OMM – August 2024 – #4
~ a curated selection of discoveries ~
::: The Open :::
Dear Reader,
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Thank you for reading and for your time.
With Gratitude,
~ Mark
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Please Note:
This newsletter is typically too long to appear in its entirety in an email. Please click through to Substack to read in full.
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::: Personal Notes :::
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Busy times as usual.
Took a breather yesterday and went on the 2024 Philly Book Crawl. Louisa and I went to a few shops… there’s only so much territory you can comfortably/reasonably cover in a day.
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::: ONE ART :::
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In the process of scheduling future workshops as well as starting the ONE ART Reading Series.
Right now, we have an upcoming workshop scheduled with Kari Gunter-Seymour:
Screw the Rules—Let’s Just Write
Instructor: Kari Gunter-Seymour
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time: 6:00-8:00pm (Eastern)
Price: $25
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::: Podcasts :::
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The Poetry Space_ — Poetic Hospitality
Wonderful way to spend an hour. Great discussion. The subject is articulated well and it's explored in a deep and appreciative manner. Truly a fantastic episode.
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Hidden Brain – You 2.0: The Gift of Other People
This episode really got me thinking.
I like saying “hi” to strangers and asking how their day is going. One thing I’ve noticed is that masks have become barriers as less and less people wear them. I still generally wear them in supermarkets, pharmacies, stores… I’d simply rather not get sick and the evidence seems to show there’s a chance masks will help as a preventative measure. That being said, if you’re wearing a mask and other people are not it feels like a barrier to giving someone a compliment let alone starting up a conversation.
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Ezra Klein is rising in prominence after basically making a good call.
I’ve tried to listen to a few episodes of his podcast here and there… and previously wasn’t too taken with his tone/style/content.
Should I try again? Am I missing something or do you think he’s just achieved a bit of temporary star power?
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::: Music :::
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Davey Havok (of AFI) has a substack. Huh.
Laura Marling has a substack.
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Did you know that Taylor Swift’s “Holiday House” was renamed “High Watch”?
I know—very important news.
Fun fact: It’s the most expensive house in Rhode Island (which says something) clocking in at ~$18M.
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The DNC roll call state-by-state music breakdown is… uhh… a little bizarre… but that’s probably typical.
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::: The Literary Community & Beyond :::
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George Bilgere is making nice poetry selections for ‘Poetry Town’.
Sign up for George’s poem-a-day newsletter here.
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Al Filreis (UPenn) —
“ModPo 2024 begins on September 1. This will be our newest "symposium mode" 10-week season. Whether you have read all the poems and watched all the discussions previously, or partially completed the syllabus, or never really got past week 1 in earlier seasons, we invite you to join us again!”
“We feature new discussions of the poems; new poems to read & discuss ("ModPoPLUS"); new weekly live interactive webcasts; in-person & online meet-ups and discussion groups; and, this year, a trip to Montreal for the ModPo team.”
Here is a link to the course (ModPo)
“Click that link & look to the blue box at left. If it says "Go to Course," well then you are already enrolled & ready to participate again. If it says "Enroll," click the box and enroll for free (there are no charges, no fees, no tuition).”
Questions? Contact: modpo@writing.upenn.edu.
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‘My Secret Life as a Mysterious Multimillionaire’s Personal Assistant’
Originally published in Narratively in 2019.
One of the most eerie, mesmerizing reads I’ve encountered in recent times.
When I drove for Uber/Lyft, I heard some wild stories… but none quite like this.
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Turns out Ted Gioia, who runs ‘The Honest Broker’ substack, is Dana Gioia’s brother.
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‘72 Manuscript Publishers With Geographic Limitations’ (Authors Publish)
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‘The 100 bestselling books of the past 50 years’ (UK) (The Times)
“The list was the first of its kind in the UK, and not uncontroversial (some critics declared it “anti-literary” or even “unEnglish”) but no one could have guessed just how important it would go on to be. Today, becoming a Sunday Times bestseller is the ultimate benchmark of commercial success for authors and publishers alike.”
Note that this is a list of UK bestsellers, not US bestsellers. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t see books such as “The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady” by Edith Holden near the top of the list… or on the list.
Frankly, I found this list… rather depressing. What the heck are people reading in Britain?
Glad to see such gems as ‘Watership Down’ make the list.
Makes sense that Frank McCourt’s ‘Angela’s Ashes’ is in the Top 10.
As for much of the rest of the list… yikes.
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‘A.I. Is Helping Scholars Decipher the Epic of Gilgamesh: The project is called the Framentarium” (artnet)
“There is still an estimated 30 percent or so of the poem missing, and experts are still learning more about both the story and Mesopotamian writing more broadly. A.I. now looks to play a major role in that endeavor.”
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poem:
‘glad’ by Nicole Callihan in Verse Daily
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::: Health & Wellness :::
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‘Increase in Parvovirus B19 Activity in the United States’ (CDC)
Preventative measures and treatment.
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Young people continue to feel very unwell.
“In a recent ranking of happiness in countries around the world, American young people came in at 62, behind Bulgaria, Ecuador, and Honduras.” (Brookings)
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‘He was in recovery and in college. Then he died of an overdose’ (NPR)
"Overdoses are shrouded in secrecy and shame"
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‘The FDA just approved a gel that can stop bleeding from gunshot wounds in seconds’ (QZ)
ICYMI… we have a gun problem in this country. So, sadly, this new gel is all too useful.
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This is big.
‘FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Suzetrigine to Manage Acute Pain’ (pharmacy times)
“If approved, the drug would be the first in a new class of medications to treat acute pain in over 20 years.”
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Research is showing that symptoms of long covid may look different in kids.
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Oh no, turtles!
“A salmonella outbreak linked to pet turtles has spread across 21 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the outbreak has made 51 people sick and sent 23 to the hospital.” (QZ)
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::: Small Explorations & Deep Dives :::
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Important piece. Highly recommend.
‘10 Reasons Why Technological Progress Is Now Reversing’ by Ted Gioia (The Honest Broker)
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The life of Frances Perkins and the history of developing Social Security.
And why it’s a terrible thing that Social Security is at risk.
We can’t go back.
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The World of Work.
‘The Recruitment Process Is More Digital Than Ever’ (Gallup)
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‘Research shows our bodies go through rapid changes in our 40s and our 60s’
I hit a hard wall at 35.
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Flavor enhancer to the rescue.
‘Why I Always Keep a Pickle in My Freezer’ (The Kitchn)
Have I tried it? Not yet…
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‘The FTC is about to fine companies $51,744 if they buy fake consumer reviews.’ (Sherwood)
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‘Parts of Connecticut were hit by a “1,000-year” rain event yesterday.’ (WaPo)
You’ve probably noticed that we’re starting to see headlines like this a little more frequently than every 10,000 years…
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“The far left plays a role here. Parts of it — think of Noam Chomsky — can be disdainful of the U.S., describing it as a fundamentally oppressive country.”
(Quote from an NYT article on patriotism in the U.S.)
Dems don’t have blind patriotism about the U.S. The GOP tends to wear rose-colored glasses. There are many historical reasons why this might be the case.
Dems are feeling a bit more patriotic of late, which is attributed to the Harris-Walz ticket.
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TP as a shrinkflation indicator.
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Study: Flying keeps getting safer (MIT News)
Boeing on the other hand…
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‘Biggest US companies warn of growing AI risk’ (Financial Times)
“Overall, 56 per cent of Fortune 500 companies cited AI as a “risk factor” in their most recent annual reports, according to research by Arize AI, a research platform that tracks public disclosures by large businesses. The figure is a striking jump from just 9 per cent in 2022.”
“By contrast, only 33 companies of the 108 that specifically discussed generative AI — technology capable of creating humanlike text and realistic imagery — saw it as an opportunity. Potential benefits include cost efficiencies, operational benefits and accelerating innovation, these groups said in their annual reports. More than two-thirds of that group specified generative AI as a risk.”
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‘Boy Meets World’ star Danielle Fishel reveals she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer (New York Post)
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‘The Best Deli in Every State’ (Taste of Home)
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“Very demure, very cutesy. Mentions of “demure” soared by +3,631% last week, with nearly 1 million X users using the term.” (QZ)
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‘Here's when kids should take a sick day from school’ (AP)
Maybe we should redefine "chronically absent"? Thoughts?
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‘Taylor Swift could totally sue Donald Trump’ (QZ)
Would Taylor want to spend time in a courtroom with Trump… absolutely not.
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‘Can This $13 Walmart T-Shirt Save the American Garment Industry?’ (GQ)
I’m going to guess “no” but hey… let’s be foolishly optimistic and say maybe
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Higher Ed
“A new report from the Wall Street Journal outlined a surge in traditional colleges shutting down across America. From 2014 to 2023, some 529 private, non-profit four-year institutions have shut down — 3x as many as in the previous decade — including renowned establishments like New York’s 156-year-old Wells College closing their doors.” (Chartr)
“A Pew Research Center poll published in May found that only 22% of American adults said that the cost of getting a college degree was worth it if someone has to take out loans; 47% said it was worth it only if you don’t need a loan, and 29% said it wasn’t worth it at all.”
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Not just the U.S.
Japan's higher ed woes.
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From the terrifying fast-paced world of robots…
Unitree (a Chinese robotics company) says they have this $16,000 “humanoid robot” ready for mass production…
A clear win for those in the “move fast and break things” camp
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Gold.
“The price of a gold bar is now worth $1 million for the first time ever. The value of gold has surged this year, up more than 20% since the start of the year. An ounce of gold hit a record high of $2,500 this week” (Public)
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If you’ve been to the store lately, then you’re aware it’s already time for Halloween. 10 weeks notice might be the new normal.
I’ve noted Spirit Halloween is open. Currently running an ad that says “70 days until Halloween”.
Halloween is going in the direction of seeking half-birthdays.
Goths can celebrate this as a victory.
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“The world’s oldest person has died. 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera passed away in her sleep after living through two world wars and two pandemics.”
Something for the kids who say “I’m here for a good time, not a long time” to think about. It cuts both ways.
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‘Plaything or peril? Brazilian kites are endangering lives and prompting a push for a national ban’ (AP)
People are willing to accept injury or death over interesting choices.
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‘Light bulbs have energy ratings — so why can’t AI chatbots?’ (Nature)
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Less teenagers and 20-somethings are driving.
The Federation Highway Admin did some looking into this and determined there’s been about a 20% drop in 19-year-olds with driver’s licenses.
This is partly attributed to rideshare access.
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‘BoJack Horseman’ Team of Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Tornante Company, ShadowMachine Reunite for Netflix Animated Series ‘Long Story Short’’ (Variety)
“Long Story Short” is slated to debut in 2025. Per the official logline, the show is “about a family, over time. It’s about the shared history, the inside jokes, the old wounds. If you’ve ever had a mother, father, sibling, partner, or child, this is the show for you and by the way would it kill you to call them?”
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2nd Largest Diamond discovered…
An enormous 2,492-carat diamond was found in Botswana and let’s keep tabs on this because they better get paid.
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Too real, Seth, too real.
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‘Elon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the list’
If you’ve happened to see Elon’s recent polls… the results are… distressing. At least from where I sit with my worldview.
We’re in 2024, keep in mind, and twitter (X, sure) users are primarily identifying as Republicans or Independents and most want to see a Trump victory. This according to those who answer polls… and we’re keeping in mind people could answer polls those don’t live in the U.S. and can’t vote in the U.S. So… taken with large grains of salt.
I’m actually hopeful we’ll witness Kamala have a historic win by about 5 points. It’s important that Kamala wins by a margin of more than just a few 10s of thousands of votes because we know Team MAGA will not let it go. They’re not going to let it go anyhow… and least not instantaneously.
One grim prediction I have is that MAGA “true believers” will go semi-underground as a low-grade domestic terrorist group.
The less foaming-at-the-mouth types we can slowly unbrainwash once Trump is pushed to the sidelines. It’s going to take years to get us back to where Far Right extremists come back to anything that resembles a moderate GOP party line voter… and, when that happens, it’s going to feel like a bizarre type of progress towards the lesser of evils. But it should feel like a significant accomplishment since we’ll have dodged a quasi-authoritarian regime and potential modernized Civil War.
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::: Google Search Trends :::
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“trad goth” and “pastel goth” are currently at all time highs in the US
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::: News of the Weird :::
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‘US: Rare 12-foot ‘doomsday serpent’ discovered floating off San Diego Coast’
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::: Questions :::
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What would it mean to be “done for the day”?
Oof. You got me.
But, ideas.
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What is the percentage of people who are born and die in the same hospital?
I’m not talking about newborn/child mortality rates.
I’m wondering about the number of people who are born in a hospital and then, many decades later, die in that very same hospital. It must be fairly common and, seemingly, an indicator of who stays in their hometown.
I can’t decide if this seems like a sad thing or rather aligns with the circle of life.
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How do we still have an Adderall shortage that began in 2022?
You’re telling me pharma companies really can’t get it together on this massive money-making opportunity… suspect.
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Consistent Recommendations: _ last updated 8.21.24 _
ONE ART: a journal of poetry – daily poems
Verse Daily – daily poems
Chill Subs – down to earth submissions resource
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Becky Tuch’s LitMagNews – literary community news & essential resource
Trish Hopkinson – resource for the literary community
Erika Dreifus – resource for the literary community
C. Hope Clark’s Funds for Writers –weekly email newsletter contains invaluable short essays
Jane Friedman – blog, email newsletter, resource for the literary community
The Poetry Space_ with Katie Dozier & Timothy Green (podcast)
Commonplace: Conversations with Poets and Other People (podcast hosted by Rachel Zucker)
The Gray Area with Sean Illing (podcast)
Hidden Brain (podcast)
Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American – daily news with historical context
Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance – political commentary
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