How to Survive a Footnote
AIDS activism in the “after” years.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
At age 22, the author went undercover at his old high school. An excerpt of the book that became the film.
Willie and the Weed Factory
A long talk with Willie Nelson about pot.
The Death and Life of Atlantic City
The men who say they’ll try to save the once-bustling gambling resort town.
Once a Pariah, Now a Judge
The life of Phyllis Frye, a pioneer in the fight for transgender rights.
Why Former 49er Chris Borland Is the Most Dangerous Man in Football
“The concussion that led Borland to retire came on a routine play, and that’s precisely his point.”
Lunch with Mary-Kay Wilmers
The longtime editor of the London Review of Books on editing, the “fussed” people on Twitter, and “preferential treament” for women.
The Movies of My Youth
The aftereffects of youthful escapes into movie houses.
Oliver Sacks, 1933-2015
Our favorite articles by the neurologist and writer, who died Sunday.
"You're One of Us Now"
A small town in Nebraska promised a warm welcome to a family of Katrina evacuees. It didn’t last.
Wading Toward Home
Less than a week after Katrina, Michael Lewis goes home to New Orleans.
Bringing Down America's Happiest Christian Cult
How a former member of Jesus People USA exposed its history of sexual abuse.
After the Gold Rush
The gilded marriage—and divorce—of Donald and Ivana Trump.
Slender Man Is Watching
Two young girls attempt to murder another in Waukesha, Wisconsin, trying to bring an internet meme to life.
The Red-Baiting of Lena Horne
She stumbled into communist circles, and it nearly derailed her career.
Welcome to Beautiful Parkersburg, West Virginia
A town ruined by the chemical C8, an ingredient in the making of Teflon.
Heart of Agave
A small organic agave farmer stands firm against the collision of Big Agriculture and tequila.
Mostly Joking
Behind the scenes with the creator of Black-ish.
Connor Goes to Hollywood
Chasing stardom in YouTube’s crowded universe.
Searching for Sugar Daddy
The men and the women of the transactional-love economy. “A thing you should know is that there are very few people to root for in this story.”
Fiction Pick of the Week: "The Apartment"
A new neighbor's arrival highlights old and quiet problems.
White Kermode
On the rare white bear that may save a British Columbia rainforest.
In Conversation: Quentin Tarantino
“I probably am mellowing. I’m happy about that. I was a pretty angry young man, but if I were angry now, it’d be like, What the fuck is my problem? I’ve got a really terrific life. It’s so rare to be an artist in my position.”
One Hundred Years of Arm Bars
How three generations of a Brazilian family evangelized for and fought over the sport of Gracie jiu-jitsu as it moved from the Amazon to Hollywood to the UFC.
S.L. Price is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated.
“The fact is, if you write about sports and people think they're just reading about sports, they'll read about drug use. They'll read about sex. They'll read about sex change. They'll read about communism. They'll read about issues they couldn't possibly care about, issues that if they saw them in any other part of the paper they would just gloss over. But because it's about sports—because there's a boxing ring or a baseball field or a football field—they'll be more patient and you can get some issues under the transom.”
Thanks to Pitt Writers and TinyLetter for sponsoring this week's episode.
