🎧 Approved: MLEKO
Manchester’s seven‑piece MLEKO have christened their eclectic sound “gub rock,” a tongue‑in‑cheek label that spans post‑punk, art rock, prog and neo‑folk. Their new seven‑minute single “Tom’s Tune” opens with pastoral guitar before erupting into distorted guitars, saxophone duels and choral wails, embodying the band’s genre‑defying ethos. The track’s video underscores the group’s brass‑infused, experimental aesthetic, positioning MLEKO as a standout act in the city’s vibrant indie scene. Critics note the song’s ability to feel both darkly brooding and oddly joyous.
Tate Britain Garden to Debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 with Barbara Hepworth Sculpture
Tate Britain will debut its first show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, titled The Tate Britain Garden. Central to the design is Barbara Hepworth’s limestone sculpture Bicentric Form, the first Tate collection work placed in a Chelsea garden....
How Do You Come Back to Wellness After Living in Extremes?
Lee Tilghman’s March 2026 post explores how to regain personal wellness after living at ideological extremes. She recounts the uneasy feeling of lacing up running shoes for the first time in four years, using that moment to illustrate the delicate...
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‘Tow’ Review: Rose Has Plenty to Byrne But In Woefully Uninspired Vehicle [C+]
Rose Byrne anchors the indie drama *Tow* with a compelling, nuanced performance as a homeless mother navigating a tangled legal battle over her car. The film, directed by Stephanie Laing, suffers from a thin screenplay, uneven supporting acting, and a...
Episode 86: Calle Málaga (Morocco/ France/Spain/Germany/Belgium) - The Co-Production Podcast
The Co‑production Podcast’s 86th episode featured producers of Maryam Touzani’s film “Calle Málaga,” discussing its multi‑national collaboration. The drama, co‑produced by companies from Morocco, France, Spain, Germany and Belgium, secured Eurimages support, illustrating a complex financing structure. Hosts Domenico La...
Mathematic Studio Bets on Diversification to Ensure Longevity in VFX
Mathematic Studio, a two‑decade‑old French VFX house, is broadening its portfolio beyond advertising and music videos into feature films, gaming, and immersive experiences. The firm has introduced AI‑enhanced pipelines that shave roughly 20% off render times and is allocating 30%...
The Dutchman Review
André Gaines’ film adaptation of Amiri Baraka’s 1964 play *The Dutchman* arrives on the big screen, starring André Holland as Clay, a successful Black businessman, and Kate Mara as the enigmatic Lula. The narrative follows Clay’s therapy‑laden marriage and a...
Premiere: Spencer Hoffman Shares New Video for Single “Bouquet”
Los Angeles‑based indie singer‑songwriter Spencer Hoffman released his sophomore album Cherry Picker, arriving four years after his debut Apple Core. The record narrows his lyrical focus to intimate portraits of love’s rise and decay, echoing Sufjan Stevens and Fleet Foxes. Ahead...
Earbud Straps/Companion Flights Perk/Extra Airport Time
Travelers can now protect pricey earbuds with inexpensive silicone straps that snap onto the neck, reducing loss risk on flights. Southwest temporarily grants a free companion pass to new Chase cardholders, extending free‑flight benefits through February 2027 along with bag...
The Most Important Unanswered Question of the Pandemic
The author invites a high‑stakes debate on whether COVID‑19 vaccines produced a net mortality benefit, demanding analysis of all‑cause mortality data from mid‑2021 to the end of 2022. Participants must rely on up to three official government datasets and five...
Key Takeaways From the CNC's 2025 Film Production Observatory Figures
France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) released its 2025 Film Production Observatory data on March 19, showing a modest contraction in feature‑film output after a record‑breaking 2024. Total productions fell about 3% YoY, driven primarily by...
Video Games: The Unstoppable IPs Dominating the Adaptation Market
Video game intellectual properties are reshaping the entertainment adaptation market, now accounting for 23% of newly announced major studio productions. This share surpasses the rate at which literary works are being turned into films and series, signaling a clear shift...
Hollywood Money Gushed From the Gulf. Then Came War
Hollywood’s recent influx of Gulf sovereign wealth has underpinned mega‑deals such as Saudi‑backed EA’s $55 billion acquisition and Paramount‑Skydance’s $111 billion bid. The ongoing Israel‑Iran conflict has forced production shutdowns across the Gulf, prompting studios to relocate projects and reassess risk. With...
Oscar TV Ratings See a Decline This Year
The 96th Academy Awards aired on March 15, 2024, and recorded a notable drop in television viewership compared with the previous year. Nielsen reported an average audience of 12.3 million, down roughly 15 percent, as more viewers migrated to streaming...
Backup and Death for Humanlike AI
The article imagines conscious, human‑like AI agents that can be precisely backed up and restored, turning what we call death into a reversible process akin to loading a saved game. It explores scenarios where an AI “dies” in an accident...
What Exactly Is the French "YouTube Tax"?
The French "YouTube tax" introduced in 2017 allows the National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) to collect a levy on revenue generated by video‑sharing and streaming services operating in France. The scheme imposes a 2 % charge on...
‘Off Campus’ Teaser Trailer Revealed as Prime Video Sets May 2026 Release Date
Prime Video unveiled the teaser for "Off Campus," a drama adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s bestselling college romance novels, and announced a May 13, 2026 premiere. The series, set at Briar University, follows an elite ice‑hockey team and the women entwined...
Theatrical Success Boosts Streaming Audiences
The European Audiovisual Observatory released a free report analyzing 2024 data from nine European markets, revealing a strong correlation between cinema admissions and Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) usage. The study shows that spikes in theatrical attendance for blockbuster releases...
‘Savage House’ Trailer: Richard E. Grant & Claire Foy Lead Dark 18th Century Satire
Paramount Pictures released the trailer for “Savage House,” a darkly comedic period drama set in 18th‑century England. The film follows Sir Chauncey Savage (Richard E. Grant) and his wife Lady Savage (Claire Foy) as they chase status amid a pox...
Mercedes-AMG Teases Racier GT Track Sport
Mercedes‑AMG has unveiled a teaser for a new track‑oriented variant of the second‑generation AMG GT, called the Track Sport. The concept retains the series‑shared V8 engine that powers AMG’s GT race cars, while adding a bespoke high‑downforce aerodynamic package. Visible...
Introduction to Mindfulness: A Practical Path to Calm, Clarity, and Connection
Elizabeth Ernest introduces a four‑week Introduction to Mindfulness course launching March 23. The program offers guided instruction, body‑scan and breathing exercises, and strategies for handling emotions. It targets newcomers, caregivers, and mental‑health professionals seeking practical, daily‑life tools. The course promises a...
“Zootopia 2” Becomes Most Watched Movie On Disney+ In Its Premiere Week
Disney released “Zootopia 2” on Disney+ worldwide, and the sequel quickly became the platform’s most‑watched title in its debut week. The animated film has already earned almost $2 billion at the box office, making it the highest‑grossing animated MPA release ever. Within...
The Ugly Truth About Wanting to Be Liked
The post argues that the drive to be liked leads to constant self‑editing and loss of authentic voice. It distinguishes between seeking approval and making approval a byproduct of genuine behavior. The author proposes a behavioral shift: stop negotiating statements...
A Common Habit May Give Babies an Early Developmental Edge
A large Japanese birth cohort of 38,219 mother‑child pairs found that mothers who were physically active before and during pregnancy had infants who scored higher on early developmental screenings, especially in gross motor, fine motor, and problem‑solving domains between six...
Isar (Full Length)
The Isar full‑length route stretches 287 km from the Karwendel source to its confluence with the Danube, tracing the river’s entire course through Bavaria. Riders encounter a mix of gravel, uneven footing, and a 1,290 m vertical gain in the alpine start,...
Feathers – S/T
Feathers, the self‑released debut of the Vermont‑based psych‑folk collective, turned 20 this year after its 2005 launch and 2006 Gnomonsong reissue. The album assembled future indie luminaries such as Kyle Thomas (Witch, King Tuff) and J Mascis, linking the band...
Space Dolphins, Virginia Woolf, and More
Robert Trivers, a leading evolutionary psychologist, died this week, prompting reflections on his provocative personality and scholarly impact. The post also raises a speculative astrobiology question about the existence of “space dolphins” beyond Alpha Centauri. It revisits Virginia Woolf’s early‑century feminist...
How to Curate a Personal Library That Reflects Who You Are
The post urges readers to intentionally curate their personal library so it becomes a reflection of identity rather than a random assortment. It argues that books act as a mirror to the soul, revealing how one sees the world. By...
10/10 You’re Great: ‘Any Other City’
The Alternative’s music writer Johanna “Jojo” Sommer reviews Life Without Buildings’ new record “Any Other City,” the band’s first release in decades. The album blends the group’s signature post‑punk angularity with fresh experimental textures, earning strong critical praise. The piece...
Lizzie Reid Embraces Self-Awareness on Slinky New Single ‘Sentimental’
Scottish indie‑pop artist Lizzie Reid has dropped the single “Sentimental,” a bass‑driven track that marks a shift from her signature quiet devastation to a more confident sound. The song serves as the lead‑in to her forthcoming EP Undoing, slated for...
The Science of Defiance (and Why You Need It)
The post argues that most people default to compliance because early‑life conditioning wires us to equate saying “yes” with safety. It explains how hidden social pressures, such as fear of offending, keep us silent even when our values are at...
More Proof That Running Form Improves on Its Own
A recent review of longitudinal running studies finds that runners’ biomechanics improve automatically as mileage accumulates, without the need for conscious technique drills. Implicit learning refines stride length, foot strike and cadence, leading to measurable gains in oxygen efficiency and...
The Conversation You Keep Rehearsing
The author recounts postponing a sponsorship renegotiation for three weeks, only to discover the fifteen‑minute call lasted eleven minutes and resolved smoothly. This personal anecdote illustrates how avoidance of uncomfortable conversations consumes disproportionate mental energy. The piece expands the insight...
No Expectations 138: Pieces
No Expectations 138 delivers a Midwestern‑centric music newsletter that blends album recommendations, a curated playlist, and cultural commentary. The issue spotlights four indie releases—Dialup Ghost’s *Donkey Howdy*, Resavoir’s *Themes For Dreams*, Spencer Hoffman’s *Cherry Picker*, and vega’s *beacon, how blue*—while also...
Leading With Who You Are: The Identity Shift
Part 2 of the "Leading With Who You Are" series examines the identity shift new leaders face when moving from individual contributor to manager. It explains how traditional metrics of personal output lose relevance and value must be measured by team...
Moving Beyond the False Binary of Medicine as a Calling
Dr. Christie Mulholland challenges the entrenched binary that medicine must be a self‑sacrificial calling, proposing instead a two‑dimensional matrix of calling intensity and job satisfaction. The model creates four quadrants—The Calling, The Craft, The Wound, and The Wall—each describing a...
Fauna Bio Announces Target Designation Milestone in Obesity Discovery Collaboration
Fauna Bio announced that its Convergence™ AI platform has achieved a target designation milestone in its obesity discovery partnership with Eli Lilly, triggering a contractual payment. The designated target stems from comparative genomics of over 450 mammal species, especially hibernators,...
7 Things I’d Tell My 20-Year-Old Self
Jack Waters reflects on a turbulent decade and distills seven lessons for his 20‑year‑old self. He stresses early investing with patience, the transformative power of travel, and preserving playfulness amid ambition. He advises selective responsibility, resisting the pressure to settle,...
Blood Wizard Lean Into Shoegaze Haze with New Single ‘I Know You Well’
Blood Wizard released their third 2024 single, “I Know You Well,” on Sad Club Records, previewing the forthcoming EP Lucky Life due April 16. The track marks a deliberate shift from the folk‑inflected tones of Grinning William toward a denser, shoegaze‑laden...
Black Yacht Weekend 2026 🛥️ Summer In CHICAGO
Black Yacht Weekend 2026 will take place in Chicago from June 18‑21, turning Juneteenth weekend into a floating festival for Black boaters with hundreds of yachts, music, networking and fireworks on Lake Michigan. The event promises daytime tie‑ups, sunset cruises,...
The Disease That Looks Different Every Time
Multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts roughly 2.9 million people worldwide, with about one‑million cases in the United States. The disease presents in three clinical patterns—relapsing‑remitting, primary progressive, and secondary progressive—making each patient’s experience unique. Updated 2024 McDonald diagnostic criteria now allow earlier...
What Forgiveness Takes
Maria Popova’s latest essay on The Marginalian reflects on forgiveness after a friend shared Lucille Clifton’s poem “blessing the boats.” Using Clifton’s line as a prompt, Popova writes a lyrical piece that likens forgiveness to the tide’s endless, gentle work, turning...
First Love: Raised Christian, Practicing Buddhist and Closing the Gap
The article examines how people raised Christian who adopt Zen Buddhism bridge two spiritual traditions. It highlights post‑World War II Catholic priests in Japan who studied with Zen masters such as Hugo Enomiya‑Lassalle and Yamada Kōun, creating a lasting Zen‑Christian exchange. The...
Your Brain Isn’t Broken. Your Workday Is.
The author’s new video reveals why breakthrough ideas often surface outside traditional work hours, highlighting the brain’s two thinking modes—focused and diffuse. It argues that redefining work to include low‑pressure moments is the core mistake many make. Viewers receive three...
The West Coast’s 4 Most Overrated Destinations & Where To Go Instead
Travel writer Sam Sears identifies Disneyland, Laguna Beach, Portland and Los Angeles as the West Coast’s most overrated destinations, recommending cheaper, less crowded alternatives. Carlsbad replaces Disneyland, offering beachside resorts and LEGOLAND after being named Travel + Leisure’s 2026 top destination. San Clemente and...
What Brené Brown and I Will Never Agree On
Brené Brown and Adam Grant, after a public 2016 dispute over authenticity that left them silent for four years, have launched a new podcast called “The Curiosity Shop.” The inaugural episode revisits their disagreement, discusses how they repaired trust, and...
Scramble of a Q7: “Do I Have a Purpose?”
Mike Foster’s newsletter explores the Q7 primal question – “Do I have a purpose?” – and defines the “Scramble” as the chaotic reaction when that need isn’t met. Q7s either freeze in endless dreaming or over‑commit to every cause, both...
Andy Thomas – Highway Junkie
Andy Thomas releases his latest album, *Highway Junkie*, a gritty blend of outlaw honky‑tonk and southern rock. Produced by Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools, the record captures Thomas’s transition from a road‑warrior lifestyle to a more sober, reflective creative phase after...
Composer Unsuk Chin Is Awarded $400,000
South Korean composer Unsuk Chin has been awarded the music and opera category of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards in Madrid. The prize carries a €400,000 award, equivalent to about $400,000. The citation praised her for developing a...
Flex the Creativity Muscle with These Easy Drawing Games
Creative drawing games transform simple pen‑and‑paper activities into powerful tools for mental wellbeing and cognitive flexibility. A ten‑minute doodling session can lower stress, boost mood, and stimulate divergent thinking, making it valuable for both children and adults. The post outlines...