Tom's Review #183 - WWEconomics, Just Mercy, Fred again...


📖 What I’m Reading:

Simon-Ehrlich Wager – Wikipedia

  • Fun example of an academic putting money where his mouth is. Over the decades, life gets better in terms of resources. But it gets worse in terms of equality and ennui.

You Can’t Put a Price on Mental Freedom – Nick Maggiulli

  • Stock picking bad. Phone bad.

WWEconomics: Kayfabe and the Trade War – Kyla Scanlon

  • All the world’s a stage. “The show will continue because the incentives align: politicians get attention, corporations get deals, and algorithms get engagement.”

Book finished: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson: 5/5

  • Powerful read. Author has my full respect. Went into the belly of the beast and slowly tipped the system toward justice. Liked how the different storylines were woven together. A book that fully deserves its popularity. Notes here.

☝️ Word of the Month:

sprezzatura (n) spret-sah-TOOR-uh

Doing (or giving the appearance of doing) something effortlessly; effortless grace; nonchalance.

From Italian.

“Norris is a man always in equipoise, a living illustration of the art of sprezzatura. No one has ever seen him ruffled.”

🎵 Jams of the Month:

The catchy, emo punk of Oso Oso

The chugging, Petty-esque rock of Wild Pink

Undeniable tunes:

  • Diva - Model/Actriz (Spotify). The industrial-sounding polyrhythms at :43 make me feel like I’m doing parkour in Moscow.
  • Hang With Me - Robyn (Spotify). Chord change at 1:15, 2:16, etc.
  • R U Mine? - Arctic Monkeys (Spotify). Never noticed how much the drums rule.
  • Back Of My Mind - SG Lewis (Spotify). Euphoric house.
  • ID of the Month @ 39:15 - Fred again…
  • Damocles - Sleep Token (Spotify). Best song on a meh album.

💬 Quote of the Month:

“Nine-tenths of our happiness depends upon health alone. … The greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness, whatever it may be, for gain, advancement, learning or fame, let alone, then, for fleeting sensual pleasures.”

-Arthur Schopenhauer

ps: there was a real life treasure hunt riddle in San Francisco, and someone found the treasure (X)

pps: raw athleticism (X)

ppps: spaghetti (X)

Thomas Tassin

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