PicoBlog

Living on the road my friend was gonna keep you free and clean Merle Haggard’s bus was parked outside Willie Nelson’s Cut-n-Putt studio (and golf course) in Pedernales, TX. The two Country greats had been working on an album together for the better part of a week but hadn’t found a song worthy of a single. It was about 4 am, and Merle had just laid his head down when he heard Willie banging on the bus’s door with a brown paper bag in his hand.

Pano Kanelos is one of the very most important public intellectuals in America today. He is the Founding President of the University of Austin, a past President of St. Johns, a touchstone of Liberal Arts education, a noted Shakespeare scholar, and a passionate cook of Hellenic cuisine. Listen to hear his vision of what modern life in America, and what higher education, can and should be. Join me for one of the most wide-ranging and fascinating conversations in the history of the Finally podcast.

Julia Cade, the Music Editor of The Great Speckled Bird, was on the line. “I have an assignment for you,” Julia exclaimed,”an interview with Papa John Creach!” Hey, that’s right, I remembered; Papa John, the great blues violinist, was playing that week at The Great Southeast Music Hall. He had a new band and a new album on a new label thrilled to have him on board. Even if he wasn’t touring with the Jefferson Starship this time around, Papa John Creach was flying high.

One of the last stories I wrote for Uproxx before they laid me off was about Papa Roach. Today, a suitably stupid update. Back in 2015, Justin Halpern, now an Emmy-nominated producer on Abbott Elementary and the creator of Harley Quinn on HBO, told a story on my podcast, the Frotcast (also at 3:21 of Best of 2016). It was about him living San Diego, hooking up with a girl he thought was his girlfriend, and then relaxing on the couch.

The most recent Threadable* reading selections were the two 15th-century papal bulls that comprise the Doctrine of Discovery, along with a short introduction to Bull Inter Caetera of 1493 from the Doctrine of Discovery organization. I’m sending the newsletter version of the reading earlier than normally scheduled because the Doctrine of Discovery is heavily intertwined with the 1823 Johnsonv. M’IntoshU.S. Supreme Court case, and is also essential to land ownership precedent worldwide, that I really think they should be studied in tandem.

Become a subscriber to listen to the full episode. Air Mail article mentioned in the episode. When the investigation into the murder of four University of Idaho students began, it didn’t take long for law enforcement to clear the surviving roommates of 1122 King Road. Also not considered a suspect were Jack D., Kaylee’s ex-boyfriend, and “Hoodie Guy,” one of the last people to see them alive. How expeditious the police were in clearing them is a frequent topic of discussion.

welcome to my muse-letter: a virtual home for pondering in color 🦋🌻🥰. each piece found here had to battle self-doubt, perfectionism, and avoidance. join me in choosing love over fear. also: sign up for an ebook of my fav books &lovely things. i hate free ebooks 🥹ncG1vNJzZmiZqZa7pa3SraaonF6owqO%2F05qapGaTpLpw

Paraguayan food was perhaps my last big hole in my research into Latin American foods. It wasn’t for lack of interest, but I never quite seemed to find a way to the country. Despite being right in the middle of the southern half of the South American continent, it feels rather disconnected from its neighbors. It should not be overlooked, however, because it’s unique history and geography make it one of the most fascinating culinary destinations in the region.

Paramore’s six year hiatus is over, and they sound better than ever. This album cover however… GLASSES refresh! I was doing a lot of thinking about this newsletter recently, namely its function and purpose. The main goal is discussing/reviewing these album covers, and the little title cards I make for each have not communicated that at all til now. Structurally, they felt too cookie-cutter-publication, like I was doing a feature or interview with the artist, and not dissecting their album cover.