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The Case for Simple
The best thing about minimalism is it’s great for sales. First you sell your design/self-help book, then after disciples realize that box springs are indeed worth the clutter, they’ll shop for replacements for everything they cut out. Of course abundance does create problems. Our environment functions as a kind of memory that can trap us…
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The Global Town Square is for Everyone (not only blue checks)
GM. A unified online space is vital for humanity. Building it the right way is perhaps our greatest challenge but part of that challenge is that there’s never been anything like it. Meatspace is defined by barriers. Geography, citizenship, language and other affiliations constrain communication while in cyberspace anything is possible. This “town square” could…
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Books Are Worth Fighting For
Everywhere I look, there they are. Crowding the night stand, filling the fireplace and out in the garage. I’ve got a bad case of The Books. Dozens and dozens of unread books! OK, there are worse afflictions. Isn’t this what technology is for? An e-reader perhaps? Sometimes but paper books are superior so when I…
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Originality: Own Your Influences
One of the hard challenges for a creative person is overcoming doubt about originality, thinking Has this been done before? Isn’t this just like so and so? Am I ripping off my heroes? Everywhere we look, we find high-quality content which feels like magic conjured by great talents for us to enjoy. We may wonder…
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Use better social media platforms
“The best social media platform is texting.” 3Blue1Brown’s Grant Sanderson The quote above is from a conversation with Lex Fridman on how to engage with social media. Lex says he feels best when he checks it once a day and Grant recommends engaging with fewer people, more deeply offering finally with a smirk, “The best…
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Gross Individual Product: A Long-term Measure of Value
In Feb 2021 in San Francisco, a Crunchwrap Supreme combo which includes a Crunchy Taco (upgraded to Supreme for $0.80) and a large Diet Pepsi is $8.73. Due to unfortunately high volume, fast food is where I feel inflation most. Taco Bell, the purveyor of the aforementioned items, has lagged other restaurants in raising prices…
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My Running Story – Part 1: The First Weeks
At mile nine running next the San Francisco bay I chewed on sour patch kids and reveled as their sweet energy entered my blood. I was going for 13.1 miles, a half-marathon, inconceivable just a couple months prior. When I finished I was dizzy, utterly exhausted with aches all over. Feeling this way I wondered…
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PUBG and its Highest Strategic Principle
“GG.” The fourth circle just popped. Your squad is strung out on a long rotation in the blue. You’re almost to safety but one of your mates got knocked off a bike by an uncanny bolt. Meds running low and prospects uncertain, you scout and crash the only compound that’s free. Half the lobby’s still…
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Living with the Algorithm – Side-stepping Social Media Addiction
It’s 4am and you haven’t slept. Tomorrow starts in three hours but you can’t stop scrolling. You’ve seen it all and yet you continue to reach for some last hint of novelty. Excited by a new thumbnail you tap. A repost. Disgusted you turn off a phone still propped up by the pillow next to…
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A 3d Printer is an Open Door
In 2015, 3d printing started to go viral. Printers came under $1000 and everyone who was crafty and technical-enough was getting onboard. Some enjoyed gadgets, others made art, most everyone used a banana for scale. It looked like a hell of a lot of Fun! So I bought one and and joined the party. The…