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Free tool to merge and combine multiple RSS feeds into a single, unified feed. Perfect for news aggregation, blog following, and content curation.
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I discovered in iOS 26 developer beta you can swipe down from the top of the screen in any app to get a full menu bar, just like you would see in macOS.
This is quite handy as it lets you quickly get to hidden settings, features, and see keyboard shortcuts at a glance.
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Each year, I revert to Apple’s default apps (Mail, Calendar, Reminders, Notes) with new developer betas to see if they suit my workflow. This year is no different. Let’s see how long I stick with them before switching again. :)
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I’m trying the iOS 26 beta. I’m unsure about the Liquid Glass look. It appears nice, and I’m sure they’ll add some polish, but right now it feels excessive. The transparency also makes some content hard to read.
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“The truth is, other people hold no real power over you unless you give it to them. Here’s why this works: When you stop trying to control things that aren’t yours to control, you stop wasting your energy. You reclaim your time, your peace of mind, and your focus. You realize that your happiness is tied to your actions, not someone else’s behavior, opinions, or mood.” (Mel Robbins, The Let Them Theory)
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TRMNL
The TRMNL is an e-ink display that serves as a dashboard for your calendar, weather, stocks, RSS feeds, Apple Photos, and more. Its open platform allows developers to build and share their own apps. I won’t get one now, but I’ll keep an eye on it.
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Greater Goods Coffee
This Greater Goods coffee is a typical dark roast with a hint of dark chocolate.
I usually drink my coffee black and enjoy something not too bitter but flavorful.
This one gets the job done.
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Chevelle's new album Bright as Blasphemy coming in August 2025
🎵 Chevelle, one of my favorite rock bands, is releasing a new album, Bright As Blasphemy, in August 2025.
Chevelle has a heavy, melodic sound with deep meaning (that I usually don’t understand), but I love it. The band, which has been around since 1999, is underrated. This would be their 10th studio album, and possibly their final one.
Their first single, Rabbit Hole, is available now.
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Our Slow Decay
As we age, our bodies change. We lose muscle and mobility, even if we’re healthy.
It creeps up on us, and before we know it, we’re feeling old. Then, it’s much harder or impossible to reverse.
As my 50th birthday approaches, I’ve been more concerned about this.
To combat muscle decay, we must incorporate regular strength and mobility training.
I now have heavy dumbbells, a weight bench, and a simple 30-minute, twice-weekly routine.
The most challenging part is incorporating this into my life so that it’s a habit I don’t force myself to do, but feel uncomfortable when I don’t.
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WTF Notebook
Every time I join a new team, I go to the next fresh page, and on top of that page I write: “WTF - [Team Name].” Then I make a note every time I run into something that makes me go “wtf,” and a task every time I come up with something I want to change.
A WTF Notebook is a collection of notes that are taken when joining a new team or group. For a couple of weeks, you observe and write down anything that makes you think “WTF” in your notebook. You are accumulating a list of things that are unusual from your outsider perspective. Later, you can meet with the team or group and review what you noted.
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My new iPad Mini
I’ve experimented with many e-ink devices over the past few years, hoping to find a device that could help reduce distractions and make it easier to read books and online articles. Some even had note-taking capabilities that I swore would “change my life.”
Every one of them has failed me (or perhaps I should say, I failed them).
My Journey Through Devices
My first e-ink device was the Amazon Kindle. I don’t remember which version, but I’ve almost always had the most recent Paperwhite. If you’re embedded in the Amazon Kindle ecosystem and only read, these Kindles are great. But that’s all they’re good for.
My first e-ink note-taking device was the reMarkable 2. I still think this is a great device for taking notes. However, over time, I simply stopped using it. The reading experience was excellent, but getting content onto the device was a challenge. Things may be better in the newer reMarkable Paper Pro, but wow, it’s expensive.
I sold my reMarkable 2 and purchased an iPad Pro, thinking it would solve all my problems. It turned out to be a great device for consuming video, but too bulky for reading books and articles. Note-taking is great, thanks to the diverse app options and the Apple Pencil. Yet, I never used it much for notes. I like handwriting notes but found the iPad Pro simply too bulky.
I again focused on the e-ink world and tried out the Boox Palma. It seemed like a great portable device for reading. I was interested in the Palma because I was traveling a lot at the time, as my daughter was playing travel softball, and the portable size was great. But, my daughter graduated, and the softball trips ended. At home, I slowly stopped using the Palma.
I then briefly went back to the Amazon Kindle. Wanting to break away from Amazon, I tried the Kobo Clara Colour. I was interested in reading graphic novels and comics at the time. The Kobo is a great little device. However, I didn’t have a good way to take notes, and the content selection was slightly limited. Also, I actually found the device too small and limited, similar to the Palma.
Next, I tried the Boox Go Color 7. This device was interesting because it runs full Android, opening up many software options. I was running Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Readwise Reader, and trying out some other apps as well. Overall, it’s a pretty good device, but something was still missing.
I recently purchased the latest Apple iPad Mini with the A17 Pro chip. So far, it checks most of the boxes.
What Do I Really Need?
If I spend some time reflecting on what I really want and need from this device, I realize I need to dig deeper into my expectations and compare them with reality.
What I “wanted” was an all-in-one device where I could take all my notes, read and watch all my content, and avoid distractions. I was expecting to transform my digital life into something closer to analog.
In reality, I find I don’t take a lot of notes. What works for me is jotting down tasks and notes throughout the day on a piece of paper. Today, I’m using the Apple Notes app for this on the iPad. The ability to tap my lock screen with the Pencil and start writing in today’s note is enough. I’ve also been using Apple Notes to capture miscellaneous notes, receipts, documents, journal-type entries, etc. I even have several notes shared with my family, which is quite handy.
As far as reading, I’m pushing myself to read more books. I have purchased many physical books over the past couple of years and find them the best reading experience. Yet, reading on the iPad Mini is extremely convenient. I use Readwise to capture my highlights and notes and Readwise Reader to keep up with RSS feeds, articles, and PDFs I want to read later. Readwise works flawlessly on the iPad Mini. I can use Kindle, Kobo, Libby, YouTube, or whatever else I want to consume content on the iPad Mini.
When it comes to blocking distractions, an e-ink reader is great because they’re so limited. The ones that are “full-featured,” like the Boox Go 7, are still slow and clunky due to how the screen refreshes. They are still great devices for simply reading but limited for other tasks.
I have set up Focus Modes on the iPad and other tricks to limit distractions. I also removed nearly everything from my phone with the intention to use the iPad for consumption and productivity. I realize, I’m just trading one device for another, almost identical device, but hey, I’m trying.
I’m sure I’ll change my mind again in the future. I’ll throw in a physical book or notebook when I’m needing to go more analog, but for now, the iPad Mini is my go-to device.
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A framework for thinking about problems in society
I recently read What’s Our Problem by Tim Urban. This great book begins with a framework that describes how people think in today’s society.
This post breaks down the framework and explains how we can use it to help make decisions about societal and political issues.
Two types of thinking
There are two types of thinking: Higher-Mind and Primitive-Mind. Higher-Mind thinking seeks truth based on evidence, while Primitive-Mind thinking leans on experience and emotions. Each of us engages in both types of thinking based on the topic.
Idea Spectrum
The Idea Spectrum can be considered a graph. The horizontal axis describes what you think, and the vertical axis describes how you think.
For example, take the statement “Billionaires are evil.” On the horizontal axis (I’ll explain the vertical axis more below), the far left represents “Yes,” while the far right represents “No.” However, this isn’t simply a true or false statement, as nuance exists in how people arrive at those views and, we can be somewhere in the middle.
The Ladder
The vertical axis of the Idea Spectrum can be broken down further into what Tim calls “The Ladder.”
This “Ladder” has four rungs. Each rung represents a different type of thinking:
- The Scientist questions everything and seeks the truth.
- The Sports Fan accepts the rules of the game but wants their team to win.
- The Attorney strives to prove their point is the truth, even when its not.
- The Zealot refuses everything that contradicts their opinions and beliefs.
We all think on various rungs of the ladder about different things at different times. We don’t strictly function as a “Scientist” or always as a “Zealot.” Reality isn’t that simple. Our past knowledge and experience play a big part in how we think about a particular topic. How much a topic impacts you personally, based on your experience, may also influence your thinking.
The more emotions become involved, the more likely we think on the lower rungs of the ladder, while detachment may allow us to think more like a Scientist and find the facts.
Thinking in Groups
Since society is made up of people on various sides of the horizontal axis of the Idea Spectrum, as well as on the vertical axis of The Ladder (described above), group dynamics become quite fascinating—and often messy.
When high and mid-rung thinkers gather, they generally seek the truth (or at least compromise) while showing respect for people they disagree with. Tim calls this group an “Idea Lab.”
When low and mid-rung thinkers gather, they form what is commonly called an “Echo Chamber.” They treat their opinions as facts and do not respect people who state otherwise. Emotions take over, and the lower they are on “The Ladder”, the more blind to different ideas they become.
Emerging from these Echo Chambers, Tim talks about a “golem” who tend to take on a life of their own. They define ideas blindly, frequently can’t even explain what they’re fighting for.
Applying the framework
How can we use this framework to make better, more informed opinions?
We can easily get caught up in our emotions when dealing with societal issues. These emotional reactions tell us a lot about ourselves. After all, we wouldn’t have an emotional reaction to something if we didn’t have some skin in the game.
At the same time, awareness of how we think and react can go a long way. We can take a step back to see which rung of “The Ladder” we’re on.
We can also ask ourselves questions like, “Is this coming from someone acting as a golem?”, “Where are the facts?”, “Am I seeking truth or confirmation of my beliefs?”, and “Can I even explain to someone why I think this?”
Don’t get too caught up in all of this
The last point I want to make is for myself as much as anyone. Don’t let this consume us! While it’s valuable to understand society and politics, obsessing over it can wear us down—especially when we’re stuck in social media or legacy media loops. Those Echo Chambers don’t help. Instead, limit our consumption, read books on topics we’re interested in, and keep learning. But realize, we can’t control it all!
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“Like planting a seed in nutrient-rich soil, and feeding it the water and sunlight it needs in order to grow, today’s productivity is about creating the conditions within your mind to have valuable thoughts. Being productive today isn’t about time management, it’s about mind management.” (David Kadavy, Mind Management, Not Time Management)
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“The first approach is to eliminate complexity by making code simpler and more obvious.” (John Ousterhout, A Philosophy of Software Design)
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“Embrace the parts of you that others call weird. Don’t hide what makes you different. Allow those parts to float to the top and be seen by all. Your uniqueness is what makes your creations original, effective, and memorable.” (Joey Cofone, The Laws of Creativity)
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Focus your reading on what's relevant to you now
When you read to learn, choose topics that interest you. This makes a significant difference in your reading experience.
If you’re currently transitioning your team to SCRUM, read books about SCRUM. If you’re trying to create more technical documentation, read books on that topic.
If you’re already a productivity expert, don’t bother reading books about productivity.
Read to solve a current problem. You’ll be much more interested and will absorb the information like a sponge.
Taking it a step further, you don’t have to read entire books! Read chapters that are relevant to you right now. Save the rest for later.
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Finished reading: The Product is Docs by Christopher Gales 📚 I skimmed through this one. Probably a good read for Technical Writers. I didn’t get much out of it.
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“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in. —Bishop Desmond Tutu” (Peter Attia MD, Outlive)
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“And if the robots don’t rise up, if our creations don’t come to life and take the power we have used so badly for so long away from us, who will? What we fear isn’t that AI will destroy us—we fear it won’t. We fear we will continue to degrade life on this planet until we destroy ourselves.” (Ray Nayler, The Mountain in the Sea)
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Boox Go Color 7
A few days ago, my Boox Go Color 7 arrived. Yes, I did just start using a Kobo Clara, which I wrote about here.
The main reason I wanted to try the Boox is that I can run any Android app on it. This means Readwise, Kindle, Kobo, Libby, and even Micro.blog.
It took me a couple of weeks to make the decision to even try the Boox. I had the device in my cart several times, then removed it, then added it back later. I couldn’t make up my mind. I decided I could try it and then decide which device I’ll keep and return the other.
- The Boox Go is slightly larger than the Kobo Clara. The Clara was noticeably small, and I found myself thinking it needed to be slightly larger but still very comfortable and light.
- I’m still able to read Kindle, Kobo, Libby, or transfer my own books to the device.
- I’m a pretty heavy user of Readwise Reader, and the app works great on Boox (with some minor configuration tweaks).
- I like the hardware buttons.
- The Clara shares a name with my mother-in-law. Weird.
I’m going to return the Kobo Clara and keep the Boox Go Color 7.
If someone asked me which I would recommend, my answer would be it depends on if you want it to just work (go with the Kobo) or want options and are willing to tinker a bit (go with the Boox).
