Vampire mockumentary: the show
I like months like this one: I've got a few new spots visited, art history facts to share, and new favorites to lean into, but most of all, I enjoyed my downtime. As part of this little wind-down ritual, I ended my day with an episode or two of What We Do in the Shadows, and I loved it with every piece of my heart. Just like the movie, it has a gothic suburban aesthetic, edgy humor and deadpans, creative references and Easter eggs, and an outstanding display of characters – they even have an energy vampire (!). I can only speak of it up to season 5 (so far), but it’s a definite fall must-watch. – Marina
Going analog
It feels counterintuitive in the age of total automation and AI overload, but in October I’ve found that going back to an analog, pen-and-paper task manager (aka a notebook) helped me stay calm and focused. I now even have a little system: a “master” notebook with an overview of the week’s priorities and an hourly schedule of each day; and a smaller notebook with tear-out pages where I decompose tasks with multiple steps.
There is something exciting about physically crossing a task from the list – especially if I managed to complete it quicker than my hourly schedule anticipated. Plus it’s some minutes less spent on a screen, which is always a bonus. – Catherine
1 in 8 Billion
Last weekend my friends introduced me to a game that kept us engrossed for hours. It’s called 1 in 8 Billion, a life simulation game in which you’re born in a random place and into a random family, then try to make the best of the life you’re given. And all of this is based on real data. Throughout your digital life, you experience touching moments, make life-changing decisions, and even learn how to invest. Sometimes you get lucky to be born rich, other times, you need to make a living somewhere with limited access to education and medicine.
There’s something deeply existential about this game. It made me think how much of your life comes down to the luck of where and into which family you’re born, and perhaps helped me appreciate what I have. – Elizaveta
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Title image credit: Swello (@getswello) via Unsplash
