March 7, 2026

Five for Friday 745

Happy Friday,

Here are five things I thought worth sharing this week.

Erik Hoel is dispelling myths about the inarguably brilliant John von Neumann.

Sweden is rolling back the smartphone-based childhood.

At the turn of the 19th century, W.E.B. DuBois studied the history of slavery and the then-current dispersion of Black Americans throughout the U.S. His striking illustrated charts appeared at the 1900 Paris Exposition.

Is this Hieronymus Bosch painting a warning of the wages of sin or a celebration of pleasure?

A short post in Praise of the Public Domain.

Currently reading: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

Have a creative weekend.


Image: “A sarus crane, a flamingo, a wild bronze turkey cock, two Paduan fowl, a silver birchen game cockerel, and a hoopoe in a landscape”. Melchior d’Hondecoeter. 1675.