This week I’m counting down my favorite works of arts and entertainment in 2022. Here’s what I’ve done so far: Monday: Movies/stage shows Tuesday: TV Wednesday: Books Thursday: Music Today: Stories! I read hundreds of pieces of narrative journalism (maybe thousands?) every year, from 500-word gems in the local paper to long sprawling 12-hour podcasts. Not only that, this work is what a lot of my friends do for a living. So I just now decided that I’m going to give you two lists of stories: One by my friends and one by other folks. All 10 of these stories are special, but just know that I could’ve picked 100 and they would’ve all been great.
Fat John relates to Fat Sam, but it turns out that with meds, I can control my blood sugars much better, and that in turn reduces the episodes of binge-eating. I still weigh more than I should, but the meds actually have helped me lose a little weight, largely, I suspect, because I have fewer lows and therefore fewer binges. The dynamic is probably more complicated than this, but not feeling like I am starving every four hours sure doesn’t hurt. The odds of me reaching my 1991 weight of 180 pounds are exceedingly low, and so I am realistic and try not to beat myself up too much about it. Frankly, while not unimportant, I have other issues than being overweight that I should probably address first.
So much good stuff you've highlighted (and Kim Cross is amazing, you're right), but here's one story that blew away everything else I read this year: Juliet Macur, in the NYT magazine, writing about a young Afghan soccer player, and her desperate attempt to escape the country when the Taliban took over again. Tommy, I don't think I breathed for the last 20 minutes reading this. The detail, the emotion, soooo good!
The same issue of the Atlantic with the Jones/Mooney story has an infuriating story about how the criminal justice system is so broken. Both are amazing articles
Fat John relates to Fat Sam, but it turns out that with meds, I can control my blood sugars much better, and that in turn reduces the episodes of binge-eating. I still weigh more than I should, but the meds actually have helped me lose a little weight, largely, I suspect, because I have fewer lows and therefore fewer binges. The dynamic is probably more complicated than this, but not feeling like I am starving every four hours sure doesn’t hurt. The odds of me reaching my 1991 weight of 180 pounds are exceedingly low, and so I am realistic and try not to beat myself up too much about it. Frankly, while not unimportant, I have other issues than being overweight that I should probably address first.
It is what it is.
That's a very (pardon the pun) healthy attitude.
So much good stuff you've highlighted (and Kim Cross is amazing, you're right), but here's one story that blew away everything else I read this year: Juliet Macur, in the NYT magazine, writing about a young Afghan soccer player, and her desperate attempt to escape the country when the Taliban took over again. Tommy, I don't think I breathed for the last 20 minutes reading this. The detail, the emotion, soooo good!
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/31/sports/soccer/afghanistan-soccer-escape.html
Yes! That story is incredible.
The same issue of the Atlantic with the Jones/Mooney story has an infuriating story about how the criminal justice system is so broken. Both are amazing articles