Blake Nelson
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Articles by Blake Nelson
Peter Thiel has everything. Maybe he just wants to be 19 again.
I went to see Peter Thiel deliver one of his "Antichrist" lectures in Nashville, Tennessee, recently. It was held in the Grand Lodge of the Masonic Temple of Freemasons, a beautiful old building just up the street from Nashville’s famous Broadway strip. To my right were two enthusiastic Indian men in their mid-20s. I didn’t talk to them, but they seemed like girls at a Taylor Swift concert. Doors opened at five, the lecture started at six. I wanted to be there early for maximum people-watching.
Peter Thiel has everything. Maybe he just wants to be 19 again.
I went to see Peter Thiel deliver one of his "Antichrist" lectures in Nashville, Tennessee, recently. It was held in the Grand Lodge of the Masonic Temple of Freemasons, a beautiful old building just up the street from Nashville’s famous Broadway strip. To my right were two enthusiastic Indian men in their mid-20s. I didn’t talk to them, but they seemed like girls at a Taylor Swift concert. Doors opened at five, the lecture started at six. I wanted to be there early for maximum people-watching.
Three straight white guys walk into a poetry reading ... Original
I was on Facebook one day when I happened to see an event schedule for the super-woke nonprofit Literary Arts Bookstore we have here in Portland. I looked through the store's calendar. Most of the events were what you would expect: a young woman presenting her trauma memoir, a BIPOC reading night, a Chinese woman’s immigration story, a female brain surgeon’s journey through the sexist medical field ... All three of them knew exactly what they were allowed to write about.
Protect Young Fans: Why Doctors Are Pushing Back Against the Big 12's Monster Energy Partnership
By Blake Nelson •October 7, 2026•57 views Credit: on3static.com On July 7, 2026, the Big 12 announced that Monster Energy would be the entitlement partner of their football and basketball regular seasons.
When October meant hunting in the high desert Original
In October, during my sophomore year of high school, my schedule was: school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., football practice 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a couple of nights working at the gas station. And then on Fridays, I’d come home, and my dad would be packing for that weekend’s hunting trip. This was what every dog craved, every dog dreamed of, the heroic duty they’d been bred for, for tens of thousands of years! Usually, we’d be joined by my dad’s doctor friends and their kids of a similar age.
Defending the last place where men can be men Original
Sometimes I wonder what younger men talk about in 2026. Then I think about my own youth in my 20s and 30s. What did my friends and I talk about? Music, mostly. At least with my crowd. What bands you liked. What new groups you were listening to. Why is a female broadcaster telling me about returning punts? I returned punts on my JV football team in high school, and it was terrifying. She has never returned a punt. Films were another topic. The latest movies by Scorsese or Tarantino.
Is college even fun any more? Original
The day I left for college was easily the most exciting day of my life. First, I was going to the East Coast. I had been raised in Portland, Oregon, which was a pleasant, normal town to grow up in. I think of my own parents watching me board that airplane in 1979. How excited I was. How bittersweet — and yet satisfying — for them that I was getting this incredible opportunity. But to be back east! Near Boston and New York! To live where it snowed in the winter and the leaves turned colors in the fall.
WHITE ALBUM: Portland music venue leaves 'anti-racism' off the playlist Original
I went to my first “listening party” at a new venue in downtown Portland, Oregon, called Mono Space. I guess it’s a venue. I’m a little unsure what to call it. Here’s what it calls itself: Mono Space is a high-fidelity listening gallery dedicated to the preservation of music culture and the presentation of music recordings as works of art. Located in a renovated warehouse in Portland’s historic Pearl District, this nonprofit venue creates a setting for attentive listening and cultural exchange.
'The Perfume Nationalist' reclaims culture for conservatives — one fragrance at a time Original
One great thing about the Trump revolution was the galvanizing affect it had on young conservatives. Even as the mainstream media violently rejected the president, a new generation of brave and talented pro-Trump voices developed a new medium to circumvent the biased media: the podcast. Everything feminism claims to be true about the oppression of women and girls in society is now true in reverse about men and boys.
I used to hate Shakespeare ... until a 200-year-old book changed my mind Original
I got in an argument once with a guy who was dismissing white, Anglo-Saxon culture, saying it was overrated and overrepresented. He thought Americans needed to learn about other cultures, and other artists, who were just as good, if not better. I was like: better than Beethoven? Better than Shakespeare? Better than Led Zeppelin? In 'The Tempest,' there was no basic reality. Characters could become invisible if they felt like it. They could live for years on desert islands without food.
The sad, strange death of Fred Meyer: My hometown supermarket’s downward spiral
In 2019, I moved back to Portland, my hometown, to help with a family health situation. I rented an apartment near where I grew up. I began doing my food shopping at the local Fred Meyer supermarket, which I remembered from when I was a kid. When I saw the sign and the locked gate, it felt like an assault. It was another closing door. Another innocent pleasure snatched away. It was fun to go back to “Freddy’s." It was in a quiet, affluent neighborhood, so the store was always neat and clean.
The sad, strange death of Fred Meyer: My hometown supermarket’s downward spiral
In 2019, I moved back to Portland, my hometown, to help with a family health situation. I rented an apartment near where I grew up. I began doing my food shopping at the local Fred Meyer supermarket, which I remembered from when I was a kid. When I saw the sign and the locked gate, it felt like an assault. It was another closing door. Another innocent pleasure snatched away. It was fun to go back to “Freddy’s." It was in a quiet, affluent neighborhood, so the store was always neat and clean.
Is this a new era of conservative filmmaking? Original
I was recently treated to a free screening of a new documentary called "Thank You for Sharing" (2026). This funny and engaging film is a much-needed investigation into the dubious intentions of the mental health industry. It's also the first foray into feature-length filmmaking by upstart conservative press Passage Publishing. And Passage chose a novel way to get people to watch it. You can see the lack of money on the screen. But you can also feel a sense of rebellion and scrappiness.
Oregon burns, Portlanders shrug: It's just 'wildfire season' — get used to it Original
Here in Portland, we’ve had a bad week of wildfire smoke. It’s been at DON’T GO OUTSIDE levels. You literally feel the ache in your chest. Your eyes begin to burn. This recent event brought to mind the Great Portland Smoke-Out of 2020, which followed the most devastating and deadly wildfires in Oregon history. I went to relax in a lounge chair by the hotel pool. But as I lay there, I noticed the sky slowly change from blue, to a dull yellow, and then to a reddish gray.
THE POPULAR KIDS' TABLE
Emma Straub is happier than you are. * Don’t forget to hit the LIKE button if you enjoyed the piece. And consider becoming a paid subscriber to access the archives and support my work! * I was cruising around on Substack, and I came across a new alt-lit webzine that I hadn’t seen before. There are a lot of these on Substack. I think of Republic of Letters and TheMetropolitan Review as being the first to appear. Maybe ROL or TMR will eventually become the standard bearers in culture writing.
Is America still a 'first world' country? Not compared to Japan Original
Recently, someone on X.com said that Japan was the last “first world country" left on earth. I felt an instinctual agreement when I read this statement. America no longer feels very “first world” to me. Not lately. When the three worlds concept was first invented — in 1952, during the Cold War — America was the definition of “first world." Everywhere you looked you saw competence, excellence, and cultural cohesion.
'Sensitivity readers' came for my novel 10 years ago; a new book helps explain why Original
In 2016, I got a call from my editor at Simon & Schuster in New York. The company was putting out a new edition of my first novel, "Girl" (1994), and redoing the cover and interior design, in preparation for its re-release. A new edition is usually a happy occasion for a writer. If your book is still relevant after 20+ years, that’s an accomplishment. Books have a moral authority that TV, TikTok and YouTube lack. And we all know how leftists crave moral authority.
Trends come and go, but Randy Travis is 'Forever' Original
I was having lunch in a local tavern the other day, when Randy Travis’ 1987 country hit “Forever and Ever, Amen” came on the jukebox. Wow! That song sounds as good as it did 40 years ago! Maybe better! Why is it that some things have a timeless quality and other things don’t? My friends and I often argue about if a song, or a book, or a TV show “holds up”? Does it still retain that original freshness and quality it seemed to have when it first appeared?
Want to sell your book? Vilify the Christians who raised you. Original
Last year, here in Portland, I went to an author event at my local bookstore. The book was called "On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right." It was a memoir by Josiah Hesse. The event description said the memoir was about Hesse’s “bleak and difficult childhood in a small, rural Evangelical community in Iowa.” My guess is that his literary agent or his editor understood how hungry mainstream publishers are for books that attack and slander the Christian faith.
AI Images in Flooring Marketing: When It's Legally Risky
Artificial intelligence has quickly become a powerful marketing tool for flooring contractors. With a few prompts, a business can generate polished, photorealistic images of hardwood installs that are often more visually appealing than real jobsite photos. While these tools offer clear marketing advantages, using AI-generated images or content to represent your own completed projects presents meaningful legal risks. Misrepresentation and consumer protection The primary concern is false advertising.
Jesus in the temple (of progressivism): What I learned watching Portlanders debate a street preacher Original
Recently, I stopped to grab a pizza slice in the Hawthorne district of Portland. This is a trendy neighborhood, full of vintage shops, vinyl record stores, hipster cafes. The vibe is very liberal progressive. As I approached the pizza place, I heard someone talking over a loudspeaker. I assumed there was a protest going on. Or a Pride event.
What was the 'alt-right'? 'Whitepill' clears up the media hysteria
I remember back in the early Trump days, I would cruise by the Politics section of my local bookstore to see which celebrity leftist pundit they were promoting this week. One day, I noticed a small subsection within Politics called the Alt-Right. The alt-right was like the early punk movement. If you were actually there, it was crazy fun. If you weren’t, everything you heard about it was negative. I was amazed that a bookstore in my blue city would admit that the “alt-right” existed.
What was the 'alt-right'? 'Whitepill' clears up the media hysteria
I remember back in the early Trump days, I would cruise by the Politics section of my local bookstore to see which celebrity leftist pundit they were promoting this week. One day, I noticed a small subsection within Politics called the Alt-Right. The alt-right was like the early punk movement. If you were actually there, it was crazy fun. If you weren’t, everything you heard about it was negative. I was amazed that a bookstore in my blue city would admit that the “alt-right” existed.
The cure for liking socialism? Visiting a socialist country Original
One of the reasons I am alarmed by the socialist/communist trends in my own country is that I visited such countries in my youth. My first look at communism was at Checkpoint Charlie in West Berlin in 1984. There, you crossed into East Berlin (the communist side) through a barbed wire, land-mined, machine gun-guarded, no-man’s land. The bite wound — on her hand — appeared serious enough to require an antiseptic. But where could they find that, late at night, in Havana?
N 4 -Acetylcytidine enhances synthetic mRNA translation yield and fidelity
Abstract Synthetic mRNA therapeutics offer a versatile platform for treating diverse conditions, including cancer and infectious diseases. For delivery into cells, these mRNAs are encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles and commonly incorporate modified ribonucleotides to improve stability, enhance translation and mitigate immune recognition1.
COLLISION COURSE: How I learned the most important rule of senior softball Original
I ran into a guy during senior softball last night. I was running to third base, and I came in a little too fast. He was reaching to catch the ball, and I knocked into him. Nothing happened. Nobody was hurt. But I felt bad about it. I apologized. It was poor etiquette. The next thing I knew, the whole world did a wild 360-degree spin, and I found myself sans glasses, on my backside in the grass. That’s the thing about senior softball. The players are seniors. You’re a senior. Everyone is a little bit ...
AGONY ALGORITHM: Why are so many Zoomers so lonely on YouTube? Original
I don’t know what I clicked on that caused this, but lately most of the suggested videos on my YouTube sidebar are of morose and lonely young men saying things like: Nobody wants to be in a relationship. I’m 31, and I’ve never had a girlfriend. It’s an easy formula. Speak in low tones. Sigh with profound weariness. Encourage men to feel sorry for themselves. Everything about life sucks and is horrible. I’m not sad. I’m empty. I look at women, and I’m exhausted. I prefer to live alone. In silence.
Was the punk rock of my youth secretly conservative? Original
I was listening to a Classic Punk playlist on Spotify the other day and heard the song “Safe European Home” by the Clash. I always assumed this song was making fun of uptight British and European vacationers who preferred not to venture too far from the safety of their milquetoast white societies. The Dead Kennedys saw that liberal college students were too brainwashed to understand how lucky they were. That’s how it was back in the 1980s.
Antifa with an AARP card: When did protesting 'dictators' become the new pickleball?
The other day, I was making a right turn at a busy intersection, and I almost ran over an elderly woman who stepped into the street unexpectedly. She had lost her balance because she was crammed together with seven or eight other old people on the street corner. If these elder protesters are being paid, whoever is hiring them must not care much about their safety.
Antifa with an AARP card: When did protesting 'dictators' become the new pickleball?
The other day, I was making a right turn at a busy intersection, and I almost ran over an elderly woman who stepped into the street unexpectedly. She had lost her balance because she was crammed together with seven or eight other old people on the street corner. If these elder protesters are being paid, whoever is hiring them must not care much about their safety.
'Nice to meet you. My kid is gay': When dads turn 'support' into an identity Original
This situation has happened to me twice in recent months. I meet a guy around my age (50s, 60s). We talk and find we have things in common. I’m excited to possibly make a new friend. In both cases, there was no political discussion. I didn’t say anything about politics. And they didn’t either, which was a welcome relief. These guys should be playing golf and awaiting grandchildren, not defending trans activism or walking in Pride parades. In both situations, the subject of children eventually came up.
The Importance of Dispute Resolution Clauses in Wood Flooring Contracts
When entering into a contract for wood flooring or other construction services, most parties focus on the scope of work, materials, timelines and payment terms. While these elements are essential, one often overlooked provision can significantly impact the outcome of any disagreement: the dispute resolution clause. Including this clause is not just a legal formality—it is a practical safeguard that protects both the contractor and the client.
Liberal critics hate 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' — that's how I knew it was worth a watch Original
Remember around 2018 or so, when reviews on Rotten Tomatoes suddenly became suspicious? Like movies that hit all the left-wing, DEI talking points would get 98% Fresh ratings from the critics, but then when regular people started weighing in, the audience meter would drop precipitously? Paul Dano’s Baranov is fascinating. He’s the opposite of a typical Russian movie character. He’s sensitive, intelligent, creative, and socially aristocratic.
Is it finally time to abandon my ultra-liberal hometown? Original
I’m looking at new apartments this week here in Portland, Oregon. It’s time for an upgrade. This has triggered a debate I often have with myself: If I’m going to move, why not leave dysfunctional, far-left Portland altogether? Had I become so comfortable with the bad vibes of Portland that I would stay here indefinitely, out of inertia or laziness or not wanting to start over? This is my chance to move to a different city. Or another state.
WACK JOB: My adventures in the mental health industrial complex Original
I recently had a minor health issue, and while talking to my doctor, he mentioned that “stress and anxiety” might be contributing to my problem. Probably a lot of patients at doctors' offices hear this. Unless you have a broken leg or tennis elbow, doctors can probably link your health problems to “stress and anxiety.” Did I ever think: 'The steering wheel of my car has too many buttons. I should probably just kill myself'? These days, this is probably a reasonable assumption. You’re constipated.
Our local Catholic school sent everyone home for 2 days. You'll never guess why. Original
The big news here in Portland, Oregon, is that a high school baseball player used a “racial hate speech” slur during a pregame, player-only huddle. The slur itself has been kept from the public lest we all die of shock. I’m sure none of us has ever heard such a word. Naturally, the media was called in, so the student leaders got to practice their TV interview skills. One interesting thing about the incident: It happened at a prominent Catholic school in town, Central Catholic.
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond’
Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic. So did her owner, and he searched far and wide for a shelter that would take the two of them. Yet many programmes in San Diego County only accepted humans. “That was my deal breaker,” said Benjamin Noss, Babygirl’s 51-year-old owner. Sleeping in parks already filled Noss with despair. Why would he give up his one source of unconditional love?
I love my MAGA hat — but sometimes you want coffee without a triggering a screaming meltdown Original
I went to meet an old friend for coffee on the East Side of Portland. I don’t make it over to the East Side very often. That’s the more progressive, “social justice” side of town. That’s where the most WE BELIEVE IN SCIENCE signs are. And Pride flags. And other statements of left-wing beliefs, prominently displayed. Who in their right mind would wear an actual MAGA hat on the East Side of Portland? You might get attacked by a woman with face tattoos.
The secret to senior softball? It's all about the magic bat Original
I always liked team sports, so when I got old enough, I signed up for senior softball. At our first game, I showed up with an old mitt and a small aluminum bat I dug out of my sister’s garage. I didn’t really know what level senior softball was going to be. I figured this mitt and bat would be good enough. If not, I could upgrade. Another guy couldn’t seem to get a hit with it. He seemed perplexed and somewhat disturbed that there was a special bat for old people.
The return of Drag Queen Story Hour? Original
I was at my local library recently when I saw something odd on the bulletin board. It looked like a poster for a Drag Queen Story Hour. They can’t be doing that again? I thought to myself. Much of drag comedy focuses on the fact that as hard as they try, most men can’t actually pull off impersonating a woman. In case you don’t remember, Drag Queen Story Hour was one of the most bizarrely inappropriate events ever to appear at your local library.
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond’
SAN DIEGO — Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic. So did her owner, and he searched far and wide for a shelter that would take the two of them. kAm*6E >2?J AC@8C2>D :? $2? s:68@ r@F?EJ @?=J 2446AE65 9F>2?D]k^Am kAm“%92E H2D >J 562= 3C62<6C[” D2:5 q6?;2>:? }@DD[ q23J8:C=’D d`\J62C\@=5 @H?6C] $=66A:?8 :?
My search for America's last decent public libraries Original
As an avid library-goer, I’ve watched with interest how American libraries continue to shift and evolve in our new “post-book” world. That’s right, one thing you notice in libraries these days: There are fewer books. And the ones they do have are checked out less often. She shrugged and said, 'Libraries are for everyone. I’m not allowed to tell them to turn their phone down.' If you can’t find the book you want, you can always reserve it through the library system’s website.
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond’
SAN DIEGO — Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic. So did her owner, and he searched far and wide for a shelter that would take the two of them. kAm*6E >2?J AC@8C2>D :? $2? s:68@ r@F?EJ @?=J 2446AE65 9F>2?D]k^Am kAm“%92E H2D >J 562= 3C62<6C[” D2:5 q6?;2>:? }@DD[ q23J8:C=’D d`\J62C\@=5 @H?6C] $=66A:?8 :?
The pork chop diet (and other secrets of cooking for one) Original
I just finished "BLT week." This was a week in which I ate one bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich every day. By doing so, I managed to consume one 16-ounce packet of bacon, most of two slicing tomatoes, and a ball of iceberg lettuce in eight days. This is the price you pay when you’re single and live by yourself. When the extra fancy bacon goes on sale at your local supermarket, you can’t resist buying it. And then you hurriedly pick up a tomato and lettuce.
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond’
SAN DIEGO — Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic. So did her owner, and he searched far and wide for a shelter that would take the two of them. Yet many programs in San Diego County only accepted humans. kAm“%92E H2D >J 562= 3C62<6C[” D2:5 q6?;2>:? }@DD[ q23J8:C=’D d`\J62C\@=5 @H?6C] $=66A:?8 :?
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond’
SAN DIEGO — Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic. So did her owner, and he searched far and wide for a shelter that would take the two of them. Yet many programs in San Diego County only accepted humans. kAm“%92E H2D >J 562= 3C62<6C[” D2:5 q6?;2>:? }@DD[ q23J8:C=’D d`\J62C\@=5 @H?6C] $=66A:?8 :?
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a lifesaving bond’
Ben Noss, 51, gives a treat to his dog Babygirl, a long-haired dachshund and chihuahua mix, at Father Joe’s Villages in downtown San Diego on March 5, 2026. The two, who became homeless during the pandemic, stay at a shelter run by Father Joe’s Villages, which began allowing pets in 2020. (Kristian Carreon, The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) SAN DIEGO — Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic.
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond’
Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic. So did her owner, and he searched far and wide for a shelter that would take the two of them. Yet many programs in San Diego County only accepted humans. “That was my deal breaker,” said Benjamin Noss, Babygirl’s 51-year-old owner. Sleeping in parks already filled Noss with despair. Why would he give up his one source of unconditional love?
Pets in homeless shelters? Allowing them can preserve ‘a life-saving bond'
Babygirl, a long-haired dachshund and chihuahua mix, walks around during a conference on co-sheltering held by nonprofit My Dog is My Home and Father Joe's Villages in downtown San Diego, California on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Babygirl has been living with her owner, Ben Noss, 51, at Father Joe's Villages for 4 months. (Kristian Carreon/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) SAN DIEGO - Babygirl, a young dachshund and chihuahua mix with long, golden hair, became homeless during the pandemic.
Immerse yourself in Vegas: High-tech attractions take a trip to the next level
Dead & Company perform on March 22, 2025, at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The Sphere is a 366-foot-tall geodesic dome, projecting bright images that can be seen from miles away (as well as from the sky while you’re flying in and out of Las Vegas). Inside, the venue boasts a giant wraparound 16K-resolution screen. Since opening in late 2023, the Sphere has become a must-see concert venue.
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