Neither Well-Written Nor Revelatory Nor Particularly Original

The most popular link last week was this piece about how "link in bio" ruined everything, with ode to the 1990s film soundtrack second.

1. A few weeks ago I shared a piece looking at what Gen Z are spending their "fun money" on. Now we can go younger still, thanks to these interviews in the Observer with tweens about what they "really want". Purchases here that I love the sound of and would enjoy today at my advanced age: a Crash Bandicoot Switch game, a top with cherries on it, a Sylvanian family figure and a Jacqueline Wilson book.
2. What comes after autofiction? This writer makes the case for "igno-fiction", which engages with ideas of spirituality, religion and mysticism. Is this why publishers are churning out the Greek myths retellings these days?
3. A critique of the current vogue for "neo-medievalist" tattoos.

4. A fascinating history of the Venetian aristocracy, which dominated the Republic of Venice post 1297.
5. If you are at all interested in the topics of weight loss/body positivity/fat liberation, I recommend watching this video by comedian Sofie Hagen addressing their own weight loss. Content warning, obviously, for all that comes with this subject. It's a graceful and informative attempt to grapple with a difficult subject.
6. In Pride and Prejudice, Caroline Bingley waspishly states that to be considered accomplished, “a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all of this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions.” Mr Darcy adds that she must also improve her mind via "extensive reading". This consideration of how that might translate to today speculates that being in a position to turn down romantic overtures from the wrong person is the twenty-first century version of a woman's accomplishments.

7. A 92-year-old social worker in Ohio died earlier this year and his family has digitised his handwritten list of all 3,599 books he read during his lifetime.
8. A software developer takes on the problem of gaining access to a deceased grandparent's password-protected computer. I think about this probably more than I should — I don't know all my loved ones' passwords!

"After about two seconds (yes the password was that simple) I had the password! Embarrassingly, it was something we easily could have and should have guessed. But we didn’t, so my effort was for something at least."

9. I should be clear, this GQ profile of Travis Kelce is not good, in the sense that it is neither well-written nor revelatory nor particularly original. But I still read it compulsively, because it's just such perfect combination of all the most egregious things this style of journalism can be. They did a photoshoot in a swamp Zoolander would be proud of! The interviewer even allowed himself a small moment of horniness: "You don’t ever get to see them, hidden by game pants and socks, but his legs are tremendous, real Bernini shit. And to witness him perform a Nordic hamstring curl is something I will never, ever forget." Chef's kiss.
10. We're nostalgic about the Walkman now, but it caused a moral panic when it first launched.
11. A guide to self-publishing on the internet. I don't agree with all of this, but it's interesting.
12. I want to take a week off and play this bookshop manager simulator game.
13. An interview to which I related very hard:

"When my first book was published, I thought I'd made it, that I was going to be a Successful Writer now. I was confused and dismayed to realize that wasn’t the case. I’d accomplished this major thing, this lifelong goal, and it didn’t really change anything. It didn’t make it easier to sell my next book or even pitch an article. My thinking before that first book was very black and white: I thought I was about to be a success, and then, when I didn't feel like I imagined being successful would feel, I figured that meant I was a failure."