The Breads Roundup No. 110
Media Tourism, Recycling Lies and Nostalgia for Bad Days
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Hello President’s Club Members,
In the art section at the bottom of this email there is a link to an article about a South Korean photographer named Han Youngsoo who was active in the post-war years. This synopsis of the nature of his work stood out to me:
This period, a decade after the end of the Korean War, is often depicted—by my parents’ generation, who were children at the time, and later in books, film, and TV—as one of hunger and hardship, of basic survival. It’s easy to forget that, even during war and reconstruction, artists keep making art. And that postwar life is about more than staying sheltered and fed.
I found this synopsis to be particularly stirring. Yes it is about survival. But it is also about laughter and beauty and art and the “non-necessities” as well. This of course coming from someone who has never been through any definable hardships, let alone war, but nevertheless this sentiment hit me in the gut.
Now don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you some shit like “if great artists can persevere through times of war, you can go to your Crossfit class after a rough day at the office.” Send me straight to jail if I ever do that.
But what I will say is that I love what this quote says about the human condition. Some of the best painting, photography, film, comedy and any other form of art you can think of has been birthed by extreme hardship. What does that mean for you? Obviously that everyone should try to make their lives as hard as possible so that they can become great artists. No, wait, sorry, that’s not what I meant.
Where was I? Ah yes the human condition. I was saying that we are resilient. That we gravitate towards using our bad moments to make good things. It is how we have evolved to cope. And I know everyone can’t paint or write or do stand-up, but you’ll be much better off if you find whatever your version of that is and run with it.
Ok now you can send me to jail because I think I’ve still gone overboard here so my deepest apologies. I’m really trying to figure out what to do with these intros.
Anyways time for the linkies.
How TV And Film Locations Shape Travel
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
This article mainly focuses on the recent impact of the White Lotus, but also discusses other hit shows. Basically TV/Movies are another thing, aside from social media, that people consume and then want to emulate. Tourism boards then do their thing and we see a boom of travel to a location that has just been featured on a hit TV show.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Back in 2015, research showed that around one in five people coming to Britain were coming because of something they'd seen on TV," said screen tourism specialist Seren Welch. "Fast forward to now, and the latest Visit Britain research shows that nine in 10 visitors to the UK are influenced by what they have seen in film and TV.
And Tell Me Why I Should Care:
In TV and movies, much like on Instagram, we often only think of the beautiful parts of a location. Which is great. It’s nice to show the beautiful part of a place. But when you decide to visit it is important to remember that there are real people who live there. Over tourism is a very real thing. This is not to say you shouldn't visit somewhere you see on TV or on the internet. This is to say that before you go somewhere do the proper research to familiarize yourself with the place and why you want to go and most importantly how you can be a respectful guest.
The Story You’ve Been Told About Recycling Is A Lie
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
This is a dark article. If you think recycling works well, at least for plastic, you've had the wool pulled over your eyes. The extent to which is really put into perspective by this article.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Too voluminous to even attempt to recycle, it is used as fuel in scores of bakeries that supply Java’s street markets with tofu, a culinary staple. The result is some of the most lethal cuisine imaginable, with poisons from incinerated Western plastic ingested hourly by great numbers of Indonesians.
And Tell Me Why I Should Care:
I'm not going to tell you that your take out containers are the issue. Because frankly that is what the big petrochemical companies have been so successful at doing: convincing average citizens they are the problem. That isn't the case. Should you stop only drinking bottled water? Sure. Should you take a tote bag to the grocery store? Sure. But the reason there is so much plastic pollution is because governments allow huge companies to make and sell so much plastic. So I guess the action here is to become a politician and then fix this. I’m sure that will go well.
Why People Feel Nostalgic For Terrible Times
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
What's that old C. Dick line? "It was the best of times it was the worst of times..." Well according to this article that novel opener may actually be more prescient that it is oxymoronic. Because it turns out that thanks to our fallible memory we often think the worst of times are in fact the best of times.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
To be sure, part of the explanation is that people tend to romanticize the past, remembering it more rosily than it actually was. Thanks to something called the “fading affect bias,” negative feelings about an event evaporate much more quickly than positive ones. As a difficult experience recedes in time, we start to miss its happier aspects and gloss over the challenges. And nostalgia is usually prompted by a feeling of dissatisfaction with the present, experts say, making the past seem better by comparison.
And Tell Me Why I Should Care:
The data in this article from various studies paints the picture of how we as humans cope with our past and traumatic experiences. It's a good reminder to appreciate the present because it probably isn't as bad as it seems in the moment, especially compared to the past which probably sucked more than you think. Trust me, when I think back to middle school I think of the first boobies I saw, when in reality I was getting atomic wedgies far more often than I saw a nipple. Empirical evidence if you ask me.
A Photo Of Mine For Your Viewing Pleasure
I’m a film photographer in addition to an internet link excavator. I wanted to start sharing some of my favorite photos from recent times. I also make prints if you’re ever interested.
Really Great Interviews
Rick Steves Refuses To Get Cynical About The World
This is one of the best and most insightful interviews I've read in a very long time. Rick Steves, if you're unfamiliar, is one of the OG travel influencers from before the time there were influencers. His outlook on life and travel is refreshing and will, hopefully, make you think deeply about how, and most importantly why, you travel. Please just read it, or listen to it as it is also a podcast episode.A Wikipedia Expert On The Future Of The Site
Stephen Harrison, a Wikipedia reporter (yes those exist), talks about the evolution of the website and the threats to its existence. When I was in college professors would stress the fact that we cannot use Wikipedia as a source due to the fact that it is not trustworthy, but nowadays the editing process is so rigorous, layered and democratized that it is arguably more trustworthy than most modern news outlets. If you, like me, will spend the time to read the Wiki page of a person, place or thing for no other reason than you just randomly thought of it, this interview is worth a read.How Tina Barney Became An Astute Observer Of The Upper Class
The photographer, whose work documented the secret world of the haute bourgeoisie, often in the form of large scale portraits talks about what it was like to create documentary work around such people. It's like if Slim Aarons showed the messy side of the super wealthy. She's great and very insightful.
Around The World (Daft Punk Voice)
Inside Africa’s Trailblazing Solar Repair Movement
Solar technology has a finite lifespan, meaning that as solar panels age they become less effective. Much of this tech is then scrapped and thrown out, at least in the western world. However, in Africa, out of necessity often times, they are taking to repairing and upcycling the panels and training local people to do so. This goes a long way in keeping prices down and creates far less waste.Matchmakers In India Now Have Competition: AI
A great example of technology both influencing and being influenced by cultural practices. Matchmaking is huge in India, with something like 90% of marriages arranged in 2021. That's a huge amount! So it makes sense that tech's biggest trend, AI, would be getting involved. I wonder if there were marriage NFTs back in 2021…Tired Of Spotty Internet, Bolivians Are Smuggling In Starlink
The internet is a state-run service in Bolivia and they are not, let's say nicely, doing a good job of giving their citizens reliable internet access. So... some enterprising citizens are smuggling in Starlinks like they are bricks of heroin. Internet is becoming a fundamental need, and when that need is not met people figure out how to do what they must to survive.
Other Interesting Things You May Or May Not Care About
Teens Jack Your Car Then Send It To Africa, Most Of The Time At Least
This stat feels unbelievable but according to this article there were over 1 million carjackings in America 2023 (data for 2024 is not yet complete). That feels like a lot right? I don't even own a car and I'm terrified I'm going to have one stolen from me. This article does a great job illustrating how the global flow of crime can have local impacts.The Absolute Best Plant For Beginners That Anyone Can Keep Alive
I am not good at plants. But I also enjoy when a home looks tropical, or at least temperate, so I found this article to be helpful. Kentia Palm here I come!If You Were To Assemble A Heist Crew Entirely Out Of Dogs, What Breeds Would It Consist Of?
God this is so terribly dumb, but it is exactly what the internet was made for. This article requires multiple deep, but useless, banks of knowledge to pull off and the author does it with aplomb. Both funny and, somehow, insightful. If you just need a complete break from the hellhole that is the modern world, please just read this.The Dream Of A New Atlantis
An innovative mission on the Welsh border, funded by an anonymous private investor, has begun work to create a ‘permanent human settlement’ under the sea. Shades of an Archer plot that all went, predictably, very wrong.25 Artists To Watch in 2025
I feel so old. They say you lose your ability to take on new musical artists after your early 30s and I don’t know if that is entirely true but I also know I haven’t heard of pretty much any of these people so I will start listening to them now so I don’t turn into that Steve Buscemi meme.
Let’s Just Looks At Art Because Reading Sucks
“The Last Lighthouse Keepers of Scotland” By Photographer Conor Gault
Cato.Ink: Pairing Painting And Collage To Explore Belonging And Black Culture
Some Other Random Internet Things I’ve Found
These Vietnamese Ribs Look So Good They're Getting Me Horny (Recipe)
Street Photos From North Korea (Good Insights In The Comments)
9 Bootleg Shirts With Bart Simpson Promoting Gulf War Propaganda
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“The only thing we have to fear is The Breads itself” — FDR
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On the travel mini-guide, I'm hear for the unique tidbits of media and thought you offer in this newsletter. I'd like to see that same spirit when it comes to travel. Give me the stuff that interested you or caught your attention. Give no regard to being comprehensive and don't worry about what you skip or ignore.