What I’m Reading

20 May 2026

Display of magazines and newspapers, in print and digital, along with a Kindle and a pocket notebook and pens on a desk.

This week’s What I’m Reading includes an update on Burma and two stories about immigration in America. A couple of impressions from the wonderful world of watches rounds out this week’s recommendations on a lighter note.

Don’t forget Burma

If you’ve stopped by this blog in the past, chances are you noticed Burma-related “content.”

Whenever I find a story about the country and its people, I curiously jump in. In the case of The Guardian’s “Inside Myanmar’s five-year armed resistance,” I found a much-needed reminder of the country’s ongoing struggles.

Robin Tutenges’s essay dates back to February. It serves as a poignant reminder of the most important facts about what has happened since the military overthrew the civilian government in 2021.

The photography is moving and insightful. I enjoyed the emphasis on the quiet moments. My favourite image is the elephant river bath; it’s a moment of ease I wasn’t expecting.

Immigration struggles

A story that comes and goes like the flow of the ocean is immigration, especially the violent clashes between law enforcement and protestors in America.

I recently read a photo essay on the zReportage blog called “ICE SURGE: A City On Edge.” It reminded me of the surprise I felt at the time. I was surprised that the raids and violence hadn’t stopped, even though the coverage of it had faded since the last time it dominated the news.

It feels like journalism’s speed of moving on keeps increasing, which is why it’s maybe a good time to circle back to Dave Decker’s photography, which is paired with a Poynter opinion piece (by Tom Jones) for context.

The photography is powerful. It’s loud and quiet at the same time. The images are thoughtful and form an important record of our time.

The Poynter post that goes along with it is a worthwhile read on the role of journalism (and the public) in keeping authorities in check.

To deepen the understanding of the issue, I found an episode of This American Life called “Give a Little Whistle.” It’s a good companion for the photo essay.

The 60-minute episode features the experiences of ICE lawyers.

One lawyer moved from handling cases to teaching new agents to avoid having to do work he was uncomfortable with for ethical reasons. The first chapter of the episode tells you why he eventually decided to become a whistleblower.

It’s an important story that explains why we see the headlines we see. You’ll hear of accountability from within, legality of detentions, not complying with court orders, and the consequences of following one’s conscience.

Engineering meets art

From a functional perspective, there’s arguably hardly a need for a wristwatch these days (especially when it’s a mechanical device).

Yet, the world of watches seems like a healthy one.

A feel-good excursion to the pages of hodinkee netted me two pieces I like to recommend.

A report from the British Watchmakers’ Day shows the fascination that still surrounds the wristwatch. It’s a wonderful world to jump in and forget the worries that mark our time.

You can enjoy it for the art, for the sense of community, for the business aspects, or for the cultural talking points.

I’ve shared one or two Talking Watches episodes before. One of the newer episodes pairs nicely with the convention report above.

Sharing something beautiful with other people is one aspect of the watch community. The sit-down Hodinkee’s Ben Clymer had with Jean Todt emphasises that.

Jean Todt, for those who don’t know, was a long-serving CEO of Ferrari and racing director of their Formula 1 team before he became president of the FIA, the governing body of F1 and many other motorsport series. Nowadays, he promotes road safety.

It’s a wonderfully relaxing 15-minute watch that features beautiful watches and the stories around them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.