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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
The Narcissist and His Addiction to Excitement
This video tells the story of my life. Sam Vaknin: “Narcissistic supply — admiration, adulation, and attention — is exciting. When narcissistic supply is available, the narcissist feels elated, omnipotent, omniscient, handsome, sexy, adventurous, invisible, and irresistible. When narcissistic supply … Continue reading
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Why Am I So Open-Minded?
A friend asks: “Why are you so more open than most people? Like than both Democrats and Republicans? I feel like many conservatives would be annoyed watching a TV show that leans left or be too annoyed to appreciate it … Continue reading
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Foxcatcher
This movie ripped me up inside. Growing up in foster care for most of my first five years, I’m susceptible to cults and charismatic father figures. I can’t recall a movie that was more painful for me to watch because … Continue reading
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Where’s My Movie Studio?
I converted to Judaism 21 years ago and I still haven’t been given my very own media property. I don’t want no freakin’ bank, I want a newspaper or magazine or movie studio, and I want it staffed with hot … Continue reading
I’ve Dated Too Much
Dating is the one thing that you get worse at the more you do it. My most exciting times were with bipolar alcoholic nymphomaniacs. I found myself going to bed with Rachel but waking up with Leah. I found Jewish … Continue reading
Will To Power
Chaim Amalek: That’s a good look for a cult leader. It is the look of a man intent on driving the Jews back into the Torah Corral. All that’s missing is a bullwhip. Airdrop this man into Ferguson and all … Continue reading
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What’s My Excuse?
At work, I am asked: “When you look in the mirror, aren’t you embarrassed by who you are?” Luke: “I evolved in a warm climate where food was plentiful year round. I did not have to plan ahead. I did … Continue reading
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‘Next time you’re besotted, just ask for a writing sample’
From the blog Just Not Said: I’ve generally gotten a clearer sense of people from their writings than from their everyday conversation. A parallel: if you find a beautiful woman witty and insightful, see if that impression holds up over … Continue reading
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What’s Your Backup?
A buddy tells me he’s feeling pensive. He sees time slipping by. “And I have no safety net, no backup.” Luke: “Just God.” Friend: “Yes, same as every hobo on skid row.”
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We’ll Say No More About It
* Growing up a WASP, I often heard the phrase, “We’ll say no more about it.” I don’t ever remember hearing it in Jewish life, however. * From Downton Abbey, S5E6, Lady Mary: “I’ll be as solemn as a church.” … Continue reading
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