On this day

November 22nd

Don’t look at that part

November 22

We all struggle with this. No matter what our art is, there are always those bits that everyone sees and those bits that are covered up. And we face the question of how much effort to put into these various parts. It’s easy enough if it’s a hobby and you have all the time in the world. But you need to ship if you’re making a living off your art.

~ David Sparks, from Lessons From an Ancient Craftsman

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It’s always good when, as above, I can get any sense of commiseration with other creatives. I had a hard time ever coming to understand I am a creative, and the imposter syndrome for me is eternal. (Also, apparently a shared experience.) Great piece from Sparks about exactly what that quote suggests.

Meanwhile, I’m reminded of something I say often, which comes from my paternal grandfather: When asked his opinion on something, (ala, “How’s that look?”) he’d reply, “A blind man in Idaho would be happy to see it.” This makes no sense, in several dimensions. I have no idea where he got that from. The Idaho bit in particular always made me wonder. He and I were generally in Pennsylvania, so Idaho is a long way away, but oddly specific, while still oddly vague. Where in Idaho? And why Idaho? Maybe Idaho was some Depression-era fake-magical place pushed by con-men and became a stand in for “anyone in Idaho must be really well off.” Because the whole point of the joke is that a blind person would be delighted to see anything. I dunno… maybe it’s a humorous construct because the Idaho part is so extraneous, it feels like it must be important? Really, does that reply mean it looks good, or it’s bad and I don’t want to tell you? I mean, the reply literally does nothing but dodge the question. Or, maybe I’ve just over thought this… for 40 years?

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Winter is coming

November 22, 2023

This caught my eye on a bright sunny day, as we approach the cold of winter (here in the Northern Hemisphere.) Sure, the blue of the sky and the orange of the leaf is a nice found-composition. But what I really like is the implication of the leaf being captured by the already-dead whatever-that-plant-was. As always: questions, connections, and open loops to ponder; no clear conclusions though.

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Lifelong learning

November 22, 2022

Now that we’ve built an industrial solution to teaching in bulk, we’ve seduced ourselves into believing that the only thing that can be taught are easily measured “hard” skills. We shouldn’t be buying this. We can teach people to make commitments, to overcome fear, to deal transparently to initiate, and to plan a course of action. We can teach people to desire lifelong learning, to express themselves, and to innovate.

~ Seth Godin

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Email apnea

November 22, 2021

Over the course of six months, Stone observed the breathing patterns of hundreds of people while seated at a computer. She found that four out of five held their breath or breathed shallowly while checking their email.

~ Jessica Fish from, Stop, Drop, and Breathe: Curing Email Apnea for Community Professionals

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This is not a metaphor. Literal apnea while reading email. Not some people, but most people. Practice breathing— far too many people think they know how to breath, when in fact they don’t. Practice posture— far too many people think they know how to sit, when in fact they don’t. Practice getting up and fleeing from your computer— far too many…

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Deeply held beliefs

November 22, 2020

This book is complicated and ambitious. But there’s one thread in particular that I think is worth underscoring. Crawford notes that the real problem with the current distracted state of our culture is not the prevalence of new distracting technologies. These are simply a reaction to a more fundamental reality: “[W]e are agnostic on the question of what is worth paying attention to — that is, what to value.” In the absence of strongly-held answers to this question our attention remains adrift and unclaimed — we cannot, therefore, be surprised that app-peddlers and sticky websites swooped in to aggressively feast on this abundant resource.

~ Cal Newport, from From Descartes to Pokemon: Matthew Crawford’s Quest to Reclaim our Attention

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Turns out Crawford was interviewed by Brett McKay, another person I’ve often quoted here. I’ve not yet listened but the episode is Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction.

Originally I thought “social media” itself was the problem. Eventually it became clear to me that social media is the symptom. People want to be fed saccharine lives through their phones because they’ve never been taught that they need to consciously make decisions about what’s important to them.

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John ‘Hedge’ Hall: Scottish viewpoint, cultures, and society

November 22, 2018

John ‘Hedge’ Hall: Scottish viewpoint, cultures, and society

What lessons can parkour teach about culture, education, and personal development?

Craig travels to Edinburgh, Scotland to interview John “Hedge” Hall about the culture of parkour, his ideas on how Scotland views parkour, and his own personal movement journey. Hedge unpacks how different cultures and societies adapt parkour to fit them and the impact of cultural norms on their practice. Touching a bit on coaching, Hedge discusses the impact of educational environments on his students.

Parkour is shaped like the hole that people feel is missing in their society.

~ John ‘Hedge’ Hall (12:00)

The conversation explores the cultural nuances of parkour, showing how it adapts to the societal needs of different regions. It examines the contrasting competitive nature of parkour in the United States versus its integration into daily life and education in Scotland. Insights from anthropological studies are discussed, highlighting how parkour serves as a response to societal gaps, shaped by local culture.

The discussion shifts to pedagogy, with an emphasis on using parkour as a tool for inclusive education. It explains the value of teaching novices through inflexible concepts while gradually introducing flexible ones as they gain experience. Practical examples include introducing parkour into schools to foster natural play and physical development. The speaker also shares personal reflections on self-improvement and the importance of honesty in building habits, tying it to broader life lessons.

Takeaways

Parkour and culture — Parkour adapts to the unique cultural norms of each society, reflecting local values and needs.

Teaching parkour — Effective parkour education emphasizes inclusive practices, starting with simple, structured techniques.

Flexible versus inflexible concepts — Novices learn best with clear, specific instructions, while experts thrive on adaptable, abstract ideas.

Integration into education — Parkour can enhance physical education by encouraging natural play and skill development.

Habit tracking — Monitoring personal behaviors fosters self-awareness and enables lasting habit formation.

Self-improvement — Reflection and honest evaluation are essential for personal growth and effectiveness as a teacher.

Role of play — Play is critical for physical and mental development, serving as a form of practice for life skills.

Passion for teaching — Excellence in teaching requires dedication, constant learning, and adaptability.

Resources

Alex Pavlotski’s research on parkour — A global anthropological study on parkour communities and their cultural significance.

Access Parkour — The organization promoting parkour education and inclusivity in Scotland.

Headspace app — A resource for learning meditation and building mindfulness habits.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Marketing problem

November 22, 2018

Marketing is not about trickery or even insincerity. It’s about spreading ideas that you believe in, sharing ideas you’re passionate about… and doing it with authenticity. Marketing is about treating prospects and customers with respect, and realizing that it’s easier to grow the amount of business you do with happy people than it is to find new strangers to accost.

~ Seth Godin from, Marketing has a marketing problem

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I am not a marketer. I mean, sure, at some bedrock level one could argue that everyone is a marketer. But just generally, I don’t think of myself as a marketer. A large part of that is because I’ve always perceived marketing as a basically sleazy operation.

But now I see that marketing… actual marketing as opposed to the sewage I am most often exposed to… is really a good thing.

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5 million tons of rubbish

November 22, 2013

Five millions tons of rubbish made up of devastated homes, boats, cars and businesses is making its way across the Pacific Ocean following the 2011 tsunami in Japan.

~ Christopher Bucktin from, Floating island of rubbish three times size of BRITAIN floating towards California

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The article’s characterization of the debris as a “floating island” is certainly hyperbole. But still, this is a HUGE amount of floating debris.

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