Intelligence

Published March 23, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 23

At worst, we apply a supernatural explanation to the whole show, because otherwise we’d have to recognize intelligence as a natural extension of the things that happen on a barren, unattended planet. For some reason we often insist nature couldn’t be that interesting or potent on its own. There has to be a super nature, to keep nature in its rightful, humble place. It makes us feel special I guess, maybe that’s why we don’t give nature the credit. We’re special either way, but we don’t need special rules to explain how we’re here. For that matter, we don’t necessarily need to explain ourselves to ourselves at all. Whatever happened, we got intelligent at some point, and that’s great. It’s okay to wonder aloud exactly how it happened, but clearly it did.

~ David Cain from, Nature’s finest gift to you

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Monism has never made sense to me. It’s interesting and I’ve spent a significant amount of time turning over its various flavors trying to understand others’ points of view. But, “that’s interesting,” is as far as I get.

When I face reality—thinking through mental models, comparing them to my personal experiences, talking to other people and listening to their experiences—I simply don’t see any deep mystery in life. Certainly, I see mind-bogglingly-huge expanses of things which are unknown (by me or anyone,) but that simply makes me more excited and more curious!

What confuses me is that the majority of people think differently, and I spend a lot of time talking to people as I try to understand how they think. I have only one point of view. I’m deeply fascinated by the universe around me and, in particular, by the conversations that come from me saying, “What does that bit of reality over there look like from your point of view?”

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Mark Toorock: Commercialization, representation, and play

Published March 21, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 21  ·  

Mark Toorock: Commercialization, representation, and play

What role should competition and commercialization play in shaping the future of Parkour?

Mark Toorock shares his thoughts on the commercialization of parkour, FIG and competitions, as well as the direction parkour is headed. He also opens up about his personal goals for parkour, raising the socially acceptable age of play, and how he sees himself within the community. Mark wraps up by discussing the power of parkour to benefit all people.

The thing for me about Parkour is, if I can make one person that used to walk with their head down, walk with their head up, that’s the change in the world. We don’t change the world, we change a person.

~ Mark Toorock (32:32)

The conversation explores the evolving landscape of Parkour, focusing on commercialization, competition, and the community’s shifting mindset. Mark Toorock reflects on the initial resistance within the Parkour community to monetization and contrasts it with the growing acceptance as practitioners age and recognize the need to sustain their passion financially. The discussion highlights the complexity of maintaining Parkour’s spirit while enabling financial opportunities, drawing parallels to artists who monetize their craft without compromising authenticity.

Competition is another critical focus, with Mark advocating for a non-competitive foundation in Parkour while embracing competitions based on Parkour movements. He stresses that competition need not undermine the spirit of Parkour and can coexist with a community-driven, collaborative ethos. The conversation touches on the potential risks of external organizations, like the International Gymnastics Federation, attempting to control Parkour competitions and the broader implications for public perception. Additionally, Mark emphasizes the importance of maintaining play as a socially acceptable activity for adults, advocating for a culture that values lifelong movement and exploration.

Takeaways

Commercialization of Parkour — The community’s initial aversion to making money from Parkour has shifted as practitioners recognize the need to sustain their involvement.

Parkour as a Profession — Many who once resisted monetization now seek ways to make Parkour their career, reflecting personal growth and practical needs.

Competition and Parkour — Parkour can remain non-competitive at its core while allowing competitions to highlight athleticism and skill.

Dual Nature of Competitions — Competitions can coexist with the collaborative, non-competitive practice of Parkour without diminishing the community spirit.

External Influence — There is concern over outside organizations, like FIG, attempting to co-opt Parkour for profit or recognition, which could misrepresent the practice.

Cultural Impact — Parkour’s visibility and public perception could change significantly through organized competitions at national and international levels.

Parkour for All Ages — The practice spans generations, with both young children and seniors benefiting from participation.

Social Norms and Play — Mark’s mission is to normalize play for adults, challenging societal norms that discourage play as people age.

Inclusivity in Parkour — Parkour creates a space where background, age, and social differences dissolve, fostering unity and shared experience.

Resources

American Parkour — The organization founded by Mark Toorock, dedicated to promoting Parkour through training, events, and education.

Urban Freeflow — One of the foundational Parkour organizations co-founded by Mark Toorock, contributing to Parkour’s spread globally.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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True and steadfast judgment

Published March 21, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 21  ·  

This can be swiftly taught in very few words: Virtue is the only good; There is no certain good without virtue; And virtue resides in our nobler part, which is the rational one. And what can this virtue be? True and steadfast judgment.

~ Seneca

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The Roller-Coaster

Published March 20, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 20

I think working with anyone who’s a brilliant creative can at times be a rollercoaster. Working with any other human other than yourself can be a rollercoaster, because they’re not you, so, you know… their reactions to things are going to be different than yours. But I think that’s part of the adventure. You talked to me about One Love, you talked to me about the telethon, and now you’re talking to me about clients. My response is the same: Life is not ever going to be content. Life is never going to be normal. For the rest of your life you’re on a journey that has ups and downs and ups and downs, it is a roller coaster that never ends. Until one day you close your eyes and you’re off the roller coaster. And I think for me, I just want to be on as many different journey’s as possible, so at least if I’m on a roller coaster, there’s a new zigzag and a turn that I didn’t know about before.

~ Scooter Braun from, Scooter Braun

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In this interview titled, Bringing Light to Darkness, Cal and Scooter have a wide ranging discussion of the challenges Scooter faced in 2017 and the lessons he learned. I’m a big fan of Cal’s work generally. Although this is one of his earlier podcasts, it’s a gold mine.

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Creative routine

Published March 18, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 18

It’s time to stop blaming our surroundings and start taking responsibility. While no workplace is perfect, it turns out that our gravest challenges are a lot more primal and personal. Our individual practices ultimately determine what we do and how well we do it. Specifically, it’s our routine (or lack thereof), our capacity to work proactively rather than reactively, and our ability to systematically optimize our work habits over time that determine our ability to make ideas happen.

~ Scott Belsky from, How to Hone Your Creative Routine and Master the Pace of Productivity

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Routine is great. Routine guides me to channel my pensive morning moods into reflecting on what I want to accomplish that day. Routine suggests that I create spaces which enable certain types of work. Routine saves me time by streamlining the vast majority of my chores. Routine ensures I make progress on the long-term projects that seem insurmountable at the beginning. Routine forces me to make time to encounter new ideas.

But rigidity won’t do. Sometimes I want to break free.

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Riders on the Earth together

Published March 15, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 15  ·  

For the first time in all of time, men have seen the Earth. Seen it not as continents or oceans from the little distance of a hundred miles or two or three, but seen it from the depths of space; seen it whole and round and beautiful and small… To see the Earth as it truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that eternal silence where it floats, is to see ourselves as riders on the Earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold—brothers who know that they are truly brothers.

~ Archibald MacLeish from, The Pale Blue Dot

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The linked article is about Carl Sagan’s, Pale Blue Dot, but the quote is from a less well-known poet, Archibald MacLeish. He wrote an essay titled, Riders on the Earth, which appeared in The New York Times on Christmas Day, 1968.

I am well aware that this blog is a long sequence of my ideas which are inspired by others’. There’s a reason I lead with the link to the seed from which each idea germinated.

I recall exactly when, and where, I was when I had the idea to restart blogging. (Aside: Another reason I love my long-standing habit of journaling is the ability to look up things like this to audit my memory.) I cannot imagine where I would be today—frankly, there’s no chance I would have gotten to where I am today—if I hadn’t started this place to unpack my thoughts.

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Emily Tung: Breaking, puppetry, and unsolicited advice

Published March 14, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 14  ·  

Emily Tung: Breaking, puppetry, and unsolicited advice

What motivates someone to push beyond personal limits in dance, Parkour, and other movement disciplines to achieve mastery?

Emily Tung shares her journey and goals in both breaking and parkour, as well as the differences between those two practices and communities. She also discusses her diverse movement practices, from stunt work, contortion, to pole dancing, as well as her lesser known skills in puppetry. Emily finishes by unpacking her thoughts on coaching, unsolicited advice, and speaking up for yourself.

For me then, it’s not about what is the correct or right way. It’s, what is your goal? And what’s your body like? And what can I do, and what applies best, and I have to decide that I have to be strong about that. I think that was another plateau. I had it back in my old life where I always listened to exactly what I was told.

~ Emily Tung (56:13)

The conversation explores how committing to ambitious goals reshapes personal habits, training, and overall lifestyle. Emily recounts how a decision to pursue world-level breakdancing battles triggered a broader transformation, leading to better nutrition, rest, and learning from mentors. This commitment highlighted the importance of focus and intentionality in practice, contrasting with periods of stagnant growth when goals were less defined.

The discussion also touches on the cross-disciplinary nature of movement arts, showing how Parkour, dance, and martial arts influence each other. Emily reflects on how Parkour provided a sense of community and freedom not always found in the dance world, fostering creativity and resilience. The journey through stunt work, puppetry, and contortion further illustrates the diverse ways movement disciplines intersect, shaping not just physical skills but also mental perspectives and personal identity.

Takeaways

The value of clear goals — Committing to ambitious targets reshapes training, habits, and lifestyle.

The importance of mentorship — Seeking knowledge from those already on the path accelerates growth and insight.

Cross-disciplinary learning — Parkour, dance, and martial arts inform and enhance each other, enriching overall movement capacity.

Community impact — Parkour provides acceptance and connection, contrasting with more judgmental environments in dance.

Injury prevention — Understanding progressions and conditioning transforms how to train sustainably and avoid long-term damage.

Stunt work insights — Success in stunts relies on spatial awareness, timing, and the ability to “sell” movements realistically.

Adaptability in movement — Flexibility and contortion expand creative possibilities in Parkour and dance.

The challenge of unsolicited advice — Navigating unwanted input from less experienced peers requires tact and boundary-setting.

Resources

Brooklyn Zoo Gym — Training facility where the guest developed contortion and Parkour skills.

Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre — Puppetry venue where the guest performed.

Max Henry @maxhenryparkour

Caitlin Pontrella — Organizer of women’s Parkour events in New York.

HRC Crew @hrchybridcrew — Influential dance crew in Taiwan, significant to the guest’s early inspiration in breakdancing.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Embarrassment

Published March 14, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 14  ·  

Society changes when we change what we’re embarrassed about.

~ Seth Godin from, Ashamed to not know

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This is an interesting way to look at societal changes. Since there is no “we”—there is no aggregate, thing which is “the society as a whole” which can feel embarrassed—the only “we” which can be embarrassed is me, the individual.

…and since this blog is about me, I should talk about what embarrasses me. But instead, I’m interested in unpacking the source of my embarrassment:

When my actions and thoughts disagree with what I know is right.

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This explains everything

Published March 12, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 12  ·  

Despite the laudatory efforts of scientists to ferret out patterns in human behavior, I continue to be struck by the impact of single individuals, or of small groups, working against the odds. As scholars, we cannot and should not sweep these instances under the investigative rug. We should bear in mind anthropologist Margaret Mead’s famous injunction: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has.’

~ John Brockman from, This Explains Everything

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There so many ways that you can see this in human societies: The crowd of non-helpers all assuming someone else will help, the herds on social media who are only listening to refute, and the oceans of sarcasm to gain temporary attention.

But there are always a few—surely you’ve spotted them in your life?—who are inspiring. Perk up your ears. Who’s efforts call to you? Are you helping them?

Better yet, what calls to you? Are you thoughtful? Are you committed?

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Never think you’ve got it all

Published March 11, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 11  ·  

Children teach you that you can still be humbled by life, that you learn something new all the time. That’s the secret to life, really – never stop learning. It’s the secret to career. I’m still working because I learn something new all the time. It’s the secret to relationships. Never think you’ve got it all.

~ Clint Eastwood

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Tools versus insight

Published March 10, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 10  ·  

Knowing about a tool is one thing. Having the guts to use it in a way that brings art to the world is another.

~ Seth Godin from, Tools vs insight

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I know my tools. I have the guts to use them. I’m bringing my art to the world.

…know what I cannot figure out? How to be successful—not how to make money, but rather how to feel that what I’ve done and what I’m doing are enough.

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The shape of stories

Published March 9, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 9  ·  

But there’s a reason we recognize Hamlet as a masterpiece: it’s that Shakespeare told us the truth, and people so rarely tell us the truth in this rise and fall here [indicates blackboard]. The truth is, we know so little about life, we don’t really know what the good news is and what the bad news is. And if I die — God forbid — I would like to go to heaven to ask somebody in charge up there, ‘Hey, what was the good news and what was the bad news?’

~ Kurt Vonnegut from, Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories and Why Uncertainty Is the Crucible of Creativity

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First, note that by “shapes” he literally means figures, graphs—drawings of the shape of the story.

Second, although I’m unsure wether or not I’m “old,” I am sure that I’m starting to get some perspective. A few posts back I was talking about there being a horizon-of-self: Once my experiences are far enough in the past, I lose any true sense of who that self was. Vonnegut’s point—to me anyway—drives home the fact that I don’t even truly know who I am right now.

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Meaningful

Published March 8, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 8

Meaningful

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I’m not sure how to describe this—other than to say it’s a pretty short read.

I’m definitely sure I’ve no idea how to pull-quote it.

I was just having a discussion about the AI Singularity, and then this fell into my lap. Is it going to be paper-clip optimizers, or benevolent beings?

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Making your ideas happen

Published March 7, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 7  ·  

Selling, I’ve grown to understand, is more urgent, more important, and, in its own sweet way, more beautiful than we realize. The ability to move others to exchange what they have for what we have is crucial to our survival and our happiness. It has helped our species evolve, lifted our living standards, and enhanced our daily lives. The capacity to sell isn’t some unnatural adaptation to the merciless world of commerce. It is part of who we are.

~ Daniel Pink from, Ambiverts, Problem-Finders, and the Surprising Psychology of Making Your Ideas Happen

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I believe in a very clear definition of “trade:” An exchange of value in which all parties are left better off; That is to say, trade is not zero-sum.

I believe it’s unnecessary to talk about “good” trade. That “good” is superfluous since any trade that isn’t “good” wouldn’t be trade. (It would be deception, cohersion, etc.)

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John Hedge Hall | Teaching Beginners

Published March 6, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 6

On Castbox.fm — John Hedge Hall | Teaching Beginners

What is the balance between explicit instruction and fostering natural play in effective teaching methods?

Examining the contrasts between structured education and natural play in learning.

The takeaway I want to give to people and the question I want them to ask themselves is, which parts of my class are actually effective? And which parts of my class am I doing out of habit?

~ John ‘Hedge’ Hall (6:50)

The conversation centers on teaching methods, particularly in the context of Parkour coaching. Two critiques of education are explored: a Neo-Marxist view, which critiques traditional teaching as overly authoritative and facts-based, and a libertarian perspective emphasizing the importance of natural play and minimizing intervention. These frameworks guide a discussion about creating self-aware, critical thinkers while respecting the natural role of play in learning.

The surprising discovery is that explicit instruction, often seen as unappealing or overly rigid, is highly effective for establishing foundational understanding. This enables learners to engage in problem-solving and develop complex skills more effectively. The dialogue also addresses how nervousness in new students impacts learning and the importance of clear, actionable cues during instruction.

Takeaways

Explicit instruction — Foundational teaching through clear and structured guidance significantly enhances student learning outcomes.

Natural play — Recognizing play as a natural and critical form of education, especially for children, and balancing it with structured instruction.

First-class experiences — Highlighting the importance of designing initial learning experiences to build confidence and engagement.

Critical awareness — Fostering self-critical thinking and the ability to question systems as key educational goals.

Rote learning — Revisiting rote learning as a misunderstood but powerful tool for building essential skills.

Habitual teaching — Questioning and assessing habitual teaching practices to ensure their effectiveness.

Intervention limits — Exploring when and how much intervention is beneficial in the learning process.

Resources

Access Parkour — A Parkour coaching organization focused on accessible training programs.

Art of Retreat

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Perspective on life

Published March 6, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 6  ·  

You can’t just live in a comfortable little suburban neighborhood and get your education from movies and television and have any perspective on life.

~ J. Craig Venter

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Why do you?

Published March 5, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 5  ·  

Theoretically, if you know what you love, then every time you make a decision you’ll have a pretty damn clear idea if it’s taking you closer or further away from what you love. You’ll know the right thing to do. So self-love is a moral issue. It consists of doing the right thing, and nothing else.

~ David Cain from, Why do you do what you don’t love?

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Ouch.

If you put it that way, that would mean that all of my problems are my responsibility. There is, after all, nothing in my power beyond my reasoned choices.

Nothing.

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What’s a dog for?

Published March 4, 2019  ·  All posts on Mar 4

In a chapter on reconciling the inevitable pain we invite into our lives when we commit to love a being biologically destined to die before we do and the boundless joy of choosing to love anyway, Homans cites John Updike’s heartbreaking poem “Another Dog’s Death”

~ Maria Papova from, What’s a Dog For

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I’m definitely a dog-person.

Updike’s poem is totes-amazeballs.

(Weren’t expecting that where you?)

My little town used to have a Barkery. That’s not a typo. Someone came up with a bunch of super-healthy and super-tasty recipes. She couldn’t sell them for human consumption, but I’ll just say that the dogs didn’t get every treat I bought there. Suuper tasty and no sugar. Her peanut butter ones—made with peanuts from scratch I think—were da’ bomb.

Anytime I was going somewhere where the dog had an owner I wanted to visit, I’d put those peanut butter dog treats from the Barkery . . . randomly in a few pockets. Dogs ‘d be like, “oh *sniff* hello there *sniff* *sniff* new huma—*sniff* *sniff* *sniff* excuse me sir, but are you aware THAT YOU SMELL LIKE PEANUTBUTTERHOLYSHITBESTDAYEVAAAAAR!”

I am actually going to make a point here.

You know what’s more awesome than dogs? Getting to be immersed in the sheer joy that dog’s experience. No complications. No todo lists. No stress nor worry. Just, best. day. EVAR!

Now, go read Maria’s post.