“Rather than considering Max Jacob a failed cubist, a failed surrealist, a failed Jew, or a failure of any sort, I propose to view his marginality as a front, a narrow boundary that belongs to none of the systems it separates yet incorporates them all, something which contains signs of each system, which announces the new yet retains traces of the old.” — Sydney Levy Perhaps it is wise and ...
Strangers and Self-imposed Isolation
Let's talk about strangers. Let's talk about talking with strangers! Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting. I'd like to pass along an invigorating reminder from the BBC about the surprising benefits of talking to strangers, yes, even at the risk of breaching privacy protocols. Most people spend part of every day surrounded by strangers, whether on their daily commute, sitting in a park or cafe, or ...
We Can Fly
"Come to the edge," he said. "We can't, we're afraid!" they responded. "Come to the edge," he said. "We can't, We will fall!" they responded. "Come to the edge," he said. And so they came. And he pushed them. And they flew. — Guillaume Apollinaire ...
Among the Beauties and Mysteries
Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Whatever the vexations or concerns of their personal lives, their thoughts can find paths that lead to inner contentment and to renewed excitement in living. — Rachel Carson In recent weeks I've been fortunate to observe this architecturally exquisite home filled with one, ...
Dreaming While Middle-Aging
Dreaming While Middle-Aging (Source: Geo Davis) [NB: This post, more of a lyric essay or freestyle poetic riff than a journalistically sound response to Wajahat Ali's August 28, 2018 op-ed, takes liberties with quotations that may misrepresent the intentions, emphasis, and/or conclusions of the author. All quotations are excerpted from the original, but the nature of remix/mashup alters the ...
Necessary Risk
The issue of risk is absolutely central to being a creative person... I'm a very big believer in starting small and getting feedback from the world and course correcting there. (Source: Michael Ellsberg, The Necessity of Creative Risk Taking | Big Think) If risk-taking is fundamental to creativity as I've repeatedly insisted, then how do we assess what risks are worth taking, how do we to scale ...