Friday Formula 1

A note: Getting a bit tired of trying to think of words that start with F.

As always, a collection of random things that struck me this week that didn’t merit a post of their own.

• For those not in the know, Formula 1 is now a global sport and will have three races in the United States this year. The first was last week in Miami and as the f1 Instagram account insisted on boasting about, “the stars came out.” And indeed, they did. Great. Tom Cruise is a known F1 fan, and has been over in England for the Silverstone race a few times. And he was out in Miami in several spots. And … I kind of couldn’t get over his look.

  

  That’s him with Shakira in the background. She looks great. He looks … like every 7th grader in the 1980s with that haircut, the awkward fitting collared shirt (which I’m sure cost an absurd amount of money). It’s just bad. My first thought with this haircut was … OH, Cruise is finally losing his hair,. because nobody would willingly do that without a reason. But then, I saw THIS photo:

  

  And look, I know I’m overthinking this by a MASSIVE amount, but that doesn’t look like his hairline is receding. So he’s gone to a messy center cut haircut for … reasons? Please don’t tell me this is now fashionable again. We can grow as a society, people. Let’s not retreat.

• I’d also like to use this space, while we are talking about Instagram, to thank all the weird bot accounts that try and follow me for putting things like “Fx” or “BTC” or “Bitcoin” in the usernames of these accounts, because then I don’t even have to look before declining. We appreciate your service.

• As detailed on this spot, The Full Irish is under three months away, and I’ve discovered a podcast talking all about Irish golf (among other things). While I’ve booked the tee times and hotels, it’s always fun to be able to listen to them talk about “the good life” which includes pubs and restaurants, etc., worth visiting while you’re out there. (Apologies to those who don’t like Spotify links, but otherwise, click here to listen if you’re so inclined.)

• A lot of the time when folks ask me what I do for a living, I want to say, “Write and answer emails.” Because that is what feels like a majority of the things I do at work sometimes. Well, it seems that on average, workers spend two days a week writing or reading emails. That’s 40% of the work week! I have no words (I used them all up writing emails.)

• Update on The Music Project - I will be very shocked if, at the end of the year, boygenius isn’t one of my top bands. I cannot stop listening to their album “the record” and especially their first single “Not Strong Enough.” Despite this, the fact that they are quite popular strikes me as interesting because its not the kind of music I expect to be wildly popular, and yet here we are. I’m also somewhat tickled by the fact they have been referenced as a “supergroup” as I tend to think that terms applies to when wildly popular musicians come together to form another band. I certainly had heard of Phoebe Bridgers before, but wouldn’t consider her wildly popular, and Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus even less so. Regardless, they are fantastic and the first single is really an almost perfect song. The lyrics are great - and just disarming enough to catch you off guard. Each artist sings separately at different times, and then they harmonize together on the chorus - which like the rest of the song starts a bit later than you’d expect. Everything about the song feels right but at the same time, just a little bit off. Which I think is the point. Here’s the song (it’s YouTube, so you’re welcome Rozy Cheeks) and then another video where they break it down. Enjoy if you are so inclined.