#102: Under a Heat Dome
Plus weekend reads about other things that are hot: Tennis bracelets (apparently), Mexican food, and Ebon Moss Bachrach
Hello from a Los Angeles heat wave. Womp womp. It’s reaching 95F on the west side, where many homes don’t have air conditioning because this is normally the cool side of town, by the Pacific Ocean. Texans are going to laugh and shame us, but a lot of kids sporting activities are canceled, etc, because of the extreme heat.
The beaches seemed like a smart option for relief but then the authorities issued some kind of “bacteria warning” for many of the popular ones, so uh, the climate change warnings are really coming from inside the house. I have long weekend reads for ya, though:
Reading
The American id will defend itself at all costs, the latest from David Roth, who a few years ago wrote the essential piece, The President of Blank Sucking Nullity, which if you read ONE THING about this era in American politics and culture … this should be it. We’ve hit the highest level of teenage sadness ever recorded. How Disneyland is squeezing every last dollar out of its park goers. The growing global reach of Mexican food. I love this interview with the scene stealer of The Bear, Ebon Moss Bachrach. Following with interest: The colony of 750,000 Mexican free-tailed bats that’s taken up residence next door to Texas's most infamous prison.
Werk and Musings
How the quest for status drives trend culture, a conversation with author W. David Marx. Related: The tennis bracelet has gone mass, apparently. I tried BeReal and am already over it. Eva’s all grown up in her latest intro to NPR’s It’s Been a Minute, for an episode featuring D&D and the new League of Their Own. Goodbye to the glue of our entire family operation, our helper Yani, who returned to her native Indonesia on Friday.
Recommendations
The riveting and bleak final season of Better Call Saul
This reminder not to just give up on political possibilities
Dr. Becky’s new book, Good Inside, which I had to read for work but am so glad I did
OK I’m going back to my popsicle consumption now, but as usual send comments, quips, complaints and links anytime.
Ciao,
E