Spoken

Apple: A Romance - Buzz Andersen: As a recent article about commuting in The New Yorker put it: “There’s a simple rule of thumb: Every ten minutes of commuting results in ten per cent fewer social connections. Commuting is connected to social isolation, which causes unhappiness.”

[and the always popular]

“Second, I kept thinking back to Steve Jobs’ inspirational 2005 Stanford commencement address, and in particular the part where he talks about how he decides whether his life is on the right course: When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

[There’s plenty of opportunity for social connection on the trains if you care to try. I admit a lot of people are sleeping or walled off, but it’s not a requirement, and some have quite a bit of fun. Car commuting can be bad though. The second quote from Jobs is a great one… but my interpretation is that I try and uphold the values which are dear to me every day. And if I’m doing something that causes me to compromise on those values too many days in a row… then I need to change something. Great stuff.]