We haven’t heard from Master Pu in quite a while but rest assured, readers, he’s not been forgotten, merely ignored. I’ve been thinking of different ways to bring his nonsensical short-order BS back into the TOA fold for the past few weeks (including possibly resurrected the short-lived ‘talking shits’ concept) but nothing immediately tickled my fancy.
Just last week, I was reviewing my podcast notes when I realized that these might make for a good start. These notes are something I started doing back in April when I recognized that although I've listened to (thousands of) podcasts in my apartment, I've rarely gone through any process of thinking about the shows. I decided to put out a notepad on my shelf (‘the shelf’) and start jotting down any interesting observations.
Like anything I write down, I eventually concluded that these deserved a wider audience. But there wasn't really all that much to say about any of these thoughts.
And that's when it hit me – we’ll just get Master Pu to weigh in on each idea and move on.
Good luck, reader.
You learn from complex systems by disturbing them. (Tim Ferris with Michael Pollan)
A doctor learns nothing from the healthy, the CEO nothing from the profit, the student nothing from the A.
Beware comparisons when the reference point is an outlier or an all-time low. (Unknown)
Less than most is more than most.
Use zero, not one, for the bottom rating on a survey. (The Pollsters, episode unknown)
Nothing is more confusing than when nothing is next to nothing.
I’m ready to talk but not answer questions. (Unknown)
Talk as a substitute for thinking atrophies the ability to answer questions.
Really try to give straight answers to straight questions. (The Football Ramble interviewing Chris Brady)
A simple mind accepts complexity with the same warmth of a sand castle accepting the tide.
The phrase “I don’t give a shit” is good as long as something more important is taking its place. (Unknown)
Nothing is more important than giving a shit.
Writers must know that anything you do can be fixed. (Tim Ferris with Neil Gaiman)
The eraser is mightier than the sword.
Ideas emerge as you ask yourself simple questions – what if, I wonder, and so on. (Tim Ferris with Neil Gaiman)
Sometimes we understand less when we prematurely explain.
Seeking treatment when symptoms are at their worst means we think medicine is helpful in those cases when we may simply be observing natural variation in disease progression. Most disease progression is non-linear. (EconTalk, episode unknown)
It cannot be helped that fires are put out after they start.
Not do more of, but less of. (Unknown)
Do more of less.
