Cool Stuff
Seattle Rush Commentary
Last night I was fortunate enough to see Rush for the third time this calendar year. Considering I thought the band was done with after their last tour in 2015, I see these shows as bonus gifts. Manna from heaven, you might say.
A frustrating part of my pre-show experience yesterday was heading up to the show without tickets. This is not my usual way of seeing shows. That said, despite enormous hassles with both Ticketmaster and my credit card company, my buddy and I ended up scoring great tickets on Alex’s side for about 45% off full face value.
The sound where we were at was amazing. We sat in a very similar spot night two in Toronto in August and the sound last night was much cleaner. For whatever reason, I was able to pick up on the full range of sounds Alex was able to make with this guitar. Geddy’s vocals were in top form, which is truly amazing considering his age and the high notes he is required to hit in several songs, including Freewill. The set list was also fantastic. It is such a breath of fresh air to see Rush mixing up their set lists from show to show. Indeed, each of the six sets I saw this year were different. Of the songs that are not played every night, I was stoked to see Analog Kid, La Villa Strangiato (a masterpiece of rock and roll instrumental music!), Caravan, The Trees, and A Passage to Bangkok,’ their ‘only love song.’
The one thing about Rush shows that is disappointing is the way the fans enjoy the show. I am used to the jamband scene (Dead and offshoots, Phish, Panic, and Goose) where people are mostly up and grooving from the first note through to the encore. Rush shows are not like that. The crowd is older, and being a North American crowd, there are a lot of people who are not looking super healthy. Plus, the music is not really dance music. I get it. That said, sitting down at a rock show, no matter the type, is anathema to me. Oh well, Sitting for ¾ of the show was a small price to pay for a masterclass in rock music. 10/10 as far as the music went.
I am hoping Rush announces shows at Sphere in Vegas next year. That might be my only realistic chance to see them again. We shall see…
Some Book Recommendations from YouTube for Understanding Our World
My YouTube algorithm serves up quite a bit of videos recommending books. The one below caught my attention because the guy sharing the recommendations doesn’t fit the mold of a typical ‘booktuber.’ I enjoyed the video and am intriqued to eventually read a few of his recs. Indeed, the only one that I have already read is the Ray Dalio book. And while I’m not a fan of Kissinger (or Rudolph Hoess for that matter!), I think the book recommended in the video is probably worth the read if the goal is understanding world politics. I’m a bit surprised that none of Robert Kagan’s books, nor any of Robert Kaplan’s books, were on the list.
Perlego FTW!
I recently discovered a cool resource for book lovers that I want to share. It is a subscription service called Perlego that bills itself as the Netflix of books. They specialize in academic books and textbooks, but after spening about 45 minutes browsing their more than 1 million titles, I’ve noticed they carry a lot of mainstream, popular non-fiction. Prices seem reasonable too if one decides to read using the platform. For instance, for a one year subscription, the cost is $144. That may sound like a lot, but that’s 7 to 10 books if you are buying at a typical retail bookstore. Certainly for those who enjoy reading non-fiction, Perlego is worth checking out. Of course, they allow readers to highlight text and make notes in the app. You can also easily favorite books and have them easy to find in the app when the time is right to dig in. They also offer curated lists on topics and it seems they use AI to suggest books from their massive catalog based on the books you are reading or have favorited. Did I mention they have every single book in the ubiquitious For Dummies series? If you’re a big non-fiction reader and are used to reading on an iPAd, this is worth looking into.
No One's Disciple
I’m not sure how long this will be up on Youtube, but it is up now. I’m talking about the new tribute documentary about Rush drummer and lyricist Niel Peart. This is a must watch for any Rush fan, and frankly any fan of late 20th century rock music.
This is also an appropriate time to recommend Niel’s brilliant memoir Ghost Rider. The TL;DR is that Niel suffered the death of his only daughter and then his wife within 10 months then took the roads of North America on his BMW motorcycle to process his losses. The book is a meditation on death, as well as a travelouge. Read it if you haven’t already.
3 Substack Blog Posts and Some Tunes
- WTED Goose Radio
As a massive Goose fan, I was very happy to recently discover this 24/7 streaming Goose radio station. They also have a great Goose 101 page for newbies.
- Substack blogger Rob Henderson on How I Read
As an avid reader I am always interested in other people’s take on reading and how they manage to read at volume. This is an interesting take.
- Substack blogger Joseph Heath on Becoming Less Full of Shit.
This is another Substack blog post I have come across recently that I enjoyed. At this particular juncture, we definitely need less bullshit.
- Substack blogger The Existential Contrarian on why modern young people’s liking for socialism suggests a failure of American schools
This one is relevant to social studies teachers, a group I belong to. Good stuff.
- New Stephen Wilson recording, Requiem for a Village
Stephen Wilson is the musical genius behind Porcupine Tree and tons of other great musical creations. He is a prog god and this new tune (it looks to have been released two days ago on Youtube, on September 11) is killer.
5 Recommendations
- Blog Post by The Grim Historian: Has America Crossed the Asshole Threshold?
This is a must read. I plan on having my AP Gov students read this soon.
- Normal Tools Website
This website contains links to digital tools that we all need from time to time, like a pdf merger. What’s nice is that they are all in one place and the links take you to sites that don’t require sign ups or credit cards.
Dan Koe is the man. The dude’s selling something, but he is a very original thinker whose takes are often nuanced and contrarian. With more than 1.4 million subscribers, he’s earned an audience. I liked this video because I agree with his take on people’s views of AI. He gives a shout out to Ken Wilber’s work and ideas, too.
- The Intentional AI podcast with Chris Bailey and David Sparks (aka Mac Sparky)
I’ve been listening to other podcasts that these dudes host for a while. This podcast is pretty new and approaches AI from the perspective of a modern knowledge worker, but without either the hype or doomerism. Highly recommend to those who want to learn how to better use this new technology.
- Angela Duckworth’s new book, Situated.
Duckworth is a psychologist who teaches at the University of Pennsylvania. She wrote a massively popular and influential book many years ago called Grit, which I love. This book, while I haven’t read it yet, builds on her earlier book and takes into account pushback she received about Grit. As a parent and an educator, I can’t wait to read it.
Priceless
Modern life grates in many ways. However, there are also quite a lot of elements I greatly appreciate. For instance, right now I am sitting in my favorite reading chair on a Friday night watching my beloved Stanford Cardinal play football (not very well at the moment) against Miami down on The Farm, while simultaneously listening (and half watching) a live stream from the floor of Phish’s first set at ‘Dick’s’ in Commerce City, Colorado where I have several friends dancing the end of summer away. This sort of entertainment may seem standard in our day and age, but I don’t take it for granted. Grooving to a unique jam, knowing your friends are there in attendance, while watching your favorite football team play, while sneaking in some reading at the same time is, as the old, classic Mastercard ad said, priceless.
Browsing in Toronto
I recently got back from a very cool week in Toronto. The main purpose of the visit was to catch some Rush shows in their hometown. However, when I visit a new/large city, I try and hit up as many bookstores as time allows. Indeed, I’ve already written about my visits to bookstores in Connecticut, New York, and Santa Barbara on this blog.
Well, Toronto’s bookstore scene didn’t disappoint. Of course, I only scratched the surface by visiting 7 different businesses. The first thing I noticed was that there were not a lot of big corporate retail stores, such as the Barnes & Noble stores that are ubiquitous in the U.S.. I visited one such store, Indigo, which is one of the bigger, if not the biggest, book chain in Canada. The store itself was big and I enjoyed a long browse there, but it struck me how small the lines were to buy books, especially since I had recently been to Powell’s in Portland and witnessed lines 15 to 20 people deep there. It is also worth mentioning that the Indigo store was located in a massive mall in downtown Toronto that is apparently one of the busiest malls in North America.
Without big box retailers, that leaves small independent bookshops to fill the void. I visited 5 such places and they were all unique. One was exclusively used books and felt like something Harry Potter might be found shopping in. Another, just down the street, was sleek and modern (but too small with too few books). Small bookstores have to be picky about what they are going to stock so it was interesting to see how each of these small stores stocked their shelves. The best history section was at Type.
My favorite store though was the University of Toronto bookstore. I love checking out college bookstores, especially because I am curious as both an avid reader and a high school educator, what college professors are having their students read. It was summer, so the shelves were not fully stocked but I really enjoyed seeing what was on offer. I discovered a series of IB (International Baccalaureate) textbooks, which was strange since those are meant for high school students. Nevertheless, it was fun to see what the IB curriculum is, as I know a bit about how it differs from the more popular (but less rigorous) AP program that I teach.
One element of IB curriculum that I am interested in is their Theory of Knowledge program. After visiting the UT bookstore, I actually found a free pdf copy of the Theory of Knowledge text that I saw at the bookstore. I started reading it before I left Toronto. At a future date I’ll likely make a post about what I think about that subject.
All in all, I was super happy to check out these bookstores in Toronto. If you are a book lover, there’s a lot to explore in Canada’s biggest city.
From Oxford to Fugging
On my walk today I listened to a newly released class from the Great Courses. The class is on the world’s great rivers and the episode I chose to listen to was about The Thames, which runs through London. One tidbit I learned, which I had never heard before, was that the famous university town of Oxford got its name because it was founded on a place along the river that was relatively shallow, where the oxen could ford the river. Pretty cool.
That reminded me of the story of how Portland got its name, which all Portlanders are familiar with, but is not widely known outside of the Pacific Northwest. The short version is that two early settlers, one from Portland, Maine and one from Boston, Massachusetts flipped a coin. It is worth noting that both Portland and Boston are named after English cities, which is not surprising considering who settled in that neck of the woods in the 1600s.
Those stories got me thinking of other cities with interesting name-origin stories. Here are a few more.
1. Nome, Alaska
This town supposedly got its name from a cartographer who had labeled the spot on the map “? Name” as a placeholder note on a map. That marking turned into ‘C. Nome’, or Cape Nome during the Alaska Gold Rush. Sounds plausible, but the veracity of this story is still under some debate.
2. Death Valley, California
Speaking of gold, the 1849 California gold rush helped lead to the name of one of the world’s hottest places. Migrants, on their way to the gold fields, got stuck there and even though only one died, they christened the place ‘Death Valley’ when they got out (as in ‘So long, Death Valley!'). The name stuck. And if you’ve been there, you know it is appropriately named!
3. Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
This town was originally called Hot Springs, New Mexico. However, in the 1950s a radio show called Truth or Consequences said it would broadcast it’s big 10th anniversary show from the first town that changed its name to the name of the show. I’ve got to say I like the new name better.
4. Fugging, Austria
This town in Austria got its name just a few years ago, in 2021. Is it that new of a place? No. It was originally called Fucking, Austria. The small Austrian village was founded in the sixth century by a Bavarian nobleman named Focko (or something similar). The suffix “-ing” is an old Germanic marker meaning “the people of,” so the name originally just meant “the home of Focko’s people.” However, you can probably figure out for yourself why they decided to rebrand themselves. I’d say, good move.
Ghost or Owl?
I am always on the lookout for something interesting when I’m on a walk. Tonight I came across this tree trunk. What do you think?
For the Heads
This YouTube channel has got to be one of the coolest Grateful Dead related things on the internet. If you’re a head, you’ve probably seen them before…but maybe not!
They call themselves Searchlight Productions, as in ‘search light casting, for thoughts in the clouds of delusion.’ You know. There are a few aspects of their production that I love. First, the host is a young dude who likely never saw the Grateful Dead. He also is dressed like a middle brow professor type. Yet he comes across as a fierce lover of the music and he definitely knows his shit. Indeed, these videos are steeped in GD lore and they aren’t shy about dropping primary source (and secondary source) materials on us. The videos are a perfect mix of Grateful Dead and history, which zaps my dinger. The video shared below covers the history of the band’s performances on July 3. Watcing the video, it was fun to see that I was at the last July 3 Dead show in 1994 at Shoreline. I think it was the only time I saw Fire on the Mountain unpaired with Scarlet Begonias.
I noticed in the video that the host has a few ‘history’ books about the Dead on the desk. One of them is a great book called Heads that I have read and highly recommend.
An Obit, Three Recommendations, and Some Interesting News
- New York Times obit of hIstorian of the American Revolution Gordon S. Wood
I haven’t read any of Wood’s books, but many are still in print and claim real estate in most American bookstores.
- New history podcast by author of 1491 and 1493, Everyday Abundance.
Charles C. Mann has teamed up with a partner to create a cool new history podcast. This just launched, but it looks promising. Mann is the author of the popular and respected books about indigenous America, 1491 and 1493.
- Cool blog at www.kottke.org
I recently discovered this blog, which is a curated stream of fascinating links, technology, art, and culture updated daily by OG blogger Jason Kottke.
- Netflix presidential biography documentaries
I was fishing around for a relevant documentary to show to the small AP Gov classes I have this week (most of my students were seniors and their last day was last Friday). I came across this collection of Netflix documentaries about our better, more note-worthy presidents. Each series consists of a handful of roughly 90 minute episodes. They are a mix of dramatic re-enactments (with solid, look-a-like actors), real footage (for the modern presidents), and interviews with a who’s who of renowned historians, including H.W. Brands, Jon Meacham, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. I’ve now seen episodes on the two Roosevelts and really enjoyed them. My students gave them high marks, as well.
Libby's Magazine Rack FTW!
I realize I a late to the party on this app, but I’ve got to give Libby a shout out. I always knew the app was out there but I never really explored what was available. I haven’t tried renting or reading a book through the app yet, but the magazine options are phenomenal. And all for free!
Below is my ‘magazine rack.’ I’ve paid for some of these subscription in the past, but why spend the money when I can read ‘em for free on my iPad. I’m confident that annual subscriptions to all these periodicals would set me back at least a few hundred dollars. I also love that I can zoom in on the pages. Oh, and the automatically update on their own and you can browse older editions. And did I mention it’s free?
The only drawback I’ve encountered is not being able to do the crossword at the back The Week. There puzzle is my favorite because it contains current event clues and is just the right level of difficulty for me. You win some, you lose some, eh?
Insight Timer FTW, My Choice for a Meditation App
There are several meditation apps on the market that are quite popular. These include Headspace, Calm, and Sam Harris' excellent app Waking Up. Calm was the first such app that I ever tried and I have dabbled with a subscription Waking Up because I dig Sam Harris' podcast and paying for the app provides full access to his enlightening long form interviews.
However, the app I have been using for a decade for meditation is Insight Timer. I do not and have never paid for a subscription because the free version does all that I need. Specifically, I want something simple, with options about start/start sounds, and a decdent choice of ambient sounds I can play while meditating when I’m in the mood. Another important feature I love about Insight Timer is their tracking system. They used colored stars and I love it because a) I like tracking things and b) I love that if gamifies the habit. Despite my age, I’m a sucker for good gamification.
While I’m the first to admit the negative aspects of modern technology, and phones in particular, I love that my phone has helped me build an important personal habit. My meditation sessions are not very long (I have averaged about 10 minutes a day over the past ten years), but I have managed to meditate most days over the past 12 years or so. The habit is important to me personally and has definitely helped with both my mental and physical health.
Another Cool App: WisprFlow
In addition to Bevel, I have recently taken the plunge on another super cool app. This one is called WisprFlow and it seems to be taking over the Internet to a certain extent. The app is an AI voice to text app that I’ve been seeing in the productivity space online for more than a year. I finally decided to give it a try.
What’s cool about the app is that you can use it in any other app where a text box lives. That means I can use it to speed up my journaling, my assignment creation, my feedback on student work, my texting, my Second Brain note-taking, my recording of my food in Bevel (and in my other Google Doc food journal), my brainstorming, my blogging, and my interactions with Gemini and Claude. I’m still getting the hang of initiating it on my various devices, but I can already tell after less than a week that once I get the hang of using it–and train myself to think voice first instead of typing–I’m going to love what it does to my productivity.
Though it is still early days for me with Wispr Flow, I am very impressed with its ability to deal with the grammar of a stream of consciousness ramble. Indeed, this is one of their main selling points. It also does lists really well.
It is also worth noting that another of their selling points is that you can whisper and it will still accurately transcribe what you say (hence their name). So in a coffee shop, car, classroom, or living room (with someone else present) you can still use the app successfully. I have been very impressed with this feature so far.
For those worried about it training AI on your data, they give you the chance to opt out of that happening when you first set up your account.
Bevel Health App
As a QS nerd, I’m always on the lookout for a cool new way to improve my ability to glean valuable information from my QS data. Recently I came across an app called Bevel. I was able to get 50% for a year to experiment and so far I am digging it. The app pulls data from my Oura ring, my Apple Watch, and my meditation app and makes it easy to track my food/drink intake. It provides some scores and I can check in with the data any time and it gives advice regarding food and excercise. I’m only 3 weeks in, but I’m a fan.
Encore
This represents why I love Goose in particular and jambands in general. This is an encore from Goose’s El Gonzo festival last week down in Mexico. Cortez the Killer had never been played before by Goose so it was a major bust out, and then the Rockdale is classic Goose. Not my favorite version, but it’s unique because Jim James is rocking out with them. It’s also a good reflection of what I am listening to a lot these days, namely live Goose.
Artemis II Pics of Earth
The Artemis II mission last month marked the first crewed flyby of the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Science is cool. Apparently one can download images from the recent mission. Check out this official website if cool pictures of your planet are on your must have list.
Knock Down the House
Today was the AP Gov exam, so I had many students out of class for the test. On such days, I often do something in class that I hardly ever do–show a film in it’s entirety. Today I screened the same documentary that I showed last year. Not only is it relevant to what we are learning about in class (elections and campaigning), but it features a politician most of my students have heard of…Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
If one is remotely interested in politics in general, or left-leaning politics in particular, this film is worth your time. In a nutshell, the film follows four women running in the 2018 congressional primaries. AOC gets the most screen time because she is the lone winner.
What struck me about the film was learning about the struggles that lead these four women to try and win a seat in the national legislature. Amy Viela’s story is the most heart wrenching. Her 22 year old daughter was denied tests after being admitted to the hospital because she didn’t have insurance. She died soon thereafter of a pulmonary embolism. So sad, and so very fucking American. AOC’s father, whom she was very close to, died while she was in college.
I was also struck by AOC’s confidence and tenacity. Watch the film, see if you see it to. I know she has become the boogyman of the right, and it is clear to see why–she’s smart, articulate, passionate, and has learned from the trevails she’s faced how to approach daunting challenges. Knowing more about her having seen the film, I am definitely rooting for her. She’e absolutely pissing off the right people.
Good2B Goose!
I am a huge Goose fan and they have a new album coming out in June. Their Spring Tour starts this weekend. Here is the short version of the first single from the new record. I like it more and more each time I hear it and I definitely dig the video. Hopefully I see them play this in Bend in August.
