Squirrel dinner
American taxpayers are footing the bill for Trump’s pro-Republican midterm TV ads that the White House claims are “public service announcements.” / CNBC
To deal with rising food costs, Golden Corral reorganized its buffets to pair more and less pricey foods into “modules”—also, they replaced the beef with pork. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
Why we should start eating acorns again: They’re highly nutritious, they’re sustainable, and they’re everywhere. / The Washington Post [$]
Protein-maxxed foods have overtaken American supermarket shelves, and as history—and sales data—shows, the reason is marketing. / The New York Times [$]
A Belfast grocery store’s pub is now so popular it has bouncers, even if going there feels like “chugging a beer in a children’s daycare center.” / The Wall Street Journal [$]
“My wife told me I had begun to put my hand near my mouth more and more when I spoke in public.” On living with a broken tooth, and how imperfections make us. / The American Scholar
In another case of scientists using AI or the other way around, biologists say enzyme data they shared with Claude matches what Anthropic claims it “discovered.” / The New York Times [$]
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The decline in literacy is only partly about phones and short-form video—it is, as it’s always been, a way for elites to keep the public in check. / Jacobin
“We must hope that there are more Marrs than Morrisseys in society.” A reconsideration of the Smiths at a moment where nostalgia can become a political tool. / William Davies
The Premier League is in disarray after Manchester City are found to have cheated financial rules throughout their decade-long and deep-pocketed rise. / The Guardian
See also: Man City are owned by UAE’s vice president, and connections between the team, country, and even Andy Burnham twist the scandal further. / Middle East Eye
Unrelated: The Trump administration is in talks with Major League Baseball to host a baseball game at a national park. / The Washington Post [$]
Terry Riley’s “In C” composition instructs musicians to improvise melodies in the key of C, and now you can play multiple performances of “In C” simultaneously. / Kottke, iNCYNC
See also: Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea” but every note is a C. / YouTube
How to make your Casio sound like Boards of Canada. / Ambionix