| Friday, June 12, 2020 | | As America’s racial reckoning turns to debates over Confederate monuments and memorials, perhaps some plucky Virginians have found the way to bring us all together: honoring a metal band that dresses up as mythical space warriors. Hey, it’s Friday, so we can dream. Read on for that story and more on the wacky ways of Wall Street, pandemic lust and what to watch this weekend. |
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| | | | | 2. Market Roller Coaster Stocks surged this morning following yesterday’s major losses — the biggest in 12 weeks — as investors continue to weigh grim pandemic statistics with signs of economic revival and ongoing intervention from the Federal Reserve … and the rest of us ponder stuffing gold bars under our mattresses. | | |
| 3. Cat Call Hello Kitty says Black Lives Matter! Sanrio, the company behind the iconic Japanese character, has issued a statement supporting recent protests and criticizing racism. | | |
| 4. Slime Waits for No One OK, many of you might find this disgusting. But there are Android games that let you take your slime, add color, glitter and foam beads and watch it ooze. Here’s what it looks like. | | |
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| | | | | | | 1. Movie Marathon Three big films will be released online: Artemis Fowl on Disney+; Spike Lee’s new drama Da 5 Bloods on Netflix; and a comedy from Judd Apatow, The King of Staten Island, which Universal is releasing to digital rental platforms. |
| 2. India’s Pride The country has long had an LGBTQ rights movement. But with some lockdown restrictions still in place, Rolling Stone India is providing an online platform for queer artists. The Pride Gig on June 14 will showcase some of this increasingly vocal community’s top talent. Register here to attend. | |
| | | 4. Invasion! In episode seven of Flashback, OZY’s chart-topping history podcast, we hear a remarkable tale of twin invasions: one by vine (kudzu) and one by caterpillar (the gypsy moth). These ravenous invasive species began with good intentions, but host Sean Braswell’s lecture notes reveal how it all spiraled out of control. | |
| | | 5. He’s Back Dave Chappelle dropped a surprise half-hour Netflix special titled 8:46 — the length of time Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee was on George Floyd’s neck. The legendary comedian is more reflective than wisecracking in the poignant performance, available free on YouTube. And for more raw conversation about race … |
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| | | OZY and HISTORY … … partnered for a special town hall show, The Time Is Now: Race and Resolution, which first aired on Monday. Watch it here. And because we could all use some affection these days … | | |
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| | | 1. Cleric Cupid A pastor at Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Michael Todd is all the rage with his series of sermons called Relationship Goals, which he then turned into a book with tips on dating, marriage and sex. Watch him here, and catch him on Instagram, where he has 1.2 million followers. | | |
| | | 2. Anything for Love … or Sex The U.K. recently made it illegal for couples who live in different homes to have sex indoors or stay the night together, as part of lockdown rules. But 2 in 5 singles confess to breaking that law, risking the £100 fine if caught, according to a survey by dating app happn. | | |
| 3. Gerkin It Watch 19-year-old TikTok star Lauren Godwin put her boyfriend in a pickle — almost literally. Amid the fun and games, here’s a little teaser for your brain: | | |
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| | | | Which country has reduced HIV infection rates the most since the turn of the century? Hint: Its former leader was known as Africa’s Che Guevara. Which country lost 60 percent of its population in a single war? Hint: It’s also a rare landlocked country in South America. Where was the world’s biggest school shutdown — before the coronavirus? Hint: It was because of politics, not public health. Which European country ranks as the most LGBTQ-friendly? Hint: It has an area half that of New York City. Check your answers at the end of the email. Tell us how you did and whether you would like more quizzes, games and trivia in your newsletter by clicking on the button below. Your Voice | | |
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| | Just so you know I’m human — and not one of the AI bots that are replacing editors at some media outlets — I’m happy to recommend, in Julie Andrews style, a few of… | | |
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| | | 1. Board Games Miss playing them on weekends with friends? You can still do it — each of you in your own homes. And no, not on some app, but with the real board spread out before you and your friends on a video chat. Read our quarantine-era rules for popular board games. | | |
| 2. Yamazaki I first tasted this iconic Japanese whiskey on a bitterly cold Tokyo night, in a tiny two-person bar. And I was hooked. Now I can’t claim to have tried every whiskey in the world, so I would love to hear from you on any that you think outdo Yamazaki. Click on the button below. Your Voice | | |
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