Crash Course: Elegy for a lost America: Will the Jan. 6 committee really change anything?

I listened to the first hearing driving through Trump country. Production values were great! But that's about it Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (George Rose/Getty Images) Elegy for a lost America: Will the Jan. 6 committee really change anything? On cable news they called Thursday night's first hearing of the House Jan. 6 committee "somber," and "powerful." I listened instead of watched, driving through the darkening early summer evening on the first day of a cross-country drive with my 13-year-old. An elegant old road, Route 20 across upstate New York. Farms and fields and haunted Victorians, broken silos and dead motels, their doors banged open amidst a pale tide of Queen Anne's lace and purple lupine and the ghost yellow false bloom of wild parsnip, which stings before it burns. So maybe it was the fact that via satellite radio I could hear but not see the presentation, or maybe it was the setting, but to my ear the tone of the first hearing was elegiac. A lament, an expression of longing, a wish that it had been and will be otherwise, threaded with the knowledge that it likely will not. There's little chance the hearings will result in even some small justice, much less bind the nation back into the functioning democracy that in truth it never has quite been. [Read the rest from Jeff Sharlet.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvZWxlZ3ktZm9yLWEtbG9zdC1hbWVyaWNhLXdpbGwtdGhlLWphbi02LWNvbW1pdHRlZS1yZWFsbHktY2hhbmdlLWFueXRoaW5nL1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) Notes on “E.T.,” now that we are both in our 40s There is no "E.T." cinematic multiverse to keep track of. Spielberg considers it "a closed story," which means no tortured sequels, no painful animated spin-off where the kids and the alien botanist, I don't know, solve mysteries and thwart the hapless feds, no reboot starring a smart-alecky kid with cool hair. We don't always know how to leave a good thing alone. But when the alien botanist tells Elliott, "be good," what he means is, you are. End of story. [Read the rest from Erin Keane.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0Q_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvZXQtNDB0aC1hbm5pdmVyc2FyeS1ub3N0YWxnaWEvVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Hot days call for this adaptable [sesame, peanut, soba and kale salad](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvaG90LWRheXMtY2FsbC1mb3ItdGhpcy1hZGFwdGFibGUtc2VzYW1lLXBlYW51dC1zb2JhLWFuZC1rYWxlLXNhbGFkL1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - With an Elon Musk-like villain, “[For All Mankind](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvZm9yLWFsbC1tYW5raW5kLXJldmlldy1zZWFzb24tMy1hcHBsZS1lbG9uLW11c2svVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)” launches a new season into orbit - Meet the "[superworm](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvbWVldC10aGUtc3VwZXJ3b3JtLXRoYXQtY2FuLWRpZ2VzdC1wbGFzdGljL1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" that can digest plastic - "[Body Parts](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvYm9keS1wYXJ0cy1tb3ZpZS1udWRpdHkta3Jpc3R5LWd1ZXZhcmEtZmxhbmFnYW4vVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)" examines the labor of movie nudity – the good, the bad and the merkins - "Nudity is not indecent": "[Naked Gardens](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvbmFrZWQtZ2FyZGVucy1zdW5zcG9ydC1uYXR1cmlzdC1icmVzbmFuLWx1Y2FzL1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" directors on baring all, even themselves, for documentary - Big boys playing dress-up: [Proud Boys and Oath Keepers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvYmlnLWJveXMtcGxheWluZy1kcmVzcy11cC1wcm91ZC1ib3lzLWFuZC1vYXRoLWtlZXBlcnMtYXJlLS1hbmQtZGVlcGx5LWVtYmFycmFzc2luZy9XA3NwY0IKYqNIx6VibP3FElIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) are dangerous — and deeply embarrassing - Joe Biden wants to [jump-start solar energy](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvam9lLWJpZGVuLXdhbnRzLXRvLWp1bXAtc3RhcnQtc29sYXItZW5lcmd5LS1hLWdyZWF0LWlkZWEtaW4tdGhlb3J5LWJ1dC13aWxsLWl0LXdvcmsvVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) — a great idea, in theory. But will it work? - There's a [nationwide tampon shortage](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTAvdGhlcmVzLWEtbmF0aW9ud2lkZS10YW1wb24tc2hvcnRhZ2UtYW5kLWZvci1zb21lLXJlYXNvbi1wZW9wbGUtYXJlLWJsYW1pbmctYW15LXNjaHVtZXIvVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) and, for some reason, people are blaming Amy Schumer Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. (Michel Delsol/Getty Images) There's no more music in the air — "Twin Peaks" mourns the loss of Julee Cruise If "[Twin Peaks](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTQvMDYvMjIvaG93X3R3aW5fcGVha3Nfc2hhcGVkX3RoZV9lbnRpcmVfZ29sZGVuX2FnZV9vZl90di9XA3NwY0IKYqNIx6VibP3FElIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)" is the sound of sawing wood, then Julee Cruise is the sound of a breaking heart. Working alongside [David Lynch](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTcvMDEvMTAvbXktbG9nLWhhcy1zb21ldGhpbmctdG8tdGVsbC15b3UtZGF2aWQtbHluY2hzLXdheGVzLXN1cnJlYWwtZm9yLXNob3d0aW1lcy0yMDE3L1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) and Angelo Badalamenti for many years to help create the signature sound and overall tone of the original series that debuted in 1990, as well as the prequel film that followed in 1992, "Fire Walk with Me," and the cinematic [return](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTcvMDUvMjEvbG90cy1vZi10YWJsZS1zZXR0aW5nLWhvbGQtdGhlLXBpZS10d2luLXBlYWtzLXJldHVybnMtYW5kLWtlZXBzLXVzLXdhaXRpbmcvVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) to "Twin Peaks" on Showtime in 2017, Cruise's voice is just as imperative of an ingredient as the owls and the sycamores themselves. When it was [announced](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wNi8xMC9hcnRzL211c2ljL2p1bGVlLWNydWlzZS1kZWFkLmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYqNIx6VibP3FElIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) that she took her own life on June 9 after a long battle with depression and painful symptoms of lupus, fans of "Twin Peaks" and creators like Lynch who've known Cruise as the rare talent she was mourned her loss profoundly. If the town the show is set in were real and not just a mishmash of locations in and around Snoqualmie, Washington, the news of Cruise's passing would have shut down the Packard Sawmill. Hell, Catherine Martell might have pulled the lever herself; quieting the churning of the gears, stilling the saws, until the only sound left was a distant chirp from a bird outside, and the melody of a song that now only exists as a recording, or a memory. [Read the rest from Kelly McClure](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvdGhlcmVzLW5vLW1vcmUtbXVzaWMtaW4tdGhlLWFpci0tdHdpbi1wZWFrcy1tb3VybnMtdGhlLWxvc3Mtb2YtanVsZWUtY3J1aXNlL1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). - "STRAY, THE VIDEO GAME YOU PLAY AS A CAT, RELEASES IN JULY," [Nerdist](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXJkaXN0LmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlL3N0cmF5LXRoZS12aWRlby1nYW1lLWNhdC1yZWxlYXNlLWRhdGUvP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zb2NpYWwrZmxvdyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNvY2lhbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWZhY2Vib29rLmNvbSZmYmNsaWQ9SXdBUjFHbXZ5aUxRV0ppOVdCU0hlSFk4Ykx1VnJiM3FzRTlrY013Z3BPSGdCbTJ3a0lLSGFGenlaZ0xCMFcDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Paris Hilton passed on Biden DJ gig to attend Britney Spears’ wedding," [NY Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly9wYWdlc2l4LmNvbS8yMDIyLzA2LzEwL3BhcmlzLWhpbHRvbi1wYXNzZWQtb24tYmlkZW4tZGotZ2lnLWZvci1icml0bmV5LXNwZWFycy13ZWRkaW5nLz91dG1fc291cmNlPVA2RmFjZWJvb2smdXRtX21lZGl1bT1Tb2NpYWxGbG93JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1Tb2NpYWxGbG93JmZiY2xpZD1Jd0FSMmJpTTZHZ1ktT1FLdXlGcE1vLTRhWlZHN0pDQ3hyRTBjQVZjWEVOVUlITG9MLUNsRmxsNnhkYVk4VwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "As Ezra Miller grooming allegations deepen, court ‘cannot locate or serve’ the actor," [Los Angeles Times](As Ezra Miller grooming allegations deepen, court ‘cannot locate or serve’ the actor) - "What Is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?," [New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wNi8xMC93ZWxsL2xpdmUvcmFtc2F5LWh1bnQtc3luZHJvbWUtZmFjaWFsLXBhcmFseXNpcy5odG1sP3NtaWQ9dHctbnl0aW1lcyZzbXR5cD1jdXJXA3NwY0IKYqNIx6VibP3FElIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Lost 'Giant Dog' Rolls Up To Dollar General Store And Refuses To Leave," [Huffington Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHVmZnBvc3QuY29tL2VudHJ5L2dpYW50LWRvZy1kb2xsYXItZ2VuZXJhbF9uXzYyYTRjYTA3ZTRiMDRhNjE3MzRmNTc5OD9kX2lkPTM4NzcyMTImbmNpZF90YWc9dHdlZXRsbmt1c2hwbWcwMDAwMDAyNSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPVNvY2lhbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPVR3aXR0ZXImdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXVzX3dlaXJkX25ld3NXA3NwY0IKYqNIx6VibP3FElIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (William Campbell/Corbis via Getty Images) Why school lockdown drills can do more harm than good As debates ensue about how to better protect children in schools, the role of lockdown drills — which are designed to prepare teachers and students on how to react if such a situation occurs — are at the forefront of the discussion. As a policy solution to the ongoing crises precipitated by school shootings, lockdown drills are marginally less politically charged than more obvious solutions like, say, laws regulating guns. Yet there is a body of literature that suggests that these drills can have unintended psychological consequences on children and teachers, and cause more stress, anxiety, fear and trauma. [Read the rest from Nicole Karlis.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0ROaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTEvd2h5LXNjaG9vbC1kcmlsbHMtY2FuLWRvLW1vcmUtaGFybS10aGFuLWdvb2QvVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmKjSMelYmz9xRJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkiExHP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpio0jHpWJs_cUSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)