Read to the end for a post about naughty dogs
Summer is always the toughest time to write TimeMachiner. It's slow in the tech world (minus Elon's continuous drivel of nonsense), we take vacations, and generally there's a sense of getting outside to do the things we want to do.
My vacation a couple of weeks ago did the same. My family and I headed to the Lake George region in NY and took in all the unplugged sights. From a steamboat tour on the lake to a horror wax museum, it was nice to basically be offline 99% of the time. Part of the fun was trekking to Lake Placid, home of the 1980 Olympic Games. This is where the famous "Miracle on Ice" USA vs USSR hockey game took place. Even non-hockey fans will recognize this game. It was at the height of the Cold War, and the game meant more than just a game. Disney's movie Miracle is based on this story and is a really great film. Kurt Russell is fantastic in it.
Seeing this piece of history was amazing, and even standing in an empty hockey rink, I could imagine what it was like 43 years ago. The downtown area around Lake Placid is amazing, and of course, I found myself in a small bookstore. There I nabbed Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and Upgrade by Blake Crouch. I didn't know about either of these books before I walked in, but I'm a sucker for a good indie bookstore.
I spent hours in the mountains, walked along an actual Olympic bobsled track, and rode an alpine slide/coaster for the first time ever. It was thrilling!! And best of all, I had quality time with those I care about while working to keep the kids' noses out of their phones as much as I realistically could.
I love being plugged into the modern world we live in and reading amazing things, which, in turn, makes me want to write TimeMachiner. But for a week, I was able to return to the way the world was when I was younger: no computers, no internet, no phones, no nothing. Unplugging (except for using GPS and streaming music in the car) was what I needed.
Summer isn't ideal for everyone to take a trip, and many don't have the ability to go far or for multiple days. But even a day or two offline with free or cheap planned local events does more wonders than I imagined.
Now, keep that in mind while I plug back in and bring you fresh, curated items to feast on. I hope you have a great week.
-Aaron
PS: If you're enjoying my work here on TimeMachiner please forward this email to a friend who'd like it too. It helps me grow. Thank you. 😊
TODAY'S RANDOM FACTOID
If sound could travel through space, the noise that the sun makes would be the equivalent to a train horn from 1 meter away. Source
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