This Week on Better Questions
It's easy to become obsessed with the "what ifs" - the alternate "you"s that made different choices. But in the end, it's exactly what we choose to let go of that gives our lives meaning.
Deep Dive:
Still working on improving my video quality. Seem to have figured out an OK system for autofocus on my camera; playing around a bit with color correction; added some music for cheesy, yet hopefully dramatic effect.
I'm curious what you all think of these things. I enjoy doing them, but I'm not really sure what I want them to "be" yet. I'd love feedback, if you have it. Hit me up in Dan's Secret Society.
Something On My Radar:
Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, by Viktor Frankl
"Eleven months after he was liberated from the Nazi concentration camps, Viktor E. Frankl held a series of public lectures in Vienna. The psychiatrist, who would soon become world famous, explained his central thoughts on meaning, resilience, and the importance of embracing life even in the face of great adversity."
This is a short book, but a fairly good summation of the idea that life is given meaning through the struggles of daily life. Frankl, would who become famous for his subsequent book Man's Search For Meaning, is perhaps the best possible defender for his position, given his life story. Recommended.
Five Interesting Links For The Weekend:
"Harder Than It Looks, Not As Fun as It Seems."
If you read one article this week, read this one.
"Everyone’s human, everyone’s flawed, nobody knows everything. So it’s easiest to convince people that you’re special if they don’t know you well enough to see all the ways you’re not."
Marc Andreessen is perhaps the best spokesperson for the "pro-tech" view of the world. I found this article heartening, and a good reminder of the extent to which modern technology mitigated the impact of COVID-19. In short, for as bad as it was...it could have been far worse.
"Ten years in, nobody has come up with a use for blockchain."
As someone on the outside looking in, the excitement over blockchain has been a little confusing. This article did an excellent job of poking some holes in some of the hype. A good corrective, as there are plenty of examples of pro-blockchain articles to choose from.
"Where did the microchip vaccine conspiracy theory come from anyway?"
I am fascinated by disinformation and conspiracy theories. This writer did the work to dig deep on where, exactly, one of the more bizarre COVID-19 conspiracy theories came from.
"Reimagining the Pizza Parlor."
While I like pizza as much as the next person, I find this more interesting in the broader context of making things in general.
Everyone, everywhere, seems to be changing, innovating, and reinventing right now. Even seemingly "settled" landscapes - like that of the local pizza parlor - are being reimagined. I find that incredibly exciting.
Is there something here - or in some other industry - that you can borrow? That you can repurpose to your own interests or field? What's working elsewhere that might apply to what you do?
Thank you for supporting Better Questions. You make this possible, and it's appreciated.
Got a recommendation? Something you think I'd like, or want to share with the community?
Send it to dan@nolessthan.com. You might get featured in a future email!