It's finally December. I find you either look at it that way or say, "I can't believe it's December." The beauty to me is that if you look at it as it's finally December, you're looking forward to it and see the month in a positive light. If you are positive, so is life. Either way, it's here. You can stress about it or be cool with it. 

I've noted in the past that supporting each other is part of a resident frame of mind, which I witnessed last night with the Holiday Stroll. My wife and I visited nine downtown shops between 4:30 and 7 p.m. It was great to see the groups of people, and we ran into some familiar faces as we shopped from store to store. Next year we'll try to visit all of them, but for now, I'm going to focus on the fact that we ticked six people off the Christmas gift list. 

Under the old newsletter format, I did book and occasional podcast reviews. For those that miss that format, here are some nuggets:

The author, someone about my age, discusses growing up in a time period where you looked forward to going to the mall to shop and congregate. There is a freedom the mall represented. She discusses feelings I remember having when I was heading to the Fox Run and, to a lesser degree, the Newington Mall (props if you can email me the anchor tenants of that one). The architecture and layout of the mall styles are reviewed and considered as well as a thoroughly researched and enjoyable discussion of obstacles, market shares, and the current state of the mall. Why does "mall x" still thrive, while "mall y" is not as strong? How has the mall model evolved? Great questions to explore in this book, which I highly recommend. It's available at the Dover Public Library. 

I found out about the above book by listening to a few new podcasts this fall, one being the Slate Money podcast. This isn't a how to get rich or save for retirement podcast. Instead, it explains the economic and business news that's occurring around us. How does crypto impact me? How do interest rate changes, Brexit, or the owner of Twitter impact Dover? All good questions and ones I get to explore with knowledgeable and literate hosts on this weekly podcast. The topics are diverse, and there is a conversational level presentation that flows very well and makes the 45-55 minute podcast cruise along. Website: https://slate.com/podcasts/slate-money

This is another newer podcast for me. The three hosts do a great job reviewing the world around us, interviewing subject matter experts, and walking me through what is important and I should know and what might be unimportant but I should still know. The weekly show has a degree of self-importance and arrogance that all political talk shows possess. But that adds to the traditional feel, whereas the nature of the show is to be accessible and relatable so that arrogance is balanced out. Website: https://slate.com/podcasts/political-gabfest.

This Men's Journal podcast is an interesting take on self-improvement and is hosted by a former marine special forces unit member. The guests are people who thrive in chaos and have created success for themselves in a crowded field. Some are military, some are artists, and others are athletes. It's a good mix of someone you'll recognize and others you might not but understand at the end of the conversation. It reminds me of a podcast favorite of mine, "Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin," in that there is an agenda to cover, but it feels like a conversation you're able to audit with two people chatting about topics of consequence that you get to learn from. Website: https://www.mensjournal.com/everyday-warrior/.

So those are a few chestnuts for you. Enjoy roasting them on an open fire or however you listen to podcasts. And don't forget the Dover Download, a personal favorite of mine. This month, we'll explore Dover's media history, learn what is like to plow snow, and what's going on with the Vision Chapter of the Master Plan. 

If you listen to podcasts or have a book I should check out, please email me. 

Talk to you in two weeks,

Deputy City Manager: Development and Strategic Initiatives