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The Hero in Prison
Reading the Letter From Birmingham Jail was the beginning of my philosophical studies. Written by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963, this letter was the first rational and ethical defense I had read of the imprisoned man. I was eighteen years old, in plenty of trouble with the law, and in between punishments for crimes that I did not think were wrong. MLK provided an ethical context for the imprisoned man in an unjust society, proving to me that a man in prison was not [...]
3 GTD Tips: How to Make Things Happen
In the middle of a geek-out session with a good friend, comparing productivity apps, he asked the big question: How do you manage all these lists without getting overwhelmed? I reviewed the basic principles of Getting Things Done, the task management philosophy developed by David Allen. Even after reading the book, implementing these productivity protocols can break down if you don't follow these three GTD tips: 1. Put everything in one inbox. My friend is comparing Things and 2do, two excellent GTD-based task [...]
Frictionless Blogging
I'm writing this post on my phone, and I'm hitting 'Publish' before it's ready. This is one of the few blogging ideas that can make Corbett Barr stop and say, "Hey, I've never heard that before." He was interviewing Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, as part of a Fizzle course called Start A Blog That Matters. Leo brought up the concept of Frictionless Blogging, and when a blogger as accomplished as Corbett reacted with surprise and interest, I knew it was [...]
How-To Video Screencast Tutorials
People who know how to make a screencast tutorial have an undeniable advantage in communicating complex ideas on the Internet. Video screencasts are easy to make, and with a few video skills, they can look really good. But what really makes a great tutorial is: Storytelling. The web is a visual menagerie, and as you surf from place to place, pretty things can capture your attention for a moment. What makes you stop and pay attention, though - that's not [...]
The Year of the Hermit
This year, the Tarot card I have drawn on my birthday is a mighty fitting one for where I am in my life. The Hermit has two interpretations: the recluse who lives alone, or, the returning hero, who learned fantastic new things during a solitary journey into the wide world beyond. This card is drawn when a period of profound seclusion and introspection is begun, or is ending - and the fruits are borne and shared. I have spent the past [...]
Why Breaking New Years Resolutions Is Good For You
I think New Year's Resolutions are okay to break. The purpose of a resolution isn't to stick to a plan, but to calibrate which habits are the right ones for you, right now. Disclaimer: I break most of my resolutions within a week. My birthday is January 7, and I believe that holidays and birthdays are for feasting and making merry. When I have a New Year's Resolution to refrain from drinking alcohol on a weekday, for example, and my birthday [...]