The Weekly Reading List - and thanks

The Reading List for 27 Jan 23

Another bit of one shelf in one bookcase

It’s been all about energy. One way or the other.

What a week.

What a couple of weeks actually.

Lot of news about energy and lots of new subscribers.

Welcome!

As we grow, we can maybe get some uptake on the subscriber-only features like the chats. I’ll open one this afternoon on the Labrador energy story, which is morphing every day.

Join in, if you want. I’ll make some comments but feel free to join in. The chats are really *your* space. Ask questions. Give answers. Offer opinions or insights. Bond Papers is growing in ways I had not expected and it’s all down to not only the financial support but also the feedback.

I’ve got a piece coming on how this might play out. That one will harken back to tidbits I am almost 100% certain even the most attentive watchers missed over the past 20 years.

I have to say that I was taken aback this week to get a few thank yous sent my way. After 18 years of doing this, it’s still pretty rare to get gestures of appreciation of any kind. The “Atta boys!” are a huge morale boost

When I took a break at the old site a few years ago, I actually started getting the first ones. Getting stopped while walking up Duckworth Street or even at the grocery store. It was amazing not only to get the thanks and encouragement but also to meet the wide range of folks who found something valuable in my work. That’s still true.

Now to be clear, I am not writing this for the audience. As I put it a long time ago, this is all about getting stuff out of my head. That’s what keeps me sane. I write for me. I am absolutely delighted other people find this useful, annoying or anything else but what I write about tends to be what I am interested in.

That philosophy stops me from pandering. If I wanted an audience and adoration and anything of that sort, I could give you recipes, pictures of cats, and the stuff you can find in literally thousands of other places. Bond Papers has always been stuff that interests me, which in many cases is stuff that is interesting to other people as well. Nice coincidence in one sense but I know the philosophy works when I get - as I heard a few times this week - the message that this is stuff they find valuable and that they cannot find anywhere else.

Anyway, subscribers can get some things to read on different subjects. I am looking at adding some new features or resurrecting earlier efforts. All that’s in the works and will depend on a few factors. In the meantime, I have Monday’s Free-for-All on the Public Utilities Board to finish. See you then!