Three for Thursday

Recommendations, my life in reverse, and a bobcat.

1️⃣ Three Recommendations

1. Conversations with Sports Fans. My friend Doug Hill launched this podcast last year and it continues to delight. As the title suggests, each show features a conversation between Doug and a guest digging into the when’s and how’s of the guest becoming a sports fan. It’s part of Doug’s larger “The Sports Fan Project” empire. I proudly appeared on Episode 9.

2. Dougstack. Yes, another Doug recommendation. My friend Doug Golden publishes a newsletter that complements his growing Instagram account which is focused on his street photography. His photos from a recent visit to Israel are sublime.

3. Simply Good Life. It’s always a highlight when Adam Egger’s terrific newsletter arrives. Adam says Simply Good Life is “designed to inspire and empower you to live your best life by providing you with bite-sized content that helps you improve your health, relationships, and overall well-being.” I recently became a paid subscriber and also subscribe to his AI newsletter, 101 ChatGPT and AI Hacks. Check them out.

2️⃣ My Life In Reverse™

I was never much of a movie person when I was growing up, outside of every lining up early for each “Rocky” installment, and not counting a few years in college. So, I’ve been slowly chipping away at movies from my high school years that I haven’t seen — part of a project I’m calling My Life in Reverse™.

Last night I watch on Hulu 1985’s “St. Elmo’s Fire” for the first time.

Add this one to the list of movies that have not aged well.

My main question is, was it ever considered good? Not according to Roger Ebert, who panned it in an aside in his positive review of one of my favorites, “About Last Night…”:

Lowe and Moore, members of Hollywood's "Brat Pack," are survivors of last summer's awful movie about yuppie singles, "St. Elmo's Fire." This is the movie "St. Elmo's Fire" should have been. Last summer's movie made them look stupid and shallow. "About Last Night..." gives them the best acting opportunities either one has ever had, and they make the most of them.

The only worthwhile thing about the movie is the theme song (and David Foster’s “Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire.”) Both endure.

3️⃣ A Bobcat

One of my favorite parts of living in the southwestern U.S. is the different wildlife we see close to home. Much different from living in the upper Midwest.

This morning I saw this bobcat from my kitchen window. Like everyone else in Arizona this week, it needed some shade.

Have a great end of the week and stay cool, wherever you are.

---