Ludovico Einaudi: Apple Music Live from the Steve Jobs Theater. 🍿🎵

I’m glad that Apple spent the money to record this concert. Ludovico creates truly beautiful music.

Jingle All the Way 🍿

Reaction to U.S. Strike Killing Iranian Military Leader Falls Along Party Lines - WSJ

In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) warned against “engaging in provocative and disproportionate actions”

The United States takes out a key leader in a designated terrorist organization and this is the response?

One-Year-Old Girl Can Be Removed From Life Support, Texas Court Rules - WSJ

“Tinslee Lewis is terminally ill and tragically there is no chance she will recover,” he said. “The pro-life position does not mean the law must require physicians to use medical interventions that are only prolonging suffering.”

Yes, but it’s wrong to frame these decisions around the subjective measure of pain or suffering.

In this case, there’s broad professional consensus that further treatments are unlikely to bring an improvement in condition. Removing life support is not done to cause natural death, but rather is the ethical decision to cease ineffective medical treatments even though death may result.

I love delicious recipes that only require me to combine raw ingredients and cook for hours. Tonight’s stew is going to be excellent.

Get Smart 🍿

New Year, YNAB fresh start! 💵

MAX Crashes Strengthen Resolve of Boeing to Automate Flight - WSJ

Executives at Boeing and Airbus have said they are also designing flight-control systems tailored for younger pilots, who generally have less flying time in their logbooks—and a more innate familiarity with technology—than aviators of years past.

“Aviators of years past” is code for pilots who actually know how to fly an airplane.

Studies have shown that undue reliance on automation can degrade manual flying skills, or make pilots less decisive in emergencies.

The 737 version of MCAS proved the point. What we need from automation is the aviation equivalent of driver-assistance technologies.

FDA to Ban All E-Cigarette Pod Flavors Except Tobacco and Menthol - WSJ

The action is seen as a compromise between Trump administration officials who want to address a rise in teen vaping and those concerned about the impact on small businesses and the possible political fallout for President Trump

Politics over public health is excellent policy!

The Interconnectedness of Faith and Reason - Applied Bioethics

To reject either faith or reason is to reject essential components of humanity. They are connected in their essence, building upon one another to the benefit of humanity.

⚕️

Hello, 2020.

According to Day One, I’m on a 1,462 day journaling streak.

The last week of the year is one of my favorites. I always get a renewed sense of energy as the opportunity and hope of a new year arrives on the horizon. I spent the past week enjoying the joy of Christmas and wrapping up some long overdue projects.

By every measure, 2019 was a success. I am a completely different man that I was on January 1, 2019 and I’m better for it. I wrote a full post over on Catholic Husband reviewing my year.

Among the many changes that I made was going all-in on my personal blog as the home to my digital identity. I quit Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in 2018, but it was this year that I really focused on building out my website. I went through a few iterations of design, settling on today’s format. I experimented with CSS, tinkered with typography, and balanced splashes of orange and white space.

More important than the design is how I’ve come to use my blog. It’s a collection of my daily thoughts and interactions. There are podcasts, pictures, article links with comments, and random updates. For those that follow along, especially my family, it’s the best way to know what I’m thinking about and doing. This blog is a reflection of the happenings in my mind.

As it turns out, my blog has also become the platform on which I host my art, namely, my daily haiku. A simple three verse poem each day, highlighting my day. Going daily since August 20, 2018, it’s now a collection of 500 poems about my life.

The decade now comes to a close. It was one full of life, change, joy and sorrow. I’m ready for the next one, and I’m ready to document it all, right here.

On the ramp at Cape May Airport, December 23, 2009.

Lots of end of year administrative tasks to get done today. Plus, getting ready for a YNAB Fresh Start tomorrow!

Dawn breaks at the end of the decade.

Bad experience with Shutterfly this year. Might be my last.

2 out of 3 of my children’s favorite attractions are closed on Mondays. That makes for an excellent cleaning day. 🧽

Just received my final Amazon order. 📦