Author: Ross Wintle

I wonder if I could do my job from a Wyse ASCII terminal and a Nokia 3210.

Retro-dreaming now.

“You make a small, high-quality piece of hardware that embraces constraints and does one or two things really well. I actually want that.”

On the Nokia design archive and wondering if the world is ready for simpler devices and some quirky design again. Or is it just me?

https://rosswintle.uk/2025/02/are-we-ready-for-simpler-devices/

More positively:

I heard about the Nokia Design Archive today. It's amazing!

https://nokiadesignarchive.aalto.fi/

Combine that with my recent acquisition of a Playdate game console and reviving my iPod Video (which has sadly failed), and I just feel like the world is ready for simpler devices where designers embrace the constraints more.

Dangit, this needs a blog post.

Sorry to complain, but this is nonsense. I'm happy to tip. I suspect you're not paid enough. But you gotta do something more than the very basics of your job. AND the system has to enable you to do your job well and neither of those things happen.

Mostly I'm upset at the cheek of the system though.

We had birthday celebrations this weekend, and we ate out a few times, and I'm SO confused about tipping in the UK.

I tip well when I get good service.

But now I have to scan a QR code on my table, fight with your shitty wifi because mobile signal is weak, place the order myself with no help or advice on the menu or offers, practically serve myself, and not even get a goodbye or thank you.

And your computer asks me if I want to tip?

Before I even complete my order?

Insanity.

What the hell is the justification for a water bill increase of…

60%!!!!

I found the very silly and fun “Fantasy Hike” app today. What a fun way to get those steps in!!

– Got a new bed that’s the right size for the new mattress we bought a while back.
– Planned and ran my daughter’s birthday
– Got a new garden storage box
– Began looking into new bathrooms.

We are on a roll and very proud of ourselves!!!

Now: FEBRUARY!!!!!

This probably sounds like such an obvious thing to do. But my wife and I decided to get our shit together this year. We are great employees. But we’re a bit crap around the house.

I bought some printable family planners on Etsy and we got to work. Weekly meetings. Quarterly, monthly and weekly goals/plans. Proper accountability.

In Jan we:
– Got our broken toilet flush fixed aged about three months (it was the “backup” loo!)
– Got a damaged fence fixed
– Replaced a crappy door and 4 windows…

Bath friends ( @jackmcconnell ?)

What’s a good, out of town, off the beaten path coffee house?

Severance Theories

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My wife has seen people saying that in Severance S2 it’s Helena that goes to the Severed floor. The don’t activate the chip so it’s her outie that’s there.

I went looking for clues to this and…

She wears a watch?!

Surely that has symbols on it and wouldn’t be allowed??

USPol + Air accident. Commentary on the press conference.

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I rarely do politics here but oh my goodness. Trump is using an air accident to brag about scrapping DEI initiatives and then explaining how helicopters can go up and down and turn and even stop!

This guy runs a country?

What are people's thoughts on Kagi search? Is it good? Do you happily pay for it? Are you concerned that some revenue goes to Yandex?

I'm trying it out and wrestling with the moral implications. But that wrestling has also got me thinking about the fact that I happily give money to Google and Apple and is that any better these days? 🤔

It was nice to do some writing tonight. I like writing.

I should get some pictures for this. Create a fake day so you can see what I end up with! That could be fun. But it won't be tonight.

It recently occurred to me that, after frequently bouncing between tools and techniques, I have a pretty settled productivity system these days. And my Rocketbook planner is at the centre of this. So I thought I'd write it up!

https://rosswintle.uk/2025/01/rocketbooks-and-my-settled-productivity-system/

Oh wow! I'm just writing about how I do productivity with a RocketBook and they are discounting the one's I use right now. (Fusion and Panda Planner).

You'll have to wait for my blog post, but if you've ever been interested in these then this is a good time to buy!

https://getrocketbook.co.uk/collections/sale

I'm SO addicted to Root Bear. But what do I think of my new little Playdate console after a week?

https://rosswintle.uk/2025/01/a-week-long-playdate/