I’ve seen Salar Abdoh only a handful of times. The most noteworthy is in May 2017 when, hearing that I’d be spending vote day in the southernmost areas of Tehran interviewing working class Tehranis about their choice for president, he offered to give me a ride through some of those neighborhoods. Abdoh, whom I had
Month: November 2023
Take a break from the news We publish your favorite authors—even the ones you haven’t read yet. Get new fiction, essays, and poetry delivered to your inbox. YOUR INBOX IS LIT Enjoy strange, diverting work from The Commuter on Mondays, absorbing fiction from Recommended Reading on Wednesdays, and a roundup of our best work of
On the road again: Jenny Hoffman somewhere on her run across the US. (Courtesy: Jill Yeomans) We all know physicists with extraordinary talents that stretch well beyond academia – and Harvard University’s Jenny Hoffman is no exception. She has just become the fastest woman to run across the US. She made the 3000 mile (5000
If we label a work as bilingual for using at least two languages, then how do we quantify a work as having more than one language? For example, would one call Megan Thee Stallion’s song “Hit My Phone” bilingual with these lyrics: “Party like a vato, shots of the blanco / Guaranteed to knock a
The National Book Awards took place on November 15th at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. A day before the biggest night in books, two sponsors—Book of the Month and Zibby Books—announced they were not attending because of “political speeches,” following rumors that the nominees were planning to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Astronomers are becoming increasingly concerned about the growing number of satellites that are lighting up the night sky by reflecting sunlight to Earth. In 2022, the prototype communications satellite BlueWalker 3 was launched and it is now the brightest commercial satellite ever – outshining almost every star in the sky. And to make matters worse,
Electric Literature is pleased to reveal the cover for Annell Lopez’s debut short story collection, I’ll Give You a Reason, which will be published by Feminist Press on April 9th, 2024. Lopez is the winner of the Louise Meriweather First Book Prize. The Ironbound is a large, multi-ethnic immigrant neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, filled
What defines the strongest fictional characters? The most intriguing ones are often developed, revealed or transformed based on their wishes and desires; in other words, what they crave. The more intense the craving, the more commanding the character. In fact, character cravings frequently create the conflicts and plots. What would the evil stepmother in Sleeping
“Commonsense Medicine” is a must-listen for everyone seeking to improve their health, understand why we get sick, and survive the next pandemic. Included are the secrets of how he invented Xlear and the personal reasons that drove him to find solutions for his family. This is the new paradigm in medicine. Dr. Jones shows us how
Flopping around: A drawing of the bullavene molecule and the rearrangements it undergoes as it changes into its different possible shapes, or isomers. (Courtesy: Wikipedia/public domain image) Researchers in Australia have detected and controlled changes to the shape of a single molecule in response to an applied mechanical force. The feat could enable the development
My Spite Could Fill a Museum Tell It to the Birds I am sick of not winning the National Poetry Series. I am sick of waiting for the mammogram, the ultrasound, the appointment to discuss the results. Tomorrow is the first day of school in the year of our Lord 10x the number of Covid
[On October 7, 2023, members of the Islamist militant group Hamas, who governs the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,400 people and capturing roughly 240 hostages. In retaliation, the Israeli government, helmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declared war on Hamas. Israel’s retaliation campaign has killed an estimated 11,000 Palestinian civilians
The 2024 Rank Prize winners Left to right: Junzhong Liang, Donald Miller, Austin Roorda and David Williams. (Courtesy: Rank Prize) Four scientists who pioneered the development of adaptive optics (AO) technologies for imaging the human retina have been awarded the 2024 Rank Prize for Optoelectronics. The winners – Junzhong Liang, Donald Miller, Austin Roorda and
The moment I learned that Shilpi Suneja’s debut novel House of Caravans was about Partition, I reached out to see if she would be interested in doing this interview. All four of my grandparents lived through this event in Punjab—the state that was split to create Pakistan days after India gained independence from Britain in
You Can’t Plan Feelings Out of a Foursome Elisa Faison Share article Group Sex by Elisa Faison Frances and Ben are in their sweatpants on a Saturday morning. He has made the coffee, as he always does. She drinks more than her fair share of the pot, but always offers the final half-cup to Ben.
Rocky Kramer will be hosting “Sharp Dressed Man” on this week’s episode of Rocky Kramer’s Rock & Roll Tuesdays on Twitch. Tune into Twitch on Tuesday, November 14th, at 7 PM PT for this amazing show. Rocky Kramer is a guitar virtuoso, often being compared to the greatest guitar players in the world. Rocky has
Think a Renaissance Man is a thing of the past? Think again. Better yet, listen to the day-to-day adventures of John LaCasse, whose 25-year career as a Seattle yacht broker brought him into deals with business magnates, political figures, actors, royalty, even an organized crime boss—names the listener will recognize. Real-life happenings that turned this
Aspect Zavi, the dynamic and talented artist, is once again taking the music industry by storm with the release of his highly anticipated music video, “Get Away.” This visually stunning masterpiece showcases Zavi’s incredible artistry and creativity, captivating audiences worldwide. “Get Away” is a mesmerizing fusion of infectious beats, catchy melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics that