I saw a post recently suggesting we start naming hurricanes after oil companies or the executives of the companies responsible for the worst emissions and like, I am here for that.
Congratulations and much deserved on your award, Lyz. And I love this dingus. This is a dingus I can work with. The lyric to the only Taylor Swift song that has broken through to me is swirling in my head. I won't write it here, because maybe you don't want it in yours. Something else good - I'm heading into the Wallowa mountains in Eastern Oregon with my husband and our sweet dog for the weekend, thereby avoiding the Homecoming celebration at my college. I've got no spirt, no I don't. I hope you and all my other dingii have a lovely weekend.
I just returned to Texas from a vacation that included a week in Newberg! Oregon is such a beautiful place! We visited a friend of my husband who is a professor in the Ag Department at Oregon State, who took us to three vineyards in one day — that MIGHT have been a bit excessive — and introduced us to the wonders of the Oregon hazelnut. Hazelnuts are a very big business in Oregon and all hazelnut trees planted in the state have to be purchased through Oregon State U, because OSU has a program to control a fungus that nearly destroyed the entire industry. We now have a subscription to a company that sends us hazelnuts periodically. I may have to experiment with blending Oregon hazelnuts and Texas pecans in recipes. All suggestions are welcome.
Dying at the shvitzing in October…I think all Jews can agree that we wouldn’t choose to have a hurricane hit Florida of all places right in the middle of the High Holy Days?? These people need to do a bit more research into the religion itself before they run their mouths. 😬
Congrats on the well-deserved award and finishing your first marathon! I am not at all surprised that you ran 26.2 miles in a row, on purpose, for fun, because no one commits to the bit like you. In all sincerity, I have learned a lot from reading your newsletter all these years but the most important thing is that when you know your worth, put yourself out there, and do good work, consistency will make sure it pays off.
Speaking of committing to the bit...this is the 199th Dingus of the Week newsletter. Bracing for what next week will bring, as there is literally a dingus holiday on Monday.
Good Thing: I’m back at home after 25 days in Oregon, California, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Santa Fe. We drove from Austin to the Willamette Valley and drank pinot noir and chardonnay for a week, then drove to the coast and looked at the Pacific, the down for some hiking amongst the redwoods, to Sonoma for more wine, to Bryce Canyon National Park for REAL hiking, and then to Santa Fe for some completely self-indulgent shopping. (Later this weekend I’m going to write a detailed self-justification for buying silver belt buckles. Expensive ones.)
So, now I’m fired up and ready for three weeks of getting out the Texas vote for Kamala Harris!
Congratulations on the marathon! As someone who now only runs if I'm being chased, but who has also pulled off all kinds of hard-ass shit that I never imagined I could, I lift my glass to you. Well done, lovey. Also, that award? Long overdue, obviously. But I'm glad to see them display their appreciation for you finally. We can't be the only people to slather you with the love you deserve. There's too much.
On a totally unrelated note, have you watched Trevor Noah's recent interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates? I think you would appreciate it, given that it is excellent and also that that one guy on CBS was such a dingus when he interviewed Coates. And Coates's response to it all, which features in this interview is so, so good. He is the anti-dingus.
Agreed: that Trevor Noah and Ta-Nehisi Coates conversation is well worth the time and attention. Adding more and different perspective, Ezra Klein's guest on his Show podcast today is Ta-Nehisi Coates.
not to be a downer, but I think it's worth noting that the weapons used in the genocide in Gaza and the attacks on Lebanon actually have a devastating ecological impact on the planet, including releasing literal (hundreds of thousands of) tons of CO2. assuming that the people from those places are actually able to rebuild, that will have a further climate impact (pouring concrete is a big source of CO2 output). The Biden administration has provided the martial aid to make this happen, and apart from the horrific human cost of this choice, we need to acknowledge the ecological consequences as well.
Thank you for elaborating these ignored consequences of US policy. Paraphrasing Ta-Nehisi Coates's question: to what exactly do we refer when we speak of 'collateral damage?' The suffering of humans - and the planet we must share - must be acknowledged and must inform our decisions going forward.
Also, do not apologize for being 'a downer' as reality must be named to be addressed.
well put! Coates goes straight to the heart of the matter, as usual.
it's honestly a bit crazy making to see Biden / good administration lauded for anything in the face of his determination to keep arming a violent state, to the tune of billions of dollars, while people suffer here and abroad because of those budgeting decisions. I simply don't care about his electric car infrastructure plan in the face of sending thousands of bombs to murder civilians.
A. Your marathon friends believed in you for the same reason your readers believe in you: knowing you put in the work.
B. As Samuel Johnson put it: "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." (Yes, I'm embracing the obvious implication for my own writing, including this comment.) Anyway, in a real sense every subscription, and every book sale is an award. A vote of confidence in what you'll do, based on what you've done in the past. Congrats on the award, narrowly defined, but also on the real award which is a daily appreciation for having put in the work.
Congrats on your award! It is lovely to receive recognition. I bought God Land this week after finishing This American Ex-Wife last week. I love your writing.
hooray, lyz! congratulations! yeah, iowa is pretty good some days. i've lived here most of my life (moved to mcgregor in 1972) and fell in love from the very first day. despite our problems, it's still where i want to be.
Congratulations on your award! So many good things in this post, but my favorite is about Lina Khan. She is amazing and I’m looking forward to what she will do to the pharmacy benefits managers who regularly ruin lives.
congratulations on the marathon and thank you thank you for reply it like it is, whether the showing up, or the continuing to write even without out an award! your substack is one of the few i look forward to every single day and you would get an award from my household were you to show up here! you keep my wife and me laughing, and grounded, while being real.
I saw a post recently suggesting we start naming hurricanes after oil companies or the executives of the companies responsible for the worst emissions and like, I am here for that.
I am 1,000% with you on this!
Congratulations and much deserved on your award, Lyz. And I love this dingus. This is a dingus I can work with. The lyric to the only Taylor Swift song that has broken through to me is swirling in my head. I won't write it here, because maybe you don't want it in yours. Something else good - I'm heading into the Wallowa mountains in Eastern Oregon with my husband and our sweet dog for the weekend, thereby avoiding the Homecoming celebration at my college. I've got no spirt, no I don't. I hope you and all my other dingii have a lovely weekend.
Thank you, Callie. I hope it's a wonderful weekend!
I just returned to Texas from a vacation that included a week in Newberg! Oregon is such a beautiful place! We visited a friend of my husband who is a professor in the Ag Department at Oregon State, who took us to three vineyards in one day — that MIGHT have been a bit excessive — and introduced us to the wonders of the Oregon hazelnut. Hazelnuts are a very big business in Oregon and all hazelnut trees planted in the state have to be purchased through Oregon State U, because OSU has a program to control a fungus that nearly destroyed the entire industry. We now have a subscription to a company that sends us hazelnuts periodically. I may have to experiment with blending Oregon hazelnuts and Texas pecans in recipes. All suggestions are welcome.
Dying at the shvitzing in October…I think all Jews can agree that we wouldn’t choose to have a hurricane hit Florida of all places right in the middle of the High Holy Days?? These people need to do a bit more research into the religion itself before they run their mouths. 😬
Right?!
Love the Solnit quote. It was on my mind when I wrote about Accepting Hopelessness back in 2017, before Substack. https://blog.entire.life/accepting-hopelessness-a3abd225eae9
Congrats on your first award! So glad you’ll never quit. (Big lol at your daughter’s advice!)
Ok, her book “Hope in the Dark” was on my mind. That specific quote might not have been.
Congrats on the well-deserved award and finishing your first marathon! I am not at all surprised that you ran 26.2 miles in a row, on purpose, for fun, because no one commits to the bit like you. In all sincerity, I have learned a lot from reading your newsletter all these years but the most important thing is that when you know your worth, put yourself out there, and do good work, consistency will make sure it pays off.
Speaking of committing to the bit...this is the 199th Dingus of the Week newsletter. Bracing for what next week will bring, as there is literally a dingus holiday on Monday.
Oh! WHO WILL BE THE 200TH DINGUS??? Now, I can't wait.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD!!!
Good Thing: I’m back at home after 25 days in Oregon, California, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Santa Fe. We drove from Austin to the Willamette Valley and drank pinot noir and chardonnay for a week, then drove to the coast and looked at the Pacific, the down for some hiking amongst the redwoods, to Sonoma for more wine, to Bryce Canyon National Park for REAL hiking, and then to Santa Fe for some completely self-indulgent shopping. (Later this weekend I’m going to write a detailed self-justification for buying silver belt buckles. Expensive ones.)
So, now I’m fired up and ready for three weeks of getting out the Texas vote for Kamala Harris!
This former Texan thanks you for your GOTV work!
Congratulations on the marathon! As someone who now only runs if I'm being chased, but who has also pulled off all kinds of hard-ass shit that I never imagined I could, I lift my glass to you. Well done, lovey. Also, that award? Long overdue, obviously. But I'm glad to see them display their appreciation for you finally. We can't be the only people to slather you with the love you deserve. There's too much.
On a totally unrelated note, have you watched Trevor Noah's recent interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates? I think you would appreciate it, given that it is excellent and also that that one guy on CBS was such a dingus when he interviewed Coates. And Coates's response to it all, which features in this interview is so, so good. He is the anti-dingus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPbD9PZ5FP4&t=1s
Re: Coates, a lesser but similar version on DN! earlier this week:
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/10/8/ta_nehisi_the_message
Agreed: that Trevor Noah and Ta-Nehisi Coates conversation is well worth the time and attention. Adding more and different perspective, Ezra Klein's guest on his Show podcast today is Ta-Nehisi Coates.
In case this isn’t already on your playlist:
https://youtu.be/w-4_EpOmjDM?si=oyH4bflXYW2ptf_7
And congratulations! 🎉
congrats on the award, Lyz!
not to be a downer, but I think it's worth noting that the weapons used in the genocide in Gaza and the attacks on Lebanon actually have a devastating ecological impact on the planet, including releasing literal (hundreds of thousands of) tons of CO2. assuming that the people from those places are actually able to rebuild, that will have a further climate impact (pouring concrete is a big source of CO2 output). The Biden administration has provided the martial aid to make this happen, and apart from the horrific human cost of this choice, we need to acknowledge the ecological consequences as well.
Thank you for elaborating these ignored consequences of US policy. Paraphrasing Ta-Nehisi Coates's question: to what exactly do we refer when we speak of 'collateral damage?' The suffering of humans - and the planet we must share - must be acknowledged and must inform our decisions going forward.
Also, do not apologize for being 'a downer' as reality must be named to be addressed.
well put! Coates goes straight to the heart of the matter, as usual.
it's honestly a bit crazy making to see Biden / good administration lauded for anything in the face of his determination to keep arming a violent state, to the tune of billions of dollars, while people suffer here and abroad because of those budgeting decisions. I simply don't care about his electric car infrastructure plan in the face of sending thousands of bombs to murder civilians.
A. Your marathon friends believed in you for the same reason your readers believe in you: knowing you put in the work.
B. As Samuel Johnson put it: "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." (Yes, I'm embracing the obvious implication for my own writing, including this comment.) Anyway, in a real sense every subscription, and every book sale is an award. A vote of confidence in what you'll do, based on what you've done in the past. Congrats on the award, narrowly defined, but also on the real award which is a daily appreciation for having put in the work.
Congrats on your award! It is lovely to receive recognition. I bought God Land this week after finishing This American Ex-Wife last week. I love your writing.
hooray, lyz! congratulations! yeah, iowa is pretty good some days. i've lived here most of my life (moved to mcgregor in 1972) and fell in love from the very first day. despite our problems, it's still where i want to be.
Congratulations on the award! The haters and losers are all sick about it!
Congratulations on your award! So many good things in this post, but my favorite is about Lina Khan. She is amazing and I’m looking forward to what she will do to the pharmacy benefits managers who regularly ruin lives.
Congratulations! I’m glad you finally got recognized. But I totally thought that Dar Williams song was going to be “Iowa”!
My good thing (um, thanks climate change 🥴) is that it’s warm enough to have one last paddle on the river in Michigan. In October.
congratulations on the marathon and thank you thank you for reply it like it is, whether the showing up, or the continuing to write even without out an award! your substack is one of the few i look forward to every single day and you would get an award from my household were you to show up here! you keep my wife and me laughing, and grounded, while being real.
write on!!!