Hey everyone, happy April!
After very little a lot of thought, Aja and Aliza decided to pass the mantle to us, their beloved Sams, while they go on a long and device-free Caribbean vacation — return date TBD. Our interests look a little different than theirs, but hopefully you’ll appreciate that we are experts on exciting topics like Japanese foreign policy, science fiction books, and underground techno music — cool, yeah? Let’s dive into our very first Links We Sent Our Friends.
Sam B’s links:
Convinced spice rubs, sauces, and dips taste better when served in this mortar and pestle (table-side guac, anyone?)
As a music producer, I’ve been closely following the discourse around music streaming and its impact on artists. James Blake’s new music site Vault — “like Substack for musicians” — takes the plot in an interesting direction.
I find myself quoting Guy Ritchie movies on a regular basis (“dags”), so when I learned he’d released a full series on Netflix, I was instantly sold. Spoiler: It does not disappoint. (Sam G: This is a good way to eventually get Aliza to watch Snatch…)
DJ SWISHA has been making some of my favorite club music of late. Appreciating the slightly more mellow feel of his new release.
If you, like me, are perennially on the hunt for the perfect t-shirt, check out Elwood’s Jackson and Core tees (they’re unisex!)
Sam G’s links:
It’s officially Spring, so I bought a pair of Classic Crocs (in “Pond.”) Perfect for when you need a lil’ something to slip on to walk the dog, go to the grocery, or pick up the kid. I learned the hard way, but they run small, so make sure you follow the instructions and measure your feet!
Friends often ask me for a good page-turner: This is a go-to, and not just because of the sexy cover.
Occasionally, I need a hand keeping things regular. My rec is Metamucil, which is not only “plant-based”1 but also makes a pretty tasty drink! It comes in handy packets for travel, which is when we all need a little help the most.
It’s a good time in pop culture to be me!2 Like Shogun, many of my favorite childhood books — Dune, A Game of Thrones, and (a more recent favorite) The Three Body Problem — are being turned into very very good movies and shows. (Sam B: Some of my favorite books and now adaptations, too!)
You probably know The Ringer’s The Rewatchables podcast (for movies) — you might also like The Watch (for shows) with The Rewatchables’ favorite Chris Ryan and the (slightly) annoying but insightful Andy Greenwald.
Question we asked our friends:
Would you be supportive if your friend or child had an AI girlfriend / boyfriend / partner? (Sam G: Absolutely not.)
Platonic Love is an affiliate-free publication, meaning we don’t generate any revenue from the links we share so you feel 100% confident in our recommendations. If you’re enjoying the newsletter, please consider showing your support by liking, commenting, and/or upgrading to a paid subscription. Maybe you’ll pass this issue to your own Sams?
… and a good conversation starter for making new friends! Aliza’s friend’s boyfriend was the one who first introduced me.
My interests were less cool in 2006.
Thank you for linking bookshop.org - makes me so happy when people use that instead of Amazon 😊
The AI Q, I totally agree- no chance!! No way!!!