September 01, 2021

Airing grievances the old fashioned way. ✍🏽

WITH INKY PALMS AND CRAMPY KNUCKLES. NO WONDER I'M SO ORNERY!

Happy World Letter Writing Day! How fitting that I'm writing this letter to you. Sure it's a digital letter and I'm missing the authentic experience of smeared ink and hand cramps, but isn't it the thought that counts? This is actually a better situation for you, if I'm being honest, because my handwriting skills have severely atrophied in the digital age, and they were never all that hot to begin with.

Confused woman

Me trying to decipher my own handwriting usually.

September is also International Update Your Résumé Month. If you're in the market for a new job and based in the Los Angeles or Orange County area we have several openings! Our operations team is hiring a production specialist (no experience required) and our marketing team is hiring for a few roles (experience definitely required). You can check out all the job openings here.

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Before we get to this week's amusing links let's celebrate a few September 1st birthdays!

Happy birthday to actor, comedian, writer, singer, and producer Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin, born this day in 1939! Tomlin started her career as a stand up comic in the 1960s and initially found success on Laugh-In, but over the years she has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, including I Heart Huckabees, Grace and Frankie, 9 to 5, and one of my personal faves, All of Me, starring opposite Steve Martin, a comedic gem that still holds up over 30 years later.

Feliz cumpleaños to singer, songwriter, and actor Gloria Estefan, born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García on this day in 1957. Estefan rose to fame with Miami Sound Machine single Conga and has gone on to enjoy a multi-decade music career scoring three Grammys, an MTV Video Music Award, and a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Piṟantanāḷ vāḻttukkaḷ to author, model, activist and TV host Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan, born this day in 1970. Lakshmi has hosted the cooking competition program Top Chef on Bravo continuously since season 2. She has also authored four books and is known as an outspoken advocate for immigrant rights and the independent restaurant industry.

Alright, you've waited long enough — let's get to some fun links!

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1. Some of the absolute wildest stuff you've ever seen involving desserts

Pastry chef Amaury Guichon has eye-poppingly impressive sculpting skills! Marvel at his ability to transform tasty treats into guitars, swans, robots, and dragons. Also marvel at his willingness to spend hours/days/weeks creating art that is definitionally impermanent and destined for some wealthy person's digestive tract.

2. Magic tricks with household items

I am more of an appreciator of magic tricks than a performer, but if you've got kids at home this video is a great source of ideas for science-based fun you can have at home. Even if you're not going to attempt these, it's a fun video either way.

3. When superheros have day jobs

This comedy sketch imagines what happens when a superhero's powers are less-than-super around the office.

4. Play 20 Questions With a Robot

Think of a fictional character and let this robot try to guess, see if you can stump 'em. I beat it on my first try! Stupid robot.

5. Single panel comics to make you chuckle

Cartoonist Dan Piraro delivers laughs with single panel comics tackling topics from the joys of being stranded on a deserted island to scaring off hiccups.

Bonus Link: we made a little video about our Grievance Journals

If you're hoping to get one in time for Festivus we recommend ordering early! Although we are doing our best to avoid running out, it's likely this item WILL be sold out closer to the winter holidays this year. September also happens to be Self-Care Awareness Month, so treat yourself to this journal if you could use a venting outlet!

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OK! Hopefully these little diversions helped to brighten your day! We'll be back here in your inbox on Friday with more random holidays, celebrity birthdays, and some other fun treats! Until then...

Peace, love, and correspondence,

Meredith