@jack I’ve had pi-hole running on my network for about 6 months. I love it!
Let Year 2 begin. #firstdayofschool
Roald Dahl's Work Environment
Roald Dahl’s books brought me hours of enjoyment when I was a child. There was little that could top the excitement of reading one of his books that would, of course, be illustrated by Quentin Blake. He created a world into which I could immerse myself, no matter how fantastical the setting might be.
Now, via Jason Kottke, I’ve had an opportunity to see, in the video embedded below, the environment in which Dahl worked, and to him him speak of the mindset needed to create such amazing works of fiction.
There are concepts arising in this video that have started to again be considered relevant in today’s modern world as being helpful in improving productivity and performance.
Highlights from this short clip include:
- The need to immerse himself, for around 4 to 5 hours per day, in the work, and be away from other things. This reflects perfectly the concept of 'deep work' as recently brought into public consciousness by Cal Newport. It takes time, focus and the avoidance of distraction to reach a zone of high productivity. This place is rare in the modern workplace. Making time for extended periods of focus can represent a huge competitive advantage over the competition.
- The simplicity of the tools. No computers, typewriters, productivity methods. Just paper, pencil, a basic desk and a thermos of tea. The tools don't make the work. They are, however, customised to his needs.
- The necessity for play. Play is again considered relevant and useful in improving productivity and well-being. Dahl spends time with friends playing snooker on a regular — and scheduled — basis. I have no doubt it released stresses from his mind and left him fresh to focus on writing when it was time to do so.
- The smoking. Okay, so that was an unknown negative at the time. We're doing better on that count.
When you go to the wrestling, it’s important to embrace the experience.
I bought Castro, but I think I’m going to be heading back to Overcast.
@twelvety If it’s a hobby that you enjoy, don’t beat yourself up about it.
I’m about two-thirds through the audiobook of Educated by Tara Westover. It is such an amazing, but heart-wrenching story. Incredible to think it is a memoir from our modern era.
Writing on a wiki seems easier than publishing a blog post. I feel a latent pressure for a blog post to be of a certain quality and style. A wiki is just continuous editing and improvement.
Owning Your Content
Social media is a vacuum, sucking up content by others and monetising it for themselves.
We don’t have to play that game. This is what the IndieWeb is about — having our content remain ours, not making money for poorly behaved mega-corps.
Phil Nunnally on Ben Norris on owning your content expresses this well:
Phil:
The experience of owning the content here is sprawling to other ways I can own, refactor, and share more stuff that I used to keep to myself or surrender to others.
Ben:
I just resonate so much with the mission that Manton has, and his belief of the importance of owning our content, and being, in some ways, good stewards of ourselves and our thoughts and our creative output. Don’t give it to someone, don’t turn it over. Own it and keep it and make it available to share on your own terms.
For the millions (and millions!) of fans tracking development of my wiki… I present to you… an RSS feed! 🙏
Monthly Review — January 2019
In the first of what may — or may not — be a regular series, this is a review of my past month.
What Went Well at Home?
- The first month of my self-anointed Year of Fun went well. I remembered the theme as I went about my days and it helped create a better attitude and a happier daily mood.
- Summer school holidays are almost done. Our family has survived intact which must be considered a win!
- A staycation weekend was a welcome reprieve for Hannah and I. We rarely get the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company without children, so this break was a blessing.
What Went Well at Work?
- January is always a slow month for work. I managed to use the time effectively to ensure I’m not carrying forward a backlog into the rest of the year.
Highlights
- A visit to Perth Observatory where we viewed the night sky. Our son had a ball.
- The Australia Day Fireworks were impressive.
My Media Diet
- Watched the first two episodes Star Trek: Discovery, season 2. Already it is better than the inaugural season.
- Bohemian Rhapsody was an enjoyable movie that compelled my wife and I to play Queen music on the drive home.
- NBL basketball continues to bring me enjoyment.
- Reading Toll by Matt Gemmell.
- Listening to the audiobook of Educated by Tara Westover.
My Passion Project
I keep checking my friends’ Wikis to look for the latest updates. I think I’m addicted.
I’m a sucker for some visible infrastructure.
I’m a sucker for some visible infrastructure.
@twelvety I love your most recent wiki journal. Some cracking one-liners within!
After enjoying Vegemite for 40 years, the new ownership group have destroyed it by changing the texture. Today I bought the ripoff OzEmite and it’s more like Vegemite than Vegemite. Sad times for an Australian.
Journaling
Derek Sivers has published a post about journaling. This is a timely insight as I have been on a bent exploring tools for capturing my own thoughts, including the use of a personal wiki, DEVONthink and TheBrain.
Derek says:
For each subject that you might have ongoing thoughts about, start a separate “Thoughts On” journal.
He goes on to explain:
Sometimes I think I have a new thought on a subject, so I open up the file and write it down, then afterwards I see I had that same thought a year ago and had forgotten about it.
This is a great use of a wiki, that can be tended to and developed. Each page can represent an idea which can be built upon over time, and it can cross-reference other online sources if need be.
My only problem is that while most of my thoughts can live comfortably in a wiki in the public domain, some probably shouldn’t. This leads me to a solution such as TheBrain, or more boringly, a text file.
TheBrain excels at making the connections, but taking notes is its area of greatest weakness.
I’ve used Day One for my regular journal for many years. While I’ve tried expanding its use into other areas of journaling, I forget that I’ve set them up, and so it hasn’t become a habit.
Now we’re talking!
@twelvety You bought Tinderbox? Man, you are in deep. I look forward to hearing more about it. That is one app I’ve never quite understood.
This season of Star Trek: Discovery is already better than the last.
I’ve spent a little time delving into a bit of economic theory today. It’s been so long since I’ve involved myself in that, it’s hard to believe that I hold a Bachelors degree in Economics. The achievement of that qualification was a long time ago.