Senses working overtime #516

1 Week 9 of Term 1

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

Some of my students have caught on to the fact that I use weblogs a lot, so this first one is for them. I wonder if they get the subtext and my hope for them in week 10 and 11?

2 Watching: Adolescence

Colleagues at work recommended this UK crime drama to me and it turns out it's also wildly successful on Netflix. It's really good - we watched two episodes last night and, having worked and advised in quite a few UK schools, I can attest to its accuracy. Plus, I've been lied to plenty in my career. It's a real test to 'seek first to understand' in some situations.

3 Reading: Desire - Haruki Murikami

Some of his short stories in a short anthology - good value for $10 from Time Out in Mt Eden.

4 Reading: Lost In Translation - Suzanne Ferriss

This one came from Unity Books. I love the film, and Suzanne's film essay is terrific at exposing the complexities in its production and meaning.

5 Listening: Wozza's Autumnal moods

Overtime: 

Banker and archaeologist John Lubbock on the value of downtime:

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."

(Courtesy James Clear)

Senses working overtime #515

1 Essential item of the week:

 

Yes, I had a head cold all week and two days off work. Bleugh.

2 Autumn

Is there any better signal for Autumn's approach than a head cold? 

Here's a post from 2015 celebrating Autumn to get you in the mood.

Me and Bazie, 2015

The post doesn't have the clip of Dylan and Cash doing Girl From The North Country but you can listen to it here as you read the post.

3 Reading: Penelope Fitzgerald - Offshore

4 Listening: Michael Nesmith - The Prison

Pretty much a perfect record. It's beautiful and certainly suited my mood this week.

5 Watching: 1883 and 1923

Especially loved 1883, both are prequels to Yellowstone.

This article on the Dutton family tree is excellent, too.

Overtime: 

Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest.

Hermann Hesse

Senses working overtime #514

1 The feeling this week: Autumn is coming

Photo by Altınay Dinç on Unsplash

2 Compiling: WTWMC - Aussie Battlers

30 of 90 songs selected - check how we're doing.

3 Listening: Desert Island Discs - Ian Wright

Arsenal legend! I'm a big fan of the BBC's Desert Island Disc series. Wrighty's choices are interesting and he tells great stories.

4 Blogging: Goo Goo G'Joob

Stats for the last six months of my music blog have been insane with 34, 600 views in that time. I'm not sure why - I still do what I've always done - my own idiosyncratic views on the music in my collection. Weird.

5 Reading: Fifty box office bombs worth watching

Overtime: 

Malcolm McLaren’s headstone reads, “Better a spectacular failure, than a benign success.”

Senses working overtime #513

1 The feeling this week:

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

2 Watching: Karen Pirie

3 Listening: Al Stewart - Past Present and Future  (1973)

A recent purchase from Real Groovy's sale bins. Mint condition for $6. Bargain!

According to Al, "My first four albums have been, for me, an apprenticeship. The new album.....is my thesis".

4 Reading: Ryan Holiday - Discipline Is Destiny

Also got this from Time Out Books in Mt Eden (a great bookstore - GK's favourite)

5 Compiling: WTWMC - Aussie Battlers

Yes, the amigos are at it again, this time watch in real time as we compile 90 songs by Aussie battlers (a.k.a. our colonial cousins across the ditch)

Overtime: Balance

Social media consultant Charles Miller on balance:

"Spend a handful of hours a day going fast. Crush a gym session. Do deep work on a project you care about. Spend the rest of the day going slow. Take walks. Read books. Get a long dinner with friends. Either way, avoid the anxious middle where you never truly relax or truly move forward."