Welcome to the weekend,
It’s been a sweet sabbatical week, literally and figuratively. We’ve celebrated three birthdays this week – mine, the husband’s, and my mother’s – appropriately. Namely, with lemon chess and key lime pies, then taking long walks in the evening. Is there a better way to spend a week? I can’t think of one.
What I’d like to share with you this week is:
This Twitter thread on the (beautiful) differences between traditional and modern cities. My favorite detail is the winding streets with major monuments or buildings as a focal point along the journey.
A less obvious Veblen good – the pineapple. When the tropical fruit was brought to Europe from Asia in the 16th century, its exotic appearance and flavor made it desirable, and its sky-high price made it only attainable for the wealthy. “These pineapples were expensive enough to warrant security guards, and maids who transported them were considered to be at great risk of being targeted by thieves.” What a wild history!
Writer David Perell breaks down Grammy-winning artist Kendrick Lamar’s note-taking system in this video. Lamar is a prolific note-taker, having accumulated thousands of notes since middle school. Documenting and revisiting all those observations has resulted in the award-winning music he creates. Perell goes on to show us life isn’t divided into creative and non-creative time, but instead, taking notes and being present in our daily life fosters the creativity needed for our professional life. The key is to capture ideas as they occur.
Before the term “panther” was assigned to the large cat, it was a mythical creature, sometimes depicted as a donkey, horse, or other composite creature. The spotted panther, complete with red and blue spots, was used on Henry VI’s coat of arms. (via Astral Codex Ten)
All hail, the coffee nap! I discovered the benefits of drinking a cup of coffee, then napping for twenty minutes my last year of college. Many notes were taken as a result of its benefits. It’s worked for me – have you tried a coffee nap?
Currently reading: How to be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson
Enjoy your weekend.
