WORK
One reason that cats are happier than people
is that they have no newspapers...
---Gwendolyn Brooks
---from "In the Mecca"
---found in In the Mecca (1964)
WORD(S)
ostracize · /ˈɒstrəsʌɪz/ · /OSS-trə-size/. verb. To exclude or banish someone from society or a group. In Ancient Greece, to punish someone through temporary exile. Latinized form of Greek ostrakizein (to banish), literally "to banish with potshards," reflecting the ancient Athenian practice of holding a public vote, scratching names onto a potshard or piece of tile, on the fate of dangerous or embarrassing people. If a majority voted so, the person would be banished for 10 years. Ultimately, ostracize is derived from the PIE root ost- (bone), which is the root of words such as ossuary and oyster.
The young men who go to prison rather than college face a lifetime of closed doors, discrimination, and ostracism. (Michelle Alexander)
All too often, today's anxious parents "protect" their children from the so-called "ravages" of TV and computer games, only to expose them to the far more damaging ravages of social ostracization by their peers. (Jonathan Franzen)
Pepita's existence, in fact, seemed settled, permanent, and contented, if we except the two sorrows of the social and the religious ostracism... (Vita Sackville-West)
WEB
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"It's mind-boggling in the totality of ambition to so deeply undermine what's so vitally important to the public." → Inside the Fall of the CDC
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"From the unvarnished to the salacious, Amelia Tait dips into a private world where people trade the diaries of strangers." → The secret world of diary hunters
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A new (to me) publication that hopes to "help us all --- as citizens, scientists, policymakers, and human beings --- to deal more wisely and more creatively with both the burdens and the blessings of modern science and technology." → The New Atlantis
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An interesting way to navigate a series of photos over time. → 12 Sunsets: Exploring Ed Ruscha's Archive
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Paroxysm Periwinkle, Gender Reveal Fire Yellow, and many more. → United Colors of the Apocalypse: A Pantone series for 2020
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A surprise to no one who knows any police. → Police killings more likely in agencies that get military gear, data shows
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Can long form discussion find a way to thrive on the brave new web through "a platform for thoughtful conversation via an exchange of written letters?" I guess we'll see. → Letter ※ Speaking of letters: Letters of Woe and Curses Returned with Stolen Pieces of the Petrified Forest
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This is a thing. → The Plastic Bag Museum
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The eyes have it: Mark Harvey's photos of birds in flight // 2020 Drone Photo Awards // Arinze Stanley's incredible, photo-realistic b&w drawings // Keegan Hall's photo-realistic pencil drawings // 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year images // Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020 winners // Lito's Tree Leaf Kirigami (picture cuttings) // Tomoko Sato's unreal fruit carvings
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Today in 1854, Lord Cardigan leads approximately 670 soldiers in a Crimean War mission to prevent Russians from recapturing some lightly-defended won guns, an action that would come to be known as the Charge of the Light Brigade. Due to a miscommunication whose details are debated to this day, the lightly-armored Light Brigade instead ended up in a frontal assault on a powerful, fully-prepared gum emplacement. Within minutes, more than 160 soldiers were killed and another 150 wounded for naught. The ill-fated battle would be immortalized in Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade," which includes the famous lines:
"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
WATCH/WITNESS
"...the women-only team of rangers is revolutionizing the way animals are protected, communities are empowered --- and its members' own lives are being transformed." → ▸ Akashinga: The Brave Ones
WHAT‽
The unbeautiful under the sea. → ▸ Life Below Water: The Arrival of a New Species
WITHHELD
Herd immunity (because strategy for sheep(le)) ☡ The DOJ Google lawsuit (because political theater) ☡ Quibi (because no time to make a short video) ☡ Epstein Ghislane (because sounds like a disease)
REPRISES/RESPONSES/REJOINDERS/RIPOSTES
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Reader W.: "A Pickle for the Knowing Ones is bananas. That probably explains why I keep returning to it."
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Reader P.: "biologically informed jurisprudence could be a steeply slippery slope."
I welcome comments, suggestions, thoughts, feedback and all manner of what-have-you. Just press 'Reply' or email to: clippings@katexic.com.
And while you're still here, why not forward this to a friend?