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Who do you imagine was the first recording artist to sell a million records in a year? I’ll give you a hint. The year was 1956. Did you guess Elvis? Nope. Wasn’t him. It was Harry Belafonte with his album Calypso. But more important to him than his music was using his fame and fortune for the fight for civil rights. --Sh!t Went Down: Harry Belafonte and the Freedom Summer Flight--

When I first stumbled on one of the biggest pop culture micro-controversies of this past week — that a right-wing commentator was up in arms over pop star Harry Styles donning a dress on the cover of the latest issue of Vogue — I couldn’t believe it. Of course, I wasn’t shocked by the commentator whom I won’t name had an idiotic take. What did surprise me, however, was how much attention her comments received.

Welcome to another episode of the History Islands. This week, we conclude our multi-part series on the life of Harry Vardon, one of the greatest golfers in history. We rejoin him in New York City in 1900, on the brink of global fame and a tour that would help establish the popularity of golf across America. Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade.Harry Vardon New York City, February 1900

A photo that appeared online this week seems to imply the Ukrainian army’s 21st Mechanized Brigade operates some of the nearly 200 Leopard 1A5 tanks that a Danish-Dutch-German consortium has pledged to Ukraine. If so, the 21st Brigade might be the fourth Ukrainian unit—after the 5th Tank, 44th Mechanized and 59th Mechanized—that owns ex-German Leopard 1A5s, ex-Danish Leopard 1A5DKs or ex-Belgian Leopard 1A5BEs. The latter have a slightly improved fire-control system.

A newsletter about my writing on economics. Specifically, my forthcoming book, HATE THE GAME: an exploration of the uses of game theory and behavioral economics to win in career and life (University of Chicago Press, Fall 2024.) By Daryl Fairweather · Over 1,000 subscribersNo thanksncG1vNJzZmigkamytbTEoJimnV6owqO%2F05qapGaTpLpw

If you enjoy this newsletter, I would be eternally grateful if you shared it. Share Nuclear Meltdown When I talk to people about multigenerational family, hands down the number one objection I hear is this: What if you just don’t get along? More than economics or careers or location, it seems, people worry that in the end they won’t get along with family if they live nearby. That could be due to political or religious views, personality clashes, or any number of other things.

If there’s one food that should be Hawaii’s state dish it’s Saimin? And what is that? Noodle soup. But it’s not just any noodle soup. It’s fantastic. What you see in the above picture is a bowl of it—my lunch--from Hamura, a Kaua’i saimin restaurant that’s been in business since 1952. I ate my first saimin at Hamura, and for me, it’s the gold standard. I could eat saimin every day because noodles are one of my favorite foods.

At fifteen, I marveled at the click-clack of heels on tile floors. I wore the strained arches and blistered heels like blue ribbons. The hair was singed from curling irons and the dresses were ill-fitting. I took pride in my age being overestimated, in baring as little resemblance to my elementary school self as possible. In my twenties, I revel in the agelessness of a slouchy pair of jeans and in the ease of moving about life free of excessive adornment.

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedI wanted my fate to be human. Like a perfume that does not choose the direction it travels, that cannot be straight or crooked, kept out or kept.Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published—Jane Hirshfield Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedfrom "Like two Negative Numbers multiplied by Rain" The Beauty: PoemsI wanted to write you a simple note about the ink that I made on the island on the tree farm and brought home with me to test out on paper.