Author: spierzchala

37Signals’ Backpack is the current darling of the GTD crowd. The praise and joy is flooding through the universe as the influencers and blogerati espouse this new saviour. One example here.
Maybe I still don’t get it. Maybe I never will.
It’s a ToDo list. Electronic ToDo lists don’t do it for me. I think I live a very digital life. But electronic organizing tools have never helped me get organized. I have to go through the act of writing the task or action down in a physical format for it to be real.
When I look at something like BackPack, I realize that my HipsterPDA is far better at helping me be organized.
Turning on my laptop or PDA to see my ToDo list? No. That is not getting things done. I see that as letting the tool get in the way of the next action.
This is how I get organized. Others obviously find BackPack useful.
For me, GTD is about freeing myself from the burden of my digital life, not tying myself to it more and more. And in order to do that, all I need is deck of blank 3X5 index cards and a Moleskine (Ok, a large supply of both!).

TECHNORATI: GTD, BackPack, Hipster PDA, Index Cards, Moleskine

Rumour over at Techdirt is that United Airlines is going to offer very pricey WiFi to their passengers. [here]
Scoble tells us that SAS offers this service for $30. On a flight to Europe or to the West Coast, $30 for connected WiFi is a very good deal.
However, Scoble also points out the other problem: power.
United is where I collect my airline loyalty miles. If they would get some customer service, I would be happy to fly with them more often.
Peter Davidson has more on this here.

TECHNORATI: WiFi, United Airlines, Scoble, Boeing, SAS

We had a party for the boys at the Consulate today, complete with an inflatable moonwalk jumper.
They are completely fried: deep, crispy and Kentucky. But they both had a lot of fun and I got to meet a lot of the parents I hear about, but never see in person.
And it is still stinkin’ hot up here. One of those nights where you wish the storm would come.

It’s all over the web tonight. Intel-powered Apples. Back in the middle of May, I speculated that given the slow development on cooling the G5 enough to fit into a laptop, Apple was stuck. It had to choose either Intel or AMD to move forward.
Even if this predicted marriage does not come true, Apple has a tough choice to make soon. The PowerPC chip is falling behind.
Then again, Jobs could surprise us all, again.

TECHNORATI: Apple, Intel, Steve Jobs, Powerbook, AMD

Enough with the G5 Powerbook rumours.
Well, unless Steve Jobs has found a way to defy the laws of physics, a picture of the G5 Powerbook can be found here.
A G5 Powerbook violates the zeroth, first, second, third, and most likely the Illuminati-held secret fourth law of thermodynamics.
Calm down. Not physically possible.
Oh, I forgot: you’re Apple people. Reality is as The Steve preacheth.

Flickr:
I like to entertain myself by typing random words into your search engine and seeing what comes up.
I know: blows GTD all to hell. But it is interesting to see what is out there.
Anyway, the search function has been busted all day.
Gonna be back soon?
Thanks!

Ok, I caved. Purple Metallic and Black Matte.
I am slave to fashion.
Damn they feel good on Moleskine paper.
Damn you Merlin.
Ok, you’re not the only one…but you can take it…and it’s hard to tag Joi Ito with the blame — he moves around too much!
Maybe I should blame Parmet again…nah! He turned me onto the G2s.
Hey! David! You owe us an updated “What’s in your bag?” photo with the Waterfield!

Back in March I commented on some things that Dave Winer said about California Schools. [here]
The main point of the discussion was that the California Public School system is in a near third-world state (with apologies to the oppressed in the third-world) due to the short-sightedness and greed that grew out of Proposition 13.
Today, Tom Foremski chimes in with pretty much the same point. [here]
It is shocking to me that the world’s sixth largest economy can have a public education system that is the shame of the nation. When I explain to people in Massachusetts, when they complain about schools here, that teachers have to ask parents to supply paper towels and toilet paper, they are shocked.
California has a beautiful veneer over a core that is disintegrating and changing rapidly. This morning, I heard a story on NPR [link to follow later] about a South LA school torn apart by racial conflict — latinos against blacks. Many will chalk this up as a city issue, one unique to LA. It’s not. The latino population of California is growing, and the public school system is failing these children.
What to do?
It comes down to one thing — avarice. Until the people of California can overcome their greed, the children of California will wallow in a public education system that is the shame of the industrialized world.

Having worked for the world’s absolutely worst manager — legal reasons prevent me from releasing details — I can sympathize.
Scott Berkun has some great advice for those who think that their manager is really awful. Sometimes, it’s not as bad as it seems, and something can be done.
Leon at Lifehack adds to this by telling us how to turn around a conversation.