Author: Chad
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Links of the moment
An ongoing series Rejoice! For Kristen Wiig’s Aunt Linda returned to SNL. (As did Ryan Gosling for Papyrus 2.) A museum of old coffee makers. The wonderfully arcane world of trademark design codes. What is both an amazing astronomical phenomenon and a righteous band name? The Vela Supernova Remnant. Have fun browsing “five hundred years of the vulgar tongue” in Green’s Dictionary…
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Trust the turning of pages
Austin Kleon on a recent episode of the 1000 Hours Outside Podcast: I truly believe that with a book, on a sentence to sentence level, I trust the turning of pages. There needs to be a momentum. If you’re turning pages, the book is good, and that includes the trash reading. I do my fair…
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Scientific achievements that deserve their own ‘Oppenheimer’
I half-joked in my Oppenheimer blurb that I have a long list of history books that also deserve to be turned into IMAX-worthy epics. Well, I’m happy to report my favorite author Steven Johnson is also on board with this movement—specifically for the story of penicillin and other incredible scientific achievements: If Nolan can create…
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Keep streaming in its place
CJ Chilvers on why he’s back to using CDs: I brought physical media back into my life not to replace streaming, but to keep streaming in its place. I heard an audiophile once say that he treated streaming music services (even lossless streaming) like radio. It’s great for discovering new music and artists, and to…
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On good and gobbledygook writing
Rivaling Winston Churchill’s missive on brevity, this 1944 memo by Maury Maverick is the first known use of the word gobbledygook and dishes out some hard truths about good writing: Be short and use Plain English. Memoranda should be as short as clearness will allow. The Naval officer who wired “Sighted Sub — Sank Same” told the…
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Word compendiums for the win
It’s hard to even imagine now, but aimlessly browsing bookstores was something I did semi-regularly back in my single and then pre-kid days. One kind of book I’d always keep an eye out for was (for lack of a better name) word compendiums, an author’s curated collection of rare, idiosyncratic, or just plain cool words.…
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Links of the moment
An ongoing series A lovely ode to the Voyager 1 spacecraft’s long life and imminent death. There’s something deeply touching about 18,000 strangers around the world singing Toto’s “Africa” together. A visual deep-dive on title drops in movies. A look back at photos from 100 years ago. Find the exact opposite place of anywhere on earth with the Antipodes Map.
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The AI-powered typewriter
First published as an Instagram Reel just for funsies. Have you heard about the latest hot gadget? It’s called a “typewriter” and it has all the fancy, cutting-edge features you need: High-res screen — the writing surface looks just like real paper because that’s what it is Strong security — your writing is encrypted and…
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There are no coincidences
Austin Kleon on clues and curiosity: Something I learned a long time ago is that it is a great help to the artist to believe that there are no coincidences. One way to boost your curiosity is to just assume that everything in life is a clue left from the universe for further investigation. Follow…
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Media of the moment
An ongoing series Dune: Part Two. I couldn’t see Dune on the big screen so I was glad to catch this one. Anytime I can see a big, weird, tactile, religion-infused spectacle like this is a good time for me. Masters of the Air. Produced by the same people behind Band of Brothers and The…
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Recent Views
More photography here. Back before winter melted into an unseasonably warm February, we got to enjoy some idyllic snowfall: A boy beholding his world: A foggy commute: Shadows and hallways: Laying down in the backyard with the 5 year old let us spot this view of a fading contrail:
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Links of the moment
An ongoing series NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day feed is a treasure trove of amazing photos. Thanks to science for being able to read ancient papyri. Yay for rewilding old golf courses! All the ways Mount Everest can kill you.
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Talkin’ WALL-E
In January, my Cinema Sugar compadre Kevin and I went on the Baby’s First Watchlist podcast to talk all things WALL-E as a tie-in with Animation Month. It was my first time as a podcast guest and was a lot of fun. They pulled out a few clips to share on social media that included…
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All zig, no zag
Today I was in the backyard playing tag with our freshly minted 5 year old. He likes when I zig-zag around while he tries to catch me, something he indicated he couldn’t do himself thusly: “I can only do the zig, not the zag.” It’s a great line, but it also make me think of…
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What is art for?
Nick Wolterstorff on the purpose of art (via Alan Jacobs): What then is art for? What purpose underlies this human universal? One of my fundamental theses is that this question, so often posed, must be rejected rather than answered. The question assumes that there is such a thing as the purpose of art. That assumption…