Weekly Finds #31 - December 8th, 2023
Sharing some of the interesting things I've gathered over the course of the week.
📖 Read
An Ancient Guide to the Good Life
In the realm of online moral exploration, the subreddit "Am I the Asshole?" (AITA) emerges as a fascinating crucible of contemporary ethical reflection. This tenth-anniversary celebration of AITA invites users into a unique arena where interpersonal conflicts are laid bare, subjected to the sometimes harsh, sometimes insightful judgment of the Reddit community. The distinguishing feature of AITA lies in its departure from the conventional evaluation of right or wrong actions; instead, it plunges into the nuanced realm of character assessment. Users grapple not with the morality of their deeds but with the judgment of what kind of person they're perceived to be—marked with the verdicts YTA ("You're the asshole") or NTA ("Not the asshole"). This dynamic forum promises a modern catharsis for the frustrated moral philosopher in each participant, offering a refreshing departure from traditional ethical discourse.
Transitioning seamlessly from the digital battleground of AITA, the article takes a philosophical detour into Aristotle's timeless Nicomachean Ethics. The ancient guide, skillfully rebranded as "How to Flourish" for contemporary readers, prompts a reflective exploration of virtue and the pursuit of a flourishing life. The piece grapples with the question of Aristotle's teachings as a self-help manual, pondering the applicability of his wisdom in the context of modern ethical conundrums. The heart of the philosophical contemplation lies in Aristotle's emphasis on judgment and the pivotal role of habitual practice in shaping ethical character. The narrative concludes with a poignant observation, drawing parallels between the enduring quest for rules and algorithms in contemporary life and Aristotle's timeless acknowledgment that ethical discernment is a nuanced journey—one that transcends simplistic formulas and invites individuals to navigate the complexities of morality through a lifelong pursuit of virtue.
🙉 Overheard
“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out."
- From The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
🎧 Listen
A couple of items from this week’s Music Curated issue.
I mix it up here and share various music with my readers, so you’ll see something different each week. You may be into some of what I share, and you may not be into other things, and that’s okay. My goal is to share the things I enjoy and I hope to introduce my audience to something they might not have otherwise heard, and I hope some of it also resonates with you.
Song: Bjork - Human Behavior
When I first discovered Bjork in 1993 her unique sound amazed me and I loved how completely different her album, Debut, was from anything I had ever heard. I was instantly hooked and this track, Human Behavior was one of the highlights for me, among many other quirky and interesting sounds.
Playlist: Anthony Bourdain’s 302 Favourite Songs
Coming in at over 20 hours, this playlist made by Far Out Magazine is a testament to how important of a role music played in Anthony Bourdain’s life. He was just as much a connoisseur of great music as great food.
Thanks to Morgan Neville, the director of the documentary charting Bourdain’s life, Roadrunner, we get an insight into what was playing. The creators rifled through his record collection and notes on music to provide a mammoth playlist of the songs he loved most. And now we are the benefactors of this cracking listen. To hell with all the restaurant recommendations he may have made, this is probably the most delectable treat that the late, great Anthony Bourdain left us: delicious peasant food for the ears.
🔗 Random Finds
Stained Glass Smash
Fun and meditative to smash some cool patterns into virtual glass. Here’s an example of what you can create with this great project from FunWebsite.Fun.
Powerful Quotes of Charlie Munger
There are so many great quotes here from the recently passed Charlie Munger, but here’s one of my favorites.
Those who keep learning, will keep rising in life.
1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E and 1989 BMW 325i Take Turns in a Flashback Matchup
🍲 🍹 Eat & Drink
A Very Good Wedge
Brace yourself for salad extravagance! The mantra at Turkey and the Wolf? Excess! Dive into a salad that flaunts an almost indecent quantity of blue cheese dressing, an abundance of everything-bagel crunch, a bacon load fit for a salad and a mountain of fresh dill. In their kitchen, it's a half-head of iceberg drowning in almost a pint of dressing. At home? Well, that's entirely up to you—embrace the decadence!
The Long Hello
Toast to autumn with Damon Boelte's musical creation at Prime Meats. Named after an obscure prog rock album, The Long Hello is a festive Champagne cocktail that originated as the ideal toast for newlyweds in New York magazine's winter wedding feature. Simple, elegant, and utterly delicious, the pear notes from St. Germain dance with apple brandy, while bitters and grated nutmeg add a dash of Christmas spice. It's a warm, charming, and oh-so-sippable seasonal delight. Cheers to the art of celebration!
🧒 Kiddos
My kids thought this was fascinating and wanted to share it with you all.
Why isn’t there any sound in space? An astronomer explains why in space no one can hear you scream
In space, there is no sound because it's like a super empty place with almost no matter. Sound needs stuff like air molecules to travel, and space doesn't have those. So, if you were in space and shouted, no one would hear you! Also, space is a vacuum, which means it's almost empty, making it super silent.
If you ever went to other planets like Mars or Venus, your voice would sound different because of their thin or thick atmospheres. In deep space, where there's a little bit of stuff, NASA even recorded the sound of a black hole stirring up things in a faraway galaxy. But, you can't hear it directly because it's way too low for our ears, so scientists made it sound like a growl!