So… weekly. We’ll consider that aspirational. I’ve been busy with a few projects, and have a few more projects looming over me. But, let’s do what I’ve promised, right?
This week, I’m
Reading
The World As it Is by Ben Rhodes, a memoir of Barack Obama’s presidency. This might surprise people, but to date, I haven’t read a lot of political books. However, I like Ben Rhodes — he says smart things on Pod Save America. So far, the book is insightful into some of the foreign policy decisions that were made, and increases how much I want to read Samantha Powers’ books, which I had hoped to glimpse while at the library to get this one.
Listening to
Backstory, one of my favorite podcasts. It’s an American history podcast, specifically focused on topics related to current events, which means it’s always relevant. The podcast does a really good job of coming up with more obscure stories, or twists to show a subject in a different light. It also isn’t stuck in the history, and doesn’t let anyone off easy for being “from another time.” It’s a really useful podcast for understanding our culture. I’ve honestly never been bored by it.
Watching
Okay, this isn’t something I’m watching yet, but I’m really excited for the HBO Catherine the Great series to begin. Catherine the Great is one of my favorite historical figures — she was intelligent, ruthless, outlandish and took the male equivalent of mistresses in full public view. She wasn’t even supposed to be ruler of Russia. She was constantly on the fence between being an enlightenment figure and a full-out tyrant. So, she was endlessly interesting. And, well, Helen Mirren is playing her. Count me as pumped.
Moved by
The Woods Chapel Church fire. It’s really startling to see something I’ve known, and enjoyed driving past, my whole life vanish. Obviously, it’s much harder for the church members, as nothing was able to be saved. In the story we had in last week’s paper, I talked about some of the treasures the church won’t be able to get back. Luckily, no one was hurt.
Working on
A business review! This is always good news, because it means several businesses in town are either opening their doors or making exciting changes. It can be a bit of a headache to track everyone down, but is an important part of how we support our community.
Weekly reading list:
A story from Politico on the Missouri River flooding, climate change and the USDA
A New York Times explainer to help understand proposed healthcare policies, including what they cost
A New York Times column about how white supremacists are trying to convert teenage boys online
I can’t get past the paywall for the link, but make sure you read the KC Star story about the Laf. Co. Children’s Services Fund, which we first reported on more than a month ago. Is this story technically competing with me? Yes. I received much of this information at the time we wrote about the auditor’s investigation. I’ve been trying to get records from the Fund that will shed some facts around the claims, but we were quoted a fee close to my paycheck. I’ve now submitted five separate document requests. So, we’re still working on it.
Oh, and by the way…
Go follow The Odessan on Twitter. I revamped our old Twitter page this week. What did I delete, you ask? 20 tweets from 2009 trying to tell (ideally through text notifications) our office pickup crowd when the paper arrived. My mom eventually gave up because no one could figure it out. It was ahead of its time.