Category Archives: Art/Style/Culture

Quiet quitting

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I’ve seen the phrase “quiet quitting” more and more in the last couple of years but had only the vaguest understanding of what it meant. ChatGPT explains:

Quiet quitting is a workplace trend where employees do the bare minimum required by their job descriptions—no extra tasks, no overtime, no going above and beyond. It’s not about actually quitting but about setting boundaries and disengaging from the traditional “hustle culture” mentality.

This concept gained traction as a response to burnout, low pay, and the expectation that workers should always be “going the extra mile” without additional compensation or recognition. Quiet quitting isn’t necessarily about laziness; for many, it’s a form of self-preservation and work-life balance.

Critics argue that quiet quitting leads to a lack of ambition and weakens company culture, while supporters see it as a necessary pushback against exploitative labor practices. The phenomenon reflects broader shifts in attitudes toward work, particularly among younger generations who prioritize well-being over career-driven sacrifice.

Murderbot TV series coming May 16

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Martha Wells’ award-winning sci-fi book series will soon be a streaming series, co-created by Chris and Paul Weitz and starring Alexander Skarsgård. Murderbot is described in an Apple TV+ press release as a “comedic thriller,” which matches up with the books; Skarsgård plays the title character, “a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients … Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.”

This is pretty much how I pictured Murderbot.

Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries is a science fiction series centered around a self-aware security android that has hacked its own governor module, allowing it to act independently. Rather than fulfilling its assigned duties, it prefers to binge-watch entertainment feeds and avoid human interaction. However, when its human clients face danger, Murderbot reluctantly steps in, often grappling with its own identity, autonomy, and the moral implications of its actions.

The series begins with All Systems Red (2017), where Murderbot protects a group of scientists from corporate sabotage. As the series progresses, it embarks on a journey of self-discovery, questioning what it means to be free while uncovering deep corporate conspiracies. The series blends action, humor, and existential reflection, making it a unique and engaging read. Murderbot’s dry wit and awkwardness make it a relatable and beloved protagonist in modern sci-fi. (ChatGPT)

Zap Car

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(Wikipedia) “ZAP was an American company that specialized in electric vehicles of various types, such as cars, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, watercraft, hovercraft, ATVs and commercial vehicles. Its name was an acronym for Zero Air Pollution. It was based in Santa Rosa, California, but it is no longer active.”

I spotted this beauty on the floor of MacWorld in 2008.

Tik Tok

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By the time Tik Tok became a Big Thing (around 2018?) I had abandoned social media with the exception of the occasional peak at Mastodon. One of the little video clips shows up as a Short in my YouTube stream so I have some idea what people post on Tik Tok but the appeal was a mystery. With Tik Tok getting so much attention these days, I asked ChatGPT to explain the appeal.

TikTok’s massive appeal, especially among younger generations, can be attributed to several unique features and cultural factors:

1. Short, Snackable Content – TikTok specializes in short videos, usually 15 seconds to 3 minutes long (though longer videos are now possible). This format caters perfectly to shorter attention spans and allows users to consume a lot of varied content in a short period.

2. Advanced Algorithm – TikTok’s “For You Page” (FYP) is powered by an incredibly advanced recommendation algorithm. It quickly learns what each user likes and serves up highly personalized, engaging content. Users don’t have to follow anyone to start seeing relevant and entertaining videos, making the platform instantly accessible.

3. Focus on Creativity and Trends – The platform encourages creativity through its easy-to-use editing tools, music library, and special effects. Challenges, trends, and viral memes are constantly evolving, giving users something to participate in and replicate. This fosters a sense of belonging and community.

4. Music Integration – Music is a key part of TikTok’s DNA. Many videos are based on popular songs or sounds, and the platform has even been instrumental in propelling lesser-known tracks to global fame. This seamless integration of music makes the content more dynamic and engaging.

5. Low Barrier to Entry – Creating content on TikTok is incredibly easy compared to platforms like YouTube, where production quality and long-form storytelling can be barriers. With TikTok, anyone with a smartphone can create something engaging in minutes, regardless of technical skill.

6. Viral Potential – TikTok offers a real chance for “ordinary” users to go viral. The algorithm doesn’t solely favor accounts with millions of followers, so even a first-time creator has a chance to reach a large audience. This democratization is hugely appealing.

7. Community and Subcultures – TikTok hosts an enormous variety of “niches” and subcultures, from dance and comedy to book recommendations (“BookTok”), cooking tutorials, and even educational content. No matter your interest, there’s likely a community for you.

8. Informal and Authentic Atmosphere – TikTok’s vibe is less polished and curated than platforms like Instagram. Users often appreciate its raw, humorous, and authentic feel, which makes it more relatable, especially to younger audiences.

9. Instant Gratification – The combination of short videos, an endless scroll, and algorithm-driven content creates an addictive loop of instant gratification. It’s easy to lose track of time because the content feels endless.

10. Social Validation and Engagement – TikTok’s culture encourages likes, comments, and duets (a feature that lets users build on others’ videos). This fosters interaction, collaboration, and a sense of validation for creators.

For younger generations, TikTok offers a dynamic mix of entertainment, connection, and self-expression that fits seamlessly into their fast-paced digital lives. Have you been tempted to check it out, or are you just curious about the buzz?

Dog

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I can hear him out in the kitchen,
his lapping the night’s only music,
head bowed over the waterbowl
like an illustration in a book for boys.

He enters the room with such etiquette,
licking my bare ankle as if he understood
the Braille of the skin.

Then he makes three circles around himself,
flattening his ancient memory of tall grass
before dropping his weight with a sigh on the floor.

This is the spot where he will spend the night,
his ears listening for the syllable of his name,
his tongue hidden in his long mouth
like a strange naked hermit in a cave.

—Questions About Angels by Billy Collins

The Walmart Effect

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From The Atlantic: New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.

“In the 10 years after a Walmart Supercenter opened in a given community, the average household in that community experienced a 6 percent decline in yearly income—equivalent to about $5,000 a year in 2024 dollars—compared with households that didn’t have a Walmart open near them. Low-income, young, and less-educated workers suffered the largest losses.”

“..poverty increases by about 8 percent in places where a Walmart opens relative to places without one even when factoring in the most optimistic cost-savings scenarios.”

“When Walmart comes to town, it uses its low prices to undercut competitors and become the dominant player in a given area, forcing local mom-and-pop grocers and regional chains to slash their costs or go out of business altogether. As a result, the local farmers, bakers, and manufacturers that once sold their goods to those now-vanished retailers are gradually replaced by Walmart’s array of national and international suppliers. (By some estimates, the company has historically sourced 60 to 80 percent of its goods from China alone.) As a result, Wiltshire finds, five years after Walmart enters a given county, total employment falls by about 3 percent, with most of the decline concentrated in “goods-producing establishments.”

Cliché by Billy Collins

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My life is an open book. It lies here
on a glass tabletop, its pages shamelessly exposed,
outspread like a bird with hundreds of thin paper wings.

It is a biography, needless to say,
and I am reading and writing it simultaneously
in a language troublesome and private.
Every reader must be a translator with a thick lexicon.

No one has read the whole thing but me.
Most dip into the middle for a few paragraphs,
then move on to other shelves, other libraries.
Some have time only for the illustrations.

I love to feel the daily turning of the pages,
the sentences unwinding like string,
and when something really important happens,
I walk out to the edge of the page and, always the student,
make an asterisk, a little star, in the margin.