucks strike $7.15 billion coffee licensing deal, Reuters. Another step towards Starbucks' global domination.
An Urgent Debate for California Republicans: How to Get Back in the Game, The New York Times. My parents are (generally) Republicans and now live in California, so I'll be interested to see what their thoughts are on this issue.
New DHS policy could separate families caught crossing the border illegally, CNN. This was the natural next step for this administration so it's not surprising.
Concerns grow for whereabouts of Dubai princess following failed escape, The Guardian. This is just so scary. To have to escape your own family, who knows what horrors are going on behind closed doors?
'I was always hiding my face': The bizarre life of Virginia's redeemed school shooter, The Washington Post.
Doctors raise alarm about ancient HTLV-1 virus: 'Prevalence is off the charts' in Australia, CNN. Just slightly concerning...and, yet again, the poorer communities are the ones affected most.
Trump Team Takes a More Aggressive Stance on Mueller Probe, The Wall Street Journal. If you have nothing to hide, just. do. the interview. The more you put it off and try to slide around it, the guiltier you look. Of course, it's pretty much a guarantee that as soon as Trump opens his mouth, he'll dig himself into some kind of hole, but that's not the problem when you have absolutely no filter and put no thought into your words.
The bloodiest Republican primaries to watch are in West Virginia and Indiana, where Trump-like candidates are battling it out to win, Business Insider. Ho boy.
Blankenship Insists Ad That Attacks McConnell’s ‘China Family’ Is Not Racist, Roll Call. Dude...DUDE. The fact that these disgusting racists now feel comfortable coming out of the woodworks and running for government is absolutely horrifying.
Nearly 1600 reported arrested in Russian anti-Putin protests, AP. I can't imagine being forced to see a corrupt, narcissistic leader take power again and again against a country's wishes. It'd be like Trump winning in 2020. *vomits at the thought
Lebanese vote in first general election in nine years, Reuters. Honestly, possibly the craziest thing about this to me is that voters are not registered in the districts they live in, but in the ones their ancestors are from, which means many have to travel to small villages across the country. That is mind boggling.
Tunisia holds 1st local election since 2011 Arab Spring, AP. But only 13 percent had shown up to vote by midday.
Listening
Lemon Tree, Peter, Paul and Mary. The bf and I stumbled across a crate of old vinyls in Record Mart in the Times Square subway station (normally avoided at all costs, but these were desperate times) and one of the six (whoops) we bought was Peter, Paul and Mary's eponymous first album. I pretty much have had it on repeat since bringing it home.
Follow You Down, Lights. Her voice is just absolutely stunning.
NUMB, XXXTENTACION.
Watching
Isle of Dogs, Fox Searchlight. Another Wes Anderson hit.
This is America, Childish Gambino.
Alone Together, Freeform. I'd seen this pop up generally and was semi-intrigued, but then I discovered it was all on Hulu and have been binging it ever since.
