Greetings / Happy Thanksgiving / Happy Hanukkah Webtaculators! Speaking of the holidays, it is sort of interesting how both Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are celebrations of perseverance, kinship, when in reality the historical events concern religious fundamentalists doing not so great things! At least the food is good. On to the news.

STORY OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: OMICRON
Why: Because at least calling this variant “Omicron” might sound scary enough to dumb people to maybe get them to finally take COVID seriously?

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (2  min. read)
What: Very Dark Gray Friday
Why: Because online Black Friday sales decreased for the first time ever.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: Well, That’s One Way To Do It
Why: Because Elizabeth Holmes’ testimony in the case regarding Theranos’ failure to do… well, anything, aside from taking millions from investors, doesn’t seem to be going so great for her. (Important note – I am purposefully not talking about the Kyle Ritter or Ahmaud Arbery trials. In a small effort to be slightly kinder to myself, since I do not have the mental space to address them, I won’t be. If you have paid any attention to this blog / news site / rambling thing… whatever it is, you already should know that I have thought a lot these cases, and I assume you have too. if you want to know more about the cases, just google them. I have faith that you will find plenty of writing on these issues.)

SCIENCE THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What: Get Your Booster
Why: Because you’re not a dumb person (see above).

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What: Ah Yes, It’s Our Fault
Why: Because although I like a lot of Ridley Scott’s movies, I don’t think him yelling at my generation for not seeing one of his recent ones in theaters during COVID really makes me like him all that much.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (long watch)
What: Or How To Write A Bunch Of Classic Songs In 1 Easy Step
Why: Because Peter Jackson’s “Get Back,” an 8 hour (!) documentary on the recording of The Beatles’ final album, shows just how seemingly effortless two of the greatest songwriters of the last 100 years made songwriting look.

THEATER THING OF THE WEEK (long read)
What: The Entirety Of American Musical Theater Embodied In A Single Person
Why: Because Stephen Sondheim was the voice of modern musicals.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: All About Mel
Why: Speaking of great artists of the last 100 years, Mel Brooks, potentially the funniest man in showbusiness, wrote an autobiography.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: A Generational Divide
Why: Because times have changed (thanks Fortnite!), and now people are more concerned with completing side tasks to unlock skins rather than the game’s goals itself. Back in my day, I didn’t need to dress up my space murder man in fancy costumes in order to enjoy blasting aliens in the face with purple needles! (grumble grumble).

INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK (∞)
What: Go Inside Radiohead’s Mind; Grohlnukkah; Happy Thanksgiving!
Why: Because Internet.

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: Food Gifts Are The Best Gifts
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

Webtacularly yours,
Brian
Managing Editor, Webtacular World
The Internet You Didn’t Know You Needed™