Environment ALWAYS Drives Experience (Airline Food Edition)

The environment plays a major role in how you think, feel, and behave. So much so - you can’t really separate an experience from the immersive setting in which you had it. Being aware of the environment/experience link can be a superpower.  I realize how normatively obvious that sounds. But it gets abnormally weird too, … Continue reading Environment ALWAYS Drives Experience (Airline Food Edition)

Sunday Music: Personal Journalist / Sage Francis

It didn’t age well. And that’s ok. It’s still got merits.  I have a series of Sage Francis quotes and references I repeat to myself regularly 20 years on. I’m not a college kid in a pre-social media era crafting AIM away messages anymore. All those bizarre curiosities have moved through and beyond subreddits by … Continue reading Sunday Music: Personal Journalist / Sage Francis

Selling Mirrors Vs. Offering Reflections

“A flower is just a weed with a marketing budget.” Rory Sutherland, paraphrased, but certainly in “Alchemy” too “However you frame yourself as an artist, the frame is too small.” Rick Rubin, via “The Creative Act” “I had to forget selling mirrors and focus on offering reflections.” Matt Zeigler, via “The Rick Rubin Of Advice: … Continue reading Selling Mirrors Vs. Offering Reflections

Sunday Music: 1001 By Glitterer

Glitterer in Wilkes-Barre doing NEPA proud.

We saw Glitterer the other week and this song just stood out like crazy in the setlist to me: “1001” Shoegaze, at it’s best, combines melodic and harmonic tension and resolution. It usually requires the rhythm to be, sort of - plodding(?). Yeah, I’m not Wikipedia for this, but it’s the vibe I get. By … Continue reading Sunday Music: 1001 By Glitterer

Be Careful What You Wish For (Jed McKenna, Agnes Callard, And Cypress Hill Edition)

“Be careful what you wish for, not because you’ll get it but because you’ll be turned into the thing that can get it.” Jed McKenna Agnes Callard explains the difference between the aspirational and the ambitious. Apply these to McKenna’s “wish” from the quote above. They have everything to do with our identities and the … Continue reading Be Careful What You Wish For (Jed McKenna, Agnes Callard, And Cypress Hill Edition)

Why Famous People Don’t Remember Meeting Me

There’s a reason famous people don’t remember meeting me. And you. But I didn’t want to come off as too insulting.  Ben Greenman was telling Questlove about researching stories for the autobiographies he’s worked on.* He said it’s amazing all of the stories that are out there, and how one person’s biggest deal encounter can … Continue reading Why Famous People Don’t Remember Meeting Me

I’m An Optimist Because I Remember Tel Aviv As It Was

Howard Lindzon was telling Ben Hunt why he’s an optimist about the situation in Israel.  Lindzon said, “I am an optimist because I remember Tel Aviv as it was.”  Memory of the good fuels imagination of the good.  You can daydream good too, but when you know something good existed - from experience - you … Continue reading I’m An Optimist Because I Remember Tel Aviv As It Was

Sunday Music: Like Cold November Rain (Go Easy, Rider)

When your fiancé says “Let’s put some G N’ R on” you don’t argue. You embrace being 10 again, popping the cassette into the deck, and basking in the glory of using one’s illusions.  Whatever age you were when you heard “November Rain” (or especially when you first saw the video), it sticks with you.  … Continue reading Sunday Music: Like Cold November Rain (Go Easy, Rider)

Podcast Of The Week: Justin Castelli On Living Your Life

You might not be reading this on 11/11/23, but this video/podcast says life is as easy as 111123.  The heavy finger or stutter on the 1’s is real. You want it to go 123. But starting is hard. 111123 feels way more accurate.   Justin Castelli kicked off a series of live talks (out in Indiana) … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Justin Castelli On Living Your Life