Have A Good Day https://oliver.enobo.com/ Notes from my world Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:12:04 +0000 https://i.snap.as/ZZwefmdx.png Have A Good Day https://oliver.enobo.com/ Pen and Paper https://oliver.enobo.com/pen-and-paper?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[In 2026, I started using a paper notebook as my main organizational tool. That came with a conscious effort to let go of the idea of finding the perfect workflow or toolchain. Four months in, I have to say it is working pretty well. First, handwriting is faster and more fun than typing on a keyboard, especially a virtual one. If you need the copy digitized, you have to rekey it, but I find that small overhead acceptable, because in many cases I need to revise the text anyway (so far, all digitalization tools, including smart pens, have not worked for me. Fixing errors in the automatically converted text is far more unpleasant than simply rekeying). Using a paper notebook for task management, Bullet Journal-style, also has the advantage that of keeping you honest. Task management apps make it too easy to create a multitude of tasks and conveniently push them from day to day. The limited space in a notebook forces you to decide whether you want to manually copy, complete, or give up a task. However, I need to remind myself constantly that the notebook is not a precious journal of my life but a working tool. There is an entire notebook culture that tries to convince you otherwise. I currently use a $35 Art Collection Moleskine notebook because it was the only one with dot-grid paper I could find on New Year’s Eve (the McNally Jackson bookstore has a wide selection of notebooks, but it seems to categorically reject dot-grid paper). At more than 20 cents per 120g page, it makes you wonder whether the paper is worth it for what you want to write down. Honestly, I’m looking forward to being done with it and using a more reasonable notebook.]]> In 2026, I started using a paper notebook as my main organizational tool. That came with a conscious effort to let go of the idea of finding the perfect workflow or toolchain. Four months in, I have to say it is working pretty well.

First, handwriting is faster and more fun than typing on a keyboard, especially a virtual one. If you need the copy digitized, you have to rekey it, but I find that small overhead acceptable, because in many cases I need to revise the text anyway (so far, all digitalization tools, including smart pens, have not worked for me. Fixing errors in the automatically converted text is far more unpleasant than simply rekeying).

Using a paper notebook for task management, Bullet Journal-style, also has the advantage that of keeping you honest. Task management apps make it too easy to create a multitude of tasks and conveniently push them from day to day. The limited space in a notebook forces you to decide whether you want to manually copy, complete, or give up a task.

However, I need to remind myself constantly that the notebook is not a precious journal of my life but a working tool. There is an entire notebook culture that tries to convince you otherwise. I currently use a $35 Art Collection Moleskine notebook because it was the only one with dot-grid paper I could find on New Year’s Eve (the McNally Jackson bookstore has a wide selection of notebooks, but it seems to categorically reject dot-grid paper). At more than 20 cents per 120g page, it makes you wonder whether the paper is worth it for what you want to write down. Honestly, I’m looking forward to being done with it and using a more reasonable notebook.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/pen-and-paper Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:14:58 +0000 ChatGPT as an Editor for glamglare https://oliver.enobo.com/chatgpt-as-an-editor-for-glamglare?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[For a while now, we have been editing many of our posts on glamglare using ChatGPT. It is truly a dance. The purpose of a “Song Pick of the Day” post is to entice readers to listen to a new song. The writer’s personality matters only insofar as it reflects their taste in music. The writing itself is not poetry. It has a clear purpose, and using ChatGPT as an editor serves that purpose. It does not mean we churn out more content. It is still one song per day. It also does not mean it is less work. If anything, it is more effort because posts that used to slip through on busy days are now validated by ChatGPT and often require more rework. Elke and I have different workflows, and we are trying different approaches. On my end, I always write the post first, then give it to ChatGPT with the press copy and the lyrics (if I have them). My instructions tell it to be critical and point out what doesn’t work, and it does. It always creates a revised copy. Sometimes it is perfect: exactly what I wanted to say, with a slight correction. But more often, the revised copy contains too many elements inferred from the press release. This is, of course, the dark side lurking. Synthesizing a post directly from the press release and other information is a slippery slope toward AI slop. Even though it is sometimes tempting to let it slip, I make a conscious effort to push back and emphasize my own angle. With ChatGPT in the loop, I can be more audacious in my writing. Unlike a human editor I may need to impress, AI is infinitely patient and does not judge. It is difficult to describe music and interpret lyrics, so feedback helps a lot here.]]> For a while now, we have been editing many of our posts on glamglare using ChatGPT. It is truly a dance. The purpose of a “Song Pick of the Day” post is to entice readers to listen to a new song. The writer’s personality matters only insofar as it reflects their taste in music. The writing itself is not poetry. It has a clear purpose, and using ChatGPT as an editor serves that purpose. It does not mean we churn out more content. It is still one song per day. It also does not mean it is less work. If anything, it is more effort because posts that used to slip through on busy days are now validated by ChatGPT and often require more rework. Elke and I have different workflows, and we are trying different approaches. On my end, I always write the post first, then give it to ChatGPT with the press copy and the lyrics (if I have them). My instructions tell it to be critical and point out what doesn’t work, and it does. It always creates a revised copy. Sometimes it is perfect: exactly what I wanted to say, with a slight correction. But more often, the revised copy contains too many elements inferred from the press release. This is, of course, the dark side lurking. Synthesizing a post directly from the press release and other information is a slippery slope toward AI slop. Even though it is sometimes tempting to let it slip, I make a conscious effort to push back and emphasize my own angle. With ChatGPT in the loop, I can be more audacious in my writing. Unlike a human editor I may need to impress, AI is infinitely patient and does not judge. It is difficult to describe music and interpret lyrics, so feedback helps a lot here.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/chatgpt-as-an-editor-for-glamglare Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:47:56 +0000 vi and Codex https://oliver.enobo.com/vi-and-codex?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Codex – as opposed to Copilot that lives within an IDE – plays nicely with command line tools. I like that because it ties the future of software development (some say the end) to its very beginnings. As a bonus, Codex sets up the nvim configuration in minutes. When I did this a year and a half ago, it took me days of watching YouTube videos and reading READMEs on GitHub.]]> Codex – as opposed to Copilot that lives within an IDE – plays nicely with command line tools. I like that because it ties the future of software development (some say the end) to its very beginnings. As a bonus, Codex sets up the nvim configuration in minutes. When I did this a year and a half ago, it took me days of watching YouTube videos and reading READMEs on GitHub.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/vi-and-codex Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:03:52 +0000 At the New Colossus Festival https://oliver.enobo.com/at-the-new-colossus-festival?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ We’re having a fantastic time at the New Colossus Festival in New York City. While it’s smaller than SXSW or The Great Escape, it has the same effect: feeling inspired and making connections.]]> We’re having a fantastic time at the New Colossus Festival in New York City. While it’s smaller than SXSW or The Great Escape, it has the same effect: feeling inspired and making connections.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/at-the-new-colossus-festival Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:03:18 +0000 Where are the shops gone? https://oliver.enobo.com/where-are-the-shops-gone?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[I’m looking for a new bag for my work laptop to replace the 16-year-old photo bag that I’m using now. But where can I buy one? In an Instagram ad, I found an interesting one, but I don’t know if I like it. What does the material feel like? How does it look when I carry it? How does it feel on the shoulder? I could order the bag, try it, and return it. Even if returns are free, I still have to package it and drop it off. I could do this with multiple bags, but that adds up to a serious amount of work. However, I cannot think of a single shop in New York City that offers a decent selection of laptop bags.]]> I’m looking for a new bag for my work laptop to replace the 16-year-old photo bag that I’m using now. But where can I buy one? In an Instagram ad, I found an interesting one, but I don’t know if I like it. What does the material feel like? How does it look when I carry it? How does it feel on the shoulder? I could order the bag, try it, and return it. Even if returns are free, I still have to package it and drop it off. I could do this with multiple bags, but that adds up to a serious amount of work. However, I cannot think of a single shop in New York City that offers a decent selection of laptop bags.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/where-are-the-shops-gone Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:35:34 +0000 I woke up to the news that the Tin Building had closed. https://oliver.enobo.com/i-woke-up-to-the-news-that-the-tin-building-had-closed?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ I woke up to the news that the Tin Building had closed. The day was a surprise, but it was well known that the food hall at the Seaport was not doing well. We loved the Tin Building. It was a swanky celebration of everything that tastes good, with multiple bars, restaurants, and shops. You walked in and found yourself in a different world. A luxury cruise ship would be a good comparison, and that was fine with us. Alas, early last year, the vibe changed. Some venues, like the vegetarian restaurant, were closed or “merged.” When we wanted to buy fish for dinner, we found an empty bed of ice at the fish store. In summer, I was looking for lunch at the sandwich bar, but I was not too surprised to be redirected to the bakery for pre-made dishes. There were financial reasons for all of this, but it’s hard to shrink your way to greatness if luxury and abundance are what you’re after. Thanks to everybody who made this place such a delightful experience and always gave us a friendly welcome.]]> I woke up to the news that the Tin Building had closed. The day was a surprise, but it was well known that the food hall at the Seaport was not doing well. We loved the Tin Building. It was a swanky celebration of everything that tastes good, with multiple bars, restaurants, and shops. You walked in and found yourself in a different world. A luxury cruise ship would be a good comparison, and that was fine with us. Alas, early last year, the vibe changed. Some venues, like the vegetarian restaurant, were closed or “merged.” When we wanted to buy fish for dinner, we found an empty bed of ice at the fish store. In summer, I was looking for lunch at the sandwich bar, but I was not too surprised to be redirected to the bakery for pre-made dishes. There were financial reasons for all of this, but it’s hard to shrink your way to greatness if luxury and abundance are what you’re after. Thanks to everybody who made this place such a delightful experience and always gave us a friendly welcome.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/i-woke-up-to-the-news-that-the-tin-building-had-closed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:01:20 +0000 During the pandemic, the All Faiths Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, was our... https://oliver.enobo.com/during-the-pandemic-the-all-faiths-cemetery-in-glendale-queens-was-our-refuge?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ During the pandemic, the All Faiths Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, was our refuge. We went there almost every weekend for a walk to be in nature and watch birds. Today, in celebration of the Big Backyard Bird Count, we went there again, although we only saw two mourning doves and a bunch of geese. But for the first time, the gates were closed when we tried to leave. Fortunately, the horror of being locked in a cemetery overnight lasted only a minute before someone came and let us and a car out.]]> During the pandemic, the All Faiths Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, was our refuge. We went there almost every weekend for a walk to be in nature and watch birds. Today, in celebration of the Big Backyard Bird Count, we went there again, although we only saw two mourning doves and a bunch of geese. But for the first time, the gates were closed when we tried to leave. Fortunately, the horror of being locked in a cemetery overnight lasted only a minute before someone came and let us and a car out.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/during-the-pandemic-the-all-faiths-cemetery-in-glendale-queens-was-our-refuge Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:01:40 +0000 Snow https://oliver.enobo.com/snow?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[With temperatures a bit above freezing next week, the snow will soon be gone. We won’t miss it, but it can make for pretty photos. ]]> With temperatures a bit above freezing next week, the snow will soon be gone. We won’t miss it, but it can make for pretty photos.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/snow Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:51:13 +0000 Creator Studio https://oliver.enobo.com/creator-studio?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[When software was new, you would buy an application for a lot of money upfront and then get major new versions at discounted prices. There were no free minor updates because the software had to be delivered on physical media (which also meant that an application had to be bug-free out of the gate, an art that was lost in the age of weekly, automatic updates). Today, software vendors love subscriptions because they guarantee a steady income. Many users are not so fond of them, so every time an app switches from a one-time purchase to a subscription model, it receives a slew of angry one-star reviews. Maybe that’s why Apple’s Creator Studio subscription is confusing. While an incredible value by itself, it includes software that has been included for free with macOS and apps that many already bought as a one-time purchase. Nothing changes with the Creator Studio, but if you want, you can pay $12.90 per month or $129 per year to see what happens. I own Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, and MainStage. I also subscribe to Logic on the iPad for $50/month. Should I get the Creator Studio to get Final Cut Pro, which I (currently) don’t really need?  Apple has probably lined up subscription-only features to entice users to switch. I just wish for a little discount on licenses I already own, so I would not feel like throwing away good stuff.]]> When software was new, you would buy an application for a lot of money upfront and then get major new versions at discounted prices. There were no free minor updates because the software had to be delivered on physical media (which also meant that an application had to be bug-free out of the gate, an art that was lost in the age of weekly, automatic updates).

Today, software vendors love subscriptions because they guarantee a steady income. Many users are not so fond of them, so every time an app switches from a one-time purchase to a subscription model, it receives a slew of angry one-star reviews.

Maybe that’s why Apple’s Creator Studio subscription is confusing. While an incredible value by itself, it includes software that has been included for free with macOS and apps that many already bought as a one-time purchase. Nothing changes with the Creator Studio, but if you want, you can pay $12.90 per month or $129 per year to see what happens.

I own Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, and MainStage. I also subscribe to Logic on the iPad for $50/month. Should I get the Creator Studio to get Final Cut Pro, which I (currently) don’t really need? 

Apple has probably lined up subscription-only features to entice users to switch. I just wish for a little discount on licenses I already own, so I would not feel like throwing away good stuff.

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/creator-studio Sat, 31 Jan 2026 16:39:57 +0000 Episode X https://oliver.enobo.com/episode-x?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[I have a special relationship with Star Wars: The first installment, Episode IV, was the first feature film I saw. Of course, at nine years old, I was mightily impressed and saw the movie many times in theaters. Reading about the upcoming Episode X, the 10th episode of the original trilogy, makes me sad. The first Star Wars was original and innovative, but stretching a single idea over nearly 50 years (and counting) feels disheartening for human creativity. AI can probably do better. ]]> I have a special relationship with Star Wars: The first installment, Episode IV, was the first feature film I saw. Of course, at nine years old, I was mightily impressed and saw the movie many times in theaters.

Reading about the upcoming Episode X, the 10th episode of the original trilogy, makes me sad. The first Star Wars was original and innovative, but stretching a single idea over nearly 50 years (and counting) feels disheartening for human creativity. AI can probably do better. 

]]> https://oliver.enobo.com/episode-x Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:20:17 +0000