Link Party: 8/29-9/9

Ice cream always makes everything better.
Ice cream always makes everything better.

Hi! Long time no see. It’s really only been about two weeks, but it feels like a really long time to me. In those two weeks, my work/freelance/personal lives consumed me and I got a cold that kicked my ass. I’ve kind of been on the Internet, but not in a particularly mindful way.

But those two weeks off were actually a really good thing, because I realized just how much I miss doing this as a regular thing. Back when I first started, I would write 2-3 posts a week. Now I’m lucky if I can get a Link Party out on time. I want to get back to a regular writing schedule, so that I have time to do what I actually, really love I can have consistent brain workouts. This means reshuffling of priorities, setting harder deadlines with myself and probably less sleep. I have a feeling that this will all be worth it in the long run.

You, dear reader, have been consistently awesome from the beginning. I am always shocked to hear from people, in comment form or IRL, when they say how much they like it. Thank you for being the best.

Here’s what I’ve been reading lately:

1. This 24-year-old woman tried a Coke for the first time. I really loved this essay — I thought it was extremely well-written and weaved in all the right social elements.

2. Ayahuasca is having a moment.

3. The wonderful house dress.

4. If you haven’t read the LA Times “Framed” series, you should: it is a wild, wild ride.

5. Watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as a film about technology.

6. Elizabeth Holmes and the story of Theranos.

7. The last time Luc Sante saw Jean-Michel Basquiat. This type of personal essay is one of the many reasons why I love the Internet as a writing space: a quick but powerful thought.

8. If you don’t know much about Gene Wilder or Gilda Radner, you need to read this post ASAP.

9. Why aren’t we desperate for the new iPhone?

10. The Internet is obsessed with live streams of nothing.

And two bonuses: Whoever runs Merriam-Webster’s Twitter is a savage we can all take some lessons from, and a great video from PBS Idea Channel asking if the Internet is a public space.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Link Party: 11/2-11/6

Earlier this week, I heard Ira Glass on This American Life use the word "janky." I didn't think my life could be any more complete. However, I heard Ina Garten in the flesh say "Oh, shit" and now my life is truly, truly complete.
Earlier this week, I heard Ira Glass on This American Life use the word “janky.” I didn’t think my life could be any more complete. However, I heard Ina Garten in the flesh say “Oh, shit” and now my life is truly, truly complete.

Here’s what I read this week:

1. A deeper and comparative look at Humans of New York. (For the record, I’ve never been a big fan of HONY.)

2. The Tetris effect is exactly why I can’t play puzzle games on my phone anymore.

3. Dorms for grownups, in the vein of coworking. (This sounds uncomfortable.)

4. I wish I had written this great story about Pantone.

5. The Amazon bookstore sounds like a dismal experience for the customer, but it’s fascinating from a business perspective.

And a bonus: I loved these unearthed photos of Madonna, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and more stars of the 1980s.

Have a great weekend.

Link Party: 8/3-8/7

Morning walks are fantastic because I get to see my neighborhood in bloom.
Morning walks are great because I get to see my neighborhood in bloom.

I had a really difficult time this week getting interested in what I was reading and finding stuff to write about — the motivation for a forthcoming blog post. Here’s what I read that I actually found insightful:

1. Adventures in typography.

2. Infiltrating a white pride Facebook group and turning it into a LGBT Southerners for Michelle Obama group is a hardcore example of trolling that’s going to be hard to top.

3. I’m sad to say that it might be time to break up with Drake.

4. Why is Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artwork so woefully underrepresented in museum collections?

5. Beryl Markham might just be the greatest feminist icon most of us have never heard of.

And a bonus: Fascinating historical photos of New York City, decorated to welcome WWI allies in 1917.

Have a wonderful weekend and week.

Link Party: 3/16-3/20

So I help run the university's Instagram account (go follow @calpolypomona) and I went hunting for a photo on Wednesday. There's this patio that has a very nice succulent garden growing.
So I help run the university’s Instagram account (go follow @calpolypomona) and I went hunting for a photo on Wednesday. There’s this patio that has a very nice succulent garden growing, and y’all know how much I love plants.

For it being finals week, I’ve had an incredibly productive week — I could get used to that. Here’s what I read this week:

1. A really interesting look at the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pioneer Girl.

2. A good argument for bringing texting back.

3. A story about two data designers who sent each other postcards documenting their daily lives. (You guys, I cannot stress how cool this really is.)

4. What do you think art tastes like? These people apparently know.

5. The Mad Men exhibit is calling my name.

And a bonus: A rare look at Jean-Michel Basquiat’s notebooks.

Have a great weekend!