In lieu of a substantive piece, today I bring you a curated list of things I’ve found this week that have captured my attention.
Book
“Greenlights”, the autobiography of Matthew McConaughey. The audiobook is narrated with great pizzazz by the actor himself. What an awesome dude he is. His story-telling rhythm is amazing (you’ve all have heard it). Above all else, there is a spirit with which he lives, that is infectious. It inspired me to live a little at least once this week. Here’s a short video of him describing how he needs 3 things in life: something to look up to, something to look forward to, someone to chase. The person he chases is his hero. His hero is himself in 10 years. An idealised version of self that he can never quite catch but keeps him moving in the right direction. Alright, alright, alright.
Postscript: those three words (alright x3) were the first words he ever said on film (Dazed and Confused, 1993). They were improvised after his character was worked into an extra scene with 30 minutes notice. They’ve followed him ever since.]
Health & Fitness
Sprint training. It’s amazing how athletic and healthy sprinters look, right? Particularly when compared to middle-long distance runners who look like they could snap in a breeze.1 Is there a lesson there? Well how rare to see people sustain a level of explosive acceleration past a certain age (say, 30). Last week I found myself with an awkward amount of time with which to exercise. I was on a run, but knew that I couldn’t run hard and consistent enough in that time to feel ze pump. After a lap around the southern parklands, I came across 100m track markings. Rather than putting in a middling running effort, I chose instead to sprint. 3 sets of 4x100m. 12 sprints. No watch to time, just my breath and an honest appraisal of my effort. I managed my rests with diligence: neither luxurious, nor punitive. The effect was wonderful. Full body work-out in less than 30 minutes.
Further reading: https://x.com/CombatTherapist/status/1845999620817862893
PoliticsAn observation. Responses to climate change and environmentalism are interesting to watch. One of the observations I’ve made over the past couple of years is how the “left” and “right” converge on similar positions but for different reasons. Think greenie unites with Elmer Fudd in concern for ecological systems (when the former not protesting the latter’s hunting). Or the libertarian-right and eco-socialists converging on localism and the condemnation of corporate greed and environmental degradation. Access to clean water and good food, avoidance of the myriad poisons of modern life a preoccupation to both. Whether it’s the damage to the commons or a threat to our individual rights; the reasoning may be different but the position is, to some extent, shared. One archetypal voice on the right is RFK in America. On the left, Charles Eisenstein. Unsurprisingly, Eisenstein departed from RFK’s advisory team over philosophical differences regarding RFK joining Trump’s presidential team. These philosophical differences could prove to be fault lines in the momentum of the cause, or unprecedented axes of allegiance in a new environmental coalition.
Sport
A glorious time capsule from Twitter. Borussia Dortmund basking in their 2-0 lead at the Bernabau against Los Blancos.
Only to have their advantage…challenged. Treat yourself to a second half masterclass from Real Madrid:
If you didn’t get around to watching the above: Rudiger’s presence in the box to score that header is, inevitable. Indomitable. I can’t think of a more imposing vision in world football. Vicinius Jr’s run down the entire wing at the end of the match is freakish. Done with cartoonish ease. End score, 5-2 RM.
The WorldFederated Australia is a young country on the geopolitical scene. It is interesting to think about our international footprint. Travelling through South America in 2016, it was fascinating to see American fingerprints over every crisis and regime upheaval. Two years ago, I was amazed to see Australia’s equivalent role laid bare in the Museum of East Timorese Resistance in Dili. Here was perhaps our first lasting and autonomous act with serious consequence for one of our neighbours. It wasn’t pretty.
There is another kind of legacy to be mindful of. That of our major corporations. I was cringing while reading this article about BHP’s destruction of Brazilian ecosystem and indigenous villages. It is the subject of an extraordinary $1B class action. The article links to further examples, among them the brutal legacy of Rio Tinto’s gold mine in Bougainville PNG 30 years on. It also links to an article that explains that Australian mining operations in Africa have entered a golden era. With that, comes great opportunity and immense responsibility to preserve life. With 175+ ASX listed companies operating mines across 35 African nations, it would be a national shame if we didn’t.
Personal reflectionMapping life cycles. I had the uncanny realisation that the major change-points in my individual life (as opposed to family, or marriage) have come in 5-year cycles. Career transition in 2024, 2018-19 departure from law-school and global wayfaring, 2014 departure from home for university, 2009 new high school. It was an interesting learning. At each point of transition my understanding of myself changed significantly. What if, rather than resist change, I come to understand it as a natural part of my journey? Even to expect it every 5 or so years, and integrate it accordingly. More to be explored here.
FilmWe watched a Netflix film about the San Felipe High School golf team, the first ever champion Mexican golfing team in Texas. A corny movie, but a happy (and true) story. The tension points never lasted more than 30 seconds, which was exactly what we were after. A Mexican WW2 USA-vet comes to town to work as Deputy Principal and is rejected at his dream golf and country club, only to take it upon himself to coach some upstart golfers at the local high-school to win the respect they all deserve. I’m no film buff, but this is a feel-good flick with cheesy life advice:
‘Cause life is,
well, it’s a lot like golf.
Yeah, some days it’s smooth sailing on the fairway.
Other days you’re lost in the woods.
But as long as you can keep your eye on that flag
you can always hack your way back onto smooth ground.
But if you don’t know what you’re aiming for, then…
Thanks for reading, legends. If you have a moment - please drop a comment to let me know what you think of this format. It could be a good way to bring weekly posts with some consistency.
With love,
JV
When I first saw this comparison on twitter it had a less savoury comparison between long distance runners and cancer patients. I thought it terribly unfair to the latter, as well as to the hand few (one) of subscribers that runs long distances.