J. B. Rainsberger
@jbrains.ca
A professional 5-pin bowler who owns a bowling center in Minnedosa, Manitoba, but who still finds time to help software professionals work with less stress for ready money. experience.jbrains.ca :: minnedosabowl.ca
The old joke says that an American will always do the right thing once they've exhausted every other option. As a Canadian, I have a cultural duty to be better. What if I suddenly started practising non-judgmental observation frfr? fivepinbowling.substack.com/p/non-judgme...
Non-Judgmental Observation As If You Really Needed It
Taking another idea from software development, stripping away the blame, then using what’s left to develop skill
fivepinbowling.substack.com
When I advise people to calm their mind and tame their workload by writing things down, they often become even more anxious. Write which things down? How much? How many? What's too much? What's enough? I get it. First, breathe. Next, watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc1jitMQxZk
When Writing Things Down, Just Keep Writing
"OK, I should write things down. How much? When? How much detail? Will it be enough? Won't it be too much?"Eh. Just try, I'm begging you.
youtube.com
When I run an errand down at the other end of Main St, I often have some observation or anecdote in mind, drawn from my daily practice. I record these in the hopes that you might find them helpful: instructive, uplifting, hopeful… whatever you need. blog.jbrains.ca/permalink/in...
Introducing 'Walk & Talk's — The jbrains Blog
I've started a new series of videos, typically 2-5 minutes, on various topics related to psychological safety, personal productivity, and working more harmoniously with others. Watch along!
blog.jbrains.ca
If D minor is the saddest of all the keys, then this is the saddest of all the possible outcomes of having Too Much to Do. youtube.com/shorts/fpAny...
Maybe the Saddest Outcome of Having Too Much to Do
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtube.com
One reason to prefer the pizza kitchen to the world of software development: concreteness. This concreteness avoids one of the oldest ongoing battles in professional software development. youtu.be/0Np-YtHOpWs?...
Maybe You're Simply Out of Cheese
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtu.be
Not letting tasks that matter to you fall off your priority list is simple, but maybe not easy. youtu.be/hWoOZgERENk
Don't Let Significant Tasks Fall Through the Tracks
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtu.be
Don't try to catch up. That way lies burnout. Try these two strategies instead. youtu.be/9Mk6ZvPMBEE
Two critical strategies for avoiding burnout when you still have Too Much To Do
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtu.be
Four lightning talks about evolutionary software design. If you'd like to learn more with me, then visit Codecamp Romania in October 2026 or join The jbrains Experience. youtu.be/BIPKLyKReXE codecamp.ro/masterclasses experience.jbrains.ca
Four Ideas about Software Design
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtu.be
It starts with making lists. It leads somewhere much more significant, if you give it time.... youtube.com/shorts/nEzwD...
The Power of Knowing that You WILL Get Around to It
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtube.com
When starting a project, I notice three stages: 1: Deal with the torrent of new things. 2: Rest. (Do the minimum it takes to tread water.) 3: Hack away every day until you find your groove. So many folks feel guilty in Stage 2 and rush to Stage 3. I recommend against it. youtu.be/5UOn6auOFjM?...
Anticipating the Guilt of Wanting to Rest
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtu.be
When you need pizza late, please call your order in early, so we know to keep the light on for you. Thanks! (And thanks to the person who did that for us tonight!) www.minnedosabowl.ca/gutters-pizza
One Weird Trick for snapping myself out of the Blaming Stance, when all I _want_ to do is tell everyone else that everything is all their fault. The Blaming Stance is strong in this one. 💪 🤷 youtu.be/Fi4qNt7f67k?...
Snapping Myself Out of the Blaming Stance
YouTube video by jbrains762
youtu.be
Sometimes, when you submit a feature request, they actually ship it! Even a bank!! "We made improvements based on feedback from customers like you. Now, sort by date to view your most recent transactions first, or your oldest."
@cassidoo.co Yay! Thank you for cassidoo.co/post/astro-7... wherein I learned how to force some desired extra whitespace in my text.
Whitespace in Astro 7.0
The way whitespace is rendered is different in the latest version of Astro, and here's how you can fix it.
cassidoo.co
It's in the paper, so I guess it's official now! See you soon, Manitoba! It's been a minute... #5pinbowling #Manitoba #Westman
Who's fault is it when a reader takes away a different message than the one the writer intended? Mu. (Unask the question.) blog.jbrains.ca/permalink/a-...
A Taste of Raspberry Jam — The jbrains Blog
Who's to blame for the reader not getting the message that the writer intended? Did the writer fail to be clear? Did the reader fail to engage with the message? What if I told you that no one is to bl...
blog.jbrains.ca
I've updated a classic for computer programmers: Avoiding Distractions While Programming. (Now with more indirection!) blog.jbrains.ca/permalink/av...
Avoiding Distractions While Programming — The jbrains Blog
The old joke says that computer programmers are very good at figuring out what needs to be done, but pretty bad at figuring out what _might_ need to be done. They are routinely attacked by unplanned, ...
blog.jbrains.ca
One more weekend, one more tournament. This time, a playoff appearance. Now 15627/60.9 games, averaging 256.6. This is a new level of performance for me. #5pinbowling
J. B. Rainsberger@jbrains.ca · 6mo agoTwo weekends. Two tournaments. 40 qualifying games. Zero playoff appearances. Still, for the first time, scoring 10001 for 40 consecutive tournament games, averaging 250.025. Round numbers aren't so important, but a milestone is a milestone. #5pinbowling
I'm planning to uproot my life and move, but I don't feel stress from the explosion of things to do, because of #GTD. I have a long list of things to do. I keep having more ideas. There's on the list. I'll get to them. I won't forget anything important. It'll be fine. #GettingThingsDone
There is a new address for forwarding my mail! On August 1, 2026, we become owners and managers of Minnedosa Bowl & Gutters Pizza (& Lounge) in lovely uptown Minnedosa, MB! #5pinbowling Stay tuned for information on leagues, tournaments, casual bowling, and theme nights. minnedosabowl.ca
Minnedosa Bowl
Join us for a fun bowling experience! Perfect for bowling birthday parties and family outings. Enjoy delicious pizza at Minnedosa Bowl!
minnedosabowl.ca
Reduce the pain and suffering associated with waiting for other people to get out of your way. You have a task to finish!! blog.jbrains.ca/permalink/po...
Remaining Calm, Even When Blocked By Others — The jbrains Blog
Getting Things Done calls them open loops: unresolved tasks where you're blocked because you are waiting for someone else. Open Loops are a common source of significant, painful stress and worry. Fort...
blog.jbrains.ca
Two weekends. Two tournaments. 40 qualifying games. Zero playoff appearances. Still, for the first time, scoring 10001 for 40 consecutive tournament games, averaging 250.025. Round numbers aren't so important, but a milestone is a milestone. #5pinbowling
When interactions "go wrong", the very thing you are most likely to complain about and try to change is the very thing that most people find hardest and most painful to change about themselves. Result? Merry chaos. I propose an alternative that might actually work. blog.jbrains.ca/permalink/th...
The Fundamental Irony of Human Interaction — The jbrains Blog
When interactions "go wrong", the very thing you are most likely to complain about and try to change is the very thing that most people find hardest and most painful to change about themselves. Result...
blog.jbrains.ca
Strategy: Say things so egregious and obviously stupid that the listener is stunned into inaction and can only :shrug:. Example: "All women love ballrooms." I would call it "genius" if I thought it were intentional.
Getting Things Done is only about making lists and setting reminders on the surface. There are greater powers in there and it might help you to know what they are... blog.jbrains.ca/permalink/an...
An Alternative Formulation of Getting Things Done — The jbrains Blog
Describing the transformative benefits of _Getting Things Done_ sometimes sounds like cult indoctrination. Describing the concrete steps of getting started with GTD risks making it sound like pointles...
blog.jbrains.ca
I ended up having two long consultations with clients, both free of charge. I really enjoyed the work. I also really hope to continue to do great work by being paid for it. #devoxxgr experience.jbrains.ca
The jbrains Experience: Affordable personal mentoring to help you start getting unstuck.
You need help, but you can't justify the expense of a full-time coach. Maybe you're not yet sure about buying one-on-one coaching sessions. You're struggling to convince your employer to pay for the m...
experience.jbrains.ca
"I should add a comment to this task for next year to visit their shitty site in Chrome, because it doesn't work in Firefox." I did that last year and failed to notice the note.
a man in a suit and sweater stands in front of a sign that says ' the '
Alt: Larry David as Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, looking his normal uncertain self.
media.tenor.com
