I’m still trying to figure out why I decided to participate in the 501words project, but I did (actually, I do know what prompted me to participate… procrastination. TatteredEdges tweeted about it just as I was about to get stuck into some work prep, so it was only natural that I signed up there and then).  My daily blogging has been interrupted by a laptop crisis, but I’m planning to get back into it once I have my own keyboard back.

I’d hate to be straining people’s eyes unnecessarily – please let me know if there are some strange things afoot when you view the site (it would be good if you could also tell me what browser you use).

Hoping to get this sorted…

As mentioned at the end of the last post, resolutions are not really my thing, although I do have some plans for the year ahead. One of those is to relax more, which can only be achieved if I recognise the fact that “relaxing” is not the same as being merely slothful; lazing about does not necessarily equal relaxation. When Daniel noted in a comment on the handwriting post that he was attempting not to multi-task, it really struck a chord. There’s rarely a time when I don’t have the computer on with email open, a few tabs in a browser and Tweetdeck buzzing every few minutes (seconds, sometimes). The TV is often on in the background, even when I’m reading. If I’m actually watching a program, I’ll rarely see it through without having read – and probably responded – to an SMS or online message that comes through. If I’m on the phone, I might be sweeping the floor, wiping down benches, putting washing away.

The monotasking plan is for January, at this stage. While I have time on my hands, it’s a habit rather than a necessity to do more than one thing at a time. So, what does “one thing at a time” mean?

At the moment, I’m writing a blog post. That’s all I’m doing. That’s the only thing open on my desktop. When I’ve finished this, I’m going to check my email. Once I’ve done that, I’m going to log out of it – there’s no need for me to have it open at all times.

This might be antithetical to the idea of Twitter, but I’m going to try not having my notifications enabled in Tweetdeck. This means that I won’t be responding immediately to tweets, or opening up links as soon as they come through, unless I’m actually focussing on catching up it.

I’m going to try only having one tab open when browsing the internet. I’ve fallen into the habit of opening links and then not knowing what relevance the article/web-page/LOLcat has once I finally get to it, or who I should thank for the enlightenment or belly laugh. The same goes for when I’m going through my RSS reader. There’s no need to open five articles at a time – if I want to read one, I’ll read it.

When I’m watching TV, I’m going to turn my computer off¹. When I’m not watching TV, I’m turning the TV off². When I’m on the phone, that’s what I’ll be doing. No sweeping, unpacking the dishwasher, clearing the pantry.

When I’m reading a book, I’ll be reading a book. No other distractions³.

I’m hoping that in doing this I’ll be more focussed on what I’m doing, when I’m doing it. That instead of putzing about all day getting through a Google reader backlog, I’ll read what interests me, discard what doesn’t, and have time to go for a swim, get to the market, read my book and have a crack at some of the DVDs I had set aside for the holidays.

I’m hoping that, come February, I won’t have holiday regret.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

1. Unless I’m blogging the show, of course.

2. That goes for when I’m cooking, too. Unless there’s cricket. Cricket doesn’t count.

3. Except that I’ll probably have some music on.

The idea that handwriting is a communication tool that’s had its day is not new –  its critics, however, are not united in agreeing the basis of their relief that it’s dying.  Anne Trubek (whose work was the basis of the Times piece) believes that it is “inefficient”; that the time taken to jot something down is time we could be spending in thought.  She also discusses how it is more democratic due to standardisation.  People can’t make judgements about a correspondent’s social position or intelligence based purely on the look of a typed text (however an affection for Comic Sans might lead to some negative assumptions being made). Others have spent so much time in the keyboard age, that their writing skills have diminished and believe that this is not something to lament.

Efficiency

I recently bought a Smartpen and it satisfies both my love for new gadgets and my affection for handwriting.  Of course I type, but I treasure the activity of writing as something that allows me to give greater consideration to my thoughts.  Once I’ve written notes, I can upload them to the computer and transfer it to editable text.  The Smartpen is much handier to carry around than my laptop so I can make notes on the fly with greater ease.  It’s the best of both worlds.

Obsolescence

For me, typing is far easier – and much quicker – than writing.  This is not, however, the case for a lot of people, including – it seems to me from observation – young people who are so often touted as being in a post-handwriting generation.  This is mostly because nobody has actually taught them to type, so their typing is inefficient and often full of errors.  I don’t look back on my old manual typewriter lessons days with a great deal of nostalgia, however knowing how to touch type means that I can type at around 90 words a minute and do other things at the same time.  Most people I’ve watched – in the workplace, at internet cafes, in libraries – are still pecking away at the keyboard, searching for the c.  Often at home I’m amazed by the furious, lengthy tapping over at the other laptop in the house and wonder what opus is being created, only to be Skyped with a couple of words and a URL.

Handwriting in technology

Regardless of whether you think the kids of today need to practice their copperplate or not, it seems odd that the same paper sang the praises of the anticipated tablets, given that having recognisable handwriting would seem to be one of the prerequisites of getting the most out of this technology.  I haven’t seen all that much about the new tablets, but – as usual – the press seems to be getting most excited about the anticipated offering from Apple.

For my money, this Microsoft offering seems to be the lustworthiest.  Perhaps because it looks like an old fashioned journal?  I want one…

Now, as it’s almost cocktail hour, where’s my martini?

The full article is here; below are some items of particular interest to me.

“Street violence is not a new phenomenon here, but neither is it one that most, or even many, people risk encountering every day.” Actually, street violence is something people risk encountering everyday.  Yesterday morning there was a brawl in the street outside.  Injury was only avoided because the combatants’ efforts to trade blows were thwarted by their extreme drunkedness.

“Two acts of senseless violence in a short space of time do not make a trend, but for those who want statistical evidence the trend is there.” Of course two acts of senseless violence don’t make a trend; many, many other acts of violence were perpetrated over the past week and went unreported.

“The binge drinking once thought to be a product of restrictive licensing has continued, and the availability of other drugs that increase aggression as alcohol lowers inhibitions, has fuelled much of the rising street violence.” Good to see that there is acknowledgement of the role of factors other than alcohol, but wouldn’t it be more helpful to undertake some real analysis of what’s changed, rather than just knee-jerk reference to the Nieuwenhuysen report? Maybe factor in the increased number of sex clubs in high traffic nightlife areas?

“The Premier has urged parents, friends and workmates to send a message to young men that violence is “anti-Victorian”.” Exactly when was I meant to convey my belief that violence is “anti-Victorian” to the young man who assaulted my partner? Given that I didn’t even see him until he’d knocked my partner to the ground, was I supposed to overcome my shock and fear that the other three would start in and make my statement then? I would have thought that going about our lives in non-aggressive, law-abiding ways might have been enough to keep us from being victims of violent thugs. Perhaps Mr Brumby is going to provide Victorians with colourful wrist bands with anti-violence slogans to wear as a talisman against random attacks.

“If the perpetrators of the violence are susceptible young men, however, long prison terms in the company of hardened criminals are unlikely to influence their conduct for the better. Insofar as the courts can address the problem, community-based orders that force offenders to reflect on the consequences of their actions would be a wiser course.” Okay, for a start, why characterise violent men as “susceptible young men”?  This is nonsense. As for the suggested solution, how would a community-based order “force” offenders to “reflect on the consequences of their actions” when the consequences of their actions are… a community-based order to reflect on the consequences of their actions. Surely even the most blunted intelligence would conclude from their reflections that their actions have no consequences and further conclude that there is no reason, therefore, to modify their behaviour.

“It is a problem generated by all of us, because it is, as Mr Overland says, the result of a deterioration of public standards. “ No, it most emphatically is not a problem generated by all of us. There is no point in trying to spread the responsibility to all when it is not a responsibility shared by all. Put the responsibility with the perpetrators. Street violence has become my problem, but it is not my fault and I will not accept responsibility for it.

I will be back.

There is no more perfect recipe for self-delusion than to suppose that being a television personality is some kind of achievement in itself. The best insurance to stop it happening is to keep a recording of say, Beethoven’s 7th Symphony nearby in order to remind yourself of what an actual achievement is.

Clive James, BBC

Usually I am counting down for weeks.  This, after all, is the day of the extra hour of sleep.

Not this year.

It’s 7.40 on a Sunday and I am up and ready to go.

Not fair!

The Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal is up and running.

How will the money be used?

The donations will assist individuals, organisations and communities who meet the criteria set up by an independent panel of community leaders who will oversee the appeal Fund’s operation. Criteria for assistance will include the extent of the hardship covered and the extent to which a person’s livelihood and infrastructure has been impacted.

How much is Red Cross taking for Administration Costs?

Red Cross will not deduct any funds from this appeal for administration costs. All funds received will be kept in a Trust Fund set up by the Victorian Government.

Is my donation tax deductible?

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.