2021 recommendations

August 2021

August 2021 A bit late this month, because we were traveling (!), but here are a few recommendations: First, you should watch Summer of Soul if you haven’t yet. I don’t think I have anything particularly new or interesting to say about it, but it is, indeed, extraordinary and absurd that the Harlem Cultural Festival …

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2018 recommendations

March 31, 2018: Behind the Scenes

I’ve just finished teaching a new class about cities, and one of the things that the experience made me think about was how the built environment of urban spaces is the outcome of a long process (or series of processes) that is itself basically invisible. That is to say, you can see what the city …

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2016 recommendations

Recommendations for February 26, 2016

Today’s theme: Necessity and Invention Article: “The Most Precious Cargo for Lighthouses Across America was a Traveling Library” by Natalie Zarelli I’ve never given much thought to the day-to-day reality of operating a lighthouse. That might not seem surprising, but it occurred to me as I read this piece that I actually talk about lighthouses …

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2015 recommendations

Recommendations for August 23, 2015

Song: “KYBM” by Tunde Olaniran A producer/rapper/singer from Flint, Michigan, of all places, Tunde Olaniran is pulling together all kinds of different sounds on his debut album, which is one of the most interesting things I’ve heard this year. This track is fairly representative, to the extent that any one song could be.   Article: …

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2015 recommendations

Recommendations for April 25, 2015

Video: Time Lapse Video of the Eruption of the Cabulco Volcano in Chile There are many great photos of the recent Chilean volcano eruption available online, but this video allows you to see the process of the eruption on a timescale more readily grasped. It is, predictably, both frightening and beautiful.   Article: “A Simple …

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2015 recommendations

Recommendations for March 22, 2015

A bit lake this week as it is finals time and I had stacks of grading to get through. Video: “A Message” by Kelela I was not as blown away by Kelela’s first release, Cut 4 Me, as many critics seemed to be, but this is very nice. Minimal production on the verses—basically just percussion— …

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