To-Do Lists Don't Work (and I disagree)

Daniel Markovitz:

To-do lists don’t prevent you from choosing the most pleasant tasks over the most important (and often most difficult) ones because they lack “commitment devices” that lock you into a course of action that you might not otherwise choose.

True. That’s why you pick 6 tasks to do that day, preferable the night before. These are a mix of ‘fun’ to-do’s and important unpleasant tasks.

Blaming your list because you don’t seem able to pick the right tasks is like blaming your car for running over a pedestrian because you don’t want to use the brakes.

Changing Google

Brian S Hall:

The web is becoming real-time, social, hyperlocal and mobile. The web where Google earned its fortune, where Google still earns all its money, is a relic, a dinosaur.

Sure it is, and offering up real-time, social results based on one’s social profiles all around the web is where Google should be going. The thing is, they’re just bumping up the importance of Google+. They’re not following the change of the web, their trying to guide it. And that’s what I do not like.

Moleskine Lego Red Brick Plain Large Black: Limited Edition (Moleskine Cover Art) [Hardcover]

Amazingly awesome:

A special limited edition collaboration between Lego and Moleskine, this large sized notebook has a black debossed cover with a red Lego screenprint on it and comes with a red Lego brick. The inside has 240 plain pages, a coloured bookmark ribbon, themed flyleaf and an inner pocket in coloured fabric. It comes with Lego themed adhesive labels.

PrivacyScan

Protect your online and offline privacy by shredding files that can be used to track your web browsing and computer usage.

Who thought we would ever need such an app to protect ourselves from Google, of all web companies?

I just bought it for 4 euros on the Mac App Store. Sounds like a deal to me.

Happiness Takes (A Little) Magic

Brian Lam striking social media gold:

I also stopped reading twitter and facebook regularly, because most of my online acquaintances are nice, but I like to think about these experiences as shallow and yes, also I don’t give a shit about 99% of people I interact with online. I’ve met some great friends online, but once I find them I would prefer to spend that time and energy with the few I would do anything for. Also, clicking the like button 1 billion times will never give you an orgasm or a hug or a high five.

The secrets Apple keeps

Adam Lashinsky for Fortune, as a teaser for his just-released book “Inside Apple”:

Steve Jobs once said that not talking about the inner workings of the company is something he borrowed from Walt Disney. The creator of the original Magic Kingdom felt the magic the public attributed to Disney would be diminished by excessive focus on what went on behind the scenes.

Interesting article. Too bad there’s no way to get his book in digital form in Belgian for this moment.

Life as a Conscious Practice

Leo Babauta at Zenhabits:

Be aware, without feeling guilty or angry at yourself, of what you’re doing and thinking. You will forget to do this, but remind yourself.

That’s what I’m trying to do. Be aware.

iPad Textbooks: Reality Less Revolutionary Than Hardware

Wired:

“Is there any real learning advantage from electronic textbooks? Probably not,” said Ron Owston, director of the Institute for Research in Learning Technologies at Canada’s York University. “It will just be more up-to-date learning.”

In defense of slow TV

Todd VanDerWerff at A.V. Club:

But watching some shows slowly and taking time to savor their episode-by-episode pleasures will often unlock a world you didn’t know existed within a show you’ve been curious about or one you already loved.

He gives the example of Mad Men, Breaking Bad and Sopranos. He’s absolutely right.

These shows are like a good bottle of whisky, meant to be enjoyed in small amounts over an extended period of time. While shows like How I Met Your Mother and Glee are more like a bottle of Canady Dry, you could easily gulp it down in one sitting.