Me · You

The 50/50 Rule and Why I Blog

My blog’s current tag line is “This is not a blog.”

Originally, this site was intended as a way to keep track of links to interesting or useful things, like glorified bookmarks. But since then, it has evolved to serve another purpose: to make me think and communicate about stuff.

See, as I was bookmarking stuff, I found myself adding little bits about why I liked the link or context about how I found it. Over time, I found that when I would link to an article, I would sometimes want to add a summary about the article to help me process it and remember it better.

A better way to learn, process, retain and remember information is to learn half the time, and share half the time.

If I take two seconds to effortlessly save a bookmark, then the information is saved and soon forgotten. If I add even a quick post about it, giving it a title and some context or a summary, then that post is now a part of me. And as a bonus, I get to share it with other people.

So I was happy to see this article, which makes me think I am not wasting my time.

๐Ÿ‘‰ The 50/50 Rule (How to Retain And Remember 90% of Everything You Learn)

It basically says that if you make yourself talk about something, then you come to understand it or appreciate it better. Spend half you time learning and half your time explaining what you learned.

According to the article, I would be serving myself better by writing out my notes by hand. It seems people type too fast for their brain to absorb what they’re doing. And simply by writing that, I now remember that fact. But I’m typing this anyways because you can’t tag, search, and share your paper notebook. ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

And yes, this article is so meta.

Photos

50 years ago today, the first human stepped onto the surface of the moon. ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŒ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ This was an insanely difficult and dangerous mission, and is IMHO the crowing achievement of humankind to date.

If youโ€™re not impressed, read โ€œFailure is Not an Optionโ€ for just one perspective of the Mercury and Apollo programs.

Okay, letโ€™s hashtag this ๐Ÿ˜† #moon #apollo #apollo11 #apollo11anniversary #nasa #space #usa #houston #sky #shotoniphone via Instagram https://ift.tt/2xZpncU

Travel

The Metropolitan Opera

Next time you’re in NYC, why not go see an opera? The tickets are surprisingly affordable (from $30). And even if you’re not an opera fan, this is a unique and interesting experience.

๐Ÿ‘‰ The Metropolitan Opera (NYC)

Funnily enough, this tip came as a recommendation from Andy Ihnatko on a tech podcast. Listen in at this spot for more inspiration about the opera. ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

๐Ÿ‘‰ MacBreak Weekly (MP3) 565: 10 Years After (via Overcast)

Lobby of The Metropolitan Opera before a performance.

Travel

The McKittrick Hotel: Not a Hotel

The McKittrick Hotel in the Chelsea neighborhood of in New York City is not actually a hotel (as far as I can tell). It’s more of a bizarre collection of venues and edgy entertainment.

๐Ÿ‘‰ The McKittrick Hotel

Their about page sets the tone…

Completed in 1939, The McKittrick Hotel was intended to be New York Cityโ€™s finest and most decadent luxury hotel of its time. Six weeks before opening, and two days after the outbreak of World War II, the legendary hotel was condemned and left locked, permanently sealed from the public. Until nowโ€ฆ

This “hotel” features the creepy and insanely immersive Sleep No More, a bar on the roof, a bar in the basement, magic shows, cabaret, anything weird and especially 1930’s-themed.

Related image

This may be the weirdest and most fun place in NYC (that I know of). I’m definitely going back if I ever get the chance.

Austin · Music

Hello Again, KUTX

For the last couple of years, I’ve been relying on Apple Music for all my of musical needs. It’s great. It has absolutely every song I ever want to hear, instantly available in my car, while out for a walk, at home, on my laptop. Anything anywhere any time! And I have dozens of my own purpose-built playlists (Springsteen Covers, Dance Party, Garage Rock, more). Plus they provide a ton of their own playlists. (Same for Spotify, I’m sure.)

So online music streaming is perfect, right? Well, yes, but also no. ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

My playlists had became too safe and predictable. And it’s weird that I never ever ever listen to the local radio. So today I suddenly had the urge to listen to my favorite local Austin radio station: KUTX. So I streamed it (seriously, I don’t have a radio). And it was great!

KUTX

KUTX will constantly surprise and delight you with music that you don’t control. I have unwittingly discovered some of very favorite bands here (The XX and Tinariwen for example). And btw, KUTX is a public radio station. No ads or BS. It’s basically a community service by music fans.

If you’re not in the mood straight-up KUTX , which is geared towards indie rock, they have other streams like Old School Dance Party, Eklektikos, a soul and R&B station, a jazz station, and even a kid-friendly indie music station.

This doesn’t mean I’m dropping Apple Music, which is still great when I want music to help me concentrate, or to listen to my favorite album. But I’m glad to remember my old friend KUTX as a way to mix things up a bit.