One thing I learned from my fundamentalist upbringing, which has served me well: I have never expected or needed the world around me to live by my values.

Erik Davis has a worthwhile piece on the supposed trend of a Silicon Valley Christianity. He calls it Christian transhumanism. When I read things like this, I feel that same discombobulation I felt when I first learned of The Church of the Papal Mainframe in Doctor Who.

In the course of a tariff discussion with friends in a group text, I threw out this statement of political priorities and, on reflection, I do think it captures most of what I care about at the moment:

In any case, my preferred outcome is not on the table: managed degrowth of the economy; discrediting and banishing the American dream of increasing consumerism and reliance on personal debt; and breaking up Big Tech and fundamentally slowing and limiting technological advancement.

We have some severe weather headed our way so we’ve been watching Max Velocity live on YouTube. His coverage is so much better than traditional media. It’s strange, watching this shift to new media. And sometimes it really is an improvement.

I used Kent Rollins’ recipe for homemade tortillas and quesadillas. I’m sure a Mexican grandma would look on my tortillas with pity, but it turned out pretty good. 😄 (That emoji is for you, John.)

Post from two years ago: The Tao makes no effort at all, yet there is nothing it doesn’t do

We were trying to remember Pete’s method for pork chops on the grill. Eventually I found the video. Bonus: his reminiscence of working with his grandfather, which puts a touch of melancholy in me.

Business idea: hardware store with a spot in the corner for pie and coffee. Black coffee only. We’ll stock little creamers and sugar packets for the weak willed. Smoking preferred.

Are we sure there’s a “masculinity crisis”? Or maybe the problem is that we’re looking to pop culture or internet influencers to understand what it means to be a good man? It doesn’t need to be hard. No need for a set of rules. What qualities do you admire in the good men you know? Be and do that.

Spring break this week for most folks at work, which means a slower pace. Fewer meetings. It’ll be a nice time to catch up on some neglected work.