February Goodie Bag
February Goodie Bag
Stunning soundscapes, videoscapes, writing resources, quotes
Hey everybody, I’m working on a few longer pieces to share with you soon. I’m also in the process of moving houses, so I am in the proverbial weeds.
In the meantime, I’ve come across an unusually mesmerizing number of goodies across the web this past week, so I’m sharing the lot of it here.
Three goodies just for your ears
We’re nearing the one-year mark. I have three strong, itching desires that are one-quarter scratched via these resources.
🌲 Tree fm
Tune into the natural sounds of random forests from around the world. The travel-and-adventure bug balm.
Immerse yourself in a customizable background of sounds from your neighborhood bar. I want my local Brooklyn dive bar, standing room only, something awful.
Search artists and find live tracks that stand out the most from their studio version. Most of all, perhaps, I want live music, general admission.
Three goodies for your eyes-and-ears
📹 Studio Ghibli
Experience a calming 30-minute loop of relaxing scenes from films by the famed animation studio that brought us My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away
🪴 Bloom
A touching, animated short about small gestures that crack light into the darkness (h/t Maria Popova)
🎵 “Biko” by Peter Gabriel via Playing for Change
In honor of Black History Month, we are proud to bring the message of Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” back to the forefront, 40 years after its initial release. Inspired by the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko while in police custody, this song’s relevance still holds true with the unfortunate police brutality that continues to take place in the USA, Nigeria and many places around the world. More than 25 musicians from seven countries join Gabriel for this global rendition to share a message of unity, peace, and hope, including Beninese vocalist and activist Angélique Kidjo, Silkroad’s Yo-Yo Ma, and bass legend Meshell Ndegeocello.
🪄 The Gryffindor Common Room Music & Ambience
Immerse yourself in the nooks of Harry Potter’s cozy zones (h/t Morning Brew | Sidekick newsletter)
Three goodies for the writer in you
✍️ The On Deck Writer Fellowship - an Invitation
I am an alumnus of the first cohort of the On Deck Writer Fellowship. It took place last fall, and by the content and community, I was inspired to start this newsletter. The fellowship was and continues to be a profound learning experience and connected community.
So, here’s the goodie: On Deck has just opened up applications for the third cohort of the Writer Fellowship, and they’ve let me know that they’ll pay special attention to applications from anyone I refer, so if this is of interest, click here to apply. I’m also happy to have a 1:1 to discuss my experience if you’re interested but have questions.
🏋️♂️ Writing Exercises
I happened upon this incredible resource of free writing prompts and creative exercises. Whether trying to break writers block or just add more flavor to your journaling habit, this site should be bookmarked for future use.
💲 Crowdfunded Essay Using Crypto
Writer John Palmer has undertaken what might be the emergent phenomenon at the crossroads of writing and cryptocurrency. Instead of publishing his next essay for free, instead of parking it behind a paywall, Palmer crowdfunded the resources to publish it via Ethereum. As of this writing, it appears he’s successfully funded it, and the resulting essay is now a non-fungible token (NFT). Fascinating — and a bit above my paygrade, so check here for the details.
Three Inspiring Quotes to make you 🤔
Radical self-inquiry is how we learn to become more of ourselves, more like ourselves, more authentic. More human. And better humans are better leaders.
It is my driving conviction that all of humanity is in peril of extinction if each one of us doesn't dare, now and henceforth, always to tell only the truth, and all the truth, and to do so promptly--right now.
-Buckminster Fuller via Stephen Harrod Buhner, Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm
Our little job, then, as people and societies, is to “be civilized” — but our bigger, and harder one, is to keep expanding the boundaries of this difficult and improbable project called civilization.
-Umair Haque, “(Why We’re Failing) the Test of Civilization”
Thanks for checking these out. Hit me up if you feel like chatting about the fellowship. Seriously.
-Griff