The more I think about Three Women, the more puzzled I am by the uncritical enthusiasm for it. The women are clearly victims.
Weekend Butler: The Most Beautiful Car Commercial. Why Does Air Force One Have One More Takeoff Than Landings? Bill Blass Meat Loaf. Mary Oliver. And More.
Were we ever this young?
Were we ever this young?
Louise Glück: Reading Her, You Get the Feeling That Her Struggle Is Your Struggle, That She Somehow Knows How It Is for You.
Louise Glück — it’s pronounced “Glick”— died. Large obit in The Times. Big Head Butler review for her last book of poems.
Louise Glück — it’s pronounced “Glick”— died. Large obit in The Times. Big Butler review for her last book of poems.
Epictetus Was a Stoic. The Famous One is Marcus Aurelius. Epictetus Was His Teacher.
Epictetus was also blunt: "You have been given your own work to do. Get to it right now, do your best at it, and don’t be concerned with who is watching you."
Epictetus was also blunt: “You have been given your own work to do. Get to it right now, do your best at it, and don’t be concerned with who is watching you.”
Head Butler Suggestions for a Wednesday in Fall
Wednesday Butler: A second batch of suggestions while I take a few days off. This one feels lighter. Why? No one can incessantly worry about this and that and the other thing.
Wednesday Butler: A second batch of suggestions while I take a few days off. This one feels lighter. Why? No one can incessantly worry about this and that and the other thing.
Jesse Malin, Poet Laureate of Lower East Side Musicians, Writes About Great Characters. Now He Has Become One
Jesse Malin is the kid with the shoe box under his bed that’s filled with skipping stones from sunny days and bottle caps from bad breakups.
Jesse Malin is the kid with the shoe box under his bed that’s filled with skipping stones from sunny days and bottle caps from bad breakups.
“There Is a Rose in Spanish Harlem.” Correction: There Was a Rose….
Walking the track in East Harlem the other day, I spotted this flower. I thought, “There is a rose in Spanish Harlem,” so I snapped a photo and sent it off, with that caption, to a few friends.
Walking the track in East Harlem the other day, I spotted this flower. I thought, “There is a rose in Spanish Harlem,” so I snapped a photo and sent it off, with that caption, to a few friends.
Weekend Butler: How Would You Teach Empathy? The Elon Musk Bio…Killed. Morning Yoga. Talking Heads. The Favorite Recipe of the Nytimes.
I didn’t write this. I found it on Facebook, which, amazingly, sometimes delivers something that isn’t advertising or an announcement of a death or a Long marriage
I didn’t write this. I found it on Facebook, which, amazingly, sometimes delivers something that isn’t advertising or an announcement of a death or a Long marriage
Prine on Prine: Interviews and Encounters With John Prine
John Prine, a 23-year-old mailman, was hanging out at an open mic in a Chicago club, more or less minding his own business, maybe heckling just a little, when someone turned and asked if he thought he could do better…
John Prine, a 23-year-old mailman, was hanging out at an open mic in a Chicago club, more or less minding his own business, maybe heckling just a little, when someone turned and asked if he thought he could do better…
Weekend Butler: “Oppenheimer” (No Thanks), “Killers of the Flower Moon” (And the Oscar Goes To…?). Life Imitates Lecarre. Married People Are 545% Happier! Jelly Roll Needs a Favor! Handle Hard Better! And More.
Plus Weekend Recipe, Blackberry Fool.
Plus Weekend Recipe, Blackberry Fool.
The End of Summer 2023: The Best Films
After obsessing about the news, I am now forcing myself to take some days off. Enjoy these films while I'm gone.
After obsessing about the news, I am now forcing myself to take some days off. Enjoy these films while I’m gone.
Herbie Mann: Music That’s Not only Delightful, it Stays with You
The politics and news are ugly. Let’s not add to the ugliness here. Today, music that’s not only delightful, it stays with you. You may even find yourself humming it later: Advil for the soul.
The political/legal news and blowback will be ugly this week. Let’s not add to the ugliness here. Today, music that’s not only delightful, it stays with you. You may even find yourself humming it later: Advil for the soul.
Weekend Butler: The Month the World…Stopped. Do You Walk 6,000 Steps a Day More Than You Need To? The Best Documentary. The Best TWEET. The Best NYC Summer Song. The Most Chill Desert.
What to do? First priority: do not feel sorry for myself, for I’m among the luckiest humans who’s ever lived.
What to do? First priority: do not feel sorry for myself, for I’m among the luckiest humans who’s ever lived.
‘Everything I Think I Know Is Just Static on the Radio’ Music by Jim White
"Every word, every sound bouncing 'round my head, is just static on the radio. Everything I think I know is just static on the radio.” Comforting music for a weird week. Meet Jim White.
Every word, every sound bouncing ’round my head, is just static on the radio. Everything I think I know is just static on the radio.” Comforting music for a weird week. Meet Jim White.
Beautiful Ruins: A Novel by Jess Waters. The Wisest, Worldliest Novel I’ve Read in Years
What’s it about? Italy in the 1960s, Hollywood in the 1960s, Hollywood now, World War II, the set of “Cleopatra,” the Donner party, Seattle, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Idaho — but this long list is scaring you, yes?
What’s it about? Italy in the 1960s, Hollywood in the 1960s, Hollywood now, World War II, the set of “Cleopatra,” the Donner party, Seattle, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Idaho — but this long list is scaring you, yes?
Weekend Butler: Summer in the City. Aretha Franklin. Robbie Robertson. Bradley Cooper’s Controversial Nose. A $180 Book. A Sharon Olds Poem. A Crisp Salad.
Who thought the oversized schnoz was a good idea?
Who thought the oversized schnoz was a good idea?