Showing posts with label minimalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label minimalism. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Friday, 29 November 2013
Top Android apps I use daily
A geeky update today. Here are some programs I use daily on my Nexus 4.
KINDLE - you don't have to have kindle to read kindle. At least when it comes to the hardware. It's because the software comes in handy making all nerds happy.
SWIPEPAD - golden productivity tool when using naked Android with basic launcher. Gives you access to frequently used apps with just a swingy swipe, as opposed to endless tapping.
EVERNOTE - for more complexed notes and keepsakes. With the simple ones Google Keep works just fine. However the more and various materials you collect in your memo, the more you'll enjoy its cool features, like searching words on photos.
SKYSCANNER - compares flights prices. The freedom alone felt when searching for directions (v)everywhere & (v)any time makes installing it worthy.
COLOR ZEN - chill out and invite yourself back to children's innocence. It's a non competitive, but contemplative game with colors and shapes. After 15 minutes you cherish life and bliss the fellow commuters.
CONTACTS+ - Cool way to keep all contacts together, and stay updated with all social networks imaginable. Why make NSA employees lives harder?
I'd like to mention beautiful and useful Battery Widget and Allthecooks app gathering community of cooking lovers with million recipes.
Temptations of new technologies are too strong to resist. Let's not forget unbeatable Google products like G.translate, G.Maps, G.Search and Gmail, making me feel that the struggle is finished. I've won the victory over myself. I love Big Brother.
Labels:
Android,
apps,
Contacts+,
Evernote,
geek,
Google,
Kindle,
life hacking,
minimalism,
Nexus,
Skyscanner,
SwipePad,
tech
Friday, 12 July 2013
Age of Abundance (or nerd in the park)
Seeing some Sci-Fi film ad on a London bus I felt suddenly embarrassed for all involved: producers, actors, designers, and so on. “They should be ashamed of themselves.” - I thought. “It hits low, pins to the flatland.” I really got carried away with disgust, as I was walking familiar streets in Zone 2. I kept on complaining in my mind. “It's trashing the culture. It's a waste of time, prayer to money.”
It might sound harsh. It might sound overly serious. But somehow I caught myself on that explicit judgement. Cause really, we would do without another movie. We would easily do without half of the movies made over the last 50 years.
What we generally need in the West is selection. Subtracting instead of adding, giving away instead of taking, letting go instead of gathering. For start try selling instead of buying.
We have a religion of collecting and upgrading. We produce the same films for decades, over and over again. How about setting up a religion of selection, or at least politics or business of selection.
Said someone who adds his blog to the noise, plus tweets, plus Facebook updates and YouTube videos. Oh well, whatever comes next.
I should probably stick to watching dogs running in the park. But no walk is innocent when you are a fatalist nerd.
Monday, 10 June 2013
What is Three Times Theory?
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Walter Iooss |
As Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski
once said, the best way to deal with your need is meeting it. If you
want an apple, just go ahead and grab one. And deal with all the consequences.
Generally I share this view, but I think it applies best to first time experiences. I have a simple and special approach towards it. Enter Three Times Theory.
It is based on notion,
that everything experienced for the first time is special. But that's
not the whole story. Second times are very interesting as well, in my opinion
undervalued. And there's this third time, which signals routine.
First time is so mind blowing because
you're not able to scale it. What you have at your disposal is at
best some partial report, dull info, naked data. That's why when
it actually happens it's totally emotional. Even if disappointing, it
can hardly be challenged. Suppose you have upgraded your Honda Civic
to Lexus. As impressive as this promotion gets, it can't beat your
initial jump from walking to driving. Can it?
Second time experience is more
scalable. That's because the first time gave you some measures, tangible
expectations of its limits, glimpse of insight. Whether
it's a second job, second girlfriend or second drug use, comparison
comes naturally. It's somehow new, but familiar.
Third time introduces cyclical nature
of things, gives you the sense of understanding. From here you start
being experienced.
So happy is, I think, the one who had
three houses, three spouses, and three jobs. Hey, but not at once! Let's not praise personality disorders. When you lived three lives, you can call yourself lucky. You've been testing your freedom.
That guarantees minimized risk of anxiety, uncomfortable flashes, and
insomnia later on. Well, at least it should help.
Thursday, 23 May 2013
5 rules of life in your twenties (that I should have followed)
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Dagmar Hochová |
I'd like to walk to my younger self and tell him a couple of things. I'm writing a book instead, hoping it will reach some folks with madness and hunger for life similar to mine. The general ideas are as follows:
1. Don't panic.
We're doomed. That's generally true. But in the meantime we can be brave and happy. Sure, there's a small list of things you should avoid, like long term commitments (mortgage, marriage, kids), or life/health hazards (starting with suicide attempt, which sounds so sweet sometimes), but the message is: enjoy your freedom. And first of all - stay calm.
2. Participate.
Don't only think about things but breathe them, engage your sweat & blood. Be part of it, not apart. And over all: share with others.
3. Anticipate.
You have one source of income? Cool, work on another one. You love your partner? Marvellous, don't forget about your friends. You feel great with children? Awesome, just keep in mind they will be gone in 10 years. Get ready.
4. Believe in your choices.
Feeling you've landed somewhere or with someone by accident? How so? Everything you are now is either result of many decisions or just an inertial force. Let it better be decisions, your decisions. Listen to feedback, but don't let people sabotage your plans. Almost everyone has this inclination to give advices, not always with good will. And rarely with better knowledge of the situation than you have.
5. Acknowledge that there's nothing as it seems.
Appearances can really be misleading. Less is more, big is small, depends how much you research it. And be ready for surprises. Did you know that Jimi Hendrix was a very shy guy? Not to mention that Jack Nicholson was growing up with sister, that turned out to be... his mother.
So the book should be ready at the latest in September.
By the way, while wondering who publishes similar content I found a great site:
http://fiverulesforlife.blogspot.co.uk/
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