Your Mid-Week Experiment

It's been a lot about dirigibles this week, I know

As much as we love Sam Gwynne and stories of countries losing their empirical minds over zeppelins around here, we’ve got a lot of fun stuff to sample from today: a chance to help Texas public schools in under 30 seconds, a story about Beth Broderick trying to get a rental car, a lot of edu-nerdy business from E.D. Hirsch Jr., a bean & potato stew that’ll make you sweat, two things about social media that’ll help you understand where we are right now on the timeline, and Robert Draper doing Robert Draper things.

Also, some cool music. But for real.

Let’s get to it:

Do you have 30 seconds (you do), an Internet connection (I mean, probably), and think the Texas legislature should increase school funding to keep pace with inflation (If not, muchacho, you might be at the wrong party, and I’m gonna need to see your invitation), CLICK HERE and do the things.

This was a fun read about a series of unfunny events. (Beth Broderick)

Been on an E.D. Hirsch Jr. kick, for reasons.

“A Sense of Belonging: Our schools are producing all manner of over-achievers. What they’re not producing anymore are citizens. And it’s liberalism that pays the price.” (E.D. Hirsch Jr.)

“Don’t Blame the Teachers” (E.D. Hirsch Jr.)

“Narrowing the Two Achievement Gaps” (E.D. Hirsch Jr.)

“A Change in Our Thinking About Elementary Education” (E.D. Hirsch Jr.)

OK, enough seriousness. Here’s the song that played out the Ted Lasso episode where Sam was cooking in the kitchen with his dad.

Made this potato-bean stew for dinner on Sunday, and it had a wonderful heat that made me sweat (Voraciously)

Holy cake balls this is amazing research into the brains of trans people (Washington Post)

Big myths get busted here —> “Who Is Falling For Fake News?” (Knowledge at Wharton)

This one has big E.J. energy. A soundtrack for the demise of social media:

Want more evidence that referrals from social media sites is dead? —> “BuzzFeed News Never Built the Brand Loyalty It Needed” (A Media Operator)

All y’all, read this —> “Social media is doomed to die: After seven years at Snapchat, I finally learned the truth about why our most important apps seem destined to disappoint us.” (Ellis Hamburger)

Oh, but when the chorus kicks in, you sigh in surprise that this kind of music feels retro now.

Draper doing Draper things—> “Kyrsten Sinema’s Party of One” (The New York Times Magazine)

“Goodbye to the Dried Office Mangoes: Google is clawing back its famously lavish employee perks, sending a message that might be more symbolic than practical.” (Will Gotesgen)

Hated The French Dispatch. And I love Wes Anderson movies.

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We’ve also got a tip jar, and I promise to waste every cent you give me on having fun, because writing this newsletter for you is how I have fun.

Buy the book Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick banned from the Bullock Texas History Museum: Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of the American Myth by Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and myself is out from Penguin Random House. The New York Times bestseller is 44% off and the same price as a paperback now!