current events hangover

it's been a long month

Hi!

Thanks for opening this email / reading this post.

me, when it gets dark at 3pm and people stop getting vaccines

Life hack: you don’t have to cut anyone out of your life for political reasons when you are so annoying that just being around you is punishment enough.

• If you like to read, you’ve probably thought to yourself, “I’ve run out of books and I wish there were 8,000 more, preferably ones hastily churned out by a buggy computer program.” Well, the geniuses at Spines have heard you and they promise to “disrupt” the industry by pumping out lots of trash (or, using AI). We are so blessed to live an age where uncreative, swagless men can spend their days waging a war on art.

• Another enemy to art in 2024: the liberal obsession with identity. A really smart friend sent me this piece and I’m so glad, because it scratches a lot of cynical little itches I’ve had. The premise seems spicy, but it’s rigorous and aware in a truly satisfying way.

• When I’m getting dressed, I return to a few images in my mind for a vibe to emulate - specifically, this New Balance/Aimé Leon Dore campaign and Joan Didion in her giant Céline glasses. It took this article for me to realize that the look I’m going for is, “dripped out old person” - a surprising recent trend in apparel advertising.

• If you’re shopping around for gifts, why not consider some kooky folk art from Etsy? Some of my favorite shops: a tasteful antique collector, this funky mix ranging from Audubon prints to psychedelic contemporary pieces, and a unique pop art studio.

Tunes to start the week with:

I was looking for new artists on Spotify the other day (not as easy as it sounds) and stumbled upon Goat Girl. Not only is it a perfect band name, they make dark, melodic, but also kinda post-punk music that I am very into. Their new single is great, as is their most recent album, Below The Waste.

Bonus poem! Gotta get these out in the world before a computer beats me to it.

I-93, Exit 15

Baby on board
a desperate plea 
for humanity
fresh and pink 
strapped in a pod
with no choice

This is just how it is
people have always 
been so angry
In Biblical times
or the Dark Ages
they would simply kill 
each other

Back in those days
a brother would 
covet a wife or
steal some grain
and all hell
would break loose

We live in the future
there is rule of law
when I am angry
with a mouth full of blood
there is still a contract
we all follow

The car next to mine
is too close, domineering
to maintain any peace
and my chest is tight
and we’re all babies

xx