12 easy pieces

One of the greatest threats we face is, simply put, bullshit. We are drowning it. We are drowning in partisan rhetoric that is just true enough not to be a lie; in industry-sponsored research; in social media’s imitation of human connection; in legalese and corporate double-speak. It infects every facet of public life, corrupting our discourse, wrecking our trust in major institutions, lowering our standards for the truth, making it harder to achieve anything.

— Jon Lovett’s commencement address to Pitzer College. (via theatlantic)

carpentrix:

“The cure for anything is salt water — sweat, tears, or the sea.” -Isak Dinesen

Photograph by Robert Frank.

proustitute:

Gerrit Dou, Oude vrouw lezend in een lectionarium, zogenaamd portret van Rembrandts moeder (detail), c. 1630-35

(via mespetitesamoureuses; artdetails)

(Source: efter-repetitionen)

W. W. Norton: Nine Tips for Academics Writing for a General Audience →

wwnorton:

1) Keep your introduction brief, and introductory. Many academic introductions take on the task of presenting the entire book in miniature. In a trade book, the introduction to a book is the entrance hall – a place to hang up your coat, adjust to the temperature, meet your hosts, get a sense of…

(Source: theladycheeky)

bostonreview:

Via Blue Q

This is perhaps the most telling, saddest representation with today’s American democracy I have yet seen.

nouvellabooks:

There is a Downton Abbey prequel in the works.

(Source: randomhouse)

I’m not surprised that Utah is the second-lowest turnout (I mean, why bother voting in a single-party state?), but I am surprised that Ohio isn’t in the top ten.

Via votifi

newspaperblackout:

“Nine to Five,” a newspaper blackout by Austin Kleon

theatlantic:

Mitt Romney: “Middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less”

ilovecharts:

Paul Ryan Has a Presentation For Us

Gif by me. Charts by Mother Jones.

Having returned from back-to-back trips to the Oregon coast and camping in the Uintas, we’re ready for a “relaxing” week at home.

Right.

believermag:

From Craig Damrauer’s New Math

Damn it feels good to be a reader.

— (via wwnorton)