An Interview with Merlin Mann at Like It Matters

Wow, I completely forgot about this. One day, when my pal Brian was in town, we hit Tu Lan and hung out for an hour or so talking about all kinds of stuff related to 43F, productivity, and how to blow lots of time trying too hard to be productive.

Given the noise level at the restaurant, I'm amazed he could transcribe the conversation, but here you go. Considering I was high on vietnamese food, there's actually some pretty good bits in there:

UCSF - Calendar of Events [Symposium on Happiness with Matthieu Ricard]

I’m looking forward to attending this symposium with the Mrs. tomorrow night on the campus of UCSF. Open to the public and maybe worth checking out if you share my interest in mindfulness and exploring Dharma practice.

Join us for a revolutionary look at happiness from one of the world’s most compelling voices on the subject. As a trained scientist and Buddhist monk, Matthieu Ricard, PhD is uniquely positioned in the dialogue between East and West. Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, contemporary western philosophy, Buddhist thought, current psychological and scientific research and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world.

[ More on Matthieu Ricard ]

I learned via the Writer's Almanac that today is the birthday of the Bay Area novelist and non-fiction writer, Anne Lamott.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006: Monthly Program (BayCHI)

Just a reminder that tomorrow night I'll be speaking at the monthly BayCHI meeting down in Palo Alto.

OSAF's estimable Mimi Yin and I will be talking about Getting Things Done partly in theory but mostly in practice; Mimi will focus on how Chandler is being developed to support GTD practices, and I'll be addressing the ways behavioral change can help enhance any tools and methodologies we've chosen to improve productivity.

As far as I can tell, it's free and open to the public, so if you're in the 'hood, stop by and watch me stammer along in front of a really, really smart audience. Talk about intimidating.

Edit 2006-03-15 07:51:15: Had a great time last night. Very fun and lively crowd. Here's my slides, if you like that sort of thing.

Apparently there will be a podcast of Mimi and my talks forthcoming, so keep an eye out. (Thanks, Steve!)

My question to you: what's exciting on the show floor this year? Anything I shouldn't miss? Any exhibitors want to make a case to the Bay Area (and out-of-toen) geeks reading this? Beckon us unto your booth (and do feel free to offer free schwag and discounts to 43F Geeks in the bargain :)). NB: the usual admonitions on self-linking are lifted for this one -- provided they're tasteful and do indeed point to info on your exhibiting company (yes, I'll check).

FINDING MY RELIGION / Buddhist teacher and author Jack Kornfield on mindfulness, happiness and his own spiritual journey

SF Gate interviews Bay Area meditation teacher Jack Kornfield:

What is mindfulness and why is it important?

Mindfulness is an innate human capacity to deliberately pay full attention to where we are, to our actual experience, and to learn from it.

Much of our day we spend on automatic pilot. People know the experience of driving somewhere, pulling up to the curb and all of a sudden realizing, "Wow, I was hardly aware I was even driving. How did I get here?" When we pay attention, it is gracious, which means that there is space for our joys and sorrows, our pain and losses, all to be held in a peaceful way...

For many people, happiness is about chasing after something -- a new car, a promotion, a trip to Bermuda. But when they get it they aren't satisfied. They want more. Why do you think that happens?

I'll tell you a story. A reporter was asking the Dalai Lama on his recent visit to Washington, "You have written this book, 'The Art of Happiness,' which was on the best-seller list for two years -- could you please tell me and my readers about the happiest moment of your life?" And the Dalai Lama smiled and said, "I think now!"

Happiness isn't about getting something in the future. Happiness is the capacity to open the heart and eyes and spirit and be where we are and find happiness in the midst of it. Even in the place of difficulty, there is a kind of happiness that comes if we've been compassionate, that can help us through it. So it's different than pleasure, and it's different than chasing after something.

Kornfield co-founded Spirit Rock and is the author of many books, including A Path with Heart -- I haven't read it yet, but it's been recommended to me by several people as a sensible introduction to meditation and a spiritual path.

[ via Ms. Stiness ]

The always-enjoyable Mark Morford has a cure for the clutter in your life that doesn't involve gnashing of teeth or the intervention of a TV show. He calls it getting rid of stuff.

Upcoming.org: Web 1.0 Summit at House of Shields (Wednesday, October 5, 2005)

We are confirmed for tomorrow night at House of Shields from 7-9pm.

Damn. Got a feeling there’s going to be a lot of people there. I hope their Geek Insurance is paid up. So looking forward to this.

Be sure to checkout the updated Upcoming page on the Summit for extra details (esp. with regard to our janky A/V capabilities). See you there!

Web 1.0 Summit: My Garage, San Francisco
Originally uploaded by merlinmann.

Web 1.0 is just around the corner, so iron your New Media Blue™ shirt and recharge your ginormous cellphone, because we’re going public, bitch.

• Yes, this is an actual event
• Yes, there may very well be one or two beer-fueled presentations from Web People You’ve Heard Of
• No, the day and location are not finalized (shooting for House of Shields on Wednesday the 5th)
• Yes, you have to wear whatever name tag I give you
• Yes, we probably will pass the hat soon to buy us a waitress and a round or two (as with the meetup of yore)
• Yes, if your company wants to co-sponsor it (along with 43F and the year 1998), it can (coughAppleAPBloggerOdeoSixapartcough).

So. What remains is to nail down the coordinates. I’m going to a big blow-out on Thursday (the 6th), but I wonder if actual Web 2.0 attendees can clue me to any other major evening events on whose toes we mustn’t step. Spill, please.

Post thoughts and ideas here; watch the Upcoming.org page for news on the final happs.

Like I say, let’s try to make this one better-attended than the last one.

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