Like sands through the hourglass, these are the many things

Before the list, a note for the knitters:

Years and years ago, after my faith in humanity was at an especially low ebb, I put out a call for mittens. The result was this tree made from dozens of them, sent to me from far and wide. Here’s an opportunity to do something similar.

A Philly-adjacent friend is collecting mittens to send to Ukraine in the fall.¹ Because knitters can go a little nutty with this sort of thing, the rules: Mittens must be (a) made from an animal fiber (b) sized to fit human hands big and small. The reasons for (a) and (b) are complicated and make total sense but can you just trust me on that? If not, I’ll forward the rationale to you.

Knit your mittens and send ‘em to me² by September 15. I’ll make sure they get to my Philly-adjacent friend in plenty of time to add to the shipping container.

If you have any questions, leave a comment and I’ll sort it out. Thanks in advance.

• The New York Times’ “Overlooked No More” obit series is always worth a read. But this one about Clara Driscoll is wonderful — and I really want to know what was up with her second husband-to-be.

  

  This book was my everything when I was a teen. I have lots of different thoughts about it now that I’m an adult, mind, but will always love it in complicated ways. Also: Whelan’s cover art is worthy of a dissertation. Just look at those zipper pulls…

• James Davis Nicoll remains one of my favorite Tor.com writers. This time, he compiled a list of Heinlein’s most manliest stories³ in response to a reader comment.

• Another of life’s mysteries sorted.

• This will help you know at whom to be furious when it comes to money.

• Speaking of, you are always performing advocacy.

• George Saunders explains what being a writer means and how to deal with rejection. And, yes. What he writes is true.

• To be honest, I’m not even sure what to make of this show but I am glad that Brian Slattery wrote about it.⁴

• If you have HBO or access to same, please watch the February 2023 Real Sports segment on a polo club in Philadelphia. I promise you that it doesn’t go where you think it will⁵ and you will have your faith in humanity restored, if only briefly.

• This whole piece about a Wellesley College running coach who was sexually abusing his athletes is brutally honest about how hard this behavior can be to spot when it is not happening to you. Also: it is infuriating once again to realize that it’s hard to compete when you are viewed as nothing more than prey.

• History doesn’t always repeat but it does always rhyme.

  

  Medieval turtle, sans candle.

• Pay no attention to that turtle with a candle on its back.

• This is a long story but worth it if you are female or know a female who intends to live long enough to go through menopause. Sometimes, I’m just so blooming angry about how little research is done to benefit those with a uterus.⁶

1. Yes, the fall. Winter is almost over. Soon no one will need mittens, nor will most be able to keep track of them while dodging all of the perils of war. They’ll still need mittens in a few months and this gives us some time to make them.

2. (adriennemartini93 (at) gmail) or leave a comment for my mailing address.

3. Or something like that.

4. Disclaimer: Brian and I go way back. I wrote a piece about Elizabeth Zimmermann for the New Haven Review — but we met years before at a Readercon, maybe? He was a hot, young SF writer, I was me.

5. Unless you already know about this club, natch

6. regardless of gender orientation/presentation