Dang, still resonates like crazy with the values infused into me during my childhood. And I’m not talking about just the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra; the whole milieu of this muppet-sung message is so 70s and 80s Americana—the family, their clothing, their kitchen, the appliances, the grocery shopping… so wonderfully familiar and even endearing.
For me, once is never enough to relish the quirky magic of this bit of Sesame Street.
Ah, another intersection of Internet culture and everyday life. It was delightful to see this drawing at Clover KND, which has become one of my favorite Kendall Square hangout spots since it opened in recent months—hip minimalist atmosphere with satisfying food, great coffee and delicious sodas.
I have fond memories of my first iPhone, an iPhone 3G.
Phragmites: If they could talk, what would they talk about? Would they be friends or just acquaintances? What’s their outlook on life?
During this year’s The Muse and the Marketplace, Grub Street’s annual writers’ conference, one particular idea struck me immediately and deeply. It was perspective and philosophy not on writing but on career and life. During a discussion on partner publishing, literary agent April Ebhardt mentioned that one’s career and life can be thought of as having 3 stages: Learn, Earn and Return. That seemed like such a clear and practical view.
Undoubtedly, all times in our lives incorporate some combination of learning, earning and returning (I think all are essential to being truly human), but Continue reading
Oh cram this game is amazing. With a wonderfully stylistic visual feel that cleverly incorporates optical illusions along with the sort of problem solving that reminds me of Quell, Edge and Fez, Monument Valley is delightfully engrossing. And the soundtrack is atmospheric, immersive and calming.
Appealing to my predilection for cute, geometric, colorful, quirky, mind-bending minimalism, this is one of the most enthralling, gorgeous games I’ve played in a while.
“I don’t tell jokes. That’s a popular misconception. Do you know what I do? I send out little vehicles of truth.”—Hari Kondabolu as Manoj in Manoji.
During yesterday’s Grub Street workshop Funny is the New Deep, Steve Almond shared some thought-provoking insights on comedy. Many of them reminded me of Hari Kondabolu‘s comedy, especially these points about the comedic mode/impulse:
All that and more is manifested in Waiting for 2042, the album Hari just released. I think it’s fantastic, making many important points of its own, but the language can be really strong.
Steve Almond’s perspectives on the relationship between humor and conflict also resonated with a recent Weekend Edition interview with Dr. Scott Weems, author of Ha! The science of when we laugh and why.
In case it’s of interest, here are my notes from Funny is the New Deep taken in Popplet.
And here’s Hari’s recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.
Wow. Until a few days ago, I had no idea how 15 minutes of cartoon could be so intense. An amazing blend of quirky humor and heartrending humanity in only the way Adventure Time pulls off, “Betty” has immediately become one of my favorites in this series, upping my sympathy for the Ice King/Simon something like 10 fold. Crazy that Betty just comes out of nowhere and just owns the episode. So ridiculously math.
Also, Flame Princess looks nice with her fire hair down, though it’s a very visible reminder of the current state of her powers.
This episode even more fully realizes what’s portended by this NPR story on the dimensions of meaning in Adventure Time.
A Contemplative Compilation 