TheNewsGal, Edition No. 67
What a week! Here's what you missed.
All the things
John Muir in Native America: The famed naturalist’s romantic vision obscured Indigenous ownership of the land — but a new generation is pulling away the veil. Excellent. (Rebecca Solnit, Sierra, ~19 min.)
Youn Yuh-jung comes to America: The actress’s heart-shattering turn in Minari will likely get an Oscar nod. She’s been doing this too long to care. A most lovely profile of an actress I’d never heard of, and now can’t wait to watch. (E. Alex Jung, Vulture, ~11 min.)
I have one of the most advanced prosthetic arms in the world — and I hate it. Oof, I had no idea. (Britt Young, Input, ~6 min.)
Cat and mouse: With dozens of felines turning up dead around London, a pair of pet detectives set out to prove it was the work of a serial killer. This one’s a winner, trust me. (Phil Hoad, The Atavist, ~62 min.)
Book a flight right now. Sweeter words have never been written. (Shannon Palus, Slate, ~5 min.)
He told the world about his brutal torture in Syria. Then, mysteriously, he went back. This story has haunted me in the days since I read it. (Liz Sly, Washington Post, ~23 min.)
A highway, divided: What drives opposition to I-5’s Uncle Sam sign? I hate this sign with the fire of 1,000 suns. (Zoe Sayler, Seattle Met, ~10 min.)
I wanted to get rid of my possessions, because possessions stood between me and death. Acclaimed author Ann Patchett takes stock of a lifetime’s worth of stuff. (Ann Patchett, New Yorker, ~26 min.)
The rise and demise of Subway’s $5 footlong promotion. Strangely fascinating. (Zachary Crockett, The Hustle, ~9 min.)
Did James Plymell need to die? How homelessness is criminalized in small cities and towns across the West. Terrific reporting and storytelling. (Leah Sottile, High Country News, ~30 min.)
OCD is not a joke: People with the disorder are often depicted as Type A clean freaks, but the reality is much worse. I learned so much. (Lisa Whittington-Hill, The Walrus, ~14 min.)
Meet the customer service reps for Disney and Airbnb who have to pay to talk to you. Among the most infuriating stories I’ve read recently — and that’s saying something. (Ken Armstrong, Justin Elliott, and Ariana Tobin, ProPublica, ~30 min.)
Kelly Loeffler just lost her WNBA team to a player she refused to meet. This story is begging for a deep dive. (Dave Zirin, The Nation, ~4 min.)
There’s a better way to parent: Less yelling, less praise. Almost makes me want to have a kid and put these theories to the test. Almost. (Joe Pinsker, The Atlantic, ~8 min.)
If you read one thing this week
Most of us put our lives on hold over the past year. But some decided to
make a big change. I love stories about people who completely reset their lives. Who knew the pandemic was such a catalyst for change? (Amanda Long, Washington Post Magazine, ~19 min.)