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I guess this newsletter is partly about advising people on how to spend their money, which is not something I particularly love doing…but I will direct your attention to the war going on in Ukraine. Being from Ukraine, lots of people have asked me for context on what’s happening, but I don’t live there and don’t feel like an authority. Still what seems clear to me: Ukraine is the target of an aggressive invasion by the army of a madman who places no value on human life. The Ukrainian forces, including many civilians, are putting up an incredible fight from a defensive position. The country faces a terrible loss of life and infrastructure. The defenders will need as much support as they can get and civilians welcome all humanitarian aid. Here’s a good guide with vetted orgs, if you can help 💙THANK YOU💛 I hope with all my might this horror is over soon and that Ukrainians have peace for many generations.
Mar 10, 2022
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Apr 26, 2025
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During any sociopolitical crisis knowing what to do and how to help can feel confusing and horrible-- but never fear! I have a direct line for anyone interested in donating money to the cause. My dear friend is trying to raise $1200 to help HER dear friend cross the border from Gaza to Egypt. There are a ton of fees for crossing and he also needs money to try and get a European visa (his other option is taking a raft across the Mediterranean which is extremely dangerous and difficult). My friend's venmo is @lexog and I can big time vouch for the legitimacy of this cause! She's sending the money directly to her buddy in Gaza. Helping individuals not only get to safety but rebuild their lives in the wake of all this shit is a noble effort <3 <3
Dec 5, 2023
Top Recs from @eugene
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Before this crisis, we had another one: the global pandemic. If you recall, everything shut down pretty much everywhere…which gave a few film lovers the chance to become film programmers. Using under-the-radar streaming services (like Twitch, but dodgier), several collectives started running daily movie streams. It was a refreshing alternative to going on Netflix/Hulu/Criteria and weighing the options for an hour. Instead of having to pick a movie, you just go to the URL and feast your eyes on the stream. The one I was most obsessed with was Cinephobe, but Cathode Cinema, Moviepassed and SpectacleNYC all gave me much-needed joy, as depression, despair and death colonized human consciousness. A few major discoveries were Golden Mouth, Brimstone and Treacle, Play Dirty and Scalpel. These programmers earn my gratitude and admiration. I think Cathode is the only one still going strong and I highly recommend you check it out.
Mar 10, 2022
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During my travelmania, I tempted the devil by trying to get even cheaper flights and ended up with a free trial on a random site called Unpub. I forgot to cancel the trial and got auto-enrolled for a year, with a fee of $49.95. At first I was pissed BUT soon I was snagging flights at 10-50% less than their list price! EXCEPT every once in a while I notice they register my ticket with weird Russian email addresses and need me to confirm credit card numbers they already have on file. Come to think of it, this seems extremely sketchy…your call.
Mar 10, 2022