Kohler silent. Same price as the fluid master, but looked like nicer materials and had an adjustable height. The tank on this toilet is short, so I needed an unusually small piece
- Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall: A broad introduction to geopolitics that argues geography quietly constrains the choices available to nations. Marshall uses maps, mountains, rivers, plains, seas, and borders to explain why countries behave as they do and why some conflicts or alliances are hard to escape.
- Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford: A revisionist history of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire that emphasizes their role in connecting Eurasia through trade, law, communication, and cultural exchange. Weatherford presents the Mongols not only as conquerors, but as builders of systems that helped shape the modern world.
- The Anarchy by William Dalrymple: A history of how the British East India Company transformed from a trading corporation into a territorial power that conquered much of India. Dalrymple frames the story as one of corporate violence, political fragmentation, financial ambition, and imperial opportunism.
- Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson: A history of the effort to understand how Polynesian peoples settled the vast Pacific Ocean. Thompson blends anthropology, navigation, linguistics, archaeology, and European exploration history to explain both the achievement itself and the long-running debate over how it happened.
- The Restoration of Rome by Peter Heather: A history of attempts to rebuild or revive Roman imperial power after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Heather focuses especially on Theodoric, Justinian, and Charlemagne, showing how each tried to claim Rome’s legacy under very different political and military conditions.
- Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond: A sweeping attempt to explain why some societies became globally dominant by emphasizing geography, agriculture, domesticated animals, disease, and technology rather than innate human differences. The book is influential but controversial, with critics arguing that it can be overly deterministic and too broad in its conclusions, though it still contains useful observations about environment, food production, and historical development.
There’s a product that replaces the wax seal with a rubber gasket that makes the install a lot easier. I’ve used it twice now without issue. I’ve done a wax seal once and it was awkward
To be fair, you aren’t paying for labor or anything overhead on your latte at home. Input costs for Starbucks is only about 10% (ie $0.90 on that $9 latte)
Which is probably less than you’d pay when you account for the beans and milk but deduct the disposable cup
Typically I use whatever paper or ceramic cup is in the room. Occasionally I have a 450ml yeti with me. Only once or twice have I had those ultra tiny paper cups. I think I went to the lobby for a bigger cup but I don’t remember
I just finished the Cantos this week. I think Hyperion is one of the best sci-fi setups ever conceived. The Canterbury Tales in Space is so hype, and so well executed. I could read it ten times and love it every time.
The rest of the series is ambitious, but never quite lived up to the first book. There are incredibly interesting ideas, and some excellent parts… but I can’t give the whole thing a 10/10.
Aenea spends so much time talking at the reader, and her set up as the savior of humanity pins her character in a corner.
The discussion on how “humans stopped evolving” was an incredible turn on my view of the Ousters, and helped recontextualize the series as a radical, conservationist epic instead of just an anti-authoritarian one was also A+.
Since I just read this, I’ve been thinking a lot about how a television adaptation would work. Season one would be just the first book… one pilgrim’s tale per episode. But then I feel like the next three books would need a comprehensive overhaul to streamline the narrative and pick a clearer focus.
I’ve traveled with the aeropress (original and go), clever dripper, hoop and a collapsible silicon pourover.
I find the hoop the most foolproof. I can pour in the grounds and water, the leave it alone while I get dressed. Don’t have to worry about agitating, depressing or moving to a cup.
Shape is a little awkward, but it fits in a bag just fine. I only do 2-3 day trips, so I’m find bringing a jar of grounds rather than bringing my AerGrind.
I don’t have a system to keep all the pieces together (hoop, filters, scale, grounds, jettle) so it all just floats in my bag. Small problem though
Almost done with The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons. My first time through the full Cantos. I’ve heard the series is peak in book 1 and 4 with a lull in 2/3. I found 2 and 3 much worse than Hyperion, so here’s hoping he can land the ship in the final book
I think next I’ll pick up The Antidote by Karen Russell - a magic realism book set in the 1930s Dust Bowl era
About 44% of new construction homes over the past 20 years have had 4+ bedrooms. The American Housing Survey uses categories rather than numbers, so 4 and 5+ is the most granular we can get.
It’s a significant problem in the housing market, often called the “missing middle”, where we don’t have enough starter homes for young/new buyers to get on the housing ladder. We are only building large homes used by families who already have a lot of equity
Another cool game was XIII. Entirely cel shaded and based on a Belgian comic book. Sort of like Jason Bourne in story, unique style of gameplay with kill cams.
Heh. Just read the two Hierarchy books and now I’m on book three of The Hyperion Cantos.
Hyperion is so good. Fascinating story. The space bits really aren’t that important. Simmons does a good job of not getting caught up in the world building and instead tells a story in a truly bizarre world.
Fall of Hyperion struggled to keep my attention both times I read it.
About 25% of the way through Endymion and I’m having a hard time getting into it. Just finished a long section talking about the MC’s next strategic move… only to then transition to the antagonist having the exact same, mirrored conversation.
I want to finish the series… but it’s been a challenge.
Kohler silent. Same price as the fluid master, but looked like nicer materials and had an adjustable height. The tank on this toilet is short, so I needed an unusually small piece