Vexillology

I’m claiming my birthright and flying to Israel for a non-controversial ten-day trip, bolstering efforts of my colleague Andrew to bring lasting peace to the middle east. Or, you know, just kinda enjoying some time off outdoors. Can I really go ten days without bacon cups? Sigh.

Summer Anthems: Because I will be out next week, I think it’s probably best to leave you with two summer anthems. You can spread them out over the course of the next two weeks, savoring the energy they provide you. Crazy In Love is my go-to example of what a summer anthem is. Try not dancing to this song after you’ve had a few, I dare you (a surprisingly good metric for evaluating tunes!) My roommate claims that if she gives birth to twins she will name them Jay-Z and Beyonce – which, I don’t know. It seems weird to name your twins after a real life couple. Remember on the Cosby Show when Elvin and Sondra’s twins were named Winnie and Nelson? I celebrate the end of Apartheid, too, but …weird, right? Much, much less classic is this song: Steal My Sunshine: Imagine it’s the year 1999, you are in high school in suburban Maryland, driving around, worrying about your IB and AP tests, angsting generally, and note that although the radio is dreck (aside from Oldies 100!), there are a few gems that inspire rolling windows down and singing along. This is one of em. Maybe you had to be there? But I AM there everytime I hear this.

I was going to post something random for you to read about here, but it just doesn’t get any more random than vexillology; well done, Lily. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I still can’t really believe that it’s a thing. Who knew Betsy Ross and Adolf Hitler would ever find themselves together on a list?