Here are some random short thoughts on some recent purchases and other items that have come across my radar…

Moleskine 2007 Soft Cover Pocket Weekly 18 Month Planner – Just received this from the excellent and fairly priced Ninth Wave Designs and I could not be more excited. As you may know from reading previous posts, I have been tracking the release of these for a while. There are a few reasons I am drawn to these. First, the layout – It has a week calendar on the left hand page and is standard ruled on the right. Therefore, I can have my calendar and capture to-do/next action items in the same place. Second, I love the soft cover and the additional pages it provides for travel notes, measurements and time tables. Third, because it is 18 months I can start using it at the end of June through 2007.

My only gripes are that the paper is a little bit less thick than the Moleskine Pocket Ruled I now use and the pocket in the back is not accordion styled so it holds less. But these are minor gripes that will not stop me from putting it to good use,

Levenger Ballistic Shirt Pocket Briefcase – I recently picked this up after a strong recommendation from Emory and it has proved quite useful. For those not familiar, it is a thin holder for 3×5 cards designed so that one can take easy notes in a portable system on the go. I mainly use it for quick “disposable” lists like grocery lists. I also made up some custom printed 3×5 cards that act as a personal note card to give out as it has my key contact info printed on it. Comes off very slick and professional.

Owl Eye Paper Clips – I have been looking for these for a long time. While I could have bought them online I just did not feel like placing an order for something where the shipping was quadruple the cost of the item. Then as we were strolling through Target, Bethany spotted some in the office supply section – on clearance no less. Best 99 cents I have spent outside of iTunes.

Wired: Whistle-Blower’s Evidence, Uncut (via Etherdust)- Truly frightening uncut transcript of the evidence of the now infamous NSA domestic phone and internet surveillance program. This is the original uncut account from Mark Klein, the whistle-blower who broke the case. What is going on in this country is so reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984. The “War on Terror” against a loosely defined and mostly unseen enemy? The use of that war as justification for trampling on individual rights and liberties? The current newspeak-like phrases introduced by government spokesmen into the press? Does anyone not see the parallels? These are very scary times indeed. Just remember, we are still a free society and have a constitutional right to protect ourselves from our government.

Org-Fu Ãœberpost – I will update and finalize this soon I promise. I have a lot more to say but not the time to say it. Furthermore, I want to put it off on it’s own static page with pictures, screenshots and more. Therefore, I need the time it will take to do all of that and with the wedding and other demands it may be a bit longer.