FANCY CANDLE SCAM: I GOT DUPETYQUED

what the hell

Hello sweet subs. Let me ask you this:

Something to think about.

Another thing I am asking: Did you read Gary Indiana today? You should! Here are two pieces about his writing:

• Charity Believeth All Things: On Gary Indiana’s Depraved Indifference

• Modern Love

For books, you can’t really go wrong, his nonfiction writing / village voice days are compiled mostly in the book Vile Days, Horse Crazy is a fantastic early novel, Do Everything In The Dark is one of my favorite collections. The true crime trilogy is also very interesting, but I prefer his essays / reflections on the art world and observations on the absurdity of life. Here’s a great piece he wrote in 2012 for Vice called “Fuck Israel.”

Urgent Question #3. Is he Pigeon?

I refuse to be fooled again (CSI Miami intro plays) by a big pigeon. This, however, after consultation with Redditors and a native wildlife expert, seems like a banded tailed pigeon. It was much bigger than a regular pigeon, but more so, had a long and thin neck. Very elegant.

Question 4. Is this a real Fancy Candle?

A friend who will remain unnamed bought a $45 fancy candle on a TikTok shop. Normally this candle retails for $110. The candle looks extremely real, and after looking at images of fakes online, the packaging seems better. But…but. The color is a little off, the real ones — according to TikTok’s about getting scammed by similarly fake candles —have a wax color that is much darker, whereas the fakes are a bit too purple in hue. I am not surprised—cheap knockoffs have existed pre-internet—but also, the effort into making a fake diptyque candle seems…not inconsequential. So. What is happening here? Where is this proliferation of candle fakes from? How do they make them so good? Who foots the bill? Much to think about.

Other links to things I am reading:

• They voted Democrat for years — but the war in Lebanon changes everything

• Gates-washing the future

• Drowning in Slop

• Forums Are Still Alive, Active, And A Treasure Trove Of Information

• HOW DOES AIPAC SHAPE WASHINGTON? WE TRACKED EVERY DOLLAR

• The Unfettered Selfishness of Digital Nomads

Question 5. Is more of a musing: why can’t I stop thinking about how TheraBreath (great product) was designed because Dr. Katz’s teenage daughter had severe and chronic bad breath. My daughter’s stink inspired me. My teenage daughter had persistent and severe bad breath. It inspired me. Her legacy!

Question 6: What if someone did this again for Halloween. Very cool, IMO.

Ok and Lastly, what size is my dog? Thanks!

Be back soon xoxo
Shelby (and clem)