Week of October 17th, 2026: Learning while working, todoist overwhelm, and annotated novels

I am simply declaring bankruptcy on the weeks before this. I am also posting this entirely from my phone; maybe this way I will be able to write more. #

Work #

A few weeks ago I finally figured out how to get the llm to teach me things in a style in which I can learn. Working with llms has been much better since then. #

I also hope that I have figured out the balance of using llms without outsourcing my thinking to them. I am doing at least 5 times the output of the work I used to do (pre llm). But I’ve found that I can care about at most 3 things a day, before my brain gets very, very tired. #

I’ll have a post up soon about how we’re doing evals and what I learnt from it! #

Life #

My to do list (literally, the app) had somehow become a mix of things I must do to survive + dumb things I don’t want to forget. The rest of my everyday tasks stayed in my head. This week, i finally put all of those tasks down in the app too! Instant catatonia. I got so overwhelmed looking at all of it that my brain just started haphazardly picking up things to get done even if it wasn’t as important. All my regular self soothing mechanisms were not working. I called a friend, diagnosed the problem, and made several views for myself so that I am seeing smaller sets things in my everyday. But it was a good lesson that I am really just a bundle of systems that work and coping mechanisms. #

Last weekend was Maya Bazaar. Got there super late, missed lots of my friends, skipped quite a few performances, but I’m pretty happy that I spent most of my money on stalls belonging to trans folks, and then some rings haha. #

Azan did a set in his living room. For his birthday last week he did a very long noodley set that I still have playing in my head. This set was “tighter” but I know he is hiding more songs in his back pocket. Want a soundcloud link. #

The rest of the week has been quiet. Didn’t even leave the house except for Tuesday dinner. Been sleeping at 8pm where I can and the body has appreciated it. #

Health #

Still in the flare that started mid August. Getting a little tired of it now. Go away. The last week especially I have wanted to move more, but have been afraid. (Iykyk) Would not wish chronic illness on my worst enemy. Okay wait, i have thought about who my worst enemies are (hint: people have been marching against them!) and maybe I would. #

A friend has offered to spend quality time with a bottle of oil and my back. I also hope to play some football this week. Let’s see. #

Learning #

Apart from the recall teach skill i programmed, i finally lost my patience and got a kannada deck made for Anki. I’m having more fun than I have had with it before. #

Media Diet #

Reading #

I wanted something familiar but epic so I have been rereading The Locked Tomb series via this annotated doc. It’s like having all the theories in one place outside my head. But using google docs on mobile especially for a big doc is so painful. Unfortunately a lot of the reading experience also comes from reading the comments left on the doc, so I’m stuck to that platform for now. #

Listening #

Been really enjoying the quiet jazz of Nala Sinephro, especially her Spaces 1.8. Thanks Azan! Jhene Aiko’s Westside Whimsy feels like classic rnb, great afternoon listening but forgettable. Having lots of fun with Bangalore ka Potta, thanks Ashlesh! #