Jacob All Trades #331
My Wife in the WSJ, Shelley Duval, Biden, Red Solo Cups, State Legislatures, The Papyrus Font, Burrito Folding, Car Camping, Big Brothers and more
It’s been an eventful few weeks. I’ve been working hard on our front yard landscape, went to a taping of Frasier, submitted some more crosswords to NYT, did a read through for a short film I’m going to direct in the fall, and crammed on a pitch for an agency during the week my kids had off and I got a stomach bug only to help them win the business… and then get a form rejection email for a full time job I’d also applied to there. The job market is rough, y’all.
Are you working? Not working?
If there’s anything I can do to help you find work or keep you in mind for opportunities in my network, please lmk. And, quick reminder: anyone who recommends me for a writing or directing gig that I book gets 10% of my rate.
Alrighty, here’s a newsletter…
HERE’S AN IDEA: QUICK HITS!
I’ve got a list of ideas I want to pitch you, and sometimes there’s not much to write other than the pitch — so here’s a round up of a few I hope you’ll consider. As always, if you have a way to make these ideas happen, reach out!
Coffee shops should have Phone Call and Non-Phone Call sections the same way restaurants used to have Smoking and Non-Smoking
CEO pay should be capped at 50x the company’s lowest paid worker
The FCC should fine public officials and political candidates per lie told
In order to send mailers or catalogues, companies should be required to have a QR code that allows you to unsubscribe
A retelling of Fiddler on the Roof set in Gaza with the IDF as the Russians
You should legally be allowed to opt out of AI training on any platform
A detective show starring Margo Martindale
Whadya think?
CONSUMPTION JUNCTION
Three things I’ve consumed recently that have stayed on my mind.
My wife [Borat voice] was interviewed by The Wall Street Journal about work life balance. Heather is super smart and writes about work culture, parenthood, and more on her substack. Here’s a link to the WSJ article (and here’s a link that’ll take you behind their paywall). ⬇️
Sometimes I think about what weird MAGA Tweets Jimi Hendrix might write if he were still alive. I mean, he probably would be super cool still, but when people you love die young you can mythologize them. If JK Rowling had died immediately after penning the last Harry Potter book we’d remember her differently than the obnoxious anti-trans advocate she’s become. On the flip side: public figures who don’t go off the deep end are sometimes abandoned for decades until they die — finally getting their flowers… on the grave. Kelly McClure’s recent piece for Salon really made me think about how Shelley Duvall was literally asking for help from a public who ignored her and why we don’t give artists — especially actresses — their due while they’re alive. ⬇️
And speaking of people whose decision to stay in the spotlight as they age… here’s a great substack from Dan Pfeiffer’s “The Message Box” about Joe Biden. If you’re nervous about things politically it’s a measured assessment of where we’re at now and what might come next. ⬇️
SWAP IT
Summer is in full effect and here’s a quick climate friendly swap you can make to not help create future garbage….. OUT: Red Solo Cups. IN: Aluminum Cups
Solo cups are: not recyclable, break easy, and don’t do anything to keep a drink cold. Ball (the company famous for Mason jars (that spun off their jar brand to go into defense contracting 🥺)) makes aluminum cups that are: infinitely recyclable, sturdy, and keep your drink cold. They’re available at Amazon, Walmart, and any other giant corporate store.
DO SOMETHING
If you are feeling anxious about the election here are a couple ways you can — as Hopium’s Simon Rosenberg says — worry less and do more:
Tell everyone you know about the very real threat of Project 2025. This Jon Oliver vid is a good place to start.
Volunteer and financially support The States Project. So many people get involved in politics in the months before a Presidential election and get pissed about the choices — but don’t pay attention to state races. State elections are critical for a number of reasons:
Your donation money goes much farther and can make a bigger difference
You can help build the bench for the Democratic party of the future
State legislatures are the front lines for battles for voting rights, gun control, body autonomy, civil rights, and so much more.
A lot (but not all) of the MAGA plot to turn America into a fundamentalist Christian dictatorship involves dissolving Federal agencies and putting more in control of the states (where they’ve been eroding rights in preparation for Project 2025)
Stop flaming each other on social media. My brother and I joke about how Democrats would spent weeks debating what shade of blue something is (Is it Slate? Navy? I think it’s more of a Cerulean! Oh yah? Well, you’re a f*cking moron, it’s Cornflower!) while Republicans will look at the same shade of blue and all agree it’s actually Red and if you disagree, you’re a pedophile groomer socialist. I think it’s absolutely healthy to debate and discuss whether or not Biden is the best candidate right now, but I can’t imagine the joy it brings Trump to see Democrats try and cancel each other or refuse to vote because of someone’s take on if and how Biden should step aside.
Support journalism. And I don’t mean send WaPo $20 a month because if you don’t, Democracy will die in darkness. Pay for public radio, donate to ProPublica, support substacks you believe in.
WHAT THE FONT
Okay, so y’all know Papyrus, right? The typeface people (except James Cameron) love to shit on? If not. Here’s the SNL sketch with Ryan Gosling about it:
HOT TIP
Here’s how to actually fold a burrito so it doesn’t fall apart:
Also, lol at the part where he says “this is a technique I developed…. after watching other people [who knew how to roll a burrito]”
TAKE MY MONEY
Swedish company Gasell Adventure makes these expanding roof tents and holy smokes do I want one:
LITERALLY JUST A BRAG
A few weeks ago, I got to attend a screening of director/pal Matt Mazany’s fantastic film Big Brothers. It was a sincere joy to watch this short melt the damn faces off a packed house at Dances With Films. I executive produced the project, which has an absolutely stacked cast led by legit movie star Mike Mitchell.
It was so fun to celebrate Matt’s work alongside fellow EPs Joey Clift and Francesca DeLutis, producer Ross Buran, editor Ian Skalski, actors NAMES and all the other buddies who showed up to support. We’ve got some great festivals coming up and I hope we’re able to share this with you soon. Meanwhile, here’s the trailer:
Alrighty, that’s it for this issue. Feel free to leave a comment or share the newsletter using the links below.
Party on,
Jacob