Weekend Reading

  • Chords of Inquiry
    It’s 1984 or 1985, Prince and the Revolution are in California, and they decide to drive out to Joni Mitchell’s house in Malibu for dinner.
    Can still remembering ‘discovering’ Joni Mitchell about 10 years ago. I’m not a big reader of biographies but might pick this one up.

  • Keeping ‘Insecure’ lit: HBO cinematographer Ava Berkofsky on properly lighting black faces

    The actors on HBO’s Insecure are hotter than you. They’re hotter than your friends, they’re hotter than me and they’re even hotter than the ex the show won’t let you forget about.
    That’s why I’m not hot, IT’S THE LIGHTING! (I’ve been saying this all along).

  • A moment that changed me: turning my back on monogamy

    Brought up believing in romantic exclusivity, relationships caused me crippling jealousy. Then my husband and I embraced polyamory I married my partner, Andrew, in 2011. On our wedding day, in hand-written vows, we pledged love and devotion and to always belong to one another.
    Always interesting to read how others stepped away from monogamy. I may be single (OH SO SINGLE!), but I’m poly.

  • For Muslims In The US, There’s Before 9/11 And There’s After

    When people squint at my name on something in front of them and then ask where I’m from, I tell them “Columbus, Ohio.” When they look again and then, perhaps more urgently, ask where my parents are from, I tell them “New York,” smiling more slightly.
    Harrowing. Check your white privilege at the door (next to mine) and read this. 20 years on, nothing has changed.

  • Two British science museums held a majestic, two-day fight on Twitter

    Twitter battles tend to descend into a dumpster fire of insults. But when a duel emerged between two of Britain’s most prestigious museums, it wasn’t just entertaining, it was educational.
    AKA Social Media done right (although Glasgow Kelvingrove could take them both, just saying)

  • Your Next New Best Friend Might Be a Robot

    One night in late July 2014, a journalist from the Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly interviewed a 17-year-old Chinese girl named Xiaoice (pronounced Shao-ice). The journalist, Liu Jun, conducted the interview online, through the popular social networking platform Weibo.
    That’s great. But my current robot sometimes only listens when I shout… Alexa, ALEXA!!!!

  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017

    The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, founded in 1965, is an annual international showcase of the best in nature photography. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
    Inspirational and beautiful images. Inspiring me to burn my camera because COME ON!

  • Here’s Why You Should Embrace Multi-Account Web Browsing

    Firefox users bouncing between work and personal accounts on a daily basis are probably tired of logging in and out, or switching accounts. Thanks to the new (and overdue) Mozilla-made Multi-Account Container extension, you won’t have to worry about remembering which account you’re logged into.
    For all you multiple social media account people (you and your personal branding, huh!)…

  • The Making and Unmaking of Iggy Azalea

    During the summer of 2010, Iggy Azalea lived free of charge in a guest house in Los Angeles, courtesy of Polow Da Don. As the producer behind Fergie’s biggest hits, he saw Iggy as the second coming and wanted to groom her into a pop star.
    The music industry, and many people in it, really are their own worst enemy sometimes

  • Americans Didn’t Ruin the Man Booker Prize. Book Publishers Did.

    Complaining about the Man Booker Prize is an important British tradition. Since its inception—as simply the Booker Prize, in 1969—it has been criticized for its imperialist overtones, its unwillingness to take risks, and, above all, its corrupt insularity.
    Yeah but The Sellout though, unreadable and AMERICAN. Just saying…

  • These Scottish women are leading the way on tackling period poverty

    For the majority of women, periods are a mild inconvenience at best, and a painful few days at worst. But for homeless women – who have little or no access to sanitary products and hygiene facilities – it can be a nightmare.
    As Glasgow parlance would have it “Gon yersel’ hen!”

  • Satya Nadella Rewrites Microsoft’s Code

    Satya Nadella’s corner office, on the fifth floor of Building 34 at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters, features a can’t-miss 84-inch Surface touch-screen computer that dominates one wall. But what demands even more attention are the vast quantities of books in the room.
    Micro … ohhh yeah them! Turns out they are still around and doing pretty damn well thank you. How? By embracing BEING NICE. It’s not rocket science people.

  • The Root 100 – The Most Influential African Americans In 2017
    Of which I’ve only heard of a handle. Shameful.

  • A pile of trash in the ocean has grown to the size of France—and some people want it recognized as a nation

    There’s a country-sized problem in the north Pacific Ocean: a patch of trash has grown to the size of France. So the environmental charity Plastic Oceans Foundation has paired up with the news and entertainment publication LadBible to campaign for it to be recognized as an official country.
    SHAMEFUL. Why do we hate our planet so much?

  • This is your brain on art

    When we experience art, we feel connected to something larger. Why? If you think about it, having a great time at the theater defies logic in many ways.
    Somewhere I’m in the middle sector of a Venn diagram with two circles, science geek, and over emotional child. So this article made a lot of sense!

  • With a series of Wikipedia Edit-a-Thons, Indian women are finally getting their due online

    You only have to look at the Wikipedia page of the early 20th century Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil to know that she’s a household name: It’s detailed, well-sourced, and full of pictures of her works, some of which have been sold for millions of dollars.
    I support Wikipedia financially. Yes it is flawed but things like this keep my faith.

  • Siri is dying. Long live Susan Bennett.

    She’s been in the hands of over 100 million people. Perhaps she’s slept on your nightstand. She may have even drunk-dialed your ex. And guess what: Susan Bennett, the original voice of Apple’s Siri, never saw it coming.
    I’m not sure… is it good, or bad, to now be able to put a face to the voice?

  • iOS 11: The MacStories Review

    iOS 9 marked a significant milestone for the iPad platform. In contrast with previous iPhone interface adaptations, iOS 9 did away with longstanding preconceptions and allowed the iPad to reach beyond the comfort of familiarity with the iPhone’s experience.
    Get a coffee for this one.

  • ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

    If I had a favourite word then it would probably be ‘escape’. Because it’s something I do regularly in my head. Being an adult, with a mortgage, a child and a deep and meaningful subscription to Netflix, escape in the literal sense is no longer an option.
    Wonderful post about finding your passion, regardless of how that is expressed.

  • Why Scientists Seem Like They’re Always Changing Their Minds

    Is coffee good or bad for us this week? Butter is still okay, right? Are we in a “diet coke will kill you” or a “diet coke is fine” cycle? It can be hard to keep track. But headlines don’t tell the full story. Behind the scenes, scientists aren’t constantly disagreeing and flip-flopping.
    I’m guilty of accusing “Science” of this exact thing, which is why I always take those articles with a pinch of salt (except on the weeks when salt is bad for you, obvs)

  • Dive into the details of iOS 11: Is Apple still detail-oriented?

    Few days ago, Apple had their fall special event at Steve Jobs Theater located inside Apple Park, unveiling the all screen iPhone X, and later pushing iOS 11 GM to beta testers, which is going out officially next week. I updated my phone as soon as I got the push of iOS 11 GM.
    One for the geeks. I hope this guy never looks at this blog though…

  • Ridley Scott Walks You Through His Favorite Scene from Blade Runner

    The opening Voight-Kampff test that turns explosive, the flight over the high-rise rooftops and past the tower-side video geisha of 2019 Los Angeles, Roy Batty’s dying monologue on the rainy rooftop, Deckard picking up Gaff’s origami unicorn…
    Interesting choice, I need to re-(re-re-re-re-)watch this I think.

  • Is there a single food that you can survive on forever?

    For all of 2016, Andrew Taylor ate only potatoes. There were a few caveats: He ate both white potatoes and sweet ones, and sometimes mixed in soymilk, tomato sauce, salt and herbs. He also took B12 supplements. But, overall, he ate potatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
    THIS MAN IS MY HERO! (this week at least, until Science change their mind again)

  • How a Recording Studio Mishap Created the Famous Drum Sound That Defined 80s Music & Beyond

    It’s not a subtle effect, by any means, which is precisely what makes it so effective.
    If you like this kinda thing (hidden details) you should check out 99% Invisible.

  • Building a Better Coral Reef

    ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, off Australia — After a plunge beneath the crystal-clear water to inspect a coral reef, Neal Cantin pulled off his mask and shook his head.
    We are killing so much of this amazing planet. So sad.

  • This Stanford Professor Has a Theory on Why 2017 Is Filled With Jerks

    We are living in a world full of assholes.
    And it’s not just 2017…

  • AC/DC’s “Back in Black” Played on the Gayageum, a Korean Instrument Dating Back to the 6th Century

    Every now and again, we check in on what’s happening in the musical world of Luna Lee–a musician who performs Western music on the Gayageum, a traditional Korean stringed instrument that dates back to the 6th century.
    Take a few minutes to listen to this. Then realise you’ve lost your evening down a wonderful musical rabbithole.

  • The Mysterious Voynich Manuscript, the 15th-Century Manuscript Written in a Language Linguists & Code-Breakers Have Never Been Able to Decipher

    A 600-year-old manuscript—written in a script no one has ever decoded, filled with cryptic illustrations, its origins remaining to this day a mystery….
    I’ve linked to articles about this manuscript before but don’t think I’d actually seen more than one photo of it before. Fascinating.

  • iPhone 8 Plus Camera Review: India

    I’m writing to you from a small hotel room in India having just experienced a magical adventure in western India orchestrated by friends at Ker & Downey. I’ve shot thousands of images and countless portraits with the iPhone 8 Plus and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned.
    1. I need to up my photo taking skills. 2. You’ll get prompted to sign up to get a free ebook, it’s actually pretty good.

  • Anatomy of a Moral Panic

    On September 18, the British Channel 4 ran a news segment with the headline, ‘Potentially deadly bomb ingredients are ‘frequently bought together’ on Amazon.
    Maybe it’d be better just to have one news outlet, something that would handle all newspapers, radio, TV…

  • Why Glasgow is one of the world’s coolest creative cities

    Duncan refers to the rooftop viewing platform of Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture, from which you can enjoy panoramic views over everything from elegant Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed buildings to the gothic spire of Glasgow Cathedral.
    I really REALLY need to make more use of some of these places.