From Matt: I think one of the unexpected downsides of social media over the past couple decades is how much they have become dunk machines. Yeah, positive stuff can get some traction as well, but if you want to really get people buzzing and boost those engagement numbers, you’re … | Continue reading
In 2023 I didn’t read as much as I wanted so as a bit of a forcing function I’m planning to talk far more about the books I’m reading in 2024 starting today with a recap of what I read in January 2024. The year has started off well with 5 books read in January, […] | Continue reading
Greg has a good post on productivity culture. The fact that people believe there is a hack to everything is really the issue. Everyone wants a quick, easy fix. 5 minute abs, diet pills, a stupid morning routine — whatever it is you are trying to achieve, all these ‘hacks’ are a w … | Continue reading
While Matt was right about the current AI stock crash, there are also many epic lies being told about AI. From Cruise using 1.5 highly trained technicians per “autonomous” vehicle, to Musk trotting out a robot…or actually a guy in a robot suit, lots of what Big Tech is pushing is … | Continue reading
Like Matt says, yesterday I got a bit of a smile on my face as I dreamed of the AI hype machine dying so quickly after it started as I watched stocks tumble. No I didn’t read the articles that were linked to, I just looked at “stock goes down” and thought “AI = failing”. […] | Continue reading
Prompted by John at Daring Fireball saying that the Apple Vision Pro was heavy I wondered exactly how heavy my bike helmet was. My helmet is about 280g while the Vision Pro is between 600-650g. So it’s about 3x heavier than my bike helmet and the weight is entirely loaded on the … | Continue reading
I’ve produced 106 issues of PKM weekly over the course of 2 years and it’s time for this newsletter to come to an end. As I said to members yesterday, I’ve been hitting a schedule and not producing the writing I think is of greatest value. To produce the writing I think is of gre … | Continue reading
9to5 Mac reports that while Apple will be opening up iOS to alternate appstores and default browsers, the iPad is not going to get these features. See there is evidently some nuance in the ruling saying that iOS is a gatekeeper but that’s not what the iPad runs, it runs iPadOS. T … | Continue reading
I’ve produced two almost weekly newsletters for a few years now, and while I think there is something to be said for hitting a schedule, schedules can also mean you churn out a bunch of low-quality shit that no one wants to read. At this point, I feel like I’ve done more of the l … | Continue reading
My kids are figure skating all weekend and my wife is coaching. I finally have a chance to sit down at 9 pm after starting at 5 am. Family comes first. Have a great weekend. | Continue reading
Lee Peterson is moving to an iPad as his primary work machine. This is the same way I feel about the iPad. If I want to sit down and plan my to do list I can do it with Things 3 and the Apple Pencil, if I want to type things up (list this post) […] | Continue reading
In response to Apple’s policies on external purchase for AppStore apps Brent has this to say. But I need to remember, now and again, that Apple is a corporation, and corporations aren’t people, and they can’t love you back. You wouldn’t love GE or Exxon or Comcast — and you shoul … | Continue reading
After spending much of 2022 and 2023 not using my iPad that much outside of watching YouTube videos and running Zwift for bike training, I’ve started to make the move back to using the iPad as my primary writing and RSS consumption place. One of the issues that had me move away f … | Continue reading
Yet again the “benevolent dictator for life” Matt Mullenweg yet again feels the rules don’t apply to his personal projects. While I like so much about WordPress and can thank my involvement in the community with the house we live in, I really dislike how Matt treats much of the c … | Continue reading
If you get value out of this newsletter consider supporting it by becoming a member. You can either get my weekly thoughts or all my courses and my weekly thoughts. You could also purchase a course if that fits your needs better. You can get this in your inbox by signing up. Are … | Continue reading
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After the recent updates from Platformer about the Substack Nazi problem I wasn’t convinced that they’d leave the platform. In fact Casey says he wasn’t emphatic enough about his distaste for how little Substack did in the face of criticism. In his words: I attempted to write a s … | Continue reading
I thought I was done talking about Substack and Nazis, but nope. It seems the letter that asked Substack to prefer free speech over moderation was started by the Substack founder Hamish Mackenzie. So Mackenzie started the letter, then hides behind it as a reason not to moderate N … | Continue reading
He had 600k words after 800 posts. I wonder what my almost 4k posts would turn into word count wise. I feel very tempted to publish books by year for my site. At the very least it would make my writing accessible for my kids after I die and my site goes away. | Continue reading
This is the current read later app I’m using. There are some UI issues when using it on your iPad, like highlights not matching the cursor when you’re using an external monitor, but the Obsidian sync is excellent. | Continue reading
This ASUS laptop is a very cool piece of tech coming out of CES this year. I love the idea of having two screens on the go, and while it’s not as repairable as my Framework, you can replace some of the parts if you’re brave enough according to Linus Tech Tips. Now it does […] | Continue reading
Since I first talked about the issue with Nazis on Substack there have been many words spent on the Substack Nazi issue, and while it seems that much has been done, Substack itself has done as little as possible. As of Jan 9th 2024 they’ve committed to removing 5 Nazi publication … | Continue reading
If you get value out of this newsletter consider supporting it by becoming a member. You can either get my weekly thoughts or all my courses and my weekly thoughts. You could also purchase a course if that fits your needs better. Members also get all my book notes. You can get th … | Continue reading
Kelly talks about the stress of leaving Substack because it affects her income. As mentioned, I have rehomed my Organizing My Thoughts. While the move was necessary, I am pretty stressed out about it. As a disabled writer and organizer, the income I get from my paid subscribers m … | Continue reading
Are there any polymaths anymore? Can someone know everything today with how fast information expands? Today we talk about how calling someone a polymath is purely about stroking their ego. To read these posts become a member. Members get access to my raw book notes and my courses … | Continue reading
Molly White’s email newsletter left Substack because Nazi’s aren’t cool. I particularly liked this quote from an embedded Tweet. When you argue that fascists should be defeated through debate what you’re actually suggesting is that vulnerable minorities should have to endlessly a … | Continue reading
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, is now testing out a new take on money as he’s now $1Billion in debt Dad. Now he says this debt is “good” because it’s in stuff like precious metals which he thinks are more stable in value than the US dollars he spent to get there. [ … | Continue reading
From yesterday’s edition of Platformer: Thanks to everyone who wrote to us over the break regarding Substack’s response to criticism that it is hosting and monetizing dozens of extremist publications, including some that are openly advocating for genocide against Jewish people. I … | Continue reading
A few weeks back I shared a story of trains being bricked because the manufacturer didn’t like who was working on them. Then some programmers found that the trains were shut off in software if they spent time at an unauthorized repair shop. Well now the train manufacturer will ne … | Continue reading
According to my site statistics the top 5 posts as voted by readers are. The first striking thing to me is that none of those posts were published in 2023. Number 4 was published in 2021 and all other posts were published in 2023. Looking at my YouTube stats we see a bit of varia … | Continue reading
I recent controlled study of 100 homeless people given 750/month for a year shows that they don’t spend on drugs as many basic income naysayer suggest, they get housing and clothing and food. I’ve covered this topic a number of times, with the most comprehensive look being Basic … | Continue reading
Unread has a TestFlight beta for macOS. Unread has been my RSS reader of choice for iPadOS and iOS for years and now they’re coming out with a macOS version that you can try. I’ve been using it for a few hours and while there are some features I miss, I don’t see a way […] | Continue reading
Peter McKinnon on 800 days of note. I use a notebook at my desk all the time and have at time carried a Field Notes book in my pocket. Despite everything that digital tools are good at, a notebook is the right tool for the job sometimes as well. | Continue reading
Over the last number of issues I’ve been writing down thoughts on getting more thinking time but for 2024 I’m going to double down on thinking about thinking. To start I’ll be revamping my to read pile so that it’s focusing on the subject of making space in your life, and how to … | Continue reading
We recap a bit about future projects and the books I’m reading over Christmas.. | Continue reading
After 36 frozen hours on Linkedin Seth reminds us that we should own our content. I am continually dumbfounded when people share this type of thing as I’ve been saying you should own your content for over 10 years now. After the continual screw ups of platforms, from supporting N … | Continue reading
This was an interesting article about Taylor Swift being Conservatives biggest foe. I find it incredulous, but not surprising, that Conservatives like Laura Loomer will claim that Taylor Swift is trying to “interfere” with elections because she’s telling people to vote. It’s almo … | Continue reading
Currently I use two iPads. I have a M1 12.9” iPad Pro 1TB and an iPad Mini 6 256GB. These iPads hold two different spaces in my computing life. My iPad Pro is where I do much of my writing and note-taking. It’s attached to an external monitor and a keyboard much of the time. […] | Continue reading
The iPad Mini hasn’t been touched since 2021, and this is the one iPad I’m not super worried about camera placement. I would like to see it get a processor bump to the A16 or M1, as well as some reduced bezels if they can. I disagree with reduced bezels for the iPad Mini. I use m … | Continue reading
Since I recommended the creator below the Substack Nazi problem has gotten worse with the founder doubling down on supporting Nazi’s as “free speech”. I’ve unsubscribed from all Substack newsletters now noting that I don’t support Nazi’s but I really do want to draw attention to … | Continue reading
Today we talk about the power of focused attention and how many jobs don’t let us have any time to focus our attention on the work they are theoretically paying us to do. To become a member sign up. Members get all my book notes and courses.. | Continue reading
From Matt: Would you read the blog posts you write? Would you watch your own videos? Remember that making good shit is about making things people enjoy, so think about what you like and try to make things that you would be excited to see when you’re browsing the web. We’re all un … | Continue reading
I’m sure someone is going to try and blast me for talking about OrgMode and then using Vim in the same sentence, because OrgMode is an Emacs thing not a Vim thing and the divide between users of the editors often seems like a holy war. As I said in my article on my issues […] | Continue reading
According to a new study by the Stanford Internet Observatory shared with 404 Media ahead of publication, the researchers found the suspected instances of CSAM through a combination of perceptual and cryptographic hash-based detection and analysis of the images themselves. Larges … | Continue reading
Before I started using Day One in January last year, I watched every review and setup video available. Many emphasised the speed of typing over handwriting, and I agreed. My hand couldn’t match the pace of my thoughts, which I saw as a drawback. So, I decided to subscribe and typ … | Continue reading
The academic publishing platform only mediates between the same group of people separated by time – squeezing them at both ends. This process can only be described as a highly lucrative scam. – Koen Hufkens – Burn the candle at both ends It’s insane that research is so locked up. … | Continue reading
This article on CBC talks about the thriving independent bookstore industry in Canada where readers of printed material are younger. Ebooks had a surge, then have dropped back and print remains strong. This was also detailed at length in Book Wars. You can read my summary of Book … | Continue reading
If you get value out of this newsletter consider supporting it by becoming a member. You can either get my weekly thoughts or all my courses and my weekly thoughts. You could also purchase a course if that fits your needs better. You can get this in your inbox by signing up. Ther … | Continue reading