We Can Be Heroes

The Setup

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:51:01 -0500

A good read on computer setups. Like a good nerd I am constantly thinking about revamping my setup and how better to optimize my setup to maximize productivity.

Though as he says, that could just be cause I’m trying to avoid work.

Stop Being Such a Darned Wuss

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:01:07 -0500

Stop Being Such a Darned Wuss:

So the real title of the post is not what I’ve written there and is NSFW. But it is awesome.

The 'Israelification' of airports

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:01:52 -0500

The 'Israelification' of airports:

Article describing Israeli security tactics in regards to airports. Miles away from the current conflict over body scanners and the like.

fuckyeahiceland: (by Armann Hinrik)

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:28:30 -0500

fuckyeahiceland:

(by Armann Hinrik)

I haven’t watched it all yet, but I really don’t...

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:51:45 -0500

I haven’t watched it all yet, but I really don’t have to. Two guys trek, on foot, across Iceland. In gorgeous HD.

8 Exotic and Affordable Destinations

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:36:44 -0400

8 Exotic and Affordable Destinations:

Damn you, travel bug.

Work-life balance: Why your boss should care

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:43:19 -0400

Work-life balance: Why your boss should care:

The Globe has a good summary of trends in work-life balance, as well as some stats that show why employers should care about it.

I like the idea of being able to spend your benefits as you wish; i.e. medical benefits, extra time off, pension, etc. I’d probably take the extra time off myself.

Procrastination, Victory and Babylon 5

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:33:14 -0400

This article was floating around the internet a couple days ago and it’s worth a read for anyone interested in why they’ve never achieved some of their goals. I’d wager that’s just about everyone reading this. Normally I’d just link to it and leave it be, but I feel that the author didn’t really go far enough, and I’d like to pull some conclusions out of it.

To crudely summarize the article; you never accomplish your goals because you procrastinate. This is not necessarily because you are lazy or lack will power or aren’t as “good” as that other person (you know the one). It’s because you operate on the false assumption that Later-You, the one who you are saying will do the thing you’re putting off now, is a different person than Now-You. Later-You will make a different choice than Now-You is making. This is, generally, bullshit. Unless you have some sudden revelation or near-death experience, you will not be massively different later on and you will make the same choices.

Why is this? There can be a number of reasons. Maybe the task you want to accomplish is unpleasant (the dentist is a good example for me). Or maybe it’s not really something you want to do, just something you would like to want to do. You say this will be the year you start volunteering at the homeless shelter, or start taking your photography seriously. But are these really things you want to do? Maybe not. I think this is the first important thing to really look at with your goals. Are they really things you want to accomplish, or just something you’d like to think you want?

For me, this is running. I’d love to be able to say I was a runner, that I hit the road every morning rain or shine and did 5k. I look jealously at the man I drive by on my way to work who is out there, without fail, every morning.

I don’t really want that, though.

I did have a period of enjoying running in my life, but it’s gone now. I have issues with my leg and gait that would require expensive and time-consuming therapy and maybe even surgery to correct. It may be that if I could learn to run bare foot (via my Vibrams) I’d be able to do this. But to really invest the time (and money, but mostly time) into this…it’s not something that’s worth it to me.

This is, I’d say, the second thing to look at about your goals. Unless you spend a large amount of time literally sitting and twiddling your thumbs, to accomplish something big and meaningful means something else in your life has to go. Maybe that’s some time spent playing World of Warcraft, an extra hour of sleep, a coffee with a friend or missing that new episode of Glee (or watching it later on a DVR) just as it airs. You’re not Superman, and your time is limited. If you want to be that guy who gets up at 5am and runs, you have to somehow learn to survive on less sleep or sacrifice something the night before.

Take a wild guess which is the easier of those two choices.

The third thing about goals that you have to realize is that often they do mean a fundamental change in the person you are. This is, I think, what the article I’ve linked to really illustrates well. The last paragraph is gold:

Capable psychonauts who think about thinking, about states of mind, about set and setting, can get things done not because they have more will power, more drive, but because they know productivity is a game of cat and mouse versus a childish primal human predilection for pleasure and novelty which can never be excised from the soul. Your effort is better spent outsmarting yourself than making empty promises through plugging dates into a calendar or setting deadlines for push ups.

This is the key right there. To achieve your goals you have to realize you will probably never really want to do that thing you keep putting off. You’ll never really be in the mood for a 5am run or to spend hours photographing grass in different lights. The key is to decide if this means that it’s not something you really want to accomplish, or if it means it’s time to just go and do it, that it’s important enough for you to sacrifice pleasure right now.

I think it’s about changing your mind and deciding what is important to you and what’s not. When reading this I was reminded of a quote that, in my mind, was credited to Sun Tzu, but when I looked it up, ended up being from Babylon 5.

Claim victory in your heart and the Universe will follow.

This is what beating procrastination is about, claiming victory over it in your heart, and in your mind, and then letting the rest follow through.

The Globe looks at American Apparel CEO Dov Charney

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:10:42 -0400

The Globe looks at American Apparel CEO Dov Charney:

Say what you will about the guy, but he’s built a huge business in 7 years. Even if it is close to failing. It’s a good read.

"Welcome to Nordstrom We’re glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to..."

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:45:46 -0400

“

Welcome to Nordstrom

We’re glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Set both your personal and professional goals high. We have great confidence in your ability to achieve them.

Nordstrom Rules: Rule #1: Use best judgment in all situations. There will be no additional rules.

Please feel free to ask your department manager, store manager, or division general manager any question at any time.

”

- Nordstrom’s Employee Handbook, Years Ago

Are you looking at the borders of two different cities? No,...

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:53:06 -0400

Are you looking at the borders of two different cities?

No, you’re looking at the Toronto mayoral election results.

Maybe we can push for de-amalgamation now? Or would that just be separation?

How do you meet someone?

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:51:54 -0400

jaclynwrites:

I’m back from hiatus. No excuses. Okay, one. I started writing for Woman.ca and it took me a while to get settled in! Anyways. Let’s talk about meeting people. Okay, not just people, but someone.

I’m still trying to figure out the logistics of being single in the city. Where do you meet someone? When you’ve had your fill of being on your own? When you just want to sleep with someone, the same someone, for a while? When you need to genuinely like the person and need them to genuinely like you, when you need them to…

Read More

I haven’t written much on this topic, because it’s not something I feel like I can write convincingly on. I leave that to unbrelievable.

But if I did write something on dating, this would basically be it.

The Bygone Bureau: On Editing

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:12:24 -0400

The Bygone Bureau: On Editing:

The Bygone Bureau talks to three eccentric online news papers about their editing process. The tech geek in me likes the citing of specific programs and tools, while the writing geek in me likes to hear about the process.

Is millennial career jumping a good thing?

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:43:54 -0400

Is millennial career jumping a good thing?:

I’m not sure where I stand on this myself. I expect I’ll leave my current job after around 2.5-3 years, because it’s not exactly what I want to be doing, and my employer knows this, but it’s a good stepping stone. The comments are almost as good a read as the article itself, by the way. As for the why of this…someone brings up the point that many of us Gen Y people saw our parents get shafted with what they thought were long term jobs and so don’t tend to have much loyalty to companies. While this is true, I think another comment hits it on the head with the idea that we can make more money this way. If you stay at one job you have a small chance of promotion and a small raise yearly, if you’re lucky. At the same time, I’d wonder if growing up in times of economic uncertainty (or at least entering the workforce during them) has lead to employers valuing loyalty less and the bottom-line more. Though I can’t say I have any hard data on that.

Backpacking Matt on life in Bangkok

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:50:00 -0400

Backpacking Matt on life in Bangkok:

I still want to go there. This makes me want to go more. But, preferably with a solid enough income I can afford a nice hotel to attend to my introverted and crowd-hating self.

chrisframpton: Iceland, into the Westfjords, the wildest and...

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:16:33 -0400

chrisframpton:

Iceland, into the Westfjords, the wildest and most northerly part of the island. This image hasn’t seen Photoshop, and believe it or not doesn’t even begin to capture what it’s like to see this country with your own eyes.

If this doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will.

Leo Babauta's New Book

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:29:53 -0400

Leo Babauta's New Book:

The guy who does Zen Habits, which I link to constantly, has put out a new book on focusing on what’s important. I bought it already. Really excited for it. There’s a free version too. What have you got to lose?

Guide to Buying a Round The World Ticket

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:21:25 -0400

Guide to Buying a Round The World Ticket:

I almost want to do this just do it, and not actually stay very long in any of the countries, but just spend two weeks and fly around the world. Stay a day or two in maybe 5 places. My ideal itinerary would go:

Toronto - Vancouver
Vancouver - Tokyo
Tokyo - Sydney
Sydney - Cairo
Cairo - Lisbon
Lisbon - Reykjavik

Maybe throw Brazil in there to see one of my favourite people too. If I had a spare, you know, 7 grand.

Reykjavik-Toronto

Thawing Thor

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:29:13 -0400

Thawing Thor:

My favourite travel company (whose services I hope to one day be able to afford) is traveling to Iceland. Their blog is unique, in that it has fun little blurbs on various spots they go to. Their bit on Iceland is a little generic, but it starts to capture the majesty of that land.

Geek Tattoos

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:37:53 -0400

Geek Tattoos:

I find it funny that it seems like the only geek tattoos girls get are Apple ones.

Also, if I ever get a tattoo, it will probably be something geeky.