Photos · Travel

In the shadow of Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France

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Andrew Jackson enters New Orleans in the shadow of Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France to snatch the city from France in 1815. ⚔️

Oh wait, he was actually defending the city from a British invasion. 😆🤷🏻‍♂️

Damn, I love history (and New Orleans).

Side note: this church had officially leveled up to cathedral rank 23 years prior.

#neworleans #nola #jacksonsquare #frenchquarter #history #louisiana #warof1812 #cathedral via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/Cpyc0j_tJc0/

Quotes

“You have to have a direction before you can get movement.”

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A wise man told me this recently in regards to a specific problem, but I think it applies more generally.

You have to have a direction before you can get movement.

Unlike most of quotes I post, this one didn’t even come from a famous person, just a wise friend. 👨🏻‍🚀🙏

I would love to be able to illustrate like this myself some day, but for now I’ll borrow from Alex Mathers. #goals

Music

Stuck in a moment (remake)

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I haven’t been a huge fan of modern-day U2. I miss the more inspiring, mysterious, and just classic stuff from the 80’s and 90’s.

Still, some of their later-day songs creep up and get you — especially if someone else performs them. 🤷🏻‍♂️

For instance, Transient has done some really fresh remakes of U2 songs. They finally helped me appreciate the following song from 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind, which I originally thought was, uh, pretty boring, but now see the beauty in it.

Thank you, Transient. 🙏

And the lyrics are perfect for someone who needs a little kick in the butt.

I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere baby

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And now you can’t get out of it
Don’t say that later will be better
Now you’re stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

The World

ChatGPT, ChatGPT write me a post

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As noted previously, ChatGPT is a pretty amazing AI chat bot with some very human limitations (basically, it’s kind of a bore and a blowhard).

For fun, I decided to have ChatGPT write me a blog post for my quotes section. I mean, maybe the bot can just take over here. 🤷🏻‍♂️

> write a brief, inspiring blog post with a famous quote

After spitting out several posts about Steve Jobs quotes, I had to clarify… while Steve Jobs had some great things to say, let’s try something new.

> write a brief, inspiring blog post with a famous quote not from Steve Jobs

The result is definitely Michael Scott certified.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky

This quote from legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky reminds us that in order to succeed, we have to take risks and be willing to step out of our comfort zone. It's easy to play it safe and stick with what we know, but it's only by taking chances that we can truly grow and reach our full potential.

It's okay to be afraid of failure, but we have to remember that failure is a natural part of the journey towards success. Every missed shot is an opportunity to learn and improve. And even if we do fail, we can take comfort in knowing that we tried our best and that we have the chance to try again.

So don't be afraid to take that shot, whatever it may be. Whether it's pursuing a new career, starting a business, or trying something new, have the courage to step out and take a chance. You never know what amazing things you'll accomplish when you embrace the unknown.

So, mission accomplished: it is brief and inspiring and it does have a quote.

I don’t remember asking it to be comically generic and cliched. I guess it took its own initiative on that. 😆

Quotes

“Every noble work is at first impossible.”

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Pretty much any interesting/useful/beautiful human achievement you can think of was at first impossible. Mass-printing books? You’re crazy. Sailing ships across the oceans? No way. Putting a man on the surface of the freaking moon? That one still gets me.

While John F. Kennedy gets my award for the best speech about doing the impossible (and within the decade no less!), the Scotsman Thomas Carlyle had summed this idea up nicely a hundred years before.

Every noble work is at first impossible.

Thomas Carlyle

This quote is so clear and to-the-point: it is perfect from a writing perspective.

But can you picture JFK getting up on stage at Rice University in 1962, saying, “Every noble work is at first impossible… let’s go to the moon.” and then just leaving? 😆 I guess politics requires a little more bombast.

Thomas Carlyle, looking a lot like The Most Interesting Man in the World.
Quotes

“…not to nurse memories, especially not of evils, but to overlook them.”

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To me, Aristotle always seemed like just another stuffy ancient Greek dude in a robe. I always confused him with Socrates. I related to Bill & Ted when they met Socrates, swapping generic, abstract ideas with classic rock lyrics. 😆

But Aristotle was not lost in the abstract. Like other ancient philosophers, he had some cool things to say about being a good person, For example, he espoused being forgiving, consciously “overlooking” the past to avoid the self-imposed ill of resentment.

It is proper to a magnanimous person not to nurse memories, especially not of evils, but to overlook them.

Aristotle

👉 You’ve got to love the word “magnanimous” – it’s a new favorite word of mine.

Dude was also into being helpful and generous…

Of all those who are called virtuous the liberal are probably the best liked, because they are helpful; and their help consists in giving.

So “The Philosopher” was just saying be kind, generous, and forgiving. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Austin

Fun things to do in Austin when it’s cold and wet ☔️

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Austin is geared towards the outdoors. Even in the blazing hot summer, the mornings and nights are consistently outdoor-friendly. You may want to duck inside during the heat of the day, but you can reliably enjoy your favorite trail in the morning and your favorite coffee shop + beer garden at night.

But today, it is 37℉, the November rain is here — and my brother is visiting town expecting nice weather. 😆

Here’s the quick list of things I put together for him to do while stuck in “sunny” Austin during a bout of winter. It’s kind of specific to him, but you might like it too.

👉 See also: Places to play around Austin

Crux Climbing Center – bouldering, etc.  I even learned yoga at the original south one.

Punch Bowl Social – an entertainment “complex” in the middle of downtown; it’s a chain, but it’s cool what they’ve done in this historic building.

The Contemporary Austin – a small but amazing modern art museum downtown – very close to Punch Bowl Social. ^

The Blanton Museum of Art – another modern art museum downtown, this one featuring Ellsworth Kelly’s Temple for Light called “Austin”.

The Texas State Capital – leave politics aside for a bit and just enjoy this amazing 1882 building and surrounding park with panoramic views down Congress Avenue.

Violet Crown Cinema – a great artsy movie theater with good food and a stylish bar. Dare I say it’s even better than the Alamo Drafthouse?

Toy Joy – a fun little toy store across the street from Violet Crown. ^

Whole Foods flagship store – lots of good food, a nice rooftop patio in sunnier weather, but there’s also a bar in the back by the meat.

The Mean Eyed Cat, yeah, there are lots of bars around town, but this is the the Johnny Cash bar. 🙂

Cidercade – games & wings by the lake. I’ve never been, but I’ve hear it’s fun.

Pinballz – a classic arcade (they have a couple of locations).

Playland Skate Center – a retro rollerskating rink near Pinballz. ^

A cloudy, drizzly Austin.

Travel

Seljavallalaug

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Here’s a new addition to the European swimming pool agenda. And this one is not some fancy Parisian resort pool. In fact, it has to be the most remote (and cold) pool I’ve see so far.

Here’s how to find Seljavallalaug pool: From Reykjavík, Iceland, drive two-and-a-half-hours along the coast. Then park and hike 20 minutes past some glaciers, volcanoes, and a waterfall. 😮 Now jump in!

Once you get there, it’s free. In the summer, it might be “dyed a beautiful shade of green” due to algae, not unlike our own Barton Springs Pool here in Austin.

If I ever make it to Iceland, I’ll remember to bring my swim suit (and a really warm towel)!

Quotes · You

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life…”

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I’ve been sitting with this theory for a while that what matters most is who you are when all your stuff is stripped away – your house, your car, your bank account. Who are then then?

I think Sophia Loren is right by focusing in on your skills and your positive impact – and tying that to eternal youth. 🤩 Have you noticed that great musicians like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Paul McCartney just keep going and going?

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love.

Sophia Loren

(The other fountain of youth IMHO is swimming. 🏊😉)

from Vogue
The World

Fellow Americans: remember to vote 🇺🇸 (and make it count)

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I was out for walk last night when a neighbor called out from his yard, “Hey, are you gonna vote tomorrow?” “Yep,” I said. “Okay, cool. Just don’t screw it up,” he said. 😆

He didn’t tell me who to vote for, and I won’t tell you. But I will ask some pretty pointed questions.

Do you think we should do something real about the global climate crisis, or do you think we should sit on our hands and just hope things get better while the world burns?

Do you think we should make our own life-altering decisions or do you think the government should make these decisions for us?

Do you think we should take steps to keep our kids from getting murdered in their schools, or do you think that is just the price of freedom?

Do you respect our elections or do you support officially overturning a free and fair election using made-up claims?

Do you believe in civil discourse or do you believe in undermining political foes in their most tragic moments?

I could go on about how Republican policies are damaging lives. 😩. They also seem oddly scared of you voting and aim to keep that from happening.

If you believe in personal rights, respect for democracy, and solving problems in America, it looks like you may be down to one real option*.

*Libertarians seem consistent and ethical but don’t have a great answer to “things that affect everyone” like climate change and gun violence.

If you disagree, then vote your conscience and let’s get through this together. ✌️

From Ken Burns Tells America’s History Through Six Photographs

Quotes · You

“How can a guy think and hit at the same time?”

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In honor of last night’s World Series no-hitter (this first since 1956) here’s a quote from Yogi Berra, the guy who never said most of the things he said. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Apparently he was frustrated with his coach, who told him to think his way out of a batting slump. 🤷🏻‍♂️

How can a guy think and hit at the same time?

Yogi Berra

If you’ve tried to hit a 90 mph pitch (which I did once or twice at a batting cage), you know exactly what he’s talking about. You can’t even see the ball at that speed much less think about hitting it.

What are some other things you can’t think and do at the same time? Offhand I’m thinking of skateboarding, singing, dancing, playing guitar, shuffling a deck of cards, telling a joke…

Via The New Yorker.

Books · Quotes · You

“If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive.”

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I like this idea…

If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive.

Kenneth Goldsmith

The book Show Your Work references this quote and really brings it home with an image that illustrates how a good picture can outshine even the best words.

👉 By the way, Show Your Work inspires this blog and will most definitely be getting its own super summary (or series) here (eventually).

Quotes

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.”

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I can’t resist a good Einstein quote. The quintessential scientist knew that it takes a lot more than numbers to solve big, break-through problems.

He also had a knack for communicating powerful human ideas simply.

Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.

Albert Einstein

If you want to be like Einstein, don’t chase success. Just stay curious and bring value.

creativity · entertainment

Missed Fortune 🗻

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What does it take to pull you into a new podcast? Or a book? Or really anything?

With so many great podcasts out there and already not enough time for them all, the bar can be pretty high for anything new. But the first few lines of the Missed Fortune podcast pulled me in right away.

Did you ever find yourself in one of those situations where if it goes well, there’s a huge reward? But if it goes bad, you look just unforgivably stupid? Like what were you possibly thinking?

I’m in a car with some guys I don’t know on the way to somewhere we’re not supposed to be. And this is one of those situations.

They go on to explain that this is the story of a real-life treasure hunt in the Rocky Mountains with the only clues being a short poem.

I’m already hooked. 😲 Well played, new podcast.

Apps · Practical · Software Dev

UX teardown: make your own guides in  Maps

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I always found the “favorites” feature in Apple Maps to be too general and dissatisfying. I quit using that feature once I had 48 places saved all across the world. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Before that, I saved specific lists of places in Google Maps, but found their mobile app to be cluttered and confusing. 😖 So I gave up and started using Trello.

Trello is cool for some things like trip planning and small projects, but it did not scale well and didn’t handle lists of places well. So I gave up on that. 😢

 Maps guides

I’m happy to have just discovered that you can save your favorite places as “guides” in Apple Maps. Finally, this is genuinely useful!

I just set up my own guide for coffee places open early for when I’m looking to get our early. Quick and easy and right to the point! 🤩. I can immediately see all the places I saved and their hours. Check it out for yourself! (This is my own personal guide, so it’s focused on Austin, TX.)

Of course this guide automatically syncs to my iPad and Mac as well. ✅

Rechecking Goole Maps

Forgive me if I sound like an  fanboy, but out of genuine curiosity I went back and I did the same thing in the latest Google maps. It was a bit painful. 😢

Notice how the “main” screen is oddly not a map but more of a picture of a cup of coffee and therefore not useful to me.

And even when I drilled into an actual map view, the places I care about are unlabeled in favor of (1) a notification that HEB has an offer and (2) the Texas Capitol and Congress Ave. Bridge exist. Again, not useful.

I just want to know where a coffee shop is open at 7am! Now that would be useful. 👆

But where are all the coffee shops and their hours?
But which ones are the actual coffee shops?

entertainment · Quotes

“When I choose to see the good side of things…It is strategic and necessary.”

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Packed inside the breakneck crazy multiverse film Everything Everywhere All at Once is some real wisdom.

My favorite character is the unfailingly nice Waymond, the husband of the main character. One minute he seems a bit out of touch, and the next minute he is the man with the plan.

He embodies the idea that optimism is courageous and powerful. Being cynical and guarded might seem smart, but it will never land you on the moon or win a big battle. Did you ever hear a great general say, “I’m not sure we can do this, guys.” Being optimistic is strategic and necessary.

When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It’s how I learned to survive through everything.

Waymond from Everything Everywhere All at Once

Thank you, Waymond. 🙏

Side note: Ke Huy Quan, who played Waymond, was also the little kid in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. 🤯

Quotes

“Make glorious, amazing mistakes.”

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Neil Gaiman, being a great writer, says a lot in just four words.

Make glorious, amazing mistakes.

Neil Gaiman

Note that he’s not saying to make dumb, easy, obvious mistakes. 🙃

If that’s enough to get you interested, he has more to say.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.

It reminds me of Steve Jobs.

entertainment · Me

Cultivating cultivating

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My daughter finds the best shows to watch. She introduced me to the amazing Avatar series. More recently we’re watching Neon Genesis Evangelion, a post-apocalyptic anime series from the 1990’s. 🤩

One thing jumped out to me in episode 17. The cool guy Kaji, who seemed like just a shallow “player” type, introduced his friend Shinji to his secret watermelon garden.

It’s my hobby. Don’t tell anybody, okay?

Shinji was feeling down at the time, and Kaji was trying to lift him up.

It’s great to make something. To grow something. You notice things and figure stuff out. Things you enjoy, for example

Shinji was’t super receptive at the time, but I knew exactly what Kaji was talking about, having experimented with gardening some myself in my tiny urban plot.

There was the early attempt in the pandemic, then everything getting wiped out in the 2021 snowpocalypse. Hints of a natural rebirth, then actively clearing out the dead brush for new growth. This was followed by some small success at growing something you can eat, and then some wild growth this spring.

Right now I’m eating a few bell peppers, tomatoes, jalapeños, and strawberries from my tiny garden. The pesky birds and squirrels have caught on and are usually getting to the good stuff before I do. 😭

Still, I don’t mind feeding the wildlife. I just like to grow stuff. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Austin

Favorite Spots For Remote Work in Austin

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Even if you have a top-notch home office, sometimes it helps to get out and clear your head.

I get some of my best work done at Cosmic (in good wether) or Barley Bean (in most weather). Do512 did their own polling and came up with the best places to work all around Austin.

👉 Our Favorite Spots For Remote Work

I’m bookmarking this list in case I find myself somewhere besides South Austin (gasp!), looking for a place to pull out my laptop and knock out some writing or code.

👉 See also: The Best Outdoor Seating in Austin, TX

You

Stay calm 🙏 and kick butt ⚔️

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Here are a few tips that helped me get through times when I felt lost or hopeless. This is my practical, step-by-step guide, hard-earned and tested in real life.

Setting goals

Decide what you want. Pick a small goal for now — anything useful. Take the pressure off. Just pick something to work on that you can do.

Think short-term and what’s in your control. What can do you today, tomorrow, this week, this month? You can act most effectively in this timeframe.

Narrow your focus: Do one (main) thing at a time. You can’t do everything all at once. Once you finish a major goal, you can move on to the next with even more focus, having the first thing done.

Working towards goals

👉 It takes practice.

Visualize the outcome you want. Close your eyes, breath, and picture in vivid detail what you want to happen. This may sound silly, but it can help motivate you and sharpen your focus.

Work towards the outcome you want in small steps every day. Keep your current daily goals modest; keeping a backlog of stuff to do later is helpful.

👉 Doing Great Things is Boring 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Place your happiness in the progress towards the results, not in the result itself. Steady work in itself will make you feel better.

👉 “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.”

Yes, work towards an outcome, but don’t get attached to it; you can’t control everything. Focus on what you can do right now and take pride in your effort, however it may turn out.

Keep your ego in check. Do things because they go with your values and goals and not to look good or to avoid judgement.

Your happiness depends only on you, not on external people, places, or things.

👉 The Secrets to Happiness (Distilled)

Taking care of yourself

Enjoy nourishing foods any time you want: water, tea, bone broth, fruit, avocado, nuts, yogurt…

Try some calming sounds. Listen to some ambient music, nature sounds, movie soundtracks, whatever works. You can find these in your music app or even YouTube.

👉 The Best Music for Working

Freshen up your environment. Get outside for some sunlight and fresh air. Open a window. Light a scented candle or incense. Clean and tidy your home.

Move. Walk, stretch, exercise every day. Find an exercise (or two) that works for you. 🧘🏻

Taming your mind

It takes practice.☝️

👉 Super Summary: Think Like a Monk

Ask yourself – is this useful? If you find yourself having unhelpful, repetitive thoughts, then nip them in the bud. These are usually about a past or future that you can’t control and can’t solve by thinking.

Take a few deep breaths, then work on calming yourself.

Focus your mind on a game – Wordle, a crossword puzzle, or a chill app like isowords, Townscaper, paper.io, or MiniMetro.

Work through your thoughts and feelings with journaling. Don’t hold back. Get it all out – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Or just write a haiku about your day to make it more fun. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Meditate: Clear and observe your mind non-judgmentally. Scan your body, focus on breathing, visualize success, give gratitude, find empathy for others.

Feed your heart, not your fears

Fear makes you do stupid things and must be conquered.

👉 “Fear is the mind-killer.”… “Move, but don’t move the way fear makes you move.”.

Above all, keep faith in yourself. ✌️

👉 “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears”

The World

Trams, cable cars, ferries, and bikes – making transportation cleaner (and more fun)

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Since I first discovered the care-free movement years ago, I’ve always been a sucker for ways to get around besides those same old gas-guzzling, traffic-jamming cars.

It just seems like walking, biking, and taking a ride on something are more fun than cars. Mass transit makes the world more beautiful and is better for the planet.

Here’s a great overview of how cities across the world are finding better, electric options for moving lots of people around.

Austin

The sisters behind some of Austin’s best tacos

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For a while, I thought Veracruz All Natural was basically just the taco truck at Radio. But they’re all over town. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Here’s the story behind the immigrant sisters who founded Veracruz All Natural.

Key facts: they’re actually from Veracruz, Mexico and came to the US illegally 22 years ago. They contributed a lot to the Austin taco scene by not changing what they knew growing up in Mexico. They started in 2006 with $6,000. A 2009 mention in the Austin Chronicle gave them a good early the boost.

👉 I’m more of a Pueblo Viejo guy because there’s one that is walking distance from my house. But Veracruz is great too, and I love the story.