Off the Top of My Head
January 26. We have entered the dark period of American life, where approximately half of the American population is suffering withdrawal from from a full slate of NFL games. There is the Pro Bowl today, of course, but there's usually no particular reason for the defense to show up, and limited tailgating opportunities. We only hope the sufferers have the intestinal fortitude to tough out this week, and focus on the bright light that is February 2. We wish all the best to those–co-workers, spouses and families–who suffer with those experiencing withdrawal.
Creative Space
Mark Wilson, in Fast Company: It’s a bitter irony of life: Children’s imagination is unlimited, but their capacity to realize it won’t be developed until they grow up. And over those decades, as kids become adults who learn how to use computers, drive a car, and pay rent, they lose something. Maybe creativity doesn’t die as we grow older, and one’s career can always still peak, but I think most of us would agree that the sensation of boundlessness fades as we age—that the sheer possibility of it all feels more finite.
Interesting article. Obviously this doesn't work for some creative types, who really focus on one or two things and ae able to maintain their creativity throughout life, but I wonder if there's some correlation between creativity and capability, if somehow as we become more capable we become less creative. Maybe we have some given capacity for doing and creating, and before we learn, the space is given totally over to creativity and as we learn, begin to add other skill sets and understand that there are rules and ways of doing things, the space to know all that takes over the space to dream all that.
Maybe it's not, as I generally believe, that a lot of the reason that children who love to draw when they are three, have that desire driven out of them by teachers by the time they're in third grade as they are made aware that the quality of their work is substandard.
Maybe it's just, as they discover that they have to draw inside the lines, that knowledge replaces three hundred different ways to draw mommy and daddy. Or a dinosaur. Or maybe it just starts to seem like work. Top
Old Lit?
By way of Austin Kleon, a review of Donald Hall's A Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety by John Wilson notes that many (more) authors are living longer and remaining productive to the end. He says that older authors have much wisdom we can learn from, and proposes creating an old adult
category, much like the young adult category.
I'm agin' it, even though if I ever get around to publishing something, I might benefit. But to me, it's just anther label, another convenient way to categorize, slot and dismiss a group of people who aren't a group. Second, most of the categories we have now are based on intended audience (children, young adult, LGBTQ, chick lit) type/genre (fiction, biography, history, poetry, religious, spiritual), country of origin (American, British, Ecuadorian) or approach to subject matter (science fiction, romance, investigative, mystery). Old adult
would join black authors
as a category based on something really irrelevant to the writing. It may play into or flavor the composition, but is not necessarily a key component. Black writers and senior writers can write young adult science fiction, or Ecuadorian historical romance.
Not all YA authors are young adults. Some young writers write some profound stuff. Librarians already have enough problems. This is one they don't need. Top
Alternate Realities
Every now and again, it would be nice to escape from what passes for reality these days. I may have just found a way.
The impeachment trial has been dominating news and daytime TV, to the point where it's easier to turn the idiot box off and do something useful. But every website has coverage, too. You can't avoid it except, it seems, on the BBC app. There, you can select a view. There are tabs for regular, most watched, and My News.
Each one is still curated/edited, and basically just rearranges the same stories. My News presents stories in groups of four. Mine are US and Canada, UK, EU, Sports, Technology, and so on. Handy.
Today, my four choices in US and Canada did not include any impeachment news, even though the Senate trial s going on. It did think it was important that I know Jessica Simpson suffered from childhood abuse, and is telling the world. Through the BBC apparently.
It isn't the best, but I'll take it.
Pop Quiz: Jessica Simpson's sister was accused of lip-synching a song on Saturday Night Live. What was her first name? And for bonus points, what was the name of the song? Top
Like with the Moon rocks, the material will be locked away in a sterile environment while scientists examine it. They are already assuring us that, even if alive, it will be different material and can't affect us. The odds are in their favor, but what happens if the DNA is the same as ours? Lots of material for thought there (pun on material not intended, but we'll take it). I'm betting major freak-out.