Newsletter: week of 1/13

I started this week with a one-day turnaround of a hands-on DJI Flip video. Then, I got busy doing absolutely nothing on a beach while on a family vacation. Okay, that's not totally true! I also drank a whole lot of light beer with the occasional Mai Tai too.

In my spare time, I have been able to watch youtube, read more, and plan for the future. So here is more on all of that!

I'm True Neutral. How about you? (source: vaultedlaugh)

Things I saw:

A photographer and his 88-year-old Grandma road tripped across the US.

• There are some stunning moments in here that feel both fleeting and loving and left me wanting to call my own Grandma.

AI vs. the environment in 60 seconds

• In an attempt to learn more about just how bad data centers can be for the environment, I have been led straight to 60-second explainers done by folks who are also either doing their makeup or hair. An amazing intersection, in my opinion. Lately, I am feeling more and more compelled to report on this, too, so if you have any articles, research papers, or videos to share, please pass them along.

Linus (LTT) on the Jimmy Falon show with Bad Bunny

• This has to be the strangest collab I have ever seen.

This Month Was Tough on Us.. (PewDiePie)

• I was never an avid PewDiePie watcher, but I have been hooked ever since he started releasing these monthly vlogs. It is amazing to see this softer, lighter side of him. It feels more authentic and easy to connect with. Like me, he also seems to be a Nothing Ear (open) user. I guess I'm a PewDiePie fan now!

Things I listened to:

Maine - Noah Kahan Loop w/ Rain Sounds

• I am not a huge Noah Kahan fan, but this is a great loop to write to.

Encores • Ep01 | Remi Wolf - Soup

• Since the moment I heard her song "Shawty," I have been a huge fan of Remi Wolf. Fun fact: She was an American Idol contestant before going solo.

Mumford & Sons - Rushmere (Official Video)

• The band is back together, and it sure sounds like nothing has changed.

BAD BUNNY - DtMF

• 😭😭😭

Things I read:

Thank you to Patreon supporter Cory Zanoni for reminding me of how great My Chemical Romance's Danger Days album was and supplying me with some great reading this morning via Bluesky. (If you are on Bluesky and I don't yet follow you, please drop your handle so that I can!)

This morning, Cory shared an incredibly optimistic piece from Joan Westenberg titled "We Don't Need More Cynics. We Need More Builders." In it, Joan argues that "while perfect solutions may not exist, better ones do," and while it may be harder to create than critique, it is something we all should at least try to do.

As a serial optimist, I ate this up!

But what I enjoyed even more was then reading Cory's own story of battling negativity. It's a great read that is incredibly honest and vulnerable. And together with Joan's piece, it gives a full picture of the human experience—the setbacks of negativity but the push of knowing something better can be created.

If you enjoyed the above, I highly recommend subscribing to Cory's great Buddhism philosophy newsletter, Design Your Zen. And if you, too, have a newsletter, please share it so that I can subscribe!

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As always, thank you for your continued support! Next week, I will be out in San Francisco for Samsung Unpacked. If you will be there too, please say hi!

-becca