~ via Deep Bloggers
Stand in as many pairs of shoes as you can manage, even ones you consider reprehensible or repulsive — even if it’s just for a moment. If you’re going to be a tourist, be a respectful one. Observe, report, imagine, invent, have fun with, but never write “down” to a character or their point of view, because everyone is the most important person in the world — at least to that one person… Position yourself upon a bedrock of honesty and self-knowledge, so that your writing comes from your own unique perspective. Know where youstand and what your flaws are. Know thyself. Then you can spin all kinds of shit and all the tall tales you like. It’s art.
How to Find Your Artistic Voice: Ben Folds on Empathy, Creativity, and the Courage to Know Yourself
In The Guardian Dorian Lynskey wonders: Is the political novel dead ?
He argues: "the campaigning novel has become an anachronism" -- in a paragraph that mentions Things Fall Apart and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, neither of which seems particularly 'campaigning' .....
Aside from the fact that there is, in fact, an incredible amount of 'campaigning' fiction being written and published (though admittedly most of it not widely read) -- I get review-pitches for this kind of stuff by the bucket-load --, it seems to me a lot of contemporary fiction is, in significant respects, political. Not always (rubbing-it-)in-your-face obviously so, but still.
FastCompany: “We’re living in a digital world—one where screens dominate our time. The average American adult spends three hours and 43 minutes on mobile devices, according to 2019 research by eMarketer. This doesn’t include the time spent on a computer at work or parked in front of the television at home. It’s easy to find an app or software platform to help you do run your life, making paper and pen feel old-school. But paper products offer advantages that tech does not. Here are five times when you should choose analog over digital…”
T-Mobile ‘Put My Life in Danger’ Says Woman Stalked With Black Market Location Data VICE
ZDNet: “Paige A. Thompson, the hacker accused of breaching US bank Capital One, is also believed to have stolen data from more than 30 other companies, US prosecutors said in new court documents filed today and obtained by ZDNet. “The government’s investigation over the last two weeks has revealed that Thompson’s theft of Capital One’s data was only one part of her criminal conduct,” US officials said in a memorandum for extending Thompson’s detention period. “The servers seized from Thompson’s bedroom during the search of Thompson’s residence, include not only data stolen from Capital One, but also multiple terabytes of data stolen by Thompson from more than 30 other companies, educational institutions, and other entities.” US prosecutors said the “data varies significantly in both type and amount,” but, based on currently available information, “much of the data appears not to be data containing personal identifying information….”
Mamka would agree with this story as she cooked for two decades at Scool Canteen:
Gluck preached the gospel of fresh food. His philosophy was “nature provides”—meaning food should be unprocessed, sourced from local sellers, seasonal, and organic when possible. He eliminated junk food from the cafeterias. Canned food went too. He successfully pushed the district to cut ties with the National School Lunch Program. The program boxed him into the Department of Agriculture food pyramid in return for subsidies the wealthy district didn’t need.
Free to roam, Gluck explored far-ranging culinary fields. Souvlaki, hummus, and quinoa tabbouleh appeared on menus. Pizza took the form of flaxseed crusts topped with freshly made sauce and mozzarella. “I roast the ducks the Chinese way, hanging in the oven,” he told Kalafa. “We develop our own recipes here. I use buffalo and ostrich, too.”
Secrets and Lies in the School Cafeteria
Video: Peregrine falcons can fly at more than 200 miles per hour Boing Boing
Scientists detect a black hole swallowing a neutron star EarthSky (Chuck L)
