Entries about Lifehacks

Feb 2, 2009

Will Google Quick Search Replace Quicksilver?

I’ve been pretty bummed about the development death of my favorite Mac utility, Quicksilver. But now I have a glimmer of hope. Nicholas Jitkoff, Quicksilver’s original developer, has just teamed up with Google to create Google Quick Search. It’s still a prototype, but the resemblance to Quicksilver is unmistakable. No, it doesn’t yet have the [...]

Dec 2, 2008

Whatever’s Clever:
The Grid System

Antonio Carusone’s got a new site dedicated to the ever wonderful grid. Aptly titled The Grid System, the site’s filled with articles, tools, books, and templates to help you design grid systems for both web and print. Perfect for the anal retentive designer. Clearly inspired by Khoi Vinh’s Subtraction, the site’s design is clean and [...]

Nov 4, 2008

Digital Nomads: Date more to work less

I’ve got a little post about dating on the Digital Nomads site. It’s not one of my usual topics, but it does relate to working better and more efficiently. Really. Check it out: Date more to work less Be sure to leave some juicy comments, so I can feel loved.

Oct 29, 2008

Jedi Mind Trick: How can we make this happen?

Instead of asking or demanding for what you want, simply state your goal and ask, “How can we make this happen?” Here are some examples: Instead of: “Can you give me a raise?” Ask this: “I’d like a raise. How can we make this happen?” Instead of: “Can I be your boyfriend” Ask this: “I [...]

Oct 27, 2008

Putting the “I” in blog

I’m going through a bit of a blog crisis, so I’ve been looking more closely at the About page on this site. The word “we” is all over the place. Which is weird, because I’ve been going solo for awhile. I do wish I had a team of magic elves maintaining and pumping out content [...]

Oct 13, 2008

I’m back!

I’m now rested (fairly so, at least) and back in the swing of things. I’m working on refocusing the site, and posts will now be more frequent. Also, I now have a little stint on Dell’s Digital Nomads blog. Check out a few things I’ve written recently: 12 essential services for the digital nomad Baggu: [...]

Sep 28, 2008

Chanpory does Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia

Hey everyone, I meant to post this earlier, but had trouble with my Internet access: I’m taking a much needed vacation and will be out for the rest of the month on a Southern adventure in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia–yikes! I know I haven’t been posting much lately, but I promise I haven’t totally checked [...]

Sep 8, 2008

Please, Don’t Talk About Work at Lunch

Lately, all I do at lunch is talk about work. And by talking, I mean bitching. So instead of a nice leisurely lunch filled with lively conversation about politics, film, or just the weather, it’s another trap to fill my head with work stress. So here’s my new rule for lunch: stop the shop talk. [...]

Aug 28, 2008

One Wish List to Rule Them All

Amazon’s Wish List feature just got way more clever with the Universal Wish List Button. The newly introduced tool lets you to add any item on any website to your Amazon Wish List–even products not sold on Amazon. Just drag the button to your browser’s bookmarks bar, and click the “Add to Wish List” link [...]

Aug 14, 2008

Design Your Morning with Pantone Coffee Cups

Your morning just got a little cuter with Pantone’s line of swatch-inspired coffee cups. With a range of vivid hues and shades of espresso, they’re perfect for hardcore designers who crave a dose of design in the morning. I’d really be swooning if they were available in every Pantone color. It won’t happen soon, but [...]

Aug 11, 2008

Stay in Focus with Isolator and Menu Eclipse

Can’t concentrate because you’ve got a billion windows opened? Check out Isolator. The clever Mac app dims background application windows to keep you focused on the current application. Couple it with Menu Eclipse to dim your menubar, and you’ve got a distraction-fighting dynamic duo.

Aug 8, 2008

Whatever’s Clever: Ampersands, Dashes, Grids, and Figures

The Ampersand A cute little blog dedicated to respresentations of the beloved Ampersand. The Trouble With EM ‘n EN (and Other Shady Characters) Do you know the three types of dashes? Peter Sheering has a quick tutorial on the proper use of dashes as well as other typographic details on the web. Setting Web type [...]

Aug 4, 2008

Is Workin’ 9 to 5 a Bad Thing?

My typical work day is 9:30 to 7:30. Often, my work bleeds into my “off hours”. This isn’t helped by instant messengers, twitters, tiny laptops, and my fancy new 3G iPhone. If someone “needs” me for a random assignment in the wee hours, I’m just a few buttons away–just a tug of the electronic dog [...]

Jul 31, 2008

Wordscraper is the new Scrabulous

Today, Rajat and Jayant Agarwalla resurrected their recently murdered Scrabulous app under a new name, Wordscraper. This incarnation works much like the original, with a few significant differences: You can create your own board layout (this includes layouts based on the original Scrabble board), or you can generate a random one. You can share your [...]

Jul 21, 2008

The Perfect iPhone Pocket

Remember that little coin pocket in your jeans that you never use? Turns out, it’s the perfect size for your iPhone. The mini pocket keeps your Precious close to you while protecting it from scratchy keys and objects in your main pocket. No need for a stupid holster or bulky case. I’ve tested jeans from [...]

Jul 10, 2008

Portfolio 101: Just Use Your Own Name, Dammit

I’m seeing a lot of design portfolios with titles like “Beyond Imagination” or “Passions” or “Reflections” or “Curiosity.” With all these vaguely conceptual names, it’s like taking a nauseating stroll through the Macy’s perfume department. Instead of titling your portfolio like the latest celebrity scent, why not just use your own name? Here’s my rationale: [...]

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