Your Mid-Week Experiment

Reinstated from IL, corresponding roster move to follow

A programming note: I missed last weekend’s essay because I was laid up on the couch recovering from my second dose of the shingles vaccine. It felt like I had COVID again — chills, sweating, and a battery flashing red. If this is what getting vaccinated is like, then shingles must be the worst. I’m better now, mostly, but I had the strangest dream that Kelsey Grammer was giving Frasier a very dark reboot. I mean, this cannot be real, right?

This analysis of what’s wrong with the Tuohy family’s response to Michael Oher’s accusations is good, and not just because it includes this line: “The thing about racism is it drives you insane.” (Israel Daramola)

The origins of the parental-rights movement are 100% Christian nationalist and anti-public school. Cool, cool. (Washington Post)

My man Walker Lukens put together a companion playlist for his upcoming album Accessible Booty.

There is a lot of leadership wisdom in how the Baltimore Orioles turn other teams’ castoff relief pitchers into All-Stars: “It makes it a lot simpler to have conversations with those individuals because they don’t have to be perfect. The expression we sometimes use is, ‘You don’t have to be great a bunch. You just need to be good a bunch and be consistent at being good.’” (Dan Connolly)

My younger son once described Abhi the Nomad as “hip-hop for white people who think they like hip-hop.” Yeah, but, I mean… Abhi vs The Universe II is unfailingly listenable. I almost don’t care if it’s good.

I await the unconditional surrender of San Antonio. (Real Estate Witch)

A Giant Dog’s Bite is a glam-rock concept album about a techno dystopia, which raises the question: What if a techno dystopia is preferable to… /gestures vaguely at the window/ … all this?

Emi Nietfeld, who I wrote about last year, analyzed whether writing op-eds help book sales. (Emi Nietfeld's Newsletter)

There are different kinds of writer’s block. (Austin Kleon)

This is great writing advice. h/t S.N.

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We set up a merch table in the back where you can get T-shirts, coffee mugs, and even tote bags now. Show the world that you’re part of The Experiment. 

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!