Welcome to the first issue of The Weekly Wrap!
I want this newsletter to encourage readers to indulge their curiosity wherever they can. Daily life has constant moments of learning which we can share to grow both personally and professionally.
As a librarian, I am constantly looking at new and interesting things. It’s my job to find information that people need no matter what that is. I’ve tracked down stuff related to family genealogy, OER material for a creative writing class, the process on becoming a certified translator, how urban sustainability impacts the queer community, and what that blue book is someone read that one time three years ago. I am constantly reading, listening, and watching new things because I never know what I might be asked. To quote someone on the Internet, librarians have approximate knowledge of many things.
One reason I became a librarian is because I love to share what I learn or find interesting. Hopefully this newsletter helps you encounter and learn new things too.
Thank you for joining me and, if you ever want to share anything you find interesting, just hit reply!
Earlier this week, I started reading Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger. Apollo 13 is, hands down, my favorite movie. I grabbed this book from the library over a year a go with the intention of reading it right away. But first the pandemic hit and I didn’t want a dense read. Then my husband decided to read it first. It’s finally my turn and I am LOVING it. I thought the text would be overly technical and even a bit of a snore. While there are technical points, they are outnumbered by the fast paced and cinematic writing. You can see why Ron Howard went, “I need Tom Hanks.”
Some good things have come out of the pandemic. I, for one, am here for the changes to academic and scientific publishing. Free the research! [The Atlantic]
The myth of the ideal worker is ruining life for everyone. [Vox]
Heads up - this linguistics article may give you a craving for lox. [Pocket]
Have dry or itchy skin? Step away from the shower. [The Atlantic]
I think people often overlook cookbooks as a genre of reading. Here's a roundup of new titles you might want to check out. [Eater]
Some of the coolest, creepy animal pictures you might ever see. [Nat Geo]
All about olives. [Real Simple]
"I realize dull conversation is its own kind of luxury." [Cup of Jo]
We may be underestimating the power of tornados. [WaPo]
TikTok tears and the bestseller list. [NYT]
See-through sidewalks saving salmon in Seattle. [99% Invisible]
Looking for a memoir to read? Here is a list of 49 recommended titles. [PureWow]
The temporal gap in the geological history of earth's crust. [Nat Geo]
What we can learn from Iceland's "cute" volcanic eruption. [CNN]
A food critic tries to retrain her nose to smell after a covid infection. [The Daily]
300 years ago women put a stop to a smallpox outbreak. [All Things Considered]
The racist, classist history of tipping and the fight for a living wage. [Throughline]
Hear Bach's lost lautenwerck. [Morning Edition]
How we make antivenom hasn't changed in decades. A new process might be on the horizon. [Science Vs]
Planet Money has a very extensive archive and I'm still making my way through the backlog of episodes in my feed. This week, I loved:
The quest to perfect the food delivery French fry. [Planet Money]
When podcasters cook a peacock. [Planet Money]
We just polished off season 4 of The Crown. This was the first Diana season and it was enthralling. Kudos to the actors who played Charles and Diana because they acted their hearts out. Also, you can see why The Firm is doing damage control. This does not make their future sovereign and his queen consort look good. Now begins the wait for season 5.
This week, I found a few new (to me) episodes of To Catch a Smuggler available on demand. The drug busts are fine, but I really enjoy the look at how agricultural products, pests, and smuggled wildlife are stopped. Simply fascinating!
A digital artist in Japan created a video installation based on the folding screen “The Battle of Sekigahara.” It's beautiful 8-bit art.
When I was pregnant, I really wanted a lot of fresh vegetables and juicy fruit. I also wanted all things briny. What is my kid currently eating? Cheese and carbs. I mean, I can't fault her - I love those too - but we're trying to give her an open palate. This week, I made these chorizo zucchini tacos with pickled onions. I knew she would eat the tortilla, but I was hoping she'd love the pickled onions since I ate a ton of them while pregnant. No dice. Will try again.
I am all about sheet pan meals. They are quick, easy, and tasty. This recipe for one pan garlic ranch chicken and veggies is a regular in our meal rotation. I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and skip the brown sugar step. It tastes great!
This TikTok is just delightful.
Cascatelli is a new pasta shape brought to you by Dan Pashman of The Sporkful podcast. I may have ordered the 5lb bag.