Reading the Archives
Most people when they click on a link to a new blog, read the linked article and move on elsewhere. Google Analytics records this as a bounce - a visitor comes in, reads a single page and leaves.
One of my habits when I come across a new blog is to read the archives. Almost every blogging platform has archives and almost every blogger makes these available.
But why read the archives?
Hedge Fund Systems
I have started a new series of articles on Hedge Fund Systems on my company, Noverse LLC blog. I did not post them here (yet) because I am not sure my readers will be interested – and I am using them to promote my skills and services. Let me know in comments you think I should post them here too.
But just in case you are interested in Hedge Fund systems (or my professional skills), the first post is called The Opportunity where I describe the opportunity I got starting in 2004 to design, develop and grow a brand new end-to-end Hedge Fund system for a completely fresh new business. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I took it.
Fix the Mac Function Keys with Palua
By default, the function keys on Apple keyboards are mapped to the Apple functions on them, like brightness, volume and Mission Control. To access them as F1 - F12 requires you to hit the fn key as well. You could always reverse this in Preferences / Keyboard by checking Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.
But this change is system-wide. What if you want the default Apple behavior most of the time, but Function key behavior in certain applications, for example, in virtual machines?
Instantly grab a high-res icon for any Mac app
In Instantly grab a high-res icon for any iOS app, the awesome Brett Terpstra (@ttscoff) offered a script and an app to get the icon from iTunes for any iOS app.
I wanted the same for Mac apps. Turns out, it’s a one word change to Brett’s scripts. Just follow his instructions using the below files, but replace the script name with macicon.rb and the application name with MacIcon.
- Download and save the script as
macicon.rb. - Download the MacIcon Application.
Usual disclaimer: It works for me, should work for you, and no bunnies were harmed.
Email before the Open Web
Today, April 30, 2013 is the 20th anniversary of CERN making the WWW free, see Twenty Years of a free, open web. I thought I’d share a story about how it was like before then.
The year was 1988 or 1989, and my Computer Science Professor wanted to send his first email. But first we had to connect our University to the fledgling Internet. Since I ran the UNIX lab, I was tasked to set this up.
The Process is not the Product
Or how many people get so stuck in the processes of how to do the job, they simply forget to actually do the job. Many a product has failed to materialize because the process to make that product has gotten mired, stuck, distracted or waylaid. It becomes about the people and the politics and the process and no longer about the product.
I use this Hiltmonism to help me to focus on the goal, the reason we are creating the product, and the need to be ruthless in getting it done. We are doing what we do to make a product, to ship it, to delight our customers, and to make money. Not because we love following a process for the purpose of process following.
My Workspace
I have no idea why I am sharing this, but this is my current workspace:
On and around it you will find (left-to-right-ish):
- My original iPad 1 running Panic’s Status Board on a Twelve South Compass Stand for iPad.
- A Koncept Equo Gen 3 desk lamp, stylish and bright.
- An AT&T MicroCell so I can get Mobile Phone service at home in Manhattan!
- My iPad 3 WiFi 64GB, gray Apple smart cover.
- My primary computer, a 15-inch Mid-2009 MacBook Pro with dual 3.06Ghz CPUs, 8GB RAM, a 240GB OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD in an OWC Data Doubler and the original 500GB HDD.
- My rent bill.
- A classic Apple Cinema Display 23" connected to the laptop via an old Apple DVI to ADC Display Adapter and a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter, and it still works great.
- Altec Lansing speakers, about as old as the hills but still sound adequate for my needs.
- A Wacom Bamboo Pen tablet for artwork.
- Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.
- An ancient Dell 2408WFP 24" monitor (that does not render properly with OS X), attached to my 2008 Mac Pro server (8 core, 32GB RAM, 4.5TB disk - hidden below the desk) and my original iSight above it.
- On top of the Mac Pro tower is my trusty HP 12C financial calculator, an Airport Extreme and several old WD 500GB My Passport drives - link to newer model - that I use for backups.
- My favorite Zebra Sarasa 0.7 Gel Retractable pen.
- A Zebra Z-Grip 0.5 mechanical pencil.
- The desk is a Galant with T-Leg from Ikea, 10 years old and starting to peel and warp.
This is where I work and spend my days. What does yours look like and what do you use - please link in the comments?
Phone Etiquette
We all spend a lot of time talking on the phone, and have been doing so for many years. It’s far beyond the right time to learn basic voice call etiquette, but here are some of the best practices I have come across.
See other articles in Etiquette, including Email Etiquette and US Dining Etiquette Failures.
Make Perfectly Good Mistakes
We’re not perfect, yet:
You can only learn from making perfectly good mistakes.
We all know of people’s reluctance to try things out in new software products because they are afraid of making mistakes and looking foolish. They are striving for perfect execution, yet unknowingly fail to learn the product or gain the benefits of its power.
Yet the failure to try new things is the biggest mistake of all. If you do not take a chance and try, you cannot learn anything.
Punctual
punc·tu·al /ˈpəNGkCHo͞oəl/
Adjective
- Happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time; on time.
- Denoting or relating to an action that takes place at a particular point in time.
Synonyms precise - exact - accurate - prompt
One of my many peeves is with people who are not punctual. If we schedule a call or a meeting at a given time, I will be there, on time, prepared and ready to go. It’s only right that others do the same.