Google Wave

Just got my Google Wave account. Looks good, but I am amased at how few of my contacts don't have accounts. This put a bit of a damper on the collaboration !

Nokia n900 announcement .. I think I'm disappointed

So I was indeed correct a new Nokia Internet tablet is on its way. And there are many things to like, such as a phone, a much more powerful processor etc.

On the other hand it looks like the new OS will not run on the N8xx hardware, which is disappointing as I don't think I will be buying the new machine.

I agree with this blog by Pengiunbait, in that the reduced size means a smaller screen ( I need a bigger screen but the N810 is the smallest my varifocal eyes can now deal with), and a less adequate keyboard.

This release seems to be heading to be a phone, but I actually want better internet tablet !! I am happy to have a separate (small) phone if necessary.

So I think my requirements and the Nokia Internet family are diverging. Still perhaps they will have the resources to have 2 variants in the range?

Peter Siebel's new book: Coders at Work

Interesting preview by Marc Hedlund. If this book is anything like as good as Practical Common Lisp ( which is very good indeed) then it will be worth owning. Rather a change of topic from Peter but, as Marc points out, the fact that Peter is a coder too allows for a different sort of book from say a journalist doing the interviewing.

See here for a previous entry

N810 prices falling...

I am very happy with my Nokia N810. I noticed that the price was starting to fall again.

Perhaps this is the reason why: RX-51/N900
Now with phone! Obviously, the Google Android is not the only Linux based phone from a major player.

I hope that the (non-phone) parts of the OS are backward compatible with the N810.

A great overview of how to use org-mode

This is super:
Org Mode - Organize Your Life In Plain Text!

Org Mode - Organize Your Life In Plain Text!

I have not studied all of it, but it certainly clarifies a few things for me, points out some new features which had slipped through my net, and shows how to avoid using one huge file for everything! Storing to-dos etc. in a holding file and then working through (weekly review?) looks good.

I am expecting to be spending some time in .emacs again!!

Google Wave

A bit behind the wave (groan), but this looks cool:



Can we integrate it with RTC?

#tweekly summary

Kelly hosted a really useful one-hour Weekly review on Twitter yesterday (6pm BST). Every five miutes or so, Kelly would fire out a tweet marching us throught the 11 steps of the GTD weekly review. Why was this a valuable session (as opposed to following the book by oneself on a Friday pm. say):

1. Having a defined public time was a great way of getting people to actually do the review. For hours, in some cases days, before the event, tweets were going out creating a real buzz.
2. In addition to someone keeping the time (Kelly), she also sent out advice with each 5 minute period to prompt ( "No waiting on list? Check your sent mail!")
3. Kelly was able to answer folks questions - for example, when someone expressed a fear of the "mind sweep" adding too many new to-dos, Kelly was able to offer reassurance!

I'm sure these sessions are not strictly necesary, but the crowd and the great advice/coaching are great motivators - with greater experience I'm sure people will be more suceessful in doing Wekly Reviews alone.

Here is a summary ( with helpful tips) from the Tweets:

* GET CLEAR

** Collect loose papers and materials

*** Gather everything that's loose into an Inbox, Tray or folder.

** Get “In” to zero

*** a good way to process in is 4D's: Delete it, Do it (under 2 mins), Delegate it, Defer it (onto a list)

** Empty your head

*** Open a Word doc, or grab and pad and clear your head for 5 minutes

*** SOME MINDSWEEP TRIGGERS: Family, health, meetings you've had, meetings you're going to have...

*** MORE MINDSWEEP TRIGGERS: Your direct reports, finances, 401k, the dog, your car, health appts you've been putting off...

* GET CURRENT

** Review Action Lists

** Review past calendar data

*** Many times reviewing your old calendar (go back about 3 wks) catches things you meant to do. 3 more mins left)

** Review upcoming calendar

*** REVIEW UPCOMING CALENDAR TIP: if you find something you need to process, you can add to your mindsweep for now.

*** if you don't get anything on reviewing your calendar, try going further out. Recurring Tasks are great for calendar

** Review Waiting For list

*** if you've got a list review it. If you don't have one, what are you waiting on?

*** WAITING FOR TIP: Review your email Sent folder. Usually some waiting for's hiding in there.

** Review Project (and larger outcome) lists

*** Projects are your outcomes that require more than one action step

*** PROJECT TIP: If you are not willing to take any next action on a current project, are you sure it's not Someday/Maybe?

*** PROJECT TIP: Most people we coach have 30-100 current personal & professional projects. Don't be surprised!

*** PROJECT TIP: Projects are typically completed within 18 mos. If you can NEVER mark it done, it's likely an Area of Focus.

** Review any relevant checklists

*** birthday checklists? travel checklists? home mntce?

*** CHECKLIST TIP: Maybe you want to CREATE a checklist? Anything recurring that would be good? What to always pack for vacation?

* GET CREATIVE

** Review Someday/Maybe

*** If you have one, update it. If you don't have one, create it!

*** SOMEDAY TIP: You'll trust S/M list(s) more if you know you're actually going to review them again. Otherwise they'll die.

*** SOMEDAY /MAYBE TIP: S/M is not just a "fantasy wish" list. It can be a fantastic place to stage "not yet" projects.

** Be creative & courageous

*** Any new thought-provoking, creative, risk taking ideas to add to your system?

*** What's REALLY got your attention in your job, family, environment? This is the last step!

Supporting org-mode!

I am a great fan of org-mode (for Emacs) I started using it to Getting Things Done, where it is super for entering tasks, prioritising, tracking and closing. But it is also good for note taking, time recording, simple tables, publishing to a variety of formats.

Strongly recommended - in fact, install Emacs for no other reason !!

Vote for org-mode!!

A modern view of starting Clojure in Emacs with Slime

This looks promising:
in which are found tricks of the trade concerning clojure authorship - Technomancy

Now what about co-existing with SBCL?