On this day

November 12th

About notebooks →

Published November 12

The problem facing knowledge work in our current moment is not that we’re lacking sufficiently powerful technologies. It’s instead that we’re already distracted by so many digital tools that there’s no time left to really open the throttle on our brains.

Cal Newport, from https://calnewport.com/forget-chatbots-you-need-a-notebook/

This is something I’ve been thinking about for a few months. I recently went back to my lab notebook habit from 30+ years ago. It’s like discovering a bicycle for your mind: It multiplies the power of what my mind is good at. But not too much. (like a car where you’re completely cut off from the world.) Using a notebook I can hold thoughts outside my mind, return to them, and see them.

There’s also the magic that happens when you hold onto a thought long enough to write it down. That’s much longer than we usually hold on to any thought.

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Begin it →

Published November 12  ·  

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

~ John Anster

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Sit down →

Published November 12, 2024  ·  ,

There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not the writing that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write. What keeps us from sitting down is resistance.

~ Steven Pressfield

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November 12, 2023 — #58 →

Published November 12, 2023  ·  

Reading time: About 5 minutes, 1000 words
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This issue is https://7forsunday.com/58

Our experience of time →

Published November 12, 2023  ·  

Sometimes I sit in a chair on the patio in the afternoon sun. If I’m just the right combination of tired, relaxed, and comfortable, and if the wind, sun, temperature, and soundscape are just so, I can drift into a trance. Time passes. After which, I have no clear sense of whether it was a moment, or ten minutes. It doesn’t seem that time had stopped, rather it feels like time had ceased to affect me. Did I breath? Did I move? Did I even think in that time?

It’s not only that our experiences of space are different. Our experiences of time are likely different, too. We think about the passage of time through our terrestrial experience of unidirectional motion through space – our metaphors of time are almost all grounded in the way our bodies move forward through the environment. Given this fact, how would an octopus, who can easily see and move in all directions, conceptualise time?

~ David Borkenhagen from, Octopus time

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Sometimes I find things on the Internet and there’s a clear takeaway for me, or a clear new-to-me idea or connection. This isn’t one of those times. Instead, I dipped into this article one day, came out the other end aware that it had to be included in a post.

And, perhaps I just fell asleep?

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Happiness →

Published November 12, 2023  ·  

You are genuinely happy if you don’t know why.

~ Joseph Mayer

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An addition to your knowledge →

Published November 12, 2022  ·  , , ,

If you come across any special trait of meanness or stupidity […] you must be careful not to let it annoy or distress you, but to look upon it merely as an addition to your knowledge—a new fact to be considered in studying the character of humanity. Your attitude towards it will be that of the mineralogist who stumbles upon a very characteristic specimen of a mineral.

~ Arthur Schopenhauer

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Writing with Lovelace Cook →

Published November 12, 2021

https://podtalk.show/writing-with-lovelace-cook

How can podcasting serve as a transformative tool for personal growth, cultural exploration, and creative reinvention?

Transitioning from memoir to fiction reshapes the creative journey of a writer.

I’m fascinated with the cultural differences, the difference between coming from a patriarchal society where there are arranged marriages to the western culture which is far more permissive.

~ Lovelace Cook (11:22)

The conversation highlights the impact of podcasting as a creative outlet, especially during a time of professional and personal challenges. It explores how podcasting offers a sense of balance, enabling the speaker to engage with writing, creativity, and self-expression. Starting from a marketing background, Lovelace integrates various media elements like a blog, podcast, and website into a cohesive brand identity.

The discussion also touches on cultural exploration, particularly through interviews with Indian-American authors. These interactions shed light on cultural contrasts, such as patriarchal norms and societal transitions, and their influence on writing and storytelling. Lovelace reflects on their evolving podcast journey, sharing insights about personal growth and community support through workshops and collaborative spaces.

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Growth with Brandon Douglass →

Published November 12, 2021  ·  

https://moversmindset.com/growth-with-brandon-douglass/

What can be learned from reflecting on personal growth and authenticity through the lenses of podcasting and movement?

Exploring the intersection of self-expression and discipline through creative mediums.

Experimentation was key for me. And I think it’s just like, where are you finding the growth?

~ Brandon Douglass (13:04)

This conversation explores the themes of personal growth, authenticity, and creative expression, using podcasting and movement as central mediums. Topics include navigating the gap between public persona and authentic self, the therapeutic and self-reflective aspects of podcasting, and the challenges of overcoming fears both in movement and public speaking. Insights are shared on how the process of self-expression can foster understanding and self-awareness.

The discussion also covers practical aspects of podcasting, such as experimenting with formats, balancing consistency with creativity, and reflecting on past work to identify growth. A significant focus is placed on the importance of intentionality in creative practices and the value of embracing novel approaches to stand out in saturated fields. Movement is presented as both a physical and metaphorical language that enables exploration of different dimensions of self-expression.

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Provided you cooperate →

Published November 12, 2021  ·  

What the pupil must learn, if he learns anything at all, is that the world will do most of the work for you, provided you cooperate with it by identifying how it really works and aligning with those realities. If we do not let the world teach us, it teaches us a lesson.

~ Joseph Tussman

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Fire →

Published November 12, 2021

Stone tools were the first invention, dating back to the beginning of that 2.5-million year period, eventually including simple hand tools such as axes and spears. Maybe a million years later or more, other cavemen learned to control fire, and at some point began cooking their food. They lived in tribes, hunting and foraging together, possibly caring for their weak and infirm, and burying their dead. But other than stone tools, fire, and simple tribal behavior, they had almost nothing else, for most of that 2.5 million years—including at least 100,000 years or more of Homo sapiens existing.

~ Jason Crawford from, The beginning

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I often joke that there are three thing I can stare at endlessly: Fire, moving water, and other people working. And I’ve often expressed my theory that it’s the movement of those first two, (the third we’ll leave aside for today,) which is the key to holding my attention. Fire and water both dance semi-predictably; But not so predictably that the movement is easily ignored. There’s always just enough movement to hold my attention.

When I let the idea settle in that we’ve been staring at small fires—fires which literally represented warmth, safety, food and tribal companionship—for about a million years… Actually, a “million” is hard to apprehend. Let’s say, there are 25 years per generation. We’ve been staring at small fires for about 40,000 generations. No wonder I’m staring at this fire. We’ve evolved to be attracted to fire!

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Celebrate behaving like a human →

Published November 12, 2020  ·  

Not to feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren’t packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human—however imperfectly—and fully embrace the pursuit that you’ve embarked on.

~ Marcus Aurelius, 5.9

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Movers Mindset Three Words →

Published November 12, 2019  ·  , ,

This essay is also presented as episode Craig Constantine: Discovery, reflection, and efficacy of the Movers Mindset podcast.

In each of the Movers Mindset podcast episodes, I ask guests to pick three words to describe their practice. Each guest’s choice has turned out to be a much more interesting and intriguing part of the conversation than we had initially anticipated.

The word practice goes beyond movement and often evokes broader images and ideas that reflect an approach to life. The idea that parkour and movement techniques in general are more than just physical has always been behind Movers Mindset. This is why I focus on ideas and reflection, for example, rather than on flashy videos of daring movement. The deeper dive into the mindset of movers is where the real magic happens.

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Insight on two kinds of people →

Published November 12, 2018  ·  

I am a member of this group, and I have an obligation to treat others as I would like to be treated — I’ll let the guy go before me, clean up the mess, and not waste people’s time for my own minimal gains.

~ Jeff Cerny from, Jeff Cerny’s insight

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I wish Seth had fully attributed what he quoted. Anyway. Hop over and read it…

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Repercussions →

Published November 12, 2013

If I were in government right now, I would be leery of starting another big software project. I’d also know that big software projects are going to be necessary as our civilization gets more and more complex. So, if I were in government right now, I’d be thinking about laws to regulate the Software Industry. I’d be thinking about what languages and processes we should force them to use, what auditing should be done, what schooling is necessary, etc. etc. I’d be thinking about passing laws to get this unruly and chaotic industry under some kind of control.

If I were the President right now, I might even be thinking about creating a new Czar or Cabinet position: The Secretary of Software Quality. Someone who could regulate this misbehaving industry upon which so much of our future depends.

Maybe that thought hasn’t occurred to them yet. Maybe. But how many more healthcare.gov debacles will it take before it does?

~ Bob Martin from, «http://blog.8thlight.com/uncle-bob/2013/11/12/Healthcare-gov.html»

Most people I’ve talked to, (who write software or do systems and network administration,) are in the “I have work to do” camp. They’ve no time to think about professionalization, or standardization, of their field. To which I say:

That’s cool; I understand. No worries! The government will eventually get around to ramming standardization and licensing down your throat. I’m sure that will work out well for us.

If you work in these fields, you should be paying attention. If you wok in network and systems administration, you should be paying attention to LOPSA and Usenix/LISA.

Update:

Feb 2014: Senate Steps Into the Data Breach Controversy

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A man must know his destiny →

Published November 12, 2013  ·  

A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.

~ George S. Patton

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