Side Stories: The Grinch

One of the most influential conspiracy theory books ever written, Behold a Pale Horse lays out the roots and methods of a secret movement to topple the American government and establish a global totalitarian order. Milton William Cooper argues that UFO sightings, the Illuminati, the Kennedy assassination, and various American think tanks are all interconnected in this effort to undermine the Constitution and ultimately enslave the human race. The only way to prevent their takeover is through popular armed resistance by American patriots.

In this guide, we’ll unpack the origins of Cooper’s theories about globalization, public health, gun rights, and the trustworthiness of traditional news sources. We’ll also consider the impact Cooper’s 1991 book had on groups as disparate as the patriot militia movement, right-wing talk radio, hip-hop artists, and modern conspiracy groups like QAnon.

Many scientists believe that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe. So why do recent whistleblower claims about extraterrestrial spacecraft, alien remains, and government coverups sound so unbelievable?

Immerse yourself in the unique cosmos of "The Broski Report with Brittany Broski," where the effervescent host indulges in a constellation of topics as diverse as the stars. In "Let Me Talk To The Aliens," Brittany Broski, in her Los Angeles studio, orchestrates a symphony of conversations that range from touching personal tales to musical tributes, philosophical musings, and imaginative flights of fancy. Listeners are invited into a space that's just as much a community hub as a podcast, where shared experiences and engaging discussions converge to form the bedrock of Brittany's world.

With her vibrant personality as the guide, Brittany not only reflects on the inspirations behind her content creation, like "The Twilight Zone," but also passionately shares her musical predilections, showcasing an eclectic taste that spans from the indie vibes of Mumford & Sons to the fiery beats of Bad Bunny. Beyond the melody, her intellectual curiosity shines through as she bravely treads on topics such as cosmic horror, the impact of Lovecraftian themes in modern media, and the profound questions tied to immortality and human existence. True to form, Brittany maintains a delicate balance, juggling serious topics with her hallmark humor and lighthearted asides, ensuring that her audience leaves both educated and entertained.

With a vast ensemble of screens at our fingertips, technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. And although this technological boom has delivered exponentially greater access to information, this access ultimately harms our productivity and ability to fulfill our goals, according to neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley and psychologist Larry D. Rosen. In their 2017 book The Distracted Mind, Gazzaley and Rosen argue that technology has made us significantly more prone to distractions and interruptions, creating what they call “the distracted mind.”

In this guide, we’ll examine Gazzaley and Rosen’s arguments about the distracted mind and the ways that technology has exacerbated it. We’ll also discuss their proposed strategies for alleviating this condition by taking steps to improve our brain’s cognitive control and by modifying our environment. Throughout this guide, we’ll also take a deeper dive into the neuroscience that underlies Gazzaley and Rosen’s arguments, and consider actionable ways to implement their advice.

Many of us are glued to our smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to the point that we’ve lost control of how we spend our time and attention. We feel overpowered and exhausted by the multitude of digital tools at our fingertips, including smartphones and tablets, websites, addictive apps, and social media platforms. Meanwhile, tech companies continue to invest major resources into making their products and services addictive so that we’ll continue scrolling and tapping.

This book explains how you can transform your tech habits by adopting digital minimalism, which aims to maximize the benefits of technology and avoid the pitfalls by identifying your values and determining how to use technology to support them. Learn how tech companies use human psychology to make their apps addictive, how likes and comments are weakening your relationship, and why trading your smartphone for a dumb phone could change your life.

Did magic mushrooms contribute to making us human? In How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan traces the long and complex history of humans’ relationship with psychedelics and examines their potential use for mental health treatment today. He delves into the complex legal and cultural issues surrounding psychedelics and considers what their re-emergence might mean for our society as a whole.

Michael Pollan is an author, journalist, and professor. He is best known for his books The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, which have helped shape the public’s understanding of the modern food system. But after learning about terminal cancer patients who were given psilocybin to help ease the fear of death, Pollan threw himself into research on psychedelics—which included personal experimentation.

In this guide, we’ll situate Pollan’s research within the current field of psychedelic trials and review some of the guidelines for mitigating the dangers of psychedelic research. We’ll also probe ancient history to provide further context for humans’ complex and enduring relationship with these substances.

Currently, mental illness is a global health crisis with no signs of slowing down. However, researchers believe the solution may be psychedelic therapy, a new industry that’s focusing on once-villanized drugs such as ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin.

The last few years have seen a surge of interest in psychedelics as treatments for intractable mental health conditions. But are psychedelics as miraculous as their proponents say? Or do they pose unacceptable risks?