"it's giving 'banality of evil'"

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey folks,

I had another long newsletter about ready to publish but in light of this latest Epstein-related news, I want to just do a quick one …

As some will recall, I wrote about for example watching the Epstein doc on Netflix a few months back …

I’ve since watched the follow up doc focused on just Maxwell; what a fucking monster.

I’m still so heartbroken regarding Virginia Giuffre’s suicide …

Virginia Giuffre was an actual hero, in my view, an immensely brave person.

For anyone who’s not yet heard the latest … In brief, the latest is pretty damning for not just the president but many others — especially for example the NYT …

tl;dr …

A point worth repeating:

As is this one:

YES:

Nodding my trans head:

Indeed:

To all survivors (and childhood sexual assault survivors in particular): Sending you all strength and compassion today (and also everyday) …

Re-sharing this older post: Some advice about finding therapists (and other such supports) …

Re-sharing this post about self-care and my whole approach to it …

Here’s my best advice for the worst days.

Here’s my post about suicide itself — just in case anybody ever needs to read some clear and direct words from me on that topic.

Here’s again is my advice column recommending lots of alternatives to the NYT, in terms of getting your news and such. (Bummer re: Teen Vogue.)

For those who still subscribe to the NYT ‘for the puzzles’ … I periodically recommend Puzzmo as a great alternative:

For some alternatives to the NYT Cooking: Check out my first two Sandy’s Recipe Club posts for some recommendations of cooking blogs and such I myself rely on …

Speaking of: My next Sandy’s Recipe Club post will focus on hosting and cooking for larger groups during the colder seasons. Your questions are welcomed …

ICYMI: My new Catskill Crew column came out this week, in which I responded to a reader living that Secret Garden-style overgrown-garden fantasy. As I too once experienced: In reality this can feel quite overwhelming. I offered some ideas …

What’s Helping Today: Having my dogs cozy with me by the fire here these last few days, as we’ve gotten our first snowfall …

Sending love,
Sandy

p.s. Again this just got announced: I’m teaching a nonfiction writing master class, focused on revision. It’ll take place over two Saturdays next March. Learn more and enroll here (or share with any nonfiction writers you know who would maybe be interested?? Thanks!):

p.p.s. To those who’ve given to my Buy Me a Coffee recently: Thank you so much. Anyone who’s given the suggested amount of $5 monthly (or more!): Please feel free to let me know what sort of perks you’d like, if any? Perhaps a Discord server and/or a periodic Zoom for you all (cooking demos? guided meditations? AMAs? tarot readings? something else)?

p.p.p.p.s. Last thing!!! If you’d like to advertise anything for this very newsletter’s audience here, please get in touch … I’ve been wanting to add a periodic feature wherein I’ll include ads or announcements from organizations / creatives / whoever else might want to reach my subscribers … As the holidays approach, if any trans/queer people with online shops wanted to advertise here (for example), I have a feeling my readership would love to hear about whatever you’re selling. Please reach out and we can talk pricing and such.

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, What’s Helping Today is still totally free; you can subscribe here.

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