Matt Franz

Nov 15, 2024 | newsletter.rationalwalk.com | Matt Franz |Erik Rostad

“History repeats itself. The fact is a testimony to human stupidity. The saying has become a truism; nevertheless, the study of the past is relegated to the scholar and the school-boy. And yet it is really a chart for our guidance — no less than that. Where we now are going astray and losing ourselves, other men once did the same, and they left a record of the blind alleys they went down. We are like youth that can never learn from age — but youth is young, and wisdom is for the mature.

Jun 15, 2024 | blog.mdfranz.com | Cormac McCarthy |Cal Newport |Matt Franz

This blog is about repetition and returning to things and the learning spirals. The authors we continue reading. The historical eras we want to view from a different perspective. Watching film versions of books. Re-reading books over a decade later from a different perspective. When your brain is fried from looking at YAML all day and when you see Kibana in your sleep, sometimes you need something escapist.

Mar 16, 2024 | medium.com | Matt Franz

In my early 20’s, I wanted to be a writer. This is what you did if you were an English major and you were not bound to be a teacher. I was not a terribly good writer either, partly because when you are that young and from a background of privilege, you really don’t have a lot to say that is memorable or unique. You just haven’t seen too much or really felt much and it takes a lot of work to craft a voice that is worth listening to and to figure out what really needs to be said.

Mar 8, 2024 | medium.com | Matt Franz

In July 2023, when my wife encouraged me to take my European History vacation, the initial premise was to tour World War I and World War II battlefields, but along the way I visited a view of the famous (and not so famous) Cathederals and churches across France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. And I saw one synagoue.

Mar 1, 2024 | medium.com | Matt Franz

Early December when I wrote my last book blog seems like a lifetime ago. We’ve had the first real winter in the region in years after a Christmas in Deep Creek that was way too warm. I went to the UK for the first time in decades and only the 2nd time outside of London, ever. I ate some great Indian food in Bath and Toronto. We met my daughter’s biological sister and her adoptive family through 23andMe. I watched a lot of football, for a change, with my youngest son.