After several months of January, February is finally here and with it temperatures in the 40s. Normally this would be worrisome, and it is in the larger sense, but for now, after the arctic blast which dumped almost two feet of snow on us and caused some moderate damage to our property, I’ll take it. Then again I remember Februaries at Grand Valley State University, around 1990, when the air warmed and people were outside in shorts and swimsuits, sunbathing on picnic tables amidst piles of snow. So it goes in West Michigan.

Reading

Duanwad Pimwana‘s Bright, translated from Thai by Mui Poopoksakul.

Writing

Nothing to speak of.

Writing Prompt

Subject: Addiction, Economics
Setting: Border Town
Genre: Magic Realism

Interesting Links

• “‘The Algorithm’ is the only critique of ‘The Algorithm’ that ‘The Algorithm’ can produce” (Kevin Munger, Crooked Timber)
• “‘Manuscripts Don’t Burn’: Film Adaptation Of Soviet Classic Faces Possible Ban For Director’s Anti-War Stance ” (Jimsher Rekhviashvili, Radio Free Europe)