My new blog: Alex Popescu’s Jots & tl;dr blog
I have moved posting my often on the Jots & tl;dr blog by Alex Popescu . This new blog of mine is also an experiment in using static blog generators, a trend that I have missed a bit.
tl; dr
t(hink) l(earn); d(iscover) r(eason)
Latest posts
Dobrinka Tabakova - Halle, Delyana Lazarova (Classical music)
Classical music composed by a person who is still alive. Tenderness and yearning are rarely absent from the music of Dobrinka Tabakova. The composer, born in Bulgaria and resident in Britain, possesses the courage to explore her rich inner emotional world and channel whatever she finds there into scores that speak directly to the heart. On this album: Orpheus’ Comet Concerto for Viola and Strings…
Accidental Tech Podcast #569: Do Grasshoppers Have Tongues? (podcast)
The one in which the hosts are having fun with Alexa answers, provide a 3 bullet points spec for ergonomic keyboards, and disagree comparing the vibes around iPhone and Apple Vision Pro launches. ALT Link to podcast episode
Saint-Saëns: Symphonic Poems - Le Carnaval des animaux - L’Assassinat du duc de Guise - François-Xavier Roth, Les Siècles (Classical Music)
An incredible album. With incredible musicians. All compositions by Camille Saint-Saëns: Phaéton in C Major, Op.39 La jeunesse d’Hercule in E-Flat Major, Op.50 Le rouwt d’Omphale in A Major, Op.31 Danse macabre in G Minor, Op.40 Samson et Dalila, Op.47 Le carnaval des animaux, R.125 L’assassinat du Duc de Guise, Op.128 Musicians: François-Xavier Roth (conductor) Les Siècles (orchestra) Paul…
Improved Learning from Podcasts, Boooks, and Videos from The Power Company Climbing Podcast (podcast)
A meta podcast from a climbing podcast on how to learn from other climbing . It wasn’t very bad. Some of the advice would pass like truisms. The rest would pass like two guys talking while having the mic on. There is a part I would’ve cut: the one talking about the changes they plan to make to this podcast. It wasn’t a short part either. ALT Link to podcast episode .
I feel lost… without VimIdea
I have disabled the VimIdea extension in all the JetBrains products. It’s not because I was planning for it. Or that I have a 2024 resolution to give up on vim. For the last part of 2023, I’ve seen, almost continuously, in both IntelliJ and GoLand, an error about the IDE not being able to save the configuration. I have reported the issue and I was told to disable all plugins. I resisted this for a…
TBP #249: How to Brean into 5.11 Climbing with Coach Alex Stiger (podcast)
Mostly a sale pitch for an upcoming course offered by coach Alex Stiger. Indeed, coach Alex Stiger is doing a good job providing details about the course. I haven’t tried any online coaching programs so, honestly, I don’t know what to expect from one; nor what would make one good or bad. Climbing seems to me to be a very a single person sport, like tennis and many others. Group training needs to…
Bach: Goldberg Variations Reimagined - Chad Kelly, Brecon Baroque, Rachel Podger (Classical Music)
On the album are J.S.Bach’s Goldberg Variiiations rearranged for ten instruments. It sounds different. It sounds interesting. From the editorial in Apple Classical Music: Through a diversity of genres – aria, concerto, fugue, overture and trio sonata – Bach’s music is imbued with timbral and textural elegance and profundity. Kelly’s varied instrumental juxtapositions and their resultant…
Back to Work #636: Honoring My Pivot Table (podcast)
The one I’m not quite sure what was about; description says task management apps. Same topic was also discussed on Cortex #148: State of the Apps 2024 with similar conclusion. ALT Link to the podcast episode .
(Podcast) Cortex #148: State of the Apps 2024
The one about tons of apps, and widgets, and workflows, and ideas. I’ve learned about the Timelines iPhone app which is too expensive for me. At the time of recording this episode, OmniFocus 4 was not out yet; CGP Grey has reviewed the space of TODO apps and decided to stay with OmniFocus at that time even if the future of OmniFocus was not clear; OmniFocus 4 was release since . ALT Link to the…
Cortex #150: 2024 Yearly Themes (podcast)
The one from which I’ve learned more about Yearly themes [1]. This really got me thinking what my 2024 yearly themes could be. I oscillate between two and too many. ALT Link to podcast episode . Tumblr makes me sad every day I have to use it. It has become a piece of … First time I’ve heard about yearly themes though was in the ATP #568 The Year of Romance ↩︎
What a list of comics! Ritesh Babu’s Comics I Loved In 2023
A list of 28 comics out of which I’ve only heard of one title. I don’t know where Ritesh Babu is picking his comics from, but judging by the enthusiasm of the reviews and the covers, these are looking absolutely fabulous.
Éventail - Heinz Holliger, Anton Kernjak
I liked some pieces. Others sounded very complicated. Heinz Holliger, playing oboe, is born in 1939. Many of the composers on this album are new to me. Compositions on the album: Ravel: Vocalise-étude en forme de Habanera, M.51 Saint-Saëns: Oboe Sonata in D Major, Op.166 Jolivet: Controversia Messiaen: Vocalise Messiaen: Morceau de lecture à vue Ravel: 2 Mélodies Hébraïques, M.22 D.Millhaud:…
Podcast: “Upgrade #490 The Cat Has a Team of Lawyers”
The one I listened to as John Siracusa was a guest. The most interesting section discussing the default apps on a Mac, based on Jason Snell’s article On macOS, it’s best to start with the default . I use a clipboard manager. It is now the Clipboard manager in Better Touch Tool as it provides the most extensibility: defining shortcuts, adding filters, transformations, etc. I really love it ❤️.…
Podcast “Huberman Lab: How to Prevent & Treat Cold & Flu”
A seasonal podcast episode. I’m listening to it as I post this. What I’ve learned: cold and flu are both viruses I am not the only one not able to differentiate between the two most often the virus makes it into our body through the eyes why is it through the eyes? We tend to touch our eyes very frequently, particularly after meeting people, shaking hands, hugging. ALT Link to podcast episode
Classical album: “Louise Farrenc: Piano Trios, Sextet - Linos Ensemble
Peaceful. Nice. I don’t remember listening to much Farrenc before. Louise Farrenc was a French composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher of the Romantic period. Her compositions include three symphonies, a few choral works, numerous chamber pieces and a wide variety of piano music. — Wikipedia Compositions on this album: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op.33 Sextet in C Minor, Op.40 Clarinet Trio in…
Comic book: “The Riddler - Year One”
The story line is a common one. Artwork is very attractive with many unique touches. It’s the origin story of The Riddler, a character from The Batman. A six issues series that I’d definitely like to finish. ALT Writer: Paul Dano Art by: Stevan Subic Published by: DC, 6 issues Link to comic book
A documentary I’d like to watch: “Tintin and I”
Numa Sadoul has interviewed some of the most famous comic book artist: Herge, Moebius, Uderzon. The interview with Here has been used as the source of the documentary: Tintin and I . This is a movie that I’d love to watch. Nowhere to be found though. I’m sad. ALT
A walk in the neighborhood with Meandr
This week I’ve been down with a cold and the only activity, I forced myself to do, was to get out for a walk. At least 30 minutes in the neighborhood wearing a weight vest. This has also been the coldest week in a long while, but I won’t complain as at least there was also a bit of snow. For these walks I have used an iPhone app called Meandr. I don’t recall when I got it on my phone. What it does…
Podcast “ATP #568 The Year of Romance”
The one in which the three hosts discuss about the rumored Apple products schedueld for 2024, the year when John Siracusa will get many new gadgets and still cost him less than the Apple Vision Pro. ALT Link to podcast episode