In the tech world that often follow now-a-days, many developers have a TIL (Today I Learned) link, such as this one. Inspired by such TIL posts, I thought I should create my own TWIL (This Week I Learned) series.
Please note that this series also includes topics that I learned in previous weeks.
From History of TIL:
The abbreviation TIL can be traced back to Reddit. This was originally created so that Reddit members could learn interesting or little-known facts about a topic. On December 28, 2008, a Reddit user named nix0n created a subreddit called Today I Learned. According to Google Trends, TIL has been used online since at least 2004, and its use steadily increased throughout the 2010s.
Here are the things I learned this week (Sept 1):
- TWIL why our personal gadgets, such as laptops, mobile phones & iPad, and other electronics, must be removed out from the carry-on bags at the airport security checks.
- TWIL the reason why social media like Instagram are dying is because most 20-somethings prefer to chat in a closed group with like-minded people.
- TWIL the underlying rationale behind our procrastination in meeting deadlines on time.
- TWIL how to remember something, among them, was a technique to ask ChatGPT to quiz and be challenged.
- TWIL about what Is Orientalism? and a stereotyped, colonial vision of Asian cultures.
- TWIL, I understood better how China economics works and a better understanding why it is in the brink of collapse.
- TWIL why its very hard to give up our old habits. According to a HBR article, paying attention to the bad habit while it’s happening reinforces the “reward value,” which often fades after a certain period, and reaffirms the positive feelings (better reward) associated with the new habit.
- TWIL that Apple is said to have a universal USB-C charger suitable for all Apple devices.
- TWIL that how large companies are hoarding our personal data and better understood how to request for their deletion.
Finally, one of the reasons I decided to write this series is that, while listening to an interview with an accomplished author and writer, I learned that writing provides structure to the day-to-day lives of many people who are self-employed, freelancers, or retired seniors. This is also very true for yours truly.
My later life has been filled with daily writing routines, such as daily short blog posts, detailed technical articles. I also have a daily news and ChatGPT/AI headlines scanning habit.