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# The Big Dark
- URL: https://makoism.com/the-big-dark/
- Published: 2021-12-18T12:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-12-18T12:45:00.000Z
- Description: "Ah you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it." - Bane, The Dark Knight Rises
- Author: Steve Makofsky
- Tags: makoism, #newsletter-makoism, #substack

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fb3821e2-2d32-4a33-b698-0e7842353940_6000x4000.jpeg)

clouds

Having lived in Seattle for over 20 years, I'm no stranger to our famous long stretches of grey weather from October to March, otherwise known as "**The Big Dark.**"

I new one that I recently heard the '3:30 rule' (coined by [Ron Judd in 2015](https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/canada-seattles-neighbor-to-the-north-nope-better-check-your-map/)) which states:

> *If you don't get your stuff together in time to walk your dog, prune the dogwoods or mend the fence by 3:30 pm, you're going to be finishing in the dark.*

Today (Dec 18, 2021), the sun rises here at 7:52 am and will set at 4:18 pm - only giving us only 8 hours and 26 minutes of potential daylight. Unfortunately, the forecast predicts that the light rain and clouds will hide it all.

I'm not sure why I wanted to write about the weather this week, perhaps because we are wrapping up 'pandemic year two'. The new [Omicron variant seems to be gaining speed](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/this-is-a-whole-new-animal-breakthrough-infections-rattle-nyc-amid-omicron-surge/3456543/). Sporting events are [starting to get delayed](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/17/sport/games-postponed-nfl-college-basketball-spt/index.html), the [Rockettes and broadway have cancelled](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/radio-city-rockettes-cancel-friday-christmas-spectacular-shows-over-breakthrough-covid-cases-11639767392) their shows and many I know are feeling 'a big dark' overshadowing the world again.

If anything, the last few years have me thinking about [the dichotomy of control](https://www.orionphilosophy.com/stoic-blog/stoicism-and-the-dichotomy-of-control): **recognition of what one can and cannot control**. I try to focus on healthy habits for myself (working out daily, not overeating crap, reading, etc.) rather than worrying too much about how the world is acting around me.

I don't know. It helps me on some days.

But everyone [is just tired of all this](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/12/omicron-pandemic-giving-up/621004/).

Wrapping up this week as I work towards the big **"Things I Like" 2021 edition** (hopefully next weekend I’ll post), I wanted to include a video from Jerry Seinfeld's [Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee](https://www.netflix.com/title/80171362), which I thought was interesting.

[Michael Richards](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724245/) talks about auditioning for "Seinfeld" and discusses the racist rant at a heckler during a set at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood in 2006 that [destroyed his career](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/how-seinfeld-star-michael-richards-destroyed-his-career-in-3-minutes.html/).

If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/).

## **Forward Thinking**

I laughted a bit at this rant on technology in the 80's from Bill Murray.

## **Thought of the week**

> [](https://twitter.com/AskCarolLynne/status/1454615101508513794)

## **This weeks "Deep Links"**

Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week:

- "*Can you build a website from a piece of paper?*" was the question that spawned [Paper Website](https://paperwebsite.com/). Read about how this project was born, and the inspiration behind it - [More](https://daily.tinyprojects.dev/paper%5Fwebsite)
- "**How Will You Measure Your Life?**" explores a simple thought: **Create a Strategy for Your Life** \- [More](https://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life)
- From the dark side comes "**11 Reasons Not to Become Famous (or "A Few Lessons Learned Since 2007")**" - [More](https://tim.blog/2020/02/02/reasons-to-not-become-famous/)
- My favorite read of the week is "**10 Interesting Things Lurking Inside Tedious Meetings**". [Jessica](https://substack.com/profile/233404-jessica-hagy) tries to rationalize that there's always 'something or someone worth showing up for.' A great read - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-interesting-things-lurking-inside)
- "**The Attention Diet**" is a beautiful post about the distractions that have started to overwhelm, well, everything - [More](https://markmanson.net/attention-diet)
- This whole [Peloton and Sex and the City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OguSNOLnrwc) thing is crazy. First, I was upset how they killed off a character on a Peloton, then the brilliance of [Peloton's response 'ad'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2OQcSRLA%5Fs), and now they've pulled the ad due to the [allegations of sexual misconduct](https://www.npr.org/2021/12/16/1064978410/peloton-pulls-ad-chris-noth-sexual-assault-allegations). More in "**And Just Like That, Peloton Is Trying to Rewrite That Scene in the Sex and the City Sequel**" - [More](https://gizmodo.com/and-just-like-that-peloton-is-trying-to-rewrite-that-s-1848203215)
- "**Getting to 👃 me**" is a fun read on [Adam](https://substack.com/profile/23300858-adam-harmetz)'s favorite smells. Who *doesn't* like the aroma of roasted whole coffee beans? - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/getting-to-me)
- "**How to rest well**" explores why it's essential to take downtime to recharge. It's not about being lazy, its the key to a good life and productive career - [More](https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-rest-well-and-enjoy-a-more-creative-sustainable-life)
- A rather long but poignant guide that asks you to dig a bit deeper inside and ask yourself: **am I happy?** and "**why we need a life philosophy**" - [More](https://ramses.blog/why-life-philosophy/)
- '*If you aren't falling down, you aren't stretching your limits enough*' or, falling is a **requirement for advancement**. Read more in "**Make A Habit of Falling Down**" - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/make-a-habit-of-falling-down)
- "**The Five Sicknesses of the Human Soul**" explores some of the teachings from [Marcus Aurelius](https://dailystoic.com/marcus-aurelius) '*for what ravages the soul weakens mind and body*.' Fantastic and quick read - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-five-sicknesses-of-the-human-soul)

## **Fin**

Closing out this week with the epic video of Keanu Reeves and the idea of NFT's.

Be well and see you soon for the highly anticipated **"Things I Like" 2021 edition**!✌🏻