Good Monday, faithful readers!
Happy All-Saints Day!
On Facebook a few years ago I started to share “things I liked today” and out of everything I ever posted that always received the most engagement. It’s a fun break from the normal cultural musings so here are some things I liked for Monday, November 1st! Let me know if you’ve enjoyed any of these things too?
Dune by Frank Herbert
I’m a big sci-fi guy and when I heard the director of Arrival was taking the reigns of adapting Dune I could not have been happier. I enjoyed the movie and I definitely think you should go see it, but I’d HIGHLY recommend reading the book! I’m always big on supporting the creators directly who created the material I love. And while Herbert passed in 1986 his estate lives on and it’s worth supporting those who would carry on his legacy through new editions of books, guides, etc.!
Interrobang by Switchfoot (You can purchase here)
I’ve grown up with Switchfoot. New Way to Be Human is one of my favorite albums of all time. So whenever a new Switchfoot comes out I’m going to be listening over-and-over-and over. Given my two decades of loyalty, there’s always the *fear of new* I have to get over whenever I listen to a new album. Initially, I was a bit unimpressed with the album because I think I was looking for the next Meant to Live or Dare You to Move, but it didn’t seem to be their goal here. The album does not have that “stadium anthem” like those previous bangers but it easily has some of the best lyrics, haunting melodies, and overall a sort of “journey” album that’s attempting to get Christians and non-believers to reflect on the common graces God shows us. Actually, I’d even say it goes “woke” but not in the nihilistic, hopeless way we’re accustomed to.
Staring and despairing on the screen
Turning everything that's real into a meme
But the feeds that i read don't feed me what i needIf only i could open up my eyes
Would the truth be what would set me free? - “Beloved”
2020 enemies
What a dismal odyssey
Hell bound the apathy
Is there any remedy?
'Cause we bicker over Listerine
With Twitter as our liturgy
What a crummy legacy
2020 enemies - “if I were you”
Honestly with Bari Weis Podcast
“Astounded”, “Stunning Sanity-the upgrade!”, “A breath of fresh air!”
I could not agree with these reviews more. 26 episodes into my favorite podcast of the year and I’m hooked. Bari and I disagree on almost everything. The only things we have in common are we’re both ethnically Jewish, both believe the current “woke” take over of all cultural institutions is dangerous, and advocate for a similar form of classical liberalism that up till the last decade was a uniting force in the United States. Bari has substantive conversations with various guests and she lets the conversations breathe in the most natural way. There are no “gotchas”; just discussions. And, for my Christian readers, there are a few episodes with content warnings so be mindful of your discipleship journey.
iOS 15 - Live Text
Many Apple iOS updates promise a lot of cool things but after the initial “that’s cool” they tend to fall off my radar. The “Live Text” feature though - wow! Being able to grab text via a picture and save it as a note has not only come in handy but it’s made me wonder how I got by not using this before? This has already caused “hacks” to go viral, like this student stealing class notes (here). But the practical, everyday uses are incredible. Especially being married.
Attachment - Adam Lane Smith
My final contribution to TILT is a tweet thread I discovered from Adam Lane Smith that was definitely counter-cultural and resonated with me given my wife and I are expecting our first. Not sure I agree with the totality of thought here but, man, it gets me thinking! (Link)
Reminder that “your kids should leave home at 18” is a psyop by the central banks to make 10 ext. family members pay 10 rents/mortgages, 10 sets of utilities, 10 car payments, and 10 of every item needed for a home, plus entertainment and stress relief to cope with being alone.
Broken attachment made Boomers think it’s normal to get rid of your family and gain space.
That broken attachment makes Gen X and Millennials say, “I’d never want to live with my awful family!”
Broken attachment has damaged generational living.When a family lives together you can open family businesses and have each kid manage a shop. That preps them with financing and leadership and logistics training while enriching the whole family. That’s practical and safe at the same time and doesn’t destroy generational wealth.
When you break the family you obliterate generational wealth. Every person has to start from zero. That is NOT how our species is meant to work. And the isolation crushes the bonds we need to establish a life of purpose.
So many men kill themselves.The retirement costs they don’t tell you about:
-Paying for a healthcare nurse to help you because your estranged kids don’t care
-Paying for a nursing home when the nurse stops putting up with you
-Living alone at a nursing home for 10 years
-Hospice care so you can die aloneUS parents when you’re 18-20: “It’s time for you to be alone. I won’t help you. Nobody helped me, and look how good I turned out. Now get out and don’t come back.”
US parents when you’re 50: “Ok I blew your inheritance but I’m old and need help, you got me right?”
Not healthy.It doesn’t have to be this way. Even if your extended family is BAD, you can build this for your descendants. Educate yourself on healthy communication, good attachment, and problem solving as a team. Heal. Love.
Give your descendants what you never got. Be the new beginning.