No. 52- Sunday Dispatch
Jon Stewart on What Now?, Giant Hamsters in Spaaace, and Posts from Elsewhere
Welcome to the Sunday Dispatch. Twice a month, I send a quick newsletter linking to posts I’ve written throughout the week on HelloThisIsBarbara.com and other places on the internet. I often share other things like what I’m working on, experiences I’ve had, etc.
If you don’t know who I am: Hello. I’m B.A. Burgess, author of some children’s books, creator of a children’s book course, and a complicated, curious person. For more info, consider reading the about page.
Jon Stewart on What Now?
I haven't been listening to podcasts lately, but this morning I opened up YouTube, and it suggested I watch this:
It's a long one but very good. They talk about how Jon called Trevor himself to offer him the opportunity to audition as host of The Daily Show, and then they get into such topics as social media algorithms, free speech, and woodworking. It’s an excellent episode.
I'll put my favorite quote below-
We think it’s free speech, but it’s not speech. It’s ultraprocessed speech. It’s speech in the way that Doritos are food.
Giant Hamsters in Spaaace
I finished reading book one of the Expeditionary Force book series! If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can read this little post I made while I was in the thick of reading book one -
Come for the Giant Hamsters, But Stay for the Trolley Problems
Do you like military sci-fi? No? Are you sure? See, I don’t think you can be sure yet, because you haven’t read this: Columbus Day: Expeditionary Force Book 1 by Craig Alanson.
I will write a longer post about my feelings around this book, but I have to tell you it was the most exciting and fun story. I've read in a long time.
I read The Girl with All the Gifts in one sitting. I remember being transfixed by every word and not moving because the story was so intense. I had a similar reaction reading Columbus Day, but instead of intensity, it was excitement! I smiled the whole time I was reading this book. The author makes you feel like you're tumbling off a cliff. The pace is breakneck, and it is just a great time.
I'm really glad I read this. I've already purchased book two.