Winter:

• We have covered this before, but it is very important to look at the protein content of your food. The higher protein intake, the less you will overeat. Ted Naiman stresses this, but also the carb to fat ratio. He says to avoid ALL foods that are moderate in carbs and fat. In nature, the only foods that are moderate in carbs and fat are milk (to rapidly grow an organism) and acorns (to help animals gain a lot of fat for winter). 
• Well prepare to have your mind blown. Cian Foley of donteatforwinter.com has created a striking graph showing carb:fat ratios and obesity rates by country. As the carb and fat ratios converge to almost equal amounts, the obesity rates skyrocket. This explains why low carb and low fat diets both seem to work, but why the Cupcake Diet does not seem to be effective. The huge graph right at the top is worth scrutinizing. Based on this truth bomb of a post, I finally ordered his book, will report back in a couple of weeks. 

Stress Reduction:

• Fractals. Objects in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales. Examples include broccoli, trees, blood vessels and coastlines. I have always been fascinated by them and usually use them as screensavers. This article from The Atlantic highlights some very cool research into fractal gazing as stress reduction. Goodbye burnout!
• But seriously apparently we are drawn to natural fractal patterns, art such as Jackson Pollock paintings, and even our eyes when scanning an image on a screen move in a fractal pattern. Cool stuff. 

Retire Early:

• The FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement continues to have a solid presence online. Check out this article with pearls from more than 40 financial experts on how to retire early.
• Lot of common sense stuff, cool tips, and variety. All helpful not just for retiring early but for being fiscally responsible. 

Recipe:

• Proof on Main in Louisville is a pretty swank place, in the 21C hotel and museum. If you make it there, check out their whipped ricotta appetizer. Seems to be simply ricotta whipped and warmed in a cast iron dish, with truffle oil on top. There might be some lemon as well.
• Cannot find the recipe online, but we have come very close to recreating it at home for a few bucks. Problem is what to dip in it! Low carb bread is very difficult to make well. Splurge on a carb day with some Blue Dog bread. 

The Dude:

• If you haven’t seen the Big Lebowski, as I have said before, immediately leave all work and family responsibilities and go watch it. Jeff Bridges, who plays the main character, is basically the Dude in real life. In a very political awards season (stepping out of my wheelhouse here so don’t hate me), Bridges delivered a deep, funny, authentic speech about his career in Hollywood. Try to set aside 6 minutes to watch the whole thing. Tag, you’re it. 

Quote:
“God has left sin in the world in order that there may be forgiveness: not only the secret forgiveness by which He Himself cleanses our souls, but the manifest forgiveness by which we have mercy on one another and so give expression to the fact that He is living, by His mercy, in our own hearts.”
– Thomas Merton