Flying, Knicks, and more
It was another week in which I didn’t get anything published letter-wise. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but it would be great if the car is still working and I could protest after our trip. I could use a change of pace. Things are pretty hectic as we prepare to leave, so I think I’m going to give myself a week off from letters.
This will be our first flight with the kids. I haven’t checked in with the Fathering Autism YouTube channel since the basketball season started, but I remember their daughter, who has the same diagnosis as ours, having a hard time on a plane. I’m a little anxious about that. Hopefully, it will be no big deal.
Let’s do (Cell) Culture Talk.
TV — Friday Night Lights. This is a rewatch for my wife and me. I introduced her to the show, but she’s since become the expert, watching the series a number of times on her own. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it all the way through. I remember the show being kind of perfect, aside from one off season. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!
Music — Zeldawave by Polygon Dream. I believe I found this early in the pandemic, when life felt particularly out of control. It’s a dreamlike reimagining of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time soundtrack, using samples from Koji Kondo’s score. I gather it’s part of the lo-fi or vaporwave genre? I don’t really know what that means, however, I enjoy this quite a bit.
Podcast — House of R. Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson were my primary guides through House of the Dragon and Rings of Power, so I was excited to belatedly notice they’re covering The Mandalorian. The hosts are funny and knowledgeable. I appreciate their familiarity with the Star Wars cartoons, which I’ve never been able to get into, but which apparently add a great deal to the franchise.
Book — Like a Thousand Suns by Eknath Easwaran. If he were alive today, Easwaran would have a lot to pester me about, but I imagine a big item on his list would be what he calls ‘sense craving.’ I love to eat, among other things. He talks about the health downsides of overeating, but his main objection seems to be that sense craving is an obstacle to deepening your meditation.
Sports — Knicks beat Cavs, 130-116. Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 48 points. Unfortunately, it’s unclear whether Julius Randle will be back in time for the playoffs. I can’t help but wondering, if New York added Donovan Mitchell to a healthy version of that duo, if they wouldn’t be championship contenders.
Sports — Knicks beat Wizards, 118-109. It was surprisingly competitive in the first half, against a depleted Washington that didn’t have much to play for. However, New York took over in the second. With this victory, the Knicks clinched a playoff berth.
Sports — Knicks beat Pacers, 138-129. In between the last game and this one, New York learned they would face the Cavaliers in the first round. Brunson sat. Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Quentin Grimes became the team’s first trio to score 30 or more points each since 1979.