Welcome to 5 Quick Things that I saw since last month that I thought were interesting enough to share with you. None of them are particularly timely so feel free to just enjoy 🙂

>Number One<

The Just Tell You the Game Plan

I often feel very conspiratorial when I talk about the actions that the GOP takes but also they really do announce all of the horrible things that they’re doing out loud. This is an interesting article to revisit after the Alabama IVF ruling but it’s just a reminder that conservative states will keep pushing at the boundaries to block out cities and progressive areas in their states and then pushing those decisions even high into the Supreme Court in order to try and erode people’s rights and self-jurisdiction.

>Number Two<

Same as it Ever Was

I ended up re-reading this exceptionally famous piece from Bertrand Russell a few weeks ago and it’s really stuck in my mind, especially after reading Devon Prince’s book about Laziness (which I didn’t really like for a variety of reasons). However, I do this like article and I think it is depressing relevant over 90 years later. I want to keep imagining futures where we can take hold of our own time and be idle for no other reasons than we have no pressing concerns but reading this article and looking at the past 90 years, it does feel a little painful and bleak.

>Number Three<

Design & Propaganda

I really enjoy this channel, Design Theory, because the guy who runs it worked in various professional design firms for products for a while and he brings such an in-depth understanding of design to a lay audience (it’s me, I’m lay audience.) I’ve always been exceptionally fascinated by design because our world is made up of words and ideas and structures that aren’t natural but are made by and for people. This video happens to be on how governments use design to influence people through propaganda and it is a really good one that is worth your time. Despite the fact that we live in an age chock to the brim with advertising and propaganda, I think people don’t give enough thought into why and how symbols and visuals are used.

>Number Four<

Food for Thoughts

This piece on how and why people have come into a space where they don’t read is more like a thought piece for me than a wake up call or a call to action. As a person who basically started reading at three and has never stopped in any meaningful way it’s kind of interesting tome that I often find that people won’t actually read through 500 word news articles and ask me to “summarize them.” This piece is coming from such an interesting angle that it does make me want to put down a little bit of my judge-face when that happens but also it stresses how important it is, as many people have, that you get outside of your bubble and stretch those legs to interact with a variety of different things.

>Number Five<

Last Man Standing

I must admit I probably haven’t held a floppy disc in my hand for 25 years. I’m sure there’s a box in my house with a few of those clam shell cases for them that may or may not contain the most embarrassing fanfiction written on Earth. My nostalgia aside, there is still one brave man out there selling floppy disks and this article about him and his business is so interesting. While we agrees that we won’t see the floppy disk revival boom, they have their place in history and in our cultural memory and it’s important for them to remain with us in some form.

That’s all for this month and hopefully I’ll see you back again next month with some more exciting and cool things!