GRIZZLY PEAR

written snapshots

Category: Notes

  • The Changing World Order (online), Ray Dalio, 2021

    Last year, my friend recommended the book when it was still available online.

    It was engrossing and depressing.

    Dalio uses monetary policy to diagnose what ails our country — decay and dissention within, decadence and coasting upon the gains of the past.

    It’s good to be a citizen of the empire, but the throne is never comfortable. It doesn’t help that China is rising as our internal polarization threatens to tear us apart.

    I’m not an economist nor a historian, so it’s hard to judge these claims. There are plenty of counternarratives predicting an impending Chinese economic collapse with demographic decline.

    Either way, Ray Dalio spins a plausible narrative, but he doesn’t help with the hard part. What should an individual do in this market? After reading the book, I looked him up on youtube. All he says is that beating the market is really hard. It all leaves you in a swamp of doom, without much hope.

    If he’s right, then we’re due for another round of painful renewal. The best scenario is to restart the cycle, and wish for the best for our kids.

    The other scenario? Get ready to hit the road again.

    ䷒䷵

    After my investing kick over the past few months, I’ve soured on Dalio. His predictions might be right or wrong, but it would only be coincidental to his analysis, which is thinner than it appears.

    Ultimately he’s a salesman for his business. Doom and gloom will always sell.

    I don’t regret skimming the book, but I can’t recommend it.

  • A Pizza the Size of the Sun, Jack Prelutsky, 1999

    As an audiobook, this was an hour-long collection of silly kid’s songs.

    My ears perked up during the credits. Tony Trischka was the banjo player.

    He’s a legend, even at the time of recording. He wrote the three finger bluegrass instructional book that came with my banjo from the 5th String in Berkeley.

    Wild how one can be among the best in the world, but still end up working in an oddball children’s CD.

    I also wonder what it was like for the Jack Prelutsky. Must be intimidating to be recording on a kazoo with that kind of firepower backing you up.

    ䷘

    No complaints. The girl had fun, and I guffawed a few times. I’d listen to it again, though not by myself.

  • Music Animations, Stephen Malinowski

    We’re watching Stephen Malinowski’s “Music Animations” on Youtube over dinner.

    It’s great for seeing the structure of fugues.

    But he ranges far beyond the baroque, and our dinner concerts have exposed us to a wider range of classical music.

    Last night, the boy joyfully marched around to Sousa.

    She’s repeatedly enjoyed the dissonance of Bartok’s From the Diary of a Fly.

    And of course I’d be remiss if I did not mention the Goldberg Variations.

    Malinowski’s website includes pages listing some initial recommendations, a list of youtube highlights, and how-to, all worth a visit.

    ䷾䷚

    I was first introduced to his work at an Edward Tufte seminar while still in college. Soon after, I bought one of Malinowski’s early DVD’s. Even though it’s now all available for free, I’m happy to have supported his work before he became cool.

    His patient labor over the decades (he barely monetizes his videos!) is a tantalizing sample of the optimistic internet we all expected in the 90’s.

    Maybe the rest of us will get there someday.

  • Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Hiroyuki Okiura, 1999

    Jin-Roh is a story of power, love, and belonging.

    For a film based on an ultra-armored police unit, the pacing is contemplative, with atmospheric lingering shots, even during a riot.

    Of course, there are moments of intense violence. But it’s ultimately about a man finding his place in society – an authoritarian society whose peacekeepers struggle with their humanity.

    I’d write more, but I don’t dare spoil it. Highly recommended.

    ䷀䷙

    The movie is part of a wider fictional universe, but it doesn’t require any prior knowledge, though it helps to know that it’s set in an alternate history post World War 2 Japan that had allied to the Americans but lost to the German occupation.

    Jin-Roh is a classic along better known anime films such as Ghost in the Shell and Perfect Blue. In a DVD world, I most would have bought a copy of it. Nowadays it’s free on tubi.tv. That said, I’ve been told to avoid the widely panned Korean live-action adaptation.

  • How Will You Measure Your Life?, Clay Christensen, 2012

    A business self help book that is unashamedly both. As a businessman, Christensen starts with incentives and culture.

    He splits incentives into motivation and hygiene factors. Hygiene (fair pay, good team) are the basics that allows you to avoid disliking your job. Motivations are the warm fuzzies that turn your work into a passion.

    He starts with corporate culture to discuss family culture. I generally despise the work = family equivalence, but he frames it well to present a fresh perspective on the matter. I need to ponder how incentive factors affect our family culture.

    Following his thesis from the Innovator’s Dilemma, his key refrain is that the little things beneath our notice are what will determine our future.

    The time and resources that you devote today, at this moment, prove your real priorities. Repeated execution of these priorities create your life.

    His final chapter is a warning to stick to one’s standards. A small compromise in the moment may be a clever marginal play, but the full cost might be realized after one’s course has been steered in an ill direction.

    ䷲

    I listened to it at 1.5x speed. It’s another classic pull yourself up by the bootstraps self help book, this time from a business consultant’s perspective. I haven’t felt the need to listen to it again, but I should watch his TEDx talk.

  • The Sea Beast, Chris Williams, 2022

    A fun buddy movie between a man, girl, and massive red beast.

    It’s appropriately popular in the Netflix Kids section, though I suspect it will fade with time, like The Little Prince movie.

    I enjoyed the ride, even if imperfect.
    The beats were predictable (understandable, given the intended audience).
    Less forgivable, some plotlines felt rushed while other threads were left hanging.

    However, my biggest quibble is with the coda.

    Hard to say much without spoiling the film. So I’ll stop here.

    ䷒

    I doubt the kids will ask to watch it again. I wouldn’t veto such a request, but I won’t propose it either. If still unsure, watch the trailer. It’s a fair representation.

  • Will another comic crash or fly on the wings of actors?

    I watched the long awaited first episode of Sandman.

    I’m conflicted.

    Do I want one of my favorite works replayed on the big screen?

    Or just turn off the TV?

    Is it greedy to search for revived greatness in another format?

    It’s been a quarter century.

    The hours are more precious now.

    I’ll let the internet decide before I hit episode 2…or season 2.

    ䷰䷾

    The mouse has eaten the king of dreams.

  • Three games with a deck.

    We played Dixit.
    He kept showing his hand.
    And always picked his own card.
    But she understood the game.
    We played a few rounds.

    Cute Wars did not go so well.
    He hated his sister’s claims that her card was cuter.
    (That’s the point of the game!)
    Crying ensued.

    Later that evening, we played with my wife.
    She correctly guessed one of my clues.
    The girl hated it.
    Especially when when I joked “Mommy is my soulmate.”

    ䷺䷃

    a spring wells up at the foot of the mountain

  • Wisdom of Solomon, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1894

    The Wisdom of Solomon might be a fine devotional for a believer. It’s chock full of paeans to wisdom defined as the faithful adherence to God,

    But there’s nothing else.

    As a former Christian, I view the religion from both the inside and the outside. My parents still practice, but my house is very much non-devout.

    Growing up, Bible stories felt as real as other historical stories. But try explaining Bible stories to someone who wasn’t indoctrinated from birth. Last Christmas, I told the gospel story to my daughter. It was fantastical. I’m certain she’ll have a similar look on her face if I ever recount Greek myths.

    This is my one regret from forsaking religion. I wonder if my kids will miss out on the allusions buried throughout western literature. For that alone, it may be worth an extensive study of the classics, including the Bible — but don’t start here.

    I fully endorse the exclusion of this book from the Protestant canon. I started focused but only skimmed the second half while watching the kids jump on their bed.

    After stumbling across the gem of the Havamal last year, I printed out the wisdom literature in the Apocrypha. After this read, the other books have remained untouched.

  • Zooleretto, Michael Schacht, 2007

    I played Zooloretto at my first game night at Jim and Troung’s house.
    Just OK.

    But who can deny a giant panda on the cover?

    So I bought it as my birthday present.
    We played it once according to the rules.

    Then they constructed a massive mega zoo in the playroom,
    Filled the pens with animals.
    Lego people visited Zoo.

    ䷰䷩

    Zooleretto is a good game, deserving of the SDJ. I prefer the conceptual purity of Coloretto but now appreciate the purposeful complexity provided by additions to the original engine. She still dislikes competitive games. Maybe they will enjoy it in a few years.