Complex systems
Gall’s Law is appropriately simple: This is why sudden change rarely is, and why persistence and user feedback end up changing the systems that run our world. Begin. Learn. Succeed. Then add complexity.
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How to Improve Your Attention Span: Daniel Pink’s Strategies for the Digital Age
In his new video above, the writer Daniel Pink proposes the following exercise: “Grab a book and time yourself. How long can you read without getting up or checking your phone? Really try to push yourself, but don’t judge yourself if it’s only a few minutes. Write down your
Watch Winsor McCay’s The Sinking of the Lusitania, the First Major Animated Propaganda Film (1918)
You might know Winsor McCay (1867? ‑1934) for the gorgeously surreal Little Nemo comic strip or for his early animated short Gertie the Dinosaur (1914). But did you know that he also created some of the earliest examples of animated propaganda ever? On May 7, 1915, the RMS
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up. A recent meta-analysis reveals that “adjusting...
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up . A recent meta-analysis reveals that “adjusting our goals in response to stress or challenges, rather than grinding on, is often ‘a more appropriate and beneficial response’”. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Everything Is Not Fine in the Art World
Auction headlines offer a picture of health that hides a body in crisis.
The Airport-Lounge Wars
"When you’re waiting for a flight, what’s the difference between out there and in here?"
The Most Jaw-Dropping Costumes of the Miss Universe Competition
The pageant took maximalism to new heights with its “everything but the kitchen sink” approach — or maybe there was a sink, and I missed it?
Protest Dance Outside Kennedy Center Targets Trump’s Attack on Culture
Dozens of workers have been terminated since the president took over the institution in February.
Philadelphia Art Museum Accuses Former Director of Theft
After Alexandra Suda accused the museum of wrongful termination, the institution said she misappropriated funds to increase her salary.
KAWS Makes Art for the Tech Bro Era
His exhibition at SFMOMA could have examined the collapse of culture at the hands of commodity, but instead it nudges us toward the gift shop.
A thread of “feel good” YouTube channels to watch. E.g.: “CinemaTherapy. Two...
A thread of “feel good” YouTube channels to watch . E.g.: “CinemaTherapy. Two former college roommates (one a filmmaker, the other a therapist) analyze movies.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Paying Homage to the Iconoclasts of Abstraction
An exhibition traces the radical advancements in painting by Al Held, Elizabeth Murray, Judy Pfaff, and Frank Stella.
Open Reel Ensemble Composes Ethereal ‘Magnetic Folklore’ Using Reel-to-Reel Recorders
The Japanese trio uses tape recorders from the 1970s and 1980s to create experimental sounds. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Open Reel Ensemble
Poetic Textural Landscapes by Lee Hyun-Joung
I’ve posted about Korean artist Lee Hyun-Joung ’s swirling and swooping work before , but I recently saw one of her pieces in person and decided to feature some of her most recent stuff. It’s always a good time to look at art. Tags: art · Lee Hyun-Joung 💬 Join the discussion
Artist Alma Allen to Represent US at 2026 Venice Biennale
The artist alleged that two galleries dropped him from their rosters after he accepted the commission for the United States Pavilion.
Lots to like about Variety’s list of 100 Best Comedy Movies of...
Lots to like about Variety’s list of 100 Best Comedy Movies of All Time , but Coming to America at #46 and no Trading Places at all make me question the list’s credibility. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching: Inside the Epstein...
How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching: Inside the Epstein Emails. They reveal “a power elite practiced at disregarding pain” who have “learned to look away from so much other abuse and suffering” to protect their network of power.
What’s All the Fuss About Pluribus?
So I’ve been watching Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus on Apple TV and this review from Inkoo Kang resonated with me (emphasis mine): Millions of offscreen casualties aside, it’s clear that Gilligan is aiming for a lighter — and stranger — outing than his two
The Story John Darnielle Lived to Tell
"When he was a teenager, the Mountain Goats founder never expected to make it to 21. He has since become one of this century’s best songwriters. The lessons of his survival, life, and work feel endless."
Love Against Probability
You wouldn’t have bet on it, this battered rock orbiting a star from the discount bin of the universe, you wouldn’t have bet that it would bloom mitochondria and music, that it would mushroom mountains and minds, and the hummingbird wing whirring a hundred times faster than
“The Little Movie That Couldn’t”: ‘Mallrats’ Turns 30. I can’t remember if...
“The Little Movie That Couldn’t”: ‘Mallrats’ Turns 30. I can’t remember if I was one of the few that saw this in the theater, but I loved this movie on VHS/DVD. Haven’t seen it for, what, 20 years though… 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
“Today, the only naked bodies that many Americans will likely ever see...
“Today, the only naked bodies that many Americans will likely ever see are their own, a partner’s, or those on a screen. Gone are our unvarnished points of physical comparison — the ordinary, unposed figures of other people.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Emotions Manifest as Uncanny Scenarios in Ayako Kita’s Tender Sculptures
Kita imbues seemingly mundane tasks with consequence and emotion, freezing them in time. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Emotions Manifest as
Meet the Aphantasics, Those Who Can’t See Mental Images
We’ve talked before about how some people can picture things in their heads quite vividly and others can’t at all . The latter group has a condition called aphantasia . As soon as I close my eyes, what I see are not everyday objects, animals, and vehicles, but the dark
Activists are role-playing ICE raids in games like Fortnite & GTA to...
Activists are role-playing ICE raids in games like Fortnite & GTA to teach people what to do IRL situations. “Many people may not have seen an interaction with ICE yet, it’s a way to get folks to know or get used to what that might look like.”
Sebastian Foster Releases 20 New Prints for the Holidays
Sebastian Foster's Fall Print Set is the perfect spot to shop for the next piece to add to your collection or meaningful holiday gifts. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7
The World Lost the Climate Gamble. Now It Faces a Dangerous New...
The World Lost the Climate Gamble. Now It Faces a Dangerous New Reality. “We are heading into ‘overshoot’ within the next few years. The world is going to become more turbulent and more dangerous. So, what comes after failure?”
The Bad UX World Cup 2025. “Build a date picker with bad...
The Bad UX World Cup 2025 . “Build a date picker with bad UX (the worse, the better).” The winning entry used a Tinder-like interface to swipe your desired days, months, and years. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →