From e2e54075f78e894a7df0309797d588825f117993 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Joe Goodman Date: Mon, 13 May 2024 10:12:43 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Quartz sync: May 13, 2024, 10:12 AM --- content/My Favorite Questions.md | 4 +- .../Write plain text files - Derek Sivers.md | 96 +++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 98 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/references/Write plain text files - Derek Sivers.md diff --git a/content/My Favorite Questions.md b/content/My Favorite Questions.md index d553ee29..2c3f4465 100644 --- a/content/My Favorite Questions.md +++ b/content/My Favorite Questions.md @@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ 5. How can we build digital systems to help us do work that matters? 6. What gets us to take action? 7. How can we become better learners and thinkers post-formal education? How can we build those skills and improve? -8. How can we engage with technology in a useful way? -9. How can we align our actions with our goals and intentions?] +8. How can we intentionally & meaningfully engage with technology to improve our lives? How do we know when it's excessive, and how can we reign it back if so? +9. How can we align our actions with our goals and intentions? 10. How do we find or build our life's calling, or purpose? 11. What does "useful" content look like, and how can we create it? How can we engage with useful content to let it have its biggest impact on our lives? 12. How can we build lifestyle businesses based on the work we love? diff --git a/content/references/Write plain text files - Derek Sivers.md b/content/references/Write plain text files - Derek Sivers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5eae84e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/references/Write plain text files - Derek Sivers.md @@ -0,0 +1,96 @@ +--- +dateCreated: 2024-05-10 21:23:10 +id: e82d0538-e722-42a3-a045-7a7e739763e3 +omnivore: https://omnivore.app/me/write-plain-text-files-derek-sivers-18f653f2d03 +url: https://sive.rs/plaintext +author: +status: To Process +type: Article +--- + + +> I write almost everything important in my life: thoughts, plans, notes, diaries, correspondence, code, articles, and entire books. +> +> They are my extended memory — my noted self — my organized thoughts. I refer to them often. I search them, update them, and learn from them. I convert them into HTML to make websites, or LaTeX to make books. +> +> My written words are my most precious asset. They are also a history of my life. **That’s why I only use plain text files.** + + +> PORTABLE + + +> Every device, including ones long gone, and ones not invented yet, can read and edit plain text. + + +> UN-COMMERCIAL + + +> When you store your writing in one company’s unique format, then you need that program to access it. Then the economy takes a turn, they go out of business, and your work is trapped in an unusable format. + + +> **You will outlive these companies.** Your writing should outlive you. Depending on companies is not an option. + + +> OFFLINE + + +> There are places and times when you can’t get online. Don’t depend on any tool that needs an internet connection. +> +> **There are great benefits to being intentionally offline and unreachable, to focus.** + + +> NO DEPENDENCIES + + +> If you rely on Word, Evernote or Notion, for example, then you can’t work unless you have Word, Evernote, or Notion. **You are helpless without them.** You are dependent. + + +> **Plain text files and a basic text editor are enough. This is everything you need for great thinking and writing.** + + +> EASIEST TO CONVERT + + +> Plain text can be converted into anything else. +> +> HTML, Markdown, JSON, LaTeX, and many other standard formats, are just plain text. + + +> You can make your own personal formats in your plain text files. Maybe in each diary entry, the first two lines are like: +> +> date: 2022-02-28 +> tags: where-to-live, kids, dog, anxious + + +> ## NEED HIERARCHY? +> +> Use directories — also known as folders. These are also good for keeping your text together with other files like images and audio. +> +> Documents/ +> Documents/Diary/ +> Documents/Diary/2022/ +> Documents/Diary/2022/2022-02-28.txt +> Documents/Thoughts/ +> Documents/Thoughts/WhereToLive/ +> Documents/Thoughts/WhereToLive/2019-06-30.txt +> Documents/Thoughts/WhereToLive/2020-01-18.txt +> Documents/Ideas/ +> Documents/Ideas/MusicalChairs.txt +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/ +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/Design/ +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/Design/entryway.jpg +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/Design/roof.jpg +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/Architect/ +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/Architect/JM_Lim.txt +> Documents/Ideas/NewHouse/Architect/TPS_Inc.txt +> +> ## + + +> I especially enjoy the tranquility of their offline, non-commercial nature. They’re quiet. They’re focused. (As I aim to be.) + + +> tranquility + +tools that reflect your values? something about shaping your digital environment to mirror the life you want to actually build? If your environment shapes your actions, or something like that, then an offline first, simple way of interacting with your computer will put you in that mind space. You are the average of your environment +