Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Disney+
The finale just dropped today and, yes, I’m writing this after watching it. No spoilers, but I thought it ended the first season quite well (well, there’s one exception, but I said no spoilers…). This is the second Marvel series on Disney+ and, wow, this and WandaVision have both been great in very different ways. Really looking forward to Loki… too bad we have to wait another month!!

Ska Dream
Jeff Rosenstock
I admit not knowing who Jeff Rosenstock was before this week, but I really like the cut of his jib. Last year he released the album “No Dream.” It’s a really enjoyable punk album with great riffs, tight instrumentation — everything you’d want if you came up on punk in the late 20th century. This week, though, he dropped a ska version of the album. Yes, a ska version. Why? He wrote, “As with most things ska in my life, what started out as a fun goof with friends eventually morphed into “Hey, what if we tried to make it good though?” All of us have a pretty deep history playing and touring the country in punk/ska bands.” And you know what? It’s awesome! (Above links are Spotify links)

James Hoffmann
YouTube
I watch a lot of YouTube. Probably more than just about any media because I feel there’s a more direct link between creator and viewer. With a low barrier to entry anyone with a niche can find an audience. Those who do it well and consistently (and who know how to work the algorithms) will find like-minded people. James Hoffmann can come off as a ridiculously pedantic espresso guy. And, on some levels, he is. I mean, if you’re going to review multiple burr grinders that cost well in excess of $1000 each head to head you’re going to have to get into the fine details and know your unimodal flat burs, if you know what I mean — and he does. That said, he’s got a wonderfully dry sense of humor and doesn’t take himself too seriously — as evidence I give you his review of the Bripe, a brew pipe. I don’t have an espresso maker (well, I have a Mokka Pot), though I hope to, but watching James Hoffmann’s videos are still soothing.

Osprey Talon 22
Backpack
Early in the pandemic I realized two things: one, Armstrong Woods is only five minutes from where I live; two, hiking and walking are great exercise and you don’t need anything more than a good pair of shoes. Over the last few months, my hikes have gotten longer and steeper and more off the beaten path and I realized that it doesn’t take a lot for things to go bad really fast. A lot of circumstances can be ameliorated if you have the right things – a way to call for help, a way to bring and get water, a way to treat injuries, etc. And you have to carry that stuff. I have a lot of friends who’ve beat the ever-living crap out of Osprey packs and have had nothing but glowing reviews of them. So I did some research, and when REI had them deeply on sale, I picked up this 22 liter version. No, you don’t need it to hike, and if I’m going less than five miles I usually don’t bother. But when I venture out a bit, I’m really glad I have the capabilities at hand.

Fleabag
Amazon
Why am I putting something on this list whose second and final season debuted back in 2019? Can’t you find anything new? Whoa, there. First, my list, my rules. Second, when I talk about Fleabag with someone like, of course they know what I’m talking about I inevitably get “Wait, flea what?” So, it’s not nearly as ubiquitous as it should be. But I’m putting it here because you should watch it for the brilliance of its creator and star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is in the news for two significant reasons. One, she is a writer on the forthcoming James Bond movie, “No Time To Die.” Okay, as for why she would be considered for a Bond film (I mean there isn’t a lot of action (nor spies) in Fleabag) you might need to also watch the amazing “Killing Eve” where she was the writer and showrunner for the first season. But even more recently, she’s been tagged to be the female lead opposite Harrison Ford in the forthcoming Indiana Jones 5!!! Squee!! So, consider this a primer on who she is and why she’s imminently qualified to be in *waves hands* everything.