Rhoneisms

You don’t need an algorithm to tell you what music moved you most this past year. I’m sure, if you took the time to think about it, you could fire off the same ten songs/artists/albums it can.

You don’t need an algorithm to tell you your top photos or moments. I’m sure you can go through your roll and chose a better reflection of what was really special about this year.

Any list you do yourself would be better than any algorithm as it would likely not be based on numbers or stats or engagement. Instead, your list would be based what you care enough to remember. How it made you feel. The algorithm can’t know what matters. The algorithm can’t give you the why.

I know my top artist this year on numbers alone would be Taylor Swift. Am I a huge Taylor fan? No. I think she’s talented. I genuinely like her work. The reason is that she ends up being a lingua franca for our family. The one thing we can put on in the car together and all enjoy and sing along to. She’s the choice when we can’t think of or agree on anything else.

I’m sure the Original Broadway cast recordings of Hamilton (yes, still) and Hadestown (The original, original. Not the new original. Not the concept album which I love but don’t listen to enough) and Spring Awakening. Why? Same reasons. It’s what to listen to when I can’t decide. It is my sensible default.

I’m sure the algorithm wouldn’t tell me how much I enjoyed the new albums by Tears For Fears or The The, because I own them and did not stream them. It would not tell me about the live concert recording of a Mumford and Sons show at First Avenue I attended years ago that I mastered off a radio station’s simulcast that I often listen to on a CD rip in my car. Or my CD mix of 80’s new wave. The algorithm can’t see me there.

The algorithm doesn’t really know me that well. It doesn’t know what I do where it can’t see. It doesn’t know why I choose to do it.

Make your own end of year lists. Choose your own important memories. Pick the songs you loved and share it with the world. You don’t need an algorithm. You just need to care.

This one is truly special. Certainly my favorite sweater right now and could end up being my favorite of all time. This was a Father’s Day gift this year from my wife and daughter.

It wasn’t really cold enough to wear it this year until my birthday in October. The weight is substantial and the hand-knit quality is certainly up there with the ones you’d pay more than a thousand dollars for from RRL. Every time I’ve worn it out the compliments flow.

If I had to get rid of every other sweater I own except one, This would likely be the one I keep.

I picked this up a few years ago on sale at my barber which also carries some off-the-beaten-path fashion brands and grooming items. The maker is Naketano. I don’t know much about them other than it appears to be a German brand and many of their pullovers feature chunky nautical rope pulls like the ones here.

That said, I really do like the multi-layered turtleneck and that the fit is slim, the weave is soft, and it is casual yet polished. I generally get positive comments when I wear this one.

The thing I love about this seater is that, because of its coloring and detailing, it reads like a sweatshirt but is, in fact, a beautifully soft cashmere sweater. This means, I can often wear it in situations where a sweatshirt would be fine but I want something a bit more upscale or vice versa.

Purchased a few years ago at a store that sold both designer sample and vintage items. I’m unsure which this one is. It is Saks Fifth Avenue house brand labeled. Therefore, I suspect a sample.

I can throw it on with a t-shirt and jeans (as I have here) or with chinos and a sport jacket and it looks appropriate in either case. This is one I wear frequently. Generally about once a week during the colder months.

A Norwegian sweater purchased by my wife in Norway as a gift for me about 18 years or so ago. Traditional pattern and details. Made in Norway using Norwegian wool.

This thing is warm. Very warm. Could be worn as outerwear many days. I tend to only wear this for special occasions. Generally, Christmas time and for my daughter’s Norwegian Folk Dance performances (like the one I was headed out to yesterday when this photo was taken).

I actually have four of these J.Crew Rollneck sweaters but for this series I’m counting it as one since they are all the same.

I think I went through this period in the early 90’s where I felt like if I had one of something I like and knew I would wear it frequently, I should buy more in different colors to mix it up a bit. That’s what I did here.

These are all cotton so good three season options. They actually are unfinished (and, thus, roll) and the sleeves at hem too. It is one of the ways one can tell one of the early 90’s models from the ones that J.Crew sells today.

Well made, classic, never out of style. I actually have a wool one too which may make the seventeen series later. I love these things. I mainly wear the black and the cream. The others I wear less frequently and have thought about letting go of them but I’ve had them for over 30 years now so I can’t bring myself to.