apple juice

This post is coming to you from a Mid-2009 MacBook Pro running Mac OS 10.6.8, (released in June of 2011)

I have basically three pieces of software installed on this laptop:

• Eudora Email (because it remains the best email client of all time)
• ArcticFox (Firefox derivative that has some recently updated security)
• MarsEdit (for writing blog posts)

I put a new SSD in it for $20. (I actually laughed out loud the first time I saw it boot up it was so fast.)

But why even bother, you may be wondering?

Basically, it’s an experiment in reducing distractions. If I have a computer that is dedicated to basically two things – personal email and writing on the ol’ Blog, will I actually do more of both? My hypothesis is yes. When I open up the work laptop at home… there’s always work to be done. When awaken my desktop, there’s photos to edit, news to browse, etc. things to distract.

On this laptop, it’s stripped down to the bare minimum of functionality.

As technology marches on, I do think it’s worth looking at the lessons of the past.

Look, for example, at our music consumption. Why has vinyl experienced such a resurgence, despite Apple Music, Spotify and the rest offering a vastly more convenient option?

Or, take notebooks: Bullet Journals, Moleskines, etc. With all of the digital tools available, why do folks bother with pen and paper?

I think the reason to bother with this has to do with the intentionality of use. What can I learn from using a simpler machine with software that is over a decade old?

The other day, we were lucky enough to score an outdoor table at *Owamni*, the new restaurant near the Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls which serves native foods. The restaurant is excellent, I highly recommend it!

Additionally, there is a brand new park adjacent to the restaurant, which you can read about here (article written by my neighbor!)

The re-development of the riverfront into beautiful public space will benefit the entire city. It is well worth checking out both the restaurant and the park, as well as advocating for more of this!

Democrats,

Specifically, the ActionNetwork and NGP VAN people.

Do better.

Look, on one hand, I totally get it. You’ve built out advanced CRM systems for political campaigns in order to help democrats up and down the ballot target people more effectively, raise money, and hopefully win campaigns. Data and contact information help the campaigns spend their time and volunteer power to receive the greatest possible impact.

But there is **no way** that I signed for all of these emails.

I care, on one level, that a city council person in Dubuque, Iowa is running. Good for you. I didn’t sign up for your email list though. I’m not giving you money.

Slow clap for the person who’s running against the other person with a chance to flip the seat blue in November. I also didn’t sign up for your list either.

Congratulations person who has been endorsed by all the groups that I nominally support who is running against the other person whose views I disagree with. I didn’t sign up for that email list either. I’m not planning to give any money.

When I click unsubscribe. Yes, I do want to unsubscribe. Yes, from *all future mailings*.

In other words, when the next campaign creates a new mailing list (like, later that day), I do not want to be on that mailing list.

And in fact I do not want to be on that or any future mailing lists from any campaign using either of these companies software.

One reason this is problematic is that there is apparently no way to get off all of these lists. They claim there is no “master list” that I can be removed from.

So literally every day I’m unsubscribing from this junk so that it doesn’t clog my inbox.

I suppose I should create a filter and just be done with it…

**Recently read**
– A World Without Email by Cal Newport
– Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
– Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

**Currently Reading**
– The Every by Dave Eggers
– Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
– Two Old Men and a Baby by Hendrik Groen
– The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
РA Philosophy of Walking by Fr̩d̩ric Gros

**In the stack**
– Deep Work by Cal Newport
– Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
– untangled by Lisa Damour
– The Great Mental Models vol. 2 and 3
– The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
– The Odyssey by Homer / Emily Wilson translation
– Think Again by Adam Grant

One common thread of these recent books is the impact of technology and science on society. (Well, maybe not *The Remains of the Day* I’m not too far into it thus far to know.)

I’ve recently done a major cleanup of some old computers I had, but then quickly went down a bit of a classic rabbit hole again. I wonder a lot about being more intentional about when and where I use technology, social media, etc.

Anyways, would love to hear from you if you’ve read any of these or have recommendations!

I made the call today to donate the Nancy. Many fun times had on the boat.

Followup to my previous lament. This is a really interesting and nerdy post: I Decoded the Spotify Recommendation Algorithm. Here’s What I Found

I’ve been spending some time cleaning up all my old junk in the house. Old papers, boxes. Shoes that are worn out, clothes I no longer wear, etc.

As you might imagine, I have a lot of old technology lying around as well. Old computers, chargers, cables. (Just in case I need them!) The pack-rat genes run strong in my family. I really have to take a moment with each thing before put it in my tech recycling bag.

I have several old iPods laying around. Most of which, I found, no longer worked. The battery won’t take a charge, or the hard drive (when pressed up against my ear) goes, “click, click, click” when it tries to boot up.

But one still did fire up. A 30GB iPod from around 2006. I had loaded music onto it a several years ago, before I finally signed up for Spotify, and then Apple Music (and then back to Spotify).

I’ve been trying to put my finger on this feeling for a while. What is special about this collection of music? Why does having all of the millions of tracks available to you on Spotify somehow feel less special.

This article from back in 2016 pretty much nails it – An Ode to the iPod Classic – I guess the author would put me into the music nerd category. I still love kicking back and listening to an album straight through. Call me old fashion, but as much as I enjoy Infinite Indie Folk on Spotify – I probably couldn’t name a single track off the top of my head.

But for the meantime, I’m planning to pass along this working iPod to someone who I know will appreciate it.