PicoBlog

The following article appeared in the March 27, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here. Attention, real estate pros and people curious about how big a castle your plastic surgeon lives in: Polaris, Mecklenburg County’s land records and property ownership database, rolled out its first update in 10 years last week, and now has some snazzy new features.

Many of you here are writers, and all of you are readers, or you would not be interested in this adorably old-school word-person platform. I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes writing brave, because one of my deep values is courage. I’m mainly interested in work that connects, rather than just informs or impresses. I want to read writing which weaves typed characters into a thread that tugs on our shared humanity.

Before and After the Book Deal By Courtney Maum Real talk about the writing + publishing industry by an author who doesn’t want you to feel confused, bewildered, or alone. Plus: craft tips, reading recommendations, writing support + solidarity (unless you are a jerk to people in the comments). ncG1vNJzZmirpZfAta3CpGWcp51kjaS71Kurp52poq62uQ%3D%3D

‘Cowboy Carter’ (2024) is not, as per fan speculation, a reclamation of historically black genres by the biggest living black artist. It’s also not, in many ways, a country album. In her own words, this is a “Beyonce album”, made by the woman in response to the awful and racist response to her performance at the Country Music Awards. That one piece of information is the most context Beyonce has provided about an album in over a decade.

Dear readers, I’m very proud of the subtitle for this post. If you’re new here or haven’t gleaned my vibe, that subtitle should tell you plenty about my questionable sense of humor. (Carry On my questionable sense of humor and all. Yes, that is absolutely a fandom reference; thank you for noticing.) Anyway, yep, like some previous quote lists, I intended to have quotes from varying sources but ended up with only J.

The annual Conservative Political Action Convention (CPAC) is seldom subtle. This year they aren’t just saying the quiet part out loud — they are screaming it. At a panel session Wednesday, right-wing conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec said without irony or sarcasm, “I just wanted to say, welcome to the end of democracy. We are here to overthrow it completely. We didn’t get all the way there on January 6, but we will endeavor to get rid of it.

Well! We are doing this again! Today’s edition of Don't Threaten Me With a Good Lifetime covers CRADLE SWAPPING, a tale of swapped cradles and upper-middle-class people taking advantage of poor people. (Quick content warning: opiate abuse gets talked about here. I’m gonna tell you up front though: all the babies are gonna be okay.) CRADLE SWAPPING opens with a shot of a ramshackle house in a windswept hellscape, but actually inside the house, it is fine.

CRAFT TALK is a weekly newsletter about writing, creativity and productivity from author Jami Attenberg. This is also the home of #1000wordsofsummer, where, once a year, we write 1000 words a day together for two weeks straight. (In 2024 it begins 6/1!) No thanksncG1vNJzZmhpYGV9uLvRnaqonqOquq6x0Weqrpqjqa6kt42cpqZn

I have always loved poached pears for their elegant simplicity. Also for their ability to serve as dessert all on their own, without leaving you wanting for something richer. A dollop of crème fraîche or scoop of ice cream on the plate — and a nice little cookie on the side — and that is really all you need. Today I offer you a poached pear recipe, and a recipe for Sesame and Almond Tuiles, which are easy to make, and look and taste lovely alongside these pears.