medium – Zoë Lance.

Link Party: 8/29-9/9

September 10, 2016September 10, 2016 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Ice cream always makes everything better.

Hi! Long time no see. It’s really only been about two weeks, but it feels like a really long time to me. In those two weeks, my work/freelance/personal lives consumed me and I got a cold that kicked my ass. I’ve kind of been on the Internet, but not in a particularly mindful way.

But those two weeks off were actually a really good thing, because I realized just how much I miss doing this as a regular thing. Back when I first started, I would write 2-3 posts a week. Now I’m lucky if I can get a Link Party out on time. I want to get back to a regular writing schedule, so that I have time to do what I actually, really love I can have consistent brain workouts. This means reshuffling of priorities, setting harder deadlines with myself and probably less sleep. I have a feeling that this will all be worth it in the long run.

You, dear reader, have been consistently awesome from the beginning. I am always shocked to hear from people, in comment form or IRL, when they say how much they like it. Thank you for being the best.

Here’s what I’ve been reading lately:

1. This 24-year-old woman tried a Coke for the first time. I really loved this essay — I thought it was extremely well-written and weaved in all the right social elements.

2. Ayahuasca is having a moment.

3. The wonderful house dress.

4. If you haven’t read the LA Times “Framed” series, you should: it is a wild, wild ride.

5. Watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as a film about technology.

6. Elizabeth Holmes and the story of Theranos.

7. The last time Luc Sante saw Jean-Michel Basquiat. This type of personal essay is one of the many reasons why I love the Internet as a writing space: a quick but powerful thought.

8. If you don’t know much about Gene Wilder or Gilda Radner, you need to read this post ASAP.

9. Why aren’t we desperate for the new iPhone?

10. The Internet is obsessed with live streams of nothing.

And two bonuses: Whoever runs Merriam-Webster’s Twitter is a savage we can all take some lessons from, and a great video from PBS Idea Channel asking if the Internet is a public space.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Link Party: 5/23-5/27

May 28, 2016 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Today's lunchtime scene. — Today’s lunchtime scene.

Coincidentally, I read a lot of good profiles this week. Here’s what I read:

1. Stevie Nicks is a precious, precious gem that we should appreciate more.

2. I might have a slight crush on Daveed Diggs, but who wouldn’t?

3. The surreal saga of Bobby Shmurda. (#FreeBobbyShmurda).

4. This is the story of a man who went missing in Africa 13 years ago, and his family’s quest to find him.

5. A ranking of meal delivery boxes that makes me question life in 2016.

And a bonus: Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Leon Trotsky.

Have a gorgeous weekend.

Link Party: 3/28-4/1

April 2, 2016 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

On Monday, I started a new job at my alma mater as a communications specialist. I am so, so happy to be back.

Here’s what I read this week:

1. The zen of the Buzzfeed Tasty video.

2. Hillary Clinton, “superpredators” and the deep roots of mass incarceration in the United States.

3. Lost in Trumplandia. (This is very, very good.)

4. The most important sentence on this article about Instagram’s switch to an algorithmic feed: “Our current version of the internet lives and breaths off a currency of human attention.”

5. The craving for public squares.

And a bonus: This David Bowie gifset made me laugh. What a dude.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Link Party: 3/14-3/25

March 26, 2016 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

I spent an extra-long weekend in Seattle last week, so I didn’t have much time to read on the Internet / compile a roundup before I left on Thursday. That means that this week you get double the links, which also means double the partying. Here’s what I’ve read lately:

1. Kinfolk and the hipster aesthetic.

2. The Rescued Film Project.

3. How women mapped the upheaval of 19th century America.

4. What is public?

5. I fully support this case for redesigning U.S. currency.

6. A trip to the 500-year-old Jewish ghetto in Venice, one of the world’s oldest.

7. Ta-Nehisi Coates on Nina Simone and the controversy surrounding her recently announced biopic.

8. The legacy of Kate Millett’s “Sexual Politics.”

9. I know nothing about skateboarding, but I thought this profile on Jake Phelps and Thrasher magazine was fascinating.

10. The work of Es Devlin, the world’s preeminent set designer.

And two bonuses, which happen to both be documentaries:

— Regardless of whether or not you’re into fashion, you really, really, really need to watch “Bill Cunningham New York.” It’s a documentary about the street style photographer for the New York Times. It’s on Netflix. Go watch it.

— I’ve always appreciated Nora Ephron’s essays and movies, so it came as no surprise to me that I enjoyed the documentary her son made about her life and career: “Everything Is Copy.” After watching this film, I’m convinced that we are kindred spirits. It’s on HBO. Go watch it.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Link Party: 2/29-3/5

March 5, 2016 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Here’s what I read this week:

1. This is a fascinating story about the history of the Kate Spade brand and its mythos.

2. Trader Joe‘s rejection of social media.

3. Email newsletters are the new zines.

4. Let’s talk about the Amazon Dash buttons, and what they mean for us as consumers.

5. Bob Dylan’s secret archive sounds wonderful. Time to take a road trip to Oklahoma.

A bonus article: Kanye West’s life, told in his own lyrics.

And the standard bonus: The Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias,” which is a song I’ve always liked and have recently rediscovered one of its lyrics: “Once in awhile you get shown the light / in the strangest of places if you look at it right.”

Have a great weekend.

Link Party: 1/4-1/8

January 9, 2016 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Here’s what I read this week:

1. An abridged history of red lipstick.

2. I did not know that private, off-the-record briefings between Barack Obama and media members were a thing, but now I’m glad I do.

3. The parallels between web design and architecture.

4. The deep space of digital reading.

5. The second-season title cards of “Mozart in the Jungle.” (I wrote about the first season here.)

And a bonus: Kanye West’s American Idol audition is golden.

Have a great weekend.

Link Party: 12/7-12/11

December 12, 2015 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

There's this house I walk by occasionally on my way from the car to the office, and the people who live there planted succulents next to the sidewalk. I like their style. — There’s this house I walk by occasionally on my way from the car to the office, and the people who live there planted succulents next to the sidewalk. I like their style.

Here’s what I read this week:

1. Author Jhumpa Lahiri shares her beautiful story of learning Italian.

2. Star Wars: The Merch Awakens. (I love this headline a lot.)

3. I love this idea for a bookstore: curated collections and a more personal experience.

4. A bunch of words will disappear from the verbal section of the 2016 SAT. Here is their obituary.

5. I’m putting the Margaret Herrick Library, which houses an incredible film history archive for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, on my list of places to go in Los Angeles.

And a bonus: I recently discovered Broken Bells’ “The Mall and Misery” and I cannot stop listening.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Link Party: 11/16-11/20

November 21, 2015 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Give me a fence covered in vines or shrubbery or just general greenness and I am a happy camper.

1. This is a magnum opus on selfies. If you only have time to read one thing in this week’s party, make it this.

2. This article really makes me miss video stores as a cultural institution. Netflix is really and truly The Worst.

3. The history of the siren on Starbucks cups.

4. The phenomenon of fake Instagram.

5. Bento box culture.

And a bonus: These teacup votives are my next DIY project.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Link Party: 10/19-10/23

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Although I’ve had a difficult time transitioning to a post-grad life over the last few months, I’ve had some really sweet moments this week that make me excited about my fledgling career and how many opportunities there are to grow. I’ve also had some frustrating moments this week where I’ve wondered what I’ve gotten myself into and what step I should take next. According to the great philosopher and artist Kanye West, the point of life is getting shit done and being happy. I’m working on it.

Here’s what I read this week:

1. This is an incredible Gloria Steinem profile. She is an incredible lady.

2. I wish I had written this article about Facebook instant articles.

3. This graphic designer explained his work to 4-year-olds, and I love how he did it.

4. I love reminiscing about playing the Sims and thinking about how much that game has influenced my design interests in so many ways, so I thought this article about its romantic relationships was fascinating.

5. I had no idea that Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra were such good friends and influenced each other so much.

And a bonus: these photos of Hillary Clinton’s face during the latest round of Benghazi questions speak to my soul.

Link Party: 10/12-10/16

October 17, 2015 by zoelance, posted in Link Party

Sorry for the late post this week. In addition to embarking on a reread of William Faulkner’s “Absalom, Absalom!” (more on that later) here’s what I read:

1. Let’s talk about eliminating tipping at restaurants.

2. This guy is the most prolific editor on Wikipedia, and has made more than 1.5 million edits across the website.

3. An excerpt from Carrie Brownstein’s upcoming memoir, which I’m excited to read.

4. Twitter is on its last legs, mostly because the overall community is rampant with abuse.

5. I also believe that email hinders efficiency and productivity.

And a bonus: 14 minutes of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” deleted animation scenes. You’re welcome.

Have a wonderful weekend.