FINAL POST — I'VE MOVED TO SUBSTACK

 

FINAL POST — I'VE MOVED TO SUBSTACK

After 15 years of daily writing on this blog, I'm consolidating everything on Substack.

Why the Move?

Over the past 15 years, I've published thousands of essays, poems, and reflections across multiple platforms. It became scattered, difficult to follow, and nearly impossible to organize into coherent themes.

Substack allows me to:

• Organize by series (trilogies, themed collections)
• Engage directly with readers (comments, discussions)
• Publish books (compile best essays into collections)
• Build sustainable audience (email delivery, subscriptions)

This blog will remain online as an archive — all 15 years of content stays accessible. But no new posts will appear here.

Where to Find Me Now

My new home: https://alexhutchins.substack.com

I'm publishing 2-3 times per week:

• Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (January-March)
• Alternating T-TH weeks (starting February)

What you'll find:

• Philosophical essays (Wonderings series)
• Cultural commentary (Justice, Confession, Power trilogies)
• Poetry (from my 42,000+ collection)
• Personal reflections (teaching, travel, life observations)

Free to Subscribe

No paywalls. No spam. Just thoughtful writing from someone who's been doing this for 60+ years.

Subscribe here: https://alexhutchins.substack.com

Thank You

To everyone who read, commented, or simply followed along over the past 15 years—thank you.

This platform gave me space to think, write, and share without filters or editorial oversight. It let me publish 42,000 poems, 3,000+ essays, and countless reflections on everything from ancient civilizations to business ethics to the nature of belief itself.

Now I'm taking all of that raw material and shaping it into something more deliberate, more organized, and—I hope—more useful.

See you on Substack.

— Alex Hutchins
The White Scorpion / Wandering Philosopher

---

P.S. If you've been following my work for years, you already know I don't do this for money or fame. I write because I can't not write. Substack just gives me better tools to organize the chaos. Come join me.

New Year's Day 2026

 

New Year's Eve 2025

 

4 LENTIL Recipes EVERYONE Should Know

This 30-Minute Meal Prep Transformed My Weeknight Meals

Quick Clips

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Kennedy Center president vows to sue musician who canceled a performance after the center added President Donald Trump's name to the building (More)

> Former University of Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham signs five-year deal to coach Michigan Wolverines (More)

> Actor accuses Tyler Perry of sexual assault, seeks $77M in damages in second lawsuit against the director in recent months (More)


Science & Technology
> China releases draft rules governing human-like AI; models must reinforce "core socialist values," notify users at login and two-hour intervals they are using AI (More)

> Scientists begin latest expedition to Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier; known as the "Doomsday glacier," the region is shedding 50 billion tons of ice per year and helps support the West Antarctic ice sheet (More) | What we learned studying climatology (1440 Topics)

> Famous Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, to be insured for roughly $1B upon its transfer from France to the British Museum next year (More) | Explore our favorite resources on medieval Europe (1440 Topics)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mostly flat Friday (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow -0.0%, Nasdaq -0.1%); S&P 500 ends week up 1.4% after hitting record high Wednesday (More)

> Nvidia announces nonexclusive licensing agreement with AI chip startup Groq, shareholders will receive distributions valuing the company at $20B; around 90% of Groq employees, including CEO Jonathan Ross, will join Nvidia, remaining employees will operate as a standalone entity (More) | What we learned researching Nvidia (1440 Topics)

> Global dealmaking totaled around $4.5T in 2025, up 50% from last year and the second-highest total on record; Netflix bidding war, Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger top biggest deals (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Palm Beach, Florida, to discuss a potential end to the Russia-Ukraine war (More)

> Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991; decision precedes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with President Donald Trump today (More) | See explainer (More)

> Thailand and Cambodia sign new ceasefire agreement in bid to end recent border clashes that have killed dozens of people (More) | Myanmar completes first phase of voting in country's first general election since 2021 military coup (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Different than Animals

 

What makes us different from other animals here on earth is that we don't just hunt for survival, we hunt for pleasure, control, and power.

In 1607, the first successful colony, Jamestown, Virginia was established.  In 1803, we decided to explore the western side of this country, and in so doing we confronted and damn near destroyed the Native Americans who had settled this land before us.

Those early Americans were very good at killing those who stood in the way of progress and today, 2025, we are still living in a country that likes to KILL.   In 2020, we started letting immigrants cross into our country illegally and without be properly vetted.

While some of these illegals were able to positively contribute to our society, many were not because they were criminals before they crossed the border.  Once inside the USA, they continued their criminal activities that included the killing of each other as well as Americans.

My point is that it is not just Americans who enjoy killing for pleasure but a cross section or all our global residents.  Mankind, the human race, enjoys the killing of others to advance their purposes whatever that might be.  That happens often enough to justify that we don't just kill for survival, we kill for sport.  Sport also includes power and control.

Somewhat Political

Scientists build atomic light switches to control single photons on demand

Imagine a light switch so small it is made from just a few atoms, and so precise it releases light one particle at a time.


These tiny switches, called quantum emitters, are considered one of the core components for future technologies such as quantum computers, ultra-secure communication networks, and extremely sensitive sensors.

For years, scientists have struggled to fully understand and control them, but this won’t be the case for long. In a recent study, researchers in the US shed light on the process of identifying, designing, and placing single-photon sources with atomic precision inside ultrathin materials.

READ MORE...

When The Allman Brothers Band Lit Up NBC Studios | “Ramblin’ Man” Live 1981

Epiphany

 

I had a triple bypass level heart attack event in 2008, and in 2009/2010, had my arteries cleaned out and five stints inserted into three arteries including the LAD.  In 2021, I had an abnormal result on my nuclear stress test and a heart cath was performed that resulted in a pristine outcome.  

Ever since then, I have been experiencing extreme nausea and extreme dizziness and fainting while standing at the toilet.  These events happened once or twice a year.  Last Friday they happened several time, I ignored them because I felt better but on Saturday, I experienced this same scenario while sitting and went to the clinic...  the clinic sent me to the ER and the ER admitted me to the hospital for a stress test.  

The results were again abnormal, so in the hospital I remain until tomorrow, when I am having a heart cath performed.  They may find another pristine situation or they may insert another stint.  No doubt the Car4diologist will adjust the dosage of Metroprolol.

At 78, I have also been in ongoing treatment for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (starting my 18th year in Jan 2026) and melanoma (starting my 14th year in Jan 2026), along with L2-L3-L4-L5-S1 being fused 3 years ago, needing a knee replacement, and rotator cuff issue on both shoulders.  

Getting old is NOT FUN.

But the point of all of this is that...  NO MORE...  will I worry and trying to accomplish something...  or try to impress my family... or think I should change my rebel ways or sarcasm.  I am who I am and that is not my problem.

It took me 78 years and some health issues to realize that...

Red Dress

 

Shannon Joy Show

 

The White House

 

Sarah Westall

 

CALENDAR

 Remember when?

Francis Scialabba


Check out these news stories and ask yourself, “Did it happen in 2024 or 2025?”Nvidia became the world’s most valuable company.
The Campbell Soup Company changed its name to The Campbell’s Company.
Lady Gaga released the song “Abracadabra.”
The Jo-Ann craft stores went out of business.
OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT version GPT-4o.
Warner Bros. Discovery stock hit its all-time low.
Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast jumped from Spotify to SiriusXM in a $125 million deal.
Charlie Javice, the former CEO of startup Frank, was convicted of conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, and securities fraud.



It’s gone on to do it several times now, but Nvidia first became the world’s most valuable company in June 2024.
Out of a desire to be associated with more than soup, Campbell’s updated its name in November 2024.
“Abracadabra” was Gaga’s second single from her Mayhem album, released in March 2025.
Jo-Ann announced it was going out of business in February 2025, and most of the stores were closed by May 2025. RIP.
GPT-4o rolled out in May 2024, but we aren’t surprised if it was on your mind this year. OpenAI released GPT-5 in August 2025, but the backlash to it was fierce enough that OpenAI gave some users the opportunity to revert to 4o.
WBD hit its all-time low in June 2024. That feels like ancient history after this year’s bidding war to buy the company…
Cooper struck a three-year, $125 million deal with SiriusXM in 2024.
Javice was convicted in March 2025 and sentenced in September 2025 for defrauding JPMorgan.

READ MORE...

At A Glance

Why the New Year's Eve ball will drop twice this year in Times Square.

See the age distribution for people based on their names.

New York City subway system retires the MetroCard.

A Münter painting, missing since 1977.

How many life species exist on Earth?

Ranking the best video games of 2025.

... and some of the year's most heartwarming moments.

... and its most viral moments.

In partnership: The "It Card" of the New Year has arrived.*

Clickbait: One Italian town's first baby in 30 years.

... and want to see something cool? Surprise me.

Historybook: President Andrew Johnson born (1808); Texas becomes the 28th US state (1845); US Army kills over 250 Lakota people at Wounded Knee (1890); Actress Mary Tyler Moore born (1936); Soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé) dies (2022).

Robert Reich

Stephen Miller’s new bullshit about immigrants
Miller and his boss are now targeting Minnesota’s Somali community





Friends,

Trump’s chief bigot, Stephen Miller, said on Fox News this month that immigrants to the United States bring problems that extend through generations.

“With a lot of these immigrant groups, not only is the first generation unsuccessful,” Miller claimed. “You see persistent issues in every subsequent generation. So you see consistent high rates of welfare use, consistent high rates of criminal activity, consistent failures to assimilate.”

In fact, the data show just the opposite. The children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of most immigrants are models of upward mobility in America.

In a new paper, Princeton’s Leah Boustan, Stanford’s Ran Abramitzky, Elisa Jácome of Princeton, and Santiago Pérez of UC Davis used millions of father-son pairs spanning more than a century of U.S. history to show that immigrants today are no slower to move into the middle class than immigrants were a century ago.

In fact, no matter when their parents came to the U.S. or what country they came from, children of immigrants have higher rates of upward mobility than their U.S.-born peers.

READ MORE...

World

Politics were predictably unpredictable

Leon Neal/Getty Images


We asked a handful of geopolitical questions last year, and it wasn’t your strongest subject. If this were a test where you could earn partial credit, though, you’d likely fare okay, because your predictions and what actually happened weren’t far off.

You said: Mexico and Canada would get tariffs between 0% and 25%.

Only 7% of you said that President Trump would stick to his 25% tariff plan for our North American neighbors—and he did, technically. While 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada went into effect on March 4, within days, Trump walked back the plan and exempted goods that comply with a trade pact from his first term. The vast majority of goods from Canada and Mexico fall under the deal, which is up for review in July. However, according to the ReedSmith Tariff Tracker, Canada and Mexico ended up with some 10%, 25%, and 35% tariffs due to the countries’ perceived roles in fentanyl getting into the United States. It seems safe to say that no one foresaw how complicated this would get.

You said: The Donald Trump-Elon Musk bromance would not end.

Trump and Musk had a public breakup in June that started when Musk criticized Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. The argument escalated, with Trump posting on Truth Social that “Elon is wearing thin” and suggesting he’d pull subsidies from SpaceX and Tesla (though Trump later clarified that he did not want to “destroy” the companies). The duo has since smoothed things over, but they’re far less buddy-buddy following the feud, and it seems to have affected their political relationship, too. In November, Trump dissolved the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE, Musk’s initiative to slash government spending.

You said: There would be ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine. and

The majority of you predicted there would be ceasefires in both Gaza and Ukraine this year. A ceasefire has not been reached between Russia and Ukraine. There is technically one in place between Gaza and Israel as part of a three-stage peace plan brokered by the US, but the United Nations reports that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and wounded “since the fragile ceasefire agreement came into effect in late October.”—JW

READ MORE...

Resolutions

 

We are getting towards the end of the year when people decide to make New Year's Resolutions.

AI GENERATED:
Most New Year's resolutions involve health (exercise, diet, weight loss) or finances (saving money, paying debt), but a high percentage fail, with many giving up within the first few months, though success rates vary by study, with some showing under 10% success, while others note significant commitment from many, especially younger adults and Hispanic Americans. Common resolutions for 2025/2026 include saving money, improving fitness/exercise, eating healthier, and mental well-being, but dropout rates are high, often by February.

Popular Resolutions (Recent Years)

Health & Fitness: Losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more (often top goals).
Finances: Saving money, getting out of debt, improving financial health.
Well-being: Improving mental health, being happier, spending more time with family.
Other: Learning a new skill, reducing social media, quitting smoking.

Success & Failure Rates (Vary by Source)

High Failure: Many sources suggest less than 10% achieve their goals, with 23% quitting in the first week and 64% by the first month.
Duration: Average resolution lasts around 3-4 months, with many giving up by February.
Conflicting Success: A Pew Research study found 59% of adults who made resolutions kept them all, while other data shows much lower success.
Confidence vs. Reality: People are often very confident they will succeed (e.g., 90%+ for mental health/exercise), but reality often differs.

Demographics & Trends

Younger Adults: Under-30s are more likely to make resolutions than older groups.

Ethnicity: Hispanic Americans were more likely to make resolutions in a recent survey.
High Motivation: January sees a surge in gym memberships (up to 12%), but most quit within months.

Somewhat Political

 

Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love (Farewell Concert - Extended Edition) (1 o...

In The NEWS

US strikes Islamic State in Nigeria after Trump warned of attacks on Christians.

The Defense Department carried out the deadly strike Thursday in cooperation with Nigerian authorities. The attack hit Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim state in northwest Nigeria, where the Islamic State-affiliated Lakurawa group has strongholds. The US earlier this month said it would restrict visas for Nigerians involved in violence against Christians; Nigeria's government and analysts have previously said people of many faiths are potential victims of extremist groups.




Powerful storm system slams California, East and Midwest brace for snow.

Los Angeles saw its wettest Christmas in 54 years as atmospheric rivers brought rain and snow across California this week, killing at least three people. At least 32 million remained under flood watches Friday. Meanwhile, on the East Coast and in the Midwest, about 66 million people were under winter weather alerts Friday. New York City is expected to see its largest snow accumulation since January 2022.




Stimulant ADHD medications work differently than thought.

New research finds common stimulant ADHD medications like Ritalin and Adderall mainly act on the brain’s reward and wakefulness centers, not the attention networks traditionally thought to be their main target. The study suggests the medications make tasks feel more engaging rather than directly sharpening focus, and may also mimic the brain activity of good sleep, masking sleep deprivation in kids with ADHD.




DOJ finds over 1 million more Epstein-related files it needs to review.

The Justice Department said Wednesday it has received over 1 million new documents potentially tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Officials said it could take weeks to review these files produced by the FBI and a New York federal court. The trove is on top of the several hundred thousand files the DOJ said would be shared in the coming weeks. To date, the DOJ has released about 40,000 Epstein documents.




Trump-backed Asfura wins Honduras presidency after disputed election.

Honduras' electoral authority declared former Mayor Nasry Asfura the winner of the Nov. 30 vote, narrowly defeating sportscaster and four-time presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla. The official count shows Asfura of the conservative National Party winning by less than one percentage point over Nasralla of the conservative Liberal Party. Nasralla has alleged fraud, saying not all tally sheets were counted.




Arkansas Powerball lottery player wins second-largest US jackpot ever.

Someone who bought a lottery ticket at an Arkansas gas station on Christmas Eve won a $1.8B jackpot. The winner can choose between a lump sum payment of $834.9M or an annuitized payout of the full prize amount over about 30 years; both options are before taxes. The largest Powerball jackpot on record was more than $2B, won in California in 2022. The odds of hitting the jackpot are roughly one in 292.2 million.




China sanctions 20 US defense companies over Taiwan arms sale.

Boeing’s defense unit and Northrop Grumman are among the sanctioned companies, as well as 10 executives, after the US announced new weapons sales to Taiwan. The move freezes any assets the companies and executives hold in China and restricts business with Chinese entities. The impact is mostly symbolic, as US defense contractors generally conduct little business in China.




Hawaii cruise passengers to face new climate change‑related tax.

A federal judge cleared the way for Hawaii’s new tourist tax, which includes an 11% levy on cruise ship passenger fares, prorated for days spent in port. The tax is the first of its kind in the US and will take effect in early 2026 to help fund climate resilience efforts like shoreline protection and wildfire mitigation. Officials estimate the tax will bring in $100M annually.

Christmas/Birthday

 

Is December 25 really the birthday of Jesus?

AI RESPONSE:

No, December 25th isn't definitively Jesus' actual birthday; the Bible doesn't state the date, but scholars suggest spring/fall, with the December date likely chosen by 4th-century Christians to coincide with pagan winter solstice festivals (like Sol Invictus) for easier cultural adoption, symbolizing the "birth" of the "Son of Light" as days lengthen. While shepherds tending flocks might suggest warmer months, the specific date remains unknown, and it's a tradition, not a biblical fact.

WTF???

Are you kidding me???

4th century Christians wanted to align with the pagan winter solstice....

And, shepherds tending their flocks might suggest warmer months?

AGAIN...  WTF???

As a religious scholar would you not want accuracy, if for no other reason than to establish credibility?

We just finished celebrating this birthday, yet, we are really not sure that its the right birthday and we've know this for centuries but we're committed to this date anyway...

No wonder Christianity is losing members.

So, I guess one's faith is more important than the TRUTH...  

Did you ever think HEAVEN might be the same issue as the birthday?

Or, that this so-called heaven does not exist at all.

Somewhat Political

Serene

 

Headlines

Scene from the Apple TV+ show ‘Severance’


The weather outside is frightful, but the bingeing options inside are delightful. This year was full of new media as industries from Hollywood to gaming seemed to finally get projects out post-pandemic.
Music

Before Bad Bunny hops onto the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage in 2026, he became Spotify’s most-listened-to artist of the year for the fourth time. Joining him in the 2025 global rankings are Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Drake, and Billie Eilish.Spotify’s top artists, songs, and more
Pitchfork’s 50 Best Albums of 2025
NPR’s 125 Best Songs of the Year
The New York Times’s Best Songs
The Guardian’s Best Music of 2025
TV

It was a satisfying year for long-awaited second seasons, with Season 2 of Severance remaining mysterious and important, The Last of Us once again scaring the world with fungus-zombies, and The Rehearsal showing Nathan Fielder trying to solve air safety.The New York Times’s Best TV Shows
Rolling Stone’s Top 10
The best shows according to industry insiders at Variety and The Hollywood Reporter
AV Club’s Top 25 TV Series
Movies

Paul Thomas Anderson stans will notice that One Battle After Another seemed to make every top-movie ranking. But 2025 was also the year of slaying scary creatures, with KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners both earning acclaim.The New York Times’s Best Movies
The Rotten Tomatoes Awards Leaderboard
The Washington Post’s Top 10
Rolling Stone’s 10 Best Horror Movies
Podcasts

The Rest is History got everyone chatting about historical events like they just happened yesterday. At the same time, millions of people continued to listen to grisly true-crime pods while shopping at Trader Joe’s.Vulture’s Best Podcasts
The New Yorker’s Top 10
The top shows on Apple and Spotify
LitHub’s favorite literary podcasts
Video games

Indie games dominated a year with few blockbuster releases (still waiting on Grand Theft Auto VI), featuring quirky heroes like a bug that battles with a needle and a daughter of Hades and Persephone.GameSpot’s Best Reviewed Games
RTE’s 10 Best Video Games
The Washington Post’s Top 10 Video Games
Metacritic’s top-scored games
Winners of the annual Game Awards                —JW

READ MORE...

Robert Reich

A Salute to New York’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani
He takes office Thursday. Here’s my interview with him before the election.





Friends,

The headlines will proclaim that he’s New York’s youngest, first Muslim, and first African-born mayor. He’s also the first avowed Democratic Socialist to fill the job. But if you really want to understand him and why he won — he will take office Thursday — you may want to watch the following interview.

Trump chose a scowl for his official portrait. Mamdani’s smile is its opposite. While Trump has brought anger, hate, and cruelty to America, Mamdani is likely to bring kindness, thoughtfulness, and empathy to New York.

Mr. Mayor-elect Mamdani, we wish you the best of luck.

At A Glance

Bookkeeping
> 42: Consecutive hours a British sandwich shop owner spent singing Christmas songs, a new world record.
> 8: How many people it takes to perform an annual checkup on a 140-pound stingray.

Browse
> What Americans think is the best decade of life.
> Can you name the 20 objects that defined culture in 2025?
> ... and how well do you know baby boomer pop culture?
> A subjective list of the year's worst movies.
> ... and eight movies turning 50 next year.

Listen
> The economics of Christmas lights.

Watch
> Shrinking cardboard sales could signal a recession.
> Why we haven't domesticated monkeys.
> Build-A-Bear Workshop shares grew 1,150% in five years. Here's how.

Long Read
> Why the concept of zero matters, according to neuroscience.
> Welcome to Sommarøy, the village that doesn't obey the clock.

Most Clicked This Week: Power outage sets US clock back 4.8 microseconds.

Historybook: Chemist Louis Pasteur born (1822); Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich born (1901); Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City (1932); Pakistan politician Benazir Bhutto assassinated (2007); Carrie Fisher dies (2016).