Aaron Gilbreath

What happens when we pay music closer attention, rather than treat it like background noise to zone out to? And how do laypeople approach things like rhythm and tone?

Pedro Bell, whose album cover designs helped define Funkadelic’s warped, cosmic, joyous aesthetic, has died. Here is what he accomplished in his fertile life. As bassist Bootsy Collins said: “Thxs for yr service our brother.”

For over fifty years, this folklorist rolled tape as Southerners talked, not only because he believed their stories should be preserved, but because listening to each other could help Southerners understand each other better. In the process, he legitimized the academic field of Southern Studies and paved the way for other curious minds.

English universities appear to have done the impossible: attracting increasing numbers of students and graduating them with high scores. Unfortunately, lower academic standards and grade inflation are responsible for England’s so-called education miracle. Instead of selling academic rigor, universities sell degrees, and that’s what students come to buy.

A writer remembers her time bartending at Trump SoHo hotel, which wasn’t technically in SoHo, wasn’t a hotel for zoning reasons, and didn’t belong to Donald Trump. This story came from the last page of the last issue of Tin House magazine.

Tenant protections are not sufficient to keep renters housed in cities marked by gentrification and rising rents. This is the story of one displaced Atlanta family, stuck between the harsh reality of homelessness, and agencies’ competing definitions of their predicament.

It’s kind of confusing. Suffice it to say, it involves rich people, huge debt, and the late shah of Iran’s sister.

Skating is more diverse and inclusive than ever, but body shaming, bathroom conditions, and the boy’s club still make the sport less accessible, and less fun, for women.