Jonathan Barrett
banner
relativesanity.com
Jonathan Barrett
@relativesanity.com
Just this guy, you know?
I went to see Andy Goldsworthy's retrospective in Edinburgh recently, and have been trying to put the experience into words ever since. Here's where I ended up.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/gol...
Goldsworthy - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The guisers (and Guys) may be done, but we're still definitely in orange-leaves-and-decorative-gourds season in Scotland. Take a break from the grind with some dangerously tasty (and just plain dangerous, frankly) hot chocolate.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/hot...
Hot chocolate season - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
As we stare down yet another Monday, struggling to wrap our heads around why it's dark at 5pm, what if there was some magic spell we could intone to reframe things a little more positively?

Or, in other words, How are you doing today?

www.relativesanity.com/articles/pos...
Positive bias - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I get asked about how I used to do lists and task managers to stay organised. I could never answer well as things kept changing. Things still keep changing, but I have found an answer:

I've stopped trying to stay organised; I'm getting more done than ever.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/sys...
Systemic trust - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The "AI Browser" is the current generation's Internet Fridge. Both these things are useful! That doesn't mean combining them will be more useful!
October 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
A swift one for everyone who's working remotely this Friday afternoon, and maybe decided to get out for a change of scene.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/wai...
Waiting - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Sometimes, mornings are things you just need to let happen. Especially when they're armed and have that look in their eye.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/mor...
Morning - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Here's a nice Sunday read: an article in defence of processes

www.relativesanity.com/articles/pro...
Process interrupt - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The irony of my longest article in ages tackling the subject of nobody having "enough time" is not lost on me.

It might even be part of the point, especially as I eventually propose a solution :)

www.relativesanity.com/articles/no-...
No time like the present - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Curious: I have a bunch of things I’m keen to write about, but wonder what people would be most interested in hearing my take on?
September 26, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Saying it now: I like iOS 26 in general but THE BEST feature is call screening. Absolutely changes my relationship with phone calls.
September 26, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Disappearing back down the notemaking app rabbit hole. Again. Obsidian is such a power tool, but mobile sync is just too hit and miss. Giving @bearnotesapp.bsky.social another shot. It really is the prettiest app, and like Things, it may be that simplicity beats options every time.
September 23, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Being caught in a recent round of redundancies is a rollercoaster. But I'm fine, honestly.

(no seriously, I'm fine)

www.relativesanity.com/articles/fix...
I'm fine - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
September 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Back to BrewDog on Lothian Road for this evening’s Shore Leave! Join me between around 6pm and 8pm if you fancy a chat and catchup.
September 17, 2025 at 7:47 AM
So this week's Shore Leave is back in Edinburgh, and will likely(*) be in Brew Dog, Lothian Road. I'll be there from about 6pm with my book and a pint. Come chat!

(*) assuming it's not too busy and I can score a table. Any change of venue, I'll post here as soon as I can with an update :)
September 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Well this is fun!
September 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"Don't call it a podcast!"

Seriously, it's not a podcast(*), but I figured I'd try something new with today's article 🎧

www.relativesanity.com/articles/hel...

(*) … yet :)
Saying Hello - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Some quick thoughts on what turns out to be my "hundredth" article on my blog.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/aul...
I've got 99 articles, but this ain't one - Relative Sanity
a journal of thoughts on being and doing
www.relativesanity.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Been playing about with kindavim.app for the last couple of weeks. I think I like it? Still struggling to get it under my fingers, but when I remember to use it it’s pretty awesome…
kindaVim
it's kinda like Vim but not really.
kindavim.app
August 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I used to do this thing called "office hours" where I'd be in a predictable pub at a predictable time once a week. It was a great way to keep up with folk who were about.

I'm relaunching this and rebranding to "Shore Leave"!

⛵️⚓️🍻

First one's tomorrow from about 6pm, Blackbird, Edinburgh
August 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I was literally thinking about getting back into the trackball game (loved mine back in 2005), and ZSA drops this in my email inbox.

Are these guys watching my Amazon search history or what?

www.zsa.io/voyager/navi...
The Navigator: A trackball for your Voyager
A tightly-integrated mousing solution
www.zsa.io
August 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
"This one weird trick can boost your productivity!"

But what even is "productivity", and how can we make sure it's actually helpful?

I have thoughts.

www.relativesanity.com/articles/mea...
Means of production - Relative Sanity
a journal of geekery, curmudgeon, and so on.
www.relativesanity.com
August 25, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Damn. My school was all Macs, but I remember the physics department had a Windows PC, and Eno’s startup chime gave me chills. Still does. Utterly perfect sound design.
On August 24, 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95 for retail sale.
August 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I've written before about the power of just saying nothing, but I love having this story to share from my early days as an engineering manager. Ten years sure flies by when you're having fun!

www.relativesanity.com/articles/sil...
Planning is everything. Just don't tell them that - Relative Sanity
a journal of geekery, curmudgeon, and so on.
www.relativesanity.com
August 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM