Ah, air travel.

Airports, the gateways to the world, often feel more like choke points of frustration. They’re this odd mix—where speed collides with delay, and motion collides with moments of total stillness. Crowds pack the space, as travelers from all corners of the world hustle for a bit of elbow room, creating this palpable tension you can practically feel in the air. And then, of course, everything costs a fortune. The second you step past those sliding doors, it’s like the normal rules of supply and demand economics vanish. That bottle of water or quick snack you’d normally pick up without thinking suddenly feels like an investment.

People walking through an airport terminal.
Source

What’s even more absurd is the rush that’s always undercut by endless waiting. You see it in those long lines curling through terminals—for security, for boarding, even just for a cup of coffee. It’s that enforced idleness that seems to make people more impatient, rushing around just to stand still again. And honestly, what’s the rush? Your flight’s going to be delayed anyway, I can all but guarantee it. When something actually runs on time, that’s the surprise. All of this frustration just adds to the stress, leaving everyone feeling a little more worn out and on edge.

Add that exhaustion into the mix, and it’s no wonder people get snippy. Politeness tends to take a back seat when nerves are frayed, and you can feel it in the short, clipped conversations all around. In the end, airports may be engineering marvels and global hubs, but let’s face it—they’re not exactly places anyone enjoys hanging around.

Why am I talking about this right now, you ask? No reason at all, really.

Oh, hang on, they’re announcing how much longer my flight’s going to be delayed. This’ll be nice. I always appreciate a good work of fiction. 

Here’s An Interesting Take On A.I.

I heard this earlier this week on the People I (Mostly) Admire podcast.

Steven Levitt is talking to economist David Autor and the discussion morphed from labor vs. capital markets into speculation about what the impact of A.I. will be on the labor force.

Like Levitt, I’m probably more pessimistic on the subject than Autor is, but he does provide some perspectives I hadn’t considered. Of course he’s spent considerably more time thinking about this than I have, not to mention being smarter than me.

The A.I. discussion starts at 36:00 and goes until 53:00

Follow The Tim Traveller

You really should check this guy out.

With all the wandering around Paris that I do, often followed by Tim posting a video he shot in places I was recently meandering around, I’m kind of surprised that I haven’t bumped into him yet.

In any event, give his YouTube channel a follow. He’s pretty knowledgeable, not to mention entertaining.

Come for the underwater swimming “apparently wasn’t a great spectator sport”, stay for the “Olympic pigeon shooting, and you’ll notice I did not say ‘clay’ pigeons.”

Autumn

There’s just something about autumn that makes it my absolute favorite time of year. After sweating through those long, hot summer days, the first cool breeze of fall? It’s like a breath of fresh air. The weather hits that sweet spot—not too hot, not too cold—making it the perfect season to get outside and actually enjoy being outdoors, without melting in the heat or bundling up against the cold. Autumn weather reports don’t make any mention of either humidity or wind chill. That’s the way it ought to be.

One thing I’ve always loved about fall is the light. There’s a certain crispness to it that’s hard to explain, but it’s different from any other time of year. It makes everything seem more vivid, more alive. The reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves just seem to pop against the clear blue sky, turning even the simplest view into something kind of magical.

 

Autumn trees
What autumn looks like in my neighborhood.
© 2020 Greg Nason. All rights reserved.

And don’t even get me started on the air. Autumn air just feels cleaner, fresher. Maybe it’s the cooler temps clearing out the leftover haze from summer, but there’s this stillness to the air that’s perfect for a peaceful hike or even just a quiet picnic. It’s like the whole world slows down a little, and you can actually breathe deeper.

Plus, let’s be honest—there’s a real sense of satisfaction knowing the grass finally stops growing so fast in the fall. Fewer weekends spent mowing the lawn means more time to kick back and really appreciate the beauty of the season, without that constant upkeep hanging over your head.

For me, autumn is also about finding a bit of peace. It’s that little break before the chaos of the holiday season kicks in, a time to slow down and enjoy nature’s quiet transformation. The cooler, quieter days just have this way of making everything feel more calm and relaxed. If you’re anything like me, it’s the perfect season to unwind, take it all in, and savor life’s simple pleasures.