The Profile: The company charged with scamming writers for millions & the milk man delivering illegal milk

This edition of The Profile features Anne Hathaway, "The Milk Guy," Michael Sordilla, and others.

Good morning, friends!

Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary. It made me think back to an article I wrote just one week into newlywed life.

One section hit me especially hard this time around — not because it’s grand or profound, but because it captures something so simple and enduring about long-term love. When I wrote this, I was 28 and carefree. Now, we have 2 kids, (much bigger) responsibilities, companies, and so much more.

Here’s the excerpt I keep coming back to:

Forget the grand romantic gestures. Opt for the mini everyday gestures, instead.

When C.N. goes on his morning walk, he makes it a point to look for interesting flowers that he can leave one on his partner’s desk when he returns. On the flip side, she leaves him funny Post-It notes and cartoons around the house.

“People think of romance as these huge gestures,” he says, “but we're happier with these mini-gestures that happen much more often."

If I asked you to define love, I guarantee you wouldn’t describe it as a funny Post-It note. That’s just a small act of affection, right? Ironically, that may be the secret to long-lasting love.

R.M. says “cariño” is the Spanish word for “affection or tenderness.” He says:

“Always approach your partner and the couple from a place of affection. Why not from love, you might ask. In my mind, affection is an easy-to-cultivate prerequisite for love, so if you keep affection alive, you keep love alive. It’s an approach that starts at the root and is a great antidote against pride.”

Research supports the notion that successful long-term relationships are often built on small words, small gestures, and small acts. “I am a full believer in the ‘small everyday stuff,’” C.S. says. “For example, dropping everything to listen to your spouse when they just ‘have to’ tell you something exciting is worth 1,000 fancy dinners.”

Ain’t that the truth. I also live by the motto: “Small things often’ is so much more important than ‘big things occasionally.’”

You can read the full post here:

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PROFILES.

— The big-name artists using sculpting robots [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The actress taking on the most challenging role of her career
— The milk man delivering illegal milk
— The family that miraculously escaped the Texas floodwaters
— The company charged with scamming writers for millions

PEOPLE TO KNOW.

The big-name artists using sculpting robots: In the marble mecca of Carrara, Italy, robots are reshaping the ancient art of sculpture — carving monumental statues with speed, precision, and little rest. Tech entrepreneur Giacomo Massari sells these machines and the software that powers them, while American stone magnate Jim Durham just bought Italy’s most prestigious hand-carving studio, Franco Cervietti, to merge old-world craftsmanship with new-world automation. While robots can rough out a statue in months, finishing still belongs to human hands. As robots carve closer to perfection, sculptors like Durham insist: the soul of the stone still requires a human touch. (Bloomberg; alternate link)

“You can get a pretty good finish with a robot. Where you quit is when you reach the place where the human can do a job better.”

The actress taking on the most challenging role of her career: Anne Hathaway is shedding her polished movie-star image to become something bolder: a raw, raging pop icon in Mother Mary, a surreal A24 film where she sings, screams, and dances through emotional extremes. To prepare, she trained for two years — vocals, choreography, and self-reinvention — embracing imperfection and rediscovering her body’s voice. Behind the scenes, Hathaway remains grounded and fiercely kind, balancing high fashion and home life, Knicks games and camera-shop strolls. At 41, she’s daring to start over. (Vogue)

“I had to submit to being a beginner.”

The milk man delivering illegal milk: In New York’s wellness underground, “The Milk Guy” quietly delivers raw, unpasteurized milk from Amish farms to wealthy, often unvaccinated, customers — despite its illegality across state lines. His clientele includes Tribeca moms, holistic healers, and anti-establishment city dwellers who believe in its “healing” powers. With a secret warehouse and a fleet of vans, the operation feels more like a drug run than a dairy route. (New York Magazine; alternate link)

“The Milk Guy isn’t the only one illegally transporting raw goods across state lines.”

The family that miraculously escaped the Texas floodwaters: On July 3rd, 82-year-old Penny Deupree’s Hill Country home was flooded in the middle of the night while her family was visiting. Trapped, they escaped through a hole in the wall and swam to the roof, singing hymns in the rain as the house crumbled below. Though the flood destroyed treasured heirlooms, all nine of them survived. “I’m alive,” Penny kept thinking. “My children are alive. My babies are alive.” (WSJ; complimentary link)

“I’m not going to die. I have God and I have my family, and we’re just going to move forward.”

COMPANIES TO WATCH.

The company charged with scamming writers for millions: A South Dakota farmer was scammed out of $500,000 chasing a fake Netflix deal for his self-published hunting book. He was one of hundreds duped by PageTurner Press, a $44 million fraud operation run from the Philippines that promised authors fame in exchange for steep fees. The scheme, led by entrepreneur Michael Sordilla, used fake contracts, fake agents, and nonstop upsells. Despite FBI arrests, victims are still waiting for justice. (Bloomberg; alternate link)

“The scamming of writers has just gone through the roof. Unfortunately, writers are easy marks.”

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