The Workforce Hasn't Changed, Valuation on Quality of Life Has
I'd argue this shift in perspective of a critical mass of people is the tipping point of true change in paradigm. The most effective form of protest is not marching in the streets en masse (which is great for visibility of the cause but traditionally pretty lousy at changing things) but simply opting out of a system you find objectionable.
I Believe... [Going Nuclear]
I believe… that, if we truly want to turn back climate disaster, an embrace of nuclear power is absolutely necessary. It’s clean, abundant, and contributes a zero sum carbon footprint.
Las Vegas Diary - Part June
Now as I type this, I walk thru a portion of the casino floor at the Stratosphere that smells like burnt popcorn and diarrhea. Or maybe that’s just the Starbucks.
The Intolerance of Tolerance and Why Being Uncomfortable Sometimes Helps Us All
"The irony is that in order to practice tolerance, you must be willing to sit with things that upset you or make you uncomfortable. Yet, if your adopted ethic is that no one should ever be upset or uncomfortable, then you make any sort of tolerance impossible."
Notes from the Post-it Wall | Week of June 6, 2021
The promos for In The Heights make The Partridge Family look like Black Sabbath.
The Need for More Placebo Buttons
You know those buttons you press to indicate you need to walk across a busy intersection? They do not affect the "walk" sign in any way whatsoever. They are placebo buttons that gives us the illusion that the stoplights are somehow under our control.
Chip’s Final Report from the Robot Apocalypse
A pack of Holsteins took down a polar bear in Times Square. From this, I learned what nightmares are.
I Believe... [Same Culture Wars, Different Decade]
...that the culture wars ongoing are no different than the culture wars fought in the 90s except with social media the exponential growth of extremist crackpots makes it seem so much more pressing. We didn’t know how many idiots were out there in the 90s because we weren’t subject to their crazy yet.
Centrism: Not an Embrace of the Status Quo But of Pragmatic Solutions That Reject Rhetoric
Today's centrist is, according to the billions of fucking surveys done in an attempt to explain how a failed real estate trust fund baby and has-been reality TV star managed to be elected president, more Left than Right and more inclined to disagree with tactics than goals.
Notes from the Post-it Wall | Week of May 30, 2021
Sometimes holding your liquor is just as bad as holding a feral honey badger in heat and on cocaine.
The Cittadino
“My father, he’s from the old country. He can be a pain in the ass, but he’s harmless. He doesn’t know…” Roberto shook his head. “He doesn’t know what…” he choked on his words. “My mother, she died, and now he’s alone. He tries, but,” Roberto glanced back at his father, now sitting stoically on the seat, puffing his cigar. “I’m sorry Officer.”
But I’m A Genius! Film Director Mitchell O. Durnstein Responds To Being Cancelled
All the black characters in my next movie are played by Tyler Perry which proves I’m not racist!
Five Days With Kiddos
Got a summer job working with children. I have stories for days.
I Believe... [Time>Money]
...that volunteering your time and energy is more helpful than your money or your social media approval.
Cancellation is Now an Equal Opportunity Equation
When Disney gets hit with people completely apoplectic about one of their Star Wars actors comparing her existence with Holocaust survivors? "Thanks for your concerns. While a completely stupid thing to tweet as Holocaust survivors rarely got million-dollar contracts to play a space ranger, we think we'll just yell at her some for being a public dipshit and leave it at that."
Fuck Your Resume
Fuck your resume
Fuck what's gone
before
Notes from the Post-it Wall | Week of May 23, 2021
Milli Vanilli had more influence over hip-hop than you want to admit. It’s okay. Accept it. Admit it.
I Like to Watch | Promising Young Woman (2020)
Travis Bickle was a young man traumatized by war and the abandonment he felt as society realized he was fucked up by a system designed to fuck him up. Cassie Thomas is a young woman traumatized by a system in place designed to fuck her and discard her like a piece of trash.
Say NO-lio to the Polio Vaccine!
Who is funding this vaccine? J. Paul Getty, that’s who!
Birthday Reflections of a Year in Lockdown
I need to pause and be proud of myself every now and again
I’ve never been one to rest on their laurels. And I’ve never been one for daily affirmations or being really proud of making little steps toward a big goal. I’m not that shallow or weak. But being asked to write for The Atlantic and the President of the United States is pretty cool—and kind of a big deal.
Jake and Caroline’s first date was at The Whistler. They talked about Ronnie, how much they loved The Diplomat, and debated the better ride-share service, Uber or Lyft. She was Uber, he was Lyft. They got wasted on Sazeracs and had sex at her apartment. It was incredible for both of them. Caroline stopped taking sex advice from Ronnie.