Zen and the struggle of blogging

As I basked in the sun this afternoon, I finally got around to starting a re-read of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

It was one of the first book I bought for the Kindle, way back on July 19th 2010 - so I just made it before it had lingered for two years. Part of the reason is that I've read the book before, guessing round 1996 or so. So the urge to read it has ebbed and flowed a bit. But today seemed like the perfect day to jump back in.

The intention is to read it it suitable chuncks, then use a nugget or two to spark of a post here, repeat until completed. Then reread the posts and make one final reflection on the book, the process and my thoughts.

Last time I read in during a binge of beat novels mixed with some epic fantasy. This time it is a possible first dive into more active reading - with Ulysses, Gravity Rainbow and Infinite Jest on the long list for fall (dark nights and rain presumed suitable backdrop)

Caring about what you are doing is considered either unimportant or taken for granted.Read more at location 551

Guess this might be called the zen simplicity? The simple act of commitment, it is either to obvious or to much.

For someone who loves what they do, the simple fact that a lot of people "just do the job" seems almost unreal. Why would anyone stay in a job just to do it, if it doesn't five them more than a paycheck?

And visa verca, why would any one actually be "married to the job", when they could just leave it behind at 5 and start enjoying their leisure time?


- ...and the sun shone truly brightly all day and long into the night - finally summer ...

Here a quark, there a...?

Some potentially big science news over the weekend - looks like the CERN teams working with the LHC might have found the Higgs Boson.

I'm not going to take a shot at explaining just why it is such a big deal - but the video below is a very good overview. Sufficient to say that it might change a lot of our understanding of the Universe and matter.

I got it via NASA... which I in turn found via Jay Rosen @NYU on twitter, it was his crowd sourced recommended overview of the story. The power of networks and digital access.



Another solid piece well worth a read was in NYT - snappy title and all;  "Physicists Find Elusive Particle Seen as Key to Universe"

In Geneva, 1,000 people stood in line all night to get into an auditorium at CERN, where some attendees noted a rock-concert ambiance. Peter Higgs, the University of Edinburgh theorist for whom the boson is named, entered the meeting to a sustained ovation.

Must say that what I most wanted to see was a Big Bang Theory instant update from Sheldon, but so far no luck.

Strike a pose - there IS something to it

Another non-online Wired piece - on the Harvard Business School (assistant) professor - Amy Cuddy - and her work on body language as a life hack.

Turns out that not only will visualizing an action help you as you perform it, but doing "high power poses" before you do an interview or a performance will makes you (appear) more competent and enthusiastic!

Says a lot about mind over matter - and the old adage of "think happy thoughts". Not only at the moment influences you and thereby the audience. But up front actions spill through.

Does that makes us really simple mammals, or extremely adaptable? Borderline magic? You don't see me doing it, yet it changes how you see me.

How many other factors transfer across time? Will smiling a lot before a meeting transfer into a good mood regardless of expressions during the meeting? And does it work when the audience is aware of it, looking more intently on the actual performance and trying to read the body language behind the body language?


Where do I sign up for taking a masters degree and digging into this? Seriously, it sparks of some many questions and permutations. 



Hungry for more, check out the video of Amy Cuddy from PopTech



Or just get it on with Madonna - Vogue your way into the good spot.

Write me a story - it's good for you

Clive T column in Wired 20-05,  talks about the creative benefit of writing fanfic.

Interesting points on the value of working within constraints, having to mold your story to the rules and themes of the "canon" you are working with. But it is unclear why this would be better or preferable to "pure" creation, be it written or other forms of art.

When you play in someone else's sandbox, you just go with the rules - sure, you can hear things in a vacum - rather than exploring the boundaries and rules you find suitable.

So, fanfic as a testing grounds, a "gateway drug" into creating - and most importantly into taking feedback on the work you make?


- ...and the sun was here, then it hid away again, playing with us for the weekend once again...

Splat!

Planning on digging into some more Dexter over the weekend - so it was fun to see a story on new equations for blood spatter in Wired (20-05 issue, story not online, apps only)

Illustration, trajectories Wikipedia

There is, however, a Wikipedia article on "bloodstain pattern analysis" - with a solid assortment of images and animations (like the one linked on the left) explaining some of the maths and science behind it.

Also came across "Introduction to Blood Spatter Analysis"- a full on handout with excersises and tasks, taking you through the very basics of measuring and identifying patterns. It is from back in 2003, but the basics should still apply pretty well.

Dropping single drops from assorted heights, then onto multiple drops from same height, assorted surfaces and so on. #Science


Sometimes the smallest things can make a huge difference.

Maybe? Not an option

Do or do not. ..............


Did you fill out the rest of the quote?
Did it just jump into your head?

Why is it so memorable? Because it juxtaposes the normal way of saying it. Sure, but also because the point goes deeper. It makes sense on a base level.

Posted a long time ago about saying hell yeah based off a podcast by CC. Now he just had a post on saying NO. Which iterates some of the same points. Don't do anything just to do it. Don't do it halfway or partially. If you can't commit - don't bother. And if the other party can't? Same.


And by that little round a bout we get to the inspiration for the detours, namely

CREATIVITY IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT

the title font just looks so right, guess we'll have to keep it...! The post is not new. I mailed it to myself end of May in 2011. No comments, no notes, just the link. No idea anymore where I picked it up unfortunately. And no idea what I might have planned on writing.

But that is the great thing about being in this wonderful month of June - flow all the way. 

Flow is a wonderful, and sometimes necessary, state. It is great when coding (rather than debugging or just tweaking). And when writing it is the fuel for the fire. Writing begets writing. One post sparks off ideas for more.

So why is that post from last year worth your time? Because of the attitude - birthright puts a spin on the rest of the post. This isn't just something you should pick up for fun or profit. It is something you are entitled to. Something you need to have, to use, to develop. Nurture it.

....chair-dancing to "lets go crazy" - vintage Prince & The Revolution...

j.d.i (-borderline rant)

Almost timely, but last weeks issue was really spot on this week - picking up the theme from the other day;

shikin haramitsu daikomyo

(explainer from NYdojo)


Moving. On wards. Learning. Doing.


You never know when the magic strikes. So don't just wait around for another chance. 


Flinch


Carpe Diem


There are so many ways to say it, but only one way to do it - JUST DO IT. 


Work out
Read
Learn
Discuss
Share




How should you work out? Try one thing, then move on. The evaluate, or move on. Keep at it until it now longer gives the boost, the kick, the energy above and beyond what you put into it. 


How often? Often enough. Be consistent, but don't over do it. LIfe is a marathon if done right, so keep at it, take a break and get back on the horse. And then use the energy for moving on down the list.


What should you read? A little bit of everything. Read for fun.But also for learning. Read to expand your horizon, and to challenge yourself. Read as a reward, and as relaxation.


Learning? A little something new every week or month. Dive into Codecademy or pick a course at Khan. Watch a TED talk and then pick up some background insights. 


And then transform the learning into insights - by reformulating the points, by discussing at home, work or online. 


FInally, take what you got out of the discussion, and share it - blogg it, put it on Quara or write a book. Giving back, and sharing forward. Keep the loop flowing.

Substitution - it really subs to be you

Seth, in an email this time - Domino;

A New York City publisher probably needs $2000 a page to acquire, edit, typeset, print and distribute a book (making up a number from thin air). A self-published ebook author needs $1 a page.
That’s not a cost-efficiency. That’s a totally different industry. But the if the viewer/reader doesn’t treat the two products as fundamentally different, if reading or watching one is a replacement for the other, then a crisis is right around the corner.

Dis-intermediation is one thing. But the democratization of production? Making everything digital, and then making the tools free? That is the real "killer".

And no, it is not the "same" tools as used by the pros, but for a lot of things, good enough is more than enough. It doesn't need to have 80 footnotes for each chapter if that is hard to make, it can just have a free companion book of notes, sources and ideas for further reading.


Take the Flinch, by Julien Smith. Yes, literally take it. It is free. Written, proofed, edited and with a cover. Uploaded to Amazon, hosted and distributed by them as well. All for free. Because the ideas are what matters. Getting more people exposed to it means more people hcaniging their life and our world.

Sure it might also give a boost to the rest of the Domino back catalog, some more traction for the blog, and related sales for Amazon of Pressfield amongst others. But the main point is that putting out a book for free can be close to free.

And it goes for a lot of other media content as well. The variety of choice enabled by global instant distribution, combined with digital back catalogs? Stunning.

Case in point; audio content and yours truly.

 (Caution; shameless self-links ahead - back in time)


Once upon a time audio was music. And music was cd's (well a few records and a bunch of tapes, but it took off with the shiny disc).

As I grew older I picked up back catalog for artists I liked, one or five golden oldies, and new releases every now and then. Then I had a rather modest 150. That is one a week for three years.

Then I got online radio streaming - and so I could listen any time and "any where"(well, at uni anyway). Whole new world, less planned music, more new and unknown stuff.

Then I got the Zen Micro. And started making digital copies of those 150 cd's. And enjoying them all over again in new ways.

Then I got podcasts - and suddenly a whole new world of audio content on the go poured in. First a lot of "talk". The stories as Escapepod led to Podcastle and Pseudopod. And now music at work - Tiesto, Gareth Emery, Sebastien B keeps me in the zone when coding or doing number crunching.

So from simply music, today there are four audio content sets competing for my time;

• 150+ albums in iTunes 
• DAB and streaming Pinnell radio
• Music podcasts at work
• Assorted podcasts on the go

Most of them at little or no cost to me beyond already sunk cost such as the radio, the internet connection and the iPhone.

And then there is Spotify and Wimp...


- ...and the sun is back - again - mixed day today, but bright summer nights keeps the sun on past 21:00 ...

One man - no vote?

In the latest Wired to make its physically way all over here, the first article is a real mind bender;

"How Selecting Voters Randomly Can Lead to Better Elections" talks about the ancient Greek model (or Athenian to be poignant) and how it is influencing experiments and discussions today in order to improve the electoral process. 

For a backgrounder or refresher - start with Wikipedia.

And then dive into other materials, like the History Channel.

Why do we vote? Or have the right to do so?

Because or voice should be heard, and because the whole population together should feel 'responsible' for the politicians and their actions. As they take actions on our behalf. 

And as the actions or inaction impacts more and more of our lives, so should the involvement and the shared understanding grow?

Is the US vastly different? Well, in terms of political ads and spending it certainly stands out. Here in Norway the political ads are strictly legislated, in terms of when, how and who. But social media and tools like Google Adsense is blurring the lines between information and campaigning. 

So, should we "outsource" the care for politics - to a random sample, or to those who really really care? 

Or, should perhaps the media and the politicians work together to expand the insight and transparency, and radically change how politics is discussed? Or should we as citizens ourselves take control of the agenda?

Holder de ord is one such initiative - an open source collaboration (github!) to present voting data from the Norwegian parliament. It translates as "do they keep their word" - and is similar to sites like They Work For You in the UK

Is 60% or 50% enough? Or would it be better to have a representative selection of a few hundred? Would it make a difference? For the politicians, for us, for the future?