Joe Stracci's blog. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: writing, art, technology, Apple, food, fatherhood, parenting, and music. And photography. And design. And sports. Oh, and probably some politics too.
Posted in: Links
Milton Glaser, the designer of the iconic I ♥ NY mark, doesn’t agree that earth is warming, he’s saying it’s dying. His message is “It’s Not Warming. It’s Dying.“, which is paired with a circular mark made of a sickly green and black.
Maybe this will be the approach that works?
I’d never had an assault rifle pointed at me before. I’d never locked eyes with a man holding an assault rifle atop a tank. But this was reality in Ferguson — those who’d been protesting for hours in front of these tanks had long passed the point of being scared of these soldiers.
As darkness fell, the crowd was growing, in number and volume. I wasn’t sure which side was going to back down, voluntarily or forcibly. Or when.
At one point, one of the cops appeared to smile. It ignited the crowd, which had made a habit of focusing on specific cops, either in an attempt to rattle them, to draw out any sign of humanity, or simply to shame them.
Then there was the helicopter, circling the crowd with a spotlight shining down. Most of the front line of protesters threw the middle finger whenever the light zeroed in on them.
And then there was the first request, which felt more like a demand.
I usually try to not add anything to pieces I link to of a political nature. In general, when I post a link to a piece, I don’t really see it as being about me. I posted it—obviously, I think it’s important enough for others to see. This time, though, it feels different.
I follow Browne’s work because he’s two years younger than me and is one of the first journalists—maybe because of his Internet presence beyond his actual writing—that I’ve felt a connection to. I understand his voice, and his references, and his conclusions. However, I would never claim to fully understand his thoughts and emotions about race. That doesn’t stop me from using his words to help inform my world view.
Following along with the protests in Ferguson on Wednesday, I was relieved when I finally saw the tweets he mentions near the end of the piece, when he let his friends and family and followers know that, “I’m not fine, but I’m fine.” What he wrote about his experience is powerful, sad, raw, and most of all—important.
Late in the afternoon on Wednesday, the armored vehicles rolled into place just beyond the charred shell of the QuikTrip gas station that was burned on the first night of protests. Police, some outfitted in riot gear, others in military fatigues, barricaded the streets. At least one of them draped a black bandana over his face; others covered their badges. Two hundred feet away, a local church group blared gospel music from a sound truck, hoping to quell tensions. Half a dozen students performed a dance routine punctuated by calls for justice in the Brown case. Near the front, a handful of young men jeered the police officers. One woman with an infant in a stroller walked up to the police barricade and screamed her contempt. A few people held signs comparing Ferguson to Gaza.
What’s left out is the fact that emerging technologies are a double-edged sword. Whether the internet is a mindless distraction or the greatest educational tool ever invented is all in how you use it.
To be clear, there is a real risk in “excessive passivity” -- the habit of merely consuming information put in front of you, rather than actively cultivating knowledge in areas that are valuable to you.
But addressing this problem can be done in a much more pragmatic way. Consider it a habit audit, or an honest look at how you are spending your time.
The Orwell vs. Huxley comparison in this piece is perfect.
/via Ian Williams
What's especially bizarre is that some of these documentaries about mythical sharks feature real-life shark scientists. How does that happen? As it turns out, there’s an answer — over at ion, David Shiffman, a PhD student studying sharks at the University of Miami, reveals that Discovery Channel producers flat-out mislead some of the experts they interview.
One such expert, Jonathan Davis, took a Discovery Channel crew to go see sharks in Louisiana back in 2013. The producers never told Davis what the show would be about, despite his repeated questions. He was later appalled to see that his interview was featured on a documentary called “Voodoo Shark” about a mythical monster that lived in the bayous.
"In reality, Davis was barely asked about the voodoo shark at all," Shiffman writes. "His answers from unrelated questions were edited together to make it seem like he believed in its existence and was searching for it."
But three employees who have taken classes agreed to speak to The New York Times on the condition that they not be identified. They described a program that is an especially vivid reflection of Apple and the image it presents to the world. Like an Apple product, it is meticulously planned, with polished presentations and a gleaming veneer that masks a great deal of effort.
“Even the toilet paper in the bathrooms is really nice,” one of the employees said.
Apple being Apple.
In the summer of 2001, the kids from the Bronx were the feel-good story of the Little League World Series. Most of the attention went to their quiet, record-setting ace, Danny Almonte, who had recently moved to New York from the Dominican Republic. They didn’t win the title, but they were the toast of New York, meeting their neighbors the New York Yankees and receiving keys to the city from then-mayor Rudy Giuliani. The problem was, Almonte’s story didn’t hold up. A Sports Illustrated investigation revealed that he was a full two years too old to participate in Little League. The story instantly caught international attention, as Almonte was accused of cheating in the most sacred of all amateur sports. Twelve years later, the reclusive Almonte finally tells the truth about one of the strangest chapters in youth sports history.
I, like many in the Bronx, followed Danny’s rise and fall very closely. I’m still torn. 90% of me feels that the adults in his life really fucked him over. 10% of me, though, felt then and still feels now, like his teammate that is featured in the doc: he knew how old he was and how old he wasn’t. I also can’t help but think about just how much life in New York City, and in the United States, was about to change very soon after this all took place.
This is Robin Williams like you’ve never heard him before.
From his 2009 HBO special Weapons of Self Destruction, this was the first bit of his that came to mind when I heard he’d died. The first 2:15, specifically. The buildup to “Fuck, no! Eighteen fucking times!” is perfect.
The truth is that Williams' career will stand as the signature comedy template of recent times. He's not the only funny actor to transition into dramatic roles, but his path was the most vigorous in both directions. Broad comedies, family films, supernatural dramas, animation, dark character pieces, blockbusters, indies, shameless Oscar bait, crap like Old Dogs: He tried just about everything imaginable, and he always dove in. No matter the darkness that ultimately consumed him, he always seemed to enjoy performing, entertaining, being famous. He made it not seem like a burden, but rather a lark.
