# 5 Things I Am Thinking About — News, Sentiment & Analysis **Source:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/topic/5-things-i-am-thinking-about **As of:** 2026-09-12 (UTC) **Sentiment:** neutral (50/100) **Sources analysed:** 10 As of 2026-09-12, TrendWatcher scores 5 Things I Am Thinking About sentiment as **neutral** at 50/100, based on 10 news sources analysed over the past 24 hours. ## Summary The sources consist of personal blog posts from Alasdair Watson and Matt Jones, who both utilize the '5 Things I Am Thinking About' format to document their current intellectual interests and professional musings. Watson focuses on social and cultural themes, including cognitive surplus, behavioral economics, the interconnectedness of societal change, the historical context of the Windrush generation, and potential innovations in the publishing industry. He expresses an interest in cross-disciplinary study and crowdsourcing editorial processes. Matt Jones explores design and technological philosophy, specifically contrasting the 'Internet of Things' with current reliance on mobile screen-based devices. His reflections cover resource scarcity, the implications of global population growth, and personal sustainability as he approaches middle age. While both authors use the format as a 'scratchpad' for half-formed ideas, they differ in scope: Watson emphasizes social and editorial systems, while Jones focuses on the intersection of design, technology, and long-term environmental or demographic shifts. ## Key points - The '5 Things I Am Thinking About' format is used by bloggers as a method to share evolving, multi-disciplinary thoughts that are not yet fully developed into long-form articles. - Alasdair Watson explores the application of behavioral economics to interface design and the potential for crowdsourcing editorial tasks in book publishing. - Matt Jones discusses the tension between 'ubiquitous computing' and the current cultural reliance on screen-based devices, which he refers to as 'glowing rectangles'. - Both authors incorporate reflections on long-term societal trends, such as population growth and the impact of resource constraints on future design practices. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the primary purpose of these '5 Things' posts? The authors use these posts as a platform to document and share half-formed ideas and intellectual interests that they have not yet had the time to write about in full. ### What does Alasdair Watson suggest regarding the publishing industry? Watson proposes that the editorial role in publishing could be partially automated or improved by crowdsourcing, specifically to reduce the time required for copy editing. ### What is Matt Jones's perspective on 'glowing rectangles'? Jones observes that society is currently prioritizing attention-consuming screen devices over the 'Internet of Things' and suggests that users should consider de-emphasizing these devices to better engage with their physical surroundings. ## Latest coverage - [Five “Thinking Right Now” Blog Posts Reveal Personal Reflections on](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/268ae116-608a-4a94-ab0b-9c4eff360997) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Explore three blog posts titled “Five things I’m thinking right now,” highlighting thoughts on TV consumption, storytelling, and challenges in game funding. - [Ryo’s off‑grid experiment: quitting Google, buying land, and](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/ce802c44-888c-482a-827c-e09fe73c7a62) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Former Google engineer Ryo left Silicon Valley in 2009, bought 60 acres in Northern California, and pursues a minimalist “comfort” lifestyle while reflecting - [Lauren Samet reflects on winning The Floor and personal struggles](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/0dce8e3f-9a18-42d8-8829-01886eab1384) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Winner of The Floor season 5, Lauren Samet, discusses her strategy, prize plans and personal challenges, offering insight into her thoughts and future steps. - [Alasdair Watson’s “5 Things I Am Thinking About” Explored](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/f303575f-3aac-4484-9dfa-74554e8bc282) — neutral, 2026-06-11: An overview of Alasdair Watson’s brief essay on cognitive surplus, his writing approach, and his broader artistic practice. - [Infovore July 2015: Five Projects Shaping the Author’s Creative Focus](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/64dd695e-c3dc-47f8-bc1f-0cb43b121b20) — neutral, 2026-06-11: A look at the five ideas the Infovore author explored in July 2015, from a virtual music box and PCB making to streaming craft and weekly schedules. - [Lauren Samet on winning The Floor, strategy and future plans](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/3a27fb19-1c85-4013-9ae9-efe959eb2f05) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Season 5 champion Lauren Samet discusses her surprise win, game twists, alliance rumors, and how she’ll use the $250,000 prize. - [Five cruise expenses to skip and five Packers minicamp takeaways](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/be90259c-2404-4269-96fc-81dfb610461d) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Learn which cruise extras most travelers avoid and the key lessons the Green Bay Packers gathered during their June 2026 minicamp. - [Friday Five series spotlights travel dreams and a Mets comeback win](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/7c84a9f5-42b8-417f-8ef8-0f56cd21623c) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Explore the Friday Five blog tradition, its travel-themed posts and a recent Mets victory highlighted by Juan Soto’s go‑ahead homer, illustrating how the - [Ken Schrader’s July 4 Five-Thing Thursday Highlights Personal](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/fdd94d03-6ef7-45fc-a67b-982679781ae8) — neutral, 2026-06-11: Ken Schrader shares five personal updates on July 4, including energy limits, book choices, life philosophy, music pick, and a reminder to cherish present - [Five recent reflections from a Packers minicamp and a personal essay](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/46e3a8fd-6051-44e4-831f-8040a7ebcb3a) — neutral, 2026-06-11: A concise look at the five key takeaways from the Green Bay Packers Day 3 minicamp and Leah Ruehlicke’s five thoughts on modern life and analog disconnect. --- Cite as: TrendWatcher, "5 Things I Am Thinking About — News, Sentiment & Analysis", https://www.trendwatcher.in/topic/5-things-i-am-thinking-about (retrieved 2026-09-12).