♥ I am not someone who enjoys wishing ill on others, but I hope Mitch McConnell gets “frequent mandatory updates on his pc … that require immediate restarts … with no document recovery.” Blocking the confirmation of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court will be the career-defining feat of McConnell’s tenure as Senate Majority Leader, a GOP victory made even clearer as “Trump’s Travel Ban Is Upheld by Supreme Court.”
♥ Let us not forget that the Declaration of Independence specifically criticized George III for endeavoring “to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither.” How ironic that the current administration continues to dehumanize immigrants given that almost all Americans (save for some five million) are immigrants or descendants of immigrants.
♥ I know we all carry the weight of the 24/7 news cycle with us so I normally avoid discussing politics on this blog, but I do want to encourage you to consider making a donation to one of these organizations (list compiled by the New York Times) that provide services to refugees.
♥ This Gizmodo story titled, “I’m Starting to Have Serious Doubts About Amazon Prime,” is very clickbaity in that the author doesn’t reveal anything new (or nefarious) about Amazon Prime, but rather shares the story of how he is unable to resist buying everything he needs (and doesn’t need) from Amazon. I don’t fault him, though, because I too struggle to rein in my reckless Amazon habit, but do find the headline misleading.
♥ What the Gizmodo article linked above should have been about is Amazon’s aggressive push on the private-label front, which the New York Times covered in “How Amazon Steers Shoppers to Its Own Products.” While Amazon isn’t the only retailer investing heavily in private labels, it is the only retailer with enough market influence to raise concerns about impartiality. I want to continue to think of Amazon as a marketplace, not a manufacturer or a possible vertical monopolist, but it may not be long before Amazon grows large enough to start destroying brands (after it ate B&M).
♥ I used to consider myself a fiscal conservative, because of its basic tenets like free trade and deregulation, but reading about the experience of Amazon Flex workers (or really any account of someone working in the gig economy) makes me question the economic truths that I held to be self-evident.
♥ The Lioness Palermo Blazer that I own in two colorways is now restocked in many sizes and colors at Shopbop (an Amazon subsidiary. sigh). It’s even now available in “blush” which I am somewhat interested in. The material, as I mentioned in a previous post, is mediocre and will probably pill after a season or two, but the price is reasonable so you should think of it as a fast fashion item, not made to endure years of wear.
♥ This field piece–from Samantha Bee’s late-night show–about the Irish Abortion Referendum (video link) is compelling, and a hopeful reminder that elections and referendums matter.
♥ For anyone who shops the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (early access starts on 07/12 and public access starts on 07/20) enthusiastically, the Anniversary Sale catalog has just been made available online.
♥ I have been following the (changing) scientific discourse on the management/treatment of pain with interest, which is why I found this New Yorker piece, “The Neuroscience of Pain,” so engaging; it reports on experimental methods–pioneered by Irene Tracey (who has the forbidding nickname “the Queen of Pain”)–that try to more clearly “compare and quantify the dimensions of” pain.
♥ When I find my standard carry-on to be insufficient in size, I turn to the more capacious Osprey Meridian 60L/22 Wheeled Luggage, which is now on sale at Amazon (I can’t escape it and I give up) for ~$224.18 (Amazon prices fluctuate, so who knows what price you will see when this post goes live). This backpack has a lot going on, with its detachable daypack, wheels and handles for rolling, various zippered pockets and compartments, and shoulder straps that can be tucked away when unused. If versatility is attractive to you, you will probably like this backpack. The only feature that I find concerning is its size–at 22″ x 14″ x 9″ (excluding the dayback), this bag is on the cusp of being too tall to be a carry-on. Osprey hewed a little too close to the carry-on allowance size established by the IATA on this, which means that some budget airlines may require that this bag be checked at boarding. Also noteworthy: it’s about 8-1/2″ pounds empty, so not exactly ideal for carrying around on your shoulders when you can help it (but thank goodness for the wheesl!)
♥ If you enjoy medical dramas like House M.D., you may find the medical mysteries chronicled in “Diagnosis,” a new series created by the New York Times and Netflix, of interest. And if you are a health professional, you may also give answers (that might lead to a treatment plan) to someone suffering from a mysterious mix of symptoms.
♥ The Ann Taylor Textured Fringe Sweater Jacket seen above is now on sale, and is an extra 40% off (discount will automatically apply at checkout) online. This little jacket goes perfectly with summer dresses and I am surprised that sizes are still fairly complete online. I plan to feature it again in a post next week but want to share that it’s now on sale. Also on sale is my entire outfit from this post.
♥ I accept that what draws my attention when scrolling through a newsfeed is content that affirms my lifestyle. One of my (very) few desirable hobbies is running–which, for the record, I can’t even do properly as I have a history of overexerting and then injuring myself–so when I see an article that seems to link running with positive outcomes, I click on it without hesitation. The Guardian recently ran a story about how running “can return focus, vanquish stress, and improve mood” and is “a form of moving mindfulness meditation.” The report doesn’t unearth any previously unknown upsides to running, but cites a few recent studies and tries to draw a conclusion from those studies’ findings and already known benefits of running. If you are also a runner and need your bias confirmed, look no further.
♥ Earlier this month I linked the story of “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” in a WLR, and sighed in astonishment of our collective credulity. Then I read this WaPo story about a conman who “convinced people he was a rich ‘Saudi prince.’ [when] He was really a poor street kid from Bogota” and have started to question all of the institutions in which I used to trust implicitly.
♥ The Silk Bow Barrette, which I now own in every color, has just been restocked online in some attractive colors, including the “Cherry Red” and pink, both of which sold out online some time ago. The Free People sale section, in general, is worth a browse right now. My picks: Frilla One-Piece Swimsuit (ordered, but this may be a mistake), Marea Tiered Maxi Dress, Kiss Kiss Top, Anywhere Midi Dress, Palm Springs One-Piece Swimsuit, Sunchaser Lace-Up One-Piece Swimsuit, Dolly Tee, Sunny Meadow Bodysuit, Cosmic Onesie, Picture Perfect Top, Girl So Pretty Bodysuit, Everly Mini Dress, Daydream Bodycon Slip, and Margaret Midi Dress.
♥ Having the company of cheerful shows like Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! when I am vacuuming or doing laundry makes housework, which may be my least favorite responsibility, more tolerable. In particular, the June 16th episode, which featured Louie Anderson, is just so delightful; I hope it entertains you as much as it did me.
♥ Anyone who has ever attended a meeting in which you can barely see the person sitting on the other end of the conference table (nevermind meetings so crowded that most of the participants are standing) knows that productive meetings rarely involve a large group of people. This HBR piece, “The Most Productive Meetings Have Fewer Than 8 People,” caps that number at eight, and provides some guidance on how managers ought to conduct meetings.
♥ Currently stalking this Reformation Rou Midi Fit & Flare Dress and the BP. Linen Blend Tie Front Crop Jumpsuit as both sold out in my size during my indecision. If you’ve tried either, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Have a great week, everyone!
