Jul 19: Firefly: the fonts
Jul 17: Moving: open house report
Jul 17: Standing: four hours down
Jul 17: Standing while working
Today I begin a new experiment: standing while working. Basically, it is what it sounds like. Instead of sitting at my desk, I'm now standing. They actually sell standing desks that are adjustable and have a raised monitor stand. Since this is an experiment, I'm currently just using a rigged-up setup, similar to how McGuyver would do it, I'd imagine. Here's a shot of my 'standing desk':
As you can see, it's a shelf spanning two old computers with the monitor on a cardboard box. It's pretty ghetto, but it puts my hands at the right level to keep my elbows at right angles, and to top of my monitor at eye-level. So, it's ghetto, but it works for an experiment.
Why do this? It's something I've read several articles about and something that I've wanted to try for quite a while. Most of what I've read discusses the health benefits, including buring more calories and that it's better for your back.
I actually hadn't thought about it for a while, but then on Friday slashdot had the following article discussing the productivity improvements in addition to the health benefits:
Standing While Working Results in Better Work?
The article mentions some famous people who stand while they work because they feel it improves their productivity. It also mentions the treadmill workstation which takes the idea of getting off your butt while working one step further. I don't have a treadmill, though, so I'm starting with just standing.
In the comments to that article, there are arguments for and against standing. The anti-standing comments do provide some interesting counter points and things to watch out for, but overall, the majority of comments are positive. Obviously, that's no scientific study or anything, but some interesting anecdotal evidence nonetheless.
So, I've decided to try it out and see if it works for me. A back that aches less is reason enough, but if I'm also more productive, all the better. I've been at work for about an hour: so far, so good. I think I may need to invest in an anti-fatigue mat since my cave's floor is industrial tile, though. Of course, I'll post more as the experiment progresses to keep you updated.
Jul 17: Standing while working
Today I begin a new experiment: standing while working. Basically, it is what it sounds like. Instead of sitting at my desk, I'm now standing. They actually sell standing desks that are adjustable and have a raised monitor stand. Since this is an experiment, I'm currently just using a rigged-up setup, similar to how McGuyver would do it, I'd imagine. Here's a shot of my 'standing desk':
As you can see, it's a shelf spanning two old computers with the monitor on a cardboard box. It's pretty ghetto, but it puts my hands at the right level to keep my elbows at right angles, and to top of my monitor at eye-level. So, it's ghetto, but it works for an experiment.
Why do this? It's something I've read several articles about and something that I've wanted to try for quite a while. Most of what I've read discusses the health benefits, including buring more calories and that it's better for your back.
I actually hadn't thought about it for a while, but then on Friday slashdot had the following article discussing the productivity improvements in addition to the health benefits:
Standing While Working Results in Better Work?
The article mentions some famous people who stand while they work because they feel it improves their productivity. It also mentions the treadmill workstation which takes the idea of getting off your butt while working one step further. I don't have a treadmill, though, so I'm starting with just standing.
In the comments to that article, there are arguments for and against standing. The anti-standing comments do provide some interesting counter points and things to watch out for, but overall, the majority of comments are positive. Obviously, that's no scientific study or anything, but some interesting anecdotal evidence nonetheless.
So, I've decided to try it out and see if it works for me. A back that aches less is reason enough, but if I'm also more productive, all the better. I've been at work for about an hour: so far, so good. I think I may need to invest in an anti-fatigue mat since my cave's floor is industrial tile, though. Of course, I'll post more as the experiment progresses to keep you updated.
Today I begin a new experiment: standing while working. Basically, it is what it sounds like. Instead of sitting at my desk, I'm now standing. They actually sell standing desks that are adjustable and have a raised monitor stand. Since this is an experiment, I'm currently just using a rigged-up setup, similar to how McGuyver would do it, I'd imagine. Here's a shot of my 'standing desk':
As you can see, it's a shelf spanning two old computers with the monitor on a cardboard box. It's pretty ghetto, but it puts my hands at the right level to keep my elbows at right angles, and to top of my monitor at eye-level. So, it's ghetto, but it works for an experiment.
Why do this? It's something I've read several articles about and something that I've wanted to try for quite a while. Most of what I've read discusses the health benefits, including buring more calories and that it's better for your back.
I actually hadn't thought about it for a while, but then on Friday slashdot had the following article discussing the productivity improvements in addition to the health benefits:
Standing While Working Results in Better Work?
The article mentions some famous people who stand while they work because they feel it improves their productivity. It also mentions the treadmill workstation which takes the idea of getting off your butt while working one step further. I don't have a treadmill, though, so I'm starting with just standing.
In the comments to that article, there are arguments for and against standing. The anti-standing comments do provide some interesting counter points and things to watch out for, but overall, the majority of comments are positive. Obviously, that's no scientific study or anything, but some interesting anecdotal evidence nonetheless.
So, I've decided to try it out and see if it works for me. A back that aches less is reason enough, but if I'm also more productive, all the better. I've been at work for about an hour: so far, so good. I think I may need to invest in an anti-fatigue mat since my cave's floor is industrial tile, though. Of course, I'll post more as the experiment progresses to keep you updated.
As you can see, it's a shelf spanning two old computers with the monitor on a cardboard box. It's pretty ghetto, but it puts my hands at the right level to keep my elbows at right angles, and to top of my monitor at eye-level. So, it's ghetto, but it works for an experiment.Why do this? It's something I've read several articles about and something that I've wanted to try for quite a while. Most of what I've read discusses the health benefits, including buring more calories and that it's better for your back.
I actually hadn't thought about it for a while, but then on Friday slashdot had the following article discussing the productivity improvements in addition to the health benefits:
Standing While Working Results in Better Work?
The article mentions some famous people who stand while they work because they feel it improves their productivity. It also mentions the treadmill workstation which takes the idea of getting off your butt while working one step further. I don't have a treadmill, though, so I'm starting with just standing.
In the comments to that article, there are arguments for and against standing. The anti-standing comments do provide some interesting counter points and things to watch out for, but overall, the majority of comments are positive. Obviously, that's no scientific study or anything, but some interesting anecdotal evidence nonetheless.
So, I've decided to try it out and see if it works for me. A back that aches less is reason enough, but if I'm also more productive, all the better. I've been at work for about an hour: so far, so good. I think I may need to invest in an anti-fatigue mat since my cave's floor is industrial tile, though. Of course, I'll post more as the experiment progresses to keep you updated.
Jul 14: Phone pic catch up
I've taken several pictures with my phone with the intent of posting them in entries here. I've finally gotten around to getting them off of my phone, so here they are.
The first set is of the white-trash lawn mower, held together by duct tape, that I mentioned in this entry:
I've since bought a cordless electric mower to replace it. I put this one out for the trash collectors, but someone had snatched it within an hour or so.
Moving on...
I got the shirts I ordered from threadless (original post). Threadless will give you points that can be used for discounts or something if you send in photos of yourself in the shirts you bought. So, I took some with my phone. I forgot to take one of me in the battleship shirt, so I've only got the two so far:
Next is some shots of the dishwasher I got to replace the broken one mentioned in this entry. It cost us $100 and is way nicer than our last one. First off, it's all-white (pic 1), while the other one had a black control panel and kick plate. Second, it's got cool electronic buttons (pic 2) that beep. Also, it has some cool features like the ability to delay starting. Lastly, it's got a separate spinning sprayer for the top shelf (pic 3).
Last is something a little disturbing. A couple weeks ago, I saw my son Jake scratching his back with his shirt off. His left shoulder blade stuck out way more than normal. So, of course, I took a couple photos. And now, I share them with you. The first is just the left side, and the second is him trying to reach both:
I've taken several pictures with my phone with the intent of posting them in entries here. I've finally gotten around to getting them off of my phone, so here they are.
The first set is of the white-trash lawn mower, held together by duct tape, that I mentioned in this entry:
I've since bought a cordless electric mower to replace it. I put this one out for the trash collectors, but someone had snatched it within an hour or so.
Moving on...
I got the shirts I ordered from threadless (original post). Threadless will give you points that can be used for discounts or something if you send in photos of yourself in the shirts you bought. So, I took some with my phone. I forgot to take one of me in the battleship shirt, so I've only got the two so far:
Next is some shots of the dishwasher I got to replace the broken one mentioned in this entry. It cost us $100 and is way nicer than our last one. First off, it's all-white (pic 1), while the other one had a black control panel and kick plate. Second, it's got cool electronic buttons (pic 2) that beep. Also, it has some cool features like the ability to delay starting. Lastly, it's got a separate spinning sprayer for the top shelf (pic 3).
Last is something a little disturbing. A couple weeks ago, I saw my son Jake scratching his back with his shirt off. His left shoulder blade stuck out way more than normal. So, of course, I took a couple photos. And now, I share them with you. The first is just the left side, and the second is him trying to reach both:
The first set is of the white-trash lawn mower, held together by duct tape, that I mentioned in this entry:
I've since bought a cordless electric mower to replace it. I put this one out for the trash collectors, but someone had snatched it within an hour or so.
Moving on...
I got the shirts I ordered from threadless (original post). Threadless will give you points that can be used for discounts or something if you send in photos of yourself in the shirts you bought. So, I took some with my phone. I forgot to take one of me in the battleship shirt, so I've only got the two so far:
Next is some shots of the dishwasher I got to replace the broken one mentioned in this entry. It cost us $100 and is way nicer than our last one. First off, it's all-white (pic 1), while the other one had a black control panel and kick plate. Second, it's got cool electronic buttons (pic 2) that beep. Also, it has some cool features like the ability to delay starting. Lastly, it's got a separate spinning sprayer for the top shelf (pic 3).
Last is something a little disturbing. A couple weeks ago, I saw my son Jake scratching his back with his shirt off. His left shoulder blade stuck out way more than normal. So, of course, I took a couple photos. And now, I share them with you. The first is just the left side, and the second is him trying to reach both:
