Recently Read, Watched, and Listened
Read
How to Break Up With Your Phone, by Catherine Price - I liked this read. The first part of the book gives you the facts and the "why". The second part of the book talks through the "how" using a 30-day plan. While I haven't (yet) participated in this plan, I can see how it would be effective. Before I begin it, I need to take some time to really identify how I want my phone use to be. Basically, set a goal around it so that I have a direction to work towards other than "I want to use my phone less".
Reading with Patrick, by Michelle Kuo - After watching her TED Talk, I immediately checked out Michelle Kuo's book from the library. At large, it's good reinforcement on how taking time to help and support one another goes a long way. It's at times eye-opening and grounding at the same time. We can do better by treating each other better.
How to Embrace Professional Decline - This is an intriguing perspective, and something that I have been giving a lot of thought to. While I'm not unhappy with my work right now, I do feel a sense of "stagnation". I don't feel challenged in the same ways that I used to. I don't feel as fulfilled. I keep chalking this up to a temporary "lull" where things will pick up again soon.
Sikh drivers are transforming U.S. trucking. Take a ride along the Punjabi American highway - I like reading/learning more about the workforce that I normally don't think about. Everyone from farm workers to truck drivers to maintenance workers. If not to just remind me of how things get done, and to be more appreciative of how.
Road-Tripping With the Amazon Nomads - This lifestyle sounds crazy, risky, and (like the subjects say) lonely. And while I understand that it could be lucrative with the right people, personality, and drive, it also disheartens me a little bit when I consider the consumerism that drives this.
How Cooking Websites Are Failing People With Disabilities - This is an excellent post, and acknowledgment, by Serious Eats. It's an issue not just limited to recipe sites, either. It makes me happy to see more people become more aware of what changes need to occur to make things more accessible.
Watched
Parks and Recreation - I'm rewatching this series, through Netflix. I liked it during its first run. Now, as I rewatch it, I more appreciate the really good writing in it. But some of the side characters have become more irritating (mostly Tom, Chris, and Andy).
Aziz Ansari: Right Now - Purely coincidental that while I'm rewatching parks and Recreation, Ansari's new comedy special is released. It was an uncomfortable watch; I kept thinking it was "too soon" to see him back. But then I started questioning that, because I realized that I don't know the full story. Nor does it directly affect me. And I think that's part of the message in this show. I want to stop judging and punishing, and want to start taking more steps back to learn and understand.
Listened
Uncover, Season 4 - Dubbed as "the Crazy Cat Lady Case", this is another "true crime cold case" podcast series that caught my interest. I found it interesting to follow from episode to episode. But the narration, the tone and the creepiness of the tone, bothered me by the end.