EPISODE 621: WOODLEY MODE

You tell that to Debbie Reynolds.

Aug 16, 2021

POP CULTURE SPIRIT WOW

I was walking home around 8 o’clock in the evening. And there’s this Starbucks not far from my house that’s still open then. (Remember when that was not unusual?) So I took a moment to just sit and take in the world around me.

I’ve been kind of obsessed with buildings since I came back to New York—buildings and trees, for some reason. And I just sat and watched the light off the bricks go from red-orange to a smoky pink while some of the apartment windows started to glow yellow from within. I wasn’t there long, but for a moment it felt like maybe I had finally arrived here.

It’s been 11 years since I’ve had to make a transition. I’d forgotten how much time they take. I’ve been here a month, and I lived here before. Shouldn’t I be settled? No, in fact, not at all. Heck I’m barely done unpacking.

So it was a nice surprise, that little sunset moment. Slowly, perhaps the dust settles.

Speaking of New York, this dropped today and made me feel a lot of things.

Part of me watches a video like that and considers the mythologizing going on. New York has a tremendous capacity to renew itself by retelling itself its own story. This is who we are, and nothing can stop us.

But watching, I also find myself profoundly grateful. Because I do feel a part of that story from the time I lived here before. And I think that is kind of the gift of New York as well; everyone is welcome to become a part of its future.

The New York Times did a great story this week that only a New York (or maybe London) paper would ever consider doing. It’s about the different songs that play when you get on subways around the world. I loved it.

I also loved this, not only because it’s hilarious but because I can’t conceive of having ever been able to come up with something like it myself. It’s just next level.

Martin Herlihy @martinmherlihy

Playing the new Shailene game

A friend of a friend decided during the pandemic to listen to 700 musicals, and just finished. I am...probably not going to do that. But I have been watching some classics, and stumbling onto songs from others that I really adore.

Such as this fantastic song from Zorba, sung here by Broadway great Norm Lewis.

Then there’s this classic from The Rink, sung by Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera.

When I posted that Liza song at work, someone posted this SNL sketch, which is insanely hilarious.

A couple great articles I stumbled onto this week:

First, there’s this on the Origin of the Rickroll, which has been going for 15 years now.

Then there’s this story about a Missouri woman whose husband died of COVID trying to make a future for herself and her two sons.

Finally, Ed Yong at The Atlantic as this about the future of the pandemic, which is some of the most level-headed and clear reporting I’ve seen on both where we are and where we’re going.

I also had a couple pieces in America, one in the aftermath of Andrew Cuomo’s resignation on dealing with yet another case of what seemed like a man doing good turning out to be an abusive piece of garbage; and another on the new prayer/data collection feature on Facebook.

And that’s about it from here. I leave you with some more great memes from people trying to help us all deal with this crazy moment we’re in. Hang in there. Stay safe. Be generous.

See you next week.