Then – May 23rd 2020
What I’m Reading (or *Re-Reading):
Atlas Shrugged (*), by Ayn Rand
OPAR + Understanding Objectivism (*), by Leonard Peikoff
Dandelion Wine (*), by Ray Bradbury
Blandings Castle, by PG Wodehouse
A Guide to the Good Life (*), by William Irvine
Master and Commander, by Patrick O’Brian – just finished
What I’m Listening to (*Re-Listening to) on Audible:
The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, by Dr. Steven Novella
The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris
Letters From a Stoic (*), by Seneca
Anton Checkov’s Short Stories, narrated by Stephen Fry
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (*), by JK Rowling – just finished
Photographer Whose Work I’m Sitting With a Lot Lately:
Willy Ronis
Photography Tool I’m Having a Lot of Fun With Lately:
The DxO FilmPack 5
Albums I’m Really Enjoying Right Now:
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto Nos. 2 & 3, perf. by Vladimir Horowitz
Bruce Springsteen – Hammersmith Odeon, London ’75
U2 – Wide Awake in America
Kenny Chesney – Live in No Shoes Nation
Bob Seger – Night Moves
Pink Floyd – The Final Cut
Chess Position I Can Still Sit and Marvel At
I love studying famous chess games, and this one (Kasparov-Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999) is one of the all-time greats. From this position (after Black’s 23rd move) Kasparov unleashed one of the most dazzling attacks ever recorded in Grandmaster chess, leading with a sacrifice of one Rook for the pawn at d4 and then immediately followed with a sacrifice of his other Rook by simply plunking it down on e7 with check. Just incredible.
A Few Things I’m Especially Grateful For:
Another gorgeous spring bursting with life — and all the gusto I can bring to it.
My trusty (and still beloved) Fuji X100T camera.
The half hour I am able to spend each morning in the reading room (our “Cherry Tree Room”), with a book on philosophy, a cafe mocha, and at least two cats beside me.
A Favorite Quotation I’ve Been Revisiting in My Journal:
“If you are exceptionally selective and find the few things that matter deeply to you, life acquires a purpose and meaning way beyond what it had previously, when you were somewhat concerned about a large number of issues.” – from Living the 80/20 Way, by Richard Koch
Something Else I’ve Been Reflecting On Lately:
When you wake up each morning eager to do some good in this world, you just flat out make things happen.
Three Facts That Boggle My Mind:
1.) The Andromeda Galaxy (M31), which I can see with my naked eye on crisp dark nights, is not far outside our own galaxy but fully two and a half million light years away. This means that as I look at it, I’m looking two and a half million years into the past, since that’s how long the light has been traveling before it reached my eyes.
2.) A hummingbird beats its wings about 70 times per second, and up to 200 times per second when diving (when it can reach speeds of up to 60 mph). This from the tiniest bird weighing on average only about as much as five pennies.
3.) Exactly 75 years ago this month (not long ago at all really) World War II came to an end in Europe and the Nazi concentration camps were at last liberated. And to think that all that happened within living memory …
What I’m Mostly Doing Now:
1.) Preparing some really exciting tutorials for my advanced “KAIZEN Group.”
2.) Readying to publish a brand new iPhoneography course by the wonderfully talented Nicki Fitz-Gerald — certain to be a huge hit!
3.) Consulting the Objective Standard Institute on how to best launch a full slate of courses on The Morality of Loving Life, Thinking In Principles, and Human Flourishing.
4.) Wondering when I’ll be able to get back to visiting my favorite waterfalls and wondering whether the Asheville Tourists (our minor league baseball team) will be able to give us at least half a season still.
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Curious about one week further back? If so, click here to see what I was up to THEN …