November 2022

My wife says that taylor.town readers are "anal-retentive". You've been labeled and stereotyped, folks!

On that note, I'm growing intolerant of life's little frictions. I recently extinguished all push notifications and obliterated my "someday" list. I also levied a skirmish against "content" and a battle against breakfast.

I've been scrutinizing my work habits. I reconsidered my ideal workweek, listed my tips for remote-work, and codified my rules for good work. I also adjusted my daily routine: 6 hours of deep career work, 2 hours of chores, and 4 hours of creative work.

I'm celebrating ~10 weeks of sobriety. I guess that means I'm 1% complete with my goal.

Use December to reflect on your yearly theme! And consider scheduling a 20-minute chat with me if you'd like to discuss your theme.

Open Questions

If you have questions or answers, send me an e-mail.

I made a lot of changes to taylor.town this month. How does the site look and feel?
Have any classic book recommendations?
Do you know of any cures for waiting mode?
Is there anything you'd like me to think and/or write about?
Do you have any thoughts or opinions on baby sign-language?
I'm looking to hire a VR developer for a very small project -- any recommendations?

New Writings

Project Updates

redesigned taylor.town
continued home-improvement
co-founded LLC for secret VR project
continued UI scaffolding for secret app idea
started training for a 550-mile bike ride
switched from emacs to neovim

Recommendations

You may skip to books, purchases, images, videos, podcast episodes, or music.

Books

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: This book is potent. It's witty, horrific, deep, and bizarre -- an unforgettable experience. ★★★★★
The Stranger by Albert Camus: It's very highly acclaimed. After reading it, I thought I missed something, so I read a few critical analyses -- nope, I understood it perfectly. The Stranger has a decent plot with great writing. This book was probably ground-breaking in 1942, but existentialism has been beaten to death since then. On my end, this is probably a case of "Seinfeld is unfunny". ★★★☆☆
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: It's a subtle story from the perspective of a charming butler. I highly recommend this book if you're in a wistful mood or receptive to deep introspection. ★★★★☆

Purchases

roborock S7+: A small human will soon be crawling all over our carpet, so we purchased a robotic vacuum. Its mapping/navigation algorithms are impressive! So far, this seems to be a worthwhile purchase.
Radiotopia Donation: What an incredible source of free content! Some of my favorite podcasts have originated from this network: 99% Invisible, Articles of Interest, Everything is Alive, and The Memory Palace.
LonoLife Thai Curry Beef Bone Broth Sticks: Everybody loves sipping hot drinks during cold winters. Bone broth powder packets provide plenty of protein (sugar-free)!

Images

Videos

Podcast Episodes

What's Your Problem: Paying People to Turn Off the Fridge
Chemistry for Your Life: How did Bella Hadid's spray-on dress work? (and other questions)
University of Oxford Computer Science: Integrating Logic, Probability and Neuro-Symbolic Reasoning using Probabilistic Soft Logic
Endless Thread: Imaginary Friend
Derek Sivers: a daily run, party two
Cautionary Tales: The Halloween Poisoner
Epic Gardening Daily: Growing Global and Unusual Veggies
Radiolab: The Weather Report
Endless Thread: Olga of Kiev
Everything Everywhere Daily: Philip II of Spain
Derek Sivers: make believe
Epic Gardening Daily: The Importance of Flowers in a Food Garden
Software Unscripted: Static Types in Elixir with José Valim
Everything is Alive: Charles, Party Horn
Articles of Interest: American Ivy: Chapter 2
Everything Everywhere Daily: Banned Techniques That Would Smash World Records in Track and Field
Conversations with Tyler: Mary Gaitskill on Subjects That Are Vexing Everybody
Everything Everywhere Daily: Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift
Everything Everywhere Daily: Horses in World War II
Radiolab: Guts
Plant Money: Planet Money tries election polling
Deep Questions with Cal Newport: Can Parents Do Deep Work?
Epic Gardening Daily: The Carnivorous Plant Man
Articles of Interest: American Ivy: Chapter 3
Software Unscripted: Accessibility in Practice with the Accessibilibats
Planet Money: Peak Sand
Freakonomics Radio: The Most Interesting Fruit in the World
Cautionary Tales: The Inventor Who Almost Ended the World
Deep Questions with Cal Newport: Did Cavemen Use To-Do Lists?
Software Unscripted: Software Rituals with David Nolen
Dear Hank & John: Sphere the Atmos
Evereything Everywhere Daily: World Population Throughout History
Cortex: State of the Apps 2023
Everything is Alive: Miriam and Peter, Playing Cards
Articles of Interest: American Ivy: Chapter 4
Twenty Thousand Hertz: Synth War II: Digital Doom
What's Your Problem: Sam Bankman-Fried Revisited
The Memory Palace: One Fruit
Chemistry for Your Life: How can mosquitos smell you? (new research!)
Everything Everywhere Daily: Leap Seconds
Radiolab: What's Up Doc?
Planet Money: How the cookie became a monster
Software Unscripted: Derw with Noah Hall
Deep Questions with Cal Newport: Could This Meeting Have Been An Email?
99% Invisible: Super Citizens
Articles of Interest: American Ivy: Chapter 5
Freakonomics Radio: Did Michael Lewis Just Get Lucky with "Moneyball"?

Music

| ★★★★★ | Björk :: Volta | | ★★★★★ | Clown Core :: Toilet | | ★★★★★ | Disasterpeace :: Rise of the Obsidian Interstellar | | ★★★★★ | Gil Evans :: The Individualism Of Gil Evans | | ★★★★★ | The Shaggs :: Philosophy of the World | | ★★★★☆ | Abel Korzeniowski :: Nocturnal Animals (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | | ★★★★☆ | Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer :: Child Ballads | | ★★★★☆ | Eisley :: Currents | | ★★★★☆ | Marvin Gaye :: Let's Get It On | | ★★★★☆ | Michael Nyman :: The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (Soundtrack to the Film) | | ★★★★☆ | The Academy Is… :: Almost Here | | ★★★★☆ | The Smiths :: Meat Is Murder | | ★★★★☆ | Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile :: Not Our First Goat Rodeo | | ★★★☆☆ | BADBADNOTGOOD :: III | | ★★★☆☆ | Beastie Boys :: Licensed to Ill | | ★★★☆☆ | Bill Laurance :: Flint | | ★★★☆☆ | Covet :: Covet on Audiotree Live | | ★★★☆☆ | Crying :: Get Olde / Second Wind | | ★★★☆☆ | Department of Eagles :: In Ear Park | | ★★★☆☆ | Five Star Hotel & Machine Girl :: Machine Girl / Five Star Hotel | | ★★★☆☆ | GoGo Penguin :: Between Two Waves - EP | | ★★★☆☆ | I Am Abomination :: To Our Forefathers | | ★★★☆☆ | Jacob Mann Big Band :: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 - EP | | ★★★☆☆ | Jyocho :: Days in the Bluish House | | ★★★☆☆ | Kyary Pamyu Pamyu :: Moshimoshiharajuku | | ★★★☆☆ | LITE :: Installation | | ★★★☆☆ | Lightning Bolt :: Wonderful Rainbow | | ★★★☆☆ | Mammal Hands :: Animalia | | ★★★☆☆ | Medieval Slimes :: Medieval Slimes | | ★★★☆☆ | Oklou :: Galore | | ★★★☆☆ | Pinback :: Nautical Antiques | | ★★★☆☆ | Portico Quartet :: Knee Deep In the North Sea | | ★★★☆☆ | Purity Ring :: WOMB | | ★★★☆☆ | Sun City Girls :: Torch of the Mystics | | ★★☆☆☆ | 2814 :: Lost Fragments | | ★★☆☆☆ | BOYS LIFE :: Departures and Landfalls | | ★★☆☆☆ | Black Country, New Road :: For the First Time | | ★★☆☆☆ | Carpainter :: Noble Arts | | ★★☆☆☆ | Cavetown :: Lemon Boy | | ★★☆☆☆ | Charmer :: Charmer | | ★★☆☆☆ | Cosmo's Midnight :: What Comes Next | | ★★☆☆☆ | Dr. Dog :: We All Belong | | ★★☆☆☆ | Followed By Ghosts :: Dear Monsters, Be Patient | | ★★☆☆☆ | Gost :: Possessor | | ★★☆☆☆ | In Love With a Ghost :: Healing | | ★★☆☆☆ | Joshua James :: The Sun Is Always Brighter | | ★★☆☆☆ | Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus :: Boygenius - EP | | ★★☆☆☆ | Knapsack :: Day Three of My New Life | | ★★☆☆☆ | La Luz :: It's Alive | | ★★☆☆☆ | Lil Nas X :: MONTERO | | ★★☆☆☆ | MASTER BOOT RECORD :: Interrupt Request | | ★★☆☆☆ | Manchester Orchestra :: The Million Masks Of God | | ★★☆☆☆ | Mono/Poly :: Monotomic | | ★★☆☆☆ | Mura Masa :: Soundtrack to a Death | | ★★☆☆☆ | Necry Talkie :: Memories | | ★★☆☆☆ | Nick Johnston :: Remarkably Human | | ★★☆☆☆ | Sampha :: Process | | ★★☆☆☆ | Sheena Ringo :: Karuki Zahmen Kuri No Hana - Kalk Samen Chestnut Flower | | ★★☆☆☆ | Son Lux :: Tomorrows I | | ★★☆☆☆ | Various Artists :: The 6 Machine - EP | | ★★☆☆☆ | dandelion hands :: Dhid!!, Vol. 2 | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Akron/Family :: Sub Verses | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Alanis Morissette :: Jagged Little Pill | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Death from Above 1979 :: The Physical World | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Destroyer :: Poison Season | | ★☆☆☆☆ | JONGHYUN :: She Is - The 1st Album | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Jessie Ware :: Glasshouse | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Maggie Lindemann :: PARANOIA | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Mono/Poly :: Manifestations - EP | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Polvo :: Today's Active Lifestyles | | ★☆☆☆☆ | Poppy :: Poppy.Computer | | ★☆☆☆☆ | The Academy Is… :: Fast Times at Barrington High | | ★☆☆☆☆ | The Temper Trap :: Conditions |