Repost: William Brooks, "Does ‘the West’ Still Exist?"
On a more nitpicky, “who cares?’ level, the so-called West is now associated with New Zealand, Japan, Israel and other countries that are East on a traditional, Euro/US-centric map. This West/East division perpetuates that these maps are more accurate than others. West is a cardinal…
In Defense of Filming Crime
So I say we should be ashamed of the crime rates and apartheid of St. Louis, where this man managed to murder and walk the streets for hours. We should be more ashamed of the media that pushes this content on us. And we should be even more ashamed of the social media that prioritizes clicks over mental health, wanting us to see content we explicitly do not want to see, just because it gets a reaction. We should never shame the bystandards of horror for their natural reactions. After all, most of us would do the same.
Repost: Eric Schmidt, "Why Technology Will Define the Future of Geopolitics"
If necessity is the mother of invention, war is the midwife of innovation. Speaking to Ukrainians on a visit to Kyiv in the fall of 2022, I heard from many that the first months of the war were the most productive of their lives. The United States’ last truly global war—World War II—led to the widespread adoption of penicillin, a revolution in nuclear technology, and a breakthrough in computer science. Now, the United States must innovate in peacetime, faster than ever before. By failing to do so, it is eroding its ability to deter—and, if necessary, to fight and win—the next war.
Citation Needed
Citations at the end are the, “OH! NOW I GET IT!" of writing.
Bad Teachers (Are More Influential)
Even with all the kind and great people in this beautiful world, a rotten minority can ruin it. The lesson is to ignore the rotten people and focus on the kind. I must have missed this lesson.
ExMas -- Tales of Exes Past
Around this time, I averaged a few dates a week. I enjoy dating more than most. Dating is what you make of it. It’s not always an interview. It can be like hanging out with a new friend. Just don’t…
Repost: Deadline, '{Atlanta writers} Address Criticism That FX Series Isn’t For Black People'
On Atlanta, Projection, and the Art of Overthinking Sodes
Repost: Middle East Forum, "{Islamist Mayor}’s Bigotry and Apparent Voter Fraud"
"Ghalib mocked African Americans following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police."
Repost: Rolling Stone on Mashrou’ Leila + Egypt (2017)
A fantastic Lebanese band proved fame turns people into posers, first disbanding out of Islamist pressure, then joining the Islamists.