For visitors coming here after news of Divester’s retirement, hello!

It was a great run thanks to Willy’s devotion. Sadly, there isn’t a replacement for Divester and where you thnk it would exist (something centralized from PADI or ScubaDiving.com), it doesn’t. But you can be sure that wherever you find Willy, you’ll find the center of the diving blogosphere.

My personal blog (hint: you are here) is a hodge-podge of topics but stick around. I’ll resume posting “eco-ocean-friendly” stories for subjects that really light me up. If you’re a recent Mac convert or considering becoming one, stay tuned for a project I’m launching in mid-February.

Drop me a note if you keep a blog and I’ll add you to my RSS reader.

In September I wrote about killing the clutter in my personal workspace. How did it go? I cleared up all of the gadgets except the most important: LCD monitor, PowerBook, speakers, and cell phone. I needed to add an external Firewire drive for data backup and things like a 50+ GB iTunes library and rapidly expanding iPhoto library.

The satisfaction of shedding tech gadgets was nice while it lasted. I realized that e-mail, documents, paper, and projects were still the same: stacking up and making me cower in fear. Around October I discovered Merlin Mann’s 43 Folders and GTD: Getting Things Done. By the very title I was hooked.

It turns out this wasn’t some creation of Merlin’s but that of David Allen. His book, Getting Things Done, is about just that. Create a workspace that allows you to take things out of your head and into a more permanent system. He cites we’re inundated with things to do and how can we possibly remember them all, let alone get them done?

I realize why clutter kills my motivation: it’s a constant reminder of everything I haven’t done such as those speakers sitting in my bedroom, those unripped CDs, magazines to read, bills to pay, people to call, letters to write, paperwork to file…the list goes on.

According to GTD I need to “get to zero” and the first item to tackle is a better (read: simpler) filing system. Stay tuned.

I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art with my family in December 2003. In one of the galleries I was spellbound by a painting. The scene was dusk with the outline of masted ships to the left, street in the center, and row homes on the right. It was raining. The row homes were built upon cafes, their warm light glowing and reflected in the wet street.

It was oil on canvas but resembled a photograph. It was vivid, detailed, real. I noted the artist and the work and sought to find a print for purchase. Scouring the net presented nothing and my inquiry to the museum was replied as such:

Unfortunately, I am unable to provide photographic images or release permission for this work. The Grimshaw is actually on loan to the Museum, and is not part of the permanent collection. The lender wishes to remain anonymous, and has not granted permission to release any photography of the work.

The artist in question is John Atkinson Grimshaw, born and lived in Engalnd during the latter half of the 1800s. A recent search netted quite a number of prints for purchase. His body of work includes people, landscapes, and fairies but it’s those near dark images which are genius.

That first painting that caught my eye, titled London Wharf at Night with Carriages or London Wharf at Sunset is not to be found, still traveling the world by way of an anonymous lender.

When I switched to the Mac most everything I used was compatible except my PhatBox MP3 player. I found a great replacement, PhatMac, but didn’t think the application icon was “Mac” enough. After some twiddling with Photoshop and alpha masks (damned transparent icons!) you can get your copy here.

I’ve always thought the Xbox 360 will become Microsoft’s Media Center (scroll down) of the future. It plays games, streams music and video from other devices, downloads movies & TV shows. The only thing missing has been live TV and now its coming at the end of 2007.

This is a brilliant move by MS because a PC in your living room to watch TV is absurd. The Xbox is already there and ready to go. For Mac switchers like me, who thought of running Windows just for Media Center, has been put to rest.