In this edition: the appeal of the surreal, decoding AI dreck, goop relations, learning to think, and pigeon racing pitfalls
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A Colorado City Has Been Battling for Decades to Use Its Own Water
“Lawsuits, protests and fierce disputes over who controls water in the parched American West have held up a crucial pipeline.”
A Beastie Boy Returns to the Mic, With Some Help
“Thanks to an assist from his sons, Mike D is set to release “Thank You,” the first new music from a member of the pioneering rap trio in 15 years.”
Farewell, and Thanks, to a Man Who Kept Kids Safe
“When they lost their beloved crossing guard, the students at Avenues The World School — Spider-Man, Wilder, Miss Seattle and the rest — paid tribute in cocoa and chalk.”
I Knew Diddy for Years. What I Now Remember Haunts Me.
“Looking back on my life as a woman in the music industry, I’m unsettled by the inescapable sexism perpetrated by Sean Combs and others.”
‘Between the Hammer and the Anvil’
“The story behind the New York Times October 7 exposé.”
If My Dying Daughter Could Face Her Mortality, Why Couldn’t the Rest of Us?
“Perhaps part of Orli’s legacy is insisting on this conversation.”
The Teacher in Room 1214
“When a gunman killed two of her students, Ivy Schamis was the only adult in the room. Her journey through guilt and healing sheds light on the impossible role of American teachers.”
The Mysterious, Deep-Dwelling Microbes That Sculpt Our Planet
“Earth’s crust teems with subterranean life that we are only now beginning to understand.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Showcasing stories from Nicholas Hune-Brown, Nick Sturm, Samanth Subramanian, Kristin Idaszak, and Sy Safransky.

