Tag: advice

Declutter challenge, part 1: a 30 minute trash run

Inspired by this piece here in the Washington Post, I am going to challenge myself to do a “trash dash” and see how many of these things in my home I can get rid of in less than half an hour:

  1. Expired food, including spices.
  2. Branded freebies and promotional items like plastic cups, water bottles, koozies, insulated tumblers.
  3. Takeout detritus including plastic utensils, takeout containers, sauce and spice packets, and paper menus.
  4. Food storage containers.
  5. Reusable bags.
  6. Plastic dry cleaning bags and unused wire hangers.
  7. Clothing that is torn, stained or stretched, including items in need of repair
  8. Promotional swag like T-shirts, tote bags and bandannas.
  9. Orphaned socks.
  10. Paper bags.
  11. Receipts and product manuals.
  12. Magazines or books you’ll never reread.
  13. Calendars and newspapers.
  14. Junk mail.
  15. Expired or barely used beauty and personal care products, including makeup, sunscreen and bug spray.
  16. Hotel toiletries.
  17. Dried-up markers and pens.
  18. DVDs and board games you don’t use.
  19. Completed coloring books, puzzles with missing pieces and other kid stuff that has run its course.
  20. Decorative items.
  21. Unused hobby gear.

Give it a try. And if even that seem too overwhelming for you, set a 5, 10 or 15 minute timer and see how much you can collect. I bet you’ll be surprised by how much you get rid of, and how inspired you are to do more.

Don’t make it hard by overthinking it: just grab any old garbage bag or old box and start throwing things in it. If you aren’t sure, toss it in the bag/box and reconsider it AFTER the challenge. The need here is for speed, not contemplation. Go fast, toss things in the bag, and move on.

 

How to become a birder and improve your life in the process

A good friend of mine who is an excellent birder forwarded me this self help guide, How to become a birder: 10 easy ways to start this life-changing hobby.

What’s great about it is not only does it provide good instructions on how to become a birder, but how in the process of becoming one, you also improve your life.

Any hobby that allows you  you to “broaden your horizons” and be a part of “something bigger” is an excellent hobby indeed.

Become a birder, not just to see birds, but to become a better person.

One reason to record

Bike at Dusk

Over at my other blog, I recently asked myself, “why record at all”. I didn’t have an answer to it until I looked at some old photos like the one above.

I like that photo, taken using a Diana camera of a wooden wall I made. The wall wasn’t very good: I didn’t know enough and didn’t have enough resources to make it properly. As a result, it flopped around and was prone to getting wrecked when a high wind came along. No matter. I was proud I could make that then. And I was happy with the way this photo came out. I am still proud and happy about that.

The record — in this case a photo — reminds me of what I am capable of. It states: you could do that again.  At a time when one is plagued by negative self-talk, a record can provide a voice to drown out the negativity. A record can be a voice of encouragement.

There are many good reasons to make a record in any form. A record that can help you regain your better self is surely a good reason to make it.

 

A good formula for anyone who likes flowers but is terrible at buying them

I love buying flowers, and there are several good green grocers near me that sell many different types of flowers. The problem I have is, what to buy and how much should I buy? I am always disastified with what I end up as I leave the store.

So I am excited to try this formula which I found at Cup of Jo. You can too! You need to buy:

  • a seasonal flower (tulips, daffodils, whatever)
  • a filler flower (like one with little buds on it, like baby’s breath)
  • a flower that fits the color palette (spray roses look good with everything)
  • greenery (“I generally like bigger wider leaves,” she says)

Once you get home, grab a vase and fill it like so:

  1. Greenery goes first, since it’s the foundation to hold everything together.
  2. Add the filler flower.
  3. Layer in the spray roses.
  4. Lastly, add the seasonal flower, which is usually the most delicate, but everything else will hold it up.

With any luck, it will look just like the ones in the blog post (which is where the rules and instructions also come from).

Want more guidance? Head on over to Cup of Jo and read the original source of this great advice.

On wills and death binders and Swedish death cleaning

If you don’t have a will yet, read this: The consequences for loved ones if you die without a will.

Besides a will, you might also want to set up a death binder. For Toronto Star subscribers, you can read this, Death Binder 101: How to ease the lives of your survivors, but if you do a web search on “death binder”, you can find many pages devoted to the topic, such as this.

Since we are on the topic of your upcoming demise, I want to recommend to you this book:

 

Again, do a search on “swedish death cleaning” and you’ll see lots of  free material on the topic. But I recommend buying or borroing the book. Amazon has it here.

For those of you who find the process daunting, the NY Times has a good piece on how to break down the preparation.

 

 

 

How to paint with a limited palette and other art making skills you might find useful

As someone who is overwhelmed by the multitude of paint colors to use and make, the idea of a limited palette appeals to me, That’s why I liked this piece on the wonderful world of the limited palette as well as this one on the 7 benefits of painting with a limited palette. Relatedly, here’s an essential guide on the zorn pallette. More on the Zorn palette,here and here.  And here’s something on monochrome watercolour portrait.

Here’s a bunch of how to advice, including how to make diy packing tape transfers, how to do grisaille underpainting technique, plus an an unofficial guide to block printing. More on block printing here.

Want to paint using coffee? Why not. How about how to glaze with acrylics?

Here’s 5 Tips for Trois Crayons Drawing Technique. More how tos: How to draw leaves like John Ruskin, How to draw with ink, How to draw with graphite and How to draw with charcoal.

Some great trois crayons drawings here. Some great collage work here.

If you want to lay out a book, here’s  how it works. Related, here how to make a  booklet which is a half fold in the middle. Relatedly, here’s: How To Make An eBook.

Finally, here’s how to draw a portrait in pencil.

Inspiration: I found the following sites give me inspriation to make things. For example, block prints by svPhoenixStudio. More block print material  here.

Other things I found inspriring were these Italian renaissance drawings, these notable book covers and even these fonts for cookbooks. I like this guy who paints a lot of eggs, plus much more: egg painter. I like these illustrations by jason sturgill. The printing press work on display here: a man of letters. I loved these Istock photos of flowers on wallpaper. And these government prints that are free to use.

Do you like the color blue? Here’s some  blue to inspire you.

For fans of posters, take a look at this, on how give it a polish classic film posters with a twist in pictures.

Some photography help here, why i still shoot vintage kodak brownie hawkeye film camera and here,

Some inspiration from the beautiful film, perfect days.

Zines: I still love zines. If you do too, check out these quaranzines. Read  what the heck is a zine and What in the sam-heck is a zine? Then learn how to turn a google doc diary into a zine. Lots more zines here.

More art thoughts: on junk journaling benefits. Something on quantity and quality. Good advice: everything i make is a diary entry.

I really liked this book Brian Eno put out: Brian Eno Explores What Art Does in a New Book Co-Written with Artist Bette A. More Eno, here: Oblique Strategies.

Some insights onT he Highly Systematic Methodology of Dutch 17th-century Painting Techniques.

Why we need your art. Now go mess around and make something.

 

 

 

Project Esther, or how to demonize your opponents and for what purpose


When it comes to demonizing your opponents, I was really struck by how strong an example the Heritage Foundation demonstrates here: Project Esther: A National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism. Start with the first paragraph:

“America’s virulently anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and anti-American “pro-Palestinian movement” is part of a global Hamas Support Network (HSN) that is trying to compel the U.S. government to abandon its long-standing support for Israel. Supported by activists and funders dedicated to the destruction of capitalism and democracy, the HSN benefits from the support and training of America’s overseas enemies and seeks to achieve its goals by taking advantage of our open society, corrupting our education system, leveraging the American media, coopting the federal government, and relying on the American Jewish community’s complacency. The National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism intends to enlist all willing and able partners in a coordinated effort to combat the scourge of antisemitism in the United States.”

Let’s unpack that paragraph. Do you find any room there for someone like me who opposes the actions of the Israeli government, never mind those who may be supportive of the Palestinians who are bearing the brunt of the Israeli army against the Hamas organization? I don’t. As far as Heritage is concerned,  I am “anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and anti-American”. Furthermore, you cannot consider yourself  “pro-Palestinian”: you are considered instead part of “a global Hamas Support Network (HSN)”. Not only that, but by being part of the HSN, you and I are caught up with those “dedicated to the destruction of capitalism and democracy”.  If that’s not bad enough, Heritage states that we are hurting America by “taking advantage of our open society, corrupting our education system, leveraging the American media, coopting the federal government”.  The only way you could be any worse is if you were Jewish and adding to “the American Jewish community’s complacency”.

To generalize, the formula Heritage seems to be using to demonize their opponents is:

  • Ignore the spectrum of opposition, from those expressing mild disapproval to other engaging in violent action.
  • Instead, collapse that opposition and lump all your opponents together.
  • Make sure you collapse the opposition so that it is associated with the most extreme end of that opposition.
  • Relabel the opposition with a name and an acronym that ensures others associate it with this negative extremity.
  • Invent a list of nefarious actions to apply to the opposition.
  • Claim the leadership of those who would naturally go against such negative extremity.

This particular example revolves around the conflict in the Gaza Strip. But it could easily apply to any situation. For example, during the October Crisis in Canada, all those wishing for more autonomy for Quebec and opposing the Canadian government in various forms could have been lumped into the FLQ Support Network (FSN) and the Canadian establishment could have said anyone in this new FSN bucket was an enemy of Canada and democracy and more. As you can see, it’s an easy formula to apply.

Of course it is not just enough to demonize your opponent. Once you do that, you need to use that demonization to justify your future goals. For Heritage, some of their goals for Project Esther are listed below:

  • DE1: HSO propaganda purged from curricula.
  • DE2: HSO-supporting faculty and/or staff removed or fired.
  • DE3: HSO access to campuses lost and/or denied.
  • DE4: Foreign members of HSOs/HSN access to campuses lost and/or denied.
  • DE5: Money from foreign HSO supporters not accepted by schools.

Basically, any thing they don’t like in schools and universities they can label as coming from HSO (Hamas Support Organizations) and work to have it removed under the guise of attacking antisemitism. Attacks on free speech by right wing organizations is not new, and that is part of the point of Project Esther. First demonize your opponent, then use the demonization to ban them or strike them in some way while claiming it’s for a good cause.

Whenever a person or group use the formula to demonize their opponent, you can assume some follow on extreme action is being lined up by them. Don’t be that person or a part of that group, and don’t participate in that form of thinking.

Some thoughts on using chatGPT to write a program to determine which foods are fresh in Ontario

It is easy to find out which foods are fresh in Ontario. There are several guides, including this one from Foodland Ontario, that can help you with this. However, I wanted a particular guide that would list for me all the fresh foods for a given month only.  And since I couldn’t find a guide like that, I decide to write a python program to make such a guide.

In the past, to write a program like that, I would go through sample code I have, pull out bits of code that were good, and cobble together something from all these bits. Lately, though, I simply ask a service like ChatGPT or others to write the code for me. I find nowadays it’s just so much faster to go that route. Call me lazy. 🙂

Since I wanted this done quickly, I pointed chatGPT at the Foodland Ontario guide and asked it to do the following:

Write a python program that strips out the text on this page https://www.ontario.ca/foodland/page/availability-guide?gad_campaignid=22412095602
and leaves just the foods and the month they are grown on. Include all food that states that is Year Round.

Did ChatGPT do that? Yes, it did. Was the program any good? No, it was not! It somehow looked at that web page and decided the values were stored in a table, even though they were not. The web page is more complex than that and so the program was a pretty failure.

After many prompts, I gave up and took an alternative approach. For this new approach, I stripped out the data manually and created a simple CSV file. I then asked ChatGPT to write a program to process the CSV file. Since it is a simpler file, ChatGPT was able to produce a workable Python program that was able to process the CSV file and output the information I needed.

Perhaps a more skilled prompt engineer could have written a better prompt to process the code. I dunno. I am finding that LLMs — not just ChatGPT — are fine with writing some straightforward code based on non-complex inputs and outputs. They are not so fine once the inputs or outputs get complex. But that’s just my experience. YMMV.

I have also concluded that even warmer months like May in Ontario do not have much in the way of fresh food. No wonder there are so many food stories on asparagus and rhubarb! 🙂 You really need to hit June or later before you get into a cornucopia of fresh produce.

If you’d like to see the end result of my coding, go here to this repo: https://github.com/blm849/ontfoods

 

A rule to apply when books are banned or removed

booksThe rule I follow when I see actions taken against books is this: book bans or book removals are about preventing kids from learning about minority and oppressed groups in their society.

I was reminded of this rule when reading this piece about Arkansas threatening to put librarians and booksellers in jail “for providing material that might be considered harmful to minors”. Key quote from the piece:

The materials they have targeted are often described in policies and legislation as sensitive, inappropriate or pornographic. But in practice, the books most frequently identified for removal have been by or about Black or L.G.B.T.Q. people, according to the American Library Association.

Next time you see a book ban list, check to see what the books have in common. If what they have in common is that they are associated with specific groups (e.g., stories about gay families, black or brown authors), then the ban has nothing to do with publications that are “sensitive, inappropriate or pornographic”. The ban has to do with preventing kids from learning about the minority and oppressed groups.

On supply and demand curves and the one thing to remember

If you are like me, you struggle with supply and demand curves. Maybe it’s because I am used to drawing curves in mathematics, which are different than these curves, which tend to show a ‘before and after’ of where the curve shifts to on the graph when the price changes or the quantity changes. That change in price or quantity causes the curve to shift.

To see what I mean, I took these two examples from wikipedia. In these examples, we have right-shifts.

 

A right-shift of demand curve increases both price and quantity. Pretty straightforward: price goes up, quantity goes up. However…

A right-shift of supply curve decreases price and increases quantity. Here the price moves in the opposite direction of the quantity.

In short: with demand, price and quantity go hand in hand while with supply, they move in opposite directions.

P.S.These are supply and demand curves for most goods with elastic supply and demand. The curve changes if you have inelastic supply and demand. And they also change when you have Giffen goods or Veblen goods.

On different ways to clean your Braun coffee maker

There are a number of ways you can clean your Braun coffee maker. You can do it the official way, outlined here: How To Clean Braun Coffee Maker: Step-By-Step Instructions. You can do it with lemon juice, as explained here: How To Clean A Coffee Maker With Lemon Juice. Or you can try any of the many ways listed here: How To Clean A Coffee Maker Without Vinegar? (9 Ways).

I was successful using the lemon juice method. It took me two times using this method before the “Clean” light on my Braun coffee machine turned off, but after that it has gone about its business successfully. My coffee remains delicious. The light has stayed turned off.

Whatever way you choose, it pays to clean the innards of you coffee machine. Make sure you do it.

Self help for spring time

Bruno Ganz as Damiel in

It’s spring time. Not just a time for spring cleaning, but also a good time for self improvement. Here’s some links that you may find can help with that.

 

Can you still get a good bottle of wine for under $10 at the LCBO? (or how to find “exceptional” wines of “good value” in 2025)

It is possible to find a really good bottle of wine for under $10 at the LCBO in 2025, but it is very difficult. It’s much easier if instead of “under $10”, you try and find something “under $12” or “under $15”.

To see what I mean, try this search for Exceptional products at the LCBO. You get back 2 750ml bottles of wine under $10:

  1. Adesso Merlot D’Italia
  2. Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot

If you search for great value wines, you get the first two plus:

  1. Candidato Oro Tempranillo Garnacha
  2. Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon

All in all, a pretty short list. (Yes, there are wines that may be great value or even exceptional that don’t show up in such searches, but let’s go with this for now.)

If you search for Exceptional wines under $12, you get to add a few more to your list of possibilities:

  1. Fuzion Shiraz Malbec $10.95
  2. Stormy Bay Cabernet Sauvignon $11.45
  3. Fantini Pinot Grigio IGP $11.50
  4. Pelee Island Pinot Grigio $11.95
  5. Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva $11.95
  6. Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc $11.95

And if you expand that to under $15, then you have a longer list still:

  1. Misterio Malbec $12.95
  2. Peller Family Reserve Cabernet Merlot VQA $13.95
  3. Straccali Chianti DOCG $12.95
  4. Alaris Trapiche Malbec $12.95
  5. Two Oceans Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot $12.95
  6. Peller Family Vineyards Red $13.25
  7. Argento Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon $13.85
  8. Piekenierskloof Six Hats Shiraz 2022 $13.95
  9. Bodega Norton Barrel Select Malbec $13.95
  10. Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon $14.00
  11. Reif Estate Riesling VQA $14.75
  12. Six Hats Chenin Blanc 2024 $14.95
  13. Jackson-Triggs Reserve Chardonnay VQA $14.95

As for wines of great value, here’s everything I found under $15:

  1. Pelee Island Shiraz Cabernet $10.95
  2. Stormy Bay Cabernet Sauvignon $11.45
  3. Fantini Chardonnay $11.50
  4. Santa Rita 120 Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon $12.95
  5. Piekenierskloof Six Hats Shiraz 2022 $13.95
  6. Grand Sud Chardonnay VdFrance (PET) $14.50
  7. Famille Fabre Le Cerf et le Vigneron Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 $14.95

All in all, there are 4 bottles of wine under $10 that are great value or exceptional, 10 bottles under $12, and 30 bottles under $15. (Not counting Vintages, which if there are wines there under $15 tend to be good value.)

Note, those are mostly red wines. There are no white wines listed here under $10. There are only 4 under $12. And 7 under $15. Perhaps Toro Bravo Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc should be on the list at $9.95.

Searching for wines that are great value or exceptional is one way to find a good bottle of wine for under $10/$12/$15 at the LCBO. There are other ways, such as looking for wines recommended and rated by noteworthy sources such as “Decanter” or “Wine Enthusiast”. You can also take a chance and assume that if the Santa Rita 120 Reserve Cab Sauv you picked up is good, then other wines by the same producer are also good.

However you go about it, it’s likely the days of good wine under $10 at the LCBO are coming to an end. Inflation hits everything (except this great Bordeaux). Look for exceptional wines of good value, though, and you will be fine.

 

 

Free zines and other good things from Austin Kleon


Of all the people I follow and pay attention to on the Internet, Austin Kleon may be my favorite. I look forward to his newsletter every Friday: it’s always the same format, and always good and often great.

While he does a lot of great things digitally, I admire his creation of analog material, like zines. In this post, What does a seed look like?, he’s shows us one of the handmade zines he created. In another, More light!, he provides the reader a zine to print and make. While here in this post, Love is not a gadget, he has created both a zine and a cassette tape.

Seeing all these zines of his got me making my own again. There’s something about handcrafting anything — from zines to cassette tapes to…well, whatever you prefer! — that is very satisfying. I’d encourage you to follow our lead and create your own…it’s not hard!

I’d encourage you to read more Kleon too. Maybe start with this: Study something you love in depth!

 

Château Argadens: good and cheap Bordeaux after all these years

I’ve been buying Château Argadens Bordeaux Supérieur since 2008! The LCBO says it has flavours of “Floral, Chocolate, Plum” (true) and goes on to say that this Bordeaux is “a great value” (very true) and “this popular, classically framed blend of Merlot and Cabernet is a great choice for grilled lamb.” (Also true.)

What’s crazy is that it now goes for $17.60. Seventeen years ago it went for…$18.95! How many great products do that?! Practically none.

Grab yourself a bottle or a case when you can. You won’t be disappointed.

P.S. My original post from 2008 is here: Good “cheap” Bordeaux at the LCBO this month | Smart People I Know

 

Strategic Voting in 2025 – what you should know

Canada flag on brick wall

I am still a supporter of strategic voting in Canada. My thoughts on it haven’t changed much since I wrote this in 2019: Strategic Voting in Canada – some thoughts.

What has changed is the site you should go to if you  also want to vote that way. It doesn’t look like this site, strategicvoting.ca, is working any more. However this site SmartVoting.ca, seems up to date, at least for the Ontario election this week. And it looks like they are preparing to work on the soon to come Federal election.

It’s good to check out regardless of how you plan to vote.

Meat is good. Delivery is good. But meat delivery from Sanagan’s in Toronto is great. Here’s eight good reasons why you should order from them

If you love good meat, then I highly recommend you get it from Sanagan’s Meat Locker in Toronto. If you can get to one of their locations — my fav is in Kensington — you should. But if you can’t, I highly recommend their delivery.

First off, their delivery rate, which was good before, is going lower, starting at $5. That less than the cost of commuting there. Spend over $150, and delivery is free.

Second, the quality of their meats and other goods is great. When I get a steak from Sanagan’s, it tastes like something and that something is delicious. So often meats from other places taste like nothing.

Third, the prices are reasonable. For example, here is what I paid recently:

  • Sliced Roast Beef × 1 – $4.89
    Duck and Green Peppercorn Terrine × 1 – $6.99
  • Metzger: Westphalian Ham × 1 – $5.20
  • Jambon de Paris × 1 – $5.69
  • Lamb Merguez Sausage × 1 – $9.99
  • Lamb Leg Steaks × 1 – $15.79
  • Paleron × 1 – $7.99
  • Flank Steak × 1 – $11.49
  • Pork Rib Chops × 2 – $11.98
  • Flat-Iron Steak × 1 – $9.79
  • Refundable Credit Card Hold For Overweight Products – $30.00

Those are as good if not better than the prices for comparable products at places like Loblaws or Metro.

Fourth, the selection is great. I can get cuts I can’t always get at the big grocery stores. Flank, paleron, tritip, and more. I didn’t get it last time, but I love getting their hanger steak and making myself a classic steak frites with it.

Fifth, you get points for every order which you can cash in and use on your next order.

Sixth, if you are a fan of charcuterie, they have everything you need for a great platter.

Seventh, they have lots of other great products too, from superb butters to great sauces, to mustards.

Eighth, they carry Blackbird bread, arguably the finest bread in Toronto and very hard to get (it sells out fast). I love that.

Ok, you get the idea. Sanagan’s is great, and their delivery is great. Check them out. You’ll be glad you did.

 

The cold plunge, or good things don’t have to last long to provide longer term benefits

Lately I’ve been going out on my porch or on my girlfriend’s balcony to do a dry “cold plunge”: stepping out into the winter air for a brief period of time until it gets to the point I can’t bear it. It isn’t long, but like people who do cold water plunges, I feel I get some of the same benefits. (If you make snow angels, I recommend dressing appropriately. :))

It’s a good remind to me that good things don’t have to last long to provide longer term benefits.  Sometimes 10 seconds is all you need, as I wrote about, here: My 10 seconds of happiness exercise | Smart People I Know

 

If you are stuck on what action to take next, remove one thing

person frustrated at desk

If you need to work on something and you can’t get started or you are stuck, then remove one thing. It can be anything. If you need to cook a meal and you don’t know what to do, remove things from your cooking area or decide to cook one less thing. If you are going to construct something and you are blocked, then cut back on the time you are going to spend or the steps you are going to take.

If you are still stuck, keep removing things. Too often we overwhelm ourselves. Removing things helps either that. It’s a form of editing, in a sense.

Plus removing things is an activity. You are no longer stuck. You are now making some form of progress.

 

When you are stuck, you think it will last forever

Post Xmas shopping at Aroma

When you are stuck, you think it will last forever.

It’s natural to think that way, since being stuck is often a negative situation, and such situations make one pessimistic. Pessimistic thinking can make you think that the bad times are permanent and pervasive.

If that describes you, just know that we all live in a stream constantly flowing strongly downstream. Regardless how stuck we may be, the stream will push against you and eventually you will no longer be stuck.

So yes, it may seem like it will last forever, but the never ending change all around you will eventually free you. If you don’t free yourself in the meantime.

If you have a hard time searching for something, blog about it later

If you are trying to search for an answer to something and after much effort find an answer, write a blog post about it. Chances are many others are having the same difficulty, and they may not have the tenacity to keep looking the way you did. By writing about it, you increase the chances other people will get their answer via your post.

The other good reason to do this is that you might forget what you did. That’s fine unless later you want to recreate what you did. That blog post will save you.

Not making progress on your resolution to declutter? Start with your fridge!

a clutter fridge.

I came across this advice and I highly recommend it: Don’t Try to Declutter Your Whole Life. Start With Your Fridge. | Wirecutter.

Let’s face it: decluttering can be a hard thing to do, and an easy thing to avoid. To get over that avoidance, start the practice of decluttering by tackling your fridge.

There’s some good reasons to do so. One: the amount of decluttering you have to do is limited, so it doesn’t end up feeling like a never ending chore. Two: you are less attached to items in your fridge than you are old clothes or books or photo albums, so tossing old food that you will not eat is less emotionally difficult (I hope). Three: you will see benefits right away and that good feeling should help you move on to your next item.

So get a move on that decluttering resolution this weekend and clear out your fridge!

P.S. If your fridge is in good shape, then start with your pantry. Or where you store your dry goods. If all that is in great shape, then pick one closet.

What you should have with you if you are in the hospital for a few days (and other tips)

Untitled

Based on my experience of being in the main part of the hospital as well as the ICU, I recommend that if you are going to be there a few days, ask someone to bring you the following:

Phone and phone charger: this is a must. You need to be able to keep in touch with people, and your phone is the best way to do that. Plus it can be a source of other information and entertainment.

(If you are conscious and not in too much pain, you will find the hospital very boring. Also the one time I did not have my phone I was left in a hallway and unable to move for over an hour until a porter came and got me. It sucked big time. You want to avoid that.)

Earplugs / noise reduction headphones / headphones: it is hard to get rest in the hospital. Even in the middle of the night it is a busy place, and staff are always about and not quiet. Earplugs and noise reducing headphones can help you defeat that noise.

Also, headphones (noise reducing or no) mean you can listen to your phone for entertainment and news.

Sleep mask: it can be hard to sleep in the hospital. Especially in the ICU, nurses are waking you all the time for checks and tests, which means you need to grab some sleep any time you can. Sometimes the best time to sleep is between breakfast and lunch. A mask can help you sleep any time of day.

Toothbrush, hairbrush and grooming supplies: unless you don’t care how you look, being able to take care of yourself can make you feel a bit better. I was able to have a shower after 5 days in the ICU and being able to clean up and brush my hair and look better made me feel better about my current state.

Blanket and pillows: if you can, have someone bring you a comforting pillow and blanket…maybe a nice sweater. Such things can make you feel good and even help you sleep and get more rest. You’ll need that, and you aren’t going to get too much comfort from the bedclothes the hospital provides. (Also if you are cold, you can ask the nurses for more blankets.)

Water bottle: it can be dry in the hospital. Having a source of water you can drink any time helps with that (assuming you can drink water). It can also help with coughing and if you have meds to swallow, having water can help with that.

Snacks: Often you may not want to eat the hospital food. Having acceptable snacks to eat mean you won’t have to deal with being hungry on top of everything else.

Other tips:

  • Go vegetarian: while I am not a vegetarian, I found going with a vegetarian diet helped. The food tended to be more flavourful and less disgusting than the meat dishes I was initially eating.
  • Move around: if you can, move around. Even getting out of the bed and walking around the room was a big lift for me. Have someone accompany you as you got down the hallway. I got to go to the shopping area in Sunnybrook after being in the ICU and ward for seven days, and it was delightful. Don’t let the bed trap you.
  • Always ask for more: don’t settle for what is provided. Ask if you can move around. Ask if people can bring you food. Ask the nurses for more food if you are hungry. Ask if you can go to the bathroom by yourself. Ask to see the doctor. Ask when you can go home. Don’t accept the status quo. Everyone in the hospital is busy or preoccupied. If you don’t ask, you may be unnecessarily making things worse for yourself.
  • Ask different nurses for advice: Once I was lucky to get a nurse who offered me different treatment than the other nurses and that improved my condition and my stay immensely. Don’t forget: every nurse is different. Some have a better bed side manner, others are technically better…occasionally you may get one who should take up a different profession. Regardless, don’t assume they are all the same.
  • Know your medication schedule and track it: a few times in the hospital I didn’t get the medication I needed when I needed it and I was too unsure to ask, and that led to needless suffering. Know when you should get your meds, especially those for pain relief, and ring the nurses if they are late. (They may be late because they are busy but they just may have lost track of time.)
  • If the medication doesn’t seem to be working, say so: don’t assume you don’t have options. If the medication isn’t helping you, ask if there alternatives and ask for the pros and cons of them.
  • Be appreciative of those who are helping you: it is difficult for them too, even if you are the one who is ill. Do what you can to make it easier for them and make sure they know how thankful you are for what they are doing for you, whatever it is. This also goes for the staff. Healthcare can be a hard job: you can make it easier for the people working in the hospital by being kind.

Boxing day advice, recycled

Rather than write something new for Boxing Day, I thought I would recycle some of my old posts, such as:

Ten good pieces of good advice

Untitled

  1. Here’s some simple advice for personal finance.
  2. Something to think about after the holidays: Paul Graham on Work.
  3. For small home lovers:  How to downsize before you move into a small home.
  4. Relatedly, here’s the difference between Peter Walsh and Marie Kondo’s decluttering methods.
  5. Here’s Martha on things that make your home look messy.
  6. For those feeling hopeless: the joy was leaking out of my life… talking to a friend saved me.
  7. In case you are feeling down, here’s a mental health wellbeing check in.
  8. A good list: 50 things I know.
  9. Also good: to lead a meaningful life become your own hero, perhaps.
  10. I don’t agree with this, but it’s interesting: saving seconds is better than hours.

The Christmas Trees of NYC

peninsula hotel xmas tree

There are many reasons why Christmas in New York is special. One reason is that New Yorkers go all out when it comes to decorations. Especially when it comes to Christmas trees. Sure, the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is great, but you’d be missing out if you went to Manhattan and only saw that one. There are at least 15 Christmas Trees in NYC that are great and not in Rockefeller Center, as that link will prove. Check some/all of them out. You’ll be glad you did.

On the value of keeping a Christmas list (and why you might want to do so)

Back in 2005 I created a Microsoft Word document titled Christmas 2005. I did this because it seemed like Christmas was becoming a project in itself, with milestones and deliverables, and having such a document helped me keep on top of things. The document had a calendar, breakdown of things to do (e.g. get gifts for A and B, prepare food Y on date Z), and eventually it had lessons learned. (Hey, I’ve done a fair bit of project planning over my career…it’s a skill you tend to apply to everything.) Every year since 2005, I would take the previous year’s list, duplicate it, and modify the duplicate for the new year. Voila: new list!

But I kept the old lists, and I’m glad I did. I can see my life change year over year. People come and go. The gifts you buy for people change, especially kids.  Technologies change (no more need to buy VCR tapes to record the kids). Traditions evolve. Even details like the price of Christmas trees over the years makes an impression viewed over time. The list remains the same, but the content changes, sometimes dramatically.

I encourage you to keep your own such records for Christmas and other special events over the years. At first it might not seem like much, but if you keep at it, you will have a special journal of an event that meant much to you over time.

Everyone has their own way of planning special events, from structured plans like me to having it all in their head. However you do it, try keeping a record of it. This year. And next year. And the next.

Merry Christmas. Did you get all those things done you said you were going to? No? Better write it down and get to it. 🙂

Lessons learned from working on my Raspberry Pi devices (and Raspberry Picos too)

This week I successfully set up five Raspberry Pi devices at home: 3 Pi Zeros, 1 Pi 400, and 1 Pi original. Plus I have two old C.H.I.P. computers that work. I had struggled with using them in the past, but this time it was a breeze due to the lessons I’ve learned. Here’s some of these lessons:

Get wireless ones: I originally had Pi Zeros and Picos without wireless capability. And that can be fine if you know you don’t need it. But it is helpful to be able to have them communicate wirelessly and it gives you more flexibility, even if it costs a few more bucks.

Get headers: again, I had some Pi Zeros and Picos without headers. Unless you are good with soldering, get the ones with headers. It just makes it easier physically  connect them to other technology. The Pi Zero above has no headers, the one below does.

Keep track of all the connectors you need and kept them handy: With the Pi Zeroes, I have a set of adapters that allow me to connect it to power, USB and HDMI. Once I have it set up, I just need a cable to provide power and I run it in headless mode (which I can do because of wireless). I have a special box for all that stuff so I can easily find it.

Give your Pis unique hostnames: if you are going to be connecting to them via ssh or scp, then give them a unique host name. You can do this when you set them up. What’s nice about that is once they connect to the wireless network, I can easily identify them. For example, I can ping pizero1 or I can ssh myuserid@pizero2 versus trying to find out their IP address of 192.168.0.??

Designate a machine for setting up the Pis: for me, I have a Pi 400 that I use to program the Picos. And I have a Ubuntu machine to format the SD cards. But you do what works best for you.Having a consistent environment means when you run into problems, the problem is likely not with your environment but with the SD card or the Pico.

Avoid obsolete or tricky technology: in the past I got discouraged by trying to get old or tricky technology to work. I had old dongles that gave me errors when trying to build the SD cards properly; I had old unsupported Digispark devices that would not work at all; and I had some Adafruit devices that were cool but the path to success with them was challenging. In the future, I am sticking with tried and true technology from Arduino and Pi. Don’t make working with such devices any harder than it has to be.

Get cases for your Pis: if you are going to use them on the regular, get a case. Even a cheap case make it look like a finished and working device and not some hack. Not only does it look better, but it will likely work better (i.e. the cables will not move around and lose a connection). And make sure the case you get is made for your device so it will fit properly.

Document as you go: keep some log of what worked and what didn’t. Take photos of successful set ups. Save all the good web sites that helped out. Better still, blog about it. (If you search this blog for “raspberrypi” you will find the things I have found and written about.)

Good luck with your projects. May they go smoothly.

When was the last time you refreshed your router? It could be time to do that

How long have you had your router in your house? Is it relatively new? If so, that’s good. However you might be like me and have a router that’s 3 or 4 years old. If that’s the case, it’s time to replace your router. Contact your internet provider and ask them if they can refresh your router with a newer one. (And if they can’t or won’t, consider switching internet providers.)

You might think: I don’t want to go through the hassle of that. That’s what I thought too. It turns out it was a very easy thing to do in my case. I suspect that will hold true for you.

Hassle aside, what I also noticed is that I started getting much better upload and download speeds with the newer router without having to upgrade my plan. You might find the same thing, and that’s a good thing indeed.

So if you haven’t refreshed your router in a number of years, consider getting a newer one.

PS it doesn’t have to be a new device. In fact, the upgrade cost might be free if it’s slightly older than new but more recent than your current router.

It’s good to be disappointed because you learn what you value

It’s good to be disappointed if only because it can teach you what you value.

Take the breakfast order above from my favorite breakfast place, Boom. It was different from the way it usually came: the coffee was much smaller, the fries likely started out frozen, and the sandwich ingredients were meagre. My first thoughts seeing it were: this is disappointing.

Some days I would label something as disappointing and move on. But that day I asked myself why I was disappointed. I was expecting the coffee to be much larger, the fries to be big chunky home fries, and the sandwich to have larger amount of pea meal bacon and egg. I was also disappointed because it was not much different than something I could make myself. It was additionally disappointing because I felt I wasted my money. All in all, not a happy meal.

You could say I was disappointed because my expectations weren’t met. But it could have varied from my expectations and not been disappointing. The disappointment was the poor quality of the meal for what it cost. A certain quality of breakfast for the price is the combo I craved and this meal did not deliver on that.

Never let something disappointing pass you by, even if it’s a simple thing like an Uber meal. Take a moment to consider why you feel kicked to the curb and let it inform you as to what you value. Many people do not have an understanding of what they value, and they drift through life making poor choices and settling for less because of that.

Knowing your values and moving towards them is the way to a good life. Sometimes you learn that from something dramatic happening to you: sometimes you learn it via a Uber Eats 🙂

P.S. Is this somewhat goofy? Yes, it is. Sometimes the best way to get people to think about an idea is to come up with an angle on a topic that forces them to look at differently. Approaches to a topic that are goofy, ridiculous, preposterous or absurd all can do that.

Your problem is actually a solution. And that’s the real problem. Which calls for the real solution.


Your problem is actually a solution. And that’s the real problem. Which calls for the real solution.

Let’s unpack that.

Many of the common problems we have are actually solutions for underlying problems we have. So if you have a problem with: eating, drinking, smoking,  sleeping, shopping, etc. too much, you need to look at those behaviours not just as problems but as solutions to underlying problems. You might be indulging in those behaviours because they solve your underlying problem of being anxious, bored, tired, etc. If you try and solve the problem of doing something too much like eating without dealing with the actual problem, you will have a difficult time. And you will have a difficult time because you will may have taken away the solution for the actual problem you were avoiding.

One approach to start dealing with this is get out a notepad and write down what problems you are struggling with and try to get underneath them and see if those problems are actually solving other problems. Then write down those problems and see what you can do to solve them. If you can make progress in solving the underlying problems, you might find that the other problems dissipate.

As always, talk to a professional if you think or feel that your problems are harming you. Take good care of yourself; get help if you can’t do it alone.

 

How to paint using one color, and more how to advice for artists


I’ve been working on drawing and painting again. During this work, I’ve collected a fair amount of good links on the subjects. Take a look:

Good luck to all who strive to create art!

Jerry Seinfeld, and the art of changing your mind in public

Jerry Seinfeld gives a good example of how to change your mind in public, here: Jerry Seinfeld says he was ‘wrong’ to blame ‘extreme left’ for killing comedy.

Not only does he says his old way of thinking was wrong, but he shows that he has considered what he thought before and contrasts that with his new way of  thinking.

If you have to change your position on a topic in public, it’s not enough to say, “well I thought A before, but now I think B”. You want to show why you no longer think that way. It shows you’re thoughtful and sincere.

No one likes having to change your mind in public. If you have to do so, consider the way Seinfeld did it.

 

 

If you get your blood pressure measured, make sure you do this

If you get your blood pressure measured, arm position is important. As this piece states:

When the arm is on the lap or the side, a blood pressure reading can be erroneously high. But when the arm is supported and at heart height, a blood pressure reading is more likely to be right.

Whenever I go to my doctor, she makes sure my arm is in that position. When you get your blood pressure read, make sure you do so too.

Don’t just take my opinion, though: ask your health professional.

In a conflict with significant bad actors on both sides, there are no good options for bystanders

In a conflict with significant bad actors on both sides, there are no good options for bystanders.In such a conflict, you have three options:

  1. you can take a side
  2. you can try to rise above the conflict
  3. you can do nothing

If you take a side, you will be associated with the bad actors on that side. If you try to say “I take this side but I don’t associate with the bad actors on this side”, you will come across as a hypocrite, or naive, or ignorant. And when the bad actors on your side do something wrong, which they will, you will be associated with that wrong too.

You might say, I don’t care. Or the other side is still worse. And that’s fine. But it doesn’t make this option a good one. It’s just an option you are willing to take.

If you try and rise above the conflict, then you will be criticized by both sides for ignoring the bad actors on the other side. In addition, you will be seen as ineffective and weak and irrelevant. Again, it’s an option, it’s just not a good one.

Doing nothing is the flipside of trying to rise above the conflict. You won’t be stuck with having to side with bad actors, but you will be criticized for being indifferent and uncaring, cold and thoughtless.

In life there are often situations where there is no good options to choose from. A conflict with significant bad actors on both sides is one of those situations.

What you mean when you say you’re wasting your time doing X

What does it mean when you say you’re wasting your time doing X?

This question came to me recently when I was sitting on my porch. I thought: why am I wasting my time here? And then I had the follow on thought: what should I be doing this is not a waste of time?

Before I moved though, I asked myself: why was sitting on the porch a waste of time? I concluded I was sitting on the porch because it was a nice summer day and I was enjoying it. In other word,  enjoying a nice summer day has no value (i.e. it’s a waste of time).

Now there are other enjoyable I do that I don’t consider a waste of time: talking with loved ones, eating a good meal, going for a walk. So why is this different?

I think I have been conditioned to think simply sitting around is a waste of time, best done on vacation. Otherwise I think deep down I should be doing something productive. it’s a weirdly puritanical view that conflicts with my non puritanical views on food.

So the next time you are doing something you enjoy doing, attach some value to that. 

 

Taking care of yourself is not optional

I’ve been thinking of this commandment, ““taking care of yourself is not optional” ever since I read it on an email from Mike Monteiro’s newsletter. I think that is an important commandment to abide by, especially as you get old.

When you get old, it is temping to think taking care of yourself doesn’t matter. Why bother, you think. You don’t have that many years anyway.Why waste your time on that when I have so little time as it is. Besides, no one cares.

But here’s the thing: people do care. You don’t know how many years you have left, and you never have, even when you were younger and you did take care of yourself. And if you don’t take care of yourself, that little time you have might be miserable due to your neglect of yourself.

If you argue that “I don’t believe in all that self-care goopy nonsense”, consider that taking care of yourself doesn’t have to mean meditation and massages and whatever else new age beliefs you may be rejecting. Taking care of yourself can just be the basics: get some good sleep habits, some good eating habits, add some good hygiene habits, plus a bit of exercise too, even if it is walking regularly. If you have all that going on, then you can extend that out to taking care of the environment you are in and the relationships you have, because that comes back to taking care of yourself, too. Have you been to the doctor lately? If not, get checked out. Dentist? Do that too.

Here’s another thing. Taking care of yourself sends a message, to others and yourself. The message is, you matter. You have value. You are precious, even. So start acting like it.

Start taking care of yourself. It’s not optional.

‘Unexpected red’ works for clothes too.

According to this piece, What Is ‘Unexpected Red’? in The New York Times

“The ‘unexpected red’ theory is basically adding anything that’s red, big or small, to a room where it doesn’t match at all, and it automatically looks better,”

That makes sense for homes.  It also makes sense for men’s clothing, especially if the colour palette of your clothing is neutral, black or navy. A pop of red — a toque, some shoelaces, a tote bag — can add some pop to your look. So grab some red accessories and add them to your wardrobe.

If you like to shop online, do what I do and on the search line type in “men red”. I find it will come back with all the men’s clothes that are red or have red in them. I’ve found toques, scarves, T shirts and socks that way.

For more thoughts from me on red in fashion, go here.

P.S. I think this theory could also apply for colours like purple and yellow.