“Getting Things Done” round 2

I have finally worked out how to organize my computer. I spent a long time looking for some kind of freeware that would be able to file documents, pictures and so on conceptually. There are several out there but most of them cost more than around twenty dollars, so with the wedding coming up I decided against buying any right now. I realized I’d benefit the most if the organization would be based on the principles of GTD (see my previous post on the matter for more information) and even though there are excellent programmes available for that, I thought I’d take the challenge of working around money and simply using what I have – a clean interface in Finder, the option to colour code both folders and documents, and finally the option to place some folders in the side menu of Finder. So what I have now is:

• Inbox: the path is Documents > Inbox, but it’s also visible in the Finder side menu (just drag it there from Documents) and in the Dock, and the colour code is Yellow. Downloaded stuff and other stuff go into this one.
• Is it actionable? No – a): Someday/maybe files go into Tickler folders named for instance “Tickler – Knitting” (ideas for next knitting project; inspirational pictures and so on) and colour coded Green (something might grow out of it). If a weekly review shows that I all of a sudden have the time and motivation to make a Project out of a Tickler, the folder name is renamed and recoloured (see below).
• Is it actionable? No – b): Reference files go into Archive folders named for instance “Archive – Knitting” (finished projects) and the colour code is Blue (it’s cold, doesn’t require attention).
• Is it actionable? Yes: Files that are part of ongoing projects go into Project plan folders named for instance ” Project plan – Knitting – Christmas gifts” and the colour code is Red (it’s hot). When the projects are finished the same folders are renamed Archives. Project plan folders are visible in the Finder side menu (drag from Documents) so that I when Finder is open with one click can access their content.

While cleaning up the folder hierarchy I’ve renamed many folders in an attempt to avoid a lot of subfolders:

• Previously: example 1. Documents > Interests > Knitting and 2. Documents > Interests > Running
• Now: 1. Documents > “Interests – Knitting” and 2. Documents > “Interests – Running”

Pictures: I’m trying not to distinguish between file types anymore because it is irrelevant if stuff is picture or text, so only my photographs go into Pictures from now on, the rest will be filed under Documents.

Already I can feel what a huge difference it makes to have Archive files, Ticklers and Project-plan files separated, because the process of defining whether a file is active or not, while scrolling through the Documents > “Interests – Knitting” folder, is now gone. My original division into categories is intact, which is useful since I already have it in my head, but the scrollable amount is remarkably smaller, and when a file changes status all I do is drag it into another already existing folder or I rename the whole folder.

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What is this – Winmark???

Denmark is now officially Windowsland, Lalaland, Winland, Winmark or just about any combination of the two that one might come up with. I’ve been helping my fiancé out with job applications for a longer time already and the conclusion is more than depressing; less than 10 % of all jobs within server support and such involve penguins (and of those less than 10 % are suitable for non-Danish speakers). Go away, stay far away from Denmark if you want to work with a computer that runs on an alternative OS. Yes, indeed, keep this country at a safe distance, approximately 1.5 hours of plane ride, which would place your feet solidly in Linuxia, Finlandia. Much better. And cuter too (go see the penguins walk the streets of Helsinki).

I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. How on earth can small companies afford to pay the astronomical money mountains that seem to please Mr. Licence so much? And what about the hospitals, universities, municipalities, towns, blahblahs and blahblahs, which certainly don’t swim in coins either? Each time Mr. Licence has a new whim, he collects his dollar$. Yes stay, no leave. Or how did it go – yes leave, no stay? Mr. Licence loves you like Cable Guy really, haven’t you noticed? And he comes with extra spices too, the type that itches baaaaaaad, but who cares, we love our STD’s. This curse of an OS is resourceful indeed and he has come to stay. Talk about revolución – there is none because we’re already part of the digestional processes in the first of many, pretty licence stomachs…

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Are you in hiding too?

Lately I find myself so extremely tired of people who have to hide behind the most creative of aliases when expressing the most creative of opinions on the Internet. Many of those comments can in their abusiveness and complete lack of respect for the opinions of others be flushed down the toilet immediately. Ignorance should be bliss in those instances, but for some reason it isn’t – maybe because those faceless creatures manage to shout so loudly that others can’t resist a reply? No matter the reason, a constructive and mature dialogue can never arise, which to be honest pisses me off more than a little.

When people remain faceless, I simply can’t be bothered to keep a real discussion going any longer. Drop the aliases, step up, stand behind your views and dare be corrected if you have false information, and behave like the men and women you are. In short, grow up already and make the net a better place to be, where something real can be achieved. The bad people of politics will never listen to you, but will keep calling you activists and god knows what more, and meanwhile they can continue to push our societies down the censorship drain  - 1984 is here and now in case you haven’t noticed.

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Origami

Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, seems to remain some kind of a secret in the Western world. The movie Blade Runner certainly didn’t do its share in unravelling the mystery either and so we still think of a white paper crane whilst knowingly nodding when origami is mentioned. Origami is ancient for sure, but is it outdated, as well? Take a look at some things that I recently have found on the net:

The brain – http://chosetec.darkclan.net/origami/

WALL·E - http://chosetec.darkclan.net/origami/

And finally the compulsory paper crane, too:

 

Keep in mind that all objects are folded from one single piece of paper. Almost unbelievable, right?

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Time to clean the keyboard

My dear iMac is a couple of years old now, as is its beautiful, wireless keyboard. Or, hmm, the keyboard is not that aesthetic anymore, rather repulsive in fact. There was that out of nowhere flying coffee and the dust that accumulated and… With the help of a computer geek friend of mine I can now present to you the best way to make your mac keyboard as shiny as new again – follow the step-by-step instructions at the mini Blog!

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