Opting out is opting in

At any given time, when you engage your Facebook News Feed, more than 1,500 pieces of content that very second are vying for your attention.

A survey conducted by Deloitte found that around 59% of smartphone users check a social media platform in the five minutes before going to bed and waking up within 30 minutes.

That's exhausting.

It is time to create more time for nothing.

Trained as an artist and working as a teacher, Jenny Odell's legacy may well be for her writing and provoking us to seek more uselessness in our lives.

It's time for us to reclaim our attention and realize we have more power than an algorithm.

There is an ongoing tension between being connected online and disconnected in the real world. 

We all know we tend to stay online too much.

We all know we need to be online.

But do we all realize we have more power than hardware and software?

Even as I pen this, I am just a browser away from a black hole of distractions, temptations, and persuasions.

Powered by anthropology and behavior economics, digital platforms' software and the hardware we use keep us connected for their means. 

These are not new observations.

Googling "digital detox" returns about 65,400,000 results.

But Odell's manifesto is less about checking out to be more productive or employing some goop-like digital detox plan.

Her book is about being in the moment.

Our lives aren't the past.

Our lives aren't the future.

Our lives are now.

Doing nothing means doing something: living with nature, community, and careful observation of the world. 

"When we pry open the cracks in the concrete," Odell writes, "we stand to encounter life itself — nothing less and nothing more."

Book to read: How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy -- Jenny Odell

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

Lu Shaye knew precisely what he was doing

The Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, recently made controversial remarks questioning the sovereignty of former Soviet states, including Ukraine and the Baltic states.

Speaking on the French television station TF1 on Friday, April 21, the ambassador said post-Soviet nations "do not have an effective status in international law."

What?

Such a response caused diplomatic consternation across Europe, with his remarks widely covered in the American press.

Beijing gave all the correct signs as it moved swiftly to limit the damage.

The New York Times reported that after the Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing on Monday, April 24, in Beijing, the Chinese Embassy in Paris issued a statement rejecting Lu's remarks.

The embassy declared with a straight face that the good ambassador's comments "were not a political declaration but an expression of personal points of view during a televised debate" and "should not be subject to over-interpretation."

What?

A "personal viewpoint."

Trust me, when one is a member of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, all personal viewpoints on anything are extinguished.

Nikkei reports that given that Lu has a low rank in the party hierarchy while equally trusted enough to be stationed in an important European country as China's top envoy, it is hard to think that he would make remarks that are wildly off the mark from China's fundamental policies.

So hard, frankly, it is impossible.

So why would Lu make these remarks on such a public platform?

Although his comments are illogical from the international law perspective, they must be seen as an attempt to pander to Putin and send a goodwill message to Russia.

Lu's statements follow French President Emmanuel Macron's comments on Taiwan, leading some to speculate that China is taking advantage of France to further its diplomatic objectives.

Despite claims that China has abandoned its wolf warrior diplomacy, Lu's remarks suggest otherwise.

Lu has a pattern of speaking frankly to send a message that Beijing wants to be delivered.

In 2017, while stationed in Ottawa as China's ambassador to Canada, Lu clarified that Beijing did not want Canada to conduct national security reviews of Chinese takeovers of Canadian companies, calling such reviews protectionism.

While in Ottawa, Lu also called Canadian national security concerns over Huawei "baseless," saying Canada must decide whether to include the tech giant in its 5G network.

And back in August 2022, while stationed in Paris, Lu again on French television suggested the Taiwanese would be "re-educated" after Beijing occupied them.

Last Friday, Lu Shaye knew precisely what he was doing when he provided his "personal viewpoint" when speaking on French television station TF1.

Despite claims that China has abandoned its wolf warrior diplomacy, Lu's recent remarks suggest otherwise.

Lu fulfilled his Beijing-directed mission by sending a message of reassurance to Putin diplomatically with wolf warrior panache.

— Marc

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Ross Rant: 2023 NFL Mock Draft | First Round

"This is the inside scoop on the private conversations between General Managers and potential first-round draft picks"

1. Carolina Panthers: "At least the taxes are low in the Carolinas."

2. Houston Texans: "Houston is home to more Fortune 500 company headquarters than anywhere in America except New York City. So, you'll probably end up on a corporate board when it's all said and done."

3. Tennessee Titans: "Not that you'll be around to enjoy it, but Nashville's Metro Council just passed a $2.1 billion proposal to build a new domed stadium slated to open in time for the 2027 season."

4. Indianapolis Colts: "For sure. We'll get you on the Pat McAfee Show."

5. Seattle Seahawks: "'I just happened to be nowhere near your neighborhood.' It is from Singles. Do you know the movie?"

6. Detroit Lions: "If we had more players and staff gambling on sports, we probably would have made the playoffs."

7. Las Vegas Raiders: "Yes, we can get you and your 20-person entourage paddock passes to the F1 race."

8. Atlanta Falcons: "Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport is the world's busiest!"

9. Chicago Bears: "Don’t worry, kid. If you ever need a snack, just put it on my tab at the Billy Goat Tavern."

10. Philadelphia Eagles: "Hide not your talents, they for use were made, what's a sundial in the shade?"

11. Arizona Cardinals: "Help me help you."

12. Houston Texans: "A kid's nursery school next to a nuclear power plant? Yeah, it's true. The City of Houston does not have zoning."

13. Green Bay Packers: "Aaron Rodgers, never heard of him."

14. New England Patriots: "Pro-tip, only Bill is allowed to customize his sweatshirts."

15. New York Jets: "Have you heard we won Super Bowl III?"

16. Washington Commanders: "More people in this town read Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World than attend our games."

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: "The bottle is back: The Kraft Heinz ketchup bottle returns to Acrisure Stadium!"

18. Detroit Lions: "Word on the street, it is Joe Louis Southern Kitchen for breakfast. Named for the famous Detroit boxer, this restaurant by his namesake serves all-day brunch seven days."

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "Champa Bay."

20. Seattle Seahawks: "'We're huge in Europe right now. I mean, we've got records... uh, a big record just broke in Belgium.' It is from Singles. Do you know the movie?"

21. Los Angeles Chargers: "We are the LA Galaxy of professional football."

22. Minnesota Vikings: "Snow in April? Cool right? And it's only 200 more days to winter."

23. Baltimore Ravens: "'This is why you are so nervous all the time. You have like chunks of roast beef in your heart!' It is from Diner. Do you know the movie?"

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: "You're going to love London."

25. New York Giants: "We don't have cheerleaders. We don't have a mascot. We play football."

26. Dallas Cowboys: "No, no, no. Jerry isn't a meddler."

27. Buffalo Bills: "So, yeah. The folding table thing started around 2015. A video of a drunk fan jumping on and smashing a folding table went viral. Now it's become a thing to do at tailgates."

28. Cincinnati Bengals: "Honestly, FC Cincinnati is probably the best football team in Cincinnati right now."

29. New Orleans Saints: "America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland."

30. Philadelphia Eagles: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

31: Kansas City Chiefs: "Yes. Andy Reid will do a national commercial spot with you."

-Marc

PS: Go Detroit Lions!