The Smithian

June 18th, 2013

Having lived in the United States for almost thirty years, I am always amazed that Americans persist in believing that this is a land of unparalleled opportunity and social mobility. A bit suspect to begin with, the Horatio Alger story has been transformed, over the decades, into a chronic mental block. To well-educated youngsters from affluent backgrounds who know how to work the system, and even to well-educated immigrants such as myself, this is indeed a land of great opportunity. But for all too many working-class Americans—and a lot of them aren’t members of minority groups—U.S. society is less of a launchpad than a glue trap. With their feet stuck to the ground, they have little prospect of ascending very far.

John Cassidy, at the New Yorker

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

[cheers]

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

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“At first when I met him he wanted an equal, and I think a lot of times strong men do want an equal, but then they get that equal and they’re like, I can’t handle the equalness…”

more.

“At first when I met him he wanted an equal, and I think a lot of times strong men do want an equal, but then they get that equal and they’re like, I can’t handle the equalness…”

more.

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

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Tyrin Turner was in a rare and coveted position. By the time he was 22 years old, he’d starred in one of the most iconic films of the decade, befriended rising filmmakers, and been feted with nominations and acclaim. Janet Jackson even told him he had “some of the sexiest lips [she] ever saw.” Then, he disappeared from view.

more. and more.

Tyrin Turner was in a rare and coveted position. By the time he was 22 years old, he’d starred in one of the most iconic films of the decade, befriended rising filmmakers, and been feted with nominations and acclaim. Janet Jackson even told him he had “some of the sexiest lips [she] ever saw.” Then, he disappeared from view.

more. and more.

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

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Why did the Roman Catholic cardinals choose, as their Pope, a man who liked to ride the bus and cook his own dinner? Didn’t they guess that such a person might not be a good advertisement of the Church’s magnificence? And when Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, probably the most self-abnegating man ever to direct a religious order—and one whose name, tellingly, had never before been selected by a Pope—didn’t they worry a little bit? They should have.

more.
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art: illustration by Vincent Altamore

Why did the Roman Catholic cardinals choose, as their Pope, a man who liked to ride the bus and cook his own dinner? Didn’t they guess that such a person might not be a good advertisement of the Church’s magnificence? And when Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, probably the most self-abnegating man ever to direct a religious order—and one whose name, tellingly, had never before been selected by a Pope—didn’t they worry a little bit? They should have.

more.

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art: illustration by Vincent Altamore

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

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What I’m trying to say with my music is, ‘You don’t have to pretend…Say what you mean.’”

What I’m trying to say with my music is, ‘You don’t have to pretend…Say what you mean.’”

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

‘Fifty-four schools closed in Chicago (88% black), 23 closed in Philadelphia (81% black), 26 in New York (60% black). What’s the difference between the Democrats and Republicans again, I forgot?’

Hundreds of teachers and school staff are being laid off in two of the largest cities in the country—both run by Democrats. In Chicago and Philadelphia, a total of 4,633 people, including many teachers, will lose their jobs. Both cities, run by Democrats, claim they are closing schools because they need the money. Yet near both cities, money for prisons is somehow found.

bold, ours. more, here.

June 18th, 2013

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art: photo by Thomas Whiteside

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

‘Xbox One…can recognize you from the others in the room…it can track up to six people in the room at a time! It can track whether you’re actively watching the TV, whether you’re watching or just have it on while you’re doing other things. It can tell your reaction to what you’re watching by looking for smiles or grimaces…’

It can…measure your pulse to see how the show is causing you to react. And, it can do all this in a room completely in the dark…For advertisers, this sort of information creates entirely new possibilities…They’ll know exactly the gender, geographic location, and age demographic of every eyeball watching their ads. They’ll be able to get data on what caused your heart to raise, your endorphins to rise, your smiles to widen…Not only might political campaigns be able to measure your real time reaction to ads, they might also get data accumulated from viewers responses to news broadcasts, and tailor the campaign in ways we can only imagine.

bold, ours. more, here.

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

…up to 200,000 people angry with high costs and poor public services took to the streets. Protesters in Rio de Janeiro burned cars and looted buildings as police attempted to disperse them with teargas and rubber bullets. Aerial images showed thousands of people attempting to storm the congress building in Brasilia. The rallies…are some of the biggest ever seen in the country…

more.

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

PSA

June 18th, 2013

thesmithian

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[look of the hour]

(Source: kingtommyie)

Reblogged from The Goods

June 18th, 2013

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Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz has inspired a new form of anti-government protest: Standing silently while staring at his country’s flag for hours on end.

more.

Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz has inspired a new form of anti-government protest: Standing silently while staring at his country’s flag for hours on end.

more.