September 12, 2015

+ Article - "The Coddling of the American Mind" by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt at The Atlantic - Why are we so afraid of disagreement and debate?  Find out here.

+ Video - David Christian: The History of Our World in 18 Minutes by David Christian at TED Talks - Mr. Christian covers history from "the nothing" to the internet in 18 minutes.

+ Website - Big History Project - The Big History Project mentioned in the above video has a website with lessons and timelines.  Check it out here.

+ Essay - "Personality: The Body in Society" by Kevin Simler at Melting Asphalt - Nature vs. nurture?  Does our environment or our rearing make us who we are?  Maybe neither.  Read about it here.

+ Essay - "It Will Change Your Life - A South Africa Mission Reflection" by Monte Miller - My friend Monte went to South Africa this summer and it changed his life.  Read about his experience here and go support Door of Hope.

+ Article - "Inside the Salem Witch Trials" by Stacy Schiff at The New Yorker - The Salem Witch Trails have always fascinated me for some reason.  They were basically the historical equivalent of an internet argument in the comments section of a news article.  Read it here.

+ Article - "I'm a Millennial and I Don't Understand my Peers - Not Even a Little Bit" by Ryan Holiday in The Observer - I really identify with this essay.  "I don’t fear missing out, I worry constantly that I’m being irresponsible." Read it here.  

+ Article - "Here's the Real Solution to Millennial Angst" by Ryan Holiday in The Observer - Our generation is not special or different.  Not even a little bit.  Read it here.

+ Article - "Don't Send Your Kid to the Ivy League" by William Deresiewicz at New Republic -
This is more of an indictment of our entire education system than just one of Ivy League Schools.  Read it here.

+ Essay - "The Top of My Todo List" by Paul Graham - The mistakes that produce regret are often errors of omission.  Find out how to turn that around here.

+ Art - "Untitled" by my friend Josh Hill.

September 3, 2015

Sorry for the hiatus...

+ Article - "The Cop" by Jake Halpern of The New Yorker - a profile of Darren Wilson.  It is interesting how uninteresting he is.  Read it here.

+ Article - "Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace" by Jodi Kantor and David Streitfeld at The New York Times - This place sounds terrible.  Read about it here.

+ Article - 'The Rise of Work-Doping" by Olga Khazan at the The Atlantic - Would you take it?  Find out here.

+ Article - "The Simple Truth About Gun Control" by Adam Gopnik at The New Yorker - My feelings on gun control are ever evolving.  I'm a gun owner and don't have an issue with gun ownership, but I also feel like it should be harder to get a gun.  Read it here.

+ Article - "Death by the Barrel" by Craig Lambert in Harvard Magazine - applying the scientific method to gun control.  If you have ever debated the gun control issue you need to read this.

+ Article - "Keep Your Identity Small" by Paul Graham - I wouldn't go as far as he suggests, but it is interesting to think about how your identity effects the quality of your arguments.  Read it here.

+ Article - "What Makes People Vote Republican" by Jonathan Haidt at Edge - This is really long, and academic, but its worth working through.  "Morality is not just about how we treat each other (as most liberals think); it is also about binding groups together, supporting essential institutions, and living in a sanctified and noble way. When Republicans say that Democrats "just don't get it," this is the "it" to which they refer."  Read it here.

+ Art - Artist Unknown

July 9, 2015

+ Article - "Why We Can't Fall Asleep" by Maria Konnikova at The New Yorker - Why?  Why???  Read it here.

+ Article - "We Must Put an End to Gender Conversion Therapy For Kids" by Dan Karasic and Diane Ehrensaft at Wired - It is clear it does not work and that it causes real harm.  Read more here.

+ List - "The Best Books, Movies, and Podcasts to Learn About American History" by Greg Goldstone at Gear Patrol - It is clear from the social media posts I have suffered through the last few weeks that everyone could brush up on this subject.  See the list here.

+ Humor - "How Smart Phones Would Have Changed World History" by Teddy Wayne at the New Yorker - What if Moses had Siri?  By the way, everyone with an Iphone should ask Siri what zero divided by zero is.  She is a savage!  Read it here.

+ Article - "Shaming Spy Chiefs by Plastering Them All Over the World" by Laura Mallonee at Wired - Art can have power.  Read about it here.

+ Article - "Kids of Helicopter Parents are Sputtering Out" by Julie Lythcott-Haims at Slate - What kind of parent are you?  Can I be a Harrier jet?  Read more here.

+ Profile - "The Perfect Wife" by Ariel Levy at the New Yorker - This is a long read, but I really hope you make the effort.  This is a very human and romantic tale of love.  I think that if everyone had just one meaningful relationship with an LGBT person their opinions on the issues of the past few weeks would be different.  Read it here.

+ Art - Unknown.

June 25, 2015

+ Article - "What This Cruel War Was Over" by Ta-Nehisi Coates at The Atlantic - This is an excellent and in-depth article that calls bull on all of the revisionist history floating around this week. The Civil War was about slavery and white supremacy in the South.  Period. Read it here.

+ Article - "Equality and the Confederate Flag" by Jelani Cobb at The New Yorker - I take exception with "the flag" as the symbol of Southern pride.  Beyond that, it doesn't matter how I view the flag, or what its original purpose or history were.  Its symbolism and power only matter now because it has been appropriated by people who hate. It is a powerful symbol of prejudice and I believe our citizenship and our faith demand we stand on the right side of this issue.  The flag should come down.  Read it more here.

+ Article - "Millennials are Just as Racist as Their Parents" by Scott Clement - We are not the enlightened generations.  Read it here.

+ Article - "Charleston and the Next Time" by Adam Gopnik at The New Yorker - As a hunter I am currently very confused about my feelings regarding gun control.  Read more here.

+ Article - "Prison Revolt" by Bill Keller at The New Yorker - "Criminal justice reformers like to say that if a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged, a liberal is a conservative who has served time."  Read more here about conservatives leading a charge to reform our prison system.  Its time.

+ Article - "The Joy of Work" by Rashida Jones for Wired - Noting revolutionary here, but the format is awesome and it is an enjoyable read.  Read it here.

+ Article - "There's no Business Like Slow Business" by Philip Delves Broughton - I'd be happy to lead this movement in America.  We are way too busy being busy.  Read it here.

+ Article - "A World Without Work" by Derek Thompson at The Atlantic - These are interesting times.  We automate more and more and yet we are rediscovering the value of things made by hand, or locally grown.  Read more here.

+ Song - "Funny How Time Slips Away" by Willie Nelson - Put this on in your kitchen, grab your one true love, and dance.  You'll thank me later.

+ Art - Artist Unknown.

June 18, 2015

I apologize for the unannounced two week hiatus.  Life sometimes gets in the way.

+ Article - "How to Stay Alive" by Jack Seemer at Gear Patrol - Advice on the 10 essentials approach to back-country preparedness.  Read more here.

+ Article - "How to Tie 12 Knots" by Tucker Bowe at Gear Patrol - Video tutorials for a host of useful knots.  Learn em!  Watch here.

+ Article - "Murders in Charleston" by Jelani Cobb at The New Yorker - I had decided that I was going to post nothing but fun links this week because I'm emotionally exhausted.  However, this tragedy can't be ignored.  This is the convergence of the race issues we face as a country AND the fact that its far too easy to be a mass murderer in America.  Read more here.

+ Article - "Always Innovative Toronto Public Library Lets us Check Out Humans as Well as Books" by Paul Gallant at Yonge Street - This is just a really cool idea.  Read about it here.

+ Listen - "Strange Trails" by Lord Huron.  This is a great rock album.

+ Book - "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway - I consistently list this as my favorite book, but I can't really put my finger on why.  I have read it at least once a year since I was in high school.  Order it here.

+ Art - "In the Dust" by Mark Maggiori.  I have really been missing Texas lately and have been staring at these paintings.

May 28, 2015

+ Article - "Why it Pays to Be a Jerk" by Jerry Useem at The Atlantic - Traits that serve you in one context don't necessarily serve you in another.  You must be adaptable.  Read more here.

+ Article - "The Triumph (and Failure) of John Nash's Game Theory" by John Cassidy - You are likely familiar with John Nash from the movie A Beautiful Mind.  This is why he was important.  Read more here.

+ Article - "The New Rules of Business" by Chris Elvidge at The Journal for Mr. Porter - If I could transplant one gene into the people I work with it would be Rule #1.  Read them here.

+ Article - "The Rise and Fall of Silk Road Part II" by Joshuah Bearman at Wired - I posted Part I several weeks ago and highly recommend that you finish the story.  Reality is often better than fiction.  Read it here.

+ Article - "Man & Boy: Velvet Revolution" by Mr. John Brodie at The Journal for Mr. Porter - There is something to be said for not enjoying the good things in life until you can pay for them yourself.  As an admittedly spoiled only child I've found myself questioning many of my assumptions as I guide two little people through the world.  Read more here.

+ Art - "Buffalo Herder" by Mark Maggiori.

May 14, 2015

+ Article - "The Cruel and Unusual Execution of Clayton Lockett" by Jeffrey E. Stern at The Atlantic -  If you read nothing else this week I think you should read this.  If you support the death penalty you definitely need to read this, and then go think long and hard about why you support it.  Read it here, but be warned - it is a tough read.

+ Article - "Home Economics: The Link Between Work-Life Balance and Income Equality" by Stephen Marche at The Atlantic - This article hits a lot of issues and seems to struggle to find a thesis, but is still a great read on a very important topic.  Read it here.  Read this one too...

+ Article - "The President and Poverty" by Paul Elie at The New Yorker - Class segregation is real and is happening all around us.  Read more here.

+ Video - "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Paid Family Leave" from HBO - John Oliver is smart and funny and tackles tough issues with wit and sensitivity.  Paid family leave should exist.  We are basically the only country in the developed world (and much of the undeveloped one) that doesn't offer it.  We can't claim that the family is the foundation of American society while totally ignoring the realities of family life.  Watch it here.

+ Art - Photographer unknown, but I would title this one "Life Goals".