Journaling on estrip is easy and free. sign up here

Jim's Journal

jim
My Podcast Link

07/14/2009 08:30 #49285

World's Fastest
Category: internets
From Kottke:


james - 07/14/09 11:32
World's fastest Pomodoro?

07/13/2009 18:30 #49279

Pomodoro Technique
Category: add
image

I love this, have been using it for a couple months to pace myself, even out the manic over-doing it bursts and the can't-seem-to-get-started lows.

Pomodoro Technique Site



The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that can be used for any kind of task. For many people, time is an enemy. The anxiety triggered by "the ticking clock", especially when a deadline is involved, leads to ineffective work and study habits which in turn lead to procrastination.

What do you need to start?

- A kitchen timer
- A sheet of paper

The basic unit of work in the Pomodoro Technique can be split in five simple steps:

- Choose a task to be accomplished
- Set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes (the Pomodoro is the timer)
- Work on the task until the Pomodoro rings, then put a check on your sheet of paper
- Take a short break (5 minutes is OK)
- Every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break



jim - 07/13/09 20:55
Janelle: exactly, the best part of this system is instead of wondering how you're going to get your list done, you just worry about what you're going to fill one time slot with at a time.

As a perennial procrastinator and worrier, this has been great. I set the timer and it's kinda freeing - I don't have to worry about anything else for 25 minutes, and if I picked the wrong 'most important thing' to work on, oh well, I get to reassess priorities frequently while still making measured progress.

It makes the clock feel like an ally instead of a limitation. :)
janelle - 07/13/09 20:25
I think you posted about this before. I might try to do this at work. For me, I need something to push me to get started and to stay focused on mundane tasks. I do a lot of to do lists and I'll look at them and get overwhelmed then never start. I think if I thought I was going to work for a 25 minute increment and then do it, I have a feeling I would be surprised at how much work I get gone.
libertad - 07/13/09 20:24
That actually seems like a great idea. I should give it a try when I need to get something done.
jim - 07/13/09 18:33
It sounds stupid-easy but it works because it's stupid-easy, I think.

07/13/2009 12:56 #49278

Yay Rock Salt


Beef on Weck
image
metalpeter - 07/13/09 19:23
That soup was weird but very good, but I thought the Chicken Wing soup from the same place was better taste wise.
jim - 07/13/09 17:49
Roll not role. Was writing authorization code and my fingers are used to typing role.
jim - 07/13/09 16:40
Yup, a kimmelweck role.
hodown - 07/13/09 15:00
Add that to the list of things I miss about B'lo.
tinypliny - 07/13/09 14:12
Is weck the bread-bun?
paul - 07/13/09 13:21
Yum , (e:james) and I had beef on weck soup yesterday at the taste. It was so weird.

07/12/2009 14:12 #49275

Watching out for squirrels

image
jim - 07/14/09 08:55
I'm worried that since I grew my hair out we're starting to be one of those human/pet combos that match looks just a little too well :)
tinypliny - 07/12/09 15:13
Wow. He has an almost human looking mane. :)

07/11/2009 21:30 #49267

Surfboard 4100 Modem, j'accuse!
Category: internets
So my slow internet problems were due to a cable modem with a known-funky chipset (when it comes to interoperating with Macs on a network).

For two years we've paid for the highest tier of TWC cable internet, and usually had max download speeds of around 200kbs. Then the last month or so it's declined down to about 20kbs for every download, which was ridiculously painful. As in, I could download stuff faster on my phone over cell data networks then I could at home.

That's when I started doing research and found out the problem. I bought a new modem, and we're getting 3mbs average downloads now, and scoring at 14mbs on the speed test sites.

SO MUCH BETTER. We could have had this along :/

CURSE YOU SURFBOARD AND BROADCOM, YOU INTERNETS SPOILING WRETCHES. YAY CISCO/LINKSYS CM100!

Very angry/happy now. I want two years of premium service payments back from TWC. Plus the $3/month rental fee for the TWC-supplied modem. But, OK, I no longer have third world internet access at home.

tinypliny - 07/12/09 00:11
Hehe... I initially had this vision of you and James being sucked into the information highway with mind-blazing speed - but I guess that is not going to happen with.. 384 kilobytes per second? :)
jim - 07/11/09 22:44
It's megabits per second, lowercase 'b' ;)
tinypliny - 07/11/09 22:26
3MB PER SECOND?! o_O REALLY?