Who knew that a scene in Barbie would tank the bright pink event in Southeast Asia? But "the film contains a scene that depicts a map with the 'nine dash line,' a representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Vietnam says violates its sovereignty." - Variety
This phenomenon is because, well, the podcasts about The Bachelor are better than The Bachelor (and other shows), basically. Or in host language, "The recap podcasts are kind of the spice on an otherwise not very well-seasoned fish, which is the franchise." - Time
Goodreads was solid, and then Amazon bought it. Now it's got some major issues. "Former employees said Amazon seemed happy to mine Goodreads for its user-generated data and otherwise let it limp along with limited resources." - Washington Post
Pot, kettle, fine points, and dark and stormy nights - they all came from what was, at the time, original thought and phrasing (but sorry writers; please let the now-worn phrases lie where they originated). - LitHub
With its on-screen nudity, "this self-consciously retro film is also a modest step forward. Lawrence’s nude scene in No Hard Feelings is funny in a way that only male movie stars’ nudity gets to be: It’s goofy, un-self-conscious, and has nothing to do with sex." - Vulture
There's actually rather a lot. "For nearly two decades, a club committee has invited artists who work in a variety of mediums, including sculpture, painting, glass blowing, engraving, paper quilling, illustration and poetry, to create pieces that embody Wimbledon." - The New York Times
"When it's 150 people standing crammed into a small room and you're closer to the musicians than you would ever be at the Festival Hall ... it does feel like it's this tightrope, and it has a sense of jeopardy and danger in the performance." - BBC
Or just the writing of it, says author Yomi Adegoke, author of The List. "You’re like: ‘Oh, I just made this thing up’ and everyone’s, like, reading your subconscious." - The Guardian (UK)
"'I’ve decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘Goodfellas’ or any movie or TV show I’ve been in,' Imperioli wrote. ... 'Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to. USA! USA!'" - Variety
Remember when it was a sign of, like, total rebellion to blow a huge bubble on screen? Well, that time is long gone - and the pandemic has helped kill off what was left. - The Atlantic
"The Emmy Awards, which are scheduled set to air on FOX in September, could be delayed for months. Reports ... suggest the organizers are discussing various contingency plans if the writers strike isn't resolved this summer. Nominations are still scheduled to be announced Tuesday, July 12." - NPR
"Khalifa is a Syrian novelist, poet and screenwriter whose work has been awarded the Naguib Mahfouz medal for literature, one of the Arab world’s highest literary honours. His soulful, often wry stories traverse time but are centred on the Syrian city of Aleppo" - which has been destroyed. - The Guardian (UK)
"On April 21 of the cursed year of 2020, the Upright Citizens Brigade — New York’s premier improv-comedy venue — announced it was closing its Hell’s Kitchen theater and training center permanently." But now, UCB has announced a new theatre will open in Manhattan this fall. - Vulture
"If all of this sounds like a lot of fretting over something as wonky as an API change, it’s not. It’s indicative of a growing new awareness of what constitutes labor on the internet, and how communities can have their work mined for money-making ventures." - Wired
If you miss the sound quality and visual image qualities of the 1970s, or you're in an altered state, you're in luck. "Sober, none of the music was more interesting, effective, illuminated or illuminating in this space than it would have been elsewhere." - The New York Times
