OmniFocus has a quick capture of tasks feature, just as it was done with Kinkless and Quicksilver, only much better because it doesn’t require any special notation. It’s an integral part of the software.

Make sure you check out their introductory video and get a hold of it while it is still at 50% discount price (while in Beta). The $40 are totally worth it.

If you’re still not using it… oh well.

Here’s a link to the realease notes for version 1.0.4.

The background maker lets you customize the width of the grid and the padding between the vertical columns.

The file is not a “finished product” at all. Let’s call it in alpha state. But if you’re a Processing user go ahead and grab it. I hope you find it useful and build a better one. (And then let me know so I can start using yours).

web_grid_background_maker.pde

So in case you want to know how it’s done, this is it: SWFUpload. A tool that’s described as:

A small javascript/flash library to get the best of both worlds - The great upload capabilitys of flash and the accessibility and ease of html/css.

But one of these days I looked into the real usage that I gave it and noticed that my habit is doing this:

• I submit things I have to do via Quicksilver to specific projects and contexts
• I launch iGTD every once in a while to review things I have to do whenever I get a feeling of “what should I do now?”
• I sync with iCal

So basically what I need is just a small app that can let me handle Projects, Contexts and Deadlines. That’s it.

I think I found a proper replacement in Actiontastic by Jon Crosby.

I’ve loved that the UI is simple and uncluttered. It’s got all that I need and is not filled with extra features.

Actiontastic has a simple, clean and easy to use UI

One thing though: Next to my projects and contexts there’s no number indicating how many tasks I’ve got pending. This is a major need for me. Hope it gets introduced in the next version. But for now, check it out.

Very handy!

The whole idea is to become selective of what you put in. There’s only that much input you need, to be able to give forth good output in life. You can’t read all the time and expect to write tons at the same time! If you want to write tons, then just write tons!

So anyways. I’m in. For one entire week I’ll stay away from my Google Reader and my RSS feeds.

And it’s free.

It’s apparently more of a Tumblelog than a full featured Blogging tool. I like the simple Tumblelog approach to posting and maybe I’ll even switch to it sometime.

How do they do that? What type of script goes through your contacts? Has anyone done this that can point me in some direction?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a must have for anyone who wants to really beat procrastination and get something done in life. If you’re sick and tired of getting to the end of the day with a feeling of “I didn’t get anything done” (and worst of all, you didn’t get anything done!) this book is for you.

The War of Art teaches that no matter what plans you make, you will always encounter a force of resistance that will stop you from executing your work. The more important it is to get the job done, the more resistance you will face. And only by becoming aware of this force of resistance can we plan ahead and make sure that we don’t get stuck in procrastination.

It’s really easy to implement the GTD system with such perfection, that your keeping of neat to-do lists and next actions will actually become a source of procrastination. (This has probably been mentioned hundreds of times in productivity blogs, but it’s always good to remember that it’s the #1 source of self-sabotage for the GTD practitioner). You keep adding things to do to your list, but you never do a single one of them. Resistance is beating you to the ground and you don’t even know it.

So go to your nearest bookstore and get the book. Or just get it from Amazon or Powells. Or if a friend of yours has it, steal it. The book is so important that it’s worth loosing your friend. (And I’m only half-kidding).

This week I lost a lot of information and it’s no one’s fault but mine. That’s the tough part, not being able to blame anyone.

So guys, make sure you’ve got a copy of SuperDuper! and that you use it daily. (At least once a week).

If you keep your to-do lists on pieces of paper, kgtd, iGTD or some sort of software that keeps track of the things you have to do, make sure to at least glance at your completed tasks every once in a while. It will be a healthy reminder that even though you still haven’t developed super human powers to do all you’d like in one day, you do get things done.

Review your completed tasks for a morale boost

Be proud of each completed task. They might not be such a big deal individually, but after all, it’s the accumulation of completed next actions that lead you to marking an entire project as complete.

Keith says that what he does is find a small group of trusted sources on the subject matter of his interest. People that he knows are not wasting their time with stupid stuff or that won’t bookmark a bad article. Then simply subscribe to their bookmarks (most people now post an individual feed for their links in their blogs).

Unconsciously I have been using that technique for the past 3 months. But I hadn’t heard the concept pointed out as a formal idea. Keith says it’s like having your trusted sources doing editorial work for you.

You’re probably already doing it, but if you’re a Google Reader user (as I am), you can specify special “folders” for each topic you decide to filter using this cool content hack.