We wanted to invite you personally—so, yes, you!—to visit our new sister site, run by the funny and bizarre Edith Zimmerman and friends, particularly the phenomenal Liz Colville. It is called The Hairpin. Of course it is. Please do go say hi! Sad to say, this means that all topics even remotely regarding women (such as politics, robots, carpentry and global finance) will now be permanently banned from The Awl, which will now exhibit an even more extreme and rigorous manliness than it already does.

One of the more vexing conundrums with which we've been faced in the evolution of this site is what to do with the final Friday post. Barring some earthshattering news event which compels one or the other of us to race to our laptops, whatever we stick up here late at the end of the week will remain atop the page until we return on Monday morning. But what should it be? A review of the week's most interesting posts? Boring, plus you loyal readers have already sifted through them. A collection of amusing videos which we might not otherwise mention? There are no videos we might not otherwise mention, [...]

What's that, Science? You want to tell us something about old people? Well, go right ahead! "Older people like reading negative news stories about their younger counterparts because it boosts their own self-esteem, according to a new study. German researchers said older people tend to be portrayed negatively in society. Although they are often described as wise, they are also be shown as being slow and forgetful. 'Living in a youth centered culture, they may appreciate a boost in self-esteem. That's why they prefer the negative stories about younger people, who are seen as having a higher status in our society,' said Dr. Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, of Ohio State University." [...]

My father, who could be both loving and dismissive in equal measure, took stock of me at fourteen and made an assessment which has haunted me ever since. It was at the beginning of my "difficult period," although I'm pretty sure everyone has a difficult period around that age. Along with the typical tiny rebellions against authority and wild swings of emotion, I had begun to do badly in school, which caused no end of concern in a family where education was highly prized and grades were the main metric of personal growth.