What was supposed to be a Brasilian break to surf and explore new cities for five weeks turned into a monthslong hiatus that started with a terrorist attack (my last issue was posted on Oct. 6) and ended with a layoff (mine).
I’ve been dutifully collecting tabs since early October, but after Forbes Wheels (and the ill-fated Garage) were shut down on Jan. 17, I couldn’t get back into it. But now it’s a new season (spring here, fall on the flip side) and it’s time.
Here’s a Floripa photo, which was supposed to be my lead-in if all had gone “according to plan” after my Brasil trip, the LA Auto Show and the holidays.
But instead here we are. Future issues will feature more from Rio, the Peruvian Amazon, Lima, Chicama…we need to ease into it!
I’ve gone through all the tabs that piled up and kept ones that still are relevant months later.
What’s mainly on my mind is losing my job. This explains my media layoff better than I ever could, and it’s from my former colleague at Mashable! (Substack)
» It’s not just your imagination: tech job interviews are getting worse (The Hustle)
More unemployment fun: Job interviews!
» Unemployment Casts a Shadow Over California’s Economy (NY Times)
It’s bleak out here. That said, send any editorial job leads! I’m trying to cling to journalism and would love to stay a (deputy) editor.
» How Long Do People Keep Their LinkedIn Photos? (passport-photo.online)
Very relevant now that I live on LinkedIn.
Here’s your regularly programmed tabs. A mix of fun, informative, helpful. You’ll see some things are dated like Dune, Dead Week and Duocon! But pick and choose what you want.
» 8 Portuguese Terms We Wish Existed in English (Dictionary.com)
Tudo bem!
» The ‘Dune’ Popcorn Bucket and the Golden Age of Movie Merch (NY Times)
Where do Americans live after 85? Look inside the homes of 11 seniors (Washington Post via Apple News)
» How different languages laugh online (Rest of World)
Kkkkkkkkkkk
» Mexican Whiskey Is on the Rise, Powered by Ancient Corn (NY Times)
» Do Celebrities Have Private Lives Anymore? (Town & Country)
» These Dudes Want to Clean Your Pool for Free—With a Catch (Wall Street Journal)
» If you know me you know I love WhatsApp. It’s time for Americans to get onboard. (Substack)
» This newsletter was supposed to coincide with Dead Week (between Christmas and New Year’s Day). (Substack)
» Twitter was so many things… (The Verge)
I still need to read more of this series, but before I lost my job I was mourning the loss of my beloved news source and dissemination platform, Twitter.
» The Best Book Covers of 2023 (NY Times)
» See what was trending in 2023 (Google Trends)
» 12 Stories That Defined 2023 (Pocket)
» Ancient Honey-and-Vinegar Combo Could Actually Treat Infected Wounds (Scientific American)
» Can you outsmart a scammer? Test yourself using our interactive quiz (SBS News)
Shockingly difficult.
» Rape, Race and a Decades-Old Lie That Still Wounds (NY Times)
Riveting and upsetting.
» Israel’s defense failures may change strategy toward Hamas and Gaza. (NY Times)
This was the first article I read on Oct. 7 about the attacks. More than five months later, it’s interesting to look back on.
» For these Peruvian kids, surfing isn't just water play (NPR)
It wouldn’t be a newsletter issue with a Jmom mention. She thoughtfully sent this very relevant Peru surfing article!
» NameGrapher (Namerology)
This is just fun to plug in your name, your friends’ names, your parents, siblings, everyone.
» More than 90% of people killed by western Afghanistan quake were women and children, UN says (AP)
I found this shocking at the time, but we have invariably moved on…
» Arrests made in San Francisco Bay Area postal carrier attacks, mail thefts (SF Standard)
My mailman is great, I can’t imagine attacking him. Disappointing.
» Threads’ golden opportunity is here — Meta doesn’t seem too interested in taking it (The Hustle)
I’m still out here trying to make Threads happen after the death of Twitter. Follow me: @sashajol
» Surfer suffers leg injury in possible shark attack at beach near San Francisco, police say (AP)
Not my local surf beach!
» You Gorged on Your European Vacation but Lost Weight. Why? (Wall Street Journal)
My travel agent friend Emily sent this along. Great excuse to book a trip!
» Birthrate on the decline in California, San Francisco (Axios)
» Sweetgreen Hires Kale-Shooting Robots to Speed Up Service (Wall Street Journal)
Your salad just got a lot more interesting.
» America Is Becoming a Nation of Early Birds (Wall Street Journal)
I post this as I race to a 6 pm dinner reservation, so I am part of the problem.
» I’m on a 1,219-day streak (Duocon)
» Biggest cervical cancer drug advance in 20 years hailed (BBC)
» For a Grandmother in Gaza, History Is Scarier Than Airstrikes (NY Times)
» Iceland’s seismic waves sound awfully eerie. You can listen. (Mashable)
We’ll end here and I’ll share even more collected tabs in the next week or so. Glad to be back sharing the internet with you.