squid party 04: cephalo-exploitation pt 2.
The octopus farm is at it again
Did you know that I bought so many snacks at the SF Costco that I had to check a bag on the way home? I’ll review as many as I can in my next squid stack. I can tell you now though: skip the Sea Temple dried squid. Enjoy the read and please let me know what you think—in the comments, in my inbox, in my DMs, in my mailbox—after all, my love language is words of affirmation (and words of compassionate growth feedback).
book club digest
cephalo-news
Do you remember the clowns at the Kanaloa Octopus Farm? THEY GOT SHUT DOWN!!!!
Recall—this is a (self-described) conservation-minded venture that aims to raise octopus to be shipped, boiled, then grilled across the world. The catch is that octopus aren’t endangered, they are actually thriving! (I didn’t fact check this.) AND! Kanola Farm runs tours for people—$60 per person, up to 35 people at a time, 3 times a day. The main event? You get to touch a glorious octopus with your grubby human hands. They make up to $6,300 a day on these tours! That’s up to $44,100 a week!! CON$ERVATION FOR WHO?!
But Kanola’s future is hanging in the balance. According to this Yahoo News Article, The Octo Farm™ was recently ordered to cease operations because they don’t have the permits! Without permission from le state, they were harboring day octopuses weighing less than 1 lbs *and* breeding a regulated species of aquatic life. Founder Jacob Conroy (he’s hiring) thinks it’s all unfounded blow back from bad press in December 2022.
While they sort out their eight-armed legal troubles, Kanola Octopus Farm is switching their focus to bobtail squids. These cuties are sooo sweet and closely related to cuttlefish. They live in symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria that help them camouflage via tricks of the light. THEY ARE ALSO 100% UNREGULATED! That means you can just do anything to them, I guess…including exploit them for tourism and personal gain!
I think Jacob Conroy, founder, is sketchy. What do you think? Is he being unfairly persecuted? Or is he an cephalopod-torturing capitalist?
what i’ve been buying
Could this be my best purchase of 2023? So early in the year?? This Costco Baby Yoda Sweatshirt Blanket might be the best thing I’ve ever touched, bought, or owned (if one can really *own* something so divine). It features whimsical 3D ears and is lined with incredibly thick, fluffy, pistachio’d fleece. One downside: it is a one-size-fits-most object made for children (so not one size fits most), and the sleeves are very short. However, I believe the warmth factor and comforting vibes make up for the bared wrists. Let’s start a petition to make this in both bigger AND smaller sizes. Who’s in?
After my recent success with Costco raviolis, I thought I’d try more kinds of lobster ravioli. I started with Trader Joe’s. Or more like Traitor Joe because these ravs sucked! The pasta was a tough and chewy and gooey. Both overcooked and undercooked with filling that tastes like “leftover parts,” if you know what I mean. NO lobster flavor at all. Skip TJ’s and head to Costco for your weeknight decadent pasta treat.
Really bad. I wanted them to be soft, chewy, nutty, and buttery (as promised), but they ended up being like “dry, dry desert” with a soiled, sour after taste. Skip these dietary restriction-inclusive cookies. Just because something is inclusive doesn’t mean it’s good.
spotlight: You
Now that You season 4 is out, I just must know: who likes this show and why do they like it? From where I’m sitting, it’s a series about a sensitive, bookish,“feminist” man who stalks and murders his intimate partners. Too real and so gross! And yet, many people *love* it and eat it up. And yet, I have watched 3 seasons of it. What gives?
Is Penn Badgley supposed to be your sexy nightmare? The perfect man who wants you so badly that he is willing to not only kill for you, but also to kill you. I’m not Esther Perel, but that’s definitely extremely toxic.
My local Pop Culture correspondent and straight community representative* had this to say: “I think the audience is str8 women. Penn Badgley is "hot" (I feel like my opinion on this waffles every day) and the women he pursues are aspirational (girlboss, conventionally pretty, but you see them get taken down a notch aka MURDERED so you feel some sick satisfaction). Like, omg she has it all but she's a dumb b for not seeing that this man is a MURDERER. i would never.”
So in sum, seems like it is Sexy Nightmare meets Girl Boss revenge fantasy. Coupled with the possibly good looking Penn Badgley, I suppose no surprise it is a Netflix hit.
“omg she has it all but she's a dumb b for not seeing that this man is a MURDERER. i would never.”
You might be wondering though, why did I watch 3 seasons of this show? And why might I begrudgingly watch the 4th season too? I’m wondering too. But I am sorry to say that I don’t have the juice to dig that deep into my mind-body-spirit right now. Ask me in person though, and you may be surprised by what you learn.
where’s lou?
she’s beautiful and unavailable right now :’( But DM me if you want to refresh your “all are welcome here” lawn signs with this baby below.
