Stories & Strategies
Maybe 6 or 7 years ago I was asked to come jam by a lanky fellow named Rory. I didn't know what to expect. Would we play Stones tunes? Jazz standards? Funk? Blues? To my surprise Rory – a drummer - just wanted to play. Free jazz. A beloved idiom but not one that you... Continue Reading →
About 3 years ago I wrote a satirical short story called Donald Trump Has Taken a Little Girl Hostage. Admittedly, it was a very dark story, and yet also – I thought – quite hopeful. I sent it to a couple adventurous literary websites but it was rejected. And I could almost feel the shivering... Continue Reading →
It was, strangely enough, Greta Gerwig's delightful Little Women, that cinematic ne plus ultra of wholesome domesticity, that tempted me to watch Midsommar, a 'horror' film whose breathless reviewers were united in calling 'disturbing' and 'bizarre'. More accurately it was Florence Pugh that drew me to Midsommar. Her performance as Amy in Little Women was... Continue Reading →
I first heard the name Miranda July about 20 years ago, dropped casually yet reverentially from the lips of Sarah Sharkey-Pearce, one of the smartest, coolest young artists I knew. And so, although it would be a few years before I came across any actual artworks by her, Miranda July's name stayed with me. Brimming... Continue Reading →
Life as a husband and dad, creative professional, entrepreneur, author and member of other people's bands has meant that getting my own band back together has taken me longer than I ever thought it would. But at long last the train has left the station I am one happy conductor. Our first gig is Saturday... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year I came across a bold and inspiring new challenge called the Nine Dots Prize, which invited submissions to this important question: Are digital technologies making politics impossible? There were 700 entries and I did not win, but I am publishing my essay anyway because I think (hope!) it will matter to you.... Continue Reading →
I just finished binge-watching the fantastic first season of Sense8, the Netflix series written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski with Michael Straczyinski. It is extraordinary and totally worth watching. I don't usually write about TV shows on this blog but having watched the series I almost immediately went searching for intelligent critical commentary... Continue Reading →
Blogs ebb and flow like the tide, and this one is now flowing again. Here's a quick update about some recent activities as well as some of what I will be up to in 2014. Of course The Media League has been my main focus, with season 2 in full swing and producing some very... Continue Reading →
Wow. What an exciting game filled with talented young artists and enthusiastic fans of their awesome artworks. That's what The Media League is all about! With a little over 24 hours left JP Stevens (28,965 points) has extended its league after regaining it from Power On (22,773 points) 2 days ago. Meanwhile North Point High... Continue Reading →
For the past year I have been privileged to act as the Commissioner of The Media League, the world's first competitive creativity league for high schools. And as I write this there are but 7 days left in The Media League Finals. 7 days to determine the very first Media League Champions! May the best... Continue Reading →
