“The to-do list is the “what”, the schedule is the “when”.”

— Excellent point by Shawn Blanc regarding yesterday’s HBR article.

Simplified Google Policies & Principles →

We’re getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that’s a lot shorter and easier to read.

It’s very readable and easyish to understand, they deserve some credit.

I once spent two weeks trying to translate the Opera Privacy Statement from lawyer-speak to human, the results were less than stellar¹. It’s difficult to explain what’s going on to the users, and at the same time protect your behind.

1. Wow, you look really different from your profile picture.
2. That reminds me of something my ex used to say…
3. That’s just like last week’s episode of Cougar Town…
4. Turns out it was contagious.
5. Sorry I’m late, but my other date ran long.
6. That reminds me of something your ex used to say…
7. What’s your name again?
8. So, I thought it said lobster instead of rabbit, but enough about my cooking…
9. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Heroin is not addictive.
10. Sure it’s not you? could have swore I’ve seen you on redtube.
11. The beard? after my last date I’m not allowed to have razors.
12. My astrologist told me we are wasting our time.
13. My psychologist told me this wasn’t a good idea.
14. Hello? yes Mom… it’s for you.
15. Your shrink warned me you’d said that.
16. Would have guessed you were a size 4 from the security camera footage.
17. The medication helps, not really. A lot.
18. You really need a better Facebook password.
19. I didn’t know if I was ready to date humans again.
20. I’m sorry, but this leather underwear is really itchy.
21. They all agreed it was the weirdest X-ray they’ve ever seen.
22. Would you cut the meat for me?
23. Thankfully they didn’t allow DNA evidence back then.
24. This is awkward… I thought your sister picked up the phone.
25. Feels good to use forks and knives again.
26. Well, it was a long time ago, and I never saw your Mom again.
27. Keep talking, I just have an idea of how to beat this Angry Birds level.
28. I brought an extra diaper if you wanna try…
29. Should we agree on a safe word right away?
30. Sorry, I’m not allowed a route that close to a high school.
31. Oh crap! if anyone asks, you’re my sister, ok?
32. I always wanted to know what menstruating felt like.
33. Of course you could claim the reward, but then our next date would be in a long time.
34. This could never work out… I’m Batman.
35. I’m gonna need to see your passport.
36. How would you like a June wedding?
37. But we are going to a club, I need my sunglasses.
38. I still think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles deserved a nomination.
39. I always keep my yellow Speedo’s handy, just in case.
40. For real, your twin is not coming?
41. Yes, I saw it on the news… You just had to be there to understand.
42. Let’s do something, you pay today, I’ll get the next one.

Any similarity with real life® is purely coincidental.

To-Do Lists Don't Work →

Daniel Markovitz , Harvard Business Review:

Stop making to-do lists. They’re simply setting you up for failure and frustration.

Oh, shut up. But of course he doesn’t:

The alternative to the feckless to-do list is what I call “living in your calendar.” That means taking your tasks off the to-do list, estimating how much time each of them will consume, and transferring them to your calendar.

I hate to admit it, but he does have a point.

Anecdotally when I really, really, really need to get stuff done for a deadline, I lay out the individual tasks on RePrint calendars and stick to that schedule.

There’s something about writing tasks with pen and paper that makes it a stronger commitment which I tend to stick with.

Why don’t I do this all the time then? Oh, shut up.

Clear for iPhone:

Clear is designed to help you manage your life without adding clutter. It’s a beautifully-designed, gesturally-driven app that we’ve created to improve on a pencil and notepad for flexibly keeping quick, simple todo lists.

I don’t need another todo app, I don’t need another todo app, I don’t need another todo app, I don’t need another todo app…

Coming soon.

(Source: vimeo.com)

Internet Gate, Powered by SOPA.

An example we can all relate to.

/via reddit

(Beta) Markdown Text Chrome Extensions →

Just finished polishing the Chrome extensions of my Markdown bookmarklets.

If you use Chrome and Markdown, please give them a try and let me know what you think.

Depending on the feedback —and them not blowing up a nuclear power plant— I’ll probably upload them to the Chrome Web Store next week.

Embark – Mass Transit Made Simple →

We make free, fast, and simple mobile apps for mass transit riders worldwide.

Most of the metro apps I used on the trip were crap. These ones from Embark make me want to take a subway somewhere.

/via @gesteves