issue thirty-nine

surprise bitch

tap tap

Is this thing on? 

Remember when I thought this would be a regular, weekly endeavour? I’m so funny. 

I make no promises on how frequent this will be, or what will be discussed, but I go where the voices take me and right now they’re telling me to write. Actually, they’re mainly telling me that I’m the worst writer to ever live so we’re actively trying to combat that with forced writing. Imposter syndrome can sure be a real bitch sometimes, huh.

So, how’ve y’all been? What’s the 411? What’re the new jams?

Since we last spoke I was silenced on the so-called free speech app. May yanoforsure rest in peace. I thought about writing a eulogy for her but then realized that would be the third time I’ve written about twitter in some form and that feels a little dramatic. 

You can still find me on twitter at fersurebud. I will never be silenced. Or I will be momentarily before returning out of spite – and a slight social media dependence, but that’s neither here nor there. 

What I’m Listening to: 

Behind the Bastards: How Avery Brundage Gave Hitler an Olympics (Part 1, Part 2)

It’s almost that time again! The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are just weeks away and alongside the excitement comes the reminders of how deeply evil the IOC and Olympics industrial system is. I’ve written about my complicated Olympics feelings before and little has changed. 

These episodes are especially topical as they centred on the IOC and US Olympic Committee’s complicity in the Nazi Party and Hitler’s persecution, and eventual genocide, of the Jewish, Queer, Romani, disabled, Communist, and all other minority groups others targeted in the Holocaust – something that is similar to the IOC’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine. Israel should not be allowed to compete in the Olympic games – or any international competition – yet the IOC is turning a blind eye. The hypocrisy of the decision, considering Russia’s ongoing ban for their invasion of the Ukraine, is truly breathtaking. It’s infuriating. It’s heartbreaking. 

Some Further Reading: 

Israel and Russia Have No Place in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Protests and push to ban Israel: Paris Olympics will be like no other, says ex-NBA player

Stories from the AIDS Crisis 

I found this episode so incredibly moving, to hear stories both from those who lived through the AIDS crisis and those who’ve lost family members to the crisis. In no way is this a unique take, but there is nowhere near enough education regarding the AIDS crisis and how it decimated the queer community in the 80s and 90s. As a queer person, I feel as though it is my duty to educate myself on our history and our struggle and how the government and general society abandoned us through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and these stories really highlight how the individual was impacted by these failures of humanity. Really touching stuff. 

Tales from the Rec Room: Walk Hard

Hey! It’s me! Tune in as Bree and I discuss one of my favourite comedies of the early 2000s and all the ways in which culture has pushed and pulled against the musical biopic. Come for the cultural criticism, stay for my attempts to imitate Paul Rudd’s John Lennon impression. 

Articles: 

Ben Natan: Israel's War on Palestinian Athletes

The Last Gay Erotica Store

The Fan-Journalist Tightrope

Soup to nuts: Chicken Soup for the Soul was almost as big as the Bible. Then it lost its way

Shameless Self-Promo:

I've joined Offside News as a staff writer/editor and co-host of the podcast Five Minutes for Yapping! 

Offside News is a queer-run, hockey news and satire site, that focuses on the serious and also deeply unserious aspects of this silly sport we dedicate so much time to. And we have merch! What more could you want! 

Till next time!

xoxo, Liz