So I've been keeping some secrets 👀
ME AND MARK ZUCKERBERG BEEFED ON THREADS + watch my interview with the boys from "The Summer I Turned Pretty" 🌷🌷
Hollllly shit angels, yesterday was SOMETHING else!! It went from literally chatting with Mark Zuckerberg (more on that below) and cooking up something big with Bel (more on that…. idk when) to staying up INCREDIBLY late to read “Red White and Royal Blue” (btw the trailer just dropped for the movie adaption and it looks HOT!!) I’m also in the midst of packing up everything I own and moving back home (before Portugal), so my life is a SHAMBLES, and I’m feeling like you all (as the people who know me best) can sense that?? (maybe by the number of parentheses I’ve already used today??)
I should also note that today’s edish of the newsy is VERY POP CULTURE HEAVY!!! Back to hard news on Monday, but it’s Friday and you (and by that I mean I) deserve it xxx
EXTREMELY RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE A FORMER SYSCA-ER
Our wonderful Liv has just come to the end of her travels and is looking for a design job in London!!! So if you want the most groundbreaking designer in the universe (or you know someone who’s hiring) please get in contact with me (by literally replying to this email) or get in touch with Liv here!!
ME AND MARK ZUCKERBERG BEEFED ON THREADS
Our interview with the boys from “The Summer I Turned Pretty” dropped and it’s SO cute 🥺
Sweden charges Greta Thunberg for blockading oil port
This week in podcasts:
Lewis Capaldi and the ‘Tortured Artist’
Why The Supreme Court Sucks
Justin Trudeau really just ‘called Taylor up’
Shit You Should Cook About: Lemony Pea Risotto 🍋🍚
ME AND MARK ZUCKERBERG BEEFED ON THREADS
WOWOWOW where to begin with this story? I guess it starts a few days ago when I was lucky enough to be added as a tester to Meta’s new Twitter competitor, ‘Threads.’ SYSCA was the 380th account to join (which feels very cool) and for the record, I’m really enjoying the platform (it really feels like you can be yourself there y’know?
One of the coolest parts about being the tester for something like this, is that you’re in the ‘room’ with a bunch of people that you wouldn’t usually get to chat to - for example, the CEO of Instagram:
And then yesterday, just before threads opened up to the public, Olivia Rodrigo made a TikTok of some of the options for the clean version of ‘Vampire’ and one of the options was ‘blood sucker, Mark Zucker’ which I thought was HILARIOUS. So naturally, I made a thread about it. AND THEN THIS HAPPENED:
Naturally, I freaked out and sent this to everyone I knew, before continuing the convo. The rest of it went like this:
You didn’t think I’d be casually chatting to Zuck and NOT ask him about the cage fight did you??
Anyway, right now threads is cute, so you can come and hang out with us there if u want 🥺🥺
Our interview with the boys from “The Summer I Turned Pretty” dropped and it’s SO cute 🥺
Ugh I know I’ve already talked about it too much but you can watch it here:
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Or just the part where they call me adorable (true):
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Justin Trudeau really just ‘called Taylor up’
Every world leader is a Swiftie these days - not just because Taylor Swift it mother but also because she’s apparently good for the economy! With this in mind, her leaving Canada as a Blank Space on her world tour roster did not sit well with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. So, as any world leader must do in 2023, he entered the discourse, saying: “It’s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you. So, don’t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon.”
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Sweden charges Greta Thunberg for blockading oil port
Greta Thunberg is set to appear in court in July, after being charged with "disobeying the police" during a protest she attended in June. Greta joined a bunch of young protesters who were blockading oil tankers at a port in Malmö, and police have said: “she refused to leave when asked to.”
Kinda scary tho - she could face a six-month prison sentence for this, or a fine.
This week in podcasts!!
Own The Feels: Own The Situationship Break-up
We’re back with our breakup podcast ‘Own The Feels’ to talk ALL about situationships. As usual, this episode is based around your stories, and DAMN you had some juicy ones for us this week.
Culture Vulture: The Danger Of The “Tortured Artist”
This week we’re talking about something near and dear to our hearts - mental health in artists! We look at:
the dangers of the “tortured artist” trope and why we shouldn't expect artists to live in their pain to create art for us
Why Adele is sick of us throwing shit at people on stage
Olivia Rodrigo’s new song, and
Zoe and Alfie are having another baby!!
The Shit Show: Why The Supreme Court Sucks
This week on the mic we discuss all the new decisions from the Supreme Court, explain what's going on in France, talk about a 'Mars' simulator, a hot dog eating competition AND Lolita the whale being released from captivity!
Shit You Should Cook About: Lemony Pea Risotto 🍋🍚
Shit You Should Cook About is written by London Laura - our resident ray of sunshine and co-host of Culture Vulture (our weekly pop culture podcast!) She’s a new London dweller, chief of romanticising literally everything, and will definitely ask you all what your love language is at some stage. You can find more Shit She Should Cook About over here!
Mōrena!! Firstly soo lovely to see some focaccia and soup pics in my DMs this week - particularly to the gal who converted her famously soup-hating BF - we love to see it!
Now let me start things off by saying that this weeks Culture Vulture is one v v close to my heart!!! I have talked a bit before about the research project I did in this area looking at the idea of the tortured artist and examining well-being and mental health with creatives - and I would say this conversation is only becoming more and more relevant! If you are a creative / artist / in music or interested in mental health I highly recommend giving it a listen ❤️❤️❤️
Now - SYSCOOKA this week is a cutie - I have fallen madly and deeply in love with…Risotto! I never saw the point in them personally (and the need for constant stirring didn’t appeal) BUT London winter was something else and:
a) having a reason to stand next to the camping stove and keep warm (remember the 5 months of no gas?) and
b) chopping veg for mindfulness
…was reason enough for me to start experimenting with risotto in all its forms! This version is a spring special - but very AUS/NZ winter-friendly as you can just use frozen peas! I used fresh because they are in season here and shelling them was the most satisfying thing I did all week (would HIGHLY recommend for my tactile girls out there). Enjoy the stirring and see you next weeeek xxxxx
Lemony pea risotto (for 2) 🍋
1 cup of peas (fresh or frozen - just cook the frozen ones first!)
1 onion
1 clove garlic
1 lemon
250g rice
2-3 cups vege stock
3 tblsp cream cheese / mascarpone
1/2 cup white wine
Salt n Pep
Chop your onion and garlic and fry off in olive oil on medium heat. Once soft, add the rice and wine, stirring constantly until all the liquid is gone! Very slowly dribble in your stock, stirring gently until it’s all gone, then add a bit more. You’re basically going to do this until it is alllll gone OR the rice is the texture you want it - some like it just done some like it soupy (I’m an in-between). Once it’s nearly there, add in your peas & cream cheese or mascarpone, stirring until everything is looking creamy and combined. Squeeze the juices of the lemon over the whole dish and serve! x
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Luce while I was reading the newsie I was listening to The Shit Show and currently, Squish with his girlfriend is me and my boyfriend with Tour de France. Would love to have Squish on the newsie as a guest writing updates, even for just a fun quote, during the Tour!! xxx
I have a recipe for an OVEN risotto that doesn't need stirring AT ALL and it's just the best 🤣