Pleasantly surprised by how well an iPad works now plugged into an external USB-C monitor. I have a great little focused work set up that I look forward to using for a little while every morning.

Simple set up of an iPad connected to an external monitor and Bluetooth keyboard.

I made a video: How to Plan a Personal Retreat Day

I’m starting to explore YouTube as an outlet to share some of the things I’m learning and thinking about. I’d be glad for any feedback you are willing to share. I’d also be glad for likes and subscribers and such.

Salieri was driven to madness by his envy of the musical talents of another.

For me, it will be cable management.

Finished reading: An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong 📚

Very interesting! Listened as an audiobook. I often miss too much with audio, but this one felt just about right. I think reading it would have felt like too much detail to maintain my focus.

NYT: The Disappearance of Literary Men Should Worry Everyone

I resonate so so much with everything written in this.

I’ve switched from Goodnotes to the Apple notes app for handwritten note-taking on my iPad. The way it cleans up my scrawls is actually really helpful.

After almost 15 years, MacSparky posted a sequel today to my original iPad home screen post.

I fancy myself a bit of a planner, but I find myself heading into Election Day without any salsa in the house to calm my concerns.

Finished reading: How to Know a Person by David Brooks 📚

I’ve found value in each of Brooks' books, but this one is a stand out. No question it will be one of my top books read this year, and will often be recommended to others.

I would dress up as the Grinch for Halloween, but I’m kind of a grinch about Halloween.

First play of Twilight Struggle with my son.

A Twilight Struggle board game card is placed in the foreground with the game board and pieces visible in the background.

Relaunched my personal site this week to serve as a simple marketing page for my freelance WordPress work: byjohnchandler.com. The previous one was woefully neglected and didn’t help me look very competent.

Be glad to hear from you if you need some WordPress work, or might know someone looking.

Finished reading: Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson 📚

Really enjoyed the audiobook – a good survey of how we got the current political landscape in the US.

I’m enjoying re-reading Sacred Fire, by Ronald Rolheiser, to prepare for an online book club I’m hosting next month. If the subtitle catches your interest, I’d be glad to have you join the discussion. Details are available here.

Cover shot of the book Sacred Fire

I know little about the movie, but the new soundtrack for We Live in Time caught my eye since it’s from Bryce Dessner. After two listens, I determined it will be my writing music for the near future.

Finished reading: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 📚

One of those books that meets the high expectations I had for it. But of course…it’s Barbara Kingsolver. I’ve only read a handful of her books, but each time I do, I resolve to read all the rest.

I’ve been a WordPress developer for over 15 years now. There have often been general critiques of WordPress as a platform that I’ve had to talk through with potential clients. But the damage currently being done to the brand by its own founder is beyond anything I’ve had to clarify before.

Finished reading: The Year of Living Constitutionally by A.J. Jacobs 📚

I think I’ve read most, if not all, of Jacobs' books. Appreciate the humor, but also that I learn some new things along the way.

Wasn’t aware of Ta-Nahisi Coates' new book, The Message, but queued it up from the library waitlist after seeing him on The Daily Show last night

And thus ends another rough season to be an Angels fun…rougher than ever before. Surely they can only go up next season, right?