Brian Sholis

Using the enforced idleness that comes after major surgery, Sven Birkerts meditates on how time contracts and dilates and what that means for a sense of self.

* "I find that people often believe they have a writing technique problem, when, actually, what they have is a sincerity problem."

- "The aggregate carbon footprint of Shopify’s fragmented conglomerate of small internet businesses on the other hand, is massive. Each product line houses an inefficient, dysfunctional (mini) supply chain, involving extra transport steps, re-boxing and temporary warehousing, drastically increasing CO2 emissions (and baseline cost) when compared to... See more

* “Growth takes twice as long as you think and is twice as hard. The biggest advantage you can give yourself is to devote as much of your energy, resources and focus to the actual content itself rather than the sugar high of piling up big follower and subscriber numbers that are likely more quantity than quality.”

- “In short, it’s the irreversible rise of entropy that makes timekeeping possible, while both periodicity and complexity enhance clock performance.”

- "Our algorithmic self may or may not be faithful to how we see ourselves, but it has just as many dimensions and secrets."

- "… the history of thought about free speech does contain ideas that can be of use. Among them are the concepts of “audience interests” and the “right to hear,” which have been repeatedly recognized by the Supreme Court. These concepts see the First Amendment from a listener’s point of view. In addition to asking, “Do I have the right to speak,”... See more