Ramble #91
Welcome to the latest edition of Ramble, a compilation of what I have been pondering, learning and enjoying for the past month or so.
Now, grab a beverage and let’s begin.
Recent Feedback:
My last Ramble had some interesting feedback:
Thanks, very much, Case.
Anyways, onwards to this edition.
Something Interesting:
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta “…maintains diplomatic relations with 112 states, enters into treaties, and issues its own passports, coins and postage stamps. Its two headquarters buildings in Rome enjoy extraterritoriality, similar to embassies, and it maintains embassies in other countries.”
It’s a centuries old religious order that claims sovereign territory over a chunk of the harbour in Malta.
What I am Reading:
Strange-story-written-by-French-Philosopher-style-read. Frenchman in colonial Algeria kills a man. The fact that he didn’t cry over the death of his elderly mother effectively convicts him. The protagonist isn’t sure why everything matters so much to these people.
Weird story about the outsider, the stranger.
A Nervous Breakdown (Anton Chekhov)
Set in (I think) pre-revolutionary Russia. Young relatively sophisticated gentlemen out on the town. Woe is me. What is meaning. etc etc. Very ’literature’. Short story.
Detective story that can be read in a single sitting.
Detectives can replay a simulation of a day, an entire city during that day, and enter the simulation to conduct an investigation.
The Future of an Illusion (Sigmund Freud)
Psychoanalyst’s take on religion.
What I am Watching:
Lovely and weird.
Love the John Wick universe. Mel Gibson is great.
One of my favourite movies. The classic ticking time bomb scenario. How far do you go? What rights do we throw out when time is running out…?
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Netflix)
Wes Anderson. Short Story. A story within a story within a story. Great.
Benicio Del Toro is fantastic. Dark and gritty.
More Wes Anderson. Watched this on the plane from Cyprus.
I think this is a very interesting document. It changed what I think when I hear “David Beckham” (I’ve never been a soccer fan).
I think it is an indictment of Soccer culture, and British culture specifically. And neither look good.
Really interesting. I considered this in the same genre as ‘Greenlights’ by McConaughey. Revealing and surprising.
Travel - Expedition Denouement:
I made a Travel Page to start compiling travel writings to make it easier to keep up to date with:
- Denouement Diaries for Weekly Updates - Week 48 Here
- Denouement Dashboard for Country Summaries - Check France Here
- Social stuff over Here, Here and Here.
- And my guide on 'How to Quit Your Job and Escape for a Year (and Why You Should…)'
Tool I am Trying:
I got an Apple Watch that I attached to my phone plan. Yes, it’s a nice toy. But I am forcing it to serve some sort of functional purpose. I want it to be a Tool.
- I am actually interested to see the objective effects of shift work on
- Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability
- Sleep
And the watch can track both pretty well. It can track a bunch of ‘health‘ parameters including taking ECGs, Respiratory Rate and tracking your temperature (with which it has a separate application for cycle tracking for women)
I am also just interested to see what happens to my heart rate at the next medical emergency I attend. I reckon I could see some pretty big numbers next time the emergency bleep goes off.
- Empty Pockets Wandering
This is a nice one. I happen to love being able to walk down to the beach and straight in to the water without having to worry about where I leave my stuff, will I get sand in my phone etc.
I already don’t wear shoes outside very often, but with an Apple Watch with mobile data I can leave my phone and wallet in the car/home as well. I can pay for my coffee with my cards linked to my Watch, I can make and receive phone calls and texts directly from my phone and, most importantly, I CANNOT use my watch for dumb things like scrolling some social media site.
- Audio and Activity
I can connect Bluetooth headphones to my Watch and play books, podcasts and music without needing my phone. Good for the gym.
I think that if you have read this far, I gentleman's agreement has been entered - and you should feel guilty for not subscribing...
Closing Thoughts:
Thank you once again for reading along with me.
If you found something you liked, let me know.
If you think I can do something a little smoother, please let me know.
Talk soon.
Luke.