Things that are helping
Turns out these posts always have Muppets?
Hi, hi —
I opened Instagram on my phone yesterday for the first time in weeks and, within ten minutes, remembered why I’d been avoiding it. I have now re-deleted it. To cleanse my brain of its residue, I started a list of recent things that have improved my days, and I thought I’d share, in case they can improve yours too. xx
If you’re interested in the recent firestorm around Ezra Klein, I appreciated
’s essay on the subject. I have no answers, and I do also sympathize with those who feel that said firestorm is a total fucking waste of energy, but! Bucks’s take is well-reasoned, clarifying, and, I noticed, made me actually want to do something. That felt good.
Also on a political note, but enjoyable:
Lenz’s post “Dingus of the Week: ABC” — even though it’s two weeks old and Jimmy Kimmel is back, sort of, but whatever. Read all the way to the end.
This next one is a recommendation from my friend and Spilled Milk co-host Matthew, who mentioned it on his other podcast, Hidden Jukebox:
An in-depth examination and celebration of the music of the Muppets, on the podcast Strong Songs, hosted by Kirk Hamilton:
And after I listened to the Muppets episode, I noticed that there was also one on the song “Roulette Dares (The Haunt of),” by the Mars Volta, from one of my all-time favorite albums: 2003’s beautiful, chaotic, and supremely challenging De-Loused in the Comatorium.
I remember when, in my early twenties, my boyfriend brought home De-Loused on CD, probably the week it came out, and he said I had to listen right away because it was absolutely bonkers, just unhinged, and how we made fun of and then couldn’t stop singing the audaciously ‘80s hair-metal-y pre-chorus of “Drunkship of Lanterns.”1 There’s still no better album for showing off my air-guitar face. I should add that part of what’s wonderful about the “Roulette Dares” episode of Strong Songs is that Kirk Hamilton has a voice like a kindergarten teacher, in a nice way, and he is unabashed in his love for this very dark and troubling album, and he reads aloud a generous sampling of the song’s batshit lyrics. The contrast is golden.
I will also add, finally, that if you understand music theory, which I do not, Strong Songs will thrill you even more than it thrills me.
Next up, this screenshot from a video of Gilbert running at the off-leash park:
Finally, whenever I need a real lift, I read Spilled Milk episode descriptions.2 I can say this and not be bragging, because neither Matthew nor I write the descriptions. Producer Abby does. In her words, “The more nonsensical the episode description, the better the chances the episode will be gold.” (N.b. Abby is also the mind behind the Rolling Ladder.) Here, for instance, is her description of the Chocolate Milk episode:
Today we ask things like: how old are we really? who is more annoying to be married to? and who doesn’t love us? This episode is decades in the making and before things get morbid we taste test while discussing lying babysitters, boxcar hijinks, and the title ‘Designated Milk Person’. After some voluptuous mouth feelings and creepy commercials, we remember to never forget that Duckies Gotta Grub.
Really finally this time: the following portion of our recent Cool Cookies episode (about store-bought refrigerated and/or frozen cookie dough) made me LOL so hard, which is dumb because I already know what happens.
My colleagues will kill me if I don’t mention that it’s pledge drive season. Thank you.
With that, happy Wednesday —
M.
Is anybody there? (Spines in a row) / These steps keep on growing long (spined as an arrow) 🤘🤘
From that link, click on each episode title for its description.
My favourite part of any SM episode is when Mathew makes you laugh & then laughs at himself.
AI will never replace me!