Over on my Substack I made some predictions for 2024. To sum it up, film audiences will continue to embrace non-blockbuster movies, voter turnout will drop, the Constitutional crisis will intensify, social media discourse will continue to fragment, but there will also be signs of a new consensus.
As I do every year, I like to boost what I consider to be the best of what I've written this year. To start things off, I am most proud of my chapter in The Power and Politics of Bob Dylan's Live Performances: Play a Song For Me, now out with Routledge. It was years in the making and an enjoyable project to complete.
As far as my online writing goes, here's some things I wrote worth checking out last year:
The Need For A Values Conversation From The Left
I wrote this over at Substack on how the Left has ceded talk of "values" to the Right. This is bad for many reasons, not least that it prevents discussion of the moral failings of capitalism.
The Crisis We See But Can't Name
I wrote here about the reports of increased mental illness and depression in young people as well as lowered life expectancy. It pairs well with the last post in terms of naming the ways unfettered capitalism is undermining our social fabric.
The Lockdown Insights Worth Salvaging
I wrote this one staying at my friend's cabin in March, reflecting on what we could get out a pandemic world that had passed.
ChatGPT and the Monstrousness of Silicon Valley Ideology
I mostly avoided AI discourse because this is all I have to say about it.
Track of the Week: Fountains of Wayne "Sick Day"
One of my favorites in this series this year
What America Feels Like After A Weekend in Canada
Spending some time in Montreal highlighted what ails the US.
Notes on a Trip to Small Town America
I wrote this after visiting my rural Nebraska homeland. As with the prior post, travel highlighted the challenges we face.
'Tis the Season for Narragansett Beer
Every now and then I like to extoll the virtues of a favorite low-rent product.
Language learning is being attacked across the board, a huge loss as I argue here.
That Last Day of School Feeling
One of the great things about being a teacher is getting to have the rush of the last of school still in my life.
70s Airport Movies as Pre-historic Blockbusters
I got into some weird rabbit holes this year, including the airport movies of the 70s.
What the Way July 4th is Celebrated Says About America's Divides
Wrote this one at the request of a longtime friend and reader. It is an interesting way to see the rural-urban split.
I did a series this summer where I listened to all of the Boss's albums in order and wrote about them. I think it's pretty great! I capped it off with a Substack about the concert where I finally got to see him.
What I Saw on the Last Day of the Mets Season
My favorite baseball writing of the year.
Shane MacGowan and the Sadness of Diaspora
Another music essay I am proud of.
Tuesday's Election Illustrates Why Republicans Gerrymander and Suppress the Vote
This was me beginning to think through my theory that we actually do have a potential consensus on issues like abortion.
Seeing Bob Dylan on a Rainy New Jersey Night
Another great geezer rock show that prompted thoughts on persistence and mortality.
I am really proud of my framing here. Write your local pundit to get them to adopt it, too!
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