October 2023
Hello all: I have been holding off on sending my regular roundup for obvious tragic global event reasons, but I hope you find some reads that interest you here. I will also add that no one should have to live under the threat of terror. Take care of each other, we all need it. Let’s stay connected: CMMedia, Blog, Newsletter, Linkedin, Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, Threads
Travel & World News
Travel: Tracee Ellis Ross for Travel + Leisure, CNT’s Readers Choice Awards, Off-duty pilot charged after trying to shut off engines
State Department issues ‘worldwide caution’ alert to Americans overseas
The conflict in Israel and Gaza + an important discussion on navigating disinformation right now (and the importance of media literacy)
A devastating earthquake in Afghanistan
Women in Iceland go on strike against gender workplace inequality
Australia inexplicably votes against recognizing Indigenous people in the constitution
Canada accuses India of role in local leader's murder
The New Yorker on China’s Age of Malaise
Sweden gets Turkey’s support to join NATO
Latest updates on Ukraine
Culture Club
Per image above, Killers of the Flower Moon has officially opened to rave reviews. For more on this history I suggest reading the book, NYT Guide, how the history is being erased from Oklahoma schools. Also Martin Scorsese in Deadline, Lily Gladstone in Vulture + British Vogue, cameos by musicians, its set decorator
On that note: October 9th was Indigenous Peoples’ Day, not the misleading Columbus Day. Also World Menopause Day was on Oct 18th
Nobel Prize winners were announced, including Claudia Gold’s Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for her research uncovering the reasons for gender gaps in labor force participation and earnings
Halloween: A list of scary movies, cozy Fall Favorite movies, and the NYC Tompkins Square dog costume parade
New lists: 100 greatest film books of all time, greatest TV shows of the 21st century, 100 best mysteries and thrillers
The Atlantic asks What Happened to Empathy
A new Climate risk tool for US from Environmental Defense Fund
The $2.3 Billion Sphere opens in Vegas with U2 + Disney celebrates 100 years
Tressie McMillan Cottom on what Ozempic won’t fix about our culture
The success of a recent SNL bilingual episode with Bad Bunny
Fashion: Dame Maggie Smith for Loewe SS24 + Pamela Anderson at PFW
Here come the Brits on Netflix: The popular David Beckham doc, upcoming Robbie Williams doc, last season of The Crown and Sex Education and more
Madonna’s Celebration Tour kicks off in London (still crushing it at 65)
New Britney Spears memoir + Vulture podcast episode on her music legacy
New Barbra Streisand memoir + Vanity Fair profile
Taffy Brodesser-Akner on Taylor Swift + her new record breaking concert film
Speaking of…her beau & football star Travis Kelce is having a crossover moment
On student debt and what it says about class in the USA
A conversation on internet toxicity between Monica Lewinsky and Taylor Lorenz
Kennedy siblings issue a letter condemning the dangerous rhetoric of independent presidential candidate of Robert Jr.
Gov: Back-Stabbing Battle for House Speaker, T Lawyers flip, Santos still in a lot of trouble
Business & Tech
NYMag on Open AI’s CEO Sam Altman
Meta launches creepy AI Celebrity Chat bots + dozens of states sue Instagram over ‘addictive’ features and youth mental health harms
John Oliver takes down consulting giant McKinsey & Company
FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried and his parents face more legal trouble
Closures of over 1,500 pharmacies, Rite Aid files for Bankruptcy, Walgreens pharmacists are fed up
Tech company conflict of interest: Jon Stewart’s Apple TV Plus show ends, reportedly over coverage of AI and China
NYT podcast on The Problem With the US $2 Trillion Deficit