BOOK REVIEW: Sasha Abramsky’s ‘Jumping At Shadows’ is important but covers little new ground

Reggie Watts’ 2012 TED Talk had many unique observations, but one has always stuck with me as particularly insightful.

“As we face fear in these times—and fear is all around us—we also have anti-fear. The background radiation is simply too static to be able to be seen under the normal spectral analysis.”

That line of satirical pseudo-babble was part of an improvised comedy/musical performance but has achieved a surprising resonance in years since, and it’s as concise a summary of journalist Sasha Abramsky’s latest book Jumping At Shadows as the one it gives itself. Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW: Sasha Abramsky’s ‘Jumping At Shadows’ is important but covers little new ground”

Kanye West was absolutely right about that thing he didn’t really say at the Grammys

It’s been almost a week since Kanye West did Kanye West things, pretending to interrupt Beck’s acceptance of the 2015 Grammy for Best Album, and then making some comments afterward critical of the Grammys and its respect of “artistry”. Continue reading “Kanye West was absolutely right about that thing he didn’t really say at the Grammys”