Trench Warfare Meets Steampunk: BBC Snaps Up Canal+ WWI Drama "The Sentinels"
The BBC has bought the UK broadcast rights to Canal+’s ambitious World War I drama "The Sentinels," a series that fuses trench warfare with steampunk aesthetics. The eight‑part production, backed by a €70 million (≈$75 million) budget, follows a squad of super‑soldiers navigating a speculative 1918 battlefield. The deal positions the BBC to launch the series in the fourth quarter of 2024, with potential for additional seasons. The acquisition underscores the broadcaster’s push for high‑profile, genre‑bending prestige content.
Structural Dissociation: Why Therapy Feels Like a Different Self
The body keeps the score, sure. The more interesting question is why the person keeping the score and the person who showed up to therapy feel like two different people. It's called structural dissociation. Everyone has some version of it. Most people...
The Home Upgrade Adding Thousands to UK Property Values Without an Extension
Homeowners in the UK are opting to add garden rooms instead of traditional extensions as moving costs stay high and remote work drives demand for flexible space. Garden rooms provide a separate, usable area for offices, gyms or studios without...
Patient-Surgeon Sex Mismatch Doesn’t Drive Disparities in Cardiac Surgery
A new analysis of 223,065 Medicare cardiac surgery patients found that surgeon‑patient sex mismatch does not affect 30‑day or five‑year mortality and morbidity. Whether a male or female surgeon operated on a male or female patient showed no independent association...
Slow Travel and Cultural Immersion with Paul Gauguin Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises is promoting sustainable luxury cruising in French Polynesia with 7‑night itineraries that prioritize cultural immersion and low‑impact travel. Guests can explore lagoons by traditional outrigger canoes, attend Polynesian cooking classes, and visit archaeological sites across Tahiti, Bora Bora,...
Watchmaking Maximalism Is So Back
The 2026 Watches & Wonders expo in Geneva showcased a decisive shift toward maximalist design, as 65 brands unveiled bold, ornamented timepieces. Highlights included Cartier's bead‑by‑bead Myst de Cartier, Audemars Piguet's pebble‑inspired Établisseurs Galets, and Rolex’s blue stone‑lacquer dial on...
‘Hoard’ Director Luna Carmoon Has Just Wrapped a Secret New Horror Movie in London
Luna Carmoon, the London‑based writer‑director who broke out with the coming‑of‑age romance Hoard, has just wrapped filming on her second feature, the horror thriller To Make Ends Meat. The six‑week shoot in and around London stars Naomi Ackie, Alison Oliver...
Good Pressure Points to Have in the Run-Up to Your Book Launch
The newsletter expands the concept of "pressure points" in a book launch, highlighting stressors that are actually positive signals of demand. It explains that spikes in pre‑orders, media inquiries, and social buzz indicate a campaign is gaining traction. By reframing...
HUGO Is Taking the Leap. Will You?
HUGO has unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 “Red Means Go” campaign, a “platform for ambition” that celebrates young creators who choose unconventional paths. The campaign pairs the brand’s new collection with a roster of artists, actors, musicians and digital creators who share...
Loading Speeds Creatine Saturation; Maintenance Works Too
Creatine loading is back, but there are some things you need to be aware of⬇️⬇️ Bodybuilders have been doing 'creatine loading' for decades: take 20-25 g/day for a week and then switch to a maintenance dose (3-5 g/day) Whereas over the...
MCD Closes
Farrar, Straus & Giroux announced the closure of its MCD imprint, citing financial realities. Publisher Sean McDonald will depart on April 15, and MCD titles will be absorbed by FSG in the fall, with paperbacks moving to Picador. The imprint...
Charity Chair Quits Due to ‘Hazardous Legal Environment’
Nigel MacLennan, chair of the classical‑music charity Playground Proms, resigned after concluding that the UK’s legal framework makes the trustee role unsafe. His departure follows a tribunal decision that rejected his claim for whistleblower protection, ruling that charity trustees are...
1 in 5 US Blood Donors Show Sign of Prediabetes or Diabetes, Study Finds
A new analysis by the American Red Cross of more than 920,000 U.S. blood donors found that one in five exhibits hemoglobin A1C levels indicating prediabetes or diabetes. Roughly 80% of those elevated readings fall in the prediabetes range, while...
CBGB Festival Announces The Sex Pistols & Frank Carter, Militarie Gun, Violet Grohl & More
The CBGB Festival returns on September 26, 2026 at Brooklyn Under the K Bridge, reviving the iconic New York punk venue for a one‑day event. Headliners include Morrissey, Patti Smith and Interpol, while the bill also features The Sex Pistols & Frank Carter, Militarie Gun, Violet Grohl, Bikini Kill...
Emily A. Sprague Shares New Single and Video “Double Moon”, Announces New EP
Emily A. Sprague released the new single “Double Moon” with a video by longtime visual collaborator V Haddad, serving as the lead track from her upcoming Double Moon EP slated for May 29 on RVNG Intl. The EP expands her modular‑synthesis...
Human Standards Beat Winning Obsession for Championship Teams
It might surprise you… but the coach with the most national championship wins in men's college basketball history was NOT obsessed with winning. Don Yaeger was legendary college basketball coach John Wooden’s mentee for 12 years. He was lucky enough...
Sustained Release Ashwagandha Supplement May Reduce Stress and Improve Sleep Quality: RCT
A three‑arm, placebo‑controlled trial found that sustained‑release ashwagandha (AshwaSR) at 150 mg and 300 mg daily reduced stress and improved sleep in healthy adults over 60 days. The high dose cut Perceived Stress Scale scores by 41.6% and lowered cortisol, while the...
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Big Bend
Big Bend’s first Lagniappe Session transforms recordings from their 2024 album *Last Circle in a Slowdown* into loose, free‑form covers. Frontman Nathan Phillips reshapes the material with spacious, intricate arrangements that echo the album’s Talk Talk influence. The reinterpretations retain...
Rihanna’s Baby Is a Cover Star
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s six‑month‑old daughter, Rocki Irish, appears on the cover of W magazine’s “Pop Issue,” released May 12. The cover features Rihanna in a Dior coat and Cartier necklace while Rocki models a Dior‑branded diaper, a first for the luxury house....
Queen Camilla Wears a Pearl Choker Necklace for Queen Elizabeth’s Centenary
Queen Camilla highlighted her signature style at Queen Elizabeth’s centenary by wearing a four‑strand pearl choker with a diamond clasp. The necklace, part of Camilla’s own collection since around 2010, has appeared at numerous high‑profile events, including state visits to...
Buy Time, Not Things: Spend Money to Gain Freedom
How can I throw money at this problem? How can I “waste” money to improve the quality of my life? One of Dan Sullivan’s sayings is: “If you’ve got enough money to solve the problem, you don’t have the problem.”...
T&C Exclusive: Emily Blunt Breaks Down Her Devil Wears Prada 2 World Premiere Jewelry
Emily Blunt headlined the New York premiere of *The Devil Wears Prada 2* in a Schiaparelli Haute Couture Look 11 from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, paired with Mikimoto’s Les Pétales Place Vendôme Rosés pearl choker. The choker, featuring 156 Akoya pearls set with rose‑gold and...
AUDIOSLAVE's Out Of Exile Is The Latest Vinyl To Get A Liquid-Filled Variant
Audioslave announced a 2026 vinyl release of their 2005 album *Out Of Exile*, scheduled for June 12 via Universal Music Enterprises. The record will be offered as a standard 180‑gram black vinyl and a limited “Black Liquid Vinyl” edition that features...
HIV's Earliest Immune Battle Leaves Blood Traces that Forecast Powerful Antibodies Years Later
Researchers analyzed cell‑free RNA and DNA from blood samples of 14 South African women tracked from pre‑infection through early HIV infection. They discovered that individuals who later produced broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) exhibited distinct early immune activation patterns and unique...
Combining Cannabis with Opioids Offers No Added Pain Relief for Knee Arthritis Patients, Study Concludes
Researchers conducted a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial with 21 knee‑osteoarthritis patients to evaluate whether dronabinol, a synthetic THC, enhances the analgesic effect of hydromorphone. The study found that neither drug alone, nor their combination, produced meaningful acute pain relief during laboratory...
Floridian Bloodlust Is on Full Display in The Python Hunt Documentary Trailer
The documentary "The Python Hunt" captured a special jury prize at SXSW and will debut in New York on May 8, spotlighting Florida’s invasive python removal contest. James Gunn posted the first set photo for the upcoming Superman sequel "Man Of...
The Burkhearts – “Please Don’t Wake Me Up”
The Burkhearts released their new single “Please Don’t Wake Me Up,” a sun‑kissed pop track that channels Beach Boys‑style harmonies and nostalgic sunshine vibes. The song is available for streaming across major platforms and can be purchased directly via Bandcamp....
Quick Strike Podcast: Think You’re Ready for a Kayak Tournament? Read This First
Specialized fishing kayaks have surged over the past two decades, making kayak fishing tournaments increasingly popular. Host Bailey Eigbrett, a top B.A.S.S. circuit competitor, shares tactics for success, emphasizing weather‑driven planning, tight time management, and streamlined tackle. He recommends pre‑fishing...
Beyond the Blockbuster: How Belgian Cinemas Are Rewriting the Playbook in 2026
Belgian cinema operators are overhauling the exhibition model in 2026 as dwindling box‑office receipts and rising operating costs force consolidation and innovation. Two major chains merged, cutting the number of independent operators by nearly half, while the government introduced a...
Book Club: The Sun Also Rises (Session 2)
The Culturist’s book club will host its second discussion of Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises” on April 22 at noon Eastern Time. Participants can join the conversation live via a Zoom link provided in the post. The reminder...
Which Auction House Led the Pack in 2025?
Christie’s reclaimed the lead in 2025 fine‑art auctions, posting $3.5 billion in sales, a 10.1 percent increase over 2024 but still 9.8 percent shy of its 2023 peak. The house’s marquee sale was Mark Rothko’s _No. 31 (Yellow Stripe)_, which fetched $62.1 million. Sotheby’s followed with...
Symphony at the Cinema: The Multi-Million Euro Business of French Film Concerts
The French film‑concert sector has evolved into a multi‑million‑euro industry, pulling in roughly €30 million (about $32.5 million) in 2023. Live orchestras and choirs synchronize their performances with blockbuster screenings, commanding average ticket prices of €45 ($49). Market leader CineConcerts alone staged...
£9,000 Heat Pump Grant Boost Announced for some UK Homeowners
The UK government has boosted the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, raising the maximum grant for replacing oil or LPG boilers with heat pumps from £7,500 to £9,000 (about $11,500). The higher subsidy targets homes off the gas grid in England and...
Could This Centuries-Old Side Dish Help Your Body Get Rid of Microplastics? Here’s What Scientists Found
Scientists in South Korea identified a lactic‑acid bacterium from kimchi that binds nanoplastics and accelerates their removal in mice. The strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides captured up to 87% of particles in laboratory tests and doubled fecal excretion in germ‑free mice. The...
Atmos Rewards Summit Card 3x Points On Foreign Purchases: Any Catch?
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card, priced at $395 annually, delivers an unprecedented 3 × points on every foreign‑currency purchase and on U.S.‑dollar transactions processed abroad, with no caps and no foreign‑transaction fees. Cardholders also earn one status point for every...
Beyond the Feed: Why French Creators Are Trading Social Media for Cinema Seats
French creators are increasingly abandoning short‑form social platforms for the cinema screen, a trend accelerated by the Union of Influence Trades and Content Creators (UMICC) since its launch in early 2023. The guild now counts roughly 12,000 members, many of...
Park Slope Townhouse with Rooftop Hot Tub Scores Brooklyn’s Top Contract
Brooklyn’s luxury market saw its highest‑value contract last week when a renovated Park Slope townhouse at 265 Sixth Avenue closed at $6 million, topping a week that generated $76 million across 25 properties. The home, a 4,000‑square‑foot brownstone with four bedrooms, three...
Scientists Drill Beneath Arctic Seafloor to Predict Future
To understand what the future holds for Earth’s northernmost waters, scientists are burrowing deep below the seabed.
Rustie Just Uploaded Three New Tracks
Glasgow‑born electronic producer Rustie has quietly added three new tracks—“ATHANASIA,” “AMENTET,” and “TRIZKEL SUN”—to major streaming services. The releases mark his first original output since a 2024 drop, following the critically acclaimed debut Glass Swords (2011) and follow‑up Green Language...
Belle Époque Noir: "Paris Police 1910" Battles Global Giants with French Funding
Belle Époque Noir’s third instalment, Paris Police 1910, debuts on April 27, wrapping Fabien Nury’s acclaimed trilogy set in gritty Belle Époque Paris. The series is financed primarily through French public‑media grants, roughly €5 million (about $5.4 million). Its producers position the high‑budget historical drama as...
Tortugas Takes Neuro Deep Dive with $106M to Develop Eisai, Hansoh Programs
Tortugas, a Massachusetts‑based biotech, launched with $106 million in seed and Series A funding, securing clinical assets from Japan’s Eisai and China’s Hansoh Pharmaceutical. The capital will support two mid‑stage, oral small‑molecule trials targeting CNS disorders such as schizophrenia, tinnitus, and focal...
Volkswagen Resets Its Sedan Design With Bold New EV
Volkswagen unveiled the ID. Unyx 09, a new electric sedan engineered with Chinese partner Xpeng, after a two‑year development cycle. The model is the second VW‑Xpeng collaboration and joins more than 20 electrified vehicles the group plans to launch in China...
Engineers Build Self‑Wiring Neurobots From Living Cells
Engineers have created "neurobots": tiny, free-swimming assemblages of living cells that organize into self-directed systems, complete with neurons that wire themselves into functional circuits. https://spectrum.ieee.org/neurobot-living-robot-nervous-system
Second Brain AI Doubles Productivity Using Five Years' Data
My next guest Ryan (VP @mercury) 2x'd his productivity by building a second brain in Claude Code trained on 5 years of work history. It runs locally and gets better every day. The diagram below looks complicated but I asked him to...
Cancer-Like Microglial Mutations May Fuel Alzheimer's Inflammation
Somatic mutations in microglia brain cells (the same mutations as seen in cancer) are enriched in and may drive the neuroinflammation of Alzheimer's disease @CellCellPress https://t.co/PS7pIBFW4H
Staggering, Beautiful Portrait of Grief and Lost Daughter
My colleague Dylan says it perfectly—@DCrittenden1’s book is a staggering portrayal of grief, but also a beautiful portrayal of the daughter she lost. Proud that @infinitebooks is publishing it.
Jaafar Jackson Revives Michael Jackson on AMC Screens
A very exciting weekend at AMC Theatres, with the highly acclaimed biopic, MICHAEL. The singing and dancing of Jaafar Jackson, the global superstar’s nephew, is remarkable. It’s as if Michael Jackson is back: on our giant screens with their soaring...
Falcon Launches Every Few Days—Watch Live in Florida or California
Falcon flies every few days. You can see launches in person from Florida or California.
Build What Fuels Life, Not Exhaustion
The best business advice I ever got came from my wife. We were out at dinner. She said, "If you're too tired to enjoy this night out with me - you're building the wrong thing." Woke me the f*ck up...
Rediscover Self: Prioritize Being Over Constant Doing
For so many of us, doing and achieving has replaced being and living. Now more than ever, we need to articulate our values and rediscover our deepest selves. https://t.co/mBvr8utLQS