☔️Floods & Phoenixing 🦋
+ I'm interviewing Ron from Jury Duty today ah!!
Holy shit my friends, yesterday was CHAOTIC!!! After what was kinda a normal morning, I went to the supermarket to grab some things for lunch (in a normal level of rain) and by the time I came to drive home THE ROAD HAD FLOODED. I was literally driving through water that was coming up over my bonnet. THEN Auckland declared a literal state of emergency, and this is our third flood/ huge weather event THIS YEAR so we’re all just a bit 😖😖😖😖😖
All of that is to say that yesterday’s Culture Vulture ep was cancelled, and today’s shit show ep is too, but in an exciting turn of events I AM INTERVIEWING RON FROM JURY DUTY TODAY!! Close Friends have seen me doing the most to get to him (thankfully he simply replied to my DMs) and now I think it’s actually happening! So, comment below anything you might want to know and I’ll do my best to ask him!
For a behind-the-scenes look at the interview process, become a Close Friend!!
Auckland flooded, again
Teen missing in Abbey Caves amid Auckland floods
Tens of thousands of people join protests after shootings in Serbia
🔔Bel Chimes In: What do you call that rising feeling? It’s phoenixing 🔔
Tucker Carlson is ready to take Fox News down
Is soup a meal or a drink?
Auckland flooded, again
I am just sending so much love to people who are dealing with the THIRD flood we’ve had this year up here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Yesterday (as I mentioned in the intro) we were put into a state of emergency again, after heavy rain caused flooding in the region. I don’t have too much to add except that we’re all okay - but this video below is literally RIGHT BY MY HOUSE:
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For everything you need to know, head here or here.
Teen missing in Abbey Caves amid Auckland floods
Devastatingly, a year 11 student from Whangārei Boys' High School is missing in a cave system that his outdoor education class was exploring. He was among 15 students and two teachers who had gone to Abbey Caves, and while the rest of the group was initially trapped, they made it out safely.
The search has been suspended until first light this morning, and the principal of the school has promised a full investigation into why the trip went ahead despite the weather warnings.
Tens of thousands of people join protests after shootings in Serbia
Content warning: Gun violence
After two mass shootings that caused 17 deaths in Serbia last week, tens of thousands of people have taken to the street to protest, calling for “the resignation of top officials and the curtailing of violence in the media.”
According to The Guardian:
“The opposition is also demanding that reality shows known for promoting violence should be taken off air, along with banning pro-government newspapers that regularly stoke tension with crude articles targeting political dissidents.”
Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vucic, condemned the protests, saying that the opposition is “capitalising on a national tragedy to promote their own interests.” He also said he was “ready” to test his party's popularity at a snap vote.
The education minister has already stepped down, citing the “cataclysmic tragedy” of last week’s school shooting (where eight students were killed) in his resignation letter.
Some super helpful context on Serbia and its history/ relationship with guns here!
🔔Bel Chimes In: What do you call that rising feeling? It’s phoenixing 🔔
This section is written by my crush, the refreshing-as-a-house-chardonnay-on-a-steamy-day, Bel Hawkins. She also writes our Sunday newsletter ‘No News is Good News’ which all our paying supporters receive. Upgrade your plan to get her newsy here!
[Luce note: Bel is actually away this week so I’m reposting one of my fave chimes from her!!]
OK, back to my favourite word of the moment bullshit because my dream job is to invent words for a living (which is, in some ways, what I do already so, live your truth), today I bring you: Phoenixing.
Inspired by the simple title of The Order of the Phoenix, this is a hot description for the period after things have been bad. It’s about the time that comes after everything’s burned down, difficult things have happened, and you come out the other side better, cuter, wiser, shinier than before.
The bad times are the ashes. And you are the bird.
You can phoenix after a bad hangover, a breakup, a bad time, a bleak patch, a blue period. It's special cos it reminds you of the passing of time and that feelings are just waves. When it happens, don’t question it.
[Luce note again: Bel did ask me to ask YOU if you had any ideas for things you want her to chime in on, if so, comment below!]
Tucker Carlson is ready to take Fox News down
Ok, so we all know by now that Tucker Carlson was fired by Fox News, right? Well, now he’s ready for war. Basically he's now trying to start his own conservative news thing (or work for another one) but Fox won't let him out of his contract (which expires in 2025.) Fox is trying to sideline him by paying him $20 million a year not to work.
Don’t wanna over-inflate this at all, but people reckon that this Tucker vs Fox thing could kinda change up the whole conservative news world, as Fox’s viewership has plunged since Tucker’s departure, and he’s already been contacted by other right-wing outlets that are offering to pay him MORE than his contract at Fox to join them.
Only time will tell, but if I were him I’d take the $20m a year NOT to work tbh.
Today’s mundane poll:
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Who would consider soup a drink??? Like 'you know what would quench my thirst? A lovely drink of pumpkin soup'
V excited for the interview with Ronald!!! I'd be so curious to know how he felt about all of it immediately after and like ?? if they offered him any kind of mental health support :s