Somewhere on the Internet exists a Plan 9 press release with my name on it. When I had a chance to corner a few of Dennis's colleagues at Mobile World Congress (they were, at that time, part of Alcatel-Lucent), I asked them for their memories of working alongside him.
Please excuse the audio, I was working with a FlipCam and just focused on capturing what I could for the history books.
I've worked from home for the past 6+ years. I started with several of the routine recommendations below (all good). What I've found over time, however, is that the routine route is -- in most cases -- simply a transfer of traditional office culture to a work environment that is anything but.
My recommendation: embrace flexibility.
Man-made time constraints are no longer part of your world (outside of deadlines). Technology no longer requires that you are chained to a desk. Shake things up to stay fresh. Don't let yourself think 9-5, 5 days. Your life is now 24x7, 365 and you are in control of how you use those hours.
That said, there are some spot-on recommendations here by others based on my experience:
* Exercise. I've taken calls on 50mi bike rides and from roadside taverns. Helps to have a buddy you can draft off during the calls.
* Nutrition. Laptop on counter. Work. Cook.
* Standing desk. You'll find yourself moving around a lot more rather than slouching in a chair and never leaving your monitor. On that, if you have the means, spread devices around your house. Mix up your screen time.
* Get up early. This one took some time, but is perhaps the biggest thing you can do. It jumpstarts everything.
* Sunday night scheduling. I believe it was Tim Ferris' 4-hour workweek that started this. Sunday night, write down what you want/must accomplish over the next week. When it's done, it's done. Doesn't matter whether it's Tuesday or Sunday.
* IM. IM. IM. Some see random IM conversations as interruptions to be avoided. They aren't. They are your watercooler, your vent, your muse. Embrace them.
Why flag it? We have flagging problems locally (one individual) on segments that are in no way dangerous. Dangerous for you may not be dangerous for someone else. Just because the segment is there, it doesn't mean everyone has to go for it.
Not knocking him, but we have non-pro locals who are better descenders than Cat 1. Not everyone is an awesome descender. Also, who's to say an 18% descent segment is any less dangerous than a 3% descent being ridden by beginners going after a segment?
Also, who's to say an 18% descent segment is any less dangerous than a 3% descent being ridden by beginners going after a segment?
Isaac Newton.
(In his second law.) Don't misunderstand me: I think 3% descents are dangerous too. But the increased speed an 18% descent gives is more dangerous than a crash at lower speed.
Also, being an "awesome descender" doesn't make you safe - in some cases it means you just crash at higher speeds. Vincenzo Nibali is possibly the best (road) descender in the world at the moment (eg 2013 Giro exploits, his attack on the 2012 Milan-San Remo Poggio descent) and yet he crashed in the World Championship road race, and it was only luck that saved him from serious injury.
Thanks Javert. I only wish I had better vid/audio. I think it's important to capture the history of those who our careers (and lives) are built on. Just hope I did dmr justice.
I think you added the music background. Personally I don't consider it good idea unless you're making an ad. It's much harder to follow the words, especially for me: I have a hearing problem and English is not my native tongue.
It was a good video. I just wish that there had been more people from the remains of 1127 (specifically, the Unix research group). The ones that had built with him, in other words.
That's true. Did you get a chance to walk up to building 2, 5th floor and talk to some of the people there? That was where the Unix room (and his office) were.
Many of the people that used to be there have scattered, but the ones that remain would probably have some stories and pointers.
Ori, I actually met these researchers in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress. I'm sure I walked by a few of them (and others) when I was part of the launch team on Plan 9 (I did the PR). Movies have Hollywood; tech has Bell Labs.
Russell, I agree re: your comment about the list being based on PR folk (admittedly, I am one). Interested to hear what a HN top 10 list would like. I'd have, personally, had ArsTechnica and ReadWriteWeb higher on the list.
Please excuse the audio, I was working with a FlipCam and just focused on capturing what I could for the history books.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE4ZRPwbNhA&t=141s