What's IN/OUT this week

Today marks the first day of my new work policy: Summer Fridays, which will last through Labor Day (at least) and involve stopping all work around lunchtime and getting a drink on a patio somewhere. As my own boss, I can say that I’ve more than earned this.

IN: An ode to the banal. After reading this hat tip to Miller Lite’s delightful OK-ness (even though Miller High Life is a superior and equally average choice), I would like to see more such accolades given to mediocre things. Give me 800 words on your go-to OTC painkiller. Or a couple of paragraphs on the coffee mug you reach for most. Please, more time spent really dwelling on the delightfully mundane that we, for whatever reason, have strong feelings about. OUT: Not being able to enjoy a little thing. I saw what I believed to be a silly, whimsical video about getting your frustrations out via cleaning. After sending it to a friend, I glanced at the handle and saw it was posted by PINE-SOL. I’ve never felt so betrayed. How dare I enjoy a piece of marketing? (I realize there are Pine-Sol bottles floating in the video, but I figured whoever created it just chose any old cleaning product!!! I am also extremely stupid.)

IN: The lord’s work (color-changing peonies). I picked up a bouquet of peonies and, over the course of a week, watched them transition from fuchsia to pale yellow?? I did not know that color-changing peonies were a thing, but my research suggests these are a variety called Coral Charm. OUT: Not the lord’s work (AI). I am not about to go all rah-rah for the pope, but I am Team Leo when it comes to his 42,300-word encyclical about the dangers of artificial intelligence to human dignity and agency. Among his many points, he said that “the pursuit of greater profits cannot justify choices that systematically sacrifice jobs.” This pope did choose his name after Leo XIII, because of his predecessor's focus on workers during the industrial revolution, which he connected to the modern rise of AI. OK, damn. The pope is welcome to the labor rally.

IN: Upgrades. I’ve really come around to pasta salad, after struggling through some particularly soupy variations that I’d picked up from markets. The trick is obviously to make it yourself, and I’ve been an orzo loyalist of late. But then this little list of tips really opened my eyes to the opportunities on my summer horizon. For those whose hearts are open, might you consider switching normal pasta for tortellini or gnocchi?? OUT: Downgrades. I’m not saying anything new here, but so many items feel cheaper than their predecessors, despite tech-y updates. I was chatting with a friend who searched high and low for a toaster that simply toasted bread. No fancy display, no unnecessary special features. Just a durable toaster that works and doesn’t need to be replaced in a few years. My drive to shop second hand only grows stronger…

IN: The Knicks. A quick word on getting excited about a team. People love to roll their eyes about being a fan of sports. I, however, enjoy the hell out of watching games — particularly hockey, baseball, and football. Being from Pittsburgh, though, I was a free agent as far as basketball fandom went. And because I am very good at catching second-hand enthusiasm, watching Dave get amped up about “his” Knicks last year got my bees a-buzzing. This year? I am IN. I know it’s especially frowned upon to become a fan when a team is doing well, but this just happened to be when I made my entry. And, several times now, I’ve even caught myself with “Go New York Go” stuck in my head. OUT: God willing, whoever the Knicks face in the finals. (At the time you’re reading this, perhaps we’ll know who that is.)

Tell me what you hated this week!