Shareholder value is the explicit objective, and it absolutely constrains behavior

What they're calling "cynicism" isn't really a mood so much as shorthand for exactly the probabilistic thinking you're describing

A lot of "anti-cynical" takes are actually built on a deeply cynical view of how change happens

The flexibility seems to come from the fact that writing was never meant to stand alone

The alphabet really is a massive simplification: fewer symbols, fewer historical traps, lower onboarding cost

Wow text literally designed to live inside art rather than compete with it

That's something that practically trips up a lot of students. They'll be missing some sign in the text because the "missing" sign is part of the illustration that readers tend to be blind to.

Jazz has always been bigger than one aesthetic or one coast, no matter how much some people want to police it

For a music built on curiosity and openness, it's surprisingly good at gatekeeping

As I mentioned in an adjacent post, I've been playing jazz for nearly 50 years, and have not experienced gatekeeping, except on rare occasion from mediocre players. I've played with pro's, academics, and amateurs. The overwhelmingly predominant attitude is simply love of music and an interest in a challenge.

Come to the Midwest.

See also: HAM radio

What's sad is how much of that judgment hardened into history

Emulation isn't just about convenience or preservation, it can literally unlock experiences for people who were previously shut out