Welcome to week 8 of Internet of Literal Things. The weird, wacky, wonderful, and wild of the world wide web seems to be several-too-many “w’s” and a perfect place for me to start. I’m Sara Nason, a fellow person on the internet, who happens to have many hours on hand to read random articles that are tucked into multiple crevices in my phone.
I attempted to write an intro to this newsletter earlier this week that was along the lines of “this will be short, because I’ll be outdoors and offline!” But because I’m _that person_ , I was forced to rewrite this by the stars that be, because it’s 44º and rainy outside. So, I’m sitting on my laptop working on planning my upcoming few weeks of freelance work, because I’m always happier doing!! my!! thing!! This enthusiasm would make more sense if I enjoyed romping around in the rain and puddles as I did when I was younger. Until I refind that joy for stomping in minor lakes of water, I’ll be here typing away!
In somewhat important life news from me, my art shop is now live on the interwebs. I’m offering prints of some of my pieces, which you can own for yourself by clicking the link here.
So, strangers of the internet, here we go. Do!! Ur!! Thing!! for the Internet of Literal Things #08.
(While we’re at it, become a paying subscriber for $5 a month to support all of the links that bring this W-focused newsletter your way every Sunday.)
What I’m Reading
Signal Problems closes its metaphorical MTA doors (Signal Problems)
My art shop is officially live with prints (bysaranason)
Science’s newest miracle drug is free [hint: it’s nature] (Outside Magazine)
Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an ‘Unprecedented’ Pace (NY Times)
The age of the Influencer has peaked. It’s time for the slacker to rise again (Quartz)
The Instagram Aesthetic Is Over (The Atlantic)
Sunscreen Chemicals Soak All the Way Into Your Bloodstream (WIRED)
Man's Homemade Electronics Disrupt Entire Neighborhood's Car Keys and Garage Openers (Jalopnik)
How do ideas grow? (Medium)
Nipsey Hussle had a plan to beat gentrification (LA Times)
What I’m Watching
The West Wing… again… on Netflix. Only this time, I’m getting mad about it? Email me if you’d like an essay.
Wine Country, starring Amy Poehler (!!), Tina Fey (!!), Maya Rudolph (!!), and Maya Erskine (!!) (Netflix)
As a disclaimer, I’m not heavily into YouTube or the makeup community [bare-faced, all the time], but it’s been some sort of internet sensation to watch the drama in the YouTube beauty community over some hair vitamins that has caused one YouTuber to gain 2.5 million subscribers in 3 days and for another to lose 2.5 million subscribers in the same time…. (YouTube)
What I’m Listening To
Adam J Kurtz’s interview with Sam Sanders for NPR’s It’s Been A Minute about being an artist in the age of the internet (NPR)
Spotify’s Indie Pop playlist (good for working on a Sunday 😉) (Spotify)
This section is usually called 🏆🥇 A Photo of A Really Cute Animal On The Internet 🥇🏆 but because I’ve posted pretty much only Blair Braverman and #UglyDogs content here, I’m officially renaming this section to:
🏆🥇 A Photo of Some Wonderful #UglyDogs Related Thing On The Internet 🥇🏆
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