So you think your choices have reasons behind them and, if these reasons are good ones, then you think that others, in principle, could see this, too. You recognise in yourself, and think that others should recognise in you, a choice aimed at something worth seeking, and a choice by someone who can make that call. This means that what you are after is ‘good’ not just in a sense confined to you, but visible to everyone. Once the goodness of your choice is visible to everyone, it is a kind of absolute goodness – a goodness that anyone could recognise.
As for technology, my working definition is: “a tool that radically solves problems.” After all, technology pre-dates scientific knowledge (and mathematics), as does engineering. Indeed, the printing press was once technology, as was writing — as was the wheel. If your technology is not radically solving a problem, perhaps it isn’t technology. Perhaps it is simply software, or simply a business on the internet. Food for thought.
I don’t recall having actually wondered what, specifically, constitutes technology. Upon reading this, I thought about it…
Let’s see, what is a screw driver? Well, that’s obviously a tool. It drives screws. Is a screw an example of a technology? …yeah, I suppose so. And what, really, is a screw? It’s an application of the concept of an inclined plane. So I came up with: A tool is a thing which operates some technology—it facilitates me applying the technology to some situation. And the technology is the application of some knowledge. Printing presses and pencils are tools; they facilitate the technology of writing. It’s interesting to note that each tool is itself composed of multiple technologies. All of which gives humanity a woven, layered-up, system of technology, tools, technology, tools.
When I started adding quotes to this blog I put a lot of thought into how they were presented. In particular, I decided not to unpack my thoughts about the quote. And more recently I’ve pointed that out, saying that I wanted you to have the chance to stumble over the quote without my muddying your first impresions.
In hindsight, that doesn’t make any sense. Sometimes the quotes appear right adjacent to something else I’ve written, or next to other quotes… and at the very least you’re finding it in the context of my blog (or email.) Worse, I often find I have something I’d like to say about the quote, and I’ve simply let that stuff pass unwritten.
gotcha! No, I’m not. I just wanted to point out that you’re going to start seeing quotes paired with my reflections… and boy howdy that kinda looks like the rest of the stuff I do here already, like quote something someone wrote . . . so yeah Craig, what really is/was the difference.
Meanwhile, we’re going back to 7 “posts” within each weekly email. If you’ve been here a while (and if not– Hey, welcome new friend!) you know I’ve been trying to work through the “frontlog” of scheduled quotes. I’ve gotten ahead… or should I say, less ahead? …or closer to being behind?? Anyway, the scheduled queue is down to about 90 days into the future. So back to a post a day. (Because, after all, you can also just subscribe to the RSS feed— all Mailchimp does is check that feed, once a week, and email it to you. ;)
SINGLE-TASK BY PUTTING LIFE IN FULL-SCREEN MODE — “Imagine that everything you do — a work task, answering an email or message, washing a dish, reading an article — goes into full-screen mode, so that you don’t do or look at anything else. You just inhabit that task fully, and are fully present as you do it. What would your life be like? In my experience, it’s much less stressful when you work and live this way. Things get your full attention, and you do them much better. And you can even savor them.” ~ Leo Babauta
Having now spent at least 46 minutes in self-reflection and practicing awareness of your own thoughts— …any change in daily lived life? …any change in your relationships? No right answers, simply awareness.
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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin? (The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)
If you’re the sort of person for whom success in life means stepping outside the comfort zone that your parents and high school counselor charted out for you, if you’re willing to explore spaces of consciousness and relationships that other people warn you about, if you compare yourself only to who you were yesterday and not to who someone else is today…
Wait. Wat?! Some people think self-improvement isn’t real?
I mean, if you are not using your rational faculties to improve yourself… Honestly, that’s redundant; How could one improve oneself without using rationality? I suppose one could just make random changes, (which seems to be what a lot of people do,) but as soon as you observe and reflect, then you are engaging your rationality. To be human is to be all the things the animals are, and to have the ability to be—to various degrees at various times—rational.
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.
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.
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.
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?
We’re coming up on halfway through; After February, it’s all downhill to Spring. Here’s a couple shots I snapped while strolling around our neighborhood last year.
Here is a list of fearful things: The jaws of sharks, a vulture’s wings, The rabid bite of the dog’s of war, The voice of one who went before. But most of all the mirror’s gaze, which counts us out our numbered days.
We’re coming up on halfway through; After February, it’s all downhill to Spring. Here’s a couple shots I snapped while strolling around our neighborhood last year.