Self-control, halt, delete

Surprise me View in browser August 03, 2018 Sangram Majumdar. Interiors    This week I've had my head down on a writing project, which means that, after hours, I'm doing less reading for pleasure and more mindless scrolling. When I saw this week that Instagram is introducing tools to let you see how much time you're spending on the app, I felt only dread. If you're too scared to ask, you already know the answer. This morning after I grabbed my phone to silence my alarm, I held my thumb on the Instagram and Twitter icons on my phone, let them wiggle (it's like they know you aren't deleting them forever, and they are smugly elated), and pressed the x's. I'm going to course-correct this weekend by nerding out with John McPhee's collected essays on the writing process. McPhee taught me to always use the dictionary instead of the thesaurus. To unplug means "to remove an obstruction from." Pure poetry. On the podcast, we talk about money taboos, and the fact that we should all be a bit more open with each other about how we fill our bank accounts. I'm reading Spend your privilege. How violence against black women "falls outside the recognizable parameters of victimhood, and thus fails to register." A grieving dad's crusade to make the South safer for LGBT people. What happens to North Korean women after they escape over the border? The CBS CEO is accused of harassment, and is met with the sound of silence. How filmmakers define the female gaze. Abby Finkenauer's fight for Iowa. "My family was a series of hushed rages behind shut doors." A Muslim leader reported a threatening phone call to the FBI, which turned him into the target. Celebrities, disposability, and what it means when we distill someone into a misstep. The drama of points-obsessed travelers. The decline of Diet Coke and the generation that loved it. Carolina Miranda's cut-up poem eulogy for Jonathan Gold, taken from his own works. Paeans to Timberland boots and Viking women's textiles. Heightened sperm awareness. No sanctuary for the rooster. Members only Join the 10% of subscribers who support my work by throwing me a few pennies per newsletter: Become a paying member for just $5/year. What are you missing? Usually, it's a pie chart. Click here to see what they're all about. I'm looking & listening A new Robyn song! Sentient Coffee. On Being present for horrible news without falling into despair. James Baldwin's reply to "why must we always concentrate on color?" Magic and narrative and the oldest trick in the book. GIFspiration Live footage of me unplugging from the world for the weekend. [via Molly McArdle's Daily GIF] I endorse Leaving a comment to oppose the inclusion of a citizenship question on the U.S. 2020 Census. The White House wanted such a question included as a way of discouraging immigrants from filling out the form.  Regulations.gov comments are required reading for government officials, which makes them a great way to express your opinions on important things like the Census! I left the following note: "I think it's important for the 2020 Census to accurately reflect the population of this country, which is why I oppose including a citizenship question. Asking people to answer such a question will suppress participation by immigrants and result in inaccurate data. It will also reduce the security, safety, and health of vulnerable communities by depriving them of needed federal resources." The comment period is open til August 7.  Shout out to my representative, Adam Schiff, who tipped me off to this! You endorse Grand Designs. "Caity Weaver's epic Twitter thread on the joy of Grand Designs pushed me to check it out on Netflix. A 'home improvement' show that is more a meditation on architecture, space, the power of buildings in our lives, and literally how much the dream costs and how to pay for it. Kevin McLeod is a dream." -Jeanine What do you endorse? Submit a link here. IRL Sept 1, Los Angeles: In conversation with Thomas Page McBee about his new book, Amateur, at Skylight Books. The Classifieds Ever been let off with a warning by police? Donate the $ you saved to help fight our criminal justice system’s discriminatory practices! Battle Tactics For Your Sexist Workplace is a new podcast for anyone who will ever have a job. Subscribe your friends. Subscribe your boss. THESE ARE MY HOURS, called “The Most Cinematic Birth Doc Ever” by No Film School, now streaming worldwide. Your 30% off code: LADYSWAGGER. Ever considered working with a life coach? I'm friendly, effective, and ICF-certified. "Kristi Coulter charts the raw, unvarnished, and quietly riveting terrain of new sobriety with wit and warmth." — Leslie Jamison, author of THE RECOVERING. NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS by Kristi Coulter interrogates why women drink and details her journey to sobriety. Want to publish your writing but unsure where to start? Worried the submissions process will frustrate, rather than feed, your creativity? Join me for Tending the Work, an online workshop. Learn how to find a good home for your voice and get tools for each step of the journey. A great way to support this newsletter is to click on the ads! You can also get your own ad—they're super affordable. Click for details. Testimonials No testimonials this week. That's ok—I appreciate that you're all removing obstructions from your lives, too. A gentle reminder, though: I love it when you encourage your people to sign up for this thing. This newsletter is floating through the atmosphere. Forward it to your favorite space cadet. 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