Have read Michael Anton’s forthcoming review of Laura Field’s “Furious Minds.” “Review” doesn’t do it justice: it is a total dismantling of the book’s ignorance, the obvious churlishness of its author, and the lack of dignity of all who’ve praised it. Coming soon in the CRB.

What did 10 year old boys care about most? Forts. blakenelson.substack.com/p/cedar-mill-o…

Shocked to encounter a decent hymn in the daily office today. It was written by Donald W. Hughes, an Anglican. Creator of the earth and skies, To whom the words of life belong, Grant us thy truth to make us wise; Grant us thy power to make us strong. Like theirs of old, our

Californians were charged extra fees on their phone service the last six years for a "Next Generation 911 System." Yet after spending $450 million, Newsom scrapped the whole project because the technology doesn't work. Now there will be a state and federal investigation.

Young guy on a flight to LAX saw my California Post hat as I boarded. Landed 5 hrs later. He approached to say what I do is "morally reprehensible." I asked him for an example. He said: supporting voter ID. "You just had to show an ID to get onto a flight," I said. Educated fool.

In 2023, together with The War Nerd and Mark Ames we recorded a Radio War Nerd episode (#399) on Gustav Hasford, author of The Short-Timers, the novel behind Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. Hasford later wrote a sequel, The Phantom Blooper (1989), featuring Joker again. One of

See here how odd Los Angeles is. Literally a terrarium. A cut off little world pressed up against the Pacific. Completely unique on earth. Explains the weather and light and deep spiritual malaise. A blank slate to create a world in whatever ways humans can imagine.

Shocking level of fraud. There were 89 registered hospices in a single building. The fraudsters steal Medicare IDs and then claim the person is in hospice care. The feds pay out. But it's the state who approves the licenses. So it's on Gavin Newsom.

blakenelson.substack.com/p/how-to-not-h… I somehow found my connecting flight to Puerta Vallarta. On this plane, there were big, red-faced white people, wearing shorts, Teva sandals, and Hawaiian shirts. Some of them appeared drunk at 4 in the afternoon. They were wearing sombreros, or

It’s everywhere.

The Mamdani panic is easy to mock because it’s designed to work on people like you. Mamdani and his team are very savvy in launching various social media stunts with the explicit purpose of sparking a viral discourse where any criticism of him and his administration is

There’s literally an old motel with 30 fake hospice businesses in the rooms, and the parking lot is full of brand new BMWs and Mercedes… Just as blatant as the empty daycares.

an AI named Felix built an online business to $281,715 in 7 weeks starting with $1,000 ( true story, by Nat ) In the beginning , Felix was just a Markdown file with one instruction: "Generate $1 million in revenue." That was it. that's what it heard from its human right

A little thread on my friend Andy Hickman, who appears to have picked up where Trump left off with living rent free in the heads of millions. I’ll help you get to know him better with links to 3 podcasts of mine he has been on. 1/ 🧵

60 Minutes Dear Traintards: open.substack.com/pub/theloupere…

An AI can be clever, but an AI can never be brave, so that is the virtue I try to cultivate in this age of writers being replaced by robots. No idea if it will work, but at least I can point to it as my value-add, having the nerve to say things.

Another great indie book shop pushing back against the tide. If you’re in Florida, please check them out.

I may have predicted this

*whispering* sir, they’re trying to cancel you for living the nearly perfect life

Really good review of a book that is way more complex narratively and thematically than what can be easily reduced to "politics." Justin Lee is a fantastic writer whose work deserves far more attention. Please read this review from Ben Christensen.