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Welcome back to our ongoing conversation about Mark Twain's classic novel. This week we discuss faux Dukes and Dauphins, satire and allegory, local conflicts and civil wars, and much more, including the protean nature of the book. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
Mark Twain said, “My life has been full of many problems, most of which never happened!” He presumably looked to the future with a degree of trepidation and spent a lot of time being anxious about things that actually never happened. Does that sound like something you do, too?Another great author, the Apostle Paul, said that no matter what happens—don't be anxious about anything. In this message, Stuart looks to Scripture to identify the formula for becoming worry-free, no matter what circumstance we are facing—or think we'll have to face. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29?v=20251111
Mark Twain said, “My life has been full of many problems, most of which never happened!” He presumably looked to the future with a degree of trepidation and spent a lot of time being anxious about things that actually never happened. Does that sound like something you do, too?Another great author, the Apostle Paul, said that no matter what happens—don't be anxious about anything. In this message, Stuart looks to Scripture to identify the formula for becoming worry-free, no matter what circumstance we are facing—or think we'll have to face. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29?v=20251111
Mark Twain said, “My life has been full of many problems, most of which never happened!” He presumably looked to the future with a degree of trepidation and spent a lot of time being anxious about things that actually never happened. Does that sound like something you do, too?Another great author, the Apostle Paul, said that no matter what happens—don't be anxious about anything. In this message, Stuart looks to Scripture to identify the formula for becoming worry-free, no matter what circumstance we are facing—or think we'll have to face. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29?v=20251111
Mark Twain said, “My life has been full of many problems, most of which never happened!” He presumably looked to the future with a degree of trepidation and spent a lot of time being anxious about things that actually never happened. Does that sound like something you do, too?Another great author, the Apostle Paul, said that no matter what happens—don't be anxious about anything. In this message, Stuart looks to Scripture to identify the formula for becoming worry-free, no matter what circumstance we are facing—or think we'll have to face. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29?v=20251111
Welcome back to our series on Mark Twain's most essential novel. This week we discuss: * The development of Huck Finn's conscience* Jim's character development* The river as a symbol of journey and uncertainty* The expurgated passage* Twain's homage to the Odyssey* Jim's humanization and moral integrity* Twain's technique of withholding information* The significance of the Mississippi River as a unifying setting* and moreHappy reading! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
Peanut Butter & Biscuits continues down the recap road breaking down Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6: “Don't Jump Around Much Anymore”It's New Year's Eve and it's a night of reckoning for many. The Lady Greyhounds are invited to a lavish yacht party thrown in their honor by Zelda that proves to be too weird by far. Alice has a hard time convincing herself to go but tries to open herself up to the team. Rebecca, Keeley and Roy celebrate with an old friend which turns out requiring a trip to the hospital. Rebecca comes to grips with what she lost in Matthijs and Keeley comes face-to-face with her worst fear. Ted and Michelle celebrate at the Crown & Anchor where we learn so much more about the time after their divorce and Ted must come to grips with where he finds himself in life.This episode, very simply put, is just an absolute gem and the unrivaled best of the season. There is perhaps one of the most jaw-droppingly enjoyable scenes in the whole series and, in the true spirit of the mid-way point, character development in spades. We get to ponder the gender of Wilson in Castaway, a banger of an episode playlist, get a whole heaping of amazing Mark Twain quotes, and we learn the true origin story of a fundamental character in the show that makes us so excited for the rest of the season. All of this and MORE lie ahead!FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner & Craig McFarlandNamed the best Ted Lasso Podcast:https://podcast.feedspot.com/ted_lasso_podcasts/Email the show at frontrowlasso@gmail.comJoin the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/3161086474176010
He must be smiling down today upon such a masterful work of art, such a treasured addition to the Clemons's Lake Shore House, the lovely community of Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe, and the Great State of Nevada...
“When people trade, even before fees and commissions, the average trade loses money.” — Alex Edmans Isaac Newton might be able to foresee the movement of the stars, but he couldn't foretell the madness of men. It was a lesson that cost the great physicist £4 million (in today's money) when he threw his fortune into the South Sea Bubble. This priceless parable in Newtonian psychology opens The Madness of Markets, the new book by Alex Edmans — London Business School finance prof, old friend of the show, and author of the bestselling May Contain Lies. Dr Edmans's prognosis is bracingly unflattering to guys like Isaac Newton and Mark Twain who splurge their fortunes on speculative ventures. Intelligence, he reminds us, is domain-specific, but many smart people simply aren't intelligent enough to realize this. So, in the age of Robinhood — when we can all trade anything from stocks, options, crypto to NFTs — the supposed wisdom of crowds is sometimes driven over the cliff by the irrational exuberance of dumb individuals. Speaking of driving off the cliff, ninety percent of us think we're above-average drivers, Edmans jokes, and this same delusion applies to markets. Unfortunately, such stupidity can be expensive for big brain types like Newton or Twain. “When people trade, even before fees and commissions, the average trade loses money,” he warns. So close your Robinhood account and stick your cash in the bank? No, not quite. Know your edge, Edmans reminds us. And when it comes to making sense of the current AI boom, Edmans offers some particularly wise words. The AI sector trades at 25 to 30 times earnings rather than Cisco's bubble-era 190, he notes, so it's unlikely anyone will lose their life's savings on Anthropic or OpenAI. That said, the good doctor Edmans advises, don't confuse your self-worth with your net worth. That's a rookie conceit that only somebody as smart as Isaac Newton would fall for. Five Takeaways • Newton's £4 Million. The book leads with the smartest victim on record: Isaac Newton rode the South Sea Bubble, banked a tidy profit, dove back in at the very top, and lost £20,000 — £4 million today — lamenting that he could predict the movement of the stars but not the madness of men. (Andrew's companion case, via last month's Citizen Twain episode with Jeff Jarvis: Mark Twain, genius writer, ruinous investor.) The lesson is that smartness is domain-specific: beating the market requires knowing the company, the industry, and — crucially — what's already priced in. A great secretary of state evaluating Theranos is the Dunning-Kruger effect in a suit: expertise misapplied, one piece of the mosaic mistaken for the whole. Even Warren Buffett's edge, Edmans notes, is partly restraint — don't watch the market too closely, or you'll mistake noise for signal.• Know Your Edge. Edmans's framework: play the market only if you can name your edge — knowledge (unique insight into a sector) or endurance (capital that can't be withdrawn by flighty clients). His endurance exemplar is Clare College, Cambridge, which borrowed £10 million in the depths of 2008 and put it all into equities via its “2048 Fund”: a decade later the portfolio had tripled while the loan had merely doubled. No edge? Then “be humble” and hold a low-cost, globally diversified index fund — because the alternative is expensive. In the age of Robinhood, the market for everything has been democratized; the zero-commission promise is a myth (retail options bid-ask spreads run 20 to 25 percent); and the brokerage data is brutal: the average retail trade loses money before fees. “I'm generally a libertarian,” Edmans concedes — but decisions that jeopardize your financial future deserve a warning label.• Why the Ox Doesn't Apply. The week's second Surowiecki appearance (after the Brunton episode): Edmans explains why the wisdom of crowds — the county-fair ox whose weight the crowd guesses perfectly — fails in markets. Two reasons: nobody is emotionally attached to the weight of an ox, and the guesses are secret. Stocks invert both — in a bubble everyone bids high together, and trading is public: Reddit threads, boasting friends, influencers, and the survivorship bias of gamblers who only mention their wins. Hence Andrew's cocktail-party indicator, confirmed: when smart, successful people start telling you how much AI they're buying, the trade is crowded and richly priced. The contrarian lineage — Graham, Buffett, Greenblatt — exists precisely to take the other side of mimicry. Or, per Andrew's accepted inversion of the subtitle: why crazy investors make smart decisions — Ford's faster horses, Moneyball's walks, Jobs's refusal to ask customers what they want.• Is AI a Bubble? Maybe Not. The hour's most contrarian calm. There are moments, Edmans says, when reasonable people could call a bubble in real time — Cisco in 2000 traded at a price-earnings ratio of 190, triple Microsoft's. AI today trades at roughly 25 to 30 times earnings; the bear case is that those earnings rest on capex (Meta's own investors say it's spending too much) that may not be sustainable. His verdict: fairly priced, or modestly overvalued — “something about which reasonable people have different views.” On using AI to invest, the rule is anti-confirmation: don't ask it why you're right or to advocate for your pitch; ask it why you're wrong, and let it gather mosaic pieces (Glassdoor culture scrapes) while humans still walk shop floors and read management's eyes. Andrew's gloss: it's unlikely anyone will lose their life's savings on Anthropic or OpenAI. The teaser: FT journalist Robin Wigglesworth — who blurbs this book “a maddeningly good read” and warns in the Times of the AI debt binge — visits this show soon.• Cutting Our Flowers, Watering Our Weeds. Andrew's Claudeception question — what happens when Anthropic feeds The Madness of Markets into its AI and everyone turns contrarian? — got a data answer: when a trading strategy is published in the Journal of Finance, its returns fall by only about a third. Money stays on the table because psychology is stubborn: momentum (buy six-month winners) has worked since 1993, yet it fights the disposition effect — our temptation to bank winners and cling to losers, chasing casino losses, “cutting our flowers and watering our weeds.” Timing cuts both ways: six-month winners keep winning, three-year winners revert — the foundation of contrarianism — but calling the market's top or bottom is near-impossible, which is why Edmans bought heavily in late 2008 content to be “80 percent right.” And the closing wisdom, after Joe Kennedy's 1928 exit and Trump's well-timed memecoin: your self-worth should have nothing to do with your net worth — a rookie conceit, as Andrew's intro has it, that only somebody as smart as Isaac Newton would fall for. About the Guest Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School and a leading expert on market psychology. His research has featured in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on the BBC, and he has advised sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and asset managers worldwide. He is the author of May Contain Lies, an Amazon number-one bestseller disc...
Colin gets zapped back to the Old West on a motocross bike in Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swan (1982), a movie co-concocted, produced, and scored by original Monkee Michael Nesmith. Fred Ward stars as our hero, who wanders into a time travel experiment while racing the Baja 1000, and finds himself fending off gunslinging cowboys when he's transported back to 1875. Listen as we critique pistol grip techniques, puzzle over the early works of Mark Twain, and unravel how you could become your own grandpa on this week's exciting episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Posting from Disneyland. This week on Sent from Disneyland, we explore two vintage postcards and continue our tour of Disneyland through its historic mailboxes. First, we travel back to 1974 with a postcard featuring the Rivers of America, the Mark Twain, and Tom Sawyer Island. Then we take a closer look at the mailbox near what is now Pooh Corner and its fascinating history alongside Bear Country, the Country Bear Jamboree, Splash Mountain, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Our second postcard features Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, and a colorful collection of Disney characters in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. From there, we head to Main Street, U.S.A., and explore the history of another Disneyland mailbox outside the Main Street Opera House—from Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln to the Disney Gallery and the many changes that have surrounded this historic location. Plus, an incoming postcard from Shannon perfectly connects with this episode's continuing Disneyland mailbox tour! Join me as we explore Disneyland history, vintage postcards, postage stamps, and the stories hiding in the Happiest Place on Earth. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021
(00:00-18:11) Diana Russini wants to make a comeback. Could she land at Barstool? Russini & Vrabel's relationship. Realigning her career ethos. Ken Strode, an NDA's worst nightmare. Fact Free Friday. Mark Twain's thought on journalists. Lainey Wilson guest picker for Week 1 on College Gameday. Han Bombs on tap. Threesomes for Tim's birthday.(18:19-31:51) Tennessee honoring Dolly Parton. The TMA delegation is dropping like flies in the 101 ESPN Fantasy Football League. Don't draft while drunk. Chairman was in Columbia last night for the game. Terrible commute on 70.(32:01-47:20) Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Doug's going with the Cards defeat for the lede. Riley O'Brien happened...again. Was he a stepson? Doug is tired of guys getting days off. Have dry powder ready when you see an edge. A middle school boys show. Your wish, Martin. I don't care whose brother texts who.You got your wish, now settle in. The lobster in the fish tank on the Titanic didn't give up. Audio of Oli Marmol talking about the disappointing loss and not finishing the sweep of the Dodgers. The lobsters wouldn't have survived the sinking of the Titanic, Doug. I am the wet blanket. The candy of the sea. What a game in Columbia last night. Maybe they've got something in Simmons and Lee. Nice to have a kicker again. Post game Drink audio. Jackson giving away a game ball to APB's punter.They're not happy at Rutgers after losing to UMass. One social media user said Greg Schiano is "the most fireable" coach so far this season. CFB Lucy says she want Rutgers our of the B10. Is Robert Thomas on the phone lines? No that was Mike Lee. Robert Thomas joins us on the phone lines. His thoughts on being named the Blues Captain. Shout out Daddy Padre. Robert probably doesn't get the C if he doesn't appear on this show. Golf talk with Robert. His outlook and hope for the team this year.Nice to have The Colonel's post game show back last night. Some audio from Gabe's voicemails. Fans are calling for Georgia Tech coach Brett Key's head after the loss to Colorado last night. Down on UAPB's kits. Am I expected to respond to that? Fireside stories. Banana talk. Why does "The Boy" think he's the Fashion Police.Cigarette boats. Who are your favorite Bo/Beau's? Drops of the Week. So What'd Your Grandma Think?The Colonel, Gabe DeArmond joins us talking Mizzou beating Arkansas Pine Bluff. The noise in Faurot after the north end zone renovations. First impressions of Austin Simmons. The second and third string guys. Matt Zollers' performance. Sterling Webb and his injunction against Missouri. Looking ahead to KU. Austin Simmons talking pregame nerves and his connection with Cayden Lee.Diana Russini wants to make a comeback. Could she land at Barstool? Russini & Vrabel's relationship. Realigning her career ethos. Ken Strode, an NDA's worst nightmare. Fact Free Friday. Mark Twain's thought on journalists. Lainey Wilson guest picker for Week 1 on College Gameday. Han Bombs on tap. Threesomes for Tim's birthday.Tennessee honoring Dolly Parton. The TMA delegation is dropping like flies in the 101 ESPN Fantasy Football League. Don't draft while drunk. Chairman was in Columbia last night for the game. Terrible commute on 70.Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTDYou can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning. Everyone's going to LeGrand's because Tim likes it. Nice pool, Stephen Time. Wearing white after Labor Day. Sniffspot.Is this correlation or causation? Big Labor Day Weekend for the boys. Audio of Dave Roberts talking about his relationship with Oli Marmol. People around the game seem to speak highly of Oli. At what age do you have to stop having guys carry you? Eventually we're gonna need to see some results, Doug. Give me the Doug Vaughn sandwich.And the winner of the EMOTD is...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ernest Hemingway l'a dit : « Toute la littérature américaine moderne vient d'un livre de Mark Twain intitulé Huckleberry Finn ». Un livre dans la langue des Américains et non plus celle des Britanniques. Un livre sur un jeune vagabond par un vieil aventurier de l'écriture, Samuel Clemens, le vrai nom de Mark Twain.Franck Ferrand revient sur le parcours singulier de cet écrivain hors normes qui a façonné la littérature américaine moderne. Plongez dans l'histoire des grands personnages et des évènements marquants qui ont façonné notre monde ! Avec enthousiasme et talent, Franck Ferrand vous révèle les coulisses de l'histoire avec un grand H, entre mystères, secrets et épisodes méconnus : un cadeau pour les amoureux du passé, de la préhistoire à l'histoire contemporaine.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Plongez dans l'histoire des grands personnages et des évènements marquants qui ont façonné notre monde ! Avec enthousiasme et talent, Franck Ferrand vous révèle les coulisses de l'histoire avec un grand H, entre mystères, secrets et épisodes méconnus : un cadeau pour les amoureux du passé, de la préhistoire à l'histoire contemporaine.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Mark Twain once said, “History seldom repeats itself, but it often rhymes”, and this can be a powerful lesson when applied to the markets. Nathan discusses the dangers of putting too much stock in historical performance, and to remember that every moment is unique. Also, on our MoneyTalk Moment in Financial History we tell the story of how Charlie Merrill contributed to the democratization of the stock market and the rise of the American middle class. Host: Nathan Beauvais, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Air Date: 9/2/2026. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jason Offutt, September 3rd, 2026-Thursday, 6 PM ET TOPIC: Chasing the World's Monsters: Over 150 Creatures and Cryptids from All Seven Continents Bio: Jason Offutt writes things, and sometimes stuff, but mostly books. He avoided going into the family business after college because journalism produced less hog manure than farming—at least for the most part. He is best known for his Chasing Monsters series, Chasing American Monsters, Chasing North American Monsters, and fall 2026's Chasing the World's Monsters, science fiction, such as his time and dimension hopping novel So You Had to Build a Time Machine, his end-of-the-world zombie novel Bad Day for the Apocalypse (a strange book that doesn't include zombies), and his award-winning horror duology The Girl in the Corn and The Boy From Two Worlds. Jason has won multiple awards for humor although his life-long quest to become the best humorist in his home state remains elusive because he's from Missouri and, you know, Mark Twain. Jason teaches university journalism, cooks for his family, plays Dungeons and Dragons, and will argue for the death of the exclamation point for the rest of his days. His biggest regret in life is that he didn't star in Leave It to Beaver, mainly because he hadn't been born. WEBSITE: www.jasonoffutt.com United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com
Welcome to our new series on Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn! This we're discussing its literary significance, controversial language, and the themes of race, trauma, and storytelling.Key Topics* The significance of the Mississippi River in American culture and literature* The role of race and language* The challenges of teaching and interpreting Huck Finn in modern education* Twain's use of dialect and vernacular language as literary devices* The debate over expurgated editions and the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths* The influence of Shakespeare and other literary traditions on Twain's work* The opening narrative and its role in framing the story This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe
While many know that Mark Twain created some of the most famous characters in literature—Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Jim and Puddn'head Wilson—too few have understood that the Missouri author wasn't only America's greatest humorist, but also one of its most subtle political thinkers. But what was the political philosophy of the elusive and ironic […]
While many know that Mark Twain created some of the most famous characters in literature—Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Jim and Puddn'head Wilson—too few have understood that the Missouri author wasn't only America's greatest humorist, but also one of its most subtle political thinkers. But what was the political philosophy of the elusive and ironic Mark Twain for his new democratic America? To help answer that question, as we continue Season 6, I have as our guest Ivan Kenneally. A contributor to The New Atlantis and First Things, among other publications, he wrote an essay for The Hedgehog Review on modern reactions to Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), titled: “Mark Twain's Absurd, Noble America,” which we will be discussing today. We also talk about the travels of the two runaways Huck and Jim, along with their many disguises and rouses, how Americans like Tom Sawyer read European literature too dogmatically, the conmen Twain depicts in the Duke and Dauphin, technical versus tacit knowledge in his memoir Life on the Mississippi, contemporary interest in Twain from Ron Chernow and Percival Everett, the nature of irony as well as the poverty of modern comedy, and what philosophers and comedians alike can learn from the Missouri author and philosopher. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on the JMP substack page, “Madison's Footnotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
While many know that Mark Twain created some of the most famous characters in literature—Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Jim and Puddn'head Wilson—too few have understood that the Missouri author wasn't only America's greatest humorist, but also one of its most subtle political thinkers. But what was the political philosophy of the elusive and ironic Mark Twain for his new democratic America? To help answer that question, as we continue Season 6, I have as our guest Ivan Kenneally. A contributor to The New Atlantis and First Things, among other publications, he wrote an essay for The Hedgehog Review on modern reactions to Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), titled: “Mark Twain's Absurd, Noble America,” which we will be discussing today. We also talk about the travels of the two runaways Huck and Jim, along with their many disguises and rouses, how Americans like Tom Sawyer read European literature too dogmatically, the conmen Twain depicts in the Duke and Dauphin, technical versus tacit knowledge in his memoir Life on the Mississippi, contemporary interest in Twain from Ron Chernow and Percival Everett, the nature of irony as well as the poverty of modern comedy, and what philosophers and comedians alike can learn from the Missouri author and philosopher. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on the JMP substack page, “Madison's Footnotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies
While many know that Mark Twain created some of the most famous characters in literature—Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Jim and Puddn'head Wilson—too few have understood that the Missouri author wasn't only America's greatest humorist, but also one of its most subtle political thinkers. But what was the political philosophy of the elusive and ironic Mark Twain for his new democratic America? To help answer that question, as we continue Season 6, I have as our guest Ivan Kenneally. A contributor to The New Atlantis and First Things, among other publications, he wrote an essay for The Hedgehog Review on modern reactions to Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), titled: “Mark Twain's Absurd, Noble America,” which we will be discussing today. We also talk about the travels of the two runaways Huck and Jim, along with their many disguises and rouses, how Americans like Tom Sawyer read European literature too dogmatically, the conmen Twain depicts in the Duke and Dauphin, technical versus tacit knowledge in his memoir Life on the Mississippi, contemporary interest in Twain from Ron Chernow and Percival Everett, the nature of irony as well as the poverty of modern comedy, and what philosophers and comedians alike can learn from the Missouri author and philosopher. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on the JMP substack page, “Madison's Footnotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science
While many know that Mark Twain created some of the most famous characters in literature—Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Jim and Puddn'head Wilson—too few have understood that the Missouri author wasn't only America's greatest humorist, but also one of its most subtle political thinkers. But what was the political philosophy of the elusive and ironic Mark Twain for his new democratic America? To help answer that question, as we continue Season 6, I have as our guest Ivan Kenneally. A contributor to The New Atlantis and First Things, among other publications, he wrote an essay for The Hedgehog Review on modern reactions to Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), titled: “Mark Twain's Absurd, Noble America,” which we will be discussing today. We also talk about the travels of the two runaways Huck and Jim, along with their many disguises and rouses, how Americans like Tom Sawyer read European literature too dogmatically, the conmen Twain depicts in the Duke and Dauphin, technical versus tacit knowledge in his memoir Life on the Mississippi, contemporary interest in Twain from Ron Chernow and Percival Everett, the nature of irony as well as the poverty of modern comedy, and what philosophers and comedians alike can learn from the Missouri author and philosopher. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on the JMP substack page, “Madison's Footnotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
Tonight's sleep story is The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Support the podcast and enjoy ad-free and bonus episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts. For other podcast platforms go to https://justsleeppodcast.com/supportOr, you can support with a one time donation at buymeacoffee.com/justsleeppodOrder your copy of the Just Sleep book! https://www.justsleeppodcast.com/book/If you like this episode, please remember to follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Also, share with any family or friends that might have trouble drifting off.Goodnight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Two tales of children whose adult life in baseball might have been influenced by childhood fears real and imagined (but mostly real). First, the speed-king of 1880s baseball (since dethroned or at least debunked) has to watch his parents await the arrival and Robert E. Lee and his hordes on their doorstep. Then we return to John McGraw, his dangerous youth, his possible encounters with Mark Twain, and an afterlife wish-list of writers, actors, and cartoonists posted by an obscure writer who soon thereafter journeyed to the next world to meet them himself. We then conclude by debating if young McGraw had better options for escaping his dilemma than we do today. The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as our time machine. America's brighter mirror, baseball reflects, anticipates, and even mocks the stories we tell ourselves about our world today. Baseball Prospectus's Steven Goldman shares his obsessions: history from inside and outside of the game, politics, stats, and Casey Stengel quotations. Along the way, we'll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can't get anybody out?
This week on Sent from Disneyland, we travel back to November 1971 with two postcards featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Disneyland Band. Both cards were used to record a day at Disneyland, offering a small glimpse into how guests documented their memories. Then we head into the curio cabinet to explore the history of Disneyland metal drink trays. From early advertising and souvenir trays to four examples in my collection featuring California landmarks, Mickey Mouse, the Mark Twain, Jungle Cruise, Tomorrowland, and more, we'll look at how these practical souvenirs became collectible pieces of Disneyland history. Plus, an incoming postcard from the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour, a funny Walt Disney World raincoat story, and thinking about postcard mysteries to investigate. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021
Accountability is supposed to help teams deliver results, but the word often lands like a threat. We kick off by calling out why “accountability” sounds like a crime scene term, how that framing kills ownership, and what a healthier culture of accountability actually looks like when you're trying to hit team key results without turning leadership into blame management.From there, we connect the dots to the leadership system behind our work at Lone Rock Leadership: Clarity, Alignment, and Movement. Once a destination is clear and execution is moving, the same challenges show up everywhere from hospitals to manufacturers to finance: who owns outcomes, how we lead through change, and how we make better decisions faster with real buy-in. We also share the behind-the-scenes reality of writing a book that makes complex ideas simple, including the Mark Twain reminder that cutting words is often the hardest part.Then you'll hear chapter one of our new fable, The Wall: The Choice Between Accountability And Surrender. Meet Nate Ward as he walks into a high-stakes interview that literally puts him on a stage, under lights, in front of juror-like observers who see what he's been missing. It's not embarrassment, it's exposure and it forces the question: are you choosing accountability or quietly surrendering one comfortable morning at a time?If this hits home, subscribe, share the episode with someone on your team, and leave a review so more leaders can find it.--Visit the Lone Rock Leadership Website:https://www.lonerock.ioConnect with me on LinkedIn or to send me a DM:https://www.linkedin.com/in/russleads/Tap here to check out my first book, Decide to Lead, on Amazon. Thank you so much to the thousands of you who have already purchased it for yourself or your company!--About the podcast:The Lead In 30 Podcast with Russ Hill is for leaders of teams who want to grow and accelerate their results. In each episode, Russ Hill shares what he's learned consulting executives. Subscribe to get two new episodes every week. To connect with Russ message him on LinkedIn!
As we chase wealth, we often forget that we are rich.
At twelve, Julie stared at a clawed arm at the end of her bed for seven seconds and then went back to reading, and the two decades that followed are why a UFO investigator spent weeks taking her statement.DEEP-DIVE ARTICLE about Archer Avenue & Resurrection Mary: https://weirddarkness.com/resurrection-mary/EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/EncountersOfJulieREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mtepz5jcFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: If you've listened to Weird Darkness for any length of time, you know that I will often suggest someone who has had a paranormal disturbance in their home or life, reach out to a pastor or priest for guidance. But what exactly happens when the Catholic Church starts investigating the paranormal? (When The Catholic Church Goes Ghost Hunting) *** Many states around America say they have the most haunted road in the country. And while the words “most haunted” are somewhat subjective, it's hard not to see why people outside of Chicago consider Archer Avenue not only the top spooky street in America, but the most haunted on the planet. (The Anguish Of Archer Avenue) *** After allegedly murdering her husband in 1960, Sharon Kinne shot her lover's pregnant wife. Then, she evaded justice and escaped to Mexico only to kill again — before vanishing without a trace. (The American Murderess Who Disappeared in 1969) *** Modern courtrooms aren't equipped or knowledgable enough to determine whether or not ghosts are real, but that hasn't stopped ghosts from appearing in several court cases! (Court Cases Involving Ghosts) *** When you hear of a two-headed creature you typically think of two heads side-by-side growing from the neck and shoulders area. But have you ever heard of a creature growing another head on the very top of it's other head? It happened… and not to just any creature. It was a human boy who lived much longer than anyone expected. (The Bengal Boy With Two Heads) *** Buried alive inside the castle walls, the Finnish Maiden immured still haunts the medieval building of Olavinlinna Castle. (The Maiden of Olavinlinna Castle) *** The case of “Julie” from Carlisle in the United Kingdom is an intriguing one not only because it unfolded over many years, but because it appears to straddle the line between apparent reptilian entities and paranormal activity. (The Encounters of Julie)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:03.125 = Show Open00:03:46.357 = The Encounters of Julie00:21:34.557 = The Bengal Boy With Two Heads ***00:26:40.964 = When The Catholic Church Goes Ghost Hunting00:38:00.163 = The Anguish of Archer Avenue ***00:50:12.310 = The Maiden Of Olavinlinna Castle00:55:15.646 = The American Murderess Who Disappeared In 1969 ***00:1:03:06.483 = Court Cases Involving Ghosts01:13:33.193 = Show Close01:14:40.612 = SONG: “Archer Avenue” by Dark Weirdness01:18:51.465 = Bloopers*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:SONG: “Archer Avenue” by Dark Weirdness: https://weirddarkness.com/music“When The Catholic Church Goes Ghost Hunting” by Mariel Loveland for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5b5y7fyc“The Anguish Of Archer Avenue” by Sabrina Ithal for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/x6sy6fxa“The American Murderess Who Disappeared in 1969” by Neil Patmore for All That's Interesting:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/429crjvz“The Bengal Boy With Two Heads” by Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet (includes photos):https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3s3dpwme“Court Cases Involving Ghosts” by Jim Rowley for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mtpfhf5v“The Maiden of Olavinlinna Castle” posted at Moon Mausoleum: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ybfsypnj“The Encounters of Julie” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4696c2yx(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: March, 2022LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://weirddarkness.com/OFFICIALWeird Darkness looks at a clawed arm at the foot of a child's bed in Carlisle, a boy born in Bengal in 1783 with a second head growing atop his own, the Vatican office that vets miracles and demonic possession, the Chicago road that produced Resurrection Mary, a Finnish maiden entombed alive in a castle wall, a Missouri housewife who killed at least three people and vanished, and the court cases where ghosts turned up as evidence.It opens with the woman investigators call Julie, twelve years old and reading in bed in Carlisle, England, in 2000 when a black arm ending in white talons came over the foot of her mattress. Dave Hodrien of the Birmingham UFO Group interviewed her in early 2022 about twenty years of reptilian sightings, poltergeist activity, and shadow figures that followed her from that bedroom into the hospital wards where she later worked as a senior nurse.From there comes the boy born in the Bengali village of Mundul Gaut in May 1783 with a second head sitting inverted on top of the first, an upper head that wept and tried to nurse while its expressions ran independent of the child's. A cobra killed him at four, a salt agent for the East India Company robbed his grave, and his skull still sits in the Hunterian Museum in London as a specimen of craniopagus parasiticus, a parasitic twinning that occurs in two or three births out of five million.The Vatican's paranormal caseload runs through the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Consulta Medica, a board of Italian Catholic physicians who rule on whether a healing has any natural explanation, with Michael O'Neill of MiracleHunter.com estimating that 99.9 percent of investigated miracles are medical. Father Lampert puts genuine demonic possession at one case in five thousand, and the Vatican's revised 1999 guidelines require priests to consult mental health professionals before any exorcism is approved.Archer Avenue follows, the old Native American trail southwest of Chicago where Resurrection Mary has hitchhiked between the O'Henry Ballroom and Resurrection Cemetery since the 1930s, and where police answering a call on August 10th, 1976 found the cemetery bars bent apart and scorched with handprints. The same stretch carries phantom monks at St. James of the Sag, a cloven hoofprint outside Kaiser Hall, a driverless hearse, the Maple Lake ghost light, and Red Gate Woods, where the world's first nuclear reactor lies buried from the Manhattan Project.Olavinlinna Castle, built on a lake island in southeastern Finland in 1475, holds the legend of the lord's daughter who opened the gate for her Russian lover and was condemned for treason and immured alive in the courtyard wall, with a rowan tree of white flowers and red berries said to have grown where she died.Sharon Kinne told police in March 1960 that her toddler had shot her husband, collected $230,000, and was acquitted of killing her lover's pregnant wife before fleeing to Mexico City, where she shot a man in a motel room and earned the nickname La Pistolera; she walked out of Iztapalapa prison during a blackout on December 7th, 1969 and has never been found.The episode closes on hauntings that reached a courtroom, from the 1917 Ouija-board novel Jap Herron credited to Mark Twain's ghost to Stambovsky v. Ackley, the 1991 Ghostbusters ruling that made a Nyack house legally haunted, and Gerald Brittle's $900 million suit daring Warner Bros. to prove the events behind The Conjuring actually happened.
You've probably been told that anxiety is a reaction to what's happening in your life. But my guest today says that's not the whole story. Most of your anxiety isn't a reaction to what's actually happening — it's a reaction to what you're imagining might happen. You get an email that says "can we talk tomorrow?" and your mind writes an entire disaster. Your brain then releases the same stress hormones whether the threat is real or imagined. My guest is Dr. Cassandra Vieten, a licensed clinical psychologist and director of research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UC San Diego. Her new book is Imagine That. Some of the things we discuss are: Why you're imagining far more than you think — and how your brain reacts as if what you're imagining is actually happening The Mark Twain quote about worry that will stop you in your tracks Why "just think positive" backfires — and what to do with your imagination instead Your imagination profile — why some people see vivid pictures, others hear narrated stories, and both are valid ways of imagining How to visit your future self — and the surprising question to ask when you get there How to tell the difference between rumination and imagination The dragon-in-the-village metaphor Dr. Vieten uses for addiction — and why a good story can reach truths your logical mind can't The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for using your imagination to grow mentally stronger Related Episodes 318 — How to Turn Anxiety Into a Competitive Advantage With a 2-Minute Play That Tricks Your Brain 144 — 7 Surprising Strategies That Fix Anxiety (Even Though We Fear These Things Will Make Anxiety Worse) Links & Resources Imagine That Connect with the Show Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor Sign Up for My Newsletter — https://amymorinlcsw.com/newsletter Sponsors Lola Blankets - Head to LolaBlankets.com and use code STRONGER to get 40% OFF your order. AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to oneskin.co/STRONGER and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Boll & Branch — Get 20% off sitewide at BollAndBranch.com/stronger with code stronger. Square — Get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/STRONGER. Dupe — Go to Dupe.com to finally feel confident about what to buy. Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
During the summer break, the 15-Minute History team will be republishing some of your favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on October 4, 2021.---The steamboat passed the port and he looked out at the brown, muddy water. The heat was failing and the humidity began to soak his clothes. Soon it would be twilight and the lighting bugs would begin to flash on the shoreline. As the boat moved downriver, he saw an old wooden raft hitched to a tree near the shore. It had a battered steering rudder, and the logs that were tied together looked so beaten he would have guessed it impossible to serve any function other than kindling. He watched the water move the raft back and forth and smiled to himself, thinking about the hands that made it and what possible experiences someone might have on a craft like that.He turned to the north in the direction they were heading and wondered how a craft like that could get up the river without capsizing. He wondered what would have happened if he had a craft like that. It didn't make sense now, but it would have been wonderful for his youth. He wondered how he might have used it. He wondered, and he dreamed.Join us as we teach you about Mark Twain, his life, and his contribution to the literary world.
DOING LIFE: Daily Devotions For Finding Peace in Stressful Times
"If you always tell the truth you never have to remember anything!" (Mark Twain)
This week on Sent from Disneyland, we cruise down the Rivers of America with two vintage postcards featuring the Mark Twain, dating from 1971 and 1974. Then we head into the curio cabinet for a look at the history of Disneyland floating pens. We'll explore how these novelty pens were developed, their connection to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair and Space Needle, and several Disneyland examples from the 1960s through today—including Mark Twain, Tinker Bell, the Disneyland Railroad, and more. Plus, an incoming postcard, a story about the mysterious Postcard Bandit, and why finding an old postcard can sometimes mean giving it a second chance to complete its journey. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021
Today we're doing a throwback episode to one of our favorites from the early days of Stories Podcast. The Celebrated Jumping Frog! Samuel is looking for information about his old family friend, Leonidas Smiley, and he's convinced that Simon Wheeler can help. Based on the classic story by Mark Twain about persistence and history and of course, a celebrated jumping frog! Check out Stories RPG our new show where we play games like Starsworn with all your Max Goodname friends, and Gigacity Guardians featuring the brilliant firefly! https://link.chtbl.com/gigacity Draw us a picture of what you think any of the characters in this story look like, and then tag us in it on instagram @storiespodcast! We'd love to see your artwork and share it on our feed!! If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can subscribe and give us a five star review on iTunes, check out our merch at storiespodcast.com/shop, follow us on Instagram @storiespodcast, or just tell your friends about us! Check out our new YouTube channel at youtube.com/storiespodcast. If you've ever wanted to read along with our stories, now you can! These read-along versions of our stories are great for early readers trying to improve their skills or even adults learning English for the first time. Check it out.
Hot Type: The Magnificent Machine that Gave Birth to Mass Media and Drove Mark Twain Mad (Bloomsbury, 2026) is the epic story of the magnificent 19th-century machine that rendered Gutenberg's movable type obsolete and opened the portal to the long century of mass media. The Linotype mechanized the 400-year-old process of setting type one laborious letter at a time, and thus ignited an explosion of newspaper, book, and magazine empires.This is a tale populated with wondrous characters: tragic inventors, malign media moguls, hand-typesetters called the Swifts who turned their craft into a spectator sport, and authors and journalists who chronicled the turmoil of their time, their every word molded into metal type by what some viewed as a thinking machine. This revolution in media technology helped to propel Mark Twain into literary celebrity, but it also cost him his fortune – as well as his sense of humor and optimism.The era of the Linotype was a bridge between Twain's Gilded Age with its tycoons of steam, steel, and wire and today's Gilded Age with its barons of bits and AI. Its history provides an opportunity to reflect on how technology changes culture just as new technologies – the internet and artificial intelligence –manufacture their endless streams of words today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Send us Fan MailThis week, Becker Shareholder Kathleen “Katie” Berkey, AICP, sits down with Donna DiMaggio Berger and explains how she helps clients deal with all sorts of issues related to their property. As Mark Twain once said, “Buy land, they're not making it anymore,” and truer words have never been spoken. Land remains invaluable and there is often a developer looking to build, renovate, or demolish any given property. When a project like this commences, it can bring a host of headaches and trouble to those living next door.Katie Berkey is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in City, County, and Local Government Law and is a certified Professional Planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Katie is the only practicing professional to hold both credentials in Southwest Florida and one of eight statewide. She represents clients in zoning, land use, and planning matters and represents clients in local government administrative matters before city and county commissions, councils, and boards. Katie has been recognized by various publications and organizations as one of the best lawyers in America, a Florida Rising Star, a member of the Legal Elite, a Legal Up & Comer, one of the Top 40 Under 40, and Woman of the Year!Conversation highlights include:How can volunteer boards, managers, and association residents stay alert to possible land use changes in their vicinity?How to determine if a proposed new development presents an incompatible commercial use with the existing neighborhood?What are typical deal points in a shared use agreement with a developer?How prevalent is the NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) mindset?What kind of next-door development do people fear the most?Why do local building departments often cite the association for certain violations when it might be the owners who created the violation without the association's knowledge or consent?Who should attend a municipal or county Code Enforcement hearing with an attorney?What can be done when a city wants to repave streets in a community or enforce traffic violations but is requiring an onerous indemnification agreement from the association?BONUS: Katie discusses various valuable resources for working moms and discusses her work with the Mother's Milk Bank of Florida.Related Links:Article: “‘NIMBY' to ‘YIMBY'” – FCAP Managers Report Article: Mind the Invisible Lines: Easements Every Board Encounters Online Class: Board Certification: Condo/Co-Op 4-HourOnline Class: Board Certification: HOA 4-Hour
“Our language is valuable, and we've gotta hold on to that. That's the most human thing we have.” — Jeff Jarvis Last week, to celebrate episode 3,000 of the show, the New York Times' Sam Roberts articulated the art of the obituary. Borrowing from Citizen Kane, he described it as the Rosebud method. Obits are all about life (death only figuring as an afterthought), Roberts explained, so hunt for the moment which defines that life. Today's show is a kind of obituary of that type. Only it's about the life of a machine and the mass media that emerged in its wake. In Hot Type, tech historian Jeff Jarvis introduces us to the magnificent late 19th century machine that not only gave birth to industrial mass media, but also bankrupted Mark Twain. It's the history of the Linotype, the machine invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler that ended four hundred and fifty years of setting type, as Jarvis puts it, “one damn letter at a time.” It's an extraordinary story. Before the Linotype, American daily newspapers were limited to a 4,000 circulation. First installed at the New York Tribune on July 3, 1886, the Linotype scaled print, thereby enabling the age of mass circulation newspapers, magazines and books. It appeared so infinitely scalable that Mark Twain poured his entire family fortune into its doomed rival, the Paige Compositor. He lost all his money, of course, making it his Rosebud moment — Citizen Twain, so to speak. But for the rest of us, Mergenthaler's magnificent type machine was so hot that it revolutionized 20th century culture in the same way that AI is now revolutionizing 21st century reading and writing. The art of obituary. A description of life, not death. Five Takeaways • One Damn Letter at a Time. For four hundred and fifty years after Gutenberg, virtually every word in every language was set by hand, one letter at a time — which is why the average American daily circulated just 4,000 copies, “a small Substack newsletter.” Steam-powered presses, cheap wood-pulp paper, stereotyping, and the telegraph had solved every other bottleneck; the typesetter with a composing stick was the last. More than 300 typesetting machines failed before Ottmar Mergenthaler — a Baltimore watchmaker who knew nothing about printing, prodded by James O. Clephane, once a stenographer in Lincoln's cabinet — had the eureka: stop imitating hand-setting and mold entire lines of type at once. Installed at the New York Tribune on July 3, 1886, the Linotype made type fresh for every edition, let print catch up with the telegraph, and gave birth to mass media.• The Union That Didn't Smash the Machine. The book's great labor surprise: the typesetters didn't fight the typesetting machine. Having studied the Luddites' defeat, the International Typographical Union sent spies into the Tribune's composing room, concluded the Linotype was inevitable, and demanded to operate it — with Mergenthaler's blessing. Thirty thousand jobs disappeared, returned to full strength within five years, and grew for seventy-five more, making the ITU America's most powerful union. Then came wave two — paper tape, computers that could hyphenate and justify, cold type, PostScript — and this time the union fought: six of nine New York papers died in the strikes, Bert Powers traded automation for lifetime job guarantees (the last holder retired from the New York Times around 2012), and Murdoch's secret Wapping plant ended Fleet Street — a century, almost exactly, after machine number one. The two lessons: take charge of the technology if you can; if it will replace you outright, find something else to do.• The Machine That Drove Twain Mad. Mark Twain wanted to be filthy rich and stop writing — so he poured his fortune, and his wife's family coal fortune, into the Paige Compositor, the Linotype's brilliant, doomed rival: only two ever built, the sole survivor sitting in the basement of Hartford's Mark Twain House looking like “a railroad with nowhere to go.” Bankruptcy followed — a far deeper shame in the nineteenth century — and Twain repaid every debtor. Jarvis reads the scars in the fiction: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ends with technology destroying technology in an Armageddon of Camelot; the unfinished No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger conjures strange beasts endlessly duplicating pages — scale itself as nightmare. He lost all his money, of course — his Rosebud moment, as Andrew puts it, borrowing from Sam Roberts' art of the obituary on episode 3,000. The machine robbed Twain not of his humor, Jarvis concludes, but of his love of technology. The biopic pitch: Citizen Twain.• From One Gilded Age to Another. The Linotype era bridges Twain's Gilded Age — tycoons of steam, steel, and wire — to ours, with its barons of bits and AI. Whitelaw Reid, the book's villain and the first capitalist media mogul, used the machine against his own union and predicted newspapers would never exceed eight pages (completely wrong); Frank Munsey invented the attention economy at a dime a copy — content as honey, audience as product, a model that ruled mass media and infected the Internet. Today's moguls fare no better in Jarvis's telling: Altman selling “vending machines for intelligence” that actually dispense compute, Amodei “the paragon of safety” with a skewed definition of it, all chasing the Valhalla of AGI, “pure BS.” His hope: open-weight models to check the frontier companies. His warning against banning them: guardrails are a fool's errand — the printing press was a general machine, and nobody could tell Gutenberg to keep it from Martin Luther.• Words Matter, Damn It. The through-line from Jarvis's blog post to the book: language is the most human thing we have. His objection to Anthropic's watermark isn't Keith Teare's shame argument — it's that a scheme treating “overcast” and “gray” as interchangeable declares all language fungible, “a cultural statement damaging to our craft.” His own AI practice is disclosed down to a confessional footnote in Hot Type for a single borrowed phrase: Gemini may pull facts (“don't write for me”), but what you express must be what you want to express. The typewriter shaped Nietzsche and made Hemingway; the newsroom computer made Jarvis an editor more than a writer; Quark made everyone typesetters — “in the end, it was all still me.” Against Kirschenbaum's gray goo, he holds up Pope Leo (work brings dignity; not a Luddite) and poetry itself. Hot type revolutionized 20th century culture the way AI is now revolutionizing 21st century reading and writing. The art of obituary: a description of life, not death — and the most human thing we have is the words. About the Guest Jeff Jarvis is the Emeritus Leonard Tow Professor of Journalism Innovation at CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. The creator and founding managing editor of Entertainment Weekly, he has been TV critic for TV Guide and People, Sunday editor of the New York Daily News, and a media columnist for The Guardian. His books include What Would Google Do?, The Gutenberg Parenthesis, Magazine, and The Web We Weave; he blogs at Buzzmachine...
Mark Twain once wrote that "if people learned to walk and talk the way we teach them to read and write, everyone would limp and stutter. This week, Michael shares a simple metaphor for why life can seem so hard and how it's actually simpler than you might think. In this episode: An Army officer's insight into the manual on marching The "blind school" metaphor Trusting your real-time insight over borrowed instructions What happens when you let yourself not know long enough to begin to know
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. –Mark Twain Check out John Lee Dumas' award winning Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire on your favorite podcast directory. For world class free courses and resources to help you on your Entrepreneurial journey visit EOFire.com
Mona Charen is joined by Bill Kristol to discuss Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson for the August edition of The Bulwark Book Club with viewers. Published in 1894, the novel tells the story of two boys—one born into slavery, the other the master's son—who were switched in the cradle. They'll discuss how the book relates to our world today, and whether Mark Twain is more relevant than ever.Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MONACHAREN at https://www.oneskin.co/MONACHAREN #oneskinpod
Alex Wright, author of Empire of Ink: The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper, Part One: Wright recounts the history of American newspapers, focusing on the Civil War's impact on journalism. He highlights George Smalley's groundbreaking combat reporting at Antietam, where Smalley wrote a vivid account on a night train to secure the "scoop of all scoops" for the Tribune. Wright also explores "soldier-published" newspapers that provided a slice of camp life and the origins of Stars and Stripes. Moving west, he describes the dangerous life of frontier editors, such as Mark Twain, who carried revolvers to defend against aggrieved readers and occasionally fled town to avoid duels. Wright explains how newspapers became "gold mines" by discovering the revenue potential of patent medicine advertising, which once accounted for half of all ads. He concludes by drawing parallels between the fragmented, anything-goes media landscape of the 19th century and today's digital era of content creators and AI. (6)
TABLE OF CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 8-14-2026.Jeff Bliss discusses the severe threats posed by a potential "super El Niño," which could lead to massive coastal erosion, mudslides, and heavy rains in Los Angeles, similar to the damage seen in previous severe weather years. He also reports on active wildfires in California, such as the Timber Fire in Monterey County and the Bug Fire near the Nevada border, noting that humans cause roughly 90 to 95% of these blazes. Shifting to entertainment, Bliss describes the highly anticipated opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which features the "Skywalker Grill"—a restaurant causing excitement among Los Angeles foodies for its Michelin-star potential. Additionally, Bliss covers the landmark $12.8 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers by a group involving Jared Kushner and Bob Iger. Finally, he touches on the legal controversy surrounding the Paramount-Skydance merger and David Ellison's threat to move production out of Hollywood. (1)Gene Marks shares insights from White House advisor Kevin Hassett regarding the validity of government economic data, with Hassett favoring durable goods orders and unemployment claims over revised surveys. Marks reports a generally positive outlook for small businesses, citing an uptick in optimism and a four-year high in manufacturing activity driven by the AI and data center explosion. He notes that while tariffs and $4 gasoline remain concerns, many businesses are absorbing costs without significant impact on sales. Marks characterizes the United States as an "entrepreneur's paradise" because of the ease of starting a business and the high availability of capital. He highlights that nearly half a million new business applications are filed monthly, supported by record levels of private debt and venture capital. Marks concludes that despite various uncertainties, the small business sector remains resilient and is continuing to hire. (2)Jim McTague provides a report on the "mixed" economy of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, observing that retail activity is picking up due to back-to-school shopping despite inflationary pressures. He notes that discount giants like Costco are packed as shoppers seek relief from high prices, while tourism traffic at local hotels and amusement parks has lightened midweek. McTague also highlights local opposition to data centers, making them a contentious political issue for upcoming elections. A central focus is the "Heritage Paris" patisserie at Park City Mall, where a French chef sells premium handcrafted pastries. McTague describes high-end offerings like the "Popcorn Illusion" pastry priced at $17.95, illustrating a market for luxury food even in a cautious economy. He humorously recounts his own difficulty resisting these treats while on a low-carb diet, emphasizing that the shop is a significant draw for local residents. (3)Lorenzo Fiori describes a "disaster" situation in Europe caused by severe drought and record heat, with water restrictions implemented in Swiss towns and critically low levels in northern Italy's Po River. The drought has turned the normally green Alps brown and disrupted lake navigation. Simultaneously, Sicily's Mount Etna has entered a prolonged eruption phase, spewing ash for seven days and forcing the cancellation of 700 flights at Catania airport during the peak tourist season. Fiori notes the chaos caused by tourists seeking "eruption selfies" in dangerous areas. For a cultural reprieve, he recommends the Bernina Express rail journey, which reaches the highest railway point in Europe. He also shares a traditional recipe for polenta with Gorgonzola cheese, paired with local Valtellina wine, though he expresses concern that the drought may soon impact milk production from Alpine cows. (4)Bob Zimmerman details the robotic mission by startup Catalyst to rescue NASA's Swift Space Telescope, utilizing innovative software to maneuver a servicing craft despite thruster failures. He highlights SpaceX's massive Starshipproduction line in Boca Chica, noting that four prototypes are ready for monthly launches and upcoming orbital refueling tests. Zimmerman also discusses Lockheed Martin's strategic investments in rocket startups like Firefly to secure launch capabilities. On the international front, he reports on Poland's successful protest against Starlink roaming restrictions and Vietnam's first satellite contract with an American company, SpaceX, signaling a shift toward U.S. ties. Additionally, Zimmerman covers the State Department's efforts to pull India away from Russian space partnerships and NASA's collaboration with the Department of Energy on nuclear propulsion for Mars. He concludes with breathtaking imagery of stars orbiting the Milky Way's central black hole. (5)Alex Wright, author of Empire of Ink: The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper, Part Two: Wright recounts the history of American newspapers, focusing on the Civil War's impact on journalism. He highlights George Smalley's groundbreaking combat reporting at Antietam, where Smalley wrote a vivid account on a night train to secure the "scoop of all scoops" for the Tribune. Wright also explores "soldier-published" newspapers that provided a slice of camp life and the origins of Stars and Stripes. Moving west, he describes the dangerous life of frontier editors, such as Mark Twain, who carried revolvers to defend against aggrieved readers and occasionally fled town to avoid duels. Wright explains how newspapers became "gold mines" by discovering the revenue potential of patent medicine advertising, which once accounted for half of all ads. He concludes by drawing parallels between the fragmented, anything-goes media landscape of the 19th century and today's digital era of content creators and AI. (6)Henry Sokolski examines the "Golden Dome," a proposed $185 billion space-based missile defense project that mirrors the Cold War-era SDI. He warns that the program's lack of transparency is "suicidal" for its funding, as Congress remains in the dark about its primary mission. Sokolski notes that while technology is closer to practicality than 40 years ago, current threats are often low-cost drones rather than intercontinental missiles. In the energy sector, he highlights Elon Musk's $10 billion "Project Crystal Sun" solar factory in Texas, which Musk frames as capturing the "fusion reactor" of the sun. Sokolski observes that even conservative states are voting with their pocketbooks for renewables as battery storage investments double. Finally, he touches on a mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, suggesting a "Sunni NATO" is emerging due to a lack of confidence in U.S. security guarantees. (7)Angela DiFulvio explains a theoretical method for detecting nuclear weapons in low Earth orbit to prevent catastrophes like the 1962 Starfish Prime experiment, which destroyed a third of existing satellites. She describes an "inspector" satellite designed to induce a unique radioactive signature from fissile material using high-energy protons. DiFulvio details technical challenges, such as "pulse shape discrimination," to distinguish weapon-related neutrons from background cosmic radiation in the harsh space environment. She suggests that an international agency like the IAEAmight oversee these inspectors to ensure space remains weapon-free. DiFulvio emphasizes that while tests can occur in classified environments, more research is needed on the survivability of sensing electronics. She warns that a modern orbital nuclear detonation would be catastrophic for global infrastructure, specifically mentioning the vulnerability of massive constellations like Starlink. (8)
This week on Sent from Disneyland, we're shaking things up with a pair of vintage Disneyland postcards and a look at one of the park's most practical—and collectible—souvenirs: salt and pepper shakers. Our first postcard takes us back to July 1957, with the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad arriving at Main Street Station. The postcard sender braved a sweltering day at Disneyland, staying from noon until 10 p.m. Then we head to the Rivers of America in 1969 aboard the Mark Twain, before exploring two early Disneyland salt and pepper shaker sets from my collection. From characters and Main Street imagery to the Mark Twain and Columbia, these little souvenirs offer a fun glimpse into Disneyland merchandise of the 1950s and '60s. We'll also look at the history of novelty shakers and the surprising tradition behind the number of holes in the tops of salt and pepper shakers. Plus, an incoming postcard from Cleveland, a little postcrossing history, and another reminder that you never know what story a postcard might tell. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021
One of the most feared inventions ever was the Linotype machine. Debuting in 1886, it was designed to eliminate tens of thousands of newspaper jobs, specifically the hand-compositors—the highly skilled workers who painstakingly picked individual metal letters out of wooden trays to set type. The Linotype instead would cast an entire line of type in molten lead (hence "line-o'-type") on the spot, working six times faster than a compositor and threating to eliminate 85 percent of the workforce (much like today’s fears of AI wiping out any white-collar job that involves a computer screen). Meanwhile in Hartford, Mark Twain was hemorrhaging his life savings into a rival typesetting machine so complex that one patent examiner allegedly went insane reviewing its 850 drawings. Both these stories show the dominance of the media world on America’s first two centuries. They also show that Linotype represents a classic example of productivity-induced market expansion. It didn't reduce the need for workers; it radically altered the economics of publishing. Newspapers grew in size because it was more affordable to print more pages, and total employment skyrocketed. Today's guest is Alex Wright, author of Empire of Ink: The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper. We discuss how the United States printed itself into existence with founding documents pulled from hand presses, why the Post Office Act of 1792 created a hidden subsidy worth $56 billion in today's dollars that turned the early republic into the most newspaper-saturated society on earth. We also dig the abnormally large body count of dead editors (because airing an important person’s dirty laundry usually lead to a duel), and the race between Twain's doomed Paige Compositor and Ottmar Mergenthaler's Linotype, the machine that Thomas Edison called the eighth wonder of the world and that ended up destroying the freewheeling printshop culture that had defined American journalism for a century but also expanded it into something different.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark Twain’s Joan of Arc? This question leads to a discussion about her life and legacy, alongside insights into Mark Twain’s views and the role of Isabelle Romée. The conversation also touches on contemporary issues, including Amnesty International’s stance on abortion, providing a rich exploration of faith and morality. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 06:00 – Mark Twain’s Joan of Arc 16:50 – Mark Twain 21:50 – Isabelle Romée 28:00 – CA books translated 36:50 – Amnesty International and abortion
Sure, more money is better than less…but only to a point, only within reasonable boundaries. Full episode with Ron Chernow: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins Mona Charen for a conversation about why character still matters in leadership, how America lost many of the institutions that once helped build it, and what the military can teach about integrity, responsibility, and moral courage in an era of political double standards.Upgrade your everyday. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://Quince.com/MONA. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.Programming note: This Wednesday! Join us for the next edition of The Bulwark Book Club. Mona Charen and Bill Kristol will discuss Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson with you LIVE at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Drop your questions, comments, and thoughts on the book in the comments of this post.Published in 1894, the novel tells the story of two boys–one born into slavery, the other the master's son–who were switched at birth. Watch your inbox for a link on Wednesday to watch the show.
Fergus Bordewich returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs with the spectacular story of the Great Centennial Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia: a world's fair designed to mark America's 100th birthday, but also a moment of reckoning for a nation sliding headlong into the Gilded Age. The extravaganza attracted 10 million Americans—nearly 20 percent of the population. Among them were P. T. Barnum, Frederick Douglass, and Mark Twain. Visitors from around the world also attended, including Dom Pedro, the emperor of Brazil. On display were inventions that signaled the changing landscape of American life, from the typewriter to the telephone to Heinz Tomato Ketchup. This celebration of America's first century came at a moment when its future seemed more precarious than ever, as big money threatened to overwhelm the government, underpaid workers waged the first national labor strike, feminists demanded rights for women, Native tribes went to war to repel the advancing settlement of the West, and Black Americans struggled to exercise their hard-won freedoms. And looming over the fair was the presidential race of 1876—a highly contested election that would determine the fate of Reconstruction and permanently reshape the Republican party. Fergus Bordewich animates these converging crises through the lives of four protagonists—Rutherford B. Hayes, Alexander Graham Bell, railroad magnate Tom Scott, and sculptor Edmonia Lewis—revealing an America striving to live up to the promise of its founders while bracing for the tidal wave of change on the horizon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our kids don't always need another lecture. They don't always need us to explain it one more time. They need us to help them see it.