🍷 Bella Union winery in Napa is made for younger drinkers /// SF Standard

I get the complaint of price and availability in Napa, but I really do think my generation and younger are missing something in their chase for experiences. You really do tend to get what you pay for; if you want a bar like experience where you drink (still overpriced) wine, then sure, something like this is fine; if you want a true hospitality experience where someone goes out of their way to make sure you are taken care of and enjoy your experience along with the wine, it’s going to cost a bit more.

🎥 The Studio /// Teaser

New Apple TV+ series coming in March of 2025 from Seth Rogen looks amazing. And what a cast.

🥸 Jeremy Allen White look-alike winner embracing the very odd, but exciting contest experience /// Chicago Sun-Times

I thought these look-a-like contests were dumb until Chicago did it with Carmy from The Bear and now I obviously love it.

🩴 Who Is Steven Smith, the YEEZY Designer Joining Crocs? /// High Snobiety

Besides the fact he stuck around at Yeezy a tad too long, this is a superb hire for Crocs. Add Smith to the stuff Bembury has done and Crocs’ trajectory is sky high.

📈 Slate Sees 700% Spike in Subscriptions, Heightened Traffic After Trump Win /// The Wrap

I’m not sure why, but it’s been awhile since I’ve checked in on Slate. Maybe this is a sign to change that.

🚷 3D Crosswalk in Iceland is a Stunning Optical Illusion /// My Modern Met

These are just very, very cool.

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🤡 RFK Jr. Is Crowdsourcing Cabinet Picks for Trump /// Mother Jones

Yes, because that’s what America needs; one unqualified person appointing another unqualified person, crowdsourcing ideas from a pack of raging idio— unqualified people…

📰 Turning off the News /// Borowitz Report

When Andy Borowitz, satirist extraordinaire, is the voice of reason, you know there’s a problem. But he’s spot on here.

📻 Brendan Carr wrote the FCC chapter in ‘Project 2025.’ Now he’s Trump’s pick for the agency /// CNN Business

These battles are sure to continue once Carr becomes chairman, but they may be more in words than deeds. The FCC does not have any meaningful oversight of tech platforms like Google, and it would probably take an act of Congress to change that.

I know Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025, saying he had nothing to do with it and didn’t know the people behind it, but do you need any more evidence that he is 100% going to attempt to implement the policy ideas from it than this?

🪰 Outnumbered By Insects /// Dinosaur Comics

Been awhile since I’ve linked to a Dinosaur Comic and I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

⏱️ Casio’s first smart ring has innovative features like a stopwatch and flashing alarm /// The Verge

I actually really, really dig this.

📩 Duty to Warn Letter - to VP Harris /// Re: Election 2024

I’ve been going back and fourth on whether I should link to this. After last time, calling the election results into question feels like a slippery slope. Plus, I haven’t taken the time to verify anything mentioned here. But here I am, linking to it anyways…

🧅 Judge orders hearing to review Onion’s purchase of Alex Jones’s InfoWars /// The Guardian

Ughh, just when you think something good is going to happen the universe pulls the rug out from under you.

👺 A Tribute to Diablo /// SPECTRAL EPOCH RECORDS

Killer instrumental record on Bandcamp for any fans of the Diablo games.

🐍 What’s next for Feed Me? /// Feed Me

I was a pretty big advocate for Feed Me early on, but had fallen off a bit over the last few months as the focus seemed to shift more into longer writing about NYC. It’s exciting to see she has hit the point where she’s ready for a visual refresh and bringing in new, regular columnists to give it some new life.

🤖 OpenAI’s Sam Altman becomes latest tech executive involved in San Francisco government /// Reuters

Upon taking office on Jan. 8, Lurie, who has no experience at City Hall, will face the challenge of resolving San Francisco’s public safety crisis, a pressing issue that has driven numerous tech leaders to relocate from the Bay Area.

This doesn’t feels fraught for disaster.

🏀 Inside the NBA to air on ESPN/ABC next season /// ESPN

Nice to see this all wrapped up and to know Ernie, Chuck, Kenny, and Shaq will continue to be doing their thing after this season.

🤡 Cabinet Nominations—Cartoon /// The New Yorker

Honestly… this is starting to feel like reality…

🎲 Tend by IV Studios /// Kickstarter

Never heard of IV Studios before, but they seem to design some really cool games. This is a flip-and-scratch (which means absolutely zero to me), but the concept and art for this game look stellar.

🧸 Bears fire embattled OC Waldron amid struggles /// ESPN

I’m not surprised, but I also don’t think this will actually do anything. Trubiski had two head coaches in his first year, as did Fields. Starting to feel like Williams will too. And I just don’t think that’s helpful. Same deal here with the OC. Offenses with rookie QBs don’t excel. Period. There’s no HC or OC to blame for that. Even if the staff is trash.

👾 overkill.wtf

I wish I cared about handheld video games, because this new-ish site / newsletter looks killer.

🎹 Jon Batiste Hears Green Day for the First Time /// Pianote

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse always talking about “real drums” being important (critical, even), but this is a great example of why real instruments and musicians are far superior to anything a producer can do on their computer. Batiste is magical and magnetic playing the piano to Holiday. Another check in the box for why funding music and arts education in our schools is instrumental.

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🤪 The Onion Now Owns Infowars, Because Reality’s Ridiculousness Finally Outpaced Satire /// TPA

In a twist that’s almost too perfect, satire has literally swallowed the very absurdities it once parodied, creating a loop of irony that could short-circuit reality itself.

🪖 Here’s Why I Decided To Buy ‘InfoWars’ /// The Onion

With a shrewd mix of delusional paranoia and dubious anti-aging nutrition hacks, they strive to make life both scarier and longer for everyone, a commendable goal. They are a true unicorn, capable of simultaneously inspiring public support for billionaires and stoking outrage at an inept federal state that can assassinate JFK but can’t even put a man on the Moon.

Some more goodness worth reading on The Onion and Infowars.

🎙️ It Will Get a Little Sticky—Debating New Songs by Tyler, the Creator and More /// Waste or Taste

New podcast from the folks at Hearing Things. Really enjoyed this first episode—fun way to tackle new music.