A Library of Aspirations (and Back Pain)

A Library of Aspirations (and Back Pain)

Wherein Jonathan Bennett avoids packing by reflecting on the weight—literal and spiritual—of unread books and overgrown libraries. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man in possession of too many books must, at some point, try to move house. That moment...
How the Renaissance Invented the Creator Economy

How the Renaissance Invented the Creator Economy

Call them creatorpreneurs. Call it the new Renaissance. Either way, the frame has changed but the hustle hasn’t. In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci sent the Duke of Milan a letter. It was 11 bullet points long and boasted of his ability to build bridges, design weapons,...
Nerd in a Fishbowl

Nerd in a Fishbowl

In this quietly funny and poignant short story by Peter Scotchmer, a fledgling teacher learns that the classroom isn’t just a place of learning but a spotlight, a stage, and sometimes, a fishbowl.   The bell rang, and the class quickly settled. The teacher...
Running to Catch the Bus

Running to Catch the Bus

Are you on the proverbial bus yet? Whether it’s the AI bus or just a good old TTC ride across Toronto, we all keep running to catch something. But the real question is: where are we headed? More than fifty years ago, I held a record for running fast in the City of...
A Modest Proposal 2.0

A Modest Proposal 2.0

In 1729, Jonathan Swift wrote what might be history’s most horrifying dinner suggestion. He wasn’t hungry, just tired of moral hypocrisy. I discovered Jonathan Swift in school through his masterpiece, Gulliver’s Travels. I was fascinated with the places Gulliver...