Things to Read – Page 22 – Bjorn Munson

Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: On Millennials

By Bjorn Munson | October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 by Bjorn Munson

While I’m wary about any attempt to: Place people into neat, cleanly definable generations Ascribe specific, seemingly inviolable characteristics to said generations Such articles are often good jumping off points for discussions about the past and the future… or maybe that’s just the psychohistorian in me. In any case, I found this piece by Fareed Zakaria about Millennials interesting, not in the least because it raises the point that they might actually be a product of…

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Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: A Tale of Cops and Doughnuts

By Bjorn Munson | October 23, 2015October 21, 2015 by Bjorn Munson

Cara Giaimo has a wonderful feature article all about the ongoing history of cops and doughnuts sprinkled with multiple anecdotes you didn’t realize you really wanted to know. Reading the article made me think of my own anecdote. When I was going to school in Maine, a local radio station (WBLM aka “The Blimp”) had a rambunctious morning show that would often feature the game “Cop or No Cop?” The format was delightfully straightforward. A listener would…

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Various and Sundry

The Politics of Gas in DC

By Bjorn Munson | October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 by Bjorn Munson

After doing a little bit of research in writing my post about American Express, I came across this article about the surprisingly heated battle for Costco to sell gas in Washington, DC. It’s from 2013, so presumably the status quo has adjusted to the discount interloper, but I’ll probably follow-up and see what’s been going on.

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Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: AMEX Rex no more

By Bjorn Munson | October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 by Bjorn Munson

Devin Leonard and Elizabeth Dexheimer have an interesting feature-length article about the decline of American Express aka “AMEX.” I am surprised at some of the umbrage attributed to American Express personnel in the article. They apparently think their business existing for over 150 years is reason enough to continue to exist. Certainly, service and quality matter. However, in a world where every point of cost is scrutinized backwards and forwards to justify its existence, why wouldn’t…

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Writing

Recommended Reading: Oliver Sacks

By Bjorn Munson | September 1, 2015October 16, 2015 by Bjorn Munson

How could I not be interested in the work of Oliver Sacks? It’s not just the one about the anthropologist on Mars (though I have that). Sacks explored the human condition in a multitude of cases where the humans in question were grappling with many rare and unusual conditions. What is life? What is humanity? What is perception and consciousness? These were some of the questions he touched on in an engaging writing style that…

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Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: Tiny Houses

By Bjorn Munson | May 31, 2015October 22, 2015 by Bjorn Munson

I feel I have many missions here on this Earth. However, one ongoing mission is definitely to cause people to spew coffee from their noses. In that spirit, I give you Lauren Modery’s open letter to people who live in tiny houses. Feel free to add your comments and coffee choices below.

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