Espresso Shots 10-20-24

Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them.

Quotable 📖

From Rands in Repose

The Latest Drippings ☕️

• Seeing Mt Everest with my own eyes in 2009 was one of the most rewarding and challenging adventures I've ever been on. Now you can experience it in this quick and stunning 4k footage of a DJI drone going up 29k feet into the death zone. 29,000 Feet Up Mount Everest with DJI Mavic 3 Pro
• There is beauty in junk, especially these 'aerial photos of scrapyards and arranged the junked cars, planes, trains, and other objects into dense photographic collages'. Artfully Arranged Junkyard Objects
• Several people sent me two talks from the recent XOXO Festival in Portland that are worth sharing. (Note: there's a ton of great ones this year)
  • Molly White on 'witnessing what many of us think about as "the web" rotting right in front of our eyes. Working outside of that rot pile, and perhaps motivated by it, there are so many people who are excited about the potential for a better web.' Molly White, Citation Needed / Web3 Is Going Just Great
  • Cabel Sasser gave a fantastic talk, which I won't even spoil - just watch it to the end. 'Don't waste this. Keep everyone guessing. Make me proud.' Cabel Sasser, Panic
• Oliver Burkeman recently released his newest book, Meditation for Mortals (which I highly recommend). Still, this article he recently posted on the benefits of keeping a done list over a traditional to-do list intrigued me. Imagine 'a shift in perspective to view each day as starting at a zero balance, where accomplishments contribute positively rather than being seen as merely catching up.' Beautiful stuff here. What if you're already on top of things?
• As a self-described recovering PKM junkie, the idea of 'digital decluttering' instantly grabbed my attention. 'Modern storage has made it possible for me to keep everything, but that doesn't mean I should. As much as I can get isn't a collecting strategy; it's hoarding.' Digital decluttering
• Perhaps the winning strategy for social media in 2024 is choosing not to play anymore and taking back control of what you read instead of succumbing to the almighty algorithm. If you're not familiar with RSS, it's described as 'RSS (one of those ancient internet acronyms with multiple definitions, including, but not limited to Really Simple Syndication) is an invisible, automatic way for internet-connected systems to public feeds.' I've been using RSS since it started (here's makoism's RSS feed), but it feels like the past is the future here. You should be using an RSS reader
• Who knew that the world's largest deli meat company was owned by.. who knows... it's a mystery. The Secretive Dynasty That Controls the Boar's Head Brand
• I had never heard of Pramipexole, but apparently it was created to combat Parkinson's disease by stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain. It turns out psychiatrists also prescribe it for depression and anxiety, and it can cause impulse-control disorders. It's a fascinating read. The Degradation Drug
• 'The hallmark of expertise is no longer how much you know. It's how well you synthesize. It's not enough to connect facts. The future belongs to those who connect dots.' What Builds Resilience — and Where to Find Your Niche
• If you're a leader or responsible for a team, this is an excellent post that highlights navigating challenges and change management. Particularly interesting? This one is beautiful - the notion of Strategic Inaction, where sometimes, 'the best approach is to allow situations to deteriorate rather than forcing change, conserving energy for more impactful moments.' No Unforced Errors
• If you read in a car on your phone, this trick in the latest iOS update is amazing! Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues Changed my Life

Amor Fati ✌🏻