Weeknotes: Week 33, 2023

These are the highlights from the week of Aug 14 to Aug 20.

• 🎒 William mentioned his new Wandrd bag, which reminded me that I’ve been meaning to upgrade my camera backpack. My old Lowepro Photo Hatchback has served me very well for several years but I am finding it lacking in a few areas. After researching the available options I ordered another Lowepro bag. Not entirely sure about the “quick door” but it has the key features that I’m looking for: top compartment, dedicated laptop compartment, and is slightly larger. I’ll report back after I fly with it next month.

• 🎭 Following after my recent trip to Stratford to see King Lear, I was searching Apple Podcasts to see if there have been any interesting interviews with Paul Gross. I was rewarded with a new podcast called Outrageous Fortune, about Slings & Arrows, one of my favorite TV shows of all time. The hosts are a couple of theater nerds whose enthusiasm for the subject and banter with the guests make up for the low production quality and meandering interview questions. A must-listen for any Slings & Arrows fan!

• 🎭 While listening to CBC Radio One London (also inspired by my recent trip) I heard PlayME, a podcast that produces shows by Canadian playwrights voiced by Canadian actors. The play was Blue Rare, a story about a couple of resourceful restaurateurs who introduce their latest innovation to a blogcaster. If horror-comedy is your thing, then it’s worth a listen.

• Speaking of podcasts, I’ve not historically been a big fan because the signal-to-noise ratio is generally far too low for me. I prefer that you get in, say what you have to say, and don’t fuck about. Here are a few that do that pretty well:

  • The Foreign Desk (Monocle Radio)
  • The Economist Podcasts (The Economist)
  • Why It Matters (Council on Foreign Relations)

• 🌽 Two work colleagues and I volunteered at a local food bank this week, loading groceries into cars for families in need. It was not difficult work, but after 3½ hours in the midday sun I was pretty worn out.

• 🏫 Moved my youngest daughter back to college. I don’t think she was thrilled to be going back but she’s taking it in stride as is her wont. My wife and I are alone again with each other, so we’ll see how that goes. 😄

• We watched a LOT of Star Trek: Picard this week. Season 3 is REALLY good!

• 🤑 We also started watching the final season of Billions on Showtime. This show jumped the shark a few seasons ago, and even the return of Damian Lewis can’t save this train wreck of a show. Of course I’m going to keep watching anyway, maybe they’ll surprise me.

• 🏆 The FIFA Women’s World Cup has been very popular in our house these last few weeks, and the final did not disappoint. We got up early to watch the game then went and played some pickleball. Great way to spend Sunday morning!

• ⚽️ We wrapped up the week with the Hell is Real derby between our Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati. We put the game up on the projection screen out on the patio and cheered the good guys to victory, 3-0.

• 📖 Here are a few things I read this week:

  • “How to Prevent an AI Catastrophe,” by Markus Anderljung and Paul Scharre (Foreign Affairs)
  • “Why is Houston shutting down libraries at some of its poorest public schools?” by Francine Prose (The Guardian)
  • “What Happens to All the Stuff We Return?” by David Owen (The New Yorker)
  • “Hawaii is a Warning,” by Adrienne LaFrance (The Atlantic)