New job, new life
The Silo trilogy, a paperclip factory, and Japan's most horrible secret
✨ Highlights of the last couple of months
Sunset view from Prague, Czech Republic
- I found and started a new job remotely from Rennes this month, for a global team with a Parisian office
- We are taking a break with my DJ collective APEX and had a packed month of October, with the last gig behind a Halloween party
- I ran a 10K and beat my personal record, running a 10K in 43min35s 💪
- I went to Prague for a couple of days with my girlfriend and spent an amazing time there! I definitely want to go back in the future!
- I went to Paris for 3 days to meet my colleagues at our Paris office, and used my trip to also visit some family members
- I spent a weekend with the APEX team, as we have spent the past year and a half organizing parties in Rennes and Nantes, but not relaxing together a lot. We did paintball, boarding games, DJing and just chilling together.
📚 What I liked consuming the last couple of months
Let's dive now into what I consumed the last couple of months and especially liked
Articles
The importance of documenting your life — Jenna Park
This blogpost explores why documenting moments is important in a fast-paced and digital world. She shares an interesting perspective on how personal archives help us offer a great connection to ourselves.
It reminds us that these small acts of documentation aren't just for us. They shape the way we connect with our communities and future generations. Whether you're keeping a journal, curating photos, or even posting online, this piece is a reminder to bring more storytelling in your daily life, and romanticize your life.
Why You've Never Been In A Plane Crash — Kyra Dempsey from Asterisk Magazine
Flying is one of the safest things you'll ever do, that's what people tell others who have a fear of flying. In this article, Kyra Dempsey from Asterisk Magazine dive into the fascinating systems, technologies, and human expertise that make modern aviation extraordinarily reliable.
Men Use Fake Livestream Apps With AI Audiences to Hit on Women — Jason Koebler from 404 Media
Why some men are using AI-powered livestreams populated by fake audiences? 404 Media does a deep dive into apps like Parallel Live and Famefy, which create an illusion of online fame. These platforms allow users to simulate massive live audiences, complete with pre-scripted comments, likes, and interactions, all without real viewers.
This phenomenon raises questions about authenticity in the age of social media. Is fake engagement and online validation more important than genuine connection?
How and Why I Stopped Buying New Laptops — Low Tech Magazine
Image: Low-tech Magazine is now written and published on a 2006 ThinkPad X60s.
Is it possible to resist the endless cycle of tech upgrades? In this article by excellent Low Tech Magazine, the author shares practical strategies for refurbishing old laptops to avoid new purchases, and goes beyond just the simple tutorial.
Build tools around workflows, not workflows around tools — The Sephist
The author argues that tools aren't just passive instruments but active participants in shaping how we think, work, and create. Whether it's a minimalist text editor or a robust design app, the tools we use guide our behaviors and the way we approach problems.
As someone who experiments with tools, I definitely agree with him, and that's why preventing the "shiny new tool syndrome" is critical.
No, Most Books Don't Sell Only a Dozen Copies — Counter Craft
Have you heard the claim that most books sell only a dozen copies? Thanks to this behind-the-scenes look at the book industry, and how many books are sold each year, you will understand why it's not true.
About the Solar Powered Website — Low Tech Magazine
The solar powered server that runs this website.
Low-Tech Magazine's Solar Website is an inspiring experiment in sustainable web design, how to make it carbon-neutral by hosting on a solar-powered server.
The project is not just about powering servers with solar panels, it's also about rethinking the web itself. The site uses lightweight design, optimized images, and a minimal aesthetic to drastically reduce energy consumption. It even goes offline during extended periods of cloudy weather, reminding us that sustainability sometimes requires trade-offs. It certainly inspires me into rethinking how I build my personal website.
Creating a permanent contact page for your parents — Rscottjones
That's not something I have thought about, but someone recently visited my family to meet again an old friend which was from my family, and a contact page could have been useful in this case.
Pillages de boîtes à livres : le don dévoré par la logique marchande — Joan le Goff
Book boxes were originally created to promote the free exchange of books. Sadly, they are increasingly being emptied by individuals who resell the content for profit. The Conversation asks questions about the loss of the sharing spirit and how the profit-driven culture has infiltrated even the most altruistic spaces in our cities.
Books
Silo Trilogy — Hugh Howey
Another excellent SF book series which you should not miss if you like dystopian stories. I had such a pleasure reading the books and would have love to see continue.
I still haven't watched the Apple TV series, but it's on my watch list because of how the books are so good.
Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany's Wealthiest Dynasties — David De Jong
An eye-opening book on how several German families filled by Nazis were able to make it seems they were not culprit of the horrible things they did for money and power. Depressing sometimes, especially when we see Nazis ideas coming back in certain countries, again powered by money.
L'Empire de la surveillance: Suivi de deux entretiens avec Julian Assange et Noam Chomsky — Ignacio Ramonet
A friend of mine shared this book with me, and it was a great read, especially since it adds 2 interviews to go further on the topic of mass surveillance and the Big Brother fear.
Le syndrome E — Frank Thiliez
A very dark book, where the thriller book goes further with the horrific tendency of the author. As I am writing this newsletter, I just learned that there is a TV adaptation, so I might check it out.
Kilomètre Zéro — Maud Ankaoua
A self-help book hiding inside a fiction book. I definitely found a lot of interesting quotes in this book.
I have read a lot more books the past 2 months, 11 in total, so feel free to check out my Goodreads profile or visit my website to see my bookshelf.
Podcasts
Jeunes et écrans : quelles pistes pour échapper à la captation de l'attention ? — Le Meilleur des mondes
Videos
KAIZEN: 1 an pour gravir l'Everest
L'horreur existentielle de l'usine à trombones. — EGO
Mon plan pour sauver la Génération Z. — Léo Duff
Le secret de Pierre Niney. — VinuVita
The Hunt for the Xbox Hackers — fern
L'effrayant Secret des Réseaux Sociaux (enquête) — Basti UI
Look Up 2 - Ten Years Later — Gary Turk
Japan's Most Horrible Secret — fern
Qui étaient ces chasseurs Nazis ? - Documentaire sur la Brigade SS Dirlewanger — Rivenzi
We Made The iPhone 16 Pro Transparent — Phone Repair Guru
L' Histoire de Dreamworks (Shrek, Dragons, Le Chat Potté, Kung-fu Panda...) — Sofyan
Pourquoi les hommes ne lisent plus de fiction — Cyril Destoky
The Insane Security of the White House — The B1M
Why 1% of the Stock Market is Tied to 11 Random Americans — Half as Interesting
Le grand retour de l'Italo Disco — Tracks by ARTE
I Made a Photo Book about NYC's Original Artist Lofts — Joshua Charow
Music
Lane 8 Summer 2024 Mixtape — This Never Happened
Fred Again.. — Delilah (pull me out of this) | Kaleidoscope Orchestra Version
Funk Tribu | Boiler Room: Ghent — Boiler Room
Sur une échelle — MPL
Dua Lipa: Tiny Desk Concert — NPR Music
Others
Poolsuite
I remembered Poolsuite and have been listening a lot recently and the vibe is perfect!
Isometric Drawings of Japanese Bathhouses and Cafes
Bop Spotter
"Every once in a while, I dream of a world where social media has been replaced by personal blogs, RSS, and email; a slower, more intentional internet that doesn't prey on humanity's weakness for instant gratification, where deep thoughts and meaningful conversations can flourish. True boredom is long gone, which is very unfortunate, because it's when we're bored that our mind wanders and creativity kicks in. Will we ever be able to walk outside again without checking that our phone is with us? Was it all worth it?" Alexander Sandberg
👀 What I'm up to the next 2 months
- I am going to Paris for 3 days to see my colleagues at our Paris office, and using my trip to also visit some family members.
- I am focusing my running training on reducing my heart rate while running.
- I am starting to live in Rennes, so I am spending more and more time in Rennes and will start to look for a coworking space soon.
- I am starting reflection on this year and what I am planning for 2025.
And that's it for this December 2024 issue of Full-Time Curious 😉 If you enjoyed reading this bimonthly issue, you can like this newsletter by clicking the ❤️ below, subscribe or respond to this email so we can chat.
Thanks for reading and see you in 2 months!
Alexandre
Full-Time Curious