It’s a touch difficult to pick a title for one of these vlogs that’s all over the place. So, I sort of just listed some of the main topics under discussion.
I go over those and some odds and ends of life and new responsibilities. I take that rabbit trail to less solipsistic ends by talking about the importance of applying discipline at opportune times.
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Not Just Zazz…but Pizzazz
Too high class for regular Zazz?
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IRL fasting has many benefits. Check out P.D. Mangan’s amazing anti-aging site for more on this.
If that’s not enough.
Even Jesus loves fasting. There’s some juju out there that can’t be banished any other way.
Except maybe the internet.
Pictured: The internet in its most malignant form: Teh kittez. An ancient evil of possibly Canaanite origin.
So should you go on internet fasts?
Folks like Bryan Lunduke would probably say yes. Folks like me would probably say…maybe.
Fact of the matter is that I’ve been trying and planning to go on a no electronics sequester, where I produce a bunch of somethign, with a lot of focus; for well…it’s embarassing…for nearly….if not exactly a decade.
Sweet Elijah! You might cry. Your discipline sucks.
Absolutely. Yes. I’m a whimsical beast with very strong drives that are not easily tamed. Which is why I prefer letting them run free. Seems more humane. That is until they go over a cliff.
The nubmer one complaint with all things web related seems to be wasted time. The internet seems to be a distraction machine.
So, it is only natural that people throw up their hands and ask, “Hold on a minute! Hold on a minute! What if I wasn’t voluntarily pulled in a million directions at once! Wouldn’t that be…I don’t…sane?”
So all the goal setting and good intentions begin. Only to be shattered by the realziation that most of your work and social life depends on electronics. Even if you aren’t a blogger.
“Welcome to the machine.” – Roger Waters or some such hippy.
Yes. And now you’re booting up and logging on to answer e-mails or apply for jobs or write this or that and…boom now you’re on YouTube…and well….frankly…welcome to Hell and goodbye time.
Or so it would seem.
I’d suggest that there’s probably a happy medium, wherein you use your baser browsing urges to spice up the legitimate ones, and catalyze learning and productivity.
But at the same time perhaps some fasting would be good towards that end.
Not here to make proclamations just to ponder so…I dunno you tell me.
Or if you don’t want to chat with an overcaffeinated time slayer, then ponder your way to Vallhalla.
Speaking of Valhalla. Pillaging is no longer profitable and mead remains expensive. Please contribute to a thirsty bard.
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Not Just Zazz…but Pizzazz
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So, I stumbled across the Shindo Renmei. An interesting group that sprang out of an interesting set of circumstances. It is a peculiarity in the truest sense of the word. Absolutely dependent on the specifics of its time and place.
That is the case with any bit of history.
So why study it?
The popular answer is so that we do not repeat it.
I see no reason to be contrarian. But I also see no reason for such narrow apologetics.
I think the main reason to study history is that it is a gold mine of catalysts and ideas. I think this is the main reason because it is so much more fertile. And also because the wise fear of repeating history is often hijacked by this or that pundit to cherry-pick examples that ‘prove’ why this or that is going to be catastrophic. Or more colloquially, “You’re just like a HitlerStalinTerrorist.”
I think it’s possible to extend this notion even further. This ‘mine’ is perhaps the ultimate case of art for arts sake. Art here being any endeavor including science and philosophy.
Art…or ‘well informed doodling’ should practiced precisely because practice begets art. There needs be no other reason. No harried seeking of supporting themes, or grants, or panty parting guitar solos but simply doing for doings sake.
So, I was just considering finishing a vlog and posting it. But, I realized it’s late and I have not been getting adequate rest. So, I asked myself: How good is this vlog going to be? Sure, I feel the creative juices surging RIGHT NOW but how much of that is fatigue induced illusion? I’ve already posted today and some distance and reflection would probably be a good idea…
Furthermore, don’t I know better? Haven’t I spent hours reading health blogs, books, and listening to podcasts about sleep?
Sure, there is that old writers trick of staying awake in order to slay inhibitions. But, as someone who also works a rather gruelling day job is that really wise?
And, finally I concluded. Hey, your goal is consistent content, consistent creative effort, and learning new things. That means you need to know when you have energy and when you have time. These things don’t very easily come to those who do things simply when inspiration strikes. Furthermore these things DEMAND sleep in order to be fully digested and utilized.
So, while there is the nagging desire to DO MORE RIGHT NOW to really MARATHON IT; there is also the sobering knowledge that doing more means you have to do it smarter.
I caught myself making this ‘Mea Culpa’ in yesterday’s video.
Considering my day job, my workouts, and my attempts at writing and learning computer science odds and ends I don’t think this is entirely accurate.
But then again it kind of is. First, because I could do all these things a lot better. And second because I still avoid boring or difficult activities even if they’re necessary.
And that I think is the way you can really tell to what degree you are lazy.
To what degree are necessary and useful things within your power to do being left undone as your finite time on this spinning bit of space debris slips away?
My self score is a solid 7/10. I should do something about it. But this wine sure is good and it would be nice to go for a stroll.
1) Chocolate n Chores
2) Wine Before Bed vs Exercise Before Bed
3) Super Lazy Recall of some Japanese History I recently learned
4) I mention Bob Lazar
When looking for a flow state we immediately want to make drastic changes to our environment. Or to run to a totally different environment. Why is that?
In my teenage and early twenties years this desire manifested itself as rather unworkable visions of hoboing around the states. Living in forests. Or some remote set of cheap apartments whose antique spartan interiors would be the catalyst for lots of work.
Now approaching thirty I’ve come to view this as a form of procrastination.
That being said I don’t think this is necessarily just an adolescent phase.
Work is transformation and whether internal or external so is travel. These things are likely associated on a subconscious level. So it’s no wonder that folks of all ages crave pilgrimages of various stripes.
The idea of sequestering is not without merit. There’s a lot to be said with laying back after chopping up some fuel and watching the evening moon bob between swaying trees. It is a superb catalyst for creativity and flow states.
But for most folks camping trips are vacations. Yes, if you’re dedicated to being a crazy forest dwelling artist then it can become your life. But of course you now run the risk of the new normal. Perhaps getting over the lack of novelty is part of the art of longer journeys.
But…if that’s the case why not simply get over the lack of novelty right now and pull out that notebook?
Made this last night. Given hardware limitations it took three hours just to render two clips stuck together. Ain’t nothin spectacular just riffing on various odds and ends like: dealing with procrastination, what’s actually vulgar, and then there’s a bit of musical nonsense.
Was hoping to refine it but it was all I had time for.
I still got a more in depth look at McNamara, Shindo Renmei, and Psychology on my other channel later in the week. Thanks for watching.
This is from my informal/music YT channel which you can subscribe to here.
The Fractal Journal 