Note this architectural alphabet designed by Johann Steingruber in 1773. A typically great find by Present & Correct
Vivian Wu’s snowflake generator
The 25 Best Films of 2020
Because the pandemic (mostly) shuttered US movie theaters for the duration of 2020 and studios reduced or redirected their output accordingly, you might be excused for thinking that it was a bad year for film. As David Ehrlich’s masterful video countdown of the 25 best films of 2020 demonstrates, there was plenty of good stuff out there if you knew where to look.
I didn’t end up seeing many of the films on Ehrlich’s list — I’ve been stuck rewatching old favorites and meaningless garbage during the pandemic — but I’m going to make some time for several of these soon. Two documentaries that I was surprised to see omitted: My Octopus Teacher and The Painter and the Thief. The latter is one of the best movies I’ve seen in ages — I can’t imagine that Ms. Americana (for instance) was better. And I’m Thinking of Ending Things? Did not do it for me at all. *shrug*
Against all odds, Paris has become a city of bikes. "Rue de Rivoli, the wide street that runs past the Louvre, has been entirely closed to private cars."
The NY Times Book Review is 125 years old and to celebrate, they resurfaced some old reviews written by the likes of H.G. Wells, Vladimir Nabokov, Eudora Welty, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, JFK, Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Kurt Vonnegut.
Because of the racism of the American healthcare system (both historically and presently), it's understandble why Black Americans are skeptical of the Covid-19 vaccines.
This is gloriously nerdy: "Why I've tracked every single piece of clothing I've worn for three years". Don't miss his wardrobe management advice at the end.
Rich couple flies private plane to get Covid-19 vaccine meant for Indigenous residents of a small Yukon town. I don't believe that people are inherently evil, but this is such a vile act that I may have to reconsider.
You'll have to click through to see the winner of The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year for 2020, but I will say that IMO 2nd place finisher "Introducing the Medieval Ass" was robbed.
Highlights Of 125 Years Of The NYT Book Review
“In many ways, the Book Review’s history is that of American letters, and we’ll be using our 125th anniversary this year to celebrate and examine that history over the coming months. In essays, photo stories, timelines and other formats, we’ll highlight the books and authors that made it all possible.” – The New York Times