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TWICE has had a special connection with Canada since as early as 2017. After all, their hit single “Likey” was filmed entirely in Vancouver, British Columbia. The music video showcases some of the most iconic areas in the region from Gastown, Stanley Park to White Rock. News reports described the “Likey” music video as a boon for the tourism industry. And for TWICE themselves, it also marked one of the group’s biggest hits.

All night, she hung in that tree. A lynching, plain and clear. At least it would have been, if she’d died. But she didn’t die. They’d grabbed her, those young men, tying her hands as she screamed and fought. Forced the noose over her head and hung her in the tree. And then they left. Left her to hang there, hour after hour, as the sky got dark and then light again and I can’t help but wonder what she was thinking all those long hours.

As the scorching summer months roll in, avid skiers often find themselves longing for the next winter when they can hit the slopes once again. While skiing may seem like a distant dream during the sweltering heat, the off-season presents a golden opportunity for skiers to enhance their performance and preparation. Enter the squat – the ultimate exercise that can bridge the gap between summer and winter, preparing skiers for the next snow-filled adventure.

Hello, dear readers -- This week in New York City, 306 dancers - New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre principals among them - gathered in front of some TV cameras in midtown and stood en pointe for one minute, thus setting a new world record for most dancers en pointe at once. This sounds unpleasant to me, because I loathe midtown and I did not particularly enjoy being on pointe, either.

I was a guest this week on Radio Free Amanda, an excellent socialist podcast. We discussed Operation Gladio, NATO’s secret Nazi armies during the Cold War. Sign up as a paid subscriber for early access to this episode. Here’s the Gladio series I wrote for my Substack, which only paid subscribers can access: “NATO's secret Nazi armies” “How the CIA and Italy's secret state manipulated the right and infiltrated the left”

Welcome to a new issue of the Animation Obsessive newsletter! Today, we’re exploring the creation of the main cast of Cowboy Bebop — some of the most iconic characters in anime history. If you’re new here and want to see more of our work, it’s free to sign up for our weekly Sunday issues: Enjoy! Everyone knows Cowboy Bebop. It was a global hit — in places like the United States, it’s still viewed as a definitive work of anime.

Welcome! It’s time again for the Animation Obsessive newsletter. This is what we’re doing today: New here? It’s free to sign up for our Sunday issues. Get them in your inbox, weekly: Sign Up With that, we’re off! Two years ago, on Halloween 2020, the enigmatic rapper DOOM passed away. He’d staked out a career as a musical weirdo and lyrical wizard. His work influenced too many other, bigger artists to count — from Thom Yorke to Tyler, the Creator.

Welcome to another edition of the Animation Obsessive newsletter! If you’re new here, we cover exciting animation from all around the world. Here’s our agenda for today: One — a look into the making of Samurai Jack’s background art. Two — animation news, across the globe. Three — the secret history of the Tootsie Pop commercial. Four — the last word. Just dropping in? You can sign up to receive our newsletter right in your inbox, every week:

Welcome back! It’s time for another Sunday edition of the Animation Obsessive newsletter. Here’s what we’re doing: For anyone just finding us — it’s free to sign up for our Sunday issues. Get them free in your inbox, every week: Sign Up Now, let’s get going! Today, computer animation is the standard. That’s true for big 3D films like Across the Spider-Verse and for the bulk of everything else. Even 2D projects tend to be computer-driven — from the mainstream (Primal) to the indie (Lackadaisy).