A Short List of Topics I'll Currently Allow
They have zero to do with the happenings in D.C. today.
Hi hi.
January 20th is not a day I enjoy for reasons both extremely personal, and sometimes quite literally global. Like today. Or in 2017.
If you watched today’s events and are compelled to participate in the content cycle around that man and his minions, you should absolutely do you. No shade at all. And, of course, there are many who would rather not, but must for their jobs.
It was never gonna be me this time around.
I’m of the mind that there is absolutely nothing wrong with disengaging from things that turn your nervous system into a chaos agent, if you can. There are many other ways to stay an informed, active citizen.
As I wrote after the election:
This is the vibe I’ve been aiming for all day.
Thusly, we have landed on this random list of distractions/discussion topics/dissociative techniques that do not involve *waves hand around*, all that1.
Making plans to watch the FireAid concert, which will be broadcast by certain AMC Theatres, Apple Music and the Apple TV App, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/TUDUM, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube.
They’ve already added Olivia Rodrigo, No Doubt, Alanis, Peso Peluma, Graham Nash, Stevie Wonder, and The Black Crowes to the lineup since the initial announcement and there I wouldn’t be surprised more names will be coming soon, along with surprise guests during the show.
I think there’s a not totalllllllly unrealistic chance that Mr. Styles shows up. I have no evidence of this—just a bit of fangirl instinct and some background/history that normies wouldn’t necessarily know.
The whole show is a major Azoff project and Jeff Azoff (son of Irv) is Harry’s manager and very close friend2. And Stevie’s going to be there. If she asked, he’d be there. If that happens, I would not be upset if they chose to do “Leather and Lace” again.
Those on wellness check duty (you know who you are) will need to be on call that evening, just in case. As always, thank you for your service.
Sidebar: How do I love these two Lime Bike influencers? Let me count the ways.
Other fantasy FireAid scenarios that immediately popped into my head:
Joni + Graham Nash doing “Our House” together, or a whole Joni Jam-type singalong with others from lineup
Stills + Nash together again, maybe with David Crosby’s son. If they would like to do “Lady of the Island” as part of the set, I’d be thrilled.
Joni + Stevie anything. If the British Fruit Witch appeared to join them, just know I have no regrets. It was a good run.
Pink + Lady Gaga reunited
Olivia + Alanis + No Doubt
Katy Perry being told she’s not allowed to play a single song from her latest album
Dave + John do a handful of Dead tunes. Plus, I’m always 1000000p on board for covers of “The Weight”. Heck, throw in The Black Crowes, too. I fucking love The Black Crowes.
ICYMI: Here’s my post about some of my favorite songs that give off a very LA vibe, at least to me.
The playlist is on Apple Music here.
All things David Lynch
The world lost a one-of-one creative force when David Lynch died late last week.
I have a lot more I want to say about Twin Peaks, which is an absolutely formative show for me and my dark, quirky brain—and also a very interesting cultural force that laid the groundwork for so many aspects of modern (obsessive) fandom and the evolving role of lore in pop culture.
If anyone is interested in watching together, either again or for the first time (!!!!!!), let me know. Maybe we could do some chats, etc. I’ve rewatched it multiple times since it first premiered in 1990, but not since 2017 ahead of the new season that aired on Showtime.
It’s just so beautiful and perfect. More to come on this…
Anything David Lynch created can serve as an escape from our current surroundings and, frankly, feels like a big fuck you to small-minded people everywhere. I loved this quote the Pace Gallery posted and think it’s so true.
I definitely saw The Elephant Man (my first exposure to Lynch) when I was too young to fully grasp it, but it left such an impression and moved lil me deeply.
Years later, as a young teen, I was instantly mesmerized by Twin Peaks and the unique way Lynch crafts a story and lets things be weird. That led me to explore Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, and Eraserhead3, along with interviews and conversations with the man himself.
I went absolutely apeshit for Mulholland Drive in all it surrealist thriller glory when it premiered in 2001.
I’m jealous of anyone who’s about to dive into any of his work for the first time. Even the commercials he directed!
I’ve also taken the Transcendental Meditation course and think it might be time for a TM refresher, in honor of its most impassioned devotee. And because it’s good for my brain.
Below, some of my favorite posts about that flooded the internet upon the death of this deeply inspiring man and artist.
I am extremely ready to revisit my dreams of being Maggie (Marisa Tomei) in the first season.
I just started this two-part docuseries and it’s already a ride. I’m going to need to weave this into the part of my class where we do some context setting around ‘90s and early aughts TV’s role in both distributing and creating the culture.
The kids need to be aware of “I Married a Horse”.
I have been hollering about this show since S1. If you’ve never watched, I’d say you can skip the first season if you want to—but start with two, which is when it became all reality stars/sorta known personalities and not a mix with normies.
We’re now four eps into season three and I’m looooooooving it once more. Alan is bringing looks and his perfectly calibrated level of camp. This is the counter-programming America needs right now.
My friend Jess called this Alan look “Deeper Well cosplay” and she was spot on.
SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE FIRST FOUR EPISODES! SCROLL IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW.
Here are some of my quick thoughts about the season so far:
Boston Rob remains my king. It was so hot watching him do his thing and blindside Bob the Drag Queen, who absolutely not did understand how good his fellow Traitor is at this. By calling out the “new guys”, he left the door open just enough to get got.
Possibly unpopular opinion: I did not enjoy Bob the Drag Queen on this show, save for his ‘fits a couple good lines. Sorry.
Robyn Dixon (RHOP) is being so Robyn Dixon it’s hilarious. Nobody is lazier.
The games/challenges are better this season. Yay!
Sandoval continues to embarrass himself at every turn. The sweaty pits in that one scene was absolute perfection from the editors. What’s he, um, doing that’s got him all tweaky, I wonder lol? He absolutely thinks he’s so smart and I would also pay to have a camera on him as he watches each ep and realizes how everyone thinks he’s a moron try-hard.
Ciara (Summer House) needs to find a personality. Stat.
I hate Traitor Danielle from Big Brother. Why is she always doing the MOST? She’s giving herself away. As was Bob the Drag Queen.
I’m kinda obsessed with Gabby Windey (The Bachelorette). She’s legit funny. She and Chrishell (Selling Sunset) could end up being a real force if they play things correctly and work off of the assumptions others make about them. I’m not sure they’ll get it done, but they have a real opportunity.
Zac Efron’s brother seems like a solid dude and not an idiot. Rob’s going to continue to play him like a fiddle for as long as both of them stick around.
I love Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser) and don’t want him to be sad, especially while draped in Thom Browne.
It’s a real shame we lost Dorinda (RHONY) first. We could use her zip.
On that note, I think Dolores (RHONJ) is now getting warmed up. I’m ready for some of that Jersey sass.
The pure art that is RHOSLC
Speaking of Housewives bringing it, the ladies of Salt Lake City have delivered yet another iconic season. We have not choice but to slow clap and stan. I was so worried about the letdown after the Reality Von (Tea)se of it all, I shouldn’t have worried.
God damn, what a finale we got last week with an instant Hall of Fame dinner. They have elevated the form once more and we’ve still got our three-part reunion coming.
These lunatics decided to each find the meanest text they had written about someone else in the cast, hand their phone over to that person, and have them read it out loud. Even if you don’t watch this show, please go watch this dinner. It was one of the most unhinged things ever, holy shit.
Sidebar: Did any of you even do Lemon Squeezes in middle school? It was essentially this and I am still traumatized. My friend group actually convinced our guidance counselors to let us get out of class to “work out issues” or whatever. WTF?????? But really it was just going around a circle saying what bothered you about someone. I hated it more than anything and back then I was very much NOT an alpha of my crew, so I didn’t feel I could do anything to stop it. Middle school is the literal worst.
Whitney’s such a flop this season.
So many other brilliant moments happened in this very episode, let alone the whole season.
If you are looking for a distraction all winter, dive into SLC from the beginning. It’s worth it. In general—and I mean this quite earnestly—the Housewives have really been there for me during my darkest times. They are a gift.
I’m extremely into the entire situation, Raf Simons and Miuccia put down the runway.
These new version of their bowling bags are divine. And OMG those green boots.
Actually, all the boots.
While your brain’s in fashion mode, feel free to come up with any of 920839204029342 better looks Blondie could have chosen for the Chiefs game, instead of this Chanel logo-ed nightmare.
With all the big sister love and energy in my body, I say: Taylor, please just wait for Matthieu to get there before you try Chanel again and can we please stop with the logos like you’re a cheesy influencer—or your boyfriend?
As with glam, Taylor’s jewelry is typically great and rarely misses. Alas, the accessories were a tough beat on Saturday.
Her seatmate, however, gets a giant stamp of approval from me.
I will be rooting loudly for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and would be doing so even if Taylor and Travis had never crossed paths. Sports dynasties that are not my own are so fucking annoying 🙃 😉.
Oh, and…
For a second, I thought Renée Zellweger was Gigi Hadid on the latest cover of British Vogue. Regardless, I’m very obsessed with the lip Lisa Butler did … I haven’t had a chance to read this Vanity Fair story yet, but I feel comfortable assuming I’ll be into it given its written by Evgenia Peretz and this is the headline: “The Sex Abuse Scandal That’s Rocking Miss Hall’s, an Elite Berkshires Boarding School for Girls” … The fabulous Luce from Shit You Should Care About on these influencers who exposed their own lies as part of a TikTok trend … RIP Bob Uecker.
Until next time, remember you always have the option to dance it out. If you haven’t done that to Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” recently, I very much recommend it. I saw an IG roundup yesterday that included this performance from ‘93. It had me hyperfixating and going hard alone in my apartment for a few hours.
It felt incredible and cathartic.
xA
Including the whole GD TikTok political stunt that appears to have officially kicked off America’s Hunger Games Era. There will be much to discuss there for a while to come. We’ve got time.
Harry officiated his wedding.
I was then and remain now a person who has no interest in watching any adaptation of June, brilliant directors be damned. You won’t catch me budging on this, but enjoy if it’s your thing!
Oof those SLC bitches are the best in the biz! Except hard agree on Whitney, and also I can’t figure out Britani; does she need to give more? Or less? A damn puzzle.
Your LA tunes post has also sent me into a nostalgia comfort spiral back to The OC soundtracks. Man did I love that entire universe hard. But also am I correct in assuming we would not have our dear housewives franchise without the OC?? I think I need a rewatch asap.
Totally feel the same re: David Lynch and Twin Peaks especially. I’m so bummed that I can’t find it in streaming anywhere in Canada. If the streamers were smart, they would reactive to current events in the culture and put on a David Lynch extravaganza because I so want to rewatch all of his work right now. I also saw The Elephant Man at very young age, but somehow understand its beauty and it still haunts me to this day.