Music

Music is something we share collectively, yet experience in our own unique way. I’m honestly not sure how best to articulate that — trust me, I’ve written this paragraph about 15 times now — but I hope it makes sense.

I’m hesitant to use the word relational here, mostly because it’s become a stale trope on this platform. But it… kinda fits.

Some ideas carry weight, others do not. In many cases, the ones we think have heft do not. That doesn’t mean you should keep them to yourself.

The concepts we…

Music

Note: Each week I take a look back at my playlists and share songs that were either played the most, got stuck in my head, or just stood out. Many are new to me, but there are old faves mixed in as well.

Below is my Top 5 of the last 7 days:

Band of Horses- Casual Party

It’s graduation season, and up here that means a laundry list of parties to cycle through. Newly minted grads fill their backyards with tents and tables, and the garage becomes a staging ground for crockpots and posters full of “through-the-years” montages. …

New writers: I’m going to save you some time here, and offer this advice: Don’t write to the algorithm.

Medium is already awash with productivity-porn and “grind culture.” We’re good. Nor does it need another formulaic piece on how to make $$$ writing on the platform. If you insist, at least be novel.

Let’s also include the “Stop writing about making $$$ on Medium” meta canon that’s blossomed of late (I’m aware of the irony here).

Do this instead: Write about what you’re into. That’s it. That’s the post.

People come to this site seeking insight and to find common ground, not to get caught in the typhoon of content mill nonsense. Write in your own voice about what you like and/or are curious about.

Play with language, and break some rules once in a while.

If it’s good, it’ll resonate with someone.

You’ll find your audience, I promise.

Waiting for things to be just perfect is a good way to make sure you never get started.

It’s an easy trap to fall into. The idea of something is…

Music

• Album: Ghost In the Machine
• Release date: 02. Nov. 1981
• B-Side: “Flexible Strategies” (UK)/”Shambelle” (US)
• Peak Chart Position: #3- Billboard Hot 100

Montserrat is a beautiful island that most people have never seen. So it seems fitting that one of the band’s biggest hits almost never saw the light of day.

In 1981, the band was on the island to record “Ghost In The Machine” at Geroge Martin’s famed AIR studio. Sting had brought along a demo version of the track he first created five years earlier but was met by resistance from bandmates Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. …

There is a certain romance in the idea of community-based youth leagues. The sport doesn’t matter — it can be baseball, soccer, hockey — the idea does.

We find comfort in the idea of kids spending lazy summer days riding their bike to the sandlot and playing a game, pickup soccer games where t-shirts take the place of goals, and Friday night lights in small towns all across flyover country.

We’ve idealized an endangered species.

The reality for many kids are travel teams in leagues far from their block. …

When we see something beautiful, we shouldn’t stay silent.

When you have a gift to share with the world, don’t stay silent!

If you see an injustice, you are obligated…