We rewatched Season 1 of Severance in preparation of binging Season 2. I’d
forgotten a bunch over that 3 year span.
Finished reading Shop Class as
Soulcraft.
It started out promising, and a lot of the talk about physical work being
more satisfying than “thought work” resonated with me. Crawford’s description
of office politics and white collar office work processes and bureaucracy was
as hilarious as it was apt. But the book just went on way too long, and he
gave himself a bit too much rope to hang himself with, really devolving into
that gross grey tribe politics. Lots of misogyny, “both sides bad”, and
self-indulgent rationalizations for why his life choices were good, actually.
If you’re going to read it, just do yourself a favor, and drop it at the
halfway point.
I’ve been spending far too much time emailing some cog-in-the-machine of
Virginia’s property tax department, trying to understand how they’re valuing
my car $5,000 more than what I paid for it. They claim to use J.D. Power
estimates, and I’ve shown the J.D. Power estimate for the car is almost
exactly what I paid for the car. Still they insist, without evidence, it’s
actually worth $5,000 more. The fight will go on, but I suspect I will
somehow lose. This is double annoying because in Virginia, you’re also
taxed extra for having a fuel-efficient or EV vehicle. You try to do the
right thing, and…
Played a bunch more pickleball this week. Tried out the courts at Forest Hill
park, which are a heck of a lot closer, but also significatly more crowded
(and maybe less friendly?).
I walk by this park all the time, but somehow had missed the gigantic Michael
Jordan portrait on the basketball court until this week. Check out this bad-boy from
space
Went to Stone Brewing for a little afternoon warm day boozin’. They have a
PB&J Berliner Weisse that tastes like you’re drinking a PB&J. It’s as weird
as it sounds, and ‘round about delicious as it is weird. Will get again.
The U.S. MotoGP race is next week (in Austin), so folks will start tricklin’
into the states over the next couple days. Wonder if they’ll even hold a U.S.
race next year, given the risky travel it now requires.