Hackneyed

  • Bread Infographic

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    A London bakery used a loaf of bread as a graph to illustrate the costs of running their business. “The Dusty Knuckle is a ‘purpose-driven’ business: ‘we strive to use our busy operations to help at-risk youth take forward steps in their lives through on-the-job training and mentorship.’ The Insta post says that ‘all the…

  • Stevie Wonder + Sesame Street = Day Made

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  • Best Watches, 2025

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    Watched and re-watched quite a few movies this year. Like last year, I compiled a list that isn’t a “best of 2025,” but more a “best watched in 2025.” Still have a lot to go, but my favorites of 2025, thus far: One Battle After Another and Marty Supreme. Then maybe Superman? Other great movies…

  • TV Watched, 2025

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    The Bear (Season 4): Good, not great. If they can wrap this up with one last season, still has a chance to be my favorite show of the last few years. Stick the landing, please. The Chair Company (Season 1): Insane, but perfectly executed. Treats conflict not as misunderstanding, but as multiple, “true” perspectives coexisting…

  • Spotify Wrapped Photodump

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  • 50 Albums

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    For the last year, I’ve written about an album or so a week in my newsletter. Like most aging hipsters, sometimes it seems as if I only listen to jazz and the Dead, so it was nice to revisit many of these. Not necessarily a top 50, but albums that at least one time or…

  • Reiner

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    Before I was an MTV kid, I was a Nickelodeon kid. And like Cartoon Network turns into Adult Swim like a Pumpkin, Nick would become Nick at Nite. I loved Lucy, but I loved Archie Bunker. I knew he was always wrong. But I also new Meathead wasn’t always right. Years before Maron would argue…

  • “Recently” Read

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    …or at least since the last time I did this. Got a lot out of The Creative Act, Sacred Hoops, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, The Prophet, That Strange Divine Sea and The Tao of Pooh. “Rabbit’s clever,” said Pooh thoughtfully.“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit’s clever.”“And he has Brain.”“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has Brain.”There…

  • Eat, Pray, Pay

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    Trader Joe’s: Look, I am not oblivious to the criticism. Are there any updates? Have they gotten better? Googling “Are Trader Joe’s still shitbags?” didn’t yield a lot in the way of results. Even worse, I’ve been carrying around my faux-LL Bean bag everywhere and apparently that’s like, a thing in London? Am I an…

  • Hard things are supposed to be hard.

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    From The EQ School: “Changing old patterns, ending relationships you’ve outgrown, raising children, creating from your core, letting go, stretching, growing, and stepping into the unknown. The more worthwhile endeavors require you to show up vulnerably & honestly, and they leave space for something new to happen.” They go on: “All of my familiar self-protective…

  • Procured Art (Last Year)

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    Currently in the process of rearranging the house, art included, and forgot that I never mentioned some screen prints purchased at last year’s East Lansing Art Festival. As Vice Chair of the Downtown Development Authority, I had the honor—alongside the Chair of the East Lansing Arts Commission—of purchasing four pieces from that year’s People’s Choice…

  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner

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    As I am sure you read, Warner died tragically on Sunday. Granted, he was more than just Theo Huxtable, but in spite of Cosby, I hope we can one day look fondly on a show that meant a lot to be as a child. At the time Warner was the youngest ever Emmy nominee for…

  • RetroDuck Presents: ’80s Night

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    RetroDuck presented an ’80s block party in downtown East Lansing last night. About 400-500 people danced to their favorite cover band, Pinball Pete’s brought some machines out into the streets and we handed out a couple hundred free shirts. Already thinking about next year’s event.

  • Tiny Desks

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    A behind-the-scenes look at the long running NPR segment: “What began in 2008 as a humble, stripped-back performance series for NPR’s blog has grown into a global phenomenon, with unforgettable sets from stars like Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, and more. Despite its viral fame, the heart of Tiny Desk remains the same: a…

  • Newsletter #100: Reflections, Advice, Ideas, etc.

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    💯 What began as a place to collect interesting links, thinks, advice and opinions mixed in with personal updates and bad jokes has grown into something hopefully a bit more meaningful from someone apparently just trying to embrace their authentic self. Amidst the music recommendations and articles on film, art, science, etc., there has been a lot…

  • Today’s Mail

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    A postcard and bumper sticker from Dr. Brian J. Bowe. Update: Also got this book from my old friend Jason. Looking forward to (finally!) reading.

  • On Tyranny

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    John Lithgow reads 20 lessons on Tyranny, penned by historian Timothy Snyder. 1. Do not obey in advance 2. Defend institutions 3. Beware the one-party state 4. Take responsibility for the face of the world 5. Remember professional ethics 6. Be wary of paramilitaries 7. Be reflective if you must be armed 8. Stand out 9.…

  • “He was told that the streets were paved with gold.”

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    From comedian Shelley Berman, as quoted by Lorne Michaels: “Before my grandfather came to America, he was told that the streets were paved with gold. And when he got to America he found out three things. One, that the streets were not paved with gold. Two, that the streets were not paved. Three, that he was…

  • “Nowadays…”

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    “Manners at the Modern Dance” from the Daily Mirror, January 31, 1923.

  • 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century

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    Shared this list a few weeks ago on Substack: “Between streaming services and superhero blockbusters, the way we watch and think about movies has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. But through that period of upheaval, which films have truly stood the test of time? To find out, we embarked on an ambitious new…