I'm going to get right into the links again today. Even weekly newsletter writers need, on occasion, to just absorb rather than opine.

Weike Wang on the masochistic pride of overwork when you've spent your whole life hearing that "you must work twice as much to get half as much." And a thorough dismantling of the idea that high-status jobs are the result of hard work alone.

"While walking in a chilly but tranquil industrial town, he took pictures to remember. With every shot I felt more anger. I didn’t want to accept the notion of saying goodbye to peace," writes Ukrainian journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk. And people of color fleeing Ukraine are facing racist abuse in Poland.

Delia Cai on what happens when the social-media timeline becomes "our primary auditorium for observing global events." A timely reminder that you don't need to post through a crisis. And when anything on social media can become A Thing, trends take on an unnerving shape and velocity.

How Montessori school started for the public and ended up for the privileged. One day in the emotional life of a parent, an hourly breakdown by Claire Zulkey.

Shanti Escalante-De Mattei on the false promise of governance tokens, which give crypto communities the appearance of democracy. She also has a hilarious dispatch from the NFT artist Beeple's first gallery show that contains the direct quote "Look, a female." And what happened when some tech dudes tried to get rich off the knitting community.

Imani Perry on remembering writer Valerie Boyd, whose "life is a reminder that so much of the Black women’s literary tradition is a dance between creativity—the heartbeat of art—and recuperative care." Plus, an oracle deck created from Lucille Clifton's poetry and the beautiful idea of "ancestral tending" to keep a legacy alive.

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The story of Martha Wash, whose epic voice you've heard belting "Everybody dance now!", and who has had to fight for royalties and recognition because 90s artists kept replacing her in videos with skinnier women. I've been enjoying this new podcast about gossip, though I confess that I always fast-forward through the meta-convo and get right to the petty tales of strangers' drama. I love Alec Soth's photos. And Alex Dupree's music—he's got a dreamy new video out.

I have possible nuclear war, seasonal depression, covid exhaustion, and hateful anti-trans policies facing off in the semi-finals. Take care and be kind out there.

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Starting to think about the midterm elections. Sister District makes it easy to get involved at the state level. 

March 13, Los Angeles - My friend and frequent collaborator Lara Shipley will be signing copies of her book Devil's Promenade, "a nuanced, mysterious and tender representation" of the Ozarks and its folklore, at 2pm at Skylight Books. I'll be there in a fangirl capacity.

March 26 & April 2, virtual - Jade Chang and I have ideas about ideas! Join our workshop, which is all about honing your creative impulses so you can get them out of the notes app and actually get to work. Details here.