The Brinternet Newsletter: Autumn 2024

We're still here.

A lot of us are still in the envelope of initial numbness that follows a catastrophic event. At the moment, I don’t know how to talk about most of the worst things happening in the world. I’ve been thinking about that time I worked at Sony when we lost Roe and Jim Ryan wrote a company-wide email about going to a cat’s birthday party. And I’ve been thinking about that Ilya Kaminsky poem “We Lived Happily During the War.” And the George Saunders story '“Love Letter.”

I have nothing smart to say at the moment, but I can offer you a handful of links in the same way my dog might offer me a slobbery tennis ball. “Maybe you’d like this? Maybe you’d like to engage with me?” That’s all I can offer at the moment. I’m thinking about you.

Red Fence, George Byrne (2024)

I really liked hearing Josh Gondelman on Normal Gossip. Having gone to university with Josh, it’s especially funny for me to hear him talk about the friendships and lifestyles of college bros.

I’ve almost finished Holly Gramazio’s wonderful book The Husbands, which is about an attic with an infinite supply of husbands. I won’t spoil it, but there’s a very specific line about Substacks that made me a laugh out loud.

We had Remi, Charli, Chappell summer. What a wonderful moment for pop music. If you aren’t on the Remi Wolf fanbus yet, you have made a grave mistake. Hop aboard, before it’s too late.

Sometimes my American friends will tell me certain jokes/shows/etc are too British for them to enjoy. The Beef and Dairy Network podcast might be one of those things that are too British to get, but I loved their Halloween episode. It’s written by Natasha Hodgson, who I am respectfully in love with. She also co-wrote Operation Mincemeat (my favorite play, which is coming to Broadway) and she worked on Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared (which I rewatched for Halloween, and it was the perfect vibe).

Sam Campbell is Australian, so nobody can say he’s too British for them.

This has been a good year for immersive experiences. I saw Life and Trust, which I loved. I saw Mercer Labs, which I did not love. Punchdrunk’s Viola’s Room was moody and smart. Undershed, the new immersive exhibition space in Bristol, opened up a couple weeks ago. I can’t wait to try Bridge Command. I keep hoping for an excuse to go on a Disney Cruise (and for someone else to pay for it).

I worked with Superflux (who I love) to build this project for IKEA. I published something crabby about museums earlier in the year. I’m freelancing, and my projects are good. Let me know if you want to talk about working together in 2025.

Self-Portrait as Combination Taco Bell / Pizza Hut / KFC

My dog is still perfect. She recently had a birthday party.

Love,

Sarah Brin