Change

Change someone, ignore everyone. (Seth Godin / Hugh McLeod)

Thumb

Thumb leads to confusion.

New Zealand videos from Rotorua and Napier trips

Got up very early this morning with lots of energy. I finished reading Figuranten, which ends a bit in a minor way. At least that’s how I feel about it.

Made two videos from photos of our New Zealand trip. Then I was so tired I had to lie down again.

Music by Citizen DJ. Very good and not the usual YouTube ladida songs.

Life expectancy and mild alcohol consumption

I listen to Kevin Kelly on the Design Matters podcast from Debbie Millman.

Kelly tells about his rebirth, and how he finds out how many years he has left to live, according to actuarial measurements. I mimic his method and land on 28 years. I will be 82 and my death date is in July 2049.

According to an American life expectancy calculator that includes some more data, I will live to be 94. I notice that mild alcohol consumption increases life expectancy.

Days of rain, Japanese style

In Japan, we experienced days of rain. In the Netherlands, we can have similar experiences. Mostly accompanied by lots of wind. For me, it’s in the end the wind that gets on my nerves. The rain has a fresh touch, but the continuous noise of the storm is hard to bear.

Last week we had a couple of storm-free Japanese-type rainy days. Between showers, I managed to take a nice walk with the dog, an umbrella, and my camera.

Identity is key

Via Indistractable:

Identity determines behavior, and behavior determines belief.

Who you think you are is critical.

New bike or train more

A friend (not a proverbial one this time) loves riding his racing bike. He also loves riding the newest models with the newest technology, preferably expensive lightweigth ascesories. He has a busy family life as well. The argument that wins his wife over to acquire the latest fancy bike is:

‘Shall I buy a this new bike, or shall I train more hours?’

It’s not the bike, it’s the ride.

Pizza toast

Pizza toast is a Japanese invention. Craig Mod made a beautiful movie about a Japanese cook crafting pizza toast with incredible dedication. Pizza toast is best consumed on a low table, cross-legged on on your knees. You carefully break one of the pre-cut quadrants loose and eat in with small bites.

To make pizza-toast, the thick Japanese toast bread is best. I have only seen slices as thick as 3-4 cm in Japan. At home, I use our Dutch bread, but it doesn’t come close. Japanese pizza-toast is superior.

From small to big is just moving on

Great things are made up of lots of little things. Something big is made by making lots of little things.

Every day 1 sketch makes 365 a year. That already begins to look like a “body of work.”

Writing 100 words a day make 36500 in a year. That’s already half a novel.

Nassim Taleb and optimizing work

I love crafts, tinkering, crafting, and doing things myself. Not only is it cheaper, but you also learn a lot more and have more fun doing it.

Nassim Taleb wrote

Anything you do to optimize your work, cut some corners, or squeeze more “efficiency” out of it (and out of your life) will eventually make you dislike it.

I make one exception: tax returns. I have always done that myself, but with a company, I couldn’t do it anymore. For some things, you need an expert, like the tax return of your small business.

And sewer repair.