1. A couple links about love of reading (a lifetime of obsession and 28 Books you should read if you want to). I love to read, so I identified with both of these articles. The first, a reflection from Keith Law (a baseball writer I follow on Twitter), I relate to because of the obsession of quantifying what I read, and thinking about lists of what books to read, and keeping track of books that I've read. This is part of the reason why I love Goodreads - I know how many books I've read every year since 2007, and have approximately almost 600 books read through the site since I kept track. I've read much more than that, plenty from college that I didn't bother to add, let alone books read during high school and when I was younger. Still, it will be "cool" to reach a number such as 1,000 books read through my Goodreads record keeping, which, at this pace, should happen in about 7 years or so. The second link, from The Millions (which is another must site for people who love to read), talks about not getting wrapped up in the "best of" lists, and lists of the 100 books you have to read, etc. It talks about reading books for any and all reasons, and to just enjoy it. This is why I constantly ask for book recommendations, and participate consistently in the local library's book groups - I want to read things I wouldn't necessarily pick. You never know what you might be missing.
2. Big news for my interests in the past week - Baseball is Back, as pitchers and catchers reported for all teams, and the Tigers last Thursday. The linked article is from a wonderful blog about the Tigers - Bless You Boys - and catches the brilliance of what is so attractive to me about Baseball. The rhythms of each game, and the season; the miniscule adjustments made by the pitchers, the hitters, the defense; the chess match in every game, and in every season. There's nothing like the sound a bat making solid contact on ball. Nothing. That said, this link on Brad Ausmus as a Manager from another great Tigers blog - New English D - sums up some of my thoughts upon Ausmus's debut last season, and I hope, without much faith, for some improvement this year. But, that's the great thing about baseball, and spring training in particularly, there's hope just because; because baseball.
3. For science interests this link, I recommend this link commemorating the 25th anniversary of Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot speech - where he convinced NASA to have a satellite that was leaving our solar system turn around to take a picture of Earth from that distance. The result, Earth as a pale blue dot suspended in a sun beam. I urge anyway who hasn't heard Sagan's word to go to YouTube and simply search "pale blue dot," there's a great many awesome videos showing the pictures, and giving audio to Sagan's words. Sagan's words are beyond incredible and though provoking, simultaneously humbling us and encouraging us. Somewhat related to my reading here, is this story about how some believe that there may be life on Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter. I'm fascinated by our continued exploration of our solar system and Universe, and understanding that there might be life in other environments I think will help us both understand life better on our own planet and to appreciate it even more.
4. This from Oliver Sacks, on learning he has terminal cancer, is beautiful; evocative, emotional writing at its best. Its not so light hearted, but I don't think you can read it without coming away with a desire to live and experience life while you have it. As Sacks says at the end (of which I am going to print off to keep as motivation and inspiration):
I cannot pretend I am without fear. But my predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written. I have had an intercourse with the world, the special intercourse of writers and readers.
Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.
THOSE are words to live.
5. This is kind of an odd article, but Jackie and I have been thinking for some time how to be more energy efficient in our house. We try to do small things like be conscientious of how we use lights and appliances, showers and baths, etc. We try to good stewards of resources by recycling when we can, and so on. But even still, our house is incredibly inefficient when it comes to energy use. Much of this is due to the windows, and we simply are not in a position to do anything about that any time soon. But, getting a smart thermometer, which is a good investment as this article suggests, will be helpful. It will probably pay for itself in a year to 18 months in our house; so it something we will probably be taking the plunge on in the next couple weeks.
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