Anna Khachiyan
Aug 23, 2022 BY
@anna-khachiyanš
As you get older, nothing makes you feel more confident than dousing yourself in perfume to mask the stench of mortality. Granted Iām new to this and not an expert on fragrances, let alone ānotesā and whatnot. But since newsletters are all about advising you on how to creatively spend your money, Iāll do my part and point you in the right direction. My go-to rotation at the moment is Serge Lutens Fille de Berlin, Olympic Orchids Ballets Rouges, and TRNP Bulgakov (Limited Edition *not* OG), which the manufacturer describes as smelling like āfaded opulence.ā Sometimes I like to wild out and layer them all on at once. Not everyone is blessed with healthy levels of narcissism. Perfume is a good way to stack the cards in your favor.
Aug 23, 2022
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CĆ©line Sciammaās queer feminist period drama about two wammin passing the Bechdel test in the Age of Patriarchy gets a thumbs up from me. I watched this movie on the plane and itās common knowledge that flying makes you emotional/horny, which might explain why it left such a lasting impression.This film has everything you could possibly want: lesbians, nudity, costumes, art history references, vision ā all while maintaining an uncharacteristic degree of restraint and not going too hard on the political statements. The casual absence of men for the most part is a nice touch.Ā Iād even go so far as to say that itās up there in my hall of fame, along with Harold Pinter and Joseph Loseyās The Go-Between, Peter Greenawayās The Draughtsmanās Contract and Alain Corneauās All the Mornings of the World. The only thing that wouldāve made it better in my opinion is if they delivered on all the threats of self-immolation in the end, but endings are something that filmmakers historically seem to struggle with, so next.
Aug 23, 2022
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Easier said than done, especially if you suffer from learned helplessness and poverty mentality due to years of living like a dog. As with most habits that are worth investing in, this oneās a matter of going against your gut, at least initially. Thatās fine because your gut is probably leaky and has a messed up microbiome. Only problem is once you break the seal, thereās no going back.
Aug 23, 2022
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I know this sounds redundant but slow your roll. If youāre like me and do a lot of traveling, youāll want to keep a handful of sample sprays on you at all times. A quick, easy and low-cost way to feel refreshed after a long flight or between āmeetings.ā
Aug 23, 2022
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I love airports because they bring two of my favorite things together under one roof: people watching and āliminal spaces.ā The lounge access is also a plus, though they really do be letting anyone in these days.
Aug 23, 2022
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Nothing feels as good as unsubscribing, but youāre gonna want to hold on to a physical subscription or two, if for no other reason then ambiance. Personally, I recommend American Affairs and The New Criterion, a couple of quality periodicals with good aesthetics that some may call āfascist,ā but I call respectable. Reading magazines will help you improve your attention span and cut through the wasteland of takes. God knows we could all use some of that.
Aug 23, 2022
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I canāt be 100% sure if itās actually Nick Mullen behind this Wordpress, but Iāll choose to believe for our mutual sake. Nick is a great guy and a great writer, though reading his blog youād think heās the Jewish one for how neurotic he is about his health. Many people have speculated that Iām secretly in love with Nick/want to have sex with him, but the truth is Iām simply impressed by his code of ethics, which as I said on the sub, is rare in our little online ghetto and comes through in everything he does. Also having a Wordpress instead of a Substack is r-worded yet kind of a baller move. Classic Nick!
Aug 23, 2022
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I donāt know who needs to hear this but Iām obsessed. I can quote entire passages by heart and have a whole spiel prepared on how itās āgenre-defying,ā an āinstant classic,ā the ālatest entry in the canon,ā and so on. But in the interest of time, the real reason it speaks to me is that itās funny, simple as. OK, after today I think Iāve finally earned the right to throw in the towel and stop doing free publicity for this vile and racist book.
Aug 23, 2022
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Now that Iām pushing forty Iāve noticed a lot of my friends and associates suddenly getting sober. More power to them but itās just not for me. When I do a searching moral inventory of what sparks joy in my life, I always come back to having a drink (or three) after a long day or a job well done. You wonāt regret skipping dessert but not ordering a glass of wine at dinner is too much to ask.
Aug 23, 2022