5 in 5: 'Casual,' Danez Smith, and treachery in Silicon Valley
Every week, Stephanie Curtis chooses 5 things to read, watch, or experience.
1. "Casual" just ended up its run on Hulu. It's a comedy about a codependent grown brother and sister trying to find meaning in their professional and emotional lives. This fourth and final season is set in the near future and uses just-out-of-touch technology in imaginative ways to fuel the emotional narrative.
2. John Carreyrou takes you behind the scenes of the downfall of would-be medtech giant Theranos in "Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup." Elizabeth Holmes bullies co-workers and hoodwinks investors as she tries to revolutionize blood lab work. You will be astonished by the credulity and arrogance of Silicon Valley's brightest minds.
3. Michael Hobbes argues that "Everything You Know About Obesity Is Wrong" on HuffPost Highline. Our obsession with shaming anyone who is "overweight" keeps us blind to what really keeps people healthy. Americans of all weights believe that "if you're fat, lose some weight. If you're skinny, keep up the good work." Science doesn't back us up. The article is accompanied by arresting images from photographer Finlay MacKay. 4. Poet Danez Smith, a graduate of Saint Paul Central High School, is the youngest ever winner of the Forward prize for best poetry collection. Their collection, "Don't Call Us Dead," is on Graywolf Press.
— On MPR News (@onmprnews) September 20, 2018
5. The Tesla Quartet's first album just came out featuring works composed by Haydn, Ravel, and Stravinsky. I particularly like the second movement from Ravel's String Quartet in F major; I'm a sucker for some pizzicato.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.