I’m back and I’m sorry. I disappeared on you without warning. The last month or so has just been incredibly busy — in mostly good ways — and between one kid’s graduation, a visit to see another kid on the West Coast, figuring out how to balance two part-time jobs (which add up to way more than one full-time job) and lots of personal travel, Skin fell through the cracks. But I’m back. And I’m going to try not to let it happen again. Thanks to everyone who was worried about me and checked in. I promise: Everything is fine. —KNC
I’m hate-listening to “Yesteryear” on audio and it made me realize something: I want to get better at articulating why a book doesn’t work for me. To that end, I listened to The NYT Book Review’s “Book Club” podcast yesterday, and it was really helpful.
I think “Minor Dilemmas,” a column on Defector, is the best parenting column I’ve ever read. It offers thoughtful, nuanced advice that I really enjoy, even though they’re usually talking about stages my 20-something kids have already passed through. This recent piece about what to do when your kids want to quit something is a great example.
Two thoughts on a big week at the Supreme Court: 1.) The “Running of the Interns” never fails to amuse me. 2.) Is there anything we can learn from what Nina Totenberg called “the worst professional mistake of [her] more than 50 years in journalism”?
How fun is this Men’s World Cup?! Bone up on your soccer vocabulary with this great glossary from my friend and colleague Berto Scalese before Monday night’s big game.
We got to attend a screening of “Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War” the other night. It’s a great watch for this big semiquincentennial weekend. (Richmonders, this one will be especially interesting to you — there’s lots of local history).
“Six search engines worth trying now that Google isn’t really Google anymore.”
I’m fascinated by the idea of “Admin Nights.” Anyone want to give this a try with me?
Apparently, this documentary about Katharine Graham, once publisher of “The Washington Post” and America’s first female Fortune 500 CEO, came out a year ago, but I missed it. I can’t wait to watch it.
The American Library Association is auctioning off some of its iconic “READ” posters from our childhoods. The poster of Spike Lee reading “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” is currently going for $360; some are even more expensive — and a lot are going for cheaper. The auction ends next Friday, July 10.
And for this week’s poem, listen to Gerald Stern read “Independence Day”.
Oh my god, the READ poster auction... reminds me of the D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) campaign, too! Also would be totally up for trying an admin night (if virtually is an option, ha)!