![does not spark joy](/does-not-spark-joy.jpg)

# Town Hall #6: Spark Joy and Conversation

[^note]: [Subscribe to Taylor's Town Hall via email](https://newsletter.taylor.town).

> Thirty spokes are joined together in a wheel,
> but it is the center hole
> that allows the wheel to function.
> 
> We mold clay into a pot,
> but it is the emptiness inside
> that makes the vessel useful.
> 
> We fashion wood for a house,
> but it is the emptiness inside
> that makes it livable.
> 
> We work with the substantial,
> but the emptiness is what we use.
> 
> - Tao Te Ching

Time-management is futile if you have no time to manage.

Emptiness makes your calendar useful.

*I've been using my time to create conversation.*

If you haven't heard, I started a tech conference! [Outland 2023](https://outland.sh) tickets go on sale **March 1**. I'm honestly surprised at how lucky we got with our venue and speaker lineup. [Let me know](mailto:taylor@outland.sh) if your company would like information about our sponsor packages.

My [Strange Loop](https://www.thestrangeloop.com) CFP submissions have come together quite nicely. I've been casually writing on a new programming language for the past ~7 years, and am ready to share some insights about writing sharable software. I also drafted lectures about evolutionary computation, distrubted systems architecture, and database optimization -- [email me](mailto:hello@taylor.town) if you know of any good conferences I should put on my radar!

*I've been using my time to create space.*

First, I created space in my home. [Marie Kondo](https://konmari.com) is a treasure! I don't think I've ever been so delighted with my closet before.

Next, I made space in my software. I've obliterated some crusty codebases; fresh starts feel freeing. I've been working on multiple secret projects and writing about my experiences. I can't wait to share some juicy ideas with y'all over the coming months. Check out [my now page](/now) to get a sense of the impending insanity.

As I train for the AIDS/Lifecycle (check out [my donation page](https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/participant/taylor)), I'm rediscovering the joy of bicycles! I love feeling one with my machine and exploring my community from a fresh perspective.

---

## Open Questions

_If you have questions or answers, [send me an e-mail](mailto:hello@taylor.town?subject=Hello)._

- Any tips/resources on minimalism? I'd like to trim some excess from my life.
- How have you been using ChatGPT? Any prompt tips?
- Anybody want to sponsor [Outland 2023](https://outland.sh)?
- I'll be going to Zion National Park in Utah soon! Is there anything I should do while I'm in the area?

---

## Recommendations

[^note]: _You may skip to [books](#books), [people](#people), [images](#images), [videos](#videos), [podcast episodes](#podcast-episodes), or [music](#music)._

[^note]: _You can also scour my entire history of [book reviews](/books) and [album ratings](/music)._

### Books {books}

- ★★★★★ _The Anthropocene Reviewed_ by John Green :: Painfully human essays; five stars.
- ★★★☆☆ _Me Talk Pretty One Day_ by David Sedaris :: Witty and deeply personal essay collection. Great insights on parenting, grief, pets, language, and addiction.
- ★★★☆☆ _Zero to One_ by Peter Thiel :: Solid book on the how & why of founding a startup.

### People {people}

- [Brett Bejcek](https://brettbejcek.com)
- [TyChi](https://musings.tychi.me/)

### Images {images}

- [unspeakable creature](/f0knx89xqkc81.jpg)
- [corn](/9u60bfze13ja1.jpg)
- [bubble wrap bucket hat](/HkV3GXb.jpg)
- [elaborate cockroach costume](/ec82s96qvmha1.png)
- [lego droid crucifixion](/wt6spbgh2hha1.png)
- [backwards hat](/csexi2zh9aha1.jpg)
- [ferret wizard](/c19k7mod3yga1.png)
- [i just noticed the phone in her pocket](/5hrcmve1qiga1.png)

### Videos {videos}

- [Building a Computer Controlled Loom](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czun6yVpzp0)
- [Using Dirt to Form Concrete](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP7XbGHJElk)
- [Good Cop, Bad Cop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz8jbEk2Lto)
- [A Comparison of Pathfinding Algorithms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-nBgi9r0U)
- [A simple water heater is more clever than it seems](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm7L-2J52GU)
- [Jordan Peterson enlightens Joe Rogan on BIONCLE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxCmkZAgtY)
- [Scott Steiner's Math Promo Sacrifice 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msDuNZyYAIQ)
- [NVIDIA's New AI: Nature Videos Will Never Be The Same!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2zv3sNsnqo)
- [Amsterdam Just Got Awesomer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqwasBTzZS8)
- [Sims cat break-dancing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLkfz10Srxw)
- [Smoking cigs at 12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRHztp8G9go)

### Podcast Episodes {podcast-episodes}

|       |       |
| ----- | ----- |
| ★★★ | Software Unscripted :: _Swift and Unicode API Design with Rob Napier_ |
| ★★☆ | Deep Questions with Cal Newport :: _Abition without Burnout_ |
| ★★☆ | Deep Questions with Cal Newport :: _Is Productivity Overrated?_ |
| ★★☆ | Epic Gardening Daily :: _Intermixing Flowers, Herbs, and Vegetables_ |
| ★★☆ | Epic Gardening Daily :: _Perennial Edibles for the Landscape_ |
| ★★☆ | Everything Everywhere Daily :: _The Worst Year in History_ |
| ★★☆ | Everything Everywhere Daily :: _Wu Zetian: China's Only Female Emperor_ |
| ★★☆ | The Economics of Everyday Things :: _My Sharona_ |

### Music {music}

|       |       |
| ----- | ----- |
| ★★★★★ | A Tribe Called Quest :: _We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service_ |
| ★★★★★ | Sewerslvt :: _We Had Good Times Together, Don't Forget That_ |
| ★★★★☆ | Himera :: _Sharing Secrets_ |
| ★★★★☆ | Jean-Michel Jarre :: _Oxygène_ |
| ★★★★☆ | Nas :: _Illmatic_ |
| ★★★★☆ | Soichi Terada :: _Ape Escape 3 (Originape Soundtracks) サルゲッチュ3・オリジサル・サウンドトラック_ |
| ★★★☆☆ | Crywank :: _Fist Me 'Til Your Hand Comes out My Mouth_ |
| ★★★☆☆ | Edison Glass :: _Time is Fiction_ |
| ★★★☆☆ | Evil Needle :: _L'Emprise_ |
| ★★★☆☆ | Fun. :: _Aim and Ignite_ |
| ★★★☆☆ | Sufjan Stevens :: _A Sun Came_ |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Anthony Green :: _Young Legs_ |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Fink :: _Sort of Revolution_ |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Snail's House :: _Ordinary Songs 3_ |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Sweet Trip :: _velocity : design : comfort._ |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Tommy '86 :: _Disco Machine_ |
| ★★☆☆☆ | scntfc :: _Oxenfree_ |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | 813 :: _Espoir Voyage - EP_ |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | Film School :: _Hideout_ |