vanity, filters, links
On a scale of 1-10, where are you on the vanity spectrum? How much time do you spend looking at yourself in the mirror? I'd like to think I'm a low-maintenance 3 or 4, just checking to see if there's any food stuck in my teeth before I leave the house, but then I remember I've been getting eyelash extensions since late last summer.
I try not to spend too much time staring at my own reflection because I don't want to think about wrinkles and collagen depletion. Nor do I want to spend the time and energy learning how to fix things I can't change. Instead I pay other people to do my lashes and brows, hoping that's enough maintenance so that I won't stand out as too old or too I-give-up. The patriarchy is exhausting. It's probably why I hate most selfies.
Unless it's a TikTok selfie with a filter that shows me what I look like bald, or with blue eyes, or as a female Justin Bieber. What I see looking back at me is so weird and confusing and hilarious — it is endlessly entertaining.
Two examples from yesterday. Here's me with the "ginger" filter that turned my grey hair red, took 10+ years off my face, applied all these freckles, supersized my forehead, and made my skin orange:
This was followed almost immediately by the "celebrity lookalike" filter. My results:
The bigger question here is what does Travis see when he uses the filter? Is it a bored middle-aged white woman laughing her ass off?
And what do these filters show when you point the phone camera at your pets? Please try ASAP and get back to me.
Links
Maureen Tkacik's latest piece on Boeing. Safety is clearly their last priority. I will happily do 3 or 4 layovers on an Airbus before I get on another Boeing plane. JFC pass the Xanax. (American Prospect)
Quite a takedown of Kara Swisher's new book. (Baffler)
Remember PostSecret? It's still going. Here's a good profile of its creator. (Hazlitt)
For homeowners, and also people who want to upgrade their rented apartments, this app called Thumbtack sounds awesome. (Wired)
Consequence put together a list of the 100 best bass players of all time. Send this to your favorite bass player just to piss him or her off. Mine said "I stopped reading after the guy from Death Cab for Cutie. Not having Norwood on there is a joke." (Consequence)
Farm animal family photos. (Kottke)
More men like this, please. (TikTok)
Vincent van Gecko. (Colossal)
Paddie's brother from another mother. (Instagram)