I recently noticed that I’ve been reading fewer books lately. I think it’s because I’ve been spending a disproportionate share of my time reading blogs, news sites, a certain social media feed, and other less substantial content. Then I read Blake Butler’s Maximizing Time for Reading, which put everything into focus for me.
You’ve heard this song, undoubtedly one of the greatest in Rock and Roll history, a million times. But this particular version is special.
You’ve probably heard the term “machine learning” and how it’s changing everything. In this article, I’m going to explain the fundamental concept behind machine learning.
Today’s one great thing is required viewing if you really want to understand what’s going on today in the Middle East.
To my Jewish readers, I want you to do a thought experiment.
Over the past year, I’ve made no secret about my support for Palestinian freedom and against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, not to mention the apartheid regime, in general.
The Sun had a bit of a meltdown on Tuesday, spewing massive streams of high-energy particles into space. Outbursts like this follow an eleven-year cycle, of which we’re just now nearing the peak.
Today’s One Great Thing is a beautiful poem written and performed by Lucas Jones called “Some good news if you wish you were dead”, from his book (Sorry I Was Miles Away) In the Year of Romance.
I have a treat for you today. NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts regularly hosts a diverse array of amazing artists performing in an intimate setting, literally behind a tiny desk, to an impromptu gathering of staffers (for the concerts alone, I’d give anything to work there).
Today’s one great thing is a new video from one of my favorite Youtube channels, Veritasium.
I didn’t know this was even possible but apparently you can travel across the entire United States by train.
Many people, especially Israel supporters, have asked me this question:
Marc, why are you so obsessed with Palestine?
When the people you love most,
And who love you the most,
In the whole world
Below is the text of an open letter I sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian on April 12, 2024. The image above comes from a New York Times article called The Schoolyard.
In his celebrated dystopian novel 1984, George Orwell introduced the concept of Newspeak, which illustated how language can be used to control thought and behavior.
Many people assert that answering this question in the affirmative is antisemitic. Let’s take a closer look…
Let’s start with a definition:
Zionism. / (ˈzaɪəˌnɪzəm) / noun. a political movement for the establishment and support of a national homeland for Jews in Palestine, now concerned chiefly with the development of the modern state of Israel. a policy or movement for Jews to return to Palestine from the Diaspora.
In the darkness of night
When the world feels askew
I scroll through the news
And I’m outraged anew
I was a young child during the US War in Vietnam. I wasn’t old enough to fully understand what was going on. But something amazing was happening then. And it’s happening again today.
Here’s a list of things that some people consider antisemitic, but actually are not (according to me):
We exist in the minds of others.
The phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” has been declared antisemitic by supporters of Israel. It’s been claimed that the phrase calls for the eradication of the state of Israel.
Soldiers on tiktok,
Dancing on death
With glee celebrate
A baby’s last breath
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
Those are the words they taught me to sing.
I grew up in a Jewish household. Both my parents were Jewish. Both of their parents were Jewish. And on and on as far back as you can go. How do I know that? According to 23andme, my DNA is 99.7% Eastern European Jew. I’d really love to know more about that .3%!
Depending on your news sources, you may not be fully aware of the industrial level of death and destruction Israel has wrought on Gaza. Here is a summary of the horrifying statistics, courtesy of The Guardian.
Some people see the situation in Gaza as a religious war. Some see it as a territorial dispute. Others see it as Israel’s right to defend itself. But it’s really much simpler than that.
I’ve hesitated to write about this tragedy, because I know this article is going to offend some people. But I’ve decided that staying silent about injustice makes me part of the problem.
