Newsletter: week of 2/3

This week's big news is that I managed to get tickets to the Newport Folk Festival, which sold out in under a minute. Back when I was working at The Verge, ticket-buying days were a big deal. We used to all cue up Ticketmaster or Dice and yell out section numbers as we scrambled to get tickets to whatever show was on deck once sales opened up. Most of the time, the tickets weren't even for the group but instead just for one or two of us. And on occasion, we got scolded for being too loud. But in the age of bots and scalpers, it takes a village! This time around, I was all alone, but rest assured, I was still screaming, especially when I secured the tickets. If you have been to Newport Folks Fest, please send tips! This will be my very first year.

Ok, onto everything else I watched, tinkered with, and listened to this week.

 
via @programming.geeks on Threads

What I watched:

Defying Gravity | Synchronized Roller Coasters (Wicked)
I can't believe that I thought that I was the only Wicked and Roller Coaster Tycoon lover. This is a MASTERPIECE.

A visual breakdown of Vail Resorts’ 112-page investor report
Data visualization will always have my heart, but then you add someone physically drawing it for me... chef's kiss.

A GLOBAL CAPS LOCK KEY
Wake up, cHoOsE cHaOs, and go back to sleep.

Why is it so hard to make stuff now?
The kick in the butt we all need.

Dirt-Cheap Solar Generator Setup - What Can It Power?
I have big plans for an off-the-grid, big ebike ride in the spring, so I've been doing a lot of solar research. ;)

What I tinkered with:

Last week, I hired a designer to start working on some merch for my channel, which is very exciting because I love merch, and I love working with designers. The concept is "a timeless adventure, done in the style of 1950’s Western Americana, with a piece of tech integrated in a sort of surreal way." The end result will hopefully be shirts/sweatshirts with a logo on the front and an illustration on the back. Shouldn't be too hard... 😅

In preparation for working with the designer, I gathered some inspiration and took my ideas to Midjorney for concept ideation of the illustration. Here is some of what I generated:

What do you think? Is the tech outside enough? Or, more importantly, does that laptop have enough ports?

What I listened to this week:

How to Make Money in Media, with Kara Swisher
My first ever travel photography gig was traveling to a Code Conference in Las Vegas to photograph Kara Swisher interviewing important people in tech. Ever since then, I have been incredibly inspired by how she has built a business around her likeness and interviewing skills. In this interview, she talks candidly about how much money she makes and why she doesn't keep it a secret.

Cowboy Carter
After her two big wins at the Grammys, I am back on a Cowboy Carter kick. And as much as I love her, I am not entirely sure that I would label this album as country. But for how much shit that community has put her through--take that win, bb!

And lastly, I am still on my EDM kick with Nosi's weightless, my classic rock kick with Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love, and my shed a tear while listening kick with Jeff Buckley's Lover, You Should've Come Over.

Okay, that's all I have. If you feel comfortable, I would love to see what you have been seeing. As always, I appreciate you, bud!

Have a great weekend,
Becca