Brian Keng

  • Readability

    I have a problem.  I don’t know how to read… on the web.

    Distractions are a plenty on any site you visit on the interweb.  Ads can be at the top of the page, bottom of the page, sides of the page, inline in the text, appear full screen before the page loads, flashing in multiple colours… you get the idea.  Not only that, there are just too many things to see on the page!  Links on the top of the page, bottom of the page, sides of the page, inline in the text, appear randomly as you move your mouse, flash in multiple colours… and so on.  And last but not least, most font sizes are horrible for reading (usually the text is way too small for my liking)!

    Thankfully, I’ve found a way to deal with it (actually I found someone’s site who has found a way to deal with it).  Here’s a very useful article on how to make the web more readable: Filters for Reading on the Web.  One of the main points is to use this awesome free application/plug-in called Readability.  It basically will reformat the text on a page so that it is actually readable and distraction free.  The best part is that if you’re worried about not giving ad revenue to your favourite sites (haven’t met anyone yet like this), part of the proceeds from Readability go to the site you’re viewing (if you get the paid version).  Finally, something designed for those of us who like reading on the web but who haven’t quite figured out how to filter out the distractions.

    Filters for Reading on the Web

  • In a perfect world…

    In a perfect world, I wake up whenever by body has had enough rest.

    In a perfect world, I solve interesting problems (without the monotonous stuff) that are somehow very useful and get paid a lot to do it.

    In a perfect world, house chores (cleaning, laundry, dish washing etc.) are magically done whenever things gets messy.

    In a perfect world, I eat whatever I feel like (without consideration for calories, fat or nutrition).

    In a perfect world, I recover as fast as I did when I was a teenager.

    In a perfect world, I have unlimited time to read and have access to any book I can think of.

    In a perfect world, I visit any one of my friends, anywhere in the world, anytime I want.

    In a perfect world, I give my friends and family any present that they would value.

    In a perfect world, I find that one special person that I want to spend the rest of my life with.

    In a perfect world, I am never sick.

    In a perfect world, I have access to the best teachers in the world.

    P.S. I  got this exercise from an essay titled “IN A PERFECT WORLD…” by Derek Sivers in the End Malaria book.  I highly recommend it, not only because it has many great essays but because with every purchase you help to end malaria.

  • Incentives

    “Well I think I’ve been in the top 5% of my age cohort all my life in understanding the power of incentives, and all my life I’ve underestimated it. And never a year passes getting some surprise that pushes my limit a little farther.”
    Charlie Munger

    It’s strange how just by reading the news everyday we can become cynical.  How so much injustice can be done, how so much greed can run amok, and how so much nothing is being done, is kind of a mystery.  However, one thing that seems to elude most policy makers is the power of incentives to drive people’s decisions (especially policy makers decisions).  Regardless of whatever ideologies they spew, it still all comes down to incentives.

    “Oh big oil, you want to give me hundreds of thousands of dollars?  Of course you know that I’m still going to vote according to my values.”  A question: how many thousands of dollars does it take to change someone’s values?  Probably a lot less than a hundred thousand.

    A similar occurrence happens in school.  “Oh, we just have a big exam at the end of the course?  Well then what’s the point of actually trying to learn the material?  I just need to figure out how to do well on the exam.”  And that’s exactly what happens if you’ve ever taken one of these types of courses.

    A million other examples are easy to come by in every nook and cranny of our society.  So it’s almost surprising that we often forget about this important concept.  I know I did and I probably would’ve forgot it for a lot longer if I had not happened to come across it recently while I was reading The Big Short.  Charlie may be old but he still hasn’t steered me wrong yet.  Maybe someday I’ll learn to not forget what he says… I just have to figure out the right incentives first.

  • A Good Night’s Sleep

    There’s something magical about a good night’s sleep.  Tossing off your street clothes and jumping into some nice comfy PJ’s. Going through your time honoured personal ritual before you hit your final resting place for the day.  And as soon as you drift out of consciousness, you’re taken to a place that can’t be described, where thoughts, sounds and ideas all meld into a hazy state of existence.  And after what seems to be a lifetime of thoughts roaming free across this celestial plane of existence, they are suddenly pulled back from their aimless wandering contained back within your consciousness.  And this is where creativity begins.  A good night’s sleep.

  • More Options

    I recently took a hands-on course in riding a motorcycle.  One recurring theme in course was giving yourself more options.  You see limiting yourself to, say only being able to emergency brake, is dangerous.  If for some reason you’re not able to stop in time, braking is definitely not the best option and it may result in an incident (a euphemism for serious injury or death).  However, with more options, you can pick and choose which action is right for the current situation.  Pothole?  No problem, swerve left.  Eminent cliff?  A cinch, emergency brake.  Attractive lady?  Easy, rev your engine as loud as possible. (Note: one of those options may not have been taught in the course.)

    This idea of giving yourself more options is much more widely applicable than just to motorcycling.  It applies to everything you do.  What if you were fired from your job?  Many people only have one option, apply through websites using the good old fashioned cover letter and resume.  But say you had other options, say getting a referral from a friend, things would look very different.  Instead of getting just another job, you could be working at your dream job!  That’s a big difference from “taking advantage” of all those employment insurance deductions that you paid for.

    And to think, it was all possible because you knew how to swerve instead of just brake.  There’s going to be many potholes ahead, hope you learn to swerve sooner rather than later.

Top Posts

A Little Bit of Slope Makes Up for a Lot of Y-InterceptJuly 25, 2015
A Slot Machine RiddleDecember 11, 2012
Scott Adams’ Financial AdviceJanuary 25, 2015
You can't outrun a bearApril 9, 2016
Lucky or smart?July 28, 2013

Past Posts