Mondays might not be your favorite day of the week, but the good news is that we’re all in this together ladies and gentlemen. As purveyors of prime Grade A web content, the SolidSmack crew has done some of the heavy-lifting to make sure you get your Mondays started on the right track.

Welcome to The Monday List.

Each Monday, we’ll link you up with some of the most insightful, informative, and socially-relevant stories to keep tabbed, bookmarked, reading listed, pocketed, or what have you. Be sure to check in each Monday morning for a new crop of freshly sprouted words curated straight from the source of your favorite homegrown ‘Smack.

What We’re Reading This Week:

How the World’s Biggest Costume Maker Cracked Halloween
Howard Beige, co-owner of Rubie’s, knows your 10-year-old wants to be Jigglypuff. He knows you secretly want to go as Harley Quinn. He can even predict the next president—usually.

Stop Monday From Ruining Your Sunday
Beat the weekend blues.

Why Elon Musk’s Mars Vision Needs ‘Some Real Imagination’
Mars chronicler Kim Stanley Robinson offers some pointers on the road to the red planet.

Why Chat May Be King Of The New Mobile Landscape
Tech giants and hopefuls alike are betting on messaging apps—and conversational interface—as the future of mobile.

The Untold Story Behind The Force Awakens’ Best Easter Egg
Spoilers for THE FORCE AWAKENS follow—tread lightly. (Do we still have to do this? Sigh.)