Cruel Compendium #70 🗡️
Traitors, tax write-offs, and the most hated man in America
On Saturday I hosted a SXSW panel about the future of experiential with XP Land and C2 Montreal! Here’s a ‘fit check, and a reminder that I am available for all of your hosting and moderating needs!
I don’t have an official badge for SXSW this year, but if you’re in town and want to hang, let me know! Here’s my write-up about SXSW 2023 if you need some pro tips for navigating this week.
ICYMI: Last week, I wrote about bleeding, bloodlines, and showing up for your family and yourself.
Be sure to click “View entire message” at the end of this email so you can read the whole post in your browser. On to the links!
What I’m Reading
How Cord Jefferson turned a novel about race, American Fiction, into this year’s buzziest comedy by
CONGRATULATIONS to Cord Jefferson for his Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar win!!!! American Fiction was the first movie I saw and loved this year, then I immediately read and loved Erasure by Percival Everett.
How Tom Sandoval became the most hated man in America by Irina Aleksander
In which I learned that Raquel ghosted him!
He talks about his life not in years but in seasons and episodes. Sometimes he pauses midsentence and stares into the middle distance, like a doll whose windup key has jammed, until whatever ambulance, helicopter or other sound-interfering entity has passed, and then he continues as if nothing happened, even when there are no mics or cameras on him. The ceiling lights in his home are taped over with sheets of paper to diffuse light and make it optimal for filming.
Arranging love by Usha Raj
A beautiful essay on marriage, love, and how the best-laid plans so often don’t work out.
A week in evil witches by
A realistic look into what a week of work, creativity, and family life looks like from one of my favorite newsletter writers. I’ve been extra obsessed with people’s boring, regular habits lately because it’s felt extra hard to get it all done.
Happy birthday to me by
Five solid life lessons learned at 50.
13 newsletter creators share their #1 tip for new writers by
“Okay, seriously, don’t wait! Just do it!”
My 6th book of 2024: Black Women Writers at Work, edited by Claudia Tate. My thoughts on Goodreads:
A look into the working lives, inner thoughts, and philosophies on art and life of some of the greatest American writers. The book was originally published in 1983, so it's fascinating to hear about the political and cultural currents of the time, some of which, 40 years later, have changed, and some that have devastatingly stayed the same. I love to hear about the habits and pure drive of women writers, and to hear from outstanding Black women writers at this specific moment in time, not even two decades after the Civil Rights Movement, is captivating, educational, and nourishing. The editor asks each author if men and women write about different subject matters and themes; these answers were the ones I found most illuminating.
I’m listening to:
The unhappy voters who could swing the election on The Daily
News to Know
CVS and Walgreens plan to start dispensing abortion pill mifepristone soon
Here’s how to get free Paxlovid as many times as you need it
More than 100 Palestinians were killed trying to get aid. “Around 100 people with gunshot wounds were treated at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City.”
“We were constantly in terror”: Israeli hostage tells of captivity in Gaza
Actions for Palestine
Purchase eSims so Palestinians can communicate with each other and the outside world. This is a way to directly benefit people in Gaza.
Use ceasefire-now.com as an easy tool to email your Congressional reps.
Download the 5 Calls app to easily dial your representatives and demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Seventy-seven members of Congress have now called for a ceasefire.
Join Jewish Voice for Peace’s daily Power Half-Hour for Gaza (2pm CT Mon-Fri) to hear updates on the movement and take action.
Questionable Self-Care Advice
Support System
Vision Board
Obsessions
🗡️ Have you seen The Traitors on Peacock? I loved it!!! It’s basically Clue in a Scottish castle with all kinds of camp fashion, with your favorite reality TV stars from the last two decades competing in hilarious challenges and “murdering” each other. Smooth brain TV for the ages.
🤷🏻♀️ In 2024, let them. Let them!!! This was a huge help to me this week.
🗓️ Can’t WAIT to get the Poketo Spectrum Wall Planner calendar in gradient for 2025
✨ How to use Tarot to make a decision from
🫠 My comments are in the Google Doc I linked in the Dropbox I sent in the Slack
💸 Thread of tax write-offs for authors and illustrators
🤫 These are my favorite earplugs for travel (or sleeping next to a snorer)
🇺🇸 I went down a rabbit hole of this language teacher’s charming videos, but this one absolutely dragging the American accent is my favorite
🦕 I was LOLing at the video of dinosaur running speed comparisons
👪🏻 I’ve watched this actually 100 times. Warning: could be triggering to middle children.
🫧 Been oddly obsessed with this super cleaner’s Sunday chore videos. Are y’all swiffering your walls or??
🍹 POV: You’re telling me a traumatic story but there’s tajin on my drink rim
🗳️ Instead of sitting in anxiety and fear this election year, do something! Sign up to volunteer, donate, or vote with Vote Save America.
🐈 I’ve been using Trusted Housesitters as a reliable service to make sure my pets, plants, and house chores are taken care of while I’m away. I’ve had three sitters so far and they’ve all been great experiences. The best part is that an annual membership is only $199 per year — that’s it. You don’t pay your sitters any extra costs, and they get the benefit of having a free place to stay. It’s genius and is saving me a LOT of money. Get 25% off with my referral link.
💃🏽 What you clicked on most in the last Compendium: An easy styling tip from one of my favorite creators: get dressed to make all your little chores feel a lot better.
Forever reminder:
Dusty moment
SXSW Mood
As a scorpio I feel oddly singled out by that image XD As always, thanks for the links, I bookmarked a few for later because last time you hid some GEMS in there.
Thank you Jillian!!