I will be adding Gurwinder to the sidebar. This post of his, and the conversation that follows, is a good example why. It begins
In a 2022 newsletter, I gave one reason why I think leftists are more likely than rightists to celebrate opponents’ deaths...
Some people try to keep their sidebars thorough, as a friendly nod to the many writers they find stimulating or agreeable. I have been increasingly weeding mine, limiting it to people I actually go and read. I derived great pleasure from Dwarkesh Podcast for a few months, but seldom find the interviews all that engaging these last few months. I have learned so much from Manifold and Conversations with Tyler over the years that I am reluctant to remove them, but I click through and listen only about 20% of the time that a new episode drops now, and I don't listen to those all the way through.
Please go and check those two, looking at the recent topics BTW, to see if the interviews attract you. Talk me out of dropping them. I don't know if it is because they have used up their best material* or that my dilettante mind has just tired of their favorite topics. I dropped Maggie's Farm during Covid because of too many annoying people in the comments - too much of a temptation for me. But I go there all the time, so it is went back on. Just be warned about the comments. Even the people I agree with I skip in irritation now.
Even Astral Codex Ten seems less gripping. Yet ironically, because of that I will be adding it on. I have enthused about it so often that I resisted plumping for it further, as I have a couple of issues on which I disagree sharply, and didn't want to fully endorse it. Now that it is lower down my list, the objections bother me less.
When I go to a site I like I often check out their recommended list as well. I am far more likely to do this if the list is short. Also, I know your time is short and I want to put my best goods out front.
*I suspect this is why The Great Books podcast shut down. When you are over 300 books you could do one more Shakespeare, but the drive is less.
2 comments:
You know more about Richard Adams. Is this accurate? https://x.com/FennellJW/status/1969451788437762260
I believe so. I am checking with Ben, who is the resident expert. Not only does this relate to Tolkien, but to AA Milne, as I mentioned earlier this year. There is a defense mechanism called sublimation, which turns unacceptable thoughts and feelings into something positive. I have a friend with PTSD from an aircraft carrier that caught fire, killing over 100, many in great pain. (USS Forrestal) He took up being a Santa Claus every year. Writing a children's book seems like a good way to remember one's brothers-in-arms
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