Welcome to Oscar Nomination day, where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter! I’m sorry about your snub, happy about your fave, or whichever message adequately responds to your feelings on the matter.

And now, without further adieu, here’s some stuff that is decidedly not Oscar Nominations related.

Last week we watched both Moonfall and Jackass Forever. One is the highest form of slapstick and knows exactly what it is. The other takes itself violently seriously while asking the question “what would happen if the moon suddenly started getting closer to earth?” Both are hysterical.

Truly, I’m glad we were at a press screening for Moonfall, because there’s no way I wouldn’t have ended up in a theater who took it seriously and were deeply offended that I laughed my ass off throughout the entire screening. It is in no way meant to be funny, but the dialogue is on par with Halle Berry’s Storm being forced to say “What happens to a toad when it’s struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else.”

Give that woman another Oscar for putting up with that script.

Late stage capitalism has rotted all of our brains, mine included. A lot of us call it out more than we used to, but we still play the same old games. I am so used to working all the time that I don’t really know how to function unless I am working on something that’s not a “side hustle.” Hobbies? Our brains immediately wonder how to monetize. After all, most of us have dealt with several major recessions in our lifetimes in addition to that fancy late stage capitalism. How can we be expected to relax in this economy?

Still. The answer is still to relax. To take time. To be there for you. To take care of yourself. There’s that meme that I’m too lazy to go find that highlights all of those things but ends with “but not me though.”

Yes you, though.

Last week we talked about how crazy things were, that I’d have stuff to show for it later. That later is still later, as much of it is still in production. But there’s been progress! This part and the “stop working nights and weekends” part from before go pretty much hand in hand, but stay tuned for both efforts! (Spoiler: I will be better at the work part than the relax part, but we’re taking baby steps!)

Have you checked out the Merri Hour yet? The weekly YouTube show is hosted by Matt Donato and Perri Nemiroff. The two discuss all the goings on of the movie world, and then Perri destroys Matt at beer pong. As both a guest and a frequent watcher of the show (Fridays at 4:30PM PST/7:30PM EST), I can assure you it’s well worth your time. It’s one of the few good things to come out of quarantine. Watch their socials (tagged above) for the weekly link, or subscribe directly to Perri’s YouTube channel so you get the notifications!