How do we recover from algorithmic overdrive?
Plus: Gael García Bernal & Diego Luna’s sweet karaoke song
a continuous mix of articles, shows, books, things + more worth raving about
this week: Travolta the Mainer, escaping the algorithm, the Korean on Real Housewives, and Malcolm Gladwell, cocktail party king.
Scroll to b2b for Gael García Bernal & Diego Luna’s karaoke song and Nudy’s “Okra”
Island Time: Tides, teens, Travolta
John Travolta lived in Islesboro Maine for a time and was selling his mansion when this was published in 2022 (it was still for sale in 2024). This is “a debased Scooby Doo adventure” to get to the house and a transportive depiction of post-Labor Day island life, after the “rich summer kids” have departed where:
The teens have their own lobster boat and have been selling their catch directly to David Geffen’s yacht.
Resourceful Mainers! Ubiquitous lobster mentions aside, these islanders have never left my mind. One of my favorite reads. (Harper’s)
Algorithmic Anxiety
Kyle Chayka’s book Filterworld is a must-read if you’re obsessed and disgusted with social media and wonder how we got here. Taste is discouraged because of the algorithm—it doesn’t maximize engagement, so culture grows increasingly flat (shallow) and homogenized.
“We turn to art to seek connection, yet algorithmic feeds give us pure consumption.”
So, how do we recover from algorithmic overdrive?
He doesn’t answer the how but argues/guilts you into responsibly questioning your media consumption and being more intentional with your sources, changing your “diet” as needed.
Elsewhere, we’ve got Matt Klein expounding on why Unplugging is Not the Solution You Want. I recommend reading it all.
Contemplation will ideally spur more blunt conversations and further, healing from our wounds on the battlefield of attention and against tech overlords. Only then can we actually begin to move forward.
Algorithmic overdrive is a problem. We don’t know what we don’t like, because we only follow things we do like—we must like it, right? The algorithm fed it to us.
Pop stars now become megastars overnight. Anyone who can write half a sentence is an NY Times Bestseller, cuz idk, booktok.
How do we slow down and find things of deeper value, instead of consuming more surface-level shit without tapping out completely?
Katie Ginella, Korean cast member of Real Housewives of Orange County
The Bravo Housewives franchise is the last place I thought I’d find a relatable back story, but Orange County introduces Korean adoptee Katie Ginella. She’s 40, so she’s from the same wave of South Korean adoptees as me (hey, sis!) and was raised by white parents in Georgia.
Her family scenes are the dullest ever; the kids are well-adjusted and her husband is nice. They like each other! But, off-camera she had a nasty divorce and her fourth son lives in Atlanta with his dad by choice.
Here are some highlights so far:
Katie explains Pepcid and Asian flush to Tamra: Tamra lives in her own world all the time. Are we that surprised she doesn’t have Asian friends, in Orange County of all places, to tell her that (many) Asians turn red from alcohol?
Her kids embrace being Korean: I feel bad I can’t speak Korean. I like how Katie isn’t shy about it and is proud of her kids for teaching themselves the language and embracing their heritage (s/o HYBE?!). At K-BBQ they help her with the menu items and even the youngest says gamsahamnida to the waiter.
Thoughts on her birth mother: Hearing Katie voice her first-hand perspective and have an open discussion is refreshing, especially since she tells the girls she wants to meet her to thank her for giving her up for adoption. My experience watching her feels like: how am I hearing my inside thoughts out loud? Is this still Bravo?
Malcolm Gladwell on Stephen Colbert
A wholesome, enjoyable duo. Stephen gets Malcolm’s best good-for-cocktail-party story from his new book (not the Holocaust one, pleads Colbert, it’s a party!), and Malcolm talks looking back at your youth with horror (yes, can confirm). Get me into this cocktail party.
“I’ll defend myself by saying I’m an enormous amount of fun.” - Malcolm Gladwell
back 2 back music bumps for the soul
Absolute ‘80s gem! I implore you to watch ep. 1 of La Máquina to see it karaoked and choreographed by Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. (The trailer for La Máquina is set to “Mi Gente”—I’m sweating 🤤)
Ricchi E Poveri: “Sera Porque Te Amo”
Let the beat rock. Nudy’s “Okra” is from his album Gumbo. Produced by COUPE who did 21 Savage’s “Sneaky” (best 21 track in years).
Bee, you always give me a new perspective!