Election Day is over!

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It’s done. Election day is over, the polls are closed, and the campaigns have stopped bombarding us with ads. Well, sort of. There’s still the matter of the counting. That’s not done yet. But, as we noted yesterday, frantically refreshing election results/Twitter is not going to speed up the process, and we’d rather not give ourselves an ulcer! In that vein, today we’ve got some recommendations to take you away from all the grubbiness of 2020 and into the wondrous world of fantasy and science fiction.

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If you can't tune out entirely, here are some interesting/fun reads about the election process (shoutout to Quartz for its great explainers!):

• Why do we have election polls?
• How are mail-in ballots in the presidential election counted?
• Why the US absentee ballot is so poorly designed
• A field guide to Wisconsin election officials
• Weird, cool polling places where America votes

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Some useful links:

• AP News’ Election 2020 coverage
• A Twitter list of election officials in swing states compiled by MIT Tech Review
• FiveThirtyEight’s assessment of when we can expect results from each state
• Ballotpedia’s Election Help Desk that answers a wide plethora of questions

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What to Stream

Kingdom (Netflix):

Set in Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, this horror-thriller follows Crown Prince Lee Chang on his pursuit to understand his father’s strange illness. Amid this journey, he also faces simultaneous threats from competing political ambitions and a surging zombie apocalypse. Through its captivating cinematography and unexpected plot twists, the show enfolds period-piece aesthetics, political intrigue, and high-intensity undead encounters to create a unique set of interacting conflicts.
- David Canada

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Evil (Netflix):

A skeptical forensic psychologist partners with two men from the Catholic Church to investigate whether strange occurrences are due to demonic possession. This is not just a retread of The Exorcist; the demons are far more devious, scheming rather than vomiting and head-spinning, and always leaving open the question of whether they are even demons at all. The series also examines both the individual and institutional sides of the Catholic Church, which I find particularly interesting.
- Spenser Dopp

Mortal Engines (Amazon Prime):

With a screenplay written by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), Mortal Engines takes place in a post-apocalyptic hellscape dominated by mobile “cities” on wheels. The narrative follows the story of Hester, an orphan adopted and raised by an undead, unfeeling cyborg as she works to avenge her mother’s murder and save the world.
- Jihan Varisco

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What We Do In the Shadows (Amazon Prime, Kanopy):

This New Zealand mockumentary covers a group of vampires flatting together in Wellington, depicting everything from their difficulties finding love, to their occasional turf wars with local werewolves, to the blessings and misfortunes of immortality in the 21st century. From the producers of Flight of the Conchords, What We Do In the Shadows is uproariously funny, and inspired a TV show of the same name.
- Owen Clarke

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What to Read

Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erikson (Amazon, Bookshop):

The first book in Steven Erikson’s epic series tells the story of the Bridgeburners, an elite infantry unit in the army of the Malazan Empire. The soldiers, mere humans in a world of magic-wielding demigods, struggle to survive against both external foes and betrayal from within. Erikson weaves a compelling tale of heroism in a world loosely based on the latter stages of the Roman Empire, except for the flying wizards and fantastic monsters.
- Jihan Varisco

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They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera (Amazon, Bookshop):

The book takes place in a universe where you are contacted the day you are going to die by a company called Death-Cast. You are not told how or when you will die, only that you will die before the end of the day. Two strangers, Mateo and Rufus, get the call on the same day and form a connection while saying goodbye to family and friends, and trying to live their last day to the fullest.
- Ronni Winter

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Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke (Amazon, Bookshop):

This isn’t your typical alien invasion story. It offers a fascinating perspective on the potential for symbiosis between species, along with an important reminder that appearances can sometimes be deceiving. It’s a great first read for those curious about the sci-fi genre!
- Annafi Wahed

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What to Do

Old School RuneScape (Video game):

This is an online, multiplayer role playing game that has consumed countless hours of productivity over the years. This reboot of a previously defunct version of the game has something for everyone: leveling, campaigning, socializing, etc. You can start out for free to get a feel for the game, but most of the gameplay is locked behind membership. May not be gripping for non-gamers or those who like a faster-paced video game, but if you like to grind and are interested in exploring a rather large game universe, give it a shot!
- Brian Bellinger

65 DIY Fall craft ideas (Activity):

Now that you've carved your pumpkins, you might be looking for some other projects to add a warm and cozy vibe to your home! Here are 65 craft ideas to show off your DIY skills, including lots of ideas to spice up your Thanksgiving table. The pumpkin stress balls will probably come in handy too.
- Sophia Augustine

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Jetpunk (Quiz):

JetPunk is a site full of trivia quizzes on all subjects. It’s a great time killer, testing your knowledge on almost any topic you can think of. My favorite is the attempt to name as many world countries as possible in 15 minutes. Tougher than it sounds!
- Ken Schneider