<a href="/zh/blog/useless-things">（點此閱讀中文版）</a>I’ve never understood why I’m so fascinated by <a href="/en/tags/plotter">pen plotters</a>, <a href="/en/tags/letterpress">letterpress printing</a>, and vintage typewriters.
I did notice what these three things have in common: they were all invented to improve human productivity, and then they were completely replaced by more efficient tools.
I consider myself a practical and rational person. I can’t understand why I’m so drawn to these outdated tools—especially when they cost more combined than buying a computer and printer.
A few days ago, I read this quote from <a href="https://sive.rs/">Derek Sivers</a> in <a href="https://wiwi.blog/blog/derek-sivers-quotes#%E6%B2%92%E7%94%A8%E7%9A%84%E8%97%9D%E8%A1%93">Wiwi’s post</a>:
<blockquote>
“Art is useless by definition. If it was useful, it would be a tool.”
</blockquote>
This suddenly made me realize: I’ve been trying to make these useless tools useful.
But here’s the funny thing—I’m using them for artistic creation, so the results are still useless.
Or maybe, I’m empathizing with them.
They were replaced by computers, just like us engineers are being replaced by AI.
So can we—this group who are destined to become obsolete—work together to create something beautiful?
I’m still searching for answers.

Useless things

<a href="/zh/blog/now-202511">（點此閱讀中文版）</a><h2>Recent Status</h2>
<ul>
<li>I work at a software company during the day. I’m grateful to have a full-time job that supports my family and hobbies.</li>
<li>I have two kids. I try to avoid mentioning them online to protect their privacy, <a href="md/blog/kids-drawing.en.md">though sometimes I can’t help myself</a>.</li>
<li>I’ve been putting off our family yearbook for years. I recently started planning again and hope to finally finish the 2022 album.</li>
<li>I finally decided to <a href="md/blog/start-a-personal-website-again/index.en.md">set up this personal website and blog again</a> in early November.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Recent Interests</h2>
<ul>
<li>I’m trying out different tools and workflows to find what works for me. My goal is to build sustainable habits for both creating and documenting my work.</li>
<li>Pen plotter:
<ul>
<li>I bought a <a href="md/blog/uuna-tek-idraw-2/index.en.md">UUNA TEK iDraw 2.0 A4</a> in September, and I’m super excited about it. You can expect more <a href="/en/tags/plotter">pen plotter work</a> from me in the near future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Letterpress printing:
<ul>
<li>I’ve always wanted to try <a href="/en/tags/letterpress">letterpress printing</a>. I bought a preloved <a href="md/blog/iletterpress-lao-shi-fu-de-pai-ban-zhuo/index.zh.md">《老師傅的排版桌》</a> in November have <a href="md/blog/iletterpress-desk-calendar/index.zh.md">printed a calendar</a> with it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Favorite Tools Now</h2>
<ul>
<li>Hardware:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://old.pragmatic.com.tw/shop/wu-shi-36ai-zhou-89">Pragmatic Choc36 Split Keyboard</a></li>
<li>Logitech Ergo M575 Wireless Trackball Mouse</li>
<li>MacBook Pro M1 14&quot;</li>
<li>Kobo Libra H2O</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Software:
<ul>
<li>Creating:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://obsidian.md/">Obsidian</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cursor.com/">Cursor</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.affinity.studio/">Affinity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://inkscape.org/">Inkscape</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://feedly.com/">Feedly</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Website Setup:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://nextjs.org/">Next.js</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cloudflare.com/">Cloudflare</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fonts.google.com/">Google Fonts</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/googlefonts/ms-madi">Ms Madi</a></li>
<li><a href="https://chiron-fonts.github.io/">Chiron Fonts</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Ideas That May or May Not Happen</h2>
<ul>
<li>Exchange handmade postcards with someone.
<ul>
<li>I know about <a href="https://www.postcrossing.com/">Postcrossing</a>, but not everyone on that platform is open to handmade postcards. 😅</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Create something with my mother’s vintage typewriter, the Olivetti Dora.
<ul>
<li>Sadly, I don’t have the space for it right now. I’m looking forward to the day I can bring it home and add it to my creative toolkit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Write monthly reports compiling and reviewing everything I’ve published and created each month.
<ul>
<li>With a full-time job and kids, I probably won’t tackle this side project anytime soon, but it’s something I’d like to do eventually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
This post is inspired by Derek Sivers’ <a href="https://nownownow.com/about">Now Page</a>.
Thanks to <a href="https://alexhsu.com/en/first-post">Alex Hsu’s introduction</a> for bringing this to my attention.
</blockquote>