3 Things I like This Week – October 3

Jurassic Park holds the distinction as the first PG-13 movie I ever saw. It was not until years later that I learned it was a book first. I read it probably fifteen or twenty years ago, but I picked it back up recently and was reminded that Michael Crichton was a brilliant storyteller. Many times a book is far and away better than the movie adaptation. I don’t know that I can say that here because the movie was so brilliant in its day and holds up so well. What I can say is that the book is deeper, more complex, and–as Crichton is known for–presses on scientific and ethical questions in clever ways in the midst of a gripping adventure. A novel simply has more room for explanation and exploration than a summer blockbuster movie, so Jurassic Park both mediums strikes just the right note. Make no mistake, it is a really fun read–suspenseful, frightening, fast-moving, and smart. It is also thought provoking if you want your mind provoked.

Justin Verlander has been a staple figure in Major League Baseball and one of its most dominant pitchers since the year I graduated college. Which is to say, I have watched him pitch for the entirety of my adult life. He never played for my favorite team (unfortunately) but he was so fun to watch pitch–dominant, competitive, adapting with age. This week he pitched the final start of his career. And when the time came to take him out of the game, an absolutely beautiful moment occurred. Many of you have likely seen the video since it went viral (for good reason), but that’s ok–watch it again. For those who have not seen it, I will not spoil it with a description. I will simply say that it’s hard to imagine a sweeter, more rewarding way to conclude a brilliant career.