Turtle42's recent activity
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 Link ParentI shouldn't have been so dismissive, there was good knowledge in there I just feel like the basic premise "be authentically nice to people and have empathy" was taught to me in first grade when I...I shouldn't have been so dismissive, there was good knowledge in there I just feel like the basic premise "be authentically nice to people and have empathy" was taught to me in first grade when I was watching Mr. Rogers and Arthur on PBS.
I find the magical business deals where he puts his theories to use and "not only saves a cancelled order but doubles it" a bit fantastical as well, I would prefer something a bit more research based.
I agree most people in American culture are self centered and need this book. I enjoyed some of the information, and I know I have a few bosses who would benefit from reading this so I don't think the book is meritless, it's concepts are just second nature to me.
I am an empathetic person at heart, and always try to see from the other person's perspective. I'm also not necessarily where I feel I should be in my career or financially after doing everything I feel like I was told to do and this book saying essentially; "if you're a nice person you'll make a lot of money!" creates a little bit of resentment. At the end of the day the book just wasn't geared towards me.
Edit: I've also had some self help books literally change my life so I guess I had high hopes for this one and felt it fell flat to my expectations.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 Link ParentI didn't mean to be so dismissive, I've read a bunch of self help books. Allen Carrs Easy Way to Stop Smoking is a large reason I was able to stop smoking a few years ago, and Atomic Habits was a...I didn't mean to be so dismissive, I've read a bunch of self help books. Allen Carrs Easy Way to Stop Smoking is a large reason I was able to stop smoking a few years ago, and Atomic Habits was a game changer for me this year, and is probably the reason I'm on track to read almost 60 books this year. I also read Grit by Duckworth, Master your mind by Goggins, Supercommunicators by Duhigg, which border more on non-fiction/memoir but still had practical applications and were enjoyable despite their issues.
I just felt a bit cheated by this particular one, and find most of the anecdotal examples of magical business deals where he put his theories to use hard to believe without any sort of science based research. And I believe being too empathetic myself, which seems to be what the book is preaching, has caused me to be where I am in my station in life and being able to connect with people has in no way changed my career or financial outlook so there's likely some internal resentment I'm unintentionally putting out on display that shouldn't reflect the book. I know a number of bosses who could use this book. And that seems to be who the book is mainly for.
Is it just me or so self help books feel more controversial than some edgy fiction at times? Especially on Goodreads when I read reviews I see more divisive reviews for self help books than anything else. I wonder why that is.
The parts where he talked about Lincoln were the most fascinating to me, and was craving more knowledge so I'll have to look into the Lincoln book, thanks for bringing it to my attention!
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 Link ParentWow your comment is really thoughtful, the point you made about using the word bigot is interesting and I've definitely taken note. You've already done more research than I on his homophobia. I...Wow your comment is really thoughtful, the point you made about using the word bigot is interesting and I've definitely taken note.
You've already done more research than I on his homophobia. I was in the middle of the fourth book and kind of just stopped caring about the series in tandem with the news. Not to say I still don't enjoy it and have I suppose "separated the art from the artist" but at the end of the day while disowning his gay son is reprehensible the work he did for climate awareness and earth day for instance are no small contributions. As with anything and anyone there's good and bad sides. I appreciate you enlightening me as well, I learned something too.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 Link ParentYes this is exactly it. Whether one uses their eyes or ears to ingest words to me defines reading. Sure the experience may be different, as one sees the light of the sun and one might feel the...Yes this is exactly it. Whether one uses their eyes or ears to ingest words to me defines reading. Sure the experience may be different, as one sees the light of the sun and one might feel the warmth but are they not the same sun?
Listening to spoken words over seeing written words does not preclude one from retaining or looking for thematic elements or deciphering and analyzing metaphors, or being immersed in a new world, which is why I read in the first place. I enjoy both the written and spoken word and find often times both in tandem help me experience a book fully.
Consider poetry, for instance. Many poets believe to fully experience the beauty of a poem it needs to be heard or spoken as well as read, I think that's the beauty of language and reading. Even as a child when learning to write teachers often suggest reading out loud to make sure it sounds right.
To suggest listening to audiobooks isn't the same as reading feels pious and gatekeeping, especially when the point is to simply experience language and a story.
I saw a tweet once that said something to the effect of "My indigenous ancestors didn't carry on oral story telling traditions for thousands of years for you to call audiobooks cheating" and it resonated with me and I will forever die on this hill.
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Comment on For the second time in a row, the Dallas Stars have outscored the Dallas Cowboys in ~sports.hockey
Turtle42 LinkAs a Philly sports fan, this makes me happy on multiple levels.As a Philly sports fan, this makes me happy on multiple levels.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 LinkI just finished Severance by Ling Ma and was so enraptured by it the entire time, I finished it in two days. It's about an Asian American living in NYC during a pandemic (written before covid) and...I just finished Severance by Ling Ma and was so enraptured by it the entire time, I finished it in two days. It's about an Asian American living in NYC during a pandemic (written before covid) and it's such a good snapshot of millennial life it resonated quite deeply with me.
I moved onto Caravan by James Michener. I've never read his work before but I'm already immersed in this world I have a feeling I'm going to get heavy into his novels.
I'm also listening to How to Win Friends and Influence People and it's probably one of the most pointless self help books I've ever read but it's such a quick read I'm just going to finish it. It's amazing people need a book like this to learn that empathy makes people like you. Clearly written for out of touch sociopathic rich bosses who don't know how actually people function.
I'm also listening to Cell by Stephen King, I have easy access to his audiobooks so I've just been crushing almost everything I can by him. Not a huge fan of this one. I want to get back to The Dark Tower series (I'm about to start the fifth one in the series) but I'm also kind of getting tired of it.
And in the midst of all this I'm dabbling in reading and writing poetry. I'm loving Raymond Carver, Bukowski, Robert Frost, pretty much anything I can get my hands on. So many books so little time!
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 Link ParentAudiobooks are reading and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I got really into Dune this past summer after friends urged me to watch the movie, I loved it and immediately devoured the books. I...Audiobooks are reading and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I got really into Dune this past summer after friends urged me to watch the movie, I loved it and immediately devoured the books. I read the first one in a week. The themes of ecology and plans within plans were fascinating. The world building is unmatched. I started the rest of the series but got stuck at God Emperor and am hoping to finish it by the end of the year.
I would avoid learning about Frank Herbert as a person though, learning he was a bigot partly ruined the series for me for a little while.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
Turtle42 Link ParentBrain dump is brilliant. I've been mulling over what to do with my home page for like a year now, it's just a brief bio and a picture, I've been writing poems and doing paintings lately and was...Brain dump is brilliant. I've been mulling over what to do with my home page for like a year now, it's just a brief bio and a picture, I've been writing poems and doing paintings lately and was just thinking about how I should start posting and writing about it more frequently. This is perfect.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
Turtle42 LinkI just started oil painting and I’m having a ton of fun. I went to college for photography and had to do a little oil painting in foundations courses and hated it, but recently found my old paints...I just started oil painting and I’m having a ton of fun. I went to college for photography and had to do a little oil painting in foundations courses and hated it, but recently found my old paints and since they were still good I decided to paint some still lifes and they're turning out pretty good!
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 LinkJust finished listening to Under the Dome, Duma Key, and Misery by Stephen King. Misery was by far the best of the three. I did not enjoy Under the Dome that much, and I normally like everything I...Just finished listening to Under the Dome, Duma Key, and Misery by Stephen King. Misery was by far the best of the three. I did not enjoy Under the Dome that much, and I normally like everything I read. I'm gonna burn myself out eventually, but I have easy access to his audiobooks and they're easy listens. I have since started The Dead Zone now.
I just finished actually reading Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck, and in my catching up on classic American literature, I started The Grapes of Wrath which obviously is a bit more of a drag and not much has happened yet 100 pages in, but I still find his writing and ideas and commentary on 1930s American society fascinating. I'm reading my Fiance's high school copy with all her notes in it and I keep finding I would do just about anything to go back to high school and talk about this book in english class.
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Comment on Recreational marijuana sales in Ohio can start Tuesday at nearly 100 locations in ~society
Turtle42 LinkOhio legalizing recreational before Pennsylvania does feels crazy. Good on them. Pennsylvania is about to be surrounded like New Hampshire is. What makes overall liberal governments drag their...Ohio legalizing recreational before Pennsylvania does feels crazy. Good on them. Pennsylvania is about to be surrounded like New Hampshire is. What makes overall liberal governments drag their feet on this kind of thing?
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Comment on Do you like pooping? You might enjoy this article on fiber. in ~health
Turtle42 Link ParentI highly overestimate my ability to read these kinds of papers. Need to just keep my mouth shut next timeI highly overestimate my ability to read these kinds of papers. Need to just keep my mouth shut next time
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Comment on Do you like pooping? You might enjoy this article on fiber. in ~health
Turtle42 LinkThanks for sharing this! I'll have to read it later. I've been trying to add more fiber to my diet. I read somewhere that fiber and probiotics work best in tandem, so I put bran buds (Kellogg's...Thanks for sharing this! I'll have to read it later.
I've been trying to add more fiber to my diet. I read somewhere that fiber and probiotics work best in tandem, so I put bran buds (Kellogg's brand I believe) in my yogurt and when I finally poop I feel like I poop out a mold of my intestines and I feel weightless afterwards.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Turtle42 LinkThis year I started counting calories and increasing my activity slightly by doing a little more cardio and weight lifting in my day to day in addition to my job where I hit about 20k steps a day....This year I started counting calories and increasing my activity slightly by doing a little more cardio and weight lifting in my day to day in addition to my job where I hit about 20k steps a day. The precision counting calories requires can be annoying at times and it's an all-day, all-the-time thing you have to do if you want to succeed. And it was working for me, I felt great and was watching the weight fall right off.
After 3 months of sticking to it, in March I thought maybe I had better eating habits down and tried to go without counting and it started off really good at first, by the time I was done tracking my weight I was at 190 from 205, and lost another eight pounds and hit 182 before it started slowly coming back after loosening up my healthy habits and eating more, drinking more (it's summer time, I'm just having fun) and not exercising as much.
So here I am mid-July, back at 190, right where I left off in my data sheet but still set back from my furthest point. My fiance has now taken an interest in counting calories and carbs after visiting her "keto" mother and diabetic grandmother this weekend, so her being on board has given me the incentive to start up again as well. I've started hitting the gym at my work during brief downtime again too, but I can only do like 3 reps every couple of hours or so which sometimes feels pointless, but it also feels like something.
I'm always amazed at how little food 2000-2600 calories is. It's hard not to feel like we've been fed such propaganda by food companies and governments regarding things like the food pyramid and sugar over the years; it's no wonder Americans (like myself) are so fat and unhealthy.
All that said, if anyone that has tips on staying focused on something so long term I'd love to hear them.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Turtle42 Link ParentI too am flat footed and have the Altra FWD Experience shoes, while they are not zero drop I find them quite comfortable. I don't run much though, instead I walk all day at my job and I wanted...I too am flat footed and have the Altra FWD Experience shoes, while they are not zero drop I find them quite comfortable. I don't run much though, instead I walk all day at my job and I wanted something comfortable and better than my previous shoes. I'd recommend trying them on at least. I could feel the relief near instantly it was wild. Not to shill, but REI was really helpful for me guiding me to the right pair. I was dead set on a certain pair of zero drops but I could tell the sales person knew something about the FWD Experience that I didn't and I'm glad I trusted them.
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Comment on What would it take for a soup to be exciting? in ~food
Turtle42 LinkSplit pea soup changed my life and I no longer think soup is lame. We've made this recipe over rice, although she calls for grilled cheese. The first time I had it it was over mashed potatoes....Split pea soup changed my life and I no longer think soup is lame. We've made this recipe over rice, although she calls for grilled cheese. The first time I had it it was over mashed potatoes. Amazing.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 LinkJust finished the first Dune, now I'm on Dune Messiah. For some reason I wanted to avoid sci fi but I got wrapped up in it anyway. I love it though. I have The Hobbit in the mail and I think I'm...Just finished the first Dune, now I'm on Dune Messiah. For some reason I wanted to avoid sci fi but I got wrapped up in it anyway. I love it though. I have The Hobbit in the mail and I think I'm gonna read it before reading any more Dune else I'll just tire myself out.
On audiobook I'm listening to The Shining and as much as I love Kubrick and his film I am really enjoying the book and the added backstory he left out of the movie.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Turtle42 Link ParentI was literally just going through my fiance and I's books and noticed Severance on the shelf and put it on my list to read. I bought it randomly as a gift for her after reading the synopsis...I was literally just going through my fiance and I's books and noticed Severance on the shelf and put it on my list to read. I bought it randomly as a gift for her after reading the synopsis online and thought it right up her alley, she loved it.
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Comment on IKEA has been accused of contributing to the rapid deterioration of Romania's biologically rich forests – campaigners say suppliers benefitting from corrupt environment in the country in ~enviro
Turtle42 LinkUgh this one hurts. I really like IKEA. I thought we as a society had the growth/cut/replant system down and protected old growth forests. I highly recommend the Pulitzer prize winning novel The...Ugh this one hurts. I really like IKEA. I thought we as a society had the growth/cut/replant system down and protected old growth forests.
I highly recommend the Pulitzer prize winning novel The Overstory to anyone who wants to read a fascinating and creative story about people and trees. I learned so much it changed the way I see the world.
This was one of my textbooks in college and we only read excerpts. My wife read the whole thing cover to cover a few years ago and loved it. Isn't it all from the perspective of everyday people? It's not written by any sort of "powers that be" or am I wrong in that regard? I really need to read this one.