Last month today (July '26)

It’s hot outside, must be summer.

Hi! Catch up with April, May, June. If the entry is too long for email, you might need to click on a variation of “view entire post“ at the bottom. Thank you for reading, ily.

July 6

Taylor Swift got married this past weekend. There was a press release, so it’s official. Congrats to the happy couple.

The internet was a bad place to be these last few days, so my screen time has been unusually low (good!). I find it funny that the same people who bend over backwards to point out that she is corny and basic are now acting outraged by the fact that she is corny and basic.

Make up your mind, folks.

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Beyoncé surprise-released Morning Dew (Donk). Apparently, it’s an older track that previously leaked online. I like it.

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Picked up my new glasses Friday, been wearing them all weekend. They will take some getting used to. Get a bit dizzy when I walk with them on.

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I watched Voicemails for Isabelle, a Netflix rom-com starring Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson. Had high hopes based on the trailer and online reactions. Thankfully, I enjoyed it lots.

Jill struggles with the loss of her sister Isabelle, so she keeps leaving voicemails on her phone number. What she doesn’t know is that the number was reassigned to Wes, who falls for Jill rather than confess that he’s the recipient. He engineers a meet-cute, the rest is traditional rom-com fare elevated by a pretty sharp script and great performances.

To address the elephant in the room, the plot is stalkerish! Funny how that matters less to me if the couple has chemistry, and these two do. Didn’t even mind much that the overplayed Benson Boone tune soundtracks a big scene. The movie also heavily features Dancing on My Own, I’ll give them a pass.

That said, grief is a big part of Voicemails for Isabelle, proceed with caution. I teared up.

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Also saw Is This Thing On?, a romantic dramedy in which Will Arnett and Laura Dern play a married couple who separate. He tries out stand-up comedy on a whim, finds it invigorating.

The movie is delightful. Beth wrote about it here if you want a more detailed and critical review, but I thought it did a great job showing how important it is to have stuff going on in your life besides a relationship in order to be fulfilled. Also very much enjoyed the dynamic between the two leads, which really do come across as old lovers who fell into a rut.

Bradley Cooper directed it. I enjoyed A Star Is Born, too. Am I a fan now?

July 8

A silly Romanian song titled Alex Stamate blew up on TikTok. By an independent artist, it’s doing numbers because it’s a diss song about a former fling. The singer doesn’t shy away from using his full name, also the song’s title. Brands and influencers jumped on the trend, dumping on Alex.

The song’s sudden popularity is fascinating. It’s happening at the same time as a voice note is going viral on the same platform, dividing audiences. Apparently, a guy sent it after a first date, saying he likes the girl but if she’s not interested in being intimate the next time they hang out, he doesn’t see the point in continuing dating because sexual compatibility is important to him. While some argue that the guy was honest about his expectations, others insist the message is a red flag that can be interpreted as coercion.

Personally, I believe that sending such a voice note after a first date is insane behavior that would give me the ick. They barely know each other, and this resembles an ultimatum, so good riddance. At the same time, I can see how he might have been trying to be upfront about what he’s looking for in order to avoid confusion moving forward. Regardless of which side you are on, I think the bigger question is why did this voice note become public in the first place??

I guess I’m old-school, but I hate the fact that we’ve reached a point where every single thing we say or do can end up online at a moment’s notice.

In the case of Alex Stamate, the singer making art based on her experience is fair game, especially since I’m almost sure that’s not the guy’s real name. As for voice note dude, sharing his message with the entire world is a disregard for his privacy. The fact that we’re so used to this kind of thing now does not bode well for our collective future. This isn’t the first private voice note to end up online, and it won’t be the last. Then again, I’m someone who asks permission from friends if I want to post a snippet of our online chats on social networks.

It’s funny because I can also understand how the voice note starting conversations about consent and coercion is a good thing. You can see why I have trouble sleeping at night.

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Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley reportedly split. Bummer.

I don’t make it a habit to keep track of celebrity romances, yet I found theirs charming from the outside. Plus, it’s suspicious that news of their separation surfaced so soon after Lena Dunham’s Famesick came out, in which she details her longtime relationship with Antonoff. Would love to know whether these two events are connected.

July 9

Emmy nominations came out yesterday.

Anthony Starr has officially never been nominated for playing Homelander on The Boys. I doubted he would get any recognition now after being repeatedly snubbed, but I’m still salty about it.

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Bonnie Tyler died. Legend.

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Happy to report that the sexiest video on the internet right now is of a Danish reporter asking the NATO Secretary General whether sitting next to the US president while he spews his usual BS affects his self-respect.

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The Atlantic published an article about the literacy crisis. It argues that more people aren’t becoming illiterate, but postliterate. Semantics aside, it highlights how we don’t only read fewer books, but read simpler books. The article also points out that movies and shows are getting dumber, short-form videos dominate social media, and AI helps us outsource thinking.

It’s bleak. So is the future, probably.

July 13

Sam Neill died. Legend.

July 14

Watched Blink Twice. Directed by Zoë Kravitz, the movie revolves around a cocktail waitress who joins a tech billionaire and some of his friends on a trip to his private island. Everything seems like a dream, but something sinister lurks under the surface.

This is mostly good (and terrifying), but also kind of a mishmash of other movies like Get Out, The Menu, and Don’t Worry Darling. I also found it disjointed. The first half is eerie, then the movie takes a more comedic approach for the climax and finale.

That said, lead Naomi Ackie is fantastic, Adria Arjona is equally memorable, and Channing Tatum pleasantly surprised me. Curious to see what projects Zoë Kravitz tackles next.

July 16

England lost the World Cup semifinal to Argentina. While I didn’t follow the football, my social media feeds have been all Jude Bellingham, all of the time. Not only is he handsome and talented, but he seems like a nice dude. Plus, his friendship with Erling Haaland is wholesome.

I’m going to miss them. The video edits, I mean. The footballers still football.

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Zendaya wore wings to the New York premiere of The Odyssey. This might be the most beautiful a human has ever looked, a young Marlon Brando included.

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Yesterday’s Wordle was pshaw. Pshaw!! Today’s was butte. I guessed them, but I wasn’t happy about it.

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I’m not reading at the moment.

Technically in the middle of two audiobooks, neither has fully grabbed me. Annoying, because I specifically made yet another Audible subscription for one of them. They offered me a 1$/month for 3 months deal. Too good to pass up, especially since I couldn’t find that book anywhere else. I don’t like one of the narrators, which hasn’t happened in a while. Will get over it eventually.

I go through periods when I read a lot and slumps when I’m not in the mood. On a movie kick lately, which I enjoy, so I try not to be too hard on myself.

I did buy two physical books this week, a small treat which used to bring me copious amounts of joy. Not anymore. I own a lot of unread books, and I’ve mainly read via digital or audio this year. Rather than thrilled, I ended up feeling guilty for indulging. I will never see buying books as wasteful because they are a great investment. Yet, living in the in-between means I barely have where to store them anymore.

Being broke for the past couple of years rewired my brain for the better. I realized how little I actually need. Been lusting over Sabrina Carpenter’s Caramel Dream perfume ever since I tested it when it made it to Romanian stores. It would have been filed under frivolous purchases, so I stayed away. (Not much of a perfume person, and my beloved Black Opium is still halfway full.) After finally going to the eye doctor, I bought it as a reward. The dopamine rush from shopping never came.

A win is a win.

July 20

Today would have been dog’s birthday. I miss him with the force of a thousand suns.

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Andrew Tate has been arrested again, love to see it, and the entire internet is roasting his outfit, the cherry on top.

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Taylor Jenkins Reid announced a new book, The Last Days of Vic & Coco, coming out in March 2027. It’s about two female pool hustlers and best friends in the ‘70s. Awesome cover, color me intrigued.

Since we’re on the topic of news, Fiona Apple has a new song, Horns of a Bull. It’s the theme of the new Apple TV show Lucky. Beck has a new song, In the Night. Nessa Barrett has a new song, Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die. All are lovely.

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They did a World Cup halftime show (?). While I appreciate the diversity of the performers, it was so random I was taken aback. Shakira is a goddess; that hasn’t changed.

If anyone from the distant future is reading in search of pertinent information, Spain won.

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Saw The Odyssey yesterday. I find Christopher Nolan pretentious and self-important, so I’m usually down to gently poke fun at his output, if only to annoy film bros. I also don’t always vibe with his movies. My expectations were low, even after the marketing push and focus on the tech stuff. (I mainly watch movies for story and character, less looks.)

But as much as I would love the opportunity to bitch, I left the cinema dazzled and emotional. The Odyssey is a massive film that looks impeccable and has a powerful, earnest message. I’m a sucker for that. Excellent horror-like sequences, the practical effects are astonishing, the story flows well, even at a 3-hour runtime.

I do find it weird that it’s basically the same movie as Oppenheimer, only with Greek mythology this time. Still, it worked better for me. Also, it’s not a novel take that Nolan can’t write women well, but at least he tries here, which I appreciated. Really liked the movie’s structure, too.

As for the performances, they’re all various degrees of solid. Matt Damon is dependable, and I usually enjoy watching him do his thing, but this is the first time I wondered whether he’s hot as well. (I’m just a girl.) Anne Hathaway does the most with the material she’s given. Tom Holland might be the weakest link, but he grows into his character as the movie rolls along. Lupita Nyong’o and Zendaya each have one major scene, they kill it. The secondary characters shine, especially Samantha Morton, Himesh Patel, and Elliot Page.

My favorite, however, was hands-down Robert Pattinson as Antinous, one of Penelope’s sleazy and cowardly suitors. Pattinson is so good in the role you want to spit him in the face every time he graces the screen. I also loved him in The Batman and Mickey 17, afraid I now have to catch up with his entire filmography. Not a Twilight person, so I’m particularly impressed by both his and Kristen Stewart’s career trajectories since.

Back to The Odyssey, the hype is real. I’m glad I saw it at the cinema. The Dark Knight is one of the best movies of all time, but this is now my second-favorite from the Nolan titles I’ve seen. I hope he dabbles more in horror moving forward.

Also, the local cinema was full, love to see it.

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Since there has to be balance in my personal universe, I followed this very boy movie with a girl movie, Oh, Hi!. It’s a romantic comedy (maybe?) about a couple who go on a weekend getaway that turns into chaos. He, in a blatant exhibit of zero self-preservation, tells her he’s not looking for a relationship at the worst possible time. She then goes to ridiculous lengths to prove they are a good fit.

This is kooky and ultimately sweet. Had a good time. Wish it were just a tiny bit crazier.

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Trailer for Avengers: Doomsday is out. Steve Rogers has a beard!! Annoyed that this is the main bit of information I retained after watching it. It pains me to say, but the trailer looks like a fan edit. I want nothing more than to write a post apologizing to Marvel for doubting their vision come December.

July 21

The Other Mommy trailer made it to the internet. It’s an upcoming horror movie starring Jessica Chastain. Freaked me out.

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Substack integrated Pangram, so you can now scan posts and Notes for AI.

As someone who has been complaining about AI slop being promoted on the platform, I should be ecstatic about this. But while I’m happy they’re doing something to address the issue, I’m also skeptical about the accuracy of AI detectors in general. I wrote about how I previously had a bad experience with them, and I don’t want to be wary of publishing stuff because a non-human tool claims that my paragraphs are machine-generated.

In fact, the first note I posted after the announcement came back as 100% AI, even though I wrote every word. It was meant to look like a missed connection, hence the formulaic nature that probably triggered the detector. I got so freaked out I deleted it and shortened it to under 100 words so that it can’t be scanned. Then, I got annoyed at myself for acting like I was caught doing something wrong. I didn’t.

Anyway, maybe the detector is more effective for long-form posts, and this update doesn’t inspire a witch hunt. It’s early days.

By now, you hopefully know that I use my own brain to write for Substack. If you feel the need to scan one of my posts in the future and can’t, it’s because I deactivated the tool for my own mental health after it failed me.

July 25

Feeling wistful today. I read Emm’s most recent weekly music diary (highly recommend!), and it once again got me thinking about how I don’t listen to as much music as I would like.

One of the many tragedies of being human is that you can’t possibly do everything you want to do or even consume everything you want to consume because there are not enough hours in the day. If I watch movies or TV, I read less. If I read more, I don’t watch movies or TV. Music is always there, but I don’t engage in active listening as often as I used to.

Went to get groceries after and put on Flotation Toy Warning’s album Bluffer’s Guide to the Flight Deck. A friend introduced me to it in college. It’s been a constant companion since, the kind of album I listen to when I need to remind myself that lying on the grass to stare at the clouds is a great way to spend an afternoon.

I never hear people talking about it. Consider this a gentle nudge to give it a go.

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Got a haircut yesterday. Going to the salon made me feel girly and pretty and even excited to put more effort into how I look. I’ve been slacking off since moving to my hometown. A good hair day can truly do wonders.

July 26

July 24: Romanian fighter jet shuts down suspected Russian drone in our airspace for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine 4 years ago.

July 25: Romanian fighter jet shuts down second suspected Russian drone.

July 26: Romanian fighter jet shuts down third suspected Russian drone.

At this point, it’s not paranoid to say that this feels like a test.

July 27

Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not familiar with the character, but always happy to see Gosling on my screen.

People online are upset that the movie will be directed by Shawn Levy, who was behind Deadpool & Wolverine, among others. I generally like his movies, but I agree that they are of the commercial fare, and I guess Ghost Rider fans would like more depth. I don’t blame them.

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One of my Notes blew up recently, and over 500 of you receive these emails now!! Very grateful, hope you like it here.

A few of the responses to said Note have been fascinating. Some people interpreted it as me implying that Christopher Nolan is taking advantage of his wife or worse. My main point was that it’s a privilege to be analog as a creator in this day and age, and that if you pull it off, someone else in your life isn’t.

Nevertheless, this means that the algorithm finally took me out of jail, praise be.

July 28

Ever since the Avengers: Doomsday trailer came out, some fans have been complaining about the fact that big bad Doctor Doom feels like less of a threat because he didn’t get the same amount of build-up as Infinity Saga big bad Thanos.

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige addressed this in an interview, insisting that “the Thanos build-up has built up in people’s heads over the years,” as we basically only saw him three or so times.

Technically true, but I loathe it when the powers that be try to gaslight their audience. While Thanos may not have appeared on-screen much, he was a looming threat. The Guardians of the Galaxy movies feature his daughters Gamora and Nebula, and you do get a sense that he is a different flavor of evil. Plus, the Infinity Stones themselves have been a part of the MCU since, what, Thor?

Meanwhile, Kang was intended to be the Multiverse Saga’s big bad. He did enjoy even greater build-up until actor Jonathan Majors was dropped and Marvel had to pivot to Doom. Let’s not rewrite the past, ok? Our attention spans are in danger of extinction as it is.

August 3

Guess who managed to post consistently throughout July? It’s me!

In case you missed it, I recommended summer books, wrote about how the Phoebe Bridgers “no phone” discourse finally broke me, and did a horror movie round-up.

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Spent this previous weekend in the city where I used to live, hanging out with friends and attending concerts.

I listened to the Romania and Moldova Eurovision entries live, a fun treat. Caught one of my favorite Romanian artists, Irina Rimes. Saturday’s headliners were The Script, who put on a great show.

The only downside was that it all happened during a heatwave. I was fairly close to the stage for The Script but bailed midway through because my feet hurt and the heat was too much to bear in the middle of the crowd. Also, why does the tallest man who ever lived always plop himself directly in front of me at concerts? I felt a bit old, not going to lie. Thankfully, there were big screens, and I could enjoy the rest of the performance while chugging water and sitting down.

Overall, it was wonderful. Socializing and moving your body are crucial for mental health. Live music, too. I keep forgetting that.

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Also went to see Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Saturday. Loved it!! The story is good, and the movie looks stunning. It has colors and texture and visuals I can’t stop thinking about, like when Spider-Man wears a beanie which flies off his head during a fight scene. Precious! Tom Holland gives a top-notch performance, maybe he actually is Peter Parker in a parallel universe, who knows?

Plus, they showed a recorded message from Holland before the movie, and we received Spider-Man pins, which made the screening extra special. This kind of thing doesn’t often happen in my neck of the world. I saw on Instagram that they were giving out pins to people who attended Saturday screenings, never thought Romania was in the mix.

To paint a picture, I fell for The Devil Wears Prada 2 handbag popcorn bucket so hard I actually asked about it when we went to see the movie. They only received two to sell for the entire city. I see it’s listed for $40 on the AMC shop, it was more expensive here. For the Eras Tour movie, we could buy only drinking cups, no buckets in sight.

Don’t care if it’s silly, I will cherish this pin forever.

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Have you seen the Wicker trailer? Oh my.

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August is my second least favorite month of the year. The heatwave is still going strong, seems like it will last until the end of the week at the earliest.

I finished zero books in July, and am now in the middle of three audiobooks. My paperback copy of Wuthering Heights is also judging me. Haven’t picked it up in a couple of months. I’m stubborn, don’t consider it a dnf yet. Behind on TV shows as well.

It’s fine! My summer horror movie marathon continues, and I’m writing again.

Things are looking up.

May this month be as good to us as the universe is to Dua Lipa.

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