Well, we’re still at home. So we’re still sharing the things that are getting us through, giving us hope, or making us laugh—plus our favorite accompaniments for virtual happy hours.
My husband and I have been working from home with our one-year-old daughter for seven weeks. It's been a difficult, joyful, exhausting ride full of baby snuggles that quickly evolve into slapping the laptop keyboard and hogging the videoconference limelight. One of our best finds was Little Baby Bum on Netflix (also available on YouTube). It's a series of nursery rhymes—both classics and new compositions—accompanied by 3D animations of adorable children and animals with disproportionately large heads. It's easily the least annoying children's show we've encountered. Downside: I will forever associate "Three Little Kittens" with the pandemic.
Brittany:
Moscow Mule
Annie:
This perfect
margarita
Delilah:
Any nice cab
Mimi
editor
I first mentioned the book Good Economics for Hard Times, by the most recent winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics, to the Leff team a few months ago. Who knew that its insights would be so applicable so soon?
Tax breaks for the rich don't simulate growth. The economy is fundamentally sticky. No one knows what economic policies work or are even good because so many confounding variables are at play. Also (and most importantly), economic growth is a poor measure of what's worthwhile to people.
A book like this shows you some of the top thinkers in the field apply pressure to assumptions and even study results. Economics is mostly ambiguous, but the critical thinking that produced that ambiguity is hugely comforting, especially at a time when it's clear that huge numbers of people are—and will be—in need of help, care, and systemic interventions.
Justin
design associate
The second season of What We Do in the Shadows is the best nonsensical and ridiculously fun way to escape during these tough times. The horror-comedy is based on the 2014 film by New Zealand filmmakers Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, and explores the life of vampires who are stuck inside, afraid of the sun, and trying to fit into modern life. The just-released second season is more relevant than ever: it expounds upon vampiric
lore, is full of hilarious interactions, and offers a fresh take on the mockumentary format.
Go to Justin’s pick
Go to Mimi’s pick
I've never seen a more compelling musical performance than Aretha Franklin's in the film Amazing Grace. We could all use a little inspiration, divine or otherwise, right now.
Virtual happy hour beverage of choice
Katie:
Green River
Allan
senior adviser
Go to Allan’s pick
Brittany senior editor
Go to Brittany’s pick