Tom Klaverhttps://tomk.weblog.lol/2024-03-29T15:10:02+00:00The 5,000 Photo Rulehttps://tomk.weblog.lol/the-5000-photo-rule2024-03-27T08:52:00+00:002024-03-27T08:52:00+00:00
<h1>The 5,000 Photo Rule</h1>
<p>How many photos do you need in your photo library?</p>
<p>I know I don't need to take 55,000 photos (and growing) with me for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>At one point that's how many photos I had in my iCloud Photo Library. My spouse and I have been sorting our library with <a href="http://getsorted.photos/">GetSorted</a>, and in that activity I had to think of two methods we found when uncluttering our home.</p>
<p>The first method is the question of "If this broke down, would I buy it again?". If not, maybe you can dispose of it.</p>
<p>The second method is the question of "when I die, would I be happy to lay the burden of sorting out my stuff on my loved ones?". That's also known as <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49445795-swedish-death-cleaning">Swedish Death Cleaning</a>.</p>
<p>I'm not saying both of these apply to sorting out your photo library. However, when you die, your photo library will continue to exist. And your loved ones will want to have access to it. And then, do you want to offer them a "Best Of" selection of your life, or a general database of any photo you've ever taken?</p>
<p>Another method, which is the point of this thing, is to work towards an arbitrary number. That's harder with physical objects so that didn't come to mind when we uncluttered our home.</p>
<p>Maybe you only want to have a maximum of 5,000 photos. Or you only want to keep 500 photos for each year of your life.</p>
<p>I want to stress though that you be careful throwing out pictures that elicit warm thoughts and memories. So even though you might not meet the number you set, it's likely more important you keep stuff that is important to you. Not because you can to meet an arbitrary number.</p>
Tom KlaverWeek 12 2024 Bookmarkshttps://tomk.weblog.lol/week-12-2024-bookmarks2024-03-24T21:38:00+00:002024-03-24T21:38:00+00:00
<h1>Week 12 2024 Bookmarks</h1>
<h2>👤 Life</h2>
<ul>
<li>✍🏻 I've started to prepare my day the night before. It's almost the same checklist as the morning one but now I added a step to journal a bit about my day as well:</li>
<li>〰️ One line a day. I gave my spouse one of those One Line a Day diaries that makes keeping a diary extremely low-key. Just write a line (or more) and you're done. I do the same thing now too but I write it in Day One.</li>
</ul>
<h2>📠 Apps</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://n10.app/">Attention Management App for Mac</a> - A fantastic (and finally a reasonably priced app) that pulses visually to remind you to keep focusing on your tasks.</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/across-modern-calendar/id6444851827">Across: Modern Calendar</a> - I spotted this one on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1bh54z7/across_calendar_app/">Reddit</a>. Never saw this app before but it's got a ton of ways to view your calendar. For Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/empty-fasting/id6475213946">Empty Fasting</a> - Cute little paid up-front app to track your fasting routine. Haven't tried this one but it does look like it's just enough.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1bghh3b/my_curated_list_of_great_free_apps_for_mac/">My curated list of great free apps for Mac</a> - Someone (on Reddit) compiled a great list, you'll probably find a nice utility (<a href="https://tomk.paste.lol/reddit_my_curated_list_of_great_free_apps_for_mac">I hosted it here so you don't have to visit Reddit</a>).</li>
</ul>
<h2>🌎 Cool sites</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://www.oliviaking.com/inclusive-sans">Inclusive Sans</a> - Nice new font that came out that improves readability and accessibility. Might switch my font to this one sometime.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hospicenursejulie.com/book">Nothing to Fear | Demystifying Death to Live More Fully</a> - I came across Hospice Nurse Julie on YouTube and this seems like a book anyone with fear of death can use.</li>
<li><a href="https://deadsimplesites.com/">Dead Simple Sites - Minimal Website Inspiration</a> - Reeeaaally simple sites.</li>
<li><a href="https://mihobu.lol/2024/03/weeknotes-week-11-2024">Alone No More (Weeknotes #24-11)</a> - Just love this way of writing about your week. I took it to action already ☺️</li>
</ul>
<h2>🗞️ Read</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://adactio.com/journal/20996">What the world needs</a> - Don't write for the world. Write for yourself. The world doesn't need you but you need you.</li>
<li><a href="https://gomakethings.com/the-problem-with-ai/">The problem with AI</a> - "Spoiler alert: if you’re a fan of AI, you’re going to hate today’s article." You're going to love-hate this article if you hate AI, too.</li>
<li><a href="https://mymind.com/adhd">People with ADD/ADHD love using mymind</a> - Apparently the service I've been using for my bookmarks has been working well with my brain for a reason. 😄</li>
</ul>
<h2>📼 Watched</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsRmyY3Db1Y">The mind-blowing scale of The Milky Way</a> - I don't want to spoil anything so if you can watch any space video this week, make sure it's this one. Puts the Milky Way galaxy and our cute little solar system that fits on the tip of your finger into perspective.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDUUT2Y_9qk">I put 4 Million Suns in a Black Hole over New York</a> - Puts black holes into perspective. He actually pulls it off. 🤯</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BTxxJr8awQ">What does the speed of light look like on earth?</a> - So simple but so cool!</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaAYUZqZvlA&list=LL&index=6">2005 (1985 Parody)</a> - I'm so happy that I discovered my music taste in the early 2000s. This clip is a great representation of that time.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE5JMEu5hZA&pp=ygUQcmhjcCBzb3VuZHMgbGlrZQ%3D%3D">What Red Hot Chili Peppers sound like to people who don't like Red Hot Chili Peppers</a> - "Now it's time to reiterate California" oh man, that had me.</li>
</ul>
Tom KlaverWeek 11 2024 Bookmarkshttps://tomk.weblog.lol/week-11-2024-bookmarks2024-03-17T20:38:00+00:002024-03-17T20:38:00+00:00
<h1>Week 11 2024 Bookmarks</h1>
<h2>📠 Apps</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/solid-calendar/id6448245807">Solid Calendar</a> - Underrated new calendar app. I love the Timeline view that looks like what Google Calendar uses.</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/evo-the-everything-app/id6475402655">Evo - The Everything App</a> - Super great new productivity app! The dev is super responsive over iMessage 😄</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id6463499163">Twodos - Simple Todos</a> - Really cool and simple to-do app. Two vertical sections you can move tasks between: Sooner & Later. Hide a section for ultimate focus.</li>
</ul>
<h2>🌎 Cool sites</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://aegi.neocities.org/">Aegi's Cafe </a> - I just saw this website for the first time. My goal is to have a nice little place for myself like this.</li>
<li><a href="https://likehome.neocities.org/other/earthfavorites">My favorite places on Google Earth :: Like Home</a> - Such a nice idea to list pretty places on Earth.</li>
<li><a href="https://aegi.neocities.org/digitalgarden/notes/dailylog">Daily log </a> - I liked this minimal way of blogging.</li>
<li><a href="https://yuqiboy.com/posts/page/9/">yuqiboy</a> - Looks like this person has found their outlet to just share whatever they're thinking. I admire that. Also because it's so anonymous. It's got me thinking. 🤔</li>
</ul>
<h2>🗞️ Read</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://notes.neatnik.net/2024/03/motive-as-a-filter">Neatnik Notes · Motive as a filter</a> - Great read on choices we can make. If you don't pay for a tool, question what their motive is.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/08/the-dead-world-of-blippi">The Dead World of Blippi ❧ Current Affairs</a> - </li>
<li><a href="https://blakewatson.com/journal/use-your-mac-the-way-i-do-a-thought-experiment/">Use your Mac the way I do: a thought experiment</a> - Loved following this thought experiment. It also took me back to my youth, described in <a href="https://social.lol/@tomk/112109941942533995">my post on Mastodon</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.polygon.com/24093399/end-of-mrbeast-youtube-era">The end of the MrBeast era</a> - I always feel so mindless after watching a few MrBeast videos. I'm happy that something is changing.</li>
<li><a href="https://creativerly.com/how-the-calendar-became-the-all-in-one-productivity-app/">How the calendar became the all-in-one productivity app</a> - I keep looking for new calendar apps (see the Apps section above).</li>
<li><a href="https://notes.neatnik.net/2024/01/app-defaults">Neatnik Notes · App Defaults</a> - I'm writing my own app defaults as we speak (not literally because I'm writing this now).</li>
<li>Don't know who they're quoting, but it makes sense: <iframe src="https://graz.social/@bijram/112025032653191748/embed" class="mastodon-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="400" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://graz.social/embed.js" async="async"></script></li>
</ul>
<h2>📼 Watched</h2>
<ul>
<li>⭐️ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT2wY0DjYGo">Joost Klein - Europapa | Netherlands 🇳🇱 | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2024</a> - I'm sorry but HOW GREAT is my country's submission to the Eurovision Song Contest? I AM OBSESSED.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcjlgBPueZg">YouTubers That Copy Other YouTubers</a> - I love the content Sambucha puts out. He's legitimately funny as well.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDvTv6MrGFU">Armorer in Alec Baldwin's 'Rust" Found Guilty of Manslaughter; Baldwins Trial is Next</a> - I found CLR Bruce Rivers during the Depp/Heard trials and I am still here.</li>
</ul>
Tom KlaverI can’t commit because there’s always a better book aroundhttps://tomk.weblog.lol/i-cant-commit-because-theres-always-a-better-book-around2024-01-04T14:23:33+00:002024-01-04T14:23:33+00:00
<h1>I can’t commit because there’s always a better book around</h1>
<p>Most of my books are at a 2–4% finish rate.</p>
<p>I grab my Kobo to read, but instead I will explore the Kobo Books shop, download previews, and read those for a page or two. It is so hard to commit to a book when there are so many other books just two taps away.</p>
<p>It makes me sad because I know that books have had an impact on how I am as a parent, and I know books have changed how I look at the world (a little bit).</p>
<p>I’ve tried setting limits on the device, but they are too easy to revert.</p>
<p>There a are a few things I will do to solve the problem:</p>
<ol>
<li>Block WiFi connections on the router from my Kobo between 9 PM and 12 PM.</li>
<li>Keep 2 or so books around on the Kobo.</li>
<li>Move other books back to my Mac’s Calibre library so they are out of scope.</li>
</ol>
Tom KlaverDeleted all of my history on Gmailhttps://tomk.weblog.lol/deleted-all-of-my-history-on-gmail2023-10-04T07:31:48+00:002023-10-04T07:31:48+00:00
<h1>Deleted all of my history on Gmail</h1>
<p>Just deleted 18 years worth of emails from my Gmail account. Apart from YouTube, I want them to have as little data of me as possible. I don't see why I would need so much history of me lying around.</p>
<p>Granted, I've used my Gmail account actively for about 6-7 years, so that's the weight of my actual history there.</p>
Tom KlaverI’m blogging from my Notes apphttps://tomk.weblog.lol/im-blogging-from-my-notes-app2023-09-15T19:30:10+00:002023-09-15T19:30:10+00:00
<h1>I’m blogging from my Notes app</h1>
<p>I wrote a Shortcut that lets me export a note from the Notes app to my weblog.lol blog. I’ve called it “Blogger”.</p>
<p>I still need a better way to use links and perhaps images, but we’ll see if I want to put in the effort to solve those. I can always just use markdown for links.</p>
<p>For now it works pretty well and I’m happy to have a low effort way to shoot a new post to my blog!</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.some.pics/tomk/6504b3513185a.jpg" alt="Screenshot of a shortcut workflow in the Shortcuts app on iPadOS." title="Screenshot of a shortcut workflow in the Shortcuts app on iPadOS." /></p>
Tom KlaverIntroductionhttps://tomk.weblog.lol/introduction2023-07-20T08:38:00+00:002023-07-20T08:38:00+00:00
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>Hey! I'm Tom, and I was a UX designer for Soda Studio, Apple, Lightspeed, and Prss. I'm recovering from burnout and exploring what career I want to pursue. Could be tech writing, could be iOS development, could be anything outside of IT. Time will tell what makes me the happiest!</p>
<p>Most importantly I'm a dad and live with my autism. I love being a parent, scratching my own itches with Shortcuts and I listen to Fall Out Boy every single day. I'm stuck in 2005, music-wise.</p>
Tom KlaverThat Night I Absolutely Killed It (The Mood)https://tomk.weblog.lol/that-night-i-absolutely-killed-it-the-mood2023-04-27T12:35:00+00:002023-04-27T12:35:00+00:00
<h1>That Night I Absolutely Killed It (The Mood)</h1>
<p>It was 2006. I was 17, autistic, and my friends took me to a club.</p>
<p>People were dancing to some pretty nice songs, but that week "Mr. Brightside" by the Killers was my <em>jam, babeh</em>. I walked up to the DJ of the hour, I said, "man, could you play Mr. Brightside next?"</p>
<p>He said, "are you sure?" I said, "yeah I'm sure."</p>
<p>And so it went down. I heard the lead guitars and I was sure this was my time to make myself officially known as a Cool Guy.</p>
<p>Reception was ice cold. Dancing? Never heard of it. Even my friends looked confused. There was no other way but to endure this—really great—song with people who didn't want to hear it.</p>
Tom KlaverReminders hack: Things 3-inspired tagging shortcuts (macOS)https://tomk.weblog.lol/reminders-hack-things-3-inspired-tagging-shortcuts-macos2023-02-21T20:21:00+00:002023-02-21T20:21:00+00:00
<h1>Reminders hack: Things 3-inspired tagging shortcuts (macOS)</h1>
<p><a href="https://postimg.cc/rzt4T0Nh"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/qB1x82hd/SCR-20230221-tnf.png" alt="SCR-20230221-tnf.png" title="SCR-20230221-tnf.png" /></a></p>
<p>During the iOS 16 betas, I switched my entire tasks system to Reminders. I had no work activities due to a burn-out, and Things 3 just seemed too overkill for what I needed at the time.</p>
<p>Things 3 has a great solution to add a tag: use the <code>ctrl</code> key with any other keyboard character, and your task will get the accompanying tag. For instance, <code>ctrl-e</code> will add <code>Errands</code> to what you've selected.</p>
<p>And then I noticed Reminders can do this too! But it takes more steps to set up. If you're familiar with setting keyboard shortcuts in System Settings, you'll know the drill.</p>
<h2>Steps</h2>
<ol>
<li>Go to your System Settings app, go to Keyboard, and go to Keyboard Shortcuts.</li>
<li>Go to App Shortcuts and click to add a new shortcut.</li>
<li>Select Reminders from the dropdown menu.</li>
<li>Enter <code>Edit->Tags-></code> and type the tag name you want to use. For instance, <code>Edit->Tags->Errands</code>. [^1]</li>
<li>Enter your desired keyboard shortcut. I chose <code>ctrl-e</code>.</li>
</ol>
<p>To try it out, go to Reminders and select a task to tag. Smash that keyboard shortcut. Enjoy your leveled-up productivity!</p>
<p>[^1]: If you're using a different system language, you need to use the localised menu items here.</p>
Tom KlaverIt's so damn hard to get startedhttps://tomk.weblog.lol/getting-started2023-01-16T06:57:22+00:002023-01-16T06:57:22+00:00
<h1>It's so damn hard to get started</h1>
<p>Before 2007, I loved to write. And I loved blogging. But then I learned that I could convey the same message, with more interactions, on Twitter.</p>
<p>My creativity died with a 140-character text field and instead that constant shot of dopamine got a lot more fun than getting whatever what was <em>really</em> on my mind, written out, out there.</p>
<p>I spent years searching for the right weblogging tool as the optimal excuse to not write, and instead focus on unimportant things like configuring my blog's comments sections before I had even published a post.</p>
<p>I know I still have things to say, but it's so damn hard to get started. So here it is, I guess? Finally?</p>
Tom KlaverRecent app finds & subscriptionshttps://tomk.weblog.lol/apps-subscriptions2023-01-08T17:44:00+00:002023-01-08T17:44:00+00:00
<h1>Recent app finds & subscriptions</h1>
<ul>
<li>Mymind</li>
<li>omg.lol</li>
</ul>
<p>More to come.</p>
Tom Klaver