Information R/evolution

Found on Merlin Mann's 43folders. This is an excellent video presentation by Michael Wesch on how digital technology is affecting the way that we deal with information.

On note taking and other important stuff

I'm in grad school working on an MS in EE and for note taking have found that nothing beats plain white copy paper. It's cheap ($2-3 per ream) and with a 3-hole punch and an inexpensive 1” 3-ring binder is very versatile. I have one binder for each course. I like the 1-1/2” wide binders because I can easily fit 2 or 3 in my bag. I have tabs to divide syllabus and course schedule, notes, handouts, and blank paper. Other tools include a good ol' Pink Pearl eraser, a Z-Grip 0.5mm mechanical pencil, and Pilot G-2 0.7 mm gel pens in red and blue ink and a Pilot G-2 Pro fine point in black ink. With these tools I can quickly capture notes and diagrams. The only things that I type up are homework assignments and lab reports. In my computer, I have files for each class and sub-files for homework, labs, and lecture notes (PowerPoint presentations and PDFs supplied by the professors). With my trusty Moleskine pocket squared notebook to keep track of my deliverables and other stuff I am able to leave my Dell Latitude D520 notebook computer put away until I get to the library.

Discontinued - Your kidding?

I just found out that my trusty TI-86 has been discontinued. So I'm using a relic. Hmmm. Well, anyway, everyone knows that real engineers use HPs. I bought the TI before I knew better anyway. Let's take a look at what they've got.

Wow. Look at the HP-50. Nice!

Oops, $149.99?

Um, the TI still works great, and besides, it's not the calculator, its the skill of the operator that counts.

Ya, that'll work.

Getting Things Done

I finally got around to buying David Allen's book (I bought it from Amazon along with one of the textbooks that I need for one of my grad courses). So far it is a pretty easy read. The book organizes a lot of what I know and have learned from working in industry for 18 years. I'll need to get through it all, digest it, and read through it again before I decide on what it can do for me. At this point, two thumbs up. I just need to put it down and get back to my textbooks occasionally.

Reliving the 80s with Pandora

I'm just sitting here doing some random browsing on line with Pandora open in another tab. I've got several stations set up that I can go to depending on my mood. Tonight, I selected the Electric Light Orchestra station and so far there has been a steady stream of "oldies" coming across. Starting with ELO, there has been The Police, Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, and now Bryan Adams is up. Each song brings back memories and feelings from a long time ago. It's actually quite amazing to me how music creates such an emotional response.

What to do?

I'm trying to figure out what I want to accomplish today. I'm a functional procrastinator and if I don't sit down and organize myself in the morning, I'm just kind of random throughout the day. At the end of the day I really don't feel like I have accomplished anything.

I started listening to podcasts from Merlin's Mann's 43 Folders blog and have downloaded a series on getting things done. I started listening to it on my walk last night and it is no surprise that I'm not the only one with this problem. What is surprising is that someone else actually has to time to spend really thinking about this issue. Merlin and his guest must have some very important projects that they are putting off. It seems that it is common to find lots of other things to do (like I am doing now) rather than getting done what needs to be done. The trick seems to be that if you are going to procrastinate getting done what needs to be done by doing other things, make those other things that you do things that need to be done. In other words, waste time with worthwhile activities.

Perhaps I'll finish listening to Merlin's podcast on my walk tonight, if something else doesn't come up.