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A while ago I switched from my only semi-functional pin board and cellphone¹⁾ based task management system to using a pocketbook. Because of this I also started talking with others about how they are managing their tasks as well as looking around the net and was surprised how many people I know used pocketbooks (Moleskines in particular) or had no real system at all.

The moleskine I use with the prototype of a pen-holder attached to it. The finished version might turn out remotely similar to this.

Due to this I figured it might be interesting to extend this discussion about task management to the few readers of this blog and therefore I have described the current iteration of my system below. Please feel free to describe your own system in the comments or better a linkback so we can learn from each other.

FYI My system has developed iteratively and is probably rather specific to my needs and therefore quite simplistic when compared to other systems (GTD, PigPogPDA, …). Should my system turn out to be too simple for your needs or should you just need some input have a look at the following links

• the planner
  I'm not sure anymore how long ago I found this and how much I copied from it but it sure got some similarities ,)
• Getting Sh-t Done (sample)
• PigPogPDA - A Moleskine Hacked into a Complete System
• Hacking a GTD Moleskine
• Getting (Some) Things Done

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As I've been working a lot with Java over the past few semesters and will most likely end up developing Java apps once I've got my MSc I've started looking at other, more dynamic languages available for the JVM. To make a long story short: I picked groovy and to learn groovy I need to write code in it. This led me to write deRSS over the last couple of days which scratches an itch of mine just right and therefore might be useful to others as well.

So, what is deRSS?

deRSS parses RSS 2.0 feeds and downloads files referenced in <enclosure url=””/> or (if not present) <link> elements. To avoid downloading files twice deRSS stores the publication date of the newest downloaded file.

It's simple, fits nicely into my crontab and so far works pretty well. Click here to learn more.

After neglecting this blog for so long I figured that I should at least announce that after 10 years of almost exclusively using debian I switched to xubuntu and kinda like it so far ,)

As you might have noticed quite a few people are currently drawing pictures of bunny as a part of the Draw a Bunny Campaign which I was invited to by chimeric. This campaign has the following simple rules and is open to everyone:

1. Draw a Bunny (or more)
2. Post it to your blog with the rules
3. Name three other bloggers that should draw a bunny

Sadly, after all the sudden fame bunny has become alienated from his natural habitat. Not knowing how to handle all the sudden attention and stress he chose the only way he saw to escape it all…

Bunny will be missed. If you want to see him again in his brightest moments don't forget about the greatest works of his short but brilliant acting career.

Rest In Peace.

EDIT: Tagged rebugger