Now & Then: The Milk Carton Kids’ Lost Cause Lover Fool and the Reach of Bookends
The Milk Carton Kids released their ninth studio album, Lost Cause Lover Fool, on April 24, 2026 via Far Cry Records and Thirty Tigers. The nine‑track record leans heavily on close‑mic acoustic guitars, sparse arrangements and the duo’s trademark tight harmonies. Critics draw a direct line to Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 classic Bookends, noting similar themes of travel, aging and quiet introspection. While the new album feels more handcrafted than pop‑oriented, it updates the folk‑duo template for a modern audience.
Who Are the Greatest Living American Songwriters? Mailbag
The newsletter’s mailbag tackles several reader questions, most notably a critique of the New York Times’ "30 Greatest Living American Songwriters" list. The author argues the list suffers from opaque methodology, arbitrary inclusion rules, and genre‑bias, questioning why duos, producers,...
The Unsolicited Advice Reading Group - May 2026!
The Unsolicited Advice Reading Group launches a May 2026 deep‑dive into Franz Kafka’s novel *The Castle*. The schedule breaks the 250‑page work into five weekly reading blocks, culminating in a live discussion on June 6 for paid subscribers. The host also...
The Front Pager
The Front Pager is a free, newspaper‑styled Substack newsletter that curates highlights from the author’s deeper “Files” series. It offers the first entry of each of four Files at no charge to showcase the value of the paid archive. Readers...
Keeping Even
Frederic Poag’s poem "Keeping Even" is a concise, mantra‑like piece that repeats the word “keep” to stress perseverance through life’s awkward moments, anger, and setbacks. The verses layer emotional challenges with calls for kindness, consistency, love, and dreaming, creating a...
May Journal Prompts: The Things You’ve Been Avoiding
Amira’s May journal post delivers a curated list of 31 reflective prompts designed to surface the questions readers often avoid. The piece encourages a simple habit: answer one prompt each day with complete honesty, without the pressure of producing profound...
Jacob Mchangama & Jeff Kosseff Guest-Blogging About "The Future of Free Speech: Reversing the Global Decline of Democracy's Most Essential...
Professors Jacob Mchangama and Jeff Kosseff are launching a three‑day guest‑blog series on Reason.com to promote their new book, *The Future of Free Speech*. The book argues that free expression, once a hallmark of liberal democracies, is now facing coordinated...
Boston Globe Deletes Two Hostile BSO Quotes
The Boston Globe’s latest print edition omitted two anonymous, critical quotes about the Boston Symphony Orchestra that had appeared online. One quote came from a board advisor questioning the accusatory tone of an internal memo, and the other from a...
'Michael' Box Office: The King of Pop Moonwalks Past the King of Rock and Roll
The Michael biopic posted a $54 million second‑weekend, a 44% decline from its $97 million opening, bringing its ten‑day domestic total to $184 million. Its 3.75× weekend multiplier signals strong all‑ages appeal, outpacing the second‑weekend holds of Elvis (‑41%) and Bohemian Rhapsody (‑37%)....
The Real Work Starts After a Mental Health Crisis
Emergency physician Dr. Kenneth Scott Burnham recounts his own descent into mental‑health crisis after 23 years of stabilizing patients in the ER. He describes the stark contrast between acute crisis care and the unsupported, confusing period that follows discharge. Burnham...
Embassy of the Free Mind / Easy Search on Phone / Free Wireless Speaker
A recent roundup highlights several niche cultural and tech resources. The Embassy of the Free Mind in Amsterdam has digitized thousands of rare occult manuscripts, making them freely searchable online. Android users can now use Google’s Circle to Search to...
Wytchwound Pulls Us Under Her Spell with Eponymous EP
Scottish singer‑songwriter Eve has launched her new project Wytchwound with a self‑titled EP that fuses dark grunge, folk and gothic tones. The six‑track record draws on the 17th‑century Fife witch trials, giving the condemned women a modern voice through haunting...
Argue with an Aim
The post "Argue with an Aim" revisits the ancient roots of argument—from Greek rhetoric and the Socratic method to Aristotle’s logic—asserting that its true purpose is truth‑seeking, not ego‑driven victory. It highlights how modern debates often devolve into self‑serving posturing...
Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, From Ancient Oracles to AI
Carissa Véliz’s new book *Prophecy* argues that today’s AI‑driven forecasts are the modern equivalent of ancient oracles, wielded by powerful firms to steer societies. She shows how algorithms now decide who gets loans, jobs, housing, or even organ transplants, often...
The Wisdom Letter #413
The Wisdom Letter #413, published on the Philosophors Substack, presents a curated set of classic philosophical quotes—from Simone Weil, José Martí, Anne Brontë, and Montesquieu—each paired with a probing follow‑up question. The piece invites readers to contemplate the balance between security and risk,...
G-Power Tunes a BMW M5 G90 to Produce Nearly 1,000 Untamed Horses
G‑Power has unveiled the GP‑1000 package for the BMW M5 G90, pushing the sedan’s output from the factory‑rated 717 hp to nearly 1,000 hp (986 hp) and torque to 1,250 Nm. The upgrade relies on a re‑worked ECU, larger intercoolers, upgraded turbochargers, high‑performance downpipes,...
RESEARCH: NICLOSAMIDE in CANCER and Other Diseases - 2025 Review Paper From Henan, China
A 2025 review paper from Henan, China, evaluates niclosamide—a decades‑old anti‑parasitic—as a repurposed oncology agent. The analysis compiles pre‑clinical data across breast, lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, and highlights early‑phase clinical trials showing modest tumor responses. Researchers also discuss formulation...
Pick the Palette
The post encourages creators to adopt temporary constraints—finite palettes, thematic rules, or time limits—to structure projects. By setting three to five self‑imposed rules such as using a single instrument or a three‑color scheme, creators can focus decisions and uncover hidden...
Autopsy @ Brooklyn Monarch, Brooklyn, New York, US, April 18, 2026
Autopsy, the seminal death‑metal band, returned to Brooklyn on April 18, 2026 for a rare club show at the Monarch. The 17‑song set leaned heavily on their 1989 debut Severed Survival and 1991 follow‑up Mental Funeral, with a single track from the...
A Visit to the Book Fair; The Ladder of Vision; The Seduction of Mimi
The author attended the Antiquarian Book Fair at New York’s Armory, noting its mix of medieval manuscripts, alchemical guides, and high‑priced modern first editions. While hunting Romantic‑era essays, he bought a second‑edition of William Hazlitt’s *Table‑Talk* for $30, one of...
The 4 Signs of Emotional Maturity
The post outlines four definitive signs of emotional maturity, linking ancient Stoic teachings with contemporary thinkers such as Alain de Botton. It argues that self‑love—framed as a healthy form of narcissism—is the foundational indicator. The author weaves quotes from Seneca and...
Are You Awake?
The post invites readers to examine whether they are truly present, then promotes Sam Harris’s Waking Up meditation app. Author William Irvine, a scholar of evolutionary psychology and Stoic philosophy, recounts his collaboration with Harris to create a “Stoic Path” series...
Burnout, the Crisis of Purpose, and the Search for Deep Time
The essay reframes burnout not as an individual productivity flaw but as a societal crisis of purpose caused by the domination of Chronos—linear, clock‑time—over Kairos, the deep, meaningful moments that give life direction. It traces the shift from ancient cyclical...
Neoliberalism Comes to America
In the early 1970s the United States abandoned the Bretton Woods gold standard, devalued the dollar twice, and faced an oil embargo that quadrupled prices, igniting a decade of supply‑shock inflation. The crisis created fertile ground for Milton Friedman’s neoliberal...
The Da Vinci Paradox: Why the Most Productive People Feel the Most Behind
The post draws a parallel between Leonardo da Vinci’s dying confession that he hadn’t done enough and today’s high‑achieving creators who constantly feel a gap between their potential and output. It introduces the “diamond effect,” where pressure sharpens thinking but also...
The Ways of a Gentleman Book - $9.99 This Week Only
The author celebrates the one‑year anniversary of *The Ways of a Gentleman* by offering the paperback for $9.99 for a single week. The book distills 48 actionable rules into three sections—dining etiquette, romantic conduct, and public behavior—aimed at modern men...
Thermocline
The post explains the thermocline as the ocean zone where temperature drops sharply below the sun‑warmed mixed layer, typically beginning tens of metres down and extending to about 1,000 m. It notes that the gradient is strongest in tropical and temperate...
A Blessing for Loving the World, Anyway
The piece "A Blessing for Loving the World, Anyway" by Kate Bowler is a lyrical meditation on resilience amid life’s inevitable hardships. It celebrates those who acknowledge burdens—news cycles, health scares, disappointments—yet still choose to look upward and find joy...
Rethinking Blood Thinners for Atrial Fibrillation Patients
At the American College of Cardiology meeting, a three‑year trial demonstrated that the Watchman left‑atrial‑appendage closure device provides stroke protection comparable to lifelong anticoagulation while causing far fewer bleeding events. The findings challenge the entrenched belief that atrial fibrillation patients...
Flickstop
SSI Mantra announced the Vimana drone‑based surgical system, a portable platform that launches autonomous drones to deliver sterile operating kits and real‑time tele‑medicine support to frontline combat zones. The system pairs a lightweight surgical module with AI‑driven diagnostics, enabling medics...
Why Claude Monet Built His Water Lily Pond
Claude Monet didn’t just paint his famous water lilies – he built the pond that became his canvas, diverting the River Epte and constructing a Japanese‑style bridge in the 1890s. The effort illustrates how artists can engineer their surroundings to...
Dust of Nineveh (1946) by Mary Kent Hughes
The review uncovers Mary Kent Hughes’s 1946 novel *Dust of Nineveh*, a wartime romance set among British Army nurses in the Iraqi desert. Hughes, an Australian‑trained doctor who served as a major in the Royal Army Medical Corps, draws on...
AI: Acting Imperiled
Chinese firms are leveraging AI to produce film content at roughly $30 per minute, dramatically lowering production costs. In March alone, 50,000 AI‑generated microdramas flooded China’s TikTok‑style platform, equaling the total output of the previous year. The Academy of Motion...
Playlist: 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters
Walter Martin’s Radio Hour released a special episode featuring a playlist of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, currently showcasing 25 tracks spanning multiple decades, states, and styles. The host promises a follow‑up mid‑week to add the remaining five songs...
The Thing You Keep Giving Away
The article explains how high‑capacity leaders unintentionally give away pieces of themselves through constant self‑modulation, leaving their authentic presence diminished while performance stays strong. This gradual drift is invisible because the adaptations feel seamless and the leader remains effective. When...
Two Thoughts (26 April - 2 May)
Danielle Crittenden’s forthcoming memoir, Dispatches from Grief: A Mother’s Journey Through the Unthinkable, was excerpted in The Daily Mail after a recent appearance in The Atlantic. The book earned high praise from New York Times columnist David Brooks, who highlighted...
You’re Not Stuck, You’re Avoiding the Obvious — May 3
The post argues that feeling "stuck" is often a mask for avoidance rather than a lack of options. Most decisions already have a clear next step; the barrier is the effort, discomfort, or admission required to act. By recognizing that...
Taylor Swift
The New York Times’ poll of 250 music insiders placed Taylor Swift among the 30 greatest living American songwriters. Swift was signed to Sony at age 14 on a pure songwriting deal and has since released 12 studio albums, writing every track herself. At...
Sunday Edition: Horses as Food
The United States stopped commercial horse slaughter in 2006 after Congress withdrew USDA inspection funding, ending a domestic market that once processed roughly 105,000 horses annually for export. Since then, horse meat remains legal to eat but cannot be sold...
We the People Is All the People Celebrates Diversity
Hardcover picture book "We the People Is All the People" launched April 28, 2026, priced at $19.99, aimed at children ages 4‑8. Written by Howard W. Reeves and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, the book interprets the Constitution’s preamble to celebrate...
Everything Has Changed
Naguib Mahfouz’s third essay, *New Cairo*, moves beyond the neighborhood clash of his earlier work to confront moral philosophy in a post‑Christian, post‑Enlightenment Egypt. Set on the campus of Fouad I University, the novel pits atheistic modernism against a revived...
Two Weeks Before Her 18th Birthday, Everything Vanished
Suzanne Joy Clark survived a near‑fatal car crash two weeks before turning 18, losing 18 years of memory and fluency in French and math. After two years of intensive rehabilitation she rebuilt her identity around presence, deep listening, and endurance...
🌊 The Comeback of the Family Film
A new trailer for "The Brink of War" reveals a high‑budget, PG‑rated political drama about the 1986 Reykjavik nuclear negotiations. Produced by Angel Studios, the film features Jeff Daniels as Ronald Reagan, J.K. Simmons as George Shultz, and Jared Harris...
Angular Momentum and Shoofly Pie
The author visits an open‑air market in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and purchases a plain shoofly pie for $6. While the pie’s modest appearance and the market’s quiet, unbranded setting initially feel ordinary, the experience triggers a deeper reflection on mass,...
New Rock Music and (Weird) Guided Meditation, a Watch Mod, Plus a Way to Enjoy "the Small Web" That's Overlooked...
The post spotlights four niche discoveries: a fresh batch of rock tracks highlighted by a standout Springsteen cover, an experimental guided‑meditation experience that blends music with surreal prompts, a DIY watch modification that adds a hidden display, and a lightweight...
The Sunday Morning Movie Presents: Iphigenia (1977) Run Time 2H 8M
Michael Cacoyannis’s 1977 film Iphigenia brings Euripides’ tragic myth to the screen with deliberate pacing and stark realism. Critics praise Irene Papas’s haunting portrayal of the mother and the restrained performance of the young Iphigenia, noting the film’s focus on...
How To Be Unshakeable in Every Situation: Charlie Munger’s 7 Life Lesson Quotes
Charlie Munger, longtime partner of Warren Buffett, distilled his philosophy of mental composure into seven practical lessons. He stresses radical accountability, emotional discipline, and realistic expectations as antidotes to panic‑driven decision‑making. By treating setbacks as tuition and delaying reactions during...
Warren Buffett Advice: The Art of Not Caring: 5 Simple Ways to Live a Happy Life
Warren Buffett attributes his decades‑long success to temperament, not raw intellect, emphasizing a quiet life in Omaha over Wall Street hype. He outlines five habits—using an inner scorecard, staying within a circle of competence, practicing selective apathy, mastering the power...
5 Subtle Signs You’ve Moved Beyond The Working-Class Mindset
Moving beyond a working‑class mindset involves rewiring how individuals value time, risk, and agency rather than simply increasing income. The article outlines five subtle indicators of this shift: treating time as a protected asset, viewing problems as logistical, valuing results...
Inside the Far-Right's Campaign to Ban Books From Your Library
Book bans in the United States remain near record levels, with the American Library Association reporting 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025 and more than 5,600 removals. The surge is no longer driven by isolated parental complaints; organized far‑right groups...