Eras, Errors, and Being Kenough [#122]

Taylor's in town, the former POTUS is indicted (again) and I just want to say hi (and welcome, if you're new here)

If you’re new here, I usually share some random memes because I think they’re funny.

Hi hi hi,

I am currently trying to figure out how to make the outline of a heart around my eye with glitter, in preparation for the cosplay that is the Eras Tour. Eva has decided she’s going to dress in the Reputation era (lots of black + snake accessories) and I am going with Lovers era (cotton candy colors and shimmer), hence, the rush to figure out how to perfect a shimmery face heart. This is the final leg of Taylor Swift’s US tour, so if you have already been and have practical tips, please leave them in the comments or write me directly!

Reading

What does ‘vacation’ mean when you have young children? Ken embodies one of Barbie’s core ideas, that patriarchy is a profound form of immaturity. Speaking of patriarchy, South Korea is the only industrialized country in the world where gender bias became stronger between 2010 and 2020. Sigh. Even though the latest Trump indictment was big news, I couldn’t get myself to pay more than passing attention, because I must be in the growing camp of news avoidants. The Ethicist took on what to do if your partner flies first class and you don’t, which I thought was a laughable problem until my friend’s boyfriend sent her to steerage while he rode up front. ICYMI, as part of NPR’s big wave of layoffs this year, many veterans took buyouts and retired, which meant saying goodbye to some of our longest serving foreign correspondents. They reflected on their decades of work, for Poynter.

Books: I just enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy so much, it brought huge smiles to my face.

Werk Werk Werk

Getting back to the routine at our all-women podcast company, but book interviews continue. The book tour recap, on TikTok. Here & Now featured Flawless and issues around aesthetic labor. Talked with a spiritual/psychological podcast called No Small Endeavor, about beauty ideals and morality and big questions like what it means to live a good life.

Watch and/or Listen

This Vox Today Explained episode on Trump’s indictment for his most heinous crime — trying to overthrow the election, was the most edifying supplement to the main headlines for me.

Megan Rapinoe on Design Matters with Debbie Millman. This is a deep dive into her relationship with her twin, her upbringing in Redding, and early years that I didn’t know much about before. Timely during the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Break Point, the riveting docuseries that takes us behind the scenes of a year on the pro tennis tour. It released the back half of its season this summer, which covers the dramatic US Open last year and the retirements of Federer and Serena Williams. Incredible access.

Everyone seems to be listening to The Retrievals, which I’m afraid is going to be too heartbreaking and difficult for my tender heart to bear. What did y’all think? Go for it anyway?

All right. Back to the glitter face situation.

I’m just gonna shake shake shake shake shake,

E