Lawrence of Arabia. I recently watched the 1962 film classic Lawrence of Arabia during my Zone 2 cardio sessions. It’s been on my list of movies to watch for some time as it’s my father-in-law’s favorite. It did not disappoint! The film follows the life of TE Lawrence (brilliantly played by Peter O’Toole), a British officer who unites and leads Arab tribes in a revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The film does a great job of exploring the nature of power, ambition and idealism, as well as the complex geopolitics of the British Empire. Amazing acting and amazing cinematography. Highly recommended.
“No Name” by Jack White. Jack White released a new album a few weeks ago that I listen to a lot during my weight lifting sessions. It’s a good old-fashioned rock album full of electrifying guitar riffs and songs with a nice mix of rock and blues. “That’s How I’m Feeling,” “Old Scratch Blues,” and “Bless Myself” are three of my favorites on the album.
Abercombie & Fitch Woods. The other day, Gus asked me what my favorite perfume was in high school. Answer: Abercrombie & Fitch Woods. It’s funny because I hated A&F clothing in general (too preppy!) and preferred to wear vintage bowling shirts or 1970s golf shirts I found at thrift stores (punk rock!). For some reason, I made an exception to my dislike of A&F when it came to perfume. Anyway, Gus’ question made me curious if they still make Woods, and lo and behold, they do! So I bought a bottle and have been wearing it for a few weeks. I like it and it reminds Kate of our first date. Whether it’s because of its really nice citrus/woody smell or the nostalgia factor (even if you don’t know anyone who wears Woods, A&F stores smell like it), I bet this perfume makes a lot of millennial women melt.
Why I hate Instagram now We’ve been on Instagram since 2010, and it’s interesting to see how the platform has changed over the past 14 years. Conor Friedersdorf describes the unfortunate evolution that took Instagram from a fun, organic platform where you could share life’s happenings with friends and family to one dedicated to entertaining with algorithmically driven, revenue-generating content created by influencers and brands. I’ve noticed that I’m using IG less and less because the content that shows up in my feed is mostly Reels (not likes!) from accounts I don’t follow and advertisements. Bring back personal blogs to share life’s ephemera with friends and family!
Quote of the week
Make up your mind! There is nothing more pitiful in the world than an indecisive person who vacillates between two feelings, hoping to reconcile them, and not understanding that nothing can unite them.
-Goethe
