Hello my friends. Today is the Winter Solstice which means… some of you are having parties and dressing up as your spirit animals, some of you are celebrating the new moon and the shortest day of the year, and some of your are holiday shopping like mad. I hope there’s a lot of spirit animal gathering… just because that sounds the most fun.
The whole wide world is happening around us. Here’s a glimpse at the world last week. I read the Internet and this is what it told me:
• These are the worst words: Taliban Massacres Students In Pakistan. You know what would be much better? Things like this not happening… that’s too much to ask I suppose.
• Earlier this year there was a celebrity-endorsed hashtag about the young girls being kidnapped in Nigeria by a terror group called Boko Haram. Remember that? They’re still missing and this is still a very big problem. At Year’s End, Where Are Nigeria’s Kidnapped Girls?
• Remember earlier this year when Russia was like… YOU’RE MINE NOW CRIMEA! And we were like… WHERE IS CRIMEA AND NOOO RUSSIA YOU CAN’T DO THAT! And we sanctioned the heck out of them, and it didn’t matter, and we continued to talk smack about their kinda crappy Olympics, and that didn’t really matter either, and basically Putin was doing whatever he wanted which included a lot of bare-chested shows of force? Well… it’s all catching up with Russia in a big way as the value of the ruble is in the dumps, big time. But! Let’s not forget we’re all connected. Global economy. It’s complicated. Five Reasons You Should Care About Russia’s Falling Ruble.
• We really need to talk about the Serial Podcast finale. Spoiler alert. Look away now if you haven’t listened to the last episode. Ok. So things don’t always end neatly wrapped with a pretty bow… especially real-life situations. Satisfaction is elusive. That being said… WHAT THE HECK SERIAL PODCAST YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! You mean to tell me that you’re for-real going to introduce the possibility of a serial killer in Have Min Lee’s murder during the very last episode and just leave it at that? HOW HOW HOW does that account for Jay knowing where the car was located? WHY would Jay make up that entire story if he had nothing to do with the murder? No no no no no. No. No. What are you even doing? I can’t with you right now. I really just can’t.
What did we really learn from the Serial Podcast. It’s this: there may or may not have been a pay phone inside the Best Buy… there probably was. Don’t give your cell phone and/or car to anyone named Jay. Stephanie knows something. Don seems chill. Adnan is still in prison. What the heck is going on(?).
• Let’s talk about why podcasting is so delicious. Towards a Critical Theory of Podcasting. “Podcasts embody what is arguably the essential promise of the Internet: a means for surprising, revealing, and above all ennobling encounters with people, things, and ideas we didn’t know.” That’s it exactly! It’s the surprise!
• This particular episode of WTF with Mark Maron is 100% surprising. It’s NUTS. WTF Podcast with comedian Ms. Pat.
• Let’s talk about food. This pie looks like exactly everything I’ve ever wanted: Mississippi Bourbon Mud Pie
• Has travel become another exercise in narcissism? Maybe kinda we’re the worst.
• My Family Love Story, by Seth Rogan This heartfelt and honest piece comes just as Sony Pictures shelves the release of that Rogan and Franco North Korean spoof The Interview. On one hand, Sony’s shelving of the movie is like… YAWN Who even cares!? On the other hand, we’re talking about a cyber attack and threats that coerced a major studio to lose a lot of money. That’s unprecedented… that’s totally not what Americans do… and George Clooney makes some excellent points.
• 100 Most Important Cat Pictures Of All Time. As if you’re NOT going to click on this.
Let’s go to Cuba. For real tho.
Happy Sunday.
xo Joy
nanne
love the courtyard at the Court of Two Sisters, it is quintessential new orleans. i never recommend it for the food, just as a place to breath in the essence of the city.
Elena
Joy, with all my respect, your comment about Russia was not so kind. You know, there are normal people there in Russia, they have nothing to do with politics and Crimea, and now they are suffering from dropped ruble. And politicians, who are mostly responsible for all what is happening in Ukraine, they will not give a damn, all their money is in US dollars and euro. So as a Russian I was really sad when I read your thoughts.
joythebaker
we are actually in agreement. it’s a really hard situations for everyday Russians to be in. i don’t think it’s their fault, sorry if it came across that way.
Melissa King
I’ve had “serial podcast” on my to do list for weeks now. Going to do it. Hey, road trip tomorrow…lots of listening time.
My husband and I decided to celebrate Christmas yesterday and it was SO fun! We played Christmas music, opened our presents, watched movies. It was wonderful. (because we’ll be going out of town to rush around the rest of the week, so we needed to make time for just us) That’s how we spent our solstice.
I love that you write about political events. It keeps me on top of things. I was wondering about the kidnapped girls too. Just because it isn’t the fad anymore, everyone forgot. How terrible is that?! Those poor girls.
Emily
I APPRECIATE THE SERIAL SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Texas Jak
Dang it…I have to listen to Serial now!
Texas Jak
http://www.novermyhead.com
Amy
Have you read this interview with The Freedom Project’s Deidre Enright? It’s a little follow up…
http://time.com/3639655/serial-innocence-project-deirdre-enright/
Nicole
You’re the reason I listened to Serial in the first place…which then turned me on to other podcasts and now I’m obsessed with podcasts. Part of me knew going into Serial that it wasn’t going to be a neat ended but damned if I still didn’t wish there was a definitive answer on the finale.
thefoodieteen
So frustrated with the Serial finale too – I may or may not be avidly following the Reddit thread about the serial killer and it seems like it definitely could be the answer?! But then Jay and the Nisha call.. Loving all your other thoughtful and inspiring links, Joy! Happy Sunday!
meganmarie013
Your Sunday posts are my favorite!
danielle
***Hae Min Lee
Ella
CAT PICTURES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
Serial – ugh. But YES to WTFs Ms. Pat episode. I listened to in on a plane ride last month and oh my gosh I was just blown away. The fact that someone can come back from that speaks to the incredible power of human beings. Have a great rest of your Sunday, Joy!
Millie l Add A Little
Cat pictures forever and always. Amen.
Annie
I enjoy seeing these bits and pieces of what piques your interest each week.
allison
Joy, I’ve really started looking forward to your Sunday posts! So well curated. On the topic of pies though… if you were to bake just one thing for Christmas, what would it be? What is that one thing that puts you in the festive spirit or helps you achieve your holiday baking dreams and expectations? I’m looking forward to a little time off this week and want to use it wisely!
Paulette
read the story My Family love story very meaningful. My mother is in a nursing home now for six starting her seventh starts in March and we her daughters are there every day. She has just had her third stroke and this one has affected her speech but she still knows whats going on. We know full well the burden it has on families going through this yet you step up to the plate and do your share of giving back what she gave us. Her devotion to raise four girls, her love never ending and dedication to make sure we had a beautiful upbringing. It breaks your heart seeing a love one goes through tough times as they age and brings you back to reality that your time is coming and how will you handle it. That is when faith in family, friends and GOD take over. Hopefully when my times come I will handle it as gracefully as mom. Now on a happier note I just loved the pictures of all those wonderful cats. Made me laugh so hard I think I peeped my pants. Laughter and humor makes the hard times so much better. Hey Joy have a wonderful Christmas and may your New Year be blessed with health, happiness and much wealth to share with the ones you love. Paulette
Lissa
I was legitimately pissed after listening to the last Serial podcast. So unsatisfying in every way. Now i see why Adnan just wanted things to be done already. Ugh. Also, @Ms. Pat interview… whoa. Happy Holidays!
Rachel
Amen to your Serial thoughts.
cheyenne
those cat pictures never get old, so amazing hahaha. and that bourbon mud pie looks amaaazing! i’ve tried a mississippi mud pie for the first time this week, and i can imagine a bit of bourbon works very well with it. have a nice sunday!
xo, cheyenne