This week’s reading includes notes on Instagram and coffee, two things I spend a lot of time on:
Books and design: my two great loves. So this article is right up my alley!
Instagram is the biggest marketplace of the moment. You might not realise it, but all the posts you double tap and all the links you hit are massively important for advertising targets. This article goes into the ins and outs of it, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Here’s a question for you: after how long should does the blame stop? Let me explain further. The Holocaust was undeniably atrocious. But should Germans be blamed for it forever? Such questions revolve around theories of reparative justice, that is, future generations paying for past sins. This article explains why reparations are the answer (I don’t agree with it all, but the implications of how you answer such questions are important).
On a lighter note, and a much less philosophical one, coffee roasting is an art I want to learn more about. This article goes into its potential future.
I only recently came to love opera, mostly because when I was younger I simply couldn’t understand it. But this week I fell into a YouTube rabbit hole and discovered this Tchaikovsky, which I added to my Spotify playlists immediately.
I’m not big on audiobooks, as I prefer to save my ears for podcasts (see next link love) and my mind tends to wander when I don’t have the visual in front of me. But, anyone who knows me truly well knows I love Downton Abbey and Anna Bates, and by proxy, Joanne Froggatt. Especially that Yorkshire accent. So I downloaded The Clockmaker’s Daughter, and although I haven’t finished it yet, hearing it read aloud certainly makes the lyricism of Kate Morton’s writing come alive.
This Lady-Land podcast with Cleo Wade, an activist and writer, is wonderful for illuminating Wade’s depth and clarity. Loved it.
I’ve been thinking about my study goals for the year as my time away from home comes to an end. I came across this a while ago, but as commitments pile up, I want to remember to get my priorities straight and to be still a little more often.
Finally, the On Being project has gotten an update, focussing on gathering space and experience. It’s honestly beautiful to explore. One of the things I’ve found since following On Being is the sheer amount of material available – it’s a 15-year archive (that half makes me want to runaway tbh). So, the newly curated Starting Points are something I cannot highlight enough if you want to explore On Being. They’re something I’ll be sharing often on here.
So, till next time! -nat 🥀♥️