i am ailuj.

iamailuj is the digital commonplace book of julia alaniz. julia alaniz is a seo, habitual learner, reader, explorer. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21543967-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

[iamailuj]

“I’ve been preparing for this moment for 11 years,” Iguodala says of his study of the game and of LeBron James, whom he covered as well as could be expected. It’s “the 10,000-hour rule; you just try to master your craft.”

[iamailuj]

I’ve purchased thousands of books and invested hours upon hours of time learning them. But how expensive is going back for an MBA? Or attending TED? I think there is more wisdom in the timeless books of the last 5,000 years than a conference or two–if you do it right and push yourself.

Ryan Holiday

[iamailuj]

An enjoyable April read.

[iamailuj]

January reading finished up.

[iamailuj]

But I'm always trying to gather what I call 'firewood.' So I have piles of things I can go to and see if they'll work.

David Lynch, Catching the Big Fish

[iamailuj]

Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.

Chuck Close

[iamailuj]

This is my work day. Less productive in the afternoon.

[iamailuj]

Fun find at friend's house. This thing is a gem. Such a delight to read.

[iamailuj]

Fast Favorite: Ready Player One

I've been on a bit of a science fiction kick with books lately and recently read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline on my plane rides to and from San Francisco. Perfect airplane reading.

Synopsis from Indiebound:

The world in 2044 is a mess. Energy sources are depleted, cities are jam-packed, and the lives of average people are full of misery. In order to escape the hardships of everyday life, billions escape into the electronic virtual world OASIS. When the multi-billionaire creator of OASIS dies, he leaves his fortune in trust for the first avatar to complete three virtual quests. Wade Watts, a lonely teenage misfit, decides to compete and win the prize. Filled with references to 1970s and '80s pop culture, Ready Player One is a love story, a quest novel, and a parable for the electronic age.

Aside from the interesting idea of a virtual reality game/universe taking over our real lives, this book is laced with a love for the 80's, which made it even more fun.

Side note: I'm also a fan of Sword Art Online, which I was reminded of so many times when reading this. 

[iamailuj]

Inspired by Hugh MacLeod's work. Remixed by me and my watercolors.

[iamailuj]

Long overdue, but April 30 was a good day. Austin Kleon's talk in Houston was one reason.

[iamailuj]

The first real series of my #waterdoodles were shown tonight. And no, they are not about dishes as the pieces shown would suggest. On to the next series...whatever it is. I've got new watercolors to play with.

[austinkleon]

My Uncle Alex Vonnegut, an insurance salesman who lived at 5033 North Pennsylvania, taught me something very important. He said that when things are going really well we should be sure to notice it. He was talking about very simple occasions, not great victories. Maybe drinking lemonade under a shade tree, or smelling the aroma of a bakery, or fishing, or listening to music coming from a concert hall while standing in the dark outside, or, dare I say, after a kiss. he told me it was important at such times to say out loud, “If this isn’t nice, what is?”

Kurt Vonnegut (via austinkleon)

[iamailuj]

Mother's Day #waterdoodles

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good.

Roald Dahl   (via fuckinq)

[iamailuj]

Waterdoodles

I don't know if it's a thing, but I plan on making it one. 

[iamailuj]

Home office doodles.