All-in on hibernation szn
Hey friends,
Well, we're on day 11, and it's already been one hell of a year. Being offline really *is* the new luxury. To decrease your screen time and keep you from doomscrolling, I've scoured the internet for you and have a jam-packed newsletter. Turn on Bad Bunny's latest album and keep scrolling for a list of curated recommendations worth your time.
This is Hard Copy, the free comfort newsy for cozy weekends. Unwind with the latest book recommendations, original columns, playlists, and music worth listening to, as well as the best in film and television. If podcasts are more your jam, you can listen to Your Weekly Breakdown wherever you enjoy yours.
I've also linked a few trusted resources below for those looking to support those who lost everything in the LA fires.
To fill the void during the week, come hang out on IG for funnies, vibes, and chit chat.
xo
Emily
Oh! One more thing: we're lining up some special projects to share on YouTube. Please subscribe to our brand-new channel!
Your Recommendations
📺 Watch
Longtime readers know I've flipped a switch over the past few weeks and am very into thrillers, and the first season of The Agency fits the bill. Starring Michael Fassbender, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere, it's a fresh bit of escapist television. (Paramount+)
Nikki Glaser did an epic job hosting the Golden Globes (was that only a week ago?!). Get more of her hilarity in her 2019 stand-up special, or watch her host Tom Brady's 2024 roast. (Netflix)
I hadn't felt compelled to watch A Different Man until Sebastian Stan won his Golden Globe for his role in the film, and wow - my miss! He's just…awesome and eerie and fantastic. (AppleTV+)
PS!! The Severance Season 2 embargo has been lifted, and I can finally say it is FANTASTIC! The three years we've waited are well worth it! So, if you haven't yet, I recommend watching S1 (Apple TV+). It's an odd show but so satisfying and has a radical concept.
🎧 Listen
Something hard: Who Let The Dogs Out, Lambrini Girls
Something soft: The Mind is a Miracle, Duendita
Something upbeat: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny
Something haunting: Perverts, Ethel Cain
📚 Read
Self Care by Leigh Stein: a fantastic and fun satire of the wellness world, influencers, and the wellness-industrial complex that has us all in a chokehold.
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud: I can see why it was longlisted for the Booker Prize! It is historical fiction with gorgeous prose and intricate character development that follows the Cassat family from the 1920s through 2010.
What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie: a funny and sharp mystery. When a wealthy man dies, everyone in the family is a suspect. If you enjoy watching the 1% suffer in shows like The White Lotus or Succession, this book is for you.
🛁 Indulge
Beanie, Canada Goose. Gloves, Johnstons of Elgin. Lip Oil, Summer Fridays. Sunglasses, Warby Parker. Socks, Worn. Socks, Ecologyst. Scarf, Acne Studios. Coat, Aritzia. Earrings, Mejuri.
The temperature has dropped, so I'm eyeing accessories and fabrics to keep me warm. On my lust list this week: fingerless cashmere gloves, alpaca beanies, that Acne Studios scarf, and I'll also be restocking my favourite socks (which only ship to the US!). For my fellow Canadians, these are the best options, and also happen to be what I'm currently wearing.
Once I'm warm, I'll pop on tiny gold earrings, the best (prescription) sunglasses, my favourite oversized coat, and finish with a swipe of the prettiest lip oil. Ready!
Beanie, Canada Goose. Gloves, Johnstons of Elgin. Lip Oil, Summer Fridays. Sunglasses, Warby Parker. Socks, Worn. Socks, Ecologyst. Scarf, Acne Studios. Coat, Aritzia. Earrings, Mejuri.
Oh, btw, did someone forward you this email? Join the crew and subscribe to make sure you get the next newsletter straight to your inbox.
Elsewhere on the Interwebs
Tech + Work
As many of us could already attest, psych researchers have determined that the damage from working for a shitty boss can last up to 10 years. (Inc)
No tinfoil hat on my head when I say this: they're listening! Apple has agreed to pay $95 million in a class-action settlement alleging that third-party contractors inadvertently recorded and listened to private Siri conversations. (Mashable)
Stay with me here because this is all important: Meta and Mark Zuckerberg are up to all kinds of stuff this year! First, Instagram has been showing users AI-generated images of themselves in ads. That's right, the tool uses your likeness to train its AI. Now, they're serving up ads with you in them.
Meta also decided to shut down its DEI programs and remove content moderation. When they announced this internally, and employees commented and questioned the move, they deleted these comments. And (surprise?!), it turns out Zuck gave engineers the okay to train their AI on copyrighted materials. Then, he went on Joe Rogan. (404 Media, Mashable, Wired, Axios)
Women
Data collection, especially through smartphones, has normalized surveillance. Initially resisted in the 1990s, tracking is now pervasive, shaping behaviours and relationships. So, how does it impact romantic relationships? Location tracking in dating apps enables hyper-targeted matchmaking but also raises concerns about consent, safety, and commodification of personal connections. (Drift Mag)
Hospitals in the US are dispensing medications to patients in labour, only to report them to child welfare authorities when they or their newborns tested positive for those very same substances on subsequent drug tests. (The Marshall Project)
Over the next five years, millions more Americans are expected to take Ozempic and other GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which are rapidly being recognized as the miracle drugs of this century. The Thin Line is an audiobook narrated by Scaachi Koul, and it looks at the promise and the peril of GLP-1s today, exploring what will happen in the near future with the democratization of these breakthrough drugs. (Audible)
Bess Kalb reminds us (sarcastically!) how to stay stress-free and parent during the apocalypse.
Culture
Alex Cooper now doing M&A, not just development within her new network, Unwell. They've recently acquired two podcasts, marking their first expansion since launching in August 2023. Both podcasts will join Unwell's lineup, which already includes many popular shows. Alex, call me? (Hollywood Reporter)
What happens when your child watches YouTube unsupervised? It turns out that it exposes them to misinformation, such as incorrect theories about dinosaurs coexisting with humans! Despite attempts to set up parental controls, kids are pretty savvy and circumvent them. This article on setting you and your child up for success is relatable and smart. (The Cut)
My heart aches for the city, the firefighters, the first responders, the animals, those who have had to evacuate and for all they've had to leave behind. Here are some trusted links to help support folks in LA: