Thinking Thursday : the reductive simplicity of other people’s problems
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Some things I have found around the Web this week, and that I suggest you read.
MIND
The reductive seduction of other people’s problems is an important read. The opening example is an eye-opener, followed by this:If you’re young, privileged, and interested in creating a life of meaning, of course you’d be attracted to solving problems that seem urgent and readily solvable. Of course you’d want to apply for prestigious fellowships that mark you as an ambitious altruist among your peers. Of course you’d want to fly on planes to exotic locations with, importantly, exotic problems.
Felix is interested in math again now. I have a feeling I’ll be hitting this list hard and often: Math 101: A reading list for lifelong learners This tree beautifully reveals the relationships between languages.
BODY
I think I have the soul of a Canadian, if not the tolerance for cold.
8 things to remember when everything is going wrong. This is a very important list. How we used to die and how we die nowSOUL
A 225 year old tool for measuring the blueness of the sky makes my soul sing. Meditation changes our brains. Want to reduce inflammation and prevent disease? Look to mindfulness.SPEAKING UP
22 Respectful Ways to Respond When Someone Uses the R-WordFIVE THINGS
Five things I love. (And no, I don’t do any affiliate links, ever, ever, ever. I only post things I love, without any reason to do so other than that I want to share them.)
1. Zhena’s Coconut Chai tea is a longtime favorite. It and Revolution Earl Grey with Lavender are the two I reach for first thing in the morning. Then I move on to caffeine-free tea for the rest of the day.
2. I cannot help myself. I buy this paper as a treat for myself every once in a while. It is the famous Tomoe River Paper used in my favorite date book, The Hobonichi, and it screams “WRITE ON ME USING A FOUNTAIN PEN.”
3. Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil – How do I love this? Let me count the ways: 1) It’s a real pencil! 2) It has a sharpener built into it so you never suffer a dull sentence! 3) The eraser is right there too! I use the $4.00 plastic edition of this, but am secretly lusting after this one (not the $250 platinum one, because that’s insane).
4. TWSBI Diamond 580 Clear Fountain Pen – Easy to fill, I use an extra fine nib (EF) for my date book, and a medium nib for signing books and papers. Because I’m fancy like that. Or obsessed. Thin line (pun intended). What do I most often fill it with? This ink, or this one or this one. Why clear? Because just look at those ink colors.
5. My public library card. Truly, you need one if you don’t already have one.
WORD
“[D]on’t ever apologise to an author for buying something in paperback, or taking it out from a library (that’s what they’re there for. Use your library). Don’t apologise to this author for buying books second hand, or getting them from bookcrossing or borrowing a friend’s copy. What’s important to me is that people read the books and enjoy them, and that, at some point in there, the book was bought by someone. And that people who like things, tell other people. The most important thing is that people read…”
― Neil Gaiman
