End On End

Mr. Robot and the compounding effect of tiny changes

I just completed a re-watch of Mr. Robot and it stands up (and still very relevant) 7 years later… it’s probably one of my favorite TV series of all time. My favorite scene of the series is one of the last – Elliott’s realization that changing the world requires more than one-off, big interventions:

What if changing the world was just about being here, by showing up no matter how many times we get told we don’t belong, by staying true even when we’re shamed into being false, by believing in ourselves even when we’re told we’re too different? And if we all held on to that, if we refuse to budge and fall in line, if we stood our ground for long enough, just maybe… the world can’t help but change around us.

I can’t help but think of the impact of compounding – whether it’s financial or building habits or any social justice issue. Tiny improvements over a long period of time can equate to big changes on the macro scale. As much as the current state of the world makes me very worried, especially as a parent of two young ladies and a transgender son, I have to believe this is true – for their sake.

For me, it’s a good reminder to double down on that approach in my every day life:

  • default to kindness, acceptance, and positivity
  • small daily efforts toward my projects and goals
  • small, better daily health choices

A little better, each and every day.


Beautiful fall day for a hike at Artpark


My assistant is being a little oppressive today. πŸ₯°


Quicksand and Spotlights last night in Buffalo


Anxious, MAGS, and oso oso last night at Rec Room in Buffalo.


Amazon has gone full QVC.


264 days down. My song-a-day playlist on Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/playli…


Los Campesinos! at the Velvet Underground in Toronto. They’ve been on my bands to see bucket list and it was worth the wait. πŸ”₯


What a show! Run the Jewels and Rage finally happened and it was glorious.


First Concert: Kenny G

Last Concert: Bon Iver

Best Concert: Fugazi

Worst Concert: Kenny G

Loudest Concert: The Pixies or Sleater-Kinney

Seen the most: Despair

Most Surprising: Idlewild

Next Concert: RATM/RTJ

Wish I could’ve seen: the Clash

H/t to @aspleenic


Finished reading: The Passageway by Jeff Lemire πŸ“š


My hopes for Sabres draft night- three of these please: Savoie, Lambert, Nazar, Gauthier, Kulich, Kemell, Miroshnichenko, Havelid, Chesley. Would love a trade up for Cooley or Nemec/Jiricek too. #nhldraft


Summer Chet


Finished reading: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2 by James Tynion IV πŸ“š


Bon Iver and Bonny Light Horseman were amazing last night. I’ve seen hundreds of bands and it was a top 5 performance.


Finished reading: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV πŸ“š


Retired the original vinyl storage unit with a larger 2x2 unit. Was kind of shocked how big the collection has grown in the last couple years. The overflow was in a few various locations, so this was the first time seeing it all in one spot!


IDLES Full Set | From The Basement - YouTube

An absolutely brilliant performance. Sound is so good.


Award season! High school high honors for these three. πŸ₯°


Currently reading: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo πŸ“š


Saw Iceage and Wiki at the Rec Room tonight. Crazy awesome show.


What is “ecofascism” β€” and what does it have to do with the Buffalo shooting? - Salon.com β†’

A lot of people assume that if we teach people about climate change, they will want to create a world that is more just and peaceful.


Watson was so tired after our hike today he didn’t even mind Chet sitting on his head. πŸ˜‚


I went to my first hardcore show in a while last night: Snapcase, Earth Crisis, Strife, One Step Closer, and Be Well. Here’s Strife playing “Lift” off their 1994 album, One Truth.

Read my Ode to Hardcore from earlier in the month for more on what the music means to me.


A good week for new music

Some really, really good releases out this week:

  • Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Listen
  • Kevin Morby - This is a Photograph Listen
  • Florence + the Machine - Dance Fever Listen
  • Mallrat - Butterfly Blue Listen
  • TOPS - Empty Seats EP Listen
  • The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention Listen

The top two are record-of-the-year contenders for me, so far…

Kendrick’s release floored me in terms of the topics he addressed and the complexity of the whole album. A multiple pass listen – I’ve gone through twice and the second time was just as rewarding, with new layers unveiled.

And Kevin Morby’s new record is probably his best to date. He’s progressing past the Dylan emulation and really coming into his own as a songwriter.

Let me know if I missed anything this week!