Since ancient times, people have tried to illuminate their lives as much as possible, because darkness is frightening and arouses exploratory and conquering interest. But today this leads to light pollution ¹ of cities. And if we understand light not literally, then it is the desire to “illuminate” as much as possible around us - more information, more “useful” surfaces and screens, more contacts with people per unit of time. Sounds good, but it has a terrible effect on us every day - defocus, laziness and loss of interest, because there is so much around us right now.

You need to be able to turn off everything for yourself, and then gradually return only what is truly significant. Here is your true interest right now and nothing else exists at all - the candle flame. At this moment, the surrounding emptiness creates space for perception of the most important thing. After a while, when your eyes get used to it, you begin to distinguish the details of the space, you will see more context, more colors. The space will acquire more meaning, because it surrounds the object of your interest now.

For example, you are sitting opposite another person. You are calmly communicating. Pay attention only to this moment. Turn off and remove your smartphone from the table. Instead of a noisy and crowded cafe, sit on a bench in the evening park or in the kitchen with a cup of tea. The person opposite you is a candle flame - only its light is important now, only it illuminates the space.

This can be applied to the project you are working on, to information, to rest. It is not for nothing that people prefer a paper book instead of a digital one - nothing should distract attention, including the medium.

Only the candle flame reflected in your pupils.

Photography is an opportunity to capture a moment as I see it. A reflection of the external. I am only an observer.

Poetry is an opportunity to capture thoughts and feelings so that they do not scatter across a sheet of paper. A reflection of the internal. Again, I am only an observer.

There is one goal. My guiding star.

I took a walk and photographed a beautiful autumn sunset at the Chizhovskoye Reservoir in Minsk.

Sorrows like black birds circle above us. You can’t accept it, but something has changed right now. You revel in the beauty of flight. The grandeur and silent revolution of this moment are mesmerizing.

I drew a poster based on the poem.

I remember the good times of LiveJournal and autonomous blogs¹. I met people without saying “hello” to them. I read their thoughts, encountered oddities and stupidities that gradually revealed the author’s personality. They were my friends!

Then came marketing. Marketers taught how to write better - this was the beginning of the end. Blogs became like plastic “Barbie houses”. There is no need to be afraid that artificial intelligence will replace writers, because the writer has already been replaced by a marketer.

Instead of creating a place to express (or find) themselves, authors turn their blog into a glamour magazine, “business media”, or a verified dry document. They try to find a better voice and correct mistakes, but in the end they lose both their voice and the opportunity to make mistakes (because we must make mistakes in order to grow).

Notes are not a work of art - they are ore.

Yes, you need to learn to write well — good text helps to structure thoughts. But the “editor-in-chief”² cutting up the text in pursuit of points is extreme. Read the “editorial”³ texts — dry, documentary, with an artificial note of soul.

I was surprised to notice that I find it interesting to reread the drafts of my notes (notes that I did not publish for some reason). This is ore — black, dirty, but with value inside. Or without value, but this remains to be seen. There are real emotions there, because they are still very fresh; thoughts that lead to a dead end or to the top of the mountain.

“Ore” is needed for production. News, thoughts, links. For example, I’m working on a podcast right now and have to process a lot of that ore. Of course, you can rebroadcast it as is, but then I won’t be in it. I want to be a source, not a channel - that’s very important!

To have the courage to publish a draft as soon as possible, you need to work with the garage door open.

Here’s what Andy Matuschak⁴ writes about public work:

There’s a scientific glassblowing studio north of us; I walk past it on the sidewalk often. By simply existing, and having a nice sign that faces the street, they are doing a small public service every day. We are here, working.

In the same light industrial complex as the Murray Street Media Lab, there’s a woodworking shop, and the man who runs it always keeps his door propped open. Simple as that. What a delight, every damn day, to ride my bike past that door and peek inside and see all his tools, the boards stacked up for whatever commission he’s undertaking. I am here, working.

For me, Andy’s evergreen notes is a great example of public service.

I don’t know where my thoughts will take me. I just create a new text file in Obsidian and start writing - whole thoughts or fragments, links and feelings can go in there. Tomorrow, I or someone else will find a gem in this ore. Or not.

The trees are shedding their clothes, the streets have become quieter. Autumn has knocked on the doors of homes and hearts. It is already standing on the threshold.

I walked around Minsk in the evening and took some pictures with a camera with a CCD sensor. Minimum 400 ISO. Black and white from 1600 to 3200.

I love listening to music and I am convinced that a good cover hides good content. Not always, but usually so, because the external reflects the internal. If the cover was made with taste and soul, it hides the “tasty” and lively content of the album. In the ocean of information, one cover seems to shout at you “Hello! I’m here! Let’s get acquainted!”, the other quietly and modestly stands aside, waiting for attention.

With this note I open the sections “Cover of the week” and “Track of the week”. I will introduce readers to what I like. Not regularly, but now there is a place where I can share something interesting, and you know where to get acquainted with it.

I’ll start with Evvo - Physical L​.​U​.​Vl^{1 2} from the EP of the same name (2016)

I first found this album in 2016. Since then, it has accompanied me in various Spotify playlists and on my first (and last) hi-fi player. Then I left Spotify for another music service. There I collected a discography from scratch, but forgot about this EP. I remembered only in 2024.

I listened to it again. What can I say now? Good! The main track for me, as before, is Physical L​.​U​.​V. Of course, it does not evoke the same emotions, but it leaves a good impression.

But I still think the cover is awesome in 2016 and in 2024 - the colors, the style, the image of intercourse and love. Excellent!

Listen on Apple Music: