In his new Netflix comedy special Nightclub Comedian, Aziz Ansari has a bit about Aaron Rodgers. Ansari mocks the Packers QB for attributing his anti-vaccination stance to critical thought, which the comedian notes probably didn’t amount to more than “listening to some podcasts and sketchy doctors.”
I snickered at the joke when I watched it, less because it was thought-provoking comedy and more because I don’t really like Aaron Rodgers all that much. I was thinking about that on Saturday as I watched Kelly Slater win the Pipeline Masters. Slater’s victory came a few days shy of his 50th birthday and 30 years after Slater first won surfing’s marquee contest. It was an important and emotional win for Slater, whose competitive success has been a bit of a mixed bag in recent years as he’s battled injuries and Father Time in pursuit of his 12th world championship. And I definitely got caught up in the moment.
Then I got a DM.
A friend sarcastically sent me a message attributing Slater’s superhuman success to his lack of vaccination. Slater has not revealed his vaccination status and has been outspoken in his criticism of vaccine mandates and requirements. Like tennis player Novak Djokovic who wasn’t allowed to play in the Australian Open, Slater’s ability to compete when the World Surf League schedule moves to Australia may be jeopardized because of his health status.
But none of this crossed my mind as I watched Slater magically disappear into a Backdoor barrel on Saturday afternoon. The difference between my reaction to Slater’s success and Ansari’s mocking of Rodgers is, if I’m being honest, the fact that I like Slater. I’m a fan, have been since I was a kid. And his stock only rose in my book when I interviewed him for a story in the 2000s. I was impressed with how thoughtful he was, giving genuine consideration to answers to questions that he’d probably been asked 1000s of times before.
That affinity is why I was more inclined to give Slater a pass for his vaccine stance. But did he deserve it?
I’m a huge proponent of trying to apply objectivity and logic to situations and trying to remove cognitive bias from the equation. But I also recognize how hard that is to do and want to hold myself accountable when I fall short. That doesn’t mean I have to become a fan of Aaron Rodgers’s game or his politics, but I do have to acknowledge that my reasoning may not be as objective as I’d like to think it is.
We Need To Talk About Cosby
On the subject of complicated, nuanced subjects, W. Kamau Bell’s series about Bill Cosby is excellent. It offers a clear-eyed view at Cosby’s highest-highs and lowest-lows. For people who didn’t come of age in the 1980s, it may be difficult to understand the outsized role that Cosby held in society, a role that stands in stark contrast to the heinous nature of his crimes. The series explores all of it and forces the uncomfortable but necessary conversation to take place.
—Justin
Building a Modern Home
This read comes suggested via Jacuzzi Club by Jason Rudin
I’ve been without a permanent home or extended apartment lease for coming up on two years. With each passing month comes a deeper adoration for Homes and the things that fill them. I watch numerous architecture and interior design videos every week, on top of a few newsletters and the occasional longer-form piece. Nothing I’ve watched or read has been as detailed (or interesting) as this linear account of how Johnny Rodgers, an engineer at Slack, built a modern home.
—Andrew
Michael Thorson’s Toasted Sesame Cookies
One of my favorite new newsletters is written by an awesome friend and Just a Thought reader, Michael Thorson. eat with your ears is a monthly newsletter focused on food and music, plus some auxiliary commentary with just the right amount of science. In the most recent edition, Michael, who has been spending time in the kitchen at James Murphy’s Michelin-starred Four Horsemen, shared his recipe for toasted sesame cookies. They’re damn good. “Debbie and Howard gave the cookies a thumbs up. Dad loved them too.” –My mom
—Andrew