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Short holiday at Lakes Entrance
Jan. 22nd, 2022 01:31 pmWe just got back from holiday at Lakes Entrance. Stayed at "Log Cabins" which are sort of in the bush and you can feed the birds. The weather was a bit cool for swimming but we still braved it to go to this "Aquapark". K had a great time but I twisted my ankle and was incapacitated for the rest of the holiday. It was really painful for 24 hours but after that it wasn't too bad. I sat around and read books and listened to music and watched the fire.
I read "4000 Weeks" by Oliver Burkeman. I found it quite inspirational. The basic gist of it is that life is short (about 4000 weeks) and you should make the most of it, and that various "time management" strategies overlook the fact that the main problem we have in the modern world is that we can't do everything, or all the things we imagine we want to. Ultimately we have to choose, but at the same time, we have a tendency to be in denial about the need to choose; we imagine that if we become more efficient, we can do it all. He has gathered various insights from other writers and philosophers, which I can't quite remember, apart from the fact that one of them was Heidegger; I'm glad he read Being and Time so I don't have to! I want to look up some references in there, particularly Richard Boise (I think) who studied academics and what made them happy and productive (writing a few hours each day apparently, and don't force yourself to do marathon sessions once you get started).
Also started reading "The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Some interesting parts but he labours a bit on how we get carried away with "narratives" which is a point I've heard ad nauseum in this pandemic, and seems obvious to me. The problem is that cookers see everything as a narrative including actual scientific research. Anyway I've only read the first few chapters so I'll withhold judgement.
Watched "Don't Look Up" which was great, although didactic to the point of cringe, but maybe that was the point. Anyway I enjoyed it. Also watched a Japanese movie about some comedians in the 70s called "Asakusa Kid", which we really enjoyed.
I read "4000 Weeks" by Oliver Burkeman. I found it quite inspirational. The basic gist of it is that life is short (about 4000 weeks) and you should make the most of it, and that various "time management" strategies overlook the fact that the main problem we have in the modern world is that we can't do everything, or all the things we imagine we want to. Ultimately we have to choose, but at the same time, we have a tendency to be in denial about the need to choose; we imagine that if we become more efficient, we can do it all. He has gathered various insights from other writers and philosophers, which I can't quite remember, apart from the fact that one of them was Heidegger; I'm glad he read Being and Time so I don't have to! I want to look up some references in there, particularly Richard Boise (I think) who studied academics and what made them happy and productive (writing a few hours each day apparently, and don't force yourself to do marathon sessions once you get started).
Also started reading "The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Some interesting parts but he labours a bit on how we get carried away with "narratives" which is a point I've heard ad nauseum in this pandemic, and seems obvious to me. The problem is that cookers see everything as a narrative including actual scientific research. Anyway I've only read the first few chapters so I'll withhold judgement.
Watched "Don't Look Up" which was great, although didactic to the point of cringe, but maybe that was the point. Anyway I enjoyed it. Also watched a Japanese movie about some comedians in the 70s called "Asakusa Kid", which we really enjoyed.
