PicoBlog

You notice that some of the rankings shifts and movements in power rating don’t correspond exactly with intuition based solely on Week 6 results. The numbers still use some 2022 data, and prior weeks are having their effect sizes decayed, which can cause slight adjustments that look big. When lots of teams are bunched up in the middle and bottom of the NFL, even a marginal change in power rating can move a team 3-6 spots.

It finally feels like spring in New York, and warm sunny weather makes me nostalgic. I don’t have one particular favorite childhood memory, but I do have a few that often come to mind in the spring and summer. I have one specific memory of being on vacation in South Carolina when I was about 8 and my parents letting me explore outside by myself at dusk. I found a bunch of tiny crabs near a creek that I played with; then I remember going back to the house and eating a big bowl of chocolate ice cream.

Tip Jar Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedWeep you no more, sad fountains; What need you flow so fast? Look how the snowy mountains Heaven’s sun doth gently waste. But my sun’s heavenly eyes View not your weeping, That now lie sleeping Softly, now softly lies Sleeping. Sleep is a reconciling, A rest that peace begets. Doth not the sun rise smiling When fair at even he sets?

Image by Karen Nadine from PixabayFor reasons inexplicable, the other night I dreamt that someone asked, “Why are we supposed to “weep with those who weep?” (Rom. 12:15) This question rolled around in my mind for many dreamy minutes as I slowly woke myself from sleep. The reason that most compels me is this: We weep with those who weep because redemption only comes through suffering. And our common redemption--that is, the redemption we will enjoy together (and there is no redemption if it is not enjoyed together, with others) only comes through our common suffering, as we suffer with one another.

Sam Israel is only dubiously “of history,” as the most interesting part of his story happened between 1996 and 2008, and he is still alive. However, he makes up for this deficiency with extra weird. Dan Davies, author of Lying for Money, describes Sam Israel’s story as Bernie Madoff if it were punched up a bit by Quentin Tarantino. So of course I, a clinical Money Stuff addict, bought Octopus: Sam Israel, the Secret Market, and Wall Street's Wildest Con.

Alexandra Shapiro grew up in New York City where her parents, Bobby and Laura, ran restaurants — spots like Flex Mussels, and their beloved Hoexter’s, which opened in 1977 and closed in the mid-80s. Now, with her parents and chef Lauren Schwichtenberg, Alexandrea has reopened Hoexter’s, reviving her parents’ first restaurant just a few doors down from where the original location opened almost half a century ago.  “I’d have to say this is the most personally meaningful project I’ve worked on,” said Alexandra.

Dark of the moon and the longest night. The deepest dark is here. Long live the light! Today, for our continuing Old Advent, I am sharing my favourite Winter Solstice poems as we await the newborn sun. I wish for us all a blessed and meaningful Midwinter's Day and a very happy Yule. The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper And so the shortest day came and the year died And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

What is your most bimbo-like quality? Mine is that I love to copy my friends. If you’re reading this, you are most likely familiar with my best friend McKayla’s substack, Hello Darling. Or maybe my sweet friend Charlotte’s substack, Frequent Crier Miles? Or my (grand)daughter Emma’s substack, poetry, prose & personal essays? The point is — I have never had an original idea in my life. And here I am once again to copy my friends.

My loves! Hello, and welcome, and DEAR GOD thank you for being here  but also: f**k me, I’m scared! New Things. Terrifying. Unknowable, unknown, endlessly easily screwed up. This makes me feel exposed. Creatively - naked. I stand before you with barely my knickers on. Here’s a picture of my dog Rita, taken by my friend Jeroen, to alleviate tension. Right. I think I’m supposed to put this in, now: