Cubicle Marketing
Conforming
19/05/12 08:02
The need to conform, like, that my web page conforms or my profile image conforms, or that my app has a splash page with the company logo (that delays the user because everyone else delays the user), or what I say or what I write, or tweet, conforms, or who I follow conform, because I want to learn how to conform, is useful but up to a point becomes restrictive in a way we could call severe.
The guys who created WWW didn’t conform, they didn’t want to restrict, keep silent and conform, and that’s why were here--same with apps.
Fashion, conforming to fashion, not having the guts to create it, not buying that last season outfit during sales at K-mart/Walmart, but deciding to conform is a decision to hide. We hide because we want to conform and we’re afraid--of what? Not conforming? Not doing what you were told to do? Not doing what you’re supposed to do? Not doing what everyone thinks what you’re supposed to do? But why?
How does the need to conform restrict your life?
Out of fashion
18/05/12 06:12
Good bye:
Third world boss mentality.
Drudgery mentality.
Off shore.
One stop shop.
Hiding.
Sock puppeteering.
Automated infomediaries.
Automated social presence.
Spam.
Mediocrity.
The need to be better than someone.
Getting hurt.
Being right.
The loud and angry.
Selfishness.
Big time.
Boasting.
Delirium.
Narcism.
Greed.
Blindness.
Pulp and the distraction economy
12/05/12 08:06
When do conversations, commentaries, comments, blogs, articles, books, games become pulp?
Sock puppets, fake ratings. fake reviews, fake downloads, fake opinions.
Sponsors out of context.
Spreading out information geared for your benefit. Hiding.
Lessons in narcism, selfishness, greed. Breaking out instead of breaking in.
These things are becoming more difficult to hide. Bluffs will be called.
Therefore, I guess in the end it just comes down to whether you care about your own profit.
Because why would I buy something (an idea, tool, method, service, strategy) that doesn’t amplify my profit?
Sock puppets, fake ratings. fake reviews, fake downloads, fake opinions.
Sponsors out of context.
Spreading out information geared for your benefit. Hiding.
Lessons in narcism, selfishness, greed. Breaking out instead of breaking in.
These things are becoming more difficult to hide. Bluffs will be called.
Therefore, I guess in the end it just comes down to whether you care about your own profit.
Because why would I buy something (an idea, tool, method, service, strategy) that doesn’t amplify my profit?
Life of leisure and the game
11/05/12 07:30
Striving for free time. Playing computer games. Wasting time on social networks. Looking for ways to get out of the game.
When you could: make most of your time. Create. Have fun. Live a life. And, discover ways to get into the game.
When you could: make most of your time. Create. Have fun. Live a life. And, discover ways to get into the game.
Making it worse
10/05/12 06:41
Is making it worse for somebody the same thing as making it better for somebody else?
Good enough = the sweet spot
08/05/12 04:46
It seems that when we are pushing the boundaries the result is never good enough.
Typically, a corporation expects workers to push to their boundaries and “be productive”.
To monitor productivity a values, goals and achievements system is put in place. It’s called “career planning” or “investing in people”. Superiors monitor whether you are “on target” or not. You are given a score. This goes on year after year. The deal is that if all goes well your pay gets higher and if you cope well within the organization you get a higher position.
On the other hand when running your own show, the restrictions are gone. No more career talks or reports. No more evaluations or scores are given. Your pay might be lower but it can get substantially higher. It depends on a variety of factors that eventually lead you to your sweet spot.
Now, if your work is the sort of productive work that needs to meet a standard, say programming, graphic design, music (any form of productive creative work, even marketing, mentoring or writing) you come to a point where you notice that this amount of daily effort is “good enough” for you to run your business and make a living. This daily “good enough” is the sweet spot because:
1) You are comfortable doing what you do.
2) Because you are comfortable, you will be able to continue for a long time, in other words, you are extremely productive in the long run. Work mixes with the life of leisure.
3) You cannot have a burn out, the serious kind.
4) No bitter pills to swallow. In business, letting the other one know F.U. has its place at times in the rare case. On the other hand, admitting failure becomes as easy.
5) You’re able to advance at your own pace and make things better as you wish.
6) You become immune to a certain corporate sickness (that thing of the past century). It’s just so yesterday that you don’t really understand it anymore as an insider but an outsider. Some day, this will become history for everyone.
Note: number 6 incurs that you can go back and help places of sickness as you’re immune and sort of aware of what’s happening (a topic for another discussion). It also means that you’re a pioneer.
[The list goes on and on but these are the ones I like to highlight.]
Typically, a corporation expects workers to push to their boundaries and “be productive”.
To monitor productivity a values, goals and achievements system is put in place. It’s called “career planning” or “investing in people”. Superiors monitor whether you are “on target” or not. You are given a score. This goes on year after year. The deal is that if all goes well your pay gets higher and if you cope well within the organization you get a higher position.
On the other hand when running your own show, the restrictions are gone. No more career talks or reports. No more evaluations or scores are given. Your pay might be lower but it can get substantially higher. It depends on a variety of factors that eventually lead you to your sweet spot.
Now, if your work is the sort of productive work that needs to meet a standard, say programming, graphic design, music (any form of productive creative work, even marketing, mentoring or writing) you come to a point where you notice that this amount of daily effort is “good enough” for you to run your business and make a living. This daily “good enough” is the sweet spot because:
1) You are comfortable doing what you do.
2) Because you are comfortable, you will be able to continue for a long time, in other words, you are extremely productive in the long run. Work mixes with the life of leisure.
3) You cannot have a burn out, the serious kind.
4) No bitter pills to swallow. In business, letting the other one know F.U. has its place at times in the rare case. On the other hand, admitting failure becomes as easy.
5) You’re able to advance at your own pace and make things better as you wish.
6) You become immune to a certain corporate sickness (that thing of the past century). It’s just so yesterday that you don’t really understand it anymore as an insider but an outsider. Some day, this will become history for everyone.
Note: number 6 incurs that you can go back and help places of sickness as you’re immune and sort of aware of what’s happening (a topic for another discussion). It also means that you’re a pioneer.
[The list goes on and on but these are the ones I like to highlight.]
Blocking others leads to blocking yourself
05/05/12 08:23
On the night before departing to Brazil I played a game of chinese checkers with my mentor. I had packed my stuff in cardboard boxes and was going to mail everything overseas to myself. One of the boxes had the game which I decided to leave behind. I figured I wasn’t going to play chinese checkers in Brazil.
The game allows from two to six players. It is easy to catch on but subtle once you start to get into it. Basically, you just have to get your pieces to the other side of the board. As you move your pieces you create gaps that allow both yours and your opponent’s pieces to hop over each in order to advance. Subsequent hops are allowed, but hard to spot, and allow the pieces to move forward rapidly. The idea is to create opportunities for subsequent hops for yourself while blocking the opponents pieces.
The one who gets all pieces to the triangle on the other side wins. The ending of the game is mysteriously always a close call.
He had never seen or played the game before but caught on quickly. We played two rounds after which he concluded that:”yes, as you block your opponent you also block yourself.”
Full moon tonight, I’ll be back in three days hopefully with a clear mind.
The game allows from two to six players. It is easy to catch on but subtle once you start to get into it. Basically, you just have to get your pieces to the other side of the board. As you move your pieces you create gaps that allow both yours and your opponent’s pieces to hop over each in order to advance. Subsequent hops are allowed, but hard to spot, and allow the pieces to move forward rapidly. The idea is to create opportunities for subsequent hops for yourself while blocking the opponents pieces.
The one who gets all pieces to the triangle on the other side wins. The ending of the game is mysteriously always a close call.
He had never seen or played the game before but caught on quickly. We played two rounds after which he concluded that:”yes, as you block your opponent you also block yourself.”
Full moon tonight, I’ll be back in three days hopefully with a clear mind.
Motivation is meaningless...
03/05/12 05:32
...without the right attitude.
To jump off a bridge into a river might take guts and motivation, but then what?
With the wrong attitude, you are not going to do it and you are not going to learn it. Work continues a drudgery and you keep joining the drudgery gang.
Life can teach you the right attitude if you’re willing to learn.
If not, then go ahead and keep calling your bluff, for that bluff has already exposed you (even if you got lucky once).
To jump off a bridge into a river might take guts and motivation, but then what?
With the wrong attitude, you are not going to do it and you are not going to learn it. Work continues a drudgery and you keep joining the drudgery gang.
Life can teach you the right attitude if you’re willing to learn.
If not, then go ahead and keep calling your bluff, for that bluff has already exposed you (even if you got lucky once).
Fusion of thought, work and the life of leisure
01/05/12 08:41
Thought has always been in constant fusion.
For example, when hunter gatherers met farming communities during the bronze age, their views of the world had to fuse into a consensus, just to be able to get along with each other.
Explanations were compared and similarities were fused. For example, in Europe, shamanistic views of nature first collided with polytheism, which later on was unified with Christianity and finally Alchemy, the Renaissance, Age of Enlightenment and Science.
Politics on the other hand went from tribalism to kingdoms to democracy.
Luckily, individualism never died out and today with the advent of the information age thought, of any form, has a place and freedom to fusion and remix according to its will.
Meanwhile, convenience beats the myths of drudgery-efficiency solely due to extremely efficient tools that are available, fusing work with the life of leisure.
This is apparent in today’s design and working trends.
For example, when hunter gatherers met farming communities during the bronze age, their views of the world had to fuse into a consensus, just to be able to get along with each other.
Explanations were compared and similarities were fused. For example, in Europe, shamanistic views of nature first collided with polytheism, which later on was unified with Christianity and finally Alchemy, the Renaissance, Age of Enlightenment and Science.
Politics on the other hand went from tribalism to kingdoms to democracy.
Luckily, individualism never died out and today with the advent of the information age thought, of any form, has a place and freedom to fusion and remix according to its will.
Meanwhile, convenience beats the myths of drudgery-efficiency solely due to extremely efficient tools that are available, fusing work with the life of leisure.
This is apparent in today’s design and working trends.
Pieces of the puzzle
27/04/12 07:26
You can imagine that creating and publishing, like selling and running your own business, requires you to practically solve a puzzle. You have to work hard to find all the pieces and put them together. Some pieces you have to create yourself or modify something else to get some mandatory pieces to fit.
This is how things get done. Thus we can assume the pieces are needed.
However, some people think they can do away with just one piece and wait for everything else to appear, magically, out of the bloom. Happy waiting!
This is how things get done. Thus we can assume the pieces are needed.
However, some people think they can do away with just one piece and wait for everything else to appear, magically, out of the bloom. Happy waiting!
Sculpturing
21/04/12 08:34
Every part of a fine sculpture is a result of a series of precision hammering, where each hit had an angle, velocity and pressure.
No angle no sculpture.
The platform that doesn't know how it works
19/04/12 04:06
A platform is a platform, an abstraction or name. You rely on the platform, you steer the platform and you tweak the platform. Moreover, you might get handed over a platform. Do you know what makes the platform work?
The bigger a platform gets, the harder it is to maintain and understand. The platform itself doesn’t understand how it works. It just functions.
What does it take to go beyond the logistics?
1) Insight
2) Listening
3) Actions that matter
4) Devotion
5) Culture
6) Innovation
7) Framework / logistics
_____________
platform
The bigger a platform gets, the harder it is to maintain and understand. The platform itself doesn’t understand how it works. It just functions.
What does it take to go beyond the logistics?
1) Insight
2) Listening
3) Actions that matter
4) Devotion
5) Culture
6) Innovation
7) Framework / logistics
_____________
platform
Listening to people, listening to the world
17/04/12 06:41
The senses get input from the outside world which the perception mechanism combines in an extremely quick manner with the rest of our mind. When this happens, information, sounds, sights, words, are fitted in with earlier sounds, sights, words and feelings that the brain has recorded during our lifetime. The process is so fast and quick that for us it feels like reality, like a 3D movie (after you switch on the glasses) but better.
Is pure listening possible? The only time when we did pure listening was as an infant when all sights and sounds were sensed for the first time. All listening after that has been the listening and the combining process.
Can we become better listeners? As we grow older there’s only more and more material to combine, more luggage to sort. Which part of our wisdom is not false wisdom, in other words, not assertions, not things we take for granted, not our own wants and needs, but something that caters the needs and wants of the other?
Is pure listening possible? The only time when we did pure listening was as an infant when all sights and sounds were sensed for the first time. All listening after that has been the listening and the combining process.
Can we become better listeners? As we grow older there’s only more and more material to combine, more luggage to sort. Which part of our wisdom is not false wisdom, in other words, not assertions, not things we take for granted, not our own wants and needs, but something that caters the needs and wants of the other?
Wrong attitude, wrong advice
10/04/12 06:15
“Had to shovel dirt seven years to get to where I am, kid. Now it ain’t me no more who’s doin’ shovelin’.”
Boasting, romanticism, authoritarian rule, blindness, problem propagation, hiding.
Sorry, I don’t get your formula.
Boasting, romanticism, authoritarian rule, blindness, problem propagation, hiding.
Sorry, I don’t get your formula.
Mouth full of rocks
05/04/12 22:48
I remembered an antique philosopher (I’ll have to look up the name) who wanted to get better in his argumentation skills so he frequented the seashore, grabbing a fistful of rocks, he put them in his mouth and let the waves splash against him while reciting his theorems.
My mouth is full of rocks and it is full moon (the fourth of this year), which is when I refrain from blogging and the Internet, and concentrate on getting unfinished things done.
I’ll be back in three days, hopefully with a clear mind.
My mouth is full of rocks and it is full moon (the fourth of this year), which is when I refrain from blogging and the Internet, and concentrate on getting unfinished things done.
I’ll be back in three days, hopefully with a clear mind.
Worrying about the effect
05/04/12 13:24
When a child is sick and crying, we immediately rush and try to figure out a way to help and make the pain go away.
However, the pain is not the cause, it is the symptom. Why do we valor the symptom so much?
I’ve seen people cry, and I’ve cried. Crying doesn’t hurt, it helps.
Instead of pushing pain killers, why don’t we try to prevent the sickness from happening?
But no, once the pain is gone, we continue to destroy ourselves, even handing over the destructive culture for future generations to come, here: deal with it.
Why do we go to extended measures (dolls, toys, words, tales, songs) to distract the child to get her to eat and not concentrate on making the food better?
However, the pain is not the cause, it is the symptom. Why do we valor the symptom so much?
I’ve seen people cry, and I’ve cried. Crying doesn’t hurt, it helps.
Instead of pushing pain killers, why don’t we try to prevent the sickness from happening?
But no, once the pain is gone, we continue to destroy ourselves, even handing over the destructive culture for future generations to come, here: deal with it.
Why do we go to extended measures (dolls, toys, words, tales, songs) to distract the child to get her to eat and not concentrate on making the food better?
Rough Around the Edges
05/04/12 07:21
Back-stage, things are rough around the edges. This is how things were meant to be.
Here’s what Mushashi writes about weapons in general:
Here’s what Mushashi writes about weapons in general:
“The thing about weapons is just as that of the horse, firm and flawless. The horse’s step must be strong and firm, swords must clash equally with force. Spears and halberds must endure rough use. The bow and the rifle are rugged. Weapons must be more about hardness and robustness than ornaments and esthetics.”
New RSS and Changes
30/03/12 10:05
SoftCubicle RSS feed is at a new FeedBurner address. The old address will stay on for a while.
Now there is also the possibility to subscribe via mail on the bottom of this page, just above the contact link.
Also, there is an “Email the author” link in the new feed.
The Soft Cubicle blog is an ad-free, daily diary, with occasional announcements and links to other work and writings.
If you’re interested in my development blog the RSS is here (the site will move soon but the feed address will stay the same).
Thanks!
best of the best,
pk
Now there is also the possibility to subscribe via mail on the bottom of this page, just above the contact link.
Also, there is an “Email the author” link in the new feed.
The Soft Cubicle blog is an ad-free, daily diary, with occasional announcements and links to other work and writings.
If you’re interested in my development blog the RSS is here (the site will move soon but the feed address will stay the same).
Thanks!
best of the best,
pk
Ad Venture
26/03/12 08:01
Life is hard. You try to do everything right but somewhere something gives in. This is what business is about.
Take the boyfriend of my wife’s daughter. She’s in her 20s. The guy does everything right. He looks right, smiles, excuses himself politely, shakes hands, says hello, is nice, and even tries to take responsibility (in a nice way), wears good looking shoes. After a year what does she do? She dumps him for an(other) idiot, only to get back with him six months after, only to dump him again. I believe the phone calls have stopped by now. However, the guy was in love and did everything right. Just imagine the heart pain, we all felt heart pain.
How does one get up and try again, continue? Because these situations leave a mark in you, especially in nice people. How do you stay positive and wishful amidst uncertainty and past failures haunting?
Well, you know what? I don’t think there is a remedy, a quick cure for that.
However, what if… there’s always a what if… What if, we could see the venture as an experiment? What if, A implies B, B implies C and thus A implies C. We’re at A and we want to get to C. Let’s experiment if we can get there.
Time for a commercial break:
We found this pretty handy play table at the local flea market a month ago and it’s been a great success (smart parents will understand when I say success).
We’ve been developing children’s iOS apps like these for a while now with my designer/animator buddy Slook, and we’re not stopping!
So get in contact if you’re interested in creating one for the iPad, iPhone, or even the Mac. Slook and I will put one together in no time!
You can hire us on Elance or by clicking on the contact link below (we accept all payments).
Keep an eye on our portfolio because there are new apps coming soon!
Take the boyfriend of my wife’s daughter. She’s in her 20s. The guy does everything right. He looks right, smiles, excuses himself politely, shakes hands, says hello, is nice, and even tries to take responsibility (in a nice way), wears good looking shoes. After a year what does she do? She dumps him for an(other) idiot, only to get back with him six months after, only to dump him again. I believe the phone calls have stopped by now. However, the guy was in love and did everything right. Just imagine the heart pain, we all felt heart pain.
How does one get up and try again, continue? Because these situations leave a mark in you, especially in nice people. How do you stay positive and wishful amidst uncertainty and past failures haunting?
Well, you know what? I don’t think there is a remedy, a quick cure for that.
However, what if… there’s always a what if… What if, we could see the venture as an experiment? What if, A implies B, B implies C and thus A implies C. We’re at A and we want to get to C. Let’s experiment if we can get there.
Time for a commercial break:
We found this pretty handy play table at the local flea market a month ago and it’s been a great success (smart parents will understand when I say success).
We’ve been developing children’s iOS apps like these for a while now with my designer/animator buddy Slook, and we’re not stopping!
So get in contact if you’re interested in creating one for the iPad, iPhone, or even the Mac. Slook and I will put one together in no time!
You can hire us on Elance or by clicking on the contact link below (we accept all payments).
Keep an eye on our portfolio because there are new apps coming soon!
In the Wave
25/03/12 07:59
The waves here at the Copacabana beach are somewhat dangerous. I believe it is due to the fact that most of the sand was brought here from a nearby mountain. The sand floor rises quickly which makes the waves rise suddenly in height and then come crushing down.
When the waves are too high it is practically dangerous to enter the water. Medium waves are ok if you know where to stay, when to dive through the wave and when to return to the shore. Anything in between and suddenly you are in a spot where a three meter wave comes crushing down on you, or you find yourself drifting outwards to the sea. There has been drownings during the three years I’ve lived here, so it’s serious business.
The following are the rules I follow when I go walking on the beach every morning and decide whether to enter the water:
1) If the waves are too high and there are red flags, I don’t enter at all.
2) With medium waves, I go in and stay at a spot just before where the wave starts rising, thus they come down in between the swimmer and the shore. Even if a medium wave comes down on you it’s nothing you can’t survive. Maybe you’ll spin a little but then you can return to shore. (if a wave does come down on you “become a log”, i.e., keep your body stiff and stretched out, hands above the head, fingers straight.
3) At times a bigger wave appears out of nowhere. This too, with medium waves, is not a problem because you can swim quickly outward and dive through the wave before it comes crushing down on you. You can handle two or three bigger waves, which doesn’t occur often, and return to shore. (Four bigger waves becomes a problem, even for experienced swimmers.)
4) Small waves, or no waves, you can swim, but swim in the direction of the shore and near other swimmers.
In my home country Finland, we have thousands of lakes, and everyone learns how to swim at an early age. However, here in Brazil, when I look at people it seems that not everyone knows how to swim, which is understandable with a dangerous sea shore, because not a lot of people have the time and the opportunity to practice.
When the waves are too high it is practically dangerous to enter the water. Medium waves are ok if you know where to stay, when to dive through the wave and when to return to the shore. Anything in between and suddenly you are in a spot where a three meter wave comes crushing down on you, or you find yourself drifting outwards to the sea. There has been drownings during the three years I’ve lived here, so it’s serious business.
The following are the rules I follow when I go walking on the beach every morning and decide whether to enter the water:
1) If the waves are too high and there are red flags, I don’t enter at all.
2) With medium waves, I go in and stay at a spot just before where the wave starts rising, thus they come down in between the swimmer and the shore. Even if a medium wave comes down on you it’s nothing you can’t survive. Maybe you’ll spin a little but then you can return to shore. (if a wave does come down on you “become a log”, i.e., keep your body stiff and stretched out, hands above the head, fingers straight.
3) At times a bigger wave appears out of nowhere. This too, with medium waves, is not a problem because you can swim quickly outward and dive through the wave before it comes crushing down on you. You can handle two or three bigger waves, which doesn’t occur often, and return to shore. (Four bigger waves becomes a problem, even for experienced swimmers.)
4) Small waves, or no waves, you can swim, but swim in the direction of the shore and near other swimmers.
In my home country Finland, we have thousands of lakes, and everyone learns how to swim at an early age. However, here in Brazil, when I look at people it seems that not everyone knows how to swim, which is understandable with a dangerous sea shore, because not a lot of people have the time and the opportunity to practice.
Scary People
22/03/12 06:48
Some people are scary. Not horror-flick scary, but scary in another way. Other people are annoying. You go: “There’s just something in that person that annoys me, “ and you push him out of your conscience. But scary: I think when you can’t push an annoying person or voice out of your head, it becomes scary.
Kind of like a voice that says: I can see through your cards and there’s a not a lot of aces there.
Your comfort is virtual, and at the moment its currency is going down.
Your busyness is just a way to escape commitment.
You are actually going to have to make a choice soon.
You lack empathy and that’s why your heart is giving you a hard time right now.
What are you waiting for?
We can push people away, cut communication, ignore. But, scary voices and scary people, we cannot ignore or push them away.
Kind of like a voice that says: I can see through your cards and there’s a not a lot of aces there.
Your comfort is virtual, and at the moment its currency is going down.
Your busyness is just a way to escape commitment.
You are actually going to have to make a choice soon.
You lack empathy and that’s why your heart is giving you a hard time right now.
What are you waiting for?
We can push people away, cut communication, ignore. But, scary voices and scary people, we cannot ignore or push them away.
Opportunity Cost
20/03/12 09:08
It is funny how you learn something the hard way, by banging your head against the wall for years, only to end up realizing something completely by yourself. Furthermore, you try to teach it, explain it or write about it to someone, only to find that it already existed as a well known concept. This is what happened to me with opportunity cost.
Wikipedia: Opportunity cost is the cost of any activity measured in terms of the value of the next best alternative forgone (that is not chosen).
I truly believed it was a revelation when I realized this a few years ago. I wrote about it in an anonymous blog for about a year called Business Tao. I still write about it, the different aspects and metaphors it spews. However, I didn’t know it was called opportunity cost.
Mushashi understood opportunity cost. For example, in his description of building a house he writes:
This is opportunity cost at a finer level. Lumber comes in, we choose the best lumber for the things that matter, we put aside the second best lumber and use it for something else. Hard, but ugly, wood in hidden places, and the worst quality wood is utilized eventually for firewood.
With limited resources, opportunity cost is choosing your focus area and leaving the second best things behind. It’s acknowledging that: “yeah, I could do that, but right now, I’m doing this.” It’s about choosing between becoming a jack of all trades versus an expert. Furthermore, during hard times, it might be the only thing that saves your company or career, i.e., your butt.
On the Internet, in terms of productivity, opportunity cost is about choosing whether to waste time on endless discussion forums, social networks, or news sites. In messaging, it means concentrating all your effort into realizing the project at hand.
People who have truly understood opportunity cost are able to turn on a dime, grab opportunities, but to also ignore temptations and cheap advice from external sources. The list goes on and on, health, bad habits, wrong people, wrong marketing, wrong angle, resting on your laurels, etc. And, it’s not always about the money and maximizing profit.
Personally, if I would have read about opportunity cost seven years ago I probably would have gone:”yeah sure, it’s obvious” and proceeded like always in my foolish way. However, learning it the hard way and then rediscovering it like this is somewhat of another revelation.
Call me a hard head, but once hard heads learn something, it sticks.
Wikipedia: Opportunity cost is the cost of any activity measured in terms of the value of the next best alternative forgone (that is not chosen).
I truly believed it was a revelation when I realized this a few years ago. I wrote about it in an anonymous blog for about a year called Business Tao. I still write about it, the different aspects and metaphors it spews. However, I didn’t know it was called opportunity cost.
Mushashi understood opportunity cost. For example, in his description of building a house he writes:
“We choose lumber carefully when building a house. For the pillars outside, good quality, branchless wood is used. For inside pillars, we use nearly flawless straight lumber. The finest, somewhat soft wood, is used for porches, doorsteps, doors and windows. In hidden frame structures, we use good hard wood even if it has branches or burs on it. Weak, deformed wood is used for stands and platforms and eventually for firewood.”
This is opportunity cost at a finer level. Lumber comes in, we choose the best lumber for the things that matter, we put aside the second best lumber and use it for something else. Hard, but ugly, wood in hidden places, and the worst quality wood is utilized eventually for firewood.
With limited resources, opportunity cost is choosing your focus area and leaving the second best things behind. It’s acknowledging that: “yeah, I could do that, but right now, I’m doing this.” It’s about choosing between becoming a jack of all trades versus an expert. Furthermore, during hard times, it might be the only thing that saves your company or career, i.e., your butt.
On the Internet, in terms of productivity, opportunity cost is about choosing whether to waste time on endless discussion forums, social networks, or news sites. In messaging, it means concentrating all your effort into realizing the project at hand.
People who have truly understood opportunity cost are able to turn on a dime, grab opportunities, but to also ignore temptations and cheap advice from external sources. The list goes on and on, health, bad habits, wrong people, wrong marketing, wrong angle, resting on your laurels, etc. And, it’s not always about the money and maximizing profit.
Personally, if I would have read about opportunity cost seven years ago I probably would have gone:”yeah sure, it’s obvious” and proceeded like always in my foolish way. However, learning it the hard way and then rediscovering it like this is somewhat of another revelation.
Call me a hard head, but once hard heads learn something, it sticks.
Surrealism?
19/03/12 06:50
A friend asked me whether I write down my blog entries the day before and then revise them in the morning.
I do that sometimes, but most of the time, I just wake up and write whatever my fingers type. I rarely have any plan for what I’m going to write. Today, I put surrealism on the title. However, I never write about my REM dreams or try to replicate them in words. My goal, in general, is to write about realizing other kinds of dreams.
I see all of my blog posts as probes, which I send out into the world where anyone can see them. Kind of like the declaration of demolition of Arthur’s house in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which was public for a long time. Eventually, in the book, Earth was bound to be demolished too with the same reasons.
Douglas Adams’ writing is clearly spontaneous. This is the kind of text I like to read in the blogs I read. Not well written and formulated, clever nonsense, but words that come from the heart directly, as if someone was talking to you.
In Orwell’s 1984, the main character kept a secret diary and managed to write entries there. Today, he would probably be a blogger. The difference is that today, in my world, you don’t have to write in secret and hopefully this will become true for anyone on this planet.
Still, there’s no need to write anything. It’s the freedom that counts. A blog, as a diary, can be subtle, low volume, but at times it can go to eleven, or even twelve and beyound.
I do that sometimes, but most of the time, I just wake up and write whatever my fingers type. I rarely have any plan for what I’m going to write. Today, I put surrealism on the title. However, I never write about my REM dreams or try to replicate them in words. My goal, in general, is to write about realizing other kinds of dreams.
I see all of my blog posts as probes, which I send out into the world where anyone can see them. Kind of like the declaration of demolition of Arthur’s house in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which was public for a long time. Eventually, in the book, Earth was bound to be demolished too with the same reasons.
Douglas Adams’ writing is clearly spontaneous. This is the kind of text I like to read in the blogs I read. Not well written and formulated, clever nonsense, but words that come from the heart directly, as if someone was talking to you.
In Orwell’s 1984, the main character kept a secret diary and managed to write entries there. Today, he would probably be a blogger. The difference is that today, in my world, you don’t have to write in secret and hopefully this will become true for anyone on this planet.
Still, there’s no need to write anything. It’s the freedom that counts. A blog, as a diary, can be subtle, low volume, but at times it can go to eleven, or even twelve and beyound.
Professional Ethos
18/03/12 07:47
When a professor of history writes in an online column/blog and demonstrates clearly how history, right now, is repeating itself, everyone cannot but concur. It’s obvious already in the writing style that this person knows what he/she is talking or writing about. The arguments are rock solid and the pattern is easy to see.
More and more professionals with guts are taking their strong professional ethos online. This has been possible already since 1993 or so. However, perhaps it’s becoming more vital now than it ever was before.
More and more professionals with guts are taking their strong professional ethos online. This has been possible already since 1993 or so. However, perhaps it’s becoming more vital now than it ever was before.
At an Italian Restaurant
16/03/12 10:19
During carnival week we visited a fairly decent Italian restaurant close by. This is how things went:
First, they were reluctant to let us in. The restaurant was apparently booked. However, not all the tables were occupied. Also, they seemed to have been briefed not to let groups of drunk men and women inside. I was wearing a funny hat which didn’t seem to amuse anyone.
Once we got in we were given a booked table. The waitstaff helped us navigate in with the baby carriage.
I ordered my usual Pesto Tagliatelli while the others looked at special dishes. I also ordered a beer, the others wine.
After ordering I always go wash my hands. When I came back a waiter said there would be no beer because there’s a problem with the draught system. I wasn’t given time to respond. The others were already sipping their wine.
The pitiful feeling that the wine drinkers felt for me, for not getting my beer, was about to be remedied as the food came in. They got their special plates and I got my tagliatelli, pesto, and parmesan cheese on separate plates (there was more than enough there to share), and yes, the cold pint of beer appeared alongside.
No smiles, and fairly blunt, but effective, service, and the food was great. I usually take my guests there.
First, they were reluctant to let us in. The restaurant was apparently booked. However, not all the tables were occupied. Also, they seemed to have been briefed not to let groups of drunk men and women inside. I was wearing a funny hat which didn’t seem to amuse anyone.
Once we got in we were given a booked table. The waitstaff helped us navigate in with the baby carriage.
I ordered my usual Pesto Tagliatelli while the others looked at special dishes. I also ordered a beer, the others wine.
After ordering I always go wash my hands. When I came back a waiter said there would be no beer because there’s a problem with the draught system. I wasn’t given time to respond. The others were already sipping their wine.
The pitiful feeling that the wine drinkers felt for me, for not getting my beer, was about to be remedied as the food came in. They got their special plates and I got my tagliatelli, pesto, and parmesan cheese on separate plates (there was more than enough there to share), and yes, the cold pint of beer appeared alongside.
No smiles, and fairly blunt, but effective, service, and the food was great. I usually take my guests there.
Raffinated information & 3rd three day pause
07/03/12 15:26
When reading, writing, speaking and listening to rumor, the mind creates models, layers and assertions about reality.
My way to combat this is to get away from the internet and blogging, and concentrate on strengthening the core things that I do. I’ve chosen to follow a natural cycle for this: every full moon, which occurs tomorrow.
In three days I will be back hopefully with a clear mind.
My way to combat this is to get away from the internet and blogging, and concentrate on strengthening the core things that I do. I’ve chosen to follow a natural cycle for this: every full moon, which occurs tomorrow.
In three days I will be back hopefully with a clear mind.
Power of decision
07/03/12 06:40
Visualizing a goal and doing everything that needs to be done to reach the goal is the result of firm decisiveness.
Our limited understanding of the human mind doesn’t give clear explanations to what happens when a decision is made. Nevertheless, people decide. “I want that car.” “I want that house.” “I will embark on a journey.”
The “trick” to make a decision is known to everyone: One decides and then acts accordingly, so it’s easy. Often, however, we begin to find obstacles that lie in between us and our goals. “Why doesn’t the government support entrepreneurship?” “It’s just too hard to make it nowadays.” “I don’t have money.” “Someone else will do it anyway.” “I would but…” “My current situation won’t allow it.”
Another pitfall is deciding and then forgetting about it. “I’ll follow this great diet and become healthy.” “After this cigarette, I’ll quit for keeps.” “One more slice…” “One more drink…” “Wait, I had another great idea…”
True decisions last for life so that we can live their consequences. Could there be a way to let things flow in the right direction? Our current situation seems to mandate our current condition, however, does it have to be the status quo, forever? Of course it doesn’t and it isn’t. Things always change.
Here’s the secret: You can help change. This means that, if things are going in the right direction let them. Leave out the things that are leading you in the wrong direction. Stick to the things that you really believe in. Forget the things or people that lead you astray. Don’t force your decision, let it bloom into reality. Push the right buttons. Online entrepreneurship today is mostly only about pushing buttons on the keyboard, hence, don’t push the wrong buttons, at the wrong time.
Understand and navigate to your power position, your goal, the best thing you can imagine. In the end, there are not a lot of rules and this is why it seems so hard. Nevertheless, it’s simple and easy.
Change can happen overnight. Here’s a story I read or heard somewhere about an apprentice swordsman that wanted to become a master:
The apprentice swordsman climbed the mountain and finally met his master.
Apprentice: I want to become a master swordsman. How long will it take?
Master: (Looks at apprentice) Twenty five years.
A: Twenty five? But what if I practice really really hard?
M: Then it will take fifty years.
A: What? But if I really practice really really hard?
M: Then it will take a hundred years.
Our limited understanding of the human mind doesn’t give clear explanations to what happens when a decision is made. Nevertheless, people decide. “I want that car.” “I want that house.” “I will embark on a journey.”
The “trick” to make a decision is known to everyone: One decides and then acts accordingly, so it’s easy. Often, however, we begin to find obstacles that lie in between us and our goals. “Why doesn’t the government support entrepreneurship?” “It’s just too hard to make it nowadays.” “I don’t have money.” “Someone else will do it anyway.” “I would but…” “My current situation won’t allow it.”
Another pitfall is deciding and then forgetting about it. “I’ll follow this great diet and become healthy.” “After this cigarette, I’ll quit for keeps.” “One more slice…” “One more drink…” “Wait, I had another great idea…”
True decisions last for life so that we can live their consequences. Could there be a way to let things flow in the right direction? Our current situation seems to mandate our current condition, however, does it have to be the status quo, forever? Of course it doesn’t and it isn’t. Things always change.
Here’s the secret: You can help change. This means that, if things are going in the right direction let them. Leave out the things that are leading you in the wrong direction. Stick to the things that you really believe in. Forget the things or people that lead you astray. Don’t force your decision, let it bloom into reality. Push the right buttons. Online entrepreneurship today is mostly only about pushing buttons on the keyboard, hence, don’t push the wrong buttons, at the wrong time.
Understand and navigate to your power position, your goal, the best thing you can imagine. In the end, there are not a lot of rules and this is why it seems so hard. Nevertheless, it’s simple and easy.
Change can happen overnight. Here’s a story I read or heard somewhere about an apprentice swordsman that wanted to become a master:
The apprentice swordsman climbed the mountain and finally met his master.
Apprentice: I want to become a master swordsman. How long will it take?
Master: (Looks at apprentice) Twenty five years.
A: Twenty five? But what if I practice really really hard?
M: Then it will take fifty years.
A: What? But if I really practice really really hard?
M: Then it will take a hundred years.
Handling the vibrations
06/03/12 07:01
During a professional career one might end up giving speeches and performances (I like to call them shows) to audiences ranging from a few dozen up to a few thousand attendees.
Before show time everyone gets slightly nervous. Some sit down and bend forward slightly, others walk around. Others don’t seem to mind much, however. They just talk a lot, laugh and enjoy the pre-presentation jitters.
I have my own theory about these vibrations (that I like to believe in, because it helps): The feeling in your belly is actually a process where you are already making contact with the audience.
What’s happening is that on some strange lower level, your body and your entire muscular/cognitive system is preparing for standing in front of a lot of people and doing what you were supposed to do that day. The way to handle the vibrations is not to suppress them but to actually relax, enjoy and let them pass through you.
Also, anything that happens during the presentation is just a continuation of the Big Bang (like any other day) so you don’t have to worry about it.
Hope it helps.
Before show time everyone gets slightly nervous. Some sit down and bend forward slightly, others walk around. Others don’t seem to mind much, however. They just talk a lot, laugh and enjoy the pre-presentation jitters.
I have my own theory about these vibrations (that I like to believe in, because it helps): The feeling in your belly is actually a process where you are already making contact with the audience.
What’s happening is that on some strange lower level, your body and your entire muscular/cognitive system is preparing for standing in front of a lot of people and doing what you were supposed to do that day. The way to handle the vibrations is not to suppress them but to actually relax, enjoy and let them pass through you.
Also, anything that happens during the presentation is just a continuation of the Big Bang (like any other day) so you don’t have to worry about it.
Hope it helps.
How does the Carioca cross the street?
05/03/12 07:11
Some things cannot be taught or explained in words, like how people cross the street in Rio. You have to be there with people, side by side, hearts aligned, to understand.
Another one is the taste of Acaí, a frozen fruit juice. You have to taste it.
If you want a Brazilian to know what Finnish rye bread tastes like, you have to make some.
Another one is the taste of Acaí, a frozen fruit juice. You have to taste it.
If you want a Brazilian to know what Finnish rye bread tastes like, you have to make some.
Context awareness
04/03/12 08:20
Context awareness is not hard. Still, even the smartest people can get confused about it.
In some places, physical places, like a school or a public room, failing in context awareness might result in laughter (like saying something out of context at the wrong time). “That’s not what we’re talking about,” or “The joke isn’t funny anymore.” We get instant feedback from our fellow primates and conformity is created.
Meeting rooms have their own context. In technical meetings, when engineers design something, or when biochemists talk about the cell for example, the context can switch back and forth inside a sentence, and to an outsider it becomes unintelligible. Here, we don’t get feedback a lot, because we are expected to be able to follow.
Car salesmen have their context.
In some places, physical places, like a school or a public room, failing in context awareness might result in laughter (like saying something out of context at the wrong time). “That’s not what we’re talking about,” or “The joke isn’t funny anymore.” We get instant feedback from our fellow primates and conformity is created.
Meeting rooms have their own context. In technical meetings, when engineers design something, or when biochemists talk about the cell for example, the context can switch back and forth inside a sentence, and to an outsider it becomes unintelligible. Here, we don’t get feedback a lot, because we are expected to be able to follow.
Car salesmen have their context.
Exoterism
03/03/12 08:15
I quote Mushashi from time to time. Here’s another favorite (my own translation/adaptation):
When we look at the world, we see skills for sale. Men carry their equipment to sell themselves. If we compare this to the seed and the flower*, this would mean that the seed had become less worthy than the flower.
*From which it blooms, eventually.
When we look at the world, we see skills for sale. Men carry their equipment to sell themselves. If we compare this to the seed and the flower*, this would mean that the seed had become less worthy than the flower.
*From which it blooms, eventually.
Articles on Upmarket & more
01/03/12 09:00
I had a nice morning walk in the sun on the seashore. (I would have written this today if I had a Twitter account.)
Upmarket was launched a few months ago and there have been a lot of thought provoking fresh articles from younger and older (like me) entrepreneurs. Here are some of my favorite ones (that I’ve +1’d on my Google+).
Don’t Believe the Hype About Internet Marketing, It’s a Sequel by Nando Caban-Mendez
Be Yourself: Anything Else is a Waste Of Time by Bette Miles-Holleman
Build Only What You Believe In by Eric Barret
10 Signs You Might be a Young Entrepreneur… by Amy P. Kelly (This one is my favorite so far because I can so relate to it. I once “injected money” to create a toy car, card and candy trading market on a playground using my brother’s coin collection. I also traded in my bike for a bigger one. Unfortunately my brother didn’t get much returns from his “investment”.)
The Motivational Value of Stiff Competition by Nikolas Allen (a thought provoking list that I wrote down on paper).
What Grownups Can Learn From Kindergarten Drawings by Jodi Kaplan
also a good one about letting go: How Pedaling Your Bike Is Actually Pedaling Your Mind by Tom Bentley (works also for computer programmers).
There are other really good ones about article marketing, creating business proposals, combining your skills and discovering your focus area.
As a former corporate employee working solo from home, it has been really refreshing and inspirational to read these articles, thoughts, tips and advice from people alike. It’s also related to Seth Godin’s recent educational manifesto, Stop Stealing Dreams. I read the book cover to cover (in iBooks, btw) and I recommend it for people interested in educational reform (who wouldn’t be).
My own addition to the manifesto would be multiple age classes. I’m starting out giving computer programming classes for life long learners of any age, and I’m currently looking into methods that involve circling the square (because we have been put into a square, as Godin’s manifesto clearly illustrates), slow learning, learning by teaching, self-learning, unlearning and taking care of yourself.
This is how the dreams happen.
Upmarket was launched a few months ago and there have been a lot of thought provoking fresh articles from younger and older (like me) entrepreneurs. Here are some of my favorite ones (that I’ve +1’d on my Google+).
Don’t Believe the Hype About Internet Marketing, It’s a Sequel by Nando Caban-Mendez
Be Yourself: Anything Else is a Waste Of Time by Bette Miles-Holleman
Build Only What You Believe In by Eric Barret
10 Signs You Might be a Young Entrepreneur… by Amy P. Kelly (This one is my favorite so far because I can so relate to it. I once “injected money” to create a toy car, card and candy trading market on a playground using my brother’s coin collection. I also traded in my bike for a bigger one. Unfortunately my brother didn’t get much returns from his “investment”.)
The Motivational Value of Stiff Competition by Nikolas Allen (a thought provoking list that I wrote down on paper).
What Grownups Can Learn From Kindergarten Drawings by Jodi Kaplan
also a good one about letting go: How Pedaling Your Bike Is Actually Pedaling Your Mind by Tom Bentley (works also for computer programmers).
There are other really good ones about article marketing, creating business proposals, combining your skills and discovering your focus area.
As a former corporate employee working solo from home, it has been really refreshing and inspirational to read these articles, thoughts, tips and advice from people alike. It’s also related to Seth Godin’s recent educational manifesto, Stop Stealing Dreams. I read the book cover to cover (in iBooks, btw) and I recommend it for people interested in educational reform (who wouldn’t be).
My own addition to the manifesto would be multiple age classes. I’m starting out giving computer programming classes for life long learners of any age, and I’m currently looking into methods that involve circling the square (because we have been put into a square, as Godin’s manifesto clearly illustrates), slow learning, learning by teaching, self-learning, unlearning and taking care of yourself.
This is how the dreams happen.
Leap year meditation
29/02/12 21:03
Seth Godin:
I like the sound of that.
Speaking of meditation, I’m looking at my almanac at the moment and it looks like my next full moon pause occurs in about a week. The full moon pause / meditation is when I’m completely away from the computer, from blogging and the internet for three days. During this time I spend time with paper and pen, read books on the iPad, and watch development videos, take six-hour bus rides, hang around with weird people, and spend a lot of time in the water.
Once in four years, just once, perhaps we could:Forgive, forget, relax, care, stand out, speak up, contribute, embrace, create, make a ruckus, give credit, skip, smile, speak truth and refuse to compromise--more than we usually do. Pick just one or two and start there.
I like the sound of that.
Speaking of meditation, I’m looking at my almanac at the moment and it looks like my next full moon pause occurs in about a week. The full moon pause / meditation is when I’m completely away from the computer, from blogging and the internet for three days. During this time I spend time with paper and pen, read books on the iPad, and watch development videos, take six-hour bus rides, hang around with weird people, and spend a lot of time in the water.
"The year begins after the carnival"
27/02/12 07:20
There’s a saying here in Brazil and it goes:”The year begins after the carnival.”
People return to work and their daily stride.
For me it has been a good productive year so far, and I’m glad to restart it again.
People return to work and their daily stride.
For me it has been a good productive year so far, and I’m glad to restart it again.
Thinking fondly of someone
25/02/12 08:32
In some traditions, when one thinks fondly or kindly of someone, looking up to that person, only a positive thought is sufficient. No big words, gestures. A kind thought is enough.
"Keep up the momentum"
23/02/12 11:49
Keeping up the momentum -- so easy to say, but so hard to do.
What’s momentum?
It’s getting things done on time, before time.
It’s also getting things done late. Better late than never.
It’s taking advantage of the opportunity, but not abusing it (Momentum abuse takes your real momentum down.)
It’s also waiting (inertia). You wait when it’s best to wait.
It’s also breaking through inertia. You feel like waiting when it’s time for action.
It’s writing out those letters and taking care of those simple issues.
And when it’s time to work, work. Forget everything else.
It’s also focusing on spinning the right wheel. Forget the other wheels, spin this one. Get the right ball rolling.
That’s momentum. So hard to see it or sense it. But it’s there.
"I'll go if you go"
23/02/12 08:50
Indecisiveness, often, forces us to take a decision out of our hands and attach it to group think. We celebrate when a group decides to create something or a movement occurs. However, when an individual makes a decision, the group tends to react in strange ways. Some reactions are supportive, others unsupportive. Only celebrity decisions are featured in the media. Group decisions and movements are featured on the news.
The group or movement is “right” from the beginning. Individual decisions become “right” only once they are proven right.
“You’re going? OK, I’ll go too.” “No, I’m going later when she’s going.” “OK, so we’ll all go together.” “Wait, something came up and he’s not going.” “OK, so we’ll go tomorrow.”
How much do you look for acceptance before acting out on your own? How much do we let group think affect our plans?
New blog
11/02/12 04:45
I had written down some time ago in my long term plan that once SoftCubicle is “saturated”, I’m going to setup a new page. That day has come and I now have a new professional site which I’m going to dedicate for all things technical. It’s my first one page site.
As I already wrote on the new site, I felt that the SoftCubicle blog is more about entrepreneurship, freelancing, productivity and personal marketing. Nevertheless, I needed some place to write also about technical things, like programming, and for some reason I sensed that this wasn’t the right place to do it.
The new blog will function as a hub for prospective customers, people interested in programming multimedia on Apple devices. Gradually I’m also creating a portuguese version of it. This is because, furthermore, in my long term plan (which I wrote more than a year ago) is written that local business prospecting starts now.
Anyway, I’m continuing the SoftCubicle blog as always, leaving all technical stuff for the other site.
One more thing: something happened with FeedBurner a month ago and for some reason it wasn’t propagating the RSS entries into Twitter. However, when I looked at my statistics there were very little difference between when Twitter was coupled with this blog and now when it isn’t. Something around 2%. I didn’t have a lot of followers anyway and for some reason I felt that the whole thing is just another distraction. So, for the second time I erased my Twitter account. I did the same thing earlier with Facebook. I don’t have any plans going back in either.
Currently, the only major social network I’m in is Google+ which I visit about once a week.
As I already wrote on the new site, I felt that the SoftCubicle blog is more about entrepreneurship, freelancing, productivity and personal marketing. Nevertheless, I needed some place to write also about technical things, like programming, and for some reason I sensed that this wasn’t the right place to do it.
The new blog will function as a hub for prospective customers, people interested in programming multimedia on Apple devices. Gradually I’m also creating a portuguese version of it. This is because, furthermore, in my long term plan (which I wrote more than a year ago) is written that local business prospecting starts now.
Anyway, I’m continuing the SoftCubicle blog as always, leaving all technical stuff for the other site.
One more thing: something happened with FeedBurner a month ago and for some reason it wasn’t propagating the RSS entries into Twitter. However, when I looked at my statistics there were very little difference between when Twitter was coupled with this blog and now when it isn’t. Something around 2%. I didn’t have a lot of followers anyway and for some reason I felt that the whole thing is just another distraction. So, for the second time I erased my Twitter account. I did the same thing earlier with Facebook. I don’t have any plans going back in either.
Currently, the only major social network I’m in is Google+ which I visit about once a week.
Think Different?
10/02/12 10:45
I had a very nice time during my second three day pause of the year. I feel most batteries got recharged. When the mind is focused around something for a long time and then suddenly set free, it starts to wander in strange ways and starts to see things in a different way.
Think Different is a good slogan once grasped in a productive way. Still, the problem with Think Different is that one might confuse it with differentiation, i.e., Be Different, or differentiate. Do something different. Why is this a pitfall?
When you look at digital online stores, like the App Store, Android Marketplace and others, you instantly see how full of broken apps they are. You see the struggle and the race to get something up there quickly for of those millions of consumers with credit cards in the hope that they will click buy for your app. Thousands of developers have thought: “I’m going to do something different,” but they haven’t gone all the way. I’m guilty of this too.
When I really look at the App Store, I don’t see a large “wonderful apps” versus “broken/mediocre apps” ratio. If you search for any category of apps or games the thing you’ll find are dozens of poor mediocre broken down apps and perhaps one or two apps that, well, deliver quite nicely. However, they could do so much better, not to mention about the way apps are ridden (inelegantly) with ads.
A few years ago, I bought Think Different (not a book, but mentally as a slogan) and I have positive thoughts for the people who propagate this message. However, I assumed Think Different also meant Be Different. In software development terms this means: to do something different. However, right now, I’m convinced that this is not the way to go.
Why not make something much better?
Think Different is a good slogan once grasped in a productive way. Still, the problem with Think Different is that one might confuse it with differentiation, i.e., Be Different, or differentiate. Do something different. Why is this a pitfall?
When you look at digital online stores, like the App Store, Android Marketplace and others, you instantly see how full of broken apps they are. You see the struggle and the race to get something up there quickly for of those millions of consumers with credit cards in the hope that they will click buy for your app. Thousands of developers have thought: “I’m going to do something different,” but they haven’t gone all the way. I’m guilty of this too.
When I really look at the App Store, I don’t see a large “wonderful apps” versus “broken/mediocre apps” ratio. If you search for any category of apps or games the thing you’ll find are dozens of poor mediocre broken down apps and perhaps one or two apps that, well, deliver quite nicely. However, they could do so much better, not to mention about the way apps are ridden (inelegantly) with ads.
A few years ago, I bought Think Different (not a book, but mentally as a slogan) and I have positive thoughts for the people who propagate this message. However, I assumed Think Different also meant Be Different. In software development terms this means: to do something different. However, right now, I’m convinced that this is not the way to go.
Why not make something much better?
Step by step
05/02/12 08:25
To add to what I wrote earlier, teaching is another good way to do local business. Meanwhile, you learn a lot yourself.
Startup advice, focus, setting up, getting set, etc.
01/02/12 13:50
What I loved about philosophy
31/01/12 09:05
I don’t recall how I became interested in philosophy. It might have been through my father. I remember him telling me once something about creating a great theorem, writing a lengthy book about it, and then proving it all false (with another book). This had me fascinated.
People often go to great lengths to prove themselves. However, once you arrive at a realization of a truth the only thing you can do is either stick with it (boring) or walk away from it (interesting).
Truth is a pathless land (good news for creative writers, anyway...).
People often go to great lengths to prove themselves. However, once you arrive at a realization of a truth the only thing you can do is either stick with it (boring) or walk away from it (interesting).
Truth is a pathless land (good news for creative writers, anyway...).
All you need is ...
30/01/12 07:22
Whether you stack up our needs vertically, horizontally, in a pie chart or a pyramid, in the end all that matters is being accepted.
Step by step (with a couple of bumps on the way)
29/01/12 09:01
I have been observing our daughter’s development. She is becoming seven months old. I have been watching her learn to get up and crawl around. She’s very observant. She likes to look at textures, like fabrics or any new material that she comes across. During the first months things she paid close attention to were shadows on the walls. I put my fingers in front of a lamp and made shadows move which she paid close attention to.
Music seems to calm everything down. I’ve used my dictatorship that comes along with being a father and mandated a household policy of less television and more music. I feel she sleeps better that way and wakes up in a good mood.
Getting up, discovering the body, the limbs, how to move and stay in balance seems to be the main thing she is learning now, apart from listening, looking at things, expressing feelings and making sounds, of course.
A funny thing I observed: we had her earlier on a soft mattress where she would turn and kind of let her head drop on the soft mat. Now, on a carpet, which is not as soft, you can’t do that because you bump your head. It was funny how fast she learned not to bump her head anymore. It took only three bumps, and now she is already balancing herself on all fours, almost being able to sit up, even taking a one or two steps once in a while.
Next week she will start moving around.
Music seems to calm everything down. I’ve used my dictatorship that comes along with being a father and mandated a household policy of less television and more music. I feel she sleeps better that way and wakes up in a good mood.
Getting up, discovering the body, the limbs, how to move and stay in balance seems to be the main thing she is learning now, apart from listening, looking at things, expressing feelings and making sounds, of course.
A funny thing I observed: we had her earlier on a soft mattress where she would turn and kind of let her head drop on the soft mat. Now, on a carpet, which is not as soft, you can’t do that because you bump your head. It was funny how fast she learned not to bump her head anymore. It took only three bumps, and now she is already balancing herself on all fours, almost being able to sit up, even taking a one or two steps once in a while.
Next week she will start moving around.
When ideas are too good
26/01/12 08:38
The best ideas might get rejected because, namely, they are so good that they actually fail to conform to the mindset of the person or committee in authority.
Therefore, the best, or revolutionary, disrupting ideas need a common base tone and a firm enough foundation, so that they can get safely challenged by the listener.
Therefore, the best, or revolutionary, disrupting ideas need a common base tone and a firm enough foundation, so that they can get safely challenged by the listener.
"I believe I have what you're looking for."
24/01/12 08:43
The practical jewerly salesman leads the customer through the most expensive models first (like, if you are looking for a bracelet for your wife) until you arrive at models that fit your price range.
Then, there is another kind of salesman that looks at you and leads you directly to the models of your price range. “I believe I have what you’re looking for.” The salesman’s recommendation not only saved time but it felt like a favor. “This one is going to work” (for you).
Then, there is another kind of salesman that looks at you and leads you directly to the models of your price range. “I believe I have what you’re looking for.” The salesman’s recommendation not only saved time but it felt like a favor. “This one is going to work” (for you).
Long term results & Focus
23/01/12 09:56
Here is a quick story of two pictures. It might help someone think about planning their focus, let us say, for three years.
SoftCubicle 2009 (known then as Tmi Parabits):
SoftCubicle 2012:
SoftCubicle 2009 (known then as Tmi Parabits):
SoftCubicle 2012:
New setup & teeth
22/01/12 20:10
Today I revised my setup. Just about a year ago I had serious computer trouble when my iMac 24” burned out in the middle of a hectic project rumba. I panicked and bought a used Macbook so that I could continue working while the iMac was getting repaired. Eventually I hear that everything was burnt out (the motherboard and graphics card) and that the repair would cost more than a new computer.
I didn’t know what to do so I stuck with the Macbook, which was kind of sluggish and unproductive. However, this weekend I refreshed my setup and bought a Mac Mini (my fifth Macintosh). Along with it I bought an HP Compaq monitor (to get the Steve Wosniak vibes). I already had a mouse and a keyboard that came with the iMac so nothing else was needed. I hope this setup will get street credibility.
Also, we got new teeth! grrr!
I didn’t know what to do so I stuck with the Macbook, which was kind of sluggish and unproductive. However, this weekend I refreshed my setup and bought a Mac Mini (my fifth Macintosh). Along with it I bought an HP Compaq monitor (to get the Steve Wosniak vibes). I already had a mouse and a keyboard that came with the iMac so nothing else was needed. I hope this setup will get street credibility.
Also, we got new teeth! grrr!
Education-bound
20/01/12 08:03
The role of education and how it should change has been on the table for decades. While usually educative institutions are seen as rigid entities they have always been in a constant, if gradual, change. There are some things that are important in education, but then there are also other things that most educative institutions do not excel in.
I personally wanted to become a motor mechanic when I was a teen. However, coming from an academic family this was not thought of as a viable option.
During preparatory studies for university, and even during university studies, I had little respect for education. I felt the way things were taught was in some way wrong. There was a certain superficiality in it all. I felt it was more about image than about the teachings themselves. I felt it was more about being a student of something rather than studying something. For many years, I felt the educative system was not only a fraud but a failure.
Today, however, I have slightly more respect for education. However, I still would like to see some things taught differently. I think there’s a need for less testing and more interaction, more conversation. I strongly believe preparation (for the corporate world or working life) shouldn’t be emphasized in the studies themselves, because the corporate world has a life of its own. Also, it shouldn’t feel like an endurance race.
There are a couple of questions that I felt educative institutions, in my time, failed to answer. Questions like: How do I take care of myself? What is society and how do I become part of it? What is power? How is society formed? What do I need to do to be accepted? Why was society formed in the way we have it today? Where are we headed? What is my role in all of if? What are my options? Do I need to choose my career? Do I need to rush? Is it a race? Do I need to participate? What if I want to change my mind?
(This writing was inspired by Dr. Danielle Moss Lee’s article: How to Provide Guidance to First Generation College-Bound Students)
I personally wanted to become a motor mechanic when I was a teen. However, coming from an academic family this was not thought of as a viable option.
During preparatory studies for university, and even during university studies, I had little respect for education. I felt the way things were taught was in some way wrong. There was a certain superficiality in it all. I felt it was more about image than about the teachings themselves. I felt it was more about being a student of something rather than studying something. For many years, I felt the educative system was not only a fraud but a failure.
Today, however, I have slightly more respect for education. However, I still would like to see some things taught differently. I think there’s a need for less testing and more interaction, more conversation. I strongly believe preparation (for the corporate world or working life) shouldn’t be emphasized in the studies themselves, because the corporate world has a life of its own. Also, it shouldn’t feel like an endurance race.
There are a couple of questions that I felt educative institutions, in my time, failed to answer. Questions like: How do I take care of myself? What is society and how do I become part of it? What is power? How is society formed? What do I need to do to be accepted? Why was society formed in the way we have it today? Where are we headed? What is my role in all of if? What are my options? Do I need to choose my career? Do I need to rush? Is it a race? Do I need to participate? What if I want to change my mind?
(This writing was inspired by Dr. Danielle Moss Lee’s article: How to Provide Guidance to First Generation College-Bound Students)
"That", the secret to a successfull picnic
17/01/12 07:33
The secret of a successful picnic is to hold several of them.
When everyone brings food, things can happen and mismatches occur. There is suddenly too much of something or too little of something else (too much lasagna and too little salad).
Someone brings a barrel of beer when it was supposed to be tea and cake.
After a couple of repetitions, however, participants compensate and bring things that will combine better with the spirit of that particular gathering (an amazing feature of our social capabilities and the mind’s capability to create a “that” out of almost anything).
When everyone brings food, things can happen and mismatches occur. There is suddenly too much of something or too little of something else (too much lasagna and too little salad).
Someone brings a barrel of beer when it was supposed to be tea and cake.
After a couple of repetitions, however, participants compensate and bring things that will combine better with the spirit of that particular gathering (an amazing feature of our social capabilities and the mind’s capability to create a “that” out of almost anything).
On reading / listening
16/01/12 08:58
When we listen to someone talking or when we are reading articles on the web or in a magazine, even listening to music, cognitive processes take over in our mind and stuff happens. What kind of stuff?
Your brain tells you this is awesome, you agree with the writer, you smile and nod your head. Or your brain tells you it is nonsense, you disagree, stop reading and even make a negative non-critical comment about how wrong or short sighted, or out of context the author has been.
There is a third process, though, which is observing your own thoughts and feelings. What happens to me when I’m reading the article? Why is this person/article affecting me in the way it is? What are the motivations behind my thought processes? Does my reaction lead to something constructive or will it be just another spoon in the soup and add to the noise?
Your brain tells you this is awesome, you agree with the writer, you smile and nod your head. Or your brain tells you it is nonsense, you disagree, stop reading and even make a negative non-critical comment about how wrong or short sighted, or out of context the author has been.
There is a third process, though, which is observing your own thoughts and feelings. What happens to me when I’m reading the article? Why is this person/article affecting me in the way it is? What are the motivations behind my thought processes? Does my reaction lead to something constructive or will it be just another spoon in the soup and add to the noise?
All information is available
13/01/12 09:39
I happened to stumble across discussions regarding things like engagement, your followers and your content. I felt that this kind of engagement is not only overrated but also misleading.
True engagement is not about the metrics. Does it matter where the idea came from?
True engagement is about your ability to cherish ideas and curate the things you have–not just passing information along.
True engagement is not about the metrics. Does it matter where the idea came from?
True engagement is about your ability to cherish ideas and curate the things you have–not just passing information along.
Getting back to the drawing board
12/01/12 09:21
Acknowledgment of failure is important.
Second, to get to know why you failed is equally as important (so that you don’t repeat the same mistake again).
Often, it takes interaction of minds (mostly, new minds) to understand the reasons why you didn’t succeed.
This is why exposure is as important as getting back to the drawing board.
Second, to get to know why you failed is equally as important (so that you don’t repeat the same mistake again).
Often, it takes interaction of minds (mostly, new minds) to understand the reasons why you didn’t succeed.
This is why exposure is as important as getting back to the drawing board.
Running
07/01/12 08:31
A civilized man and a native of a tropical island met one day on the seashore.
Apparently, they didn’t have anything to do so the civilized man suggested they’d engage in a competition of running around the island. The running would happen on the seashore that consisted of fine sand. The civilized man marked a line in the sand which was both the starting line and the finish line.
Then they were off. At first, they ran side by side but then the civilized man picked up his pace and the native man was left behind. The island was a small one, running around it didn’t take more than a few minutes.
At the finish line, the civilized man waited and watched, as the native man appeared from behind the palm trees, jogging happily with a wide grin on his face.
“I won!”, shouted the civilized man, laughing. The native stopped smiling and looked puzzled. “No, I won.”
“But I crossed the finish line first,” said the civilized man.
“Yes, but my running was way more beautiful.”
First...
06/01/12 13:52
... you are born and you are given a birth certificate – a nationality.
Before that you we’re just like anyone else. Someone that developed herself from cells in her mother’s womb – just a human being born into this world, nothing else.
Then, you’re baptized (or not) depending on your parents’ culture, religion and worldview. You have little to do with this – it’s the outside world that’s putting a badge on you.
Then, you are put into school, or pre-school, and you are made to memorize stuff. Things you should know; a story from history, a pledge, a reality of some sort. “A associates with B that associates with C”. You can’t avoid it, because according to law everyone must get the basic education (in most countries, anyway). According to law there are certain things everyone should know.
Then you find out that you have to make a choice and keep it. “I’m going to be this.” “I’m going to be that.” Most people are made to make the choice, i.e., we actually don’t get a lot of options. Then, it continues with the career business (we don’t need to get into that).
Society brands you. You are an identity that is based on everything your senses record into your memory since the day you are born.
A) Do you see this as a fascinating process?
B) Do you see this as a form of self-induced drudgery, an error, a fraud, a lie, a fairytale?
C) Can you see it both ways, both A and B?
D) What can we do about it? Can we make it better?
I think we can.
Before that you we’re just like anyone else. Someone that developed herself from cells in her mother’s womb – just a human being born into this world, nothing else.
Then, you’re baptized (or not) depending on your parents’ culture, religion and worldview. You have little to do with this – it’s the outside world that’s putting a badge on you.
Then, you are put into school, or pre-school, and you are made to memorize stuff. Things you should know; a story from history, a pledge, a reality of some sort. “A associates with B that associates with C”. You can’t avoid it, because according to law everyone must get the basic education (in most countries, anyway). According to law there are certain things everyone should know.
Then you find out that you have to make a choice and keep it. “I’m going to be this.” “I’m going to be that.” Most people are made to make the choice, i.e., we actually don’t get a lot of options. Then, it continues with the career business (we don’t need to get into that).
Society brands you. You are an identity that is based on everything your senses record into your memory since the day you are born.
A) Do you see this as a fascinating process?
B) Do you see this as a form of self-induced drudgery, an error, a fraud, a lie, a fairytale?
C) Can you see it both ways, both A and B?
D) What can we do about it? Can we make it better?
I think we can.
"The measure of success is not whether something is appreciated by the maximum amount of people."
05/01/12 21:54
Jonas Kyratzes:
“I’ve sat here for a long time, trying to find a way of articulating how I feel. It's not easy, and I don't want to make it sound like I'm condemning everyone who works in a different way. But personally, when it comes to the things that I make, I want each and every one of them to be itself. The measure of success is not whether something is appreciated by the maximum amount of people, but how well it succeeds at being that which it sets out to be. That's what I find interesting, that's what I enjoy and seek out - in people as well as in art. And I think that it's easy to lose that if you don't work hard to be true to each game individually.”
I'll be tough with you ...
03/01/12 09:30
... so that you won’t get taken advantage of later.
This was the method of teaching or mentoring during the 80s and 90s (during the previous millennium) and some old school folks still use it.
The problem with this approach is that when enough people do that to you, you start seeing it a mile away. You start thinking whether this is real or just another “favor” or lesson that you’re made to swallow.
Note: The thinking can go all the way to what ever heights; secret brotherhood, guru, god, universe, etc., that’s teaching you a lesson.
In the end, however, we cannot know and we don’t need to care. If we keep a clear objective mind, anything can act as a teacher, from the beggar on the street, to the venture capitalist, to the saint, the ocean and the stars or just the flight of a bird in the sky.
– Or your daily walk.
What ever happens, it doesn’t need to take you off balance and distract you from your work.
This was the method of teaching or mentoring during the 80s and 90s (during the previous millennium) and some old school folks still use it.
The problem with this approach is that when enough people do that to you, you start seeing it a mile away. You start thinking whether this is real or just another “favor” or lesson that you’re made to swallow.
Note: The thinking can go all the way to what ever heights; secret brotherhood, guru, god, universe, etc., that’s teaching you a lesson.
In the end, however, we cannot know and we don’t need to care. If we keep a clear objective mind, anything can act as a teacher, from the beggar on the street, to the venture capitalist, to the saint, the ocean and the stars or just the flight of a bird in the sky.
– Or your daily walk.
What ever happens, it doesn’t need to take you off balance and distract you from your work.
Toyota GT86 spends time with its ancestors
02/01/12 20:21
(via Autoblog):
I still don’t have confirmation whether the Hachiroku will be sold here in Rio, but if it will, you are going to see a test drive. The Subaru BRZ looks awesome too but there’s just something there that’s not the thing. I can’t put my finger on it yet.
“Toyota is out to draw parallels between the company's new GT86 sports car and some of the legends of the automaker's past. A new video depicting the new coupe's development spends plenty of time with the GT86 on screen with the likes of the Toyota Sports 800 and even the AE86. Those are both fine sparring partners for a vehicle that prides itself on superior handling over outright brawn. Watching engineers cane the GT86 around the world's various road courses only stokes our desire for a little more time with the either of the two-door's corporate cousins.”
I still don’t have confirmation whether the Hachiroku will be sold here in Rio, but if it will, you are going to see a test drive. The Subaru BRZ looks awesome too but there’s just something there that’s not the thing. I can’t put my finger on it yet.
The earth that revolves around the sun
01/01/12 12:01
Last night I watched two million people party on the Copacabana beach. We also had visitors. My wife had prepared a delicious vegetarian lasagna and tofu salad. I preferred to stay inside with the baby while the others were watching the big fireworks.
Rather than partying out New Year's Eve, for me, it has always been a more meditative time, a time of reflection. The last time I took a drink during New Year's Eve was probably during the 90s.
I always wonder how such a large group of people can get together and synchronize their wants and their wishes, party together and then return home. It seems that once a year we symbolically leave everything behind and wish that this time everything will go for the better.
Of course, the realist in us will point out that we’re on a planet that circles the Sun, and that we just happen to count the revolutions. We are (as in we are made to be) psychologically attached to these revolutions, the calendar, the months, weeks, days, hours, even minutes and seconds. We adopt this rhythm and attach our mind with all its wants and needs with these revolutions.
Even though the concept of a year is fake, and only an astronomical phenomenon, a year represents something we can agree on, regardless of our world view (philosophy, religion, etc.). It seems to be the largest time-cycle that we can comprehend on a practical level. Large enough for time to let it arrive, jump in to it, act freely, improvise in it, plan, execute and give it the last spurt (sort of like a marathon). However, it is also small enough that we learn to perceive its beginning and end, the seasons and the transitions that occur during the year. Also, small enough that once the new year begins we already have feeling of how it will end.
Rather than partying out New Year's Eve, for me, it has always been a more meditative time, a time of reflection. The last time I took a drink during New Year's Eve was probably during the 90s.
I always wonder how such a large group of people can get together and synchronize their wants and their wishes, party together and then return home. It seems that once a year we symbolically leave everything behind and wish that this time everything will go for the better.
Of course, the realist in us will point out that we’re on a planet that circles the Sun, and that we just happen to count the revolutions. We are (as in we are made to be) psychologically attached to these revolutions, the calendar, the months, weeks, days, hours, even minutes and seconds. We adopt this rhythm and attach our mind with all its wants and needs with these revolutions.
Even though the concept of a year is fake, and only an astronomical phenomenon, a year represents something we can agree on, regardless of our world view (philosophy, religion, etc.). It seems to be the largest time-cycle that we can comprehend on a practical level. Large enough for time to let it arrive, jump in to it, act freely, improvise in it, plan, execute and give it the last spurt (sort of like a marathon). However, it is also small enough that we learn to perceive its beginning and end, the seasons and the transitions that occur during the year. Also, small enough that once the new year begins we already have feeling of how it will end.
The year in review
31/12/11 09:26
This is a quick list things that happened during 2011:
1) Stopped tweeting
2) Restarted blogging
3) Computer trouble, iMac burnt out beyond repair and had to downgrade to MacBook, lost several weeks of work
4) A couple of successful freelance projects and a couple of failed ones
5) Acquired permanent Visa in Brazil (so apparently I’m not going anywhere...)
6) Quit Facebook
7) Became father
8) Escaped a fire, had to run through flames at 8am (beats the usual morning routine...)
9) Started HTML5 and JavaScript studies
10) Got poked in the eye by baby...
...in addition to the poke she managed to make a grabbing motion. Luckily, she didn’t get the entire eye, just some of the white part on the side. Those little nails are sharp...
My goals for next year are pretty much countable with one hand. I will be writing stuff in addition to writing code. It will be mostly about getting up in the morning, staying healthy and staying focused. Also, it will be about creating local presence, starting with attending January’s iOS 5 Tech Talk World Tour in São Paulo. It will also be about initiating contact with local schools in Rio de Janeiro for collaboration in the area of multimedia programming and online entrepreneurship.
Best wishes in 2012!
1) Stopped tweeting
2) Restarted blogging
3) Computer trouble, iMac burnt out beyond repair and had to downgrade to MacBook, lost several weeks of work
4) A couple of successful freelance projects and a couple of failed ones
5) Acquired permanent Visa in Brazil (so apparently I’m not going anywhere...)
6) Quit Facebook
7) Became father
8) Escaped a fire, had to run through flames at 8am (beats the usual morning routine...)
9) Started HTML5 and JavaScript studies
10) Got poked in the eye by baby...
...in addition to the poke she managed to make a grabbing motion. Luckily, she didn’t get the entire eye, just some of the white part on the side. Those little nails are sharp...
My goals for next year are pretty much countable with one hand. I will be writing stuff in addition to writing code. It will be mostly about getting up in the morning, staying healthy and staying focused. Also, it will be about creating local presence, starting with attending January’s iOS 5 Tech Talk World Tour in São Paulo. It will also be about initiating contact with local schools in Rio de Janeiro for collaboration in the area of multimedia programming and online entrepreneurship.
Best wishes in 2012!
Science vs. Craft or Method
27/12/11 09:40
When I entered engineering school (a polytechnic university) fifteen years ago, I had this strange notion that I’m entering a place where I’m going to discover truths about existence, the universe and its laws. I thought I would learn about phenomena, like light, electricity and magnetism, that would eventually lead me to understand physics and the underlaying laws of the universe.
I was also fond of virtual reality, which was a hot topic at the time. I was about 21 years old. I had just seen The Lawnmower Man, reading a lot of Sci-fi books and popular science books, playing keyboards in a progressive rock band. You could say I was in a peculiar state of transition.
After a few years of study, I became to understand that engineering school is more about method and craft than it is about science. While science takes methods from engineering, vice versa, and there’s a mutual respect, there is also something profoundly different in the scientific worldview and that of the engineer. The engineer, in the end, doesn’t really care about “the what”. He just cares about “the how”. “The what” is left for leisure time, for enjoyment.
For example, I was disappointed when I took physics lab. The idea was to craft an experiment and then fit a set of mathematical equations to the phenomena within a margin of error. Once you’ve done that the assistant gives you a score, you take a little test, you pass and that’s it. This was not what I had expected. I had this image of giants of science in my head and the laws they had discovered, which in the end resulted in the great civilized world that we live in. However, it was all about observing phenomena and fitting an equation to the phenomena. While it was fun, it didn’t advance my personal pursuit of truth in any way.
Eventually, after drifting a few years between different choices (I’m glad there was a choice), I ended up majoring in Digital Interactive Media, which is pretty funny. For some strange reason, audio and video processing, computer graphics, computer science and digital economy were the ones where I got the best grades and where I had the best motivation. After graduation, my view of it all was that you don’t learn truth in engineering school. You learn a craft and that’s it.
I was also fond of virtual reality, which was a hot topic at the time. I was about 21 years old. I had just seen The Lawnmower Man, reading a lot of Sci-fi books and popular science books, playing keyboards in a progressive rock band. You could say I was in a peculiar state of transition.
After a few years of study, I became to understand that engineering school is more about method and craft than it is about science. While science takes methods from engineering, vice versa, and there’s a mutual respect, there is also something profoundly different in the scientific worldview and that of the engineer. The engineer, in the end, doesn’t really care about “the what”. He just cares about “the how”. “The what” is left for leisure time, for enjoyment.
For example, I was disappointed when I took physics lab. The idea was to craft an experiment and then fit a set of mathematical equations to the phenomena within a margin of error. Once you’ve done that the assistant gives you a score, you take a little test, you pass and that’s it. This was not what I had expected. I had this image of giants of science in my head and the laws they had discovered, which in the end resulted in the great civilized world that we live in. However, it was all about observing phenomena and fitting an equation to the phenomena. While it was fun, it didn’t advance my personal pursuit of truth in any way.
Eventually, after drifting a few years between different choices (I’m glad there was a choice), I ended up majoring in Digital Interactive Media, which is pretty funny. For some strange reason, audio and video processing, computer graphics, computer science and digital economy were the ones where I got the best grades and where I had the best motivation. After graduation, my view of it all was that you don’t learn truth in engineering school. You learn a craft and that’s it.
Seasonal greetings from SoftCubicle blog
23/12/11 16:02
[EDIT: I had 2011 there and I was told to put 2012. Now it’s fixed. That’s why I need a family to rely on. You never know according to which logic we’re doing things – but we try.]
When do you become a fraud?
21/12/11 11:30
Someone noted that doing business is like chess. I agree. We take stances, send messages, have meetings, agree on stuff, take actions. However, the root question of this all is “why?”.
Is it to trick the other party into doing something that benefits you?
Or Is to maximize your benefit?
Or is it so satisfy your I thought and the thoughts that derive from it?
Is it to make you rich?
Is it just about your own survival?
Do you care about anything else?
... on the other hand:
Is it about creating something together?
Is it about growing together?
Is it about making stuff, fun stuff?
Is it about having fun?
Is it about helping others?
Or is it about discovering a new way of life? Or rediscovering a way that was forgotten?
As we progress forward in the second decade of the first century of this millennium, the borderline between trickster and fraud is becoming narrower.
Are you a representative of this millennium or the past millennium?
It is a choice we can all make.
Is it to trick the other party into doing something that benefits you?
Or Is to maximize your benefit?
Or is it so satisfy your I thought and the thoughts that derive from it?
Is it to make you rich?
Is it just about your own survival?
Do you care about anything else?
... on the other hand:
Is it about creating something together?
Is it about growing together?
Is it about making stuff, fun stuff?
Is it about having fun?
Is it about helping others?
Or is it about discovering a new way of life? Or rediscovering a way that was forgotten?
As we progress forward in the second decade of the first century of this millennium, the borderline between trickster and fraud is becoming narrower.
Are you a representative of this millennium or the past millennium?
It is a choice we can all make.
Hydrogen fuel cell R/C
14/12/11 19:07
(via Car Tech Blog):
Pretty fancy. However, it’s still an electric R/C. What I would really want is an R/C with an alcohol powered engine.
“[...] uses hydrogen to power the battery that turns the motor and moves the toy car.”
Pretty fancy. However, it’s still an electric R/C. What I would really want is an R/C with an alcohol powered engine.
Toyota 86 philosophy - Interview with Tetsuya Tada
09/12/11 17:32
(via tune86.com):
This is precisely why I’m interested in this car.
“There is a Toyota standard for designing new cars. This standard was to a large extent ignored. Why did we do this? There are cars that are accepted by a lot of people. Practical cars that are easy to drive and that do not break easily. These are standard Toyota cars. The 86 is not a car like that. We had to change our design approach for this car. We may have to do this again for other cars.”
This is precisely why I’m interested in this car.
Subaru preps the BRZ for Super GT racing
05/12/11 22:43
Antuan Goodwin:
(via Car Tech)
Hachiroku’s (Toyota GT 86) roots are also in Japan’s Super GT.
“Unfortunately, watching and listening is all that most will ever be able to do because this Subie is not for sale. Rather, it is a special build designed to compete in the Japan's Super GT racing series. Oh well, we can dream can't we?”
(via Car Tech)
Hachiroku’s (Toyota GT 86) roots are also in Japan’s Super GT.
Projeto Amigos da Comunidade
03/12/11 19:49
Projeto Amigos da Comunidade (Friends of the Community), is a social project that is helping the poor children in the slums of Morro da Vitória in Fortaleza Ceará, Brazil. PADC is a small non-religious and non-political volunteer organization.
All activities organized for children are concentrated to Fortaleza, but PADC has a supporting organization in Finland. PADC offers educational and recreational activities for children to minimize their risk to be drawn into criminal occupation, improve their abilities to study and help them have better chances in finding a job in future.
More info: padcbrasil.org
All activities organized for children are concentrated to Fortaleza, but PADC has a supporting organization in Finland. PADC offers educational and recreational activities for children to minimize their risk to be drawn into criminal occupation, improve their abilities to study and help them have better chances in finding a job in future.
More info: padcbrasil.org
Toyota GT 86 Engine Rev
02/12/11 21:20
Subaru BRZ
29/11/11 17:18
Apparently, the Subaru BRZ will feature the same engine as the Hachi-roku.
(via Autoblog):
“Toyota states that the GT 86's engine will produce 197 bhp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Likewise, Subaru says its version will make a nice, round 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft. Subaru also revealed a couple of tidbits that Toyota left out, including a svelte curb weight of 2,689 pounds and a standard tire size will be 215/45R17 rubber.”
(via Autoblog):
“Toyota states that the GT 86's engine will produce 197 bhp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Likewise, Subaru says its version will make a nice, round 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft. Subaru also revealed a couple of tidbits that Toyota left out, including a svelte curb weight of 2,689 pounds and a standard tire size will be 215/45R17 rubber.”
Toyota unveils the "Hachi-roku"
28/11/11 13:49
I thought this was interesting:
“We’ve made you wait a long time for this," Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda, dressed in a racing suit, told the crowd as he emerged from an orange 86. "At long last, here is a car for car lovers."
I want one.
(via Reuters)
“We’ve made you wait a long time for this," Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda, dressed in a racing suit, told the crowd as he emerged from an orange 86. "At long last, here is a car for car lovers."
I want one.
(via Reuters)
Building a staircase (continued)
20/11/11 07:50
Here’s where I’m at with my building a staircase documentation project.
I’m also tweeting about it at @woodenstaircase.
I’m also tweeting about it at @woodenstaircase.
Father's day in Scandinavia
13/11/11 10:51
Scandinavian countries celebrate father’s day today. That’s where my father lives. Happy father’s day!
Something for the customer
12/11/11 11:00
Here’s what I’ve seen happen already a couple of times:
You produce an iPhone game by yourself or by hiring someone. Release it. Put it on free app a day or something similar. Tweet it to your followers. Make a simple web page and a Facebook group. Get some blogs to review it. Draw in traffic by whatever means.
While the app is free you get around a couple of ten thousand downloads and you even show up on the top 25. You even get a few reviews (in addition to your friends’ fake reviews). However, when you put the price to one dollar the downloads drop to a few downloads a week at best. You get depressed and the app is never heard of again.
Does that sound familiar? Why didn’t it work?
Maybe there’s another approach.
While I’m just a programmer, I’d love a customer who really understands these things.
You produce an iPhone game by yourself or by hiring someone. Release it. Put it on free app a day or something similar. Tweet it to your followers. Make a simple web page and a Facebook group. Get some blogs to review it. Draw in traffic by whatever means.
While the app is free you get around a couple of ten thousand downloads and you even show up on the top 25. You even get a few reviews (in addition to your friends’ fake reviews). However, when you put the price to one dollar the downloads drop to a few downloads a week at best. You get depressed and the app is never heard of again.
Does that sound familiar? Why didn’t it work?
Maybe there’s another approach.
While I’m just a programmer, I’d love a customer who really understands these things.
Building a staircase
06/11/11 05:24
Before I left Finland and moved to Brazil I built a staircase in my country side cottage. I had a blog about it that displayed the entire project from beginning to end. However, the domain got stolen and I never could get back the files. Today, I dug up one backup hard drive from my junk pile which happened to have all the photos of the staircase project intact.
As it also happened, I started a squidoo lens about it in 2009. Now in 2011 I’m getting back to finishing the lens.
As it also happened, I started a squidoo lens about it in 2009. Now in 2011 I’m getting back to finishing the lens.
Talking vs. doing
05/11/11 09:19
Lately, I’m always having FM radio on the side to learn portuguese. I’m already able to understand radio conversations. (Soap operas I still cannot follow.)
There is a debate over whether meditation is good for you. I’m listening with attention how the talk goes from Steve Jobs to alternative health care, from fundamentalism to spiritualism back to philosophy what you believe and what kind of evidence we have.
Finally, it felt like it’s only about what kind of an attitude we should take, the kind of a stance should we have when we hear the word “meditation”. So it was only about forming an image about it.
Sometimes talking about something seems everything else than what it is. This is why some musicians refuse to talk about music.
There is a debate over whether meditation is good for you. I’m listening with attention how the talk goes from Steve Jobs to alternative health care, from fundamentalism to spiritualism back to philosophy what you believe and what kind of evidence we have.
Finally, it felt like it’s only about what kind of an attitude we should take, the kind of a stance should we have when we hear the word “meditation”. So it was only about forming an image about it.
Sometimes talking about something seems everything else than what it is. This is why some musicians refuse to talk about music.
iOS 5 Tech Talk World Tour São Paulo
05/11/11 08:05
iOS 5 Tech Talk World Tour is held in São Paulo on January 9, 2012.
See you there.
See you there.
Prince of Persia released for the C64
28/10/11 16:34
Prince of Persia released for the C64/128 (after a 22 year wait). I wonder if there’s any difference on the C128?
[Here’s a comparison between the Amiga version and the C64 version of the game.]
[Apparently, the C64 version is mostly based on disassembled Apple II 6502 object code of the Apple II version of the game. Jordan Mechner:”[...] Back in 1989, when I was making POP on the Apple II, I couldn't get anyone interested in doing a C64 port... because it was too old a system [...]”]
(via a Google+ buddy Tomi)
[Here’s a comparison between the Amiga version and the C64 version of the game.]
[Apparently, the C64 version is mostly based on disassembled Apple II 6502 object code of the Apple II version of the game. Jordan Mechner:”[...] Back in 1989, when I was making POP on the Apple II, I couldn't get anyone interested in doing a C64 port... because it was too old a system [...]”]
(via a Google+ buddy Tomi)
Things take time as they say
20/10/11 06:01
Jewels in battered boxes
19/10/11 08:46
Of all the people I have worked with audio producers are the ones that have a strange ability to create production material out of thin air.
Normally, when you visit any audio studio you find this room with a carpet, full of wires and worn out boxes with lights and meters on them. Vintage is as important as the newest box that makes or shapes sound in the latest way.
At some point something special is needed. A weird looking battered box is brought into the room. A signal is run through and voila, the thing sounds better. The old battered box made a difference.
When there is no recording going on, the boxes of steel (or wood) look somewhat silent. You begin to wonder.
You inspect the box. There is that impenetrable ruggedness on the surface. There are some buttons and switches, and there’s that scent of electronics and oil — like in a power tool.
There are jewels inside.
Normally, when you visit any audio studio you find this room with a carpet, full of wires and worn out boxes with lights and meters on them. Vintage is as important as the newest box that makes or shapes sound in the latest way.
At some point something special is needed. A weird looking battered box is brought into the room. A signal is run through and voila, the thing sounds better. The old battered box made a difference.
When there is no recording going on, the boxes of steel (or wood) look somewhat silent. You begin to wonder.
You inspect the box. There is that impenetrable ruggedness on the surface. There are some buttons and switches, and there’s that scent of electronics and oil — like in a power tool.
There are jewels inside.
"Don't visit during the monsoon."
18/10/11 18:55
A few years back I was talking to an Indian friend and pondering whether to visit South India one day.
He paused as if I had said something strange. He said:”Don’t visit during the monsoon.” I paused for a minute: “Oh hmm ok. Why?” But for some reason the conversation was interrupted and I never got around to knowing why he didn’t want me to visit during the monsoon. I didn’t even know when it is.
I remember thinking: I’m from a place near the arctic circle. I don’t mind some warm tropical rain. Maybe I even want to see and experience the monsoon. I can take a shower in that thing. I have been to warm dry sunny places but I have never experienced intense rain and moisture.
Here in Brazil people love to imagine the snow, the cold and the darkness that we have in the arctic. But someone from the arctic will most probably invite visitors to visit during their summer time to experience “our summer time”.
Today, we had visitors from the North. It has been raining here in Rio de Janeiro for some days (not heavily but quite intensely) and it will probably be raining for the rest of the week. I know they are hoping for sunny days which are so scarce up there in the North. I don’t mind though.
Coming back to what my Indian friend said: there might be a lot of reasons for the ”Don’t visit during the monsoon.”
First, there’s that assumption that I would probably prefer sunlight instead of rain. Good weather instead of bad weather. Second, maybe he likes the sunlight better and when he’s having visitors he prefers to host them during better weather. He wants to go out and take the visitors to the places that visitors usually go, sightseeing on the big rock, shopping in the market district, then there’s that nature hike, boat ride, restaurant, the night out, visiting friends and relatives, going to see the famous monument, etc. You can barely do any of those when it is raining.
“Don’t visit during the monsoon,” maybe it is just something that most Indians are accustomed to say when a foreigner is planning to visit, who knows.
All I remember thinking was: now that he has said it maybe I want to visit during the monsoon.
He paused as if I had said something strange. He said:”Don’t visit during the monsoon.” I paused for a minute: “Oh hmm ok. Why?” But for some reason the conversation was interrupted and I never got around to knowing why he didn’t want me to visit during the monsoon. I didn’t even know when it is.
I remember thinking: I’m from a place near the arctic circle. I don’t mind some warm tropical rain. Maybe I even want to see and experience the monsoon. I can take a shower in that thing. I have been to warm dry sunny places but I have never experienced intense rain and moisture.
Here in Brazil people love to imagine the snow, the cold and the darkness that we have in the arctic. But someone from the arctic will most probably invite visitors to visit during their summer time to experience “our summer time”.
Today, we had visitors from the North. It has been raining here in Rio de Janeiro for some days (not heavily but quite intensely) and it will probably be raining for the rest of the week. I know they are hoping for sunny days which are so scarce up there in the North. I don’t mind though.
Coming back to what my Indian friend said: there might be a lot of reasons for the ”Don’t visit during the monsoon.”
First, there’s that assumption that I would probably prefer sunlight instead of rain. Good weather instead of bad weather. Second, maybe he likes the sunlight better and when he’s having visitors he prefers to host them during better weather. He wants to go out and take the visitors to the places that visitors usually go, sightseeing on the big rock, shopping in the market district, then there’s that nature hike, boat ride, restaurant, the night out, visiting friends and relatives, going to see the famous monument, etc. You can barely do any of those when it is raining.
“Don’t visit during the monsoon,” maybe it is just something that most Indians are accustomed to say when a foreigner is planning to visit, who knows.
All I remember thinking was: now that he has said it maybe I want to visit during the monsoon.
Crowd funding sites
16/10/11 12:24
Here are some interesting crowd funding sites for game app developers:
Kickstarter
Indiegogo
Rockethub
Ulule
8bitfunding
Appbackr
Kickstarter
Indiegogo
Rockethub
Ulule
8bitfunding
Appbackr
#uDevGames 1 day left
12/10/11 10:41
Only one day left in the uDevGames Mac game programming contest. Now there is the possibility to win an iTunes gift card if you play any the entries and vote.
I have already played my favorite funky games. During the voting period I have done quick reviews of each which I will list below (in alphabetical order).
Convergence, Alex Diener (Dungeon Crawler)
Felinity, Brian Ramagli (Cat RPG)
Flying Sweden, Will Miller, Thomas Karlsson, David McDonough (Strategy, Action)
Leader of Mans, Andy Korth (God, Simulation)
Reign, Gordon, (Real Time Strategy)
Your Story, Max Williams, Scott Lembcke (2D Retro Platform)
Z1, Carlos Camacho, Doug Whitmore (Shoot’em-up)
Our entry: Dicetris, Cosmic Exploration Group (4-bit, puzzle, dice)
I hope you take the time to enjoy these experimental Mac games, vote and support aspiring game developers.
Please retweet / share / tell your friends.
Thank you.
I have already played my favorite funky games. During the voting period I have done quick reviews of each which I will list below (in alphabetical order).
Convergence, Alex Diener (Dungeon Crawler)
Felinity, Brian Ramagli (Cat RPG)
Flying Sweden, Will Miller, Thomas Karlsson, David McDonough (Strategy, Action)
Leader of Mans, Andy Korth (God, Simulation)
Reign, Gordon, (Real Time Strategy)
Your Story, Max Williams, Scott Lembcke (2D Retro Platform)
Z1, Carlos Camacho, Doug Whitmore (Shoot’em-up)
Our entry: Dicetris, Cosmic Exploration Group (4-bit, puzzle, dice)
I hope you take the time to enjoy these experimental Mac games, vote and support aspiring game developers.
Please retweet / share / tell your friends.
Thank you.
#uDevGames review: Felinity
11/10/11 11:37
Cat RPG, a genre that I had never heard of but instantly fell in love with, is what a game called Felinity by Brian Ramagli represents.
Just yesterday, I was doing my evening meditation. On the floor my cat likes to sit next to me. I was sitting on my knees and I bent over to stretch my back. I put my forehead on the ground and relaxed. Due to current circumstances (a lot of game programming and freelancing) I’m pretty burnt out and I actually passed out on the floor in that position. When I woke up after about an hour or so I was still on the floor and my cat had rolled its body around my head warming it. I actually feel less stressed today so cats do you good.
Anyway, back to the review:
You are a baby kitten and your mother, a street cat, has just died. The situation seems pretty helpless. It is raining and the alley looks dark and grim.
The first thing that attracts your attention on the right side of the alley is a rat. Eventually, when you click the rat it starts running down the alley and it seems to be leading you somewhere.
As you start exploring the surroundings you get attacked by random monsters. This is when the game switches to battle mode. The battle system is simple and functions in turns. During each turn you can choose to attack, defend, use special abilities or flee.
The actions you can take during a battle are selected by the icons on the left. There are also keyboard shortcuts for the actions.
Winning battles makes you gain experience. Once you have enough experience points you gain a level. Gaining a level increases your character’s abilities. You also gain new skills on certain levels, such as, Lick which is used for healing and Hiss which increases damage.
On the street.
There are two quests in the game that involve killing two bigger boss creatures. On the street you normally encounter rats and in the park you encounter pigeons. Pigeons are tougher than rats and they also cast spells.
Fighting pigeons
Crossing a streetway
One thing to note is that there is a handy slot saving system. You can save your game in one of four slots in case you die or want to quit and continue later.
I’m still in love with the idea of Cat RPG, especially Street Cat RPG. I’m sure there are not a lot of cat role playing games around. This game will definitely get my vote for the best original idea. I feel there is a lot of undiscovered (and partially forgotten) ground in these types of games. I’m hoping to see more!
Here’s the link to the download page.
Just yesterday, I was doing my evening meditation. On the floor my cat likes to sit next to me. I was sitting on my knees and I bent over to stretch my back. I put my forehead on the ground and relaxed. Due to current circumstances (a lot of game programming and freelancing) I’m pretty burnt out and I actually passed out on the floor in that position. When I woke up after about an hour or so I was still on the floor and my cat had rolled its body around my head warming it. I actually feel less stressed today so cats do you good.
Anyway, back to the review:
You are a baby kitten and your mother, a street cat, has just died. The situation seems pretty helpless. It is raining and the alley looks dark and grim.
The first thing that attracts your attention on the right side of the alley is a rat. Eventually, when you click the rat it starts running down the alley and it seems to be leading you somewhere.
As you start exploring the surroundings you get attacked by random monsters. This is when the game switches to battle mode. The battle system is simple and functions in turns. During each turn you can choose to attack, defend, use special abilities or flee.
The actions you can take during a battle are selected by the icons on the left. There are also keyboard shortcuts for the actions.
Winning battles makes you gain experience. Once you have enough experience points you gain a level. Gaining a level increases your character’s abilities. You also gain new skills on certain levels, such as, Lick which is used for healing and Hiss which increases damage.
On the street.
There are two quests in the game that involve killing two bigger boss creatures. On the street you normally encounter rats and in the park you encounter pigeons. Pigeons are tougher than rats and they also cast spells.
Fighting pigeons
Crossing a streetway
One thing to note is that there is a handy slot saving system. You can save your game in one of four slots in case you die or want to quit and continue later.
I’m still in love with the idea of Cat RPG, especially Street Cat RPG. I’m sure there are not a lot of cat role playing games around. This game will definitely get my vote for the best original idea. I feel there is a lot of undiscovered (and partially forgotten) ground in these types of games. I’m hoping to see more!
Here’s the link to the download page.
#uDevGames review: Z1
10/10/11 09:15
“I dreamed a thousand new paths. I woke and walked my old one.”
Z1 by Junivision is a game but more than that it is a story. It all starts when Lea a graduating fighter pilot enters her final exam. Helping her on the exam is her step brother Artur. Both of them were raised by Dr. Hwan the creator of the Z1 technology and they operate under Shibu Control which serves the Lazarev High Command.
The game consists of long narratives that have an oriental influence in terms of storytelling. The story is the main focus of the game. There is also the action part which is a modernized version of the classic arcade game Gyruss 1983.
The story supports the gameplay and vice versa. On one hand you want to follow the story and not die (if you die you go back to the beginning) and on the other some gameplay parts are more important than others (For example, at one point you have the honorable Dr. Hwan on board your fighter). The developers seem to have put thought into this.
The dialog windows are nicely animated and the story is easy to follow. There is a lot of colorful art (but not a lot of music). The look and feel of the game is very original. You could almost call it an interactive book.
As most uDevGames 2011 entries, the game isn’t complete. However, there is enough story there to get you engaged. There is a promise that the full game will be downloadable one day on the Mac App Store. I hope that the creators keep their promise.
Here’s the link to the download page.
Z1 by Junivision is a game but more than that it is a story. It all starts when Lea a graduating fighter pilot enters her final exam. Helping her on the exam is her step brother Artur. Both of them were raised by Dr. Hwan the creator of the Z1 technology and they operate under Shibu Control which serves the Lazarev High Command.
The game consists of long narratives that have an oriental influence in terms of storytelling. The story is the main focus of the game. There is also the action part which is a modernized version of the classic arcade game Gyruss 1983.
The story supports the gameplay and vice versa. On one hand you want to follow the story and not die (if you die you go back to the beginning) and on the other some gameplay parts are more important than others (For example, at one point you have the honorable Dr. Hwan on board your fighter). The developers seem to have put thought into this.
The dialog windows are nicely animated and the story is easy to follow. There is a lot of colorful art (but not a lot of music). The look and feel of the game is very original. You could almost call it an interactive book.
As most uDevGames 2011 entries, the game isn’t complete. However, there is enough story there to get you engaged. There is a promise that the full game will be downloadable one day on the Mac App Store. I hope that the creators keep their promise.
Here’s the link to the download page.
#uDevGames review: Leader of Mans
09/10/11 12:17
“All of creation is at your fingertips. Your mans look to you for guidance. Lead them to greatness.”
Leader of Mans by Andy Korth is a god game where you create and grow your tribe of worshippers. You start off with an empty world consisting of islands. Your island is in the center. The first thing you have to do is create your first worshipper or a “mans”. Then you drag him over to a field to start growing food. Once you have food you can create shelter which you need for creating more worshippers.
Once you have more mans you can place them to do a variety of chores like more harvesting, logging and later on mining. This increases your tribes resources, which are divided into three categories: bread, wood, and stone.
Using resources you use your divine powers to build things for your tribe, such as, tents, huts, mines and docks. The building system functions like a grid. You place bread, lumber and rocks in a certain configuration, press enter and the building appears.
Building docks play an important role since they are used to create a connection between neighboring islands.
After setting your foot on a new island you can start building and inhabiting.
Each island consists of a quest. All in all, there are four quests that you can complete one of which completes the game.
As you complete quests your divine powers grow and you gain new abilities. The divine abilities are represented by the icons on the top center of the screen. They include: creating a mans, planting a tree, fire, rocks and lighting.
Planting some trees.
Planting stones around a mine.
Building something.
Most of the games in the uDevGames 2011 contest have resembled the 1990 period in terms of their graphics. Leader of Mans is no exception. However, the graphics look exceptionally polished. I especially loved the pastel-like colors. The music and the sound effects work well in the background. All in all, the game is well laid out and provides an entertaining god experience. God game fans: go check it out.
Here’s the link to the download page.
Leader of Mans by Andy Korth is a god game where you create and grow your tribe of worshippers. You start off with an empty world consisting of islands. Your island is in the center. The first thing you have to do is create your first worshipper or a “mans”. Then you drag him over to a field to start growing food. Once you have food you can create shelter which you need for creating more worshippers.
Once you have more mans you can place them to do a variety of chores like more harvesting, logging and later on mining. This increases your tribes resources, which are divided into three categories: bread, wood, and stone.
Using resources you use your divine powers to build things for your tribe, such as, tents, huts, mines and docks. The building system functions like a grid. You place bread, lumber and rocks in a certain configuration, press enter and the building appears.
Building docks play an important role since they are used to create a connection between neighboring islands.
After setting your foot on a new island you can start building and inhabiting.
Each island consists of a quest. All in all, there are four quests that you can complete one of which completes the game.
As you complete quests your divine powers grow and you gain new abilities. The divine abilities are represented by the icons on the top center of the screen. They include: creating a mans, planting a tree, fire, rocks and lighting.
Planting some trees.
Planting stones around a mine.
Building something.
Most of the games in the uDevGames 2011 contest have resembled the 1990 period in terms of their graphics. Leader of Mans is no exception. However, the graphics look exceptionally polished. I especially loved the pastel-like colors. The music and the sound effects work well in the background. All in all, the game is well laid out and provides an entertaining god experience. God game fans: go check it out.
Here’s the link to the download page.
#uDevGames review: Convergence
08/10/11 12:27
Convergence by Alex Diener is a dungeon crawler game inspired by classics such as the Legend of Zelda.
The download is only two megabytes. The game starts swiftly with a simple start-up screen with options to start the game, read the instructions or modify the preferences. One thing to note about the preferences is that there’s an option to use a USB game pad.
There are five different classes of characters that you can choose from of which four also have a special ability. Berserker is supposed to be an easy choice, however, I decided to play as a Ranger.
Once you select your class you’re taken directly into the dungeon. The idea is to get through the dungeon while collecting precious jewels and combatting the inhabitants of the dungeon.
In the first room that you enter you already encounter a monster which is pretty easy to defeat. In the center of the room there’s a closed vault secured by two blue doors. Inside the vault is a green emerald. In order to get to the emerald you have to find the keys that unlock the two blue doors. From the first room you can continue either left or right and your adventure begins.
As you proceed you encounter more inhabitants of the dungeon and apparently they’re not happy to see you. Some monsters use swords as melee combat and others use missiles. The movement and the AI of the monsters is done quite well. Some monsters stay put while others rush at you. Some even seem to stride sideways while attacking. Monsters also have a field of vision, that is, you can sneak behind them and they only notice you once they have turned towards you.
Getting badly beaten.
When you get hit you lose hit points (or energy). For regaining your hit points there are apples scattered around the dungeon.
As it happens, there are blue gems either lying on the floor or being carried by the monsters. You use these gems to open up the blue doors. There’s a puzzle element here also: you have to open certain doors in a certain order. Otherwise you can run out of gems. There are also yellow doors for which you need a yellow gem.
Sneaking up behind a monster.
At some point you’ll encounter a staircase that takes you to the next level; deeper into the dungeon.
The game is simplistic in its graphics. Yet the animation is the smoothest I’ve seen in the uDevGames 2011 entries. The levels are well designed. I have no idea how vast the dungeon is. I only managed to get to the second level. Also, I only tried two of the six classes of characters so I’m going to have a lot of fun exploring this still. The music is pretty trippy. I don’t know if Alex has also done the music but whoever it is - thumbs up! The sound effects are crystal clear. All in all, the audio is very high quality.
Here’s the link to the download page.
The download is only two megabytes. The game starts swiftly with a simple start-up screen with options to start the game, read the instructions or modify the preferences. One thing to note about the preferences is that there’s an option to use a USB game pad.
There are five different classes of characters that you can choose from of which four also have a special ability. Berserker is supposed to be an easy choice, however, I decided to play as a Ranger.
Once you select your class you’re taken directly into the dungeon. The idea is to get through the dungeon while collecting precious jewels and combatting the inhabitants of the dungeon.
In the first room that you enter you already encounter a monster which is pretty easy to defeat. In the center of the room there’s a closed vault secured by two blue doors. Inside the vault is a green emerald. In order to get to the emerald you have to find the keys that unlock the two blue doors. From the first room you can continue either left or right and your adventure begins.
As you proceed you encounter more inhabitants of the dungeon and apparently they’re not happy to see you. Some monsters use swords as melee combat and others use missiles. The movement and the AI of the monsters is done quite well. Some monsters stay put while others rush at you. Some even seem to stride sideways while attacking. Monsters also have a field of vision, that is, you can sneak behind them and they only notice you once they have turned towards you.
Getting badly beaten.
When you get hit you lose hit points (or energy). For regaining your hit points there are apples scattered around the dungeon.
As it happens, there are blue gems either lying on the floor or being carried by the monsters. You use these gems to open up the blue doors. There’s a puzzle element here also: you have to open certain doors in a certain order. Otherwise you can run out of gems. There are also yellow doors for which you need a yellow gem.
Sneaking up behind a monster.
At some point you’ll encounter a staircase that takes you to the next level; deeper into the dungeon.
The game is simplistic in its graphics. Yet the animation is the smoothest I’ve seen in the uDevGames 2011 entries. The levels are well designed. I have no idea how vast the dungeon is. I only managed to get to the second level. Also, I only tried two of the six classes of characters so I’m going to have a lot of fun exploring this still. The music is pretty trippy. I don’t know if Alex has also done the music but whoever it is - thumbs up! The sound effects are crystal clear. All in all, the audio is very high quality.
Here’s the link to the download page.
#uDevGames review: Your Story
07/10/11 08:53
Your Story by Max Williams and Scott Lembcke is a 2D platformer with retro style. You’re a blond pixel character working for a corporation (it seems) when you get promoted, go through a door and enter an underground fantasy world (an allegory that anyone can ponder upon).
The game consists of different worlds you can explore. You meet friendly natives, collect coins and encounter monsters. The worlds are vast and there’s a lot to explore.
The controls are simple; you move left or right, jump and shoot. Below there is a health bar and a coin counter. When you run into a monster you lose health. To regain health you must pick up hearts that are scattered over the levels. There are also power-ups and new weapons.
The game is not easy at first which is a good sign for a platform game. Platform games are my favorite type of games (along with side scrollers) and I loved the challenge. It took me two days to finish the game and I still haven’t finished exploring everything.
The color palette as well as the graphics resembles computer games of the 90s. The tracker style music goes a little bit further back and reminds me of the 80s/90s transition period. All in all, the animation is smooth and the playability is fairly fine tuned. A recommendation for platform gamers: here’s the link to the download page.
The game consists of different worlds you can explore. You meet friendly natives, collect coins and encounter monsters. The worlds are vast and there’s a lot to explore.
The controls are simple; you move left or right, jump and shoot. Below there is a health bar and a coin counter. When you run into a monster you lose health. To regain health you must pick up hearts that are scattered over the levels. There are also power-ups and new weapons.
The game is not easy at first which is a good sign for a platform game. Platform games are my favorite type of games (along with side scrollers) and I loved the challenge. It took me two days to finish the game and I still haven’t finished exploring everything.
The color palette as well as the graphics resembles computer games of the 90s. The tracker style music goes a little bit further back and reminds me of the 80s/90s transition period. All in all, the animation is smooth and the playability is fairly fine tuned. A recommendation for platform gamers: here’s the link to the download page.
#uDevGames review: Reign: A Chess RTS
05/10/11 08:44
Reign by Gordon is a real time strategy game where you control chess pieces in realtime. The game isn’t complete yet so this is kind of a preview. Still, I recommend downloading and checking out this game.
Reign starts out with a simple painteresque screen with a title and a simple “Play” button. In terms of user experience the screen clearly tells the player:”Press here and enter the world of Reign”. I couldn’t think of a more dynamic way to implement it. The fonts and the background clearly imply that this is going to be a strategy game.
The game starts out with a 3D world that fades in. In the first level you are a lone King and you have to get to the other side of the board. However, the board isn’t the usual chess board but a terrain. The King is blocked by enemies that have to be defeated. In the manual it reads:”[...] In each level, you must maneuver your units to either destroy the enemy King, or to reach a certain position with your own king. [...] “ So it is either a battle to the death or a positional battle.
The movement system is simple and complex at the same time. You can set primary and secondary waypoints for the troops. Once they reach the first waypoint they automatically turn and start moving towards the second waypoint. There also seems to be some sort of an automatic path finding feature.
Fighting seems to be done either automatically or manually. Your troops have a radius of attack and a time delay that defines the moment of the next attack. You can either choose a defensive posture when attacking is done automatically or attack manually by pressing the attack button.
Some of the enemies shoot at you and this is when you have to keep your troops moving sideways and attack at the same time.
The cosmogony of Reign is epic which is a clear indication that Gordon doesn’t lack imagination. Here are some screenshots of the intro:
Here’s the link to the download page.
Reign starts out with a simple painteresque screen with a title and a simple “Play” button. In terms of user experience the screen clearly tells the player:”Press here and enter the world of Reign”. I couldn’t think of a more dynamic way to implement it. The fonts and the background clearly imply that this is going to be a strategy game.
The game starts out with a 3D world that fades in. In the first level you are a lone King and you have to get to the other side of the board. However, the board isn’t the usual chess board but a terrain. The King is blocked by enemies that have to be defeated. In the manual it reads:”[...] In each level, you must maneuver your units to either destroy the enemy King, or to reach a certain position with your own king. [...] “ So it is either a battle to the death or a positional battle.
The movement system is simple and complex at the same time. You can set primary and secondary waypoints for the troops. Once they reach the first waypoint they automatically turn and start moving towards the second waypoint. There also seems to be some sort of an automatic path finding feature.
Fighting seems to be done either automatically or manually. Your troops have a radius of attack and a time delay that defines the moment of the next attack. You can either choose a defensive posture when attacking is done automatically or attack manually by pressing the attack button.
Some of the enemies shoot at you and this is when you have to keep your troops moving sideways and attack at the same time.
The cosmogony of Reign is epic which is a clear indication that Gordon doesn’t lack imagination. Here are some screenshots of the intro:
Here’s the link to the download page.
#uDevGames review: Flying Sweden
04/10/11 06:24
I’m starting a series of game reviews of the uDevGames 2011 entries with an interesting game called Flying Sweden. I happen to be Finnish, which is a neighboring country up there in Scandinavia and for me this was a natural entry to start with. However, before starting I would like to pay homage to the legendary finnish computer game programmer Jukka Tapanimäki. I did not know Jukka in person but I read his articles and game reviews and played his games on the Commodore 64. After more than ten years of him passing away, I could say I’m sort of following his footsteps. Here goes!
Flying Sweden by Lava Factory according to the game description “[...] combines strategic city-building gameplay with fast-paced tower defense combat. Construct and upgrade buildings, gain resources, build larger guns, bolster your defenses and take on the hords of enemies waiting for you in the clouds.”
The game starts out with an empty flying Sweden (see photo below).
You place an Ikea on your Sweden and create houses to increase your productivity, economy, and population. Then you press the right arrow and your Sweden tilts sideways and the background starts scrolling sideways.
Military helicopters, ships and even something that to me looked like aliens attack your Sweden. With the Ikea (and later on wooden horses) you use the mouse to shoot down the enemies before they do damage to your houses. After this you switch back to the horizontal view and during the battle your population has produced (or reproduced) which in turn enables you to buy more houses and bigger guns like the traditional wooden horses (see below). You can also repair damage and upgrade your houses.
Eventually, I managed to fill up my Sweden with eight wooden horses two hospitals, three libraries and a Globen (where Finland beat Sweden in the 1995 Ice Hockey championships).
The colorful graphics made me think of computer games of the 90’s. The game ran in one window and the animation was smooth even on my 4-year old MacBook. On the background you could hear classical music by Holst and (I assume) other Swedish composers [they corrected me by saying it was Requiem by Mozart (Sorry about that, I’m a rock musician and the volume was low. However, I do know that Gustav Holst was of Swedish origin.) Another movement that was heard was Anton Bruckner's Symphony no. VIII, Mvt. IV.].
There’s a couple of bigger end bosses some of which I thought were quite funny (However, I won’t spoil it for you). All in all, the humor, the irony and the overall idea was sophisticated and entertaining. Here’s the link to download the game.
Flying Sweden by Lava Factory according to the game description “[...] combines strategic city-building gameplay with fast-paced tower defense combat. Construct and upgrade buildings, gain resources, build larger guns, bolster your defenses and take on the hords of enemies waiting for you in the clouds.”
The game starts out with an empty flying Sweden (see photo below).
You place an Ikea on your Sweden and create houses to increase your productivity, economy, and population. Then you press the right arrow and your Sweden tilts sideways and the background starts scrolling sideways.
Military helicopters, ships and even something that to me looked like aliens attack your Sweden. With the Ikea (and later on wooden horses) you use the mouse to shoot down the enemies before they do damage to your houses. After this you switch back to the horizontal view and during the battle your population has produced (or reproduced) which in turn enables you to buy more houses and bigger guns like the traditional wooden horses (see below). You can also repair damage and upgrade your houses.
Eventually, I managed to fill up my Sweden with eight wooden horses two hospitals, three libraries and a Globen (where Finland beat Sweden in the 1995 Ice Hockey championships).
The colorful graphics made me think of computer games of the 90’s. The game ran in one window and the animation was smooth even on my 4-year old MacBook. On the background you could hear classical music by Holst and (I assume) other Swedish composers [they corrected me by saying it was Requiem by Mozart (Sorry about that, I’m a rock musician and the volume was low. However, I do know that Gustav Holst was of Swedish origin.) Another movement that was heard was Anton Bruckner's Symphony no. VIII, Mvt. IV.].
There’s a couple of bigger end bosses some of which I thought were quite funny (However, I won’t spoil it for you). All in all, the humor, the irony and the overall idea was sophisticated and entertaining. Here’s the link to download the game.
uDevGames 2011
03/10/11 08:45
The uDevGames Mac Game Programming contest has ended. Here are the entries (our’s is called Dicetris). I’m going to be playing these games this week and write some reviews here on the SoftCubicle blog.
The buffer of minds
02/10/11 09:13
Information seems to propagate either slowly, fast or not at all. “Light” information propagates easily and it is easy to digest. “Thick” or “heavy” information doesn’t propagate as fast but sometimes it seems to find its way eventually to even the most backward places. This is not limited to information in the traditional sense but applies also to fashion, traditions, memes and just rumors.
The mind’s role as a buffer and conveyor is to both delay, distort and propagate.
Where are the sources?
The mind’s role as a buffer and conveyor is to both delay, distort and propagate.
Where are the sources?
A failed attempt to explain science
01/10/11 03:12
When I say:”this is the accepted truth” I should be saying;”this is the best view we have come up with so far”.
When I say:”he has arrived at a truth” I should be saying:”he has come up with an interesting, compelling hypothesis.”
When I say:”I hate Newton” I should be saying:”Newton came up with a revolutionary model of its time which today we know is only an approximation of observed phenomena for which clever mathematic formulas have been created. He probably knew it wasn’t perfect but he delivered.”
When I say:”I know the sun will rise” I should be saying:”I believe in the image I have of the world and its surroundings which is stored in my mind since childhood. However, a true scientist would get up every morning to verify this hypothesis.”
When I say:”this has been accepted as true” I should be saying:”this has been accepted as true for now”.
When I say:”that is bogus” I should be saying:”for some reason I have a cognitive closure to what you’re implying and therefore cannot accept it just like that.”
When I say:”you are wrong.” I should be saying:”you might be right but my mind as a cognitive entity with memory, logic and intuition and feelings tells me you’re wrong.”
When I say:”you are right.” I should mean it.
When I say:”Science holds the truth” I should be saying:”Science is the pursuit of truth.”
When I say:”Science arrives at the truth” I should be saying:”When science arrives at a truth it ceases to be science.”
and so on...
When I say:”he has arrived at a truth” I should be saying:”he has come up with an interesting, compelling hypothesis.”
When I say:”I hate Newton” I should be saying:”Newton came up with a revolutionary model of its time which today we know is only an approximation of observed phenomena for which clever mathematic formulas have been created. He probably knew it wasn’t perfect but he delivered.”
When I say:”I know the sun will rise” I should be saying:”I believe in the image I have of the world and its surroundings which is stored in my mind since childhood. However, a true scientist would get up every morning to verify this hypothesis.”
When I say:”this has been accepted as true” I should be saying:”this has been accepted as true for now”.
When I say:”that is bogus” I should be saying:”for some reason I have a cognitive closure to what you’re implying and therefore cannot accept it just like that.”
When I say:”you are wrong.” I should be saying:”you might be right but my mind as a cognitive entity with memory, logic and intuition and feelings tells me you’re wrong.”
When I say:”you are right.” I should mean it.
When I say:”Science holds the truth” I should be saying:”Science is the pursuit of truth.”
When I say:”Science arrives at the truth” I should be saying:”When science arrives at a truth it ceases to be science.”
and so on...
What happens when you change your mind?
27/09/11 12:30
...and also act on it.
A friend of mine told me story of a man who was a drunk for many years. Then suddenly the man stopped drinking, went to a monastery and became a monk. Then after a few years he quit that and last time I heard he’s some sort of a guy who works for a school doing paperwork and administrative tasks.
I don’t know what happens when you change your mind and decide on a whole new career path. What exactly goes on during these kinds of transitions. However, it happens to people and is something worthwhile investigating.
There are simple changes like technological changes too. I’ve seen pretty normal untechnical people take the latest communication tools into use just like that and start using them like normal everyday things. Meanwhile, the tech-savvy people (not everyone, of course) are still talking about it (and their relationship with it) not really using it to do any real work.
However, the real work is only starting.
A friend of mine told me story of a man who was a drunk for many years. Then suddenly the man stopped drinking, went to a monastery and became a monk. Then after a few years he quit that and last time I heard he’s some sort of a guy who works for a school doing paperwork and administrative tasks.
I don’t know what happens when you change your mind and decide on a whole new career path. What exactly goes on during these kinds of transitions. However, it happens to people and is something worthwhile investigating.
There are simple changes like technological changes too. I’ve seen pretty normal untechnical people take the latest communication tools into use just like that and start using them like normal everyday things. Meanwhile, the tech-savvy people (not everyone, of course) are still talking about it (and their relationship with it) not really using it to do any real work.
However, the real work is only starting.
No fence sitters
27/09/11 05:10
The term “fence sitter” implies that there are two areas, two opinions about something. These areas are vast and this is where most of the people are expected to be, that is, for something or against something. Fence sitters on the other hand sound like they are somewhat passive bystanders who don’t seem to be capable of making an opinion. “Maybe they are just lazy or ignorant sad individuals," someone might say.
Still, truth is often on the razor’s edge. People of the past millennium (the majority who are still here) didn’t often have the courage or the time to challenge the status quo. Of course, it is never too late to become a representative of this millennium.
Still, truth is often on the razor’s edge. People of the past millennium (the majority who are still here) didn’t often have the courage or the time to challenge the status quo. Of course, it is never too late to become a representative of this millennium.
Solar - Miles Davis
18/09/11 14:03
Had a relaxing Sunday playing with Garage Band.
There’s four instruments in this track:
Yamaha Piano
Mellotron (from Roland JV-1080 Vintage Keyboards extension card)
Garage Band’s Electric Piano sound (through the “American Clean” Amp)
Garage Band’s Rock Organ sound
Anyway, roll over Miles Davis!
Solar - Miles Davis by Rite of Keys
There’s four instruments in this track:
Yamaha Piano
Mellotron (from Roland JV-1080 Vintage Keyboards extension card)
Garage Band’s Electric Piano sound (through the “American Clean” Amp)
Garage Band’s Rock Organ sound
Anyway, roll over Miles Davis!
Solar - Miles Davis by Rite of Keys
Blog, RSS, Twitter, Google+
16/09/11 07:56
Currently, there’s three ways to follow the SoftCubicle blog
1) By visiting the web site.
2) By subscribing to the RSS
3) Following the Twitter account.
I’m still researching how to attach the feed to Google+. Apparently, Google Buzz allows you to attach your feed but I not sure if this will be a part of Google+ in the future. People on Google+ seem to post something and then have a link that says “read more” that takes you to their blog. I’m not aware if this is done by hand or automatically. However, the first versions of Google+ developer APIs are now available so there might be an app coming that allows you to do this. (If you see one please send me a message - or if you need a Google+ invite). Looking forward to it!
1) By visiting the web site.
2) By subscribing to the RSS
3) Following the Twitter account.
I’m still researching how to attach the feed to Google+. Apparently, Google Buzz allows you to attach your feed but I not sure if this will be a part of Google+ in the future. People on Google+ seem to post something and then have a link that says “read more” that takes you to their blog. I’m not aware if this is done by hand or automatically. However, the first versions of Google+ developer APIs are now available so there might be an app coming that allows you to do this. (If you see one please send me a message - or if you need a Google+ invite). Looking forward to it!
The wild, savage, undomesticated animal
14/09/11 05:51
When we picture a wild animal we get notions of something undomesticated or savage.
Does the word “wild” or “savage” bring up an image of something out of control? Hearing the words “wild” or “savage” makes us nervous. But when we hear the animal is “tame” or “domesticated” we smile and relax. A tame animal is safe, something we manage to keep within confounds under control. But a wild animal is apparently something not controllable and dangerous.
Still, animals in the wild follow a strict timetable. They prepare for the seasons. They know how to follow rules that we’re unaware of. They sleep very little, build their own nests, travel long distances, give birth and raise their children. They know what to eat and they manage to stay healthy. In short, they know how to live and survive.
So animals do seem to be capable of self-restraint or self-control (a harmony of some sort). Even up to a level that we are not capable of reaching?
Does the word “wild” or “savage” bring up an image of something out of control? Hearing the words “wild” or “savage” makes us nervous. But when we hear the animal is “tame” or “domesticated” we smile and relax. A tame animal is safe, something we manage to keep within confounds under control. But a wild animal is apparently something not controllable and dangerous.
Still, animals in the wild follow a strict timetable. They prepare for the seasons. They know how to follow rules that we’re unaware of. They sleep very little, build their own nests, travel long distances, give birth and raise their children. They know what to eat and they manage to stay healthy. In short, they know how to live and survive.
So animals do seem to be capable of self-restraint or self-control (a harmony of some sort). Even up to a level that we are not capable of reaching?
Forget X, Y and Z generations
07/09/11 06:31
Generation X had a shot at it. Generation Y was not given a chance. Generation Z was lost to begin with.
Say hello to Alpha Generation.
Say hello to Alpha Generation.
Peer pressure vs. Tribal pressure
24/08/11 08:30
There are at least two fundamental differences.
Entering a tribe means that you’ve passed the part when it is unsure whether you’re accepted or not. The tribe is a magnet for the right kind of people. Once in you’re allowed to be you. The only assertion is that you’re a part.
Peer pressure, on the other hand, involves having to know or remember a certain thing (like a bunch of acronyms), having a certain education or dressing up and acting in a certain manner.
Entering a tribe means that you’ve passed the part when it is unsure whether you’re accepted or not. The tribe is a magnet for the right kind of people. Once in you’re allowed to be you. The only assertion is that you’re a part.
Peer pressure, on the other hand, involves having to know or remember a certain thing (like a bunch of acronyms), having a certain education or dressing up and acting in a certain manner.
The New Craftsmanship in the Global Village
09/08/11 10:02
Originally a village or a tribe had certain people doing certain specialized jobs (like the blacksmith, scribe, the herbs-man and shaman). Everyone was more or less an artist, a fisherman, a hunter or gatherer and handy in various things. Take for example the nomadic cultures where everyone was involved in building a Yurt. These things are lifted up or dismantled together in a manner of hours. The ready made parts were created by carpenters and herders. There were common jobs where everyone participated and specialized jobs that required deeper commitment.
During the industrial era where most tasks could be automated with the help of machines the tribal structure was broken down. The specialists became the ones who knew how to design, build and operate the machines. And there was less production work for the common folk. The common folk became consumers instead of producers. (I assume we all know this story.)
Now that we seem to be at the end of the industrial era and a beginning of a new millennium the number of producers is growing again. Today, in the digital age, almost everyone has access to production methods and ways to produce, distribute and sell products. While there are more producers there’s less consumers.
Is this the end of consumerism? Maybe, it’s the end of mass consumerism, mass marketing and mass production.
Therefore, could it be that there’s a need for the new craftsman?
During the industrial era where most tasks could be automated with the help of machines the tribal structure was broken down. The specialists became the ones who knew how to design, build and operate the machines. And there was less production work for the common folk. The common folk became consumers instead of producers. (I assume we all know this story.)
Now that we seem to be at the end of the industrial era and a beginning of a new millennium the number of producers is growing again. Today, in the digital age, almost everyone has access to production methods and ways to produce, distribute and sell products. While there are more producers there’s less consumers.
Is this the end of consumerism? Maybe, it’s the end of mass consumerism, mass marketing and mass production.
Therefore, could it be that there’s a need for the new craftsman?
The Game of Online Business
08/08/11 15:31
I played a lot of management games as a teenager. One of my favorites was Oil Imperium which was a management game where you ran an international oil company. At one point you had a funny screen where you supposedly turned your computer off in order to advance to the next day.
Today, when a lot of the communication (if not all) is done over the Internet the way of work actually resembles a computer game.
Today, people engage in all kinds of virtual social activities online. Some of that involves social gaming.
Someone comes from work (or school), switches on her laptop and enters an online game. She advances in rank, class, abilities, status, even makes imaginary money by selling things, builds virtual property and relationships. Then at midnight she logs off and goes to sleep. The game was a distraction. It was something to ease that pain on her shoulders.
Why not enter a real game where the relationships are real and where the money is real?
Today, when a lot of the communication (if not all) is done over the Internet the way of work actually resembles a computer game.
Today, people engage in all kinds of virtual social activities online. Some of that involves social gaming.
Someone comes from work (or school), switches on her laptop and enters an online game. She advances in rank, class, abilities, status, even makes imaginary money by selling things, builds virtual property and relationships. Then at midnight she logs off and goes to sleep. The game was a distraction. It was something to ease that pain on her shoulders.
Why not enter a real game where the relationships are real and where the money is real?
No intermediary steps and promises
28/07/11 17:03
My computer broke down some time ago. There were graphical artifacts on the screen. I wanted to take it to maintenance and get it fixed. I was in a hurry to get stuff done so I took it to the nearest shop. They said they can take it in but they won’t do anything until the weekend but they gave me a cable to test whether it was the graphics chip or the screen itself. I never got around to testing it. I called another repair shop and they promised to take it in the same day.
I took it to the place and got to talk with the repair guy who said it might cost around 300 if it’s the graphics card and around a thousand if it’s the main board. They promised to call in a few days.
After a week there was no answer so I called in. The guy sounded uncertain and said that they didn’t have the tools to diagnose the machine. However, they were pretty sure it’s the graphics card but it won’t cost 300 but a thousand because the machine is one of “the top models”. I told them I don’t want to buy a new piece if I’m not sure it’s the one that’s broken. They promised to do more tests and get back. I told them I hope this thing is in good hands and that I trust that they will figure out the problem. After two weeks I called but they didn’t say anything new just that it must be the graphics card.
At that moment, I decided to take the machine out of repair because the whole thing was based on guesses. These people didn’t have the tools to diagnose the problem and they wanted me to buy new pieces so that they can advance in the repair. So I took the computer home and put it in a closet where it stayed for about two months (I didn’t have time to think about it. I was so frustrated that I didn’t even want to think about it.)
Last week I took the thing to another repair shop. I didn’t have to explain much, the guy put it on the table and switched it on. There were the same graphical glitches on the screen. They took it in and promised to get back next week.
Today, we called and they said it’s not only the graphics card but also the motherboard that’s burned and the repair will cost more than a new computer - around five thousand reals (=$3200). So I’m sad my computer broke down but I’m happy with the service. No promises, no intermediary steps, just the plain verdict and that’s it. Now I know what I need to do. I can focus my energies. I don’t need to guess and live in a void of uncertainty. Well done, guys!
I took it to the place and got to talk with the repair guy who said it might cost around 300 if it’s the graphics card and around a thousand if it’s the main board. They promised to call in a few days.
After a week there was no answer so I called in. The guy sounded uncertain and said that they didn’t have the tools to diagnose the machine. However, they were pretty sure it’s the graphics card but it won’t cost 300 but a thousand because the machine is one of “the top models”. I told them I don’t want to buy a new piece if I’m not sure it’s the one that’s broken. They promised to do more tests and get back. I told them I hope this thing is in good hands and that I trust that they will figure out the problem. After two weeks I called but they didn’t say anything new just that it must be the graphics card.
At that moment, I decided to take the machine out of repair because the whole thing was based on guesses. These people didn’t have the tools to diagnose the problem and they wanted me to buy new pieces so that they can advance in the repair. So I took the computer home and put it in a closet where it stayed for about two months (I didn’t have time to think about it. I was so frustrated that I didn’t even want to think about it.)
Last week I took the thing to another repair shop. I didn’t have to explain much, the guy put it on the table and switched it on. There were the same graphical glitches on the screen. They took it in and promised to get back next week.
Today, we called and they said it’s not only the graphics card but also the motherboard that’s burned and the repair will cost more than a new computer - around five thousand reals (=$3200). So I’m sad my computer broke down but I’m happy with the service. No promises, no intermediary steps, just the plain verdict and that’s it. Now I know what I need to do. I can focus my energies. I don’t need to guess and live in a void of uncertainty. Well done, guys!
Stella by Starlight with Garage Band
24/07/11 23:53
I had some fun today with the latest version of Garage Band. Here goes Victor Young’s Stella by Starlight.
Stella By Starlight with Garage Band by Tiskipekka
My profile on SoundCloud
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Stella By Starlight with Garage Band by Tiskipekka
My profile on SoundCloud
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Two years in Brazil
15/07/11 09:53
It has passed two years since I moved to Rio de Janeiro. I’m always taking this time to reflect a little what has happened, what I have accomplished and what will the future hold.
During the last year the main thing that happened in my professional career was leaving web programming completely behind and concentrating on application programming. I felt I’m not the kind of a guy that can do quick patches and modifications and react in a way that web programmers normally have to. That was the first thing. The second thing was that I became tired of diverse beta grade middleware and constant changes in connectivity APIs. For example, I was doing a Flash game for Facebook and what happened was that during the development cycle Facebook changed the way you connect BUT the middleware API that I was using wasn’t updated so the game didn’t connect anymore. So what do I tell the customer? I had a similar case with MySpace without going into further details.
So about a year ago I decided to simplify everything, concentrate on desktop and mobile applications and turn down any jobs that involved the web or online components. Everything went fine until I had a horrible experience integrating a desktop Flash application with Visual Basic. The reasons were the same: beta grade middleware combined with deprecated components. The thing works somewhere but not elsewhere and you have to take the heat for it.
So finally I decided that I will only concentrate on multimedia and game programming and if the customer asks for anything that’s related to third party APIs I just politely (but firmly) state that this is out of my scope. This may be hard to understand but when you’re managing multiple projects at the same time and depending on finishing in a small timeframe the risk of introducing some “odd code that you have no idea what it does” is just too great. If the client is serious he can hire someone else for maintenance jobs and things like that.
Those were the greatest personal transition decisions that were made last year.
Spring is coming in Brazil. I’m feel that I’m on to a more refined approach in my freelancing career. I’m also feeling more confident in starting a few productions on my own. I also became a father last week and I’m really feeling more established and settled down in Brazil. I feel I’m getting more respect and acknowledgement. The move to Brazil was a huge leap of faith - half calculated half just trusting that everything will go OK. But in the end I feel I didn’t have any other choices and I’m glad things have turned out as they have so far. I’m very excited to do more stuff on the Mac and related devices. A vast field of choices in sight.
During the last year the main thing that happened in my professional career was leaving web programming completely behind and concentrating on application programming. I felt I’m not the kind of a guy that can do quick patches and modifications and react in a way that web programmers normally have to. That was the first thing. The second thing was that I became tired of diverse beta grade middleware and constant changes in connectivity APIs. For example, I was doing a Flash game for Facebook and what happened was that during the development cycle Facebook changed the way you connect BUT the middleware API that I was using wasn’t updated so the game didn’t connect anymore. So what do I tell the customer? I had a similar case with MySpace without going into further details.
So about a year ago I decided to simplify everything, concentrate on desktop and mobile applications and turn down any jobs that involved the web or online components. Everything went fine until I had a horrible experience integrating a desktop Flash application with Visual Basic. The reasons were the same: beta grade middleware combined with deprecated components. The thing works somewhere but not elsewhere and you have to take the heat for it.
So finally I decided that I will only concentrate on multimedia and game programming and if the customer asks for anything that’s related to third party APIs I just politely (but firmly) state that this is out of my scope. This may be hard to understand but when you’re managing multiple projects at the same time and depending on finishing in a small timeframe the risk of introducing some “odd code that you have no idea what it does” is just too great. If the client is serious he can hire someone else for maintenance jobs and things like that.
Those were the greatest personal transition decisions that were made last year.
Spring is coming in Brazil. I’m feel that I’m on to a more refined approach in my freelancing career. I’m also feeling more confident in starting a few productions on my own. I also became a father last week and I’m really feeling more established and settled down in Brazil. I feel I’m getting more respect and acknowledgement. The move to Brazil was a huge leap of faith - half calculated half just trusting that everything will go OK. But in the end I feel I didn’t have any other choices and I’m glad things have turned out as they have so far. I’m very excited to do more stuff on the Mac and related devices. A vast field of choices in sight.
uDevGames contest
08/07/11 11:00
Today I entered the uDevGames contest. With almost three iOS games behind I thought I would try out my skills making a game for the Mac. It’s a three month contest during which you can optionally share your game for testing and review with other contestants. I have a bunch ideas on the last page of my scratch book from which I’ll be picking the genre and overall scope of the game. I have one idea for a point and click adventure game. However, I need a good artist for that. If I don’t find one then I will go for something else that fits my own graphics, like, a psychedelic puzzle game for example.
Here’s a good article about the competition by Justin Ficarotta.
I’m completely new to this competition and this will be my first entry so let’s see how it goes. The competition started officially on June 1st and will end on October the 2nd.
This will be my entry.
Here’s a good article about the competition by Justin Ficarotta.
I’m completely new to this competition and this will be my first entry so let’s see how it goes. The competition started officially on June 1st and will end on October the 2nd.
This will be my entry.
10 things that change when becoming a parent
01/07/11 15:59
On the 28th of June my daughter was born and I became a father. Instantly, I noticed things changing in me. Here’s what I have observed:
1. I seem to be allowed be nervous and get angry. Getting angry or frustrated only means I care for my family.
2. In everything I’m doing there’s a “deeper plan” involved. This is of course relates to the fate of my child and my close ones.
3. I feel I’m allowed to judge society. With reasons like in 1. and 2.
4. Before, I tried to act like a cool guy without worries. Now, I act like a serious guy with something important to do.
5. I feel left out at times. However, then I discover I’m allowed to be left out.
6. I can still be a rebel, a warrior and wear worn out jeans.
7. I can still spend time with my cat.
8. They seem to serve me coffee more often and ask me if I want something from the grocery store.
9. I feel important without any sort of “reality” striking me down.
I recommend fatherhood for anyone with doubts. I’m writing this because I know that I have had doubts for many years. The doubts seemed to have vanished.
1. I seem to be allowed be nervous and get angry. Getting angry or frustrated only means I care for my family.
2. In everything I’m doing there’s a “deeper plan” involved. This is of course relates to the fate of my child and my close ones.
3. I feel I’m allowed to judge society. With reasons like in 1. and 2.
4. Before, I tried to act like a cool guy without worries. Now, I act like a serious guy with something important to do.
5. I feel left out at times. However, then I discover I’m allowed to be left out.
6. I can still be a rebel, a warrior and wear worn out jeans.
7. I can still spend time with my cat.
8. They seem to serve me coffee more often and ask me if I want something from the grocery store.
9. I feel important without any sort of “reality” striking me down.
I recommend fatherhood for anyone with doubts. I’m writing this because I know that I have had doubts for many years. The doubts seemed to have vanished.