What if...algorithm-free reco list, no. 11?

Reject modernity, embrace verbiage from Love Is Blind

Hello!

It is another month and another collection of things! Very tempted to start doing these more often because the backlog is deep, but for now, I shall exercise self-control.

The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, respectively.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)

The TV series with Donald Glover and Maya Erskine, not the movie that birthed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s relationship. I cannot get enough of how this show is willing to really live into certain parts of being in a relationship (each episode is named after a different milestone). I wasn’t sure about Glover and Erskine’s chemistry at first, but again, there’s this slow, raw quality to how they let dialogue play out. Also, the guest stars roster is stacked (Ron Perlman, Sarah Paulson, Michaela Coel, Alexander Skarsgård, Sharon Horgan, Parker Posey, etc.). Makes an excellent double feature with the new season of Love is Blind if you and your partner contain multitudes.

“A/The crave”

I promise I will not make this all about Love is Blind, but long story short, two Christians described “the feeling of being overcome with the (important?) kind of temptation that has you on the edge of breaking your sacred vow of chastity” as “a crave.” It’s basically like “spark” or “chemistry,” except with 400% more Book of Genesis. Obviously, this immediately entered my vocabulary as a term for all forms of urgent and consuming obsession. If I write about this more later, pretend you didn’t already see it here. 

Melissa Broder on “Otherppl with Brad Listi” 

Have not listened to a single other episode of this podcast, but I’m fairly sure this one where Melissa Broder talks about meditation as a tool in her writing practice is going to change my life. Like, obviously I cannot solve problems using the same mindset I created them with?! And naturally, meditation is the way I should be synthesizing my ideas, drawing forth answers “at a slant?!” Absurd I didn’t already know these things. Broder also hosts Zoom meditation sessions for writers—you can get on the list by emailing eatingaloneinmycar@gmail.com. 

Kyle Chayka on “The Ezra Klein Show”

The episode is called “How to Discover Your Own Taste.” Is this cringe to you, too? I put off listening because it sounded like it’d be two white bros waxing poetic on their pretentious white bro obsessions. And there’s admittedly a little bit of that! But overall worth it, if only reframe the concept of “taste” as “the things/ideas your brain can’t help but snag on.” 

SoundCloud

I’m sorry, Spotify “AI DJs” give me the creeps! I dare you to compare your “daylist” to any Soulection Radio Hour or Boiler Room set. 

“Daisies” by Louise Glück

Basically just expanding on the previous recommendation in a different medium. (Glück went full freak mode and wrote every poem in The Wild Iris from the POV of a different plant. Not entirely my thing, but “Daisies” hit so right.) 

The Brothers Sun (Netflix)

Everyone is hot, it’s a perfect mix of stunty-silly-sweet, and there’s a karaoke song choice joke that still has me cry-laughing.

This deep dive into the corrupt product recommendations landscape

The only recommendations I trust are from 1. friends, 2. nerds on Reddit, or 3. single-category independent websites. If I cannot feel both obsession and vitriol emanating from the screen, I am simply not interested! 

An electric egg cooker

Look, I’m usually against single-use kitchen tools. But when single-use happens every day? I’m letting it slide. I would not recommend my current model because it doesn’t play a song upon completion and the song is worth almost as much as having perfectly cooked eggs every time. Oh, and don’t forget some white vinegar for cleaning the mineral deposits off the metal plate. You’re gonna want to do this at least 3x more often than I do. 

This newsletter brought to you by:

• Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (preferably refrigerated).

• The specific flavor of household sanity and gratitude that only comes from watching Love is Blind with someone you love.

• Getting super overstimulated wandering down a temporarily car-free strip of Melrose, which later led me to this exploration of why Melrose feels so weird lately (pejorative).