Trick or treat. Since we’re a few days out from an election, it might be best to focus on slightly lighter, or at least entertaining, or something, fare today.
Links
If you haven’t read the Wall Street Journal’s story on the Santa Claus–HHS vaccine program, well, have I got something for you. (This is a truly perfect Journal story, because everything is so straight-faced — they might as well be writing about an Exxon deal — which enhances the quality of each sentence, and ultimately, the photo.)
This piece on Jane Austen, how to misread her novels, money in her books, and what she wanted the reader to know is really a delight. I’ve read it twice.
Also entertaining is this piece on the worst party reporter in existence (also relatable material if talking to strangers is not your, say, forte):
Jennifer Connelly once reprimanded me at a charity event because I asked her what she had been reading lately (“I don’t think that’s why we’re here,” I can still hear her snap with a surprising amount of venom for such a boring question). I was once angrily shushed for laughing at Rufus Wainwright’s very self-serious performance of “Hallelujah” from just a few feet away while attending an intimate fundraising party catered by male models.
Olivia Nuzzi interviewed one of those anonymous “senior Republicans” inside government who’s always quoted in stories, and in this piece, she works through some compelling arguments about the morality of the last four years for those people and reporters.
Was listening to this NYT panel while cooking the other night, and herein Astead Herndon and Alex Burns make a salient dual point at the very end of this: a. Thus far anyway, the very worst of people’s fears from earlier this year about voting and the voting process have not been realized in widespread way, b. We’re actually in a moment of massive and overwhelming civic engagement. (Almost immediately cut myself after they said this, so take that as you will.)
And to conclude with extremely nice: Vin Scully reflecting on one of the World Series games, and this video of Kate Beaton’s daughter carrying a kitten, which then makes a break for it, while the dog and the kid chase after it. (If you’re not familiar with Kate Beaton, enjoy!)
A note on all this
Thanks for subscribing. Hope you enjoy. The goal here is just to offer up some links you may have missed, and maybe the occasional commentary on something in politics or a book I may have read that you, the reader, might enjoy. If you have thoughts on any of this, hit me up at katherinemillernyc@gmail.com or just tweet at me.