I'm Now A Big Bill Hader Fan [#76]
Hi from Orcas Island, Washington!
Spent a second weekend in a row in the Pacific Northwest and it's lovely to feel fall weather and breathe the crisp, clean air. It capped a very Hollywoody work week in LA — two film screenings plus a visit to the set of HBO's Barry while in production. Got to see the GREAT STEPHEN ROOT before a table read and meet Bill Hader in between takes, but the best part was raiding craft services for lunch. I think I would be happy to work as some low level production assistant just for access to craft services.
Reading
The to-do list from the devastating climate report. "History gnaws at us, perhaps even destroys us, if we don't attend to it." Why Khashoggi's death provoked a backlash that the crisis in Yemen didn't. Anyone can wreck one branch of government, it takes a special kind of craven to wreck all three. The Trump Doctrine is "it doesn't matter" and "we'll see." Against a federal registry of genitals. His "only true, authentic pleasure is in cruelty." The boba/bubble tea edition of Quartz's obsessions newsletter. The notion of interchangeable Asians chaps my ass. The New Yorker on the disappearance of Fan Bing Bing. How to be a white ally to people of color. How political power is maintained at the expense of black and brown Americans. This apology generator is very good. Interpreting Christine Blasey Ford, through images. A thoughtful take on when to have kids, if you want kids. Kara Swisher on her best and worst bosses. The gender pay gap is even worse for women who breastfeed. An over-the-top obit worth reading to the end. America's fattest bear.
Watch/Listen
I binge-watched all eight episodes of Barry and oh man, it got better with each episode. It's an easy show to catch up on. Find it on HBO.
Forever 35: This is ostensibly a beauty podcast but it's not, really. I enjoyed an episode featuring writer Mary H.K. Choi, who I'm fangirling after devouring her YA novel, Emergency Contact, earlier this year.
Werk/Musings
The murdery woods weekends. A speech at the Journalism and Women Symposium, about journalism, and women. Programming notes: I'm in Boston in a few weeks to fill-in host our midday show, Here and Now, which is broadcast out of WBUR. Later that week I'm hosting It's Been a Minute, which is my friend Sam Sanders' podcast out of LA. For one of the episodes, we have booked A VERY EXCITING GUEST to talk with me in studio for an hour, which is the kind of time that can lead to actual connection and a compelling conversation. More on this soon.
Go Dodgers,
Elise