Friday Faves 3/20: A Giant Marshmallow Test, The Dawn Wall, Guinness,
Best Activity
It feels as if we’re in the midst of a massive “Marshmallow Test.” The famous test offered children a choice: eat one marshmallow now or wait and get two marshmallows later. Each child was left alone with the tempting marshmallow to make their own decision. Some kids ate the marshmallow and some waited.
In our case, one marshmallow is the choice to stay home now and delay the temptation. Avoid taking advantage of quiet bars and restaurants (if they’re open at all) and leaving the house for the sake of leaving the house because we just can’t take it anymore. It might feel good to make frivolous trips to various locations (I need MORE toilet paper!!!) or to hang out with groups of friends because, well, there’s nothing else to do!
If we all avoid eating the marshmallow, we’ll all get out of this situation much faster. We’ll all be able to return to work and our normal routine. We’ll lighten the load of those people who are going to work in hospitals right now, too.
However, if more and more of us decide to eat the first marshmallow (like those Spring Breakers down in Florida), we won’t return to some semblance of normal for quite a while. No sports, no restaurants, no concerts, no parties with friends. No summer.
We’ve been cooped up for six days in our place. It’s maddening, for sure. Tiff and I spend most of our days in the house working from home. But the lack of freedom mixed with the constant static of news and fear has distracted me more than ever. I find myself worried about the health of my family and also the health of our economy.
For the sake of everyone, leave that marshmallow on the table. It will help us all get two marshmallows much faster.
Best Watch
The Dawn Wall: If you’re itching for the great outdoors while cooped up inside for most hours of the day, The Dawn Wall should be on your watch list. The documentary is about two men, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson, who decide they want to free-climb the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. People have climbed various sections of El Capitan over the years, but The Dawn Wall has never been scaled because it’s so hard. The climb was broken into 32 pitches that are around 150 feet each. They climb in tandem, alternating turns. If one of them falls, they go back to the start and rest while the other tries the pitch. I started the movie not realizing that the climbers would be living on the wall for more than two weeks, sleeping in port-a-ledges, which are basically tents you hook into the wall (and my personal nightmare) The story is inspiring, especially in our current time. Tommy and Kevin supported each other and met immense challenge on the wall. The perseverance and grit required is immeasurable.
Best Read
Paddy Whacked by T.J. English: This book covers the underworld of Irish-American mobsters over the last 160 years. It’s well-researched and, even with the horrible topic, an enjoyable read. Some of the characters and stories take place in my backyard and surrounding areas, but they stretch to New York (duh, Chicago (double duh), and New Orleans (who knew?). There’s a riveting section about John F. Kennedy and his family’s connection to bootlegging and the mafia which blew my mind. Amazon
Best Listen
The Hare’s Lament by Ye Vagabonds: My brother sent me these guys on St. Patrick’s Day, and I played it through three times over the course of the day. It’s a really excellent album. The two guys harmonize beautifully and some songs are sung in Irish.
Best Eat
Outback Steakhouse: Before quarantining ourselves, we went to Outback Steakhouse on Saturday afternoon. I have no memory of going to an Outback in my life. It was good! I ordered a NY Strip Steak (when in Rome…) and a baked sweet potato. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and am sobered by the fact that it might be the last meal in a restaurant for a very long time.
Best Drink
St. Patricks’s Day Guinness: It wasn’t poured from a tap, it wasn’t in the proper glass. But it was still a Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day. That’s enough for me.
Best Social:
I’m betting you’ve all seen the penguins wander the aquarium (hilarious). Here’s a clip of Boston Celtic Grant Williams compare his teammates to the members of the Tune Squad.
Best Plugs:
The Random Division: Tiff and I took this week off from podcasting, but if you’re looking for some good listening material that might help you pass the time while you’re hanging out at home, check out our “Best of the Decade” Series. Our TV episode is embedded below!
Also, take the time now to follow us on Instagram: TheRandomDivisionPod
We’d also love it if you wrote a review or ranked our podcast on iTunes (you know you have two minutes to spare…)
The Imperfect Game: This week’s pod covers the five best games that our Past and Present Series teams have played in. We dug through a combined 1000 years of history to pick our favorites. Both picks his five and I pick my five. If you want some videos to highlight some of the games, click on “The Imperfect Game” above. The show notes have clips from the games embedded! Nothing like watching men warm-up in 1966 before an FA Cup Final.
Head over to iTunes and give this one a rating and ranking, too (I know you have two MORE minutes to spare…)