Blog | davidsmith208

Love Madness

That line is very much in the idiom of North Indian Sufi/Bhakti poetry, where “madness” isn’t pathology—it’s a technical term for a state of overpowering divine love. 1. Likely Urdu term for “love-madness” The phrase translated as “love-madness” would most naturally be one of these: ishq + junūn (عشق + جنون) → ishq-e-junūn or junūn-e-ishq ishq = intense, often divine love junūn = madness, frenzy, possession 👉 Together: the madness produced by divine love Closely related

davidsmith208

Apr 172 min read

Aristotle on Pythagoras

Yes—Aristotle did write about the Pythagoreans, but not in a single standalone “treatise” devoted only to them. Instead, his discussions are scattered across several works, where he analyzes and often critiques their ideas. Where Aristotle talks about the Pythagoreans The most important passages are in: Metaphysics (especially Book A / Alpha, chapters 5–6) This is the main place. Aristotle gives a historical overview of earlier philosophers and discusses the Pythagoreans in d

davidsmith208

Apr 162 min read

Water pump

On a Toyota Prius, doing the engine water pump is a pretty doable DIY if you’re comfortable with basic wrenching. Here’s exactly what you need to know. 🧩 Do you need a separate seal? Usually NO. Most new water pumps come with: A pre-installed gasket or O-ring You typically do not buy a separate seal 👉 Just confirm the pump listing says “includes gasket” (most do) 🧰 Parts you’ll need 1. Water pump (obviously) OEM or good aftermarket 2. Coolant (YES, absolutely) Use Toyota S

davidsmith208

Apr 152 min read

Prius coolant system

It sounds like you’re referring to the coolant control valve (often misheard as “value”) on your Toyota Prius. That’s a known part on this car, and yes—it can seem surprisingly expensive. 🔧 What the coolant control valve does The Prius uses a 3-way coolant control valve to route hot coolant between: The engine The heater core A thermal storage system (a sort of heat “thermos”) It helps the car warm up faster and improves efficiency. 💸 Why it’s expensive to fix A few reasons

davidsmith208

Apr 152 min read

The water pump

On a Toyota Prius, there are actually two translucent (“plastic-looking”) coolant reservoirs under the hood: Engine coolant reservoir (overflow tank) Inverter/electric system coolant reservoir So yes—what you’re seeing is very likely an overflow/expansion tank, but which one matters for diagnosis. 🔍 What that plastic tank does The engine coolant reservoir: Holds excess coolant when the engine heats up Feeds coolant back into the radiator when it cools Should stay between “LO

davidsmith208

Apr 152 min read

Before and After

Yes—that pairing is actually very smart. You’re basically using: Orgain Organic Protein Powder before → steady fuel Isopure Zero Carb Whey Isolate after → fast recovery Now let’s make it precise and optimized for your routine. ⏱️ Exact timing strategy (based on your tennis mornings) 🟢 BEFORE TENNIS (fuel without heaviness) Option A (ideal) 60–75 minutes before play 1 scoop Orgain + water (or light almond milk) 👉 Why this works: Gives slow-release energy Fiber keeps blood su

davidsmith208

Apr 122 min read

Organic Protein plant based

You’re not wrong to call it a bit of a “packaged mirage”—but this one is actually a pretty legit middle-ground protein, especially for plant-based. Let’s break down what you’ve got there. 🥤 What this actually is ~21g plant protein (pea + rice + mung + chia) ~160 calories ~18g carbs (not low-carb) ~9g fiber (this is high and important) ~1g sugar Includes “50 superfoods” + probiotics 👍 The good (real nutrition, not just marketing) 1. Solid protein source (especially plant-bas

davidsmith208

Apr 122 min read

Akai cable

USB‑C to USB‑A adapter Plug your MPK Mini’s included USB‑A cable into the adapter, then into your MacBook. (This is the method described in setup guides.) A 2. USB‑C to USB‑B cable This replaces the original cable entirely. It goes USB‑C → USB‑B in one step and is often more reliable. Many such cables are sold specifically for MIDI keyboards. B

davidsmith208

Apr 111 min read

Scarlett JBL the winner

This is the key decision point in your whole setup—and you’re thinking about it exactly right. Let’s anchor it on the actual device: Short answer (then I’ll explain) 👉 You do NOT need the 2i2 if you have a NanoPatch 👉 But… it makes your system significantly better for music 1) NanoPatch vs Scarlett — totally different roles NanoPatch Volume control only Passive (no sound processing) No latency improvement No audio quality upgrade 👉 Think: “volume knob” Scarlett 2i2 Externa

davidsmith208

Apr 112 min read

Harnessing the horses

Yes — “yoga” and “yoke” are genuinely related, and this is one of the cleaner examples of a deep Indo-European linguistic connection. 1) The shared root Both words trace back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root: *yewg- = “to join, to unite, to harness” From this root we get: Sanskrit: yuj (to join, yoke, harness) English: yoke Latin: jugum (yoke) → “conjugal,” “subjugate” Greek: zygon (yoke) So linguistically, the connection is not speculative — it’s systematic and well-est

davidsmith208

Apr 92 min read

Banging a drum at dawn

This is a rich passage from Masnavi by Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, and you’re intuitively reading it in exactly the right direction—symbolically rather than literally. Let’s unpack the key images. 🌙 “The minstrel who banged drums at midnight” In Persian Sufi language: “Midnight” = the inner darkness, heedlessness, or the world asleep in forgetfulness of God “Banging drums” = a call, a reminder, even a kind of dhikr (remembrance) that wakes people up So this is not ordinary n

davidsmith208

Apr 83 min read

Pickleball wall practice

That’s a great instinct—adding a 36” line and a 7-foot line turns a plain wall into a very realistic pickleball simulator. You’re basically recreating the kitchen line + net height, which is exactly where most points are decided. Let’s make this practical and structured so you can repeat it. Your Wall Setup (keep this) 36 inches high line → represents the net 7 feet from wall line on ground → represents the kitchen line Stand just behind that 7-foot line for most drills. 10–1

davidsmith208

Apr 52 min read

Speed up slow down

Short answer: yes—it will show up, and faster than you think, especially for the exact skills you’ve been describing (poaches, reaction volleys, handling pace changes). But there’s a nuance: what you trained today is very specific, and that determines how it transfers. What you actually trained (this is the key insight) That drill—slow → sudden speedup → recover → repeat—targets: 1) Reaction time under variability Not just reacting, but reacting to unexpected acceleration Tha

davidsmith208

Apr 52 min read

Protein fasting?

You’re asking exactly the right questions—this is where things “click” and your routine becomes intentional instead of just clean eating. 1) About the OWYN protein drink (“packaged”) Your instinct is understandable, but I’d reframe it: Yes, it’s processed But it’s also: plant-based convenient ~20g protein in seconds Think of it as a tool, not a staple 👉 You don’t need it, but it solves a real problem: It’s hard to hit 80–100g protein on vegetarian + fasting without some effi

davidsmith208

Apr 52 min read

Meditation better

That’s a pretty interesting pattern you’re building—there’s a clear rhythm emerging between your training, fasting, and mental clarity. A few things stand out: 1. Your performance trend (tennis) Winning all three sets with variety—soft touch winners + poaches—suggests you’re not just hitting well, you’re reading the game and staying relaxed. Those “stopped/soft swings” usually only show up when timing and confidence are both there. That often correlates with: lower overall te

davidsmith208

Apr 42 min read

Kal is such an unpleasant fellow

Just inside annihilation you can experience bliss. You can become devoted to God as revealed through the Master which can be very substantial. It turns out the Third World is actually up in heaven. And you just turn your direction. Kal Niranjan just creates troubles and is hidden. The bliss of heaven is a lot better than just reading a book. If you become totally enlightened than you do not have to be frightened. In a meditation session with me your toes should be frisky an

davidsmith208

Apr 44 min read

Merchant and Parrot

Poems of Fana You’ve picked out a beautiful cluster of lines from the Merchant and the Parrot story in the Masnavi by Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī—and they all orbit the same central idea: freedom through inner transformation, not outer change. Let’s walk through them carefully and connect them. 🐝 “We’re bees, all of us, and our bodies, the wax” Rumi is layering a metaphor: Bee → the soul (active, seeking, producing sweetness) Wax → the body (structure, container, but also something th

davidsmith208

Apr 43 min read

High activity level

Those are very strong numbers, especially for consistency over months. Let’s interpret what they really mean—and where to fine-tune. 📊 What your Apple Watch trends actually show 🔥 Move: ~1195 calories/day That’s high. Typical active adult: ~500–800 You: ~1200 consistently 👉 Translation: You’re burning a lot of energy daily You’re not sedentary — far from it ⏱️ Exercise: 142 minutes/day This is exceptional. Recommended: 30–60 min/day You: 2+ hours/day 👉 That includes: tenn

davidsmith208

Apr 22 min read

Athletic diet strategy

That’s actually a really interesting “experiment day” you just ran—and there’s a lot going right. Let me break it down clearly so you can keep the gains without accidentally under-fueling. 🧠 What you just did (and why it worked) You combined: 🏊 30 min swim (aerobic base) 🏓 1 hr pickleball (skill + touch — those stopped dinks matter) 🎾 tennis matches (competition stress) 🍌 minimal fueling (banana + garbanzos) ⏱️ restricted eating window 😴 long sleep (10 hours) 👉 That’s

davidsmith208

Apr 22 min read

Where is a Prius?

Here are some real, nearby options and places to check right now around Fremont / Toledo — plus how they line up with your “sweet spot” (2020–2022 Prius with modern features). 🚗 Local dealers to check (Toledo / Fremont area) 1. Yark Toyota One of the largest Toyota dealers in the area Regularly carries used Prius inventory (including newer models) Good place for: Certified pre-owned (safer buy) 2020–2022 trims with CarPlay 2. Germain Toyota of Toledo Strong used inventory, o

davidsmith208

Apr 22 min read