February is a very short month, but it was jam packed with all kinds of good stuff in my world. Especially as it relates to music – which, in my opinion, is the lifeblood of… well, life!
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, back on tour – I took my daughter Charlotte and it was a fantastic evening!
I read this book twice in a row, and then thought hard about it in order to make a YouTube video. After doing that, I did feel that I got way out of the book than just reading through it once. It did take a lot more time and effort though. I’m still deciding if I want to keep trying
This was a bit of an easy read – an alien visits Earth and notices that odd behaviors of humans and attempts to act like one while. I was going to read it twice (like Gilead), but opted just to place it back on the shelf, for now.
We have a long line of ancestors – way back, past the first humans even – back to lizards, and even to fish! This book shows our connection to all these different animals, for example how fish fins evolved into our hands with fingers.
I started following the Springsteen tour as soon as it started. This was the opening night and I pre-ordered it the night of the concert. I listened consistently up until the Kansas City, MO concert was available.
Pretty cool to hear a concert you attended, mixed professionally and available for download just 5 days after the concert. It’s definitely different to listen to a concert live and then listen to it on your headphones, but very cool.
This was fantastic advise and it’s similar to what my wife tries to teach to her Junior and Senior students – it doesn’t get easier; it doesn’t ever get easier, it gets harder.
This was a nice story and makes you think about how you interact with people. I think one of the key takeaways from this story is that it takes effort from both parties – the FedEx guy would never know that his kids’ fished unless he came forth with that information.
✍ Quote I’ve been thinking about
“The problem is no longer getting people to express themselves but providing little gaps of solitude and silence in which they might eventually find something to say.“
I got a bit of a promotion in January, so I’m now the Payroll Practice Lead (Interim) at AspireHR.
I’ve been trying out Twitter again – I had not used it for several years – we’ll see how it goes. If you’re looking for me at @_joshuabest
I tried my hand at making some YouTube shorts – I’m not sure that TickTick ‘How to’ videos are ideal for YouTube shorts, but I’m giving it a shot.
My daughter has been making cakepops for all of our family gatherings for a couple of years now. She’s decided to try her hand at making some money from it. I made her a web-site: charmedcakepops.com.
I’ve spent a long time with this book. This is the first book I’ve read twice, right in a row. It’s not particularly interesting or compelling, but it has been interesting to read it twice.
An alien visits Earth and notices that odd behaviors of humans and attempts to act like one while completing the task he was sent to Earth for. It’s pretty comical and really makes you think about some of our odd behaviors. I finished reading this once, but I will read it a second time as well.
📕 Books I finished reading last month
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I’m reading at a much slower pace than normal because I’m trying out/testing out reading books twice through rather than just once. It seems it takes twice as long to read a book twice. But I have found that I do seem to get get a little more out of the second reading that I missed the first time around – or maybe it gives it me more time to think about the story.
This one is slightly embarrassing. But, I have to be honest – I’ve listened to this album a lot over the last few weeks, especially on runs. Maybe it has something to do with the tempo of the songs that makes it a good running album? That’s what I’ll blame it on, anyways.
Speaking of Taylor Swift, I was unfamiliar with Bon Iver except for his duet with Taylor Swift. After watching a brief video on the making of his first album which was very interesting, I took a listen… and didn’t like it. Then after about the third listen through, I started thinking – hey, this is not too bad! This is normal for me – I sometimes need 3-5 listens through before deciding that I like something.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the question – why do we read? What are the benefits? Can we get the same benefits from other mediums? Anyways, this article I thought summed up a good point on one reason to read is so that you can write, and you should be able to write so that you can think.
I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of figuring out how to get the most out of reading the last few months. This video was one that has convinced me to read novels twice. I’m giving it a try.
Despite the pandemic, despite taking care of her mom, despite raising 3 children, despite moving houses, despite teaching high school English full time. Despite everything.
I spent a good amount of downtime during the holidays and am ready to have a productive 2023.
The classic self-help book. There were a couple of good things in this. But also there were some things that made me question if people were just extremely rude back in the 1930’s when it was written – that someone would have to instruct people not to talk that way. This book got very repetitive by the end.
Some more thoughts on how to get more out of reading.
✍ Quote I’ve been thinking about
Do you want to have a meaningful life? Everything you do matters.
That’s the definition of a meaningful life.
But everything you do matters! You’re going to have to carry that with you.
Or do you want to just forget about the whole meaning thing, and then you don’t have any responsibility…and you’re stuck in meaninglessness, but you don’t have any responsibility.
The Light Phone has always appealed to me. A phone that really limits what it’s used for. The original Light Phone only had the ability to make phone calls and that was it – otherwise a dumb phone. This seems like a good idea for someone trying to use their phone less. But then you realize you can’t take a photo of something you see, you can’t text you brother, you can’t find your way if you’re lost. Our phones give us so many tools.
The Light Phone II gives some more functionality including GPS, Music, and Podcasts. After watching some video reviews, I think I’ll still stick with my Pixel for now. How would I call an Uber? How would I track how long I’ve walked? How would I play Clash of Clans?
But, I still like the minimalist aspect of it – so I set out looking for a minimalist Android launcher that might be used as an alternative to the Light Phone, still giving me the capability to do all of the things that you “need” to use your phone for. There are several minimalist launchers to try:
These all seem to have a similar home screen as the Light Phone – minimalist, text only. However, the one I liked the best and landed on was the Olauncher. It is free and has a very minimal approach – it was exactly what I was looking for.
Here is a screenshot my homescreen:
This does add a very little bit of a barrier to getting to your apps… but not really enough to where I’m not going to play Clash of Clans. It’s pretty easier to swipe up and start typing in Clash of Clans:
So, I think I’m going to stick with the launcher – but mostly because I like it aesthetically. I don’t think it’s a true alternative to the Light Phone. I don’t think it adds any true barriers to actually using your phone for all the distractions it can provide.
It’s been 2 months since my last update, it’s been a very busy season for me and my family
I’ve always liked the idea of the Light Phone, but don’t think I’d ever actually be able to make the switch – but I am trying out the Olauncher for Android, which is a little bit of a halfway point.
I rated this one a rare 5 stars. This talked about basic methods for analyzing companies to determine if they might be a good investment and it was written in a way in which a beginner could understand. It was exactly what I was looking for.
It’s been a few weeks since I finished this one, the quote that keeps popping in my head from it is that humans are a “weedy species” – I thought that was an interesting way to describe us.
I didn’t think I’d like this album, and like most albums, I didn’t until I listened to it at least 3 times. Now I’m enjoying it – and it’s made me appreciate some of the original Soul music as well.
Still trying to get into this one, totally. The White Buffalo’s last album, On The Widow’s Walk I liked immediately – but that has not been the case with this album. But, I’ll give it a few more listens.
“You get more out of reading 1 book that’s great 5 times than out of reading 5 mediocre books.
Books that are older, in general, tend to be better because the reason the reason the person wrote it was a different intention. They wrote it because they wanted to transmit knowledge to the next generation. Whereas the people who write books are now are writing for money, writing for notoriety, or writing to sell other shit.
If I read something once, I still don’t know it yet. I will read a book 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times – until I can teach the book.
If your behavior doesn’t change as a result of reading a book then it means you’ve learned nothing which means it was a waste of time. Many people that read books are just wasting their time, because their behavior doesn’t change“
I’m wrapping up a strong year of reading – I’m already a couple of books past my yearly goal of 20 books, and there is still a month left in the year! I’ve also started thinking about what I want to do for reading next year.
I’ve always considered re-reading some of my favorite books – but I’m always torn because on the one hand, I think you’re wasting time re-reading something you’ve already read when there are so many other books to read – but on the other hand, I think there would be some benefit from it.
“You get more out of reading 1 book that’s great 5 times than out of reading 5 mediocre books.”
I think this might be true. So that got me thinking, maybe I should just take next year and re-read the books I’ve already read once and thought were great or, at least, worth re-reading.
I didn’t take reading seriously until about 2015, which is when I started tracking my reading on Goodreads. And since then, I’ve obviously gotten better at reading and especially better at note taking and capturing ideas. I know not everybody believes note taking is beneficial when reading, but I have a hard time reading now without a pen and paper to go along with the book.
I’ve gone through my list of books I’ve read over the last 7 years and picked out the ones I either rated 5 stars or have an urge to re-read and I’ve tagged them with the year 2023 on Goodreads.
I think it will be an interesting exercise to go through. One reason it will be good is because I seem to have a short memory, and likely don’t remember most of these books. They say you only remember 10% of what you read, but for me it has to be closer to 1% – especially after a few months.
And also because “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man” (Heraclitus), it will be interesting to see how I feel about some of the books I read several years ago.
I’ve used a Windows PC since I was in 4th grade – all through high school – in college – through my entire 15+ years working. My company recently decided that I was due for a new computer and all new computers issued were going to be Macs.
I’m both excited and a little frustrated trying to learn how to use the Mac. Keyboard shortcuts have been the worst to try to learn/unlearn.
So now I’m using a Mac for work and a Windows for personal and I only have 1 desk. It’s annoying to use my keyboard on one computer and have to use the laptop keyboard on the other. I have a bluetooth mouse for my Mac and found an old USB mouse for my Windows PC. I only have 1 desk – so it becomes quite a tangle mess.
Wouldn’t it be great if I could easily switch my bluetooth keyboard and mouse to which ever computer I’m working on? Is there a way to do this?
There is! And it works. And it works good. And it does more than I hoped for!
Synergy by Symless costs a one-time fee of $29.00 and it might be the best $29.00 I’ve spent in awhile.
Not only does it make it quick to switch between your computers – it makes it seamless. Like moving your mouse between monitors. I was surprised at how smooth and slick it was – even between Windows and Mac.
If your mouse is on the Windows – you can use Windows keyboard shortcuts. If you move your mouse across over to the Mac – you can use Mac keyboard shortcuts.
It’s fairly easy to setup. You download and install the Synergy program on both computers. Pick one computer to be the server, or main computer and the other computer will be the client.
On the server computer, you setup where the computers are in relation to each other – similar to how you arrange your external monitors in a Display settings:
Then you connect them via IP address.
The best part, and most pleasantly surprising to me – even copy and paste works across computers – even between Windows and Mac!
I have been a fan since about 2015, which was after they weren’t touring/making music – so I was excited for this one – and it was slightly disappointing.
Talking about the 5 mass extinctions that have happened in the past and asking if we’re in the next mass extinction currently. Pretty fascinating to read about the people that first discovered the dinosaurs bones – that would be pretty frightening digging up a pterodactyl!
This was a great book that summarized all of the work that it took to get the Apollo space mission to the moon. It’s an incredible lesson in hard work, dedication, innovation, and persistence.
This was an odd book. I thought the initial setup of the story was good – the main character was about to turn 30, he had a good job and lots of dates with various women, but he was searching for something. However, the end was odd and I didn’t really understand it.
The first single from Bruce’s new album of old soul music covers. This album seems to appeal to me a little more than his last few, Western Stars and Letter to You. The album will be released Nov 11.
The Smashing Pumpkins also released a new song from an upcoming album that won’t be released until April 2023. This sounds real heavy and I like it. But it reminds me a little (or a lot) of Eye of the Beholder by Metallica.
And another single, this one from The White Buffalo who will be releasing his “headphone album” titled The Year of Dark Horse on Nov 11 as well. Also looking forward to this one!
Obsidian is an app I’ve been watching for a while. This podcast was a good in-depth review of the features and functionality, albeit a little outdated.
Every once in a while YouTube amazes me on what you can find on it. As I was reading about the Apollo missions I started looking up these recordings of the radio back and forth between the astronauts and Mission Control. This one from Apollo 13 is pretty cool and I thought it was cool at how much the movie got right from these recordings.
And just to round this list out, the last time humans were on the moon.
✍ Quote I’ve been thinking about
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.“
This is about the Apollo missions to the moon. I’ve read a Charles Fishman book before and liked it, and after reading the first few chapters of this book – I’m really enjoying it.
I had never read this before – and I probably could’ve gotten by without reading it. I guess in some ways it teaches about friendship, but I was expecting a few more morals from the story.
I had never listened to The War On Drugs before. When I find a new band to listen to, I usually go right to any live albums they have. This live album is one that I haven’t been able to stop listening to since I found it – it might be my favorite album I discovered this year.
This was an interesting podcast on how John Moreland writes his songs. He likes to watch YouTube Tokyo walking videos. This was the first episode of this podcast I’ve listened to – I’ve added a few others to my queue.
I’ve been following Rick Beato on YouTube for a few years now – he’s very knowledgeable about all things music. More recently he’s been able to interview some bigger names – Maynard James Keenan is a hero from my late teenage years. Most interviews he gives are not great, but this one was very enjoyable – maybe because he’s getting older.
As we’ve gotten back into the swing of school, I’ve been playing this video for my children to remind them to wake up with a good attitude.
✍ Quote I’ve been thinking about
“But why, some say, the Moon?
Why choose this as our goal?
And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?
We choose to go to the Moon… We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too. “
Still working on this one. I found it a little tougher than I though and I had to go check out the Cliffs Notes after reading each chapter. I took a break while reading What Makes Sammy Run, but finishing it up now.
This was something different than what I usually read. It’s a novel about a guy who will stop at nothing, and do things that most of us would not be proud of, to succeed in early Hollywood.
John Moreland came out with his new album last month, Birds in the Ceiling. But nothing beats his old, sad songs that he plays on the live Spotify Sessions.
We watched Joy open up for Dermot Kennedy last year in St Louis. Dermot was having an off-night, it seemed, so Joy was the highlight. This podcast was interesting to hear how she wrote her song, Look Up.
I had watched this once before, but after going to the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit, I revisited this video. I think he explains art, in general, pretty good.
I’ve never watched this movie, but I like this scene. Movies moved a little slower in the 60’s than they do today.
✍ Quote I’ve been thinking about
“When we say that our lives are short; short compared to what?
Certainly short compared to the life of a hypothetical immortal being. But it might make more sense to compare our lives, not to a hypothetical immortal being – but to all the countless hypothetical people who never got to be born in the first place. From that perspective, it’s not really cruel that our lives aren’t longer – rather it’s a staggering, stupendous bonus that we get any time on the planet as conscious creatures at all.“