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"Luke Ford reports all of the 'juicy' quotes, and has been doing it for years." (Marc B. Shapiro)
"This guy knows all the gossip, the ins and outs, the lashon hara of the Orthodox world. He’s an [expert] in... all the inner workings of the Orthodox world." (Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff) LATEST POSTS:
- Robert Putnam: The Man Who Counted What America Lost
- W. Bradford Wilcox: The Sociologist Who Tells America to Get Married
- Peter Moskos: The Cop Who Talks to People
- Julius Krein
- Ryan Burge: The Numbers Man in the Empty Church
- Emily Oster: The Economist in the Delivery Room
- The Most Ridiculous Story Ever Told
- Tanner Greer
- Economist Tyler Cowen
- Richard Reeves: A Life in Institutions
- Jake Adelstein: The Reporter Who Became His Story
- Jim Goad (1961-2026)
- Moira Greyland
- Robert Oscar Lopez: The Inconvenient Witness
- Two Ledgers: Decoding the Gurus and the Price of Talk
- The Pervert’s Progress: Costin Vlad Alamariu and the Making of Bronze Age Pervert
- Curtis Yarvin: A Life Against Democracy
- Mark Helprin: Against the Current
- Mark Brandt: The Man Who Asked Who Else Is Prejudiced
- John T. Jost: The Psychologist of Acquiescence
BEST POSTS:
- * The Enlightenment Wasn’t Enlightened (6-23-26)
* Mr. Burge Draws The Line (6-23-26)
* 'Improving on Democracy' (6-17-26)
* People Leak To People Who Are Fun (6-11-26)
* Why Does Australia Produce So Many Great Journalists? (6-11-26)
* Steve Wynn and the Press: Power, Litigation, and the Contest Over Las Vegas (6-3-26)
* Sheldon Adelson and the Journalists (6-3-26)
* The Vigilant Animal: Thinkers Who Reject the Myth of Human Gullibility (6-2-26)
* The Cost of Refusing the Misunderstanding Myth (6-2-26)
* Show Me How It Travels (6-2-26)
* The Norm Explainers (6-2-26)
* Centering Marginalized Voices (6-1-26)
* What would it look like if the Washington Post put its reader first? (6-1-26)
* What would it look like if the Financial Times put its reader first? (6-1-26)
* What It Would Mean for the Los Angeles Times to Put the Reader First? (6-1-26)
* What It Would Mean for The New York Times to Put the Reader First? (6-1-26)
* Why Wembanyama Lives on the Perimeter (5-31-26)
* The Emotional Palettes Of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco & Sacramento (5-27-26)
* The Administrative Capital: Sacramento Legal Culture (5-27-26)
* San Diego - The Quiet Republic (5-27-26)
* The Quiet Bar: San Diego Legal Culture (5-27-26)
* SF v LA Legal Culture (5-27-26)
* Why Talent Travels Poorly Between San Francisco and Los Angeles (5-27-26)
* San Francisco and Los Angeles as Rival Models of Urban Access (5-27-26)
* Social Cliques in New York, 2026 (5-25-26)
* Social Cliques in San Francisco, 2026 (5-25-26)
* The Rival Courts of Washington (5-25-26)
* The City of Private Rooms (5-25-26)
Category Archives: Personal
What Is My Greatest Strength?
I was asked in a job interview for my greatest strength. I was stumped because there are so many. To you, what is my greatest strength? (I said, “Listening.”) Chaim Amalek: “I would say that it is using my blog … Continue reading
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Strange Days!
A hot Jewish chick tells me: The strangest thing just happened to me. So I’m at this coffee shop. This really good looking well dressed guy sits next to me and he starts talking to me. I ask what he’s … Continue reading
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Thoughts On My 49th Birthday
* “There’s nothing in the Big Book that says, ‘All will be revealed.’” (DA) * “Nothing outside of me is going to save me. It’s an inside job.” (DA) * “Resentment is like body odor. People can smell it on … Continue reading
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Do Methodists Make For Good Roommates?
Orthodox Friend: Hey buddy, I have a serious question for you. My daughter is going to university next year and will be rooming with two other girls. A potential roommate is Methodist. I know nothing about that in my sheltered … Continue reading
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Would You Buy A Used Car From Me?
I’ve never worked in sales. The prospect of such a job fills me with dread, but many people tell me I have the gift of the gab. Maybe I should be more open-minded? Would you buy a used car from … Continue reading
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You First!
A friend: Why aren’t you rich? Why aren’t you married? Why aren’t you a father? Luke: You first. Friend: This is not a Craigslist ad, where we negotiate who gets the right of first refusal by being second to send … Continue reading
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Heil Hitler Salutes On La Cienega/Cashio This Morning
On La Cienega Blvd and Cashio circa 7:20 am, this young white guy, possibly drunk and angry, started snapping Heil Hitler salutes at me, but his extended hand contained a cigarette, which seemed disrespectful to his cause. I would have … Continue reading
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Sunday Musings
* My response to the suffering in Nepal is to say some prayers. I hope the Jews are OK. * I truly intended to hit that 7:30 am Friday meeting on procrastination. * I was telling this Orthodox rabbi my … Continue reading
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Eww!
I realize now that the men who liked to massage me when I was a teenager were probably gay. And I thought they were just altruists. I had this faculty friend at UCLA who was very kind and interested in … Continue reading
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Wednesday Musings
* I never think about life after death. I take it for granted that we will all get what we deserve. I don’t want grace or special treatment. I want God to give it to me straight. I want to … Continue reading