A Meta shot of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass photographer 2014 by Kimberly Charles
Kimberly Charles
My "must read" is from: Loneliness Belongs to the Photographer, The New Yorker, July 10, 2016
Article: Loneliness Belongs To The Photographer
Author: Hanya Yanagihara
Why is this a must read?: I loved the poetry and depth of this piece. As a person with a keen sense of observation, I personally have chosen photography as my expressive art form. I love interviewing photographers and asking them for one piece of advice when pursuing the craft. I've heard many great quotes, most of which have been about being bold, uninhibited or adventurous. Much like when I meet and speak with people, I love to draw them out and I find that when a subject is on the other end of the lens, I often am able to pull a dimension through the lens that shows their humanity and inner selves. I consider it a privilege and I respect the intimacy between subject and object. Yanagihara examines the received loneliness of the photographer, and draws an analogy to the similar isolated life of many writers. I love her precise use of language and her quote, (photographers)...remind us of how much we want to be seen, and also how infrequently we practice the skill of seeing others...if there is a cure for the invisibility of loneliness, it is this."
Photo Courtesy of Truste.com
Alex Fondren
My "must read" is from: New York Times
Article: Solving all the Wrong Problems
Author: Allison Arieff
Why is this a must read?: Not only was this written by the talented sister of Adrienne Arieff (talented friend and former office-mate of CCA), but it's a brilliant opinion piece exposing the prescient danger in the ubiquitous 'hack' culture we are constantly confronted with in the Bay Area. Arieff calls out the tech 'innovations' that claim to be 'making the world a better place' one unnecessary app at a time. She writes, "the impulse to conflate toothbrush delivery with Nobel Prize-worthy good works is not just a bit cultish, it’s currently a wildfire burning through the so-called innovation sector. Products and services are designed to “disrupt” market sectors (a.k.a. bringing to market things no one really needs) more than to solve actual problems, especially those problems experienced by... “the unexotic underclass” — single mothers, the white rural poor, veterans, out-of-work Americans over 50 — who...have the “misfortune of being insufficiently interesting.” If the most fundamental definition of design is to solve problems, why are so many people devoting so much energy to solving problems that don’t really exist? How can we get more people to look beyond their own lived experience? Arieff concludes that "innovation is very much mirroring the larger public discourse: a distrust of institutions combined with unabashed confidence in one’s own judgment [that] shifts solutions away from fixing, repairing or improving and shoves them toward destruction for its own sake. (Sound like a certain presidential candidate? Or Brexit?)."
Photo Courtesy of NYU Press
Hillary Lyons
My "must read" is from: NYU Press
Book: Soft Soil, Black Grapes
Author: Simone Cinotto
Why is this a must read?: I love this book because it shatters the ‘Pavesian myth,’ as Cinotto calls it, that California was some land of milk and honey, and that early Italian immigrants were inherent winemakers translating their indelible knowledge to a landscape that mimicked their native Mediterranean climate. Having grown up here in California, I’ve heard this Golden State called the ‘Mediterranean of the US’ countless times and I always accepted it unquestioningly. But as Cinotto shows, the foundation of California’s Italian wine industry was far more complex. It required Herculean labors, dramatic transformation of the land, racialized and class-based labor clashes, and competitive kinship networks to tame the ‘Wild West’ into the grape growing region we know today.
Photo Courtesy of Youtube
Anthony Salazar
My "must read" is from: Forbes
Article: Five Ways Pokémon Go Is Actually Good For You
Author: Tara Haelle
Why is this a must read?: Over the weekend, Pokémon Go became probably the most discussed topic in the whole world. When Pokémon Go was released almost a week ago on iOS and Android, my friends and I immediately downloaded the new app and got hooked. I have been always been a Pokémon fan since it came out in the late 1990s. From the Pokemon video games to trading cards, board games antod toys – you name it and I probably have it! The nostalgia I felt when I started playing this game was priceless. All my childhood memories just came rushing back. For me, that alone makes me want to keep playing this game. However, in this newest Pokémon game version, you must go around the city in real-life to be able to catch the original 151 Pokémon, collect various items and battle gym leaders: it actually forces you to walk around your city and meet other "trainers." You get to explore your city and see a new side of your neighborhood - and that is exactly what happened to me yesterday. Prior to Pokémon Go, I had never stepped foot in Cow Hollow but just yesterday afternoon, I spent almost two hours exploring and collecting these cute monsters. I even made new friends with fellow Poke-players roaming the streets and in two weeks, we will be going to an LGBT Pokémon Go crawl in the Castro expand our Poké squad.
Photo Courtesy of National Geographic
Jules Lydon
My "must read" is from: National Geographic
Article: Why Brexit Freaks Out So Many Scientists
Author: Michael Greshko
Why is this a must read?: There is a huge list of political, but especially economic Brexit implications, but I haven't seen the scientific angle covered throughout its media blitz. In my "must read," Michael Greshko covers the Brexit ramifications in regard to the scientific community as well as global climate change policy. It's disappointing that this angle seems to have taken a back burner compared the the other Brexit stories, but it's worth the time. Greshko states that "the decision has dismayed scientists in the United Kingdom and across Europe, as it stands to disrupt scientific funding and the United Kingdom’s stature in the European and international research communities." It could take up to two years or more to fully negotiate divorce terms, including its stance on global science policy. Myles Allen of the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute says that his“main concern in the big picture is potential damage to the U.K.’s reputation as a destination for top-flight researchers. Researchers put a lot of emphasis on the ability to recruit and ability to travel, and if these changes affect our ability to recruit the best and brightest of the world’s academics, then we’re in trouble” (cue nail biting and anxious looks from scientists everywhere).
Photo Courtesy of Hoodline
Sam Foxworthy
My "must read" is from: The Los Angeles Times
Author: Carolina A. Miranda
Why does this stand out to you?: As a new member of the SF community, I've partaken in the typical Bay Area attractions, SFMOMA being one of them. After visiting, it's captivating reading about the historical context of the institution and it's role in shaping SF art culture and development. A must read for anyone interested in the-making-of SFMOMA and how it's influenced the reputation of the SoMA division. Additionally, Miranda analyzes the advanced downtown SF area, highlighting the profound transformation this neighborhood has undergone since the 1970s. It is also an excellent guide to neighboring art museums in the city.
Photo Courtesy of Food & Wine
Greer Shull
My "must read" is from: Food and Wine
Article: Senate Passes Bill Requiring (Hidden) GMO Labels on Food
Author: Gillie Houston
Why is this a must read?: This week the Senate approved a long-debated bill requiring labels on all foods containing GMO ingredients. Although this is great news, there is a catch. Should this bill be passed in the house, companies would only be required to disclose GMO ingredient information using “modern technology,” meaning consumers would need their smart phones to be able to check the labels in the grocery store by scanning a code. While the passing of this bill in the Senate is a big win, and its potential to pass in the house could be a great step toward greater transparency in the food industry, these labels are still deceptive and consumers need to be able to know how to use these them, thus this article is a must read!
All the Swirl is a collections of thoughts and opinions assembled by the staff and industry friends of Charles Communications Associates, a marketing communications firm with its headquarters in San Francisco, California. We invite you to explore more about our company and clients by visiting www.charlescomm.com.