Ellohay !

That's "hello" in pig-Latin if you didn't recognise it. How are you going and what's new? I always love getting emails and messages from you, the dear readers, so drop me a line with what you're up to!

As always, a small favour? Could you forward this newsletter to just 3 people that you think would like one of the articles? It helps A LOT! If you're the friend reading this, click the link below to join! Glad to have you here!

In this week's email...

• Week in the Life - read on the blog
• Creative - randInt EP 014 - Napping like Dali (~70min)
• Gadgets & Tech - Dota 2 (free)
• Read - Car brands: who owns what? (~2min)
• Watch - Why Millenials are leaving 6-figure tech jobs (~12min)
• Quote - There's more to life than increasing its speed...

Week in the life

After the bliss that was having a week off in lockdown, I really didn't feel like going back to work. Thankfully, I had no on calls and late finishes so that ended up being quite ok! Also, it turns out, work can be quite social since I'm surrounded by friends most days.

I started the Python coding course that I mentioned last time and though it's a bit harder to keep up with it, it's been a great way to stretch my coding knowledge. I have to say though, it's tiring! It's been a while since I've had to do some deep/new type of thinking and my old man brain hurts! 😂

Every so often, I get updates from people completing the jigsaw puzzle from Kickstarter (which is how a few f you ended up on the newsletter. This was the latest from Dario who sent me the following pic of a completed one!

I love getting these update shots, so if you have any of the puzzle, the calendar or any prints, please send them through. It makes my day!

Head over to the blog for more updates...

Creative update

randInt EP 014 - Napping like Dali (~70min)

https://anchor.fm/randint/episodes/EP-014---Napping-like-Dali-e16jic0

Wow, this episode got nerdy so quickly! It's a regular episode with a few different segments but is probably the closest to what an actual phone call between Chandra and I sounds like.

If you're after some dorky banter and some insights into why a non-coder should learn programming, how some insights from a few books are changing how we do things and how to nap like Dali, listen on!

Also, randInt is now on Amazon podcasts! You can listen in the app or ask Alexa to play "randInt" - if you do, let me know how it goes!

Gadgets & Tech

Dota 2 (free)

https://www.dota2.com/home

As the lockdowns roll on and time outside gets more limited, I've found that my social circle has returned to the old uni pass time of computer games. Specifically Dota 2. This is a free game that started off being built as an old add on for an even older game, WarCraft III but has now become a phenomenon.

It's relatively simple to pick up but has insane amount of depth. It's pretty addictive too. Almost every Friday/Saturday, you'll find a group of anaesthetists, surgeons and other doctors trying to make space for this weekly catch up/event...

It's pretty addictive - consider yourself warned!

PREVIOUS/OTHER PRODUCTS

Some previous things that have been featured:

• Aeropress Go - If you're after one of the tiniest ways of making great coffee, this is it!
• ZeroCo cleaning products - Eco friendly cleaning solutions that has other household products that also diverts ocean bound plastics.

Read

Car brands: who owns what? (~2min)

https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-advice/car-manufacturer-brands-family-tree

I saw this article a little while ago and found it fascinating that so many car brands are owned by the same parent company! For example, did you know that Audi and Skoda are both part of the Volkswagen group (and not really competitors then, like I thought)?

Books I'm currently reading

Make Time - When previous tech entrepreneurs leave the field and start writing about how to reclaim your time from the perils of infinite scrolling, it's probably worth a read!

Watch

Why Millenials are leaving 6-figure tech jobs (~12min)

https://youtu.be/N88OE2ZCHBM

The ridiculous perks and amounts that Google/Apple/tech employees received was all over the news when I was intern. It made me think that I'd made the wrong call in medicine: Google just looked like a fun place to work and hang with colleagues while having free meals.

Turns out as with most things, there are negatives and this video looks at why even with all the perks and the pay, people are choosing to leave that field.

Quote I'm pondering

"There's more to life than increasing its speed..."

- Gandhi

I suppose it's another way to say 'slow down and smell the roses' but it does need to be said every so often. I heard this quote in the latest book I'm "reading" while I was out for a run in the evening in the rain on a Friday night. Not really sure why, but it made me pullout my earphones and really take notice of the quiet streets on what would normally be a bustling time full of people out for dinner or getting ready to party on the weekend.

For the first time in a while, it made me appreciate that while it's not pleasant, we're currently living through a part of history that will be in the text books. How we get through the challenges now will profoundly shape not only how we live and work but probably how cities and societies in general function...

Well , you found the email for this week interesting. Let me know what you thought as feedback is always welcome!

Ciao!

- Raffy

PS - What was your favourite part of the email? Let me know with 1 click! Every week I'll go and check the feedback and tweak things as requested!

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