November Grab Bag

Emma Casley

— 2 min read
Still image from "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes": Marilyn Monroe dressed in pink and many diamonds in front of suited dancing me

Between getting COVID last month, daylight savings once again being thrust upon us this month, and that weird week where we had Tuesday off work for Veteran’s Day I’ve been feeling a little atemporal recently. But, apparently, we’re careening towards the holiday season, even though in my mind we’ve barely left summer. This month's recommendations span everything from being stranded in nature to the rise of AI to cozy things to warm yourself up in this time – enjoy! 

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  1. Loved Hunter Harris’ essay about Lorde’s song “Broken Glass” from Virgin.  She really captures something visceral in the album that I was trying to evoke in my review earlier this year
  1. Zipped through Heartwood by Amity Gaige. On paper it's a survivalist story about a lost Appalachian Trail hiker, but actually a 300 page meditation on mother and daughterhood
  2. I guess I’ve been in a survivalist story mood, since I also loved the You’re Wrong About episode The Auralyn, about a young couple stranded at sea: you have to at least listen until the part about the migrating sea turtles
  3. Here’s a hot tip: if you’d had a stressful week maybe don’t decide to watch If I Had Legs I’d Kick You as a way to wind down on a Friday evening like I did. But if you’re in the mood to be tense and marvel at a Rose Byrne performance, this is the movie for you
  1. To get the opposite feeling of watching If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, try Gentlemen Prefer Blondes which just exudes silly ostentatious joy in every frame. Sabrina Carpenter as Lorelei Lee when???
  2. A rare article I would describe as both dishy and depressing: this investigation into a possible scammer pitching media outlets using AI
  3. In other “AI is infiltrating every industry and who knows what the consequences will be” news, Kate Wagner in The Nation covering AI real estate listings
  4. It is the height of fall so I have returned to my old standby autumnal recipe: Minimalist Baker’s Curried Butternut Squash Soup
  1. I’ve gone to two line dancing events the past couple months, not just because I’m having fun but also because I need to practice doing things I’m bad at but also enjoy publicly. Turns out it’s ok to not be good and cool at everything!! Middle school Emma is quaking in her boots rn
  2. This week I volunteered at a Friendsgiving event at my local library – what a reminder that in person community and care go such a long way. Much to consider! 

I have the marvelous problem of getting through my TBR list so quickly I’m running out of books I want to read. Currently I’m in the mood for something either 1. wintery/cold feeling 2. A bit thriller/mystery-y 3. Set on a train? Or some other kind of contained setting, but train is obviously best. Would love any recommendations! 

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Each month I highlight an organization that’s important to me. I encourage people to check out the cool work they do, and also to find causes within their community to support as well.

Today I’m shouting out Black Public Media.

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