Elena

A good system is designed to be periodically cleared of cruft. It has a built-in counterbalance. Without this pressure, our bias drives us to add band-aid after band-aid, until the only choice is to destroy the whole system and start from scratch.

We no longer look to religious authorities for cutting edge knowledge, and this is a good thing. But we still need elements of magic and spiritualism in our lives. For most of human history, perfume was a way to distinguish oneself as special, and this specialness took many different forms. It was about being pleasing, but it was also about being... See more

The best, most promising relationships are formed out of reverence and fearless love and curiosity and imagination. The most divine relationships constitute a messy, awkward collaboration between two savage souls who dare to ask for more from this world. Nothing is more beautiful than two people who dare to be wild and rapacious together! The most... See more

For starters, the value of creative work will shift from outcomes to process and ingenuity. The original idea, the judgment, the innovations in process, and the story become more important than ever. As any art collector knows, in a fine art gallery, a piece is valued based on its lineage, its originality, and the trials and tribulations of the

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The big domestic beer makers draw their inspiration from the microbreweries. There are styles and flavors that a small brewer can explore that a massive industrial brewer never could. The big clothing brands are inspired by independent fashion designers. Blockbuster directors find inspiration in indie and short films. If you're small, it's to your... See more

Boredom is just “What’s the use?” in disguise. And “What’s the use?” is fear, and fear means you are secretly in despair. So put your fears on the page.