Weekend Round-Up: Being Spirited, The Drag Of The Internet, And Aretha Franklin's Rhythm

Each week, our editors gather their favorite finds from around the internet and recommend them to you right here. These are not articles about watches, but rather outstanding examples of journalism and storytelling covering topics from fashion and art to technology and travel. So go ahead, pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and settle in. Let's Stigmatize The Internet – The New York Times I told myself I wasn't going to enjoy the countless links that would inevitably cross my newsfeed "on the other side of all of this." The wave of think pieces digging into how our lives will forever be changed by over a year at home. I guess I was wrong. This article from Foster Kramer in The New York Times urges a post-pandemic life where the internet settles into its rightful place. After decades of taking more and more of our attention, Kramer writes, "turn off, tune out and drop in: The world of close proximity is soon available to you again. Don’t let the internet drag you out of it." As someone who consumes a lot of content, I have vowed to never walk in New York City with AirPods in again, there's a world full of actual people out there beyond the podcasts. – Rich Fordon, Vintage Associate Holy Trinities /// Aretha Franklin Rhythm Sections – Vulf (YouTube) As quirky as ever, Holy Trinities has returned after a break of more than three years. Ever on a personal pursuit to know the "three best of anything", the mysterious Jack Stratton returns to his lush garden to dive into the best rhythms sections ever to back the one and only Aretha Franklin. As with the preceding episodes, the presentation is a big part of the Holy Trinities' appeal, and this may be the most oddball and personality-packed installment yet. From Tommy Cogbill on Respect to Bernard Purdey and Cornell Dupree on Rocksteady, it's a visually dynamic and deeply nerdy tour of just how much skill it takes to operate on the same level as Aretha Franklin. I promise you won't see another video like this today – it's so funky. –James Stacey, Senior Writer The Thrill And Melancholy Of Jacob deGrom And The Mets – The Wall Street Journal Most sports today are dominated by individuals. LeBron James. Novak Djokovic. Tom Brady. It feels like sports are less about teamwork and collaboration than ever before. But not baseball. Baseball is one of the few sports where individual brilliance can help you win the game, but it is rarely the sole factor at play. Mike Trout, in the American League, is the most well-known example of this phenomenon. But in the National League, it's the New York Mets' Jacob deGrom, who has emerged as one of baseball's premier pitching talents in recent years. After five starts this season, he has an incredible 0.51 ERA. The only problem? The Mets can't seem to score enough runs. Jason Gay at The Wall Street Journal has the story. –Logan Baker, Editor Hodinkee Shop Frozen In Silence: A Look Inside D.C.’s Still Shuttered Music Venues – The Washington Post In another life, I played in a band in Washington D.C. Like most bands, we broke up for one reason or another. But in the time we were together we had the chance to play in most of the small-to-medium music venues in the city. D.C. is my hometown, so when I saw this piece from The Washington Post – a sort of photo essay of the empty concert halls in the city – it hit close to home. The photos are hauntingly beautiful (having been shot on a Leica Monochrome camera) and capture a real moment in time. I played in almost all the venues photographed and can't wait for the day I can return to them again. –Danny Milton, Editor The Spirited Man – YouTube If YouTube videos are all feeling the same these days, I suggest checking out The Spirited Man, a new series created by Van Neistat, brother of YouTube maestro Casey Neistat. Those familiar with Casey will know that brother Van was his original collaborator in the short-lived but super creative HBO show The Neistat Brothers , which documented their work with artist Tom Sachs. The Spirited Man captures much of the same DIY greatness that Sachs and Casey are also known for. The backdrop is Van's house in Southern California. We see him fixing things like his old Land Cruiser and his broken dishwasher, but in this series, it's clear that fixing things is also a path to fixing oneself. Combine this with some beautiful and utterly original camera work and well, you've got something great and truly spirited. –John Peabody, Head of Visuals All images via linked articles.Keep it funky, baby.