Stuck on Silo
It's like a less colorful Fallout
For years people have been recommending that I read Wool by Hugh Howey. It’s been in my Amazon cart for ages. But have I read it? Of course not. My TBR keeps growing and I keep falling behind. When Apple TV started advertising this new show that looked like it was set in space, I knew I’d watch it eventually. Eventually was this weekend, and it turns out that a) Silo is not set in space, b) it is, however, based on the book I have been ignoring for ages, and c) it is so so good.
Silo is, much like Fallout, about people living in a fallout shelter after (or is it?) some sort of nuclear event. The founders of this shelter had remarkable forethought and a real thing for Machiavelli and the citizens of the silo have all of the qualities and characteristics that we are used to in these sort of apocalyptic scenarios. What follows is an incredible adventure, but also a real exploration into classism, fascism, and how predictable human nature is- until it’s not.
Silo has something for almost everyone, almost no violence or gore, and a lot to think about. But, I’m warning you now, turn it on when you have plenty of time to just keep slamming on the next episode button.
LA Fires Unbelievably, the fires in LA are still raging, and the winds are doing everything they can to keep them going. Project ID set up an Amazon Wishlist to support efforts to get much needed supplies to residents of Skid Row. Please contribute if you can.
The outrageous and wildly racist and misogynist reactions to Karen Bass have been both over the top and an indication of where we are headed for the next four years. People who do not or have not lived in Los Angeles do not understand how LA works. Karen Bass is not a soothsayer, a graduate of Hogwarts, or the Queen of LA. She is the mayor of one of 88 cities in Los Angeles County. She did not start the fires. She did not personally hoard all of the water to purposefully prevent the fires from being put out. She’s not even a firefighter herself. I know. Absurd.
Karen Bass is not a good mayor and I have a LOT of beef with her around her utter disregard for any actual solutions to the homelessness crisis and her deep and abiding love for the cops. BUT, the hatred and vitriol that have been sent her way (and yes, she is certainly guilty of way too many self owns for a lifelong politician which have not helped) have been inexcusable.
Also immediate death to the hundreds of LA area landlords who have been gauging rent prices since these fires started.
Choose the Bear! Today’s guest is Verena Brunschweiger, a passionate German childfree activist and author of Do Childfree People Have Better Sex? Verena has faced shocking discrimination and hatred for coming out as childfree in conservative Germany but she is still so fun and energetic, this was a great conversation.
Watch
Upstart Crow (BritBox)- I deeply love this sitcom about Shakespeare. It takes down the ridiculous parts of his writing while still honoring his genius and legacy in a truly wonderful and hilarious show. I wish they would make more!
Wolf Hall (PBS)- I loved the Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel and this series brings it to life in true Masterpiece style. Henry VIII is endlessly fascinating not just because of his own terrible history but because of the hundreds of dramas that were playing out around him.
Anything but the Inauguration- Tuesday is the Inaguration. It is going to make us sad. I suggest planning a day that includes comfort food and your favorite movies and just pretending that it’s not happening.
Listen
The Telepathy Tapes (podcast)- Can nonverbal children read their mother’s minds? Their siblings? Each other’s? According to this documentary podcast, yes. I do’nt know if it’s true, but I sure hope it is.