THE WEEKLY PAGE 📝 No. 242

The best "At-Your-Desk Stretch" + what to read, watch, listen to and enjoy...

Anyone who sits at a desk 8+ hours a day knows how important it is to prioritize taking little breaks — even if it’s just for a couple of minutes.

I have an awful habit of tensing up my shoulders while I’m working, so a stretch that targets my trapezius muscles (the triangular cord that runs across the top of the shoulders and sides of the neck) feels amaaaaaaazing.

I found one that works like magic and I call it “The Desk Stretch”. Give it a try:

1. Push your chair back from you desk, place your feet flat on the floor with your knees together.

2. Cross your arms one over the other at the elbow in front of you, palms facing inward. Then reach down so that your palms are pressed against the outside of the opposite knee.

3. Gently push your legs outward, using the pressure to pull your arms in opposing directions. Feel that glorious stretch across your upper back, shoulders, and neck.

Take a few deep breaths and slowly drop your head toward the floor, roll it gently side to side, and then up to the ceiling. Repeat with the other arm on top.

Awwwhhh…..feels pretty incredible, right? Also apologies for my amateur illustration skills — if 500 more of you become paid subscribers I’ll get a professional on staff 😂 Have a good weekend!

P.S. Thank you for all the kind notes about The Survival Guide For Authoritarianism and the Stupid Tech Broligarchy that I put out last week! A trusted mentor, ally, and friend of mine reviewed it this week and suggested some great additions. Check it out when you have time.

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📚 READ: Observing the US from Europe last week was a wild ride (I’m sure watching from within was even more unsettling). I kept saying “This looks like a slow-motion coup, why isn’t anyone calling it a coup?!” In the past few days, multiple leading experts have come out and called it what it is: a coup. Personally I’m a bit nervous about what other nefarious things might be planned for this weekend, when much of the American public will be distracted by the Super Bowl. Here’s some of the best writing I’ve seen on the the Musk Coup:

Of Course It’s a Coup by

Timothy Snyder

Elon Musk’s Computer Coup from The Verge (podcast episode notes)

“For all practical purposes, I’d call that a coup” Senator Ron Wyden on Decoder

It is Really A Coup? by

Joyce Vance

Coup, Continued by

Joyce Vance

All The Best Coup Reporting by

Brian Hansbury

Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew from ProPublica

Can Anyone Stop President Musk? from The Verge

DC is Just Waking Up To the Musk’s Takeover from The Verge

Elon Musk’s DOGE is working on a Custom Chatbot by WIRED

Letters From An American for February 4 by

Heather Cox Richardson

The US Government is not a Startup by WIRED

📺 WATCH: I randomly tossed on the trailer for Gifted last weekend and laughed so hard that I had to watch it immediately. Mckenna Grace is so adorable and brilliant in it — despite some of the sadder themes in the film (TW parent loss, child custody litigation) she kept me cracking up. Watch the trailer here:

🎧 LISTEN: You already know I was counting down the return of

Truer Crime Podcast

— the true crime podcast with a restorative justice lens 👏🏻 Last week’s episode featured the story of Alice Sebold, best-selling author of “The Lovely Bones” who accused a man of sexual assault (the situation detailed in her memoir, “Lucky”) but later learned she had wrongfully accused him. Listen here, below, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🧡 ENJOY: I was SO obsessed with sending mail as a kid (and an adult!), but moving abroad brought my letter-sending to a screeching halt (so many logistics! so expensive! takes so long!). Thankfully I’ve discovered Postable — you can pick out a card and can even write a long letter inside (that they’ll print for you in a handwritten style!) — then they’ll address it, stamp it, and mail it for you (for around $4). While I think a handwritten note that is personally sent is always the *nicest touch* this is a really nice option, especially if you live abroad or have any limitations that make getting to the local post office difficult. I’ve got a Favorites page where I’ve saved some of my favorite designs (they work with many small designers I recognized!) — you can also add photos to some, or upload your own designs. Check it out here. (not sponsored, just awesome).

Here are two more things to love about Postable:

1. You can SCHEDULE the send — this is so nice for remembering birthdays or other events at the top of each month, and scheduling them to send a few days ahead of time.

2. They help with address collection — You can set up an address collection page and generate a link that you can send via email. Once your friends and family fill it out, all their addresses will be organized for you in Postable (you can also add them yourself, of course).

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