@laurahelmuth
Freelance writer, editor, columnist & consultant. Formerly at Scientific American, Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian & Science. Past president of National Association of Science Writers. Birder.
If I'd had to guess which member of The Who was a huge Beach Boys fan, it would have taken me four tries to get to Keith Moon. This is another fascinating (as always!) episode of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. @500songspodcast.bsky.social 500songs.com/podcast/song...
This is my favorite comment on this advice column about whether to start your own business.
“The quickest way to become a millionaire business owner: Start with $2 million.”
slate.com/advice/2026/...
We got lots of good questions for my advice column this week. 1: I want more freedom. Should I start my own business?
2: President of new company rushed to lay people off. Flee?
3: How get boss to stop micromanaging and doing LW's job?
4: How can a new manager handle a constant complainer?
This book is fascinating: "Why Q Needs U," by @dannybate.bsky.social. One (of millions) of fun facts: the symbol that evolved into modern Q originally depicted a monkey, with two stacked circles and a tail. Q's tail is actually a tail. dannybate.com/book/
What restaurant that you once loved has closed and broken your heart?
For me, it's Taste of Saigon, in Rockville, MD.
Oh, yes, the sad/joyous combos are amazing.
"How did you solve the infinite puzzle of Jeffrey Epstein's true nature?"
"Uh, a web search?"
Oh, good question! I'd ask him to join us on Bluesky (he can use one of his many nicknames / pseudonyms). And I'd love to know what he's listening to. He always had a great ear for innovative music. What about you?
This is a nice contrast to all the awful behavior confirmed through the Epstein files. Proud of @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social & @seanmcarroll.bsky.social for picking up on the sexism & charlatanism right away.
Should it be done? No. But can it be done? Also no. theconversation.com/does-regime-...
Yeah, that surprised me, too. I guess he got blamed for the Beatles breaking up.
And, of course, Mull of Kintyre, complete with bagpipe marching band on the beach (as in: the mist rolling in from the sea) which he just completely made up to sound like a traditional folk tune www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plht...
The "Man on the Run" documentary about Paul McCartney & Wings & Linda Eastman McCartney is excellent. Definitely worth all the earworms. And this is a sweet review by @jackhamilton.bsky.social slate.com/culture/2026...
#LunarEclipse FAQ:
Q: Is it safe to look at?
A: Absolutely! Unlike a solar eclipse, there's no UNsafe time to look at a lunar eclipse.
Q: Do I need a telescope?
A: Nope! Best view is with naked eye. Just look up!
Q: Does the eclipse portend terror & doom?
A: Not at all! The news has that covered.
This is a great awards program for science communication. Enter now (before April 3) and/or please encourage others to do so. Categories include researchers (early, mid- & late career), journalists, independent & institutional. From @nationalacademies.org & @schmidtsciences.bsky.social
for those of you who werent adults during iraq, its hard to overstate how much the media loves war porn. they salivate over pentagon spin briefings. they love stories about all the bombs and how supposedly infallible they are. they love the notion of the commander in chief, in the situation room etc
Kafka understood that an even greater indignity than being turned into a giant insect was still being required to go to work afterward.
They have an endless contempt for all logic, evidence, and history.
Careful what you ask for.
The demand is not, "Congress must vote to authorize this war."
The demand is, "Congress must vote to end this immoral and illegal war of aggression."
"Be reasonable about this," he says. "Meet me in the middle."
"OK," you say. You take a step forward.
He takes a step back.
"Be reasonable about this," he says. "Meet me in the middle."
General McClellan over here not pressing his advantage.
See some gorgeous visualizations of how and when people search for birds searchingforbirds.visualcinnamon.com
AIs can’t stop recommending nuclear strikes in war game simulations
Leading AIs from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google opted to use nuclear weapons in simulated war games in 95 per cent of cases
www.newscientist.com/article/2516...
screenshot of a tv user guide, showing two channels under Tue 8PM: MSNOW - State of the union TCM East- Gaslight
Masterful Troll, TCM.
Congratulations on the new book! It looks deeeeeelightful! Naturally!
This is a delightful profile of bald eagles, which are kleptoparasites (they steal food from others), have talons the size of your thumb that lock onto prey, and sound like they're ... giggling. slate.com/technology/2... by @bittelmethis.bsky.social on @slate.com
I'm enjoying @slate.com's new Soundbites game. English is weird. slate.com/life/2026/02...
A plate with chopsticks across it, with several pieces of toast balanced on top.
If you want to keep your toast from getting soggy on the bottom, balance it on skewers or chopsticks.
