Comments on: Confessions of a Serial Enthusiast http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast It's all spinning wheels and self-doubt until the first pot of coffee. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:52:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-hemorrhage hourly 1 By: 0xDECAFBAD » In retrospect http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-348893 0xDECAFBAD » In retrospect Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:55:40 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-348893 <p>[...] magically help me finish software. I’ve come to accept that I’m far too much a serial enthusiast to release much at v1.0 without a paycheck or some other substantial incentive. But that’s [...]</p> [...] magically help me finish software. I’ve come to accept that I’m far too much a serial enthusiast to release much at v1.0 without a paycheck or some other substantial incentive. But that’s [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » Greatest Hits Vol. 2, the Babble Bits http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-348878 0xDECAFBAD » Greatest Hits Vol. 2, the Babble Bits Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:26:13 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-348878 <p>[...] May 26: Confessions of a Serial Enthusiast An analysis of my inability to finish anything on my own [...]</p> [...] May 26: Confessions of a Serial Enthusiast An analysis of my inability to finish anything on my own [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » Metablogging http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-327446 0xDECAFBAD » Metablogging Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:31:56 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-327446 <p>[...] motivated to continue pushing out small particles of thought. That worked for awhile. Thanks to my serial enthusiasm, though, the shine wore off after a month or two and my output has since dwindled. The interface is [...]</p> [...] motivated to continue pushing out small particles of thought. That worked for awhile. Thanks to my serial enthusiasm, though, the shine wore off after a month or two and my output has since dwindled. The interface is [...]

]]> By: jclark.org - Just Writing http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-230104 jclark.org - Just Writing Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:43:04 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-230104 <p>[...] If I was trying to frame it in nice terms, I’d call it restless creativity, or perhaps serial enthusiasm. I tend to get focused on something, and then I get really focused on it, for a while. Buy some [...]</p> [...] If I was trying to frame it in nice terms, I’d call it restless creativity, or perhaps serial enthusiasm. I tend to get focused on something, and then I get really focused on it, for a while. Buy some [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » Ficlets enhanced author feed, an XSL scraper hack http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-122313 0xDECAFBAD » Ficlets enhanced author feed, an XSL scraper hack Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:38:01 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-122313 <p>[...] stopped. I’m hoping to pick it up again very soon, but I guess that’s the nature of my serial enthusiasm—it doesn’t just apply to [...]</p> [...] stopped. I’m hoping to pick it up again very soon, but I guess that’s the nature of my serial enthusiasm—it doesn’t just apply to [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » Thoughts on Pipes on the Web - Part II http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-83281 0xDECAFBAD » Thoughts on Pipes on the Web - Part II Thu, 15 Feb 2007 08:51:51 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-83281 <p>[...] it after releasing the code and having used it for a project at my old job. It’s one of those serial enthusiasms that I’ve figured I’d circle back to eventually. I still think it’s a pretty cool [...]</p> [...] it after releasing the code and having used it for a project at my old job. It’s one of those serial enthusiasms that I’ve figured I’d circle back to eventually. I still think it’s a pretty cool [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » Personal rebalancing brain dump http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-71187 0xDECAFBAD » Personal rebalancing brain dump Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:19:51 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-71187 <p>[...] Working on XoxoOutliner and other products of serial enthusiasm. [...]</p> [...] Working on XoxoOutliner and other products of serial enthusiasm. [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » Vienna is now my weapon of choice for feeds http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-64080 0xDECAFBAD » Vienna is now my weapon of choice for feeds Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:38:18 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-64080 <p>[...] I’ve got a long, long, long history of doing this - partially because of my serial enthusiasm, and partially because none of the aggregators I’ve used so far have satisfied all of my itches. Some tie up my laptop in terms of memory and CPU, some aren’t fast enough UI-wise to help me really blaze through skimming, and some aren’t flexible enough for me to tweak to my particular liking. [...]</p> [...] I’ve got a long, long, long history of doing this - partially because of my serial enthusiasm, and partially because none of the aggregators I’ve used so far have satisfied all of my itches. Some tie up my laptop in terms of memory and CPU, some aren’t fast enough UI-wise to help me really blaze through skimming, and some aren’t flexible enough for me to tweak to my particular liking. [...]

]]> By: Penny http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-47856 Penny Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:24:27 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-47856 <p>A long time ago, I read a book called something like "play to your strengths". In it, the author said "pick one thing, don't be a dilettante." My immediate reaction was "but my strength is being a dilettante".</p> <p>This has played out in what I read up on: when I was a student, I read a lot of books about study techniques. When I had children, I read lots of books about being a mother/childraising. When I was a computer programmer, I read a lot about the art of programming. When I worked for a training department, I read a of books about how to train. Interestingly, when I stopped being a student, I stopped reading about studying, when I stopped training staff, I stopped reading about how to train etc.</p> A long time ago, I read a book called something like “play to your strengths”. In it, the author said “pick one thing, don’t be a dilettante.” My immediate reaction was “but my strength is being a dilettante”.

This has played out in what I read up on: when I was a student, I read a lot of books about study techniques. When I had children, I read lots of books about being a mother/childraising. When I was a computer programmer, I read a lot about the art of programming. When I worked for a training department, I read a of books about how to train. Interestingly, when I stopped being a student, I stopped reading about studying, when I stopped training staff, I stopped reading about how to train etc.

]]> By: Why Settle for Just One Path? http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-45657 Why Settle for Just One Path? Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:11:38 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-45657 <p>[...] Les Orchard calls himself a Serial Enthusiast and Anne Zelenka concurs: …I, too, am a serial enthusiast… [...]</p> [...] Les Orchard calls himself a Serial Enthusiast and Anne Zelenka concurs: …I, too, am a serial enthusiast… [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » what use claimid? http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-33460 0xDECAFBAD » what use claimid? Sun, 20 Aug 2006 18:15:30 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-33460 <p>[...] what use claimid? So, now that I’ve had a brief bit of enthusiasm (serial enthusiasm, that is) in discovering this whole microID / claimID thing, all it’s ended up with in practical terms is a list of links in my sidebar. So, with that and fully understanding that it’s early days yet for claimID, I have to ask myself: What does this do that I couldn’t have done with a tagged set of del.icio.us bookmarks? Of course, bookmarks on del.icio.us don’t enjoy any sort of microID verification, but that could change - either through features implemented there directly or through a sidecar service. My original gripe was about both machines and people finding out about me from a central source. So far claimID seems to be good for just people finding out about me. [...]</p> [...] what use claimid? So, now that I’ve had a brief bit of enthusiasm (serial enthusiasm, that is) in discovering this whole microID / claimID thing, all it’s ended up with in practical terms is a list of links in my sidebar. So, with that and fully understanding that it’s early days yet for claimID, I have to ask myself: What does this do that I couldn’t have done with a tagged set of del.icio.us bookmarks? Of course, bookmarks on del.icio.us don’t enjoy any sort of microID verification, but that could change - either through features implemented there directly or through a sidecar service. My original gripe was about both machines and people finding out about me from a central source. So far claimID seems to be good for just people finding out about me. [...]

]]> By: 0xDECAFBAD » good gregarius http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-33118 0xDECAFBAD » good gregarius Fri, 18 Aug 2006 05:43:56 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-33118 <p>[...] Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « avataractual [...]</p> [...] Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « avataractual [...]

]]> By: Anne 2.0 » Blog Archive » An Unsatisfying Read http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-12566 Anne 2.0 » Blog Archive » An Unsatisfying Read Sat, 10 Jun 2006 18:45:48 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-12566 <p>[...] In Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Gregory Berns proposes that satisfaction lies not in simple hedonism, but in feeding our brains with challenging, novel experiences. Last week, I was exploring how to maintain enduring passion when you’re a serial enthusiast. I concluded that keeping things new was the secret. In his book, Berns provides the science behind that. A sense of satisfaction is generated by the brain chemical dopamine, previously considered by scientists as the neurotransmitter of pleasure, but now known to be released in anticipation of and in response to both pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Incidentally, dopamine is released by many psychoactive drugs including my personal favorite, caffeine. [...]</p> [...] In Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Gregory Berns proposes that satisfaction lies not in simple hedonism, but in feeding our brains with challenging, novel experiences. Last week, I was exploring how to maintain enduring passion when you’re a serial enthusiast. I concluded that keeping things new was the secret. In his book, Berns provides the science behind that. A sense of satisfaction is generated by the brain chemical dopamine, previously considered by scientists as the neurotransmitter of pleasure, but now known to be released in anticipation of and in response to both pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Incidentally, dopamine is released by many psychoactive drugs including my personal favorite, caffeine. [...]

]]> By: Matt http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-12054 Matt Mon, 05 Jun 2006 08:22:58 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-12054 <p>i'll be your minion. though as an entry level programmer, it's hard to be as prolific as someone like you. i find my web attention span is something like your attention span for new projects. I usually have 20-30 open tabs given the opportunity to just search the web, as its easy to find implementations of my many ideas. i have my own projects, true, and I love to spend my free time on them. i'm personally worried as a computer science about being in situations where the novelty wears off, but I guess that's what free time is for. I sometimes wonder about people who don't hack, and how do they manage?</p> i’ll be your minion. though as an entry level programmer, it’s hard to be as prolific as someone like you. i find my web attention span is something like your attention span for new projects. I usually have 20-30 open tabs given the opportunity to just search the web, as its easy to find implementations of my many ideas. i have my own projects, true, and I love to spend my free time on them. i’m personally worried as a computer science about being in situations where the novelty wears off, but I guess that’s what free time is for. I sometimes wonder about people who don’t hack, and how do they manage?

]]> By: l.m.orchard http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-11959 l.m.orchard Fri, 02 Jun 2006 14:47:12 +0000 http://decafbad.com/blog/2006/05/26/confessions-of-a-serial-enthusiast#comment-11959 <p>McD: Yeah, from some self-observation over the years, I can definitely tell it's a chemistry thing. For me, there's a rush attached to novelty, discovery, and a clean solution to a problem. The rush wanes over sustained effort on the same thing. I'm pretty sure it follows all the other familiar response curves in brain chemistry. This can be mitigated by other factors, like a paycheck or someone's foot-tapping expectations - but when it's just me playing, I'm a freewheeling junkie. :)</p> <p>But as for the rest of what you wrote - man, are you trying to inflate my head? Your compliments embarass me. And also leave me wishing for minions.</p> McD: Yeah, from some self-observation over the years, I can definitely tell it’s a chemistry thing. For me, there’s a rush attached to novelty, discovery, and a clean solution to a problem. The rush wanes over sustained effort on the same thing. I’m pretty sure it follows all the other familiar response curves in brain chemistry. This can be mitigated by other factors, like a paycheck or someone’s foot-tapping expectations - but when it’s just me playing, I’m a freewheeling junkie. :)

But as for the rest of what you wrote - man, are you trying to inflate my head? Your compliments embarass me. And also leave me wishing for minions.

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