35 Substack Posts Which Intrigued Me This Week
I haven't read all of these but I hope I can get to the rest of them this weekend. Please let us know if you like these article round-up style posts.
As I’ve tried to learn more about how to use this new Substack medium I’ve subscribed to a whole bunch of publications. Here are some of the pieces from them which most jumped out at me over the last 7 days and I hope you might find of interest too.
And if you enjoy these round-ups of news and opinion items which I’m experimenting with this month then please let me know! I want to provide people with content they find most interesting and compelling at our site. And if there are any of these stories you’d like me or other contributors here to write about then please let me know too.
And BTW - all of these (with one exception) are free pieces. I haven’t yet made the plunge to start doing paid subscriptions even though there are several which I’d like to read more.
And, of course, this post is too long for email.
OK, now let’s begin:
Sunday - May 7
Yes, I’m going to go ahead and start with Sunday to make this round-up a full week’s worth.
Shemaiah Gonzalez is wonderful.
Some good advice from someone I’ve been following on Substack Notes and enjoying.
I’ve been following Aaron Ross Powell primarily through Notes and like him quite a bit. Check him out.
Monday - May 8
I’ve identified as a writer since third grade when I chose it as my primary identity and professional aspiration, the latter which I have now achieved. Being able to work full-time at such a rate that it could support me was all I ever wanted in life. And I’ve had it since 2009 now.
I’m going to count The Bulwark as technically still on Substack, so that gives me license to include some of their pieces here. However, they won’t embed like pieces on standard substack.
At the Bulwark, Jay Caruso asks: “Is There A Gun Idolatry Problem?” Yes, of course there is. There’s always been a violence-blood-and-war idolatry problem. This is human nature. We have evolved from all the people who won the wars over the millennia.
I really haven’t found all the talk about AI and ChatGPT and so forth all that interesting. I don’t feel threatened by some program capable of imitating writing. Serious writers know to perpetually evolve their writing, becoming adept at multiple mediums, and adapting to new and different markets as needed. That’s what I’ve done over the years - regularly shifting the kinds of writing I’ve done and known how to do as needed.
My experience with my PTSD journey the last year and a half has been one big, long lesson in the shortcomings of both today’s pharmaceutical industry and the psychiatric profession. I think we’re on the edge of a revolution in both as America starts opening up again to psychedelics-as-medicine.
Tuesday - May 9
I love learning about history. Note to self: subscribe to more history-centric substacks.
Please subscribe to Tana Ganeva right away if you have not already. One of the most informative and perpetually fascinating writers I’ve yet come across on Substack.
Another substack, I’ve just started following recently, illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s art is just wonderful. She’s a reminder how much I need to start following more art-related substacks. They’re so much fun.
CC: Mike Kilgore - someone to check out and a category for you to explore too.
I was never all that impressed with Lindsay Graham. He always struck me as more follower than leader.
I really should write a substack on why all this back-and-forth about “woke” this and that annoys me so much. Or maybe I should just do a podcast rant. Yeah, that sounds more appropriate than trying to organize my thoughts into a coherent article. Katherine Brodsky is wonderful to follow BTW - a skilled writer and intriguing independent thinker.
A substack I’ve started following recently by Shmuel Chaim Naiman which I’m really enjoying.
Wednesday - May 10
Damian Penny has quickly become one of my favorites on Substack. Just perpetually churning out both thoughtful and entertaining commentary in both culture and politics. And he's a really nice guy too.
Some real good ones here! Check out the single-take masterpiece from “The Protector.”
Thursday - May 11
Conspiracy theory-based ideologies will be a continued subject of study for me. Most of them derive from Jew hatred and echo the themes in antisemitic conspiracy theories. Both are capable of driving people to both madness and violence.
This podcast by Daniel Gordis: What if the Ashkenazi - Mizrahi divide doesn't exist, and politicians created it for their own ends? [excerpt]
OK, one exception to my avoiding paid posts, given that this is one by me. Please consider becoming a premium subscriber to our substack. I’m going to be upping the amount of premium content this month.
Sadie-Rae Werner is someone you should be reading no matter the subject she chooses for her weekly essay:
Like many Millennials, I do not pay a traditional cable bill. I subscribe to a number of streaming services where I can watch the shows I want to watch at any hour of the day. While this does include some Canadian programming, it is composed largely of American and other international content, and I have no restrictions on how many episodes I can watch at a time in most cases. Because online streaming is not limited by the number of hours in a day, everything is available all at once. This simultaneously lowers the bar to entry, and raises the bar for popularity.
This piece is reviewing a new book on the rise and fall of internet media and so-called online journalism here. Sounds interesting - and something that I’ve very much lived working full-time through the shifting of various internet media trends since 2009.
Friday - May 12
Daniel Sherrier is the voice I most look to on superheroes these days. Having written several novels on the subject he's become a bit of an expert IMHO.
I don’t particularly care for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, though. None of the characters really impress me all that much.
What’s clear from Trump’s town hall performance is that if you thought his first term in office was over the top, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
…
By the second half of his term, those debates were over. Trump had fired and/or run off any advisers who tried to constrain his natural instincts for chaos and norm-busting.
Of course a primary preoccupation and purpose of this substack…
I haven’t started hunting in earnest for psychedelic substacks yet, but so far this one is my favorite.
I always liked Sherman Alexie's poetry since I was introduced to his work in college but now getting to read him regularly via Substack my appreciation and respect has grown tremendously.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - if there is a better athlete-turned-writer then please show me who they are immediately.
Among the many reasons why I’ve about “the Right.” While I’m fairly moderate on economics these days I remain a libertarian-conservative in spirit when it comes to government being very effective at much of anything apart from inflicting violence both on its citizens and people all over the world.
I suppose nobody should be surprised that I continue to be endlessly impressed by the extraordinary writing of my fiancee Sally Shideler. That she is such a great writer is one of the reasons why I fell in love with her.
Nobody should be surprised that I’m subscribing to as may desert-themed substacks as I can.
Saturday
Matthew Sheffield remains a voice on media and ideology who continues to influence me deeply.
James Jay Carafano remains one of my favorite foreign policy voices.
So what do you think? Would more regular rounds-ups like this be of interest? Your opinion is very much appreciated!
Thanks David for the honorable mention!
Thanks for the link and your kind compliments!