A busy hump day, and we are coming up to the end of our first year.  Today is post #364, packed with stories we hope will fill your soul.  Start with work and thank the people in your everyday life who do the job at the highest level, no matter the job.  Next up - a love story with the best explanation of one artist who paints a picture of a love big enough to endure what most can't.  A new way to produce and distribute news to the areas with fewer options for local news, and finally, a video on how to make an album of the year in your living room - it’s not what you think.

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In an informal poll I conducted, the unemployment rate stands as the ultimate determinant of the soul of the U.S. and what's possible in the future.  This is issue #364: researched, written, edited, and published in 364 days, and throughout the posts, I've written multiple times about my love of work.  I have loved work since my first job, bussing tables and washing dishes at Romeo's in Omaha, NE, when I was 15.  My Circle of Life is my ability to do a job, get paid to do the job, and take care of my own living costs.  The flip side of this situation is high unemployment, reduced opportunities, forcing people to spend more time searching for work, having multiple jobs, and reducing self-worth.  Anyone with the opportunity to work that can create a better life for themselves is a person with hope.

With low unemployment, many of the services we come to depend on may need help without staff: reduced hours, reduced staff, and staff that lack the qualifications and, in some cases, abilities to do the jobs.  Restaurants, grocery stores, and other service providers who rely on some of our younger workers face big challenges.  This requires patience from the rest of us, and it also makes the people you run into in your day-to-day interactions who go out of their way to provide exceptional service so special.

The auto mechanic who understands the frustration when your car breaks down and sends a technician to your house to start your car (Thank you, Kenzie).  The customer service rep you've talked to several times over a decade when you schedule routine maintenance on your HVAC system who is always so polite (Thank you, Joy).  The dental surgery technician apologizes for a slow computer while waiting for your skull X-rays to display (Thank you, tech). 

Work is good for the soul, helping other people is good for the soul, and thanking those who help you is good for both souls. 

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The Marginalian pulled an article from the archives and wrote a story about Frida Kahlo and her tumultuous relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera.  Written with passion and honesty, anyone who has lived with or spent a large chunk of time with an artist can attest to it.  Most stories about both artists seem to be way ahead of their time, but Maria Popova, who writes the story, describes two larger-than-life people living larger than life.

Despite living (at times) tortured lives of artists, Frida quotes in quiet elegance why she never expected to contain her love but amplify its beauty.

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A new radio station has launched with the desire to keep people informed on local news and events.  The new station is called Radio Chilango. As traditional media declines in Mexico City, similar to everywhere else, new creatives will use new media to rule the next generation.  Keep what's left of the journalism and reporting and merge that up with new forms of distribution and put the new news where the viewers are. 

NiemanLab has a story showing that creatives and risk-takers will do what it takes to move forward.

A great walkthrough video on how Tame Impala (Kevin Parker) recorded his first album, Inner Speak, in a house in Australia by the beach.  This album went on to become the year's best album, and in the walkthrough video, I was amazed at how simple the setup was and how incredible the result was.  Once again, it's different from the gear as much as the soul you put through it.

Bones (God Like You) - Housewife.

Click on the Apple Music image to listen to the song on Apple Music or on the Spotify Image to listen to Spotify.

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Thank you for spending a few minutes with us. Here’s one for the road!

With A Shout newsletter is written by Johnny Christian with the support of a thousand idea bits and the help of many people.

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