I, too, see a crisis brewing, among not only people my age but among the peers of my teenage children and the college students I teach. Pushed further into isolation by the pandemic, we’re all losing the ability to engage in what I view as the pinnacle of human interaction: sitting around with friends and talking shit.

From Hanging out: Americans report fewer friends. Could the cure be simple?

Dozens of companies (in the UK) took part in the world’s largest trial of the four-day workweek — and a majority of supervisors and employees liked it so much they’ve decided to keep the arrangement. In fact, 15 percent of the employees who participated said “no amount of money” would convince them to go back to working five days a week.

From 4-day workweek trial so successful 91% firms to continue, trial shows ← gift article link

The sound of online trackers, an episode of Carefully with Per Axbom.

The demons hate fresh air.

Doorways: This and that.

ClipArt ETC provides students and teachers with over 71,500 pieces of quality educational clipart. Higher quality then expected.

Creep Mart features creepy, A.I. generated toys.

How bravely autumn paints upon the sky by Edward McKnight Kauffer

From Challenge Coins by Trevor Paglen

Unordered, incomplete list of things I want from a job by Lynn Fisher.

The Cabinet of Wikipedian Curiosities.

I picked up An Illustrated History of Ghosts featuring the awesome art (and words) of Adam Allsuch Boardman.

From Open Circuits

USPS Skateboard Stamps

How will these smaller groups of happier people be monetized? This is a tough question for the billionaires. Happy people, the kind who eat sandwiches together, are boring. They don’t buy much. Their smartphones are six versions behind and have badly cracked screens. They fix bicycles, then they talk about fixing bicycles, then they show their friend, who just came over for no reason, how they fixed their bicycle, and their friend says, “Wow, good job,” and they make tea. That doesn’t seem like enough to build a town square on.

From God Did the World a Favor by Destroying Twitter

De La Soul’s Trugoy the Dove Dies at 54

So incredibly sad.

Here is an interview with producer Prince Paul about the making of De La Soul’s first album.

Also, mark your calendars for March 3rd when De La Soul’s music is finally coming to streaming.

A sports reporter tracks down the defenders who picked off Super Bowl quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, during his senior year of high school.

The Teenager Leading the Smartphone Liberation Movement. An episode of the First Person podcast.

By Illustrator - J. Marshall Smith

Somewhere in NY, 1973.

Let a website be a worry stone.

I’m increasingly convinced that a much more relaxed approach to knowledge consumption – one that involves putting way less pressure on yourself to retain what you read, listen to, or watch – isn’t only more enjoyable, but better for your creative output, too. The first reason for this is that forgetting is a filter.

Oliver Burkeman from his newsletter The Imperfectionist: How to forget what you read

A tiny sci-fi story by @smllwrlds

Beadz is an experimental, polymetric drum machine, built with web technologies. Looks super fun and the aesthetic is great.

Happy 21st Birthday To Largehearted Boy: A Playlist. Wow, 21 years of blogging. Also, great gift to us!