Your Mid-Week Experiment
3 essays, 2 articles, 1 song, 1 album, 1 decade-old indie movie, 1 great documentary, 1 Super Bowl ad I liked, 1 comedy special, and 1 TV show I'm on
First, Happy Pitchers & Catchers Report Day. Now let’s get to it:
My episode of Blackademics is airing on on PBS stations on February 23, but you can watch it now here. (Austin PBS)
And for you nerds, here’s the study it refers to. (Science)
This, on the surprising history of kissing, was charming as hell. (Franz Lidz)
The concept of “enshitification” is brilliant. (Cory Doctorow)
Yay, new music from girl in red.
This is a lovely rumination about the Super Bowl coming to Vegas, and what that means for the legacy of Hunter S. Thompson. (Billy Witz)
Brittany Howard says this is a breakup album. Quick, someone break her heart again, because this is bonkers good.
If you’re sick of our toxic, counterproductive politics and think it best to withdraw, read this. (Conor Friedersdorf)
Speaking of toxic, counterproductive politics, the Texas Monthly examination of Tim Dunn was well-done, if dispiriting. (Russell Gold)
I am late to the Mike Birbiglia party, but I sure I’m glad I’m here.
Love this bit from Taylor Tomlinson’s new special.
I could not believe how exciting and emotional this was.
This was brilliant.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this always-free, reader-supported mid-week edition of The Experiment where we share great things to read, cook, listen to, and watch. If you’d like to support my work, buy my Alamo book, buy some Experiment merch, drop some coins in the PayPal fountain, or become a paid subscriber. But even if you don’t, this bugga free.
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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!