24th August 2019
‘The 1619 Project is a major initiative from The New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are. (reg may be necessary)
From Wired. ‘There’s a lot Wikipedia can teach us about fighting disinformation. Wikipedia is a prime target for misinformation. but its radical transparency and human editors can teach Facebook how to tackle information warfare.’
Availability Cascade, Von Restorff Effect ,Illusory Correlation, Narrative Transport and Spotlight Effect. From Planning Dirty – recent examples of behavioural economics in advertising, show how 5 key concepts came to life in campaigns from the last 18 months.
Hat-wearing is now a snub to authority. ‘The decline of hats began after the second world war, when many returning soldiers, tired of military discipline, decided to ditch their headgear. It speeded up dramatically with John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1960 when he ditched his top hat, earning himself the nickname “hatless Jack” and plunging the hat making industry into a depression from which it has never recovered.’
Nicely done. This social media influencer reveals the relatable truth behind flawless instagram photos.
Compelling imagery and accompanying narrative. A Wall Street trader’s photographic journey to “back row” America. Chris Arnade sets out to restore dignity to neglected parts of his country. ‘With stark photo essays and unforgettable true stories, he cuts through “expert” pontification on inequality, addiction, and poverty to allow those who have been left behind, to define themselves on their own terms.’
Baseball and American exceptionalism. ‘The national pastime reflects America’s easily mocked—but often successful—desire to be different.‘ (reg may be necessary).
This cat has an adorably bonkers reaction when the owner says ‘spaghetti.’
Iceland holds a funeral for the first glacier lost to climate change.
‘The winding road to the modern bicycle was a weird and wobbly ride. This short French film from 1915, seen here with Dutch inter-titles,charts the development of the bicycle over the course of the 19th century.‘
From Tortoise Media. Each week readers supply stories. The pitch for this video was uncharacteristically brief: “Please. We advise turning on your sound.”