to live for the hope of it all

“Langdon!” 

Dana’s voice stops him in his tracks. He’s been trying to leave for twenty minutes, trying to set healthier work-life boundaries now that he’s a fellow, or whatever. But he can’t leave yet because he can’t find Mel, and he has to say goodbye to Mel before finishing a shift.

He must look frantic because Dana just glances at him over her glasses in that way she does when she knows something.

“She’s outside, kid,” she says. “Lookin’ for you.”

Sure enough, Mel stands in the ambulance bay, hands behind her back, shifting her weight nervously. He can’t help but watch her for a moment, something he’s been catching himself doing a lot recently. 

It’s quiet as he crosses to where she’s standing — in the same spot he found her a year ago, watching the fireworks.

When she spots him approaching, her smile blooms.

“You found me,” she says, pleased.

Frank laughs. “I always find you.” 

Even in the low light, he can see her blush. She smiles at him in this soft, perfect way like he’s made everything right just by entering her orbit.

“Well, I had this plan to surprise you for your one year workaversary and I may have encountered a small logistic problem.” From behind her back, she presents a singular cupcake with blue frosting, topped with a crooked candle. “I couldn’t find a lighter.”

His smile falters. The air in his lungs feels like it’s punched out of him. She’s just so fucking thoughtful. So kind and earnest and supportive.

It takes a moment for him to produce a cheap plastic lighter from his pocket. He braces one hand against hers, flicking the other in a practiced motion, sparks skittering as it ignites. Mel hums approvingly as the flame licks onto the wick. Neither of them really look at it though.

“Happy anniversary,” she whispers. Then softer, “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad I’m here, too,” he returns just as gently.

This is a spot from an italian estate agency (we are governed by the right-wing party)

The woman says "Ridiculous..."

It is, by any metric, a small country masquerading as a city.

It governs more lives and more wealth than most nations. If democratic socialism — housing reform, public banking, equitable taxation — functions here, it obliterates the myth that such governance can’t work at scale. The fear isn’t ideological. It’s empirical. Because if Mamdani can keep the lights on, reduce homelessness, and maintain economic growth without catering to Wall Street, then the capitalist gospel collapses under its own dead weight.

What terrifies the establishment isn’t failure. It’s feasibility.

If it works in New York, there’s no reason it can’t work in Nebraska. If it works in Queens, it can work in Kansas City. And once proof exists, belief becomes irrelevant. The ship of democracy, fully refitted, will keep sailing — and no one can claim it isn’t American."

The heat’s been brutal this summer but we still gotta eat! If you’re like me, heat might suppress your appetite, and the last thing any of us want is to sweat over a hot stove and oven when it’s already boiling outside. Here are some of my favorite hot-weather recipes to keep hydrated and fed with when the weather is unbearable! (All recipes should be un-paywalled).

NYT’s best gazpacho (lives up to its name!!)

Persian cold cucumber soup (if you like tzatziki you will like this!)

Eric Kim’s cold noodles with tomato (infinitely riffable Korean flavor profile — for a creamier and less brothy take, try these cold sesame noodles too)

Vietnamese chicken and herb salad (this is an excellent time to get a rotisserie chicken so you don’t have to turn the oven on)

Radish sandwiches with butter and salt (and in a similar vein, if you dig this flavor combo you should try this Polish cottage cheese dip on some good rye bread or even crackers)

It’s still a little early in the season, but you can never go wrong with a BLT (or, if you don’t eat bacon, try this tomato furikake sandwich in its place)

Infinite iterations of pasta salad! You can use anything you got but here is a template I like.

Assorted dense bean salads. This back pocket canned salad is a weird combo of jarred ingredients but it slaps, this hoagie-inspired one is super satisfying, and cowboy caviar is a classic for a reason.

Poke bowls! Canned tuna mixed with some kewpie mayo and sriracha is a budget-friendly riff on the usual ahi and makes everything taste like a spicy tuna roll, but use whatever proteins you like, this is more of a loose template.

genuinely feels like this sums up so many online interactions

On the other hand, it was Reese Witherspoon's idea (she got the idea watching Wednesday, apparently) and she's really excited about it and I know she absolutely adores that character and LB3 has been in development limbo for close to a decade at this point, so I am hopeful it's at least clearly made with LOVE even if it's not great.

And on the third hand I love that Reese was part of the casting process for Elle specifically and that they cast an unknown actress named Lexi Minetree, and VISUALLY at least the girl is a perfect fuckin fit because just look AT her: