HQ2, an impeached president, the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponed Olympic Summer Games, Dr. Fauci, PPE and PPP, essential workers, Zoom videoconferencing, streateries, from Jack Evans to Brooke Pinto, Warren, Sanders, the Green New Deal, Biden/Harris, Tiger King, Comet NEOWISE, the NBA at Disneyworld, shutdowns and shut-ins, virtual learning and learning pods, Black Lives Matter, SpaceX, TikTok, Harry and Meghan, AOC and the Squad, from RBG to Amy Coney Barrett, superspreader events, political car rallies, Trump’s refusal to concede the election, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, vaccines and on and on and on.
One day, we’ll look back and … wish we hadn’t.
But, for now, here’s our highly idiosyncratic look at “What’s Out and What’s In” at the end of this exceptionally strange year.
Politics
OUT IN
Trump/Pence Biden/Harris
The Second Lady The Second Gentleman
Veep Julia Madame Vice President Kamala
Dr. Oz Dr. Jill
Pence Pensive
Florida Man Delaware Man
Fire Fauci! Heed Fauci!
The Old President The Old President
Political Data Crunching Political Data Hunching
Alternative Facts Truth
Running for Office Running for Sanity
Narcissism Empathy
Mar-a-Lago Rehoboth
Kompromat Laundromat
The Deep State The Deep State
Jack Evans Brooke Pinto
Boarded-Up Shops Storefront Murals
Black Lives Matter Reparations
Mansplaining “I’m speaking”
V-Shape Abs V-Shape Recovery
Identity Groups, Voting Blocs Families of Mixed Races, Cultures, Nationalities
“Democracy Dies in Darkness” “The Light of Truth Shines on All”
The New Normal
OUT IN
FOMO FOGO (fear of going out)
Dating Masked Men Mask Mandating
Table Cloth Plexiglass Partitions
Rubbing Elbows Elbow Bumping
Where’s the Remote? Working Remotely
Marie Kondo Room Rater
Zooming Around Town Zoom Videoconferencing
Party Favors Hand Sanitizers
Smiling Smeyesing
Self-Improvement Plan Pandemic Puppy
Kvetching Counting Our Blessings
Safe Spaces on Campus No Safe Spaces on Campus
Baronial Manors Social Distancing Manners
L.A.’s Wild Parties L.A.’s Wildfires
Degrees in Vague Disciplines Micro-Credentialing
Mints So Others Don’t Smell Our Breath Mints So We Don’t Smell Our Own Breath
Science and Technology
OUT IN
Insta Videos TikTok
4G 5G
NASA SpaceX
QAnon Bill Nye
Machine Parts Machine Learning
Virtual Reality Virtual Backgrounds
Facebook Messenger Messenger RNA
Rex Tillerson Greta Thunberg
Yellow Jacket Protesters Murder Hornets
Twittersphere CFCs in the Atmosphere
A Vaccine Will Take Years! Would You like a Moderna Martini, a Pfizer Spritzer or an AstraZeneca Old Fashioned?
Economics and Business
OUT IN
Carnival Cruises Kayak Adventures
High-Rise Offices Seaside Cottages
Crystal City National Landing
Psychic Predicts Recession Inverted Yield Curve Predicts Recession
Weed Wackers Weed Dispensaries
Impersonal Mall Shopping Personal Shopping “as an Experience”
Cubicles Home Working Nooks
Tool Sheds She Sheds
Missing Home Missing the Office
Dragging Husbands to Galas Virtual Fundraisers
Entertainment
OUT IN
“Tiger King” “Queen’s Gambit”
SNL’s New Cast Members SNL’s Old Cast Members
The Kardashians The Windsors
Mosh Pits Dancing With Myself
Ed Sullivan Theater Colbert’s House
Investing in David Bowie Investing in BTS
Emily Actually in Paris “Emily in Paris” on Netflix
Kim and Kanye John Legend and Chrissy Teigen
TV Reruns Podcasts
Jennifer Aniston’s Insta Sir David Attenborough’s Insta
Morning Newspaper Doomscrolling
Socialite Social Influencer
Royal Nuptials of Harry and Meghan No Security Detail for the Mr. and Mrs.
Glitterati in Hollywood Paul Hollywood’s Handshake for the Glitter
Style and Fashion
OUT IN
Stilettos Chuck Taylors
Fast Fashion Slow Streets
Fancy Manicures Chewing on Our Own Nails
Mark Zuckerburg’s Caesar Cut Jack Dorsey’s Zen Master Beard
Skinny Jeans Flowing Dresses
Rouge and Lipstick for Going Out Lashes and Eyeliner for a Night on the Town
Glamming Glamping
Sports
OUT IN
XXXII Olympiad in Japan Maybe Next Year?
Washington Redskins The Washington Football Team
NBA Home-Court Advantage Disney World Presents the NBA!
Peloton An Actual Bicycle
Final Roster Cuts Posted Fan Cut-Outs Posted in the Stands
Booing the president at the Ballgame Cheering Dr. Fauci’s “Opening Pitch”
Food and Dining
OUT IN
Dining In Dining Out
Chilled Wine with Dinner Chilly Outdoor Diners
Cocktails After Dinner Cocktails with Zoom Brunch
Dining Out Often Is Expensive! Gotta Support Those Local Restaurants!
Cozy Table in the Back Cozy Table by the Outdoor Heater
Noisy, Packed Indoor Places Streateries in the Parking Lane
Ballpark Hotdog with Sauerkraut Feeding Our Sourdough Starter Before Walking to the Park
At Home
OUT IN
Gewgaws Succulents
Shared-Home Airbnbs Hotel-Based Airbnbs
Bookshelves with Books Bookshelves with Other Stuff
New Satellite Dish for the Home How Many Times Do I Have to Wash These Dishes?
Guest Rooms for Grannies Granny Pods
Xbox and PS4 Chess