41 / a greedy habit for consuming information
Hello my friend! 👋
Lately, I’ve developed a bit of a greedy habit for consuming information–whether I’m listening to audiobooks, watching videos, or even movies, I tend to speed them up to 1.25 or 1.5 times their normal speed. It’s kind of like gobbling down “information fast food.”
Part of the reason is that some content really drags on, especially non-fiction learning videos. I’ve trained myself to handle fast-paced speech, much like getting used to driving fast makes it hard to go back to a horse and carriage pace. On the other hand, it’s also about the scarcity of time. With the hours in a day fixed, watching a movie used to be no big deal. But now, as a working parent, finishing a movie in one evening feels like an impossible task.
However, for truly captivating or worthwhile movies, especially fictional works, I’m willing to slow down and sync up with the director’s intended pace. For instance, movies by Hayao Miyazaki or recently, “Past Lives.”
How about you? Do you ever watch movies at increased speeds?
Here’re a few things I’d like to share with you today 🙂
On the Protection of Public Facilities and Habitual Education
It’s funny how movie-watching habits can be
First generation immigrant
The Evolution of Personal Assistants
Stray: A Cat Story About Humanity
On the Protection of Public Facilities and Habitual Education
Why are public facilities in New Zealand relatively well-protected? I believe an important aspect of their education on habits is the emphasis on: after you use something, make it easy for the next person to use it. At the very least, don’t leave it dirtier or more cluttered than before you used it. If everyone does just this, it’s usually enough, without needing to preach grand principles.
It’s funny how movie-watching habits can be
It’s funny how movie-watching habits can be. With fast-paced films, especially the majority on Netflix, I find myself wanting to speed up even more, watching at 1.5x speed. But with slower films, like “Rouge” or “Past Lives,” I prefer to take my time and savor each moment.
First generation immigrant
Watching an interview show, the guest shared his experience of studying and working in Australia, feeling like a migrant worker from Chinese countryside entering the city. I can totally relate to that feeling as a first-generation immigrant. It’s not that Australia or any specific city in New Zealand is so advanced that people coming from China feel like migrant workers (it’s actually the other way around). It’s about the unfamiliarity with the whole system, the need to rebuild from scratch. That sense of busyness, disorientation, and tension when learning and adapting to a new system is something every immigrant knows well. The guest’s analogy of a migrant worker entering the city perfectly captures this feeling.
The Evolution of Personal Assistants
I recall reading books about productivity decades ago, where they suggested hiring secretaries or personal assistants for those inundated with work and ideas. Back then, it seemed a luxury reserved for the powerful and the extremely busy, like prime ministers or CEOs.
Then at the turn of the 21st century, the idea of assigning tasks to virtual personal assistants online started to become accessible.
Now, with the advent of AI and tools like Whisper engines, virtually everyone can have a personal assistant. Most of my draft writing (around 80%), is done using voice-to-text technology.
For instance, this very passage was crafted while I was on a treadmill in the gym. AI assists me in recording, refining, and editing my thoughts. Once I approve, the text is ready to use, and the cost? Just a few cents. Technology truly is a formidable catalyst in human progress.
Stray: A Cat Story About Humanity
Recently, I dove into the game “Stray.” It unfolds a steampunk narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world, all through the eyes of a cat. As I journeyed through this robot-only realm, I realized this story delves much deeper than just a cat’s adventure–it’s a profound exploration of humanity. Here’s my personal take on the game.
Have a great one and see you soon!
**Bear Academy Newsletter@2023**
Bear Academy Newsletter
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Hi there 👋, I’m Bear, a seasoned Product Designer with 15 years of overall design experience and six years in product design, transforming the user experiences for millions 📝
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