Current Chapter: The Wait; or the culmination of the last 8 years; otherwise known as praying to the god you don't believe in, which in reality means casting half-hearted wishes to no one in particular while addressing them to the universe, the great unknown that controls and connects everything, science/the laws of nature, the ineffable powers that be of which my puny sack of flesh and water will never fully grasp or begin to comprehend, etc., in an attempt to maintain honesty while making sure to not offend and cover all of one's bases.
Next chapter: Adulthood realized; or the year in which everything that was being put off, and which they had been saying would be done, is in fact begun, if not fully done.
Mar 24, 2024
Related Recs
📖
Next chapter title: ”working the mirror“ - main character realizes that her safety net is an illusion, stops being her own worst enemy, enters her “fuck it era”, and starts The reinvention
Mar 24, 2024
📖
I read and stared at every page of this book in the first few days I lived in the new little home-behind-my-studio, a very emotionally intense time. I had been a long time fan of the interdisciplinary design studio, Bless — wore their clothes, coveted their objects — without really understanding the scope of what they do. I think this happens with all of us artists who don’t fit cleanly into a category — it’s a lot to expect people to understand every nuance of your intentions. But a book can do it; I really got it. The book set the tone for how I was living and thinking in this new space and this new chapter of my life — which I am thinking might be the whole second half until the end.
Apr 30, 2024
↪️
Cute & pithy subversion of ”wherever you go, there you are”, the mantra that basically ruled my life for three years. Gave me recognition of agency that I sorely needed when surrendering myself to my circumstances and making peace with everything just wasn’t cutting it.
Happens to be the title of a short essay from All Things Are Too Small by Becca Rothfeld, an essay collection that turned me upside down, held me by the ankle, and shook me until a whole bunch of unquestioned Goods fell right out of my worldview, including (the subject of this essay!!) western meditation and the self control in pursuit of indifference that is its ultimate stated aim.
This essay in particular I think goes on for a little too long but hey!! Excess and indulgence in all things sex and love and thought and beauty and worldly items - each are handled completely separately and thoughtfully and wittily and I can’t blame her for making the words and passages themselves as lush and voluminous as their subjects reportedly ought to be. If you read it (I hope you do!!!) it’ll change the way and depth in which you think about Something and it won’t even be the thing you expect
Aug 8, 2024
Top Recs from @ruffianbandwidth
🔎
I don't know how well this actually answers your initial question, I think it's more of a counterpoint to some of the stuff people have already said, but here it goes.
In the past (prior to social media or search engines) specific styles, specialized knowledge, and niche awareness actually took effort. You had to go out into the world and find a scene, be accepted, participate in it, contribute to it, and learn from others with specific knowledge within the specific sub- or counter-cultural scene. It took time, effort, and experience to craft an identity. Nowadays people cycle through various identities and trends like commodities because it takes no effort (they're sold to them by social media algorithms, influencers, brand accounts, etc.). It comes to you in your phone without you ever even having to leave the house or put in the time to discover it or participate in it (you just follow specific people or subscribe). You can be a passive observer or consumer, not an active contributor. As a result, you're not invested or tied down and committed to that core identity. You can cosplay depending on your mood or who you want to momentarily convey yourself as, because it's easy. Essentially, being a poser has become normalized. An identity is now something to be momentarily consumed and affected, rather than grown, built, and developed over time.
Granted, it's always been different in regards to "mass" culture and popular trends (both in the past and now). Those are impossible to miss and were always monopolized by specific trend setting institutions, but always by the time it gets to that point, the actual initial counter- or sub-culture that inspired it has already been coopted and has started to disintegrate under the weight and attention of mass consumption.
Feb 18, 2024
It's an action deserving of its own nickname. My cat's name is Gomez, but when he crosses his paws like this, he turns into Hodgkins Plumpersocks.
Feb 2, 2024
Oatmeal raisin cookies don't get enough love. As a kid, my palate couldn't appreciate their subtle flavor, but thankfully oatmeal raisin cookies we're rehabilitated for me later in life. I now see the error of my ways, and am trying to evangelize about them, and rehabilitate them for others, by making this recipe.
They're great cause they're not too sweet, so they feel appropriate for both dessert and breakfast. They're also like a blank canvas of oaty brown sugar goodness that you can then imbue with whatever add-ins you want (thus turning one recipe into a plethora of variations). My personal favorites are semi-sweet chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and roasted cashews.
Feb 26, 2024