Read the original Ozzy newsletter post.
Welcome to OPE!, the newsletter by writer and music journalist Brady Gerber (me). This essay, originally published in my weekly newsletter, is free for all subscribers. Paying subscribers also gain access to an exclusive content. All typos are intentional.
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Well, hello there. How are you?
This week on the OPE! podcast: I talked about Alex Warren and Ravyn Lenae. Listen and watch below.
https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-warren/id1805375618?i=1000718438042
https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ravyn-lenae/id1805375618?i=1000718790017
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ggR2PVzxnRA?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mmj2i4ygOYc?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0
Also, the third and (for now) final part of The Elements of Artificial Intelligence is now live on my website.
Here’s the link: https://bradygerber.com/the-elements-of-artificial-intelligence/
It’s done! For now. Existing sections have been updated based on new reader feedback (thanks, ya’ll) and some tightening of the longer sections. Stay tuned for more, as always.
Anyway.
This Week: Ozzy
What sad news. I already miss him. I don’t have a lot to add to all the lovely memorials that have been written and shared throughout this week. He was great. He was an amazing singer—weirdly underrated at this point? What a performer. What a rockstar.
This is my favorite Ozzy performance.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ESE0ohvyOmA?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0
And this made me smile.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/WhssDkNkeZ8?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0
RIP Ozzy.
But enough about all that. Here are this week’s best links and songs …
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MY FAVORITE LINKS OF THE WEEK / WHAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION
- I have mixed feelings on Jon Stewart, but Stewart talking about Colbert’s cancellation was awesome (I’m linking the whole 30-minute segment because he does a little warm-up that feels silly and distracting at first … but then sets him up to go off in a way that makes me miss watching The Daily Show every night as a young teen)
- Speaking of comedy that I don’t keep in touch with anymore, but which now feels weirdly dangerous: South Park’s Trump PSA (I didn’t have “my jaw dropping while watching a South Park episode in 2025” on my bingo card)
- “You all remember comedy? That thing from the 1980s where you hate your wife? Well, it’s back!” (related to the above link)
- For my fellow DuckDuckGo users: you can now hide AI-generated images
- The reason why Pixar movies now suck: “Bean Mouth” (I never heard of this art style before, but now I can’t unsee it)
- Doom, but with cut and paste (it’s more literal than you think)
- We’re getting a trombone emoji
THIS WEEK’S MIXTAPE / WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
- Jobber “Pillman’s Got A Gun” An incredibly lovely, fuzzy little tune
- COLD GAWD “Golden Postcard” Pairs well with the above Jobber tune
- How Much Art “PR” This is what I wish Turnstile was doing
- Tropics “Ionian Mirage” A feel-bad pina colada
- Confidence Man & JADE “gossip” Just a little more interesting than whatever Sabrina Carpenter is doing
- Jouska “Pierced.” Perfect for the sunset days of summer
And that’s it. See you next time.
With love and all the other good things,
-b
Original OPE! logo by Claire Kuang. Words and cartoons by yours truly. My views don’t reflect my clients or the publications and brands I work with. All typos are intentional.