PicoBlog

I’m asking the best chefs in the world what to cook when you’re stuck at home. I’m Sam Koppelman, and I write things. Mostly speeches for Fenway Strategies. But I also wrote a New York Times best-selling book on impeaching Donald Trump with Neal Katyal. And now, I’m writing this newsletter. The world is scary right now. For me, yes, and for my family, but it’s scarier for the kids whose only reliable meal, school lunch, may no longer be there for them.

So glad you’re here! Comics are fun to make and fun to read, so while we’re all here having fun … why not build those skills too? For creators, short comics can be a great way for us to share ideas that aren't big enough for a whole book, experiment with new characters, and practice visual storytelling techniques. Practice makes progress! AND we believe short comics are also a great way for kids to stretch their thinking muscles- to assimilate information through the combination of art and text, plus having a nudge to think beyond what is on the page.

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In my journey as a journalist and writer spanning almost two decades, I've traversed numerous countries, seeking to unravel the intricate tapestry of our world—a place both beautifully nuanced and tragically complicated. Amidst wars and conflicts, I've strived to comprehend the puppeteers orchestrating these tragedies, as well as the ordinary individuals left grappling with the aftermath and the shards of their shattered lives. Regrettably, mainstream media and political establishments often overlook the origins and complexities of crises, choosing narratives dictated by agendas and political landscapes rather than those lived by those on the ground—individuals compelled to exhibit extraordinary resilience.

created by Alisha Ramos, formerly of the Girls’ Night In newsletter In the popular weekly Friday post, you’ll find all the highly vetted recommendations and all the things on my radar I might text a good friend about—like an engrossing new novel, a smart article to read, a new show obsession, or the softest sweatpants I’ve tried. These posts are primarily for paid subscribers, and the comments section is a fun place to be on Fridays.

festina lente means “make haste slowly.” It derives from the Greek σπεῦδε βραδέως (speude bradeos, same meaning). In De vita Caesarum, the historian Sueotinius writes that Augustus Caesar adopted it as his personal adage. It is (maybe) on some miscellaneous Roman coins, it is the motto of my college’s Classics department, and it is good life advice. Every new edition of the newsletter is emailed direct to you. Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website :)

Fran Magazine is a weekly blog about culture, some of it popular and some of it very much not, written by Fran Hoepfner (me). Most people are familiar with my writing on film and classical music, but I am looking to write about television and books as well, subjects otherwise relegated to post-midnight texts when the melatonin gummy hasn’t kicked in yet. I’m Fran Hoepfner, a long-time writer of both fiction and non-fiction.

Fran is a creative director and multimedia organizer living in Brooklyn. After leading editorial strategy for magazines like Out and Hello Mr., and ad agencies like Chandelier Creative. Fran currently provides editorial direction for Gay Times, the oldest running LGBTQ+ publication in Europe and No. 1 publisher of LGBTQ+ content in the world. As an organizer, Fran’s known for her work creating Brooklyn Liberation, the largest trans-centered protest in history, and Doll Invasion, a historic, annual event galvanizing trans people to descend on Fire Island.

Jason Funk is a 17-year-old high school student with autism who began writing comics in first grade. When Jason isn’t writing comics, he’s either reading, playing video games, working on his latest and greatest lego creation, or heading out to Tae Kwon Do. He’s a fan of all things Dr. Who and can’t pass up a good ham sandwich. Although having autism presents unique challenges for Jason, he does not believe his diagnosis defines or limits him.