Lonelygirl15 Was the Most Famous YouTuber in the World. No One Had Any Idea Who She Really Was.
In the summer of 2006 a teenage‑styled video diary appeared on YouTube under the handle lonelygirl15, quickly becoming the platform’s first viral star. Viewers and journalists raced to uncover the creator’s true identity, turning the series into a global media frenzy. When the three Bay Area filmmakers eventually admitted the plot was scripted, the revelation sparked debates about authenticity that echo in today’s influencer economy. Two decades later, the story is revisited as a cultural touchstone for the rise of parasocial fandoms and digital storytelling.
The Smashburger Craze May Have Finally Jumped the Shark. Wait Till You See What This One’s Made Of.
Ramblin’ Chick, a Brooklyn eatery founded by former Ample Hills partners, has launched a chicken smashburger that mimics the crust and juiciness of classic beef smashburgers using marinated thigh meat. The patty is butter‑smashed on a hot griddle, stacked with...
Our Culture of Excess and Distraction Is Making Us Sick. But I’ve Found a Cure, and It’s Delicious.
The article argues that America’s culture of excess and constant digital stimulation is causing widespread information fatigue and health issues. It highlights that about half of Americans cut back social‑media use in 2025 and are embracing “no‑buy” periods to combat...
I Thought My Worst Habit in the Morning Was Probably Ruining My Life. When I Investigated, I Found Something Else.
The article explores the cultural and physiological impact of the snooze button, noting that 56% of sleepers hit snooze an average of 2.5 times, adding roughly 11 minutes of fragmented sleep each morning. It cites a 2025 Sleep Cycle analysis...
Hulu’s Postapocalyptic Hit Is Pure Wishful Thinking
Hulu’s surprise series *Paradise* has evolved from a murder‑mystery to a post‑apocalyptic sci‑fi drama, culminating in a Season 2 finale where a quantum supercomputer named Alex can rewrite time. The show uses a tech‑billionaire’s bunker‑village to explore climate collapse, while foregrounding...
I Was Once Given Just Three Years to Live. A Specific Kind of Hope Could Help Cancer Patients Like Me.
A recent International Myeloma Society summit introduced a formal definition of "cure" for multiple myeloma, sparking debate among oncologists, patients, and advocates. Advances such as CAR‑T cell therapy have pushed five‑year survival rates to 62%, prompting some clinicians to label...
He’s Best Known for His Role in The Princess Bride. But He’s Also One of Our Most Important Playwrights.
Wallace Shawn, famed for his role in The Princess Bride, has revived his 1990 play The Fever and paired it with his new work What We Did Before Our Moth Days. At 82, Shawn returns to the stage, delivering a two‑hour monologue that...
Who Needs TSA When You Have ICE?
The latest Slate Political Gabfest episode spotlights three escalating crises: chaotic airport operations amplified by ICE agents disrupting TSA workflows, a looming Supreme Court decision that could overturn a state law extending mail‑in ballot deadlines, and landmark jury verdicts holding...
Trump Just Caved On One of His Biggest Power Grabs
The Justice Department withdrew its challenge to a district court’s authority and accepted the appointment of Robert Frazer as New Jersey’s U.S. attorney, ending an eight‑month vacancy. The move reverses the Trump administration’s claim that only the president can name top...
How a $11M, 2-Foot-Tall Jeweled Egg Ruined a Business, a Marriage, and a Family
Serena Kutchinsky’s new memoir, *Kutchinsky’s Egg*, recounts how her father’s $11 million, two‑foot‑tall jeweled egg—encrusted with 24,000 pink diamonds—bankrupted the century‑old Kutchinsky Jewelers, shattered his marriage, and vanished after being sold to a Japanese collector. The extravagant piece, completed in 1990,...
My Husband’s DNA Test Triggered a Series of Unfortunate Events. Somehow, His Mom Blames Him.
After a consumer DNA test disclosed that Benny’s biological father was his mother’s lover, his family faced a cascade of conflict. His father‑in‑law, blindsided, divorced Benny’s mother, while the mother blamed Benny for the loss of her lifestyle and disowned...
We May Not Be on the Ground in Iran. But the Cost to Our Soldiers Is Still Unthinkable.
The op‑ed highlights the growing problem of moral injury among U.S. service members, especially those who conduct remote strikes from drones or aircraft. While only 13 troops have died in the current Iran conflict, the author argues that distance does...
I Had a Strange, Unsettling Experience Breastfeeding Each of My Four Children. I Finally Figured Out Why.
A mother of four discovered her chronic dread during breastfeeding was due to Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D‑MER), a neurochemical response tied to sudden dopamine drops. Experts explain D‑MER differs from postpartum depression, affecting roughly 6‑15% of lactating individuals and...
The Supreme Court’s Favorite New Excuse to Rule Against LGBTQ+ Kids
The Supreme Court’s preliminary ruling in Mirabelli v. Bonta struck down California’s policy against forced outing of LGBTQ‑identifying students, framing the practice as a due‑process violation for parents even without religious objections. The decision builds on the Court’s earlier Mahmoud...
This ‘Money-Saving Perk’ Sounds Too Good to Be True. It’s a Scam, Right?
The column tackles three personal finance dilemmas: why cash‑back rewards aren’t free money, how to split rent fairly when one partner supports a dependent, and whether beneficiaries can be added or changed without informing them. It explains that interchange fees...
I’m Fantasizing About Abandoning My Adult Son. My Wife Doesn’t Get It.
The column addresses three family dilemmas involving adult children who remain dependent on their parents: a 28‑year‑old son with anxiety and erratic employment, a son whose remarriage introduced disruptive step‑children, and a son who has cut off his mother over...
A Radiant New Novel Asks: What if World War II Had Gone Differently?
Francis Spufford’s new novel *Nonesuch* reimagines World War II by introducing time‑travel magic into the heart of London’s Blitz. The story follows Iris Hawkins, a lower‑middle‑class secretary, who clashes with aristocratic fascist sympathiser Lady Lalage “Lall” Cunningham, whose scheme aims to...