tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:/posts_feedPeter Bryanthttps://cdn.u.pika.page/YzmoY41WYkWio946F_05drDj_ctc_IuiWYMGqj-QPhw/fn:my-notion-face-transparent/plain/s3://pika-production/aqeijqe8twbwuhawknfhf64vl0f72026-02-12T19:08:17Ztag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/837722026-02-12T19:08:17Z2026-02-12T19:08:17ZMeta disabled my account<div class="trix-content">
<p>Weird day. I’ve been in London for work, and I’ve just checked my emails for the first time today.</p>
<p>I discovered that, at 11:37, I had an email from Meta saying they were suspending my account due to suspicious activity, and that I had the right to appeal. </p>
<p>Less that 2 hours later, a second email came in saying that they had reviewed my account — apparently at my request — and decided that my account would be permanently disabled.</p>
<p>Sure enough, I can no longer sign into Facebook, Messenger, or Instagram. I have no idea what caused this problem, and I appear to have missed the chance to put things right (despite the first email promising 180 days to appeal).</p>
<p>I have super mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I have lost access to some pages/accounts for my choir, and the app I work on. I can also no longer participate in my singing-related Facebook communities, which is kind of a bummer. I have also lost access to all my conversations in Messenger; the impact of this will become clear as time goes on, but could be a reasonably huge problem. Thankfully, I still have WhatsApp.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I have hated Meta and everything they do for quite some time. I have maintained my accounts for the purposes described above, but I guess this gives me a good excuse to stop using their products from now on. That will probably be a net positive for my life, even if it’s slightly unexpected and inconvenient in the short term.</p>
<p>Weird day with a weird outcome. But there is a strange sense of relief, and I don’t find myself rushing to regain access to my accounts anytime soon.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Meta%20disabled%20my%20account">Reply by email</a></p>Weird day. I’ve been in London for work, and I’ve just checked my emails for the first time today. I discovered that, at 11:37, I had an email from Meta...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/745132025-12-23T10:47:18Z2025-12-23T10:47:18ZOh look, Spotify hates music fans<div class="trix-content">
<p>Sorry — it’s another post about how Spotify is a garbage company that doesn’t care about users or musicians.</p>
<p>I am often sent Spotify links by friends. I’m fine with this — it’s easy enough to search Apple Music for the thing they sent me, or generate a cross-platform link using something like <a href="https://www.tapelink.io">Tapelink</a> and open the music in my preferred service.</p>
<p>But the other day, a friend sent me a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/34sUWOEjFKrj8Rzk1HHicq?si=VWIuMu9tQ3i4qzQklh_fcg">Spotify link</a> to a new Fall Out Boy cover of<em> It Feels Like Christmas</em> from The Muppet Christmas Carol. I was extremely excited about this — I listened to a lot of Fall Out Boy growing up, and The Muppet Christmas Carol is my absolute favourite Christmas film.</p>
<p>So I did what I usually do in this situation — searched Apple Music for the track. But it came up empty.</p>
<p>I quickly realised why: this track is a Spotify exclusive.</p>
<p>The rage with which I am filled — about the idea that music should be exclusive to a particular streaming service — is palpable.</p>
<p>I understand that, for other content like movies, TV shows, or games, platform exclusives are an industry standard, and that many households have multiple streaming service subscriptions because the stuff they want to enjoy exists across many platforms.</p>
<p>But this is absolutely<em> not</em> the case for music. Until recently, we have lived in a world in which music streaming platforms are largely interchangeable: you can switch from Spotify to another service and find exactly the same content. But almost everyone alive has only one music subscription, and their account contains a carefully curated library of playlists and albums. The idea of having more than one music service — in the same way that I have multiple TV streaming services — is insane to most people.</p>
<p>But Spotify is breaking the one-service paradigm in an effort to get people to stay with Spotify, or switch away from their current service. Music fans lose out because they either need to switch, or have multiple subscriptions. And artists lose out because they can only get the revenue from one service. I would hope they are charging Spotify extra money for the exclusivity, but being beholden to one platform for your revenue is an uncomfortable place for any musician, artist, or content creator.</p>
<p>I want to be very clear:<strong> exclusive music will not make me use Spotify; it will just piss me off and make me<em> less</em> likely to support their business.</strong> This is just a big enshittification moment for music streaming services.</p>
<p>I was able to listen to the song my friend sent me, by creating a temporary free Spotify account and using their web player. But I can’t add it to my library, or any of my Christmas playlists. I’ll probably never listen to it again.</p>
<p>In conclusion — and I cannot emphasise this enough — fuck Spotify.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Oh%20look%2C%20Spotify%20hates%20music%20fans">Reply by email</a></p>Sorry — it’s another post about how Spotify is a garbage company that doesn’t care about users or musicians. I am often sent Spotify links by friends. I’m fine with...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/731402025-12-04T08:26:40Z2025-12-04T08:26:40ZTalk to your friends about music<div class="trix-content">
<p>So Spotify Wrapped (and Apple Music Replay etc) is fun an all, but maybe we shouldn’t make this the only time in the whole year to share music with our friends?</p>
<p>Possible 2026 resolution idea: when you hear a new album/artist/song, text a friend about it and see what they think. Have a conversation. Make a connection.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Talk%20to%20your%20friends%20about%20music">Reply by email</a></p>So Spotify Wrapped (and Apple Music Replay etc) is fun an all, but maybe we shouldn’t make this the only time in the whole year to share music with our...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/726312025-11-25T11:29:27Z2025-11-25T11:29:27ZGrieving the career I never had<div class="trix-content">
<p>A big part of me always wanted to be a teacher.</p>
<p>When thinking about work and careers, we’re often asked to focus on the things that we find easy but others find hard. For me, a few things come up:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I enjoy speaking to groups</p></li>
<li><p>I can communicate difficult concepts clearly</p></li>
<li><p>I can read a room and know what the situation needs</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t embarrass easily (any more)</p></li>
<li><p>I can talk to anyone</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I have found myself in the position of a teacher in a few unexpected ways in my life; primarily as a choir director. And I was<em> this close</em> to actually taking the path of becoming a full-time teacher.</p>
<p>But the more I spoke to my teacher friends about their experiences, the clearer it became that teaching involves some serious sacrifices, and rarely meets our expectations.</p>
<p>There’s the rigid holiday schedule — sure, you get loads of holiday time, but no flexibility around<em> when</em> you take your holiday. Then there’s the out-of-hours work: things like lesson planning and marking. This lack of flexibility around free time would preclude me from participating in the hobbies I treasure so much.</p>
<p>Plus, there are huge systematic problems with the education system here in the UK which mean teachers are overworked and underpaid, because schools are understaffed and underfunded. Many management teams in schools are too busy trying to make ends meet to worry about professional development or career fulfilment for their teaching staff.</p>
<p>Coupled with that, so many families are under huge pressure. This includes financial and economic challenges, and struggles with mental health. All of this adds up to kids who are set up to fail when they come into school; they’re under-nourished, under--stimulated, and under-nurtured.</p>
<p>The reality of being a teacher became apparent to me very quickly as I was speaking to friends and family. It’s not about inspiring or mentoring young people. It’s often not even about teaching them; so many teachers just have to take one day at a time, and make it to home time incident-free.</p>
<p>It’s bleak, and I wish the situation could change. I really think I have something to offer as a teacher, and I spend a lot of time wondering what life would have been like if I had pursued this career. Could I have made the sacrifices so many teachers make every day, in the spirit of service to my community?</p>
<p>In the end, I don’t regret the choices I made. But it makes me sad to think how many other great teachers never actually set foot in a classroom, because something scared them away. </p>
<p>I believe that delivering good education is the most fundamental and important role of government. Without an educated population, all other problems are exacerbated. I don’t really know what the solution is, but I really hope someone finds one.</p>
<p>And maybe teaching is still in my future.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Grieving%20the%20career%20I%20never%20had">Reply by email</a></p>A big part of me always wanted to be a teacher. When thinking about work and careers, we’re often asked to focus on the things that we find easy but...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/724732025-11-21T10:56:14Z2025-11-21T10:56:15ZFinally — a photo worthy of my desktop<div class="trix-content">
<p>I hit a milestone in my photography journey recently — I took a photo that I liked so much, I have set it as my desktop wallpaper.</p>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/jlb9ybK4LRzqtqr4wcUCIqKsuwHzinMJN9ORp_3qBgY/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2446/plain/s3://pika-production/w57qtko2u44q1bs8gz9epnzcb29d" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/KM3de7OFcJW7kzkjy3E3QgsABbwb7oaQ0MvI4DS7Ib0/fn:IMG_2446/plain/s3://pika-production/w57qtko2u44q1bs8gz9epnzcb29d" alt="A calm lake reflecting a range of softly rounded mountains under a bright, partly cloudy sky. The shoreline is lined with dense green and autumn-tinged trees, and a few small boats sit still on the water. The mountains in the background rise gently with patches of shadow and sunlight, creating a peaceful, expansive landscape." src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/1yUHFFVRSNCIrQoP9UCwxLEPj1jjFBYy7Vt5H_agF2o/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2446/plain/s3://pika-production/w57qtko2u44q1bs8gz9epnzcb29d">
<figcaption class="attachment__caption" aria-hidden="true">
My favourite landscape photo — taken from Castle Ross in County Kerry, Ireland.
</figcaption>
</figure></div>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Finally%20%E2%80%94%20a%20photo%20worthy%20of%20my%20desktop">Reply by email</a></p>I hit a milestone in my photography journey recently — I took a photo that I liked so much, I have set it as my desktop wallpaper.tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/706832025-10-30T19:22:28Z2025-10-30T19:22:28ZI’m not sure I want to put my Apple Watch back on<div class="trix-content">
<p>Since upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 10, I’ve got a serious problem: contact dermatitis.</p>
<p>Never happened with my Watch Ultra. Nor with the Series 5 before it. But this one? I’ll spare you the grisly details; suffice to say, every so often I have to stop wearing it for a few days, just to let the skin breathe and heal.</p>
<p>My most recent break has been the longest yet: over a week. That’s when I started thinking — I can’t keep going like this without trying to fix it. I began hunting for protective film covers for the sensor array under the Watch. I was seconds from hitting “order”. Then I paused. And asked myself: do I <em>actually</em> want to go back to wearing a smartwatch?</p>
<hr>
<h3 id="ten-years-of-feature-creep">
<a href="#ten-years-of-feature-creep" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>Ten years of feature creep</h3>
<p>I’ve worn a smartwatch for nearly a decade.</p>
<p>It started with a Pebble, then a Pebble Time. Then Android watches. In 2019 I switched to iPhone and naturally got an Apple Watch. Since then I’ve had one continuously.</p>
<p>In 2013, the appeal of smartwatches was simple: notifications, music control, telling the time. Over time the watch evolved: I now leave my phone behind and can still get messages, calls, maps, podcasts, and even record workouts.</p>
<p>That’s convenient, except somewhere along the way, I stopped asking whether I <em>wanted</em> an internet-connected device strapped to my wrist <em>all the time</em>. I always thought I loved the cellular independence of the Apple Watch as a way to disconnect from my phone — but looking back, that might be the crux of the issue: escape becomes impossible when you’ve got the internet on your body.</p>
<hr>
<h3 id="apple-watch-or-apple-watch-">
<a href="#apple-watch-or-apple-watch-" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>Apple Watch ⌚️ or Apple Watch 👀</h3>
<p>The big selling point these days is health & fitness tracking. Wear it pretty much 24/7 and it learns everything about you: sleep, fitness, movement. It can tell you when your heart rate is elevated, whether you might have sleep apnea, and how fit you are.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing: it’s great at measuring, awful at guiding.</p>
<p>I’ve got six years of data in the Health app and I’ve learnt almost nothing useful from it. No sudden revelations; no helpful hints.</p>
<p>I’m healthy enough. Sleep’s usually fine. If it’s not, I already know why — travel, wine, stress. But I’m not training for an Ironman. I go to the gym, walk the dog, go for a run sometimes.</p>
<p>Without a coach interpreting the numbers, most of these stats are meaningless. If you’re broadly healthy, the watch becomes: “We’ll keep an eye on you” — which is okay… except that feedback without coaching just feels like judgement.</p>
<hr>
<h3 id="what-i-actually-miss">
<a href="#what-i-actually-miss" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>What I <em>actually</em> miss</h3>
<p>Going a week without the Watch has surfaced the few things I genuinely miss:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Checking the time quickly without fishing for my phone</p></li>
<li><p>The gentle “tap” alarm on the wrist instead of a shouting ringtone</p></li>
<li><p>Timers while cooking — using my phone for this is fiddly but it’s very easy with the Watch</p></li>
</ul>
<p>All fixable. A dumb watch, a £4 kitchen timer, and a good old alarm clock cover this ground. So I’m going back to basics for now.</p>
<hr>
<h3 id="conclusion">
<a href="#conclusion" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The watch isn’t evil. It’s clever. But clever doesn’t always mean <em>necessary</em>. For me right now — a generally healthy person, not chasing extremes — it might be doing less than it promises, and more than I signed up for.</p>
<p>So I’ll experiment with non-smart, low-tech alternatives. I’ll report back. If nothing else, my wrist will thank me — and maybe my brain too.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20I%E2%80%99m%20not%20sure%20I%20want%20to%20put%20my%20Apple%20Watch%20back%20on">Reply by email</a></p>Since upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 10, I’ve got a serious problem: contact dermatitis. Never happened with my Watch Ultra. Nor with the Series 5 before it. But this...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/704252025-10-24T09:44:34Z2025-10-24T09:48:08ZCan we let Tim Cook do his job?<div class="trix-content">
<p>Apple has once again <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2025/10/23/apple-on-short-list-of-donors-to-trumps-white-house-demolition-ballroom-project/">donated</a> to the Trump administration.</p>
<p>As a user and lover of Apple products, this sucks. I’m seeing lots of folks online becoming so outraged by this behaviour that they are swearing never to buy another Apple product again.</p>
<p>I’m not quite that upset about it. To be absolutely clear: the Trump administration is utterly deplorable in every way.<em> However</em>, it’s pretty clear what Apple’s motivation is for “bending the knee”.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, Apple is a publicly traded company. That means it has one primary purpose: <strong>to deliver value to its shareholders</strong>.<em> Everything</em> it does serves that goal in one way or another.</p>
<p>Being driven by shareholder value doesn’t exclude a company from being product- and customer-focused. In fact, Apple’s entire product strategy has been to make the best possible products in order to drive customer loyalty, which then leads to ongoing sales, which then leads to… increased shareholder value!</p>
<p>Other companies have different strategies for driving shareholder value, but that’s Apple’s. </p>
<p>In order to protect shareholder value, companies have to accept and work within their political and economic environment. The reality is that — in the current political climate — Apple’s shareholder value is directly tied to Donald Trump’s personal opinion of Tim Cook. If Trump decides one day that he doesn’t like Cook, he will impose tariffs on Apple’s supply chain such that the iPhone price could double. Then nobody would buy iPhones, and Apple’s stock price would tank. That is the world we live in.</p>
<p>So I actually imagine that it was a very easy decision for Apple’s leadership to decide to “cosy up” to Trump. Morally reprehensible as it is, Apple’s job is not to signal virtue at the expense of their shareholders. That’s a great way to get a CEO fired. His job is to make decisions which benefit the shareholders. Those decisions in turn benefit customers, because Americans get to keep buying iPhones for $800 instead of $2,000.</p>
<p>I really believe that Tim Cook is personally disgusted at the actions he is required to take. <strong>But this is his job</strong>. So let’s focus on the real problem: the fact that Donald Trump has abused his power in order to create an environment in which this kind of sucking up is necessary. This is not how a capitalist society should work.</p>
<p>If you want to boycott Apple, you are letting Donald Trump win. If we want Apple to continue making great products, the best thing we can do is keep buying them, and let Tim Cook do his job.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Can%20we%20let%20Tim%20Cook%20do%20his%20job%3F">Reply by email</a></p>Apple has once again donated to the Trump administration. As a user and lover of Apple products, this sucks. I’m seeing lots of folks online becoming so outraged by this...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/703592025-10-23T07:30:55Z2025-10-23T07:30:55ZRemoving analytics from my blog<div class="trix-content">
<p>I’ve had some lightweight analytics installed on my blog for the past few months. Not because I’m interested in optimising or growing (this is a hobby, not a business), but just because it kinda makes me feel good to know that people are reading my posts.</p>
<p>But a recent feature update from my blogging platform <a href="https://pika.page">Pika</a> made me think twice about whether I should have analytics on here.</p>
<p>The new feature was email newsletters (you can subscribe to mine below), and they have implemented the admin UI for this in a very interesting way.</p>
<div class="site-email-subscribe">
<div>
<small>
Subscribe to read future posts in your inbox (or grab the <a target="_blank" href="https://ptrbrynt.com/posts_feed">RSS feed</a>)
</small>
</div>
<div id="newsletter-form">
<form action="/newsletter/subscribers" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="kgkFuRppseGO2JeTUhYfeaaR1fcsNcanzZcuB1r17BpPKWedKXzj2LEmeEb_nILzwU7R-RRNZJ0JfYtekjBXDQ">
<div style="position: absolute; left: -9999px;" aria-hidden="true">
<input tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off" data-lpignore="true" data-1p-ignore="true" type="text" name="newsletter_subscriber[contact_method_7f3a]" id="newsletter_subscriber_contact_method_7f3a">
</div>
<div class="flexbox justify-center nowrap my-XS">
<input placeholder="Enter your email…" class="input input-S" required="required" data-lpignore="true" data-1p-ignore="true" type="email" name="newsletter_subscriber[email]" id="newsletter_subscriber_email">
<input type="submit" name="commit" value="Subscribe" class="button button-S button-no-full" data-disable-with="Subscribe">
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
<p>By default, they hide your subscribers list, and the UI makes you confirm whether or not you want to see it. This is because "we want you to write for yourself first!”</p>
<p>This is one of many ways in which the folks who make Pika<em> really</em> understand their target audience. We’re hobbyist bloggers, not professional publishers. I like having a blog because I enjoy writing, and I want to escape the incentive structures behind social media platforms. I should actively avoid knowing how many people are reading my posts!</p>
<p>So analytics is gone. I have no idea if you’re reading this (unless you <a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt">email me</a>).</p>
<p>This blog is for me.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Removing%20analytics%20from%20my%20blog">Reply by email</a></p>I’ve had some lightweight analytics installed on my blog for the past few months. Not because I’m interested in optimising or growing (this is a hobby, not a business), but...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/702372025-10-21T14:57:15Z2025-10-21T14:57:15ZMy terrible day<div class="trix-content">
<p>My terrible day started yesterday.</p>
<p>I had woken up, feeling excited about starting the week. I had so much to catch up on after taking some time off sick last week. I was going to be a productivity<em> machine</em>.</p>
<p>I packed my bag and marched into my wonderful co-working space. I had already ticked off so many "great day” boxes, and it was barely 9am!</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I ate breakfast, and it was healthy!</p></li>
<li><p>I didn’t look at Instagram<em> once</em></p></li>
<li><p>I decided to have a mindful walk into town — no music or podcasts</p></li>
<li><p>I treated myself to a nice coffee when I arrived</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Sure enough, my morning was great. I smashed out some tasks, and attended some useful meetings. I was so locked in that I almost missed lunchtime rolling in.</p>
<p>I went for a walk — via an excellent beef sandwich — to get some movement and fresh air before restarting for the afternoon. Everything was going great.</p>
<p>Then, I sat back at my computer and looked for the next item on my to-do list.</p>
<p>Blank.</p>
<p>I hadn’t planned anything else for the day. No worries, I thought — I’ll just check the team kanban board; there’s bound to be something I can work on there.</p>
<p>Nope.</p>
<p>Everything was blocked by someone else. A pending meeting or decision. Or another developer.</p>
<p>I could feel the productive momentum slipping from my grasp like sand. Being unsure of what to do next is my kryptonite. </p>
<p>I sat in a state of paralysis for over an hour, waiting for something interesting to happen at work, or on the internet, or in my life. Eventually, I decided that I was wasting my time, and that I should just give up and go home.</p>
<hr>
<p>Fast-forward to this morning. At 9am, I was still on the sofa. Because I knew that if I made it upstairs to my home office, I would just get myself stuck in the same paralysis, falling into a bottomless pit of boredom. And if I was going to be unproductive, I could at least do it productively by watching TV.</p>
<p>It’s now nearly 4pm, and I’ve achieved very little today. I did eventually become bored enough to get my shoes on and walk the dog. But I feel as though my day has been an utter waste.</p>
<hr>
<p>What I’m experiencing is probably burnout. The brain’s defence mechanism against overextension and overwork.</p>
<p>I’m absolutely sure that if I’d spent 10 minutes looking for something to work on, I would have found it. But that was not my destiny today. Truthfully, some days just get wasted. </p>
<p>I’ve become fairly used to this since I started working from home 5 years ago. My motivation ebbs when there is nobody around me to keep it topped up when my internal reserves run dry.</p>
<p>This is the reality of living with ADHD — my brain is on a rollercoaster, and sometimes it goes too fast and flies off the rails for a while. Sometimes it feels like it’s going alarmingly quickly, and it’s almost impossible to imagine it slowing down. And sometimes it feels like it’s crawling uphill, but it’s just building momentum for an upcoming burst of speed.</p>
<p>Today is a slow day. In the moment, I tell myself I’m an utter failure. But the bigger picture shows clear progress — albeit extremely unsteady and inconsistent.</p>
<p>Today was terrible. That’s okay.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20My%20terrible%20day">Reply by email</a></p>My terrible day started yesterday. I had woken up, feeling excited about starting the week. I had so much to catch up on after taking some time off sick last...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/699722025-10-17T09:05:53Z2025-10-17T09:09:46ZI had to stop watching The Big Bang Theory<div class="trix-content">
<p>When I was growing up,<em> The Big Bang Theory</em> seemed like a pretty cool show. As a member of the “nerd” group at school, I was happy to finally seem some characters to whom I could relate. </p>
<p>That said, I actually never saw the end. Before the last 2 or 3 seasons, I moved away to university. My habits changed, my access to TV disappeared, and I never got around to finishing the show.</p>
<p>At the time this didn’t bother me much, but I recently saw it recommended to me on Netflix and thought, “Okay, maybe it’s time to finish this.”</p>
<p>So I started watching from the beginning. But I immediately started to struggle.</p>
<hr>
<p>In my opinion, <em>TBBT</em> has aged more poorly than<em> Friends</em>. And<em> Friends</em> didn’t age particularly well.</p>
<p>In my most recent watch-through, I realised that so much of the humour in<em> TBBT</em> is centred around:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>The neurodivergent traits of the male characters, particularly Sheldon</p></li>
<li><p>Raj’s selective mutism</p></li>
<li><p>Sheldon’s asexuality</p></li>
<li><p>Penny’s apparent promiscuity</p></li>
<li><p>Penny’s level of academic achievement in contrast with the male characters</p></li>
<li><p>Mrs Wolowitz’s weight</p></li>
<li><p>Raj’s Indian heritage and culture</p></li>
<li><p>Howard’s Jewish heritage and culture</p></li>
<li><p>Raj’s “metro” personality traits</p></li>
<li><p>Howard and Raj’s apparently “homosexual” relationship</p></li>
</ul>
<p>In the<em> first episode</em>, there is a running joke about the “200 pound transvestite with a skin condition” who previously occupied Penny’s apartment.</p>
<p>I have come to realise that almost every single joke in this show is poking some type of fun at a stereotype. In many cases, the fun is being poked at a marginalised group by engaging in sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, body-shaming, and other forms of discrimination.</p>
<p>In some cases, the discrimination <em>is</em> the joke (e.g. Raj does sometimes call out the racism in the jokes made about him). But these are few and far between; most of the time, the jokes are plain discrimination.</p>
<p>It’s pretty telling that a reviewer spotted this vibe after seeing the pilot episode. In TV Club, Scott Tobias <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171203064613/https://tv.avclub.com/the-big-bang-theory-the-big-bang-theory-1798203099">wrote</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Really bad television shows tend to pander to the mean: In affirming the superiority of Joe and Jane Average, they mock both the egregiously stupid (e.g. Kellie Pickler, Jay Leno’s man-on-the-street bozos, and other adults not smarter than a fifth grader) and the hyper-intelligent, who are struck down for the arrogant, unpardonable sin of… um… knowing stuff. The new CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory is a broad example of this principle—really broad, like Amazon basin broad. It’s hard to believe that anyone’s even making a three-camera sitcom this mothballed; only an offhand mention of the word “blog” suggests that it takes place in the present-day.</p></blockquote>
<p>I really am not usually the type of person who would stop watching a TV show based on language which could be seen as a product of it’s time. Do I cringe at old episodes of<em> Doctor Who</em>? Absolutely. But I still glean enjoyment from old movies and TV shows.</p>
<p>But I think the biggest disappointment with<em> TBBT</em> is that, as a show which first aired in 2007 and ran all the way to 2019, it should have known better. I made it to Season 7 before I decided I could no longer look past these glaring issues; it’s simply unwatchable in 2025.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20I%20had%20to%20stop%20watching%20The%20Big%20Bang%20Theory">Reply by email</a></p>When I was growing up, The Big Bang Theory seemed like a pretty cool show. As a member of the “nerd” group at school, I was happy to finally seem some...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/679792025-09-22T10:06:12Z2025-09-22T10:06:12ZYou should turn off read receipts<div class="trix-content">
<p>I asked myself recently: how do read receipts in messaging apps actually serve me?</p>
<p>The answer is that they don’t. The only function they seem to serve is making me anxious and guilty. I avoid opening messages because I know I’ll then be expected to reply. So I leave messages unread — often without knowing the full contents — and ruminate over what the message might say beyond the preview.</p>
<p>On the other hand, when I send a message I find myself constantly checking to see if the recipient has read it. If they have, but don’t reply, I spiral into overthinking why they might not want to respond.</p>
<p>The big realisation was this: I genuinely don’t understand the functional purpose of read receipts. They’re just another tool tech companies use to keep us engaged, at the expense of our mental health.</p>
<p>So I turned them off.</p>
<h2 id="what-is-the-impact-of-read-receipts">
<a href="#what-is-the-impact-of-read-receipts" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>
What is the impact of read receipts?</h2>
<p>I wanted to know if my experience was unique, so I looked at the research. A number of studies show that users almost universally dislike features like this.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://tidsskrift.dk/mef-journal/article/view/28781">2017 study</a> by James Linden and Teis Rasmussen linked read receipts to:</p>
<blockquote><p>…an array of behaviours and emotional effects including avoidance strategies, increased app checking and feelings of anxiety as well as strong negative attitudes to the feature.</p></blockquote>
<p>A <a href="https://personales.upv.es/thinkmind/dl/conferences/achi/achi_2018/achi_2018_9_10_20029.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com">2018 study</a> (Kato et al.) found that “negative emotions” arise significantly faster when a sender knows the recipient has read the message. In other words, the little blue tick makes us much more impatient.</p>
<p>In general, the research suggests that switching off read receipts — as well as other “status/awareness” features like typing indicators — reduces stress and anxiety, and improves well-being.</p>
<h2 id="who-should-turn-off-read-receipts">
<a href="#who-should-turn-off-read-receipts" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>
Who should turn off read receipts?</h2>
<p>In short: everyone. There are very few situations where they provide any meaningful benefit to users.</p>
<p>If you want to go further, consider switching off other “presence” signals like typing indicators and “last seen” statuses. Essentially, anything that makes you feel watched by the people on the other end of the chat.</p>
<h2 id="what-apps-do-i-need-to-worry-about">
<a href="#what-apps-do-i-need-to-worry-about" class="anchor" title="Link to this heading"></a>
What apps do I need to worry about?</h2>
<p>I was relieved to find that every app I use lets me switch off read receipts. These include WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger.</p>
<p>WhatsApp and Messenger also allow you to disable their “Active Status” features, which I’ve done as well.</p>
<p>So far I haven’t seen any downside. None of my friends or family seem to have noticed or cared — and I feel far better about my relationship with messaging apps.</p>
<p><strong>Switching off read receipts is a no-brainer. Life’s too short to be haunted by blue ticks.</strong></p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20You%20should%20turn%20off%20read%20receipts">Reply by email</a></p>I asked myself recently: how do read receipts in messaging apps actually serve me? The answer is that they don’t. The only function they seem to serve is making me...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/664902025-09-02T08:16:56Z2025-09-02T08:16:56ZLet’s all raise a glass to the 11-inch MacBook Air<div class="trix-content">
<p>As <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/01/end-of-an-era-as-the-last-11-inch-macbook-air-is-now-officially-obsolete/">9to5Mac reported</a>, the 11-inch MacBook Air is officially an obsolete product.</p>
<p>My very first Mac was an 11-inch MacBook Air, which I bought for just £749 (imagine!) while I was at university. It was my gateway into the Apple ecosystem, and the best laptop I’d ever owned.</p>
<p>I remember with fondness the many hours I spent in coffee shops, writing my dissertation and completing coursework on my 11-inch MacBook Air.</p>
<p>The screen was terrible, the performance could be frustrating, and it did get hot every once in a while. But the tiny size and unbelievably light weight meant that I took this thing absolutely everywhere. It felt magical to be able to have a real computer in this minuscule package.</p>
<p>Ultimately I ended up accidentally spilling tea on it, and the repair was deemed uneconomical; in other words, the parts and labour would have cost more than the laptop was worth. I was really very sad about it.</p>
<p>And today I’m reminded of my relationship with this tiny computer. It could be frustrating, but it was useful and beautiful.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Let%E2%80%99s%20all%20raise%20a%20glass%20to%20the%2011-inch%20MacBook%20Air">Reply by email</a></p>As 9to5Mac reported, the 11-inch MacBook Air is officially an obsolete product. My very first Mac was an 11-inch MacBook Air, which I bought for just £749 (imagine!) while I...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/662042025-08-26T14:17:54Z2025-08-26T14:17:54ZSpotify is adding DMs<div class="trix-content">
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/765771/spotify-messages-dms-audio-sharing-feature">Spotify is adding DMs</a>.</p>
<p>In other news, Apple Music continues to be an excellent service, and invests in features which improve the experience of listening to music, including Lossless, Dolby Atmos (which is hit and miss but when it’s good it’s great) and SharePlay.</p>
<p>I jumped ship on Spotify years ago — I really think we just have different ideas about what listening to music is supposed to look like. To me, music isn’t “content”, or fodder for Spotify to feed into their algorithm; it’s deeply personal, fuels real human connection, and encourages incredible creativity. It stands up on its own, and doesn’t need a recommendation engine (and yes, I’ve turned off Listening History on Apple Music for this reason).</p>
<p>The music you listen to really shapes your life and your character. But it won’t if you just do what a megacorp tells you to do. Make your own choices, learn about your tastes, and listen outside the box.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Spotify%20is%20adding%20DMs">Reply by email</a></p>Spotify is adding DMs. In other news, Apple Music continues to be an excellent service, and invests in features which improve the experience of listening to music, including Lossless, Dolby...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/642432025-07-28T14:48:20Z2025-08-01T11:03:24ZA day at the beach<div class="trix-content">
<p>We had an absolutely lovely family day out at Sandsend Beach this weekend. We walked on the beach for a couple of hours, and had lunch at the truly excellent Fish Cottage — I had a rack of tacos.</p>
<div class="attachment-gallery attachment-gallery--8">
<figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="960" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/0FXZqocfwfH7T5IdgJYxbdbhbSN58hE_QPTXVB5wkJQ/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_0851/plain/s3://pika-production/on1gtl2zl4pfxq74d6frjw0qvsmi" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/jGSlNzyMeD-mLh2RMmOjDbADMIYcd9HkTJZLwFzhxM0/fn:IMG_0851/plain/s3://pika-production/on1gtl2zl4pfxq74d6frjw0qvsmi" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/zgJgiqjmRoCY_6XcOiOJxZJB1kVfxPzk1gIOpVtmuv8/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_0851/plain/s3://pika-production/on1gtl2zl4pfxq74d6frjw0qvsmi">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/CfTiHb-C3OnTpacnQUiqmUq5hqdgiURhYWd4UhQ-Hs8/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_1976/plain/s3://pika-production/gahq8ote63yg8rs1kq9yxv5ak7bp" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/s8g5hGcct5Oh-kERpV6GT7pz3rxqhd2gYJGddoJWpNw/fn:IMG_1976/plain/s3://pika-production/gahq8ote63yg8rs1kq9yxv5ak7bp" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/tb4foozQMTyeHjactHx6uFT9GDYxLklsgWWK8tDr8cA/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_1976/plain/s3://pika-production/gahq8ote63yg8rs1kq9yxv5ak7bp">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/0DylkeGbduTMi12Hqu3VqTPKen3laSGC9pgKe8bTdik/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_1984/plain/s3://pika-production/idewki97n0c9y4w5d0emyzpixtjy" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/K-MLYYToSjQ9sQpMB86eT6nTPoz3O2LYPCdZjEGn9k0/fn:IMG_1984/plain/s3://pika-production/idewki97n0c9y4w5d0emyzpixtjy" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/uDsbxr--oBnsDGlKShp4voXDL62UyuBYZOq3DDfrYaY/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_1984/plain/s3://pika-production/idewki97n0c9y4w5d0emyzpixtjy">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/aHJVuzYqwzlY4tU7XWZhlBd5qb9o7S5J6KPWaH4Zftw/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2044/plain/s3://pika-production/16j85p7r14m5jpgvud33vzqrtywt" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/d7KVnOZnDhhUm3EKA4TpiXi5sH-5gUIj2zmY6XtImG4/fn:IMG_2044/plain/s3://pika-production/16j85p7r14m5jpgvud33vzqrtywt" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/XjsZyU9Nlhx8bFl18wZzU6NaKhqvHDpHH-XUs7HPXGg/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2044/plain/s3://pika-production/16j85p7r14m5jpgvud33vzqrtywt">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/r_lCT6fiFoDtuc-krlW7NJGLD0Fy1mW5G_uogJxTur8/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2156/plain/s3://pika-production/pi0s1j12xj7s220gnlbek2zekk4k" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/06dsFCJ8nIdJ6ZGs9Mw9wDgtBocfy8W24clochWo5aM/fn:IMG_2156/plain/s3://pika-production/pi0s1j12xj7s220gnlbek2zekk4k" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/TnpTIid2z5gV9C1g2jONsBCs3iA3nVJFBLxqG1pdFzo/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2156/plain/s3://pika-production/pi0s1j12xj7s220gnlbek2zekk4k">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/G8ZAfSIVy5AwZoQj6WWTzZwckRY8eYohd4UBTWB18aE/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2198/plain/s3://pika-production/x5ukhhc7ri1emg3pjhipa1c8ozgs" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/y1t_1YbVKFZ2Hcv13whXu0PUMaW3ZSZBB_C7sRQsWM4/fn:IMG_2198/plain/s3://pika-production/x5ukhhc7ri1emg3pjhipa1c8ozgs" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/4TnQK9NAIqp7lbmAH3T1EvvYBSUn7L27qhAOE4qmpsI/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2198/plain/s3://pika-production/x5ukhhc7ri1emg3pjhipa1c8ozgs">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/yPM63s1eRHZcmXVOexW40l18P_G9Qmh6fUqCRDW_Zgk/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2215/plain/s3://pika-production/kwbwa01jm4anawrc12e86m3ea8vg" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/KbtZsScDdVy7zt8u3CaE9TkPQz063XpIjeZq9sDlyZM/fn:IMG_2215/plain/s3://pika-production/kwbwa01jm4anawrc12e86m3ea8vg" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/wYf2KOieRP6mFQm_SLuVFczLC1O_rxDzacz6iqRJgxU/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2215/plain/s3://pika-production/kwbwa01jm4anawrc12e86m3ea8vg">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="854" width="1280" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/k5_1P9mNmDN0-rToJ7nCLXzpJqhAmCOzj_xWPDnDGOs/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2299/plain/s3://pika-production/l097qi2hsls2ntk6kvn2zdultfmv" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/JJEdCshODi2Sn5lVH3eZwP7pZ0tC-RWyBpAT40p3A0g/fn:IMG_2299/plain/s3://pika-production/l097qi2hsls2ntk6kvn2zdultfmv" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/SUmTpijdnr8tRFjyQKr7kPIufvJBEAB2BIF5sH_AoNI/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2299/plain/s3://pika-production/l097qi2hsls2ntk6kvn2zdultfmv">
</figure>
</div>
<figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="1280" width="854" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/RQH94dzJ3GpaamtwyAEETOByeTta_wtTbAdvNr4xA5U/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2099/plain/s3://pika-production/hy7qwale0qg7ahy867xh48qyk60a" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/bglTPBpl3gLtaYi578DIvDKdMSU8B0a241aM3O0KmxI/fn:IMG_2099/plain/s3://pika-production/hy7qwale0qg7ahy867xh48qyk60a" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/7hQ1bgEv-sBPTYRuRLAnZVRQCi87i1XbYezVL6edypA/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2099/plain/s3://pika-production/hy7qwale0qg7ahy867xh48qyk60a">
</figure>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20A%20day%20at%20the%20beach">Reply by email</a></p>We had an absolutely lovely family day out at Sandsend Beach this weekend. We walked on the beach for a couple of hours, and had lunch at the truly excellent...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/609692025-06-06T10:47:26Z2025-06-06T10:47:26ZDate pickers are the worst<div class="trix-content">
<p>I hate date pickers.</p>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--png">
<img height="1250" width="1004" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/snsDbIuewyO63xwtzqxlAT0Tt9X-DO6XzxDzyLH8NrY/s:3840:3840/fn:image/plain/s3://pika-production/dy3ewsad4f6ipd0m4ifhpejs49ll" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/oiOb0DaGSw1hN731H28RewZX68lhnmbBtdh3Rbsonr0/fn:image/plain/s3://pika-production/dy3ewsad4f6ipd0m4ifhpejs49ll" alt="Material Design date picker" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/B8MWkRqw4g_JJqu67ZqW9-viXpEaQWTIzfHqMSBoC_I/s:1800:1400/fn:image/plain/s3://pika-production/dy3ewsad4f6ipd0m4ifhpejs49ll">
<figcaption class="attachment__caption" aria-hidden="true">
A date picker from Google’s Material Design system
</figcaption>
</figure></div>
<p></p>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--png">
<img height="670" width="748" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/LxGxvq1DmaCjxeAtwQ9cWIIroi_UNBlbz2StGV81-OQ/s:3840:3840/fn:image/plain/s3://pika-production/9tmzsevvly0miyji90rogfl75c97" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/vOkskzWQW0eK2t17kUORo-gBcwU0rn8iyMDhnsXqoHE/fn:image/plain/s3://pika-production/9tmzsevvly0miyji90rogfl75c97" alt="iOS-style date picker" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/AQbg6FjlDiFobGB1tsCOfwAJq3C9WTCKi0DcbUj2Vdw/s:1800:1400/fn:image/plain/s3://pika-production/9tmzsevvly0miyji90rogfl75c97">
<figcaption class="attachment__caption" aria-hidden="true">
A date picker from Apple’s iOS design system
</figcaption>
</figure></div>
<p></p>
<p>Why can’t we just tell the users what format we want, and let them type the date in? Maybe let them use a picker if they really want? It is<em> so much faster</em> to type a date, particularly one that’s very far away like a date of birth.</p>
<p>Sure, sometimes I need to see the calendar in order to know what date I need to pick (like setting a deadline for a task), but in those cases we can just let the user push a button to see the picker.</p>
<p>But we should never, ever, make a picker the<em> only</em> choice for date entry. Just let me type.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Date%20pickers%20are%20the%20worst">Reply by email</a></p>I hate date pickers. Why can’t we just tell the users what format we want, and let them type the date in? Maybe let them use a picker if they...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/592792025-05-08T16:29:38Z2025-05-08T16:30:48ZI got married!<div class="trix-content">
<p>This is just a short post to record that 23rd April 2025 was the most special and magical day of my life. I am lucky enough to be the husband of the most amazing person I know. Here are some photos from the wonderful <a href="https://instagram.com/chrismilnerphotography">Chris Milner</a>.</p>
<div class="attachment-gallery">
<figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="1536" width="2304" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/zuTixNNY_Ft0m1qsT-4EC8Wk6HLXSKXUB7VABohK0wc/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2066/plain/s3://pika-production/5g0bvqho9lfc776nv5x81n6zg9w3" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/dfiJPcJnPDnfvi7FyFbEJScGoRTLoS6U4QWLK7vDC94/fn:IMG_2066/plain/s3://pika-production/5g0bvqho9lfc776nv5x81n6zg9w3" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/dTGmGaGYdYtLJK-JHod816koNB8g1fo-hCmOh7cqzM4/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2066/plain/s3://pika-production/5g0bvqho9lfc776nv5x81n6zg9w3">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="1536" width="2304" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/aGNdORT3p4VET9Z9ulpsaUjsRrtg0jpBqs79ldgoMLA/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2067/plain/s3://pika-production/rkaewgjirpt9hr1q1f0dm3dbyukf" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/lZC6UQGdwUReYVmIpjw21P-aHTcoqeeWWZpdN1S7zOk/fn:IMG_2067/plain/s3://pika-production/rkaewgjirpt9hr1q1f0dm3dbyukf" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/apVgXAz47qlzN1249Ruy7_0RWkMGj2dDbKBfwTptpH8/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2067/plain/s3://pika-production/rkaewgjirpt9hr1q1f0dm3dbyukf">
</figure><p></p>
<figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="2304" width="1536" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/J9CLMABh6ApEO0lPVhJZio3WNtS2jKcJEI4wXrKgGgc/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2080/plain/s3://pika-production/bbc32xq5xy3x64wz78i50x7pvn0s" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/lXU7HHtcN0NHqE-aSZ_gLuHBHj91_MN5zMirAzYtzB0/fn:IMG_2080/plain/s3://pika-production/bbc32xq5xy3x64wz78i50x7pvn0s" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/w4sM6dRmQ1u8WSjyE_SeHXyBKiMV2nX9Ldyd_92l990/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2080/plain/s3://pika-production/bbc32xq5xy3x64wz78i50x7pvn0s">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="2304" width="1536" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/AYomsLRcu--kS_zVLZ3PMQlVpX1YEVnHa4dVG5NTNcY/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2079/plain/s3://pika-production/z5q5p2n6xis3fmnlge8lrfs5q3ua" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/MvCS-D0hwy_GcEfHo3-XtAsg1Iz9XqSGxlfMJr7l37U/fn:IMG_2079/plain/s3://pika-production/z5q5p2n6xis3fmnlge8lrfs5q3ua" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/NWHVBoy2XB9btfey4G9HS3geM7dZN1b8xEbMOwyjzoY/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2079/plain/s3://pika-production/z5q5p2n6xis3fmnlge8lrfs5q3ua">
</figure><p></p>
<figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="1536" width="2304" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/ty55x89gdrW0hv0XVLhxZ2cCUyfLT6wUAaJ4licUNKI/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2073/plain/s3://pika-production/m1vj9bnwuq6elwy2ojzty49kmvud" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/9ZdGDYGPKJe7kuayDoNhd7Rrltcit-CAdF9OqEFM7-M/fn:IMG_2073/plain/s3://pika-production/m1vj9bnwuq6elwy2ojzty49kmvud" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/b_YPIseg5Y0b3ebsErCLoZXf-2WqjTTMJOcJQXaMIRk/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2073/plain/s3://pika-production/m1vj9bnwuq6elwy2ojzty49kmvud">
</figure><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpeg">
<img height="1536" width="2304" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/bDKMdbZQqcg42yM-xuBgE1BrAu5s3Lk8PIBKCqhH-5Y/s:3840:3840/fn:IMG_2116/plain/s3://pika-production/u87l8btskp80ge4s8acx0xf0ia6i" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/WfuVCCLbmNSj5hCpaSr6PtjMTJqkFv0wHPaDQDRnzHk/fn:IMG_2116/plain/s3://pika-production/u87l8btskp80ge4s8acx0xf0ia6i" alt="" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/bYmH97YeIE1u84rxK77WGBXEdyFIF6X0LNg94G80Lxk/s:1800:1400/fn:IMG_2116/plain/s3://pika-production/u87l8btskp80ge4s8acx0xf0ia6i">
</figure>
</div>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20I%20got%20married%21">Reply by email</a></p>This is just a short post to record that 23rd April 2025 was the most special and magical day of my life. I am lucky enough to be the husband...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/519912025-02-08T20:16:05Z2025-02-08T20:16:05ZEndel is magic<div class="trix-content">
<p>A short post about a magical app called <a href="https://endel.io/">Endel</a>.</p>
<p>If you struggle with concentration, boredom, procrastination, or anxiety, you should try Endel. It seems to scratch an itch in my ADHD brain and really helps my executive function.</p>
<p>In particular, I love the Autoplay function which syncs with my circadian rhythm, and also takes into account movement data from my Apple Watch, to provide a soundtrack to match my energy levels throughout the day.</p>
<p>Give it a shot - I love it.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Endel%20is%20magic">Reply by email</a></p>A short post about a magical app called Endel. If you struggle with concentration, boredom, procrastination, or anxiety, you should try Endel. It seems to scratch an itch in my...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/236962025-01-26T16:29:33Z2025-01-26T16:32:23ZI’ve been making espresso wrong for 5 years<div class="trix-content">
<p>Herein lies a very nerdy coffee-related confession.</p>
<p>5 years ago, I bought a Sage/Breville Barista Express. It was a lockdown present to myself having become obsessed with making better coffee by the wonderful <a href="https://www.jameshoffmann.co.uk/">James Hoffmann</a>.</p>
<p>The Barista Express is by no means an “endgame” coffee setup (although it is very lovely), but at the time I needed to save space. A major advantage here is that it comes with a built-in grinder, meaning I only need to have one appliance on my countertop rather than two.</p>
<p>I’ve since spent the last 5 years honing my espresso making workflow. Something I realised very early on was that really smart coffee people seem to unanimously prefer “single-dose” grinder workflows, meaning you only weigh out the exact amount of beans you need, rather than storing all your beans in the hopper of the grinder.</p>
<p>The Barista Express is designed for the latter workflow. Its hopper has space for around a 250g bag’s worth of unground beans, meaning the intention is for you to empty out a bunch of beans and then use the built-in grind timer function to produce roughly repeatable doses of ground coffee for each brew.</p>
<p>But I didn’t want to use it that way. I wanted to weigh the beans going into the machine. And this was my mistake.</p>
<p>See, what I’ve realised this morning is that the Barista Express has a weird design quirk. If you don’t have much coffee in the hopper, it will exhibit “popcorning” behaviour, whereby beans (or chunks of partially-ground beans) bounce out of the grinding mechanism and find themselves lost in the edges of the hopper/grinder area. This means that, if you use the single-dose technique, you are risking losing a pretty sizeable chunk of your dose to popcorning. And I had no idea this was happening.</p>
<p>I was tipped off today while doing a deep-clean of my machine. I opened up the grinder and vacuumed out the beans that had bounced out. I finished the cleaning process and started making coffee again. But something wasn’t right. Suddenly my shots were pulling through much faster. So I opened up the grinder again and realised that it had already filled up with popcorned beans after just 2 shots of espresso.</p>
<p>Essentially, the problem is that I was putting the right amount of coffee in, but not necessarily getting the same coffee out.</p>
<p>This made me realise that using the Barista Express for single-dose grinding is actually hurting my coffee, not helping it. So my new technique involves using the machine as designed: filling the hopper, and measuring the coffee coming<em> out</em> of the grinder rather than the coffee going in.</p>
<p>The lesson: don’t try and outsmart your equipment. Work with it the way it was intended.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20I%E2%80%99ve%20been%20making%20espresso%20wrong%20for%205%20years">Reply by email</a></p>Herein lies a very nerdy coffee-related confession. 5 years ago, I bought a Sage/Breville Barista Express. It was a lockdown present to myself having become obsessed with making better coffee...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/224662025-01-23T12:48:49Z2025-01-23T12:48:49ZWhat’s it like to have ADHD?<div class="trix-content">
<p>I recently started reading a book called<em> </em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203093731-the-adhd-advantage"><em>The ADHD Advantage</em></a> by Dr Anders Hansen. I’ve not finished it yet, but the first chapter does include an extremely helpful description of what ADHD is like.</p>
<p>Hansen explains that ADHD brains have fewer, less effective dopamine receptors than neurotypical brains, so ADHDers find the world around the much more boring than others.</p>
<p>This explains an awful lot of ADHD behaviours. In particular, it has helped me to understand why I am so distracted and impulsive: my brain is constantly bored and is desperately searching for quick hits of dopamine.</p>
<p>It also explains hyperfocus: if my brain finds what it deems to be an endless source of dopamine - like a video game, a challenging piece of work, or something new and interesting to learn - it is highly motivated to keep doing that thing in order to avoid the boredom that would result from stopping.</p>
<p>It’s the most helpful “root cause” explanation of ADHD I’ve heard so far, and certainly helps me to understand how I can control my attention. ADHDers can help ourselves by making the world less boring, using sound or other “background stimulation” to keep our brains occupied.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20What%E2%80%99s%20it%20like%20to%20have%20ADHD%3F">Reply by email</a></p>I recently started reading a book called The ADHD Advantage by Dr Anders Hansen. I’ve not finished it yet, but the first chapter does include an extremely helpful description of what...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/217072025-01-13T11:01:11Z2025-01-13T11:04:03ZWhy do we work?<div class="trix-content">
<p><em>This post is part of a series called</em> <a href="https://ptrbrynt.com/tag/I-Finished-A-Book">I Finished A Book</a><em>, in which I write about a book I’ve read recently. I don’t finish every book I start, so if I do manage to get to the end, that means I must have really liked it.</em></p>
<p>For most people, work sucks. It always has, since the dawn of time, and it likely always will.</p>
<p>But recently, influencers on the internet have been peddling the idea that enjoyable and meaningful work is within everyone’s grasp, if we only knew how to find it and were willing to take the necessary risks.</p>
<p>The problem with that idea is that it’s snake oil. Most of us will spend our careers on pursuits which will seem futile, boring, and pointless to everyone around us.</p>
<p>The internet would have us treat this as some kind of moral failure. If you find your job boring or unfulfilling, it must be<em> your</em> fault. But this is nonsense.</p>
<p>Nothing has shown this more plainly to me than Alain de Botton’s<em> The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work</em>, in which he logs his experiences following a number of people doing their work. He spends time with manufacturers, artists, accountants, and product marketers. The book doesn’t offer an explicit conclustion, but I certainly took away an important insight: most work rarely matters to more than a very small number of people.</p>
<h2>The invisible work of others</h2>
<p>One chapter explores the aviation industry, through the lens of an aviation trade show. It exposes the inner workings of the unfathomably huge industry which makes planes.</p>
<p>It’s clear that almost all of this work goes totally unnoticed by passengers. Have you ever thought about all the sales pitches, negotiations, entertainment and ass-kissing that leads to a particular upholstery being applied to your seat? Or the fierce bidding war to decide which company gets to fit the plastic window casing on your Boeing 747? It would be totally understandable if you hadn’t.</p>
<p>Another chapter explores the inner workings of an accounting firm. An entire industry is built upon crunching numbers in business accounts, but this work never makes its way into anyone’s final product. Consumers are blissfully unaware of the office politics, late nights, procrastination, stress, and inordinate international travel which lie behind the incredibly complex tax affairs of the company which manufactures the biscuits they’re eating.</p>
<p>But people aren’t leaving accountancy in droves, and engineering firms aren’t on the brink of collapse due to lack of recruitment opportunities. So there must be something other than external validation driving people to continue working in these industries.</p>
<h2>What can we learn?</h2>
<p>This book gave me a helpful nudge for me to reset my expectations and shift my perspective. We are all told to search for work which has impact and meaning, but the reality is that all work is, on many levels, uninteresting to everyone else on the planet.</p>
<p>So instead of looking for extrinsic motivation, we need to learn to appreciate the very act of doing the work. Accountants might enter that career based on an obsession with spreadsheets. Software developers (like me) end up writing code because they just love understanding how computers work, and hacking them into doing their bidding. Administrators may love the feeling of creating order from chaos. Salespeople might enjoy the thrill of the chase.</p>
<p>I’ve struggled recently to feel motivated at work, and my instinct is to blame this on a missing sense of purpose or impact. But I’m realising that this sense of purpose or impact may never come from outside; I must start to look back at why I wanted to be a software developer in the first place.</p>
<p>Looking for external validation for the work we do is futile; you will simply find yourself feeling under-appreciated, misunderstood, or simply unnoticed. Society tells us to find work that matters to others, but this book reminds us to focus on finding joy in the work itself.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Why%20do%20we%20work%3F">Reply by email</a></p>This post is part of a series called I Finished A Book, in which I write about a book I’ve read recently. I don’t finish every book I start, so...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/210892024-12-29T12:47:04Z2024-12-29T12:47:41Z7 ways to use a notebook, inspired by history<div class="trix-content">
<p><em>This post is the first in a series called</em> <a href="https://ptrbrynt.com/tag/I-Finished-A-Book">I Finished A Book</a><em>, in which I write about a book I’ve read recently. I don’t finish every book I start, so if I do manage to get to the end, that means I must have really liked it.</em></p>
<p>I am a bit obsessed with notebooks. Every time I see them for sale in a shop, it takes several ounces of my willpower to stop myself from buying a new one. I buy them much faster than I finish them.</p>
<p>This means I have a pile of blank and barely-used notebooks sitting in my office, and I’m constantly trying to find things to write in them. I recently read<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Notebook/J8arEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&kptab=getbook"><strong>The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper</strong></a> by Roland Allen, which gave me some really interesting and unusual ideas.</p>
<h2>1.<em> Zibaldone</em>
</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="3456" width="4608" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/ck9wLfY51q6xwmdttQmsYXt7d-0hlnE4WCtswYOxS6w/s:3840:3840/fn:mark-tegethoff-l-GmdF7Md0o-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/ci36hzmm0xcaw3r64dxjix2l5i4g" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/unDONUnEuX25MiufpHcEyygQZ7r4VZbqFakAUyKQjec/fn:mark-tegethoff-l-GmdF7Md0o-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/ci36hzmm0xcaw3r64dxjix2l5i4g" alt="An image with filename: mark-tegethoff-l-GmdF7Md0o-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/aatgkjwtjxtOrkoJKlzIIIpwNzw1e9LXPsu1WVULZtg/s:1800:1400/fn:mark-tegethoff-l-GmdF7Md0o-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/ci36hzmm0xcaw3r64dxjix2l5i4g">
</figure></div>
<p>The term<em> zibaldone</em> (plural <em>zibaldoni</em>)<em> </em>first appeared in the middle of the 14th Century in Florence, Italy, but we’re not sure what the word originally meant. Someone records it as meaning “a salad of many herbs”, but it soon came into popular use to describe a particular use for a notebook.</p>
<p>A<em> zibalidone</em> is essentially a miscellany or personal anthology. It was used as a way of collecting all kinds of information, including recipes, lists, and quotations. </p>
<blockquote><p>What did people write in their<em> zibaldoni</em>? In a word: everything. Poems in Latin, poems in Tuscan, prayers, excerpts from books, songs, recipes, lists, you name it.</p></blockquote>
<p>Essentially, it’s about collecting stuff you think you might find useful. Crucially, it doesn’t have to be neat or well-presented. I’ve started a<em> zibaldone</em> in a blank, unruled pocket notebook. So far it’s just extracts from books; the first page is a list of tactics I want to try from Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky’s <em>Make Time</em>.</p>
<p>It might sound like a pain to handwrite this stuff. Why can’t we just save links or photos or paste things into notes apps? Well, as many of us know, there are lots of cognitive benefits to writing by hand. Slowing down the process encourages your brain to actually process the information you’re writing, leading to increased understanding and better memory. Just taking a picture of a page in a book involves zero cognition, so you’re less likely to actually understand the thing you’re trying to save.</p>
<h2>2. Common-placing</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery">
<figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="" width="" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/71OcQ9i_OjsgM5Xr4HtUNCwUF0hY3phft25CT-XoKYA/s:3840:3840/fn:debby-hudson-asviIGR3CPE-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/exehk36axej7af6fqeh40syp090b" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/YpZkAW67CJoSrMYy9SWIZc4eJkTZ3f0BBB5Qdb3vVuc/fn:debby-hudson-asviIGR3CPE-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/exehk36axej7af6fqeh40syp090b" alt="An image with filename: debby-hudson-asviIGR3CPE-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/xrypbwORXfWmfizr004TTxEPf9gBG0l1J3FDLYuKErw/s:1800:1400/fn:debby-hudson-asviIGR3CPE-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/exehk36axej7af6fqeh40syp090b">
</figure><p>A common-place book feels a bit like a direct descendant of a<em> zibaldone</em>. This is a practice that was very popular among academics and scholars, starting with Erasmus of Rotterdam around 1512. It fell out of favour gradually, but common-placing is still used by certain contemporary writers.</p>
</div>
<p>A common-place book is essentially a place in which to collect quotes for later use in your own work. This is where it differs from a<em> zibaldone</em>, which is intended as a personal reference.</p>
<p>As a result of this more academic or scholarly purpose, common-place books tend to be more formal, with entries organised in indexed sections according to topics or themes.</p>
<p>If you enjoy writing in any form, a common-place book might be a useful thing to keep around. Whenever you read something you might want to include or refer to in a piece of your own writing, make a note of it in a common-place notebook.</p>
<h2>3. Waste book</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="1184" width="1776" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/eoEEOzNc_Ox8KcMoFdgffsbu9M_FcP4adKdeRWdnaOM/s:3840:3840/fn:calum-macaulay-CxYHfBkC0vs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/69pxynngj7rr7r5cxzvn0pka8xh8" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/6MRElPL6ees1zQCHIN675k9LTL_3hu-Few9lvyCC040/fn:calum-macaulay-CxYHfBkC0vs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/69pxynngj7rr7r5cxzvn0pka8xh8" alt="An image with filename: calum-macaulay-CxYHfBkC0vs-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/sOWG2S9qUg6o7RuK8040Xy1HdLQOAr4vkKfBx8SBcN0/s:1800:1400/fn:calum-macaulay-CxYHfBkC0vs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/69pxynngj7rr7r5cxzvn0pka8xh8">
</figure></div>
<p>The conclusion to<em> The Notebook</em> is a wonderful exploration of our relationship to writing on paper. Recent philosophers have posited that a notebook, used in the right way, can actually be thought of as part of your mind, rather than merely a tool. They can aid in processing complex ideas, or act as an extension of your working and long-term memory.</p>
<p>A waste book certainly ticks these boxes. Isaac Newton used one in order to support his mathematical study. Many of us have a little notebook on our desks to quickly jot down ideas, help us think through a problem, or simply remember something I want to say during a meeting or conversation.</p>
<p>A waste book is intended as a temporary first home for thoughts. They are messy, unorganised, and not intended for consumption or use by anyone else. Later, relevant or important notes can be extracted and organised as needed. I used a waste book to write this post, by making notes as I was going through each chapter of<em> The Notebook</em> to decide what I wanted to include.</p>
<h2>4. Diary or journal</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="4672" width="7008" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/ogp3C4xEDYhzVbZdJaUmKpfQyyZcC_4pd5uNglCUu5c/s:3840:3840/fn:kelly-sikkema-ochM1ednBR4-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/uy23dtde7sqxbpjsgjcdy644qsmz" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/ix5iU2EdR71aL-SYU_vja0MwrtNReWp138WSkvelDH0/fn:kelly-sikkema-ochM1ednBR4-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/uy23dtde7sqxbpjsgjcdy644qsmz" alt="An image with filename: kelly-sikkema-ochM1ednBR4-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/4yO1bk9DaU8y9UBZ-Yo0xpt2B0TJYphj15aw4vdlOKI/s:1800:1400/fn:kelly-sikkema-ochM1ednBR4-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/uy23dtde7sqxbpjsgjcdy644qsmz">
</figure></div>
<p>A diary or journal is simply a record of the stuff that has happened to you. Sometimes, it might include some writing about how it made you feel.</p>
<p>This has been a popular use for notebooks for quite some time, particularly as literacy rates increased. But why is it useful?</p>
<p>Often, writing in a diary about our experiences can be a comfort; a bit like confiding in a friend. Indeed, the opening lines of Anne Frank’s legendary and tragic diary read:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>It is widely accepted that keeping a daily diary is beneficial to your emotional state, particularly during times of stress or anxiety. Externalising your experiences and feelings on paper is an important and helpful processing method.</p>
<h2>5. Self-care journal</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="" width="" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/dikUr8mFdnqCiKaQdWcfjk97_2ERes_MrRATKKQOvSA/s:3840:3840/fn:thom-holmes-k-xKzowQRn8-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/9pfv4dthb5rldno0poyfo8tdziar" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/XN2R0pE42qmnTxeRK_kEaq4AliLHdaewq0Ao0BM0ToI/fn:thom-holmes-k-xKzowQRn8-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/9pfv4dthb5rldno0poyfo8tdziar" alt="An image with filename: thom-holmes-k-xKzowQRn8-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/zeiXFUJaEKWE57fdSEowJ3bBOjd8bJouZL1wOmE7WFM/s:1800:1400/fn:thom-holmes-k-xKzowQRn8-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/9pfv4dthb5rldno0poyfo8tdziar">
</figure></div>
<p>A slightly different form of journalling is known as “expressive writing”. This is a genre in which someone writes about an upsetting or traumatic experience.</p>
<p>A large body of research shows that writing in this way leads to dramatic and unambiguous health benefits. People who perform expressive writing after experiencing trauma have been shown to experience:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Reduced blood pressure</p></li>
<li><p>Lower risk of heart attack</p></li>
<li><p>Improved response to vaccinations</p></li>
<li><p>Faster healing of wounds</p></li>
<li><p>Improved grades at school, college or university</p></li>
<li><p>Fewer sick days</p></li>
<li><p>Lower risk of alcoholism after losing a job</p></li>
</ul>
<p>This is a surprising list of<em> physical</em> benefits, and the correlation is so strong that researchers have suggested prescribing this practice as a treatment for PTSD.</p>
<p>You don’t have to use this method frequently, but if you do, it should go a long way towards helping you process difficult experiences.</p>
<h2>6. Bullet journal</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="2000" width="2992" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/7ZgFiI_V468lAwfTRlAdPcACaflDDfHIgsQlMbnZ4Lo/s:3840:3840/fn:estee-janssens-aQfhbxailCs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/gmxf2mjgcw6j4hthn81arw0805sq" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/ORBeg0Jv-x2_8N8dqpFxurOua4mHO4zx2-_L4mIlomY/fn:estee-janssens-aQfhbxailCs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/gmxf2mjgcw6j4hthn81arw0805sq" alt="An image with filename: estee-janssens-aQfhbxailCs-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/2dj40GDsohuevNM9dpUhwp2Br70W_R-SkkpUh2PM8nk/s:1800:1400/fn:estee-janssens-aQfhbxailCs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/gmxf2mjgcw6j4hthn81arw0805sq">
</figure></div>
<p>Invented by Ryder Carrol as a way of managing his ADHD, <a href="https://bulletjournal.com/">Bullet Journalling</a> has become a bit of a phenomenon. The internet is filled with influencers posting beautifully decorated BuJo pages, and YouTubers frequently share tips, tricks, and “plan with me” videos showing how they use their Bullet Journals.</p>
<p>But the essence of a Bullet Journal is simple: keep a daily, monthly, and yearly log of to-dos, events, notes, and feelings. Engage in a reflection practice to stay organised and intentional.</p>
<p>I have personally found a bullet journal incredibly useful in helping me to navigate everyday life. I have previously failed to resist the allure of cool productivity software and apps, but digital devices are riddled with distractions, and apps often impose limitations which don’t work with my brain. A bullet journal is a customisable, simple, low-maintenance, and distraction-free system which I have come to really love and rely on.</p>
<h2>7. Friendship book</h2>
<div class="attachment-gallery"><figure class="attachment attachment--preview attachment--jpg">
<img height="3648" width="5472" data-zoom-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/SiI-8-Ecr2OoObsBQM0RaC80ssfGRufAXEtpvf8RcdU/s:3840:3840/fn:helena-lopes-PGnqT0rXWLs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/iyui1poo261eyjk5sk4rron6n5mk" data-original-src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/D25nZMpSf4j458AUpldCqVtrqRRHAWXlqFM_cqnMS7c/fn:helena-lopes-PGnqT0rXWLs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/iyui1poo261eyjk5sk4rron6n5mk" alt="An image with filename: helena-lopes-PGnqT0rXWLs-unsplash.jpg" src="https://cdn.u.pika.page/8ug6j1PhJ1qL97FI--KATeF03xTb9_lJygkD4aPVy0I/s:1800:1400/fn:helena-lopes-PGnqT0rXWLs-unsplash/plain/s3://pika-production/iyui1poo261eyjk5sk4rron6n5mk">
</figure></div>
<p>This is a slightly left-field idea from early Dutch academic circles. Many of them kept<em> Stammbücher</em>, which were notebooks in which friends would write autographs, draw sketches, and write messages.</p>
<p>This feels a bit like an early precursor for Facebook, which was also originally intended as a way for students to stay connected. Many academics at the time would travel as part of their studies, and a friendship book was a great way to remember the people you had met. It also signalled your position in the social hierarchy.</p>
<p>If you’re feeling brave, and meet enough new people, you too might consider keeping a friendship book, and inviting new acquaintances to sign it and write a message. There’s a particular romance about this idea which appeals to me somehow.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Notebooks are awesome, and<em> The Notebook</em> has shown me just how awesome they have been for hundreds of years. In a constantly changing world, people keep coming back to pen and paper to help them stay organised, run their businesses, fuel their creativity, or help them process their experiences and emotions. A notebook is a beautiful, versatile, and incredibly important object, and I am excited to make more use of my growing collection.</p>
<p></p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%207%20ways%20to%20use%20a%20notebook%2C%20inspired%20by%20history">Reply by email</a></p>This post is the first in a series called I Finished A Book, in which I write about a book I’ve read recently. I don’t finish every book I start,...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/205452024-12-18T09:08:31Z2024-12-29T12:51:47ZElectronic voting in the House of Commons is an obvious no-brainer<div class="trix-content">
<p>A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/18/house-of-commons-should-consider-electronic-voting-mps-say-in-letter">letter has been sent</a> to the Chair of the Commons’ Modernisation Committee - who also happens to be Leader of the House - to call for the introduction of electronic and remote voting.</p>
<p>It makes some extremely convincing arguments, largely around the colossal amount of parliamentary time taken up by votes. The letter argues that even a single vote could cost up to 162 combined hours of MP time, with more complex legislation eating up hours of every MP’s working day.</p>
<p>It has always struck me as incredibly odd that MPs have to be in a physical location in order to vote. In his book <em>Politics on the Edge</em>, Rory Stewart recalls MPs literally running through the Parliament building to get to the division lobbies on time. He also recounts ministers in the Foreign Office having to cancel or curtail trips in order to ensure they were in the House for an important vote. When David Cameron was created a Lord and made Foreign Secretary by Rishi Sunak, it was considered by some to be an advantage that he wasn’t in the Commons, because he could make foreign trips without having to worry about being in the House.</p>
<p>This seems like an insane way for a parliament to function, and I would welcome the introduction of both electronic and remote voting. As far as I can see, the only argument against this policy is that it would make the job of the whips more difficult; it’s easier to persuade someone to vote a particular way if you’re in the same room.</p>
<p>I think it’s high time we reined in the power of the whips anyway; it may even raise the level of debate and take us away from the physical bullying and intimidation we’ve seen.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Electronic%20voting%20in%20the%20House%20of%20Commons%20is%20an%20obvious%20no-brainer">Reply by email</a></p>A letter has been sent to the Chair of the Commons’ Modernisation Committee - who also happens to be Leader of the House - to call for the introduction of...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/204682024-12-16T15:58:00Z2024-12-29T12:52:05ZDoes remote work make me less creative?<div class="trix-content">
<p>This question is surprisingly charged, and your response often places you in a specific camp. Either you’re a manager who wants your team in the office, or you’re an “individual contributor” who instinctively protects your right to work remotely.</p>
<p>My experience with remote work is complex. Before the pandemic, the idea didn’t really cross my mind. I enjoyed going into the office and spending time with my colleagues. I looked forward to meetings and felt enriched by lunch table conversations or quick pool games during coffee breaks. The daily walk to work kept me healthy and energised, and I had a clear separation between work and home.</p>
<p>Then, remote work was forced upon me and my team. Initially, I expected it to be a temporary novelty, but nearly 5 years later, I haven’t returned to the office. The professional world I inhabit seems to have accepted remote work as a necessity. It’s now a standard requirement for job applicants, and if you don’t offer remote work, you’re missing out on a vast pool of exceptional talent.</p>
<p>However, over the past few months, I’ve realised that I genuinely miss the days of working in an office. It’s no coincidence that my best work was produced before the pandemic. I thrive on the energy of others and process my ideas more effectively when I can articulate them aloud during collaborative conversations. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to replicate this experience in an online meeting.</p>
<p>Additionally, I feel much more focused when there are people around. This is a well-known phenomenon for individuals with ADHD, to the extent that “body doubling” is often recommended as a “focus hack” for distractible minds. In my home office, alone, there’s nothing that prevents me from wasting hours in YouTube rabbit holes. While I can implement systems to prevent this, they’re exhausting to maintain consistently. For me, remote work has led to frequent burnout and a sense of isolation.</p>
<p>But this isn’t really a post about the advantages of working in an office. It’s more about a need to refocus the conversation. Any attempt to discuss this in a mature manner online invariably ends in a heated argument. I can acknowledge that, for most people, remote work offers significant benefits with minimal drawbacks. However, I believe it’s acceptable and appropriate to admit that this isn’t the case for everyone. For individuals like me, the proximity of an office within our daily commute is a substantial advantage. It could also be viewed as an important accommodation for individuals with ADHD.</p>
<p>This isn’t about a conflict between management and workers. It’s about accommodating individual needs and preferences. If you’re fortunate enough to be part of the majority, let’s remember to protect the voices of those who may feel they’re “incorrect” for wanting to return to the office, and provide them with accommodations if possible. This approach might be one of the most effective ways to support their success.</p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Does%20remote%20work%20make%20me%20less%20creative%3F">Reply by email</a></p>This question is surprisingly charged, and your response often places you in a specific camp. Either you’re a manager who wants your team in the office, or you’re an “individual...tag:ptrbrynt.com,2005:Post/197942024-12-03T13:40:07Z2024-12-29T12:52:15ZMoving to Pika<div class="trix-content">
<p>I’ve just moved my blog from <a href="https://ghost.org">Ghost</a> to <a href="https://pika.page">Pika</a>. I have no problem with Ghost; I think it’s an amazing platform with a great philosophy, and it’s taking the web in a good direction. I’m rooting for them.</p>
<p>That said, I’m not interested in turning my blog into a business, and the publishing tools provided by Ghost just aren’t for me. I recently discovered Pika, which is half the cost and much simpler. I also prefer the available themes, which support custom CSS without a higher-tier subscription plan.</p>
<p>If, like me, you believe in personal blogging and want a little home on the internet, <a href="https://pika.page">Pika</a> is a great option.<br></p>
</div>
<br><hr><br><p><a href="https://letterbird.co/ptrbrynt?subject=Re%3A%20Moving%20to%20Pika">Reply by email</a></p>I’ve just moved my blog from Ghost to Pika. I have no problem with Ghost; I think it’s an amazing platform with a great philosophy, and it’s taking the web in...