Kickoff For February 15, 2021
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Monday Kickoff, a collection of what I’ve found interesting, informative, and insightful on the web over the last seven days.
Let’s get this Monday started with these links:
Technology
Death of a Smart City, wherein we learn how a Google-backed project to create an overly-networked neighbourhood in Toronto scuttled by its opponents, and (in some small way) from within.
The 100-Year History of Self-Driving Cars, wherein we learn that the idea behind self-driving cars is nothing new, and how the mistakes of the past are informing the creation of tomorrow’s autonomous vehicles.
Blockchain, the amazing solution for almost nothing, wherein Jesse Frederik looks at blockchain, the technology and people behind it, and the proposed applications for it, and comes away unimpressed.
Writing
Many writers say they can actually hear the voices of their characters – here’s why, wherein we learn how inner speech in the minds of fiction writers becomes the voices of the characters they’ve created.
Notes on Notes, wherein Mary Cappello ponders the ideas of notes and note taking, and how they’re minor literary forms in themselves.
Substack isn’t a new model for journalism – it’s a very old one, wherein once again we dip into the what’s new is old again files and learn that the popular email newsletter service has several historical precedents.
Productivity
Time Is Not a Measure of Productivity, wherein Anne-Laure Le Cunff looks at remote work versus being in the office and concludes working from home will result in more impactful work and happier work conditions.
How To Do The Thing You’re Avoiding, wherein Leo Babauta offers some advice to help you tackle the tasks that you don’t want to tackle.
How to take notes while reading a book, wherein Anne-Laure Le Cunff offers advice on how to do that without going overboard or losing the joy and flow of reading.
And that’s it for this Monday. Come back in seven days for another set of links to start off your week.