What Comes Next_
Thoughts on AI, predictive text, technological metaphors, and the string of thought.
🐚Bad News for Wood Boats
The shipworm, a clam with destructive potential, is now encroaching on the Baltic Sea, impacting cultural artifacts.
🤝While the crisis lasted, people loved each other
Quoting Dorothy Day.
🧠Mental illness and missing stories
An insightful exploration of how Western ideas of mental illness are shaped by culture and may lack the complexity of their scientific underpinnings.
🌱Behold, the Planimal!
I'm not sure why, but this news has been the source of untold instant-messaging-expressed joy among certain of my friends this week.
💪Valuing what’s easiest to measure
A reflection on the importance of perseverance and discipline over innate talent in achieving success.
🕌Sana’a sunset - a panoramic view of Yemen’s capital city
An amazing interactive view of Yemen's capital, rich in architectural history and variance.
🌈The upside of disaster
Solnit explores the surprising joy that emerges from the rubble of disasters, revealing deep desires for community and connection.
🌱Another one bites the dust
Dirt-eating is a peculiar practice that connects nutrition, soil health, and cultural history.
🥕Are carrots protestant?
Exploring the colorful history of our adored carrots reveals a blend of agriculture and politics.
🎬Our year in culture - Books, movies, and music of 2009, part 1
This piece explores personal favorites in film, literature, and music from 2009, weaving together experiences and reflections on art and culture.
🎶Always in the Season, by Pomplamoose
A delightful take on seasonal music by Pomplamoose, featuring a dual promotion for a charitable cause.
❄️To Winter, by William Blake
A reflection on William Blake's evocative poem "To Winter," which captures the essence of the season and the power of nature.
🎨Counter-Terrorism … for Kids!
A lighthearted embrace of Comic Sans in the context of children's content.
🏷️“What’s your name?”
Reflecting on the struggle of identity and the pressure to conform in the job market.
🧶A better stocking striper
Dispatches from the whimsical world of vintage patents.
🌈Ecstatically between the pillows and the books
In this excerpt from David Foster Wallace's _The Pale King_, the author explores the intertwining of childhood ecstasy and maternal love through evocative imagery and a sense of magic in the everyday.
🏺Anasazi storage jar
A beautiful artifact of the ancient Anasazi Pueblo civilization, showcasing vibrant craftsmanship in ceramic storage vessels.
🆘“Your logo saves lives!”
In a surprising turn of events, a logo designed for Mercy Corps has proven to be crucial for identifying aid in crisis situations.
🌦️Low Rising, by The Swell Season
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová explore the blend of joy and sorrow in their new album as The Swell Season, highlighted by the whimsical video for "Low Rising."
🌬️California dreaming, on such a winter’s day
A beautiful capture by Mary Amor evokes the serene yet windy essence of a Southern California winter.
🎄Attacking consumerism in the wrong place
A humorous take on defending Christmas consumption against its critics.
🎁Spend less, give more
Exploring a meaningful approach to the holiday season that emphasizes giving, creativity, and community rather than consumption.
🚉If you board the wrong train ..
Quoting Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
🐾This Is Why I Subscribe to the Invasive Species Twitter Feed
How trained dogs like can help combat invasive species.
📽️Home Movie Reconstructions 1974/2004, by Elliott Malkin
Elliott Malkin's "Family Movie" revisits 1970s Super 8 footage, merging past and present through shot-for-shot reenactments.
🌍Uncool no more
Exploring the evolving landscape of cultural influences and what it means to be "cool" in a world of diverse options.
🏛️Life and taxes
How colonial tax policies have left lasting impacts on governance in Nigeria.
🌾Wait till evening
Quoting Henry David Thoreau.
📞You had me at 'hello'
An exploration of how the word "hello" transcended technology and culture through the evolution of telephonic communication.
📜Characters for an Epic Tale, by Tom Gauld
I love how the content of a narrative can be projected just from a list of characters.
🍈Forbidden fruits, delightful longings
A longing for the elusive mangosteen explores its history and the bittersweet nature of desire.
🛋️Grace between the cushions - A love letter to my college couch
Reflecting on the whimsical experience of living with a couch, found in the trash, that became a focal point for creativity and nostalgia during college years.
🏚️The generative richness of ruins
Exploring the intertwined nature of creation and destruction, Rebecca Solnit reflects on the cyclical history of San Francisco’s transformations.
🍽️“To eat good food is to be close to God”
A lovely exploration of food in cinema, showcasing the connections between culinary delights and storytelling.
📜The list doesn’t destroy culture, it creates it
A reflection on the importance of lists in shaping culture and understanding the infinite, inspired by Umberto Eco's insights.
📞Ahoy, I love you, won’t you tell me your name
You had me at 'hello'.
😇The peril of sainthood
Quoting Dorothy Day.
📷Type the Sky, by Lisa Rienermann
This stunning photographic alphabet showcases the beauty of building courtyards through Lisa Rienermann's lens.
🐋Shapeshifter, by Brian Jungen
Modern artifacts reimagined in traditional forms by artist Brian Jungen.
🎼The sparrow and the phonograph
An insightful warning from John Philip Sousa about the impact of mechanical music on American musical artistry.
📺What a difference a TV makes
Television's impact on women's roles and fertility is profound, as shown in studies from India and Brazil.
🧩The private languages of Lego
A reflection on the unique vocabulary developed by children during Lego play and the importance of naming in their imaginative worlds.
🧽Patience and fortitude
Reflecting on Brother Lawrence's mindfulness in everyday tasks, like dishwashing, and the beauty of simplicity in our routine.
🌍Sites
Exploring the intersection of culture, art, and commentary across various mediums.
🛼Skateland, by Christian Patterson
I love the cheery desolation in this photo, capturing a sense of whimsy and nostalgia.
💻I’m crushing your addiction!
A study reveals the impact of virtual reality on reducing tobacco addiction through a unique method of physically engaging with simulated cigarettes.
🍹Wham! It’s delicious
Inspired by the passionate soda enthusiast, I'm diving into the world of unique flavors like Bana-nina Tropical!
⏳Consuming like it’s 2007
A reflection on the advantages of embracing two-year-old media and technology for a more fulfilling lifestyle.
🎨One thing that’s dangerous for an artist
Quoting Federico Fellini.
🎤Name that tune
The fascinating disconnect between popular baby names and the names featured in Billboard Top 5 songs over the decades.