I've been a mere two weeks off from work for paternity leave, and I missed it. One thing I missed, but didn't expect to? The utter banality of InDesign layout. Many knowledge work jobs have their weeds—when you break out your finetooth comb and lose yourself in the details. The other way to consider this … Continue reading On the nitpicking joy of InDesign layout
Author: T Coe
On the multiple narratives of Damar Hamlin
When the news about Damar Hamlin broke a few weeks ago, it felt seismic. Many, me included, wondered: Could this be it? Could this be enough to fracture the NFL's grip on America? The NFL's record for deaths of retired players, of course, is widely known, but unremarkable to the public. The ravages of the … Continue reading On the multiple narratives of Damar Hamlin
On 7 things from last week (2/13/23)
Perhaps the only guarantee I had going into last week's Grammy broadcast was that Brandi Carlile would turn in a reliably stellar performance. And while I would have loved to see her perform the Joni-inflected "You and Me On the Rock," I was more than happy with the fiery take of "Broken Horses." I'm no … Continue reading On 7 things from last week (2/13/23)
On letting go of LinkedIn
When I tell people that I've quit social media, I'm not being completely honest: I'm still on LinkedIn. For years, I made an exception for LinkedIn, because I considered it an outlier: a social media network that felt useful. And "felt" is the right word, because was it actually useful? It seemed like there was … Continue reading On letting go of LinkedIn
On not knowing what a truck is
An increasing amount of what I say to my toddler consists of explanations and clarifications. This is that. No, this is actually that. This does that. This is that other thing over there. It's when you start offering true first principles explanations for the world that you realize how obscenely complicated things are. It's a … Continue reading On not knowing what a truck is
On the flaw of over-planning
A fringe benefit of keeping a journal (and rereading it) over the course of years is that it separates you from yourself. No longer having that job, that apartment, or those preoccupations, I see me a little more clearly—especially my flaws. One flaw that I notice repeatedly in my entries is my tendency to have … Continue reading On the flaw of over-planning
On how it’s always time to start
Having reflected yesterday on a favorite piece of advice, I thought of another piece of advice that has been on my mind of late. It comes from an interview with architect William McDonough in Metropolis magazine: Susan Szenagy: We need hope now more than ever. I just worry that it's going to be a little … Continue reading On how it’s always time to start
On the best ideas in Mad Men appearing outside the office
The final seasons of Mad Men coincided with the beginning and end of my career in publishing. My final job in publishing—my first was "marketing" obscure books in the academic books division—was in the Dictionaries division at Oxford University Press, creating original web content—mainly blog posts—for the now-defunct Dictionaries website. When I first took the … Continue reading On the best ideas in Mad Men appearing outside the office
On walking into a sticky beer bar (or indoor playground)
It's my favorite Anthony Bourdain quote: I remember sitting across from [Anthony Bourdain] at the table at this sort of sticky beer bar and him saying to me, "Helen, it makes a difference if you walk in the door saying, 'I'm going to love it here,' or you walk in the door saying, 'This place … Continue reading On walking into a sticky beer bar (or indoor playground)
On 7 things from last week (2/6/23)
I've now listened to Zach Bryan's triple album American Heartbreak at least three times through, and I'm astounded at how good most of the 34 tracks are. I'd been fielding recommendations to listen to the Bryan for most of last year—an independent rising country star who is part of the Red Dirt scene, he's exactly … Continue reading On 7 things from last week (2/6/23)
Taylor Coe 