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Hi! You’re here! Thank you.

Things are grim. Let’s try some self-care through distraction. Two of the books I wrote about this week are lights-out good genre fiction: Annie Bot and Interesting Facts About Space are both absorbing, easy reads that are entertaining as hell, and the second one comes with music recommendations.

The links below are fun too - these are bookish and music-ish links that weren’t enough to make a full blog post out of, but they’re all good reads.

I finally turned in my Personal Anthology this week, no word on when it’s going to be published, but I have some blog stuff planned around it that’s pretty funny. It was a difficult thing to do, no matter how much I kept telling myself it didn’t really matter.

And that Canada/USA hockey game last night was a fun one too. It’s the first hockey game I’ve watched in a long time, and I’m glad I did. Now it’s baseball season.

Anyway, hug your loved ones, onto the links:

One serious thing before the fun

I’m not gonna harp on politics, but this piece about the erasure (and power) of trans people in America is both crushing and inspiring.

A libertarian walks into a bear

In fairness I only read half of this piece in the New Republic about a libertarian community in New Hampshire that failed. Once I decided to order the book, I didn’t want to spoil it.

The best worst concert ever

Chris Dalla Riva writes about a hilariously bad Sean Kingston gig that makes him reconsider the point of a concert. It’s a great story with a funny twist to it.

Lorne Michaels’ book launch gets meta

This piece about a reply-all fiasco reads like a literal SNL skit — I laughed out loud several times reading it. It also led me to this wilder-than-fiction story about a chauffeur stealing millions from his boss.

More Murdoch family drama

Following on last week’s NYT story about the Murdoch family, here’s a piece from the perspective of the ‘good guy’ in the family.

More Mood Machine  

Still haven’t picked up Liz Pelly’s book on Spotify? Maybe this excerpt about payola will convince you.

The worst writing you’ll read today.

Thanks to this excellent piece in Hearing Things on healthcare for musicians, I read this brutal op-ed in Hollywood Reporter. Here’s a sentence and a half that will turn your brain into fish food:

“…skin in the game earns a seat at the table. But that table requires a willingness to leave blood on the floor and to put your money where your mouth is.”

Reading:

This week’s books were excellent distraction. Interesting Facts About Space is the rare light read that makes the Essentials list. I want Emily Austin to come hang out for a while. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone is worth it for the scene right at the midpoint of it. Annie Bot is so much better than I expected.

The Shortlist is five short stories, including a couple great stories from Spencer Nitkey and P.R. O’Leary in a brand new speculative fiction publication called Phano.

Listening:

Finally got around to the Heartworms record - it’s fantastic. Winona Fighter is a pop-punk band that does it perfectly on their new record, and if you haven’t listened to Truman Sinclair’s record, put it on now, that’s an order.

That Velveteers record didn’t do it for me, surprisingly. Seems like a band I should love.

The Setlist is more Canadian than usual this week, and it’s pretty eclectic. Highlights to me are Quotas, The Boojums and Smile. 25 songs, an hour and a half of good stuff.

Hit the red button below to dig in. It’s long and it’s good. Apple Music or Spotify

Get the playlists

Something you think I should hear or read? Reply or click here.

New records out today include EPs from Roach, naya mo and Mood Bored, so expect one or more of those next week. Fiction from Julian Barnes and nonfiction about Keith Haring.

Thanks for being here.

-hugh

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