Plenty of sky: 2021

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Quantum Leap

Jon Cannings interviews Mike Burrows and Mike Nelthorpe on GCN+

Richard Hill and Lotus

Peter Keen and Chris Boardman

Velòdrom d’Horta

29 July, 1992

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3tfjhp

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Should we be worried about technology?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zeza83WlXxg

The raison d’être for standardisation, quantification and documentation is to secure a baseline for what is acceptable within a discipline to which it is applied. What arises from the rigorous implementation of such measures is a regression to the mean - pulling up to standard those that fall below accepted levels of competency but risks stifling those that pursue excellence beyond what is measured and documented. Many do not or cannot find meaning in what is typically the only activity for which they get paid. They sign in, tick the relevant boxes, and sign out. Good for them. It's often better that a cog fits and fulfils a minimum requirement than to not have one at all. A good participant understands this and, regardless of the attitude of others, seeks his reward in a job done well. But, at some point, the further application of time and effort that is not appropriately recognised becomes burdensome. If the opportunity arises the participant may choose to move on, or he may choose to stay put.. and regress to the mean.

Few are content to simply push on. There are, after all, other priorities.

In theory, all industries and workplaces should strive to be conducive to active and engaged participants - to value what they create, improve or contribute and to provide them with the wherewithal to reflect on such. The sobering reality of a globally-connected, data-driven world is that economies of scale often matter more. If a task can be automated and greater efficiencies attained then this is where standardisation, quantification and documentation will take us.

Publicly-funded health and education systems have their challenges but provide a useful mechanism for redistributing wealth (= opportunity) in an uneven world. You should never take your health and education for granted so treat such institutions as a gift to the societies fortunate enough to have them. There are many who go beyond their duty in order to make them work.

Beautiful. But there are measurably better ways to do this.

It’s a big picture vs small picture thing.

Modern Life - purpose

Lucky is the man who has found purpose in his actions. If such actions are not recognised or materially rewarded then history will deem him an irrelevance. Or a fool. But, if he does not care and is able to get by, he transcends the surrounding noise and humdrum.. Just, maybe, not to the level of those that get well-remunerated for their actions.

Modern Life 4 - consequence

You do not need purpose to be happy. Those that do, are, for good or bad, and to varying degrees of relevance, more consequential in society.

There are many who seek purpose, relevance and consequence.

Friday, August 6, 2021

Modern Life - epilogue

Life is simple when you think, “I will die, but not today”. You will be wrong precisely once in a lifetime. Things get complicated when you ponder how long you will live and how you plan to live it.

Saturday, July 10, 2021

A primer on spin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWlk1gLkF2Y

Sunday, July 4, 2021

1991 Cannondale SM2000

Vincent: "You know what the funniest thing about Europe is?"

Jules: "What?"

Vincent: "It's the little differences. I mean they got the same shit over there that they got here, but it's just - it's just there it's a little different."

Jules: "Example?"

Vincent: "Alright, well you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don't mean just like in no paper cup, I'm talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald's. And you know what they call a, uh, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?"

Jules: "They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?"

Vincent: "Nah, man, they got the metric system, they wouldn't know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is."

Jules: "What do they call it?"

Vincent: "They call it a Royale with Cheese."

Jules: [smiling, nodding] "Royale with Cheese."

Vincent: "That's right."

Jules: "What do they call a Big Mac?"

Vincent: "A Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it Le Big Mac."

Jules: "Le Big Mac." [laughs] "What do they call a Whopper?"

Vincent: "I dunno, I didn't go into Burger King.