Mostly recs, but the sock debate is dumb
Short one, but a lot of footnotes!
Est. Read Time: 3 minutes. Read Time brought to you once again by the Ashburton Energy + Hair Logistics Group, in association with the Bradley Hills Bureau of Corrections + Housing.
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SHOWS!
IRL Show @ The Crow. Fri June 28. 8pm. This show is open to middle and high schoolers, so if you know a Westside youth or want to watch me flounder in front of them, send em over!
The Hollywood Comedy. Friday July 12th. 7:30pm.
Pizza Party @ The Crow. July 22nd.
Pulling Something Together for Edinburgh Fringe1. All of August.
Hellooo Sternal Journalists,
I got an exciting work week ahead so this is mostly going to be a recommendations post, but to give you a little money’s worth, let me just say I’m recreationally livid about the fact that there is a supposed Gen Z vs. Millenial sock length debate, and that THE NEW YORK TIMES is covering it!!!!
This is of course because it is a dumb thing for people to argue over, even though I know it’s performative arguing (perhaps as performative as my recreational lividity is), and perhaps arguing over dumb stuff does blow off some steam built up from arguing over important stuff, but… we don’t need legacy media covering this debate!
And if you’re gonna cover it, dig in! Because I refute this premise that Millenials only wear ankle socks. I specifically remember being a junior in college and thinking, “Why are the kinda cool freshman wearing dumb-ass Urkel socks?”2
In short, yes crew socks look dumb and nerdy, but dumb and nerdy is cool now as we all know, and much more importantly, dumb and nerdy has been cool in the sock department for at least FIFTEEN YEARS.
Anyway, rant over. This is a false debate. If you’re gonna argue on the internet, at least get your fact straight.3
OKAY
Recommendations!
Pour Me A Drink. Song. Post Malone has reached his country music final form and, knowing that he had a moment that he almost country-zagged when he instead White Iverson-zigged a decade ago, there’s something very satisfying about the moment. Also, Blake Shelton is on it. It’s a down the middle bro country song, but a rootin tootin good time all the same.
Kanye West Bought an Architectural Treasure—Then Gave It a Violent Remix. Article. Loved this New Yorker article about Kanye and the random, once-upon-a-time very chillaxed dude he hired to demo a house made by a famous architect. It’s about vision and good intentions.
“Chicago on the Seine.” Short Story. Great little piece of fiction about a consulate worker who gets a request from the daughter of a deceased person to go sit with the body and ask it not to be a ghost. That being said, it’s a fairly uplifting and funny read. (I read it, but linked to the podcast because it’s not behind a paywall and some people like to listen!)
The Best Man Show. Solo Show. This show by my friend, and funny and ball-of-firy actor Mark Vigeant is one long best man speech gone wrong, and it’s a ton of fun. I love it even more than some of the real-life wedding speeches I’ve seen go wrong, and if you know me, that is saying a LOT! There are three more shows! See one!
Lippy. Album. This debut album from my friend Matt Lipkin’s solo project (also named Lippy), is a ton of synthy poppy rocky souliness4 and it’s absolutely worth your time. . Release party’s at Hotel Cafe this Thursday, feel free to come through if you’re in LA!
Alrighty, that’s all! Much love! Wear your socks however you wear them proudly!
Julian!
P.S. these are the greatest socks of all time and I am so millenial
Normally, I use this area to say that you can upgrade to paid if you’re rich. I hugely appreciate those of you who have, but nobody should ever feel pressured to! (Although huge thanks to my recent new paid subscribers! You have made it slightly easier to do this!) AAAAALSO though, if you’re the type to hit a like or leave a comment and you just haven’t thought of doing it on the SternJourn yet, come on in! Lemme know if you love or hate the recs! All engagement unfortunately is good engagement. But if you do not have time, get outta here and don’t worry about it! I’ll see ya next week!
“Is that the name of the show, Julian?” Ugh, gosh, I wouldn’t put it past me.
Cooper, Brian, Justin, I’m talking to and about you.
I say this while fully understanding that the opposite is kind of the main appeal of arguing on the internet.
Substack corrected this to “soupiness,” and boy am I glad my typo-ignoring-ass caught that.