Nat Eliason's...
The 30-Day First Draft Challenge
Can I Finish a Novel First Draft in a Month?
4 months ago
Can I Finish a Novel First Draft in a Month?
The Ruffian
Why Does Being Left-Wing Make You Unhappy?
The Ideological Well-Being Gap
8 months ago
The Ideological Well-Being Gap
The Honest Broker
How I Stopped Hating Steely Dan
I thought I was immune, but still became a Dan stan—this is my story
a year ago
I thought I was immune, but still became a Dan stan—this is my story
journal – Winnie Lim
experiences we enjoyed in penang
My partner’s birthday is in the month of july, so we celebrated it by visiting Penang. In the recent...
a year ago
My partner’s birthday is in the month of july, so we celebrated it by visiting Penang. In the recent decade I didn’t intentionally visit Malaysia much because I’ve been there countless times...
Scarlet Ink
Fake It Till You Make It — To Become a Leader, Act Like One
I found, rather than waiting for my promotions at Amazon, I was more fulfilled and grew myself as a...
4 weeks ago
I found, rather than waiting for my promotions at Amazon, I was more fulfilled and grew myself as a leader by pretending I had already been promoted.
The Convivial...
From Common Sense to Bespoke Realities
The Convivial Society: Vol. 3, No. 12
over a year ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 3, No. 12
DYNOMIGHT
Attitudes one can take towards people who have behaved badly
Have you ever noticed that reality has some properties that are quite annoying? For example, have...
a month ago
Have you ever noticed that reality has some properties that are quite annoying? For example, have you noticed that some people do bad things? And yet those same people sometimes have interesting ideas?
Occasionally, I’ll bring up an idea in conversation and someone will gently...
journal – Winnie Lim
the experience of completing a sketchbook for my japan trip
Last year I started sketching, and for the first time in my life I started bringing art materials on...
11 months ago
Last year I started sketching, and for the first time in my life I started bringing art materials on my travels. I did the same when I went to Japan, except a...
The Ruffian
How To Swear At Your Coworkers
Two Ways To Use Bad Language In The Workplace
a year ago
Two Ways To Use Bad Language In The Workplace
Passing Time
The Consciousness Box
Sorry for the inconvenience.
a year ago
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Stoic Simple
A Stoic Perspective on Achieving Happiness
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges and...
a year ago
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges and pressures of daily life. Many of us are constantly searching for ways to achieve happiness and inner peace amidst the chaos. While some turn to meditation and mindfulness, others...
Raptitude.com
Push the Fence
I know how to replace a kitchen faucet. If you have a janky old faucet that needs to be replaced...
5 months ago
I know how to replace a kitchen faucet. If you have a janky old faucet that needs to be replaced with a smoothly operating new one, I can do that for you or show you how. This wasn’t always true. It became true May 27, 2024, after pulling everything out of the under-sink...
The Honest Broker
The Death of the Slow Dance (and Other Emerging Trends)
My latest briefing paper on the state of the creative economy
a year ago
My latest briefing paper on the state of the creative economy
Left To Write
№ 73: Finding Faith
How pursuing entrepreneurship taught me faith
a year ago
How pursuing entrepreneurship taught me faith
DYNOMIGHT
Against dystopian views of high-speed audiobook listening
There was recently a thread on r/slatestarcodex about “What life hacks are actually life changing”....
2 months ago
There was recently a thread on r/slatestarcodex about “What life hacks are actually life changing”. One of the examples given was:
Buy audiobooks to read much more books, listen at 1.5-2x speed
This led to the following thread (later removed):
Aaa: A midwit in making
Bbb: Audio...
The Honest Broker
The Best Recordings of 2023 (Honorable Mention List)
I'll soon share my 100 favorite albums of the year—meanwhile here are 50 honorable mention records...
a year ago
I'll soon share my 100 favorite albums of the year—meanwhile here are 50 honorable mention records of exceptional merit
Nat Eliason's...
You Can Handle Much More Than You Think
Big changes take time
a year ago
The Ruffian
Who Has The Better Final Pitch?
It's Closing Time In America
a month ago
It's Closing Time In America
Passing Time
How Dangerous is Rock Climbing?
There is an adage in climbing—there are old climbers, and there are bold climbers, but there are no...
over a year ago
There is an adage in climbing—there are old climbers, and there are bold climbers, but there are no old bold climbers. I plan on getting pretty old.
RhysTranter.com
“In these dark times…”
In these dark times
we look for the light
over a year ago
In these dark times
we look for the light
Diaries of Note
Excrement is the thread of life
Salvador Dalí, born in Spain in 1904, was the mustachioed maestro of surrealism, with a flair for...
a year ago
Salvador Dalí, born in Spain in 1904, was the mustachioed maestro of surrealism, with a flair for the fantastical in both his life and art. His paintings, like The Persistence of Memory with its melting clocks, are playful explorations of the dream world, but this love of the...
Unfiltered by Tim...
Break Society's Money Rules If You Want to Be a Quiet Millionaire
And never worry about money again
a month ago
And never worry about money again
Both Are True
The signal is the noise - how the sounds of an old ass calculator ended up on the website of the...
You'd think it's boring but it's sorta cool and kinda wild how it's about everything but also...
5 months ago
You'd think it's boring but it's sorta cool and kinda wild how it's about everything but also nothing anyways here it is
DYNOMIGHT
Arithmetic is an underrated world-modeling technology
Of all the cognitive tools our ancestors left us, what’s best? Society seems to think pretty highly...
2 months ago
Of all the cognitive tools our ancestors left us, what’s best? Society seems to think pretty highly of arithmetic. It’s one of the first things we learn as children. So I think it’s weird that only a tiny percentage of people seem to know how to actually use arithmetic. Or maybe...
Tech and Tea
Bridging the ask vs guess culture gap at work
How we can reduce ask vs guess culture clashes by creating more shared context, aligning around when...
a year ago
How we can reduce ask vs guess culture clashes by creating more shared context, aligning around when to ask for help, and helping guess culture coworkers get clarity on what they want in their careers
Laetitia@Work
Adios productivity
Laetitia@Work #46
over a year ago
Diaries of Note
Nobody wants to give me what I don’t want
Walter Ripton Morris was fifty-four when he was fired from his job. The year was 1961, and the...
a year ago
Walter Ripton Morris was fifty-four when he was fired from his job. The year was 1961, and the company for which he had worked for some time had been swallowed up by a bigger corporation who deemed him to be disposable. Four years later, Morris published the diary he had kept...
Diaries of Note
How utterly mad it all is
Although her life was cut tragically short, Lorraine Hansberry’s influence on American theatre was...
a year ago
Although her life was cut tragically short, Lorraine Hansberry’s influence on American theatre was profound. Raised amid the racial turbulence of 1930s Chicago, she channelled her experiences into A Raisin in the Sun, a groundbreaking play that earned her three distinctions: the...
Tech and Tea
What I've been eating...
Anyone who spends any time with me knows that I love food — thinking about food, making food, eating...
a year ago
Anyone who spends any time with me knows that I love food — thinking about food, making food, eating food, telling people about food. Why not add it into Tech and Tea?
Diaries of Note
The goose for Xmas disappeared
In the waning days of 1948, George Orwell was secluded on the Scottish island of Jura in a remote...
12 months ago
In the waning days of 1948, George Orwell was secluded on the Scottish island of Jura in a remote farmhouse named Barnhill—a stark, white-washed building set against the backdrop of Jura’s untamed wilderness. It was there, amidst the stark beauty of nature and in declining...
Both Are True
forget thanksgiving its time for fearsharing
a new holiday (year two)
3 weeks ago
The Ruffian
Why Are Americans Growing Less Comfortable With Speaking Up?
The Paradox of the Internet
4 months ago
The Paradox of the Internet
Castles in the Sky
Original Castles in the Sky Art
This is the home for all the original art in Castles in the Sky that is an AI generation, original...
a year ago
This is the home for all the original art in Castles in the Sky that is an AI generation, original commission, or some collage of the two. When the art is AI-generated, I will link to the first time it appeared in Castles in the Sky along with the prompt I used.
Passing Time
Reconsidering Reading
While it may feel good to be able to say you've read something, that doesn’t mean it’s the most...
over a year ago
While it may feel good to be able to say you've read something, that doesn’t mean it’s the most effective way to learn.
Diaries of Note
How lucky were we?
Natascha McElhone was 5,000 miles from home and pregnant with their third child when the call came,...
a year ago
Natascha McElhone was 5,000 miles from home and pregnant with their third child when the call came, and in that instant her world crumbled. Her husband of a decade and one day had died unexpectedly from heart failure while she was filming in Los Angeles. He was 43. As she faced...
The Ruffian
The Story Behind the Greatest Guitar Solo in Rock History
The Dark Energies Behind Prince's Moment of Genius
3 months ago
The Dark Energies Behind Prince's Moment of Genius
Passing Time
My Experience Posting Satire to the Internet
The lesson: I should have known better
over a year ago
The lesson: I should have known better
The Convivial...
Lonely Surfaces: On AI-generated Images
The Convivial Society: Vol. 3, No. 20
over a year ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 3, No. 20
Diaries of Note
A night of terror
In September of 1939, English housewife Nella Last began keeping a diary that would span 30 years,...
a year ago
In September of 1939, English housewife Nella Last began keeping a diary that would span 30 years, ultimately producing one of the longest diaries in the English language at more than 12 million words. Born Nellie Lord in 1890, she was a voluntary participant in the Mass...
Luxagraf:...
Microcosm
We sprinted across Florida, from St. Augustine to the far end of the panhandle in two quick drives....
10 months ago
We sprinted across Florida, from St. Augustine to the far end of the panhandle in two quick drives. We stopped in the middle at the Tallahassee Car Museum, an odd little museum with a few campsites out front (not everything on Harvest Hosts is a farm).
The kids and I wandered...
journal – Winnie Lim
a small life
A few weeks ago my host emailed me that for some reason google bot was hitting my site so much that...
yesterday
A few weeks ago my host emailed me that for some reason google bot was hitting my site so much that it slowed down the entire server – since it was affecting...
Diaries of Note
Two less among many, many hundreds of thousands
Born in Norway in 1901, Odd Nansen was an architect and humanitarian whose life took a drastic turn...
a year ago
Born in Norway in 1901, Odd Nansen was an architect and humanitarian whose life took a drastic turn in 1942 when he was arrested by the Nazis for his courageous work with the resistance. For three and a half years he was imprisoned at concentration camps in both Norway and...
Naveen Arun's Blog
Think Excel Can’t Handle PDEs? Think Again: A Chemical Engineering Case Study
Did you know you can solve 2D partial differential equations (PDEs) in Excel without resorting to...
a year ago
Did you know you can solve 2D partial differential equations (PDEs) in Excel without resorting to macros? In this post, we’ll look at how to solve Laplace’s Equation, , in two dimensions using nothing but Microsoft Excel. Introduction Heat transfer is a critical concept in...
The Honest Broker
The Best Online Essays & Articles of 2023
Longform journalism is coming back (and deserves our support)
12 months ago
Longform journalism is coming back (and deserves our support)
journal – Winnie Lim
gyeongju, the city of beautiful tombs
Spent a few days in gyeongju. I knew there were going to be tombs, but what I didn’t expect was them...
5 months ago
Spent a few days in gyeongju. I knew there were going to be tombs, but what I didn’t expect was them to be everywhere, not just concentrated in one area. I didn’t...
journal – Winnie Lim
a snapshot of my psyche, and an egg sandwich
Sometimes I think I am too “purist” in the way I live: I am always trying to do the “right” thing,...
a year ago
Sometimes I think I am too “purist” in the way I live: I am always trying to do the “right” thing, but perhaps what is the right thing for me intellectually may...
Both Are True
hello from the other side
a record of my first two days away from the internet and social media and wow
a year ago
a record of my first two days away from the internet and social media and wow
Stoic Simple
The Benefits of Practicing Stoic Mindfulness
Are you looking to cultivate emotional resilience, improve decision-making skills, and enhance your...
a year ago
Are you looking to cultivate emotional resilience, improve decision-making skills, and enhance your relationships with others? Consider practicing stoic mindfulness. While mindfulness is commonly associated with Zen Buddhism and other Eastern religions, it has roots in ancient...
The Honest Broker
What Happened to Sly Stone?
At age 80, he tells his tale—but is it a story of recovery, or mere survival?
11 months ago
At age 80, he tells his tale—but is it a story of recovery, or mere survival?
Both Are True
idk about the whole 'i'd have written a shorter letter if I'd had more time' thing
why? long letters rule
11 months ago
Atoms vs Bits
Incumbency Advantage
What if good candidates just win against bad ones?
4 months ago
What if good candidates just win against bad ones?
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Nike's Two-Hour Marathon and the Source of Sensational Failure
If Eliud Kipchoge's run had been one second per mile faster Eliud would be the man who did the...
over a year ago
If Eliud Kipchoge's run had been one second per mile faster Eliud would be the man who did the impossible. Instead, he is a loser. Or maybe we are the ones who are losing.
The Honest Broker
Were the First Laws Sung?
I make some radical claims in this extract from my new book 'Music to Raise the Dead'
a year ago
I make some radical claims in this extract from my new book 'Music to Raise the Dead'
journal – Winnie Lim
the wonder of miyajima
A kind stranger dmed to tell me that my rss feed was broken – turns out the code for displaying...
a year ago
A kind stranger dmed to tell me that my rss feed was broken – turns out the code for displaying custom fields on rss was throwing a php fatal error (Uncaught TypeError:...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
The Slow, Steady, Inevitable March Towards Oatmeal
Pushing back against the idea that you are doomed to become a commodity.
over a year ago
Pushing back against the idea that you are doomed to become a commodity.
Tech and Tea
Space to do whatever, Part II
Insights from carving out space for creativity
a year ago
Insights from carving out space for creativity
Castles in the Sky
The Virtue of Tourism
Castles in the Sky #40
a year ago
Diaries of Note
A black and empty future
Of the many first-person accounts of World War I, the diary of Edwin Campion Vaughan stands as one...
a year ago
Of the many first-person accounts of World War I, the diary of Edwin Campion Vaughan stands as one of the most vivid and harrowing ever kept. Joining the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 19th June 1916 as a second lieutenant, eighteen-year-old Vaughan soon found himself on the...
The Ruffian
Do You Wear the Mask or Does the Mask Wear you?
Novak Djokovic, Boris Johnson, and the Art of Creating a Professional Persona
5 months ago
Novak Djokovic, Boris Johnson, and the Art of Creating a Professional Persona
journal – Winnie Lim
osaka, and thoughts on travel blogging
We were surprised to discover that Osaka has quite a number of outdoor dining options. Our first...
a year ago
We were surprised to discover that Osaka has quite a number of outdoor dining options. Our first meal was okonomiyaki of course, and my partner found a okonomiyaki restaurant with outdoor seating:...
The Honest Broker
My 10 Most Popular Articles of 2023
Number one will surprise you
11 months ago
Number one will surprise you
The Honest Broker
Healing with a Tin Whistle
Also a story about Dave Brubeck (and more)
11 months ago
Also a story about Dave Brubeck (and more)
Diaries of Note
A veritable organ concert
It was May of 1967, and Che Guevara, the Argentine-born Marxist revolutionary, was in Bolivia,...
a year ago
It was May of 1967, and Che Guevara, the Argentine-born Marxist revolutionary, was in Bolivia, leading a small band of guerrillas in an attempt to spread socialism across Latin America. Facing harsh environmental conditions and the pressure of the Bolivian military backed by US...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
The Greatest Jedi Mind Trick of All Time
What percentage of your visible world would you say you can see? Yes, you read that correctly. The...
over a year ago
What percentage of your visible world would you say you can see? Yes, you read that correctly. The obvious answer is "all of it." But stick with me.
Unfiltered by Tim...
You’ll Never Be a Millionaire with a Salary
Here's the quiet path to become a different type of millionaire
a month ago
Here's the quiet path to become a different type of millionaire
Both Are True
I got a perfect score on my SAT and all I got was this lousy feeling of never being enough
S1E1 is free now, pls read it before the season ender coming soon!
11 months ago
S1E1 is free now, pls read it before the season ender coming soon!
Castles in the Sky
Tracking how many of The Atlantic's Great American Novels I've Read
An ongoing project
9 months ago
Luxagraf:...
Second Spring
Driving 1,800 miles north in a week was like stepping back in time. Spring came and went in Florida...
a year ago
Driving 1,800 miles north in a week was like stepping back in time. Spring came and went in Florida back in early March, by the time we left Florida was well into summer, whatever the calendar might have said. Here in Washburn though spring had barely arrived.
The night we got...
The Honest Broker
How Bing Crosby Made Silicon Valley Possible
The singer who popularized "White Christmas" was also a visionary tech innovator
a year ago
The singer who popularized "White Christmas" was also a visionary tech innovator
Left To Write
Some Sh*tty Career Advice From A Professional Gambler
Asymmetric betting, skill acquisition and daring to be different
a year ago
Asymmetric betting, skill acquisition and daring to be different
Luxagraf:...
Baseball Diamonds
We would never have come this way if weren't for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York....
a year ago
We would never have come this way if weren't for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Not that I wanted to go there that badly, but when we took the kids to a baseball game back in Florida the Baseball Hall of Fame somehow came up and I remember Elliott saying "can...
Diaries of Note
Ambition and energy keep a man young
Wallace Stevens was an American modernist poet, born in 1879, who balanced an unassuming life in...
a year ago
Wallace Stevens was an American modernist poet, born in 1879, who balanced an unassuming life in insurance with an illustrious literary career. While best known for his intricate and imaginative poems, which earned him the Pulitzer Prize in 1955, Stevens also kept a journal...
journal – Winnie Lim
more of the same
Pretty late into my run yesterday I went into a meditative-like zone where my breathing was slow and...
a year ago
Pretty late into my run yesterday I went into a meditative-like zone where my breathing was slow and even, my legs were going at a consistent rhythm, and I found myself thinking:...
Castles in the Sky
A Pilgrimage for Book People
Reflecting on a family tradition
a year ago
Reflecting on a family tradition
Mark Manson
An Unconventional Guide to Happiness
Every day, we're bombarded with messages telling us that we need to be happy all the time—and that,...
over a year ago
Every day, we're bombarded with messages telling us that we need to be happy all the time—and that, in order to be happy, we need the perfect job, the perfect partner, the perfect life. And we're made to think that anything less than perfect happiness is a failure.
But the...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Irresistible Obstacles
The formula beneath any game that hooks players can be boiled down to the following. Voluntary...
over a year ago
The formula beneath any game that hooks players can be boiled down to the following. Voluntary Obstacle + Rules + Feedback System = Leveling Up
journal – Winnie Lim
documenting everyday moments because they will become precious
A few months ago someone popped up on the Singapore reddit and started posting photos of old...
a year ago
A few months ago someone popped up on the Singapore reddit and started posting photos of old Singapore from the 1950s-1970s. He is the grandson of Ivan Polunin, a medical doctor who...
Both Are True
testing testing is this thing on
hopefully not
3 months ago
The Ruffian
Is Culture Dying?
And if it is, should we mourn it?
3 months ago
And if it is, should we mourn it?
The Map is Mostly...
Designing a New Old Home: Materials and Hardware
After your floorplan, and along with your use of sunlight, the materials you choose will make the...
over a year ago
After your floorplan, and along with your use of sunlight, the materials you choose will make the biggest difference in the mood that inhabits your home. This post covers our own thinking and what we decided.
The Honest Broker
Here's a Map to 'The Honest Broker'
Let me take you on a tour
7 months ago
Let me take you on a tour
The Map is Mostly...
Designing a New Old Home: The Elements
Heating and Cooling and Airflow
Ensuring your house works well with the natural world is one of the...
over a year ago
Heating and Cooling and Airflow
Ensuring your house works well with the natural world is one of the most crucial parts of designing a home. Like I wrote in the first part, it’s also one of the most ignored. We wanted to build a house that would stay as naturally cool in the...
Both Are True
i want to be good but i am bad - help?
at what point are we no longer able to change our brains?
9 months ago
at what point are we no longer able to change our brains?
DYNOMIGHT
Tactical parenting
I'm so confused
TACTICAL PARENTING
Written by
Dynomight
INT TACTICAL HOME - DAY
WE OPEN on...
2 weeks ago
I'm so confused
TACTICAL PARENTING
Written by
Dynomight
INT TACTICAL HOME - DAY
WE OPEN on TACTICAL GUY’s house. A small tree is visible in a window. We see TACTICAL GUY staring at TACTICAL BABY on the ground.
CUT TO:
INT DESK - SAME DAY
TACTICAL GUY uses keyboard plugged...
DYNOMIGHT
OK, I can partly explain the LLM chess weirdness now
We recently talked about a mystery: All large language models (LLMs) are terrible at chess. All,...
a month ago
We recently talked about a mystery: All large language models (LLMs) are terrible at chess. All, that is, except for gpt-3.5-turbo-instruct, which for some reason can play at an advanced amateur level. This is despite the fact that this model is more than a year old and much...
The Map is Mostly...
Reading Well
Reading is alluring. It has a nameless quality beyond satisfying desires for information and...
a year ago
Reading is alluring. It has a nameless quality beyond satisfying desires for information and pleasure. Despite more colorful and interactive media, reading text somehow remains more refined, more seductive. There is a visceral feeling to good reading. Partly this is because...
Naveen Arun's Blog
Please Let Me Monetize My Hobbies
Please, let me monetize my hobbies. After all, what’s the point of doing something purely for fun...
a year ago
Please, let me monetize my hobbies. After all, what’s the point of doing something purely for fun when I could be making money off it? Please, let me turn my relaxing gaming sessions into high-pressure performances with commentary. Who wouldn’t enjoy transforming a leisurely...
The Honest Broker
What You Can Learn from Just Seven Pages by Hannah Arendt
She wrote this book in the 1950s, but it's frighteningly relevant right now
a month ago
She wrote this book in the 1950s, but it's frighteningly relevant right now
Diaries of Note
The most terrible thing ever discovered
When he wrote the following diary entry on 25th July of 1945, Harry S. Truman had been U.S....
a year ago
When he wrote the following diary entry on 25th July of 1945, Harry S. Truman had been U.S. President for just three months. With Nazi Germany defeated, Truman was in Potsdam, Germany with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, their goal: to negotiate the end of World War II and...
Wait But Why
A Short History of My Last Six Years
On June 18, 2016, I slipped and fell down a deep, deep hole.
The post A Short History of My Last Six...
a year ago
On June 18, 2016, I slipped and fell down a deep, deep hole.
The post A Short History of My Last Six Years appeared first on Wait But Why.
Diaries of Note
Today was truly, absolutely the worst day ever in Sarajevo
In April 1992, following Bosnia’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia, simmering tensions...
a year ago
In April 1992, following Bosnia’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia, simmering tensions among the region’s ethnic groups escalated into the devastating Bosnian War. It wasn’t long before the city of Sarajevo found itself under siege. Amidst the chaos, a courageous young...
The Convivial...
The Work of Art
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 8
6 months ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 8
The Ruffian
Hitler's Willing Executioners
On the genocidal mindset
10 months ago
The Ruffian
The Ruffian's Greatest Hits 2023
This Year's Top Ten Posts As Voted On By Me
a year ago
This Year's Top Ten Posts As Voted On By Me
The Ruffian
The Wile E. Coyote Illusion
Have you looked down yet?
a year ago
Have you looked down yet?
Passing Time
The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory
Why do we forget what we want to remember and remember what we want to forget?
a year ago
Why do we forget what we want to remember and remember what we want to forget?
How to Be a Stoic
What Would a Stoic Do? Dating
“Dating” is a word I was not familiar with before coming to the United States. Especially with the...
over a year ago
“Dating” is a word I was not familiar with before coming to the United States. Especially with the advent of modern dating apps, it essentially means that you are trying out different people to see who “wins” the alleged honor of being your (next) partner. Except, of course, that...
The Honest Broker
Why Is the Tesla Cybertruck So Depressingly Ugly?
It's a bigger problem than just one sinister-looking car
a month ago
It's a bigger problem than just one sinister-looking car
journal – Winnie Lim
what we pay for wanting to be healthy
We are in Gyeongju now, a place full of cute hanoks and rolling green hills that are actually tombs...
5 months ago
We are in Gyeongju now, a place full of cute hanoks and rolling green hills that are actually tombs which are thousands of years old. The weather has been rather unpredictable: searing...
DYNOMIGHT
Sloth was not the right answer
Once, when I was 12, my parents asked me what my favorite animal was. And I thought:
OK, self, what...
a month ago
Once, when I was 12, my parents asked me what my favorite animal was. And I thought:
OK, self, what you’ve got here is a totally safe question. There are no “right” or “wrong” animals and no need to worry about any consequences. Let your heart soar!
At school recently, I had seen...
Diaries of Note
The degradation machine is running
Jean Guéhenno was a French essayist and intellectual known for his unwavering commitment to freedom...
a year ago
Jean Guéhenno was a French essayist and intellectual known for his unwavering commitment to freedom and truth during a period when both were under severe threat. In the midst of World War II, France had become an eerie silhouette of its former self, ruled by a government that had...
Nat Eliason's...
The Most Useful Feedback Hurts
Plus a sci-fi novel update
4 months ago
Plus a sci-fi novel update
Adrian Hanft, III:...
I Am Data Drivel
Consider quitting Google Analytics With Me
over a year ago
Consider quitting Google Analytics With Me
RhysTranter.com
Robert Pirsig on Selfless Climbing
While packing for a trip I pick up an old book I haven’t read for a long time. It’s a 1976 edition...
6 months ago
While packing for a trip I pick up an old book I haven’t read for a long time. It’s a 1976 edition of Henri Nouwen’s The Genesee Diary: Report from a Trappist Monastery.
DYNOMIGHT
Using axis lines for good or evil
Say you want to plot some data. You could just plot it by itself:
Or you could put lines on the...
9 months ago
Say you want to plot some data. You could just plot it by itself:
Or you could put lines on the left and bottom:
Or you could put lines everywhere:
Or you could be weird:
Which is right? Many people treat this as an aesthetic choice. But I’d like to suggest an unambiguous...
Mark Manson
3 Principles for a Better Life
I used to have a newsletter with the pitch, “3 Ideas That Can Change Your Life.” For years, I sent...
over a year ago
I used to have a newsletter with the pitch, “3 Ideas That Can Change Your Life.” For years, I sent out emails in that format: three ideas—one, two, three—thank you, drive through.
News flash: I've got a new weekly newsletter now called The Breakthrough where I send out ideas and...
The Honest Broker
My 12 Favorite Problems
A dozen things that drive my writing, research, thinking & actions
a year ago
A dozen things that drive my writing, research, thinking & actions
Farza's Newsletter
just drank a $4 bottle of smart water and im still dumb af someone help
Hey all, been a while. Let me tell you a story. 2022 was one of the most challenging years of my...
a year ago
Hey all, been a while. Let me tell you a story. 2022 was one of the most challenging years of my life. In 2022 — buildspace raised $10M at a $100M valuation. This company is by far the most valuable, impactful thing I’ve ever worked on. To this day, the company has continued to...
Diaries of Note
Mr. Daniels took a picture just as it left the tracks
At 10:35 a.m. on 17th December 1903, Orville Wright, alongside his brother Wilbur, embarked on a...
a year ago
At 10:35 a.m. on 17th December 1903, Orville Wright, alongside his brother Wilbur, embarked on a historic journey that would change the course of human history. They achieved the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina....
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Special Hell 5, Ad-diction
Today I am going to tell you the story of how I used my web design skills to steal from little old...
over a year ago
Today I am going to tell you the story of how I used my web design skills to steal from little old ladies and feed my ad-diction.
Castles in the Sky
Becoming an adult, one toddler tantrum at a time.
A letter from a father
8 months ago
Stoic Simple
What Does Stoicism Teach About Pleasure and Pain?
Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that has gained increasing popularity in recent years. At the...
a year ago
Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that has gained increasing popularity in recent years. At the heart of this school of thought is the idea that we can achieve true happiness by living in accordance with nature, accepting what we cannot change, and focusing on developing our own...
Nat Eliason's...
Kickstarting TikTok: 55,500 Followers & 7m views in 6 Weeks
No hired help, no gimmicks, no fancy gear. Just vibes.
a year ago
No hired help, no gimmicks, no fancy gear. Just vibes.
Tech and Tea
Ask vs guess culture
When unreasonable requests are followed up with "but you could have just said no!" Exploring the...
a year ago
When unreasonable requests are followed up with "but you could have just said no!" Exploring the clashes of ask culture and guess culture, at home and at work.
Diaries of Note
Liszt was a bad composer
On 31st July 1886, the world lost the extraordinary talent of Franz Liszt, the pioneering Hungarian...
a year ago
On 31st July 1886, the world lost the extraordinary talent of Franz Liszt, the pioneering Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist. Liszt redefined music with his innovative symphonic poems and transformative piano compositions, pushing the boundaries of technique and reshaping...
The Ruffian
Lessons In How Not To Lead
From the Dept. of What Were They Thinking
a year ago
From the Dept. of What Were They Thinking
Scarlet Ink
No More Excuses: Trading Blame for Action. Practical Steps Towards Ownership Instead of Whining.
I'll admit a lack of patience for people who prefer to make excuses when they're given advice. It's...
3 months ago
I'll admit a lack of patience for people who prefer to make excuses when they're given advice. It's easier to make excuses rather than do the hard work.
Luxagraf:...
Pensacola History
From Fort Pickens we came around the entirety of Pensacola Bay to a small park on the western edge,...
a year ago
From Fort Pickens we came around the entirety of Pensacola Bay to a small park on the western edge, Big Lagoon. From our campsite there it was a short car ride to Perdido Key, which is another part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Although it takes the better part of two hours...
Both Are True
if have nothing, then how give anything? (help wanted)
advice for when your tank is empty
10 months ago
advice for when your tank is empty
journal – Winnie Lim
daring to be ugly
I was quite vain when I was younger due to a low self-esteem which led to a high level of...
a year ago
I was quite vain when I was younger due to a low self-esteem which led to a high level of insecurity. That insecurity made me feel ugly and that I was never...
Nat Eliason's...
My Masterclass on Better Storytelling
2 Years in 2 Hours
5 months ago
Both Are True
someone is impersonating me so i reached out to them
going undercover to meet myself -- a video of our entire 30 minute long convo
6 months ago
going undercover to meet myself -- a video of our entire 30 minute long convo
Left To Write
Write Like You Write
And not how you speak
a year ago
Adrian Hanft, III:...
The Locker Room Talk of Mentors and Minions
I saw myself at 22, lifting a wheel, struggling under its weight to attach it to a car. Behind me...
over a year ago
I saw myself at 22, lifting a wheel, struggling under its weight to attach it to a car. Behind me was an experienced mechanic who has mastered the heavier machinery. He worked with skill, with a quickness that hid the forces he was wielding, making the power required to rip tires...
Passing Time
Don't Tell Me This Town Ain't Got No Heart; Or, Sphere and Loathing
Dead and Co and Authenticity at the Sphere
5 months ago
Dead and Co and Authenticity at the Sphere
Diaries of Note
Only in Yorkshire
Few diarists capture the rhythms of daily life quite like Alan Bennett. Born in Leeds in 1934, it...
a year ago
Few diarists capture the rhythms of daily life quite like Alan Bennett. Born in Leeds in 1934, it was in the early-1970s that this beloved playwright began to keep a diary, sporadically scribbled on loose sheets of paper that would later be bundled to form twelve months of...
journal – Winnie Lim
documenting my first experience with the risograph
Last weekend to celebrate our 94th month anniversary we decided to attend a beginner’s risograph...
9 months ago
Last weekend to celebrate our 94th month anniversary we decided to attend a beginner’s risograph workshop at Knuckles & Notch. To be very honest I haven’t heard of the word “risograph” until...
The Ruffian
Zadie Smith and the 'Both Sides' Problem
On Centrist Meta-Commentaries
7 months ago
On Centrist Meta-Commentaries
Both Are True
be my (tired, aging) valentine?
candy hearts for the over-30 crowd
10 months ago
candy hearts for the over-30 crowd
The Honest Broker
Open Mic Day: Tells Us About Your Favorite Movies, Music, Books, Etc. of 2024
Share your best picks!
a month ago
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Aggressive Curiosity
On the edge of a lake a man sits at a bench with a camera on his lap. His expression is satisfied,...
over a year ago
On the edge of a lake a man sits at a bench with a camera on his lap. His expression is satisfied, the look of someone who has aimed at retirement and hit the bullseye a decade ahead of schedule. His life now has room for a hobby, he can become the wildlife photographer he has...
Luxagraf:...
Everyday It's 1984
Nostalgia is commonly used pejoratively. As if the very idea of looking backward in time and saying,...
a year ago
Nostalgia is commonly used pejoratively. As if the very idea of looking backward in time and saying, hmm, maybe we lost something between then and now were... bad? The American Psychological Association considers nostalgia a subset of depression, which is, ahem, depressing. But...
journal – Winnie Lim
sending out pieces of my self
In one of my recent posts I documented my experience with the risograph, and at the bottom of the...
8 months ago
In one of my recent posts I documented my experience with the risograph, and at the bottom of the post I wrote that I’ll be giving away 5 pieces of the poster...
journal – Winnie Lim
feeling my age
In 2011 in a desperate attempt to change my life I went on a trip to the US with only enough money...
3 weeks ago
In 2011 in a desperate attempt to change my life I went on a trip to the US with only enough money to last me for a month there. I did not...
Both Are True
switching to a "dumb" phone made me feel pretty dang smart
the Light Phone diaries
a year ago
Tech and Tea
Feelings on top of feelings
feelings we resist and judge ourselves for
a year ago
feelings we resist and judge ourselves for
Stoic Simple
Stoic Quotes on Strength: The Best Stoicism Sayings & Phrases
Previous Next https://youtu.be/ELM6pYo76DQ For Stoics of antiquity, the most admirable and important...
a year ago
Previous Next https://youtu.be/ELM6pYo76DQ For Stoics of antiquity, the most admirable and important kind of strength was the type that came from an inner fortitude that was nurtured with discipline and devotion to philosophy. The most difficult trials of our lives come not from...
Mind Mine
a series of morning thoughts
trying something new… listen to my voice :)
4 months ago
trying something new… listen to my voice :)
Tech and Tea
Saddened by the tech industry
Watching the pendulum swing away from people-centric leadership and wishing pendulums didn't swing...
a year ago
Watching the pendulum swing away from people-centric leadership and wishing pendulums didn't swing quite so far in the other direction.
Both Are True
All Day I Dream About Substack (ADIDAS)
writing is the new sex
2 months ago
The Ruffian
Len vs Glenn
How Leonard Bernstein turned a crisis into a productive disagreement
a year ago
How Leonard Bernstein turned a crisis into a productive disagreement
Both Are True
"she looks exactly like you"
she's my daughter, she's my twin
8 months ago
she's my daughter, she's my twin
The Ruffian
On Certain Asymmetries
A few thoughts on how we talk about the Israel-Hamas war
a year ago
A few thoughts on how we talk about the Israel-Hamas war
The Map is Mostly...
How to Cook for Odysseus
Health is not merely about one’s diet, but it feels like a natural place to start. What follows are...
a year ago
Health is not merely about one’s diet, but it feels like a natural place to start. What follows are a few beliefs of my own.
Tech and Tea
Is crocheting a stuffy a creative endeavor?
Hierarchy of needs in action, sooner than I expected
a year ago
Hierarchy of needs in action, sooner than I expected
RhysTranter.com
Vivid Expression
From distant Paris, Fr Huvelin offers spiritual advice to St Charles de Foucauld as he works as a...
7 months ago
From distant Paris, Fr Huvelin offers spiritual advice to St Charles de Foucauld as he works as a gardener in Nazareth
The Ruffian
Is Forgiveness a Power Move?
Plus a very juicy rattle bag which includes my favourite ever sad song
4 months ago
Plus a very juicy rattle bag which includes my favourite ever sad song
Luxagraf:...
Eight
After New Orleans we hightailed it to Florida, looking for some warmer beaches. Our first stop was...
over a year ago
After New Orleans we hightailed it to Florida, looking for some warmer beaches. Our first stop was Grayton Beach, where we spent Elliott's birthday -- in the white sands with afternoons warm enough to swim.
The sunsets were pretty spectacular too. We'd go down in the evenings,...
journal – Winnie Lim
crazy fall colours in tokyo
a year ago
Passing Time
Valuable, but not productive
Consulting & finance as black holes of elite human capital
2 weeks ago
Consulting & finance as black holes of elite human capital
Diaries of Note
His tiny tadpole body…
When she wrote this diary entry in April of 1890, Beatrice Potter could not have imagined that a...
a year ago
When she wrote this diary entry in April of 1890, Beatrice Potter could not have imagined that a mere two years later, this man with the “tiny tadpole body,” Sidney Webb, would become her husband. Nor could she have foreseen the powerful intellectual partnership that would...
Atoms vs Bits
There's a New Country Ranking and You're Not Going to Like it
What makes Israel, Qatar, and the Faroe Islands so great?
2 weeks ago
What makes Israel, Qatar, and the Faroe Islands so great?
Left To Write
I Want What You Have
Let's talk about envy and its shenanigans
a year ago
Let's talk about envy and its shenanigans
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Lost in Sawdust
Most personal development takes the form of blade sharpening. You see an edge, take a class, and add...
over a year ago
Most personal development takes the form of blade sharpening. You see an edge, take a class, and add a bullet point to your resume. You polish that blade, perfect it, and imagine yourself as a Samurai. Then you step out into the woodworking shop where a sword is not just...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Inspirational Design Stories You Missed in 2016
There is a good chance you missed some of my best writing in 2016. Let's fix that.
over a year ago
There is a good chance you missed some of my best writing in 2016. Let's fix that.
The Honest Broker
How Picasso Turned Me into a Strategy Consultant
I share a shameful incident from my student days
6 months ago
I share a shameful incident from my student days
Left To Write
The Narrative Fallacy
How narratives can distort our perception of reality and what to do against it
a year ago
How narratives can distort our perception of reality and what to do against it
The Ruffian
Rattle Bag
History, learning, screw-ups, and suitcase-packing
a year ago
History, learning, screw-ups, and suitcase-packing
Castles in the Sky
Castles in the Sky 33 [May 2023]
Big, Big News!
a year ago
The Honest Broker
How the Internet Went to Threads
And how we can sew it back together
a year ago
And how we can sew it back together
Left To Write
№ 68: In The End, It's All Behavioural
How I found behavioural science (BS) - A small primer on BS - Applying insights from poker to...
a year ago
How I found behavioural science (BS) - A small primer on BS - Applying insights from poker to marketing and advertising
Passing Time
Bits from Boulder
Three true stories from the People's Republic
4 months ago
Three true stories from the People's Republic
The Honest Broker
How to Dress Like Duke Ellington
Today I offer fashion tips to clueless guys
11 months ago
Today I offer fashion tips to clueless guys
journal – Winnie Lim
experimenting with Obsidian
Books have radically changed my life. One of the original purposes of this website was to share the...
a year ago
Books have radically changed my life. One of the original purposes of this website was to share the learnings I had from them – read through my personal lenses, layered with the...
RhysTranter.com
Rereading The Brothers Karamazov
It is now almost two decades since I first read The Brothers Karamazov. I began it in Bute Park,...
5 months ago
It is now almost two decades since I first read The Brothers Karamazov. I began it in Bute Park, sitting under a tree overlooking the river. I remember that it was the Penguin Classics edition translated by David McDuff, and that I couldn’t put it down.
The Map is Mostly...
Dispatches from childhood
Humility is the virtue of seeing each sunrise as truly new. Little children have no trouble with...
a year ago
Humility is the virtue of seeing each sunrise as truly new. Little children have no trouble with this perspective, they could not live any other way. Everything is visceral to them, and they carry this visceral interiority everywhere.
Stoic Simple
Stoic Environmentalism: What Stoicism Teaches on Ethics & Environment
Stoicism, a philosophy that originated in ancient Greece, has gained significant attention in modern...
a year ago
Stoicism, a philosophy that originated in ancient Greece, has gained significant attention in modern times for its practical and pragmatic approach to life. While Stoicism is often associated with personal ethics and self-improvement, its principles can also be applied to...
Nat Eliason's...
Insecurity Screams, Confidence Whispers
“What am I trying to convince myself of?”
a year ago
“What am I trying to convince myself of?”
The Convivial...
The Art of Living
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 4
9 months ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 4
Atoms vs Bits
Additive Domains, Multiplicative Domains
1 and 1 and 1 is 3, unless you're multiplying
3 months ago
1 and 1 and 1 is 3, unless you're multiplying
Diaries of Note
On sculptures
Born in Prague in 1875, celebrated poet Rainer Maria Rilke was twenty-two when he began to keep a...
a year ago
Born in Prague in 1875, celebrated poet Rainer Maria Rilke was twenty-two when he began to keep a diary—a practice encouraged by his lover and mentor, Lou Andreas-Salomé, who was fifteen years his senior. That diary, titled Florence, would be the first of three that he kept...
Paul Cudenec
China, Hong Kong and the global bankers
“China is today the most important BRIC in the wall of global greed”, I wrote in July 2023.
6 days ago
“China is today the most important BRIC in the wall of global greed”, I wrote in July 2023.
The Honest Broker
The Strangest Hit Songwriter in History
He wrote one of my favorite songs, but was so much more than a composer
6 months ago
He wrote one of my favorite songs, but was so much more than a composer
Nat Eliason's...
You Have No Idea How Much Better You Can Feel
Shake the snow globe
a year ago
Diaries of Note
Nothing can be less beautiful than the first sight of London
Emily Shore was just nineteen when she died of tuberculosis—a short life, but one brimming with...
a year ago
Emily Shore was just nineteen when she died of tuberculosis—a short life, but one brimming with intellectual curiosity. Born in Suffolk, England in 1819, her now-celebrated journal contains not just her intricate observations of the natural world, but also thoughtful reflections...
Castles in the Sky
Corporate Bloodsuckers
Fiction | Magical Realism Short Story #3
a year ago
Fiction | Magical Realism Short Story #3
Adrian Hanft, III:...
A Confession from Ghost-O-Meter’s Creator
I released Ghost-O-Meter with a secret. I realize now that it was a mistake.
over a year ago
I released Ghost-O-Meter with a secret. I realize now that it was a mistake.
Mind Mine
transformations
surrender & renew
6 days ago
Mark Manson
3 Steps to Stop Negative Thinking
Ever find yourself drowning in a sea of negativity, wondering how you can escape the relentless...
a year ago
Ever find yourself drowning in a sea of negativity, wondering how you can escape the relentless tidal wave of self-doubt and judgment?
Well, you're not alone. We all suffer from negative thoughts, and it's about time we learned how to deal with them effectively.
In this...
Laetitia@Work
Artist vs Artisan: what's the difference?
Laetitia@Work #44
over a year ago
Adrian Hanft, III:...
I used to knock on the doors of old ladies
No, it wasn't a prank. Lonely women were the only people home in our apartment complex during the...
over a year ago
No, it wasn't a prank. Lonely women were the only people home in our apartment complex during the days when I was homeschooled. Most of the time the ladies would invite me in. They would offer me dry cookies or hard candy and tell me stories about their grandkids. Sometimes I...
Both Are True
free t-shirts
+a lil story + a genuinely useful lil tip!!
7 months ago
+a lil story + a genuinely useful lil tip!!
Diaries of Note
BlooOOP, blooOOP
In 1949, as she searched for obscure books to feed her reading habit, American author Helene Hanff...
a year ago
In 1949, as she searched for obscure books to feed her reading habit, American author Helene Hanff struck up a correspondence with Frank Doel, chief buyer for Marks & Co., an antiquarian bookshop nestled at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. These letters, filled with Hanff’s...
DYNOMIGHT
Datasets that change the odds you exist
1.
It’s October 1962. The Cuban missile crisis just happened, thankfully without apocalyptic nuclear...
5 months ago
1.
It’s October 1962. The Cuban missile crisis just happened, thankfully without apocalyptic nuclear war. But still:
Apocalyptic nuclear war easily could have happened.
Crises as serious as the Cuban missile crisis clearly aren’t that rare, since one just happened.
You estimate...
Castles in the Sky
Dreams Over Goals in 2024
More dreams, less goals, and some commitments for the year
11 months ago
More dreams, less goals, and some commitments for the year
The Honest Broker
Why You Should Skip My Articles and Go Straight to the Comments
Here are some highlights from yesterday's open mic anarchy thread
a year ago
Here are some highlights from yesterday's open mic anarchy thread
Mark Manson
Everyone Is Mostly the Same… (And Why This Is Good News)
I started my first blog in 2007. By 2011, writing and publishing online was my full-time job. By...
over a year ago
I started my first blog in 2007. By 2011, writing and publishing online was my full-time job. By 2013, that writing was being read by over a million people each month. And while the exact number has fluctuated over the years, that still remains true.
Early on in my career, as you...
Diaries of Note
We are in the grip of Watergate
American journalist Edward Robb Ellis was sixteen when he began to keep a diary; by the time of his...
a year ago
American journalist Edward Robb Ellis was sixteen when he began to keep a diary; by the time of his death 71 years later, he had written approximately 22 million words—an incredible feat which, until it was surpassed in 1994, earned him a world record for the “longest published...
Diaries of Note
I try to make tea out of dust
Born in 1942 in Schenectady, New York, Lyn Lifshin was an award-winning American poet and feminist...
a year ago
Born in 1942 in Schenectady, New York, Lyn Lifshin was an award-winning American poet and feminist known for her unique voice and prolific output: over her lifetime, she authored more than 120 books and chapbooks of poetry, edited four anthologies of women’s writing, and...
journal – Winnie Lim
my experience on starting exercise from zero
I don’t know if people know this, but I used to be extremely sedentary and I hated any form of...
5 months ago
I don’t know if people know this, but I used to be extremely sedentary and I hated any form of physical activity. Only upon hindsight I realised it was probably related to...
Tech and Tea
How do you want to spend your time?
a question that seems to be on lots of people's minds
a year ago
a question that seems to be on lots of people's minds
Castles in the Sky
The Wedge Between Pleasure and Pain
Castles in the Sky #40
a year ago
The Map is Mostly...
Careful technology
Dear friends, There is a commonplace opinion that technology and the natural world, or that...
7 months ago
Dear friends, There is a commonplace opinion that technology and the natural world, or that technological pursuits and natural pursuits, are at odds. An example: I think this is a false position. But if this kind of sentiment is so often repeated, its worth thinking about why it...
Diaries of Note
Only work can save me
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Berryman was just eleven when his father took his own life, a...
a year ago
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Berryman was just eleven when his father took his own life, a trauma that profoundly affected Berryman and resulted in a lifelong struggle with mental illness and alcoholism. At thirty-two, while teaching at Princeton University and five years...
Scarlet Ink
9 Simple Actions You Can Take to Build a Culture of Empathy
You can build an accidental culture, or a purposeful culture. Take action to build a culture of...
3 months ago
You can build an accidental culture, or a purposeful culture. Take action to build a culture of empathy, and reap the rewards.
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Asimov on Fame, Fortune, and Creative Breakthrough
Part 2 of an Analysis of Isaac Asimov’s Long Lost Letter on Creativity
over a year ago
Part 2 of an Analysis of Isaac Asimov’s Long Lost Letter on Creativity
Diaries of Note
May they never give me peace
Patricia Highsmith was an author who mastered the art of the psychological thriller, leaving an...
11 months ago
Patricia Highsmith was an author who mastered the art of the psychological thriller, leaving an indelible mark on the genre with works like The Talented Mr. Ripley, published in 1955, and her compelling debut, Strangers on a Train—two highlights from an incredible collection of...
The Honest Broker
Nine Observations on the Avant-Garde
Has it disappeared? Does anybody care? Should they?
4 months ago
Has it disappeared? Does anybody care? Should they?
The Convivial...
The Stuff of (a Well-Lived) Life
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 7
7 months ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 7
Passing Time
FEEDBACK REQUEST: Making Meaning on Mt. Adams
Alt title: "Mt. Adams or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Dismiss the Plan"
a year ago
Alt title: "Mt. Adams or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Dismiss the Plan"
Diaries of Note
To pay up would constitute a precedent
Kenneth Tynan was a towering figure in the British theatre scene, known for his sharp criticism and...
a year ago
Kenneth Tynan was a towering figure in the British theatre scene, known for his sharp criticism and a remarkable ability to discern the pulse of contemporary drama. Born in Birmingham, England, in 1927, he began documenting his life and thoughts in diaries from the age of six, a...
Tech and Tea
When your post hits #1 on Hacker News
A behind-the-scenes look at my initial reaction 😬, all the stats, cross-posting to Medium, and...
a year ago
A behind-the-scenes look at my initial reaction 😬, all the stats, cross-posting to Medium, and lessons learned
Unfiltered by Tim...
Successful People Use "Anti-Productivity" to Achieve Extraordinary Results. You Should Too.
Here's what it bizarrely is (without complexity)
a month ago
Here's what it bizarrely is (without complexity)
Passing Time
Season-Chasing
Life is like the snow; it'll come and it will go
10 months ago
Life is like the snow; it'll come and it will go
Stoic Simple
The Stoic’s Guide to Achieving Lasting Contentment
Are you tired of constantly searching for happiness? Do you find yourself feeling unsatisfied,...
a year ago
Are you tired of constantly searching for happiness? Do you find yourself feeling unsatisfied, regardless of your accomplishments and possessions? If so, you might benefit from adopting the ancient philosophy of Stoicism. In this guide, we will explore the principles of Stoicism...
Stoic Simple
How Stoicism Helps Us Conquer & Overcome Fear
Fear is a natural part of the human experience. It can be a powerful motivator, helping us avoid...
a year ago
Fear is a natural part of the human experience. It can be a powerful motivator, helping us avoid danger and stay safe. However, fear can also hold us back from achieving our goals and living our best lives. But what if there was a way to conquer fear, to rise above it and become...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
The Designer’s Invisible Skill Set
How some designers become magicians while others remain stylists
over a year ago
How some designers become magicians while others remain stylists
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Seven Minutes on David Letterman
Abandon it in a garden and it may never catch anyone’s gaze. Lost in plain sight, it could be...
over a year ago
Abandon it in a garden and it may never catch anyone’s gaze. Lost in plain sight, it could be mistaken for an odd stone or the tip of a dark root protruding from the earth. The steel egg is alien, not beautiful in the way humans have decided is appropriate for display in art...
The Convivial...
The Enclosure of the Human Psyche
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 13
3 weeks ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 13
Laetitia@Work
Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron & demographic “warfare”
Laetitia@Work #65
11 months ago
Diaries of Note
In the world, yet not in it
Born in Geneva in 1821, Henri-Frédéric Amiel was a poet and philosopher who found little in the way...
a year ago
Born in Geneva in 1821, Henri-Frédéric Amiel was a poet and philosopher who found little in the way of recognition during his lifetime, perhaps due to the introspective nature that fuelled the journal for which he posthumously found fame. Always reaching for perfection and...
Letters of Note
Diaries of Note
Dear all, On 1st January of this year, after what feels like centuries of preparation, I launched...
a year ago
Dear all, On 1st January of this year, after what feels like centuries of preparation, I launched Diaries of Note, and though incredibly difficult to plan, the premise is simple: every single day, on the Diaries of Note website, I am featuring a single diary entry from history,...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Color Theory Scams, Exposing How Designers Manipulate You With Color
I am here to give you permission to call them out next time you hear color jargon. It is time...
over a year ago
I am here to give you permission to call them out next time you hear color jargon. It is time someone exposed the babble for what it is, manipulation.
Mind Mine
being in bloom
don’t forget to smell the roses
5 months ago
don’t forget to smell the roses
The Ruffian
Why Britain's Elites Shun Highbrow Culture
The Signal Has Flipped
2 months ago
journal – Winnie Lim
my mind, the invisible loudspeaker
Anhedonia. The inability to feel pleasure. I wonder if I have sort of been this way for as long as I...
a year ago
Anhedonia. The inability to feel pleasure. I wonder if I have sort of been this way for as long as I can remember. Is that why I’ve always been somewhat reckless and...
Stoic Simple
What Does it Mean to be a Stoic? Using Christianity to Explain Stoicism
by Tanner Campbell What does it mean to be a Stoic? I think Christianity can be used as a...
a year ago
by Tanner Campbell What does it mean to be a Stoic? I think Christianity can be used as a quasi-parallel to help answer this question. What does it mean to be a Christian? I think the base-line of the faith is the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. In Stoicism that...
Unfiltered by Tim...
If You Want to Be a Millionaire, You Need to Be Nicheless
Being nicheless is a higher state of consciousness
a month ago
Being nicheless is a higher state of consciousness
Diaries of Note
The bird has learned the bark of the dog
Reverend John Wesley was an influential Anglican cleric and theologian of the 18th century who,...
a year ago
Reverend John Wesley was an influential Anglican cleric and theologian of the 18th century who, along with his brother Charles, founded the Methodist movement. Much of his life was spent on horseback as he travelled the country, covering thousands of miles each year on his quest...
Diaries of Note
You must be looking for Stuart
Kevin Bentley was twenty-one when, in July of 1977, he left El Paso and headed for the bustling...
a year ago
Kevin Bentley was twenty-one when, in July of 1977, he left El Paso and headed for the bustling streets of San Francisco—one of thousands of young gay men flocking to this vibrant city in search of acceptance, community, and hedonism. San Francisco offered an enticing allure of...
Nat Eliason's...
A Map is Not a Blueprint: Why Fixing Nature Fails
Ozempic, Fertilizer, Lobotomies, and the dangers of hubris
10 months ago
Ozempic, Fertilizer, Lobotomies, and the dangers of hubris
The Honest Broker
I Talk with an AI Music Historian
Maybe a chatbot can teach me a few things
a year ago
Maybe a chatbot can teach me a few things
Jason Crawford
Things that can kill you quickly
There are things that kill you instantly, like a bullet to the head or a fall from twenty stories....
a year ago
There are things that kill you instantly, like a bullet to the head or a fall from twenty stories. First aid can’t help you there. There are also things that kill you relatively slowly, like a bacterial infection. If you have even hours to live, you can get to the emergency...
The Honest Broker
The Most Powerful Sound in the World Is Just One Syllable
And it comes from you
6 months ago
Both Are True
Aren't all parents competitive???
A convo with Rae Katz on handling that oh-so-icky feeling of wanting your kid to be THE BEST
a year ago
A convo with Rae Katz on handling that oh-so-icky feeling of wanting your kid to be THE BEST
Diaries of Note
Any visitor to the hospital is free to barge into his room
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Chicago witnessed the rise of Al Capone, a notorious mob boss...
a year ago
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Chicago witnessed the rise of Al Capone, a notorious mob boss who, despite running a vast and fearsome criminal enterprise for many years, evaded conviction until 1931 when he was finally indicted and convicted for tax evasion. Released from...
The Honest Broker
Am I Wrong About the Live Music Resurgence?
Am I crazy? Let's find out...
2 months ago
Am I crazy? Let's find out...
The Honest Broker
I Ask Seven Heretical Questions About Progress
And I offer seven radical hypotheses. But can you handle the truth?
11 months ago
And I offer seven radical hypotheses. But can you handle the truth?
The Honest Broker
The Number of Songs in the World Doubled Yesterday
Did you even notice?
a year ago
The Ruffian
Notes on Succession
Life is not a story
a year ago
Castles in the Sky
The Bookseller's Register #3
Two Customer Encounters
a year ago
The Honest Broker
8 Ways of Connecting Your Wi-Fi Can't Deliver
They are the pillars of a happy life. So why are they under such fierce attack?
2 months ago
They are the pillars of a happy life. So why are they under such fierce attack?
Diaries of Note
I should like to see him forcibly shaved
Born in Manchester, England, in 1904, Christopher Isherwood was a novelist, playwright, and...
a year ago
Born in Manchester, England, in 1904, Christopher Isherwood was a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter who left an indelible mark on 20th-century literature with novels like Goodbye to Berlin and A Single Man. He was also a keen diarist and since his death in 1986 multiple...
Mark Manson
4 Fascinating Psychological Theories That Explain Your Whole Life
Welcome, dear readers, to a mind-bending adventure into the labyrinth of the human psyche. We're...
a year ago
Welcome, dear readers, to a mind-bending adventure into the labyrinth of the human psyche. We're going to embark on an odyssey through the catacombs of cognition, the jungles of the subconscious, and a wild ride into the boundless depths of human behavior—with four psychological...
The Convivial...
The Prompt Box is a Minefield: AI Chatbots and Power of Language
The Convivial Society: Vol. 4, No. 2
a year ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 4, No. 2
Farza's Newsletter
been playing mario kart on my tamagotchi
Hey everyone! Chilling at a little cafe right now. Got a cappuccino and a cheese danish. So, we’re...
over a year ago
Hey everyone! Chilling at a little cafe right now. Got a cappuccino and a cheese danish. So, we’re working on _buildspace now and a lot of folks have asked me about why we pivoted away from ZipSchool. I’ll answer that question with a screenshot from our investor update below:
Diaries of Note
The ocean is strewn with a litter of woodwork, chairs and bodies
On the fateful morning of 21st April 1912, cable engineer Frederick A. Hamilton steeled himself for...
a year ago
On the fateful morning of 21st April 1912, cable engineer Frederick A. Hamilton steeled himself for a harrowing task. Six days earlier, the RMS Titanic had met its doom, striking an iceberg and plummeting to the depths, taking with it over 1,500 passengers and crew members in one...
The Honest Broker
Is There Such a Thing as Western Harmony?
Does anyone really own music theory, and who gets to decide?
a year ago
Does anyone really own music theory, and who gets to decide?
Adrian Hanft, III:...
Brainstorming Advice from a Long Lost Isaac Asimov Letter
When a writer like Isaac Asimov talks about creativity I take note. What can a lost letter about...
over a year ago
When a writer like Isaac Asimov talks about creativity I take note. What can a lost letter about creativity written by Isaac Asimov from 1959 teach us?
Luxagraf:...
Farm Life
One day this past summer a man stopped by our site to talk about the bus. I wasn't around, but when...
a year ago
One day this past summer a man stopped by our site to talk about the bus. I wasn't around, but when I got back he was telling Corrinne about something called Harvest Hosts. It's a clever idea, wineries, farms, other people with land provide free camping in exchange for you...
Passing Time
Savoring the Unsavory
Making Meaning on Mount Adams
11 months ago
Making Meaning on Mount Adams
The Honest Broker
What Happened to My Search Engine?
Or why tech upgrades are now mostly downgrades
11 months ago
Or why tech upgrades are now mostly downgrades
Laetitia@Work
7 Reasons Women Feel More Guilt At Work
Laetitia@Work #73
3 months ago
Mind Mine
slow down
what’s the rush?
6 months ago
How to Be a Stoic
Stoic advice: can a salesperson be a Stoic?
[Feel free to submit a question for this column, addressing it at massimo at howtobeastoic dot org....
over a year ago
[Feel free to submit a question for this column, addressing it at massimo at howtobeastoic dot org. However, consider that I have a significant backlog, and I may not get to your question for some time, or at all.] D. writes: How should a practising Stoic ethically approach their...
The Map is Mostly...
The King and the Hermit
Dear friends, there is a tale, Long ago there lived a king who had two sons. Both children were...
over a year ago
Dear friends, there is a tale, Long ago there lived a king who had two sons. Both children were overindulgent in spending and habits, and the king was much vexed by this careless nature. Being very old, he worried that after his death they would shortly blunder away their...
The Tao Of Wealth
The Meaning Of “Om”
With the help of “Om” one can realize the Divine. “Om” has a transformative power. “Om” represents...
over a year ago
With the help of “Om” one can realize the Divine. “Om” has a transformative power. “Om” represents the Divine. They say that all the aspirations of the world when going towards the Divine make “Om”, like that. I was in France, some, I think 60 years ago. There was a Frenchman who...
Nat Eliason's...
Cope as an Essential Life Skill
Go Fox Go
a year ago
Mind Mine
being more available to myself requires me to be less available to others
& other patterns i am trying to notice and break within myself
4 months ago
& other patterns i am trying to notice and break within myself
Left To Write
#1 Writemas
Prioritising time to think, write and publish
a year ago
Prioritising time to think, write and publish
The Honest Broker
The 6 New Rules of Communicating
The era of teleprompters and talking points has come to an end
a month ago
The era of teleprompters and talking points has come to an end
Castles in the Sky
Beautiful and Ordinary
Saturday
a year ago
Left To Write
№ 74: An Entrepreneurial Odyssey
How an epic poem can manage your expectations and reality
a year ago
How an epic poem can manage your expectations and reality
Both Are True
the detonator
no, i will not 'grieve' my pre-parent self
8 months ago
no, i will not 'grieve' my pre-parent self
The Convivial...
Re-sourcing the Mind
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No.
4 months ago
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No.
Diaries of Note
For the love of God, give me a flea!
Born in 1880 in the mining town of Diamantina, Alice Dayrell Caldeira Brant was in her sixties when...
a year ago
Born in 1880 in the mining town of Diamantina, Alice Dayrell Caldeira Brant was in her sixties when she found fame, for it was then that her teenage diary was published to wide acclaim. Written under the pseudonym Helena Morley between the ages of 12 and 15, the diary tells the...
Both Are True
A study of the heart (guest post)
cardiology and a dream rendezvous
7 months ago
cardiology and a dream rendezvous
Diaries of Note
It is like a building site, abandoned in November
Seamus Heaney, born in April 1939 in Northern Ireland, was a towering figure in the world of poetry...
a year ago
Seamus Heaney, born in April 1939 in Northern Ireland, was a towering figure in the world of poetry whose mastery over the lyrical evocation of place and past earned him numerous accolades, culminating in the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995. It was fifteen years before this...
Diaries of Note
I’ve given my pee to science
On 23rd November 2014, former Italian Air Force pilot Samantha Cristoforetti embarked on a...
a year ago
On 23rd November 2014, former Italian Air Force pilot Samantha Cristoforetti embarked on a monumental journey. Strapped into the confines of a Soyuz spacecraft in Kazakhstan, she was launched towards the International Space Station where she was to live for 199 days—the longest...
The Ruffian
Britain's Peculiar Brand of Patriotism, In Three Ads
Heroes To Zeroes
6 months ago
The Honest Broker
Why Are Huge Tech Companies Getting Into the Book Business?
Do they want to help writers or destroy them?
2 weeks ago
Do they want to help writers or destroy them?
The Ruffian
Rattle Bag
Thoughts on the Boris brand, Biden's prospects, why the Brits got so good at pop, and what to read.
a year ago
Thoughts on the Boris brand, Biden's prospects, why the Brits got so good at pop, and what to read.
Passing Time
Why Write?
Other than the egotism, of course…
a year ago
Other than the egotism, of course…
Diaries of Note
The French coast was torn up
On July 1, 1944, Vincent “Roi” Ottley boarded S.S. Scythia in New York and began his unprecedented...
a year ago
On July 1, 1944, Vincent “Roi” Ottley boarded S.S. Scythia in New York and began his unprecedented journey as the first African American war correspondent in World War II. Arriving in a Europe scarred by conflict, Ottley reported for three different publications, providing...
journal – Winnie Lim
why i love hong kong
Hong Kong still seems like the same place in many ways, but it feels different. I don’t know how...
7 months ago
Hong Kong still seems like the same place in many ways, but it feels different. I don’t know how much of it is due to the changes in me or the changes...
Both Are True
Wacky Guy One: prepping for the audition that coulda changed everything
a raw and unvarnished look at what it takes to make it in hollywood with celebrated commercial actor...
a year ago
a raw and unvarnished look at what it takes to make it in hollywood with celebrated commercial actor Alex Dobrenko
The Honest Broker
The Rise of the Anonymous Music Star
Do streaming platforms view famous artists as a threat to their brands?
8 months ago
Do streaming platforms view famous artists as a threat to their brands?
Laetitia@Work
Single Mum By Default
Laetitia@Work #45
over a year ago
The Ruffian
Winners and Losers
How the Zero Sum Mindset Shapes Society
a year ago
How the Zero Sum Mindset Shapes Society
Both Are True
there's so much i want to tell you
here i go
2 months ago
Diaries of Note
Hot weather is the mother of procrastination
Although Thomas Edison filled numerous notebooks with writings pertaining to his groundbreaking...
a year ago
Although Thomas Edison filled numerous notebooks with writings pertaining to his groundbreaking inventions, he kept a personal diary only once in his eighty-four years. Spanning a period of just nine days in July of 1885, the diary was written when Edison was already renowned and...
Paul Cudenec
The global mafia and its designs on Africa
Rwanda has in recent years become an important nerve-centre for the global criminocracy’s...
a week ago
Rwanda has in recent years become an important nerve-centre for the global criminocracy’s financial-imperialist designs on Africa, as I set out in an August 2023 article entitled ‘Cogs of corruption and control’.
Mark Manson
How to Be Successful in Life
The internet is inundated with countless videos and advice columns promising to teach you how to...
a year ago
The internet is inundated with countless videos and advice columns promising to teach you how to become more successful than 99% of the world's population.
Most of these claims revolve around setting goals, developing discipline, and eliminating distractions.
But let's face it:...
Both Are True
Wait the Piña Colada song is about what?!
45 years ago today, the world was changed // hint: its not about frikkin piña coladas I can tell you...
3 months ago
45 years ago today, the world was changed // hint: its not about frikkin piña coladas I can tell you that right now
Atoms vs Bits
The Hand-Squeegee Philosophy
After showering, many people "hand-squeegee" some of the water off themselves before using a towel.
10 months ago
After showering, many people "hand-squeegee" some of the water off themselves before using a towel.
Castles in the Sky
Everything is a Mood
There and Back Again with ADHD Medicine
a year ago
There and Back Again with ADHD Medicine
Unfiltered by Tim...
It's Absolutely Pointless to Start Anything Unless You'll Do It Daily
The simple shift in thinking that'll help you work on less so you get deep focus.
5 days ago
The simple shift in thinking that'll help you work on less so you get deep focus.
Left To Write
📢 PSA: Making Some Changes
Hello copynotes & Poker Confidential
a year ago
Hello copynotes & Poker Confidential
Nat Eliason's...
The Scariest Day of My Life
What the hell am I supposed to do?
5 months ago
What the hell am I supposed to do?
The Honest Broker
Dave Hickey on Dolly Parton and Richard Pryor
I share passages from the expanded 30th anniversary edition of 'The Invisible Dragon'
a year ago
I share passages from the expanded 30th anniversary edition of 'The Invisible Dragon'
The Honest Broker
12 Predictions on the Future of Song Investing
Who will eventually own all the dead stars of rock & roll?
a year ago
Who will eventually own all the dead stars of rock & roll?
The Convivial...
Learning to Receive the Day
Listen now | The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 1 (supplement)
9 months ago
Listen now | The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 1 (supplement)
The Honest Broker
A 2000-Year-Old Argument Over the Flute Is the Most Important Thing in Our Culture Right Now
This bitter debate from ancient times helps us understand today's crisis in music and other creative...
4 months ago
This bitter debate from ancient times helps us understand today's crisis in music and other creative fields
Nat Eliason's...
Make the Commitment You're Afraid to Make
The cost of looking for new mountains
a year ago
The cost of looking for new mountains
RhysTranter.com
Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life: Telling the Story of Saints
In 'A Hidden Life: Telling the Story of Saints', Mark Cooprider offers an accessible analysis of...
over a year ago
In 'A Hidden Life: Telling the Story of Saints', Mark Cooprider offers an accessible analysis of Terrence Malick's 2019 biopic of the Austrian conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter—executed in 1943 for his refusal to swear allegiance to National Socialism. Cooprider explores...
Luxagraf:...
Build
When in doubt, build shelves. Building things is an essential part of life. Shelves are easy and...
a year ago
When in doubt, build shelves. Building things is an essential part of life. Shelves are easy and satisfying to build. They're useful too. Everyone needs more shelf space. Everywhere I've ever lived I built some shelves or bookcase or some sort of flat surface on which to put...
Adrian Hanft, III:...
The Journey of a Single Brush Stroke
There's a painting hanging in my garage that I am not particularly proud of. I keep it around...
over a year ago
There's a painting hanging in my garage that I am not particularly proud of. I keep it around because of a single brush stroke. The rest of the painting is mediocre, a still life of dismembered baby doll parts, the standard assignment given to beginning painting students. I...
Wait But Why
Why I Lugged My 27-Pound Toddler to a Rocket Launch
So heavy but so worth it
The post Why I Lugged My 27-Pound Toddler to a Rocket Launch appeared first...
2 months ago
So heavy but so worth it
The post Why I Lugged My 27-Pound Toddler to a Rocket Launch appeared first on Wait But Why.
Castles in the Sky
The Power of Being Weird
There are a lot of different ways to be an outsider. Nobody really wants to be a misfit or a "noob."...
a year ago
There are a lot of different ways to be an outsider. Nobody really wants to be a misfit or a "noob." But there is wisdom in outsiders. They can be characters who challenge societal norms and reshape our understanding of what it means to belong. There are some people for whom...
Tech and Tea
Owning your unique experience
moving away from a deficiency mindset
a year ago
moving away from a deficiency mindset
Stoic Simple
An Introduction to the Ancient Philosophy of Stoicism
Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that has gained popularity in recent years as a practical...
a year ago
Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that has gained popularity in recent years as a practical guide for navigating life's challenges. It is a philosophy that places great importance on improving oneself and making the most of one's circumstances, regardless of external...
Diaries of Note
THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS
Woody Guthrie was a folk pioneer, social activist, and restless wanderer who journeyed across the...
a year ago
Woody Guthrie was a folk pioneer, social activist, and restless wanderer who journeyed across the country, connecting with the struggles and aspirations of the American people during the trying times of the Great Depression. He filled innumerable notebooks with lyrics, prose,...
Passing Time
Aridity Incarnate
The American West, Fiction, and Water
2 months ago
The American West, Fiction, and Water
Stoic Simple
The Leaf, the Cart and the Stacking of Stones
by Phil Van Treuren Your mind: a spring-fed pool, constantly renewed with fresh, cool water....
a year ago
by Phil Van Treuren Your mind: a spring-fed pool, constantly renewed with fresh, cool water. Unwanted thoughts are leaves falling into the pool; acknowledge them, let the stream carry them away, think of them no more. Your body: a sturdy cart, able to carry heavy burdens....
The Honest Broker
Open Thread: What Is Your Spiciest Hot Take?
Tell us your most controversial views on music, books, movies & other arts
a year ago
Tell us your most controversial views on music, books, movies & other arts
DYNOMIGHT
Thoughts on seed oil
A friend has spent the last three years hounding me about seed oils. Every time I thought I was...
8 months ago
A friend has spent the last three years hounding me about seed oils. Every time I thought I was safe, he’d wait a couple months and renew his attack:
“When are you going to write about seed oils?”
“Did you know that seed oils are why there’s so much {obesity, heart disease,...
Scarlet Ink
A Three Topic Article — Interviewing, Multiple Choice Management, and My Holiday Gift Guide
Sometimes you have a single topic, sometimes you have three. Today is a 3-fer.
a month ago
Sometimes you have a single topic, sometimes you have three. Today is a 3-fer.
How to Be a Stoic
The Ethics of the Family in Seneca, VI: rewriting the family
Seneca wrote his famous letters to Lucilius near the end of his life. They are not just...
over a year ago
Seneca wrote his famous letters to Lucilius near the end of his life. They are not just philosophical letters to a friend, but a structured curriculum in Stoic philosophy, as the entries are meant to be read in sequence, with the reader assuming the role of Lucilius. Moreover,...
Both Are True
a bookstore, joan didion, and me
turning toward the mystery and the do-it-yourself guide to fighting the big motherfuckin' sad
2 months ago
turning toward the mystery and the do-it-yourself guide to fighting the big motherfuckin' sad
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