Linux For Poets

My new innovation is, get this! Listening to the radio. I feel that listening to podcasts or youtube on the phone or computer are too fiddly - they constantly need changing, or skipping ads, or some sort of interaction. It feels hectic and demanding, all these little micro-decisions about what song or podcast to play next.

I got a Panasonic RF-2400D, from Ebay, for $20 US. The sound quality is great and my two-year-old and I are enjoying it. It is nice and simple, I like to listen to NPR news occasionally, plus there's All Classical, and a lovely small local oldies station.

Listening to the news feels like a nice way to stay informed. If anything bonkers happens, I'll know about it, and I can just listen while I'm making breakfast for my kid, and turn it off when I get distracted back to my real life.

I use my iPod from 2002, a Kindle from 2012, my Casio watch, paper planners and fountain pens, and now this Panasonic radio. I am even going to try a simple pedometer (marketed to seniors - ha!) to track my steps. It is more stuff, but none of it is expensive, especially used from Ebay, so that helps me justify it.

I know it may not be as efficient or minimalist as using a phone for everything, but I love using retro tech and analog, single use gadgets. It feels better to my brain.

I do enjoy a sweet gadget! I tend to always look for alternatives to distractions built into devices with Internet connectivity. I appreciate the single use technology, with a simple interface and no pop ups or obtrusive vibe-hijacking "suggestions" like computers and phones have unless you take bold steps to mitigate it. My gadgets are mostly inexpensive and bought used.

Alphasmart Neo

This is the best device! A simple keyboard, running Palm software. There is nothing to fiddle with, and it's a good keyboard. Not as comfortable as a mechanical keyboard, but it beats the pants off of any modern laptop in my opinion. I love it for journaling and writing when I really want to clear my head and not have anything popping up