OMM (On My Mind)
~ June 2023 #2 ~
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::: Recommended Podcasts Episodes :::
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Not a recommendation but…
“True crime is the most common topic, making up 24% of these top-ranked podcasts” (Pew Research)
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::: The Natural World :::
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Another type of blue bloods.
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Sometimes the effort matters a great deal.
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People have a lot of mixed feelings on zoos. I love the zoo.
This is an example of why people have serious complaints:
All five of the Philadelphia Zoo’s meerkats have died from a mystery toxin (Philadelphia Inquirer)
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::: The Arts & The Literary World:::
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The decline in author pay and just how little writers make per year (myself included).
Relatedly, why writers really can benefit from winning prizes. A reason to consider, you know, not primarily giving them to those who went to Ivy League schools (implying they likely already benefit from generational wealth and connections).
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Are We Eating Each Other Alive in the Indie-Lit World?
Chill Subs co-founder discusses money and profits in indie-lit publishing
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Elizabeth Gilbert pulls book from publication schedule due to outrage because it is being set in Russia.
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A haiku map game … or something like that
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[on] Controversial artists & their controversial statements
“It’s worth considering that perhaps Kanye, and also Kusama, might somehow be off-limits from criticism because of their well-publicized mental illnesses.”
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Ada x NASA à Jupiter
“[…] We reach for the stars.” – The West Wing
“The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars.” – The West Wing
“Over the past half century, we've split the atom, we've spliced the gene and we've roamed Tranquility Base. We've reached for the stars and never have we been closer to having them in our grasp.” – The West Wing
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::: Small Explorations & Deep Dives :::
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One small window into a Zillennial mindset
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NYC: “Tens of thousands of delivery workers are slated to make at least $17.96 per hour plus tips by July 12, and at least $19.96 an hour by 2025, city officials said.”
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Except, of course, that’s not true.
I still think those who opt for a traditional burial should request the grave bell.
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What might humans look like in the year 3000 if we keep using similar technologies?
Well… frankly, I think it could be worse.
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Our commitment to defending sunk costs (Seth Godin)
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Why hasn't LA seen a big San Andreas quake recently? Researchers find a clue
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A flight hack that shouldn’t be appealing if the airlines were a little less greedy.
If you read the article, then you’ll see the airlines are not kind to anyone who tries this.
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Fingers Crossed!
Microbes Found in Alps and Arctic Could Be Key to Decomposing Plastic
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The Fight for Queer Nightlife in an Era of Political Violence (Pitchfork)
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UPS finally accepts workers appreciate air conditioning in 2023
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Stunning.
Recording breaking solving of a Rubik’s Cube.
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English dominates the internet to a worrisome degree.
“One UNESCO expert is concerned that, in 15 years, there will be “just 5 or 10 languages spoken prominently in business and online” (Chartr)
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A few historic bars in the United States… possibly near you!
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It’s true, economically speaking, and Swifties (obviously), believe Taylor Swift should be making more money. (NY Times Op-Ed, Paywall...)
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Reduce jag lag with… chocolate?
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~ Nice news ~
Philly music therapist crafts 'heartbeat recordings' for seniors
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Best cities to live in without a car
Looked at another way, these are likely among the best cities to visit without a car rental, too, right?
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AI DJ? Sounds… like another reason to you streaming over radio… not sure what they’re thinking.
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Germany will pay Holocaust survivors across the world over $1 billion in 2024
“Germany will pay Holocaust survivors over $1.4 billion next year, which will go toward one-time payments for the survivors and welfare programs.”
I’m not saying this needs to happen; however, it seems worth questioning whether restitution should be paid to families who lost loved ones in the Holocaust.
I’m thinking, in part, of the ongoing question of how to navigate reparations for Black Americans who are the descendants of slaves.
Rep. Cori Bush introduces bill on reparations for Black Americans
In this bill, “legislation [is] calling for $14 trillion in reparations for Black American.”
I believe, to the best of my recollection, that I have seen suggestions as high as 39 trillion for reparations.
For reference, the U.S. federal budget has been in the range of 1.6T to 6.8T since 1996.
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Doctors are finally going to start asking adults basic questions about their mental health to assess if they have increased anxiety and/or depression.
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40 Mind-Expanding Concepts (Summer 2023): Ideas to help you make sense of the world
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A big step forward.
Lab-grown meat is cleared for sale in the United States
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Ireland is paying up to $92,000 to people who buy homes on remote islands. Here's how it works.
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Why an Era of A.I. Art Is Over
Well, that was fast.
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Who’s hungry for tweezer food?
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Nearly 1/3 of America’s homeless population lives unhoused in California
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