I ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ NY
Why hello there! This week I'm coming to you live from Camden, Maine at PopTech. Are you here? Drop me a line!
And now, the links:
The worst part about living in New York is the cost. The second-worst part? New Yorkers like to act like the things that happen here only happen here. Which is why this point-by-point take down of one of Buzzfeed's "110 Reasons You Should Never Leave New York City" is totally in my wheelhouse. Want more NYC shade? Of course you do. The always great Ryan Holliday on 40 reasons you should avoid this town all together. Now, if you excuse me I'm going to go ride the subway. ONLY IN NEW YORK! AMIRIGHT!?
“But you don’t experience racism, right? I mean, you’re attractive and educated—I can’t imagine that you would ever experience racism.” Rebecca Carroll quit her newsroom job because she was tired of comments like this. This news made Racialicious' Latoya Peterson fired off a pretty epic (and true) tweet storm about the insular nature of the media world.
In America, there are two electorates: a younger, more liberal one that votes mostly in presidential elections and an older, more conservative group that also votes during the midterms. One group is picking our congress, the other our president. And we wonder why we're deadlocked...
- Related: Do politicians like talking about inequality more than, you know, actually doing something about it?
MILLENNIAL ALERT: This NPR story seems to suggest that recent college grads like living at home.
It seems every publication is weighing on the issues of diversity in tech and, more recently, in games. And they should, it's one of the more important issues of our time. Amongst the commentary, I really enjoyed this post on the 13 things men do that are unintentionally sexist.
- Related: This what it's like to be a mom and get accepted into Y Combinator.
- Also Related: "If you believe video games are an art form, that video games are important, that video games actually mean something, then demands for silence couldn't be a less effective tactic for promoting those beliefs." My friend, former neighbor, and Polygon EIC Chris Grant on GamerGate.
Breitbart readers hate Chuck Todd. Chuck Todd is the new host of Meet the Press. So Breitbart interviews Chuck. This is what happened. If you want to retain your faith in humanity, don't read the comments.
Malala Yousafzai was recently the awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (and this week, The National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal). But in a thought-provoking essay, Middle East Revisited wonders, are Americans who praise Malala hypocrites?
"The skeptics are wrong all the time." — legendary VC Marc Andreesson on how to cope in an era of constant change and disruption.
44% of job changers in their 20s cashed out all or part of their 401(k)s, despite being hit with taxes and penalties. Us 20-somethings aren't as economically stable as our retirement options would lead us to believe. So, is it time reconsider our investment advice to young people?
The Fusion site and TV network has hired Felix Salmon and Alexis Madrigal, both well-known media peeps that formerly worked at huge brands. Meanwhile, Bloomberg hires Joshua Topolsky from a tech website he started. New brands are throwing money at talent. But does any of it matter when audiences love clickbait and quizzes? The Awl on cash and anxiety on the weird new internet.
The Sean Blanda NBA preview: The Sixers are going to be really, really bad. But that's the point. They are American's first hedge fund team. They are taking advantage of the rules in such an extreme way that the league wants to change them. Go Sixers! Woooooo.
The Daily Beast profiles media entrepreneur Jason Hirschhorn. This is what he did after he sold his first company: "First, he paid all of his mother’s outstanding debts. Second, he photocopied the initial seven-figure check at his lawyer’s office, and dropped it the mail to the private school administrator who had drummed him out of Horace Mann. He scrawled a message over the photocopy: 'FUCK YOU.'" In related news, I want to hang out with Jason Hirschhorn.
The future of media is the highbrow subscription.
Are we living in the age of loneliness? When you decide, let me know. I'll be over here by myself.
Every time you open this newsletter and get to the last item, a beautiful baby puppy is born. Thanks for being you and thanks for letting me steal some space in your busy inbox every now and then.
You're the best,
--Sean
P.S. Happy Birthday Anders!
And now, the links:
The worst part about living in New York is the cost. The second-worst part? New Yorkers like to act like the things that happen here only happen here. Which is why this point-by-point take down of one of Buzzfeed's "110 Reasons You Should Never Leave New York City" is totally in my wheelhouse. Want more NYC shade? Of course you do. The always great Ryan Holliday on 40 reasons you should avoid this town all together. Now, if you excuse me I'm going to go ride the subway. ONLY IN NEW YORK! AMIRIGHT!?
“But you don’t experience racism, right? I mean, you’re attractive and educated—I can’t imagine that you would ever experience racism.” Rebecca Carroll quit her newsroom job because she was tired of comments like this. This news made Racialicious' Latoya Peterson fired off a pretty epic (and true) tweet storm about the insular nature of the media world.
In America, there are two electorates: a younger, more liberal one that votes mostly in presidential elections and an older, more conservative group that also votes during the midterms. One group is picking our congress, the other our president. And we wonder why we're deadlocked...
- Related: Do politicians like talking about inequality more than, you know, actually doing something about it?
MILLENNIAL ALERT: This NPR story seems to suggest that recent college grads like living at home.
It seems every publication is weighing on the issues of diversity in tech and, more recently, in games. And they should, it's one of the more important issues of our time. Amongst the commentary, I really enjoyed this post on the 13 things men do that are unintentionally sexist.
- Related: This what it's like to be a mom and get accepted into Y Combinator.
- Also Related: "If you believe video games are an art form, that video games are important, that video games actually mean something, then demands for silence couldn't be a less effective tactic for promoting those beliefs." My friend, former neighbor, and Polygon EIC Chris Grant on GamerGate.
Breitbart readers hate Chuck Todd. Chuck Todd is the new host of Meet the Press. So Breitbart interviews Chuck. This is what happened. If you want to retain your faith in humanity, don't read the comments.
Malala Yousafzai was recently the awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (and this week, The National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal). But in a thought-provoking essay, Middle East Revisited wonders, are Americans who praise Malala hypocrites?
"The skeptics are wrong all the time." — legendary VC Marc Andreesson on how to cope in an era of constant change and disruption.
44% of job changers in their 20s cashed out all or part of their 401(k)s, despite being hit with taxes and penalties. Us 20-somethings aren't as economically stable as our retirement options would lead us to believe. So, is it time reconsider our investment advice to young people?
The Fusion site and TV network has hired Felix Salmon and Alexis Madrigal, both well-known media peeps that formerly worked at huge brands. Meanwhile, Bloomberg hires Joshua Topolsky from a tech website he started. New brands are throwing money at talent. But does any of it matter when audiences love clickbait and quizzes? The Awl on cash and anxiety on the weird new internet.
The Sean Blanda NBA preview: The Sixers are going to be really, really bad. But that's the point. They are American's first hedge fund team. They are taking advantage of the rules in such an extreme way that the league wants to change them. Go Sixers! Woooooo.
The Daily Beast profiles media entrepreneur Jason Hirschhorn. This is what he did after he sold his first company: "First, he paid all of his mother’s outstanding debts. Second, he photocopied the initial seven-figure check at his lawyer’s office, and dropped it the mail to the private school administrator who had drummed him out of Horace Mann. He scrawled a message over the photocopy: 'FUCK YOU.'" In related news, I want to hang out with Jason Hirschhorn.
The future of media is the highbrow subscription.
Are we living in the age of loneliness? When you decide, let me know. I'll be over here by myself.
Every time you open this newsletter and get to the last item, a beautiful baby puppy is born. Thanks for being you and thanks for letting me steal some space in your busy inbox every now and then.
You're the best,
--Sean
P.S. Happy Birthday Anders!
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