Endless Summer, Endless Links

If this is the newsletter you open when you can’t deal with the rest of your day — consider becoming a paid subscribing member. Your contributions make this work sustainable, and also make it possible for me to offer free subscriptions for anyone who cannot afford to pay.

And this links post — this is a slightly expanded version of what you’d receive every week with a subscription. If it’s in your budget, consider it.

What are my long weekend plans? Who knows, because everyone (aka one other person) in my house has Covid (day 10, feeling better, still testing positive) and two of my friends’ families all have it and seemingly everyone I know on the internet also has it, because we decided to stop preventing having it, so here we are, a nation of Covid-havers, reluctant or refusing to engage in anything resembling patriotism, pissed off because the holiday schedule for July 4th once again makes no sense (the day off is the party, and then you…..go back to work? Who made this plan, it was clearly someone who did not work for pay.)

I DIGRESS. IT’S TIME FOR LINKS. ENDLESS SUMMER, ENDLESS LINKS. As always, none of these are affiliate links or sponsored, save the Bookshop links — and the small proceeds from those go directly to the Culture Study Mutual Aid Fund.

• Why air travel is such a disaster right now (and why it will theoretically get better in September) (will also re-recommend this podcast episode on why air travel is the way that it is, and why airlines make most of their money off selling miles to credit card companies, here)

• While the other member of my household has Covid, I’ve been watching Discovery+ shows at night, and strongly endorse: Floret, Maine Cabin Masters, and Trixie Motel.

• I am in the last weeks of training for a Ragnar Race (essentially, a very long relay) and my fav running gear recs, this time around: these Brooks shorts (these are the 3”, also available in 5”, but only up to XL); this Osprey Hydration pack; and an ongoing subscription to Nuun. [And if you’re a running person, no matter the length, please come join us in the subscriber discord!!!!]

• Max Read goes deep on those weird wrong number texts filling your text inbox

• The very good reasons for the unionization effort of Medieval Times

• This piece on the creators of a new kind of sex doll was much more empathetic and compelling than I was expecting

• I do a lot of container gardening and these Lowe’s planters are my absolute favorite — high quality and rival any of the more expensive *elite* options

• Did the Gardening Discord thread peer pressure me into buying these gardening overalls? Yes they did. Do I now wear them basically every day? Yes, of course. (Many, many options here)

• The Petty Pleasures of Watching Crypto Profiteers Flounder

• I spent a lot of time looking for an outdoor rug that wouldn’t get sopping and didn’t look like plastic and didn’t look like butt. Took a gamble on this Target one and I love it — out of stock now, but sign up for restocking notification.

• How OXO Conquered the American Kitchen

• I thought I looked dorky in all (affordable) straw sun hats but you know what I was wrong

• OH HEY FELLOW NERDS What Klingon and Other Constructed Languages Reveal

• The What Are You Reading (Not on the Internet) subscriber thread from this week is on fire, as always, and good

• “Lauryn Hill played chicken with the entire concept of time, and she won.”

• The truly fascinating history of the Tripp Trapp Chair, which effectively changed the future of children’s design

• This week’s just trust me

If you have a recommendation for something you’ve recently purchased or read or otherwise consumed, please share in the comments!

---

Want to talk more more about this newsletter, be part of the vibrant Culture Study Discord community, and more? Consider becoming a subscriber.

Subscribing is how you’ll access the heart of Culture Study. There’s those weirdly fun/interesting/generative weekly discussion threads plus the Culture Study Discord, where there’s dedicated space for the discussion of this piece, plus equally excellent threads for Chaos Parenting, Gardening/House Plants, Job Hunting, Zillow-Browsing, Bikes-Bikes-Bikes, Nesting and Decorating, Puzzle Swap, Home Improvement/DIY, Running is Fun????, Advice, Ace-Appreciation, Books Recs, Home Cooking, SNACKS, or any of the dozens of threads dedicated to specific interests, fixations, obsessions, and identities.

If you’ve never been part of a Discord: I promise it’s much easier and less intimidating than you imagine.

As always, if you are a contingent worker or un- or under-employed, just email and I’ll give you a free subscription, no questions asked. If you’d like to underwrite one of those subscriptions, you can donate one here.

If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable version online here. You can follow me on Twitter here, and Instagram here — and you can always reach me at annehelenpetersen@gmail.com.