Hi everyone, 

Happy Fri-yay. Hope you all are sleeping well. 

Thanks to all who are continuing to support me on this vanity project and sustaining my self-worth.

Here’s next week’s survey, also linked below.

Onto the round-up:

Survey Results

Q1: Michael Jackson - approve or disapprove?

Results:

Highlighted Free Responses:

• “People are complex and I don’t judge anyone who is still a fan of his music…but I do think he did some pretty fucked up shit”

• “I like to think he’s innocent… separate the art from the artist? His music is objectively timeless. Maybe the Michael movie will change my opinion on him, but my love for his music is consistent.”

• “Feel like this question really needs a third more neutral option because MJ is, I think objectively, one of the most complicated people ever. But generally I lean disapprove”

• “My Korean born and raised mother cried when he died. I repeat my Korean, wife of a pastor, child beating, Zohran hating, kimchi eating, racist mother cried when he died. Yeah, he's the goat.”

• “I put approve but I genuinely don’t have an opinion on him I think. I don’t really listen to his music and can respect the influence but I just don’t get the hype. I’ve heard both that he was a big time molester and that he didn’t do anything. I think overrated maybe? So disapprove I guess. I changed my mind, disapprove.”

• “Free Mike. I invite anyone to listen to Human Nature and try to not to dance.”

Commentary:

I agree that this is a complicated question for a complicated person. As I heard said on a podcast recently, Michael Jackson truly is one of the most fascinating pop culture figures we’ve ever had and contains so many complexities of our society -- race, class, fame, sexuality, beauty, fashion, family, capitalism, so on and so forth. There are entire dedicated Wikipedia pages for:

• Michael Jackson fandom

• Philanthropy of Michael Jackson

• Cultural impact of Michael Jackson

• List of cover versions of Michael Jackson songs

• Health and appearance of Michael Jackson

• Personal relationships of Michael jackson

• 1993 Michael Jackson sexual abuse allegations

And probably more that I am missing. So I understand that a binary approve/disapprove here doesn’t really do him justice. But it’s my survey so I make the rules.

The main theme that seems to come up whenever we ever talk about Michael is that, ultimately, the music is just undeniable. I mean, just look at this run of songs on Thriller:

That’s just ridiculous. The man was touched by God (there’s a touching-related follow-on joke here that I will not be making).

I remember being in China when he died and they were playing his songs on the radio non-stop for multiple days. The songs were just that good.

MJ is like the final boss of the “separating the art vs. artist” struggle, and with enough time it does seem like the “art” side of things has just won out.

And the people have been showing out big time for Michael, which seems like it’s going to end up making north of $500M at the box office. 

It makes me wonder if other artists will benefit from the same rehabilitation over the years. Will Kanye get his own biopic? Will Diddy ever not be a meme? Will I ever hear Ignition (Remix) at a white people party ever again?¹ I guess time will tell.

Q2: Do you think you are good at dancing?

Results:

Highlighted Free Responses:

• “Two things run in my family: baldness and a steadfast refusal to dance.”

• “As one of my friends in high school said “I just don’t think my hips were made to move like that.” That being said, it doesn’t stop me from shaking my ass and loving to dance.”

• “I think in order to be good at dancing, all it requires is that you are having fun and moving your body in a way that brings you joy. When we perceive ourselves to be bad at dancing, we ensure that we will be, because we limit our ability to have fun through the self expression of dancing.”

• “In college I went to a beginners dance class and it was way too advanced for me.”

• “If you're good at dancing you're a slut and you know it. Only those who are pure of heart are bad at dancing.”

• “I am bad at dancing but find it really annoying when people don’t dance because they’re bad at it. Live a little”

• “I am trash at dancing. But God I love to throw down on the dance floor. Kinda look like a baby horse that’s just learning how to walk. Look weird, but really stoked to be doing it.”

Commentary:

This split seems about what I expected. Trying to picture most of you dancing doesn’t exactly conjure up very elegant images in my head. Respectfully.

I had two thoughts that motivated this question. The first thought comes from my experience going to a concert recently where they mostly played house / dance music and where I did not really actually see that much impressive dancing. Not that I am judging; I myself am not a very good dancer and I wasn’t going around scrutinizing people’s dancing, but where else am I going to see good dancing if not at this dark giant warehouse designed for dance music?

The second thought I had is wondering if the proliferation of TikTok and short-form dance videos has made people better at dancing, on average. Nowadays it's easier than ever to get inspired to partake in some viral trend or learn the dance moves to the latest K Pop song or whatever, so I do think it’s probably had some positive effect on dancing skills in aggregate. However, I don’t think my remaining survey responders are the type to be learning the moves to the new BTS album anytime soon.

But, like some of you have mentioned, sometimes it really doesn’t matter. Dancing is mostly about confidence and having fun and moving your body around to music in a way that feels good. And it makes you happy.

So maybe we should all be dancing more. And dance like nobody’s watching.

Q3: Have you engaged in any kind of gambling in the last 12 months? 

Results:

Highlighted Free Responses:

• “I primarily bet on college football, sometimes NFL, occasionally NCAA. The proliferation of sports gambling and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. That being said, it makes me feel cool and smart when I win :)”

• “I feel like growing up, I was instituted with some early 19th century concept of gambling as a vice bad enough to warrant Temperance ladies cursing you into oblivion for ruining your family”

• “I played poker with friends. I typically lose lol. But I see it as a “buy-in for the hangout”. I’m not big on gambling in general unless it’s friendly wagers among friends, and even then it has to be on something I find inherently fun. I think sports betting has ruined sports a little tbh. I don’t love that ESPN is talking about betting lines instead of story lines. And I don’t love going to a sports bar and listening to people obsessing over 1 thing happening. Fantasy is the poker with friends equivalent of sports betting to me. Low stakes, long horizon, lots of fun, and nobody is losing their rent money over it”

• “I don’t bet but if I did I would lose so much fucking money riding for my disgusting trash terrible New York sports teams”

• “Take whatever you bet and put it in QQQ. plus Francis is never getting my arbitrage”

• “Everything. Life is a gamble. Everything is 50 - 50, you either win or you lose. Best believe I'm betting on myself every damn day.”

• “I don’t gamble and I think it’s way in third place of vices behind alcohol and drugs. Intellectually I think it’s day trading for people who buy jerseys, emotionally I understand chasing the high. With gambling at best slightly over half the time you win. At least when you buy a beer the buzz is guaranteed”

• “Net negative to society and a public health crisis for individuals”

Commentary:

Good for all the no’s out there. Best to stay away. 

For the yes’es, please comment below with some good player props for the Knicks game tonight. I like Mikal Bridges over 14.5 points.²

My stance on gambling is kind of like my stance on astrology: I think if you dabble in it for fun and for community every so often and don’t let it ruin your life, it’s relatively fine (obviously the maximum downside risk of gambling is obviously much worse than getting too into your horoscopes).

Similarly, if you do gamble I think it’s wise to at least be clear-eyed about what you’re getting yourself into, and how much the deck is stacked against you. Whether it's Vegas, Fanduel, or Kalshi, these markets are meticulously designed to extract maximum engagement and profit out of you, and often in very unfair ways.

Of course, some people do make money gambling. Chances are that it’s just not you:

Parlays, as popularized by Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems, have also seen a huge boost in popularity as ways to strike it big on small initial wagers. Not to say I haven’t placed a parlay or two in my day, but I really dislike how this has become the gateway drug into gambling as some get-rich-quick-scheme to escape the permanent underclass. Again, these odds are stacked against you and are just ways to suck you dry, Francis.

With all these newfangled ways to gamble and lose your money, I’ve actually come to see analog gambling and going to Las Vegas to be more endearing, palatable, and grounded in human connection. At least in Vegas you go out and play games with other people, the drinks are free, the weather is warm, you get to look at all sorts of insane people, and you can do other stuff. The last time I went to Vegas I actually made a good profit playing slots! Much better experience than staring at your phone and then posting inflammatory tweets at Joel Embiid on how he didn’t get two more rebounds. Same goes for low-stakes gambling like poker with your friends or Super Bowl squares. The pleasure is to play, not to win. 

So really what I’m saying is that your vices are all justified if you can get outside and do it with the boys. Go forth and be merry.

Q4: Have you partaken in any marijuana in the last 12 months?

Results:

Highlighted Free Responses:

• “I’ve only smoked a “marijuana cigarette” once, in Denver years ago and I’m still waiting for it to hit. I hit a vape once or twice but it’s not really my scene because it I’m gonna inhale, it’s gonna be a sweet, sweet cigarette. So, mostly gummies and whatnot for me. I did one the other night to honor a friend who passed suddenly. Before then, it had been a few months. I like it but I’m just moving on from that part of my life (I.e. doing it regularly)”

• “I don’t have a good reason other than I’m lazy”

• “...I used to find it nice and relaxing, but honestly got a bit too dependent on it. I think it’s a nice time when done every once in a while, but I’m enjoying not doing it all more so than doing it everyday. Hope to find a happy medium one day, but I think for now the lack of brain fog and quality sleep are my new high. That’s not to shame anyone who does smoke daily, trust, I know how nice that is too. But once you’re doing it to do it or because you think you need to, it’s really not that fun anymore.”

• “I haven’t smoked in so long I’m actually afraid of how high new weed strains would get me”

• “2x a week roughly mostly in edibles or a joint. I think people should take less edibles and smoke more as it’s a more controlled high. I enjoy smoking with a new friend or listening to a song I like high, it’s like meeting them again.”

• “I partake like once every 6 months. Edible form is always my go to, but nothing beats a j.”

• “Edible are a nice thing for a very low key school night way to relax. My days of getting high are over literally just because I can’t handle it no more.”

• “Smoked a joint for the first time in like 4 years. Two puffs and I was rocked. But had a good time this time around (plus that I didn’t have to be carried by Nathan Xiao either).”

Commentary:

I was initially somewhat surprised to see so many no’s here.

In the macro sense, marijuana use is trending upwards and it’s easier than ever to acquire and ingest in whatever form factor you please.

Thinking about it a little more though, I guess the split isn’t that surprising.

I think many people I know are either a) too anxious / uncomfortable getting high, b) have security clearances / job security concerns, or both. This is definitely an affliction that is particularly common amongst a certain type of DC person, but is something I notice in plenty of other people in my peer group.

It also doesn’t help that the proliferation of weed has made the product increasingly stronger, more heterogenous, and less regulated. Like a canceled comedian once put it, they’ve been workin’ on that shit like it’s the cure for cancer.

Maybe there’s just something about being a certain type of neurotic person and getting older and not being able to keep up with it. I’ve definitely had stretches like that where weed would make me scared instead of relaxed or having fun. But now I’m normal and cool again as long as I keep it under 5mg or half a joint.

Ultimately I think the solution is just to Bring Back Mids for all of us uncs out there.

Q5: New York City - overrated or underrated?

Results:

Highlighted Free Responses:

• “I’ve only been once, for a weekend seven years ago, so my memory is foggy. I liked it, but I can’t say anything about the place is remotely underrated.”

• “NYC is one of the only logical cities that I’ve never wanted to live in. Too crowded, busy, too little green space, expensive”

• “I think it is by far the funnest place to visit if you have friends who live there. I think their cost of living is the price of being the best place to visit, but not necessarily the best place to live. I think anybody who makes the city they live in, or the work they do, their personality is obnoxious… so yes… the answer is yes…”

• “To people not from NY I understand the appeal. Place has an aura about it. But it is the most overrated city on earth. Too big, too crowded, too dirty, too expensive.”

• “I think there’s only a few truly diverse, global cities in the world and NYC is no doubt the most diverse. Not just racially but in most aspects of life. I think everyone would really enjoy living in nyc for 2 years. The pizza alone is worth it”

• “Highkirkenuinely the greatest English speaking city in the world. It's not for everybody, but there is something for everyone. Eight million stories out there in the naked, city it's a pity half of y'all won't make it. When I'm going out in a city that's not NYC and they start playing Empire State of Mind and people start pointing at me, that shit means something to me.”

• “I think it’s properly rated but I’d find it a ludicrous take to say underrated at this point. If T swift, Frank Sinatra, and Jay Z have all written songs about you is it even possible to be underrated?”

• “I like living here but the hype is a bit overblown. I dig how open things are, getting around, and so much to do. But it’s also expensive, dirty, and loud. On balance it’s a sick city but idk if it’s such leagues above other places (unless I somehow secure the bag and I can afford more space).”

Commentary:

I think only people who live in New York are saying underrated here. Probably a lie you have to tell yourself to justify the rent and the cockroaches.

I mean, maybe they’re right. Where else in the world can you walk down a block that smells like trash and go into a convenience store and get a sandwich?

I can’t deny it does have an aura, a mystique about it. The food is great, the scope and diversity of the neighborhoods and boroughs are unparalleled, the subway does get you to a lot of places (except the airport! Thanks Robert Moses), Spiderman is from there, and the place just has an unmistakable character to it that no other American city can really hold a light to.

It pains me to say as a Chicagoan, but Chicago is probably the closest thing in America to NYC and it is still not really that close in terms of scale and depth. 

But as a great New York songwriter once said, New York’s the greatest… if you can get someone to pay the rent. 

I live in DC, one of the most expensive cities in the country, and in one of the more expensive neighborhoods in this city. And the rent in New York is still absolutely absurd to me. 2.5K to get a tiny bedroom and live with 2 roommates? No thanks. I think living here and visiting NYC a few times a year is a much better mix for me, but you guys enjoy your rat bagels.

Next Week’s Survey

See here for next week’s survey. Same drill as before.

See you next week,

Nathan