For the Weekend Warriors, Weirdos & Whackjobs - Issue #30

The boss is back in town. Probably the last you'll hear from half of us.

Another fun week chasing fraud, wrongful convictions and recovering from tonsillitis with the Permanent Record crew. Along the way, Justin wrote his final part to the Chinese tech-fiasco that is Qutoutiao: Shit Quantification. It’s another rollercoaster ride that weaves in and out of forensic artifacts and on-the-ground gumshoe work. If you haven’t already done so, we definitely recommend reading Part 1.

Read on to see and hear some of our recommendations for your weekend enjoyment.

What Kennedy Recommends

I gave up listening to true crime a few years ago. At some point, I realized consistently listening to human tragedy and suffering in this passive medium was probably not great for my mental health. In 2022, Kate Winkler Dawson, who I was familiar with as a journalist, announced her new podcast, "Buried Bones." On a whim, I gave it a shot. It's now the only true crime podcast that remains in my feed.

Buried Bones deviates from many current formats that are either entirely too informal, or densely researched serials. Together with her co-host, Paul Holes, a retired cold-case investigator for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, regarded for his contributions to solving the Golden State Killer case, they re-examine some of history's most compelling true crime cases through a 21st-century lens.

What Justin Read

The Elementals by Michael McDowell (Amazon)

Billed as one of the scariest books ever written. McDowell, the writer of Beetlejuice, Thinner, and other horror greats, is well recognized as one of the best horror writers of his time. This story is set on the heat-drenched coast of Alabama, with a twisting tale of family traditions, trauma, and dark, ancient, Southern evil. I could not put this book down and, for the first time in many years, found myself turning the pages to the dim light of my bedside lamp. A must-read for any horror fan.

Now go take your clothes off and go for a jog. It’s the weekend. Why not?

— Much Love From The Bullshit Hunting Crew

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