Currently reading: All the Math You Missed by Thomas A. Garrity. I’m looking forward to this challenge 📚
Finished reading: Life Is Hard by Kieran Setiya is a good, pragmatic book about how philosophy can help you navigate difficult times. I appreciate Setiya’s easy going style and his approach is a good complement to Oliver Burkman’s practical advice 📚
Rules are for bad people - Paul Wells
I was going to say Hussen should table one of two things: every piece of communications material that was ever produced for him by Munch More Media, or his resignation from the government. But I’m not sure why we can’t have both.
Indeed
🏊♂️🚴♂️🏃♂️ I’ve cancelled my Strava subscription. This isn’t directly caused by the price increase (though a 100% increase is big!), rather this was a good reason to reconsider the service. Most of the Strava features that I’ve found useful (detailed analytics for the most part) I can also get from the built-in Apple Fitness metrics, augmented by the HealthFit app. So, I’m not seeing the value in keeping the subscription. I’ll keep using the app, though, since I do appreciate the social aspects of the service.
Articles like “We will never be able to live on another planet. Here’s why” highlight an important tension. As a fan of science fiction, I’m really excited by the prospect of space exploration and agree that, eventually, we need to find additional places to live and thrive.
But:
Astronomical observations and Earth’s geological record are clear: the only planet that can support us is the one we evolved with. There is no plan B. There is no planet B. Our future is here, and it doesn’t have to mean we’re doomed.
And, so, we need to take much better care of our planet. There’s lots of excitement here too: clean energy, resilient infrastructure, better agriculture. Along with some real existential dread and disapointment with our behaviour so far.
I like to think we can do both of these things: explore beyond our planet, while taking good care of what we have. Sometimes the balance seems off though.
🎵 GMT - Jamie xx Remix - Oliver Sim - ★★★★☆
Thanks to the new HomePod video for reminding me of this song.
📺 Echo 3 (2022) - ★★☆☆☆
Decent entertainment: well made and acted. The story was relatively straightforward, until the last episode, which started to hint at trauma and consequences.
📺 The Boys (Season 2) - ★★★☆☆
Not quite as good as season 1, though still entertaining and outrageous
I was feeling a bit worn out. So, skipped this morning’s swim and slept in. This did wonders for my Readiness To Train score, which hadn’t been green for a week. A reminder, which should be unecessary, of the importance of rest.
🍿 Turning Red (2022) - ★★★☆☆
Finished reading: Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky. A fun read. I really liked the structure of alternating each chapter between fantasy and sci-fi, plus the story was intriguing 📚
Finished reading: Perhaps the Stars by Ada Palmer. A satisfying ending to the Terra Ignota series. I really enjoyed this series, though it can be a tough read. Jammed full of ideas and rich details, which can seem overwhelming at times. In the end, I’m not sure it was a successful novel, despite the ambition and fascinating world building📚
🎧 The Essential Sam Harris is a well done, comprehensive set of podcast episodes that dive into the details of specific topics, including artificial intelligence, consciousness, and morality. I’ve enjoyed each one, so far
🎧 Interstellar jazz from Hyper Dimensional Expansion Beam will wake you up
📺 Slow Horses seasons 1 and 2 are both great. I enjoyed the sarcastic competence of the rejects at Slough House
Started 2023 with a polar bear swim 🥶. 0°C air temperature and 2°C in the water. Now we’re huddled by the fire to warm up 🔥
My 2022 focussed on fitness. Strava helpfully summarizes this as over 4,000 km travelled with 1,600 🏃♂️, 2,500 🚴♂️, and 100 🏊♂️. Plus 🏋️♂️ and essential 🧘♂️ sessions. I’ll build on this in 2023 while striving for balance
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 →
🏃♂️ Nice run along the river. I’m glad it has warmed up a bit
🎶 I listened to a lot of Nils Frahm this year. Slightly biased, perhaps, by his most recent album being over three hours long
Precarious
