Weekend Reads for Early Voting Weekend

As you read this, I will be at the College Park Community Center in Maryland, working as an election judge for Maryland early voting so this Weekend Reads is a bit shorter. I know many parts of this country have already had early voting. If you haven't yet voted, please make a plan to do so during early voting, and if not that, on election day November 3rd.

Lines have been extremely long in many states; I encourage you to plan accordingly. Wear comfy shoes, dress for the weather, bring water and a snack, and do not give up. Your vote matters. Many states have policies for those with mobility issues; I know in Maryland you can be provided a number in line so you can sit down and wait until it's your turn without losing your place. Do not be afraid to ask for this capability, we all deserve the right to vote safely and fairly.

I thank you in advance for exercising your right to vote. If we all use this right, we can change this country for good.

Weekend Reads

A grad student said he became ill after noticing an odd taste in his water. His coworkers may have helped crack the case. (CNN)

Easy care wool? I'm considering this for my entryway.

A Christmas sweater for men that is cute but not corny (sizes XS-3XLT)

And if he's a fellow Terp and loves an ugly Christmas sweater, these are fun (other schools here).

Meta says it shut down No Kings Instagram account because it thought bots had been unleashed. (Business Insider)

Deskilling the body. (Aeon)

My body has nothing left to prove. (Unapologetic Aging via Substack)

This is a great alternative to wrapping paper, especially for inlaws, housewarming presents, and that hard to shop for person.

Death becomes him. (The Fence)

The Harsh Truth About Kristen Wiig’s ‘New Face’. (I Say This With Love via Substack)

I was a teenage ‘Rent' groupie. (Jenny)

America's dental hygienists call it quits. (Business Insider)

I started making a magazine of my life each year, and it completely changed the way I remember it. (Notes from the Studio via Substack)

Shocked by how comfortable their heels are (seriously the heel is a different placement and that plus strategic cushioning make a difference) and that they fit my widish feet, I'm now eyeing these boots from Inez which come in a wide calf option!

The generation fashion forgot. (Podcast – The Business of Fashion)

Inside the Democrats’ Campaign Spam Machine. (KQED)

The Cool Girls Are Getting Old And Staying Cool. (The Weakley Report via Substack)

See/Hear/Read

I am writing this Friday afternoon and I am 85% through with Under Story by Chloe Benjamin and this book is a wild ride. The second half is interesting though I have so many questions it sometimes pulls me out of the story but I can't stop thinking about it and can't wait to find out what happens. Highly recommend, though know there's a lot of mycology and physics and a care warning there is death of one's child.

This past weekend was a film festival in my city and I saw three documentaries. One was 10 minutes long and fine, one was really interesting but not ready for mass consumption, and one will be on MPT (the local PBS station) next month. It is called Unseen Hooks, and it's about how the city of LaPlata, Maryland was hit not once but twice by deadly tornadoes.

For those not from this part of the country, know that tornadoes in Maryland are extremely rare, and if they do actually touch down, they are often tiny creating little to no damage. But in 1926 and 2002, LaPlata was utterly decimated by tornadoes. The only reason the 2002 wasn't more deadly is because it was a Sunday evening so there wasn't school and most businesses had closed for the day.

If you're from the area and don't remember this, that's okay because I didn't either. I learned from the doc that only one news station reported on it, our local CBS affiliate WUSA9. The station's Chief Meteorologist, Topper Shutt, was in the doc and did the live reporting. I remember in 2001 a tornado went through nearby College Park, Maryland, and tore off part of the roof of Linens & Things and picked up a car on the college campus and the two women in the car died. But a year later, heard nothing about LaPlata. If you get MPT, consider watching Unseen Hooks on Sunday, November 8th at 6pm.