Ahh, this is the basis for part of my favorite pg essay, "Good and Bad Procrastination".

http://paulgraham.com/procrastination.html

pg condensed Hammings 3 questions into one:

What's the best thing you could be working on, and why aren't you?

I haven't used a "to do list" since. I keep working on my most important thing and when I'm done, I just pop the stack. What a difference.

Posted already twice: http://searchyc.com/submissions/you+and+your+research

Ah. Sorry about that. I don't like to dupe.

On the other hand, I think this is worth rereading. But I understand if that makes for a more boring reading list.

I'm glad you posted this. I doubt I would have found the original. For the really good stuff it doesn't hurt to repost.

I agree. I mean human minds usually forget things unless they're reminded more than once.

I re-read Hamming's inspiring article every 6 months. It's given me a lot of courage.

What would you guys/girls say are the important problems to be solved in the space Hacker News covers?