The Intercept: Google suppresses memo revealing plans to closely track search users in China
FEE: How the housing crisis vindicated the Austrian School of Economics
RON PAUL: Republicans’ responsibility for socialism’s comeback
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Techdirt: California police officers used self-destructing messaging app for years
RCP: War on vaping threatens public health
High Times: Canada estimates $1 billion in cannabis sales in the first three months
GRACY OLMSTEAD: We weren’t made for endless work: “It is easy to slip into distractedness and inattentiveness if we are not cultivating daily rhythms that emphasize the present and the real over the possible and the virtual. That’s why Sherry Turkle suggests that we carve out “sacred spaces” in our day in which we set aside our devices and seek to truly focus on each other. The dinner table is a good space for this—but I also feel that I could do a better job abandoning my devices for intentional daily spurts of play with my daughter. Otherwise, leisure is too quickly interrupted by a text or email or phone call.
We don’t always like to hear that rest and “play” can nourish our souls. Owning up to that truth would require slowing down and doing “unimportant” things with no material, measurable benefit. It would require acknowledging our need for grace, and our own inability to accept the world as gift. But our existence was never meant to fixate around work—at least not if the ancients are to be believed. Leisure makes us human.
So go on a walk tomorrow and search for “tiny perfect things.” Play a board game after the dinner dishes are put away. Read a favorite book aloud. Pull out the sidewalk chalk.”
