August 21, 2023 • 62 mins
How often do you find yourself wishing for a better way to manage your work and productivity, and mental well-being? Well, we've got you covered! Embrace the wonders of the Session app, a fantastic tool that not only keeps a diary of your work but also provides you with a meaningful insight into your daily productivity. Get ready to revolutionize the way you schedule your activities and quantify your work.
Then we dive headfirst into the mesmerizing world of video games on the Nintendo Switch. Engage in an experience that's very different from your traditional PC or Mac gaming. We'll share our thoughts on games like Firewatch and Breath of the Wild and explain why they provide a satisfaction quite unlike any other. Moreover, we'll also discuss how the Nintendo Switch can be a fantastic tool to bond with friends and family online. Prepare to embark on an enthralling gaming adventure!
Links from the show:
Session App
Nintendo Switch
Basic AF Episode 14: The Art of Automation and Productivity with Adam Olson
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- Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
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Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jeff (00:00):
So yeah, crappy, watch band compatibility and FaceTime.
Tom (00:16):
All right, here we go.
It is another show Tommy Jeff B, the B-A-F boys, basic A-F.
We're back at it again, Dang.
Jeff (00:28):
you planned that, didn't you?
Tom (00:30):
No, okay maybe a little bit .
If I say I planned it andpeople don't like it, they'll be
like God one thing if it's offthe cuff.
But he planned it and it stillsucked.
Jeff (00:45):
We suck every week with the best.
Well, we do, it doesn't matter.
Tom (00:49):
We do Yep, and so real quick, before we get things
started.
As always, I want to say thanksfor being here with us and if
you've been listening for awhile now, we appreciate you
coming back again and again forthe show.
It means a lot to us.
And if you're new, we want tosay thanks for checking us out,
giving us a shot.
We hope to earn a spot on yourplaylist.
(01:12):
If you do enjoy the show andyou wouldn't mind doing us a
solid, you could drop us arating or review or both on
Apple Podcast.
Follow us there.
Jeff (01:21):
Spotify Overcast all the big apps the podcast, all the
big apps, that's correct.
Every app that you can do it on.
Actually, that's preferable.
Download us from every singleapp.
Listen to us three times a week.
That's a good thing for all ofus, yeah we're good with that.
Tom (01:39):
Yeah, come on.
So, jeff, come on.
Come on that nice intro musicwe have.
Who's that?
Courtesy of Jeff, why my?
Jeff (01:45):
friend that is from PsychoKinetics and who you can
also find as Celsius7 on allyour favorite streaming services
like Apple Music and Spotifyand I don't know wherever else
you're stealing music from thesedays.
We can find a way to do it.
But yeah, that isPsychoKinetics artwork, as
(02:08):
always by the amazing, theincredible Randall Martin design
, and so we encourage you tocheck out both PsychoKinetics,
celsius7 and Randall Martindesign, and you will find that
you get your bump on and thenyou can get some good design
work done.
Tom (02:26):
So good stuff Absolutely, and we thank them for helping us
out.
Jeff (02:31):
Yeah, definitely.
And for donating music.
And, randall, don't tell MrCelsius7, we paid you, randall.
Tom (02:43):
It's our little secret.
So, coming up in this show,we're going to talk about an app
that Jeff and I have been usingof late the Sessions app.
If you were listening to theshow we did with Adam Olsen a
couple of shows ago, that wasone that he recommended, so
we've both kind of jumped onthat one.
We're also going to dig intosome Nintendo Switch talks.
(03:06):
We're going to talk games someas well.
So I'm looking forward to thatbecause I know that's something
Jeff's been big into of late.
So that's coming up.
But before we get to that, justa couple of quick little things
.
Did you see this week the blurbfrom Mark Gurman at Bloomberg
on the and this is allspeculation, but the Apple Watch
(03:26):
10,?
Jeff (03:28):
did you see that?
No, did not.
Okay, so he had a blurb.
Tell me about it.
Tom (03:31):
Power on newsletter to give attribution appropriately that
in 2024 or 2025, the kind of thefirst, I guess, major redesign
of the watch, excluding theApple Watch Ultra, which was a
different design form, is comingup, and really the only reason
(03:53):
I wanted to talk about thisbecause it's so far out is that
one of the things he mentionedis that this could be the break
from the consistency thatApple's had with the watch bands
being compatible with allgenerations of the watch since
day one, effectively.
It's interesting, yeah, so Ithought that was that's what
caught my attention in the restof the stuff, because they have
(04:17):
done for Apple, because we dingApple sometimes for cash grabs,
for adapters for differentthings or nickel-in-dimeing for
storage, upgrades and thingslike that, and so I got to be
honest.
I have been very surprised withhow long they've actually
maintained compatibility withthe watch bands.
Jeff (04:39):
Yeah, across pretty much all of them.
It doesn't matter.
I think some of the larger onesyou can't use on the smaller
watches, but for the most part,yeah, yeah, because I mean
everywhere, which for them is,if they do it, that's new Right.
Tom (04:52):
Right, yeah.
And if they do it in a year ortwo, I think at that point it's
like well, that was a good run,because I mean watch this, what
10 years.
This would be series ninecoming out this fall, yeah, so
by then that's pretty good.
I don't think I'd be upset withthat at that point.
Jeff (05:07):
How many?
Yeah, and here's another.
You know what, since we'rebringing up changes, possible
design changes, the Apple WatchExcuse me, I'm coughing without
hitting the mute.
Yeah you know we're cheap idiots.
I don't have a real mute button.
I'd have to do actual work tomute my mic.
(05:27):
We I was.
I'm actually back in Californiawithout getting my stuff stolen
, which is pretty amazing.
My mom had some surgery lastweek and so I'm here helping to
take care of some things.
But my brother asked me lastnight we were looking at the
camera app that lets you, youknow, control your iPhone's
(05:51):
camera and you can see the videoon there.
But one of the things hewondered and I kind of do too is
how come we haven't yet gottenan Apple Watch with a FaceTime
camera?
You think that's coming in thenext one.
Do you want it?
Come on, man, I see that.
Look on your face.
It's like nah, I don't wantthat.
Dick Tracy watch.
Tom (06:12):
Well, see, now they just spin it that way.
Of course I want it.
Jeff (06:17):
Of course I gotta shape it .
Tom (06:18):
I mean, I was a kid once.
It's a long time.
Jeff (06:21):
But still.
Tom (06:21):
Yeah, it shows.
I think it's one of thosethings.
I'd have to see it.
Yeah, because I don't do.
I don't do phone calls throughthe watch.
We've talked about how I don'treally do many phone calls, so
that shouldn't be much of asurprise.
But you know, it's one of those.
I don't know if it were therewhere I would use it and I might
.
Jeff (06:41):
Yeah, so have you turned on the cellular feature on your
Apple Watch Ultra?
I have not.
Okay, so I have, and actually Ihave gone about not that I need
to FaceTime anybody.
You know that I could seesimilar to the touchscreen Mac,
where you know who wants to havetheir fingers up on the screen
all the time.
I don't quite understand that.
I get it on an iPad occasionally.
(07:02):
But it's kind of a pain in theneck sometimes to constantly
have to work with your finger uplike that and I can see walking
down the street with your watchin front of your you know face.
You're not not going to workout too well, but it's.
I think you know my brother hada valid question.
Is that technology seems likeit should be there and wonder if
we're going to get somethinglike that in some near future
(07:24):
iteration of the of the watchRight Necessary?
Would I use it?
I might.
I mean I do.
I did turn on the cellularfeature on my watch and I do use
that without you know if I'mmowing the lawn or something.
I got my watch out there anddon't have to have it by my
phone.
I'm all good with that.
So I don't know.
(07:44):
I could see it being used.
I could see a lot of peopleusing it.
Tom (07:49):
Yeah.
Jeff (07:51):
I just it's kind of surprising and he wasn't wrong
in stating that it wassurprising that Apple hasn't yet
added that option on any oftheir watches.
Tom (08:00):
So yeah.
Jeff (08:02):
Yeah, so we will find out.
So yeah, crappy watch bandcompatibility and face.
Tom (08:10):
Man, that's quite a presentation, you're welcome.
Jeff (08:13):
Yeah, hi, son of your consulting for you for that.
Yeah, let me ask the boss if Ican, if I can do that section of
the presentation when the timecomes.
Tom (08:24):
But, yeah, I think I don't know We'll find out, but anyway,
I don't want to dwell on thewatch too much today, but I just
thought that was of note ofnote.
Jeff (08:32):
That is notable, pretty interesting, and it would be
interesting to see.
If that's the case.
I would like a couple morewatch bands, I think.
Tom (08:38):
How many do you have now for the Ultra two?
Jeff (08:40):
three, well, I had four but one got stolen, so that and
it never got used.
That's the sad thing.
That was the.
That was the swimming band, theocean band that I had planned
to use, but it found its way, Idon't know.
I think if I go by the In-N-Outin Oakland over on Heggenberger
, I dig around in the weeds, Imight get my watch band back.
(09:03):
I might get my laptop and myiPad back too, because nobody's
using that?
Geez.
Yeah, it would be interesting,that would be.
But yeah, I have three.
I have three, and the one thatI wear most often is the I never
know the names of these thingsthe one with a loop and the
orange tab on it.
(09:24):
That's greenish.
The trail band, trail band.
Yeah, I like that one.
Tom (09:28):
I like that one too.
Yeah, it's going.
Jeff (09:29):
Yeah, I got the Alpine one and I kind of funky just and
I've got a, I've got a trailband for for what color trail
band did you get?
Tom (09:40):
So you said it's the black one with the orange tab.
Jeff (09:43):
Yeah, okay, grayish black something like that Yep, yep and
it's.
It's probably grayer now,especially the orange tab, than
it was the start.
Sure Orange tab dirty it'sfilthy and I've tried cleaning
it with a toothbrush.
Tom (09:56):
Yeah, it's just like.
Yeah, just hopeless.
Jeff (09:59):
Doesn't?
It doesn't look very pretty.
Tom (10:01):
No, it doesn't.
And I got the green Alpinegreen, whatever they call it the
loop.
I got that one, and then I gotthe orange one, and I'm finding
the orange one is just as proneto picking up dirt as the orange
tab.
Jeff (10:14):
So that's that's my house band.
Tom (10:16):
I wear it around the house.
Jeff (10:19):
Good yeah, so what a waste of money 100 bucks One idiot.
Yeah, right, yeah yeah.
100 bucks here, 100 bucks there, right, see, that are clothes.
It's you only live once or youonly wear one.
I, you know, daily watch bands.
Tom (10:38):
Yeah, daily wear yeah.
Jeff (10:39):
Yeah, no thanks.
Okay, I do change watch facesfor various occasions, like I
have one that I change if I, youknow, depending on what clothes
I'm wearing, I make it match myshirt, or something like that.
Gotcha, okay.
Tom (10:52):
Yeah, because I'm that nerd .
That's why they give you theoption.
Jeff (10:55):
Right 100%.
Tom (10:57):
The only other thing real quick I saw was that the so the
Apple cases for iPhone, theleather cases was reported by
one of the rumor people that youcan find it on Mac rumors.
But it was some guy that justposts stuff on X.
X, See that I got it right.
X.
What the freak.
Jeff (11:16):
I don't even know what you're talking about.
Are you watching the pornchannel again, tom?
I gave that up, right, butyou're watching X.
You're on X all the time, right, and we're not talking X to C.
Tom (11:27):
Every time I see that I think a DMX.
I think I've said that a coupleof times now but it's true.
Jeff (11:32):
And people are working now are doing that too.
Tom (11:36):
Yeah, we're going DMX memes on the office but anyhow,
they're not going to makeleather cases.
Was is what this guy was saying.
Jeff (11:43):
Can I just sell it here so nobody can see this online.
But I have this leather case.
That was beautiful and I reallyliked it.
But, dude, talk about filthyand falling apart.
Tom (11:55):
Yeah, the quality is going way down on those things and I
think it happened when theyswitched to the.
What did they switch to thiskind of rectangle format again,
or design, not format, but 12that they did.
That was the 11, still kind ofthe rounded one like the 10
series and 12, they squared themoff again going back to kind of
like the four vibe anyway, yeah.
(12:17):
And I think when they did thatis when they kind of nose dived
on the quality because they usedto wear really well and they
looked nice and but these likethe, it's like it's a painted
die or something and the cornersrub off and then it's just
their I like.
The biggest reason I like isbecause they're light and they
feel great Right and they'revery thin and they don't you
(12:38):
know, but quality wise theyhaven't been that great.
Jeff (12:42):
Yeah, I think after I am going to get the next phone and
when I get that I'm goingcaseless again.
I did that for a long, longtime and then I got the leather
case for the the 11 that I had,and then the leather case for
this 13.
I'm a odd number man and I, butI think I'm going back to no
(13:06):
case.
Tom (13:08):
Yeah there you go.
Jeff (13:09):
I like that feel.
So yeah, it could make a joke,that's would be filthy and I'm
not going to go that direction.
Tom (13:18):
But on to the next topic.
Yeah, and promise, we're notdrinking, we're both we don't
really drink Right Sober.
Jeff (13:27):
It's it's five o'clock in California on a Friday evening
and I have only had water todrink all day.
Tom (13:33):
Eight 19 here and I'm in the same situation, so all right
.
So those two little thingsaside, let's get into the app
that we want to discuss.
Jeff (13:43):
So sessions really interesting.
So when, when Adam Olson thatwe had on last last show, when
Adam was talking about sessions,I mentioned that I had been
using in my writing app inHighland Pro, I had been using
(14:04):
the timer for that, which I doall the time.
It's a great way for me to getyou know if I'm feeling crappy
about writing or putting anyother words down.
It's a good way for me to justkind of kick that up and get
going.
And then I had it would onoccasion use an app called
Vitamin R, which is a Pomodoroapp, pomodoro being you know
(14:24):
Pomodoro timer method, where youdo something for 20 to 25
minutes, you take a break forfive.
Tom (14:29):
You know that.
That real quick, that app.
Vitamin R yes, I think when wewere doing the Revenge of the
Fanboy podcast 12, 13 years ago,whatever that was, and that was
one of John's picks, remember,we used to do picks.
Like each show, we do a pick orsomething, and I think he had
that as a pick.
He may have.
Jeff (14:48):
It's been around a long time and it is a great app.
That's.
That's a great, a great app.
I and I've used it on the phoneand I've used it on the on my.
I've used it on my Mac quite abit as well to do the same thing
, just to kind of give me akickstart.
So but what Adam said aboutsessions that was kind of
(15:12):
interesting to me was that hewas essentially keeping a diary
of what it was that he wasworking on as he was going along
, and that it gave greatreporting, that it gave you the
ability to kind of really lookat what it was that you were
doing and gave you the abilityto go back in time and see, you
(15:32):
know, what you accomplished,where, when, why and how.
So I did download the app.
I had a lot of stuff going on,so did not pick it up before my
free session ended but I I begansetting it up, setting up
different groups, and what Istarted finding was is that I
(15:55):
was using it more than I hadused any of those Pomodoro apps
before, for for a couple ofreasons.
One, I was schedulingeverything that I was doing, and
the upside to that for me was,you know, you get some days
where you're doing a bunch oflittle things here and there, it
really doesn't seem like you'vedone much of anything at all.
(16:15):
It gave me a little better view, actually a lot better view,
into those kinds of days,including days when you know
it's a weekend.
I'm not really doing work.
Work I'm doing, you know,housework.
I'm cleaning dishes, cleaningthe house, mop on the floor,
mowing the lawn, you know, doingall that kind of stuff that
(16:37):
those appear to be decentaccomplishments.
But I didn't realize, you know,when I mow the lawn I'm putting
like three hours into it.
I have a big piece of property.
I mow it, you know, by hand.
And it gave me, if I can saythis, like a greater sense of
satisfaction around the workthat I was doing and like the
setup I mentioned right beforewe started this session here.
(17:00):
I kicked off a session'ssession before our recording
session.
Tom (17:06):
And it has.
Jeff (17:07):
Before you begin every session, you have the option of
turning on this breathe feature,and it's really crazy for me
how that kind of settles me intowhatever it is that I'm doing.
I look forward to that, thatbreeze which, by the way, I just
(17:27):
want to point out.
I have set it up so that eachof my recording things is
supposed to have three breaths,not just the one to kick off the
session.
There's some bug going on, it'snot working, it's doing one and
I'm disappointed every time Iuse it.
But it's become a really usefultool that actually I like using
(17:49):
every day as a means of nottracking my time.
I have time tracking app calledTime.
That's excellent TYME ifanybody's looking for a great
tool to be able to do some timetracking for billing purposes,
but to track what it is that Iwas doing when, where, why and
how.
So I'm kind of thrilled to beusing that.
Tom (18:10):
So sort of time tracking, but not for billing purposes or
anything like that, it's morejust so you're aware of what you
just said.
Jeff (18:20):
Yeah, so I have some awareness around what it is that
I'm doing in days thatsometimes feel like you didn't
do crap today, dude, whichsometimes I didn't do crap today
, but which is okay, there'snothing wrong with that no,
there's something to be said forthat as well but it's helping
me to get a better idea of whatit is that I'm actually doing
(18:44):
and allowing me to keep notesaround those same things, saying
I did X, Y and Z.
Tom (18:54):
Now, I was just going to say talk to me a little bit
about the scheduling.
You mentioned that you werescheduling it, so are you Like
scheduling the day and thenworking?
No, I don't do it that way, orokay?
Jeff (19:05):
I usually have work to do it, so it what it does is it
spits stuff onto the calendar.
Yeah, I can see it from two tothree.
I did this from three or four,okay, so kind of all that kind
of stuff.
Right, it's a.
It's more historicalinformation in the calendar
rather than you know.
Tom (19:18):
Let's do something like a time blocking type thing it's no
here's what I'm working on, andthen when I go back Then you,
then you see how the day brokedown, and stuff like that.
Jeff (19:27):
Yeah, exactly that and and I like that, I'm not.
Adam does time blocking.
Do you do that kind of thingwhere you block out like an hour
to?
Tom (19:37):
do x dipped into that and out of it a Few times.
It hasn't really stuck for meBecause I just find work it's
easier if it's like side hustlestuff, like for this.
I can put okay, saturdaymorning 9 to 11, I'm doing
whatever.
But for like day-to-day work,it things just very too much at
the office because it's asupport role.
(19:57):
So support it's the way I'm ofsupport mercy of whatever the
heck's going on.
Jeff (20:02):
Yeah, so that, by the way, is the kind of stuff I find
this really valuable for.
So I get a call from a clientsays hey, my website's down, can
you do this?
I can click that on in sessionsand say I'm gonna work on this
for 25 minutes, mm-hmm, and seewhere I get.
And I say I'm working with, youknow, the fengelstein law firm,
or whoever it is that I'mworking with, to do some, some
(20:23):
piece of work, and I've I'm ableTo quantify that, whereas going
to do a normal day I might sayyou know what I'm gonna sit down
I'm gonna write for for an hourand a half to two hours today.
I'm gonna edit for an hour andthen I'm a revise for, you know,
an hour more.
But because of the nature ofwhat I do, work wise, you know I
(20:47):
kick off that hour and then Iget that message saying hey, and
it helps support and, and so IJump over the the help thing.
But then I go back and go dude,you didn't write.
You know, like you said, you'regonna write for two hours today
.
You didn't even write for two.
You know it's.
It's helping me to see thoseThings a little differently, and
(21:10):
then you know, judge myself.
I often do, oh, no, not tooharshly, I hope oh every day
come on.
Tom (21:20):
Yeah you know right so let's, uh.
Let's go back a couple of stepsand maybe talk about kind of the
premise a little more of theapp, kind of what the, the
foundational setup componentswould be, because one of the
pieces of feedback I got on theshow that we did with Adam that
was that content itself wasgreat.
(21:42):
But if we would had taken aminute or two for each of the
apps to just explain a littlebit more what the app is
Conceptually, some of the kindof the basics to help frame it
up a little bit, that might help.
So maybe sure for folks here ifyou want to kind of run through
that a little, Sure.
Jeff (21:59):
So first of all, I would say, feel free to download the
session app on the app store andjust have a first look at it.
But what it is as I said, or Istarted to say in the beginning
it's it uses Something calledthe Pomodoro method.
Pomodoro method and I'm no deepdiver in this Basically breaks
your work down into bite-sizedchunks.
(22:22):
Typically, the default for thesessions app is 25 minutes.
So you say, even I'm gonnaswitch over to the app right now
and look at it.
I'm gonna create a new session.
I have categories for thosesessions, so I have a general
category.
That is just kind of whatever.
You know, nothing in particular.
(22:42):
I have housework.
I have writing.
I have reading Believe it ornot, that I've.
I've rolled into this.
That's a good one.
I've had podcast rolled intothis.
I've got personal stuff.
You know where I'm doing stuffaround the house.
I have play, believe that ornot, but I've added that in as a
thing because you know, for me,being raised as a is a prize.
(23:10):
Protestant with the Protestantwork, ethic play is not
something you do.
So I've.
Tom (23:17):
I've added we're gonna talk about that play stuff in a
little bit too.
Jeff (23:21):
We are gonna talk about play in a second, which I'm
excited about, consulting intheater.
You know, these are all things.
And then, finally, cooking,believe it or not?
Because I spend, you know, I dothe majority of cooking, which
I like a lot, but you know,that's Typically an hour or so
on every day.
But I've created these various,these various groups.
(23:42):
And then, for example, fortonight, for our, for our
podcast session Recording.
What I would do is I would prepthis, I would say I'm doing a
podcast, I'd give it Essentiallywhat they call an intention,
but I'm just saying we're doingepisode 16.
Believe it or not, folks, thisis 16th episode of the Bay, of A
basic AF show.
So thank you.
(24:03):
And then I set a time for it.
Default in the application is25 minutes.
You can set up your default tobe whatever it is that you want
it to be.
And in this case I just woundthe clock to an hour and 15
because I know, you know, we BSoff mic for the first 15 minutes
or so and we BS on mic for thenext hour.
(24:26):
Right, but we get all the dirtywords out Right At the beginning
.
We get our threats out of theway early, yeah, yeah, and then
I kick off that timer and goabout the business of doing
whatever it is that I need to doOnce a session is completed.
Once you've completed a timesession, you can either go to a
(24:49):
break or you can end the session, or you can continue the
session.
If you end the session, whatyou have the option of doing is
then rating how it is that youwere during that session Were
you distracted, were you neutral, were you focused and then you
can put some notes in.
(25:09):
You know, we recorded for anhour.
I was mostly focused, although,you know, not as focused as I
should have been.
Tom was getting pissed at me,and so I'm gonna be a better boy
next week, you know.
But you can put those kinds ofnotes in.
So you've got the ability toreview what it is that you're
doing, or what it is that youhave done in that, in that
(25:31):
proceeding session, and then,once you complete that session,
you can create a new one.
If you repeat the session or goon a break, you break for a set
amount of time, again determinedby you, which that's kind of
the idea behind the Pom Doramethod as well is you need to
focus for a specific period oftime and then you need to let
(25:52):
your brain breathe for a coupleof seconds.
So you go do something else,you know.
You go walk outside or you dosome other thing, and then you
come back to whatever it is thatyou were working on before, and
so it goes.
So what it's doing is helpingyou to break your day down into
chunks, into manageable chunks,and I think sometimes the most
(26:13):
overwhelming thing is to look atthe task at hand and think, oh
my God, how am I ever gonna getthis done today?
And by saying, instead, I'm justgonna do some stuff for 25
minutes, I'm gonna do what I can, and then I'm gonna take a
little break and then I'm gonnacome back and do it for another
25 minutes and continue throughthat process until you get it
(26:34):
done.
What it does is, for me atleast, that overwhelmed feeling
that I can often get when I havea large task at hand.
It pulls that back for me andthat's oftentimes what I say,
that I use that in my writingapp, oftentimes the idea of
(26:55):
starting writing again if you'vegot a lot behind you and you're
in the middle of writingsomething.
Just the idea of, oh my God,I'm working on a novel.
What am I gonna do?
You know, just saying you knowwhat I'm just gonna write for 25
minutes, right, and I'm notgonna worry about it is a really
useful feature.
Tom (27:14):
It just feels like a much more manageable chunk rather
than right.
So much of it is mental and tobe able to do that.
And you mentioned thecategories there and one of the
things I liked is it's kind ofup to the person, the individual
, to see how many categoriesthey want, and so it sounds like
you had maybe 10 or 12.
Jeff (27:35):
I have about 10.
Tom (27:36):
Yeah, and I think I ended up with about the same eight to
10, something like that.
And I'll tell you, like thisweek I'm still developing the
habit, Like I don't think I'vegotten as far as you have with
the consistency of it, but likeI think it was yesterday I was
(27:56):
working on something and Iforgot to put it in like as the
session, so I just went in andadded like a little 15 minute
session, Right Cause you can doit after the fact too If you
forget or just want to add it.
For you know, historical datapurposes, and.
But today in particular, therewere a couple that I ran this
morning when I was doingsomething.
And do you keep the menu barthing up there?
(28:19):
Up in the menu bar that showsthe current session and the time
remaining and that sort ofthing.
Jeff (28:26):
I do, but because I use the menu bar app that hides it.
Tom (28:31):
So if I open it up right now, it says I see podcast
episode it.
Jeff (28:39):
you know I could see it if I do it now and it kind of
gives me a little timer.
I really don't need that orwant that.
In fact, the other thing thatthis app does is it can make
like little ticking sounds inthe background.
Tom (28:50):
Yeah, I turned that off.
Jeff (28:51):
Same.
I don't not want that.
Tom (28:53):
It freaked me out.
The first time it kicked in Iwas like what is that clock?
That's right.
Jeff (28:59):
But what I do like is the two minute warning and it will
give you a warning again,something that you can set a
time on that.
But at two minutes it'll say,hey, you've got.
You know your session's aboutto come to an end, oh, I've
checked that out.
Tom (29:13):
I haven't looked at that.
Jeff (29:14):
Yeah, it's a really nice feature.
So you turn that on and what itdoes is you know it'll say this
session is gonna end in twominutes and then you have the
option of tacking on five orsaying you know what, I'm gonna
be complete with it.
This.
And I've had situations where,say, I'm reading a script and
I'm five, six pages from the endand I want to start a new
(29:36):
session like that.
So it's like you know, add it,add it, add it, add it and then
get it done and then put mynotes in.
Integrates well with AppleWatch, but no app for the Apple
Watch.
You can't kick it off.
It all as it does is gives younotifications, but it's a nice
and allows you to.
You know, either end it or youknow, add five minutes and
(30:00):
that's great.
Tom (30:01):
if you walk away like you get distracted or something
happens and you have to leavemay not just be a distraction if
something comes up.
The thing with the menu barthing that today I was when I
was working on those couple ofthings, I actually reached for
my phone so I was like, oh, I'mgonna check something on social
right.
Then I saw my clock ticking upin the menu bar thing and I put
(30:24):
the phone down.
Jeff (30:26):
So it served the purpose, right.
Tom (30:27):
So I was like yeah, yeah, I was like that's good and it did
.
Jeff (30:30):
So are you using?
Because the other featurethat's there is if you have the
phone app.
The phone app also has thatfeature.
So on a lock screen Right,you've got the little widget
that when you pick up your phoneto it goes yo, dork, you're
supposed to be doing thingnumber three or whatever it is
(30:53):
that you were doing Yep, andit'll throw the live activity up
in the thing too.
Tom (30:57):
On the 14th.
Jeff (31:00):
Yes, and here's another thing that you can use the app
for.
I haven't really done this yetbecause I'm pretty good at it,
but you can make it so and Adamactually alluded to this last
week you can make it so it turnsapps off when you begin a
session.
So no messages, no teamsnotifications, no Slack
(31:20):
notifications.
It has direct integration withSlack, which is kind of nice.
Although I don't use Slack, orI don't.
If I don't have to, I don't useSlack.
There are instances where Slackis definitely a requirement,
but what it will do is you gotto open messages.
It goes no, kicks messages off.
Tom (31:40):
That's what he said.
Jeff (31:40):
he thought it was crash, yeah he thought it was crash,
and every time he opened it hewas just in a session, but it is
able to do that, and then itturns those, those app blocks
off as soon as your session isdone, so it's not like you have
to go back in and reopen theapplication.
Tom (31:54):
Yeah, you do anything with shortcuts I haven't yet.
Yeah, I did the real simple,built in ones where when it
starts the session it just turnson, do not disturb.
Jeff (32:05):
And I just roll with that.
Yeah, I haven't done any ofthat.
I plan to do that a little more, but haven't done that,
although I will say I'm startingto play with shortcuts a little
bit more.
Tom (32:17):
Yeah, I think we're going to come back to that.
I think that's a show we shoulddo just on shortcuts stuff.
And see what we can come upwith.
Jeff (32:25):
Yeah, and maybe we're going to stick a couple out
there.
Tom (32:28):
Yeah, can download them and see what uses people, yeah, be
curious to see Because shortcutsis interesting.
So I think we should definitelycome back to that.
Jeff (32:36):
Yeah, absolutely true.
So how about you?
So you said that you startedusing it, but not a lot.
I will say I want to hear howyou're doing it, but I will say
that I got a little anal aboutit and with every single thing
that I was doing, I would justsay you know what A session I'm
going to put it on a session?
Yeah right, it was easy,especially after I created those
(32:58):
categories, to say, okay, thisis what I'm doing, donk, donk,
donk, boom, right, and let it go.
Yeah.
Tom (33:05):
So last.
So I've got it up and I'mlooking.
So one of the nice things andyou touched on it a little bit
is, after you've done thesessions and everything, there's
a section in the app foractivity I think that's what
it's called and you go in thereand you can look at your
activity day, week or month andit's got your typical day ranges
right so you can do today,yesterday, this week, last week
(33:25):
and so on, last 28 days, 14,whatever.
And so for last week, forexample, I had an average focus
per day and of course this isall because of it's based on
what you put into it, but it washour and 16 minutes says I was
most focused at noon.
(33:46):
Not sure what to take from that, but the total focus for the
week was seven hours and 41minutes.
So let's see how it looks thisweek, fairly consistent.
So this week I had six hours,28 minutes, which was down 16%
from last week, still mostfocused at noon.
Man, I like lunch which I don'ttrack, by the way, and that's
(34:09):
not in there but categories thatI had were pretty comparable to
yours.
I kept just a general work andthen I separated out by
intention, so it could be adminwork or it could be reporting or
whatever it is for work.
I have started tracking exercisestuff, like I'll start a
(34:31):
session when I work out, thenI'll put some notes in it about
the workout and things like that.
I set one up for home stuff.
So when I do budgeting and thatsort of thing.
As far as my ratings go, lastweek I rated 14, because I don't
do it every time.
So I had 11 that were focused.
(34:52):
Three were neutral.
This week I only rated seven,but they were all focused.
But what's kind of nice is like.
So today, when I was doing someof that admin work and I was
tracking it, I made a note aboutthe work and then I put a link
to the actual note that I havein the bear app, because when I
(35:14):
was working I had to take somedetailed notes on what I was
doing.
So if I see it here and I gotoh I wonder what I something I
can always link back to the notebecause it's got those URLs and
everything.
So that's kind of nice.
So yeah, I'm going to stickwith it.
I did the monthly subscriptionfor now, I think.
Did you do the did?
Jeff (35:31):
you commit to the whole year.
Yeah, I mean, once I startedplaying with it I thought you
know what?
I want to give myself time toreally use it and not feel
pressured to, you know, to haveto re-up again after a month.
So yeah, I've already canceledthe subscription, but I probably
will re-up it.
I just texted you something andactually you can maybe throw
(35:54):
this up in the show notes too,the thing that I tried to text
it in Riverside, but it wouldn'tlet me do it.
Tom (36:02):
But that's kind of an interesting breakdown.
Jeff (36:05):
So that was a pretty decent day for me.
Didn't use it every single stepof the day, didn't do it every
every way, but what's nice isyou can kind of see the actual
breakdown of what it is that Idid throughout that particular
day, which is, you know, fairamount.
There are gaps between sessions.
(36:26):
I don't think that that's aproblem.
There was an actual break, youknow that was in there for 45
minutes, which is lunch for me,I think.
But it's nice for me to seethis because sometimes I think
if, when going through the day,that I'm not quite getting done
(36:47):
what it is that I need to getdone, you know and this has
really given me a better eyeinto the fact that I am with
some detailed notes, and it alsothrows this on my regular
calendar I'm not quite surewhether or not that's a thing
that I want for keeps.
Tom (37:03):
I'm on defense with that one too.
I just made a new calendar forit.
I just had session stuff and itjust drops it into that.
Jeff (37:09):
Yeah, same, I did the exact same thing.
Tom (37:12):
I'm trying to figure it out .
I'm sure there's like use casesfor that.
If, like, if Adam explained it,I probably oh yeah, that makes
a lot of sense, but I'mstruggling a little bit with
that one at this point.
Jeff (37:23):
And I think that's one of the things that he was saying
about historical, being able tolook at historical work on the
calendar, just have some idea ofwhat it is that he's doing.
But it's, the reporting on itis really nice.
The the.
I'll send a screenshot of theother one too for the same day,
just so people can see see thatas well.
(37:45):
So you've got the ability tooops, did not want to take that
screenshot.
Let's try it again.
So it's, I think it'll besomething that you can kind of
get a really good idea for forwhat the app is.
But personally, I found itquite quite useful.
Like I said, I'm in Californiafor my mom this week.
(38:09):
I'm not using it at all.
It's not a.
It's not a thing.
I'm using it for the podcastright now.
But the important thing iswhatever mom needs.
So you know hanging out withher and you know goofing off
with my niece and just stuffthat need to be in there.
Right and it doesn't.
I've got no other goal duringthis time than it.
Tom (38:34):
Just you know maybe hang out and be useful.
Right, hang out and be useful.
Jeff (38:39):
Yeah, exactly.
Tom (38:40):
All right, so I think we're both fans of it and yeah
encourage folks to go out andgive it a try, and it's one of
those things.
There's a trial, so there'sreally nothing to lose.
So no, not at all.
And if you're one of thosethat's curious, like how you're
spending time, and even if youdon't want to do the logging
stuff to any great degree, youcan always just use it for the,
(39:01):
the Pomodoro things, which ifyou have problems focusing, like
sometimes I do, like earlier Isaid I almost picked up the
phone but then I put it backdown because I saw no and all.
I had like three minutes leftin the sessions.
I'm like just finish whatyou're doing.
So if you're that typepersonality, it could be helpful
.
Jeff (39:17):
Yeah, and I will say there is a free version of the app.
That free version doesn't havedark mode, doesn't have some of
the reporting features, butyou've got the ability to use a
believe, the Pomodoro timer.
Tom (39:28):
So there's yeah, but, but you're gonna work for free.
Jeff (39:31):
Yeah, exactly, and you know it's.
I like it, I like it a ton.
And you know, once I'm back,you know not not doing what I'm
doing at the moment I'm back onit.
It's going to be a regular,nice regular thing.
Tom (39:44):
Thank you, adam Olson, for the recommendation.
Jeff (39:46):
Yes, thank you very much and thank you for those who said
a little more detail when we'retalking about apps and what it
is that we're doing.
Tom (39:54):
Yeah, absolutely.
So it's probably the best timeas any to say if you have
feedback like that, likeobviously, if you know us in
person, just tell us, but if youcan send us an email feedback
at basicafshowcom, because youknow, sometimes when you know
we're using this stuff day today, we do kind of skip over
that.
It's like it's great.
We need to explain it a littlebit more.
(40:15):
So all right.
So sessions app two thumbs upat this point.
Maybe in six months or so we'llrevisit see if it's stuck with
us long time or long term or not, I think valuable Okay.
All right.
Jeff (40:26):
So up next, up next, Tom.
You may recall that for mybirthday this past year, both my
daughters and my son in lawdecided that I needed a Nintendo
switch.
Yes, I do recall that gave me aNintendo switch and little true
(40:49):
confession business here.
I, you know, played video gamesback when you know, on the
Apple too you had space invadersand you know I did that for a
little bit.
And then jumping back to myrelatively I won't call it
strict upbringing in Protestantupbringing, but it was
definitely something I imposedupon myself was like dude, the
(41:13):
world's going to end, no time tono time to be playing games.
Tom (41:17):
I got time for that.
Jeff (41:19):
So I, I limited myself and did not, did not play a lot of
games, but I what's funny is, atthe time that I, my birthday,
was coming around, I startedasking my kids saying you know
what, if I were to get myselfone of these for my birthday, I
(41:43):
was thinking to give them myselfa present, you know, like what
might be some good games for meto start with.
And I got a message back fromthe kids saying, uh, don't,
don't do that.
No, telling that, yeah, don'tdon't get yourself.
(42:03):
You know they were good aboutit because they were funny and
they, when they delivered that,you know, when the gift came and
we had a little birthdaycelebration, uh, there was a
piece of paper in the box thatsays so sorry about this going
to be a couple of weeks, butyou're not going to get the uh
switch.
And then they had it in theback room A bunch of goofball.
So I got some very nice giftsfor that birthday.
(42:25):
By the way, my son got me thiselectric massager.
That's awesome Uh, that I wouldhighly recommend.
But then the uh, the other kidsgot me the switch.
So I have been since then, um,playing games on the switch and
really just kind of relaxinginto it.
Thus, you know the play, uh,the play category that I have in
(42:48):
in sessions where I just sayyou know what I'm for the next
half an hour, I'm just going toplay game and I'm I'm going to
chill with it.
And I started out with a gamethat I began, uh, playing on the
Mac and never could quite editit with the, the.
There's something about playinggames on a computer that I just
(43:09):
can't handle.
I don't know what it is.
I'm not very good with controls.
I forget where they are.
You know is the K, the S andthe D and the F key and then the
E.
You know all that stuff to movearound or the arrow keys.
It never really worked out withme, but I had started a while
ago, several miles ago, playingFirewatch on on the uh on the
(43:32):
Mac, and couldn't hang with itbut decided that that was going
to be the first game that I wasgoing to play on the switch.
And, man, I'm telling you acouple of different things,
no-transcript, first game ofthat sort that I have ever
finished.
Now I will say there's a.
(43:53):
You know, there was an iOS gameor two that I've played to the
end.
That I love.
But otherwise, you know, Iwould buy these games and I
would never Play them or I wouldnever finish them.
I finished that and I will saythat it for me has become almost
(44:13):
a new kind of storytelling thatI hadn't really Considered
before.
I just thought it was playing agame playing a game I'm playing
.
It's almost it up like it, andFirewatch for one, really kind
of a melancholy, sweet, sweet,interesting game.
(44:34):
What's the premise of that?
So you've got, you've got thisguy who is Walking out and
starts by walking out into thewoods and he's in radio contact
with a Another person.
He's gonna be essentially aranger.
He's gonna sit in a fire towerall summer and watch for fires
(44:54):
and as the story unfolds,without given any spoilers, you
discover that he's married, butnot together.
His wife is sick, you know,there's a number of other things
, and he's just kind of, youknow he can't hang with that, so
he's, he's gone to do someother thing, he's got you be a
(45:15):
guy hisescape woods.
It is his escape and the thevoice on the radio is the person
.
The other fire tower is a womanwhich you know in from the
story's perspective at leastfrom my perspective in the story
is giving him kind of a way toTouch his wife, you know like
(45:39):
emotionally kind of have that.
The conversations that hecouldn't have with her.
He does have with this personthroughout it.
He's got some problems he's gotto solve there.
You know, an actual fire doesstart and he's got to make sure
people get out of there and thenthe next thing he has to do is
he has to make sure he getshimself out of there.
(46:00):
But it's a really gorgeousenvironment.
Puzzles that were on par withmy, you know, lack of game
playing for over the years, butReally fun, and the experience
overall on the Nintendo switchhas been Delightful to me.
It's like I've got it sittingright here.
(46:21):
It's super portable.
I've never and I've been told Ishould do this, but I've never
hooked it up to my televisionyet.
I just popped the thing out sitdown.
Tom (46:31):
I was gonna ask about that, yeah.
Yeah, I haven't just chill outon the couch.
Then handheld mode right Mostlyhandheld mode.
Jeff (46:38):
Yeah and it's I.
There are some games that Ihave that I think deserve to be
played More than just inhandheld mode.
Mm-hmm, I have started Breathof the Wild, which is one of the
Zelda series.
Yeah, that's gorgeous.
Tom (46:53):
It is.
Yeah, I've played that one alittle bit.
Jeff (46:56):
Yeah, it.
It's something else and I thinkthat's something that that
deserves to be there.
Last time I was in Californiawhen I Got my other stuff stolen
.
What was really nice is I hadleft my my when I'd gone on that
trip With all my stuff and wentup to see my friends in
Northern California.
I had left my switch with myniece so she could play Stardew
(47:19):
Valley.
Well, I was was away.
I knew I wasn't gonna be Spentis, I wasn't gonna be playing it
, and the beauty of that was theswitch didn't get stolen when
all my other stuff got so yeahso, you know, that was kind of a
kind of a cool thing.
But during that trip the entirebio shock series Was on sale for
(47:43):
19 bucks.
So I was able to get threegames for 19 bucks that I intend
to play and that one reallyseems like it's more suited To a
television as opposed to thehandheld, you know, particularly
since it's got a Lot of darkstuff, but I you know dark areas
on the screen that cansometimes be, you know,
(48:04):
difficult to kind of figure itout, and so I have.
I played Firewatch to the end.
I played another game by acompany called play dead, called
inside.
It was gorgeous, gorgeous game,again not too complicated,
which is what I need at thispoint in time.
You know I'm not right, toogood at wait.
(48:26):
It's the left gr button, it's.
I'm not up to speed on theplate that someone iOS that one,
yeah, yeah, it's a great game.
It's dark, very, very dark, butreally beautiful in terms of the
(48:48):
gameplay and such satisfactionwhen, when you solve some of the
puzzles, really Really likeamazing, there's one in that
game where you're you'reunderwater Spoiler ahead for
those of you who have not playedwhere you're underwater in this
(49:08):
Essentially submersible andthere's this this demon mermaid
comes after you and I wouldcontinue to try to run to get
past the demon mermaid.
She would hop onto thesubmarine and kill me and I
would be back to be likehappened probably 20 times.
I'm like trying everything Ican.
Can I go faster, can I make itso I don't get into the, you
(49:31):
know, into the submarine and soon further away, and she would
always catch me in.
There were Was a headlight Inthe, in the submersible that you
were in, that if you shined itin her face she couldn't come
and get you and I finallyfigured that out.
Tom (49:48):
I was like oh my gosh.
Jeff (49:51):
But it was so, so satisfying to me, and I Mean
notwithstanding the fact thatthis was given to me as a gift.
So, thank you, reallyappreciate you know the gift
that, like I said, I wasthinking about buying one for
for myself, but notwithstandingthat this was a gift, I I'm not
(50:14):
gonna buy a ps5.
I'm not gonna buy, you know, anXbox.
I'm not gonna sit down withwith one of those and begin
playing.
And one of the other thingsthat I found is that a Lot of
the games in the switch are kindof whimsical.
You know they're.
They're really Not expensivefor the most part.
(50:34):
You know, breath of the wild isgonna cost you 70 bucks, but or
not, breath of the wild, butwhatever.
The new tears of the kingdom,which is the, the new one, but
it's.
You can get the gore and killystuff if you want to.
Bio shocks got plenty of that,but right, there's just kind of
a simple delightful, somethinglike it in an fable.
(51:00):
It's an ineffable vein.
We'll use that big word.
You know, there's somethingjust really sweet about playing
games on the switch that I'm IReally am finding that, I'm joy,
I'm really happy that I've kindof found that place, but it's,
it's been such a delight to me.
It's just like a simple thingdon't have any pressure, don't
(51:22):
feel any pressure to do anythingjust gonna sit down and play
for a little bit and then youuse headphones with that?
I have, but not always, you know.
And, by the way, if you haveAirPods or Beats or whatever it
is, any Bluetooth?
You can you can connect thoseto.
Yeah, to the switch, at leastthe switch I have, I don't know
about the, I have the.
Tom (51:41):
Oh, you've got the old head right.
Jeff (51:43):
Yeah, I do.
Yeah, so it's I have.
I have used them but have notfell.
You know, compelled to use themall the time.
A lot of times I don't airplaneflight.
I was played for a while.
I put the headphones on.
That was, you know, that wasfun.
Tom (51:59):
Maybe I'll have to dust it off.
Jeff, we've got one.
It's behind the TV and it'sbehind the TV.
I think you said the chargingdock, or whatever well, not
charging dock, but the dockingstation, yeah yeah.
So it's there and it's, it'sready to go like.
I checked it the other day andit was charged.
Jeff (52:14):
We could be friends online time.
Oh, you could be my Nintendofriends, right.
Tom (52:19):
It?
I don't know.
Yeah, there's just some namefor it.
Yeah, but I know yeah, cuz Iwas looking at the games earlier
this evening, just as kind of arefresher, just to see you know
cost and things like that, butyou know there's 60 bucks on
down, there were some like $3,right?
So, and they have a lot ofreally good sales.
Jeff (52:36):
To like that bio shock sale all three games for like 19
bucks.
Tom (52:39):
Yeah, kind of a test that I do like I was a big fan of
double dragon back in the dayand I can't even remember what
console I first played that on,to be honest, but they have it.
Yeah, I want to go retro.
I can play it and I've playedthat with the kids and stuff and
they liked it and everything.
So yeah.
(52:59):
I may have to check it out.
I think you should, becausethere's no money out of pocket.
Jeff (53:03):
I already have the thing, so it's like yeah, and if it's
sitting behind the TV andnobody's playing it, it's yours,
it is yeah, and I think it'sfunny, though, like every once
in a while, the kids, you knowwe'll fire up Mario Kart or
something.
Yep cuz.
Tom (53:18):
That's a fun one, especially if you're playing
with other people.
Yeah, that was a good time andand so yeah, I think I'll try it
out again.
I think you should like I'dnever disliked it.
It's just Something I don'tthink about because it's behind
the TV, probably.
Jeff (53:32):
But yeah, yeah, what wasn't mine for one it was.
Tom (53:37):
It was the boys, so of course, but I can make it mine,
as you said, yeah, do you guysdon't play it.
Jeff (53:43):
Yeah, right, and you paid for it pretty much.
Yes, there you go.
Tom (53:48):
Yeah, game recommendations how many games do you have at
this point, before we go to that?
Jeff (53:51):
All right.
Well, let's, let's, let's godown that path.
Let me pop this thing out andI'll tell you.
I, I, I have found that I likeScanning the store to find thing
.
Here we go.
Okay, let's wait for thesatisfying sound.
There we are.
Yeah, I have See, isn't thatcute?
(54:12):
Even the sounds are nice.
It's one of the things thatthat Nintendo does, that Apple
does really well.
Yeah, there's some, definitelysimilarities there satisfaction
I have.
I have 30 games nice on here,and One of the things I was
(54:34):
doing at the beginning that I nolonger feel compelled to do
either is I was saying no, yougot to finish this game before
you play the next one.
I Am not, I'm not doing that,I'm now just taking a game.
I another game that I justfinished that I thought was
really sweet was the first oxenfree, not familiar?
(54:56):
that yeah it's kind of a Twistyghost story.
Okay, it's surreal ghost story,a lot of fun like that.
There's a new version of it out.
That came out too.
A couple that I had here's anold-school one the last
First-person shooter that Ireally played was oh yeah, laugh
(55:17):
at me doom.
Tom (55:20):
Oh, I remember that we used to.
Oldays, we'd play yeah, so.
I do knuckum and all that stuff.
Yeah, all those.
So I Did?
Jeff (55:29):
I downloaded doom.
I was playing that the otherday doesn't creep me out as much
as it used to then, right, doomwas pretty creepy at the time.
But I've also picked up a lotof the games that I started but
didn't finish, either on iOS oron on macOS, just to kind of
Kick that into gear.
And so I I have found a coupleof those.
(55:50):
The limbo is one of them thatI'm playing.
The there's one called oldman's journey, which was
available on arcade, which wasreally sweet, but I'm enjoying
that on here.
Creeks, another really good onekind of fun.
I Am playing Zelda off and on.
(56:11):
That's a little bigger than I'mcapable of handling right now.
Mm-hmm, you know it's.
I think I need to learn alittle bit more about that.
So, yeah, so a number of gameslike that that I that I really
have enjoyed playing and youknow, Whatever I feel like
(56:33):
playing at this point in time, Iplay.
Tom (56:35):
You ever play any of the Metal Gear titles?
No, like they were being, like,I think they're ps2 or 3.
I can't remember which one itwas.
Yeah, memories not what it was,but when I was browsing earlier
I saw they had that, and somaybe that's what I'll use to
kick start my switch playing as.
(56:56):
Oh, I'll go back to that becauseI think they had the trilogy
and those were a lot of fun forme they were.
They're kind of a shooter game,but it's not like a call of
duty style type stuff.
It's more of a behind enemylines and you've got missions to
accomplish and stuff like that.
Jeff (57:14):
Yeah, yeah, that's a lot of fun.
I, those are.
Yeah, those are.
I don't know, I'm not Bioshockaside the first person shooters,
not not really a thing that I'mvery good at.
So, again, because it controls,so maybe I'll pick that up.
I, I, I like Puzzle-ear games,yep, or mysteries.
(57:37):
You know that you kind of needto solve which is what fire
watch was and in that.
But you know I'm, I'm old, onthis bus, you know.
Yeah, you know I'm not the thenew guy in the block, but it's.
It has been a really Really newand enjoyable experience for me
.
Tom (57:57):
I'm very nice.
It's kind of fun.
Yeah so, and it's good to dothat sometimes you know, yeah,
you gotta unplug at some point,and yeah, it's not mindless
necessarily either, things likethat.
There's a lot of thinking, soit's not like it's.
You're just sitting therewatching tiktok, or something.
(58:20):
I think it's like that becausenot all tiktoks are completely
mindless.
Jeff (58:26):
No, no, it's.
Nor is, nor is YouTube right.
Yeah, but it can be it can't beanything beyond me on that
Twitter.
See what I did there Me on thatTwitter app.
Watch it.
You know People crash intothings Endlessly which I could
burn, you know, in our easysometimes doing that is a waste,
(58:46):
a waste of mind space.
You know it's satisfying onsome level, but I think it's
mostly a instantaneous dopaminehit.
Tom (58:57):
Right, yeah, all right, well, good, I'm glad you're
enjoying it, because I rememberyou were telling me you were
thinking about getting it andThen that they got it for you as
a gift, so I'm happy.
Jeff (59:07):
Yeah, no, I really that is where you like it.
It's been great.
Really has a lot of fun Allright, good stuff.
Tom (59:14):
So there are three switches available.
Prices 199 up 350.
I'm sure you can find them onsale here and there too.
Jeff (59:20):
So and they then I know they do on eBay.
Tom (59:22):
Yeah, so if that's something that that you're
curious in, maybe, maybe give ita go and yeah, highly recommend
.
All right.
Well, jeff, my friend, we'vedone it yet again.
What we burned, another hour,another hour, man, they go quick
.
Jeff (59:36):
They do.
Yeah, you should have beenplaying a switch instead of
listening.
Tom (59:43):
I'll see that when I review sessions.
All right, so just remembereverybody.
If you have any questions orfeedback, hit us up feedback at
basic af show comm Websites.
The same thing, keep in mind.
We still do have stickers, soif you'd like a sticker, just
ask.
Be happy to send one.
Jeff (01:00:02):
I've got a magnet.
We have magnets, We've gotmagnets.
I ordered the magnets.
You always talk about stickersbut I don't know one who got
magnets you did.
My mom even has one on her onher dryer.
Well, she's a good mom, that'show good they are.
Tom (01:00:14):
Yeah, she loves me, yeah that's good, and so if you like
a magnet and or a sticker, justask.
We're nice guys, we'll send itto you, won't even charge it for
it.
So, no, we'll even pay for thestamp, right, we will.
So just ask for crying out loud, trying to get rid of these
things.
Yeah, so basic af show againAll the podcast apps.
(01:00:38):
Tell us again, jeff, who theintro music and artwork is from,
just in case people can'tremember kinetics frontman of
For whom is Celsius seven.
Jeff (01:00:50):
Highly recommend you check out their music, great, great
stuff.
And then we have Randall Martindesign, which you can look that
up on the internet Fantasticdesign work.
Yeah, he he does amazing workand we highly recommend it.
He's done a lot of stuff forboth Tom and I separately and in
(01:01:12):
he does brilliant work, verywell able to make Something
amazing in a in a little bit oftime.
I mean, just look at it.
I mean honestly.
Go look at our logo on yourfavorite podcast app.
You see that we stand out likenobody else does.
It does it looks great, bestfriggin artwork on the planet.
Tom (01:01:32):
So he's done another piece for me, that that's.
That's been very well receivedby a lot of people that I Also
have stickers for.
Jeff (01:01:40):
But Tell us who it is, tom , you don't.
Tom (01:01:45):
I do for my, my Subaru side of life.
Jeff (01:01:47):
Oh, it's a call to be adventures which.
Tom (01:01:49):
I know some of you know about.
But but, yeah, the stickershave been very popular there.
People really like those, andthat's all Randall's work.
So if you need work, he's yourguy.
Yeah, absolutely All right.
Well, that's it.
Thanks for being here.
Have a fantastic rest of yourday, rest of your night, and we
will talk to you again next time.
So yeah, crappy, watch band compatibility and FaceTime.
Tom (00:16):
All right, here we go.
It is another show Tommy Jeff B, the B-A-F boys, basic A-F.
We're back at it again, Dang.
Jeff (00:28):
you planned that, didn't you?
Tom (00:30):
No, okay maybe a little bit .
If I say I planned it andpeople don't like it, they'll be
like God one thing if it's offthe cuff.
But he planned it and it stillsucked.
Jeff (00:45):
We suck every week with the best.
Well, we do, it doesn't matter.
Tom (00:49):
We do Yep, and so real quick, before we get things
started.
As always, I want to say thanksfor being here with us and if
you've been listening for awhile now, we appreciate you
coming back again and again forthe show.
It means a lot to us.
And if you're new, we want tosay thanks for checking us out,
giving us a shot.
We hope to earn a spot on yourplaylist.
(01:12):
If you do enjoy the show andyou wouldn't mind doing us a
solid, you could drop us arating or review or both on
Apple Podcast.
Follow us there.
Jeff (01:21):
Spotify Overcast all the big apps the podcast, all the
big apps, that's correct.
Every app that you can do it on.
Actually, that's preferable.
Download us from every singleapp.
Listen to us three times a week.
That's a good thing for all ofus, yeah we're good with that.
Tom (01:39):
Yeah, come on.
So, jeff, come on.
Come on that nice intro musicwe have.
Who's that?
Courtesy of Jeff, why my?
Jeff (01:45):
friend that is from PsychoKinetics and who you can
also find as Celsius7 on allyour favorite streaming services
like Apple Music and Spotifyand I don't know wherever else
you're stealing music from thesedays.
We can find a way to do it.
But yeah, that isPsychoKinetics artwork, as
(02:08):
always by the amazing, theincredible Randall Martin design
, and so we encourage you tocheck out both PsychoKinetics,
celsius7 and Randall Martindesign, and you will find that
you get your bump on and thenyou can get some good design
work done.
Tom (02:26):
So good stuff Absolutely, and we thank them for helping us
out.
Jeff (02:31):
Yeah, definitely.
And for donating music.
And, randall, don't tell MrCelsius7, we paid you, randall.
Tom (02:43):
It's our little secret.
So, coming up in this show,we're going to talk about an app
that Jeff and I have been usingof late the Sessions app.
If you were listening to theshow we did with Adam Olsen a
couple of shows ago, that wasone that he recommended, so
we've both kind of jumped onthat one.
We're also going to dig intosome Nintendo Switch talks.
(03:06):
We're going to talk games someas well.
So I'm looking forward to thatbecause I know that's something
Jeff's been big into of late.
So that's coming up.
But before we get to that, justa couple of quick little things
.
Did you see this week the blurbfrom Mark Gurman at Bloomberg
on the and this is allspeculation, but the Apple Watch
(03:26):
10,?
Jeff (03:28):
did you see that?
No, did not.
Okay, so he had a blurb.
Tell me about it.
Tom (03:31):
Power on newsletter to give attribution appropriately that
in 2024 or 2025, the kind of thefirst, I guess, major redesign
of the watch, excluding theApple Watch Ultra, which was a
different design form, is comingup, and really the only reason
(03:53):
I wanted to talk about thisbecause it's so far out is that
one of the things he mentionedis that this could be the break
from the consistency thatApple's had with the watch bands
being compatible with allgenerations of the watch since
day one, effectively.
It's interesting, yeah, so Ithought that was that's what
caught my attention in the restof the stuff, because they have
(04:17):
done for Apple, because we dingApple sometimes for cash grabs,
for adapters for differentthings or nickel-in-dimeing for
storage, upgrades and thingslike that, and so I got to be
honest.
I have been very surprised withhow long they've actually
maintained compatibility withthe watch bands.
Jeff (04:39):
Yeah, across pretty much all of them.
It doesn't matter.
I think some of the larger onesyou can't use on the smaller
watches, but for the most part,yeah, yeah, because I mean
everywhere, which for them is,if they do it, that's new Right.
Tom (04:52):
Right, yeah.
And if they do it in a year ortwo, I think at that point it's
like well, that was a good run,because I mean watch this, what
10 years.
This would be series ninecoming out this fall, yeah, so
by then that's pretty good.
I don't think I'd be upset withthat at that point.
Jeff (05:07):
How many?
Yeah, and here's another.
You know what, since we'rebringing up changes, possible
design changes, the Apple WatchExcuse me, I'm coughing without
hitting the mute.
Yeah you know we're cheap idiots.
I don't have a real mute button.
I'd have to do actual work tomute my mic.
(05:27):
We I was.
I'm actually back in Californiawithout getting my stuff stolen
, which is pretty amazing.
My mom had some surgery lastweek and so I'm here helping to
take care of some things.
But my brother asked me lastnight we were looking at the
camera app that lets you, youknow, control your iPhone's
(05:51):
camera and you can see the videoon there.
But one of the things hewondered and I kind of do too is
how come we haven't yet gottenan Apple Watch with a FaceTime
camera?
You think that's coming in thenext one.
Do you want it?
Come on, man, I see that.
Look on your face.
It's like nah, I don't wantthat.
Dick Tracy watch.
Tom (06:12):
Well, see, now they just spin it that way.
Of course I want it.
Jeff (06:17):
Of course I gotta shape it .
Tom (06:18):
I mean, I was a kid once.
It's a long time.
Jeff (06:21):
But still.
Tom (06:21):
Yeah, it shows.
I think it's one of thosethings.
I'd have to see it.
Yeah, because I don't do.
I don't do phone calls throughthe watch.
We've talked about how I don'treally do many phone calls, so
that shouldn't be much of asurprise.
But you know, it's one of those.
I don't know if it were therewhere I would use it and I might
.
Jeff (06:41):
Yeah, so have you turned on the cellular feature on your
Apple Watch Ultra?
I have not.
Okay, so I have, and actually Ihave gone about not that I need
to FaceTime anybody.
You know that I could seesimilar to the touchscreen Mac,
where you know who wants to havetheir fingers up on the screen
all the time.
I don't quite understand that.
I get it on an iPad occasionally.
(07:02):
But it's kind of a pain in theneck sometimes to constantly
have to work with your finger uplike that and I can see walking
down the street with your watchin front of your you know face.
You're not not going to workout too well, but it's.
I think you know my brother hada valid question.
Is that technology seems likeit should be there and wonder if
we're going to get somethinglike that in some near future
(07:24):
iteration of the of the watchRight Necessary?
Would I use it?
I might.
I mean I do.
I did turn on the cellularfeature on my watch and I do use
that without you know if I'mmowing the lawn or something.
I got my watch out there anddon't have to have it by my
phone.
I'm all good with that.
So I don't know.
(07:44):
I could see it being used.
I could see a lot of peopleusing it.
Tom (07:49):
Yeah.
Jeff (07:51):
I just it's kind of surprising and he wasn't wrong
in stating that it wassurprising that Apple hasn't yet
added that option on any oftheir watches.
Tom (08:00):
So yeah.
Jeff (08:02):
Yeah, so we will find out.
So yeah, crappy watch bandcompatibility and face.
Tom (08:10):
Man, that's quite a presentation, you're welcome.
Jeff (08:13):
Yeah, hi, son of your consulting for you for that.
Yeah, let me ask the boss if Ican, if I can do that section of
the presentation when the timecomes.
Tom (08:24):
But, yeah, I think I don't know We'll find out, but anyway,
I don't want to dwell on thewatch too much today, but I just
thought that was of note ofnote.
Jeff (08:32):
That is notable, pretty interesting, and it would be
interesting to see.
If that's the case.
I would like a couple morewatch bands, I think.
Tom (08:38):
How many do you have now for the Ultra two?
Jeff (08:40):
three, well, I had four but one got stolen, so that and
it never got used.
That's the sad thing.
That was the.
That was the swimming band, theocean band that I had planned
to use, but it found its way, Idon't know.
I think if I go by the In-N-Outin Oakland over on Heggenberger
, I dig around in the weeds, Imight get my watch band back.
(09:03):
I might get my laptop and myiPad back too, because nobody's
using that?
Geez.
Yeah, it would be interesting,that would be.
But yeah, I have three.
I have three, and the one thatI wear most often is the I never
know the names of these thingsthe one with a loop and the
orange tab on it.
(09:24):
That's greenish.
The trail band, trail band.
Yeah, I like that one.
Tom (09:28):
I like that one too.
Yeah, it's going.
Jeff (09:29):
Yeah, I got the Alpine one and I kind of funky just and
I've got a, I've got a trailband for for what color trail
band did you get?
Tom (09:40):
So you said it's the black one with the orange tab.
Jeff (09:43):
Yeah, okay, grayish black something like that Yep, yep and
it's.
It's probably grayer now,especially the orange tab, than
it was the start.
Sure Orange tab dirty it'sfilthy and I've tried cleaning
it with a toothbrush.
Tom (09:56):
Yeah, it's just like.
Yeah, just hopeless.
Jeff (09:59):
Doesn't?
It doesn't look very pretty.
Tom (10:01):
No, it doesn't.
And I got the green Alpinegreen, whatever they call it the
loop.
I got that one, and then I gotthe orange one, and I'm finding
the orange one is just as proneto picking up dirt as the orange
tab.
Jeff (10:14):
So that's that's my house band.
Tom (10:16):
I wear it around the house.
Jeff (10:19):
Good yeah, so what a waste of money 100 bucks One idiot.
Yeah, right, yeah yeah.
100 bucks here, 100 bucks there, right, see, that are clothes.
It's you only live once or youonly wear one.
I, you know, daily watch bands.
Tom (10:38):
Yeah, daily wear yeah.
Jeff (10:39):
Yeah, no thanks.
Okay, I do change watch facesfor various occasions, like I
have one that I change if I, youknow, depending on what clothes
I'm wearing, I make it match myshirt, or something like that.
Gotcha, okay.
Tom (10:52):
Yeah, because I'm that nerd .
That's why they give you theoption.
Jeff (10:55):
Right 100%.
Tom (10:57):
The only other thing real quick I saw was that the so the
Apple cases for iPhone, theleather cases was reported by
one of the rumor people that youcan find it on Mac rumors.
But it was some guy that justposts stuff on X.
X, See that I got it right.
X.
What the freak.
Jeff (11:16):
I don't even know what you're talking about.
Are you watching the pornchannel again, tom?
I gave that up, right, butyou're watching X.
You're on X all the time, right, and we're not talking X to C.
Tom (11:27):
Every time I see that I think a DMX.
I think I've said that a coupleof times now but it's true.
Jeff (11:32):
And people are working now are doing that too.
Tom (11:36):
Yeah, we're going DMX memes on the office but anyhow,
they're not going to makeleather cases.
Was is what this guy was saying.
Jeff (11:43):
Can I just sell it here so nobody can see this online.
But I have this leather case.
That was beautiful and I reallyliked it.
But, dude, talk about filthyand falling apart.
Tom (11:55):
Yeah, the quality is going way down on those things and I
think it happened when theyswitched to the.
What did they switch to thiskind of rectangle format again,
or design, not format, but 12that they did.
That was the 11, still kind ofthe rounded one like the 10
series and 12, they squared themoff again going back to kind of
like the four vibe anyway, yeah.
(12:17):
And I think when they did thatis when they kind of nose dived
on the quality because they usedto wear really well and they
looked nice and but these likethe, it's like it's a painted
die or something and the cornersrub off and then it's just
their I like.
The biggest reason I like isbecause they're light and they
feel great Right and they'revery thin and they don't you
(12:38):
know, but quality wise theyhaven't been that great.
Jeff (12:42):
Yeah, I think after I am going to get the next phone and
when I get that I'm goingcaseless again.
I did that for a long, longtime and then I got the leather
case for the the 11 that I had,and then the leather case for
this 13.
I'm a odd number man and I, butI think I'm going back to no
(13:06):
case.
Tom (13:08):
Yeah there you go.
Jeff (13:09):
I like that feel.
So yeah, it could make a joke,that's would be filthy and I'm
not going to go that direction.
Tom (13:18):
But on to the next topic.
Yeah, and promise, we're notdrinking, we're both we don't
really drink Right Sober.
Jeff (13:27):
It's it's five o'clock in California on a Friday evening
and I have only had water todrink all day.
Tom (13:33):
Eight 19 here and I'm in the same situation, so all right
.
So those two little thingsaside, let's get into the app
that we want to discuss.
Jeff (13:43):
So sessions really interesting.
So when, when Adam Olson thatwe had on last last show, when
Adam was talking about sessions,I mentioned that I had been
using in my writing app inHighland Pro, I had been using
(14:04):
the timer for that, which I doall the time.
It's a great way for me to getyou know if I'm feeling crappy
about writing or putting anyother words down.
It's a good way for me to justkind of kick that up and get
going.
And then I had it would onoccasion use an app called
Vitamin R, which is a Pomodoroapp, pomodoro being you know
(14:24):
Pomodoro timer method, where youdo something for 20 to 25
minutes, you take a break forfive.
Tom (14:29):
You know that.
That real quick, that app.
Vitamin R yes, I think when wewere doing the Revenge of the
Fanboy podcast 12, 13 years ago,whatever that was, and that was
one of John's picks, remember,we used to do picks.
Like each show, we do a pick orsomething, and I think he had
that as a pick.
He may have.
Jeff (14:48):
It's been around a long time and it is a great app.
That's.
That's a great, a great app.
I and I've used it on the phoneand I've used it on the on my.
I've used it on my Mac quite abit as well to do the same thing
, just to kind of give me akickstart.
So but what Adam said aboutsessions that was kind of
(15:12):
interesting to me was that hewas essentially keeping a diary
of what it was that he wasworking on as he was going along
, and that it gave greatreporting, that it gave you the
ability to kind of really lookat what it was that you were
doing and gave you the abilityto go back in time and see, you
(15:32):
know, what you accomplished,where, when, why and how.
So I did download the app.
I had a lot of stuff going on,so did not pick it up before my
free session ended but I I begansetting it up, setting up
different groups, and what Istarted finding was is that I
(15:55):
was using it more than I hadused any of those Pomodoro apps
before, for for a couple ofreasons.
One, I was schedulingeverything that I was doing, and
the upside to that for me was,you know, you get some days
where you're doing a bunch oflittle things here and there, it
really doesn't seem like you'vedone much of anything at all.
(16:15):
It gave me a little better view, actually a lot better view,
into those kinds of days,including days when you know
it's a weekend.
I'm not really doing work.
Work I'm doing, you know,housework.
I'm cleaning dishes, cleaningthe house, mop on the floor,
mowing the lawn, you know, doingall that kind of stuff that
(16:37):
those appear to be decentaccomplishments.
But I didn't realize, you know,when I mow the lawn I'm putting
like three hours into it.
I have a big piece of property.
I mow it, you know, by hand.
And it gave me, if I can saythis, like a greater sense of
satisfaction around the workthat I was doing and like the
setup I mentioned right beforewe started this session here.
(17:00):
I kicked off a session'ssession before our recording
session.
Tom (17:06):
And it has.
Jeff (17:07):
Before you begin every session, you have the option of
turning on this breathe feature,and it's really crazy for me
how that kind of settles me intowhatever it is that I'm doing.
I look forward to that, thatbreeze which, by the way, I just
(17:27):
want to point out.
I have set it up so that eachof my recording things is
supposed to have three breaths,not just the one to kick off the
session.
There's some bug going on, it'snot working, it's doing one and
I'm disappointed every time Iuse it.
But it's become a really usefultool that actually I like using
(17:49):
every day as a means of nottracking my time.
I have time tracking app calledTime.
That's excellent TYME ifanybody's looking for a great
tool to be able to do some timetracking for billing purposes,
but to track what it is that Iwas doing when, where, why and
how.
So I'm kind of thrilled to beusing that.
Tom (18:10):
So sort of time tracking, but not for billing purposes or
anything like that, it's morejust so you're aware of what you
just said.
Jeff (18:20):
Yeah, so I have some awareness around what it is that
I'm doing in days thatsometimes feel like you didn't
do crap today, dude, whichsometimes I didn't do crap today
, but which is okay, there'snothing wrong with that no,
there's something to be said forthat as well but it's helping
me to get a better idea of whatit is that I'm actually doing
(18:44):
and allowing me to keep notesaround those same things, saying
I did X, Y and Z.
Tom (18:54):
Now, I was just going to say talk to me a little bit
about the scheduling.
You mentioned that you werescheduling it, so are you Like
scheduling the day and thenworking?
No, I don't do it that way, orokay?
Jeff (19:05):
I usually have work to do it, so it what it does is it
spits stuff onto the calendar.
Yeah, I can see it from two tothree.
I did this from three or four,okay, so kind of all that kind
of stuff.
Right, it's a.
It's more historicalinformation in the calendar
rather than you know.
Tom (19:18):
Let's do something like a time blocking type thing it's no
here's what I'm working on, andthen when I go back Then you,
then you see how the day brokedown, and stuff like that.
Jeff (19:27):
Yeah, exactly that and and I like that, I'm not.
Adam does time blocking.
Do you do that kind of thingwhere you block out like an hour
to?
Tom (19:37):
do x dipped into that and out of it a Few times.
It hasn't really stuck for meBecause I just find work it's
easier if it's like side hustlestuff, like for this.
I can put okay, saturdaymorning 9 to 11, I'm doing
whatever.
But for like day-to-day work,it things just very too much at
the office because it's asupport role.
(19:57):
So support it's the way I'm ofsupport mercy of whatever the
heck's going on.
Jeff (20:02):
Yeah, so that, by the way, is the kind of stuff I find
this really valuable for.
So I get a call from a clientsays hey, my website's down, can
you do this?
I can click that on in sessionsand say I'm gonna work on this
for 25 minutes, mm-hmm, and seewhere I get.
And I say I'm working with, youknow, the fengelstein law firm,
or whoever it is that I'mworking with, to do some, some
(20:23):
piece of work, and I've I'm ableTo quantify that, whereas going
to do a normal day I might sayyou know what I'm gonna sit down
I'm gonna write for for an hourand a half to two hours today.
I'm gonna edit for an hour andthen I'm a revise for, you know,
an hour more.
But because of the nature ofwhat I do, work wise, you know I
(20:47):
kick off that hour and then Iget that message saying hey, and
it helps support and, and so IJump over the the help thing.
But then I go back and go dude,you didn't write.
You know, like you said, you'regonna write for two hours today
.
You didn't even write for two.
You know it's.
It's helping me to see thoseThings a little differently, and
(21:10):
then you know, judge myself.
I often do, oh, no, not tooharshly, I hope oh every day
come on.
Tom (21:20):
Yeah you know right so let's, uh.
Let's go back a couple of stepsand maybe talk about kind of the
premise a little more of theapp, kind of what the, the
foundational setup componentswould be, because one of the
pieces of feedback I got on theshow that we did with Adam that
was that content itself wasgreat.
(21:42):
But if we would had taken aminute or two for each of the
apps to just explain a littlebit more what the app is
Conceptually, some of the kindof the basics to help frame it
up a little bit, that might help.
So maybe sure for folks here ifyou want to kind of run through
that a little, Sure.
Jeff (21:59):
So first of all, I would say, feel free to download the
session app on the app store andjust have a first look at it.
But what it is as I said, or Istarted to say in the beginning
it's it uses Something calledthe Pomodoro method.
Pomodoro method and I'm no deepdiver in this Basically breaks
your work down into bite-sizedchunks.
(22:22):
Typically, the default for thesessions app is 25 minutes.
So you say, even I'm gonnaswitch over to the app right now
and look at it.
I'm gonna create a new session.
I have categories for thosesessions, so I have a general
category.
That is just kind of whatever.
You know, nothing in particular.
(22:42):
I have housework.
I have writing.
I have reading Believe it ornot, that I've.
I've rolled into this.
That's a good one.
I've had podcast rolled intothis.
I've got personal stuff.
You know where I'm doing stuffaround the house.
I have play, believe that ornot, but I've added that in as a
thing because you know, for me,being raised as a is a prize.
(23:10):
Protestant with the Protestantwork, ethic play is not
something you do.
So I've.
Tom (23:17):
I've added we're gonna talk about that play stuff in a
little bit too.
Jeff (23:21):
We are gonna talk about play in a second, which I'm
excited about, consulting intheater.
You know, these are all things.
And then, finally, cooking,believe it or not?
Because I spend, you know, I dothe majority of cooking, which
I like a lot, but you know,that's Typically an hour or so
on every day.
But I've created these various,these various groups.
(23:42):
And then, for example, fortonight, for our, for our
podcast session Recording.
What I would do is I would prepthis, I would say I'm doing a
podcast, I'd give it Essentiallywhat they call an intention,
but I'm just saying we're doingepisode 16.
Believe it or not, folks, thisis 16th episode of the Bay, of A
basic AF show.
So thank you.
(24:03):
And then I set a time for it.
Default in the application is25 minutes.
You can set up your default tobe whatever it is that you want
it to be.
And in this case I just woundthe clock to an hour and 15
because I know, you know, we BSoff mic for the first 15 minutes
or so and we BS on mic for thenext hour.
(24:26):
Right, but we get all the dirtywords out Right At the beginning
.
We get our threats out of theway early, yeah, yeah, and then
I kick off that timer and goabout the business of doing
whatever it is that I need to doOnce a session is completed.
Once you've completed a timesession, you can either go to a
(24:49):
break or you can end the session, or you can continue the
session.
If you end the session, whatyou have the option of doing is
then rating how it is that youwere during that session Were
you distracted, were you neutral, were you focused and then you
can put some notes in.
(25:09):
You know, we recorded for anhour.
I was mostly focused, although,you know, not as focused as I
should have been.
Tom was getting pissed at me,and so I'm gonna be a better boy
next week, you know.
But you can put those kinds ofnotes in.
So you've got the ability toreview what it is that you're
doing, or what it is that youhave done in that, in that
(25:31):
proceeding session, and then,once you complete that session,
you can create a new one.
If you repeat the session or goon a break, you break for a set
amount of time, again determinedby you, which that's kind of
the idea behind the Pom Doramethod as well is you need to
focus for a specific period oftime and then you need to let
(25:52):
your brain breathe for a coupleof seconds.
So you go do something else,you know.
You go walk outside or you dosome other thing, and then you
come back to whatever it is thatyou were working on before, and
so it goes.
So what it's doing is helpingyou to break your day down into
chunks, into manageable chunks,and I think sometimes the most
(26:13):
overwhelming thing is to look atthe task at hand and think, oh
my God, how am I ever gonna getthis done today?
And by saying, instead, I'm justgonna do some stuff for 25
minutes, I'm gonna do what I can, and then I'm gonna take a
little break and then I'm gonnacome back and do it for another
25 minutes and continue throughthat process until you get it
(26:34):
done.
What it does is, for me atleast, that overwhelmed feeling
that I can often get when I havea large task at hand.
It pulls that back for me andthat's oftentimes what I say,
that I use that in my writingapp, oftentimes the idea of
(26:55):
starting writing again if you'vegot a lot behind you and you're
in the middle of writingsomething.
Just the idea of, oh my God,I'm working on a novel.
What am I gonna do?
You know, just saying you knowwhat I'm just gonna write for 25
minutes, right, and I'm notgonna worry about it is a really
useful feature.
Tom (27:14):
It just feels like a much more manageable chunk rather
than right.
So much of it is mental and tobe able to do that.
And you mentioned thecategories there and one of the
things I liked is it's kind ofup to the person, the individual
, to see how many categoriesthey want, and so it sounds like
you had maybe 10 or 12.
Jeff (27:35):
I have about 10.
Tom (27:36):
Yeah, and I think I ended up with about the same eight to
10, something like that.
And I'll tell you, like thisweek I'm still developing the
habit, Like I don't think I'vegotten as far as you have with
the consistency of it, but likeI think it was yesterday I was
(27:56):
working on something and Iforgot to put it in like as the
session, so I just went in andadded like a little 15 minute
session, Right Cause you can doit after the fact too If you
forget or just want to add it.
For you know, historical datapurposes, and.
But today in particular, therewere a couple that I ran this
morning when I was doingsomething.
And do you keep the menu barthing up there?
(28:19):
Up in the menu bar that showsthe current session and the time
remaining and that sort ofthing.
Jeff (28:26):
I do, but because I use the menu bar app that hides it.
Tom (28:31):
So if I open it up right now, it says I see podcast
episode it.
Jeff (28:39):
you know I could see it if I do it now and it kind of
gives me a little timer.
I really don't need that orwant that.
In fact, the other thing thatthis app does is it can make
like little ticking sounds inthe background.
Tom (28:50):
Yeah, I turned that off.
Jeff (28:51):
Same.
I don't not want that.
Tom (28:53):
It freaked me out.
The first time it kicked in Iwas like what is that clock?
That's right.
Jeff (28:59):
But what I do like is the two minute warning and it will
give you a warning again,something that you can set a
time on that.
But at two minutes it'll say,hey, you've got.
You know your session's aboutto come to an end, oh, I've
checked that out.
Tom (29:13):
I haven't looked at that.
Jeff (29:14):
Yeah, it's a really nice feature.
So you turn that on and what itdoes is you know it'll say this
session is gonna end in twominutes and then you have the
option of tacking on five orsaying you know what, I'm gonna
be complete with it.
This.
And I've had situations where,say, I'm reading a script and
I'm five, six pages from the endand I want to start a new
(29:36):
session like that.
So it's like you know, add it,add it, add it, add it and then
get it done and then put mynotes in.
Integrates well with AppleWatch, but no app for the Apple
Watch.
You can't kick it off.
It all as it does is gives younotifications, but it's a nice
and allows you to.
You know, either end it or youknow, add five minutes and
(30:00):
that's great.
Tom (30:01):
if you walk away like you get distracted or something
happens and you have to leavemay not just be a distraction if
something comes up.
The thing with the menu barthing that today I was when I
was working on those couple ofthings, I actually reached for
my phone so I was like, oh, I'mgonna check something on social
right.
Then I saw my clock ticking upin the menu bar thing and I put
(30:24):
the phone down.
Jeff (30:26):
So it served the purpose, right.
Tom (30:27):
So I was like yeah, yeah, I was like that's good and it did
.
Jeff (30:30):
So are you using?
Because the other featurethat's there is if you have the
phone app.
The phone app also has thatfeature.
So on a lock screen Right,you've got the little widget
that when you pick up your phoneto it goes yo, dork, you're
supposed to be doing thingnumber three or whatever it is
(30:53):
that you were doing Yep, andit'll throw the live activity up
in the thing too.
Tom (30:57):
On the 14th.
Jeff (31:00):
Yes, and here's another thing that you can use the app
for.
I haven't really done this yetbecause I'm pretty good at it,
but you can make it so and Adamactually alluded to this last
week you can make it so it turnsapps off when you begin a
session.
So no messages, no teamsnotifications, no Slack
(31:20):
notifications.
It has direct integration withSlack, which is kind of nice.
Although I don't use Slack, orI don't.
If I don't have to, I don't useSlack.
There are instances where Slackis definitely a requirement,
but what it will do is you gotto open messages.
It goes no, kicks messages off.
Tom (31:40):
That's what he said.
Jeff (31:40):
he thought it was crash, yeah he thought it was crash,
and every time he opened it hewas just in a session, but it is
able to do that, and then itturns those, those app blocks
off as soon as your session isdone, so it's not like you have
to go back in and reopen theapplication.
Tom (31:54):
Yeah, you do anything with shortcuts I haven't yet.
Yeah, I did the real simple,built in ones where when it
starts the session it just turnson, do not disturb.
Jeff (32:05):
And I just roll with that.
Yeah, I haven't done any ofthat.
I plan to do that a little more, but haven't done that,
although I will say I'm startingto play with shortcuts a little
bit more.
Tom (32:17):
Yeah, I think we're going to come back to that.
I think that's a show we shoulddo just on shortcuts stuff.
And see what we can come upwith.
Jeff (32:25):
Yeah, and maybe we're going to stick a couple out
there.
Tom (32:28):
Yeah, can download them and see what uses people, yeah, be
curious to see Because shortcutsis interesting.
So I think we should definitelycome back to that.
Jeff (32:36):
Yeah, absolutely true.
So how about you?
So you said that you startedusing it, but not a lot.
I will say I want to hear howyou're doing it, but I will say
that I got a little anal aboutit and with every single thing
that I was doing, I would justsay you know what A session I'm
going to put it on a session?
Yeah right, it was easy,especially after I created those
(32:58):
categories, to say, okay, thisis what I'm doing, donk, donk,
donk, boom, right, and let it go.
Yeah.
Tom (33:05):
So last.
So I've got it up and I'mlooking.
So one of the nice things andyou touched on it a little bit
is, after you've done thesessions and everything, there's
a section in the app foractivity I think that's what
it's called and you go in thereand you can look at your
activity day, week or month andit's got your typical day ranges
right so you can do today,yesterday, this week, last week
(33:25):
and so on, last 28 days, 14,whatever.
And so for last week, forexample, I had an average focus
per day and of course this isall because of it's based on
what you put into it, but it washour and 16 minutes says I was
most focused at noon.
(33:46):
Not sure what to take from that, but the total focus for the
week was seven hours and 41minutes.
So let's see how it looks thisweek, fairly consistent.
So this week I had six hours,28 minutes, which was down 16%
from last week, still mostfocused at noon.
Man, I like lunch which I don'ttrack, by the way, and that's
(34:09):
not in there but categories thatI had were pretty comparable to
yours.
I kept just a general work andthen I separated out by
intention, so it could be adminwork or it could be reporting or
whatever it is for work.
I have started tracking exercisestuff, like I'll start a
(34:31):
session when I work out, thenI'll put some notes in it about
the workout and things like that.
I set one up for home stuff.
So when I do budgeting and thatsort of thing.
As far as my ratings go, lastweek I rated 14, because I don't
do it every time.
So I had 11 that were focused.
(34:52):
Three were neutral.
This week I only rated seven,but they were all focused.
But what's kind of nice is like.
So today, when I was doing someof that admin work and I was
tracking it, I made a note aboutthe work and then I put a link
to the actual note that I havein the bear app, because when I
(35:14):
was working I had to take somedetailed notes on what I was
doing.
So if I see it here and I gotoh I wonder what I something I
can always link back to the notebecause it's got those URLs and
everything.
So that's kind of nice.
So yeah, I'm going to stickwith it.
I did the monthly subscriptionfor now, I think.
Did you do the did?
Jeff (35:31):
you commit to the whole year.
Yeah, I mean, once I startedplaying with it I thought you
know what?
I want to give myself time toreally use it and not feel
pressured to, you know, to haveto re-up again after a month.
So yeah, I've already canceledthe subscription, but I probably
will re-up it.
I just texted you something andactually you can maybe throw
(35:54):
this up in the show notes too,the thing that I tried to text
it in Riverside, but it wouldn'tlet me do it.
Tom (36:02):
But that's kind of an interesting breakdown.
Jeff (36:05):
So that was a pretty decent day for me.
Didn't use it every single stepof the day, didn't do it every
every way, but what's nice isyou can kind of see the actual
breakdown of what it is that Idid throughout that particular
day, which is, you know, fairamount.
There are gaps between sessions.
(36:26):
I don't think that that's aproblem.
There was an actual break, youknow that was in there for 45
minutes, which is lunch for me,I think.
But it's nice for me to seethis because sometimes I think
if, when going through the day,that I'm not quite getting done
(36:47):
what it is that I need to getdone, you know and this has
really given me a better eyeinto the fact that I am with
some detailed notes, and it alsothrows this on my regular
calendar I'm not quite surewhether or not that's a thing
that I want for keeps.
Tom (37:03):
I'm on defense with that one too.
I just made a new calendar forit.
I just had session stuff and itjust drops it into that.
Jeff (37:09):
Yeah, same, I did the exact same thing.
Tom (37:12):
I'm trying to figure it out .
I'm sure there's like use casesfor that.
If, like, if Adam explained it,I probably oh yeah, that makes
a lot of sense, but I'mstruggling a little bit with
that one at this point.
Jeff (37:23):
And I think that's one of the things that he was saying
about historical, being able tolook at historical work on the
calendar, just have some idea ofwhat it is that he's doing.
But it's, the reporting on itis really nice.
The the.
I'll send a screenshot of theother one too for the same day,
just so people can see see thatas well.
(37:45):
So you've got the ability tooops, did not want to take that
screenshot.
Let's try it again.
So it's, I think it'll besomething that you can kind of
get a really good idea for forwhat the app is.
But personally, I found itquite quite useful.
Like I said, I'm in Californiafor my mom this week.
(38:09):
I'm not using it at all.
It's not a.
It's not a thing.
I'm using it for the podcastright now.
But the important thing iswhatever mom needs.
So you know hanging out withher and you know goofing off
with my niece and just stuffthat need to be in there.
Right and it doesn't.
I've got no other goal duringthis time than it.
Tom (38:34):
Just you know maybe hang out and be useful.
Right, hang out and be useful.
Jeff (38:39):
Yeah, exactly.
Tom (38:40):
All right, so I think we're both fans of it and yeah
encourage folks to go out andgive it a try, and it's one of
those things.
There's a trial, so there'sreally nothing to lose.
So no, not at all.
And if you're one of thosethat's curious, like how you're
spending time, and even if youdon't want to do the logging
stuff to any great degree, youcan always just use it for the,
(39:01):
the Pomodoro things, which ifyou have problems focusing, like
sometimes I do, like earlier Isaid I almost picked up the
phone but then I put it backdown because I saw no and all.
I had like three minutes leftin the sessions.
I'm like just finish whatyou're doing.
So if you're that typepersonality, it could be helpful
.
Jeff (39:17):
Yeah, and I will say there is a free version of the app.
That free version doesn't havedark mode, doesn't have some of
the reporting features, butyou've got the ability to use a
believe, the Pomodoro timer.
Tom (39:28):
So there's yeah, but, but you're gonna work for free.
Jeff (39:31):
Yeah, exactly, and you know it's.
I like it, I like it a ton.
And you know, once I'm back,you know not not doing what I'm
doing at the moment I'm back onit.
It's going to be a regular,nice regular thing.
Tom (39:44):
Thank you, adam Olson, for the recommendation.
Jeff (39:46):
Yes, thank you very much and thank you for those who said
a little more detail when we'retalking about apps and what it
is that we're doing.
Tom (39:54):
Yeah, absolutely.
So it's probably the best timeas any to say if you have
feedback like that, likeobviously, if you know us in
person, just tell us, but if youcan send us an email feedback
at basicafshowcom, because youknow, sometimes when you know
we're using this stuff day today, we do kind of skip over
that.
It's like it's great.
We need to explain it a littlebit more.
(40:15):
So all right.
So sessions app two thumbs upat this point.
Maybe in six months or so we'llrevisit see if it's stuck with
us long time or long term or not, I think valuable Okay.
All right.
Jeff (40:26):
So up next, up next, Tom.
You may recall that for mybirthday this past year, both my
daughters and my son in lawdecided that I needed a Nintendo
switch.
Yes, I do recall that gave me aNintendo switch and little true
(40:49):
confession business here.
I, you know, played video gamesback when you know, on the
Apple too you had space invadersand you know I did that for a
little bit.
And then jumping back to myrelatively I won't call it
strict upbringing in Protestantupbringing, but it was
definitely something I imposedupon myself was like dude, the
(41:13):
world's going to end, no time tono time to be playing games.
Tom (41:17):
I got time for that.
Jeff (41:19):
So I, I limited myself and did not, did not play a lot of
games, but I what's funny is, atthe time that I, my birthday,
was coming around, I startedasking my kids saying you know
what, if I were to get myselfone of these for my birthday, I
(41:43):
was thinking to give them myselfa present, you know, like what
might be some good games for meto start with.
And I got a message back fromthe kids saying, uh, don't,
don't do that.
No, telling that, yeah, don'tdon't get yourself.
(42:03):
You know they were good aboutit because they were funny and
they, when they delivered that,you know, when the gift came and
we had a little birthdaycelebration, uh, there was a
piece of paper in the box thatsays so sorry about this going
to be a couple of weeks, butyou're not going to get the uh
switch.
And then they had it in theback room A bunch of goofball.
So I got some very nice giftsfor that birthday.
(42:25):
By the way, my son got me thiselectric massager.
That's awesome Uh, that I wouldhighly recommend.
But then the uh, the other kidsgot me the switch.
So I have been since then, um,playing games on the switch and
really just kind of relaxinginto it.
Thus, you know the play, uh,the play category that I have in
(42:48):
in sessions where I just sayyou know what I'm for the next
half an hour, I'm just going toplay game and I'm I'm going to
chill with it.
And I started out with a gamethat I began, uh, playing on the
Mac and never could quite editit with the, the.
There's something about playinggames on a computer that I just
(43:09):
can't handle.
I don't know what it is.
I'm not very good with controls.
I forget where they are.
You know is the K, the S andthe D and the F key and then the
E.
You know all that stuff to movearound or the arrow keys.
It never really worked out withme, but I had started a while
ago, several miles ago, playingFirewatch on on the uh on the
(43:32):
Mac, and couldn't hang with itbut decided that that was going
to be the first game that I wasgoing to play on the switch.
And, man, I'm telling you acouple of different things,
no-transcript, first game ofthat sort that I have ever
finished.
Now I will say there's a.
(43:53):
You know, there was an iOS gameor two that I've played to the
end.
That I love.
But otherwise, you know, Iwould buy these games and I
would never Play them or I wouldnever finish them.
I finished that and I will saythat it for me has become almost
(44:13):
a new kind of storytelling thatI hadn't really Considered
before.
I just thought it was playing agame playing a game I'm playing
.
It's almost it up like it, andFirewatch for one, really kind
of a melancholy, sweet, sweet,interesting game.
(44:34):
What's the premise of that?
So you've got, you've got thisguy who is Walking out and
starts by walking out into thewoods and he's in radio contact
with a Another person.
He's gonna be essentially aranger.
He's gonna sit in a fire towerall summer and watch for fires
(44:54):
and as the story unfolds,without given any spoilers, you
discover that he's married, butnot together.
His wife is sick, you know,there's a number of other things
, and he's just kind of, youknow he can't hang with that, so
he's, he's gone to do someother thing, he's got you be a
(45:15):
guy hisescape woods.
It is his escape and the thevoice on the radio is the person
.
The other fire tower is a womanwhich you know in from the
story's perspective at leastfrom my perspective in the story
is giving him kind of a way toTouch his wife, you know like
(45:39):
emotionally kind of have that.
The conversations that hecouldn't have with her.
He does have with this personthroughout it.
He's got some problems he's gotto solve there.
You know, an actual fire doesstart and he's got to make sure
people get out of there and thenthe next thing he has to do is
he has to make sure he getshimself out of there.
(46:00):
But it's a really gorgeousenvironment.
Puzzles that were on par withmy, you know, lack of game
playing for over the years, butReally fun, and the experience
overall on the Nintendo switchhas been Delightful to me.
It's like I've got it sittingright here.
(46:21):
It's super portable.
I've never and I've been told Ishould do this, but I've never
hooked it up to my televisionyet.
I just popped the thing out sitdown.
Tom (46:31):
I was gonna ask about that, yeah.
Yeah, I haven't just chill outon the couch.
Then handheld mode right Mostlyhandheld mode.
Jeff (46:38):
Yeah and it's I.
There are some games that Ihave that I think deserve to be
played More than just inhandheld mode.
Mm-hmm, I have started Breathof the Wild, which is one of the
Zelda series.
Yeah, that's gorgeous.
Tom (46:53):
It is.
Yeah, I've played that one alittle bit.
Jeff (46:56):
Yeah, it.
It's something else and I thinkthat's something that that
deserves to be there.
Last time I was in Californiawhen I Got my other stuff stolen
.
What was really nice is I hadleft my my when I'd gone on that
trip With all my stuff and wentup to see my friends in
Northern California.
I had left my switch with myniece so she could play Stardew
(47:19):
Valley.
Well, I was was away.
I knew I wasn't gonna be Spentis, I wasn't gonna be playing it
, and the beauty of that was theswitch didn't get stolen when
all my other stuff got so yeahso, you know, that was kind of a
kind of a cool thing.
But during that trip the entirebio shock series Was on sale for
(47:43):
19 bucks.
So I was able to get threegames for 19 bucks that I intend
to play and that one reallyseems like it's more suited To a
television as opposed to thehandheld, you know, particularly
since it's got a Lot of darkstuff, but I you know dark areas
on the screen that cansometimes be, you know,
(48:04):
difficult to kind of figure itout, and so I have.
I played Firewatch to the end.
I played another game by acompany called play dead, called
inside.
It was gorgeous, gorgeous game,again not too complicated,
which is what I need at thispoint in time.
You know I'm not right, toogood at wait.
(48:26):
It's the left gr button, it's.
I'm not up to speed on theplate that someone iOS that one,
yeah, yeah, it's a great game.
It's dark, very, very dark, butreally beautiful in terms of the
(48:48):
gameplay and such satisfactionwhen, when you solve some of the
puzzles, really Really likeamazing, there's one in that
game where you're you'reunderwater Spoiler ahead for
those of you who have not playedwhere you're underwater in this
(49:08):
Essentially submersible andthere's this this demon mermaid
comes after you and I wouldcontinue to try to run to get
past the demon mermaid.
She would hop onto thesubmarine and kill me and I
would be back to be likehappened probably 20 times.
I'm like trying everything Ican.
Can I go faster, can I make itso I don't get into the, you
(49:31):
know, into the submarine and soon further away, and she would
always catch me in.
There were Was a headlight Inthe, in the submersible that you
were in, that if you shined itin her face she couldn't come
and get you and I finallyfigured that out.
Tom (49:48):
I was like oh my gosh.
Jeff (49:51):
But it was so, so satisfying to me, and I Mean
notwithstanding the fact thatthis was given to me as a gift.
So, thank you, reallyappreciate you know the gift
that, like I said, I wasthinking about buying one for
for myself, but notwithstandingthat this was a gift, I I'm not
(50:14):
gonna buy a ps5.
I'm not gonna buy, you know, anXbox.
I'm not gonna sit down withwith one of those and begin
playing.
And one of the other thingsthat I found is that a Lot of
the games in the switch are kindof whimsical.
You know they're.
They're really Not expensivefor the most part.
(50:34):
You know, breath of the wild isgonna cost you 70 bucks, but or
not, breath of the wild, butwhatever.
The new tears of the kingdom,which is the, the new one, but
it's.
You can get the gore and killystuff if you want to.
Bio shocks got plenty of that,but right, there's just kind of
a simple delightful, somethinglike it in an fable.
(51:00):
It's an ineffable vein.
We'll use that big word.
You know, there's somethingjust really sweet about playing
games on the switch that I'm IReally am finding that, I'm joy,
I'm really happy that I've kindof found that place, but it's,
it's been such a delight to me.
It's just like a simple thingdon't have any pressure, don't
(51:22):
feel any pressure to do anythingjust gonna sit down and play
for a little bit and then youuse headphones with that?
I have, but not always, you know.
And, by the way, if you haveAirPods or Beats or whatever it
is, any Bluetooth?
You can you can connect thoseto.
Yeah, to the switch, at leastthe switch I have, I don't know
about the, I have the.
Tom (51:41):
Oh, you've got the old head right.
Jeff (51:43):
Yeah, I do.
Yeah, so it's I have.
I have used them but have notfell.
You know, compelled to use themall the time.
A lot of times I don't airplaneflight.
I was played for a while.
I put the headphones on.
That was, you know, that wasfun.
Tom (51:59):
Maybe I'll have to dust it off.
Jeff, we've got one.
It's behind the TV and it'sbehind the TV.
I think you said the chargingdock, or whatever well, not
charging dock, but the dockingstation, yeah yeah.
So it's there and it's, it'sready to go like.
I checked it the other day andit was charged.
Jeff (52:14):
We could be friends online time.
Oh, you could be my Nintendofriends, right.
Tom (52:19):
It?
I don't know.
Yeah, there's just some namefor it.
Yeah, but I know yeah, cuz Iwas looking at the games earlier
this evening, just as kind of arefresher, just to see you know
cost and things like that, butyou know there's 60 bucks on
down, there were some like $3,right?
So, and they have a lot ofreally good sales.
Jeff (52:36):
To like that bio shock sale all three games for like 19
bucks.
Tom (52:39):
Yeah, kind of a test that I do like I was a big fan of
double dragon back in the dayand I can't even remember what
console I first played that on,to be honest, but they have it.
Yeah, I want to go retro.
I can play it and I've playedthat with the kids and stuff and
they liked it and everything.
So yeah.
(52:59):
I may have to check it out.
I think you should, becausethere's no money out of pocket.
Jeff (53:03):
I already have the thing, so it's like yeah, and if it's
sitting behind the TV andnobody's playing it, it's yours,
it is yeah, and I think it'sfunny, though, like every once
in a while, the kids, you knowwe'll fire up Mario Kart or
something.
Yep cuz.
Tom (53:18):
That's a fun one, especially if you're playing
with other people.
Yeah, that was a good time andand so yeah, I think I'll try it
out again.
I think you should like I'dnever disliked it.
It's just Something I don'tthink about because it's behind
the TV, probably.
Jeff (53:32):
But yeah, yeah, what wasn't mine for one it was.
Tom (53:37):
It was the boys, so of course, but I can make it mine,
as you said, yeah, do you guysdon't play it.
Jeff (53:43):
Yeah, right, and you paid for it pretty much.
Yes, there you go.
Tom (53:48):
Yeah, game recommendations how many games do you have at
this point, before we go to that?
Jeff (53:51):
All right.
Well, let's, let's, let's godown that path.
Let me pop this thing out andI'll tell you.
I, I, I have found that I likeScanning the store to find thing
.
Here we go.
Okay, let's wait for thesatisfying sound.
There we are.
Yeah, I have See, isn't thatcute?
(54:12):
Even the sounds are nice.
It's one of the things thatthat Nintendo does, that Apple
does really well.
Yeah, there's some, definitelysimilarities there satisfaction
I have.
I have 30 games nice on here,and One of the things I was
(54:34):
doing at the beginning that I nolonger feel compelled to do
either is I was saying no, yougot to finish this game before
you play the next one.
I Am not, I'm not doing that,I'm now just taking a game.
I another game that I justfinished that I thought was
really sweet was the first oxenfree, not familiar?
(54:56):
that yeah it's kind of a Twistyghost story.
Okay, it's surreal ghost story,a lot of fun like that.
There's a new version of it out.
That came out too.
A couple that I had here's anold-school one the last
First-person shooter that Ireally played was oh yeah, laugh
(55:17):
at me doom.
Tom (55:20):
Oh, I remember that we used to.
Oldays, we'd play yeah, so.
I do knuckum and all that stuff.
Yeah, all those.
So I Did?
Jeff (55:29):
I downloaded doom.
I was playing that the otherday doesn't creep me out as much
as it used to then, right, doomwas pretty creepy at the time.
But I've also picked up a lotof the games that I started but
didn't finish, either on iOS oron on macOS, just to kind of
Kick that into gear.
And so I I have found a coupleof those.
(55:50):
The limbo is one of them thatI'm playing.
The there's one called oldman's journey, which was
available on arcade, which wasreally sweet, but I'm enjoying
that on here.
Creeks, another really good onekind of fun.
I Am playing Zelda off and on.
(56:11):
That's a little bigger than I'mcapable of handling right now.
Mm-hmm, you know it's.
I think I need to learn alittle bit more about that.
So, yeah, so a number of gameslike that that I that I really
have enjoyed playing and youknow, Whatever I feel like
(56:33):
playing at this point in time, Iplay.
Tom (56:35):
You ever play any of the Metal Gear titles?
No, like they were being, like,I think they're ps2 or 3.
I can't remember which one itwas.
Yeah, memories not what it was,but when I was browsing earlier
I saw they had that, and somaybe that's what I'll use to
kick start my switch playing as.
(56:56):
Oh, I'll go back to that becauseI think they had the trilogy
and those were a lot of fun forme they were.
They're kind of a shooter game,but it's not like a call of
duty style type stuff.
It's more of a behind enemylines and you've got missions to
accomplish and stuff like that.
Jeff (57:14):
Yeah, yeah, that's a lot of fun.
I, those are.
Yeah, those are.
I don't know, I'm not Bioshockaside the first person shooters,
not not really a thing that I'mvery good at.
So, again, because it controls,so maybe I'll pick that up.
I, I, I like Puzzle-ear games,yep, or mysteries.
(57:37):
You know that you kind of needto solve which is what fire
watch was and in that.
But you know I'm, I'm old, onthis bus, you know.
Yeah, you know I'm not the thenew guy in the block, but it's.
It has been a really Really newand enjoyable experience for me
.
Tom (57:57):
I'm very nice.
It's kind of fun.
Yeah so, and it's good to dothat sometimes you know, yeah,
you gotta unplug at some point,and yeah, it's not mindless
necessarily either, things likethat.
There's a lot of thinking, soit's not like it's.
You're just sitting therewatching tiktok, or something.
(58:20):
I think it's like that becausenot all tiktoks are completely
mindless.
Jeff (58:26):
No, no, it's.
Nor is, nor is YouTube right.
Yeah, but it can be it can't beanything beyond me on that
Twitter.
See what I did there Me on thatTwitter app.
Watch it.
You know People crash intothings Endlessly which I could
burn, you know, in our easysometimes doing that is a waste,
(58:46):
a waste of mind space.
You know it's satisfying onsome level, but I think it's
mostly a instantaneous dopaminehit.
Tom (58:57):
Right, yeah, all right, well, good, I'm glad you're
enjoying it, because I rememberyou were telling me you were
thinking about getting it andThen that they got it for you as
a gift, so I'm happy.
Jeff (59:07):
Yeah, no, I really that is where you like it.
It's been great.
Really has a lot of fun Allright, good stuff.
Tom (59:14):
So there are three switches available.
Prices 199 up 350.
I'm sure you can find them onsale here and there too.
Jeff (59:20):
So and they then I know they do on eBay.
Tom (59:22):
Yeah, so if that's something that that you're
curious in, maybe, maybe give ita go and yeah, highly recommend
.
All right.
Well, jeff, my friend, we'vedone it yet again.
What we burned, another hour,another hour, man, they go quick
.
Jeff (59:36):
They do.
Yeah, you should have beenplaying a switch instead of
listening.
Tom (59:43):
I'll see that when I review sessions.
All right, so just remembereverybody.
If you have any questions orfeedback, hit us up feedback at
basic af show comm Websites.
The same thing, keep in mind.
We still do have stickers, soif you'd like a sticker, just
ask.
Be happy to send one.
Jeff (01:00:02):
I've got a magnet.
We have magnets, We've gotmagnets.
I ordered the magnets.
You always talk about stickersbut I don't know one who got
magnets you did.
My mom even has one on her onher dryer.
Well, she's a good mom, that'show good they are.
Tom (01:00:14):
Yeah, she loves me, yeah that's good, and so if you like
a magnet and or a sticker, justask.
We're nice guys, we'll send itto you, won't even charge it for
it.
So, no, we'll even pay for thestamp, right, we will.
So just ask for crying out loud, trying to get rid of these
things.
Yeah, so basic af show againAll the podcast apps.
(01:00:38):
Tell us again, jeff, who theintro music and artwork is from,
just in case people can'tremember kinetics frontman of
For whom is Celsius seven.
Jeff (01:00:50):
Highly recommend you check out their music, great, great
stuff.
And then we have Randall Martindesign, which you can look that
up on the internet Fantasticdesign work.
Yeah, he he does amazing workand we highly recommend it.
He's done a lot of stuff forboth Tom and I separately and in
(01:01:12):
he does brilliant work, verywell able to make Something
amazing in a in a little bit oftime.
I mean, just look at it.
I mean honestly.
Go look at our logo on yourfavorite podcast app.
You see that we stand out likenobody else does.
It does it looks great, bestfriggin artwork on the planet.
Tom (01:01:32):
So he's done another piece for me, that that's.
That's been very well receivedby a lot of people that I Also
have stickers for.
Jeff (01:01:40):
But Tell us who it is, tom , you don't.
Tom (01:01:45):
I do for my, my Subaru side of life.
Jeff (01:01:47):
Oh, it's a call to be adventures which.
Tom (01:01:49):
I know some of you know about.
But but, yeah, the stickershave been very popular there.
People really like those, andthat's all Randall's work.
So if you need work, he's yourguy.
Yeah, absolutely All right.
Well, that's it.
Thanks for being here.
Have a fantastic rest of yourday, rest of your night, and we
will talk to you again next time.
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