Laura Helmuth

My Boss Asked a Question About My Potential Promotion. Uh, the Answer Is Obvious. But I can’t say this, right?

A 50-something advice seeker quit a job with a bully boss and is 90% of the way to starting their own, competing company (3rd question of 4 this week). They wonder if they're brave enough to launch & sign off as "Cowardly Lion."
My advice: The Cowardly Lion was brave all along & so are you:

I enjoy browsing Bluesky's Discover feed, but since the Olympics it seems to vastly overestimate my (and I bet many of your) interest in hockey.

I’m an NIH whistleblower. The scientific community cannot afford to avoid politics “Scientists are often encouraged to avoid politics. But this advice is outdated, if it was ever correct in the first place,” writes Jenna Norton, NIH whistleblower.

A heads down approach will not save science. We need to speak up, live our values, and demand integrity.

www.statnews.com/2026/03/12/n...

I Did What You’re Supposed to Do to Get Promoted. Suddenly, There’s a Catch. I've already been denied twice.

Question 2 in this week's work advice column asks: My boss and the office manager fight constantly, won't give me anything to do, and snap when I ask. Is it okay to just finish my novel?
Answer: Finish your novel. slate.com/advice/2026/...

Here’s every scientist I have found in the Epstein Files so far Sheeva brings receipts to the discussion of scientists in the Epstein files.

Fucking creepshow. An updating list of the scientists found in the Epstein files:
fancycomma.com/2026/03/07/h... by Sheeva Azma on @fancycomma.bsky.social

That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke!

Ha! My HS English teacher also compared it to The Breakfast Club. Good pedagogy, tbh.

They especially want to make a pilgrimage to thank the martyrs that helped them survive the winter, when they were sick. It's so human! And now so avoidable. Geoffrey Chaucer says get your vaccines. (Travel anyway, share stories anyway, but avoid the avoidable infectious diseases!)

Did anybody else have to memorize the prologue to the Canterbury Tales? I was annoyed at the time, but darn if I don't think about it every springtime.
For anybody who hasn't read it, it basically says that when sweet spring showers come and the birds start singing, people want to travel (1/2)

I Refused to Take Over the Family Business. I Might’ve Made a Mistake. I know the sacrifices it requires.

Families have a huge influence over people's choice of career (not just nepo babies). It's hard to go against their expectations and pressure.
In my advice column this week, someone grew up seeing how hard it is to run your own business, but they feel they ought to try it anyway:

agree.
Admitting and talking about what’s happening - in Iran, in US science, in Minneapolis, in public health, in DC - is simply essential now.

It was in a bucket!

Smart!

Fellow gardeners! Welcome back to "now where did I put that stupid trowel" season.

disturbing reports that donald trumps economic policy is exactly as bad as anyone who knows anything said it would be

So good. There's a fun bit towards the end about an orchestral musician who made a decision that I assume he came to regret.

Song 183: “Pinball Wizard” by the Who, part 1: Always Playing Clean Apologies for the delay in posting this episode — I had a chronic illness flare-up and a frankly awful January. With luck, part two of this story will be up before the end of February. For th…

If I'd had to guess which member of The Who was a huge Beach Boys fan, it would have taken me four tries to get to Keith Moon. This is another fascinating (as always!) episode of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. @500songspodcast.bsky.social 500songs.com/podcast/song...

I Saw Firsthand What Having a Small Business Does to a Family. From That Moment On, I Made a Vow. Now I’m Rethinking Everything. I know the sacrifices it requires.

This is my favorite comment on this advice column about whether to start your own business.
“The quickest way to become a millionaire business owner: Start with $2 million.”

slate.com/advice/2026/...

I Saw Firsthand What Having a Small Business Does to a Family. From That Moment On, I Made a Vow. Now I’m Rethinking Everything. I know the sacrifices it requires.

We got lots of good questions for my advice column this week. 1: I want more freedom. Should I start my own business?
2: President of new company rushed to lay people off. Flee?
3: How get boss to stop micromanaging and doing LW's job?
4: How can a new manager handle a constant complainer?

Book Final cover This is my own page for my book, Why Q Needs U, published in the UK in October 2025 and lauded by The Economist as one of their books of the year! It’s my debut book, and hopefull…

This book is fascinating: "Why Q Needs U," by @dannybate.bsky.social. One (of millions) of fun facts: the symbol that evolved into modern Q originally depicted a monkey, with two stacked circles and a tail. Q's tail is actually a tail. dannybate.com/book/

What restaurant that you once loved has closed and broken your heart?
For me, it's Taste of Saigon, in Rockville, MD.

Oh, yes, the sad/joyous combos are amazing.

"How did you solve the infinite puzzle of Jeffrey Epstein's true nature?"
"Uh, a web search?"

Oh, good question! I'd ask him to join us on Bluesky (he can use one of his many nicknames / pseudonyms). And I'd love to know what he's listening to. He always had a great ear for innovative music. What about you?

Meet three scientists who said no to Epstein The warning signs included a web search, a mother’s doubts, and inklings of a “sexist attitude”

This is a nice contrast to all the awful behavior confirmed through the Epstein files. Proud of @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social & @seanmcarroll.bsky.social for picking up on the sexism & charlatanism right away.

Does regime change ever work? History tells us long-term consequences are often disastrous Regime change has long proved tempting to large states. But it rarely goes to plan.

Should it be done? No. But can it be done? Also no. theconversation.com/does-regime-...

Yeah, that surprised me, too. I guess he got blamed for the Beatles breaking up.

Wings - Mull Of Kintyre YouTube video by PaulMcCartneyVEVO

And, of course, Mull of Kintyre, complete with bagpipe marching band on the beach (as in: the mist rolling in from the sea) which he just completely made up to sound like a traditional folk tune www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plht...

Paul McCartney & Wings - My Love (Official Music Video) YouTube video by PaulMcCartneyVEVO

For your earworm satisfaction: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5g9...