Welcome to Friday,
It has been a cold and blustery week here, and I’ve been so inspired watching the Germans out and about regardless of the weather. They embody the age-old saying, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” In today’s just-above-freezing temperatures, I saw a woman in hiking boots and a puffer jacket, out for a walk during a short break in the rain. Earlier in the week, it was the kids walking home from school carrying umbrellas, snug in their parkas with hoods pulled up. Watching them reminded me that preparation truly is the most important aspect of any project, whether it’s building a product or going for a walk in the winter.
As always, the most interesting and though-provoking things I’ve read this week from around the web:
Francois Clemmons was the first African-American to have a recurring role on a children’s series in the U.S., beginning in 1968 as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He shares the impact Fred Rogers had on his life with NPR.
While there is certainly a balance to strike, there is nothing wrong with presenting your best self to the public and world. I’ve long said that the constant oversharing, broadcasting of personal issues to anyone willing to listen, and the near glorification of failure and malaise aren’t doing anyone any favors. I’ll have more to share on this note in the coming weeks.
Bevan on Dorkiness, in which he surmises that the rudeness and bad behavior we see both online and in ‘real’ life are the result of dorkiness; a refusal to abide within social norms. It’s counter-intuitive and had me thinking and returning to it all week. This piece also compliments Paul Graham’s “Haters” nicely.
At the intersection of neuroscience, 19th century literature, and a sort of predecessor to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, sits the Musée Dupuytren in Paris. While those alive during the Victorian era were famously interested in the macabre, we modern folk have not left those fascinations far behind, as evidenced by our true crime podcasts, long-running crime procedurals, and thriller novels continuing to top the charts. This piece discusses the history and potential future of the museum, and its collection of noteworthy human remains.
The Paris Review covered the auction of Joan Didion’s personal belongings. The logic of these sorts of auctions is always something to behold; as the knowledge a book or pair of glasses belonged to an icon commands eye-watering prices on otherwise innocuous items.
Currently Reading: Beauty by Roger Scruton
Have a beautiful weekend, and Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.
Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash
