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Dispatches from Plateau Point
Elyssa Shalla, a national park ranger at The Grand Canyon National Park, had an idea. What would happen if visitors encountered something different at the end of a hike to a scenic overlook? What would they write on a cheap typewriter sitting on a desk at the end of the trail?
At the end of three days, there were 76 messages, and Shalla turned it into the Towers & Type Project.
A few of the entries -
“oh so many miles / blisters never make [me smile] / really cramps my style.”
“to me, this is a geologic pilgrimage and a reminder of what my body can do. for all of this, i am grateful, especially because i get to share it with my dad.”
“Hearing the words ‘Grand Canyon’ and now experiencing it for the first time, I realize that the term ‘Grand’ falls far [short] of what this place [truly] represents: Perfection.”
There is something uniquely pleasing in encountering unexpected delight. What a wonderful way for the hikers to express themselves.
The Kindest Thing
I occasionally get a kick out of the “Prompt Twitter” trend where people ask questions looking for answers in the form of quote replies. However, Laura Olin pointed me to a thread by Nicole Cliffe: “What is the kindest thing a stranger has done or said to you?” I will admit I couldn’t stop reading the responses.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
How Obama Made Decisions
Lila MacLellan, writing in Quartz, has a story on Barack Obama’s appearance at the 2019 Qualtrics X4 Experience Management Summit. The crux of the story was how he dealt with situations that required his immediate attention.
His framework for working through solutions and choices is exactly how I would imagine any President doing so and, to me, it reads odd. The fact that a President was thoughtful, smart, and trusted the people he surrounded himself with is a news story showcases just how far the Presidency has fallen under the current administration.
Unfair and Unbalanced
Jane Mayer, has a big piece in The New Yorker on the relationship between the Trump administration and Fox News.
Hannity was treated in Texas like a member of the Administration because he virtually is one. The same can be said of Fox’s chairman, Rupert Murdoch. Fox has long been a bane of liberals, but in the past two years many people who watch the network closely, including some Fox alumni, say that it has evolved into something that hasn’t existed before in the United States. Nicole Hemmer, an assistant professor of Presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center and the author of “Messengers of the Right,” a history of the conservative media’s impact on American politics, says of Fox, “It’s the closest we’ve come to having state TV.”
Apparently, Fox News is just now being looked at as a propaganda arm of Republicans and especially Trump? Come on now.
Why Goldschmidt Over Harper?
A.E. Schafer, writing for Viva El Birdos, has a long essay trying to come to grips with the thought process of St. Louis Cardinals management in trading for Paul Goldschmidt instead of trying to sign Bryce Harper. It’s an in-depth study and I appreciate everything that’s outlined, but everything really boils down to keeping Goldschmidt and if Cardinals management can’t do that after this year, then the fan base is going to be angry.
Personally, I wanted the team to do both.
Luke Perry, RIP
After suffering a massive stroke last week Luke Perry passed away today his publicist confirmed. He was only 52.
I liked him on Beverly Hills 90210 and in the Buffy movie, but my favorite memory of him was at a Wizard World Chicago convention where he was joyful and happy until someone disparaged Tori Spelling and he went on a rant telling the hapless audience member how awful the question was and how rude he was coming across. I remember him saying words like, “Tori is a friend of mine. She’s a complete professional. Who are you?”
While I like my story, Colin Hanks certainly has a pretty cool story too.
In the Future 2
We’ll realise that so many of the things we were craving to make our life better were actually making our life worse.
In the Future 1
The future and care and development of society will be managed by perfectly tuned AI robots. Perfectly tuned to ethics, logistics, morals and the issues of the day, month and decade. Perfectly balanced in the needs of the citizens today and the planet tomorrow, perfectly balanced in the demands of those with money and making money and those less fortunate. Being robots endowed with endless patience, infinite case study resources and no susceptibility to distraction.
Half Full or Half Empty?
The answer to the age old question, “Is the glass half full or half empty?” depends entirely on the action it takes to get the glass in that state. Example: if the glass is filled and you pour out half of it it’s half empty, but if the glass is empty and you pour it half full, it’s half full.
Simple.
The Sleeping Giant
Michael Baumann has a great overview of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019. The piece is one of best I’ve read outlining the problems of last year, the fixes set for this year, and the hopes pinned on a few players to end the lack of playoff appearances.
Uncontradicted
David Frum, writing in The Atlantic, explains eloquently how nothing Michael Cohen said in his testimony to the House Oversight Committee was challenged by Republicans.
The Republican case against Cohen was to reiterate over and over that Cohen is a convicted liar. As he is. As are Trump’s campaign chairman, Trump’s deputy campaign chair, and Trump’s first national security adviser. It’s bold to cite the criminality of so many of Trump’s associates—and maybe more to come—as proof of Trump’s innocence.
And obviously the Republican committee members know it. None of them would dare say that Trump is truthful in speech or honest in business. None would say it is impossible he said the things about black Americans that Cohen alleges he said. Even the allegations Cohen could not corroborate are all so hideously plausible that the most pro-Trump Republicans on the Oversight Committee shied from gainsaying them.
What a complete and utter embarrassment for this administration.
Unbreaking America
Our government is broken, and we have to fix it.
In this video, RepresentUs board member Jennifer Lawrence and Director of RepresentUs Josh Silver, walks through three lines that show what’s wrong with legal corruption in our government, how we fix it and what you can do about it.
Find out how you can get involved at RepresentUs.
H/T: Swissmiss
Star Wars: Always
Take all 10 Star Wars films, edit them all into one gigantic trailer, and you have another Topher Grace masterpiece: Star Wars: Always.
A decade ago, Grace edited the prequels into an excellent 85-minute fan edit, and with some help from Jeff Yorkes, has created a five-minute trailer that paints an epic picture of the franchise.
The Secret Lives of Facebook Moderators
Casey Newton, writing in The Verge, has a horrifying account of what a typical “process executive” faces each day at work as they moderate the content that goes up on Facebook. These employees make little money, face PTSD, and worry about their health and well-being.
I read this article and wonder why anyone would want to work there and then I wonder why anyone still has a Facebook account and then I wonder why I still have mine.
Flyin’ Illini Players See Illinois Basketball on the Up
Isaac Trotter, writing for the Illini Inquirer, has story about how members of the Flyin’ Illini basketball squad see the current team. Unsurprisingly, they think the team is getting better and will continue to improve.
It was fun to see the half-time celebration. I just wish the outcome of the basketball game would have been better.
Don’t Be a Prick
Dave Pell on bubbles:
I believe that climate change is happening. I think science is important and facts matter. My moral compass tells me that separating kids from parents seeking asylum is the wrong way for Americans to behave. When push comes to shove, I side with the US intel establishment over Vladimir Putin. In cases where Nazis are involved, I wouldn’t argue that there are good people on all sides. To me, habitual lying seems like a negative character trait. I’m constantly reminded that these beliefs suggest that I live in a bubble. If that’s the case, please don’t be the prick that pops it.
There’s No Time for Anything Else
Keanu Reeves with your inspirational moment.
None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after-thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.
H/T: swissmiss
Walk-On
Joey Wagner, writing in the Herald & Review, has a story about the University of Illinois Basketball walk-on players. I certainly had an idea about what they do day in and day out, but this story put the spotlight directly on these players and how they go about their business.
What an outstanding group of young men.