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.

March 26, 2015

+ Article - "Don't be that Gen-Y Guy" by Jack Otter at Men's Fitness - This should be required reading for every young man or woman entering the work force.  It is also a great reminder for mentors that a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.  Read it here.

+ Article - "The Unclassified Laws of Etiquette" by Brett and Kate McKay at The Art of Manliness - Our society would be better off if we paid more attention to courteous behavior.  Read more here.

I did not get a chance to do much reading this week, but I have been listening to a lot of great soul and R&B.  Enjoy.  I accept no responsibility for the consequences of the romantic feelings inspired by these songs.

+ Song - "Sugarfoot" by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - If you don't dance to this you have no soul.

+ Song - "Call Me" by St. Paul and The Broken Bones - This white boy went to church!

+ Song - "When You're Here" by John Fullbright - So many feelings.

+ Song - "007 (Shanty town)" by Desmond Dekker and the Aces.  Get happy.

+ Song - "Deed I Do" by Ray Charles - Truly a genius.

+ Art - The Kennedys from Shopped Tatoos - Artist Unknown.

February 4, 2015

+Lecture - "How School Kills Creativity" by Ken Robinson.  Funny and thought provoking.  Watch it here.

+Article - "U.S. Tax Code Travesty" by John Cassidy of The New Yorker - we are a stupid people sometimes.  Read it here.

+Article - "The Common Core has not Killed Literature" by Meaghan Freeman of The Atlantic - the response to last week's article (here).  Read it here.

+Book - “The Modern Gentleman – A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy, and Vice” – by Phineas Mollod and Jason Tesauro - I've always loved etiquette manuals for some reason and I think being a gentleman is a dying art.  I gave a copy of this one to all of my groomsman and I think that its both interesting and funny.  Buy it here.

+Office - What's in your drawer?  Read this.

+Article - "Fathering With Intentionality: The Importance of Creating a Family Culture” by Brett and Kate McKay - this article really got me thinking about being intentional in how I go about crafting our family culture.  Read it here.

+Listen - "Ode to Viceroy" by Mac Demarco.  This is just good.

+Art - "The General" by Unknown - In honor of Ground Hog Day.