🌍 Culture Making

• 🐟Cans behind bars

  Here's a fascinating look into the unique economy of American prisons, where canned mackerel serves as a form of currency.

• 🍲Chicken stock

  A reflection on how the Campbell Soup Co. stood out during a market downturn, highlighting a shift in American values.

• 🎨God’s Close-Up

  Reflecting on the beauty and depth of the third episode of "This American Life," a piece that explores the themes of outcasts and representation.

• 📚Give or take 100,000 words

  An exploration of the complexities of translating literature, especially in the case of Hugo’s "Les Misérables."

• 🐦Super Kingdom by London Fieldworks

  Inspired by the hibernation patterns of local animals, this series of show homes evokes a blend of biblical imagery, reminiscent of the Tower of Babel and Noah's Ark, intertwining themes from the Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem.

• 🎭Miss Piggy Lee

  A deep dive into the origins of Miss Piggy and the art of puppetry from Bonnie Erickson.

• 🐴Nepal Horse Book

  Reflecting on the intriguing connection between horses and the remote valley of Mustang in Nepal.

• 🤝Shepherding an online community

  A thoughtful exploration of the necessity for moderation in online communities.

• 📚Department of applied literature

  A high-end storefront secular church in London reimagines philosophy and literature as tools for daily life.

• 📱Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Shawn Baldwin

  A glimpse into the lives of young Saudi men navigating relationships through technology.

• 🌏Spanish Catholic schoolgirl crushes

  In a reflection on the evolution of travel writing, Rolf Potts discusses the complexities of globalization and the shifting narratives in contemporary travel stories.

• 🍳Strawberries and reindeer

  An exploration of the profound significance of cooking in human culture.

• 👫The old 7–13–50–90–150

  Exploring the dynamics of group sizes and their implications for community structure and survival.

• 🐘Babar, Arthur and Celeste

  A glimpse into Babar's adventures from Jean de Brunhoff's sketches, highlighting the moment he takes Arthur and Celeste shopping.

• 📉Cancer study fail

  The challenge of publishing negative trial results is a deep issue in the scientific community.

• 🍲Canh chua ca (Vietnamese sour fish soup)

  Exploring the refreshing and appetite-stimulating qualities of sour soups across Southeast Asia.

• 🗺️Mental states

  The intriguing link between regional personality traits and various societal outcomes in the United States.

• 🍚Rice and salt and sand

  Joygun Nessa skillfully crafts puffed rice using a traditional Bangladeshi technique, highlighting the delicate balance of fire, rice, and timing.

• 🎨The colourful apartment buildings of Tirana, Albania

  Tirana, Albania, has transformed its urban landscape through vibrant colors and unique patterns on its buildings. An example of this creative approach is highlighted in the following quote

• 🍽️At most, sharing a pudding

  As the French grapple with economic challenges, their beloved tradition of lengthy business lunches is at risk, illustrating a cultural shift that echoes across the channel. "It is seen as the mark of civilised eating, distinguishing well-fed French workers from the English who wolf prawn sandwiches at their desks..."

• 💧Living waters (slightly) reinterpreted

  An exploration of how Jewish feminists have reinterpreted the mikveh, transforming what was once seen as a symbol of patriarchal oppression into a celebration of women's connection to tradition and spirituality.

• 🩴Water bottle sandals, by Kinzénguélé

  This striking representation of resourcefulness comes from Kinzénguélé's water bottle sandals, blending art and practicality in a unique way.

• 🐸Cultural Relativism - Animal Noises Edition

  An exploration of how children from different cultures perceive animal sounds, highlighting the fascinating variations in frog sounds.

• 🌳Gourdon’s Garden, Provence, France

  The perspective captured in this photo beautifully contrasts the cultivated gardens with the wild canyon below, showcasing the gardeners diligently tending to the hedges.

• 🍃Turf-cutting

  A reflection on the contrasts between the art of turf-cutting and its poetic representation in Seamus Heaney's work.

• 🏡Dave, Merredin, Western Australia, by Caitlin Harrison

  I love this pair of landscapes

• 📱Mobile phones and the flood

  In the wake of devastating floods, mobile phones have emerged as a vital tool for rescue and communication in Bihar, India.

• 🛒The omnivore’s daughter’s dilemma

  A humorous reflection on the quirks of grocery shopping in Berkeley Bowl from Michael Pollan.

• 🛫Flying, by Joseph Brunjes

  I love the combination of this kid's gesture of abandon and look of rapt concentration. Serious fun indeed.

• 📺Public service plotlines

  This study reveals insights into how television programs like Grey's Anatomy can effectively enhance public awareness about healthcare.

• 🌳Tree of life

  From Vijaysree Venkataraman, a reflection on the journey of the moringa tree and its potential in addressing malnutrition across cultures.

• 🥠Fortune cookies come to China

  A surprising exploration of fortune cookies, their origins, and the cultural misconceptions surrounding them.

• 🌌Grand ideas first,  obstacles later

  A critical reflection on the narrative of world-changing meetings and the potential consequences of scientific endeavors, particularly referencing CERN's impact on our understanding of the universe.

• 🍞Perchers, pinchers, turners, swingers

  A delightful exploration of vintage toasters and their innovative designs.

• ❤️Almost a mantra

  A reflection on the essentials of life, emphasizing love, community, and the beauty of typesetting in a world where these values matter.

• 🕰️First, hide the router!

  In a world where technology can distract, Jeff VanderMeer shares a personal strategy to create uninterrupted writing time.

• 🚗Tell-my-mom.com

  This post explores an innovative approach to improving teen driving safety by utilizing feedback mechanisms similar to those used in fleet management. "By placing our How’s My Driving sticker on your car, other drivers now have an easy way to provide feedback about your teen’s driving..."

• 🗺️The trouble with online maps

  A critique of modern online mapping practices from the president of the British Cartographic Society highlights the loss of geographical richness. "Corporate cartographers... are leaving off landmarks like churches, ancient woodlands and stately homes."

• 🐘Ganesh CD player, Mumbai, India

  Exploring cultural sensitivities in consumerism, especially through a playful depiction of Ganesh.

• 🤝Reconciliation and the oval ball

  A reflection on Nelson Mandela's clever adaptation to the challenges of prison life through his unexpected engagement with rugby.

• 🎨Type specimen - Blaktur

  I appreciate the intriguing connections between traditional calligraphy and contemporary design, highlighted by Ken Barber's "Blaktur."

• 🌍Out of that came the Googles of the world ..

  The Whole Earth Catalog ignited a cultural shift, blending creativity, small-scale entrepreneurship, and a new vision for commerce.

• 🎱Tibetans Play Pool

  Exploring the cultural significance of tables in social gatherings and leisure activities, as illustrated by Tibetans playing pool.

• 🎨No. 8 Rue Franklin, Nantes, France

  A reflection on the juxtaposition of beauty and vandalism in Nantes' architectural landscape.

• 🍖B.C. BBQ

  This fascinating vignette from Neolithic times reminds me of the origins of cultural gatherings, akin to the first-ever tailgate party—a communal celebration with food and ritual.

• 🌍Some of the loneliest languages

  Dispatches from the world of endangered languages, highlighting the plight of those struggling to survive.

• 🎹The practice of practicing

  From Mark Slutsky, a reflection on rekindling a childhood dream of becoming a pianist.

• 🏙️Dream City, by Paul Klee

  Reflecting on Klee's vision of a timeless cityscape.

• 🎬Filmmakers on filmmakers on filmmaking - La Nuit Américaine Express

  An exploration of François Truffaut's film _Day for Night_ and its influence on Wes Anderson's artistic vision.

• 🏛️Once you finally get good at it, why stop?

  An exploration of why many architects continue working well into their later years, highlighting the parallels between their professional longevity and the enduring nature of the buildings they create.