The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining moment of our generation. The last global crisis of this magnitude was World War II, and with any luck we won’t see anything this dire again for decades. That’s probably wishful thinking, for a variety of reasons (climate, for instance), but we can hope. We’re living in History – with a capital H.As in,
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It’s inevitable that we all want to get back to normal. But when we do, it won’t be “back.” It’s going to be a very different normal. But… We keep hearing this phrase: “the new normal.” I suspect the people who use it the most are the ones who really get it the least. Their “new normal” wisdom seems to
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For a long time there I stopped calling myself a photographer, opting instead for some iteration of “digital photoartist.” The issue was that my work was so heavily reliant on processing that even thought it may have started as a photo, it really wasn’t one by the end. Pixels were added, subtracted, multiplied, divided, contorted and riven by various and
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I’ve posted one or two of these, but here’s the whole series in one spot.
Read moreOthers have eulogized Adam far better than I can, but I wanted to share a couple of words and some of my favorite songs by a truly generational songwriter. Somehow Fountains of Wayne only had one hit, and that alone tells you all you need to know about radio. He had this epic sense for a melody. His lyrics were
Read moreThis is sublime. This is technology at its best. Thanks to Frank Venturo for passing it along.
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Social Democracy is not Socialism, but a mixed economic approach that balances the strengths of capitalism with a deep commitment to social justice. I’ve been flying the flag of the Weimar Republic’s Iron Front a lot lately. If you don’t know who they were, here’s a brief intro: The Iron Front was a German paramilitary organization in the Weimar Republic
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One of the first things my parents did when I was born was saddle me with the wrong name: Norris Gilmer Smith, Jr.
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The Biden Can’t Beat Trump meme is powerful these days, and it’s an opinion held by some people I have a lot of respect for. But. Look, I hate Biden for all the reasons every sensible progressive does. But it’s like we’ve all forgotten what actually happened in 2016. Trump didn’t romp because he hate this irresistible tidal wave of
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I can’t decide what to have them put on my tombstone. Advice? 1: He was a simple country boy. 2: The world ends not with a bang Not even a whimper But with ellipses… 3: He was a blind man playing tag with ninjas in the dark
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I have seven letters after my name, but I often feel as though I’m in desperate need of education. I can’t look at the news without thinking how much I’d benefit from a good history degree, for instance. More and more when I listen to music I wish I understood the mathematics of tone. And speaking of math, I envy
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Jackson Browne has tested positive…
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Sōgi bows before Ikkyū. “Master Dōken rebuked me this morning,” he says. “What did you do this time?” replies Ikkyū. “Nothing. I merely asked why the bird sings in its gilded cage.” Ikkyū sighs. “What was the Master doing?” Sōgi reflects for a moment. “At the time he seemed rather agitated at a pot of water.” “What did he say
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Visitor to America: Hello! I am new in your country. Can you teach me importants for live here? Me: Visitor to America: OK! Am now leaving!
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