Over the past few years, I have collected what I like to read, listen to, or draw on my blog. According to statistics, my website was read by an average of three visitors per month. That suited my limited ambitions perfectly, but in the meantime, I enjoyed reading the blogs/newsletters of Substackers such as Rutger Otto, Dave Schut, and Ruben van Dijk.

After a convincing argument by Ernst-Jan Pfauth in the POM podcast, I decided it was time to switch to Substack. I expect at least three subscribers.

Here is the first edition, with something I drew, read, and listened to:

Drawing

I drew an Arctic wolf on gray A3 paper using white and black charcoal. A successor to the polar bear I drew earlier using the same technique.

Reading

In the book Takeover, Timothy W. Ryback describes how Hitler democratically seized power in Germany between the summer of 1932 and early 1933. This turns out to be less obvious than I thought. For example, after new elections, Hitler is facing a significant loss and his party is threatening to split in two. With great attention to detail, Ryback describes how the negotiations between Reich President Von Hindenburg and potential coalition partners unfolded. Politically, it was a chaotic period, which sometimes makes the book difficult to follow.

Nevertheless, we should all read this book. It is disconcerting to read that his coalition partners expect that Hitler can be better controlled once he is in power, while Hitler repeatedly speaks out in favor of a dictatorship. Despite this, Hitler is proclaimed chancellor at the end of January 1933. Within a few weeks, democracy is completely dismantled.

Listen

The first time I listened to Adrianne Lenker's live album, I was confused. What am I listening to? Is that a laugh track? Was it recorded through a tin can? It turns out to be a collage of three live performances at Revolution Hall (Portland). Interviews in the queue, her folk songs, mixed with improvisations on stage. It sounds magical.

For those who want to delve into Adrianne Lenker's band Big Thief, but find it a bit overwhelming, I made this easy listening list.

See you next week!