It'll Do
I have a lot of very flawed systems and tools that I use on a daily basis.
My calendar, for instance, serves as both a to-do list and schedule of events. It’s fine for both purposes, but not great at either.
My note-taking setup, likewise, is not sophisticated or optimized for the tasks I throw at it. It’s basically a stack of digital paper that syncs to the cloud and allows me to jot stuff down, and I use for lists and notes and even podcast episode scripts, before then copying and pasting that information to other, more specialized and capable software.
These systems and tools that I use, though functional, are rudimentary compared to some of the whiz-bang processes and gizmos other people wield.
I enjoy trying out new tools, taking them for a spin, and imagining how they might amplify my capabilities in some fashion. And there are some truly cool products available that might allow me to optimize my daily habits and work routines in some fashion.
Sometimes it makes sense to wholeheartedly invest in such tools and structures.
Often, though—almost always, in fact—I try out the cool new thing, earnestly assess it, and then decide to stick with my existing paradigm.
I’m not afraid of new technologies or worried about upending my norms: on the contrary, I love fiddling with new tools and reformatting my habits to incorporate them. I look forward to such workday transformations.
To avoid the possibility of endlessly flitting from flashy new thing to flashy new thing, though, I have a habit that helps me pour cold water on my wide-eyed enthusiasm.
I allow myself to try new things that seem like potential upgrades to some aspect of my life, learn enough about them to understand how they work, and then imagine how they might be incorporated into my existing routine—or in some cases how they might upend the existing dynamic and serve as a basis for an entirely new set of habits and structures.
Before adopting this new whatever, though, I ask myself whether my existing setup is good enough that it justifies waiting before making these changes. And if I can honestly answer, “It’ll do for now,” I stick with my current paradigm.
The logic behind this filter is that there are costs to making any sort of change to one’s life, be it personal or professional. Some of these costs are psychological, some are monetary, some are time- and effort-related.
This somewhat conservative approach to the implementation of new things pairs well, I’ve found, with my otherwise very progressive and optimistic perspective on technology, tools, and ways of doing things.
Without this countervailing stance to ground my enthusiasm, I’d likely never settle on any particular toolbox and process, and would thus have trouble making things with any consistency or standard of quality.
This specific means of achieving equilibrium, I’m certain, will also someday be replaced by something better. But for the moment, for my purposes, it’ll do.
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Projects
Brain Lenses: Solipsism & Ignorance
Let’s Know Things: Russian Protests
Yesterday’s Newsletter: Sputnik V, Bezos, Navalny Trial (robo-Colin-hosted podcast version)
Curiosity Weekly:February 2, 2021
Other: For the past several months I’ve been experimenting with a technology that I’ve been skeptical of, but also excited about, for several years. And that technology has only just recently reached the point where it’s both practically accessible (in terms of cost and non-expert utility) and feasible to use for my intended purposes (in terms of how casually and quickly it can be applied).
That technology is voice cloning, and it has become particularly appealing in the past year, as I’ve had some jaw-related issues that’ve made recording podcasts (and similar voice-related activities) at times tricky, painful, or both.
That said, this is a tool that’s still very much in its infancy, and is probably generously described as “better than you would think, but far from perfect.” Which to me, is a solid baseline for experimentation.
Thus, I’m producing an experimental, podcast version of my Yesterday’s Newsletter project, using only my cloned voice. It’s weird and interesting and hopefully valuable, but it’s also just interesting to me and hopefully to you, as well.
You can check out the imperfect results via the link, above.
Interesting & Useful
Some neat things to click:
Repairing a Book(strangely compelling short video)
Paint.wtf(love this online drawing “game”)
10-Gigapixel Scan of “Girl With a Pearl Earring”(zoom WAY in)
Art Installation Embeds Lights In Field to Spur Crop Growth(beautiful and practical)
Craneception(clever crane-company stunt)
Intro to Handheld Radios(need not be a prepper to find this useful/interesting)
Outro
I have no idea if that voice-cloning tech will go anywhere, and/or if my application of it even makes sense. But it’s been fun playing around with it, checking to see where the edges are, and imagining possible, future use-cases—many of which are likely still years away from practicality, but it doesn’t hurt to be thinking about such things, today.
Most of my other tools are in the It’ll Do stage at the moment, which is probably part of why I’m so keen to experiment with robo-Colin and a few other tools/techniques: overall stability can reduce the potential negative consequences of risks we take, which in turn can incentive/encourage experimentation (hopefully of the intentional, valuable kind).
I’m also continuing to work on my Mandarin fundamentals this week (thanks for the advice/tool suggestions!) and trying to forecast (probably inaccurately) when I’ll be able to roadtrip north for a quick visit/possible home-hunt in Milwaukee. I definitely don’t want to put myself or anyone else in danger while doing so, though, so it’ll probably be a little while before that makes logistical/pandemical sense.
What’ve you been up to? What’re you looking forward to/excited about/working on? Learn anything interesting recently? Keen to submit an awkward selfie?
You can reach me at colin@exilelifestyle.com or by responding to this email.
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