Notes in the Book

Closest match: Psylliodes chrysocephala genome assembly, chromosome: 4 Common name: Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle

In these difficult times, interaction with the arts, even on the Internet, is a good thing that keeps it alive and reminds us that art is beyond the art market, beyond critics, and independent of the hyperbole of social media. It's an essential but neglected part of our society that many would try to censor or dismiss to irrelevancy. We must continue to create things that have meaning to us and support others that do so as well.

I hope all of you do a painting this year, write a song, read something you learn from or see something that expands your vision . This is part of the way people have shared their sense of the world with others. Communication is a human need. We need to remind ourselves how personal art is and strip it of the idea that it is simply a commodity to be traded. It's not a ticket to stardom or part of a plan for world domination. People drew on cave walls. They wanted to know themselves. You can do it too. There's art and love and not much else. Let's do things and save each other's lives.