I’m enjoying this gift guide from the New York Times. It’s beautifully designed, easy to browse, well-curated, and organized by categories like Home & Design, Games & Gaming, Teens, plus a price range.
After spending quite a while ⏳ digging through endless “best of Black Friday” lists full of really generic items (really, a door lock accessory for Christmas?) or extra pricey items (an $1800 computer monitor – on sale?), this gift guide is the most organized and time-saving I’ve seen this year.
In one of our regular before-school conversations at Mozart’s Coffee, my daughter and I were talking Instagram.
I told her I keep pretty high standards on what I post. “Each post has to be unique and interesting – something nobody has seen before, and preferable well-composed.”
My daughter, who is 17 and posts anime edits regularly, caught onto a hint of perfectionism creeping in and encouraged me to post more often and just archive what I don’t love.
“Dad, it’s not National Geographic,” she said. And then, knowingly, after a little pause, “Or The New York Times.”
My daughter speaks wisely, and she knows me better than I know myself.
In another life, I may be a jet-setting New York Times photographer or even a reporter tracking down warm criminals. But in this life, I’ll be happy with posting some cool photos around town.
I love it when people I know tell me wise and useful things.
If I ever make it to Japan, Ghibli Park is now on the list to visit.
Apparently this theme park is confusing and unconventional, just like the movies made by its legendary namesake animation studio.
Obviously, a weird theme park that isn’t really a theme park is on my must-see list. 🙃
One more reason to visit Japan. ✅
Right in the middle of this episode of The Daily podcast, there’s a little plug for the New York Times’ photographers, noting that they travel to dangerous places and learns skills like scuba diving just to get the right shot for the story.
I love that they describe photography as “a universal visual language”. I mean, it’s true! You can show a photograph to literally anyone in any part of the world, and they would surely get its meaning.
A photograph can do a lot of different things. It can connect us. It can bring us to places we’ve never been before. It can capture a story in a universal visual language.
👉 In my dream life, I’d be a part-time Times photographer, but for now I do my best around Austin. 😆
Dr. Li Wenliang said this when he was trying to spread word of the new coronavirus in China in 2019 and being shut down by the government.
A healthy society should not have just one voice.
Dr. Li Wenliang
Here’s the story. The New York Times spent a year investigating his death and the effort to silence him. It’s a fascinating 15-minute video.
Mental Break Town 