Ian Daniel Stewart

Cooking Up a Rainbow

Ian Stewart — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:28:40 +0000

I’ve watched this butter (fake butter?) commercial way too many times today. I’ve never even seen Lurpak before. I’m almost positive it’s disgusting. The song and video however are amazing.

The cabbage animation is awesome. Also, don’t cut yourself when you’re blue. Sound advice.

Via Colossal.

Posting Everyday

Ian Stewart — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:51:19 +0000

Today is my 20th day of posting every day to my blog for 2012. Not the most auspicious day to post to make a big deal out of it but what the heck, thoughts occur to you and you share them, people take what they can get. It’s been an interesting experiment. Have the posts been any good? Probably not. But I’m trying to develop a habit and that’s what’s more important. Waiting until I’m in the perfect place to post perfect posts every day and have a perfect blog — my natural inclination — is a stupid idea and, obviously, isn’t going to happen. Or maybe not obviously. This is the natural inclination of every procrastinating person that worries about perfectionism.

Anyway, posting every day. Hopefully I can keep it up and eventually, once the habit is formed and my writing muscles have been loosened up, have the freedom and opportunity to share more well-formed opinions and thoughts in the groove I’ve laid down day after day. And, of course, more pictures of my son’s artwork.

Wish me luck!

Lawrence of Arabia

Ian Stewart — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:29:39 +0000

I have Lawrence of Arabia in HD sitting in the bowels of my DVR and managed to find time to watch the first 5 minutes of it again tonight. Right up to the famous match-sunset smashcut. It’s been 10 years since I first saw it, had my mind blown, and then blasted through a copy of Revolt in The Desert that I found in a second-hand shop only a few months later. I need to make some time this weekend and rewatch it again. And maybe finally get through the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

Slowly Getting Better

Ian Stewart — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:00:23 +0000

I’m slowly getting better at typing in the Colemak layout in Master Key. My words per minute are creeping up while my error rate is creeping down.

My Strategy for Learning Colemak

Ian Stewart — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:37:57 +0000

Last year I attempted learning how to touch type in Dvorak and I think I only made it about 2 weeks. One of the problems was that I decided to go cold turkey, doing everything at the computer using Dvorak almost right from the start. It was incredibly frustrating to say the least. Now that I’m trying to learn Colemak I thought I’d adopt a different strategy but one that’s just as simple.

Practice touch typing 1–2 hours a day with the drills in Master Key
and copying a piece of text using Colemak for about 5 minutes every day
Switch full-time to Colemak in 1–4 weeks when I feel up to it.

And that’s it. Practicing in Master Key is kinda fun and copying out text for about 5 minutes gives me a real world idea of how I’m doing without being too frustrating. And to make it even more interesting I’m using a speech I found in the Art of Manliness’ 35 Greatest Speeches in History as the text. (I like to err on the side of edification.) Once I feel the time is right to make the switch, I’ll go Colemak full-time, possibly even switching the keys around on my keyboard at that time too. (I’m still undecided on that last one — there are a bunch of pros and cons.)

If you’re interested in learning to touch type in Colemak or Dvorak or something even weirder (Workman?) you can also check out Lance’s tips on switching to Dvorak. Lance successfully switched to Dvorak last year and is getting faster all the time.

A Better Printable Colemak Keyboard Layout

Ian Stewart — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:24:48 +0000

If you’re interested in learning the Colemak keyboard layout for touch typing Matt Wiebe has crafted a much nicer printable keyboard than the one I’ve printed out and propped up in front of me. Check it out.

Sock Creatures

Ian Stewart — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:12:16 +0000

Sockopogo

Ian Stewart — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:33:27 +0000

Colemak Keyboard Layout Craft Project

Ian Stewart — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:01:40 +0000

You can do it too! All you need is some printer paper, cardstock, glue, and a willingness to drive yourself mad for a month or two. Try it, it’s fun!

In other words, yep, I’m learning how to type with the Colemak keyboard layout.

My Caps Lock key is now a backspace key

Ian Stewart — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:09:15 +0000

My Caps Lock key is now a backspace key. Instead of SHOUTING I now just leave you with empty silences. KeyRemap4MacBook helped me make the switch.