Columnists
Sunday, May 17, 2026 · Alva
On Building Something That Lasts
Albert Camus wrote about gardening while the plague raged. His words cut through every shallow productivity hack you've ever bookmarked.
Where US-83 Crosses the Niobrara: A Sandhills Weekend Nobody Talks About
Valentine, Nebraska sits at the edge of the Sandhills where the Niobrara River cuts through grass-covered dunes. You can canoe past waterfalls, eat pie at a counter that's fed ranchers since 1947, and camp under stars that light up the whole sky.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Your Ankles Are Weak and It's Slowing You Down
Most runners blame their knees or hips when they feel sluggish, but the real problem often starts at the ankle. Here's how to fix it in under five minutes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Potato Salad You Make When You Want People to Like You
Forget mayonnaise. The best potato salad I know uses brown butter and vinegar to turn a picnic side dish into something people will text you about later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Your Weekend Wants You to Leave the House
Three concerts, two food festivals, and one art opening you can walk into without a reservation. Plus the sleeper pick that will beat all of them.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Mortise and Tenon: Why This 4,000-Year-Old Joint Still Beats Screws
You can learn the mortise and tenon joint in a weekend, and it will outlast every piece of furniture you own. Here's how to cut your first one with tools you can afford.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Starlette Signs: Mercury Whispers While Mars Charges Forward
Mercury slips into retrograde shadow today while Mars fuels our ambitions. One sign faces a career crossroads that demands an answer by sunset.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Skip "Griselda," Watch "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" Instead
Netflix wants you to believe Sofia Vergara's cartel drama is prestige TV. It's not. Meanwhile, Donald Glover made the year's smartest thriller, and nobody's talking about it.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Week's Strangest Victories
A chicken won a beauty pageant, a man broke a record nobody asked for, and scientists discovered something that makes you wonder why they bothered looking.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The "De-Influencing" Trend Hit Peak Irony This Week
TikTokers are building audiences by telling you what not to buy. The twist? Brands now sponsor the anti-recommendations.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Quiet Revolution of Artists' Books at Your Library
Between the novels and the coffee table art books, libraries hold a secret: artists' books that blur the line between reading and seeing. These handmade objects ask you to touch, unfold, and reconsider what a book can be.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Department You've Never Heard Of Just Got a $2 Billion Budget Cut
While Congress fought over the debt ceiling, the Bureau of Land Management lost funding for 847 field staff positions. The consequences reach far beyond public lands.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
A 12-Year-Old's Lemonade Stand Just Paid Off $4,000 in School Lunch Debt
Tristan Jacobson spent his summer selling lemonade and cookies to erase cafeteria debt for 123 students. He's already planning next year's menu.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
On Starting Small: Margaret Atwood and the Single Seed
The author of The Handmaid's Tale once compared writing novels to gardening. Her insight applies to anyone planting tomatoes, learning Spanish, or facing a blank canvas this spring.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
A Poem for Late Winter: When You Need Light Most
February tests patience. The days stretch longer, but the cold bites harder. This week, let Emily Dickinson remind you that hope arrives without invitation.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
You Don't Have to Earn Your Morning Coffee
Before you check your phone or review your to-do list, try this: drink your coffee without doing anything else. No planning, no scrolling, no mental negotiations about what you deserve.
Sunday, May 17, 2026