Keeping it together, with the power of apps (and Animal Crossing)
Hey there. Hope you're doing well in these times.
Things are generally different right now. And everyone's approaching that in their own way. Me? I'm trying to look at it as a series of interesting and discrete li'l challenges.
To wit: I've been tinkering with my workout routine to keep it interesting (which, tbh, has been spearheaded by my lovely partner), my friends and I have built out a Discord server for better chats, and I wrote about the apps I've been using to keep my life together.
Here's something I probably should've thought about for that article but totally didn't: my most-used apps have drastically changed since going into lockdown.
In addition to everything in that article, Discord and, especially in the past few days, Streaks have become important. A whole lot of things that either help me order my life, talk to friends, and keep me moving.
Like, I used to live on Apollo, a fantastic Reddit app. But now? Not so much. Same with Threes! (the best game on iOS, hands down), Instagram, and Tweetbot.
Somehow, my phone has become less of a "fill downtime" device and more of a "keep a healthy routine together" device. Not entirely sure how I feel about that. But, if nothing else, I think I'm using it less.
(Is that a good thing, if it's keeping my life together? Not going to think about that. 🤷♂️)
What I've been reading
The mirror and the light
The mirror and the light by Hilary Mantel is incredible. Mantel has made a strong case as the best writer in the English-speaking world. Every word in this novel (and there a lot of them) feels like it's exactly where it should be.
That sounds trivial but it's not. And it's not just that there's no extraneous guff. It's that it feels like there's literally no other way this book could have been written, like Mantel just unearthed this book whole and there it was, fully formed and ready to be published.
Mantel will likely get another Booker Prize for this – and that'd be one for each entry of the Thomas Cromwell series. Unprecedented. And deserved.
Why Animal Crossing calms you down, explained
I'm obsessed with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I've loved this game series since its entry on the GameCube and I, along with the rest of the world, have been eagerly awaiting the latest entry.
I've long thought that there's no real way to describe what makes it so enthrallingly charming ("It's a slow-paced life simulator and you get large amounts of debt!" doesn't make a convincing case) but Jennifer Scheurle has done a good job proving me wrong. She argues that it's gentle approach to progression, deft mix of short- and long-term goals, and low-pressure but meaningful achievements combine to make an altogether calming experience.
The nightmare bunny that recently appeared in the game isn't helping there, unfortunately, but overall it's an amazingly relaxing time.
It's not you, it's capitalism
I'm going to be quoting "You mock me. You tear out my flow-rate valve" for a long time.
What I've been listening to
GREY Area by Little Simz
This week's kites can't jive entry, GREY Area is one the best hip-hop albums I've heard in a while. Simz is honest, introspective, and has a swagger that's so compelling you believe every word she says, even when she says she's "Shakespeare on my worst days".
Brain.fm
I'm still dipping my toes into Brain.fm – a service which claims to provide scientifically-backed soundscapes to help you focus – but, so far, it's interesting. I don't know if it helps me get into the zone any more than all the ambient music I listen to but, I mean, I wrote this newsletter while listening to it and I'm this far in so something's working.
CamelPhat Essentials – Apple Music playlist
I'm not a playlist guy but this one of CamelPhat's best is an absolute banger. If you're into dance music, check it out. If not ordinarily into dance music but you need something to power you through a workout or run, check it out. Rabbit Hole, Panic Room, and Dopamine Machine will get you moving.
And finally...
A TikTok that turns Australian politics into a dance floor classic.