16 Comments
Nov 4Liked by Austin Kleon

So grateful to have not only a new Cure album, but one that is THIS good. It will be on repeat over the next few days to get me through the American nightmare we're living. I also streamed the album release show Friday where they played over 30 songs for 3+ hours. Robert Smith is a gift.

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Nov 3Liked by Austin Kleon

Thanks for sharing Cure's New Album. I had no idea. I'm listening to Alone on YouTube right now. He still sounds the same.

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Austin, thanks for keeping us current! I appreciated your acknowledgment of the importance of the Affordable Care Act in your closing. Climate change is also looming over us. Without a healthy planet to inhabit, all other issues will not matter.

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I made some stickers especially for my notebooks that say “warning: contains bad ideas”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8xMAjCO50m

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Clicked thru to "Busytown in the 21st Century." That is priceless and would have made absolutely no sense to a 1970s audience. What will we be in another 50 years? I shudder to ask...

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Nov 1·edited Nov 2

I watched A Tale of Two Cities last night, (which I read and watched in high school) I had recorded it off TCM. There is so much I could say about the book, the movie and especially heroic Love but something new, yet consistent in my life of observations appeared here also, so I will prognosticate a little by saying...the "Us" be aware, we can so easily become the "Them." Stealing of course some from Ziggy...and showing my age, thank you for this post l loved the Laurie Anderson Quote

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I partially owe my warped sense of humor and mischievousness to Richard Scarry’s Busytown. I’m going to have to add the Chris Ware to my reading list. I never thought of it in those terms.

Sadly, my son thinks in the way of point #5. He recently was laid off (though has now found a job) and he didn’t want to tell himself anything except versions of that outlook.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, as always!

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Longtime reader, first time commenter: Thanks for all of this Friday goodness: good words, great music, inspiring art. I have been doing pretty well but fell into the abyss of fear yesterday (too much news) and my husband pulled me out with some quotes from Douglas Abrams' Book of Joy (Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu) -- staying present, doing all the good we can, finding joy in the everyday act of being alive -- will get us through whatever is next.

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Busytown and What Do People Do All Day! Thank you for bringing Richard Scary to the table. Hard not to be nostalgic for his worlds, but happy to have spent part of this busy morning in rabbit holes of memory.

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I love your letters so much. Thank you Austin. I wish I could vote in the US alas I am French !!

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Thank you. I took a deep breath and released some angst in the exhale. I also found several smiles in your newsletter.

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Fun read Austin. By this time Sunday morning I'll be enjoying "The Notebook: A History of Thinking On Paper." Also, yes our elections are contributing a great of emotional upheaval in our society. It's real not imagined.

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Bit of Teri Garr trivia, she was a dancer in the ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll spectacular, the T.A.M.I. Show. She’s behind the Supremes in the Mod target sweatshirt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7c-wEagF6k

Also, I believe that’s choreographer Toni Basil dancing on the right, best known for ‘80s hit “Mickey”, but with quite an illustrious dance career including work on the Talking Heads video “Once in a Lifetime”.

Lastly, I *think* you can spy Glen Campbell strumming lower right at about 1:40—he was a studio musician at the time, considered a member of the famed Wrecking Crew.

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Got my copy of the Notebook arriving in a couple of weeks! ….and speaking of baseball - how bout dem Yankees!! 🤣🤣🤣

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So timely, thoughtful, and reflective of this moment that seems unimaginable. Striving to follow the wisdom of Laurie Anderson. Thank you, Austin.

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Great info once again, Austin. And you've got me listening to Duke Ellington and Charley Parker. What a balm for my sciatic troubled.

Oh yes, my husband and I voted already for those who would support and enhance Healthcare for all! Cheers, Nancy

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