Orbit · Explore

Today I Learned · by Maya Williams · 2026-09-26

Bookmarking this page on Morse code for later on a budget

en.wikipedia.org

I tried this in Lisbon with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

I tried this in Buenos Aires with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

Context: I am not an expert, just someone trying to make Today I Learned feel less intimidating. I wrote down what worked, what felt awkward, and what I would do differently next time.

70 sparks · 29 comments

Comments

Maya Putri · 7 likes

I like the idea, but the setup probably matters a lot. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Youssef Mahmoud · 0 likes

Thanks, that actually helped.

Minji Kim · 5 likes

That is a surprisingly elegant way to frame it. I noticed the same thing in Lagos.

Maya Williams · 3 likes

That is the part people skip.

Elise Peeters · 1 likes

Yep, the boring details matter.

Cedar Marauder · 0 likes

This. Exactly this.

Ethan Brooks · 5 likes

I am cheering for this update. The 5-minute rule is underrated.

Rohan Mehta · 4 likes

Wonderful detail. It makes the whole thing feel real. The 9-minute rule is underrated. Glad you shared the messy version too.

Tomás Gómez · 3 likes

Great point, especially the part about bookmarking. This pairs weirdly well with bibimbap.

Rohan Mehta · 3 likes

Do you think this would work in a smaller place than Buenos Aires? I used to overcomplicate this constantly.

Amir Tan · 2 likes

Really good advice, and it feels doable. The 2-minute rule is underrated.

Amina Okafor · 2 likes

@atlasNomad The best answer in the thread, honestly.

Khalid Al Zahrani · 2 likes

That is fair, but I still worry about maintenance.

Rapid River · 3 likes

Respectfully, I see it the other way.

Kabir Khan · 2 likes

This. Exactly this.

Amina Okafor · 0 likes

You just saved me a bad purchase.

Maya Williams · 0 likes

I would love a follow-up example.

Cozy Fern · 3 likes

@maya-20 You just saved me a bad purchase.

Maya Williams · 3 likes

Same here. It took me too long to learn.

Thandi Mokoena · 1 likes

Beautifully concise.

Faisal Al Saud · 2 likes

Can you share what you tried before this? I would test it for 4 days before deciding.

Ananya Rao · 4 likes

The Tuesday test is undefeated.

Silver Noodle · 1 likes

That last line is excellent. The commute version is even more interesting.

Gentle Comet · 1 likes

Beautifully concise.

Isha Menon · 1 likes

This depends heavily on budget, time and personality. I noticed the same thing in Cape Town.

Quiet Atlas · 1 likes

Amazing how much difference one small change can make. My only addition is to make the first step visible.

Luciana Vargas · 1 likes

Glad you shared it; small wins count. I keep a note about history for exactly this reason.

Maya Williams · 0 likes

The kindness in this post is lovely. The Lisbon example makes it feel concrete.

Noah Campbell · 0 likes

Helpful and not preachy, which is rare. This is more useful on a tired quiet Sunday than on a perfect day.