You may have noticed that my publishing schedule has dropped from 1-2 times per week to 0 times per week over the last two weeks. This is because my grad thesis is due on May 10th. If you didn’t know, I’m in JSchool because, unlike most Americans reading this, I get to live in a socialist utopia where my healthcare and school is mostly paid for by the VA (and the generous folks at NYU).
The grad thesis isn’t as rigorous as it sounds—it’s basically a feature article, which I plan to publish later this summer. I am writing about Kyle Rittenhouse. Research for this project has included:
Listening to every interview Rittenhouse has done between November 19th, 2021 and present day
With one exception, getting stonewalled to death on every fucking interview attempt with every relevant person
(if you are a relevant person please talk to me, I’m so nice and my take might surprise you)
Attending multiple Rittenhouse-related events, including one where a woman at my table bid $600 for an AR-15 magazine autographed by the Kenosha Kid
I’ve been busy, is what I’m trying to say, really busy, and it only gets worse from here. I have an obscene amount of notes but the final product, which is due in 11 days, remains mostly hypothetical. The plan is to survive on coffee and totally legal substances until May 10th and do nothing but imbibe Rittenhouse content and write about it. I do not imagine this plan is going to do wonders for my sanity, which is already somewhat tenuous at present (see #3), and frankly anything I think or feel during this period will not be fit for human consumption (except, I hope, for the final product).
All of which is to say is, I am humbliy asking for your forbearance and patience during this absolutely batshit time. I’ll be back with my terrible takes after May 10th.
(P.S: In lieu of written content: I was recently on The Attitude with Lincoln Mitchell, which you can listen to here if you would like to)
There is little in the world of edgyness more frightening than bringing one's self consciously to the jagged edge you are treading. If you were sane to start with you would probably have less of a chance of coming through with a bold, brilliant and balanced (?) Thesis. Love and courage to you, intrepid one. You might also take the weddings and births beat for a rest, in the off chance you survive this ordeal.
Laura, You are so fucking cool. Your voice has always meant so much to me in this crazy morass. Take good care of yourself! We need you out there!