Wiser Web Wednesday – a regular link to posts of interest from around the web by those far wiser than myself:

The Dafacto Blog
I have often thought about the longevity of my online presence after my actual presence passes in this world, both from the perspective of my online accounts, and any writing I have created and put out into the ether. Further to this, there is also the issue of any secure digital data stored in the various cloud based services I am currently using.

To date, this thinking has not gone beyond providing my wife with my 1Password login (and vice versa), however I do need to consider this a little more thoughtfully and carefully.

Matt Henderson recently looked at a couple of possible strategies:
Planning for the transfer of personal data in the case of one’s unexpected passing

SBS News
Probably not surprising to read such a positive statement on coffee, given it’s origin:

What I tell patients is, if you like coffee, go ahead and drink as much as you want and can,” says Dr. Peter Martin, director of the Institute for Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University.

That aside, this article goes on to report (again) what ongoing research has been demonstrating for some time now, in the significant and multiple long term health benefits of coffee. It also points out how, in addition to the benefits, much of the negative side effects long associated with beverage such as hypertension are also beginning to be disproven.

Some of the studies here quote continued benefits in upwards of six (up to ten) cups per day. Whilst I would not advocate lighter drinkers necessarily increase, perhaps those of us who find ourselves brewing every 2-3 waking hours can raise a knowing smile along with our preferred drinking vessel:
The case for drinking as much coffee as you like

A Fool With a Pen
Top fives, favourites, recommendations. We all love seeing where lists such as these take us, from agreement to dispute, to discovering something new. Just in time for Christmas comes one such list for your consideration and viewing pleasure:
The Charts

David Hewson
Author David Hewson provides a snippet of comment and a link to Dream of Venice, a photo compendium by Charles Christopher, which features an extract from Hewson’s book Carnival for the Dead. I think we’d all like to be saying the following line:

I’ll be back in Venice next month for a week finishing off a new book.

However in the absence of all capacity to say such a line, perhaps the book will have to do:
Dream of Venice

Pentorium
Personally, I don’t believe I could ever learn too much about fountain pens, however this guide at Pentorium goes a long way in furthering that endeavour. One of the most well set out and illustrated posts of its type I have come across.

I particularly like the “problem solving” type approach to the overall structure, rather than a simple list of general maintenance topics – certainly one to save and refer back to:
Fountain Pen Guide Series, Session 3: How to Maintain Your Pens

Brainpickings
One I particularly enjoyed from Brainpickings recently about a book by Carl Sagen, The Demon Haunted World. Why? Simply because it relates to much of what I spend my day doing, which is reviewing medical evidence in relation to what would be considered peer-reviewed and accepted treatment methodology. Probably the two most common mistakes I see others make who interpret such research are not dissimilar, however are listed individually in the list of 20 common pitfalls relating to common sense:

Number 12: post hoc, ergo propter hoc — Latin for “It happened after, so it was caused by” (e.g., Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila: “I know of … a 26-year-old who looks 60 because she takes [contraceptive] pills.” Or: Before women got the vote, there were no nuclear weapons)

and

Number 17: confusion of correlation and causation (e.g., A survey shows that more college graduates are homosexual than those with lesser education; therefore education makes people gay. Or: Andean earthquakes are correlated with closest approaches of the planet Uranus; therefore — despite the absence of any such correlation for the nearer, more massive planet Jupiter — the latter causes the former)

Really, the title of the post says it all:
The Baloney Detection Kit: Carl Sagan’s Rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking

Mic
Although commonly seen in movies, the idea of a post apocalyptic type landscape actually existing in reality is not one we commonly think about. This drone flight with footage of Chernobyl from the air is one such reminder, despite the nuclear reactor tragedy occurring in 1986, now almost 30 years ago:
Someone Flew a Drone Through Chernobyl and the Result Is Haunting

Clearly there has been a little disruption to my usual posting schedule on this blog both during, and since, November’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), a topic which perhaps some of you may be a little tired of hearing about. If so I apologise, though there may be a post or two on that very topic still to come – perhaps.

Whilst I enjoyed participating immensely, managing to become a “Winner” after passing the required 50,000 word count before month’s end, I did not find it easy, nor could have predicted the toll on my overall energy, time and willingness to write on other things throughout the month. It is only now, well into December, I have found the urge to get going again.

What better way to ease back into things than with a few links to posts I have found interesting or exciting over the past couple of weeks (soon to return to the usual Wiser Web Wednesday format).

Ink&Flour
The re-launch of a blog (formerly Hastily Written) with an idea that particularly resonates with me. Some may consider writing a blog without a sole focus to be a cardinal mistake in the world of online traffic, and perhaps that may be the case. Personally, I’d rather a blog with soul, than a sole focus, just for the sake of it.

After much consideration a little while ago about where my own blog was or should be headed, I am comfortable with the decision I made not to split off the various topics into their own niche blogs, but rather keep things together. My own interests, under my own banner.

So, whilst bread making and pens may not necessarily be diametrically opposed, they are indeed an unusual combination to be found on the one blog – but of course, that is exactly what makes this one unique. Looking forward to what is to come:
Changing Times, Changing Names

WriteAnalog
A launch, this time of an entirely new blog undoubtedly with some great things to come. The tone has been set, not only with a quote in the first post:

“To begin, begin.” – William Wordsworth

But also, a killer WriteAnalog Manifesto, every word of which, those who are excited about the creation of another such blog will immediately understand:
The WriteAnalog Manifesto

I wish both of the above, every success, and smile at the community widening even further.

JimSeven
Yet again an interesting piece from James Hoffmann on not only the idea of “how” speciality coffee is portrayed or “sold” to consumers, but also the idea of how personal preference is a significant consideration:

A person’s preference is a place to start. To be acknowledged, accepted and considered. Even if their preference is the last thing on earth you’d want to drink yourself.

I find the more you read on this subject, the more those within the industry often disagree, let alone convincing the consumer. An example of which can be seen in a response written to the above post by Tim Williams on his Tumblr page.

Upon reading the response however, I think the articles are discussing slightly different points, that being, there is a difference between selling the concept of speciality coffee to consumers, and those within the industry promoting themselves as purveyors of same, while at the same time, serving a substantially inferior product:
What message do I want to send?

Baron Fig
The guys at Baron Fig have indeed been very busy lately, coming out with limited editions of their two main products, the Three-Legged Juggler, a special release of the standard Confidant Journal, and the Lightbulb, a limited edition of The Apprentice pocket notebook.

As with many limited editions, special or seasonal releases, the colours may not suit everyone, however I think these are spot on. I cannot wait to see what they have in store for future editions of this nature.

Finally, I must commend Baron Fig on their customer service – the Lightbulb edition was launched shortly after I placed an order, and although it had already shipped and I was unable to amend or add to it, the guys were very generous with a subsequent order, making the whole experience an extremely positive one.

By the way, you better get in quick in future, as the dot-grid Lightbulbs have already sold out (plain and ruled still available):
Baron Fig Online Store

MacSparky
A masterstroke from David Sparks of Macsparky and Mac Power Users podcast fame. Another Macsparky Field Guide, this time in the form of an OmniFocus screencast:

… this 2.5 hour video that takes you, soup to nuts, through the Omni Group’s supremely bad-ass task manager. The screencast can turn an OmniFocus novice into a task-managing ninja.

I have read the OmniFocus user guide, countless blog posts, and tips and tricks pieces, however have yet to find something which really clicks in taking my use of OmniFocus to a more efficient and powerful level. I reckon this should do it.

Many of the David’s tips on the MPU podcast in relation to Omnifocus are real gems, and I am looking forward to getting stuck into this one after completing the somewhat hefty 1.6 GB download last night.

Looking forward to earning the task-management ninja title very soon:
The OmniFocus Video Field Guide

That’s better.

Good to be back writing on the blog, and, as opposed to what I have just spent November writing – nary a plot hole in sight!

Wiser Web Wednesday – a regular link to posts of interest from around the web, generally by those far wiser than myself:

This Friday, November 7 is Fountain Pen Day, which is celebrated on the first Friday of November each year. This WWW is thus flavoured with all things fountain pen.

Fountain Pen Day
I’ll let the official home of Fountain Pen Day set the scene:

Taking place on the first Friday in November each year, Fountain Pen Day is celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide as a time to embrace, promote, and share the use of fountain pens.

Fountain Pen Day Home

The Well Appointed Desk
Looking for some Fountain Pen Day merch or giveaways? Ana at the Desk will point you in the direction of some:
Fountain Pen Day: November 7

Pennaquod
I have previously mentioned this great site created and maintained by Ian Hedley of Pens! Paper! Pencils!, though the context of this post requires its inclusion again.

I had originally planned to highlight some of my favourite pen blogs in this post, only to find a) there are too many; b) it was too hard to choose my favourites; and c) the home page of this site pretty much lists them all anyway:
Pennaquod: The pen blog searcher

Richard Binder Fountain Pens
If you are seeking a little more information on terminology associated with the fountain pen, this is a pretty good place to start:

This Glossopedia is a compact glossary/mini-encyclopedia of words, phrases, and names, with more than 1350 definitions and descriptions, more than 800 illustrations…

Glossopedia of Pen Terms

Pete Denison
Yes, a couple of links from this very blog.

Although I do not consider my site a Pen Blog as such, as far as online communities go there is none better than the kind and helpful folk in the pen world. Many of these people can be found through the front page of the Pennaquod link above.

As a good portion of my spare time does turn to things pen and paper, I like to think I contribute to this community in some small way.

The links below are some of my own fountain pen musings:
My Fountain Pen Day
A Tale of Two Kaweco Sports – Classic and Ice
Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen – Impressions
My Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen

If you have ever thought you might like to try a fountain pen, there is no better time. My beginner recommendations? A Pilot Metropolitan, Lamy Safari, or Pilot Kakuno for the younger (or younger at heart) writer.