Scree

noun : an accumulation of loose stones or rocky debris lying on a slope or at the base of a hill or cliff.

Parkour floor

Published January 29, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 29  ·  

We forget that what we have is more than what we need. Obscenely more. I know it may sound perverse, but here in the future people often feel like they need more than they have.

~ David Cain, from A Day in the Future

There’s a sense of accomplishment in being prepared to sleep on the floor when traveling. There’s a sense of freedom in being able to carry a small backpack and live comfortably. I always knew this was at least partly due to knowing that I was prepared enough for important contingencies and free enough to roll with whatever comes up during the day.

But now I see that there’s a second dimension to why I enjoy it: The self-imposed hardship. Sometimes the floor is cold and drafty, sometimes there’s a cat (I’m allergic to cats), sometimes everyone stays up very late (I usually turn in around 9:30), sometimes I miss a meal, sometimes I don’t sleep much if there’s too much light, sometimes it’s noisy, … and so on. Still, I am invariably in a better mood than usual the morning after each of these choose-your-own-adventures-gone-bad. Cold, stiff, sneezy, tired … sure. But in a good mood. Well, that’s very interesting, now isn’t it?

I’m not making a call for you to take up Parkour-flooring. I’m only pointing out that when I occassionally reset my callibration by intentionally taking on some suffering, I’m invariably happier after.

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On civility

Published January 28, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 28  ·  

If civility is a kind of claim to regulating, or governing our disagreements on the basis of something shared, then what really matters is, what exactly it is we’re claiming that we need to share in order to have a civil disagreement.

~ Teresa Bejan, from Teresa Bejan on Civility

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I’ve heard discussion about “controlling the conversation.” The idea being that when there’s a power imbalance, one side can control what can be talked about, and what can be blocked or suppressed as “beyond the pale.” This discussion on Philosophy Bites explores what it means “to be civil.” In my interpretation, it may not be possible to be civil in cases where there is insufficient common ground upon which to build civil discourse.

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The devil always gets his due

Published January 27, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 27  ·  

Anyone can be an idealist. Anyone can be a cynic. The hard part lies somewhere in the middle i.e. being human.

~ Jason Korman, from «https://www.gapingvoid.com/content/uploads/assets/Moveable_Type/archives/001117.html»

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I’ve recently been on a run with posts about “balance” simply because that’s what I’m struggling with most these days. Confirmation bias then ensures I’m seeing things “about” balance everywhere.

realist: n., optimist with experience.

I’m not going to say the best place to be is always in the middle of a given spectrum. Actually, it’s not even perfectly clear to me that “idealist” and “cynic” are opposite ends of a spectrum; but I’ll run with that assumption for today. So given that acting from an entirely idealistic or cynical position is going to end badly… what can I take from that?

I think it’s pretty simple: Strive for the best, and plan for the worst. Running with that idea, I’ve been returning to my old, first step of my current journey: Self-awareness.

“Look, you’re freaking out. Simple fact.”

“Is this really the end of the world?”

“Is this maybe too far toward the cynical end of the spectrum?”

“Could I maybe do with a little less drama?”

“What if I turned around and looked back at what I’ve accomplished?”

“Would that at least bring me a little peace?”

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Deliberate way of living

Published January 26, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 26  ·  

Set intentions at the start. When you start your day, or any meaningful activity, check in with yourself and ask what your intentions are for the day or that activity. Do you want to be more present? Do you want to move your mission forward? Do you want to be compassionate with your loved ones? Do you want to practice with discomfort and not run to comfort? Set an intention (or three) and try to hold that intention as you move through the day or that meaningful activity.

~ Leo Babata, from A More Deliberate Way of Living

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Long ago—maybe ten years?—this idea of setting intentions made a huge impact on my life. I’ve talked about first learning the twin skills of self-awareness and self-assessment as the first steps on my journey. Once I began developing those skills, I was able to begin setting intentions and that lead to the long period of growth I’ve recently been experiencing.

But there’s a problem, or at least there’s a problem for me. Once I started down the road of setting intentions I’ve fallen prey to a vicious cycle. Practicing continuous improvement by setting intentions and assessing progress makes me focus forward, treating my intentions at targets before me. I used to think the “focus forward” part of that was a good thing. After all, it clearly has led me on a long journey of improvement.

I set good intentions which force me out into my un-comfort zones and it turns out that I usually don’t quite reach the goals. If I do reach a goal, then I realize I could have set a better goal by stretching for a farther intention. In that way, every assessment ends up reporting that I fell short, didn’t make it, didn’t live up, didn’t achieve, didn’t succeed, didn’t, didn’t, didn’t, didn’t… and that leads to a dark place.

Recently I’ve been more intentional about what intentions I set.

(That’s a red flag right there; I’m still intentions based.)

None the less, I’ve been trying to set easier-to-achieve intentions so that I can check off more wins. I find this very hard to do since it feels like artificially lowering the bar so I can cheer-lead myself away from the dark place. Worse, this is still looking forward and assessing progress made towards goals.

I wonder what would happen if I could manage to turn around, make progress towards the goals, (they now being behind me,) while staring back at the INSANE MOUNTAIN OF AMAZING THINGS I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED?

Maybe I should try that for a while?

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Ignore everybody

Published January 24, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 24

You don’t know if your idea is any good the moment it’s created. Neither does anyone else. The most you can hope for is a strong gut feeling that it is. And trusting your feelings is not as easy as the optimists say it is. There’s a reason why feelings scare us.

And asking close friends never works quite as well as you hope, either. It’s not that they deliberately want to be unhelpful. It’s just they don’t know your world one millionth as well as you know your world, no matter how hard they try, no matter how hard you try to explain.

~ Jason Korman, from «https://www.gapingvoid.com/content/uploads/assets/Moveable_Type/archives/000888.html»

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There are so many ideas that can be tried. But knowing which ones to try, which ones to stick with, and which ones to stick with beyond the point of sanity is the hard point. It’s important to find a balance between some things which are fulfilling and a sure-thing, and some things which are inspiring and impossible.

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Mark Toorock | Parkour in Schools

Published January 23, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 23

On Castbox.fm — Mark Toorock | Parkour in Schools

What are the challenges and opportunities of introducing Parkour into public school physical education programs?

Parkour education promotes self-confidence and creativity in students through physical play.

I think that people have a hard time visualizing what a Parkour program in schools may actually look like. And that’s one of the things I’m helping people to discover is, what does Parkour in schools actually mean? What does it look like?

~ Mark Toorock (0:36)

The conversation explores the challenges and successes of integrating Parkour into public school systems. Mark details experiences working with two different school districts—one in Washington, DC, and the other in Maryland—highlighting the differences in approach and adoption. A key barrier discussed is the structure of physical education, which traditionally favors team sports over movement-based activities like Parkour. Mark emphasizes that while Parkour resonates with hands-on, passionate coaches, the reality of public education limits external instructors’ involvement, necessitating a scalable teacher-training model.

A major theme is the need for systemic change to create sustainable Parkour programs. The conversation stresses the importance of having an internal champion within school systems to advocate for the program, as administrative support often outweighs logistical concerns like equipment or curriculum design. Mark also shares a personal passion for encouraging lifelong play and movement, challenging the societal norm that play must cease in adulthood. The goal is to foster curiosity and movement in public spaces without shame, reinforcing Parkour’s broader philosophical underpinnings.

Takeaways

Parkour in schools — Parkour programs shift physical education from team sports to movement-based activities, fostering creativity and confidence.

Teacher training limitations — Training teachers to deliver Parkour programs is constrained by limited professional development time, requiring focused, simplified curriculum.

Scaling programs — Direct external coaching in schools is impractical for widespread adoption; training existing teachers is necessary for scale.

Administrative buy-in — Having a program champion within the school system is critical to ensure long-term success and overcome bureaucratic resistance.

Cultural barriers — Social norms discourage adults from engaging in playful movement, reinforcing a restrictive perception of acceptable behavior.

Voluntary adoption — Programs thrive when implemented in schools with willing, passionate staff rather than being mandated across districts.

Public play challenge — Encouraging public play challenges preconceived notions about adulthood and promotes rediscovery of movement.

Resources

American Parkour — Organization founded by Mark Toorock dedicated to promoting Parkour education and practice.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Marcello Palozzo: Strength and conditioning, teaching, and learning

Published January 23, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 23  ·  

Marcello Palozzo: Strength and conditioning, teaching, and learning

What are the principles and practices that lead to personal growth, meaningful teaching, and effective learning in physical disciplines?

Marcello Palozzo discusses his studies in the area of strength and conditioning, his relationship with Ido Portal, and how to capture information to optimize your learning. He shares his insights on teaching and learning, discussing the responsibilities of a teacher. Marcello explains how he found his current path, as well as his goals and plans for the future.

True learning should be emotional. Unless there is that element as well in it, something is missing.

~ Marcello Palozzo (5:10)

Marcello discusses his approach to integrating diverse fields of knowledge, including parkour, strength training, and the methodologies learned from his master’s degree studies and training with Ido Portal. He emphasizes the importance of stepping out of comfort zones and creating routines that challenge both physical and emotional boundaries. His philosophy underscores the need for learning to have an emotional component to ensure genuine and impactful growth.

The conversation also explores Marcello’s teaching methods, advocating for learners to actively engage with material by organizing and revisiting it, rather than passively consuming information. Marcello shares his experiences of redefining his career path, abandoning pharmacy studies, and committing fully to movement disciplines. Marcello reflects on the significance of mentorship, community, and continuous exploration in personal and professional development.

Takeaways

Stepping out of comfort zones — Regularly challenging oneself emotionally and physically is key to growth.

Emotional learning — True learning involves an emotional connection for lasting impact.

Active information processing — Categorizing, mapping, and revisiting material enhances learning sustainability.

Role of mentorship — Following dedicated experts provides depth and structure to learning.

The value of community — Collective problem-solving and shared experiences accelerate development.

Sustainable practices — Balancing different training modalities ensures long-term engagement.

Personal transformation — Bold decisions can reshape one’s career and life direction.

Weakness as a strength — Addressing personal weaknesses is essential for holistic improvement.

Fluid planning — Flexibility in goals allows adaptation to unexpected life changes.

Resources

Ido Portal — A key mentor in Marcello’s journey, offering clarity and progression in movement practices.

ParkourWave Association — Co-founded by Marcello, this organization promotes parkour and its principles in Italy.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Too close to the machines

Published January 23, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 23  ·  

The programmer, who needs clarity, who must talk all day to a machine that demands declarations, hunkers down into a low-grade annoyance. It is here that the stereotype of the programmer, sitting in a dim room, growling from behind Coke cans, has its origins. The disorder of the desk, the floor; the yellow Post-it notes everywhere; the whiteboards covered with scrawl: all this is the outward manifestation of the messiness of human thought. The messiness cannot go into the program; it piles up around the programmer.

~ Ellen Ullman from, Close to the Machine

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“The messiness cannot go into the program.”

I’ve never thought of it quite that way before. Every once in a great while, you feel the ground move beneath your feet. That sentence moved the ground for me.

I spent an enormous amount of time being a thorn in people’s sides as I clamored to get them to resolve the messiness so I could then manipulate the machines. I tried explaining the machines. I tried explaining the messiness and what I thought might be ways to resolve it. None of that turned out well for the machines, the people or me. Along the way, I realized that dealing with that every day has fundamentally changed how I think. Up until that sentence at the top, I didn’t have a good way to explain my predicament. I only had this fuzzy idea that reality is one thing, computers work this other way, and here I am stuck in the middle.

The messiness cannot go into the computer.

Maaaaybe, I can use that to remind myself that some particular bits of messiness are okay to ignore?

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On reading

Published January 21, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 21

In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest. All that is set forth in books, all that seems so terribly vital and significant, is but an iota of that from which it stems and which it is within everyone’s power to tap. Our whole theory of education is based on the absurd notion that we must learn to swim on land before tackling the water. It applies to the pursuit of the arts as well as to the pursuit of knowledge. Men are still being taught to create by studying other men’s works or by making plans and sketches never intended to materialize. The art of writing is taught in the classroom instead of in the thick of life. Students are still being handed models which are supposed to fit all temperaments, all kinds of intelligence. No wonder we produce better engineers than writers, better industrial experts than painters.

~ Henry Miller from, Henry Miller on Reading, the Life of the Mind, and How to Fix Education

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This reminds me of how moving seems to be the only way to sort myself out. Studying movement won’t do.

I often remind myself to always “deploy forward.” Assess. Make a choice. Move. (That would be a move “forward” by definition, since “assess” and “choose” are how I figure out which way “forward” is.) Except in the most extreme cases—so rare as to be almost not worth mentioning—never try to undo (what programs would call “roll-back”) a step. Simply assess, choose and move from the new position.

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Democracy and civic duty

Published January 19, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 19  ·  

Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of not voting because they feel like they would then be forfeiting the only power they have over who governs. But your vote contains no power. It is a virtually inert token of your participation, which does carry some sentimental value to some people. But it has no election-swinging ability. There are plenty of actions that can make a difference but casting your vote isn’t one of them.

In the media, your vote is billed as a precious choice with resounding consequences, which means you should watch a lot of election coverage so that you don’t screw it up. Now think for a moment: who might have an interest in having you vastly overestimate the importance of your vote? The candidates, and the news organizations that talk about them 24 hours a day.

You’ve been had. They don’t want your choice to be logical, they want it to remain emotional.

~ David Cain, from If the election really mattered to you, you’d do more than just vote

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Next election, when you see me not wearing an “I Voted!” sticker, go ahead and ask me if I voted.

I’ve stopped looking at everyone’s lapels to see if they voted, and I’ve stopped asking people if they are going to vote. If and when politics comes up, I talk about topics that matter to me. My civic duty—and I believe it is a duty which I fulfill partly in exchange for reaping the benefits of living in a civil society—is to participate in the demoncratic process. That process includes a tiny, irrelevant show of theatre where some people see me at the local polling place. That democratic process also includes a much larger amount of other stuff; my working to understand the issues that interest me so I have an informed opinion. …and then using my brain to participate in the democratic process by browsing, negotiating, buying and selling in the Marketplace of Ideas. I hope to see you there here.

Thanks for browsing my wares!

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Crowding us out

Published January 18, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 18  ·  

If chatbots are approaching the stage where they can answer diagnostic questions as well or better than human doctors, then it’s possible they might eventually reach or surpass our levels of political sophistication. And it is naïve to suppose that in the future bots will share the limitations of those we see today.

~ Jamie Susskind, from Chatbots Are a Danger to Democracy

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This is an interesting read surveying a variety of ways that chatbots might crowd humans out of the very spaces we created.

It struck me that while, yes, chatbots are primitive (compared to “real” AI), they are still having a real affect on our social spaces. Not simply, “it’s noisy in here with all these chatbots,” but rather that our social spaces are in danger of being lost to chatbots.

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Ten-years and About that “diet”…

Published January 17, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 17  ·  

This entry is part 69 of 72 in the series My Journey

Recently a friend of mine emailed me and asked, “Hey Craig, tell me about that diet you went on a few years ago.” He was referring to what I did from ~2008 to ~2016—the photos above were taken in 2008 and 2016. Below is my response and this just happens to all coincide with the “ten year challenge” currently all over social media.

I did a few things. Each of these took a few months of trying/fiddling until they felt comfortable.

I tried to avoid refined carbs like the plague; I tried to eliminate all added sugar, all refined grain (bread, pasta, etc), and even eliminated granola which was a go-to breakfast staple (with plain yogurt). What really happened was that it forced me to become aware of the carbohydrates I was eating. I still ate pasta and bread and even sweets, but by focusing on, “I am the type of person who eats fish, meat and veggies,” I was able to shift my diet significantly. I started to make choices such as, “if I’m going to eat pasta, I’m not eating shitty pasta, I’m going to my favorite Italian restaurant so I really enjoy it.” I did not count calories. This was not fun as I [in my opinion] was addicted to the blood sugar spikes from eating a lot of carbohydrates. Shifting my dietary balance had the effect of changing my energy metabolism; it caused changes in my liver function and cellular mitochondria performance.

After many months of that, I next worked on my addiction to eating. I started intermittent fasting. (Without consulting my doctor I just jumped all in.) I did (and still do, many years later) “16/8” intermittent fasting; meaning I’m fasting 16 hours-a-day, and permit myself an 8-hour “feeding window.” (Aside: What I now call ‘normal human eating.’) The way I like to do this is to aim for consuming no food after about 7:30pm. That makes it easy to have a normal dinner, including social eating which is super important to me. Then I basically don’t eat breakfast. Around 11:30, (16 hours after 7:30 the previous day,) I have my break-fast while everyone else is calling it “lunch.” Most people never notice I’m doing this. I could talk for hours about intermittent fasting. BE CAREFUL with this; you can faint, or have low-blood sugar problems depending on how wacked your metabolism is.

It’s important to note that I did the above things separately, one after the other. My reading indicated that reducing carbohydrate intake would force my cells to up-regulate all the cellular processes for burning fat—my own pre-installed fat. So my “lower carbohydrates” work was in preparation for the intermittent fasting work. If I was planning to not eat for 16 hours, my body will have to switch to mobilizing the fat from fat cells; the liver has to be able to put glucose into my blood stream from stored-like-a-battery glycogen in the liver, and from glucose created chemically from other substrates. Those in particular were cellular processes that I was hardly using for decades, when I was always-eating and eating lots of carbohydrates.

So the big picture for me was to change my energy metabolism—to recover my [natural, normal, hey humans are awesome] ability to run on various fuels, (be that carbohydrates, protein, or fat I put in my face, or the pre-installed fat.) I did that by first reducing carbohydrates, and then starting to fast.

I’ve written some of my thoughts up on my web site, but it’s all scattered about. Let me know if you want more information on any of the above and I can give you more and point you to specific resources. If you want to learn more, start with my health or self-improvement tags.

All that said…

I’M INSANELY HAPPY I DID ALL THE ABOVE.

I can train like a machine all morning, not having eaten—in fact, if I eat I feel worse when I try to work hard. I’m considering using longer fasts (days, even up to a week) because there are long-term benefits seen in some studies; fast for a week, have improved blood markers for months. But this is definitely out in the land of, “I’m experimenting on myself.” (If you want to learn about long-term fasts, check out Peter Atia’s podcast, The Nothing Burger, it’s a long discussion of a one-week long fast he did with insane amounts of medical science.)

Finally—this is subtle but important—I did not intentionally increase my physical activity. It was not, “I’m exercising to get in shape.” My activity level spontaneously went up in response to feeling better. “I feel like running 2 miles,” is a thought I now have [sometimes] and now I can go run just for fun. It’s a virtuous cycle though; I feel better, I feel like more activity, I feel more better, I feel like more activity, …

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Marc Mason | Motivational Psychology

Published January 16, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 16

On Castbox.fm — Marc Mason | Motivational Psychology

What strategies can educators use to motivate individuals of varying levels and interests to engage meaningfully in physical activities?

Motivational psychology uncovers how to inspire diverse groups to engage in physical activities.

Am I doing enough to get my people, my participants involved in the content?

~ Marc Mason (12:50)

The conversation explores motivational psychology and its applications in sports and education, focusing on strategies to inspire participation in physical activities. Mark discusses his research on eighth-grade students’ reluctance to participate in early-morning physical education classes. He highlights strategies such as incorporating students’ preferences, creating enjoyable activities, and using technology to measure engagement.

A key theme is the interplay between fear and motivation, especially in challenging activities like Parkour. The discussion examines how individuals perceive challenges, and the importance of providing tools to overcome fear. Broader applications of motivational strategies, such as in business or personal development, are also considered, emphasizing self-awareness and active listening.

Takeaways

Motivational determinants — Strategies to inspire individuals to engage in meaningful physical activities.

Fear and motivation — The role of fear in hindering or enhancing participation in challenges.

Listening to students — The value of incorporating participant feedback into activity design.

Engagement through enjoyment — Using fun and relatable activities to foster motivation.

Instruction adjustments — The importance of concise, clear, and meaningful instruction.

Technology in education — Leveraging tools like heart rate monitors to measure and encourage participation.

Autonomy in learning — Creating spaces for individuals to explore and practice without pressure.

Maslow’s hierarchy — Applying the hierarchy of needs to identify and meet participants’ motivational levels.

Universal applicability — Extending motivational strategies beyond sports into other areas of life.

Resources

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs — A psychological framework for understanding motivation and personal growth.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Thought experiment

Published January 16, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 16  ·  

We should apply the same ruthlessness to our own habits. In fact, we are studying philosophy precisely to break ourselves of rote behavior. Find what you do out of rote memory or routine. Ask yourself: Is this really the best way to do it? Know why you do what you do—do it for the right reasons.

~ Ryan Holiday, p24 The Daily Stoic

I sometimes imagine that the things I can choose to do can be placed on an aspirational spectrum. It’s not a linear, ordered list, but rather a thought experiment to do the pair-ordering; for any two things I could do right now, which is higher on the aspirational spectrum?

I could go even farther than just the pair-wise comparing and imagine all the things in my life might be orderable as…

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Fortunately—not a typo—the incessant work of ordering things to pick what to do next is exhausting. It forces me to notice that when I zoom out, I could imagine I’m doing things in the “j” through “q” range…

a b c d e f g h i ( j k l m n o p q ) r s t u v w x y z

I can make things better simply by making some space in my life. If I just drop that “j”-thing entirely I can be comfortable in knowing I’m improving, without having to actively micro-worry about everything all day. Dropping that “j”-thing leaves me with…

a b c d e f g h i j ( k l m n o p q ) r s t u v w x y z

Whereas before my average was between “m” and “n”, just by eliminating something from the lower side, my average moves up. Clearly I can improve my life appreciably by occassionally thinking about all the things I’m doing, and identifying a lower-end thing to drop.

Yes, of course things aren’t really this simple. But it took me a long time to learn the lesson that removing something can produce marked improvement. Some would say that removing is the very definition of how to approach perfection.

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The absurdity

Published January 14, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 14  ·  

We usually (though not always) recognize the absurdity in blaming animals, inanimate objects, or the weather for the annoyances they cause us. Shit happens, and most reasonable people can accept that. But somehow, if we can in any way pin the inconveniences in our lives on a failing of another human being, we are quick to do it.

~ David Cain, from Do You Make a Moral Issue Out of Being Inconvenienced?

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Replace every instance of we with I in the above quote and it once fit me perfectly. I sometime mention the fundamental attribution error and that is a significant part of what he’s talking about. But there’s more to it than just that error.

This is something I’ve managed to transform into a snide condescnesion; for example, when driving, I often think, “…aaaaaand, cut me off,” just before drivers do so. I recall how I used to get angry in such situations. Really angry. Fortunately, more than a decade ago, after a lot of meditation, I learned to first witness the anger, then to know when to expect it, and finally to not bother creating it.

Current project: Witness the condescention. Learn to expect the condescension.

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Fear of failure

Published January 13, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 13  ·  

But, as it often turns out, author Oliver Burkeman argues for a much more sensible proposition — namely, that we’ve created a culture crippled by the fear of failure, and that the most important thing we can do to enhance our psychoemotional wellbeing is to embrace uncertainty.

~ Maria Papova, from Against Positive Thinking

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There’s been enough global discussion of the ‘fear of missing out’.  You understand what it means and why it is that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  What are you going to do about it?

Are you going to talk to others about these ideas, (Maria’s above, Oliver’s being referenced, mine)?  Are you going to work to be the change you want to see in the world?

…AND WHEN YOU FAIL, what are you going to do then?

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Low oil prices are a problem too

Published January 12, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 12  ·  

In recent years, we have heard a great deal about the possibility of Peak Oil, including high oil prices. If the issue we are facing is really prices that are too low for producers, then there seems to be the possibility of a different limits issue, called Collapse. Many early economies seem to have collapsed as they reached resource limits. Collapse seems to be characterized by growing wealth disparity, inadequate wages for non-elite workers, failing governments, debt defaults, resource wars, and epidemics. Eventually, population associated with collapsed economies may fall very low or completely disappear. As Collapse approaches, commodity prices seem to be low, rather than high.

~ Gail Tverberg, from Low Oil Prices

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The idea that there may no price where a buyer and seller can agree is patently obvious, right?

Suppose you can only afford to spend $1 on some thing you absolutely need, but I need $100 to cover the cost of producing the thing. No amount of haggling over price will solve this problem. The solution is to add some debt; you borrow some money and buy the thing at some price we can agree on.

What happens if you cannot take on more debt? You need the thing, you cannot afford the price, and you cannot leverage future payment (aka, debt) to purchase the thing…

What happens as more of the world can no longer afford to purchase oil at the price needed by the oil producers?

What happens as more of the world runs out of debt?

…and if you think running out of debt is not possible, please go read more of Gail’s writing.

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How to make life agreeable

Published January 11, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 11  ·  

You’ll feel much less of a need to control outcomes, which — in a brilliant instance of irony — frees your capacity to control your response, and create an outcome you like. If there is some action you want to take, you can take it with grace and cool-headedness instead of frustration and desperation.

~ David Cain from, How to Make Life Agreeable

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This reminds me of my thought about enjoying standing in line at the post office.  Not in the sense of, “I’m great, I have this mastered.”  Rather in the sense that I recall what it has felt like and I recall the impatience and urge to get away from situations which I had decided were disagreeable.

Obviously I’ve not mastered this; there are still plenty of instances where I judge a situation unworthy and begin my squirming to escape.  But, I’m making progress.  I’d go so far as to say that I’m getting comfortable sitting in my inability to sit comfortably in situations I’d normally resist.

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Pascal Lecurieux | Parkour Pentagon

Published January 9, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 9

On Castbox.fm — Pascal Lecurieux | Parkour Pentagon

What are the key elements of the Parkour Specialization Pentagon System, and how can they help individuals identify and develop their strengths in Parkour?

Identifying strengths and weaknesses through the Pentagon System transforms how practitioners approach Parkour.

I gave them an exercise where they had to pinpoint their own specialization and see where they are right now and where they want to go.

~ Pascal Lecurieux (6:28)

The conversation focuses on the Parkour Specialization Pentagon System developed by Pascal, which organizes Parkour into five key aspects: strength, adaptation, speed, fluidity, and freestyle. Each dimension provides a lens for practitioners to evaluate their current abilities and identify areas for improvement. Pascal explains the unique qualities and objectives of each aspect, illustrating how they connect to both traditional and modern interpretations of Parkour.

Additionally, the discussion highlights the practical applications of the system in coaching and personal development. Pascal shares anecdotes, such as a young student discovering her niche in fluidity, showcasing the system’s capacity to unlock individual potential. The system also fosters community bonding by encouraging practitioners to collaborate and share their unique styles.

Takeaways

Strength — Emphasizes foundational physical capabilities like power moves and scaling higher walls.

Adaptation — Highlights the importance of applying techniques effectively in diverse environments.

Speed — Focuses on refining techniques for real-time execution under dynamic conditions.

Fluidity — Encourages emotional connection to movement, chaining moves seamlessly, and reducing impact.

Freestyle — Celebrates creativity by adding personalized elements like flips or rotations to standard techniques.

Analytical coaching — Provides tools to assess and guide students based on their strengths and goals.

Community-building — Promotes collaboration by connecting individuals with similar specializations.

Practical exercises — Engages participants with activities to assess and explore their personal Parkour styles.

Resources

ParkourBits.com — Pascal’s blog where he shares insights and experiences in Parkour.

The Spot Montreal — The Parkour facility where Pascal coaches and implements his system.

Art of Retreat

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Mistakes in thinking about the future

Published January 9, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 9  ·  

One of the most liberating discoveries I ever had was that thinking has an insidious snowball effect. Thoughts trigger other thoughts, and if your initial thought carries even a hint of insecurity or worry, subsequent thoughts can explore it and magnify it until you’re profoundly agitated. You can end up pulling your hair out and dreading the rest of your life, just from idle thinking.

~ David Cain from, Three Typical Mistakes in Thinking About the Future

slip:4urate5.

The snowball effect is probably my biggest problem. Small things—now that I think about it, it’s always small set-backs—kick off these long trains of thinking.

Have you ever heard a freight train start to move? It’s called “stretching out” because every rail car adds a few inches of slop… space in the couplers, etc. If you’re at the front, you hear the engine throttle up, and this crashing sound starts at the engine and moves away along the train.

If you’re not at the front, if you’re just somewhere randomly along the train, what you hear is this eerie, rolling-crashing invisible monster that comes tearing along at high speed and goes past you, but nothing is moving. Yet.

This reminds me of my trains of thought. They start with the first nudge of negative thought which sets this terrible monster running along the train. At first, nothing appears to be moving. But slowly that nightmare train begins to move, and if it gets up to speed it can take me days to recover from the ensuing disaster.

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