Regaining Focus

Manuel Moreale

The main thing I realized recently is how lost my mind has become. I stopped meditating, I stopped reading books, and I’m consuming an unhealthy amount of news. The worst part of all this is that I’m painfully aware of all this happening. I’m mindful enough to notice the inner workings of my mind going to shit but not mindful enough to do what’s needed to change the situation. I despise being in this silly middle ground. But at the same time, I’m grateful to know that there’s a way out of this and it only requires some dedication, a healthy dose of patience, and more importantly some kindness towards myself.


The Greatest Productivity Tips

Nicholas Bate

If it’s big, make it small: break it down into mangeable, time and brain friendly chunks.

If it’s small, make it big: what’s the big reason behind this task, why is it important to me?

Go produce.


The Cold, Awful Truth


The People’s Choice

Bill Kristol, writing at The Bulwark, wonders what this all means.

The American people have made a disastrous choice. And they have done so decisively, and with their eyes wide open.

Donald J. Trump will be our next president, elected with a majority of the popular vote, likely winning both more votes and more states than he did in his two previous elections. After everything — after his chaotic presidency, after January 6th, after the last year in which the mask was increasingly off, and no attempt was made to hide the extremism of the agenda or the ugliness of the appeal — the American people liked what they saw. At a minimum, they were willing to accept what they saw.

And Trump was running against a competent candidate who ran a good campaign to the center and bested him in a debate, with a strong economy. Yet Trump prevailed, pulling off one of the most remarkable comebacks in American political history. Trump boasted last night, “We’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” and he’s not altogether wrong. […]

So: We can lament our situation. We can analyze how we got here. We can try to learn lessons from what has happened. We have to do all these things.

But we can’t only do those things. As Churchill put it: “In Defeat: Defiance.” We’ll have to keep our nerve and our principles against all the pressure to abandon them. We’ll have to fight politically and to resist lawfully. We’ll have to do our best to limit the damage from Trump. And we’ll have to lay the groundwork for future recovery.

To do all this, we’ll have to constitute a strong opposition and a loyal opposition, loyal to the Declaration and the Constitution, loyal to the past achievements and future promise of this nation, loyal to what America has been and should be.


Every Day Starts Here | Episode 04: The Moment


Election Grief Is Real. Here’s How to Cope

Meghan Bartels

Short term, you have to do something you can control when you’re in a situation you can’t control. Do something you can control—in your house, in your home, with your family. Go running, listen to music, go to a movie, do something that requires action, that makes your body move. You’ll feel better for that. Go see a neighbor.

Long term, get involved. Get involved with whatever works for change that will bring us closer to the future, not take us backward.


The Brutal Clarity of This Result

John Gruber

I realized this year — or perhaps over the last four years — that for me, belief in the merits of democracy is quasi-religious. It’s more than a philosophy. It’s a fundamental belief. I have faith in democracy, and part of that is accepting the results of any fair and free election as the will of the electorate — similar, I think, to how actually religious people have faith that unspeakable tragedies can somehow be the will of a just and righteous deity. Through that prism, and with the genuine shock of 2016 giving me a brace, I can accept this. But because of that prism, I will never forgive or forget Trump’s shameful desecration of our democratic ideals in 2020. His winning in 2016 and again now are awful events. But his attempt to overturn the 2020 election — ham-fisted, idiotic, and failed though it thankfully was — was and will always be worse.

I didn’t want to believe more people liked his ideas than not. It doesn’t matter, though, because he’s still an asshole and unfit for office. January 6 is just one of the reasons.


Cultural Shifts


Democracy Is Not Over

Tom Nichols, writing for The Atlantic

Paradoxically, however, Trump’s reckless venality is a reason for hope. Trump has the soul of a fascist but the mind of a disordered child. He will likely be surrounded by terrible but incompetent people. All of them can be beaten: in court, in Congress, in statehouses around the nation, and in the public arena. America is a federal republic, and the states — at least those in the union that will still care about democracy — have ways to protect their citizens from a rogue president. Nothing is inevitable, and democracy will not fall overnight.

Do not misunderstand me. I am not counseling complacency: Trump’s reelection is a national emergency. If we have learned anything from the past several years, it’s that feel-good, performative politics can’t win elections, but if there was ever a time to exercise the American right of free assembly, it is now — not least because Trump is determined to end such rights and silence his opponents. […]

Trump’s victory is a grim day for the United States and for democracies around the world. You have every right to be appalled, saddened, shocked, and frightened. Soon, however, you should dust yourself off, square your shoulders, and take a deep breath. Americans who care about democracy have work to do.

I was cautiously optimistic Harris would win, but I knew it was possible this guy would find a way. We live in the worst possible timeline.


Kinds of Power

Seth Godin

There’s the James Bond villian sort of power, based on division, dominance and destruction. This is the short-term power of bullies, trauma and mobs.

And then there’s a more resilient form of power. This is power based on connection, discussion and metrics. A power based in reality over the long term.

Divisive power tears things down. Resilient power builds things up.

Resilient power creates the conditions for the community to produce value over time. Resilient power uses optimism and fairness to create value because participants can see ways they can participate and contribute.

Fear might be for sale, but that doesn’t mean we have to buy it.

Better is possible.


What it’s Like Running the New York Marathon

Will Leitch, writing for New York Magazine, detailed his experience running the New York Marathon.

Before Sunday, I had never run 26.2 miles in my life. Like many people preparing for their first marathon, I spent months training for the actual race and weeks constructing a perfect playlist for it. This was a meticulous, almost scientific process. For the first few miles, I queued up some chill live sets from the War on Drugs. For the straightaways of Brooklyn: Big Thief. For the grueling inclines of the Queensboro Bridge: a turn to metal, with some propulsive Iron Maiden, Screaming Females, and the Sword. I timed my mix to end with the Detroit Cobras’ “Feel Good,” a song that makes me smile and jump around every time I hear it — even, I theorized, after running for four hours. It would have been a great playlist, if I’d ever gotten the chance to hear it.

A few feet from the marathon’s starting line, there’s a box set up for runners to donate clothing they’ve been wearing to keep warm as they wait for the race to begin. I had on an old beaten-up hoodie I’d brought specifically to discard for this purpose. As we all approached the line, with runners beginning to hop up and down with nervous anticipation, I removed my sweatshirt and tossed it in the box. I then took out my phone, loaded up my Spotify, and realized … I’d just thrown out my headphones with the hoodie. The perfect playlist was all for naught, and I was about to embark on the most difficult physical test of my life in total silence — a man alone with his thoughts, hearing only the steps of his own feet and the ever-increasing gasps and heaves of his own breath.

And it turned out to be the best part of the whole experience. The New York City Marathon is not something to be filtered through one’s apps and siloed into algorithmic personalizations. It is best experienced with open ears, open eyes, and, yeah, I’ll say it: an open heart. To be among the people of New York for four hours is to be carried by them, and I’d have missed so much of it if I’d been enveloped by indie rock and death metal the whole time. To run the marathon is to be transformed, to learn things about yourself and the world around you that you couldn’t know beforehand. And to do it on the eve of an election that we’ve all, justifiably, spent weeks, months, years gnawing down our fingernails awaiting was therapeutic in all the right ways (and some of the wrong ones).

It’s like nothing I’ve experienced before or anticipate experiencing again.

What a wonderful write up. Read the whole thing.


Election Day 2024

Election Day is finally here. (*gulp*)

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, after replacing a Biden campaign killed by an abysmal June debate, has run a historic sprint to the finish, promising (with Coach Tim Walz) “A New Way Forward” focused on reproductive rights, middle class economics, and protecting American democracy. Former President Donald Trump, saddled with myriad felonies, a historically unpopular running mate, and a platform that ranges from fascistic to incoherent, leads a darkly authoritarian counterculture that tried once to subvert the popular will and aims to do so again. Dozens of key House and Senate and ballot races hang in the balance, and the outcome has titanic implications for human rights, climate change, the international order, and the future of liberal democracy around the world. But despite the stark contrast, a lingering economic malaise (and suspiciously close polling) make this look like the closest contest in modern history. So let’s give it a push in the right direction, yeah?

Voting resources: Check your registration - Find your polling place - Make your plan - States with same-day registration - See what’s on your ballot - USA.gov voting guide

Volunteer to get out the vote: Knock on doors - Phonebank - Textbank - Carpool - Neighbor2Neighbor - Help cure ballots

Follow the returns: Poll closing times - DecisionDeskHQ results - 538 benchmarks - Live coverage - Politico Liveblog - Preparing for post-election subversion - Timeline through Inauguration Day

The 2024 presidential race went from deja vu to unprecedented overnight More bits and bobs: Harris on SNL - Rogan endorses Trump - Lebron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Harrison Ford endorse Harris - The Onion examines a key swing voter - Dixville Notch is… a tie - over 78 million votes have been cast thus far In Texas: A pregnant teenager died after trying to get care in three visits to Texas emergency rooms Exactly how Trump could ban abortion nationwide John Oliver’s emotional final plea, highlighting Palestinian-American Georgia state rep. Ruwa Romman Harris vows at Michigan rally to ‘do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza’ RFK Jr. wants federal health data so he can show vaccines are unsafe, Trump transition co-chair says Five ways a Trump presidency would be disastrous for the climate Could Dan Osborn, an independent candidate from Nebraska, upend the U.S. Senate race? What Putin really wants from the US election

Closing arguments: Kamala Harris - Tim Walz - Barack Obama - Michelle Obama

H/T: Metafilter


In Memory Of Quincy Jones (1933-2024)

Quincy Jones, who distinguished himself throughout a 70-year career in music as an artist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and producer, has died. He was 91.

Justin Curto, writing for Vulture, has a look back at his beginnings.

Before he became one of music’s most visible moguls, Jones was a trumpeter who performed with jazz musicians like Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, and he backed Elvis Presley multiple times. He soon began working as the house music director at Mercury Records, and he worked his way up to vice-president at the label. He also began scoring movies, starting with the 1964 drama The Pawnbroker. By 1968, he received his first Oscar nomination for Best Original Score for In Cold Blood. The same year, he was up for Best Original Song for “The Eyes of Love,” from Banning, making him the first Black nominee in that category, along with the first Black person to be nominated for two Oscars in the same year. At the same time, Jones composed hits of his own, like the 1962 song “Soul Bossa Nova” (later known as the Austin Powers theme), and produced Lesley Gore’s early-’60s string of hits, along with arranging and conducting albums for Frank Sinatra.

While working as the music supervisor on the 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz, Jones met Michael Jackson, and thus began his most fruitful collaboration. He produced Jackson’s next three albums, Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, helping craft a then-unmatched period of pop dominance. Jones also worked with Jackson and Lionel Richie to produce the hit charity single “We Are the World” and wrangle dozens of pop stars for the project.

Jones extended his success to film, producing The Color Purple in 1985, and television, producing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He also founded the R&B and hip-hop magazine Vibe. He had seven children, including Parks and Recreation actress Rashida Jones, producer Quincy Jones III, designer Kidada Jones, and model Kenya Kinski-Jones.

Rick Beato dedicated a live stream on his channel to Quincy Jones.

What a life.


What We Do Tomorrow

Patrick Rhone

Thought for today: What do I want future generations to learn in their high school US History class?

What we do tomorrow will determine that.


Kamala Harris, For the People


Skeleton Crew Official Trailer

The Star Wars universe has made its version of The Goonies. I’m unsure if I’m the audience for this trailer or the show.

I guess I might watch it… I dunno.


Shorts

Half a dozen exceptional One Minute Films. Also, from Reddit, half a dozen exceptional Five Minute films. (five minutes or less, that is). Seven minute limit. Finally, ten good shorts under ten minutes.

Looking for more shorts: Four dozen outstanding short films of varying duration.

H/T: Metafilter


The Yankees May Have Blown Their Best Chance for Years

Will Leitch, writing for New York Magazine, thinks the Yankees have blown their chance at a WS win.

For Yankees fans, one of the more charming story lines from this World Series was the emergence of a photo of current shortstop Anthony Volpe as an 8-year-old, taken in the parade after the Yankees won their last World Series in 2009. Little Anthony is very cute, and he looks extremely happy. And the tale of the boy who grew up cheering for Derek Jeter and the Yankees now playing his hero’s old position, and trying to win his own World Series, is irresistible. What baseball-loving kid hasn’t imagined doing the same thing?

But by the end of the series, which wrapped up Thursday night with a wild Dodgers 7-6 game-five victory, the photo was just another reminder of how long it has been since the Yankees last captured a championship. That kid is now an adult; the Dodgers now have what the Yankees once did; you and everyone you know and love have gotten so, so old. The joy of the Yankees reaching their first Fall Classic in 15 years lasted exactly six days. The perpetual Yankees question remains: Now what?

What’s most frustrating for Yankees fans is that they really should be up 3-2 on the Dodgers right now and heading back to Los Angeles. They were an out away from winning game one when manager Aaron Boone inexplicably brought in Nestor Cortes, who hadn’t pitched in a month, in the bottom of the tenth. He promptly and predictably gave up a walk-off three-run homer to Freddie Freeman.

That was brutal, but game five’s mistakes were worse. The Yankees jumped out to a 5-0 lead, launching three homers off clearly depleted Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty, including a two-run shot from Aaron Judge — who looked to finally be rounding himself into regular-season shape. Yankee Stadium was roaring, Gerrit Cole was cruising (throwing a no-hitter, actually), and it looked like a game six was inevitable. But the postseason has a way of revealing those nagging flaws you tried to pretend your team didn’t have, and the biggest issue the Yankees have had all year — their inherent sloppiness — tore their season apart. Judge dropped an easy fly ball in center field. Volpe made a throwing error to third base. And worst of all, with the Yankees needing just one out to escape the inning, Cole didn’t cover first base on a ground ball, allowing Mookie Betts to reach and Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez base hits that would tie the game. By the time the Dodgers took the lead for good in the eighth, no one in Yankee Stadium was surprised. The Yankees were frequently excellent this season. But they never really played like one of those sharp Yankees teams that won all those titles decades ago. You could absolutely see this coming.

I’m glad I’m not a Yankees fan, but being a Cardinals fan isn’t much better.


Michelle Obama Has the Best Message to Voters

Rebecca Traister, writer-at-large for New York Magazine and the Cut, had a story about one of the best advocates Kamala Harris has on her side: Michelle Obama.

On the last Saturday of October, Michelle Obama appeared in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and gave one of the most remarkable political speeches in memory. It was expansive and nuanced, yet conveyed the most straightforward message imaginable, applicable not just to the presidential candidate she was supporting, but to the millions of people who will be voting in the 2024 election:

“I am asking you all, from the core of my being, to take our lives seriously,” she implored. “Please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us. A vote for him is a vote against us. Against our health, against our worth.” This is a question, she said, “about our value as women in this world.”

Her speech, which you can view in its entirety, was one of the best appeals I’ve ever heard. Traister called it:

… the more vivid, deeply felt, blood-and-guts vision of what this election is about. At its heart was the simplest and most heartbreaking of contentions — that women are people.

The fact that one side does not consider women as individuals and thinks of them more like how they are viewed in The Handmaid’s Tale is shockingly atrocious.

And should be immediately disqualifying.

The fact that Michelle Obama still must go up and tell an audience that women are people is sad.

I want this election to be over so bad.


The Dodgers Did it the Weird Way

David Roth, writing for Defector, reflects on the Dodgers winning the World Series. I’m such a fan of Roth’s writing. Incredibly jealous. So good.

The team that finished off a five-game World Series victory against the Yankees on Wednesday night with an admirably ugly, brutal, and retrospectively commanding 7-6 win was not remotely the most dominant of the Dodgers teams that couldn’t manage that during the team’s tenure atop the National League. This year’s champs were the winningest team in the National League, again, but they were by far less healthy and always seemed less touched by October’s strange grace than the Padres and Mets teams that they dispatched to get to the World Series. They dispatched them all the same.

Destiny and grace are great, and great fun while they last, but a team that refuses to make mistakes in the ways that the Dodgers did this October will always have the advantage. It makes sense that the team that took the best at-bats, and which made the most of the outwardly marginal types that fill out even the best and best-compensated lineups, would wind up on top at the end. It makes more sense when that team also has three Hall of Famers at various stages of their prime at the top of its lineup, as the Dodgers do. And yet, until the moment that Walker Buehler—the starting pitcher, same guy who missed two years with arm injuries and who pitched two days ago—got the last out in the bottom of the ninth at Yankee Stadium, it never quite felt sensible, or remotely ordained. All of which is to say that it fit.

It fit that the most unreasonable Dodgers juggernaut of this generation of juggernauts—a team that entered October with something like 60 percent of a starting rotation, no closer, and a first baseman who ran like he was wearing a parking boot—would be the one to finish the job. October is like that, and baseball is like that. It doesn’t make this Dodgers team any less deserving, but it also doesn’t make the far better teams that preceded them any more undeserving. This Dodgers team absolutely earned it, but this World Series was also about the best organization in baseball finally outlasting the inevitable and inexorable deranging effects of October baseball. Just keep getting there, and eventually what happened for the Dodgers in the top of the fifth inning of Game 5 might happen to you. This is true whether you “deserve” to be there or not. Deserve, in October, has got nothing to do with it.

Not having a dog in the fight made this a much more enjoyable experience.

There’s no question in my mind that these are the two most talented teams in baseball. It’s also no surprise that both teams have the highest payrolls in the top ten (with some interesting caveats for Dodger Ohtani). While both dazzled, one team’s flawless execution contrasted sharply with the other’s costly missteps, particularly in Game 5.