slaunchwise

He had a gig where he could come early, leave early, and work remotely instead of taking vacation. With the potential for life-changing money. He left because they made him follow the same rules as everyone else. He thought oddball office space management was worthy of hundreds and hundreds of words in an essay. He said more about himself in this piece than I dare say he meant to.

That said, the short stories might have worked in an unreliable-narrator way.

+1 for the Sturgill Simpson reference

A really good job with the postal service

Whataboutism doesn't make it right.

Here's a revolution that actually starts at home. Government policy aside, Americans are free to follow much of the German advice if they choose. Treat your kids as if their lives are primarily theirs, not yours. Let them take risks (for themselves, not others) and bear consequences. Exult with them when those risks are successful. Above all be a role model. This is all really easy to contemplate, but very hard to do because it is isolating. In my suburban parenting experience, we are a competitively paranoid nation. So many people raise their kids as if they're in the twin towers and they are totally going to know when to press that elevator button to get out safely. We do not have to be that way.

We don't deserve dogs.

I've found this technique also helps when trying to learn challenging (for me) things on the guitar. The act of learning to play something new means inducing muscle memory as well as simply memorizing the tune. I work on it in the evening to the point where I don't feel like I'm making progress any more. When I come back to it the next day, I find I've made progress.

If I were God, I'd buy on those dips that might get me fired. Then I'd really feel like -- God.

+ 1 for bluegrass

That particular form presents an interesting challenge. Many performers tend to stay with memorized breaks, or within certain patterns, that they can do on stage without breaking a sweat. The blood only shows in jams or informal performances. Unlike jazz, where it is not. cool. to play the same solo twice anywhere.

I love the idea of the drop of blood and I value that in live music. In all fairness, though, it probably helps to be so fantastically talented that you can get farther with 1 hour of practice than other musicians get in 10 hours. I wonder if Rubenstein ever lost a gig or missed a meal because the risk went really poorly.

Reminds of a bit by Chris Rock. Paraphrasing: "If you have a job, the clock is your enemy and you can't wait for the shift to end. If you have a career, there are not enough hours in the day." In his world, having a career means working 100% for yourself.

Pro tip for getting ahead: learn the difference between 'commiserate' and 'commensurate'. Otherwise you will be unintentionally funny.

You can refuse any offer, period. Brokers might make up rules to prevent the seller from dithering (and increase chances of collecting commission) but that's different. You never have to take an offer. Contracts are mutual in general and particularly so in the sale of real property.

Remote work, in my experience, also tends to be managed/ rewarded largely on the basis of productivity.