Computerjargon.com

It all started when I fell madly in love with your Google Apps for Domains. My mail has never been so organized and spam-free! When I discovered the ability to check my mail on my mobile I was ecstatic.

Next, I started using Reader to manage all my RSS subscriptions. You have made sense and organization out of a closet full of wires and dirty clothes! I love you Google Reader, I really do.

But today you have truly topped yourself. I can now view my GCal through my mobile. Thank you Google, thank you so much. No longer must I be tied to stupid Outlook to manage schedule.

I can carry my online life where ever I go. You have centralized all my data. You have made sense out of the nonsensical.

I’m in an organizing mood. When I get like this I typically shift whatever I’m trying to organize around for awhile until I get bored. Take for instance my past attempts at alphabetizing our CD collection. I typically get through M before I just give up and move on to something else.

Today 2 things got my goat today:

1. Categorizing my blog posts – I have over 500 posts on CJ dating back to 1999. The Wordpress software makes it a sinch to assign categories to each blog post. Unfortunately, I have to go through each post and select the appropriate categories. You’ll notice there’s one category named “Imported” that contains an over abundant amount of posts. Its the default category, so any posts not properly organized exists there for the time being. Over time the number diminishes as I find time to walk through each post. I try to do at least 10 posts a day.

2. Organizing my digital files – I have 4 hard drives at home that are full. The problem is, I don’t know what their full with. I had a tendency to make a backup of my “Documents” folder, which may be gigs in size, because I fear losing my most important documents. I’ve done it so frequently though, that now I can’t find anything. Is it in my 20040112 back up or my 20040620 backup? I plan on breaking down my documents into logical types instead of date based. All of this, of course, is backed up as frequently as possible. I’ve already learned that lesson the hard way.

I once read an article regarding self-organizing manila file folders. It’s basically a way for your most important or often used folders to float to the top of the pile. At work I have a wire stand that I keep all my manila project folders in. As I work/reference the folders I always return them to the front of the stand. That way my most used folders are always in front. This also forces the lesser referenced folders to the back. When the stand gets full I remove the files from the back, since they aren’t referenced anymore, and archive them (either in a drawer or in the trash). It’s a simple but effective technique that I couldn’t live without.

If you’ve spent 5 minutes in a room with me in the last 6 months you know that I’m completely and utterly obsessed with the new HTC Wizard cellphone about to hit the streets. The only problem: it was supposed to be available 6 months ago. I have been waiting patiently for it since September, every day checking the normal cellphone geek hangouts reading messages proclaiming its releasing “any day now”. As a Type-A personality I’m am completely convinced it will bring absolute and total order to my life.

I grow tired of waiting. I’m scatterbrained. Ideas, thoughts, lists, apointments, all lost. They are going in one ear and out the other. I finally decided I needed a solution today, I could not wait any longer. I went out and purchased a Hipster PDA, specifically a Mead 5-Star mini notebook. Its an investment in my sanity. I know, you think I’m crazy, but I swear by this thing. Let me give you a rundown of it’s specs:

Size: ~3 inches W x 4 inches H x 1/2 inch thick

Processor: My writing hand and the nearest writing utensil

Functionality: Free-form sortable information, a.k.a. stream-of-conciousness. Ability to quickly output information (by ripping the pages out)

Portablity: Fits in my jacket pocket

Applications: Jason’s TODO list, Jason’s calendar, Jason’s random lists, Jason’s reminders

Price: $1.89 (Target)

I used to give a friend grief for carrying around postcards for notes. I now understand why he used them. No matter what crazy/stupid thing I think, I can write it down so I don’t forget. I’m hoping it will cut down on the crazy rants Courtney has to listen to.

I’ll probably pick up the Wizard when it finally arrives. But for now, I’m satisfied with my current PDA. It’s working out well.

Sidenote: I also picked up a Dymo labeler so I can label and file all my crazy stuff.

Check out this video from Japan, a tutorial to quick shirt folding. I tried this out this morning and it has changed my life.