I finally figured out a concrete goal for my Postdoc: To learn how to implement everything I used a proprietary tool for during my PhD.
I received my first telemarketing call today. It appears there are some perks to not understanding the local language.
Ten tips for better writing
(Can you taste the delicious irony?)
From flamewars defending one’s favourite publishing platform, to worrying too much about specific versions of obscure software plug-ins, to constantly tweaking the appearance of blogs, there’s an unfortunate tendency in the blogosphere to focus incessantly on the technical aspects of blogging to the detriment of everything else. In an attempt to buck the trend a little and bring into focus what’s really important—high-quality content—here are ten quick tips to improve your writing on-line:
- Focus on the things you know, enjoy and are passionate about.
- Never publish your first draft. Nor your second.
- Read your entries out loud. It’s amazing how many errors missed when silently scanning words get caught when you hear them out loud.
- Find a writing and publishing schedule that works for you. And stick to it.
- Recognise that this is not publishing on paper; things can be perpetually improved. Continue to evolve your entries even after they’ve made it to your web site.
- Learn to use a thesaurus and a dictionary to make your writing more apt (and stylish!).
- Know and engage your audience.
- While your writing environment (different blogging software, word processors, text editors, paper and pencil, …) is not of central concern, make sure you choose one that doesn’t get in the way.
- Don’t be reluctant to experiment with different writing styles until you figure out one that works for you.
I know I said I’d share ten blogging tips but only ended up presenting nine. Would you like to help me complete the list above?
This is so that I can work on my brother’s CV, cover letters etc. when he gets the urge to apply for a new job every few years.
No matter what computing platform I move to, I need to keep a copy of MS Word handy.
A failed two-state solution
If you’re still here to read this after my long hiatus, I have to commend you for being a loyal reader. So hello and welcome back, loyal reader! I hope you had a reasonably pleasant transition to the new year—amidst the higgledy-piggledy sky-is-falling-isms brought about by the crumbling ponziconomy.
I know it’s been a while, but I haven’t had very much to bitch and moan about recently. It turns out I only seem to be able to write of my own accord when I’m seriously depressed, and unfortunately, life of late has been pretty good. Also, without consciously realising it, I seem to have enacted some sort of unofficial policy across the journals. Entries over ~250 words wind up on a.l. Entries under 140 characters get posted to µ.a.l. Everything else (the vast majority of the content) ends up in limbo—unless they’re greatly condensed or expanded upon (which never happens). I realise I have to break this non-rule and find a better way of integrating both these streams into a unified consumption experience.™
While I am on the topic of not writing, I might as well point something else out. During the relaxing weeks of downtime around the new year, I started working on a very dark book. I was able to concoct a basic storyline and envision the primary characters, but since I wasn’t in a very dark place emotionally, I didn’t make much progress. At the beginning of the holidays, I tried to artificially force myself into that state by contemplating the merits of suicide. I didn’t get very far on that front either. Damn.
Anyway, the purpose of this entry isn’t to convey any real news, but to (vaguely explain-away and) proclaim that the hiatus has officially ended, and you can look forward to regular updates over the days and weeks ahead. Stay tuned.
The trouble with the internet is that it’s not always easy to detect sarcasm. Or is that what makes it awesome?
My dying phone dies even faster beeping repeatedly attempting to inform me it’s dying.
It’s clear to me that wars are just competitions for resources to maintain wasteful lifestyles.
My toothbrush is beeping incessantly and I don’t know how to turn it off. Need to figure out how to isolate it if I am to sleep.
If I hear the words "an historic" one more time, things are going to turn violent.
Now that we’ve gotten the inauguration out of the way, it’s time to focus on the next round: McKinney/Kucinich 2012!
As much as I try to deny it, I’ve been Americanised in ways I’m not proud of.
I noticed an abandoned bag in the metro on my way to work. Sadly, my response was to freak out and step as far away from it as possible.
One of the many positive effects of a financial meltdown.