Sometimes Silent

POPSCI EXCLUSIVE The 11-Year Quest to Create Disappearing Colored Bubbles - Popular Science

This is a great story! And they’re right, I’ll be buying a bottle of colored bubbles when they come out

EDIT: I just thought of something:

Flavored bubbles. I looked at the picture of the colored bubbles and I thought of flavors immediately. One problem I can see with it is that kids would probably just want to drink the solution from the bottle. Another problem is that though bubbles are non-toxic I doubt the present formula really has been purposely tested for drinking tons of it and where they’d want to encourage kids to eat bubbles.

Still… I think I’ll write these folks, hehe.

Technorati tags:colored bubbles,
inventions

So Getting Things Done what is it?

It’ s a book about getting organized. I first read it in February of 2004. I got gung ho about it and followed it to the letter at first. I also experimented with a paper system partially modeled after something in 43 Folders, decided I was taking too much time and trouble in trying out a new system and then I settled on an electronic system involving a Treo PDA/Cell Phone.

After a few months though, I slacked off a little in that I didn’t always empty my email in-boxes, and then I slacked off a little more by not checking my tickler files. Now; however, I’m back on track.

What I did not fail to do since February of ‘04, was to keep my task and project lists. I think for that part alone, this book was well worth it. And when I’m completely on track, I’d say it’s even more so.

The whole thing centers around two main things in my mind. One is “what the next action” is. Care is taken to show you that the next action isn’t something like, “Clean the apartment” but “Pick up the clothes on the floor” which can be the difference between something that sounds overwhelming and something that can be done. Taken to bigger levels it can mean that “Get a new job” can be accomplished one smaller next action at a time instead of being a nagging thought in your brain.

The other main concept I found very helpful was actions in context. This is so that you only keep in mind things that can be done when you can actually do them. You don’t sit at work worrying about cleaning your apartment. Also, when you are out at errands, you have a list of things that can be done while out on errands, or even things that can be done anywhere, including while waiting for a haircut for instance.

Both of these things help your mind in a few ways. One, you are breaking down big things into manageable steps…. at the same time you are recording these things so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to do them. Two, you don’t spend time worrying about something you can’t get done in the moment anyway.

As I said, even though I slacked off for maybe 3.5 months total since February of 2004, I still think the Getting Things Done system really helped me. Plus, the system is so easy and — as I found out — forgiving once you get done with the first brain dump, that you can get back into it without much guilt and catch up work.

I forsee sticking with this for years to come.

Technorati Tags: gtd, getting things done

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Today I went to the services for a friend and the Celebration of his life afterwards. He passed away after battling Leukemia for 16 months, he was only 47 years old and leaves behind two sons, a stepson and a loving wife… And so many friends and extended family and fans and admirers.

It is at once sobering and strangely uplifting to see how many people have stories about a man whom I knew at first only by reputation and then through his son and finally through my own terms. I call him a friend but I think I really did not earn the right to call him one. Especially when so many others closer to him grieve so very much.

Still, I have shed many tears for this man, who, though famous, was so personable, easy to approach and so willing to listen and find out what you had to say, even about topics in which he was an acknowledged expert. I think that is why I have shed many tears in fact. Because he was a rare person indeed to be so helpful and open. And because he loved his family so much. And everytime I thought of my friend interacting with his dad I got a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that they had the type of relationship I have seen.

Like many, I do have regrets. I regret that I did not have a few more meetings with him, I think if I had I would then feel more comfortable calling him my friend. I regret not making and giving him a joke gift I had planned just for him. I regret that he won’t see his latest project be released and see it gain him many more fans. And I have many many regrets that he won’t share life events with his family.

But… he would’ve been the first to say be happy and try not to have regrets. So now that I have typed them I will try to move on and instead I will have years of memories to be thankful for and even souvenirs of his work to cherish and when his latest project is released I will smile anytime his work in it is praised.