This is the hottest week of the summer for much of the United States, with almost 275 million Americans seeing at least 90° temperatures.
A Most Beautiful Thing: A Reminder That Divisiveness Does Not Have to Be a Way of Life
Another divisive news week ahead. Here's a reminder that there's more than that: Like an all-Black rowing crew…in Chicago: “Every time you get an opportunity to inspire a generation… what are you going to do with it?
Another divisive news week ahead. Here’s a reminder that there’s more than that: Like an all-Black rowing crew…in Chicago: “Every time you get an opportunity to inspire a generation… what are you going to do with it?
Robin Williams, 1983: Even Then, You Could See Life Was a Struggle
Robin Williams died on August 11, 2014. (Seems like more than 9 years, doesn't it?) I profiled him ages earlier for New York. He shared pretty much everything with me. Be prepared to laugh…and feel very sad.
Robin Williams killed himself on August 11, 2014. (Seems like more than 9 years, doesn’t it?) I profiled him ages earlier for New York. He shared pretty much everything with me. Be prepared to laugh…and feel very sad.
She Died 30 Years Ago. Now She Has a Cult. The Good Kind.
It makes sense to me that Laurie Colwin, in death, should be more popular than a lot of living writers who mine the same terrain.
It makes sense to me that Laurie Colwin, in death, should be more popular than a lot of living writers who mine the same terrain.
Mitch Hedberg Gets Under your Skin and into Your Speech Pattern and the Way You Think and See
"Waffles are just pancakes with syrup traps.” “I’m sick of following my dreams. I’m just gonna ask where they’re going and hook up with them later.” “You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don’t want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something.” Whose jokes are these?
Waffles are just pancakes with syrup traps.” “I’m sick of following my dreams. I’m just gonna ask where they’re going and hook up with them later.” “You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don’t want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something.” Whose jokes are these?
That’s Not Acting, That’s Life: Ruth Draper
Ruth Draper stood alone on stage, dazzling audiences and inventing Lily Tomlin and every woman who now stands on stage and tells stories. When someone said of a Draper performance, “Have you ever seen such acting?” George Bernard Shaw shot back: “That’s not acting, that’s life!”
Ruth Draper stood alone on stage, dazzling audiences and inventing Lily Tomlin and every woman who now stands on stage and tells stories. When someone said of a Draper performance, “Have you ever seen such acting?” George Bernard Shaw shot back: “That’s not acting, that’s life!”
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” — The Authorized Graphic Adaptation
Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” was published in The New Yorker 75 years ago, in the issue of June 26, 1948. It’s the most famous scary story published in America. The graphic adaptation? Even scarier. Click to sample… if you dare.
Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” was published in The New Yorker 75 years ago, in the issue of June 26, 1948. It’s the most famous scary story published in America. The graphic adaptation? Even scarier. Click to sample… if you dare.
“Who May I Say Is Calling?” Phenomenal Annie Lennox. This Beauty Field Trip Is a Streaming Series. Grated Tomato Pasta. And More.
If the indictment of former President Trump is the biggest American story of the century so far, why is Leonard Cohen’s gravestone the image on this edition of Butler?
If the indictment of former President Trump is the biggest American story of the century so far, why is Leonard Cohen’s gravestone the image on this edition of Butler?
Weekend Butler: Time Accelerates. Movies for a Rainy Weekend. Kids Aren’t Sure: Is the World Round? Roasted Salmon Glazed With Brown Sugar and Mustard. And More.
Plus: Goodhearted people are healthier (What a surprise!)
Plus: Goodhearted people are healthier (What a surprise!)
Weekend Butler: Why Are New Issues of “The New Yorker” Delivered Every Three Days???? Movie: The Sicilian “Gone With the Wind.” SCOTUS Christmas Party: Pay Up! A Comforting Song. Recipe: The Best Gazpacho.
Lao Tzu: soft is stronger than hard.
Lao Tzu: soft is stronger than hard.
Bonjour Tristesse: A Book (and Film) with an Achingly Sophisticated Plot in a Gloriously Sophisticated Setting
“Bonjour Tristesse,” was an instant best-seller in France in 1954. Not bad for an 18-year-old first-time novelist.
Françoise Sagan, 18 years old: “I had a strong desire to write and some free time. And in two or three months, working two or three hours a day, I was done.” Her short novel, “Bonjour Tristesse,” was an instant best-seller.. If luxurious locations, elegant characters (Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Jean Seberg) a noted director (Otto Preminger), black-tie evenings and a hot summer romance are what you’re looking for as summer begins, this short novel and the stream of the 1964 movie are superior to whatever you’re being offered elsewhere.
The Movie “Arlington Road”: Ahead of It’s Time, About the Terrorists Next Door
“Arlington Road” is about terrorism. Not swarthy Arabs — that’s so 9/11. The fact is: the most dangerous terrorists are Americans who just might be our neighbors. This 1999 film was way ahead of its time.
“Arlington Road” is about terrorism. Not swarthy Arabs — that’s so 9/11. The fact is: the most dangerous terrorists are Americans who just might be our neighbors. This 1999 film was way ahead of its time.
One Solution to Hollywood’s Troubles: Low-Budget, High-Quality Movies About Real People, Like Debra Granik’s “Winter’s Bone” and “Leave No Trace”
Too hot to read, even with the A/C on. Let’s go to the movies — and see something worth seeing.
Too hot to read, even with the A/C on. Let’s go to the movies — and see something worth seeing.
Greta Gerwig: The Movies Before “Barbie” (One Is Sensational!)
I wish I could quote all of the jokes and recount the best offbeat bits. … even though Lady Bird will never be perfect, “Lady Bird” is.
I wish I could quote all of the jokes and recount the best offbeat bits. … even though Lady Bird will never be perfect, “Lady Bird” is.
Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus
He had polio at 9 and never walked again. He wrote a song about watching men dance with his wife at their wedding: “Don’t forget who’s taking you home/ And in whose arms you’re gonna be/ So darlin’, save the last dance for me.” Classic song. Classic stories in this biography.
He had polio at 9 and never walked again. He wrote a song about watching men dance with his wife at their wedding: “Don’t forget who’s taking you home/ And in whose arms you’re gonna be/ So darlin’, save the last dance for me.” Classic song. Classic stories in this biography.
Sunday Butler: Charlie Warner’s Late-Life Triumph. The Dalai Lama’s Birthday. Jailing a 3-Year-Old. How To Tell if You Have Privilege. A Song. A Poem. A Meal. And a Wish: Stay Cool.
Charlie and I were colleagues at AOL. We were neighbors in New York. In the last decade, six friends cooked elaborate dinners on New Year’s Eve; if I was in town, that date was in ink on my calendar.
Charlie and I were colleagues at AOL. We were neighbors in New York. In the last decade, six friends cooked elaborate dinners on New Year’s Eve; if I was in town, that date was in ink on my calendar.