Advanced Leisure

 We just returned from an epic road trip. Over a month on the road, we briefly visited Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Colorado, and we got to spend some quality time in Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico. We left on short notice and packed in one night. We did a lot right, but I would do a few things differently.  Here are some thoughts and suggestions in no particular order: HDMI cord and ethernet cords: We brought the former and forgot the latter. For security, I recommend that you bring an ethernet cable. If you have an ultrabook like me (no Ethernet port), you can get a USB to Ethernet converter. As for the HDMI cable, most hotels have TVs with accessible HDMI ports; just connect your laptop and stream away. Binoculars: We visited a lot of National and State Parks during the migratory season for many animals. We forgot to bring binoculars! I picked some up at the Yellowstone General Store and boy was I glad. Still, I am sure that it would have been a lot cheaper if I had g...

I am never less at leisure than when at leisure, nor less alone than when I am alone.  -Scipio Africanus It occurred to me that it might be well worthwhile to define what I mean by leisure . First and foremost, I think of the quote above. This sense of leisure reaches back to the Greeks and the concept of schole , as in school . Leisure, or schole, is associated with learning, self-cultivation, philosophy, and freedom. In this sense, " Leisure is not the cessation of work, but work of another kind, work restored to its human meaning, as a celebration and a festival ."  This conception of schole is represented in the notion of a Sabbath, a time set aside for contemplation and reflection. In an article titled, "Learning and Leisure: Developing a School of Schole," Christopher Perrin writes:  " In 1948 the German philosopher Josef Pieper wrote a small book (about 130 pages) entitled Leisure the Basis for Culture .  Classical educators need this book.  Pieper does ...

I was speaking to a friend and fellow aficionado of comfort. He told me that we are in the time of Crocs. He wears them everywhere now and got them for his family too. I set out to find a pair like Batali's, closed and with bright colors. Alas, I settled for a white pair.  I am wearing socks with these because they weren't working for me without them. I have high arches so the top of my foot was rubbing against the rim of the shoe too much. With socks though, I have to say, these are so comfortable! I popped off the Crocs strip so they are streamlined clogs now.  I am a big fan and I love wearing them around the house. These have great traction and cushioning. In cooler weather, I enjoy the classic boiled wool clogs made by Stegmann's but these are great for warmer weather. I can wear the Stegmann's with or without socks. They are also super comfortable; they have a Birkenstock style sole, which is firmer but more supportive. The wool inside is incredibly smooth and sof...

I am sorry to ask but do you remember Juicy Couture? They made terry cloth tracksuits popular (amongst teenage girls and soccer moms) when I was in high school, but they were completely garish. I shudder when I think about those outfits. I do not blame terry cloth itself, however. No, I have come to love terry cloth. Think instead of the thick, luxurious terry cloth robes and towels that have whisked away all of the moisture covering you. Let these happier memories return because terry cloth is perfect for lounging around and there is no shame in that! And why not embrace the poolside chic of terry cloth? Well, I did, once I saw my friend's "terry towelling" Orlebar Brown polo . They aren't cheap but they are incredibly comfortable and well-tailored.  The image above depicts their homage to James Bond's Dr. No shirt, From Orlebar Brown's website : "Imitate Bond’s beach style with this Seaweed towelling polo, originally worn in Dr. No (1962) when he first ...

My cat has a lot of pretensions. She prefers to drink water directly from the faucet. Her next resort is to drink out of a glass. I leave two pint-sized glasses full of water for her but this never stopped her from drinking from any unattended glasses. So, I just use water bottles.  I have tested several, as I have a few important criteria. The ability to drink lying down is of key importance because I get thirsty at night. This means that the bottle needs to have a fairly narrow opening/neck. I also want a decent amount of volume. Finally, I prefer cold water and want to be able to fit ice cubes into the bottle. At first, I used an early model the Camelback Chug  (see below): This water bottle met all of my initial qualifications, and I really liked the shape of its lip, which seemed made for the prone drinker. The cap was quite easy to take off with a few twists but it also came loose easily in my bags. That was obviously a problem. Eventually, I started noticing the prevale...

I titled this post "Getting Some Art" instead of Collecting Art because it does not deal with the kind of serious art collecting associated with Sotheby's and Swiss vaults. Instead, I am hoping to share a few thoughts about collecting a range of art to aesthetically enhance your environment. Specifically, I am interested in discussing art as an emotional investment, as opposed to a speculative investment made in hopes of financial profit.  I have never really thought about what my art might be worth in terms of dollars. I would be very happy if my "art collection" were worth approximately what I spent. I would not, however, be very upset to hear that it was worth next to nothing. Why not? This would have very little to do with my emotional connection to the works. Further, I intend to hold these works forever or else pass them onto family members. I do not prize my art for its monetary value but each piece's enduring ability to communicate important things t...

On March 31, 2020, I ordered an E95s from fast japan us on Amazon. It never came. I was finally able to submit a claim and get a refund a little while ago. What did I do? I ordered another one from a different company but this time I went with Burgundy. I first encountered the E95s at Anderson Pens in Chicago. I love this store and try to go whenever I am in Chicago. They have a wide selection of pens and inks and their salespeople are very helpful. When I asked an attendant what was popular these days, she pointed out the E95s. Instead, I got a mid-size Sailor 1911 with a Zoom nib (but that is a story for another day). I made a note to myself to look into the E95s in the future. Well, today it arrived and I had no way of anticipating how much I would like it. One thing that I especially love is the beautiful balance of its design. The cap serves as the body of the pen, making the capped pen very compact. Pilot notes this rerelease is based upon an original 1962 design and reflects t...

The renaissance of fountain pens might be compared to that of vinyl records in several ways. Both the fountain pen and the vinyl record were eventually felt to be obsolete technology. Nevertheless, each maintained a steadfast cult of aficionados. Additionally, like the vinyl revival, the fountain pen frenzy seems to be a response to the desire for a "hands-on experience" and a preference for quality over convenience. Fountain pen owners enjoy the experience of drawing ink into the pen, wiping the nib, etc. The appeal of multiple fountain pens relates to the variety of their nibs and one can affix different nibs to a given pen to customize the feel. In similar fashion, many people rotate between different phono cartridges to modify the sound of their system to taste. The golden age of fountain pens occurred in the early 20th century and ended with WWII. I have read that many collectors focus on pens from the 1920-30's, which featured luscious gold nibs and luxurious materi...

Amazon's Kindle has been the go-to-e-reader for some time. Accordingly, I won't bother summarizing its most obvious aspects. Instead, I want to briefly discuss why my Kindle Oasis (their current flagship) is one of my favorite things.  My Oasis can hold a tremendous number of books. It goes without saying that this is wonderful when I travel. Not only can I carry more books, but I don't have to think about which to bring. They are all there when I need them. If you purchase the cellular feature, you can download books without having to log onto a WiFi network. This is a one time fee and I highly recommend it because it is not that easy to get onto a WiFi network with your Kindle while traveling because many public networks require elaborate sign ins that can be serious obstacles for my little Kindle... I don't actually need my Oasis to access my Kindle library. If I am out and about, I can pick up where I left off at home by using the app on my iPhone.  The Kindle allow...

What defines a collection? A collection is cumulative and consists of objects that have been systematically obtained. A good collection is more than the sum of its parts. The interrelationships of the objects is mutually informing. It is all a matter of harmony. It keeps one busy!  I think of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Pumping Iron , working out for him was a constant pursuit of harmony. When he exercised one part of his body, he had to compensate for it. This need for balance is present in many collectors too. They want to achieve a representative sample of a given series. Oftentimes, they want to focus on something that they perceive as underappreciated.  At other times, collecting is less about achieving totality than variety. This is the aspect that I find to be most fruitful. It is not a matter of "catching them all" but of circulation. The desire to collect can easily arrive on the tails of boredom. On the other hand, a good collection can ward it off and inspires a degre...

How often do you think about the quality of your lighting? It can make a big difference in the quality of your environment. Lighting is mostly noticed when it is unwanted. There is little consideration given to the degree of quality in one's light source. As with most things, our attention is given to the liminal states.  Direct vs. Indirect Direct lighting proceeds directly from the source (bulb) to a surface without diffusion or reflection. Indirect lighting is diffusely reflected. As illustrated below. The design of the pendant lamp below combines direct  a nd  indirect lighting. Light is projected directly downwards and reflected off the inner walls expanding the light's circumference of reach. The surface will be brightest directly below the lamp and further out it will soften.  This kind of design can be useful. It might be great for a desk lamp, but in general, I prefer more diffusive light. Diffusion is accomplished through an opaque fi...

What is a chair? Two connotations spring to mind: 1) to preside over, as in a committee; 2) that which resides under the bottom and supports the back; a seat. A chair is an office held by a person or, alternatively, a device that supports a person in an office. Every chairman needs a chair but not every chair needs a chairman. As a piece of furniture, a chair is meant for a single person, as opposed to, say, a love seat, which is a type of sofa. In my opinion, a chair must have a back; otherwise, it is a stool. I would also say that one’s feet should be able to rest on the ground (e.g. not a bar stool even if it has a back). Then again, designers such as Ron Arad challenge all preconceptions...

I love Tidal, the "audiophile," MQA quality, music streaming service. There are others that cost less but, in my opinion, it is worth paying more for lossless quality. At any rate, I haven't used any other service for long. One of the great things about Tidal is that I am able to use it across different audio systems and this is made even easier by Roon's library management system. Streaming audio has given rise to a wide range of new "powered speakers;" speakers that just need to be plugged into a power outlet, connected to your Wi-Fi, and linked to your Tidal account to be ready-to-go. After diddling around with a wide variety of component systems, I think that the Dynaudio Music 7 (or one of Dynaudio's other Music models) would be the best choice for most people who are willing to drop some money for good sound but don't want to break the bank. It would be especially ideal for those who are keen on preserving their space and wish to maintain a ...

I don't believe in a Platonic chair; a single stool upon which one might perch perfectly. I own a book called 1,000 Chairs  which I peruse for fun from time to time. Given that I really don't even have room for any more chairs, why would I still look? There's something that I find especially aesthetically appealing about chairs, well-made ones, I mean. It has something to do with elegant restraint. Consider that a lamp, for instance, can allow for countless permutations of form and material, so long as there is still room for light to escape. A chair, by contrast, is much more limited. A chair is the haiku of furniture. The parts of the chair that touch the body must support a good amount of weight, and in a manner that does not put too much stress on any given point. At the same time, it must support a wide variety of human bodies across a sizable range of positions that we generally consider "sitting." Thus, many considerations constrain the design process. ...