Welcome to the Afterparty
A little something more, for the real ones.
Gentlemen, there's only two ways I know of to make money: bundling and unbundling.
Jim Barksdale
CEO, Netscape (1995)
This week, I tried something new. Rather than sending one long email of curated links that obviously has A LOT of meat on the bone (and probably some gristle), I'm breaking Sunday Bunch into two parts:
First, you've likely already seen the tighter set of links delivered to your inbox—no pleasantries, just a calm list of things worth reading between Sunday delivery and the end of Monday's commute.
Second is what you're reading now: this companion piece posted on The Preview. Free from inbox constraints and knowing our casual readers might not venture beyond the email digest, this gives us room to experiment.
Some weeks, like this one, you'll get an extended list of links—both what would normally make the cut and those that wouldn't for one reason or another1. Other weeks, I might try something different. And sometimes, the email digest might be all there is.
I'm excited to hear what you think about this new format. The goal remains the same: delivering quality content worth your time, just packaged differently to better serve both casual readers and dedicated followers.
INTERMEDIATED
Casual Viewing (N+1)
YouTube and Netflix: the present and foreseeable future of what and how we watch2.
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TMZ’s scoop on Michael Jackson’s death marked the moment digital news overtook legacy media3 (Poynter)
The Future of News Looks Niche (NY Times)
From Harvey Levin to Jessica Lessin.
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AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Brand Strategy (Catalyst Strategy)
Speaking things into existence (One Useful Thing)
The History and Future of Memeing Things Into Reality (Contraptions)
Three related meditations ‘expertise in a vibe-filled world of work.’
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Inside the Biggest Brand Activations at SXSW (Adweek)
Marketers don’t know what an insight actually is and consumers don’t care (The Drum)
Vibe-filled and ad-pilled.
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Too Many Trends! (NY Times)
Even the youths are exhausted. But then again:
THE SHIFTING HABITS OF THE LEISURE CLASS
‘Eiffel Tower of the north’? Manchester United unveil 100,000-seat new stadium project (The Guardian)
2026 World Cup final to host Super Bowl-style halftime show (ESPN)
Let there be spectacle.
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A New Model for Sports Media? Boardroom Bets Big on Membership (Hollywood Reporter)
What comes first subscription fatigue or membership club fatigue?
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Never Mind the Tariffs. Mexico City’s Art Scene Is Thriving—And Growing (Artnet)
Spain Is the Latest Country to Have Caught the Texas Barbecue Bug (Texas Monthly)
Japan’s Ski Slopes Have Too Much of a Good Thing: Snow (NY Times)
Editor’s Note: If you need someone to be your guide through the most powdery of slopes in Japan, look no further than Stealth Backcountry. 🇯🇵🏂
From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.
LUXURY AND ALL ITS TRAPPINGS
The great American classic we’ve been misreading for 100 years (Vox)
The Great Gatsby is more than cocktail parties and color symbolism.
Man Posing as NBA Player Representative Swallows $769,000 in Stolen Tiffany Jewelry, Police Say (CBS News)
I Am Trapped in the Criterion Closet (McSweeney’s)
As I drink, something approaches. My blood runs cold. I turn and see Isabella Rossellini. She is wrapped in a floor-length elkskin jacket, crowfeather hat, and a necklace fashioned from fish bones. (These were what she was wearing when she came in.)
Brought to you by Globo-ChemACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Sometimes because they’re just too spicy, sometimes because they have a lot of images that wouldn’t all fit in an email.
One example of YouTube’s changing role in the larger media establishment: Warner Brothers is now using it as the new “DVD bargain bin” to get their back catalogues in front of new audiences.
I could be wrong, but I “TMZ doesn’t miss” reputation lift from this one pretty much stayed intact for 15+ years, all the way until DNC 2024 and the failed Beyonce scoop.