“Make art. Make art.” These words concluded the acceptance speech given by musician and composer Glen Hansard at the 2008 Oscars ceremony. Hansard and collaborator Markéta Irglová won in the category of Best Song for “Falling Slowly” from the movie Once. As the news of Hansard’s accidental and untimely death spread yesterday, so did those words. Make art. Mark art. It was both an exhortation and a plea. In 2026 it challenges the falsehoods of tech bros who tell us that AI will democratize the creative process. It does nothing of the sort. The AI model is based on the theft of the creative work of others. Those who fall victim to the lies will find they have lost the opportunity to experience true creativity: their own, inborn gifts. AI does not give. It steals. Last night I sat outside and read a wonderful illustrated treatiste by Alexandra Gallant-Lee. In many ways it is a love letter to the creative process and to our basic, essential humanity. It is called, sim...
Ten years ago I shared a guest post from an Oakland Mills mom: Stand Up for All , Lisa Spangler Zovko, July 28, 2016 This morning I’ve been sitting with the words of this piece and with the photo she shared along with her words. I don't care if you don't want to hear this. You can block me. But this has to be said. In this photo is my son Ryan and all of his closest friends from high school. Awesome right?? They are all wonderful young men that will do great things. Here's the rub. Austin's mother and I don't have to worry the same as Kian's mom or John's mom or Jay's mom or Khaaliq's mom, or Adam's mom. We don't have to worry that someone might think something about them because of the color of their skin. That's called white privilege. That's why #blacklivesmatter. These boys are all like sons to me and I pray everyday that they don't come upon the wrong person with a gun. We must stand up for all. Every micro-aggression that...