Droning On and On

The Future Is Literally Buzzing

What’s going on: Some neighborhoods across the country are paying a high price for convenience — whether they like it or not. Since Amazon’s 2022 launch of Prime Air, not only have the drone deliveries ramped up, so have the complaints. According to The New York Times, one Texas suburb near an Amazon distribution center is underneath what residents call a “drone highway,” where drones buzz loudly over backyards from 7 am to 8 pm. Neighbors say the constant whirring picks up on weekends, and it can be heard over household appliances like blenders and TVs (yes, not even RHONY drama can drown it out). But it’s more than just noise pollution. While Amazon says the cameras on its drones are used for navigation and that the encrypted data is only for “authorized personnel,” it’s not doing much to quell privacy and surveillance concerns.

Can anything be done?: There’s not much municipalities can do amid residents' complaints. The Federal Aviation Administration sets the rules on US air space and gave Amazon the green light to use their drones. So people are taking matters into their own hands. Some are keeping “drone trackers” to monitor how many zip by and how low they’re flying. Others have requested shorter delivery timeframes (which have been denied) and different flight paths (after a Texas woman asked Prime Air to avoid her backyard, drones started flying over her front yard). Amazon says it's working on launching quieter drones and that the buzzing only lasts 30 seconds per delivery. But when you multiply that by the number of times people add to cart, it's much longer. And there's more buzz on the way: Prime Air is expanding to 500 cities by the end of the year.

Related: The FAA Plans To Use an AI-Powered Air-Traffic Tool at Airports (The Wall Street Journal gift link)

What’s for dinner?

Now That’s a Loaded Question

What's going on: When Skimm writer Stephanie and her husband were dating, the question “What’s for dinner?” felt like an invitation to try a new recipe and get cute in the kitchen. Ten years married and three kids later, his audacity to ask her that question now sends her into a blind rage. And she’s not alone. Text messages regarding dinner peak around 4 pm, the same time 80% of families still don’t know what they’re having, according to consulting group Mom Complex. “The hardest part is having to solve that problem over and over again,” one parent told The Wall Street Journal. But despite (or perhaps because of) the excruciating mental gymnastics family meals cause, Americans still spend 43 minutes a day on food preparation and cleanup, on average. Add in two working parents, extracurricular activities, allergies, and picky eaters, and voila: A recipe for chaos. 

We’re cooked: The algorithm has clocked families’ frustrations and reliably sends meal prep ideas, affordable grocery lists, and other tired moms who are equally annoyed about children needing to eat every day. Every day? Brands are also looking to cash in, marketing prepackaged foods and meal bundles that hope to alleviate some of the stress families face at the dinner table. But grocery prices are rising, and more than 5 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits. Whether you opt for homemade (the way the Trad Wives encourage) or convenience (to save time and your sanity) with a stop at a drive-thru, expect to pay more. And that’s if you can find anything to eat that hasn’t been recalled. Girl Dinner has never sounded more appealing.   

Related: Five Americans Share How They Spend Their Grocery Budgets (The Guardian)  

Jedi vs Sith

A New Hope for Art Museums?

What's going on: From above, the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art looks a little like a spaceship — appropriate for a museum co-founded, funded, and curated by the creator of Star Wars. After a celeb-filled party over the weekend (hey, Leonardo DiCaprio), it’ll welcome members of the public today. Visitors will see plenty of Star Wars memorabilia, but that’s just a small part of what the building holds. There are galleries devoted to science fiction, fantasy, comics, manga, and children’s books, plus pieces by John Singer Sargent, Frida Kahlo, and Andy Warhol that would be at home in any art museum. And Banksy. So much Banksy. The eccentric display has critics questioning what, exactly, the museum is supposed to be: a showcase for George Lucas’s interests and impressive personal collection? Or something more? 

Use the Force, George: Lucas says the museum celebrates storytelling and isn’t trying to win over art experts. “Art is in the eye of the beholder,” he told The Los Angeles Times. But a Washington Post art critic bemoaned the “anti-intellectual” presentation lacking context — especially given numerous mid-20th century illustrations showing blonde, white families in traditional gender roles. ArtReview called it a “$1 billion monument to [Lucas’s] own tastes.” The opening arrives as traditional art museums in the US struggle under Trump administration funding cuts and chilled corporate philanthropy. They’re also competing with for-profit entertainment centers marketed as museums (think: Museum of Ice Cream). Nearby art museums like LACMA and the Broad might offer more artistic context… but they don’t have a Millennium Falcon model or Skywalker Grill burgers.  

Related: The Hills Are Alive With a New Sound of Music Museum (NBC News)

Quick Hits

🛏️ Stressful tasks after 6 pm could ruin your sleep, according to a sleep expert. Guess we’re not cooking dinner anymore.

🐟 Experts shared their favorite grocery stores (including Wegmans and Costco) to pick up safe, fresh, and sustainable seafood. Nothing fishy going on here.

🍂 It’s fall y’all, and the brown skirt is the season’s must-have closet item. Pair it with a black turtleneck for 2016 vibes. 

📱 Channing Tatum says he's not, in fact, operating a secret burner account that exclusively trolls Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles. He can’t blame us for thinking this after that poem.

🛍️ Find yourself with too many reusable bags? There’s one place that’s perfect for donating them.

🍼 One designer put motherhood front and center for London Fashion Week with pregnant models and a human milk fountain. Someone commented, “milk supply goals.” 

Together with Visa

She Knows Ball

This week on Well Played: Why Sue Bird’s roster picks caused a stir — and won gold for Team USA.