What if…algorithm-free reco list, no. 6?

Himbos, Crones, Villains, etc.!

Hello!

I am back with another batch of stuff and not-quite stuff. 

Magic Mike XXL

The fact that I originally slept on the Magic Mike Collection is a bottomless well of shame for me. What could I possibly have been doing in 2015 that was not watching this sequel-that’s-better-than-the-OG masterpiece? It has everything I want from a “film:” Hot people! Friendship! Encouragement to pursue your art in a community-minded way! Cake! Ugh, cinema truly has the power to change the world. (Speaking of which, you can support writers, actors, and other entertainment workers affected by the dual union battle against cartoon villains here. The rights they’re fighting for set a major precedent for all of us who make things.)

Asking your local bookseller for recommendations

No shit, but they know what they’re talking about. I went into The Ripped Bodice a few weeks ago with a pretty well-researched plan, then abandoned all of it after chatting with bookseller Binta. She convinced me to try historical and came dangerously close to getting me to buy into “hockey.” Sure enough, getting blind endorsements from a real person (even if you end up being just okay on them) is way more rewarding than looking at tons of reviews. 

Saying “absolutely not” to Threads

Although I could go long on why we don’t need to further entrench ourselves in the Zuckerburg Digital Turdiverse, I won’t go long here. Instead, it’s that it feels delightful to completely opt out of a trend cycle. If you want “text-based conversation” from me, you can find that either right here or by just texting/emailing. One step closer to my dreams of being the village crone. 

Urban hikes

Okay, so you dress like you’re going on a hike. Then because your car is messed up, or you hate driving, or you can’t easily get to the trail, you instead just walk the distance you were gonna hike, preferably in a loop-like path. Yes, I’m describing a walk. But it’s more of a mindset — you’re not texting; you turn on airplane mode; you stop and admire whatever nature is available; you are present. 

Refrigerated Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls

Are these good? Debatable! But I’m on a multi-month-long kick, and I won’t be stopped by matters of taste. 

This newsletter brought to you by:

• Everything above!

• Quinn’s Maple Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets, which are too crunchy and wildly overpriced for how underfilled the bag is.

• Procrastinating the things I should be doing right now to pay my rent or whatever.