Midweek Quick Hits 5/6/26
From Emily
Listen: Bleachers. The word ‘algorithm’ gets such a bad rep, associated with someone else controlling what you see which for the most part sucks and is contributing to our general mind rot. But man, Spotify just gets me and I’ve trained it enough (by liking songs as they come up) so it serves me new songs or bands I would never find on my own. Bleachers is the recent band that I’m super into that popped up on my algorithm, around the same time the lead singer was on Armchair Expert and it’s so motivational, emotional, with incredible horns but still in the ‘super enjoyable pop music’ genre. Start with their Madison Square Garden Live album and try to be in a bad mood. Also Noah Kahan’s new album is incredible - I can’t stop listening to either.
Wear: In case you aren’t following closely on the blog, I’ve started doing more fashion review posts for certain items that I find really hard to shop for - comfortable walking shoes, spring dresses, comfortable walking sandals (they are different!) the best compression flattering one-piece swimsuits, and good spring jeans. There are some clear winners (most of them I liked, I didn’t bother shooting the clear ‘no’s). I’ve linked them all individually or you can go straight to the shop page and see our favorites (but the blog post has most of the clear information). Always interested in doing more, so let me know if you have any suggestions (note: I will not do bikinis 😊)
From Brian
Watch: My friend recommended the new HBO series HALF MAN because my writing tends to lean into tough men’s issues like performative masculinity, and now I’m recommending it to you. But be warned, it’s pretty damn dark (It’s from the creator of ‘Baby Reindeer’, if that gives you an idea) and deals with some serious psychological issues through physicality. It follows Naill, a socially awkward Irish kid who is bullied relentlessly until the dangerous son of his mom’s best friend, Reuben, moves in and protects him. But he does a lot more than that. The two boys develop a twisted ‘brotherhood’ based on violence, co-dependency, and maybe a little misplaced sexual desire. The show flashes between Naill’s wedding day (which is crashed by his vicious ‘half-brother’) and his adolescence which is formed by the complicated bond he makes with Reuben. It has the depth and pathos of a great novel, but with a violent undertone that keeps you on your toes all the way through. There are only 3 eps out, but I’m loving it so far.
Read: Maybe I’m on a violent kick this week, but I dipped back into the classic True Grit by Charles Portis and am so glad I did. I’d forgotten how utterly compelling the story and the characters are. And I’d forgotten how much I love a classic western! If you haven’t read it, or if you’ve only seen the movie with Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, and Matt Damon, I urge you to read the book. It’s short (less than 250 pages) and so much fun, you’ll wish it wasn’t over when you hit the words ‘The End’. Published in 1968, it’s written from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl named Mattie Ross (great name), who’s trying to avenge the death of her father, who was shot by the coward Tom Chaney. She enlists the help of a drunken, one-eyed sheriff named Rooster Cogburn (greatest name ever) and they set off to hunt him down. The story is pretty classic, but it’s the writing that gets me. Portis was able to capture the curt, self-assured voice of Mattie so well, you’d swear it was penned by the stubborn cowgirl herself. A good, fast, fun read.