Paris or Lisbon?

 

This event might tip my hand from Lisbon to Paris for my upcoming trip:

https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/program/calendar/event/bdP9GtP

Rushdie

 I know Salman Rushdie through his interviews and have yet to read his books. After all the talks I always intend to read them. Same goes for this one. Worth listening to on its own though.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-salman-rushdie.html

Techbro End Times ideology

 I have followed the evolution of this line of thought for decades. The Right embracing the oligarchs of the dystopian cyberpunk genre.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fascism-far-right-trump-musk

Johnny Stinkbridge reviews a punk rock show

 My old school punk rock friend Johnny has entered the realm of journalism now. He always brings his enthusiasm and passion for the genre to the table, with good results. Nice punchy writing!

https://www.inspitemagazine.com/in-spite-articles/punks/not/dead

My Reich

I visit this obscure corner of the internet less frequently these days. My focus has shifted to my Buddhist path and how to handle life in an authoritarian regime. Nonetheless I am nostalgic about this place in my old age. Here in this post and the following one I share a couple of things that resonate with my past life experiences.

As a kid I played percussion in the school orchestra and the marching band. I harbor an affinity with rhythm in music to this day. One of my favorite musicians is Steve Reich. I think the following interview serves him well. Check it out:

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/nx-s1-5319902/steve-reich-interview-collected-works

My Buddhist pilgrimage

 I am writing this post in Bangkok, Thailand after two weeks in Bhutan, the Vajrayana Buddhist country. I was one of two dozen on this pilgrimage, led by two American lamas. This was the most memorable and spiritually profound experience of my life. It increased my conviction to devote the core of my life to meditation and study of Buddhism as I adjust to Sara’s passing and my retirement. How amazing to experience a genuine culture steeped in Buddhism and in the company of deep practitioners!

Onward…

1974: my commune had a terminal+social media

 Lee Felsenstein made this possible. He just published a book about his life:

Me and My Big Ideas: Counterculture, Social Media, and the Future

Here is a great interview:

https://magazine.mindplex.ai/lee-felsenstein-who-started-the-digital-revolution-im-exaggerating-a-little-declares-the-golden-age-of-engineering/