PicoBlog

This week’s newsletter comes early, due to my schedule, and picks up on a story that has been is roiling publishing over the past week. For background, Catapult, an independent press, abruptly announced cuts on February 14; a few days ago, the New York Times profiled its CEO, and since then Catapult has changed its mission statement. Catapult was founded in 2015 by Andy Hunter, founder of the website Electric Literature, and Elizabeth Koch, who founded Black Balloon Publishing.

There is something I must tell you about China: It is rather morally creative in the usage of its women: There isn't a hotel, massage parlor, ktv, or conference hall in town that isn't frequented by "little sisters" (xiaojie), escort personnel (baopo), hostesses (peinv), or other types of prostitutes (jinv). There's a name for any relationship a female plaything may fall into: Here are the "second wives" (er laopo), women [who may have family or kids but] who indulge in extramarital affairs with men, married or not.

It’s citrus season in Los Angeles. Lots of people are wondering what to do with their sudden abundance of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. There are fruit-picking parties and citrus giveaways, the more adventurous are making curds and jellies, and all the rest are throwing up their hands and asking “What to do?” The first thing to address head on is that you can compost citrus. It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard or what “they” say.

Since I moved to Mexico in March 2022, I have only dated Mexican men (and one American girl, who you can read about here and here). This week, one of my female friends was curious about my experiences. What are Mexican men like? How did our relationships play out? What language did we speak together? Today, I’m going to answer as many of those questions for you as I can. As you’ll see, I’m focused on each person as an individual.

This piece of writing discusses sexual assault and describes a situation which may be triggering to some. Be kind to yourself. I am, unfortunately, big into Youtuber drama— the valid, the stupid, the Much Too Serious To Call It Drama, all of it. I watch lots of channels that could be termed commentary or “drama” dedicated. Whenever I talk about Youtube I always try to give it the most context as I can because I think it’s important to understand the social ecosystem going on.

This is the home of the On Democracy with FPWellman community where we discuss the issues of today, lessons from the past, and Fred Wellman's unique experiences as a soldier, veteran, and political strategist. By FPWellman · Over 3,000 subscribersNo thanksncG1vNJzZmieoKyyrbjMmqVnq6WXwLWtwqRlnKedZA%3D%3D

“No idea’s original/ There’s nothing new under the sun/ It ain’t what you do but how it’s done” - Nas, “No Idea’s Original” I’m going to attempt brevity on a subject that demands extensive thought and constant work on solutions from people far smarter than I am.  In an age of infinite media—whether created by humans, generated by artificial intelligence, or a Frankenstein’s monster of the two—copyright law needs rethinking. In America in particular, the current regime lacks the flexibility or imagination for a present that once seemed like a distant future.

Hello everyone. Christmas is coming. Seems to come round faster every year, doesn’t it? The lights, the food, the parties, the desperate need to find presents for relatives… In unrelated news, here’s an extract from Conspiracy, the book by Tom Phillips and I published by Headline last July, which is currently available from all good book shops. Consider the question – because it turns out that there is a question – of Finland.

I’ve recently become obsessed with watching a headless woman in South Korea on YouTube make gimbap. She goes by Honeyjubu, and her page is filled with videos of her cooking for her family and cleaning their apartment in Seoul. She never shows her face, just her hands diligently chopping onions, rinsing rice and saving the water, and packing her husband’s lunchbox in regimented fashion every morning. I am obsessed with her.