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What's Good Wednesdays

Hump Day Recommendations, Nov. 6, 2024

Read: Calvin and Hobbes. Tired of the existential dread that hangs over this US election like smog? Me too. Time to revisit Calvin (history’s most imaginative cartoon boy) and Hobbes (his sardonic stuffed tiger and best pal). It’s hard to top “Something Under the Bed is Drooling” and “The Revenge of the Baby-Sat.” But for my money “Scientific Progress Goes Boink” is cartoonist Bill Watterson’s masterpiece. Enjoy. You deserve it. – Willis

Watch: “Somebody Somewhere,” a slightly under-the-radar but critically acclaimed comedy series on HBO Max, starring Bridget Everett and a cast of eccentric but endearing characters living in Manhattan, Kansas. Now in its third and final season, the show follows Everett as Sam Miller, a 40-something, single woman who moves back to her hometown following the death of her sister. This series is touching, hilarious, filled with beautiful music (Everett is an amazing singer), and won a Peabody this year for excellence in entertainment. – Tony


Watch, if you haven’t already, last week’s episode of “Saturday Night Live.” If US politics has you feeling grim or overwhelmed, this episode will be a much-needed respite. – Riley

Listen: “The Pure Sound of Mountain and Water,” by Yu Shuishan. Things are … stressful right now. Why not take a deep dive into the most relaxing, non-political album I know of in this beautiful rendition of traditional Chinese guqin music. The fretless zither has been a staple of Chinese music since Confucius was just a rowdy scholar, and Yu’s peaceful, minimalistic interpretations might be just what you need today. — Matt

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Book cover: The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez

"The Sound of Things Falling" by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Anne McLean (Translator)

Watch: “The Studio.” If you’ve ever wondered how the movies get green-lit before they hit the big screens, you’ve got to watch this 13-time Emmy-winning show. It is a chaotic comedy that follows the life of studio head Matt Remick, played by Seth Rogan, and his team at the fictional Continental Studio. It gives a glimpse into what really happens [...]
Listen: “The Discography of Asha Bhosle.” If you’re looking for new music after Bieberchella, may I introduce you to the legendary Indian singer, Asha Bhosle, whose voice helped redefine modern Indian music. Born pre-independence in 1933, Asha tai (aunt) began performing as a child alongside her sister, Lata Mangeshkar, another one of the greats. [...]
Track: Pizza. Many sharp-eyed reporters and analysts closely watch for patterns in the timing around the Trump administration’s biggest moves. Now, there’s a new indicator in the mix: pizza. The Pentagon Pizza Index tracks spikes in pie orders to the Pentagon. According to the site’s creators, cheesy upticks “frequently coincide with elevated [...]
Raphael - Sublime Poetry (image of painting by Raphael)
See: “Raphael: Sublime Poetry at the Met.” The first Raphael retrospective ever mounted in the US is running through June 28 at the Met Museum. This is the kind of show that only comes around once in a generation. It traces his entire career, from his early days in Urbino to rivaling Leonardo and Michelangelo in Florence, to becoming the papal [...]