Occasional Thoughts

I'm always thinking, and sometimes I'm even writing. 

No More Crap.

In theory a Locke and Demosthenes could still emerge, taking the nets by storm.  But they probably won't.  Because when something is open to everyone, it becomes filled with an insistent flow of clutter and crap.

Welcome to the internet.

The world wide web has created an infinite loop of open source content.  Everyone makes everything for everyone to experience.  The good, the great, and all the crap.

And let's be serious, there's a lot of crap.

Because whenever everyone has access to something, the "good" becomes "average" and the "average" becomes more noise.  The few "great" things online are highly subjective or sadly obscure.  Once they become popular they are emulated, creating a world of Fall Out Boy sounding clones.  And suddenly it all sounds the same; it all sounds like noise; it all sounds (or reads or looks) like crap.

The solution?  I don't know if there is one.  People will read and watch and listen to whatever they want to.  (Or whatever their friends tell them they should.)  We live in an American Idol culture, where Simon really knows what he's talking about, but he doesn't get to call in and vote.

There is good out there.  Though it is often buried under and among the infinite loop of online content.  And I wish I could say I always rose to the top of the pile, but sadly I'm just as guilty for adding to the current, sweeping the things worth reading even further downstream.

But sometimes the goal is to simply write.  To create.  To collaborate.  And luckily the internet is a near ideal space for that very thing.  Everyone has a voice, everyone has the ability to read, write, and edit.

Don't believe me?  Leave a comment below and you'll join the noise -- I mean, conversation.

Ready, set, comment.

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Delete, Delete, Delete.

That's what's my computer was doing last night.

I'm on day eight of my Digital Directory Downsize (or "D3" if you want to sound hip).  While there is no magic number like I had last month, but it is many the digital version of my 100 things project.  I am reorganizing folders and files, creating a usable (and hopefully permanent) structure.

And I'm deleting files and folders and programs that I do not need.

While simplicity is the opposite of complexity, minimalism is realizing what is and isn't necessary.  Is it possible to discover what is truly essential and delete the rest?

There's still a ways to go with Project2010 and my 12 Months of Simplicity, but I'm ready to find out.

Ready, set, simplicity.

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It's Official.

This is it.  The new (and final?) home for my Occasional Thoughts.

Thanks to Yuri over at JustHost, I've officially ditched wordpress as a personal blogging platform.  (Don't worry, I still use it for ideacus! and FourFiveSix.)  Now my "personal" blog is hosted entirely through posterous.

If you haven't checked out posterous, you should.  Because it's simple and it's amazing.  (I could have said it's "simply amazing" but I choose to specifically emphasize each word.  Because each word is specifically true.)

It's simple because write a post by writing an email.  Don't believe me?  Email anything to post@posterous.com and you will instantly create your own posterous blog.  And it does more than just put words on a page.  You can attach anything, include links to videos, and more.  And they all show up seamlessly.  (See, told you it was simple.)

It's amazing because the layout is clean (and customizable), it integrates well with twitter and facebook and anything else you use online.  And it makes blogging as fun as writing an email.  (Ok, writing an email isn't always fun, but sometimes it is.  And when your email magically becomes a blog, it's fun and amazing.)

Like I said, it's simple and it's amazing.  (Otherwise known as "simply amazing.")

So enjoy my occasional thoughts.  You can expect them to keep coming (daily?).  And they'll all be here, at the new www.occasionalthoughts.jimkastkeat.com.

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this is what happens when I give the internet a facelift.

Welcome to the internet.

This is my corner.  Or at least one of them.

And this is what you can expect from here on out.  No more wordpress (at least for my own personal blog).  No more billion new themes.  No more complexity.

Welcome to simplicity.

Looking for Project 2010 blog posts?  This is the place.  Looking for Whatever You Do blog posts?  Yep, they're here too.  Along with all of my Occasional Thoughts that you've come to know and love.

But this downsizing isn't the only facelift I've given the world wide web.  Check out the latest updates to Simply Creative, Project 2010, and Whatever You Do.

Internet, you're looking good.

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Digital Directory Downsize

A new month means a new motif of simplicity.  Now that I own less than 100 things, time to tackle my digital life.

My plan for this month (and hopefully tomorrow) is to pour through all my files and photos as well as the fingerprints I leave online, honing them all in to a manageable system and number.

And here's how you can help:

What programs do you use to manage your computer?  What works?  What doesn't?

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simplicity wins.

Ok, I'm going to be tweaking things here.  Again.

Look for the changes starting tomorrow (hopefully).  But first I have to kick out some Greek homework.

Logos, Logou, Logo, Logon.

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100 Things Update

The list is complete.  It took nearly the entire month of January (and there's still a small pile of things that I no longer technically own - giveaway post coming soon) but I have reduced my personal possessions to under 100.

92, to be exact.

You can read the entire list (as well as the back story and inspiration behind this endeavor) at my Project 2010 blog.  But before you go, here are a few stats about my things:
  • 71% of my possessions are clothes.  Ouch.
  • 22% of my clothes are ties.  And I'm proud of it.
  • 15% of my possessions are ties.  Doubly proud.
  • 14 is the most I own of any one thing.  And yes, they're ties.
  • 13% of my possessions are nearly always with me - marked above with an *asterisk.

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My 100 Things

All year I am undertaking "12 Months of Simplicity" as a part of my Project 2010.  January's project, inspired by one of my favorite blogs, has been "100 Things."  All month I have downsized and eliminated, minimizing my personal possessions to 100 or less.

And I made it. I now own 100 91 92 91 things.

Before I jump into a list of everything I now own, let me explain the back story and rules behind this project:

The original spark came from a book: Jayber Crow by Wendel Berry.  There is a scene where Jayber is leaving the city where he had been working at the horse track, heading to Port Williams.  He's walking.  And he's carrying everything he owns in a box.

Jes and I were reading this book with a group of friends and we were all perplexed by Jayber's box.  Of all the things in the world, this box contained that which he deemed as most valuable and most important.  Imagine the freedom and simplicity in being able to carry the possessions that enrich and make up your entire life in a single box, in your two hands.

Years after reading Jayber Crow (if you haven't read it, I seriously recommend it), I began absorbing everything written by Leo Babatua.  From simplicity to productivity to minimalism, nearly everything he writes connects with who I am and who I am becoming.  One day I stumbled across his 100 Things post.  And I knew I wanted to try it out for myself.

And so I did. For the past month I have been clearing closets and drawers, digging up things I don't want and don't need.  If I haven't used it or worn it in the past year, I probably don't need it.  And slowly boxes were filled with shoes and shirts and ties and trinkets.  (My dreams for my own Craigslist alternative - Jimslist - was thwarted by a Kast-Keat drop off to Goodwill.)

But in the end, I made it. I personally own less than 100 things.  Look out Jayber Crow.

Now, here are my self-imposed rules in landing on my 100 things.

  • I didn't count things that I share with Jes (like furniture, appliances, and all of our books)
  • I didn't count "heirlooms" (because technically these belong to my heirs)
  • Some things are grouped, each group counting as "one" (like socks, boxers, backpacking gear, office toys, golf discs, and the few things I collect)
  • Cords don't count, just the thing they connect too.  (Laptop, yes; power cord, no.  iPod yes, iPod cord, no; etc.)
  • Everything else counts.
So here it is, as of January 29, 2010 January 31, 2010, my 100 Things:
  1. Tie - black, paisley Tie - black, cloth (Gave it away to Paul Hile!)
  2. Tie - black, textured
  3. Tie - black with white stripes
  4. Tie - black with navy blue/silver stripes
  5. Tie - brown, argyle
  6. Tie - red, argyle
  7. Tie - brown/blue, argyle
  8. Tie - red
  9. Tie - white
  10. Tie - turquoise
  11. Tie - dark brown
  12. Tie - gray with red stripes
  13. Tie - light red with blue stripes
  14. Long Sleeve Button Down - black, plain
  15. Long Sleeve Button Down - black, plain
  16. Long Sleeve Button Down - black, extra buttons on sleeve
  17. Long Sleeve Button Down - black, snaps and black vertical stripes
  18. Long Sleeve Button Down - black, tux front
  19. Long Sleeve Button Down - charcoal
  20. Long Sleeve Button Down - brown
  21. Long Sleeve Button Down - white, tux front
  22. Long Sleeve Button Down - white, black buttons
  23. Long Sleeve Button Down - white, plain with front pocket
  24. Long Sleeve Button Down - white, texture
  25. T-shirt - black, DARE
  26. T-shirt - black, Field of Dreams
  27. T-shirt - blue, Mutemath
  28. T-shirt - dark green, U2
  29. T-shirt - gray, tree
  30. T-shirt - light blue, measles suck
  31. T-shirt - black
  32. T-shirt - brown
  33. T-shirt - maroon
  34. T-shirt - white
  35. T-shirt - white
  36. Polo - light blue, Okoboji
  37. Socks
  38. Boxers
  39. Belt - brown, diamond pattern
  40. Belt - black/brown, reversible
  41. Jeans - light blue
  42. Jeans - blue
  43. Jeans - dark blue
  44. Khakis
  45. Pants - black
  46. Shorts - black mesh (Technically these belong to Vince Corcoran, but he hasn't worn them since we lived across the hall from each other at Cornerstone.)
  47. Shorts - black
  48. Shorts - brown
  49. Shorts - orange, swim
  50. Suit - black
  51. Suit - charcoal
  52. Chacos - black
  53. Shoes - black
  54. Shoes - brown
  55. Shoes - running (Let's be honest, these aren't used too often.)
  56. Boots - hiking (They've hiked Alaska, part of the AT, the Grand Canyon, and more.)
  57. Boots - winter (As much as I wish I could get rid of these, I still live in West Michigan. #boycottwinter)
  58. Zip-up - black
  59. Zip-up - light blue, hood
  60. Zip-up - navy blue, hood
  61. Jacket - green, spring (I bought this jacket in 2001 and still wear it.  The zipper stopped working somewhere in 2006.  Anyone know how to fix that?)
  62. Jacket - dark green, fall
  63. Jacket - brown, winter
  64. Winter gloves
  65. *Backpack - Timbuk2 Q
  66. External Hard Drive - 500gb FreeAgent Go
  67. *Laptop - Dell Latitude D420 (After five years and a handful of Mars Hill employees, this is the world's most lethargic computer. It's great at single tasking, but good luck doing much more than one thing.  It's not like I wish it were a macbook or anything...)
  68. *Mouse - Logitech, wireless
  69. *Earbuds
  70. *iPod Touch (Don't carry it in your back pocket.  Sitting can crack the screen.)
  71. *Everything Notebook(s) (I've been filling notebooks with my thoughts and ideas for nearly ten years.  But I've intentionally refocused my efforts in the past year, filling ten notebooks with thoughts, ideas, and everything over the course of 2009.  I wonder how many 2010 will fill!)
  72. *Pen - Sarasa or G2 (I prefer G2s, Mars Hill prefers Sarasas.)
  73. *Blank Notecards (These are the backup to my Everything Notebook.)
  74. *Leather Book Weight (Thank you Prof. Duff for introducing me to this ingenious invention.)
  75. *25 oz Water Bottle - Lemonjello's
  76. *Glasses
  77. *Wedding Ring (Ever since January 14, 2006!)
  78. Accordion (Technically this belongs to my dad.  But I "borrowed" it from him over a year ago with no intent on returning it.)
  79. Acoustic Guitar
  80. Drumsticks (I own more than a single drumstick, but I consider them - and the stick bag - a single collection.)
  81. Practice Pad (I received this as a gift from the drumline I used to teach.)
  82. Hand Drums (I have a small collection of hand drums from around the world.  One of them needs a to a new drum head - anyone know how to work a rope skinned ashiko?)
  83. Nintendo DS (I bought this so I could play Tetris with Andy.  I still don't own Tetris.)
  84. Mario Kart DS (Because sometimes I just want to throw red shells)
  85. Scribblenauts (Amazing interactive creativity infused game!)
  86. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Current game I'm playing.  When I finish, I sell it to GameStop for something new.)
  87. Board Games (I consider this a collection.  While they are technically mine, I like to think of them as shared with myself and whoever is playing them!)
  88. Golf Discs (I unofficially donated most of them to MHS and keep the ones I actually use)
  89. Tennis Racket (same one I used when I played in High School!)
  90. Office Toys (magnetic yo-yo, figurines, and other trinkets to entertain students and volunteers)
  91. Backpacking Gear (Survived the Smokey Mountains, Alaska, and the Grand Canyon with this!)
  92. .
  93. .
  94. .
  95. .
  96. .
  97. .
  98. .
  99. .
  100. .

And there you have it. 100 Things with room to spare (which means I can get new things without having to replace everything at a one-to-one ratio!).  Ideally I'd love to fill the nine open slots with a DSLR camera, something with an apple on it (but not an iDisappoint, I mean iPad), and maybe a new tie or two.

I plan on keeping this list updated throughout the year, replacing things as needed and adding things on occasion.  And if all goes as planned with my "12 Months of Simplicity" I will continue to realize simplicity and minimalism, not as an idealized and esoteric destination, but as the journey along the way.  Simplicity is the means, not the end.

But speaking of an "end," it's time for this post to end.  If you're into stats, here's a few (as of January 30, 2010) to wrap things up:

  • 71% of my possessions are clothes.  Ouch.
  • 22% of my clothes are ties.  And I'm proud of it.
  • 15% of my possessions are ties.  Doubly proud.
  • 14 is the most I own of any one thing.  And yes, they're ties.
  • 13% of my possessions are nearly always with me - marked above with an *asterisk.

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Family Is...

I originally wrote the following as a post to a discussion forum for one of my seminary classes.  Enjoy!

Family is the people we are connected to.
This connection can come in many forms; from blood to experience to ideologies, etc.

But more than that, we are all fundamentally connected as humans.  The image of God runs deep in us.  It is irremovable, seeped in the original goodness that is destined to remain within everyone and everything.

Because we are all connected, every person, one to the other. 

Connections run deep.

More than simply connected with other people, we are connected with the world around us.  The food I eat was nurtured by the soil of the ground and the rain of the sky.  It was shared with insects and animals.  As I eat it, it becomes a part of me.  I am not just eating a piece of lettuce, but I am connecting with all of creation.

Humans, after all, are a part of creation.  We are not excluded from it, but are integrated within it.  Just as it is important to know the story behind the people we journey alongside, it is important to know the story behind the coffee I drink, the food I eat, the air I breathe.

Because it's all connected.

And it's all family?

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100 things, almost done.

Stay tuned for the official list.  It will be posted here by the end of the week.  Along with a handful of things I'm giving away.  (Golf clubs anyone?)

Until then, go help ideacus think of more fitting names for the new Apple iPad.  My current favorite is iPad Thai.

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