The American writer Connie Wang grew up thinking her name was unique, but over the years came to realise that there was an entire generation of women named Connie after the Chinese-American journalist Connie Chung. If you read one thing this week, make it Connie’s extraordinary story in the New York Times about Generation Connie, the power of a name, and the patterns that form from specific immigration policies
We’re keeping our eyes peeled for glimmers
Fancy an MSG martini? 🍸
This piece breaks down the science behind monosodium glutamate, and why it’s so misunderstoodHere’s why everything looks the same rn
In what may be the most wholesome thing to happen on the internet this week, this Adelaide TikToker was looking for a group of friends to paint, sip and host dinner parties with. Now, she’s running an Instagram page with 500+ other local women who have also been seeking connections, social activities and support
You need to see RuPaul's home, specifically the disco ballroom. Truly an ode to surrounding yourself with what makes you happy
This piece unpacks the evolution of the porn wars and why they’re still trapped in a feminist schism (“Do we decide that porn is too fundamentally rotten to be reformed, and try to wipe the whole thing off the map? Or do we decide that porn is so entrenched that it can never be banned, and try to reform it, embracing what is potentially liberatory and redemptive about the industry?”)
Earlier this month, Taylor Swift announced she’ll be re-releasing her third studio album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). The album made waves upon first release in 2010 when Swift titled track five ‘Dear John’, which spoke openly of the trials of her age-gap relationship with John Mayor (she was 19 and he was 32). Her most unproblematic ex, Taylor Lautner, weighed in with a TikTok captioned #PrayForJohn (and honestly we can’t believe this video is real). Swift’s been re-releasing the records that were infamously sold without her knowledge in 2019
A delightfully niche investigation into why so many young Americans are adopting fake British accents when they feel stressed or anxious (same, innit)
The infinitely wise Sarah Wilson has some comforting words for single/childless people on the planet (“A while back I was reading British radical Sara Maitland’s How to Be Alone and learned the origins of the word spinster: “In the Middle Ages the word “spinster” was a compliment. A spinster was someone, usually a woman, who could spin well: a woman who could spin well was financially self-sufficient – it was one of the very few ways that mediaeval women could achieve economic independence.”)
We’ve all heard of the five love languages, but new research says there’s two more – shared experiences and emotional security
“Sorry for the delay! I put off answering your email until I had an even more tedious task that I wanted to avoid. Thanks!” and other genius responses for answering an email you’ve been putting off
Oh so THIS is why we’re all so bad at typing now
And in other news: How to view your IG feed in chronological order, should you use hot or cold air to defog your car windows, every Gen Z parent, another reason to slay everyday, the cutest holiday ever, when you spy people on a first date is our hobby fun, when you’re trying to buy sneakers, this backyard glowup is so satisfying, this mother’s day post is perfect, this song is scratching our brains, wfh meetings feat. your dog, does anyone else procrastinate by cleaning, a summary of the speak now drama, were there no cups in the Bon Appétit test kitchen, a dentist goes out on a date with a finance bro, and every episode of Indian Matchmaking
