I write many forms of posts & enjoy them all. But as my friends would know, my love for them is not equal. So then, why do I continue to publish them? An apt metaphor from Robin Sloan made me ponder on the same today. I published a few thoughts, a healthy reminder on the same.
Can we recover a physical literature? Can we recover a literature that is not merely read but felt? The library museum gestures at just such a possibility.
Source: Ode to the Library Museum →
At a time, visiting Techmeme homepage was a respite from the typical downer news on the front page of mainstream news portals. They debated the political & legal mess we are in and advertised false promises. Instead, I would be excited by all the updates from the tech space – new hardware devices, new software updates.
Sigh! That time is no more. When I visited the Techmeme homepage, it was full of just what I was running from earlier – legal and political mess. And advertisements for stuff that isn’t available yet, something we call rumours.
While I was writing the post yesterday about my dependence on smartphones, I realized how misunderstood the term “dependence” has become in the context of this device. Most articles I read about this assume it is the indulgence or addiction one talks about. I was talking about neither of these – I depend on this device to carry out many of the tasks I regularly do. Unfortunately, this factor gets lost in all the hullabaloo about the addictive nature of smartphones.
With new lights, this spot that I have walked across so many times looked different. I liked the shades of yellow amidst the shadows. I wish I could capture it better.
I wonder if no one on Micro.blog creates any type of long-form posts using the web editor. I can’t be the only one who finds this interface too limiting. It is suitable only for short updates. The goal of keeping things simple shouldn’t hamper the experience of writing posts. Whenever I attempt to write a long post with this interface, I instantly look for other options. Sure, I don’t switch. But I would love to avoid having this feeling.
Saving and building on a draft is unnecessarily complicated. Keyboard shortcuts do not work consistently – undo/redo often messes up the post. This is exasperated by the already small editor window. In addition, the experience is not consistent between writing a new post and editing a draft.
This isn’t the first time I have complained about the writing interface. I wrote this almost a year ago (and that wasn’t the first either).
The editing experience remains poor for long-form posts – both from a desktop and a mobile device. It’s a great system with a promising base, but still has a long way to go before I can use it for the longer form content.
Neither am I the only one with the request. The editor is the most essential part of any blogging system. I hope Manton gets time to work on fixing it, an ask that’s pending for too long now. Without this, the platform isn’t fit for the blogging needs of full-length posts.
Go to bed when you are tired, and allow your body to wake you in the morning (no alarm clock allowed).
Source: Can You Catch Up on Lost Sleep? →
I agree with this “no alarm clock” part wholeheartedly. When you wake up consistently, without an alarm, you are sleeping well.
Amit Gawande Takes "The Colbert Questionert"
According to a source, these questions “cover the full spectrum of human experience”. I don’t care if they do. I answer.
- Best sandwich? Cheese Grilled
- What’s one thing you own that you really should throw out? Boxes that old gadgets came packaged in.
- What is the scariest animal? Spider
- Apples or oranges? Oranges, any day. But I can’t get them every day.
- Have you ever asked someone for their autograph? Yes. Brett Lee the famous Australian Cricketer. Indian players are hard to walk up to. I also want an autograph from many who make me feel starstruck.
- What do you think happens when we die? Somewhere, a new chapter begins again.
- Favorite action movie? The Bourne Identity
- Favorite smell? Earthy smell after a fresh summer rain.
- Least favourite smell? Spoiled eggs.
- Exercise: worth it? Absolutely. But I don’t regularly.
- Flat or sparkling? What’s sparkling?
- Most used app on your phone? Photos
- You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it? Abhi Mujh Me Kahin by Sonu Nigam
- What number am I thinking of? 14 (this question I am answering)
- Describe the rest of your life in 5 words. Aren’t those too many words?
(h/t Pete Moore)
Against all odds, Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman is a very good show. But why does it look like that? You know what I’m talking about—the so-called “Netflix Look.”
I wish there was a technology that could capture the smell you are experiencing, just the way you can the colours with a camera. Some smells give such bliss and are so unique (at least to my nose) that I wish I could capture and share the joy with my dear ones.