This week’s Friday review: a tiny book by a Holocaust historian that reads like a greatest hits of Heather Cox Richardson, plus a stronger prescription on how people ought to resist. Well worth the 90 minutes it takes to read. (Full review of this and 764 other books on my @goodreads account).

August. The shortest month.

This week’s Friday review: a national book award finalist, about a boy growing up amid rural poverty, his struggles and determination, and the community that supports him. Hard times bit with lots of hope. Strong recommendation.

I wrote him a letter suggesting he should go read some books.

Does anyone else find it crazy that you can walk into a bookshop and be charged £9.99 for a paperback novel that took the author a year to complete, but £17.99 for a completely blank notebook?

YouTube video by Scott Sheriff “The Second Arrangement”- Steely Dan’s lost (erased) Gaucho track - International Dan Collective.

This week’s tune is a loyal rescue of a song that was lost.
#52covers

youtu.be/CEEJLxHNxfM?...

This Friday’s review: an incredible story of courage & determination in beating cancer, but also more: aligning life with your priorities, outsmarting health insurers, & finding wellness in nature. If you’re sick, this book’s an inspiration. If you’re well, it’s a parable. Full review on @goodreads

After today’s hard rain, the celestial light was easily 15 miles wide on the New York side of Lake Champlain.

YouTube video by triple j FINNEAS covers The Zombies’ ‘Time of the Season’ for Like A Version

This week’s song is an oldie made fresh. And it’s still hard not to breathe along with the vocalist.
#52covers

youtu.be/e99bt1BtSsE?...

This week’s Friday review: a very smart, very now story of a comfortable family that collides with forces that drive our time — AI, billionaire culture etc — and how they cope. It’s not a political pitch, not a lecture. A gripping story, a fast read, and highly recommended. (Oprah’s pick for July)

The Warren parade was as great as ever.

Just heard a guy read this and let me tell you it seemed like a pretty strong blind item

Barely

YouTube video by Analog Society #ninasimone + #theanimals #mashup Full length mashup available on our Patreon, link in bio ♥️

This week it’s only part of a brilliant mash-up. Bu it feels so good!
#52covers

youtu.be/63c55j92j34?...

Bow ties

Best seat in the house.
Taking the day’s last ferry home.
#ilovermont

This week’s Friday review: a debut YA novel that’s an ideal summer read. You’ll recognize the authentic teenage struggles, you’ll encounter vivid and robust Greek islanders, and you’ll see a determined teenager growing up whether the adults help or not. Full review on my @goodreads account.

YouTube video by Kaye Croteau Girl Does Eminem's Lose Yourself Using Sign Language

This week’s song is guaranteed to make you move — and be grateful for your ears.
#52covers

youtu.be/9P_4D26hApY?...

Chicago Sun-Times Sunday insert contains 10 AI-generated fake books in summer reading list The special section inserted into the Sunday Chicago Sun-Times featured fun summer activities, including a list of 15 books, most of which do not exist.

So far i am loving the stupidity of AI
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/20/s...

YouTube video by Live At The Print Shop Stephen Wilson Jr. - "Stand By Me" [Ben E. King Cover] (Live at the Print Shop)

This week’s song will rock your soul.
#52covers

youtu.be/9kn7E-OauJI?...

This week’s Friday review: today nearly 29 million Americans suffer from alcohol use disorder. I thought it was time for me to read the bible of recovery. Full review on @goodreads — mostly about how much I learned from this book.

Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, recently used my second-place finish in the 1,600-meter run, and that of my teammate in the 800-meter run, to malign Soren Stark-Chessa, the trans-identified athlete who finished first. One of the reasons I chose to run cross-country and track is the community: Teammates cheering each other on, athletes from different schools coming together, and the fact that personal improvement is valued as much as, if not more than, the place we finish. Last Friday, I ran the fastest 1,600-meter race I have ever run in middle school or high school track and earned varsity status by my school’s standards. I am extremely proud of the effort I put into the race and the time that I achieved. The fact that someone else finished in front of me didn’t diminish the happiness I felt after finishing that race. I don’t feel like first place was taken from me. Instead, I feel like a happy day was turned ugly by a bully who is using children to make political points. We are all just kids trying to make our way through high school. Participating in sports is the highlight of high school for some kids. No one was harmed by Soren’s participation in the girls’ track meet, but we are all harmed by the hateful rhetoric of bullies, like Rep. Libby, who want to take sports away from some kids just because of who they are. Anelise Feldman Freshman, Yarmouth High School Yarmouth

this is a letter to the editor from a high school track runner who came in second to a trans girl in a race. her state house rep in maine started talking about it. so she wrote this: www.pressherald.com/2025/05/14/r...

Champlain last night.

YouTube video by Lake Street Dive Lake Street Dive feat. Tiny Habits - "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (Live From the Road)

This week’s song is a ‘60s classic remade by two great current bands. Harmonies that could slay a dragon.
#52covers

youtu.be/zusFHHAhim4?...

Moon through apple blossoms

This week’s Friday review: a great American story that spans from pre-revolutionary times to the present, and the connecting thread is a place rich with heartfelt story, vividness, and some touching magic realism. Highly recommend. Full review on @goodreads

It’s pretty terrible, even as a joke, given that the pope died just a few days ago.

YouTube video by CoverLounge Comfortably Numb - Dar Williams & Ani DiFranco

This week’s song is one of the best that came out of art rock, reimagined by two folkish women. It’s so good.
#52covers

youtu.be/SqQFWXWVBNA?...

Today is #ArmenianGenocide Remembrance Day, the day Armenians around the world remember the 1.5 million Armenians systematically annihilated by the Ottoman Turks. I’m a grandson of two survivors. Below is an essay I wrote about my family and the Genocide. newsweek.com/souls-vanished…