Tantum sed Copiosus. I first heard this phrase as a Sophomore English student at Oglethorpe from my then Department Advisor. It roughly translates to, “of the right size and quality.” He was referring to how I should construct my papers. That no matter what length is assigned, every word and citation should be pregnant with the weight of contemplation and creativity. I am still working to master this approach.
SUMMARY My wife and I have had the great fortune of being able to visit wine country in Northern California over a dozen times. On this latest trip I decided it’s time to document my best tips and advice for getting the most out of your own Napa/Sonoma trip. I hope you enjoy and find […]
"Richard Bakare", California, Napa, Sonoma, Wine Country, Yountville
Decision Fatigue is a real issue. As I get older I about how I can avoid this state of mental exhaustion. To that end, we’ve automated a lot of key repetitive tasks in our lives. From grocery delivery, to landscape maintenance, pest control, dry cleaning, house keeping, food delivery, pet sitter, and much more. The goal is not to be lazy and have the free time to lounge around, but instead to open up our creative and critical thinking capacity. Many would not think that most of the above activities would be a brain drain, but when measured against the total number of decisions someone is asked to make in a day, it can lead to decision fatigue. That state has a qualitative effect on the quality of your decisions as the day progresses. Moreover, I recently read an article about how we are constantly inundated with prompts from the smart devices around us which are really creating more and more decision points.
"Richard Bakare", Barack Obama, Blog, Capsule Wardrobe, Decisions, Decison Fatigue, Life Uniform, Minimalism, Minimalist, Steve Jobs
“What does the CIA look like in the absence of the Free Press? Like the KGB.” – Malcolm Gladwell, Revisionist History, The Road to Damascus
I’m trying a new format beginning with this week’s post. I am going to start using the essay format for each post. Identifying themes in the week and crafting an entry that analyzes and comments on the events of the week. I am hoping this approach will help me work on my writing and analytical skills. The theme of this week is accountability and transparency.
"Richard Bakare", Blog, CHarles Koch, City, Civitas, Freakonomics, Malcolm Gladwell, Politics, Politika
We’ve just gone through the biggest purge of material items in our house ever. We got rid of almost everything going back to elementary school except for vital records. Trophies, games, furniture, etc. we are really focused on this minimalism path and are pouring all of our free time into it. I have a blog post I’m working on about the process of becoming minimalist. I’m interested to see the reaction people will have to a couple formally associated with being textbook consumers, wielding down to much less. Minimalism is a journey with no end, so I am sure the days and years will constantly be redefining for us just what is the right amount of “stuff.”
"Richard Bakare", Atlanta United, Better Half, Blog, Home Park, Minimalist, Soccer in the Streets
I doubt I can ever come to understand the propensity for senseless violence. Two days after an attack in England by terrorist, we have a shooting in Orlando which may have no ideological basis. Violence is never acceptable and doesn’t bring others to your side. I can only imagine that our growing inability to communicate across social, political, and economic divides. Talking doesn’t cure all ills, but it sure as heel can help calm people down if both sides are forced to listen before speaking.
Yoga is life and life is yoga. Flowing through your day with every breath, finding intention, being present, exercising patience. I learned this mantra from our instructor this past week. I hope to make it a real part of my everyday life. Breathing in every element of a situation, embracing the discomfort, relishing the blissful release, and learning to balance on the equilibrium between both sensations. I just have to find a Yoga facility I am willing yo pay more for now that I don’t have ClassPass or maybe realizing the dream of building a yoga studio in our backyard one day.
"Richard Bakare", Americanah, Blog, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, ClassPass, Covfefe, Nigeria, Yoga
If you are in NYC this summer, make sure you get tickets to see the Public Theater’s performance of Julius Ceaser at the Delacort Theater for Shakespeare in the Park. The performance has been updated with an homage to you know who and our current social dilemmas. The principal questions I was left asking is whether to stick with the devil you know or take on the unknown? Along with, does the struggle for change matter if the message doesn’t register. I think that the external forces we feel have so much control over our lives aren’t as powerful as we make them. If we become the change we want to see, it doesn’t matter who is in charge.
"Richard Bakare", Aerial Yoga, Age Of Empires, Apple AirPods, Birthday, Blog, Central Park, Circus Sideshow, Grimaces and Misery, Homo Deus, iPhone, Irving Pen, Julius Caesar, Met Kawakubo, NYC, One If By Land, Seurat's Sideshow, Shakespeare, The Aisles Have Eyes, The Met, The Strong Man, Woman In Chicken Hat
The start of a long stretch in NYC. I decided to try something different and stay longer on the road than just 4 days at a time. What I found in previous weeks was that the hours spent at the airport was a real time suck. I’m really missing my “home time” but will have to make the most of it and discover more of NYC. Most of all by catching up with family and friends while I here.
"Richard Bakare", Blog, ClassPass, Feastly, New York, Nina Simone, Nomad List, NormaTec
This is one of the more personally gratifying products I will get to review. Full disclosure: a high school friend of mine is a co-patent holder on these. So, I am very proud to own and review a pair. Like most of the early adopters, it took a while to get mine. Over a month from purchase to delivery. Once you get your hands on a pair and feel the quality of the build you will see why they take a while to manufacture and are worth the wait.
"Richard Bakare", AirPods, Apple, EarPods, Logitech, Product Review, Sennheiser