Aeon - The empty brain
An entire field of Cognitive Science based on one false premise: The brain doesn’t work like a computer. It doesn’t process information. Yet the whole field works with this metaphor. But the metaphor is simply the most current one we have for it (especially funny are the previous ones). Curious what the next one will become.
Vox - Rapping, deconstructed: The best rhymers of all time
I like Vox. And I like hiphop. So, no surprise I really liked their reconstruction of rap and how the greatest rhyme. Very well done visualization of different rhymes to show the evolution of the craft. Very fun watch that’ll give you new admiration for these artists.
Mark Manson - The Virtue of Doubt
As a doubter, I’m of course naturally drawn to the title of this article. I like the term “super belief”: A belief that is always true and re-enforces itself. Besides that these beliefs somewhat annoy me, Mark posits that they’re actually dangerous. So keep on doubting! Whether this all is true or not, I don’t know yet.
HBR - What you’re hiding from when you constantly check your phone
A split second of time without something to do. Bam. Need. Phone. Now! Just a mechanism to hide from the moment. Hiding from the uncomfortable unease, sadness or pain that may be there. But maybe we can reframe this addiction. View it a practice to become better at focussing. Notice the unease. And sit with it for a second. You’ll train your focus muscle that is great for creativity. And you’ll feel better for it.
Turning the tables on procrastination with these 20 tactics
We’ve all been there. We know we should be working on this project. We know we should start writing this paper. But! We want to check our email or Facebook. Or we suddenly want to clean the house. And don’t get me started on YouTube. In this blog I'll give 20 tactics to turn the table and get to work.
A Story about the Power of Questions
”You can eat an apple”, I said and gave him the green fruit.
It was as if he had seen an apple for the first time.
First he just held it there and smelled it, but then he took a little bite.
”Mum - mum”, he said and took a bigger bite.
”Did it taste good?” I asked.
He bowed deeply.
André Platteel - Radical Not-Knowing: Learning with an unknown future
Great honest and pure talk from André Platteel at TEDxAmsterdamED. Reframing the words learning, education and school to their original roots.
Lucas de Man - I don’t know so I am
I was really impressed by Lucas de Man’s keynote at the MediaFutureWeek. He’s an inspiring fella. I especially liked his message that you can’t engage in conversation when you think you already know it. And that you don’t need to create a better world. But that you just need to create a world. Oh and it you watch till the end, you can see me asking a question.
Every Frame a Painting
Great YouTube channel that takes apart and explains aspects of storytelling with movies. How Scorcese uses silences. How Jackie Chan is the GOAT of action comedy. How Robin Williams was a master of movement. And how Vancouver plays every city but itself.
The Middle Finger Project - How to stop writing with a stick up you ass
As with this title, Ash Ambridge’s writing cuts through the noise. Not because it’s filled with swear words. Not because of all the puns or witty jokes. But because, its metaphors are spot on. It’s filled with experiences instead of knowledge. And her sentences are active instead of passive. See what you can learn from her style!
Tennesse Williams - The Catastrophe of Success
What happens to the drive of a creative when he gets success and the struggle is gone? In his letter from 1947, playwright Tennessee Williams tells that success made him depressed. Without the struggle, everything lost it’s value and he couldn’t create. Oh, and he shares how he got out of it.
ZenHabits - Opt Out: A Simplify Manifesto
Goodbye fear. Hello Joy Of Missing Out! We do so much things simply because everyone does them. Here is a manifesto to opt out and simplify life.
Seth Godin - Will this be on the test?
One sentence that sums up everything that’s wrong with education… Seth Godin was asked to do a online course. His finish rate was 20 times higher than the industry average. But that still meant that 80% dropped out. Read how he tackled that with a new program: altMBA.
Ionica Smeets - Over fatsoenlijke tarieven
This column that I’ve already shared numerous times with individuals had to make the favorites. Here, Ionica clears up that while a freelance fee might sound expensive, it’s actually very reasonable. Of course, that still says nothing about the worth of the service or product. But it’s good for all freelancers to know what their minimum hourly fee should be.