PicoBlog

Hasbara is pro-Israel propaganda. The term is Hebrew and means something like “explaining” — I’ve seen it defined as an attempt to explain away actions whether or not they’re justified. It’s important to note that Hasbara refers to a specific propagandist technique used to defend Israel, and once you see it, it will be obvious. It’s a collection of empty slogans that a bot could repeat. My own encounters with Hasbara have made my skin crawl.

It has come to my attention that Jim Moore did not care for the topic of Wednesday’s newsletter. I know this because he Tweeted about it. Couple times in fact. And then I got a DM informing me Jim talked about it on the radio show he hosts with Jason Puckett on KJR 93.3 FM. Because Jim is a friend whose writing I’ve always admired, I decided to listen back to see if I could pick up any pointers or guidance.

My book is officially out in the world, friends! If you haven’t ordered it yet, please do! Once you’ve read it, your reviews at Goodreads and/or Amazon can make a huge difference. The book is getting so much awesome love this week—a bestseller at Bookshop for the third week in a row, an Amazon Editor’s Pick for best books this year so far, part of Oprah Daily’s 20 books to read this August etc.

When I first saw this week’s guests Instagram page, I definitely had a moment where I was awestruck - by her beauty, by her style, by all of it. Finding women in their 40s that are aspirational - yet attainable - with their style, is incredibly rare. Larissa Mills has it and we had the chance to sit down and talk to her about her insane IG success featuring Outfits of the Day, and learn about how she styles herself.

Hello, wonderful witches! I’m writing you from a cabin in the woods in Ohio, where my partner and I have decided to social distance for the week. Do you remember the orchard owner who says spells to his apples? We’re heading to that orchard in the next day or so, with a fistful of cash to bring back enchanted fruit. The internet here is pretty spotty, so all you free subscribers, it’s your lucky day: You’re getting today’s issue in full as a bonus.

You can find the other essays in this series here: Equality, Tabula rasa, Neoteny, Status, Science In the last two essays on leftist psychology, the key point has been to show how common leftist beliefs are covers for deep-seated feelings of resentment and inferiority.  Though these beliefs may seem benign on a superficial level, it has been my aim to show how they are used as weapons against those that the left hates.

On Nov 15, 2022, Leica and Hodinkee announced their second collaboration - Leica Q2 “Ghost” edition by Hodinkee. The release included 150 limited edition Leica Q2 “Ghost” Set by Hodinkee and 2000 limited edition Leica Q2 “Ghost” by Hodinkee.  The 150 sets were available on the Hodinkee website at the announcement and sold out very quickly.  The 2000 “non-set” units are being sold by Leica stores and the ADs starting on December 21, 2022.

Hello friends, I don’t about you but I’ve had a pretty low key January. It’s usually the month that I’ll get all my admin in order, pay my taxes, work my way through food in the freezer and spend evenings curled up on the sofa. I’ve barely eaten out this month so all the sweet things I’ve consumed have been my own recipe tests or supermarket buys. I’m very much looking forward to a new month though; my diary is already filling up with events, dinners, cookbook promo (eek!

It’s been many long decades since I spent a New Year’s Eve in Rome and I don’t know whether it is still celebrated with the noisy abandon that once obtained, but if so, it’s a holiday to approach with caution. That’s because, precisely at the stroke of midnight, in a cherished tradition that some say goes all the way back to ancient times, windows fly open all over the old city as Romans heave out onto the streets and alleys all the year’s accumulated rubbish.