Gizmon iCA iPhone Case.

I could begin to justify it, but lets just say I want it.

Sometimes people get lost. Not in the where am I? Google Maps sense, more like in a where do I fit? Google Zeitgeist scale.

Giving advise to lost people is great. They are already lost, so basically anything mildly coherent you put together would make a lot sense. Clichés come in very handy: early bird always gets the worm, don’t count your chickens until they hatch, it’s always darkest just before the dawn and you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, all can sound helpful.

Or better yet, share your own lost story and explain how you found your way. Do leave out any self-doubt experienced and any possibility that you really didn’t arrive at the destination you wanted —these details never help.

When one is lost, strong statements full of confidence are very encouraging. Usually, asking for more details on your self-analysis of lostness is appropriate, although it rarely affects the upcoming feedback.

As a lost person, you may get blank stares from those around you, meaning they don’t understand why you think you are lost. My recommendation, get new friends.

Aw crap! See what I did there? Somebody is going to read this feeling vulnerable, and at least entertain the notion that new friends are needed. Maybe you are a drama queen and your friends just want you to get on with your life. We are just trying not to encourage all that crazy talk and thoughts. Sound familiar? But seriously, a little empathy wouldn’t kill them, no? Ok, ok, sorry again.

Funny thing is, sometimes people don’t want directions. You know they are lost. You can see it on their faces, with vague short-term statements, silence when they would usually jump at some point, and lots of posts on Facebook.

Trying to use a cliché on them can backfire with some of their own: sometimes the journey is the destination, or would shut the fuck up and let me eat my burger in peace?. The latter can be awkward if you just wanted some ketchup, but I warned you.

There is, as you may already guessed, and as you will now know for sure, no real point to this post. For that I apologize. But you see, lost people quickly realize how hard it is to give good advice. Or so I’ve been told.

How Hulu's Andy Forssell Will Spend $500 Million →

Andy Forssell, on the The Hollywood Reporter:

In our world, we’d much rather have Community than Two and a Half Men, and I don’t mean that as a criticism of Two and a Half Men. […] But for us, we’re much more excited about Community because while it’s a smaller audience, it’s an audience that self-organizes online. They’ll not only tell their friends to go watch it, they’ll spend time convincing someone on a bus to watch it.

This is why I’m excited about the future of TV: no pressure to go super mainstream, just to find a strong niche and make them very happy.

The Png Project →

Download .png from The Noun Project.

This just saved me probably hours in my workflow. Extensions for for Chrome, Safari or Firefox.

“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.