Likes

My likes around the web.

  11. Liking content from adactio.com.

    The year was 1821 and technically the spreadsheet was a book of logarithmic tables. The frustrated cry came from Charles Babbage, who channeled his frustration into a scheme to create the world’s first computer.

  14. Liking content from hiddenbrain.org.

    There is so much to learn from this podcast episode, I listened to it during a run this morning.

    On days when good things happen, as you’d expect, people tend to report increases in things like positive affect, life satisfaction or self-esteem, but individuals who score high in measures of purpose in life, on those days when good things happen, they tend to look emotionally even keel. It’s almost as if that good thing didn’t happen. I’ll just say, although that may be jarring at first, it’s like purpose almost blocks you from reaping the benefits of a good thing, over time, you would not want your emotional tone to be bouncing around based upon the experiences that are happening to you. Over the course of one’s lifespan, it might be beneficial to remain even keel or as close as possible to life’s experiences, and feel good irrespective of what’s happening around you.

  17. Liking content from css-tricks.com.

    Sarah Drasner, killin’ it over at CSS-Tricks:

    When a site is done with care and excitement you can tell. You feel it as you visit, the hum of intention. The craft, the cohesiveness, the attention to detail is obvious. And in turn, you meet them halfway. These are the sites with the low bounce rates, the best engagement metrics, the ones where they get questions like “can I contribute?” No gimmicks needed.

    Struck a cord with me, so true! Some links in the comment section are also pretty good:

    I remember websites with a statement, character, attention to detail, playfulness, boldness, and rough edges. What I don’t remember: websites chasing the next web trend, trying to be like everyone else, mere manifestations of the insubstantial.

    I think that’s why I also love Heydon Pickering’s website so much. It’s so playful and thoughtful. Everything seems to be done with intention. And that makes me smile.

  18. Liking content from matthiasott.com.

    I just discovered Matthias Ott’s challenge of wiriting something every day for 100 days just recently. Since May 27 he’s constantly outputting such good content that it leaves me deeply impressed.

    What will I learn from this? Will my writing improve? Will I think more about what to write? Will I make it a habit? Will you enjoy what you read? Will I fail? I don’t know. All I know is that I already like the idea of writing more and seeing where this leads me. I’m actually excited! Let’s do this. I’ll see you tomorrow.

  20. Liking content from werd.io.

    Here I am, freshly setting up my syndication workflow on my website. And here is Ben, advocating against it. Pretty compellingly he writes:

    POSSE requires participation from the networks. I think it might be more effective to move all the value away: publish on your own site, and use independent readers like Woodwind or Newsblur to consume content. Forget using social networks as the conduit. Let’s go full indie.

    And the paragraph that brings it to the finish line:

    The effect of independence is practical, not just ideological: if you publish on your own site, your words are much more likely to stand the test of time and still be online years later. Social networks come and go, adjust their policies, etc. And there’s a business value to being able to point to a single space online that holds your body of thought and work.

    Well observed.