We are all artists
It’s not often I find a video changes how I think about my future but that’s what happened with this one.
mco.dev
Recent content on mco.dev
Latest posts
The Artist and the Scientist
The Artist and the Scientist by Marc Cohen
It's cool to care
In a revelation that will surprise no one who knows me, I was a very enthusiastic child. When I found something I liked, everyone had to hear about it. Come to think of it, I’m still the same way now, hence “One Great Thing”.
Take me off this thread
When you said “take me off this thread,” you denied who I am. When you said “you must have dementia,” you denied who I am. When you said “we can’t talk about that,” you denied who I am.
No one knows where these common words came from
I’m convinced you could spend the rest of your life watching YouTube videos and barely scratch the surface of fascinating educational content (not that I would recommend spending your life that way). The video featured in today’s post is one such hidden gem, on the mysterious origin of several common English words.
How many Palestinians do you know?
I know many Jewish people who feel very strongly about Palestinians, yet have never met one. Think about that. If this describes you, it means you’re holding judgments about 15 million human beings without a single personal encounter.
You can't die without learning how to swim
Check out this beautifully crafted, inspiring, award-winning short film. It tells the story of Madeleine, a spirited 106 year old woman who reluctantly travels to the beach with her young filmmaker friend.
Do blind people understand vision?
Have you ever imagined what it might be like to be blind? I don’t mean to lose your sight, but rather to never have had it in the first place.
Movie Review: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
I just watched a documentary that touched my heart and outraged me at the same time.
Best Camp Ever?
I’m down with any initiative that encourages book people to spend more time with other book people.
Loneliness may be killing you
How important do you think social interactions are? Are they just nice to have or a critical ingredient for a healthy and happy life?
As close to magic as you can get
Two weeks ago, in Writing as Therapy , I wrote about how much I’ve enjoyed and profited from journaling for ten minutes every morning. Continuing that theme, here’s a related article, which summarizes some scientific findings on the surprisingly powerful mental health benefits of this daily practice.
Before They Were Huge
If you’re a fan of classic rock, I have a video for you. In this beautiful black and white footage recorded in Denmark in 1969, Led Zeppelin performs a haunting arrangement of Babe I’m Gonna Leave You from their first album.
Writing as Therapy
I’ve been journaling every morning for the last several weeks and have found it to be a great way to organize my thoughts and process some of the many loose threads in my head.
100 Prisoners Puzzle
Today’s One Great Thing is a neat puzzle that falls into one of my favorite categories: on first hearing this your reaction will likely be “that’s impossible”. But, of course, there is a solution. You just have to think about it in the right way.
The Death of Daydreaming
As a child, I was a world class daydreamer. By which I mean that my mind was constantly wandering, which was often commented upon with some concern by my teachers.
Puddles Pity Party
The first time you see Puddles Pity Party you might be tempted to dismiss him based on appearances. How do you take seriously a gigantic (6'8”) man dressed in a clown suit, who refuses to speak?
Free the Hostages
As a loud and proud Jewish critic of Israel’s apartheid regime, I’m sometimes asked this question: why don’t you spend more energy calling for the release of the hostages? In this brief article, I’ll share my answer to that question.
Metal Worms
One of the best things about living in London is the pervasive and efficient train network, affectionately known as the Tube. You can get just about anywhere in this sprawling metropolis by train and it’s my favorite way to travel around the city.
The Lost Art of Handwriting
I’ve been teaching a class at the University of Surrey in South London. During a recent lab session, a friendly student named Satish Ranganathan Mohan approached me with a question and I noticed the most exquisite hand-written diagram and calligraphy I’ve ever seen.
An Epic Quest
Whether you’re a long time fan of Jeopardy! or not, you have to appreciate Harvey Silikovitz, who, despite having Parkinson’s Disease, won the notoriously challenging quiz show last Monday after a 24 year journey.
Ask For No
Today’s one great thing is a short article about a powerful life hack everyone should know about.
Getting Stuck at a "Station of Despair" in Tokyo
Have you ever done that thing where you fall asleep on a train and miss your stop? If you do that in Tokyo, you might just end up at a “Station of Despair”.
John Lennon: Real or Imagined?
If, like me, you’re a Beatles fan and you enjoy a good amateur detective story, this article will be right up your alley.
The Little Life
I’m always pondering what it means to live a good life, a meaningful life, a rewarding life.
On Accepting Differences
I recently had a conversation with someone close to me about religion. They were asserting that the Tibetan belief in a reincarnated soul is not a form of religious indoctrination. I disagreed but the point of this article is not the substance of that discussion but rather my reaction to the conversation.
The Impermanence of Memory
Our memories are what make us who we are. They are the building blocks of our identity. I feel sad when I think about how many little details of my life I can’t remember.
My Favorite Productivity Tool
You know that feeling when you have something important to do and you just can’t seem to get off the starting block? It’s not necessarily an unpleasant task, and once you get working on it, it’ll be fine. It’s just that the energy required to make the transition from idle to active can feel overwhelming at times. In this article I’m sharing the best solution…
Make Time to Read
I recently noticed that I’ve been reading fewer books lately. I think it’s because I’ve been spending a disproportionate share of my time reading blogs, news sites, a certain social media feed, and other less substantial content. Then I read Blake Butler’s Maximizing Time for Reading , which put everything into focus for me.
Stairway to Heaven
You’ve heard this song, undoubtedly one of the greatest in Rock and Roll history, a million times. But this particular version is special.
Machine Learning Explained in Three Easy Steps
You’ve probably heard the term “machine learning” and how it’s changing everything. In this article, I’m going to explain the fundamental concept behind machine learning.
How Israel Won the West
Today’s one great thing is required viewing if you really want to understand what’s going on today in the Middle East.
What if it was my people?
To my Jewish readers, I want you to do a thought experiment.
Israel/Palestine: The origin story
Over the past year, I’ve made no secret about my support for Palestinian freedom and against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, not to mention the apartheid regime, in general.
The Northern Lights are on fire this week
The Sun had a bit of a meltdown on Tuesday, spewing massive streams of high-energy particles into space. Outbursts like this follow an eleven-year cycle, of which we’re just now nearing the peak.
Some good news if you wish you were dead
Today’s One Great Thing is a beautiful poem written and performed by Lucas Jones called “Some good news if you wish you were dead”, from his book (Sorry I Was Miles Away) In the Year of Romance.
Alicia Keys at the Tiny Desk
I have a treat for you today. NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts regularly hosts a diverse array of amazing artists performing in an intimate setting, literally behind a tiny desk, to an impromptu gathering of staffers (for the concerts alone, I’d give anything to work there).
More vulnerable than you think
Today’s one great thing is a new video from one of my favorite Youtube channels, Veritasium .
Seeing America by Train
I didn’t know this was even possible but apparently you can travel across the entire United States by train.
Good Trouble
Many people, especially Israel supporters, have asked me this question: Marc, why are you so obsessed with Palestine?
What do you do?
When the people you love most, And who love you the most, In the whole world
Open Letter to Sundar Pichai
Below is the text of an open letter I sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian on April 12, 2024. The image above comes from a New York Times article called The Schoolyard .
1984 Redux
In his celebrated dystopian novel 1984 , George Orwell introduced the concept of Newspeak, which illustated how language can be used to control thought and behavior.
Is Israel an Apartheid State?
Many people assert that answering this question in the affirmative is antisemitic. Let’s take a closer look…
Is Anti-Zionism Antisemitic?
Let’s start with a definition: Zionism. / (ˈzaɪəˌnɪzəm) / noun. a political movement for the establishment and support of a national homeland for Jews in Palestine, now concerned chiefly with the development of the modern state of Israel. a policy or movement for Jews to return to Palestine from the Diaspora.
Tuition Free
Watch this clip and then check below the fold for some questions:
Triggered
In the darkness of night When the world feels askew I scroll through the news And I’m outraged anew
The Times Are A-Changing
I was a young child during the US War in Vietnam. I wasn’t old enough to fully understand what was going on. But something amazing was happening then. And it’s happening again today.
Some Things That Are NOT Antisemitic
Here’s a list of things that some people consider antisemitic, but actually are not (according to me):
Enough
We exist in the minds of others.