Then - MacSparky

Here’s an archive of my Now page. Enjoy.

October 1, 2025

PROJECTS

THE APPLE PRODUCTIVITY SUITE FIELD GUIDE

Apple has been slowly improving Notes, Reminders, Calendar, and Freeform. To the point that it’s now a perfectly acceptable productivity suite for many people. For the last nine months, I’ve been diving deep with the apps, and I’ve created a new Field Guide for them. The recording is now done and the videos are in post-production. I expect to release it soon.

AI, MCP, AND DONKEY WORK

I’m experimenting with AI a lot lately and Model Context Protocol. Specifically, I’m trying to get it to do more donkey work, so I can focus on more human work. Results are mixed, but every positive result is a win. I’ll be covering this more deeply in the MacSparky Labs.

IN THE WOODSHOP

I’m working on a little project right now. It’s a stand for my Ugmonk cards. I’ve got a few in testing phase. I just cut slight cove into them using (of course) a cove plane for my pencil. I’m still deciding if I want to laser engrave onto them or leave them plain. I’ve got a few days work left on them with some shaping and finishing.

IN THE GARDEN

The weather is cooling off enough that I can take the bonsai trees out of permanent shade. Now they are spread throughout the yard again. That makes me happy. Here’s a bonsai sequoia that needs a trim.

READING

I’m reading the Meditations again. This will be the third time. I read it when I was 20. Then I read it when I was 40. Now I’m reading it when I’m 57. It hits different every time. (I prefer the Gregory Hays translation.)

STATE OF THE SPARKY

Things are going pretty good for me right now. I’m happy to have finished the heavy lift on the Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide and am looking forward to its launch (and catching my breath).

Updated June 1, 2025

PROJECTS

THE LABS AUDIT

I’m in the middle of a soup-to-nuts audit of the MacSparky Labs. I’m looking at everything from marketing, to onboarding, to member features and benefits. Because I’m a nerd, I’m calling it Project Iterum. It will take about six weeks but I hope for the Labs experience to get even better as a result.

MOMENTUM CLUB

The first outside-facing change from Project Iterum is the Momentum Club, where lab members meet for a few hours for a live co-working session. I did these earlier in the labs, and I’m glad to have them back.

AI HELP AND LIMITS

I’ve been working hard to find out where AI can make sense in daily productivity and where it doesn’t. As a result, I’ve discovered several new workflows and tools that I’ve been sharing in the MacSparky Labs and podcasts. I’ve also discovered some hard limits for myself where I very much do not want AI involved. It’s an ongoing experiment, but I’m enjoying it.

IN THE WOODSHOP

I’m working on framing my big window in Endor Studios with walnut. I’m using spare lumber and some of it needs work. Before you can get fancy on a woodworking project, you need your lumber square and true. That starts with one straight edge. There is a power tool for this called a “Jointer” for just this job. I have one, but it is loud, dangerous, and it makes a lot of sawdust, which is no good at all for my lungs. It’s also a consumer-grade tool and not very good at long boards. So I prefer to use hand tools. (The other advantage of hand tools is that they are a great workout and really get me sweating.)

I do this by mounting the crooked-edged board on top of a piece of plywood that I know to be straight. I have the crooked edge out over the edge of the plywood so it stands out a bit. (Woodworkers call this being “proud” 😁 ). Then I run a hand plane along the bench and along the crooked board until it flattens to the straight plywood and the plane stops “biting”. Then the board is straight.

It’s a fun process and makes the most beautiful long, curly shavings. (I often keep those shavings and use them when packing gifts.) I’m in the middle of the process now and still have several boards to go, but here is an explanatory image.

They actually make a special hand plane for this. It’s called a “shooting plane”, and I’m lucky enough to have one. So that’s a long explanation that allows me to tell you that in the shop, I’m currently shooting edges.

TECH & TOOLS

I used to scoff at SuperHuman’s $30/month email client, but recently I’ve taken back customer support at Sparky Media, and it has been essential. This isn’t for everyone, but if email brings you no joy, you may want to try it out. Use my Affiliate Code and we’ll both get a free month.
After a few months with DaVinci Resolve, I’m a believer.
I’m in deep right now with the Apple Productivity Suite, in that it relates to the next big Field Guide, but I’m also enjoying some toe-dipping with NotePlan.

READING

I’m nearly done with Ron Chernow’s new Mark Twain biography. I’ve been a Mark Twain fan my whole life, but now I have so many thoughts.

STATE OF THE SPARKY

Things are going pretty good for me right now. I’m not at the grindstone on any Field Guide and am able to take it a bit more easy. I’ll take that, for now.

Updated April 27, 2025 at Endor Studios

PROJECTS

THE ALFRED FIELD GUIDE

… is wrapping up. I rebuilt the whole production pipeline for this one, and it’s paying off. I’ll have a proper announcement soon.

MACSPARKY LABS SESSIONS

Monthly live discussions are kicking off in May, covering topics like installing and running local AI, careers, and retirement. I’m looking forward to this experiment.

CUSTOM GPT EXPERIMENTS

I’m training a few house-made GPTs to help out at MacSparky HQ. I’m still deciding whether custom GPTs or text snippet prompts are the better approach. At least it’s finally spelling “MacSparky” correctly. Well … most of the time.

DISNEYLAND “RUCKS”

We start at the parking structure at 7 a.m., and we’ve usually logged 5–10 miles by lunch. Good times. It’s my favorite sneaky cardio.

IN THE WOODSHOP

I was planning to build a shelf for my desk, but the more I look at it, the less I think I need one. What do you think?

If I punt on the shelf, the next project will be framing the studio window in walnut.

TECH & TOOLS

The Rivian R1S: Three-month check-in — love the driving experience, love the storage, love the size (didn’t expect that); seriously dislike the Alexa voice assistant. (I found something Siri is actually better at.)
Still using my Plotter stationery most days. I’ve found a nice hybrid balance for planning and journaling.
Switching from Final Cut to DaVinci Resolve to match tools with my editor. I love learning new software. (Really!)

READING

I’m reading Epictetus’s Enchiridion, again.

HEALTH & HEARING

I finally embraced hearing aids. It’s like putting HD glasses on my ears — sort of. The tinnitus is still there, but it’s less intrusive now that everything else is clearer. I should have done this sooner.

STATE OF THE SPARKY

Between two Field Guides in flight, new Labs features, and the day-to-day content engine, the plates are spinning fast. I don’t like working this hard. I’m working on it.

Updated April 13, 2025, from Endor Studios.

PROJECTS

PRODUCTIVITY FIELD GUIDE WEBINAR SERIES

The Productivity Field Guide is in the midst of a three week stretch about reviews. Why so much time on reviews? Because it appears to me that people who stick with the reviews have the most success with the whole enchilada.

MACSPARKY LABS

I just announced the details of a new feature in the MacSparky Labs: Sessions. It’ll be like a jazz jam sessions, but for ideas. I can’t wait to start them.

THE NEXT FIELD GUIDE

Post production is rolling on the next MacSparky Field Guide on Alfred. We changed the production pipeline on this one and early results are looking pretty great. I’m excited about getting this one into the wild.

THE TEAM IS GROWING

That’s all I’ll say about that for now.

IN THE WOODSHOP

I found the perfect piece Walnut for my desk shelf project. I’m waffling on the joinery though. I’ll figure that out next.

IN THE GARDEN

I’ve got a mini Japanese Maple that I keep in a pot. It’s leafing now and that makes me way happier than makes any sense.

I’M A LITTLE FRAZZLED AT THE MOMENT

Right now I’m busy with the Productivity Webinar while simultaneously finishing the Hazel Field Guide and keeping all the other plates in the air and I’m feeling it. I expect that to continue for the next month. I’m also taking steps to avoid this in the future. (And that explains why the team is getting bigger.)

HEALTH & MOVEMENT UPDATE

The Disney Rucking thing is real. We arrive at 7 AM and get 5-10 miles (depending on energy levels) by late morning. Also, I’ve now got hearing aids. That feels a little bit weird, but it’s like wearing glasses for the first time. I hear so many great frequencies again.

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Updated March 30, 2025, from Endor Studios.

PROJECTS

PRODUCTIVITY FIELD GUIDE WEBINAR SERIES

The Productivity Field Guide webinar series is going well. Lots of interest and lots of progress. I love doing this.

MACSPARKY LABS

I figured out a name for the interest-based meetups in the MacSparky Labs. We’ll call them Sessions, like those jam sessions I used to love when learning to play jazz. I’ve already booked some in the coming months.

JUNE LOOMS

Apple announced WWDC for the second week of June. I don’t know if I’ll attend, but I doubt it. Regardless, that will be a busy week for me with lots to cover and I may be attending Kit’s Craft + Commerce event in Boise later that week. (That bit is still a bit up in the air depending on a few personal commitments.)

THE NEXT FIELD GUIDE

Recording is finished for my next MacSparky Field Guide on Alfred, the Mac utility and keyboard launcher. The switch to Screen Studio went swimmingly. We’ll be finishing production in Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve,which will result in even better production standards overall. I’m excited about getting this one into the wild.

IN THE WOODSHOP

I failed miserably at getting creative time the last few weeks as I spent all my time recording Alfred videos. So I will be back at it this week, finishing stage boxes and starting to think about a walnut shelf for my computer desk.

IN THE GARDEN

Spring continues awakening my bonsai collection. My maple tree is full-on leafing, and my smaller redwood grouping is just getting started.

CURRENT READING & PRODUCTIVITY EXPERIMENTS

My last book remains Paul Loomans’ I’ve Got Time: A Zen Monk’s Guide to a Calm, Focused, and Meaningful Life—a geat read. Its emphasis on mindfulness has influenced my experiment with “intuition-based” planning.

I’ll be reading Oliver Burkeman’s 4,000 Weeks again this week since we’re having a book club meetup in the MacSparky Labs in April.

HEALTH & MOVEMENT UPDATE

Updated March 16, 2025, from Endor Studios.

PROJECTS

PRODUCTIVITY FIELD GUIDE WEBINAR SERIES

I’m currently in the middle of the Productivity Field Guide webinar series. This is one of my favorite annual projects, and watching participants make real progress toward their own Arete—the Greek concept of striving for excellence—has been deeply fulfilling.

MAC POWER USERS

We have an exciting lineup of guests coming to Mac Power Users—including several I’ve been eager to interview for quite some time. I can’t wait to share these conversations and insights with our listeners.

E-INK EXPLORATION: NOT FOR ME

After testing the Supernote E-Ink device, I’ve concluded that despite its quality, E-Ink simply doesn’t fit my workflow. I consistently return to tools that better serve my needs. I’ll elaborate on this experience in an upcoming Mac Power Users episode.

MACSPARKY LABS

At MacSparky Labs, I’m preparing to launch a series of interest-based meetups. These rotating conversations will explore a variety of topics. Meanwhile, our book club continues to thrive—we’re currently reading Oliver Burkeman’s 4,000 Weeks.

THE NEXT FIELD GUIDE

Recording is underway for my next MacSparky Field Guide on Alfred, the Mac utility and keyboard launcher. After years with ScreenFlow, persistent bugs forced me to switch to Screen Studio for its cleaner aesthetic and built-in animations. It’s not as full featured as ScreenFlow, so we’ll be finishing production in Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve which will result in even better production standards overall. This combination will bring a fresh, more dynamic visual style to future videos.

IN THE WOODSHOP

My woodworking has taken a practical turn lately as I build stage boxes and utility pieces for family projects. We’re also converting a portion of our garage into a rehearsal space for my daughter’s production of Gutenberg! The Musical! at the LA Fringe Festival.

IN THE GARDEN

Spring is awakening my bonsai collection. My maple tree is developing delicate buds, while the redwood grouping displays vibrant new growth. We don’t get the seasons in Southern California like folks do in other parts of the world, so theses little seasonal transitions are a highlight for me.

CURRENT READING & PRODUCTIVITY EXPERIMENTS

I recently finished Paul Loomans’ I’ve Got Time: A Zen Monk’s Guide to a Calm, Focused, and Meaningful Life—a concise yet profound read. Its emphasis on mindfulness has influenced my experiment with “intuition-based” planning. I’m very curious to see how this plays out.

HEALTH & MOVEMENT UPDATE

I’ve been prioritizing my physical wellbeing through consistent Pilates and regular walks through my hilly neighborhood. This steady movement routine has significantly enhanced my energy and focus. I’m also starting a new experiment with a friend, Disney Rucking, where we meet at Disneyland at opening and walk 4-5 miles with loaded backpacks before a healthy lunch and heading home. It’s kinda fun.

I BOUGHT A THING

I’ve added several Toyo Japanese toolboxes from Ugmonk to my collection. Their intentional design has proven remarkably versatile in the studio. Fair warning: I may acquire more!

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Hat tip to Derek Sivers for the idea of this “Now” page. I’m terrible at social media, but this page gives me a place to check in with the world and update you, as Derek recommends, like I would when catching up with an old friend.

Updated February 10, 2025, from Endor Studios.

Projects

There are always more. Please don’t ask me for release dates or details. I’m still figuring all that out myself.

Project Bookshelf: Mission Accomplished!

The Shortcuts for iPhone & iPad Field Guide webinar series is almost finished. I’m getting ready to start up the Productivity Field Guide Webinar series shortly. I do a lot of webinars and find them very rewarding. Connecting with folks about the stuff I’m teaching makes all the difference.
The Podcasts (Mac Power Users and Focused) are humming along. We haven’t had many guests lately and I’m working on that.
I’m putting out lots of great content for MacSparky Labs. The lastest addition is a Labs Book Club. We’re doing our first book club week up this week on Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intelligence book.
In the woodshop, I finished the new bookshelf project. There is some Japanese influence on this one, and the shelf almost looks floating once it is filled with books. Ahsoka is not impressed.
Also in the shop I’m working on random projects for the kids. Sam is a public school teacher and needed a series of shelves for her classroom. The district told her it’d take 8 months. I knocked them out over the a few hours on the past weekend. I don’t do a lot of work with sheet goods but this one called out for plywood. I don’t own a table saw but I do have a track saw set up that can do the job.
Sarah got the rights to produce Guttenberg! The Musical at the LA fringe fest later this year. She’s busy casting and setting up space (in addition to her day job at Disney). She’s producing and directing and I’m really happy for her. She also wants me to make some rehearsal blocks for her so it looks like I’ve got one more plywood project on deck.

Waiting for Spring

I’ve got a little population of Bonsai trees that I enjoy. Among them are a few Japanese Maples. They are both currently in dormant winter mode, but I’m already seeing signs of small buds show up. I’m looking forward to seeing them get their leaves in a few months. As an aside, that chair in the background is one of my favorite places in the world to sit and read a book.

I Bought a Thing

I’ve not had a car for about 8 years now. When Sarah started driving, we gave her one of our cars, and Daisy and I started sharing one. Over the past year or so, I’ve increasingly needed a car when one is unavailable. So instead of being responsible and buying a used Toyota something or other, I leased a Rivian. I’m thinking of it as a “Dad just got two kids through college, and now he has a nice car” reward. I know it’s dumb to lease and really kind of ridiculous, but I got a surprisingly good deal, and I love it.

Current Book(s)

I’m currently reading The Notebook: A HIstory of Thinking on Paper, and finding it a nice justification for my bits of analog workflow. I also just recently finished the audio book for Brandon Sanderson’s Wind and Truth. It was a lot of fun but also took a long time at 62 hours. I’ve got no fiction on deck currently.

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