Your complaint and data aren't about the same thing which is slightly confusing.

I would argue that Graeber's rhetorical question is just there to question the absurdity of that articles own assumptions. For, realistically, if production was so much more complicated (pieces of the production process scattered around the world etc) it would also incur extra cost .. they ship around the world to save money.

But I agree, its quite likely there have been statistically increased changes in leisure. However, that's not really the point. I'm not even sure Mr. Graeber knows how important these measures of importance are in our lives, but I think he makes a lot of compelling claims. Especially since, well I don't know about you, but when he talks about the arrogance of those people who think if workers don't find value in their jobs, that their just being overly self important. This kind of inane logic (and probably loss aversion for themselves, as Graeber puts it "the visionary entrepreneurs") needs to be confronted.

My quick two cents; you read different things for different parts of yourself. Perhaps when Ms Jamieson was reading those columns she connected to a certain vulnerability, and when that left the work the reason she had been reading diminished. Should we transpose this idea onto what a writer chooses to write?

I know I like reading a variety of things, and I hope that shows up in my work. Emotional needs is quintessential writing territory, but I hope so is physics, linguistics, history, psychology etc etc.

Read more. I don't mean that to be trite. You start scribbling out of veneration, and this impulse is what keeps me going. I mean shit, just this year I finally read A Bend in the River, and I got my socks knocked off again. I find various pieces are greatly influenced by what I'm reading at the time. Whether feeling dizzy with the Unbearable Lightness of Being, or just thinking about the pleasure one gets from the mind in Surely you're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

I think a person is only gifted with a couple themes, but these themes have infinite depth to which you can talk about them. Find your themes .. I promise, you won't be able to hate them.

On the counter, pidgeons dance, I close the blinds.

Hey, thanks for the compliment. If nothing else, watch the second season. I wrote the review based on that close proximity of love-hate.

That's not a troll at all, I didn't really know much about Moffat's history, so that makes alot of sense.

I know it was insurance, but off the top of my head I can think of countless other ways to protect himself. The writers put it in that way for a reason, and I didn't like it (or it just seemed like a good symbol for the way they have written this new season).

Honestly there's nothing about your criticisms I don't agree with. In a me watching Sherlock watching me way, the stories are still pretty good, but they seemed to lose that whiff of real life.

I'm constantly telling people that turtle bit. I agree great episode.