Commonplace
In the renaissance tradition, a commonplace book is a compilation of quotes, passages, ideas, observations, etc. What I publish here is not fully formed and properly edited content. I don't advertise or promote this page. I'm not trying to provide actionable takeaways or advice on how to live a better life or the best pastry recipes. These are just the snippets and stubs of ideas that I think are worth recording, and I hope you enjoy them.
Genius loci
There are places that matter, sites of consecration and meaning, both natural and human, that possess, through the alchemy of time and memory, a holiness: very old churches, ancient baseball stadiums, certain groves of trees on certain campuses, The Romans called it genius loci, the spirit that inhabits the earth and and air of a…
Atlascope
Here are a few mapping resources that I’ve come across lately, thought were interesting, and would like to hold onto: Atlascope – The fine people at the Leventhal Map Center in the Boston Public Library digitized old maps of the Boston area and overlaid them on modern digital maps. Its a fascinating way to learn…
Time
I generally stay away from self-help books these days, but I recently read Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. It has come up in enough dispirate contexts I thought it was worth a shot, and it certainly was. The book is generally an argument against the modern busyness epidemic, that feeling that we always need…
Diesel Power
I’m starting to read more about characters of the industrial age, perhaps spurred on by my recent adventures in machining and manufacturing, and just finished Douglas Brunt’s “The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel.” Diesel, the inventor of the engine type that bears his name, lived an interesting life and also had an interesting death. Although…
Topogeny
I learned a new word from the book On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moore which I want to jot down here for future use. I don’t know what that use will be, mind you, but I like collecting topo-themed words. Referencing an old Apache cowboy (described in another book I’ve discussed) who would occasionally…
Skyfaring
I don’t think I’ll ever become a commercial airline pilot but I’ll admit its tempting after reading Mark Vanhoenacker’s pilot memoir Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot. Some of my favorite parts of the book were descriptions of how the author’s understanding of the physical world has changed from being a pilot. I had never…
Shop class
One of the biggest mistakes I made in my educational career is not taking shop class in high school. I was fortunate in that my school had well outfitted metal and wood shops, yet I never set foot in them. Honestly, I think I was even a bit afraid. The kids taking shop classes weren’t…
Network
When I take public transit to work I typically pass through South Station and exit up the stairwell just east of Summer and Atlantic street. On the wall is a gorgeous tiled mural showing the region overlaid with waterways, railways, roadways, and the deep blue ocean stretching out to sea. The only splash of color…
Futurist
One of my favorite short story collections is The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. Its a classic combination of Bradbury wit, fantasy, and poeticisms and wonderful all the way through. You should read it for all sorts of reasons, but make sure to at least check out The Rocket Man if for no other reason,…