Tag: Things to Read

Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: Requiem for a Video Store

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

Reading a recent piece reflecting on the demise of video stores, specifically independent video stores, made me reflect on the demise of Video Vault, an indie film mainstay in Alexandria that supplied film fans for a generation. Mike Musgrove’s article in the Washington Post about the Vault’s closing gives one a good idea of the pressures that made it close. That article is probably a good warm-up for the aforementioned piece on indie video stores.…

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Various and Sundry

Alpha Centauri or Bust

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

In a world obsessed with “maximizing shareholder value,” it’s nice to know that money can mix with imagination and do great things. Enter Yuri Milner, tech billionaire who wants us to get a probe to Alpha Centauri, stat. Okay, it’s more of a generational thing, but let’s face it: we have to figure out how to become more than a one-planet civilization sooner rather than later. Interstellar scouting missions don’t accomplish that, but they do keep…

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Writing

More on Writing for Free… or Very Little

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

I should spend more time talking about and linking to Mark Evanier‘s series on rejection. However, in the meantime, in light of my post on Monday, I figured I’d list Part 7 of his Rejection series which covers low and no pay writing. One standout quote: “Working cheap or for free occasionally leads to getting paid decently but more often, it leads nowhere… or to more offers to work for little or no money.” At…

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Writing

The Seemingly Eternal Issue of Writing for Free

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

My head nodded knowingly, along many other part-time scribes, as I read Wil Wheaton’s piece last Fall about turning down Huffington Post’s offer to e-print a popular article of his in exchange for “exposure.” Wil Wheaton touches on what appears to be one of the most infuriating aspects of the modern economy (though I know examples of it have existed for ages): exposure is sufficient payment for creative work. Robert Bevan, from a post on…

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Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: The Internet as Disruptor, Political Edition

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

It’s well known that the Internet has disrupted existing industries like a rampaging honey badger. It’s probably also obvious –upon reflection– that this easily extends into the realm of politics. A long-form article by Timothy B. Lee appearing on Vox.com delves into how this has factored into the current political season. No matter how you view some of the candidates, it’s interesting to see how this is shaking up the status quo — and also…

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Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: The Profit vs. Purpose Debate Continues

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

Jokes from my previous post about cheerleaders’ souls aside, it’s good to note that the debate about whether a business should seek profit to the exclusion of all else, or join it with purpose has raged for years, as explored in this article from Inc. by Bill Saporito. Personally, I like it when businesses are profit-minded, but purpose-driven. (At some point when I’m not feeling swamped with deadlines, I’ll elaborate on that phrase.)

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Various and Sundry

Recommended Reading: The Battle for Cheerleaders’ Souls -er- Sequins

By Bjorn Munson | by Bjorn Munson

I’m always interested in learning about a particular business industry’s ecosystem. How do some businesses become the major player? How do they fall? How do new companies displace them? So with that in mind, take a look at Leigh Buchanan’s piece in Inc. on Rebel Athletic and the surprisingly pitched battle in the cheerleader apparel industry. Put another way: Come for the glitter, stay for the reflections on what makes a “Challenger Brand.”

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