What Comes Next_
Thoughts on AI, predictive text, technological metaphors, and the string of thought.
✍️Articles of good design
A reflection on the artistry and craftsmanship of hand-lettering from the 1927 _Studio Handbook_ by Samuel Welo, contrasting it with modern design tools.
♻️Philosophy of leftovers
Reflecting on the value of overlooked and discarded things, Andy Warhol shares his philosophy on working with leftovers.
🌍Tough luck, Mel
A filmmaker's vision of a Hollywood studio in South Africa clashes with the local Khoi-San community's deep connection to their ancestral land.
🍃Virtue as vice
A reflection on how our perceptions of virtue often intertwine with cultural tastes, highlighting the complexities of our choices and environmental impact.
🏡Love throws a line
The impact of technology on our expectations of laundry, contrasting high-tech solutions with simpler alternatives.
🎤Mountain Chief of Piegan Blackfeet, 1916
Exploring the rich heritage of the Piegan Blackfeet and the innovative spirit captured in early recording technology.
🎨The counter-intuitive comparison of all things
Exploring the concept of cultural appreciation through quirky comparisons in art and everyday joys.
🌳City and Forest, by Katy Wu
A young illustrator's work captures the delicate balance between nature and culture, inspired by the beloved film My Neighbour Totoro.
🕊️Comic grace
A reflection on the interplay of grace and passion in human lives and societies, highlighting both their significance and humor.
🌍A breath wafted from Paradise over the human world
An exploration of how spices from foreign lands captivated the imagination of Medieval Europeans.
🌍An enterprise of world-building
Discover the fascinating world of globe manufacturing through this engaging video from the Discovery Channel's how it's made series.
♻️Rice husk power
Exploring innovative ways to convert agricultural waste, specifically rice husks, into sustainable energy solutions for rural villages in India.
🎨Cezanne’s dream team
Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of late bloomers and the vital support systems behind their success in his article. "But for Zola, Cézanne would have remained an unhappy banker’s son in Provence; but for Pissarro, he would never have learned how to paint..."
🎶Portland Sacred Harp
I just enjoyed a great segment on Portland Sacred Harp, a community group nurturing shape-note singing traditions.
😇O is for obedience
An exploration of obedience as a creative act, inspired by a story from the Desert Fathers.
🌌Surf City, by Daniel Schludi
An observation on the contrast between desolation and hospitality in an oddly de-branded fast food place, illuminated at night.
🙏The root of real honor
A reflection on the sacredness of family and honor, drawing from a profound narrative in _Gilead_.
🍊Seed and feed store, Lincoln, Nebraska
An intriguing snapshot from 1942 captures the economic landscape of Nebraska, reflecting on the significant price disparity between oranges and grapefruit, and the association of grass with Sudan.
🌍The places we live
Explore the lives of a billion people living in slums through immersive photography and personal stories.
📻A hoax hoax
A reconsideration of the "War of the Worlds" broadcast reveals that the panic it generated was largely overstated and not nearly as widespread as believed.
🌐Even if the camera isn’t real
A thoughtful reflection on the transformative power of technology, illustrated through Chris Ware's animation for "The Cameraman."
📚Necessity > custom > obligation > institution
Luis Soriano's inspiring journey to bring books and education to impoverished communities in Colombia is a testament to the impact one individual can have.
🌸Avenida Morelos, Guadalajara, Mexico
Check out this colorful shop in central Guadalajara, where the theme is a delightful mystery between flowers, dresses, and butterflies.
🎭Give me a telenovela and I’ll give you a nation
An exploration of how telenovelas serve as both cultural mirrors and therapeutic narratives for countries, highlighting their unique emotional resonance and production values.
🎭The afterlife of Gordon Gekko
Reflection on the unintended consequences of cultural narratives, particularly in film.
🌉Walkway over 101, by Kurt Manley
I appreciate the striking contrasts found in the relationship between civilization and nature.
🌟Glamour and grace
This post explores the rich and varied history of glamour, spanning from renaissance art to contemporary culture.
🌌The epic of the universe, the ballad they sing in the streets
A beautiful reflection on the interplay of life and eternity from Marilynne Robinson's _Gilead_.
🏰Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra, Mt. Athos, Greece
An evocative reflection on a 13th-century Orthodox monastery that beautifully captures its duality of precariousness and homeliness amidst the twilight. This excerpt highlights the unexpected presence of an orange plastic debris chute, juxtaposing ancient architecture with modernity.
🎶Musilanguage
Exploring the blend of music and language, Sigur Rós captivates with their unique soundscapes and inventiveness.
🫒Sorting olives
Witness the olive-sorting process as captured in this poignant image of a Palestinian woman during the harvest.
💵The other Prohibition
An exploration of the history and complexities of tipping practices in America.
📚WRONG—
Reflecting on my experience with _Schindler's List_ and the charm of its historical annotations.
🎨Arabesques
From a lovely French collection of prints, this piece showcases "Arab art from the monuments of Cairo, from the 7th through the 19th centuries," illustrating a vibrant tapestry of designs over the centuries. Geolocation coordinates
⛪Consumption v. confession
An exploration of the shifting practices in Catholic confession and the Eucharist.
🌸Safety through beauty
Women's Design Service critiques the reliance on surveillance and enforcement in urban safety, advocating for more inviting public spaces.
🏔️To make common cause with the losers
An exploration of the concept of "the long defeat" and its significance in meaningful work, as interpreted by Paul Farmer and captured in Tracy Kidder's narrative.
🗄️Junk Drawer, Chicago IL, by Paho Mann
A fascinating glimpse into the hidden chaos of everyday life with a photo of a junk drawer in Chicago.
📚Notes from the Archbishop
The Archbishop of Canterbury dives into the complexities of Dostoyevsky, merging literary critique and theology.
🌱The dignity of plants
An exploration of the ethical considerations surrounding genetic modification and the dignity of plants in Switzerland.
🌅Aerial photo, source unknown
A reflection on the allure of stunning aerial photography that transcends ordinary satellite views.
💉All sorts of humanity mixed up in it
Derived from the emotional and ethical turbulence present in modern medicine, this piece explores how bioethics is intertwined with real-life dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals.
🔥Extravagant gestures
Annie Dillard reflects on the extravagant gestures of creation and their enduring presence in the world, beautifully illustrating the connection between nature and fire.
📚Best book review opening ever
A reflection on the sensory experience of books, particularly their scents, as captured in Nicholson Baker's delightful prose.
🌍If There Ever Was - A Book of Extinct and Impossible Smells
Aroma is creatively underutilized, as Robert Blackson explores through conceptual scent art.
🏛️Stone wall, Cuzco, Peru
The intricacies of Cuzco's mortarless Incan masonry never cease to amaze me, especially regarding how the seams between the blocks appear on the inside. How complex might the joints be? The geolocation coordinates for this remarkable structure are approximately -13.5226, -71.9731.
🌏Mera Juta Hai Japani
A reflection on the themes of modernity and globalization in Raj Kapoor's classic film _Shri 420_ and its iconic song "Mera Juta Hai Japani."
🍻Oktoberlost
A glimpse into the lively chaos of Munich's Oktoberfest, adorned by its amusing lost and found treasures.
🤝Correct method to raise a soldier
This remarkable historical photograph captures the effort of soldiers demonstrating the proper technique to lift and carry a comrade in need. "Three soldiers carry a fourth to demonstrate one stage of the correct method to raise a soldier from a reclining position for carrying."
🏈From Polynesia with love
As a rugby fan, I find it intriguing to see American football teams embracing the Polynesian haka and fostering multicultural connections.