Langton Hughes, whose book Not Without Laughter, entered the public domain on Jan 1st 2026 January 1st isn’t just New Years Day; there’s another little holiday wrapped up inside. It’s Public Domain Day: the moment when a year’s worth of literature, music, film, television, pop culture, poetry, and science enters the public domain and becomes … Read more
David Sylvester gives a hug in Oklahoma City – Courtesy of ‘Big Dave’ [By David Sylvester] My friend Kevin died at his desk on September 11, 2001, on the 99th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I was in Philadelphia watching the Twin Towers fall on TV like everyone else, except … Read more
A modern tatami room – credit, Filiz Elaerts on Unsplash Western admirers of Japanese aesthetic are keeping afloat tatami craftsmen in Japan, where modernity and maintenance requirements are driving down interest in this artisanal form of flooring. From Europe to the US and even in the Middle East, eager importers of tatami mats now account … Read more