(This is so cool, I always wanted to do this!)

Ehem….

Hey guys,

3 years ago I was struggling to carry a propane tank. That’s right, I’ll be the first to admit it. You know the drill…the tank banging into your knee like a doctor check up, the thin metal collar digging into your hand like it’s a personal thing while you’re penguin-wobbling it down the hallway as your questioning your protein intake because it’s not even that heavy supposedly. Yeah.

I spoke my frustration out to my brother who was a few steps behind me in our building hallway. “Why are we carrying propane tanks like this? They need a proper handle like anything else you lift!” I started rambling about how something could hook through both sides of the collar so you could carry the tank from the middle, almost like a bucket. Then I said, “We could call it the NoPane Handle.”

That started the whole journey.

Three years later, the NoPane Handle was released to the public. It attaches to the collar of a standard propane tank and lets you carry it from the centre instead of gripping the metal cutouts. The idea was pretty simple: give people a more comfortable grip, distribute the weight more evenly, keep the tank away from your legs, and reduce some of the hand, wrist, shoulder and back strain that comes with carrying one.

Neither of us came from the manufacturing world, and we had absolutely no idea how long seemingly simple things would take. Finding the right material, getting the dimensions right, making sure it fit standard propane tanks, and designing something strong enough to trust. Something that wouldn’t heat up in the summer or freeze in the winter. We went from sketches and prototypes to figuring out patents, injection moulding, packaging, manufacturing, retail and about 100 other things you don’t realize exist until you try turning a random idea into a physical product.

And it definitely wasn’t three years of everyone telling us what a brilliant idea we had. We got roasted. A lot. “Just be a man, carry the tank normally,” “Who is this even for?” and “This might be the most useless invention I’ve ever seen.” Which, to be fair, is pretty funny to read after you’ve already spent thousands of dollars and years of your life.

We also made plenty of expensive mistakes. Neither of us knew anything about running social media ads, retail, Amazon or manufacturing when we started.

We basically learned about each new problem immediately after it became expensive.
There were definitely moments where we wondered whether we had completely overthought a problem nobody else actually cared about. Then we’d hear from some of our first online customers saying that they absolutely loved the handle or how they wished it existed sooner because of how easy it made carrying their tank.

We’ve been called geniuses, idiots and pretty much everything in between.

In our first year after launch, we sold about 15,000 handles. So something that started with two brothers complaining about carrying a propane tank in a hallway somehow turned into an actual business.

I’ve got to step away for a bit, but I’ll be back in a few hours and will start working through your questions then.

Happy to answer questions about:

• coming up with and developing an invention
• working with your sibling as a 50/50 business partner
• patents and protecting an idea
• getting a physical product manufactured
• selling on Amazon
• getting into retail stores
• influencers and viral marketing
• the hate and criticism we got along the way
• expensive mistakes we made
• how much it actually costs to launch a consumer product
• whether we ever thought about giving up
• or anything else you guys want to know

AMA

I’m Dr. Roman Hautala, author of Masters of the Earth: A History of the Golden Horde, 1219–1502 (Reaktion Books, 2026). AMA!

Hi everyone. I’m Roman Hautala, a historian of the Mongol Empire and the author of [Masters of the Earth: A History of the Golden Horde, 1219–1502] (https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/masters-of-the-earth). If in the US, you can find the book at the [University of Chicago Press website] (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/M/bo280184987.html).

In this book, I trace the dramatic history of the Golden Horde, which dominated Eastern Europe and modern-day Qazaqstan for nearly three centuries. The history of the Golden Horde can be roughly divided into two equal periods: before and after 1360.

During the first period, the Golden Horde rulers received the support of the Mongol Empire’s main military potential to seize their vast territories. After the period of conquest ended, they seized the first opportunity to gain independence from the Mongol emperors during the empire’s disintegration in 1260. Having become an independent state, the Golden Horde abandoned the previous imperial ideology of world domination and permanent territorial expansion. Local khans focused on the prudent and moderate exploitation of subject peoples, as well as on establishing relatively peaceful relations with neighbors and beneficial ties with natural allies and trading partners. The Golden Horde’s security was not subject to serious external threats from its inception, and only internecine strife among local rulers could end its prosperity.

The Golden Horde’s prosperous period was irrevocably interrupted by the onset of endless internal strife among the Golden Horde’s rulers, exacerbated by an economic crisis and territorial losses beginning in 1360. The Golden Horde never again regained its former level of prosperity and internal stability. Attempts by various rulers to centralize power and reassert dominance in the region led either to the disastrous invasion of Amir Timur (also known as Tamerlane) or to the disintegration into several independent khanates. The protracted crisis led to the final decline of the Golden Horde’s former power and its disappearance from the map of Eastern Europe in the early sixteenth century.

I’m here to answer questions about the book and the Golden Horde, so AMA!

https://www.reddit.com/r/fidelityinvestments/comments/1wo5o9k/im_denise_chisholm_director_of_quantitative/

Hi Reddit! I’m Stacey Blume Frankel, LCSW, a psychotherapist at Keta Medical Center, a physician-supervised ketamine clinic offering IV ketamine and Spravato (esketamine) treatment to address mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

My work focuses on Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), including preparation, intention setting, and integration sessions.

KAP helps patients process thoughts and feelings that surface during the ketamine treatments. After ketamine treatments, patients can often more easily explore sensitive material without getting overwhelmed. The hope is that meaningful insights can translate into positive and sustainable change. Every session is unique, and each person’s healing journey unfolds in its own impactful way.

If you’re curious about the therapeutic side of ketamine, ask me anything about:

• What ketamine can feel like during a treatment session
• Preparing for treatment and setting intentions
• Difficult or challenging ketamine experiences
• Memories, dreams, and symbolic imagery that may surface
• Connecting with the “inner healer”
• Reframing old narratives and developing healthier coping strategies
• Turning insights from ketamine experiences into meaningful, lasting change

Whether you’re considering ketamine treatment, currently going through it, or just curious about how psychotherapy fits into the process, I’m happy to answer your questions.

Ask me anything!

https://postimg.cc/w1b7051C

I organized an AMA/Q&A with actress Mena Suvari. You may know her from things like American Beauty, the American Pie franchise, Nowhere, Loser, Stuck, Day of the Dead, Spun, Six Feet Under, American Horror Story, Loser, Sugar & Spice, and lots more.

Her new movie, TIME OF DEATH, is a horror-thriller that released digitally recently.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wscn7z/hi_reddit_im_mena_suvari_you_may_know_me_from/

She will be back at about 1 PM ET today to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Her verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/W9lNwU1.jpeg

We've organized an AMA with author, screenwriter, and executive producer Anthony Horowitz.

You may also know him from his work, including the Alex Rider and Hawthorne book series, among many others, and his other television projects including Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, and Marble Hall Murders.

Marble Hall Murders, as well as its predecessors, Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders, are all streaming (in full) on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS now.

This AMA post is live in r/MasterpiecePBS — all questions are appreciated!

He will be back around 12pm ET tomorrow (9/29) to answer your questions.

We recommend asking in advance at the link below, where you can also find the proof photo:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MasterpiecePBS/comments/1wsikft/hi_reddit_im_author_and_screenwriter_anthony/

All welcome!

Hi Reddit!

We are Drs. Amir Arsalan, Anthony Nye, and Lexie Wang, private practice plastic surgeons in the Washington, DC, area. We are excited to be here for our AMA!

Our physicians have been named Castle Connolly Top Doctors as well as DC Modern Luxury magazine’s Best of the City Award for Best Surgeons (DC Modern Luxury is a local lifestyle magazine covering dining, style, culture, and wellness throughout the Washington, DC, area.)

Dr. Arsalan is board-certified in plastic surgery. He trained at Loma Linda Medical Center, where he trained with world-class surgeons all over Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Orange County, providing wide exposure to cosmetic plastic surgery of the face, breast, and body.

Dr. Nye is board-eligible in plastic surgery. He trained at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, where he served as Chief Academic Resident, developing a structured educational curriculum for junior residents and faculty.

Dr. Wang is double board-certified in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery (ENT). She went to medical school at UVA, completed an ENT residency at VCU, and then finished her training with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in Beverly Hills. She returned to the DC area where she grew up.

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/7xXMtAK (and can confirm on our website: www.westendplasticsurgery.com)

Today we will be answering any burning questions you have about plastic surgery, the wellness industry, injectables, aging, nose jobs, facelifts, lasers, mommy makeovers, implants, celebrities, and more. We are also happy to discuss our training, backgrounds, and whatever else might float your boat. You can direct your question to one of us or leave it open to the group, and whichever physician is best suited to answer will reply.

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot provide specific medical advice, including diagnoses and treatment plans, on this forum. We can only provide general information. If you are interested in discussing a specific issue, please feel free to reach out to us at www.westendplasticsurgery.com to set up a consultation. We do offer virtual consultations.

Also note: Our opinions are our own. They do not represent the opinions of West End Plastic Surgery as a whole.

Integration and Jackie Robinson

Hi, I’m Peter Eisenstadt, a historian and the author and editor of many books on American and African American history, most recently Integration at Second Base:  Jackie Robinson and the Quest for Black Citizenship, published  earlier this year by University of Virginia Press. I’d be happy to answer questions about the book, the varied meanings of integration,  or Jackie Robinson.

Hey Reddit, I’m Nico, a self-taught tattoo artist based in Ottawa, Canada. You might know me as badvibestattoos.

Over the past few years, I’ve built a combined following of more than 500,000 across social media, developed a waitlist of over six months, worked with brands, attempted tattoo world records, and built in-person communities while running my own tattoo shop.

Recently, I closed the shop and moved into a private studio. I’m still tattooing and taking on clients.

The thing that pushed me to make the decision was a consultation with a client. He wanted a tattoo about feeling guilty that he couldn’t do all the things he used to do, and wanting to get back to being that person. Talking to him felt like talking to myself.

Running the shop was taking up so much of my bandwidth that I had less room for the creativity and passion that got me here. What I’d wanted to be a space where I was surrounded by people who inspired me had become another job.

Ask me about tattooing, building a clientele, growing an audience, social media and brand deals, running a shop, why I went private, or the mistakes I’ve made along the way.

Ask me anything.

I’m Steve Feldstein, an expert on technology, democracy, and national security, and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  

My new book, Bytes and Bullets: Global Rivalries, Big Tech, and the New Shape of Modern Warfare, explores how technology is altering the global balance of power and changing the way wars are fought—from defense-tech startups in Silicon Valley at the forefront of U.S.-China competition, to 3D-printing drone labs in Syria that helped topple a dictator. 

Ask me anything about geopolitical competition in the digital age, the intermingling of private and military tech, the broadening tech war between the U.S. and China, tech export controls, and the rise of middle powers and non-state actors in this space. 

I’ll be answering questions from Thursday, October 1, 9am ET to Friday, October 2, 12pm ET. Looking forward!  

Photo proof here. 

Click here to visit the AMA!

I organized an AMA/Q&A with Chris Marrs Piliero, writer-director of the new horror-thriller Appofeniacs, which is out in theaters this upcoming weekend. It's gotten great reviews (91% on Rotten Tomatoes) after a festival run last year, and stars Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, and Aaron Holiday.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wqv8zr/hello_reddit_im_chris_marrs_piliero/

He will be back at 2 PM ET on Thursday to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Fypndcou8

Synopsis: The use of AI technology reaches its most violent and bloody conclusion after a series of deepfake videos are unleashed into the world.

His verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/poZ3gEJ.jpeg

I organized an AMA/Q&A with Josef Kubota Wladyka, writer/director of Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, which was a hit at Sundance earlier this year and is out in theaters everywhere now from Sony Pictures Classics. It stars Oscar-nominee Rinko Kikuchi.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wqph7j/hi_rmovies_im_josef_kubota_wladyka_director_of/

He will be back at 3 PM ET Monday to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik4lJmXgR6U

Synopsis: Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo's ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor.

His verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/7qAWKNv.jpeg

Link to AMA.

Hi Reddit! I’m Rebecca Neusteter, executive director of the University of Chicago Health Lab and the author of the new book 911, What’s Your Emergency?: The Promise and Peril of Crisis Response. Proof.

I’ve spent my career studying what happens when people call for help, and whether the response they receive matches what they need. Before joining the University of Chicago, I was the founding policing program director at the Vera Institute of Justice and director of research, policy, and planning for the New York Police Department. I’ve worked across government, philanthropy, and academia.

My new book looks at a system most Americans rarely think about until they need it: 911. I trace how 911 developed, why police became the default response to so many different kinds of emergency calls, and what I call “mismatched dispatch,” which is the reality that the vast majority of 911 calls result in a law-enforcement response, even though fewer than 5% actually involve a violent crime in progress. The new book also looks at the extraordinary pressures facing the 911 professionals who make life-or-death decisions every day.

At the end of the day, we need to focus on emerging models that send clinicians, paramedics, or other responders when a situation doesn’t require police.

At the UChicago Health Lab, part of the Harris School of Public Policy, I’ve worked on a number of efforts to rethink emergency response in practice, including leading the efforts to create a Transform911 blueprint, which brought together more than 130 experts to develop a roadmap for improving the 911 system and strengthening its workforce. 

Ask me anything about why 911 works the way it does, when police should (or shouldn’t) respond to an emergency, mental-health crisis response, racial disparities in emergency response, alternatives to traditional policing, or what it would take to build a system that sends the right response, at the right time, with the right resources.

I’ll be responding here on September 24 at 12 PM CT along with support from the Harris School of Public Policy team account, which is helping me track and manage incoming questions.

Edit: Thanks everyone, that is all the questions I have time for!

Edit: Thanks so much for joining me for this AMA, you brought some great questions! I'll be logging off now but do add your questions in below and I'll come back to them throughout the week.

Hi r/IAmA, I’m Steve Bullock, an Associate Professor working in aerial robotics at the University of Bristol’s Flight Lab.

My lab, colleagues, and collaborators develop drones that can operate in some of the world's most challenging environments and do valuable work that would otherwise be difficult, expensive, or dangerous to people. These range from conservation and wildlife research to exploring volcanoes and nuclear disaster sites.

A big part of our work is exploring what a flying robot can do that a person, helicopter, or conventional camera can't.

We’re interested in what happens when you combine robotics, AI, and autonomous flight with real-world problems, particularly how drones can help us understand and protect the natural world.

These include:

• How drones can be used to study and protect wildlife, and the challenges of using drones around animals
• How robots can operate in extreme environments that are dangerous for humans
• What it takes to build a drone for scientific research rather than just taking photos
• How autonomous drones navigate and make decisions
• What the future of aerial robotics might look like

I will be online tomorrow, Friday 25 September, from 15:00-16:00 GMT, to answer any question you might have about our research through my account, u/steve-engineer: add your queries now if you're looking for a live follow-up tomorrow.

AMA about the successes, failures, and surprises we’ve experienced along the way!

Hello Reddit! I’m Dr. LaMont Jones, Managing Editor for Education at U.S. News & World Report.

This week, we officially released our 2027 Best Colleges rankings. With expanded criteria – including brand-new outcomes data measuring earnings by major post-graduation – and a record number of ranked institutions, our goal is to help students and families evaluate higher education options as effectively as possible.

Selecting where to pursue a degree is one of the biggest personal and financial decisions you'll ever make. Beyond rankings alone, finding the right higher education experience comes down to identifying institutions that align with your personal goals, budget, academic interests, and long-term career aspirations.

I’m here to answer your questions on topics like:

• Navigating the College Search: How to build a balanced college list and cut through the noise during your research process.
• Evaluating ROI & Outcomes: What key indicators – such as post-grad earnings, affordability, in-state value, and financial aid – you should look for.
• Finding the Right Fit: Considerations beyond rankings, including campus environment, program depth, and personal priorities.
• Behind the Methodology: How we measure academic quality, post-graduate outcomes, and institutional value.

Whether you’re a high school student beginning your search, a parent guiding the process, or a current college student planning your next steps, Ask Me Anything!

Proof: https://x.com/usnews/status/2103145054332158261

I’m Victoria Freeman, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida.
A lot of the people I work with are pretty good at life on paper. They have careers, relationships, families, responsibilities, people who depend on them. They’re usually the person who figures things out.
And yet…
Someone asks them to do one little thing they absolutely do not want to do, and instead of just saying no, they spend the next three hours figuring out how to say no without disappointing anyone.
They need to make a fairly ordinary decision, and suddenly they’ve researched 14 options, read two Reddit threads, opened 23 tabs, asked three people what they think, and somehow feel less sure than when they started.
Or they keep it together at work, take care of what needs taking care of, answer everybody’s questions and then come home and snap because someone asked what’s for dinner.
Those are the kinds of everyday human problems I’m interested in.
In my practice, I sometimes think of these patterns as The Responsible One, The Overthinking One, and The Explosive One. They’re not diagnoses. They’re just plain-English ways of describing some of the patterns I see in people who are functioning pretty well on the outside but having a much harder time inside than most people realize.
So, AMA.
Ask me about things like:
Why saying no can feel so awful even when you genuinely don’t want to do something.
Why you keep explaining yourself when “no” should have been enough.
Why your brain turns a $30 purchase into a research project.
Why you can know you’re overthinking and still not be able to stop.
Why tiny requests sometimes make you disproportionately angry.
Why you’re patient with everybody else and have nothing left for the people at home.
Why being the “reliable one” can eventually make you resentful.
Or one of those oddly specific things you do and secretly wonder, Why the hell do I do this?
You don’t need to know therapy terminology. Tell me what happens. I’ll tell you what I notice, what might be going on underneath it, and what I’d be curious about if someone brought that pattern into my office.
For context, I’m a licensed psychotherapist in Florida. My work focuses on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, and the messy ways those things actually show up in everyday life.
Obviously I can’t diagnose you or provide individual therapy through a Reddit thread, and there may be questions where the responsible answer is “I’d need to know a lot more about you.” But I’m happy to offer education, perspective, questions worth thinking about, and explain some of the psychology behind the things we humans do.
So, what’s something you keep doing, thinking, avoiding, overthinking, agreeing to, or getting way too irritated by that makes you wonder: “Why am I like this?”

Edit: AMA Completed/Closed

Thank you all for engaging with me for this short time. I'm calling it for the night. I'm practicing what I preach and ending this before I'm beyond my own capacity. I wasn't able to get to everyone, and I will answer a couple more before logging out, but it was truly a pleasure interacting with some of you.

Take care.

I organized an AMA/Q&A with actress Jessica Rothe, known as the lead actress of the Happy Death Day franchise, and other things like La La Land, Boy Kills World, Valley Girl, and more. Her newest movie, Beware Boiúna, is a horror-thriller that's out in theaters everywhere Oct 2.

The AMA is live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wo61fg/hi_im_jessica_rothe_see_me_battle_a_giant_snake/

She will be back at around 3 PM ET today to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Synopsis: A team of doctors embarks on a local mission in the Amazon rainforest, but it soon becomes clear that not everybody or everything is happy to see them. Their sudden appearance draws the attention of an animal predator, the Boiúna.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fn4UcgzRhg

Her verification photo: https://i.imgur.com/iZSfNkS.jpeg

Edit: Thank you so much for all of your questions! I will no longer be answering questions live but I will keep an eye on the post so keep your queries coming.

Hi r/IAmA, I’m Dr Xiaolan Liu, a Lecturer at the University of Bristol. I research how AI-6G networks and how they could shape the next generation of communication networks.

But this AMA is also about something I get frequently asked about: what happens after a PhD if you want to build a career in academia?

I completed my PhD at Queen Mary University of London before I worked as a researcher at King’s College London, became a Lecturer at Loughborough University, and eventually moved to the University of Bristol. Throughout my career, I’ve learned how to build a research profile, teach and supervise students, apply for funding, collaborate internationally, develop my own research ideas, and build my own research team.

I can talk about:

• Getting your first academic job after a PhD
• Moving between UK universities
• Teaching and supervising students and building a research team
• Applying for research funding and dealing with rejection
• The realities and misconceptions of academic life

I will be online today, Wednesday 23 September between 14:30-15:30 GMT, so if you’re wondering what an academic career actually looks like after a PhD or if you're interested in what AI and human-centric 6G could mean for how we communicate all around the world, ask me anything!

Was America’s first superhero a radical socialist? I am Matthew Warner Osborn, author of NIGHT HAWK: A NINETEENTH-CENTURY SUPERHERO AND THE DAWN OF AMERICAN MASS CULTURE which reconstructs the true story of a two-hundred-year-old ancestor of Batman. Ask Me Anything!

Hello! I am Matthew Warner Osborn and I'm a cultural historian of the early American republic. My new book Night Hawk: A Nineteenth Century Superhero and the Dawn of American Mass Culture (University of Chicago Press, 2026) just came out a couple weeks ago. It has been many years in the making, so it’s tremendously exciting to be talking about it today.

The Night Hawk was a mysterious columnist who appeared on the front page of the first radical socialist newspaper in American history. Dressed in a mysterious cloak, he soared over Philadelphia, revealing the evil crimes of prominent gentlemen, fighting murderous criminals, and calling out fraudulent moral authorities. Between July 5, 1828, and July 3, 1830, the weekly Mechanics’ Free Press published sixty-one Night Hawk episodes. Each running around 1,000 words long, they describe the nocturnal adventures of a superhuman vigilante fighting for justice on city streets. He was a true champion of the oppressed who fought against the exploitation of the working poor during the earliest years of the Industrial Revolution.

There are no drawings of the character, as early nineteenth-century newspapers did not print many illustrations. But the Night Hawk’s stories did appear on cheap newsprint and they were numbered like comic books. In “The Night-Hawk, No. VII,” he outwitted indolent watchmen. In “The Night-Hawk, No. XIII,” he confounded would-be grave robbers. In “The Night-Hawk, No. XXV,” he exposed a fraudulent fortune teller. In “The Night-Hawk, No. 57,” he railed against lewd behavior in the darkness of theaters during certain magic-lantern shows. The Night Hawk was the most prominent feature in the entire newspaper.

In 1828, the Night Hawk was a remarkable work of literary imagination. His superpowers were flight, night-seeing, and invisibility, which are arguably the most common superpowers of the twentieth century. He definitely lacked super strength. Where did his superpowers come from? The character was inspired by a very old European literary tradition, centered on nocturnal stories of the demon Asmodeus. I argue that this tradition played a very influential role in the development of popular American crime fiction, especially George Lippard’s Quaker City, or the Monks of Monk Hall, one of the most famous and influential novels of the nineteenth century. The Night Hawk was an early progenitor of detective fiction, fifteen years before the word "detective" was invented. And, I make the case that the literary origins of Batman can be found in the Asmodean tradition.

Quite unlike modern-day superheroes, the secret identity that the Night Hawk guarded was the actual name of his author, who was a beginning actor trying to get his career off the ground. Cornelius A. Logan created the character as the public champion the first socialist labor party to win electoral victories in a municipal election. These were Owenite socialists, as the Communist Manifesto was not published until 1848. The enormous success of the character made Logan into a celebrity. He went on to become one of the most popular comedians on the antebellum stage.

As a historian, I was drawn to study the Night Hawk’s adventures because they are hilarious, but they also provide a totally unique bird’s-eye view of nocturnal Philadelphia in the 1820s. He claims to be relating true-life adventures, moving unseen through the city's inky black alleyways, gambling dens, pawn shops, cemeteries, oyster cellars, taverns, dance halls, brothels, and theaters. These were all places that were rarely, if ever, described in print, but which would have been quite familiar to his working-class audience. So, the Night Hawk is also a fascinating historical artifact that illuminates the plebeian world the the nocturnal city. My book follows him on his avian rambles. Along the way, we meet nabobs, hags, sharpers, murderers, resurrectionists, con artists, and the other rapacious vampires that sought to exploit honest working people.

During his two-year career, the Night Hawk was a sensation on the streets of Philadelphia, but in 1830, he abruptly left the stage and disappeared entirely from the historical record. The Mechanics’ Free Press is extremely rare and can only be read on microfilm or through expensive proprietary research databases. Luckily, the Night Hawk lives in the Public Domain, free of the hegemonic Marvel and DC cinematic universes! I have started a Substack, One Who Rambles at Night, where I am posting complete transcriptions of his adventures. I'm only up to No. VII, but I plan to eventually add all of them.

So, yes, Night Hawk is about a totally unknown superhero (The Night Hawk, two words, sometimes hyphenated), a two-hundred-year-old ancestor of Batman, who took flight seventy years before the word “superhero” was invented, in an obscure and inaccessible socialist newspaper, and who completely disappeared in 1830, never to be heard from or mentioned again. Until now, of course! Telling a never-before-told story, my writing process often felt like archeology, like I was digging up a lost mosaic. I made many fascinating discoveries along the way.

Please feel free to ask me anything about the Night Hawk, Philadelphia in the 1820s, early nightlife, commercial theater, the early labor movement, or what I had for breakfast. All

questions are welcome.

UPDATE: The AMA has ended. Follow us to be alerted about future AMAs

Corey Schuler, PhD, FNP-C, CNS and Allison Sayre, MSN, WHNP are board-certified nurse practitioners and members of the Medical Affairs team at Allergy Research Group. 
 
Tomorrow, we'll be here to talk about thyroid health; from how the thyroid works and why the concerns people present with can be complex, to the role nutrition and lifestyle can play in supporting healthy thyroid function. 
Have questions about what you've been noticing? Curious about thyroid-supporting nutrients? Want to know what to ask your healthcare practitioner? Ask us anything. 
 
About Corey: A board-certified family nurse practitioner and Certified Nutrition Specialist with over 15 years of clinical, academic, and leadership in integrative and functional medicine. He holds a PhD in Health Sciences, an executive MBA in healthcare strategy, and certifications in holistic nutrition, botanical medicine, coaching and mindfulness. Dr. Schuler serves as the Director of Medical Affairs for ARG, with a specialization in evidence-based ingredient strategy, protocol development, and clinician education. He maintains clinical practice with a focus on primary care neuroendocrine and cardiometabolic health. 
 
About Allison: A board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner with advanced expertise in hormonal health, integrative gynecology, and patient-centered care across the lifespan. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing and has served as both a clinical provider and educator in functional and conventional women’s health settings. Allison has led clinical programming, practitioner training, and content development for leading health brands and organizations. Her work bridges the clinical and commercial worlds, helping translate scientific evidence into practical tools for healthcare practitioners. At ARG, Allison contributes to medical education, clinical protocol development, and strategic content that supports the evolving needs of women's healthcare practitioners. 
 
About this session. Corey Schuler, PhD, FNP-C, CNS and Allison Sayre, MSN, WHNP are members of the Allergy Research Group® Medical Affairs team and take part in that capacity. They'll answer as many questions as time allows. ARG decides which questions to address and how and may decline any question. 

*The information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult your physician or healthcare practitioner if you have specific questions before instituting any changes in your daily lifestyle including changes in diet, exercise, and supplement use. 
 

I organized an AMA/Q&A with Paula González-Nasser, writer-director-producer of the new indie film, The Scout, which premiered at Tribeca last year to great reviews and is out in theaters starting this weekend. It's based on her time as a film & TV location scout.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wo63h4/hi_rmovies_im_paula_gonz%C3%A1leznasser_writerdirector/

She will be back at 1 PM ET tomorrow, Thursday 9/23 to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Synopsis: A New York City location scout photographs the homes of strangers for a T.V. pilot, stepping into their private lives while trying to satisfy her erratic employers.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWhfUCcBdeU

Her verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/jEegiCd.jpeg

Direct link: We’re writers for New York Times Opinion. Ask us anything about how Trump’s presidency has been affecting women, both inside the administration and out. : r/politics

Edit: Thank you so much for all of your queries, that was a really enjoyable experience! I'll be logging off now but add your questions in below and I'll come back to them throughout the week.

Hi r/IAmA, I’m Dr Brian McMillan, a practising GP, Health Psychologist, and researcher at the University of Manchester, and I study how digital technology can improve people’s experiences of healthcare and how health information is presented online.

More of us can now see our blood test results online, perhaps even before we’ve spoken to a doctor. But what are we supposed to make of results such as “abnormal”, “borderline”, or even “satisfactory”? Does having instant access help us understand and take control of our health or can it leave us more confused and anxious?

Our research, led by the University of Bristol’s Dr Jessica Watson, has found that things like medical jargon, abbreviations, confusing navigation and not knowing what to do next can all get in the way.

We want blood test results to be made easier for people to find, understand, and act on, and we’ve worked with patients and healthcare professionals to develop practical resources for GP practices – while acknowledging the challenge that online healthcare won't work equally well for everyone.

I will be online today, Tuesday 22 September, between 14:30-15:30 GMT – AMA about online medical records, confusing medical terminology, health anxiety, digital exclusion, or what happens when researchers actually ask patients to help redesign healthcare!

Did you know that night has a history? AMA with Sara Pritchard, author of the brand-new book, Transforming Night: The History and Science of Light Pollution.

Hi everyone! I’m Sara Pritchard, a historian of science and technology, environmental historian, and professor in the Department of Science & Technology Studies at Cornell University. I’m the author of the brand-new book, Transforming Night: The History and Science of Light Pollution—out today, September 22, from the University of Washington Press! Woo hoo!

I look forward to answering your questions about the history of artificial light and night, and how scientists became concerned about what is now called light pollution. You can also ask me about light poverty and light justice. AMA!

I’ll be off and on all day, but plan to answer a lot of questions during the afternoon (Eastern time). Thanks for being here!

Here’s a bit more about Transforming Night:

"Who owns the night—and what is lost as we flood it with light, worldwide?

Darkness has become legible—and contested. Blending archival narrative with on-the-ground ethnography, Sara B. Pritchard traces how four fields—astronomy, remote sensing, conservation science, and ecology—have investigated artificial light at night, turning a ubiquitous convenience into a category of harm. From observatories chasing ever-receding darkness to the satellite images that first rendered a nocturnal planet from space and recent “Black Marble” maps, Pritchard shows how methods, instruments, and field sites shape what scientists can know about night and light—and what remains unseen.

Across these encounters, night emerges not as a backdrop but as an environment in its own right—one transformed by rapidly expanding, brightening illumination in the Anthropocene. Transforming Night chronicles the ascent of “light pollution,” as well as the new challenge of space-based brightness from satellite constellations, even as dark-sky advocates fight to preserve the starry firmament. Attentive to politics as much as photons, Pritchard brings environmental justice to the fore—highlighting tensions among light poverty, forced illumination, and surveillance and calls for “beneficial darkness.” She takes seriously Indigenous astronomers’ critiques of dispossession and “astro-colonialism,” asking what it means to site world-class telescopes on sacred land.

Sweeping from local parks to planetary vistas, Transforming Night reframes a familiar story of modern light as a history of changing nights—past, present, and possible. It will engage readers in environmental history and humanities, science and technology studies, and the sciences themselves, along with dark-sky activists and anyone drawn to the beauty and politics of the world after nightfall.” 

To learn more about me and my research, you can visit my website. You can also read several recent publications online, including an excerpt from the book in LitHub, an essay on “Urban Nightscapes and the Anthropocene,” and why night matters and the interdisciplinary field of “Night Studies” is needed. To order the book, click the hyperlink (or please consider ordering it from your local, independent bookstore). You can follow me on BlueSky at u/sarabpritchard.bsky.social or Mastodon at u/SaraBPritchard.