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.

YouTube Video

An Obit, Three Recommendations, and Some Interesting News

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Can you now fly with weed legally?

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.

YouTube Video

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.

YouTube Video

In the Strangest of Places

This morning I came across this cool story in The Oregonian. Apparently there is a mysterious group in Portland that is beautifying public spaces by creating little pockets of artful color and beauty where there are cracks on the ground on roads or sidewalks. They have an Instagram account titled @fillthevoidpdx.

What caught my eye, other than the utter Portlandness of this activity, is that several of the installations contain Grateful Dead lyrics. Check out the examples of Portland Dead weirdness below. Here’s to this anonymous group’s continued activity around the Rose City.

7 Beautiful Covers

I love me a good cover. Here are some mostly femaie covers of songs I grew up loving.

  1. The Rain Song, Led Zeppelin

  2. Tears, Rush

  3. Going to California, Led Zep

  4. Landslide, Fleetwood Mac

  5. Sweet Child o' Mine, Guns and Roses

  6. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd

  7. Dirty Work, Steely Dan

A Visit to the Getty

I was lucky today to visit the Getty Center and Museum in Los Angeles. Beautiful day, and a beautiful location. The art was beautiful and the garden and attendant views were stunning. I don’t know a lot about art, but the more art museums I visit, the more I enjoy looking at paintings and photo collections. Indeed, I think I like sculpture the most. In recent years I have been able to enjoy the Rikjismuseum in Amsterdam and the Tate in London. On the other hand, last spring break I passed up the opportunity to visit the Chicago Museum of Art. Oh well, that is one more reason to go back there when I get a chance.

Below are some pics from my visit. Note, I used Nano Banana on the red bust to take away the pedestal just to see what it looked like.

A Shoppe Moost Gentil

When I am vacationing, checking out local bookstores is a top priority. Recently I was able to enjoy Santa Barbara’s excellent Chaucer Books. The wee one headed to her section and I enjoyed a good 45 minute browse. Lots and lots of new titles, including a bunch of books I hadn’t browsed before, which is saying something since I browse bookstores on the regular. Their history section, in particular, was fantastic. Walked out with one book I hadn’t seen before. 4.5/5 rating all together. Only thing holding back the perfect score was size. Compared to Powell’s or NYC’s The Strand, it has a small footprint.

Some YouTube Recs

I got off social media many years ago and it was a great decision. Don’t miss those platforms at all. Not only was it good for my mental health, but it saved me a ton of time. That said, I do probably spend a bit too much time on YouTube. Nevertheless, there are a ton of great channels on YT that I get a lot out of. I thought I’d share 5 of them, mostly on the information side of things. These are all channels that I can have on in the kitchen and listen to, while not feeling like I need to ‘watch’ the video.

In no particular order….

  1. Caolan Robertson: This young dude is an amazing example of independent journalism. He has been camped out in Ukraine since the war started (he isn’t Ukrainian) and offers fantastic reporting on the war with Russia. If you want to know what is happening there, this channel is mandatory.

  2. The Warning with Steve Schmidt: Schmidt is a former Republican campaign pro who helped start The Lincoln Project. He has gone independent and offers a view of American politics very close to my own. He knows his history and doesn’t pull any punches.

  3. Amanpour & Company: This is a PBS show hosted by journalist Christiane Amanpour. They do substantive interviews with major newsmakers and smart pundits. They go deep, are very informative, and have enough respect for their audience not to try and gaslight them.

  4. C-SPAN: I know, I know….borrrrrring! But hey, I teach AP Governmet so this channel has a ton of content that is relevant to my job. One thing that is nice about this channel is that you can watch what transpires in Washington without it being filtered though the (usually conservative corporate) media. I also love their focus on non-fiction books and writing.

  5. Nugs: I listen to a lot of music on YouTube and this is one of my favorite channels. Tons of different bands are featured. However, my favorite type of video are their free opening Goose set live streams. Honk!

5 Nights of Bliss in the Big Apple

I will likely be in the woods camping when this run of shows at MSG will be taking place at the end of July. Nevertheless, for me, this would be just about the best week of music I could imagine at one venue. Considering Rush will likely be mixing up their set lists pretty substantially, I shudder to think of all the great moments that the lucky few who attend all these shows are going to witness.

Loving both bands as I do, I am really hopeful that they take in a night of each other’s gigs. I am rooting hard for pics of the Phish guys at Rush (they of course grew up listening to Rush and used to cover them in their early, early days) and for the Rush guys checking out the amazing prog band known as Phish.

I am reminded of the fact that in August 2010 I caught three nights of Phish at the Greek in Berkeley, then saw Rush on night four at Shoreline. The Phish shows were peak, but being on the lawn at Shoreline was a bit of a let down after the intimacy of the Greek.

Man, what a run that’s going to be in the Big Apple!

5 Recommendations

  1. The American Empathy Project Spread the word, we definitely need more of this. It is time to fight back against idiotic ‘Chrstian’ nationalism. More here.

  2. Netflix’s series House of Guinness. Great, historical drama with a strong cast, good writing, and for once, and absence of gratuitous sex. I’m sure they are takng some liberties with the actual history, but I found the first season entertaining. I hope Season Two is out soon!

  3. Billy Strings' recent homage to Bobby Weir. Firey Cassidy in Georgia!

  4. Framing time as cyclical, not linear. I’ve been thinking about this idea as I read Neil Howe’s fascinating book The Fourth Turning is Here. My default is to think of time as linear, but as a teacher my life is very seasonal, and cyclical. This has been an interesting new frame of reference for me.

  5. Dynalist outlining software. I still think linearly, so that means I like to make outlines to capture my thinking. I tried Workflowy, but didn’t like it (becaue the keystroke commands weren’t intuitive). Dynalist fits my brain better. Is free to use online.