Friday Inspiration 468 I’m not a road cyclist, and haven’t gone on a proper group ride for years, but damn if this video didn’t make me happy, and also make me subscribe to this guy’s YouTube channel immediately. (video) I love Anne Kadet’s Substack because of her combination of curiosity and her willingness to investigate that curiosity, in New York—for example, her latest post in which she asked people on the subway what they were looking at on their phones(kind of surprising results too)....
12 days ago • 2 min read
Don't Quit Playing Your Music A few weeks ago, Jesse, the band director at one of our local high schools, asked if I might like to come in and speak to his class about creativity and persistence. I dug up my old junior high marching band photo, drew a bunch of charts, trying to get at something that would be relevant to their lives even if they quit band (like I did, at the end of eighth grade—see below). This is a slightly more detailed version of the talk I gave to the class: I’m a...
13 days ago • 11 min read
Friday Inspiration 467 When The Secret Life of Walter Mitty came out in 2013, I loved it, and I remember for some reason looking up the New York Times review of the movie, which was not so positive, and I thought, “I am not going to let that affect my enjoyment of the movie as I rewatch it for the next decade-plus.” So when I saw the title of this short YouTube film, “when film critics clearly just do not get the movie,” and the thumbnail was a shot from Walter Mitty, I had to watch it, with...
19 days ago • 3 min read
Friday Inspiration 466 Honestly, it’s very hard for me to not share an episode of Hot Ones in this space whenever I find one I like (which is quite often). But I’m sharing this, which is not a full episode, but a 5-minute compilation of 2024 guests’ reactions to Da Bomb, the most vile of all the hot sauces ever used on the show. I actually laughed out loud when Sean asked Lupita Nyong'o the question about … you know, I won’t spoil it for anyone. (video) I have been very interested in the idea...
26 days ago • 3 min read
Here's A Nice Thing: Weekday Biophilia It seems like it always happens at the worst spot, but luckily, not this time: I was running, outside, and I needed a place to hide for about 90 seconds. The situation wasn’t desperate, but it was going to be desperate soon. I was on a multi-use path that paralleled a two-lane highway, not that busy, but busy enough. Luckily, I found a small bridge over a drainage, providing just enough cover for me to do my thing, and be thankful this hadn’t happened in...
27 days ago • 3 min read
Friday Inspiration 465 I just love Global Cycling Network videos—they do some serious stuff, sure, but mostly they seem to be sitting around throwing out ridiculous ideas to each other, and then filming them. (video) A quick note from me: I'm excited to share that Precision Fuel and Hydration is sponsoring this newsletter starting this week. It's a genuinely authentic partnership since I've been using PFH chews, gels, and electrolyte mix since May 2024, and I've been drawing illustrations for...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Friday Inspiration 464 I’m just going to preface this by saying you might not be the type of person who wants to deeply nerd out about wildlife crossings, but if you are, you will enjoy this, and perhaps even moreso enjoy this line: “I love a good federal highway administration handbook” (video) NEW YEAR, SAME DISCOUNT: Given that a lot of people like to use the beginning of the new year to try something new, we've decided to keep the $50/20 percent discount going on my How To Tell One Story...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Recommendation: Make Your Own 'Best Of 2024' List On my year-end list of “Best Meals of 2024”: a steel mug of maple-walnut instant oatmeal with a glob of peanut butter melted into it, eaten at a picnic table next to a not-quite-two-year-old kid eating his own bowl of oatmeal, next to his mother (also, of course, eating oatmeal). The campsite was nothing spectacular, really, just the first one we found open that May afternoon, but it was important: It was Jay’s first camping trip. He survived,...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Friday Inspiration 463 Some professional news from me: As of the end of this year, my Semi-Rad column will no longer appear on OutsideOnline.com. I found out on Tuesday and I’m still sorting out my feelings about the whole thing, but long story short: The money I was getting paid by Outside was partially supporting this newsletter. They paid me so they could republish, verbatim, my twice-a-month Thursday newsletter stories. So on one hand: I have to find a way to make up that income (not the...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
