Categories
Books Personal Random

A Month of Intention

Last year during July, I read a classic: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. To be honest, during the first read-through, I didn’t really get it. But then I watched a video from Ryan Holiday (of Daily Stoic fame), who mentioned that the Gregory Hays’ translation is the modern translation for those wanting to get into Marcus Aurelius. I know that I subscribe to stoicism as a philosophy, and wanting to really understand this Stoic stalwart, I decided that this July I would re-read Meditations…but this time using the Hays translation. I’m glad I did. It’s worth the hype, and at less than $8 on Amazon, it’s a worthwhile buy.

But my July plan didn’t stop there. I resolved on July 1 to make July a “month of intention”. Every day, I would read a passage from three books: fiction, non-fiction, and the Scriptures. I’ve been reading Asimov’s Foundation series, and I also decided to start the month with a read through of Ecclesiastes and reading Psalms 134-140 everyday.

By the end of the month, I had read Foundation, Foundation & Empire, Meditations, Ecclesiastes, Nehemiah, Obadiah, and Habakkuk. I’ve also started reading Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power (I’m now on Law 11), and I also added a fourth category of reading: something work related (code or startup).

I also resolved to write everyday: code and prose. To date, I’ve committed some piece of substantial code to Github every day this month as well as working on a creative writing project that I’ve had in my head for years.Tracking was simple: I added todos in Things for Reading and Writing with subtasks for each thing I wanted to read. Those are set up on a daily recurring basis, with a noon reminder. Some days were tough, with some reading sessions occuring at 11:30p before the next day, but overall I got it done.

Overall, this month of intention has been a wild success. I’ve enjoyed the discipline, and while I’m not sure I’ll be as strict about the discipline moving forward, I’ll definitely do it again next year…including another read of Mediations.

Categories
Random

The Beauty of Music

Some theological scholars believe that the Adamic language spoken in the Garden of Eden was musical in nature; the words recorded in Genesis between Adam and Eve are essentially poetry. One could also take this thinking a step further and assert that communication in Heaven is via song as well. While many would frame the Book of Revelation as science fiction, as written, it’s much more akin to a giant musical, complete with choir-driven numbers and solo acts.

Music is a near universal art and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who “doesn’t like music”. So what is it about music that so captivates human nature? I think it’s quite clear: music is the intersection of mathematics and the mind. The artful collision of objective truths (in the form of chord progressions, mathematical pattern, and vibrations through a medium) and subjective interpretation (emotional resonance, life circumstance, and personal preference) produces a form of expression that is simultaneously accessible and individual.

One of the great debates in 21st century philosophy (and indeed culture!) has been the dichotomy between absolute and relative truth. In the court of public opinion, music itself is Exhibit A that this dichotomy among modern philosophies may actually be a false one. We don’t have to choose between absolute truths and subjective truths: both can peacefully co-exist. There can be a universal reality that is locally (or personally) interpreted.

Where math meets mind is the truest expression of what it means to be human…dating as far back as human existence.

Categories
Culture

Song by Song: The 1975’s Notes on a Conditional Form

Matt Healy’s The 1975 released a new album last week, and it’s been on repeat for me ever since. Overall, the album is a solid offering from the British rock/pop band, and 22 songs is welcome from their 4th full-length album.

In my opinion this album is their best since their self-titled debut, and has some pretty interesting exploration from song to song. NOACF certainly bends genres, and is quite a diverse album. That said, there are a few songs that could have been left on the metaphorical editing floor. I’d give Notes on a Conditional Form a 7.5/10. The back half of the album alone is worth repeat listening, and I’ll be listening to the album as a whole off and on for a while. Below’s a song-by-song breakdown:

The 1975: Every 1975 album starts with The 1975. That hasn’t changed. What has changed are the lyrics, for the first time. The tickling of the keys provides a backdrop for Greta Thunberg’s monologue, and amounts to the most memorable album opener for me since Kendrick’s BLOOD. Somber. Beautiful. Hopeful. It’s not what I expected from The 1975, but I’m glad I got it. 10/10

People: After Greta’s charge to “rebel”, we’re led into a classic British glam-punk featuring Healy in full on angst mode. The vocals and the distortion on the guitars reminds me a ton of Colorado’s The Photo Atlas, and unfortunately TPA does this style a lot better than The 1975. 6/10

The End (Music for Cars): To lead from People into this symphonic version of Hnscc hints at the diversity of what we can expect from the rest of the album. An instrumental offering, the brass lead off the short track which gets resolved with woodwinds and strings. Serves as a nice introduction into the first pop song on the album. 7/10

Frail State of Mind: Smart. That’s a word that can be used to describe a number of singles on the album, including this one. As commentary on social anxiety, it’s pretty brilliant. As a pop single with a bit of garage tracking? It’s quite catchy. 8/10

Streaming: Again, another Sigur Rós-esque transition piece between songs. This model dwindles about about a quarter through the album, but it’s an interesting approach for Healy & Co to demonstrate some creativity with instrumental tracks. 7/10

The Birthday Party: Classic acoustic-style 1975. Airy vocals over drums and strums drives the track, with filtered background vocals providing a bit of flair. Culminating in a bigger conclusion, it’s not a bad track. But not a great one either. 6/10

Yeah I Know: Euro. Glitch pop. Obvious Thom Yorke vibes. Love the backward vocals. Time feels like it’s changed, I don’t feel the same. Docking a couple points for monotony towards the end, but this track may even get an add to the Binary playlist I keep for flow state work. 7/10

Then Because She Goes: Savage Garden was great in the 90s. This song is one that could’ve easily been cut in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong: I love anxious shoegaze every once in a while. But outside of the “love you, love you, love you” earworm in the background, this song is instantly forgettable. 2/10

Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America: Smart. More commentary from The 1975, and this one featuring Phoebe Bridgers in a haunting manner. Midwest Americana at its best with a simple strum pattern paired with horns, you can almost hear Justin Vernon. The intelligence on the track isn’t just the music itself, but the lyrical value as well. The speakers in the song are obviously wrestling with a dichotomic lifestyle. In true American fashion. 9/10

Roadkill: A bit of honky-tonk comedy here matches the song’s styles to the narrative. Namely Healy peeing on himself in Texas. This song is a good one, much better than Then Because She Goes, but I think it’s still one that could’ve been left off the album. 6/10

Me & You Together Song: OG 1975. This has the same instrumentation as their freshman offering, but Healy’s vocals are a bit too dreamy after hearing his more mature voice on later records. Again has a very retro feel, like it were from another 90s shoegaze band: Third-Eye Blind. 7/10

I Think There’s Something You Should Know: This track at the halfway point on the album also marks the beginning of what feels like the right evolution of The 1975. There are some electronic elements here, even a diversion into the weird, but the core of the song feels right for the band, and it’s a fun one. The denouement of the song is fantastic, and resolves marvelously. 8/10

Nothing Revealed / Everything Denied: This song. R&B driven elements, we get a bit of soul from George Daniel on the keys, and Healy gets pretty close to rapping in spots. Love the breakbeat that permeates the song, and the chorus is among The 1975’s best ever. Feels like it should be the climax of Sister Act 4, in the best of ways. 10/10

Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy): Love the sample. The Temptations are one of my favorite musical acts of all time, and the opener of the song is fairly unique in a Kanye/Pharrell sort of manner. But then the song is downhill from there. The chorus in particular leaves a lot to be desired, and Healy’s vocals are mediocre on this track. Should’ve been cut. 4/10

Shiny Collarbone: Another drum & bass kind of backbeat with reggaeish vibes from Cutty Ranks underlying the whole track. The sonic layer from the synth is stellar and really showcases George’s production talents. This is also a great piece demonstrating The 1975’s experimentation on this record, and I’m glad it’s here, particularly as it leads into a more classic The 1975 piece in the next track. 8/10

If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know): Stellar. As The 1975 as it gets. 80s pop and Miami/LA undertones with Healy’s voice shining in the pre-choruses, it’s such a fun track. The chorus itself is such an earworm, and this track would easily be a contender for song of the summer in any other year. 10/10

Playing On My Mind: Phoebe Bridgers makes another appearance here, and the song is much more introspective than the run we just left on the album. It’s breathy and airy and folksy and…well, fine. It’s just fine. 7/10

Having No Head: Another instrumental from Mr. Daniel. Not as enjoyable as previous compositions, but still solid. The first half of the track feels like it belongs tracking a pivotal, beautiful moment in a movie about an astronaut returning to space, and then the track somehow becomes that backing soundtrack to that really weird rave scene in the Matrix sequel. 7/10

What Should I Say: More experimentation, and one of the highest quality examples of it on the album. The Eno-esque house beat combined with the backing vocals from FKA Twigs is exquisite. You can barely tell that it’s Healy on the track singing about AHMbien. This song is a vibe, and the outro is a sick one that leaves you wanting more.9/10

Bagsy Not In Net: I love the strings on this track…and that’s about it. Everything else is acceptable. Strings adds two points. Solid, but should’ve been cut. 7/10

Don’t Worry: Pretty cool that this is Matty and his dad. Even cooler that Healy knows it’s the first song he ever head. The emotional lift and the Francis and the Lights feel to the song gives it a couple points here, much like the strings in the last one. But sonically? It’s a 4. No offense to Tim Healy. 7/10

Guys: The counterpart to Girls. I like the meaning of the song (appreciation for same-gender friends), but it’s way too dreary musically speaking. It’s a lullaby-ballad. I get it that The 1975 is essentially giving each other a shout-out…but it’s such a weird way to end an album. 4/10

Categories
Random

Quarantine Culture

This note is coming to you straight outta Kenwood, California. Decisions are still hard, product-crafting is still hard, building a company is still hard, and living with 3 people that you’re not related to remains hard. That said, a lot of things have made this journey quite a bit easier. Thought I’d take the time and share some of the off-beat and downright weird things that we’ve been consuming lately as we try to maintain some level of normalcy during quarantine. Below, in no particular order, you’ll find some oddities of quarantine culture.

Food

  • Takis & Sour Cream: This strange concoction was dreamed up by one Elijah Elazarov, who has one of the most over-the-top and often disgusting palettes I know. There’s nothing he won’t put Nutella on, and the man drinks Arnold Palmer like it was water. That said, he’s directly responsible for two culinary curiosities in the house: a newfound love for Tate’s cookies and the combination that is Takis and sour cream. Most of the house having spent some amount of time in a NYC bodega, we all love Takis. Dipping them in something dairy was a revelation.
  • Crystal Hot Sauce: I’m a hot sauce fanatic. Seriously, when living in Brooklyn, one of my favorite trips was to Heatonist in Williamsburg. Regularly. I have anywhere between 4–10 hot sauces in my fridge at all times, including during quarantine. But one of my biggest accomplishments during the we-mote period of Bunches has been introducing the team to Crystal. It’s a mild, classic Louisiana hot sauce that goes on everything. Seriously. It’s delicious on fish, french fries, rice, salad, a burger, the list goes on. It’s not quite as good on ice cream as Tabasco Chipotle, but it’s still quite good there too.
  • Safeway Soleil Sparkling Water: I felt extraordinarily judged, rightfully so, by one of our investors who commented “that’s a lot of water” to the 7 cases we were going through a week of La Croix. Not wanting it to be a line item on our P&L, we switched to the off-brand, and I’m honestly glad we did. The flavors are slightly more exotic and include pineapple, blood orange, and apple alongside the traditional lime, lemon, and grapefuit. Apple’s a house favorite. Plus, a caffeinated version is a great afternoon pick-me-up for an increasingly diet-conscious team that’s growing weary of all the sugar-free Red Bull that’s been fueling our product & brand development efforts.

Sports

  • Cowboy Channel: Just because the big 4 are off the TV right now doesn’t mean that I haven’t gotten my sports fix. At the last house, the satellite provider carried the Cowboy Channel, which was an absolute gem of a channel. Constant bull riding, steer wrestling, and some of the best Made for TV commercials you’ll ever see. Steer wrestling was a household-favorite. Seriously. Go watch some if you don’t believe us.
  • World Chase Tag: Rounds are over in less than 15 minutes, it’s easy to grasp and understand, and it’s essentially competitive parkour. Phenomenal. There aren’t any real stars yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this became a thing over the next few years.
  • Soapbox Derby: Red Bull sponsors a global tour of soapbox derby races, and each one is fantastically entertaining. Consisting of a performance score, a creativity score, and the actual race itself, it provides for 45 minutes or so of great content one way or another. Old men racing at 20+ miles per hour, the absolute catastrophic wrecks, and the absurdity of it all makes for a fun watch. Recommendation? Start with Japan. Always.

Tech

  • Apps Hardly Used Anymore: Google Maps. Lyft. Anything public transit related. Including scooters. OpenTable/Resy/Tock. Venmo/Cash App. Dark Sky.
  • Apps Used More: Pocket Casts. Sudoku. NYT Crosswords. Instapaper. Kindle. Marvin. AllTrails. TestFlight. Bunches.
Categories
Personal Random

Paying Down Debt

First let me be crystal clear: I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I’m employed for the foreseeable future, working on something I enjoy, with people I’m (mostly) fond of. I completely understand that most people do not have the luxury that I currently have, and that the circumstances surrounding the COVID–19 outbreak are not pretty for many people in the US and abroad. That said, I’m not only trying to be grateful for the circumstances I’m in but also to make the best of it. The Bunches team and my family are living together in a quarantine house in Napa Valley, CA. Yes, I know. Things could be worse. We’ve cut salaries across the board and moved in together in order to get our MVP out the door. But in the meantime, I’m taking the opportunity to pay down some debt.

Financial Debt

Of course, when most people think of debt they think of financial debt. Which certainly applies. In my younger years, I didn’t always make the best financial decisions…even when I had money. Early in my career, I wasn’t making that much which meant that when I started to make a bit more, I had no idea how to be responsible with it. No savings, too much discretionary spending, etc. I was completely irresponsible, and I’m certainly paying for those decisions now. Literally.

That said, I’ve been working quite hard over the past couple of years to pay down debt, and I’m getting close. From credit card payments to a moving loan to a car payment, we’re building our savings and slashing debt across the board which is a very good feeling. The current situation hasn’t changed that fact, and is one of the many things for which I’m very thankful. But I’m equally as excited about the paying down of informational debt as well.

Informational Debt

I’m an informational fiend. Honestly. Podcasts, blogs, books, Twitter, longform writing, newsletters, music. The list of mediums is long. If it’s value-driven content, I’m into it. Which is one of the many reasons I love building Bunches. But it also means that my Pocket Casts library is constantly full (and growing!), my Instapaper backlog can get out of control, and I’m constantly checking Feedbin for the latest posts from the 100 RSS feeds to which I’m subscribed. I know, it’s absurd. But I love it. It’s my hobby. Some people knit. Others devote their basements to model railroads. I consume and learn. Sue me.

But the past few weeks have meant that I’m paying down this debt as well.

I’m reading more books. I’m listening to more podcasts. I’ve reduced my Instapaper backlog to a single page. And I’m very thankful for being able to “pay down” this debt as well. I’m learning a ton, enjoying my time, and catching up on things that I’ve wanted to for some time. Without the distractions of “normal living”, it’s been much easier to do so. The trick will be keeping the debt down in the future.

Wish me luck.