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Happy Friday, y’all.
blah blah blah all anyone in DC is talking about this week is the weather1. It went from winter to summer practically overnight. Spring felt like it was only a week long. And now there’s some sort of heat dome melting our brains. Wednesday it was 90+ degrees and about 75 percent humidity, as well. So it’s getting… swampy (it’s giving Florida vibes!). And as much as I hate small talk, the banality is actually a nice reprieve from the other conversations so popular in DC (you know: the fall of Democracy, DOGE, ICE, a military parade, WW3, etc…).
TIL that Juneau, Alaska, averages one thunderstorm every two years.
Now that’s fascinating and it’s some weather news worth talking about.
Here are 5 things I was looking at and loving this week:
This is the best cover of Stand By Me I’ve heard. So, who is Stephen Wilson Jr.?
“Before the sitting, Richard Avedon, or one of his assistants, took a Polaroid photograph of each of the models intended to pose. The numbers refer to files conserving the person’s authorization for the publication of their image, as well as their name and address, such they’d receive a print of the photograph, a copy of the book, and an invitation to the exhibition. Comparing these polaroids with Avedon’s portraits shows his ability to transcend the appearance of his models.”
I’ve revived my reading kick and recently finished: The English Understand Wool2, Hijab Butch Blues3, and The Story of the Lost Child4 (#4 in the Neapolitan Novels).
“Where is the audience that is hungry for the human?” —Austin Kleon
Someone online asked, “Is anything good happening on earth rn?” Best answer.
This is the IG account I got that screenshot from; the comments are fun.
Delightful novella + a critique of the publishing industry all in one. I told my wife about this book, which I saw was recommended by Ann Patchett, and she was like “Yes, I have it on the shelf in my office. I read it months ago, and it was great.”
Intertwines a coming out story with Quran verses. My pick for pride month this year.