📌 ICYMI — ‘I Hadn’t Anticipated Developing Empathy for Them, But You Can See How the Conspirituality Belief System Also Serves as a Set of Coping Mechanisms’
’ Editor in Chief speaks to director Liz Smith and writer Noelle Cook about their journey into the world of ‘conspirituality’ for a new…
Anat Rubin and I co-wrote a story for @calmatters.org about the people behind Sheriff Chad Bianco's "election investigation" -- sovereign citizens, Christian nationalists, and "constitutional sheriffs."
calmatters.org/investigatio...
‘I Hadn’t Anticipated Developing Empathy for Them, But You Can See How the Conspirituality Belief System Also Serves as a Set of Coping Mechanisms’ – Byline Times bylinetimes.com/2026/04/21/i...
If you're in London...there's screenings of The Conspriacists all week with Q and A's afterward with some great hosts. Seven screenings over eight days all across the city!
📽️ Our Editor in Chief @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social will be hosting a Q&A with Noelle Cook and Liz Smith at the London premiere of their thought-provoking film 'The Conspiracists' – following the lives of women involved in the Jan 6 insurrection – at the Bertha Dochouse on 21 April.
Book your ticket:
From “The Simpsons” house genius John Swartzwelder, interviewed in The New Yorker by Mike Sacks
Four vintage concert photographs. In the first three images, Ian McCulloch performs on a dark stage under colored lights and haze, dressed in black with tousled hair falling over his face. He sings into a microphone stand with eyes closed in one shot, grips the mic dramatically in another, and gestures while holding a cigarette in a third. The atmosphere is moody and theatrical, with red, blue, and amber stage lights glowing behind him. In the fourth image, Noelle Cook stands beside Ian McCulloch offstage or backstage. Noelle wears a light-colored blazer and carries a shoulder bag, looking at the camera with a slight smile. Ian stands next to her in dark clothing and red-tinted sunglasses, facing forward with a cool, reserved expression. The photos have a grainy late-1980s or early-1990s flash-camera look.
Four vintage concert photographs. In the first three images, Ian McCulloch performs on a dark stage under colored lights and haze, dressed in black with tousled hair falling over his face. He sings into a microphone stand with eyes closed in one shot, grips the mic dramatically in another, and gestures while holding a cigarette in a third. The atmosphere is moody and theatrical, with red, blue, and amber stage lights glowing behind him. In the fourth image, Noelle Cook stands beside Ian McCulloch offstage or backstage. Noelle wears a light-colored blazer and carries a shoulder bag, looking at the camera with a slight smile. Ian stands next to her in dark clothing and red-tinted sunglasses, facing forward with a cool, reserved expression. The photos have a grainy late-1980s or early-1990s flash-camera look.
Four vintage concert photographs. In the first three images, Ian McCulloch performs on a dark stage under colored lights and haze, dressed in black with tousled hair falling over his face. He sings into a microphone stand with eyes closed in one shot, grips the mic dramatically in another, and gestures while holding a cigarette in a third. The atmosphere is moody and theatrical, with red, blue, and amber stage lights glowing behind him. In the fourth image, Noelle Cook stands beside Ian McCulloch offstage or backstage. Noelle wears a light-colored blazer and carries a shoulder bag, looking at the camera with a slight smile. Ian stands next to her in dark clothing and red-tinted sunglasses, facing forward with a cool, reserved expression. The photos have a grainy late-1980s or early-1990s flash-camera look.
Forty years ago today, I was a 19-year-old living the dream when I got to photograph and meet Ian McCulloch at an Echo & the Bunnymen show in Irvine, California. April 19, 1989.
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons are so so good in that season.
Screenshot of a sponsored ad on X (formerly Twitter) from the verified Grok account, labeled “Ad.” The text reads, “Ready to bring ideas to life? Try Grok Imagine today.” Below is a paused video thumbnail showing a blonde woman seated in white stadium-style seats. She wears black narrow sunglasses, a white cropped athletic top with dark trim and a swoosh-style logo, and a white skirt. Large overlaid text on the video says, “Turn your photos.” Video controls at the bottom show “0:08” and “Start 3-Day Free Trial,” with “From x.com” beneath the ad.
Remind me, was Grok found in the Epstein files?
Excellent article on AI in education.
Are we ‘Reinventing the wheel,again’?
Influencing the already motivated 5% is not transformation. Apps that engage always crash into the reality of student behaviour, messy learning, & needing adult support.
onstudentsuccess.morganedtech.com/p/reinventin...
🧵Tradwife culture is moving further into the mainstream. People who watch this film will likely come away with a better sense of the performance, hypocrisy and marketing behind the movement. But, the real issue is the way tradwife content functions as an algorithmic gateway into far-right ideology.
Screenshot of a social media post from Michael Avenatti’s verified account. The post reads: “My official website is live. It’s honest about who I was, what happened, and where things stand. Nothing more, nothing less.” Below is a link preview for michaelavenatti.com titled “Michael Avenatti — Official Website,” describing him as a trial lawyer, communicator, and author of a forthcoming memoir. The post is timestamped 2:57 PM, Apr 17, 2026, with 4,185 views.
Wake up, babe. A new redemption manifesto just dropped from Michael Cohen... sorry, Lev Parnas... no, Anthony Scaramucci... damn it, Michael Avenatti.
This is what entitlement does. It convinces you consequences happen to other people.
We all have days like this
Since young men have given up on education and jobs and are relying on the crypto, online gambling, video game proficiency, selling t-level-raising health supplements, and manosphere misogyny as the basis of their adulthood, they need all the prayers they can get.
Fin has alligator mouth. With the long neck and body, that's the energy. Those teeth are Just daggers. And the ratter digging claws. He wraps his arms around your wrist like a koala.
We lost two great dogs over Xmas, was just a tragedy, and he's a completely different dog but I really love his vibe. He's going to be a great adult dog once he gets through the puppy phase and we get him trained. He's extremely smart, invents games with rules he expects you to follow. Remembers
A lot of that is small-dog puppy. He's learning to control it. Every month he matures a little more and gets better control over his emotions. Really interesting to watch. Our only small dog was a rescue we got when she was 4 or 5. Small dog puppies are a lot. Poor Noelle's hands.
He is the combination of all small dogs at once and, somehow, a German shepherd in some distant way. Generations of street dogs. Born in a shelter. This mix of stray dog parts thrown together in a very smart dude with a big personality and a lot of confidence but also sweet and then totally feral
Mogging the purebreds 🐾
So uh here’s an update.
At two months, the tiny bastard would hide under the couch, & bark until I came over. As soon as my knee hit the ground, he launched himself at full run, timing it so as soon as I look under, he explodes out. My face is filled with puppy Super Soldier. Another kill swatch added to his collar.
The crew of Blue Origin would like a word.
variety.com/wp-content/u...
Sorry, the self-loathing is full. Try back next season.
How does Katy Perry having gone to space affect this?
Better odds of ending the haunting.
He loves all dogs and humans but is an asshole to the cat. She refuses to pop him with claws but enjoys pushing his buttons to trigger zoomies for her entertainment pleasure. Just moves to a place just out of reach and taunts him with smugness. She's an awesome cat.
He is the product of an entire family tree filled with one night stands, bad judgment, and regret.
Truth be told it's @noellecook.com's pic. It's our feral baby boy. The vet was like "what IS he?" Just perplexed by the combo of dogs. 30% chihuahua then 20%"super mutt" (which has dachshund and German shepherd) then poodle and like 6 other small breeds. Long body & oddly long neck. 100% confidence
