Wiser Web Wednesday

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

Nibspotter
Though I don’t normally lean towards themes as far as my pens and inks are concerned, what’s not to love about a coffee imbued collection.

A nice roundup, though not sure I’d go as far as a scented ink:
Fountain pens and coffee, a delectable duo

 

Macchiato Man
Yagan Kiely reviews a couple of the excellent inks available in the Bookbinders Snake Ink collection.

Eastern Brown has become a favourite of mine, and I’d agree the Emerald Boa is fairly dry, although thoroughly enjoyable to use as well.

Some great images and comparisons included in the post:
Double Ink Review: Bookbinders Emerald Boa and Eastern Brown

 

Gourmet Pens
I’ve always had a soft spot for Montblanc’s Meisterstück range, being where my fountain pen journey began almost 20 years ago. I still have the standard black and gold Classique in my collection today.

Fast forward to today, and I’m quite drawn to the matte finish of the Ultra Black series.

I’ll admit though, my budget priorities are not likely to see me make another Montblanc purchase any time soon. As Azizah points out in the post, the Montblanc price tag is likely to be a barrier to many, along with perhaps the size of this particular model.

Nice pen though, and well reviewed as always:
Review: Montblanc Meisterstück Classique Ultra Black Fountain Pen

 

Brewing Coffee Manually
Making a tea-like brew from the dried skin and pulp of the coffee cherry is becoming more common these days.

While not to my taste, I did make a batch with the pulp after the natural coffee processing experiment I wrote about earlier this year, and it was, I must admit, a better brew than I’d expected.

If you do enjoy fruit infused beverages, this might be for you, and is at least worth trying if you come across it.

Advice on both hot and cold brewing methods for your enjoyment (or experimentation):
What is Cascara? – Exploring Coffee Cherry Tea

 

Perfect Daily Grind
Coffee made at the push of a button (or two perhaps), and reordered when you’re running low in the same way.

Who’d have thought actually sitting and scrolling through some green coffee listings would make me a dinosaur so soon. Convenient yes, but I know what I’d rather do.

Each to their own of course:
Specialty Success — AMAZON DASH Partners With 3rd Wave Coffee Maker

 

Roaster Joe
Although a humble home roaster like myself isn’t likely to delve as deeply into the science of moisture and density effects in relation to the process itself, I’m no less interested in reading about it.

…measuring moisture and using that measurement has created a correlation of information to results that is not truly a causation

A cautionary word on ensuring we don’t go overboard on any single variable without considering other factors or the bigger picture:
Coffee Roasting: Measuring What Matters

 

Apartment Vimeo Channel
I’ve often mentioned in correspondence to friends and even some posts you’ll read on these pages, of many words being written while sitting on a stool at my favourite cafe.

This short, 90 second video provides a glimpse inside what has become a second home during my workweek. You’ll also see I generously loaned owner Oliver Strauss my seat for the purposes of the video:
Apartment X Oliver Strauss

 

My Cuppa
I recently wrote a piece outlining my home espresso setup — part of which touched on the grinder I use.

This is a great article looking more closely at some key points on optimising your own grinding experience, namely:

  • the ideal grind will change day-to-day and even over the course of the day
  • purging the grinder is critical after periods of non-use or after a change in setting
  • you get what you pay for

Well worth reading the full article:
How to get the best coffee from your grinder

Wiser Web Wednesday

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

Woodclinched
To be entirely honest, I’m a very infrequent pencil user, however this new release from Baron Fig deserves a mention here.

The Archer pencil seems both a fine counterbalance to the Squire pen, and complements the company’s paper products well.

Andy Welfle is certainly more than qualified to provide some thoughts on the release, and does so with aplomb here:
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune: a review of the Baron Fig Archer pencil

As mentioned in the post, The Archer pencil, along with its founders, also makes an appearance on episode 62 of The Erasable Podcast.

 

Ed Jelley
Ed Jelley reviews what is an interesting looking pen, and I’m certainly not averse to a decent ballpoint.

This one looks to have a sleek, vintage style to it, and the expectation is it will show a little wear and “age” well.

I like it:
Ystudio Brassing Ballpoint Pen Review

 

The Gentleman Stationer
Another good-looking pen, this time of the fountain variety. I’m always a sucker for black, and a matte finish simply adds to the attraction.

Looks are one thing, however as always the proof is in the nib, and Joe’s review leads me to believe things are covered on that front:
Pen Review: Diplomat Aero

 

The Clicky Post
Mike Dudek with another fantastic addition to the Dudek Modern Goods stable of stylish pen organisers.

With seven pen slots and an A5 journal, The Stationer is definitely one to check out:
Announcing The Stationer from Dudek Modern Goods

 

Fountain Pen Day
Despite my obvious interest in fountain pens, I’ve never been great at promoting the first Friday in November on this blog.

Perhaps I should refer you to the experts. Which on this occasion, I will:
Celebrate

 

Joe Buhlig
Joe Buhlig with some praise for pen and paper in terms of planning and tackling your day.

There’s something motivating and more permanent involved in pen and paper. I can’t drag-and-drop a commitment to a different time of day when I used pen

Indeed, that’s one way of staying on track:
The Day On Paper

 

Jean-Marc Denis
If you have a specific need for some black Mac or iPhone wallpapers, there are some beauties here. I use them as my desk is in a rather unique location which has the uncanny ability of throwing my monitor’s light into a number of bedrooms all at once.

So in the pre-dawn hours when I usually write, these free wallpapers are a beautiful way to avoid searing light in my still-waking eyes, and potentially stirring the other members of the household simply by waking my Mac.

In high-resolution and rendered using Cinema 4D, they look pretty good too:
Black

 

MacStories
I guess just because you can, doesn’t mean you should — though you can say that about blogging, and look what I do here from time to time.

With his last story as a regular contributor to Macstories, fellow Aussie Graham Spencer with a detailed look at designing and launching your own sticker pack on the iOS App Store.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Graham’s writing on the site for a few years now, and this feature is no different:
Link MacStories Guide: Design and Launch Your Own iMessage Sticker Pack on the App Store

 

Coffee & Tech In San Francisco: A Barista’s POV
A peek into the world of a barista working inside the tech companies in San Francisco.

Financial security and schedule stability are big advantages, but you’re not always able to innovate or grow as a barista

From my own perspective, one of the things I enjoy about grabbing coffee during the work day is the chance to leave the office for a few minutes and see the outside world (not always an option for us all I know).

If I had free or subsidised coffee available inside the office? Part of me thinks I’d still venture out anyway:
Sprudge

 

Where is Scott Rao?
Food for thought in relation to the various brewing techniques you may be using.

Probably the most important benefit of prewetting is that it provides extra time for the brewing liquid to begin this diffusion process before the pouring phase removes (much) extract from the coffee bed

A particularly relevant article for immersion brewing devices such as the AeroPress. Knowledge is power — or at least improved extraction:
Prewetting: When to do it, when not to

Wiser Web Wednesday

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

The Clicky Post
I’d agree that there is a lot going on from a pen-related standpoint on Kickstarter at the moment.

Now a part of it all the is the Zero Fountain Pen which I admit to quite liking the look of. Still some time to go before the campaign ends and I’d suggest the funding goal won’t be a problem.

I’ll be certainly giving it some thought, ably assisted by this review from Mike:
Trilogy Pens – Zero Fountain Pen Prototype Review

 

The Pelikan’s Perch
The Pelikan M805 Stresemann was a popular release a couple of years ago for those with the budget to accommodate it.

Joshua outlines what we can expect from the smaller M405 model, soon to be tempting pen buyers all over again:
News: M405 Stresemann Announced

 

Pendora’s Box
Some handy pen cleaning advice unfortunately borne after a mishap, the author having lost a gold nib from a Platinum 3776 down the drain during routine cleaning.

One taken the for team so that we may not:
12-Step Process to Clean Fountain Pens Without Losing Nibs and Other Parts

 

The Gentleman Stationer
These Calepino notebooks are a great looking – and it would appear performing – option for all but the wettest of fountain pens.

As a pocket notebook user who likes to use a mixture of fountain pens and pencils on a daily basis, I found it just heavy enough to handle most fine-to-medium nib fountain pens without much bleedthrough, and still tactile enough for pencils

My standard firmly sits at the “yeah, this is not perfect but gee its pretty good” point when it comes to the utility and capability of notebooks which are likely to see pencil, ballpoint and fountain pen use.

These offerings from Calepino seem to be a good bit better than that:
Notebook Review: Calepino Pocket Notebooks (Graph Paper)

While you are at The Gentleman Stationer, check out Joe’s post outlining his first impressions of the Kustom Haus wax seals. These look great:
Kustom Haus Wax Seal Stamps: First Impressions

 

The Pencilcase Blog
Many considered (somewhat harshly perhaps) the 50th Anniversary Lamy 2000 a disappointing release when news and pictures first surfaced, however credit where credit is due.

A pen as popular and timeless as the Lamy 2000 was never going to steer far from its roots – 50th anniversary hoopla or not.

It’s still the same trusty old pen, but in a new coat(ing)

If you love the Lamy 2000, you’ll probably be quite fond of this limited edition as well. Enough to buy one? That is a decision for you alone, however a nice review here to add to perhaps assist your pondering:
Lamy 2000 50th Anniversary Black Amber Fountain Pen Review

 

I Need Coffee
Just a few days ago I published a post outlining my home espresso set-up, which includes a pretty capable machine for producing espresso and heating/texturing milk.

It’s easy to think “why bother” going to the effort of preparing something akin to a latte when there is no machine at hand to do so.

In the end though, not everyone has a machine – and where there’s a will, there is indeed, a way:
Making Lattes Without an Espresso Machine

 

Perfect Daily Grind
Sitting within the drip brewer class of coffee equipment, the flat-bottomed Kalita Wave is quite a popular brewer of choice for many.

A little more about it here, and how to get the most from your brewing:
Kalita Wave: The Story & Brewing Guide

Also on PDG:

Although the scale is perhaps a little large for a DIY side project, if you’ve ever thought of building some raised drying beds for coffee processing, here’s how.

I’ve got quite a few square metres of yard available to me – sadly only one coffee tree growing though.

Perhaps if you build it…:
Coffee Processing: How to Build African Raised Beds

 

jimseven
James Hoffmann with some interesting data on coffee prices over the years, which when adjusted for inflation, perhaps show a different picture than what we might expect.

When reading posts like this, it is worth remembering that for all the award-winning farms, there are many more producers struggling just to survive:
Link Is coffee getting cheaper?

 

Joe Buhlig
Between Drafts app for iOS and Popclip on my Mac, its surprising to me how often I actually convert text to title case:
Converting Drafts Text to Title Case

 

MacStories
It’s certainly not news that iOS 10 brought with it Stickers to iMessage. I’ve downloaded a couple of packs and sent approximately three stickers in that time.

I assume there are plenty of sticker-using messagers out there somewhere though:
Exploring the iMessage App Store One Month Later: Our Favorite Stickers and iMessage Apps

Wiser Web Wednesday 

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

Three Staples
The Drink Local edition was at the beginning of my Field Notes awareness, and therefore I’ve not seen them in the flesh. A Three Staples post is of course the next best thing.

Such a great theme and perfectly executed in colour as well.
Field Notes Colors: Drink Local

Also check out Jinnie’s latest post for some information on the direction the Three Staples blog is taking in future:
Updated Goal and Housekeeping #20161008

 

The Gentleman Stationer
I continue to enjoy seeing inks from Australian manufacturers receiving attention around the pen world. I currently have three bottles of Robert Oster Signature Inks in my collection (Bondi Blue, Peach and Ruby), however that probably won’t be where it ends.

Great post from Joe as always
Ink Brand Profile: Discovering Robert Oster Inks

 

The Pen Addict
Susan Pigott writing at The Pen Addict with some more Robert Oster ink appreciation — this time the decidedly blue-green Tranquility.

A name befitting a calming shade:
Link Robert Oster Signature Ink – Tranquility: A Review

 

The Gentleman Stationer
I enjoy reading reviews of pens less commonly seen, or well… reviewed. I had not heard of Otto Hutt prior to reading Joe’s post (my lack of knowledge more than outright rarity I’m sure), however this Design 06 model looks to be up there with anything in its price range.

As fountain pens experience a bit of a “renaissance,” and more and more people pay attention to pens online through blogs, forums, etc., it’s increasingly rare to find lesser-known high-quality brands.

The beauty of a great pen blog — assisting the enlightenment of other enthusiasts:
Pen Review: Otto Hutt Design 06

 

Quill & Pad
An interesting tale recounting the author’s visit to the P.W Akkerman store in The Hague:

His response was unheard of: instead of presenting me with what he thought I should have or might like, he went over to a display rack, picked up about half a dozen of pen magazines, gave them to me free of charge, and told me to come back when I had found my pen

Certainly a unique approach which appeared to pay off for both author and salesman, resulting in the purchase of a Visconti Van Gogh. That is just the beginning, as Martin Green provides the story for many a pen purchase along the journey — and boy are there some beauties here:
My Quest For My Ultimate Fountain Pen Part 2: The Italian Period

 

Nibcreep
Tim Schönfeld reviews the Tactile Turn Gist fountain pen, which has recently emerged after another successful Kickstarter project by Will Hodges.

Indeed a nice looking pen, however the Bock titanium nib was not a winner. A forthright review which is always good to see:

Tactile Turn Gist

 

Alt. Haven
Another review of the Tactile Turn Gist, this time two of the models — one with a stainless steel nib, the other titanium.

Junee has a more positive experience with the titanium nib, however it sounds as though it certainly requires treating with care:
Review: Tactile Turn Gist

 

Pen Economics
Now we have the links to some pen and ink reviews listed for the week, some thoughts on bias in fountain pen reviews. In the week’s most un-startling news, Amazon announced a change of rules after it found a bias in reviewer’s opinions existed when the review products were received free or at a discount (not specifically related to any of the above posts of course).

I think disclosure being the most important point here, and to me, a simple “I received this [insert product] free for the purpose of this review” is more than enough, and I’ll weigh my opinion from there. Yes, it then seems natural to state the opinion was not then influenced, however as we can see, is that ever really true?

Just to reiterate though, as long as I know, I can make my own judgement with that knowledge:
Ethics, Bias, and FP Reviews

 

MacStories
I don’t add many (read, one so far in nearly 300 posts) tables of information to posts on this site. I’ve often told myself it’s simply because the style of writing doesn’t require it.

That is mostly true, however in some cases, I’ve simply altered how I’ve written about certain topics to avoid creating a table in Markdown.

Not any more, as TableFlip for Mac has launched in the past week, and if the demo version I’ve been playing around with is any guide, things will now be a whole lot easier:
TableFlip Takes the Pain Out of MultiMarkdown Tables

 

2Do Blog
Still my task manager of choice across both Mac and iOS,  2Do goes free with a one-time in-app purchase after two weeks, for continued Sync, Backups and Alerts. If the user does not activate the purchase, the app will continue to function, albeit without those features.

I don’t know about you, and your opinion on this may differ, but I’d personally hate to see the 10+ apps I use frequently to turn into a $2.99+ monthly subscription. I appreciate that there’s a difference between a Service and an App, but nowadays everyone’s begun to portray their app as a service. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not comfortable with that thought; even as a developer.

The change has been made by the developer in the hope of improving discoverability, user numbers and ultimately sustainability.

I think it is probably the best model to go with, finally allowing new users the “free-trial” so often missing when considering such a purchase. I hope it does well:
The Big Change

 

John Scullen
Having been on the receiving end of a few project updates which were, shall we say… less than engaging — any tool which aims to assist the process is worth looking at. Here John takes a look at a reasonably priced option to create simple Gantt charts and assist with presenting them to stakeholders in a project.

I always find John’s posts interesting and to the point, providing the information I need to assess whether it is something worth further investigation.

This one is no different:
Roadmap Planner review: project schedules don’t have to be ugly

 

inessential
Here we are again. The internet has had another little flurry around the merits, or lack thereof in relation to open floor plans or workspaces.

The Omni Group’s Brent Simmons talks of a “low-simmering level of anxiety” around others in a workplace, irrespective of who they are. A pretty good summary finishes off the piece.

When people who decide on workspaces for programmers don’t understand this, I wonder if they understand programmers.

To me though, it doesn’t go far enough, and we can simply replace “programmers” with “other people”. But Pete, this is the panacea, the way of the future in collaboration, creativity and spark. As I sit and have no choice but to hear everything going on around me, I also have a “low-simmer” happening, but it’s not anxiety, and for fear of offending, I’ll leave it there.

I do realise however, and fully acknowledge I need to remember, we are all different, and thus work differently. I would however, have appreciated it if those who plan offices had afforded me the same courtesy in their thinking:
Open Floor Plans

 

Finer Things in Tech
An update and reflections from David Chartier on his experiment in moving from Dropbox to iCloud for cloud based storage and syncing.

For my needs, it’s gone well so far, though I certainly hope Apple pays more attention to iCloud Drive to make it a more viable competitor in this space.

Seems about right:
From Dropbox To iCloud Drive: A Review And Some Thoughts

 

MacStories
I’ll start this one with an aside. I listen to my fair share of tech related podcasts, and clearly read a little on such topics as well. The following from Federico Viticci pretty much hits the nail on the head in describing the ruminating and handwringing that often goes on in and around the tech press/podcasting world (the following in relation to the storm that became barely a ripple with Apple removing the headphone jack from the latest iPhone).

What I believe many failed to observe is that most people aren’t tech reviewers with a deep affection for cables and I/O standards.

They’re not podcasters either

I honestly don’t mind listening to these opinions (strong ones at that, even if they could be classed as hyperbole) — however it is laughable to assume the entire user base has (or should have) the same view (it’s actually the opposite). Mostly of course people don’t really care one way or the other — as the post goes on to say.

With that out of the way, Federico’s thoughts on the iPhone 7 itself, and what it represents for future technologies:
iPhone 7: Computer from the Future

 

Transparent Trade Coffee
Although this post is a discussion around the terminology and definitions used in reporting payments actually received by growers of green coffee, it does offer some information on the various other parties in the chain and the percentage they receive.

Of course this phenomenon is not unique to coffee, as any exporter of goods will no doubt tell you, however the main point here is if specialty roasters are reporting on how much actually goes to the farmers, it seems reasonable the calculated figure and terminology around the information is accurate.
Effective Grower Share versus Return to Origin?

 

Assembly Coffee
Some interesting thoughts from a very well-respected figure in the global coffee industry – Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood.

The future is inevitably going to be technology improvements that increase the ability to make better cups of coffee.

There are a few more topics covered as well, including Colonna-Dashwood’s foray into making speciality grade Nespresso-compatible capsules.

An interesting read:
Maxwell Colonna Dashwood — Colonna Coffee

 

Sprudgewire
Just rinse under the instant boil water and dry with paper towel. Do not, I repeat do not touch the communal dish brush, sponge or tea towel. I never have, and after reading this piece, any temptation to do so will be met with the fiercest resistance:
Don’t Wash Your Coffee Mug In The Office Break Room

Wiser Web Wednesday

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:


The Washington Post
If you’re looking for an overview of the current state of, and a little of the history behind the cold brew craze sweeping the coffee world – this isn’t a bad summary.

A traditional iced coffee is made with hot-brewed coffee that has been cooled down. Cold-brew is steeped in room-temperature or chilled water, allowing the coffee to slowly infuse over time

My preference? Probably chilled hot brew, though there are some pretty good cold brews going around:
Whatever happened to plain iced coffee? Cold-brew


Coffeelovers Magazine
It may be fairly quick to make, and sure, quick to drink if you are that way inclined, but I’d suggest taking just a little longer.

There’s such wonderful magic to be found, that it’s worth taking just a bit extra care in the enjoyment of the drink, to shut out the rest of the world for a minute or two, and dig into something that is one of the finest crafts that we make every day in this world.

In a world of cold brew and AeroPress, here’s to the humble espresso:
How To Drink Espresso – Your New Favorite Cup of Coffee …


jimseven
James Hoffmann (2007 World Barista Champion) with an updated video demonstrating his preferred French Press brewing technique.

Apart from the other elements involved, a key aspect of this is using the metal screen as a filter rather than plunger, creating a silt-free brew.

Worth trying at least once to compare with your usual technique if you have a few extra minutes:
An updated french press video


Scotch Whisky
Although the active campaign for increased transparency in stating the component ages of scotch whisky has been put on hold by maker Compass Box, they do believe all is not lost.

Compass Box believes that it can reveal the ages (and other detailed information) of the components in its whiskies, based on its consultation with lawyers specialising in commercial law, as long as the company does so reactively, rather than proactively.

That is, if you ask – they’ll happily tell you.
Compass Box ends transparency drive… for now

You can also listen to John Glaser of Compass Box elaborate further when interviewed by Mark Gillespie on a recent episode of the Whiskycast podcast.
Whiskycast Episode 609


iMessage App Store
With the recent iOS 10 update adding many new features to Apple’s iMessage platform, there are of course numerous sticker packs available from the App Store.

Although I haven’t delved too deeply into what is available, I do like these coffee themed additions I can now “flavour” some of my messages with:
Third Wave Coffee Stickers for iMessage by Arno Richter


MacSparky
The soon to be released wireless Apple Air Pods are one of those things many of us would like to try, though at this point I’m unsure whether that is AU$229.00 worth of want-to-try.

I use the (now Lightning connected) standard Apple Ear Pods quite a bit, and similar to a point David Sparks raised in the post – the only time they have come adrift is when I’ve snagged the cord. This developing wireless technology is fairly compelling for me given I fairly regularly do just that – whether it be on my bag, wrapping it around my tie or even my belt buckle while walking with my phone in my hand. Even then, they don’t usually fall completely out, though boy its annoying feeling the drag every time I do it.

Assuming the fit is the same as the current wired model, I’d consider the risk of these falling from my ear to be virtually non-existent. Add to that the freedom from constantly snagging the wires makes them a very attractive proposition:
Initial Impressions of the Apple AirPods


Ulysses Blog
My first steps towards Ulysses becoming my text editor of choice began with the 30 day free trial NaNoWriMo promotion in November 2014.

Here we are now in November 2017, and I’m currently writing this – and every post in that very app. There have been a number of fairly significant updates over that time, not the least of which being the release of a fantastic iOS version, which would have made my NaNo journey in 2014 even more enjoyable.

Really, there’s never been a better time to both try Ulysses and writing a novel. Surely. Go! Flesh out that outline:
“Do You Have Plans for November?” – “I’ll Write a Novel.”


The Sweet Setup
There is a very kind gentleman I regularly correspond with whom I also consider my unofficial “Mac mentor”. As a result of this generous guidance, I am happily using Alfred as part of my workflow when at my desk at home. Certainly not to its full potential mind you, but I’ll get there.

This is quite a good summary if you are contemplating whether Alfred might be for you:
Our favorite OS X launcher


Macdrifter
A brief piece of news regarding RSS application Mr Reader – or rather, its demise. Mr Reader has been my app of choice for scrolling through the RSS feeds on my iPad for a good couple of years now, so indeed it is a shame to see it go.

That said, I do not spend a whole lot of time in it – often scrolling through for any Wiser Web Wednesday links. I’ve now simply gone back to the Feedly app, which supplies the back end to my feeds anyway. Feedly is indeed a free app, and if you were to suggest using free apps is one of the reasons the Mr Reader’s of the world disappear, you’d probably be right. Having said that, I’ve also paid for quite a few that no longer exist, however a discussion on app payment models this isn’t:
Goodbye Mr. Reader


The Well-Appointed Desk
Having been fortunate enough to receive this exact set of inks for Father’s Day recently, I concur with Ana – the presentation of the set is fabulous.

Add to that the fact they are fantastic inks (the Eastern Brown is fast becoming a favourite), and you have a great option for sampling the entire Bookbinders Snake Ink range.

Ana with a great review as always:
Ink Review: Bookbinders Snake Ink Sampler Set


From the Pen Cup
Mary remarks in this post she has the worlds worst record for consistently journaling. I don’t believe that’s entirely true, for I make a compelling case for the title. In any event, it appears from this post she has permanently left the good-intentions-only ranks.

Full of quotes that buoy me up, details from my day that I surely would’ve forgotten, little epiphanies, and dinner ideas, the 2016 Techo has already become a treasured resource

Further, what started as a bit of journaling clearly has assisted an evolution into some positive behavioural change as well. An inspiring read.

More power to you Mary:
In Praise Of Habits


Field Notes
I do enjoy my fair share of Field Notes releases, however don’t religiously buy every seasonal edition by any stretch.

I do like the look of Fall’s Lunacy edition though – and of course the release video is always worth watching, demonstrating another aspect to the inspiration behind the name:
Lunacy


Futurity
An elite level sporting life as a teenager resulted in my fair share of injuries, culminating in an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and subsequent knee reconstruction at age 18. Of course the road to osteoarthritis is paved with injury, so I’m well aware of what’s coming.

Although there is some way to go in advancements such as the one featured in this article, it will be interesting what best practice comes to look like in 30 years time.

Whether such a strategy will work years after an injury, when osteoarthritis is established and there is severe cartilage loss, still needs to be studied. But the findings suggest that the nanoparticles, if given soon after joint injuries occur, could help maintain cartilage viability and prevent the progression to osteoarthritis.

Personally I don’t subscribe to the view that medical advancements should necessarily afford us (in advanced countries at least) a longer life, however improving the quality of the final third is a worthy endeavour:
Nanoparticles injected into achy joints last for weeks