# Makoism > Curiously exploring life, storytelling and critical thinking. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### What is this? URL: https://makoism.com/about/ Last updated: 2025-10-19T03:22:05.000Z Makoism is part blog, part-newsletter, and all experiment by [Steve Makofsky](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/) (that’s me). For the last several years, I’ve been trying to keep a regular cadence of posting interesting links/thoughts/stories and thoughts about human-focused leadership, storytelling, and well-being. This whole place is a bit of an experiment of **Life 3.0 🏴‍☠️**. Newsletters are usually sent **every once in a while,** with a rare random post if something is hot. But that’s only happened a couple of times in the last year. ;) ## Who am I? [Steve Makofsky](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/) is currently Senior Vice President of Engineering for [NBC Universal](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/). I am an alumnus of Nike (VP Engineering) and The Walt Disney Company (VP Technology) and spent the earlier part of my career growing up at Microsoft, Corp and Yahoo!. The thoughts and comments on this site/newsletter are **my own** and in no way represent my employer. To me, living a rich life of experiences and surrounding yourself with interesting people is what brings the diversity of thought into your life. Trying hard things (the things you thought were impossible) and going on fun, crazy adventures is all part of the journey. A few things about me… - I wrote the books [PocketPC Network Programming](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321133528) and [Teach Yourself Windows CE Programming in 24 Hours](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0672316587) in the early 2000s. - I have [several technology patents](https://patents.google.com/?inventor=makofsky&oq=makofsky). - I’ve been on **Mount Everest**. Yes, by choice. - I’ve completed 9 70.3 Ironman, three marathons, and countless half-marathons. - I love coffee. You can always [buy me some](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️! - Oh, did I mention? I loooooove coffee. Did I mention also, that you can always [buy me some](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️! :) ## Club Mako I've [added](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/) a super easy, **$1 a month membership option**. All money collected will go towards just keeping this thing going: Fees for Ghost Pro, domain registration, and yes, coffee. [Sign up now](https://makoism.com/#/portal) ## Staying up-to-date You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox if you subscribe: [Subscribe to Makoism](https://makoism.com/#/portal/signup/free) If you prefer you can find [the RSS feed here](https://makoism.com/rss), [follow me on Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako), or watch my ramblings via [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/). Or if you enjoy this, just ☕️ [Buy me a coffee](https://makoism.com/#/portal/support) :) ### Now URL: https://makoism.com/now/ Last updated: 2025-05-21T12:42:53.000Z (This is [a now page](https://nownownow.com/about), and if you have your own site, [you should make one](https://nownownow.com/about), too.) ## What is a “now page”? Most websites have a link that says “[**about**](makoism.com/now/)”. It goes to a page that tells you something about the background of a person or business and most just call it an “about page”. **A** website with a link that says “**now**” goes to a page that tells you **what this person is focused on at this point in their life.** ### Here's an overview of what I'm doing now - Currently in living on [San Juan Island](https://www.visitsanjuans.com), living [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/) 🏴‍☠️, and starting to figure out **Life 3.0**. - I spend the day as Senior Vice President of Engineering for [NBC Universal](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/). - I try to write, [ruck](https://www.goruck.com/pages/what-is-rucking) or walk every day. - I spend time thinking, learning how to de-stress myself, and how to be a better human. - I am a humanist technologist. And a pirate. ## Club Mako I've [added](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/) a super easy, **$1 a month membership option**. All money collected will go towards just keeping this thing going: Fees for Ghost Pro, domain registration, and yes, **coffee**. [Sign up Now](https://makoism.com/#/portal) ## About Me [Steve Makofsky](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/) is currently Senior Vice President of Engineering for [NBC Universal](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/). I am an alumnus of Nike (VP Engineering) and The Walt Disney Company (VP Technology) and spent the earlier part of my career growing up at Microsoft, Corp and Yahoo!. **The thoughts and comments on this site/newsletter are my own and in no way represent my employer.** To me, living a well balanced life of experiences, and surrounding yourself with interesting people is what brings diversity of thought. Trying hard things (the things you thought were impossible) and going on fun, crazy adventures is all part of the journey. Randomness: - I wrote the books [PocketPC Network Programming](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321133528) and [Teach Yourself Windows CE Programming in 24 Hours](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0672316587) in the early 2000s. - I have [several technology patents](https://patents.google.com/?inventor=makofsky&oq=makofsky). - I’ve been on **Mount Everest**. Yes, by choice. - I’ve completed 9 70.3 Ironman, three marathons, and countless half-marathons. - I love coffee. You can always [buy me some](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️! - Oh, did I mention? I loooooove coffee. Did I mention also, that you can always [buy me some](https://makoism.com/#/portal/support) ☕️! 😄 If you want to follow along, pound that subscribe button, or you can find [the RSS feed here](https://makoism.com/rss) or [follow me on Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako). Or if you enjoy this, you can always just ☕️ [Buy me a coffee](https://makoism.com/#/portal/support) :) ### Archive URL: https://makoism.com/archive/ Last updated: 2024-01-24T11:03:36.000Z _No content available._ ### Defaults URL: https://makoism.com/defaults/ Last updated: 2023-11-21T15:30:41.000Z While I've been keeping this up to date in the [annual Things I Like post](https://makoism.com/tag/thingsilike/), several folks have been linking to [list of "app defaults" that Robb Knight](https://defaults.rknight.me) is maintaining. So why not get into the fun? ### Applications 📨 Mail Client: Apple Mail 📮 Mail Server: [Zoho](https://www.zoho.com) 📝 Notes: Apple Notes ✅ To-Do: [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) 📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: iOS Camera and [Halide](https://halide.cam) 🟦 Photo Management: Apple Photos 📆 Calendar: Apple Calendar 📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud 📖 RSS: [Reeder](https://www.reederapp.com) (with [Feedly](https://feedly.com)) 🙍🏻‍♂️ Contacts: Apple Contacts 🌐 Browser: Safari 📑 Read It Later: [Reeder](https://www.reederapp.com) 🛒 Shopping Lists: [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) 🎵 Music: Apple Music 🎤 Podcasts: Apple Podcasts 🔐 Password Management: [1Password](https://1password.com) (moving to iCloud) 🧑‍💻 Code Editor: [VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com) 🥗 Meal Planning: [Mela](https://mela.recipes) 💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: [CoPilot](https://copilot.money) 📰 News: Apple News 📝 Writing: [iA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) 📈 Spreadsheets: Don't do spreadsheets when I don't have to 🎙️ Presentations: Keynote 📇 Contacts: Apple Contacts 💬 Chat: Apple Messages and [Signal](https://signal.org) 🤦‍♂️ Social Media (Mastodon): [Ivory](https://tapbots.com/ivory/) and [Mona](https://mastodon.social/@MonaApp) 🌤️ Weather**:** Apple Weather 🔎 Search: [Kagi](https://kagi.com) ### Current Hardware - [MacBook Air M2 (512GB/24GB,Midnight Blue)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) - [iPhone 15 Pro Max (512GB, Black Titanium)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-15-pro/) - [iPad Mini 6 (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/) - [iPad Pro 11.5" M2](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) - [Apple Watch Ultra 2](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra/) - [MB Pro 14"](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/) \- Work box. ### Camera Rig - [Sony Camera](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-ZV-E10-Interchangeable-Mirrorless/dp/B09BBLH4SG) - [Viltrox 23mm Lens](https://www.amazon.com/VILTROX-Mount-Focus-APS-C-Camera/dp/B08DTRYSKW) - [elGato CamLink 4k](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Cam-Link-Broadcast-Camcorder/dp/B07K3FN5MR) - [elGato Stand](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Weighted-Base-Multi-Mount/dp/B07X5DM3S1) - [elGato Lighting](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Key-Light-Professional-App-Enabled/dp/B07L755X9G) ### Tag Cloud URL: https://makoism.com/tag-cloud/ Last updated: 2024-12-28T17:12:53.000Z _No content available._ ## Posts ### Espresso Shots 10-18-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-18-26/ Last updated: 2026-10-18T12:01:00.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Forget Billionaire Algorithms](https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@grumpygamer/117447812241196966). I've been following [Ron Gilbert](https://grumpygamer.com) for as long as I can remember; [Monkey Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey%5FIsland), released in 1990, is still one of my favorite games of all time. There's real insight that I've enjoyed across [his blog](https://grumpygamer.com) and [fediverse accounts](https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@grumpygamer), and he echoes how I've been [Rethinking Reading](https://makoism.com/rethinking-reading/). '*Forget billionaire algorithms, use RSS. Most sites have them. Both the Thimbleweed Park Blog and Grumpy Gamer do. Full text feeds. I've been using and serving RSS since 2005\. All the cool kids are doing it.*' Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a tool that almost every website has, though many don't realize it. *(Side note: If you aren't familiar with RSS,* [*The RSS Universe*](https://toolbox.rss.here.now/) *is a great resource to start with.)* **Redefining what is interesting to me** has been a large part of moving away from algorithmic content. Ethan Marcotte's [All Watched Over by Algorithms of Loving Grace](https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/all-watched-over-by-algorithms-of-loving-grace/) summarizes the problem really well: '*All this math, all this time, all this work, all this capital, all of it dedicated to *delivering the most predictable, boring, average thing*. We'll take all the data you've given us, and we’ll press it down into the content equivalent of beige, flavorless paste.*' A good mindset to have around this is that instead of pruning someone else's algorithm, you take control back — nothing shows up unless you asked for it. - [They Take One Look at the UI and Abandon It](https://unsung.aresluna.org/they-take-one-look-at-the-ui-and-abandon-it/). A lovely and simple story of **complexity creep**: '*Simple product is released. Lots of people use it every day. More features are added. It’s now complicated. But most people learned the basics when it was simple, so they don’t notice that it got complicated.*' This is **what** kills products, and, probably, sums up the entire tech industry in 2026. - [Programming Isn't Special](https://blog.glyph.im/2026/10/programming-isnt-special.html). '*This doesn’t mean that we can't use abstractions, or automation, to make our work easier. Programming is the art of abstraction, of understanding how to compose smaller ideas into bigger ones, of how to understand the automation of a larger system by understanding the rules that automate smaller ones and understanding how to combine them. *When we use AI to eliminate that understanding rather than raise it up to a higher level, to entirely destroy that creative decision-making process, we do a disservice both to ourselves as programmers and to our users.**' A bit of a counterargument to last week's link on [Lex Friedman's authorship post](https://lexontech.org/claude-writes-code-i-author-the-apps). I'm not really sure where I fall on the spectrum with all this; I **certainly** have been building personal tools at an increasingly rapid pace, because I have spent 30 years building the muscles around code and know how to author it. I learned, through the mundane workouts, how to debug issues, spot subtle nuances, and sense when something feels wrong. Without that, I wouldn't be able to use AI effectively as a tool. Maybe it ultimately falls into a 'which came first, the chicken or the egg?' mindset: if you don't train the muscles, you don't know what you’ll get on race day. - [Taylor Knibb Wins Dramatic 2026 Ironman World Championship After Løvseth Collapse](https://www.220triathlon.com/news/taylor-knibb-wins-dramatic-ironman-world-championship-after-lovseth-collapse). Speaking of race day — the [2026 Ironman World Championship](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z65LtBaqF1c) was held last week in Kona, Hawaii, and had one of the most epic and exciting conclusions to the women's race. As an, err, 'retired' 70.3 Ironman athlete, I always find it **fascinating** to watch the pros go at it on the main stage. To set the stage: last year, Knibb, after leading most of the course and pushing too hard, withdrew in the Energy Lab, and Solveig Løvseth went on to win. This year, with *eerie familiarity* to last year, Knibb also led most of the race, but **heeded the warnings**. She slowed down, started to walk with only 8km left, and (again) was passed by Løvseth. **What happened next was incredible**. Solveig Løvseth completely collapsed within 1km of the finish, and Knibb's backing-off move **turned into the winning strategy**. Løvseth also showed tremendous grit and ended up walking to the end, still finishing in 8th place. [Watch here to see the events unfold](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeVcUWSiZc3/?xtok=MWp6dmo4NXFrM2txYg==). It was a great reminder [to listen to the warnings](https://interconnected.org/home/2026/09/18/marathon) as I mentioned [a few weeks back](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-20-26/). '*Warnings don't always feel like warnings in the moment. These days, I try to make a conscious effort to listen to the small stuff before it turns into the loud stuff.*' - [How to Become a Great Conversationalist](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/how-to-become-a-great-conversationalist). Back in 2023, [I wrote](https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/) that '*listening, is to hear something with thoughtful attention, to give consideration. To absorb the sounds and give them meaning. It's an optional task that you need to decide to do.*' What sparked my interest in this post is that it dives into a 2022 study which challenges that a bit — perhaps we've gone *too* far into shutting up and listening. '*By randomly assigning people to talk for anywhere from 30% to 70% of a conversation with a stranger. Contrary to what people had predicted, the researchers reported that the more participants spoke, the more their conversation partners liked them. The trade-off didn’t show up: The people they liked were also the people they found interesting.*' More to think on here. 🤔 - [Adam Grant on How to Vibe](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/adam-grant-on-how-to-vibe). [Adam Grant's](https://adamgrant.net) latest book, [Vibe](https://adamgrant.net/book/vibe/), was released this past week. Hat tip to David Epstein's post, which reviewed it. So far, it's been an interesting read, especially [around friendships](https://adamgrant.substack.com/p/having-friends-doesnt-always-prevent). '*If you make a list of people you consider friends, only about half of those people will list you as a friend.*' He goes on to explain, '*Friend is so broad that it's almost a meaningless term. Some people use it to describe anyone who’s more than an acquaintance. Others reserve it for their inner circle. When we're not on the same page, we don't know what to expect from each other. We have more rewarding relationships when we figure out what role different kinds of friends play in our lives. I've found that we need three kinds of people: *allies, pals, and companions*.*' It's been a good mind-exercise to shift some of the buckets I used to sort folks into (work colleagues, random acquaintances, [a personal board](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/), etc.) toward the different *needs* the book describes. - [Neuroscience of Gratitude](https://blog.mikebowler.ca/2026/10/10/neuroscience-of-gratitude/). A simple reminder on showing gratitude. '*Put down the list. Pick one person, think about one specific thing they did, and tell them.*' - ["I'm Ready to Throw Up at Any Moment"](https://unsung.aresluna.org/im-ready-to-throw-up-at-any-moment/). This post takes a look at [The Storytelling Genius of Steve Jobs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t34AgVI1%5FFE) and examines what made him such an effective presenter. '*In the end, at some point, slides are just like any other kind of craft. You design the slides, you revise them, you practice, you let the practice influence the content, you get feedback, you kill your darlings, you revise again, and repeat all that so many times you get sick of it all.*' Like anything, [making something look effortless takes time and effort](https://unsung.aresluna.org/they-take-time-put-in-the-time/). **Put in the work**. - [Why Every Company Now Needs to Think and Operate Like a Lab Team](https://youtu.be/3I6QYkccd3o). A good interview with the head of Google Labs, Josh Woodward, who also oversees one of the more interesting tools that [I've written about previously](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-22-24/), NotebookLM. His philosophy augments what I've been thinking around curiosity and exploration since the tech is changing so fast **that the winning skill is figuring out what just became possible**. And while the best ideas come '*from small, obsessed groups hacking on weekends and over breaks — people who can't stop themselves*', I've seen way too many 'lab' groups fail. I like the idea that '*You need people who can say: That looks like a toy today; it'll be essential in five years.*' Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. 🏴‍☠️ - [Magic, Made by Hand: Inside the World-First Exhibition Revealing How Jim Henson's Puppets Came to Life](https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/make-believe-magic-jim-henson-company-exhibition-creative-industry-121026). Another one who **put in the work** is Jim Henson. I definitely need to put visiting [this exhibit at GOMA](https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibition/make-believe-magic-the-worlds-of-the-jim-henson-company) on the list of must-sees. '*Yet it’s hard to stay entirely composed while standing in front of Oscar the Grouch – which might be exactly the point. Puppetry, she says, is a kind of magical realism: everything around it can be completely ordinary. You’re not being tricked by a person behind a puppet; you’re simply being asked if you believe in what might be possible.*' Henson's motto was '*simple is good*,' but his work also shows that nothing that looks effortless got made by accident. - [How to Start Journaling When You Don't Know What to Write](https://youtube.com/watch?v=4Nq99I4ySqw). In a follow-up to Peter McKinnon's [90-day journaling video](https://youtu.be/K2jD5m1xAJ8), McKinnon talked about his process to split apart notebooks and his decision to go with smaller Field Notes (my personal favorite) instead of larger A5 books. If you're a notebook or journaling nerd, it's a fun watch with lots of great ideas on how to get more out of writing. - [Choosing What You Attend to Is Choosing Your Life](https://jeroensangers.com/2026/10/13/choosing-what-you-attend-to.html). '*Your experience is whatever you pay attention to. What fills your attention fills your days, and your days add up to your life. So deciding where your attention goes is, in practice, deciding how you live.*' Wow, this is a powerful mindset that bears further reflection. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what's important to me and what I value filling the days with. But how I spend my time often differs. Could it be an attention problem? I'm going to try taking a step back every Friday afternoon and asking '*What did I give my best attention to this week?*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-11-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-11-26/ Last updated: 2026-10-11T12:00:59.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Acquiescence](https://makoism.com/acquiescence/). Finally got around to getting off my butt and cranking out [a longer post](https://makoism.com/tag/makoism/) on something that's been on my mind these days, **the tyranny of meh**. '*Some of the most dangerous words to any career, company, etc., are 'that's not the way we used to do it.' Contrary to what you will hear at the water-cooler, stagnation does not keep you safe — it puts you at risk. If you, your team, or your thinking chooses not to evolve, it will become extinct.*' Seth Godin calls this [**instrumental reason**](https://seths.blog/2026/10/getting-critical/): '*the habit of thinking about how to do things without ever asking whether we should.*' - [Exile on Silicon Valley](https://nazhamid.com/journal/exile-on-silicon-valley/). Naz Hamid has an interesting post this week which had me thinking about not just writing software or being a developer, but the entire economy around creators. '*We're at an inflection point again, facing a different kind of existential threat. The younger generation will chalk this up to how tech is today, while those of us with decades in this industry and the long view of experience have either accepted it, made good money from it and retired, or are fighting the good fight.*' I really liked the reference to an interview with Mick Jagger (2010), who said that artists only got paid well for music during one great window: 1970 to 1997\. Are we at that point now with software? **Honestly, I’m not sure.** I got started by taking things apart and tinkering around trying to figure out how something worked. I kept tried new things over and over and over. *That’s harder now*. You can’t crack open a model the way I used to crack open whatever was sitting on my desk. Maybe its that the curiosity just moves up a layer, *from how does it work to what should it do*. I haven’t figured out which yet.. - [Almost Anyone Can Start a Private School. We Put This to the Test.](https://www.propublica.org/article/propublica-private-schools-arkansas-west-virginia-north-carolina). 😳. Another example of why old rules survive because no-one asks them to justify themselves. Apparently old laws have made it insanely easy in certain states to start a private school. '*In Arkansas, all it took was a few clicks on the Arkansas secretary of state website, $45 and an American flag to form a bona fide private school with the Arkansas Times... We used our names and news organization email addresses, following each state’s rules for starting private or micro-schools, a type of private school intended for just a few students. Experience running a school wasn’t needed. No one from any of the states asked us about our backgrounds or qualifications, though West Virginia did ask for proof of a high school diploma. No one questioned what we plan to teach or how we would measure whether students are learning.*' A quick search suggests the state of Washington has much stricter rules, so the **Frappuccino Day School** isn't going to be a thing any time soon. But, if you weren't already aware — it's **just as easy** to get ordained online and legally be able to perform weddings and other services. I became an [official Dudeist priest](https://dudeism.com/whatisdudeism/) a few years back, and online ordination is recognized with **full legal standing in about 47 states**! - [Claude Writes Code; I Author the Apps](https://lexontech.org/claude-writes-code-i-author-the-apps). [Music producer Rick Rubin has said that](https://americansongwriter.com/rick-rubin-said-he-has-no-technical-ability-but-did-you-know-he-played-guitar-on-this-beastie-boys-track/) he can't play an instrument, has no formal training, can't read music and doesn't know how to operate a mixing board: '*I know what I like and what I don’t like, and I’m decisive about what I like and what I don’t like*'. I like the parallels that Lex Friedman draws from here — he has a background in coding, but that isn't what he needs to do today. '*I know of zero vibe-coded apps that started with a single prompt and then were immediately released. There’s a reason we're not flooded with more amazing apps than ever before. *Great apps take time*. There is a real problem of too many vibe-coded apps hitting the App Store, lacking in craft, skill, and humanity. The question, to me, *isn’t how much code was written by a human. It’s how much the app was authored by a human,* which I think is a more nuanced question. How much care, thought, and humanity went into the app matters far more than tabs vs. spaces or a manually-vs.-machine-built HStack.*' - [Poople: The Official Daily Word Game](https://poople.io/). Ya know, it's **exactly** the type of game one needs in 2026\. This take on Wordle is a word ladder game in which you start with one 4-letter word and change a single letter at a time until you reach POOP. 💩 - [Pirating the Pirates](https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/pirating-the-pirates). In a bit of counterargument to burning the ships, there are times when the old version of a thing is **worth defending**. This post looks at Hollywood's obsession with recutting and remastering films and groups of fan preservationists that are equally obsessed with restoring the **original** prints. Pirating the pirates with one simple goal: undo the butchery. What I loved in particular is that they even have their own pirate code: '*an attempt to create a parallel set of norms in a context in which the strict definition of legal can no longer operate as a guiding principle. *You have to own a physical copy of at least one version of any given film**'. - [Beauty in DVD Menus](https://vale.rocks/posts/dvd-menus). A look back at some of the best menus from DVDs. - [The Haunted Toys R Us](https://www.retroist.com/p/the-haunted-toys-r-us). Since it's Halloween month, read about the Sunnyvale, CA, store which was *apparently haunted*. '*Folks told of lights and faucets turning on and off unassisted. There were tales that doors and toys had minds of their own. Shelves apparently fell down inexplicably and several female employees heard their names whispered in empty rooms. Reports of bangs and loud footsteps emerging from vacated parts of the store were also commonplace.*' The building briefly became a Spirit Halloween and is now an REI. - [Retro Gaming: It's Not Nostalgia, It's Resistance](https://www.publicbooks.org/retro-gaming-its-not-nostalgia-its-resistance/). '*Maybe that’s why it felt like such a rush in today’s subscription-saturated age to just play your own media, 40 years later. The peace and contented satisfaction of insert cartridge, flip Power, press Play. None of the planned obsolescence that renders old systems mute or forces yet another purchase of a required upgrade. No fumbling against low disk space or a download bar frozen midupdate. No portal going down, no publisher inexplicably removing the game from their servers. Pay once, in the 1980s, and play forever.*' Definitely thinking I need to spend a bit more time with the [Miyoo Mini Plus](https://lomiyoo.com/products/miyoo-mini-plus) and the [Playdate](https://play.date). I miss the days of just playing a game for fun. - [Your Version Number](https://yourversionnumber.com/). Oh, I loved this one (and definitely need a desktop or iPhone widget for it) as it pairs really nicely with [my morbid math](https://makoism.com/43percent/). Today, as of this posting, my version number is **5.5.169**. '*Your age, written the way software is versioned: a new decade is a major release, a birthday is a minor one, and every single day is a patch.*' Here's also a link to [the 2018 post that started it](https://www.thingelstad.com/2018/02/24/your-version-number.html). - [Here Is a Person: Enter the Tildeverse](https://brennan.day/here-is-a-person-enter-the-tildeverse/). I used to be \~mako at one point, but I never really considered this perspective previously, and this post was a fun piece of nostalgia that sucked me in. 'Back in ye olden Inter-Net tymes of the 1990s, if you were a (then youngish) nerd like me, you'd get an account on some server called [CyberFox.net](https://CyberFox.net) and your web address would be . (You were “vixen.”) And you could put some web pages at that address. The early personal web grew up around these little **tilde sites**; that’s what preceded blogging. The '\~' is a little like the '@' on Twitter; a shortcut that says: **Here is a person**'. Turns out the history goes further back, to early Unix and 1969 'social architectures' and [public-access systems](https://tilde.town/~cmccabe/online-communities.html): '*What we wanted to preserve was not just a good environment in which to do programming, but a system around which a fellowship could form. We knew from experience that the essence of communal computing, as supplied by remote-access, time-shared machines, is not just to type programs into a terminal instead of a keypunch, but to encourage close communication.*' Also [read about the history of .plan files](https://en.andros.dev/blog/54572bc7/finger-the-1971-social-network-that-never-died/) I mentioned a [few weeks back](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-23-26/). - [How to Restore Your Online Sanity, One Webcam at a Time](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/how-to-restore-your-online-sanity). A fun webcam map over at [World Watcher Live](https://worldwatcher.live) that is a great way to just be calm. '*A special kind of vertigo kicks in when you start clicking the camera icons scattered across the world map at World Watcher Live. Each one drops you into a live feed somewhere on Earth. Despite their wildly different settings, these feeds share a key trait: a complete lack of narrative and drama. Nothing happens. And that’s precisely the point, because what a glorious relief this is*'. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Acquiescence URL: https://makoism.com/acquiescence/ Last updated: 2026-10-08T22:59:54.000Z > "These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized." - Red (Morgan Freeman), The Shawshank Redemption *(Side note: I like emdashes. Too bad if they have a bad rap these days.)* ### The Diagnosis Some time back, I wrote about "[The Path](https://www.makoism.com/p/forge-the-path)" and that things can just happen in life or work that lead you to a place, even though you may not be able to see the destination. It's important to remember while the past is fixed, **the future isn't**. The problem with looking back is that the past offers a sense of **certainty**. This worked. That didn't. There's a status quo bias at work here — **a tendency to prefer things stay the way they are, simply because that's the way they already are**. That's different from **functional fixedness**, where you can't see an alternative. What I'm talking about is that even if there is a better option, it simply **does not matter**. Most folks just **can't let go** of the past. Taken to its logical end, it looks like this: the first guy to bring fire into a cave got a lecture on 'unapproved heat sources' and was asked to submit a request through the Torch Review Board. Approval took two winters. Half the tribe froze, but the process was followed. Change is inevitable. Nothing ever remains. Even the universe will eventually end, crush itself and turn into emptiness and nothingness. Hopefully it's not this year. Some of the most dangerous words to any career, company, etc., are '*that's not the way we used to do it*.' Contrary to what you will hear at the watercooler, **stagnation does not keep you safe** — it puts you at risk. If you, your team, or your thinking chooses not to evolve, it will become extinct. ### Why It's Worse Than Nostalgia Back in April of 2010, Steve Jobs published his famous open letter entitled "[Thoughts on Flash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughts%5Fon%5FFlash)." [The post](https://web.archive.org/web/20170615060422/https://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/) not only criticized Adobe Flash but also outlined the reasons why it wouldn't be allowed on Apple's iOS devices. What I thought was particularly interesting, re-reading the memo 16 years later, was the closing sentence: > *"Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind."* Unsurprisingly, at the time, the letter sparked a bit of outrage. There were scores of highly specialized flash developers in the industry (though, admittedly, even back then, I thought it was weird that someone had the job title of "flash engineer"), and many argued back that Flash wasn't going anywhere. But time would eventually show that Apple *was right*; people adapted and applied their skills to different areas, especially as the iPhone took off, newer technology (such as HTML5) came along, and those engineers moved forward as they applied their knowledge to new domains. Flash is now, like most things in tech over any timeline, long since dead. The technology dying was never the cost. The cost was every month spent defending it instead of moving. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2026/10/flash-dead-e1302529196735.png) ### The Art of Acquiescence Sometimes a clean break, a new or opposite perspective, is the only path forward if you want change. The Stoics refer to this as the "*art of acquiescence*": > The fates guide the person who accepts them and hinders the person who resists them — Cleanthes [Cleanthes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanthes) is talking about an individual accepting fate; the past, the decision already made, as not yours to keep fighting. But **acquiescence** doesn't have to be an individual act of letting go. **You can build it into the system itself**, *so nothing has to earn the right to survive by default*. '[How States Can Cut Rules and Regulations—and Make It Stick](https://manhattan.institute/article/how-states-can-cut-rules-and-regulations-and-make-it-stick)' is a fantastic practical example of how Idaho recently broke the trend when it came to regulatory processes. The state implemented a process called **Zero-Based Regulation (ZBR)** to reverse long-standing regulatory inertia, forcing agencies *to justify why existing rules should remain rather than simply assuming they are necessary*. What's being accepted isn't the rule. It's that the rule has no claim on tomorrow just because it exists today. Just imagine an organizational budget where, instead of defaulting to 'flat,' you had to start over from zero. **Justify why it's needed instead of assuming it's necessary**. ### Bending Like Bamboo Look, I'm not saying that it's easy to make a burn-the-ships move like this. It's damn hard to let go of **what was** when you're surrounded by things rooted in the way things have always been. One method that can help start driving change in environments like this is called *the bamboo technique*. > The idea is pretty simple: Just as bamboo bends and then snaps back when a strong wind blows, so should you. Acknowledge others' perspectives. If someone says 'this will never work,' you 'bend' like bamboo, respond with 'you might be right, this is going to be challenging', and 'snap back' with actions that they can try next to move slightly forward. It's all about concrete, doable steps. > > And celebrate the tiniest signs of progression. **Acquiescence** is what you do when **you're** the one who won't let go. **Bamboo** is something you can do when someone else won't. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2026/10/pexels-yuraforrat-12661710.jpg) Here's a version of the bamboo conversation that I've had at several companies. It's a useful example, albeit a bit technical. Cloud costs are always a fun place to dig into as they typically just climb year after year. When I have told finance I can hold it flat, they *always* tell me it can't be done. So I ask for a few weeks to dig in. No harm. A cloud bill is smoke, not fire — it tells you where to look, and following it *may* reveal savings. Usually that means starting with the top ten most expensive accounts and looking at what's really costing you. What you'll find — the infrastructure is over-provisioned, has weird excess storage costs, or is literally burning money on machines that aren't really doing anything. Little changes here can yield **big results**. The savings have always come, not because of a heroic cut, but ***because someone finally looked***. ### Close None of this is really about cloud bills. It's about anything that survives only because nobody has asked it to justify itself: a vendor contract, a legacy system, a process, the job you stayed in because you were already in it, the routine you never questioned, or the story you tell about who you are and what you're supposed to want. The problem isn't that the old way exists. **It's that questioning it takes effort, so the default quietly wins.** That default is the bear. It's ok to poke it, and in some cases it's your responsibility. Clinging to the past is admitting defeat before even trying, and the price of trying is small: a few weeks, no harm, and someone willing to look. The walls aren't the problem. *Never asking why they're there is*. (P.S. There's a name for the version where everyone sees it and no one says it: **Hypernormalization**. But that's a different post.) ### Espresso Shots 10-4-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-4-26/ Last updated: 2026-10-04T12:01:43.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Destroy Any Website](https://destroy.spritefusion.com/). I have spent **way too much time** on this retro pixel-art stickman game this past week, but it's just so much darn fun. The idea is simple and brilliant - you give it any website and within seconds you have an 'armed-to-the-teeth' stickman that can run around and blow it apart into a million pieces. [Total carnage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total%5FCarnage)! But it's great for a quick arcade experience. Side note: I've found it incredibly fun when dealing with some product that has a website - I just load it in and blow it into smithereens. - [How to Stop Getting Taken Advantage Of: 6 Secrets From Game Theory](https://bakadesuyo.com/2026/09/game-theory/). I searched [through the archives](https://makoism.com/tag/makoism/) to see if I've written about **Game Theory** previously, but it looks like there's a gap that I definitely will hit in a longer post. Simply, **Game Theory is the study of how people make decisions**, and if you go down the rabbit hole there are deeper mathematical models around decisions and cooperation, but I find understanding it in general is a fascinating place to spend time. [Simon Sinek](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vX2iVIJMFQ) refers to this as [Infinite Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FInfinite%5FGame): **It's the game about the game**. I liked this post that has strategies for leveraging Game Theory: '*Nice people like to be accommodating, which is a great quality in a hotel and an expensive one in a person. Make limits black and white.*' Lots of really interesting, counterintuitive ideas in here. - [How to Make Difficult Decisions, According to Philosophy](https://bigthink.com/mini-philosophy/how-to-make-difficult-decisions-according-to-philosophy/). '*This is the crux of hard choices: When options are on a par, we hunt for a definitive reason, given to us by the world, for picking one over the other, but no reason presents itself. The way isn’t signposted. External reasons have run out. Rather than feel gloomy or anxious about this, Chang notes, we might actually see it as liberating: If external reasons have run out, then perhaps we can choose to be guided by internal ones.*' We live in a world of hard choices; that's just life. Just remember [not everything is in our control, just how we can react to it](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/). - ['Ask for What You Want' Is a Key Skill for the 21st Century](https://www.robinsloan.com/lab/ask-for-what-you-want/). I love the thinking here, and it aligns closely with this newly found superpower of building **apps for one**. '*I’m not invested in that future; most days, I think a minor bust would be a good thing. But, that underlying technology, in its development and flourishing this past year — yes, really that recently — is profound. It reframes computing entirely, replaces a stack of API reference docs with this simple invitation: *Ask for what you want*.*' I've been burning down subscriptions, reducing my cloud footprint, and instead just talking to the genie and having it build workflows/apps for what I need. But Sloan's best advice: '*get your wish, then stuff the genie back into the lamp*.' - [Mathematicians, Here's a Way to Think About Your Existential Crisis](https://newsletter.kentbeck.com/p/mathematicians-heres-a-way-to-think). '*Most teams don’t have a strategy problem. They have an adaptation problem. Your plan was never going to survive contact with reality. The question is whether your organization bends or breaks when it doesn’t.*' I appreciated this post in how it frames work between features (things that are visible) and futures (invisible understanding and abstraction that nobody gets credit for). Seems to me, the best long-term bet is going to be spending more time thinking about and understanding futures, as the machines may be taking on more of the features. - [To Live Healthier for Longer, Train Your Weaknesses](https://www.agingwithstrength.com/p/to-live-healthier-for-longer-train-your-weaknesses). As someone who has probably put 10x more effort into [understanding what's going on with my body via data](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/) than most people, I really appreciated the viewpoint here. '*Long-term strength requires paying attention to what’s not being electronically measured, what’s not being regularly trained.*' A good read on getting more in tune with your body instead of relying on what a device tells you. - [What You Bring Home](https://kit.mikevardy.com/posts/what-you-bring-home). Something to remind myself of next time I go to a conference or other type of off-site (or heck, even a fellowship call). Take a look through your notes, and pull out: '*one idea to think about, one action for this week, one person to reach out to.*' A simple, but very useful, practice of [Essentialism](https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/) that feels very valuable. - [The Life Triangle](https://manuelmoreale.com/thoughts/the-life-triangle). [Focusing on getting to Life 3.0](https://makoism.com/now/) has been a framework that I've been trying to put into focus now that I'm [halfway through my 50s](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/). But this is one of the first attempts I've come across that try to put it into a diagram-able model. Manuel refers to the fundamental questions he asks: '*1) Do I want to have a life and 2) What kind of life do I want to live?*' Adding in a third 'vertex' - reality - creates a triangle where '*the distance between them represents how far my current life is from what I want and also how far apart my individual life is from my social life.*' - [David Bowie Answers the Famous Proust Questionnaire](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/09/29/david-bowie-proust-questionnaire-vanity-fair/). Looking back at the timeline, I joke that the multiverse destabilized when Bowie passed away in 2016\. Nothing's really been the same since. I only recently learned that he wasn't even aware that his cancer was terminal until three months before he died. I had also never seen these questions that he answered in [Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire: 101 Luminaries Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life](https://www.amazon.com/Vanity-Fairs-Proust-Questionnaire-Luminaries/dp/1605295957). Some of his answers: '*What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? *Living in fear.* What is your greatest fear? *Converting kilometers to miles*. What do you consider your greatest achievement? *Discovering morning*.*' A fun read, which caused me to go out and buy the book, and I'll probably do my own self-assessment of the questions in a future post. - [The Geology of Sticking With It](https://uarrr.org/the-geology-of-sticking-with-it/). Persistence is like geology: **one day it looks like nothing. Ten years later, you have a mountain**. Always important to remember that little things add up to big ones over time. - [Analemma Over the Callanish Stones](https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-20-analemma-over-the-callanish-stones/). '*If you went outside at the same time every day and took a picture that included the Sun, how would the Sun's position change? A visual answer to that question is an analemma, a composite image taken from the same spot at the same time over the course of a year.*' An incredible photo of a year of noon photos of the Sun and how it traces a figure-8 above a 4,700-year-old stone circle in the Outer Hebrides. Just a delightful image to close out this week on. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-27-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-27-26/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T12:01:08.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Intellectuals Are F\*cking Idiots](https://markmanson.substack.com/p/intellectuals-are-fcking-idiots). Mark Manson does know how to pull me into reading his work, by often having a provocative title. Since his 2016 book, [The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-f-ck-a-counterintuitive-approach-to-living-a-good-life-mark-manson/686a07b14a9cca27?ean=9780062457714&bkshp-astro=t), I've been a fan. And while he tries to poke the bear, this post did have me thinking on a few things that I've observed about the world in 2026\. '*Reality always wins. But intellectuals are rewarded for their models, not reality.*' He goes through several examples of where technically 'smart people' have made assumptions based on data, and have had disastrous results. But I liked his conclusion, as it's something that I've been struggling with, especially as the world gets crazier every day. '*Engage with reality as much as possible. That means less time on this site and more time in the world. Less time watching human faces on a screen and more time seeing human faces in person.*' Spending more time off-screen, away from the noise, and being present in the world isn't a bad place to start. - [False Needles in Haystacks](https://sketchplanations.com/false-needles-in-haystacks). In a similar vein to *good data, bad results*, '*when you are looking for a needle in a haystack, even if you have good eyesight, most of what looks like needles will be hay.*' What was interesting in this piece to me is that it's akin to what's going on today with writing and content on the Internet with the rise of generative AI. There are so many [slop cannons](https://www.thealgorithmicbridge.com/p/slop-cannons-and-turbo-brains) these days *everything* starts to read like junk. It's getting harder and harder to find those real needles in the haystack and is going to require us to get a lot more intentional about where we look for the good stuff. - [Built to Last](https://lucas.love/blog/built-to-last). If an app offers a lifetime option I will usually get it and avoid subscription software. Or let me pay for a new version, like [OmniFocus](https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus) does. If I need the features, I buy it. If not, the old stuff still *works just fine*. '*Subscription often funds the fragility that justifies the subscription in the first place. There’s a whole category of software where the core functionality doesn't require any of this. The software could survive for years without a developer touching it. It just wasn't built that way.*' I get it if your app requires servers or you need to pay for data (weather apps), but there's loads of software out there that doesn't need a subscription. Some great thinking that I wish more apps/developers would follow: '*That’s the one constraint you choose before writing the first line of code. If this version were the last, it should keep working indefinitely.*' - [What If America Went Completely Dark? (Gift link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/magazine/national-blackout-power-electricity-outage.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.EFE.Em-C.hR7MK7rWFrn6&smid=url-share). A frightening tale of how fragile the entire electrical grid is in the US. '*The grid is perhaps the most complex machine ever built, but it was created without a master plan and made subject to the distortions of greed and local orneriness like every other big project in the United States... If you knock out nine total substations among those three grids, you can black out the entire United States.*' A good reminder of something I wrote about in [When It Falls Over](https://makoism.com/when-it-falls-over/) \- there's often too much dependency on single things that are **bearing too much weight**. - [I'm Tired of Being on the Network](https://matduggan.com/im-tired-of-being-on-the-network/). Probably my **favorite piece of the week**, a look at how much of our lives has been shaped by the systems around us, dependent on the 'slab of metal and glass.' '*I've come to resent the smartphone, which is an embarrassing thing to admit, because I used to be a believer. I researched every new model. I switched between iOS and Android just to taste each new future as it arrived. I lined up for the first iPhone at 3 a.m., stood in the dark to get a glimpse of the thing itself. I remember being genuinely moved when the Apple Store employees clapped for me.*' It's all so ... tiring, isn't it? And it's a balance I can't seem to get right: I spend hours optimizing my home automation and homelabs to avoid big tech providers, but I can't seem to separate from the device-ification of everything. This remarkable technology out of the future that I used to dream about as a kid has become a weight that I can't really live without. Personally, I've been tinkering with [SnailOS, a small e-ink device](https://snailos.org) as a side project, and [haven't yet gone all minimal](https://minimalcompany.com). It's a start, though. - [Robots Have No Voice](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/robots-have-no-voice/). '*Good writing captures voice. Good writing documents how another human thinks. When you read text generated by a robot, it’s that thinking that is missing. Your world-class pattern matcher sees all the words, sentences, ideas, arguments, footnotes, em dashes, and everything else you’d expect out of writing, but the reason you squint your eyes and wonder, Did a robot write this? is because... there is no voice.*' I have a simple rule around writing: I will use AI to help grammar check, but I will never use AI to write for me. The balance seems to work right now, but I do wonder if it's better to just leave all the mistakes in? ;) - [Rick Rubin: The Only Skill That Matters Now Is the One Thing AI Can Never Steal](https://youtu.be/a%5FGiFiHXJ6g). Now, for the **watch of the week**. It's no secret that I just love how Rick Rubin thinks, and it's worth the 2 hours if you have the time. No spoilers here. - [What We Can Learn From a Six-Dollar Chicken](https://www.gapingvoid.com/what-we-can-learn-from-a-six-dollar-chicken/). Today I learned not only that Walmart is selling a rotisserie-chicken purse, [but that it sold out](https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/09/04/walmart-rotisserie-chicken-purse-sold-out-ebay/91610679007/). Impossible to get. '*So don’t think of this Walmart chicken bag as just one more promo that did quite well and got a little media attention from USA Today. Think of it as something much deeper: the fact that we human beings, being a hyper-social species with the capacity for abstract thought, need symbols and artifacts to create, amplify, articulate, and share meaning and build relationships- something all groups, big or small, commercial or non-commercial, need in order to flourish long-term.*' Maybe I need to add a [Meat Proxy](https://meatproxy.me) shirt to [the online store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky). - [Rainy Arcade](https://rainyarca.de/). A total sensory blast from the past. A noise generator for rainy afternoons in the arcade. - [Can You Draw a Perfect Circle?](https://kottke.org/19/10/can-you-draw-a-perfect-circle). I couldn't get higher than 82% with the trackpad, but this little addicting interactive toy is super fun. - [An Invisible Force Has a Mysterious Effect on Aging](https://www.404media.co/earth-magnetic-field-effects-on-aging-study/). New studies indicate that Earth's magnetic field has a direct effect on lifespan. '*The removal of the magnetic field’s effect extended the lifespan of the Pink1 group by 20 percent but reduced their mobility, whereas the healthy flies experienced just the opposite—reduced lifespan, but improved mobility.*' Weird science. - [Living the Low-Sodium Lifestyle](https://blog.odonnellweb.com/2026/living-the-low-sodium-lifestyle). '*Cheerios has sodium. All milks, both dairy and non-dairy, have sodium. Swiss cheese is almost sodium free. ead the packages and watch the serving size. Mission brand has a healthy serving size of 10 chips at 90 mg per serving. Same with salsa. My favorite brand, Herdez, is a sodium bomb. However Green Mountain Gringo Salsa is a reasonable 80 mg per 2 TBS serving.*' If you spend enough time reading food labels, you'll quickly find how much salt (not to mention other things you can't even pronounce) is in your food. **A simple rule of thumb: if you don't know what it is, don't have it in your food**. I've been very fortunate to have great local farms and amazing seafood, and it's been somewhat life-altering to focus on eating food when you know where it's from. I never really *knew* what a fresh potato tasted like until a few months ago, and I don't want to go back. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-20-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-20-26/ Last updated: 2026-09-20T11:43:10.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [There Is No Epidemic of Loneliness, But There Is an Epidemic of Scurvy](https://www.experimental-history.com/p/there-is-no-epidemic-of-loneliness). I thought this was an interesting companion piece to [an article I shared a few weeks back](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-9-26/), [Another Symptom of Growing Isolation](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/07/talking-less-reasons/688074/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHcsAtSQt3AiOjY3jj-UdWX4). Adam Mastroianni argues that the data **doesn't** show we're lonelier than we used to be. What it does show is that we're more alone: time with friends on weekends has roughly halved in the US over 20 years, and isolation is linked to depression, heart trouble, and dying sooner. And like scurvy, we can't feel this deficiency the way we feel hunger, so **we never go looking for the cure**. '*If you don’t get enough vitamin C, you’ll start to feel tired and weak, your joints will hurt, your legs will swell, you’ll get spots on your skin, your teeth will fall out, you’ll feel grumpy all the time (understandably), and eventually, you’ll die... You can see where I’m going with this: we are not living through an epidemic of loneliness. We are living through an epidemic of *social scurvy**.' I think the real answer here is to make an **extra effort** to [connect with others in meaningful ways](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/). - [Seneca on True and False Friendship](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/09/13/seneca-friendship/). A nice companion piece to the scurvy piece above. Maria Popova looks at what Seneca says about the kind of friendships worth having. '*One who seeks friendship for favourable occasions, strips it of all its nobility.*' - [How to Stop Having Ideas](https://www.undermanager.com/how-to-avoid-having-ideas/). Ooof. This one hits home. I **always** fall into this trap of having new ideas and should really take this one to heart and stop handing them to the team. **Ideas are cheap**, and I should stop adding to the pile. I also really liked how Russell adapted [Brandolini's law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandolini%27s%5Flaw) from '*The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.*' into '*The amount of energy needed to refute an idea from your boss is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.*' Note to self: listen first. - [The Aesthetic-Usability Effect](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/aesthetic-usability-effect/). '*The aesthetic-usability effect refers to user's tendency to perceive attractive products as more usable. People tend to believe that things that look better will work better - even if they aren’t actually more effective or efficient.*' An interesting idea that if a design is pleasing, then users will *ignore* minor usability flaws. I'm a big fan of calm and beautiful user interfaces, but now I'm starting to think that slapping lipstick on a pig can also be a huge cause of [premium mediocre](https://ribbonfarm.com/2017/08/17/the-premium-mediocre-life-of-maya-millennial/). - [Magazines Are Superior Products to Newsletters](https://candost.blog/magazines-are-superior-products-to-newsletters/). '*We need to abandon most Substack-style newsletters where the writer only writes without any editorial thinking. Although Substack-like platforms reduced the friction in writing, that friction was necessary. Perhaps all writers should have their own website and think about how to structure content and build a digital reading experience, not just a single article.*' I totally get the irony of linking to this one from a newsletter, especially since he calls out curation newsletters specifically as "sourcing machines". I think there's an interesting idea in here, and maybe it's why I've been so thrilled by [magazines like Geezer](https://www.geezermagazine.com). While I get tons of feedback about the links I've been sharing, I wonder if each week should carry a theme instead of just a stack of links. - [I Am a Flat-Rate Monthly Responsibility Service](https://matduggan.com/i-am-a-flat-rate-monthly-responsibility-service/). Maybe this is a clue to [Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad](https://www.noemamag.com/why-is-everyone-in-tech-so-sad/)? Solving puzzles **requires** curiosity and creative thinking: '*I tolerated a lot of the ridiculous bullshit of the tech industry because, at the end of the day, I got to return to my endless series of puzzles. Stand-ups. Meetings with investors. Retros. Kanban boards. Agile vs Waterfall. Endless discussions over pull request formatting. Decision syncs. People saying stupid things like "don't let perfect be the enemy of good". Ground-up rewrites because a new language is the fashion. Those were the tolls I paid in order to do the interesting part in the back of the house.*' But with all the AI wackiness, the job is turning into something else. '*In reality, I am a SaaS provider, and the service I provide is responsibility. I am a flat-rate monthly responsibility service that agrees to assume full liability for the output of the robot.*' - [The Law of Leaky Abstractions](https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/11/11/the-law-of-leaky-abstractions/). I can't remember where, but I was reminded this week of a classic 2002 post from [Joel on Software](https://www.joelonsoftware.com) about **leaky abstractions**. His definition of an abstraction is '*a simplification of something much more complicated that is going on under the covers*', but more importantly — and yes, **this human likes em dashes** — all of them are leaky. '*Abstractions fail. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. There’s leakage. Things go wrong.*' But the real nugget is here: '*The law of leaky abstractions means that whenever somebody comes up with a wizzy new code-generation tool that is supposed to make us all ever-so-efficient, you hear a lot of people saying “learn how to do it manually first, then use the wizzy tool to save time.” Code generation tools which pretend to abstract out something, like all abstractions, leak, and the only way to deal with the leaks competently is to learn about how the abstractions work and what they are abstracting. *So the abstractions save us time working, but they don’t save us time learning*. And all this means that paradoxically, even as we have higher and higher level programming tools with better and better abstractions, becoming a proficient programmer is getting harder and harder.*' Sounds a lot like the latest discourse on AI coding tools. - [Bottlenecks Get a Bad Rap](https://blog.jim-nielsen.com/2026/bottlenecks/). I've said it time and time again: [through constraint you find freedom](https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/). - [The Convergence Trap](https://www.thesignalist.io/s/the-convergence-trap/). What I love about this post is that it not only taps into the question of whether [we're solving the right problem](https://makoism.com/the-wrong-problems/), but also explores how *group thinking can lead you down the wrong path*. '*When we think together, our thinking becomes a system where systems theory applies. Ideas cause other ideas, people influence other people, and even the order of thoughts makes a difference. A wrong assumption made by one person can become the starting point for the next person’s reasoning, which then becomes evidence for someone else. Like a domino effect. The blast radius isn’t, in that case, one person’s thinking. It is the thinking of everyone who comes after them.*' The solution? Protect independent thinking before the group converges on an aligned direction. - [Running My Second Marathon as a Hollow Man](https://interconnected.org/home/2026/09/18/marathon). This marathon recap is full of things I'd never considered. But the line that struck me was about fatigue: '*fatigue does not always feel fatiguing in the moment, it is also the accumulation of time*.' The same goes for warnings from the body. Two days before my first heart attack, my Apple Watch flagged something and I shrugged it off with a 'well, that's weird.' **Warnings don't always feel like warnings in the moment.** These days, I try to make a conscious effort to listen to the small stuff before it turns into the loud stuff. - [On Not Becoming a Cyborg](https://nolanlawson.com/2026/08/31/on-not-becoming-a-cyborg/). [Webster defines a cyborg](https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cyborg) as '*a person whose body contains mechanical or electrical devices and whose abilities are greater than the abilities of normal humans*.' I've always felt contact lenses, heart stents, [LINX devices](https://www.jnjmedtech.com/en-US/products/surgery/reflux-management/linx-reflux-management-system/), and hearing aids all count. But I never really considered the effects on *language*. Nolan noticed that **Claude-isms** like "load-bearing" and "belt-and-suspenders" are working their way into his own writing. You are what you eat, I guess. :) - [How the Oregon Trail Became a Generational Icon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtAbRViuHog). I remember being in school playing [The Oregon Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FOregon%5FTrail%5F%281985%5Fvideo%5Fgame%29). From its origin as a board game in 1971, to how it transformed into a video game, I really enjoyed learning a bit more about a game that was one of my first introductions to computers. But I never knew that **failure was deliberately part of the game's design**. As the designers put it, the learning loop of decision → consequence → failure → hypothesis → new strategy → replay was there as a way to encourage experimenting and learning. For nostalgia's sake, [you can play it online here](https://oregontrail.ws/games/the-oregon-trail/) if curious. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-13-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-13-26/ Last updated: 2026-09-13T09:40:25.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [SPACESHIPS](https://spaceships.treybastian.com/). Opening this week with a wild classic video rethink: **Inverted Asteroids**. '*You are not the ship*' - You place gravity wells and fling rocks towards that pesky ship trying to blow you up. Not quite what I meant by [Inversion](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/), but still a, err.. blast. :) - [YULBBS](https://seancoates.com/blogs/yulbbs). I guess I am feeling a bit nostalgic this week, so let's talk about **BBSs**. For the unfamiliar, [Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin%5Fboard%5Fsystem) were the thing back in the mid-'80s to mid-'90s, before the web, before algorithms, before social media. You would connect (often via a modem), log in using your terminal program of choice, and read news and bulletins, exchange messages, and sometimes even play games. I have fond memories of [Channel 1 in Boston](https://www.wired.com/1993/04/bbs/) and some of the local [FidoNets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FidoNet) when it was a much simpler time to be online. Anyways, I came across YULBBS this week, which is described as '*a retro-computing project, inspired by my adolescent introduction to social computing.*' Running on a Raspberry Pi, it has live ADS-B flight data that you can get to either via SSH or just point your browser at . **You had me at hello**. - [Apple's Book That Decoded Woz's Genius](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/apples-book-that-decoded-wozs-genius). Another nostalgia piece, sorry. '*The Red Book was cool, but for my money ($20, Apple part number A2L0001A), the Apple II Reference Manual is an unsung masterpiece. Chris’s manual was a revelation. It’s a comprehensive, understandable, beautifully produced guide to Woz’s virtuoso creation. Wire-bound and over 200 pages, it’s chock full of explanatory text, diagrams, schematics, photos, source code listings, and Apple fun.* ' I may go ahead and see if I can grab a copy of one on eBay, but you can [read it online here](https://archive.org/details/apple-ii-ref-manual/mode/2up) if interested. - [MouthPad](https://www.augmental.tech/). '*The world’s first hands-free touchpad*' is basically **a tongue-controlled trackpad**. '*A custom-fit mouthpiece that turns subtle tongue and head movements into precise control of your phone, tablet, and computer.*' What a wonderful use of technology - **giving people back independence they lost or have never had**. There are [some wonderful stories](https://www.augmental.tech/our-users) that are showcasing some of the assistive technology this can provide. Anything that 'opens doors to opportunities I never thought possible' is worth a read, IMHO. - [A Focused Phone Experience with Archaic Intelligence](https://journal.jatan.space/a-focused-phone-experience/). '*A modern smartphone is a stress-inducing machine that wants to grab my attention all the time. The obvious first move against it is to have a few apps on my phone to begin with—remove everything that only seems like it might be important. Most services have perfectly functional websites. Installing apps for nearly every use case instead would mean I’m giving them increasing opportunities to indulge me. The second aspect of this is to have almost no app pinned on my home screen. Not even the ones I may use frequently.*' [A few weeks ago](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-19-26/), I mentioned the idea of a scroll-chair, a place you've designated for scrolling. Here's another set of good ideas on how to change up your smartphone so it's less attention grabbing. '*That’s how I like my focused phone experience. I call this re-stacking of incentives Archaic Intelligence: Every element in there specifically invokes actions I desire long-term.*' It's a nice lens on how to be more *intentional* with technology. - [What 12 Years of Failure Taught Steve Jobs About Success](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU4WlADVgM8). I stumbled upon a video which reconstructed Steve Jobs's 12-year "lost decade" at NeXT; kind of an interesting watch/listen if you have the time. What I thought was most interesting is the lessons learned: **failure isn't the opposite of success; it can be the foundation for it, but only if you actually learn from it.** And, it's important for leaders to bring out the best in talented people, and not to be the smartest person dictating every decision. - [Most People Don't Want to Succeed](https://www.atvbt.com/most-people-dont-want-to-succeed/). '*Most people don't want to succeed, they just want to say that they tried their best and there was nothing they could do.*' Harsh truth here, but as this post recognizes, many people will choose the relief of failure, rather than the demanding reality of pursuing success. I've said it before; I've [made shirts shouting it](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s): [Own Your Shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/). - [Old Age Is What We Think It Is — And That's the Problem](https://garybuzzard.substack.com/p/old-age-is-what-we-think-it-is-and). '*The problem with writing about old age is that I end up reinforcing all the everyday old age stereotypes by thinking about old age all the time. Because old age is just a concept, it’s not a real thing. It’s words and phrases strung together to produce something less than the sum of its parts.*' A good post to remind myself that while age *is* just a number, it *can be* a fluid concept. Perhaps I've been spending too much time thinking about [the lessons of the last 55 years](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/) and not enough on the next 55. - [Exit the Cave](https://turtlespace.blog/p/exit-the-cave). I really enjoyed this post, and while I know little about the wrestling world, the idea of 'the Cave' is one anyone can relate to. '*Culture has created a cozy Cave. Smart devices reward private fitness. Recommendation algorithms propagate our preexisting philosophy through personalized programming. AI tells us what we want to hear and bolsters our assumptions instead of challenging them. We grow so comfortable curating our Cave that we forget the vast, interesting, beautiful, and brutal world beyond its walls.*' A good reminder to just get out there and experience some public vulnerability to grow. - [Sometimes It's Better Not to Say Anything](https://manuelmoreale.com/thoughts/sometimes-it-s-better-not-to-say-anything). It took me years to realize the dynamics of how social media dialog works, and one of the earliest lessons learned is that when everyone has a megaphone, no one is even listening. But I really like how Manuel articulates it: '*I think is worth highlighting is that a core ingredient for healthy dialogue is the ability to listen. But listening is not part of the social internet landscape. You cannot perceive the listening; you can only perceive the saying. And that is why social media dialogue is fundamentally unhelpful. It’s a lot of saying and not much listening.*' [Active listening](https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/), while not easy, is one of the best things you can do for your own mental health. - [The Algorithm Knows Who You Have Been, Not Who You Might Become](https://velvetnoise.substack.com/p/why-some-conversations-feel-like). Along the similar thread of curiosity, one of the best things you can do is to find *different* things to read than what your close circles or what the algorithm is telling you. Annually [a purge](https://makoism.com/the-purge/) seems to do the trick: go in and unsubscribe to a bunch of sites, especially noise generators or ones that my friends keep sending me links to. Delete a bunch of apps or remove subscriptions, just to keep things fresh and new. Go hit [Kagi's Small Web](https://kagi.com/smallweb) and purposely be curious and seek out a few new things to read that algorithms wouldn't have surfaced for you. '*When people only consume the same essays and cultural references, they become more likely to reach for the same language and make similar associations.*' - [The Lab, the Factory and the Dentist](https://seths.blog/2026/09/the-lab-the-factory-and-the-dentist/). I really enjoyed the quick mental exercise that Seth Godin proposes: **Where do you work? The lab, the factory or the dentist?** For a large part of the last 55 years, I've been in the factory things get a little faster, a little better every day. But I think the next 55 will be spent in the lab. - [Stop Looking for Your One True Purpose](https://www.originalmacguy.com/stop-looking-for-your-one-true-purpose-try-this-instead/). I used to think that an exploration of [Life 3.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/) was going to need a singular purpose to focus on. Perhaps subconsciously, I've been worried that I hadn't found mine yet. But after reading this article and going back through what I've been writing over the last several years, I've recognized that there really isn't one true calling to find. What's actually been driving me are acts of trying to [leave things better than how I found them](https://makoism.com/leaving-things-better/). It's not a plan with a destination, just **continuous learning** and staying curious enough that there's always a next thing worth doing. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-6-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-6-26/ Last updated: 2026-09-06T12:01:13.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [You Optimize a System by Looking at the Whole Flow](https://jeroensangers.com/2026/09/01/you-optimise-a-system-by.html). Two years ago, I was tinkering around with an idea around [viscosity](https://makoism.com/maximum-viscosity/) and '*the property of resistance to flow*' was an interesting place to poke for change. Using this thinking as a method to '*bring awareness to the current state of things and how they can be improved is the beginning of the groundwork to articulate a vision for change*' was an interesting question. But, what I've come to recognize since then, is that **everything around us is systems**. Once you see it, you can't *unsee* that systems are a part of everyday life: politics, government, work, healthcare, etc. '*The question that matters is not how to make one part faster, but what a change does to the whole flow. Skip that question and you optimize inside *an illusion of progress*: a fine result at one station, while the total lead time stays the same or gets worse.*' As an aside, if this topic is interesting to you, I'd highly recommend Donella Meadows' 2008 classic, [Thinking in Systems](https://bookshop.org/p/books/thinking-in-systems-international-bestseller-donella-meadows/fea83b2e43c07e9a). Seeing the world (or work process, or whatever) as a series of interconnected elements rather than isolated items, is a fascinating space to explore. - [Is Education for Industry or for Thinking?](https://candost.blog/journal/education-for-industry/). When I read this article, I instantly thought about [Sir Ken Robinson's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken%5FRobinson%5F%28educationalist%29) classic TED talk, [Do Schools Kill Creativity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY). His wonderful talk centered around education systems having a *stigmatization of mistakes*, and how creativity was being stomped out. '*I believe this passionately, that we don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out of it.*' This post comes at it from the other side on the role of schools - they should be focused on getting people employable. Robinson would call this an *illusion of progress*: you have more employed, but the system itself is **broken** when it's educating people out of the very thinking it claims to be building. - [On the Difference Between Rest and Idleness](https://idle.news/blog/on-the-difference-between-rest-and-idleness/). '*The approved rest goes by many names. Recovery. Recharging. Self-care. Downtime. It arrives now with its own industry: the apps that track your sleep so you may optimize it, the retreats that cost a month's salary, the scented candles sold with the vocabulary of medicine, the entire apparatus of wellness, which is simply the word the productive world uses for maintenance performed on itself. This rest is permitted, encouraged, even prescribed, and the reason it is permitted is the reason it should be regarded with suspicion: it is rest in service of work. It exists so that you may return to your labors restored, sharpened, more efficient than before.*' I really enjoyed this post (and [added the site](https://idle.news/blog/) to my weekly reading list), which I would retitle '**an ode to idleness**'. The idea centers around the belief that being idle - with no goals, just to 'be' - is a true discipline and requires no justification around how you spend time. '***Idleness has no alibi, and wants none***.' Love it. - [When Success Stops Working: Bill Reilly's Map for Friction Before Burnout](https://magnus919.com/2026/09/when-success-stops-working-bill-reillys-map-for-friction-before-burnout/). I'm sensing a theme developing where I've been spending time lately: *friction*. This post explores a talk in which Bill Reilly talks about the **Reinvention Cycle**, and why '*high-performing individuals often experience professional friction despite maintaining their work ethic.*' Adding this one to the 'read later' archive, as there's a super interesting playbook in here that I need to certainly spend some time thinking about. - [The Dark Side of Mindfulness (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/meditation-willoughby-britton-downsides/688474/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHYrRaTPLNk-rrFmF%5F3MG-hI&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). I'm the first to admit - my sleeping habits just **suck**. It's not for a lack of trying and I certainly don't view this as a badge of honor. Instead, it's a real problem. And, as I've talked to people about it, I am often told to lean into meditation or breathing. That's why this post really surprised me: it asks whether meditation carries a risk of harm. It's one of the few pieces I've ever read about the risks of it. - [An End to Fully Open Networks](https://seths.blog/2026/09/an-end-to-fully-open-networks/). '*It's hard to overstate how profound the idea of permission-less contact was to the flow of information and the growth of commerce and culture. Just as you could mail a letter to a stranger, you could also call or email them. When it works, it’s very powerful.*' But, how far has this gone? 2026 feels like a total barrage of noise that grows daily and that something has got to give. - [I Rented a Car, and Within Hours, My Driver's License Was for Sale](https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/09/my-drivers-license-is-one-of-153-million-for-sale-on-a-new-dark-website/). Well, this is just gross. [KrebsOnSecurity](https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/09/fbi-probes-service-selling-153m-drivers-licenses/) is reporting that an ID scanning service used at a car rental service had a data breach, and that their databases of scanned driver's licenses are now for sale on the dark web. The scary part: the exploit isn't patched and still leaking new IDs daily. - [I Want to Be Unremarkable](https://brennan.day/i-want-to-be-unremarkable/). '*I am compelled not only to write, but to write in public. A compulsion to show my work and share myself as much as possible. I want there to be a record, a carving in the stone. And I have to reconcile this compulsion toward legacy with the fact that I want to remain, personally, unremarkable.*' Just sit with this one for a while. I'm still processing how profound it is. - [Why High Achievers Are Miserable](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/why-high-achievers-are-miserable). Scott's new book, [How to Live](https://scottberkun.com/how-to-live-book/), is due out in October, and he's been knocking it out of the park with his posts during the writing process. This blog post, on external validation, addressed a personal character flaw that has been rolling around my skull for some time now. '*I am a recovering high achiever, and I know why some people are so driven to win. If they were truly confident and loved themselves, winning couldn’t be so important. They’d have less to prove. This tells us something about who competes at the highest levels of business, politics and culture. There’s something deep down driving them that likely doesn’t come from a healthy place.*' Repeat after me: I am a work in progress. Lots to think about here. - [How to Play Pinball](https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-play-pinball/). Shifting gears now away from self-reflection, read about why pinball machines are a metaphor for life. '*Over time, pinball machines become something other than what rolled off the assembly line. They do time in arcades, movie theaters, bars, etc. Sometimes getting serviced by people who know what they’re doing. Sometimes getting serviced by people who have more creativity than sense, and sometimes getting serviced by people who know just enough to be dangerous. (Feel free to map these categories to medical professionals you’ve interacted with.) What I’m saying is that no two pinball machines are alike.*' - [How the Hell Did an Island Suddenly Appear, Then Vanish?](https://www.404media.co/how-the-hell-did-an-island-suddenly-appear-then-vanish/). '*An island that appeared to suddenly materialize, then vanish, on Williston Lake in British Columbia over the summer was rediscovered on the massive reservoir on Monday. Once you’ve taken that all in, let’s ask the important question: How the heck did that happen?*' Read more regarding the theories on how this floating mass (230ft x 460ft) of trees and vegetation was formed. - [Violent Checkers](https://www.bxfoundry.com/violentcheckers/). What's not to love; checkers redesigned as a physics-based demolition derby. **Gleeful chaos**. - [The Deep Life Map](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGkLUcwkEyo). In 2023, [Cal Newport](https://calnewport.com) called it a 'Deep Life Stack' and has been reframing it recently as a 'Deep Life Map'. What I found interesting (as I hadn't seen that original video), was how many parallels it has to what I've been noodling around with [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/). Cal's 'life map' thesis is that there are three territories to explore: capability, values, and vision; and that people wander between these in a non-linear way rather than progressing through them. Interesting concept, and I look forward to reading his upcoming book on it. - [When Meta-Work Becomes the Work](https://jarango.com/2026/08/28/when-meta-work-becomes-the-work/). '*I’ve wasted countless hours testing new todo apps, distraction-free editors, Obsidian plugins, citation managers, read-it-later apps, etc. Each promises to unlock productivity. Some might, but in aggregate they don’t make up for the time wasted. Worse, meta-work creates the illusion of progress while accomplishing little.*' I've written before on how PKM is dead, but what caused me to highlight this post, is that the author suggests that while true for humans, delegating these systems to agents is a different place for them so he can explore things of higher-value. Interesting. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-30-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-30-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-30T12:01:54.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [On Adaptation, Again](https://hypersubject.net/posts/on-adaptation,-again). In a follow-up to [last week's top link](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-23-26/), '[Why is Everyone in Tech So Sad?](https://www.noemamag.com/why-is-everyone-in-tech-so-sad/)', I thought this post tickled a really important idea: **you don't know who you were until you're already changed**. He writes, '*I find myself in the dilemma of adaptation: If I don’t change, if I try to remain the same, I’m going to disappear. If I do change, in a certain sense I’ve also disappeared because now I’m something else.*' It reminded me a lot of the [siren scene in the Odyssey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtTIHYPDwws), where Odysseus is describing their song: '*It told you that what you most want is what you can’t have. And what you most can’t have is what you already had, and lost.*' As a long-time software engineer, I recognize where many of these feelings are coming from. But (and perhaps it's just perspective), I feel like there are only a few times in life where you can blow up the system, rethink how you do things, and always be learning. Focus on the opportunity (not a blind trust), but most importantly: **don't be static**. - [Meat Proxy](https://sfisms.org/meat-proxy). [A few weeks back](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-14-26/), I had mentioned '*people want to throw AI at a problem, and smear it like peanut butter without fixing the root underlying problems with their data.*' This term is **by far** my favorite new one of 2026 that I've gotten plenty of use out of the last week. The quick definition: '*A person who forwards AI-generated text, code, or other output without reading, understanding, or validating it. The person acts only as a relay between the AI system and the intended recipient.*' I'm feeling a strong urge to make a new t-shirt soon for this. - [A 450-Year History of Blogging](https://brennan.day/a-450-year-history-of-blogging/). More about the origin of logs than you ever cared to know, but I still found it to be an interesting look at the origin of weblogs and 'log-ins'. '*In April 1999, when programmer Peter Merholz jokingly shortened the word on his site* [*Peterme.com*](http://peterme.com/) *by breaking it into the phrase 'we blog.' This seems like it would be the origin point of the word, but that's far from the case. I would be remiss if I began the history of blogging somewhere in the 1980s, because that only explains the "web" part and not the "log" part. For that, we need to go back much further. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this begins in the maritime tradition with a literal, wooden log.*' - [Denormalizing Hypernormalization](https://www.gapingvoid.com/denormalizing-hypernormalization/). '**Hypernormalization* is what happens when something is obviously broken, everybody knows it's broken, and yet everybody carries on as if it isn't. Some people can't see what's wrong. Others see it perfectly well but feel powerless to change it. So they shrug. They adapt. They learn to work around the dysfunction instead of confronting it. Eventually, what once seemed absurd becomes expected.*' Oomph, that's a mouthful, and this goes way beyond normal [sunk-cost fallacies](https://makoism.com/sunk-costs/) that play out time and time again in corporate cultures. For me, this is an **obvious** place where you can start to [blow shit up](https://makoism.com/self-destruction/). I see teams grinding through [Mr. PotatoHead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr.%5FPotato%5FHead) processes that exist, for no other reason than they have always existed and continuously **keep getting more cruft lumped on top**. [Burn the ships](https://makoism.com/the-curse-of-meh/). - [How To Be Charismatic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7dNhT1XMqw). I always enjoy a video or podcast that references some [CIA-handbook style psychology handbook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple%5FSabotage%5FField%5FManual). This video, from [Supercommunicators](https://bookshop.org/p/books/supercommunicators-how-to-unlock-the-secret-language-of-connection-charles-duhigg/7a25d02cace0aa84?ean=9780593243923&bkshp-astro=t) author [Charles Duhigg](https://charlesduhigg.com), talks through 3 habits you can learn about to help improve not only your conversations, but your charisma. '*In 1982, the CIA had a case officer named Jim Lawler who couldn't recruit a single spy — four years later, he was one of the best recruiters in agency history. Same guy, same personality. What changed is something most of us are told you can't learn: charisma. I spent years interviewing CIA recruiters, hostage negotiators, and the researchers who study connection in brain scanners, and it turns out charisma comes down to three specific, almost boring, completely learnable habits.*' - [Mini-Personalities: Why Carl Jung Believed Your Complexes Lead Their Own Inner Lives](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/mini-personalities-why-carl-jung). '*The basic idea, that our lives can be influenced by a cluster of emotions and thoughts orbiting around a psychological theme is something many people already treat as reality. You hear it in everyday conversations, like when someone says that a power-hungry short person has a "Napoleon complex," or when someone jokes that the real reason a man leased a big, flashy car is to compensate for a natural, compact-class endowment. But what’s less intuitive about complexes is the high degree of autonomy that Jung believed they can possess — as if they function like *mini personalities.**' I need to sit with this post for a bit, but there's something interesting in here to think about humans having our own internal army of psyche-based AI agents in our heads. - [The Science of Cognitive Load: How Do We Know?](https://www.scienceofexplanation.com/p/the-science-of-cognitive-load-how). Continuing along the theme on how the mind works, [Lee posted](https://www.scienceofexplanation.com) a great article on the dissection of cognitive load, paired with a study that broke it down into measurable mechanisms. Great tip in here as well when you're doing a talk: '*Cognitive Load Theory tells us that a new idea may look like a puzzle to the audience. Their mental resources are used for fitting pieces together instead of remembering the big ideas. Instead, we should consider showing them the finished puzzle and then the steps it took to assemble it. *This helps remove the extraneous load and allows their working memory to be used for something more productive: developing new chunks that can be employed in the future.**' - [AliExpress Caught Using Silent Audio to Fingerprint Visitors' Browsers](https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/privacy/2026/08/aliexpress-caught-using-silent-audio-to-fingerprint-visitors-browsers). Well, this is [bullshit](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog). A totally creepy violation of privacy, in which AliExpress was using audio-fingerprinting to track users' devices. One thing you can do is use a tool like [Micro Snitch](https://obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html) to notify yourself when some app or website turns on your camera or microphone. This is just gross. - [The Guy That Wants to Live Forever](https://askdeath.substack.com/p/the-guy-that-wants-to-live-forever). I first learned about [Bryan Johnson's immortality project](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf9e1o7rUeo) from the series, '[Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2pE0702tvk).' While I find that most of his efforts to extend his life are, for lack of a better word, insane, I did find his take on saunas interesting. '*Physical exercise and saunas are the only two lifestyle health interventions with significant replicable longevity results. The largest study of a sauna practice found that men who participated 4-7 times per week had a 40% lower risk of death from all causes than men who did sauna only once per week. Sauna practice seems best at helping to reduce or prevent cardiovascular and neurological degeneration. So basically, if you don’t want a heart attack or dementia, this is the easiest thing you can do to reduce risk.*' And, a reminder from Seneca: '*no man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much about lengthening it.*' - [I'm Not Fighting Aging or Aging Gracefully — I'm Just Enjoying Life](https://garybuzzard.substack.com/p/im-not-fighting-aging-or-aging-gracefully). As [I get older](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/), I've realized that I am spending (*probably too much*) time thinking and re-evaluating things. Some great advice in this post, especially around some of the scams that circle around the anti-aging crowd: '*Aging gracefully means supporting your health in a way that helps you physically and mentally enjoy your life, and not necessarily trying to look younger.*' - [I Only Do Anything Once](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/i-only-do-anything-once). '*I only do anything once. The goal is to never have to do repeat work. And I'm talking about not just in the system, but in life in general.*' **I feel seen here**, as I've spent an extraordinary amount of time over the years [trying to optimize flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) and burn the ships. Busting up systems, like I pointed out in the link above, can be a great way to think differently and gain speed. But, it's important to also know if the juice is really worth the squeeze. Always keep in mind [the famous 'is it worth the time' chart](https://xkcd.com/1205) from [xkcd.com](https://xkcd.com); sometimes spending 10 hours automating a 15-second task just isn't worth it. - [I No Longer Care](https://www.gordonmclean.co.uk/2026/08/18/i-no-longer-care/). '*Here’s the thing: I no longer care about a surprising number of things. This is a good thing, as it’s left me with much more room to care about the things that matter.*' I really loved this post, clearly a nod to [Essentialism](https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/) and it echoes many of my feelings towards [morbid math](https://makoism.com/43percent/). '*That's fine when you think you have an endless supply of time but one of the things that changes as you get older is that *you start to understand that you don't*.*' - [Apple Used to Be Weirder and Maybe More Fun](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/apple-used-to-be-weirder-and-maybe). I really love these nods back to the days when computers were uniquely interesting. The culture was filled with lots of little joyful jokes, and it's always great to read little reminders like this one on how much fun it was. One myth they busted from the newsletter: '*Those of you who have been around for a while probably know that Apple’s power cords have changed color along with the products. Long ago, when we just weren’t very stylish, all Apple power cords were black. Eventually, they turned beige to match our products, and now, of course, they’re platinum, just like all our other stuff. Contrary to popular belief, though, you don’t need a platinum cord just because the product is platinum.*' And it's **a great reminder to consciously put some curiosity and play back into things**. - [Einkorn Flour: An Ancient Wheat for Baking Modern Desserts](https://www.thekitchn.com/einkorn-flour-the-ancient-wheat-for-baking-modern-desserts-224035). Hat tip to my amazing wife, Liz, who introduced me to [Einkorn flour](https://draxe.com/nutrition/einkorn-flour/) last week. I had never had it (or even heard of it before), but it's an ancient grain that not only has loads of nutritional value, but **freaking tastes amazing**. '*Einkorn wheat was one of the first plants to be domesticated and cultivated over 10,000 years ago, and grew wild even long before that.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-23-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-23-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-23T12:01:31.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad?](https://www.noemamag.com/why-is-everyone-in-tech-so-sad/). Looking back, I think it started during the pandemic, [when I quipped](https://makoism.com/manners-maketh-man/), '*the longer it goes on being home, the clearer it’s becoming that lots of people don’t want things to go back to the way they were before. I am in way more control in creating a life that I want to live, and not being forced to live the life that is my current reality.*' As we hit the midpoint of 2026, I'm questioning if the introspection was more about age and perspective, the wacko discord around AI, or just the state of the world in general. I've definitely noticed a theme of something eating at pretty much everyone I interact with. I found myself nodding in agreement with this post: '*I am hearing this more and more often: people who want to pick up pottery, painting, crochet or other old-timey analog hobbies... These aren’t fantastical daydreams; they are visions of escape shared in a tone that betrays an underlying existential angst, a fundamental doubt about work and careerism inspired by a seemingly increasingly common experience: *waking up one morning at an existential precipice, struck with a sudden sense that knowledge work is, and perhaps always has been, pointless.**' And, maybe that's just the key takeaway: **so many find value and purpose through their job**. Their core **identity** is molded from work. Maybe the -*real*\- win through a disruptive time is to take a step back and ask, '**who are you?**' - [Finger: The 1971 Social Network That Never Died](https://en.andros.dev/blog/54572bc7/finger-the-1971-social-network-that-never-died/) via [rknight.me](https://rknight.me/links/finger-the-1971-social-network-that-never-died/). Ever heard of **.plan files** or the finger protocol? Before the days of social networking, you could put a simple text file in your home directory (your plan), and it would be displayed to anyone who tried to query you with the 'finger' command. Easy, simple, and it just worked without any algorithm shoving something down your throat. I never knew the history before, but it's a fun read. '[*Les Earnest*](https://exhibits.stanford.edu/ai/catalog/hg950nz1220) *one of the lab's engineers, wrote a program that returned that information in a human format: real names, locations and, most importantly, how long each terminal had been idle. He was a practical engineer who preferred talking in person to talking through the computer. He wanted to know whether it was worth getting up and walking down the hall to find someone. As a side effect, he had invented network presence, or the social network.*' Funny though, in reading this, I do remember [the Coke machine that you could query to detect how many bottles were left](https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~coke/coke.history.txt). I yearn for the days of simple, joyful solutions like this that made the early Internet **fun and exciting**. (On that, check out [Kagi's Small Web](https://kagi.com/smallweb/)). - [Dashboard Touch](https://anildash.com/projects/dashboard-touch/). One gap that I'm surprised Apple hasn't released is **a simple external Touch ID sensor**. '*Automatically type in your password at the tap of your finger, anywhere your Mac asks for it. For those of us who use our own keyboards, but miss the convenience and ease of Touch ID on Apple devices, Dashboard Touch lets you build your own solution from parts that you can get for about $30.*' What's important here, besides it being a cool project, **is when a big company doesn't solve a personal itch, the barrier to** [**building hardware and software that's incredibly personal**](https://www.techcanbebetter.com/personal-software/) **is dropping to the floor**. - [Stop Making TUIs](https://sockpuppet.org/blog/2026/08/20/stop-making-tuis/). This year I've definitely been building more and more command-line interface tools, but I like what this post throws down. '*The truth is, I barely think about these things as “apps” (I have no intention to distribute them). They’re artifacts of me making my computer do stuff for me, the way I want it to. As a Unix nerd, I’ve always been able to do this, in the language of the command line. Now, it's just as easy to do that kind of work with graphical interfaces. We build terminal interfaces because we have to, not because we should.*' - [Building Without Predicting](https://sive.rs/fit). '*All buildings are predictions. All predictions are wrong. How do you build without predicting? Defer decisions. Start using what's there. Discover actual needs.*' There are so many interesting places to go with this blog post as a mental framework for crafting, well, anything. It's a brilliant systems-thinking mindset on what you really need, and what is just friction and noise. - [Apple Watch Alerted Runner to Serious Heart Problem](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/20/apple-watch-alerted-runner-to-heart-problem/). I've seen [quite a few of these videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHTFRasvCR8) about the Apple Watch's health-tracking and early-alert benefits. So, I guess I'll pile on: **my Apple Watch alerted me to atrial fibrillation about 2 days before my first heart attack**. I shook it off with 'well, that's weird', and went on my way. Full disclosure, atrial fibrillation doesn't increase risk of heart attack; more likely it can cause a stroke. But I should have listened and gotten checked out early; perhaps they would have detected the floaty cholesterol that would cause a 92% blockage of my LAD 48 hours later. Think what you will of the watch, but it remains the centerpiece in my health tracking to this day. - [The Antithesis Principle](https://shreyasdoshi.substack.com/p/the-antithesis-principle). This was a new way to [think about Inversion](https://makoism.com/vanilla-sky/), and I had never heard it framed as **The Antithesis Principle**. A really interesting take on how to apply observations on yourself to eliminate your own behavioral biases. '*Some truths about human nature can be pointed two ways: outward and inward. Pointed outward, such a truth gives you a tactic: it tells you how people work so you can be effective with them. Pointed inward, it is a warning: it names the default you must eliminate in yourself until you are the antithesis of what it describes.*' - [Giving University Exams in the Age of Chatbots](https://ploum.net/2026-01-19-exam-with-chatbots.html). **I loved this post**, in which a professor gives his students a choice about whether to use AI. '*Option A: I will not use any chatbot, only traditional web searches. Any use of them will be considered cheating. Option B: I may use a chatbot as it's part of my toolbox. I will then respect the following rules: 1) I will inform the professor each time information comes from a chatbot. 2) When explaining my answers, I will share the prompts I've used so the professor understands how I use the tool. 3) I will identify mistakes in answers from the chatbot and explain why those are mistakes.*' If you don't follow those rules, it would be considered cheating. And it emphasized an important mindset: if you use a chatbot, you will be held accountable for the output. **Accountability by design**. - [Celebrating 21 Years at Microsoft with 21 Lessons for Product Builders](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/celebrating-21-years-at-microsoft). '*Ditch the career ladder. Learn to surf the right waves*' echoes what I tell every fresh-out-of-school-new-hire. **Some great advice in this post.** - [A Dao of Web Design](https://alistapart.com/article/dao/). A post from 2000, but still relevant today. '*When a new medium borrows from an existing one, some of what it borrows makes sense, but much of the borrowing is thoughtless, ritual, and often constrains the new medium. Over time, the new medium develops its own conventions, throwing off existing conventions that don't make sense.*' There's so much goodness to the thinking in this post, but the one that continues to stick with me is how to navigate when the world is reshaping itself. Often, most people lean into what they know (probably due to fear) and apply it to something new, rather than taking a healthy step back, leveraging some creativity and being [a curious nine-year-old](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/) to rethink the system. - [A Conversation With Rick Rubin](https://stevenpressfield.com/2026/08/a-conversation-with-rick-rubin/). [The Creative Act](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-creative-act-a-way-of-being-rick-rubin/7884653d3a8189a4) is the book I can easily say I've recommended the most over the last two years, so anything that comes my direction with [Rick Rubin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick%5FRubin), I make time to read or listen to. This conversation with [Steven Pressfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven%5FPressfield), writer of [The Legend of Bagger Vance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLegend%5Fof%5FBagger%5FVance%5F%28novel%29) and [The War of Art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FWar%5Fof%5FArt%5F%28book%29), bounces around several topics related to the creative process. What I really liked was the idea of chasing things that excite you, versus what you think will be a hit. And of course, treat that voice of 'self-doubt' as a sign you're onto something really interesting. Great listen. - [How to Spot a Stupid Person With Carlo Cipolla's Golden Law of Stupidity](https://bigthink.com/mini-philosophy/golden-law-of-stupidity/). '*Stupidity isn’t a fixed trait but a temporary action that causes harm to yourself and others without any benefit.*' I really liked how this was broken down into something simple: everything you do leads to one of four outcomes. '*It gives you a benefit, it gives you a loss, it gives others a benefit, or it gives others a loss. Most actions are small, simple, and self-concerned.*' - [Visiting and Staying Present](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/visting-and-staying-present/). '*I don't *explore* a place or *discover* something, unless what I am *exploring* and *discovering* is something about myself. Instead I am very clear that when I am away from home I am visiting a place, which places upon me a burden of respect for what is there. I try to learn enough of the language to be understood. I try to familiarize myself with places that visitors are not welcome, because many communities have fragile refuges from the influx of visitors and, living on an island that is a busy summer tourist destination, I know there are some places that the community needs to have for itself, for sanctuary and calm.*' - [What Happens When You Bet on Yourself with Ted Lasso's Brendan Hunt](https://youtube.com/watch?v=1jIQeGzJPG0) ([podcast version](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-bit-of-optimism/id1515385282?i=1000784001261)). I don't know why [season 4 of Ted Lasso](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/episodes/?season=4) is getting so much noise online; we've been really enjoying it. Dare I say, more than last season? Anyways, I really liked this interview with [Coach Beard](https://ted-lasso.fandom.com/wiki/Willis%5FBeard) on how '*the detour turned out to be the path all along*.' - [A Beginner's Guide to Writing Snail Mail](https://brainbaking.com/post/2026/08/a-beginners-guide-to-writing-snail-mail/). There are few things as powerful as [writing a handwritten note to someone](https://makoism.com/the-circle-of-life/), so I thought I would close this week out with this great writing guide to [snail mail](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snail%20mail). From pens to printing to stamps and wax seals, this reference is a great analog to the email-slop-o-rama we all get every day. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-14-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-14-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-16T12:01:56.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The People Who Tell You AI Is Changing Everything Are Lying](https://www.thenerve.news/p/cory-doctorow-ai-business-incentive-to-lie-useless-chatbots-report-nikhil-suresh). It's 2026, so I guess we collectively can't *avoid* the noise. Still, it has become an ever-present, exhausting part of every daily conversation. So, I do believe that it's important to observe, listen, and tinker to understand the hubbub. '*We're facing a coordination problem around executives being honest about the AI gains they've witnessed – if they co-operate, they keep their jobs. If they defect, they will possibly be fired by their embarrassed peers (who have now been implicitly called liars, cowards, or incompetents) and then replaced with someone that will toe the line anyway. If they could all admit the truth at once there might be some hope, but there is no way to coordinate that event.*' In my own observations, *people want to throw AI at a problem, and smear it like peanut butter without fixing *the root underlying* problems with their data.* '*That is why some individual coders report such delight with their AI tools. They engage with those tools on their own terms, to improve their work in the ways that they, in their expert judgment, consider beneficial.*' Thinking about it, maybe **that's the real problem** \- there are so many people *talking* about AI, but who aren't *using* it daily as a way to **understand** its real strengths and weaknesses. As someone recently said, '*I feel more pressure to use AI as an adult than to do drugs as a teenager.*' - [How Did Poland Get Left Off The Windows XP Map?](https://brilliantmaps.com/maps-without-poland/). I've always enjoyed these little-known geopolitical aspects that come up when you are releasing software on a global scale. [Minesweeper was under fire in the early 2000s](https://shapes.inc/fandom/microsoft-minesweeper/controversies) because '*an organization called the International Campaign to Ban Winmine (ICBW) launched a protest against Microsoft, arguing that the game was offensive to victims of actual landmines*'. But this one was the result of a timezone bug: '*It's because of a glitch involving time zones. From the 1990s to the early 2000s, different versions of Microsoft Windows had an interactive World map (just as above) that users could use to select their time zone. The countries of each time zone would then show up on the screen. Poland and Western/Central Europe both are in the same time zone (GMT+1) and both enter daylight saving time in spring, until autumn. But, back in the 1980s- 1990s, both didn’t change the clocks at the same time. So, in order to perfectly harmonize the clocks of Polish computers, Microsoft had a separate entry for the country : the Warsaw Time. Therefore there were two entries, one for Western/Central Europe, one specifically for Poland which would be the only country to show on the map if its time zone was chosen.*' - [A Physicist Rigged His Pet Hamster's Wheel to Upload to Strava. It Runs Surprisingly Far Every Night](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a73355106/hamster-wheel-strava-running/). Every once in a while, I come across a post that makes me smile at how fun technology can be. Apparently someone built a speed/distance tracker for his hamster's wheel, created a Strava account, and set up an automated data tracker. Kinda wild how consistent and far the little guy runs nightly. [Run Forest, Run!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSMxl1V8FSg) - [The Original Wind Phone in Japan](https://www.mywindphone.com/the-original-phone-of-the-wind). I recently became aware of the concept of a 'wind phone' through a conversation with a local artist who is building one for our community sculpture park. '*At its simplest, a wind phone is a rotary or push-button phone located in a secluded spot in nature, usually within a booth-type structure and often next to a chair or bench. The phone line is disconnected. People use the wind phone to make one-way calls to deceased loved ones. Here they can say the things left unsaid.*' There are apparently about [450 Wind Phones](https://www.mywindphone.com/windphonelocations) located in the US, and you can [watch more here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lnK-eV2mx8) to find out more about this wonderful idea. - [Kurt Vonnegut's 8 Tenets of Storytelling](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/08/12/kurt-vonnegut-on-writing-stories/). If you've been reading my posts for some time, [you'll know how big a Kurt Vonnegut fan I am](https://makoism.com/what-you-leave-behind/); this article digs [into a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmVcIhnvSx8) that reveals some of his pearls of wisdom about writing and the creative process. '*Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.*' - [The Importance of Seeing the World Through Different Lenses ... Literally](https://experimentalliving.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-seeing-the-world). '*It all started because I was curious about the phrase seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. I wanted to know: Do rose-colored glasses actually make you see the world more positively? So, I bought a pair and wore them for two days straight.*' I really enjoyed this one, which posits the effect of wearing 14 different types of physical vision-altering glasses and whether they affected the author's mood or how he was interpreting things. Probably the most important lesson: The project '*drove home a humbling lesson: human vision captures just a small slice of what's out in the world. There’s so much out there we cannot perceive.*' - [A Swarm of Blood Robots](https://craigmod.com/essays/robot%5Fblood/). I **love** essays like this, where someone's curiosity takes over and takes a unique approach to solving a problem or question. Writer/Walker [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com) posted a really interesting entry on how he worked with Claude around **genealogy**. Knowing that he was adopted (and had previously connected with his birth family), he dumped everything he knew about it into Claude. He asked it '*find out as much as you can about these people, their ancestors, using my DNA results and connections therein, and continue to iterate until we've exhausted all data trails.*' The result was wild - '*I now have a comprehensive family tree, naming the very boats my Italian and Polish ancestors came over on in the late 1800s, the villages a few came from, the jobs they had in those villages. It clarified a mystery about an orphaned grandparent (who wasn't orphaned but, rather, abandoned; we found the woman his father remarried, his new family). It floodlit for me — someone who had never known a lick about their genetic history, who had never met a blood relative until they were forty-three a dark room that had loomed throughout my life. Wow: history. Each claim backed up by primary sources, compiled into a family tree and a family-history story document.*' - [Recreating The Impossible Rhythm Illusion In The Odyssey Soundtrack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-VjDxckkg8). While watching [the Odyssey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzw2ttJD2qQ), I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when [they exited the Trojan horse and burned Troy](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Bbtb7tqDA). The music was accelerating at an ever-increasing rate, but it never hit a limit. Turns out, there's **an illusion at play here**. An interesting watch on how someone is trying to explain and recreate it. - [You're Pointing Your Camera the Wrong Way (Gift Link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/23/opinion/social-media-photography-selfies.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.5lA.2FT4.vANH8fL6RZ1F&smid=url-share). Are we turning photography from a way to document and connect into a way of making ourselves the 'center' of every scene? It's an interesting observation, especially how often you see folks looking for that perfect selfie to post on social media; would people be happier if we all turned the camera around and looked out at the world to reconnect? - [Fifteen Tics](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/fifteen-tics/). While this one is a look back at the now defunct process of [a manager's personal readme](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/how-to-rands/), I found the most interesting bit was this insight. '*Pick the human you worked with, or for whom you admired the most. For each of the attributes that you admire, there is an equal amount of strange to bizarre to broken behavior, habits, and tics that you may never have seen, but are certainly there. The competent leaders are aware of these behaviors, their consequences, and the carefully constructed compensation techniques that lessen their impact on themselves and the humans. *Thinking takes practice.**' - [How Not to Forget What Matters](https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/hypomnemata). Do you journal or write long-form notes/essays? A good lens on how keeping things top-of-mind is best achieved by having a simple, structured collection of important principles. And, of course, how do you integrate these into your daily life? - [Your Brain Doesn't See Reality, It Tries to Predict It](https://bigthink.com/business/inner-propaganda/). I've added the book this is cited from, [Inner Propaganda](https://bookshop.org/p/books/inner-propaganda-leading-hearts-and-minds-through-turbulent-times-owen-fitzpatrick/042ced587130047a?ean=9781646872442&aid=99985&listref=books-for-2026), to my reading list, because I found this post so interesting on how '*our brains are gambling addicts placing bets on what reality holds.*' '*This happens all the time with people when trying to solve problems, having conversations, and making decisions. The inner propagandist, *the inner double agent*, runs the show. The truth is whatever prediction doesn’t get proven wrong. The brain deals with a world full of data and ambiguous messages. It makes the best possible predictions in moments of uncertainty. We don’t realize we’re making guesses, of course. *The brain fills in the gaps using past experiences and context to figure out what should be there.**' - [How Technologies Create Radical Monopolies](https://seanvoisen.com/writing/ivan-illich-how-technologies-create-radical-monopolies/). '*As smartphone-oriented infrastructure continues to seep into everyday life, it begets ever-greater dependence on smartphone technology, and thus ever-greater dependence on the producers of this technology. Those who cannot afford smartphones, or those who simply choose to live without smartphones, find themselves increasingly excluded from full participation in society, often with no viable alternative. Like with the automobile, we may soon become locked into this way of being. Perhaps we already are.*' An important post on how technology forces society into technology lock-in. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-9-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-9-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T12:01:10.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Never Enough](https://dark.ronacher.eu/2026/7/21/never-enough/). I've been really enjoying the posts up on [Dark Thoughts](https://dark.ronacher.eu) as of late. I'm not particularly pessimistic, but Armin has been articulating in really thoughtful posts what most people are going through in 2026\. '*Two* [*recent*](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/07/19/tech-has-never-been-richer-its-workers-have-never-felt-less-secure/)[*stories*](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/ai-recording-apps-wearables-granola-39727559) *about Silicon Valley are hard to read without wondering *if everyone involved has lost their mind*. Once a place that celebrated* [*the crazy ones, the misfits and rebels who saw things differently*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjgtLSHhTPg)*, it now seems to have found a new kind of crazy that *isn’t born of rebellion but fear of falling behind*. Everyone is chasing the person ahead of them, with little time to remember where they meant to go.*' Stop. Breathe. Focusing in on [what really requires your attention](https://makoism.com/attention/). In my small corner of the world, getting smaller, more local (for me at least) seems to be the path to finding more **meaning**. '*If the valley shows us what it means to live in the future, perhaps falling behind is not the worst thing that could happen. Maybe we need the misfits who know when to stop. Who leave a conversation unrecorded. Who play with their children without agents running in the background. Who can admire another person’s success without feeling diminished by it. *Who find peace not by getting ahead, but by no longer needing to.**' - [Artificial Constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/). **Through constraint comes freedom** has been a tenet of mine for some time now, and in a similar vein to the previous link, it feels more important than ever to just slow the fuck down and stop saying yes to everything. For my own sanity, I keep telling myself the old mantra that you can do anything, you can't do everything. - [Nirmal Purja Is Found Dead After Pakistan Avalanche (Gift Link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/world/asia/nirmal-purja-dead-pakistan-avalanche.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.31A.TzxL.kZbwQl-i3Iuo&smid=url-share). Last week I was saddened to learn about the passing of 10 climbers, including [Nirmal Purja](https://www.nimsdai.com), known as Nimsdai, after an avalanche struck Pakistan's Broad Peak. [I first became aware of Nimsdai](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/) after watching [the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QH5hBOoz08), and have been inspired by his spirit of adventure and exploration since. '*Sometimes when you feel like you are fucked, you are only about 45% fucked*' is a great reminder that nothing is impossible, and if you want a great kick in the pants on self-discipline and motivation, [watch his speech on forward thinking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97h2PoGDT6o). - [Are You Good at Mowing Lawns?](https://kottke.org/26/08/are-you-good-at-mowing-lawns). One of the reasons I don't have a lawn anymore is that I **hate** mowing it. However, this [was a fascinating read](https://pudding.cool/2026/06/mow) about [coverage path planning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling%5Fsalesman%5Fproblem), and why some humans are better than others at this and how it all relates to cognitive load. '*Humans turn out to be pretty good mowers, especially those who take their time and have played some video games (including, one would assume, Dig Dug, Pac-Man, Mr. Do!, and any other game where you need to worry about dead-ends)*.' If you're curious about how you fare at this, [try this interactive version](https://pudding.cool/2026/06/mow/). - [Being Bald is Better?](https://matthewcwoodruff.substack.com/p/being-bald-is-better). In 416 A.D., Synesius wrote an essay, [In Praise of Baldness](https://www.livius.org/sources/content/synesius/synesius-eulogy-of-baldness/): '*bald men were wiser, nobler, healthier, more virtuous, and generally superior specimens of humanity.*' I'm not trying to defend my own lack of hair as I hit mid-fifties. That said, I thought the post had some interesting ideas to think about regarding '*human beings have an extraordinary talent for confusing looking different with being dangerous*.' - [RecipeTables](https://recipetables.com). This [compact, visually creative way to show recipe cards](https://slimemoldtimemold.com/2026/07/31/links-for-july-2026/) just **clicked** for my brain. (Originally seen on [Cooking For Engineers](https://www.cookingforengineers.com/) years prior.) - [2 Families Transformed a 19th-Century Virginia Lighthouse Into a Summer Hangout](https://nicenews.com/culture/families-transformed-middle-ground-lighthouse-virginia-on-market/). This is **so cool** and is the type of uplifting story we need more of these days. Twenty years ago, two couples purchased the [Middle Ground Lighthouse](https://www.middlegroundlight.com) in Newport News, Virginia, and put in more than 7,000 hours renovating it into a family vacation spot. They are passing the torch and have recently [listed it for sale](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Middle-Ground-Lighthouse-Newport-News-VA-23607/463369041%5Fzpid/) if you have $995,000 to spare. You can [read all about the renovation work they did here](https://nicenews.com/culture/families-transformed-middle-ground-lighthouse-virginia-on-market/). - [Convenience Can Be a Collective Trap](https://danmercer.net/p/convenience-and-collective-traps/). '*Email is an unparalleled tool for responding rapidly to a large volume of messages, but then again, if it weren't for email, you wouldn't be receiving all those messages in the first place. *The technologies we use to try to get on top of everything always fail us, in the end, because they increase the size of the everything of which we're trying to get on top.**' There's got to be some theory or psychology behind why, when humans create a tool for utility, we simultaneously create environments that individuals cannot escape from. (Side note: some research indicates this is close to [Ivan Illich's 'radical monopoly' theory](https://seanvoisen.com/writing/ivan-illich-how-technologies-create-radical-monopolies/)) - [How Not to Forget What Matters](https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/hypomnemata). We all get distracted by the day-to-day noise, and this post was a good reminder of how to bring back the important things front and center. '*The most important ideas we need to return to weekly, even daily*' nails it, and while I've generally taken a break from my own forced daily journaling, I still think that [the Spanish Fighter Pilot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWFshr1JnVA) method feels like it's the best path for me to remember those important things. - [Being Good at Things](https://blog.jim-nielsen.com/2026/good-at-things/). '*If you want to be good at what you do, *do the hard, little things that others gloss over*. Do them consistently and well, with discipline and perseverance. If you do, then I’d say you’re good at what you do because good isn’t a number. It’s quality. A disposition. A way of being.*' Words to live by. - [Less of an Object, More of a Place: Oio's Mur Mur](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/oio-mattering-mur-mur-product-design-animation-project-030826). This ... is kinda wild. I don't even know how to describe it. '*The Mur Mur is technically a portable speaker, but it’s a lot more, the device generates ambient soundscapes from a tiny world in which AI agents live inside of it. These aren’t your typical, mind-numbing agents like Siri or Cortana, but more like virtual critters.*' You really need to just [watch the video, err, listen to the video](https://www.murmur.living) to see what this thing is. But it is one of the most creative uses of AI that I've seen. - [Storing vs. Mortgaging Energy](https://winnielim.org/notes/storing-vs-mortgaging-energy/). '*It is important to store up energy during major life transitions. People rarely store up energy; almost everyone today has their energy mortgaged way into the future.*' I need to sit and think about this one for a bit, but it makes sense. I often talk about the idea of [time banks along with the deposits and withdrawals](https://makoism.com/time/), but I really never considered energy in that equation. '*We only think this way about money and fail to protect one of our most important resources: our energy. And when we think about energy we associate it with physical energy, without realising the impetus to do significant things require more of psychological energy.*' - [Towards a Personal Online Third-Space](https://ohhelloana.blog/mkdn/). I dig the idea of a 'digital sanctuary' and how personal websites are a wonderful [creative commonplace book](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/) for your own content. I reference my own writing, regardless of whether anyone is reading it, often as 'cheaper than therapy'. The added value is that my blog is a living document for thoughts and ideas. - [Nobody Wants Your Newsletter. You Should Write It Anyway.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/nobody-wants-your-newsletter-you). Speaking of that, [JA Westenberg](https://www.joanwestenberg.com) makes the case here for writing on your personal site, and who cares if anyone is reading it or not - it's good for your brain. '*Nobody asked you to write a newsletter; and as a baseline, nobody gives a shit whether you do or you don’t. But in my fairly qualified opinion, you should go ahead and write on anyway. Write it how you want, write it where you want, and publish it no matter how much it might feel like screaming into the void. Because the best newsletters in the world were written by folks with a bone to pick and an itch to scratch, who had no actual evidence that the world wanted it. *And they did it anyway**.' - [Another Symptom of Growing Isolation (Gift Link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/07/talking-less-reasons/688074/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHcsAtSQt3AiOjY3jj-UdWX4). A sobering study that found people are talking less and spending more time than ever alone. This is perhaps another example of how the technology that was supposed to make the world smaller has had the inverse effect and is making us grow farther apart than ever. For [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/), I've been trying to do the opposite lately: enjoy the farmers market, focus on problems that face a small island community, or just get together with folks for more mindful dinners. It's slower. It's also the only part of my week that doesn't feel like it's happening through a screen. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-2-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-2-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T10:59:12.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Premium Mediocre Life of Maya Millennial](https://ribbonfarm.com/2017/08/17/the-premium-mediocre-life-of-maya-millennial/). Brian Wilson said it best, '*Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever.*' And while I've written about [the curse of 'meh'](https://makoism.com/the-curse-of-meh/), this post (from [a new addition](https://ribbonfarm.com) to my reading list) was a fascinating exploration of the trappings and socioeconomics of '**premium mediocrity**'. Though it was written almost 10 years ago, 2026 seems to have evolved into 'peak mediocrity' on so many things that it felt relevant to repost this week. '*Premium mediocre is food that Instagrams better than it tastes. Premium mediocre is Starbucks' Italian names for drink sizes, and its original pumpkin spice lattes featuring a staggering absence of pumpkin in the preparation. Actually, all the coffee at Starbucks is premium mediocre. *Mediocre with just an irrelevant touch of premium, not enough to ruin the delicious essential mediocrity**.' - [Maximum Viscosity](https://makoism.com/maximum-viscosity/). '*Systems thinking is a practical approach that embraces things' complexity, interconnections, and non-linearity. It offers a more flexible and dynamic way of understanding and solving problems. When you're an expert, and your focus is on a goal, your thinking becomes more linear and rigid. You concentrate on reaching specific targets without considering the broader system, which can be limiting and often has unseen side effects.*' [Two years ago](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/) that was a theory I was excited about. Today, it's just *how* I diagnose things. The goal was never the problem. The system producing it was. [James Clear puts the same idea more bluntly](https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems), '*Achieving a goal only changes your life for the moment. That's the counterintuitive thing about improvement. We think we need to change our results, but the results are not the problem. What we really need to change are the systems that cause those results. When you solve problems at the results level, you only solve them temporarily. To improve for good, you need to solve problems at the systems level. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves. You do not rise to the level of your goals. *You fall to the level of your systems*.*' - [We Are Losing the Ability to Discover What We Didn't Know to Ask](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/opinion/ai-google-gemini-search-questions.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.wlA.uMNN.HmJgLPRYtHey&smid=url-share). '*By shortening the time between asking a question and getting an answer, these tools are actually undermining curiosity — and paradoxically threatening our ability to understand the world.*' [Dr Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net), as usual, has an incredibly relevant post that confirms my suspicions that we're headed into a world of **cognitive debt** when it comes to some basic thinking skills: [Critical thinking](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/critical-thinking/), [systems thinking](https://thesystemsthinker.com/systems-thinking-what-why-when-where-and-how/), [curiosity](https://www.forbes.com/sites/rodgerdeanduncan/2025/12/11/why-curiosity-may-be-the-most-underrated-career-skill/), [continuous learning](https://builtin.com/articles/continuous-learning). We have information at our fingertips, yet society seems addicted to the doomscrolling dopamine hit, turning us all into mush-brains. '*Curiosity puts the entire brain into a mode of heightened receptivity — not just for the specific thing you want to know but also for everything around it. Curiosity opens a window, and while the window is open, learning deepens across the board.*' - [I Guess I'm Playing The Long Game Now](https://brainbaking.com/post/2026/07/i-guess-im-playing-the-long-game-now/). '*The Long Game means acknowledging it's going to be a mess, but we're going to be okay regardless. As my favorite philosopher Michel de Montaigne said: the purpose of life is to live it.*' Oddly enough, I've had several conversations this past week about the concept of the **10-year-plan**. An observation from several years back was that every major organization I've been a part of has some form of 'long-range plan' exercise, but few apply that technique to 'life'. Applying [inversion](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/) to setting up your [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/) goals is the single most valuable life-hack I can recommend to '*being intentional about how you want to be and spend your day and defining the path to get there.*' - [Reviews of New Food: Aldi Crystal Clear Frozen Ice Cubes](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/aldi-crystal-clear-frozen-ice-cubes). I saw that you can (yes, it's true) [buy Crystal Clear Ice Cubes](https://www.allrecipes.com/aldi-clear-ice-cubes-12006215) this past week, and leave it to the masterminds at [McSweeney's](https://www.mcsweeneys.net) to do a proper review. - [The Case of the 500-Mile Email](https://www.ibiblio.org/harris/500milemail.html). I'm sure I've sent this piece of Internet history before from [Trey Harris](https://twitter.com/treyethan), but for the newer subscribers, it's worth repeating. Read what caused a university to have a **500-mile physical limitation on email**. Solid debugging work (which I wonder if an LLM could figure out today). - [How to Write a Letter](https://gilest.org/notes/2026/letter/?ref=undermanager.com). I was lucky enough to snag one of the [50 print copies available](https://fitzrovialightindustries.com/products/how-to-write-a-letter), and I am really looking forward to reading it. But the brilliance here is the **format**: '*I like the idea of something you could subscribe to that would send you a single sheet of A4 every now and then. We could commission artists and writers to make one. I haven't quite worked out how to do that yet, but if you order one of the letters then you're agreeing that I can email you when I've worked it out*.' - [Next up? You know it. You hate it. It's the invisible wall.](https://unsung.aresluna.org/next-up-you-know-it-you-hate-it-its-the-invisible-wall). Check out [this 8-minute video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKuIkw%5FRUDI) which explores the various ways games try to keep you **in bounds**. I thought it was a wild view of the effort these games go to in establishing controlled environments. - [Seth Rogen Knows the Secret to Marriage and Being Rich in Hollywood (Gift Link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/13/magazine/seth-rogen-interview.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.11A.AMz9.cbqBwJqRbXiL&smid=url-share). Every once in a while, you come across an interview that you don't expect. While I've enjoyed Seth Rogen (especially his work on [The Studio](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23649128/) \- excellent if you're not watching it), he's most known for [his relationship with cannabis](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/seth-rogen-houseplant). I guess that's why this NYT interview was so delightful for me to read. His views on desire, comedy, love, marriage, and wealth were just incredibly insightful to me. '*It comes from something I relate to deeply: The thing that makes you the happiest is also the most painful thing in your life at times. "The Larry Sanders Show" is the thing that me and Evan Goldberg reference a lot. That's an incredibly great comedic character. He's constantly trying to be someone he isn't. He’s constantly trying to be nice and cool, cool, cool to the employees that he works with, but he's too wound up to allow it to happen. He wants to think he can date a woman who's more famous than he is, but he can't. He wants to think he can allow his sidekick to be funny, but his ego won't allow it. It’s the conflict between what the worst parts of your ego make you do versus what your purest desires want you to do.*' [The Invite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ19I9q%5FhOQ) is next up on my watch list now. - [AI and the iPod Test](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-digital-self/202607/ai-and-the-ipod-test). I wish I had kept my original iPod (though I still have an iPod Touch somewhere in the parts bin). I liked the idea of 'friction maxxing' (remember, not all friction is *bad*) that older devices have. '*An emerging term, *friction-maxxing*, where steps are deliberately reintroduced into a task to counteract technology designed to be frictionless. Further, she pointed to resistance to surveillance capitalism, to the inevitability framing tech companies keep selling us and to the sense that our devices were changed without our consent. She also ties it to the body and the tactile pleasure of a mechanical engagement.*' - [A Vintage Typewriter Enthusiast Savors the Journey of Writing](https://violetluxury.com/vintage-typewriters/). Speaking of intentional friction with a dash of vintage analog, old typewriters have begun to develop a special place in my heart for writing. Check out a post on someone who '*cultivated a collection of 12 vintage typewriters as a deliberate counterpoint to the digital age.*' Oh, while I'm on that, also pop on over and check out this [iPad Bluetooth Keyboard](https://www.qwerkywriter.com): the Qwerkywriter, '*a modern typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard designed for writers, creatives, and professionals who value both form and function*.' I need to get on with building the [LEGO Typewriter](https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/typewriter-21327) over the next few weeks. - [You Don't Have to Be Smart if You Can Think Clearly](https://seangoedecke.com/you-dont-have-to-be-smart-if-you-think-clearly/). '*When you're on fire, problems are transparent: they're solved simply by the act of looking at them. Even complicated layers of multiple problems can simply be glanced through like stacked panes of glass. But nobody can work that way all the time. This is a common pitfall for smart engineers. Accustomed to being able to immediately intuit the solution, the first time they run into a problem they can't do this to is a disaster. It doesn't even have to be a hard problem, just a problem where, for whatever reason, they don't see the trick right away. *The difference between a smart engineer and a strong engineer is how they react to problems that aren't solved instantly*. A smart engineer might flail and struggle, hoping to find that flash of insight that eluded them; a strong engineer will have some process for methodically plodding away.*' I guess I'm on a [think different](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEPhLqwKo6g) kick lately. - [I Thought I Would Have It All Figured Out by Now](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/i-thought-i-would-have-it-all-figured). Filing this in my '[morbid math](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/)' notes, [Brad Montague](https://bradmontague.substack.com) reflects on things that he thought he'd have figured out by the time he turned 45\. What I appreciated about this one is that it's not the traditional look back, like my [55 for 55 post](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/), but rather what he *thought* he'd know by now. '*Here’s the part that surprised me: None of the older folks had it all figured out. These were people over the age of 100\. None of them encouraged me with false hope that I would someday be all knowing. In fact, the folks who impressed me the absolute most were the ones who were first to admit they were still learning. Wise enough to know what all they don’t know. Still curious. Still asking questions. Still growing and changing.*' - [Why Designers Love this Soy Sauce Bottle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MArLXbNQsAc). Closing out this week with a fun post from the wonderful [Grovemade](https://grovemade.com) folks. '*What connects a classic soy sauce bottle and the Narita Express train? Ken and Sean, the design team at Grovemade, dive into these objects through the lens of personal connection, design history, and the roles different objects play in the world. Opening your eyes and being curious can lead to all sorts of magical things.*' If you're not familiar with them, [spend a few minutes reading about their design ethos and origins](https://grovemade.com/about/). **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-26-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-26-26/ Last updated: 2026-07-26T12:01:36.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [What Have Note-Taking PKMs Accomplished, Really?](https://brennan.day/what-have-note-taking-pkms-accomplished-really/). I've long recovered from [my addiction to PKM](https://www.makoism.com/p/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b) (personal knowledge management) tools after [burning the ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point%5Fof%5Fno%5Freturn) in 2022\. At one time, however, I was *proud* of my efficiency in collecting notes and building out complicated graphs of notes and tidbits of ideas I picked up from hundreds of articles, podcasts, videos, etc. I thought this was what being productive meant, but I came to realize that [notes apps are where ideas go to die](https://reproof.app/blog/notes-apps-help-us-forget). That all being said, I really appreciated the approach this article has taken in asking, '*Has there been a meaningful increase of understanding and creation thanks to personal knowledge management systems?*' It's a wonderful examination of the varied frameworks, capture process, analog roots, as well as the mythos around knowledge acquisition. A worthy **read of the week**. I'm not saying what I do is good for anyone else, but I find value in continuously learning new workflows for new ideas. As of 2026, I took stock in '*We don't write things down to remember them. We write them down to forget.*' and just the simplicity of Apple Notes. - [Things I Would Like To Tell My 10 Year Old Self](https://winnielim.org/journal/things-i-would-like-to-tell-my-10-year-old-self/). I've really enjoyed diving into the writing of [Winnie Lim](https://winnielim.org) over the last few months. In this post, similar to my [55 for 55](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/) look back, are '*things I've learned in life so far, that I would impart to my 10 year old self even though she would probably not listen, or that it wouldn’t be realistic because that so much I have learnt was simply not available in that era*.' A solid list, but my favorite is '[don't mortgage energy](https://winnielim.org/notes/storing-vs-mortgaging-energy/)': '*Youth, time and energy can seem infinite. All those long hours, late nights, excessive use of energy and hyperfocus – *there will be debts waiting for us in the future**.' - [I Accidentally Saved Half A Million Dollars](https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/i-accidentally-saved-half-a-million-dollars/). [Ludicity](https://ludic.mataroa.blog) is a recent addition to my weekly reading list; this post was a standout for me, and one that I'm sure many could relate to if you've ever spent time looking into an area that I **love** to go after: finops (whether it's AI tokens or cloud costs, it's about understanding what organizations spend money on). '*I suspected that this would save a bunch of money, and guess what, our projected bill dropped from a million to half a million dollars, and everyone is losing their fucking minds. My team has spun this as a huge cost saving, when really *we just applied a fire extinguisher to the pile of money that we had set alight*.*' I cannot even begin to count the number of times I've been able to save buckets of money by just taking the time to understand what people have turned on versus what they actually use. You need to [give a shit and get your hands dirty](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/). - [My Second Computer Was an Apple II](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/my-second-computer-was-an-apple-ii). '*I loved to write computer programs at school. I was not good at drawing, painting, or other creative endeavors. But I could make a computer do cool stuff. *Seeing software come to life was like magic to me*.*' As I've been spending a good part of the last year rediscovering [the curiosity of my 8-year-old self](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/), this post spoke to my soul. As a kid, becoming a magician driven to understand how these things worked was a huge part of who I am. I'm happy to see others reflecting similarly. - [LEGO's Donkey Kong Arcade Machine Lets Mario Jump Endless Barrels](https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/969668/lego-donkey-kong-arcade-machine). Oh no, I'm going to have to hide the wallet to avoid this new LEGO kit. [Yes, it's $200](https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/donkey-kong-arcade-72051). And while it's not a fully powered machine, '*it does contain a basic fully functional game. There’s a working joystick to move Mario left and right a bit, and a button to make him leap. Throw a lever, and you’ll release one of an endless series of barrels for him to jump*.' Downright brilliant. - [Read More. Read Often. Read Every Day.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/read-more-read-often-read-every-day). I'm often **shocked** at how many people tell me that *they don't read anymore*. Now, I'm not casting judgment and saying that you should pick up a novel and sit on the porch - I'm totally guilty of buying tons of books to [stock the anti-library](https://makoism.com/random-acts/). But I do read. **A ton**. '*I believe that spending 20% of your time buried in a book, buried in something that will inspire you, excite you, and make you want to jump out of your seat is going to give you the fuel, the ideas, and the power to create 80% of your output.*' In particular, '*I would guarantee that there is not a single question or problem you could bring to me that can't be solved with a book that someone has already written. And it could have been written 1,000 years ago.*' That's the banger for me - I've discovered, whether by accident or health situation or just raw curiosity, that the wisdom of someone like [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations) or [Homer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey) is **shockingly relevant** in today's world. - [Geezer Magazine: The Part Where It Gets Real](https://whattheythink.com/articles/131046-geezer-magazine-part-where-it-gets-real/). [I've mentioned](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-18-26/) the wonderful [Geezer Magazine](https://www.geezermagazine.com) previously; I really enjoyed this perspective on **what it takes** to make a printed magazine a viable business in 2026\. '*When people hold Geezer for the first time, something magical happens. They smile. It awakens something in them that resonates with who they were when they were younger. The matte paper, the oversized format, the weight in your hands, it triggers —can I say it?— *a kind of nostalgic delight*. So thinking about it as a business is, frankly, a challenge.*'. Do yourself a favor - support efforts like Geezer if you can; we need more thoughtful craftsmanship in the world that inspires. I mean, how can you not want to be a part of something which causes '*people’s nervous systems visibly calm down when they hold it*.' Laura [also published a LinkedIn post](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/might-work-laura-lebleu-cjhlc?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fios&utm%5Fcampaign=share%5Fvia) on the economics of it all. - [Hanlon's Razor: Not Everyone is Out to Get You](https://fs.blog/mental-model-hanlons-razor/). This week, I learned about **Hanlon's Razor**. '*Hanlon's razor is a mental safeguard against the temptation to label behavior as malicious when incompetence is the most common response.*' It's an interesting shift in perception to understand and think about. Seneca wrote, '*There are more things ... likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.*' Perhaps the real truth is that bad behavior towards us (or behavior we exhibit) isn't always intentional; it may simply come from a lack of understanding. - [Control the Ideas, Not the Code](https://antirez.com/news/169). I've tried to limit any talk of AI on [Espresso Shots](https://makoism.com/), so here's the one for the week. '*You have to understand how things work, what is the best design, how to reach a certain level of performance. Then I compared the implementation, for correctness, to other systems, finding that other implementations sometimes contained more errors.*' Not leaning into either side of the AI noise, but instead understanding that you need to **control the ideas**, seems far more important than the actual code it produces. - [Avoidance Machines](https://artificialbureaucracy.substack.com/p/avoidance-machines). A thought-provoking post on friction, dopamine culture, and the hooks that technology tries, and the traps of 'avoidance machines' that are relevant in our lives today. '*People often talk about the addictive and attention-draining properties of the Internet, but when I think about my disordered patterns of computer use, I tend less like a drug dealer, and more like an avoidance machine. This fetishized life without friction might describe an existence with all the minor inconveniences of life removed. But for me it spoke to a desire, a compulsion, to push away all sources of mental friction, a way of avoiding, automating away, or outsourcing all the things that fills me with anxiety or existential dread.*' - [The Overthinkers Guide to Rekindle Your Blogging Mojo](https://svbck.blog/getting-back-into-the-mood-for-blogging). Every so often, we all run into writer's block. One quick hack that I have tried to do is an annual re-work of my writing workspace. Whether it's re-organizing the desk or changing the lighting to a full redesign, changing the environment can do wonders to get the creative juices flowing. At some point, I'd like to turn my office into an 'explorers den' - with old compasses and typewriters, but that's a story for another post. This was a good article with some additional ideas on re-energizing your vibe. - [The Lost Joy of Music Piracy](https://www.pigeonsandplanes.com/read/music-piracy-what-cd-oink-nine-inch-nails-streaming). This one explores the decline of music piracy and community-driven music platforms due to modern streaming. I wasn't aware of places like [What.CD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What.CD) and [Oink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oink's%5FPink%5FPalace) before this, but it was a great read. '*At its core, What.CD was much more than a torrent tracker—it was a community of dedicated music fans volunteering their time, effort, and knowledge to create a labor of love. While the Internet has opened up new doors for musicians, the increasing corporatization and algorithmic takeover of online spaces has done irreparable damage to organic music discovery and independent communities.*' - [What Happens When A Road Ends](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/17382177/terminus-road-ending-history). As part of heading into Life 3.0, I've probably been too much in my head on the meaning of [The Ouroboros](https://www.knowmastery.com/ouroboros-meaning/), and stumbled upon this post on **The Terminus**. I relate this to **beginnings and endings** and how we need to do more to recognize both. '*When a really long road ends, why don’t we do more to celebrate the staggering amount of collective work that went into it? The ancient Romans really outclassed the federal highway system on this front.*' - [The App That Reminds You You're Going to Die (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/01/when-death-pings/546587/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHbqAxP4Q70qvRKpQPJ5DBlI&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). '*Don’t forget, you’re going to die.*' A serious lens on [morbid math](https://makoism.com/the-overwhelming-noise/) in this one: an application that will remind you, per a Bhutanese folk saying, that you are going to die. '*Over time, WeCroak changes the way I relate to my phone. As I scroll through Instagram or refresh Twitter, WeCroak interrupts with the sobering reminder that it is not just my attention these other apps are consuming, but chunks of my life.*' **Something to think about where you spend your time**. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-19-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-19-26/ Last updated: 2026-07-19T12:01:56.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Infinite Choice Is the Curse of the AI Era, and You Already Hate It](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/infinite-choice-is-the-curse-of-the). Ok, breaking my 'limit talking about AI' rule a bit as it's just dominating the hype cycle these days, but [Joan](https://www.joanwestenberg.com) has a really good post this week on *infinite choices* which resonated with me on a different level. I've often thought that [injecting artificial constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/) was an important wall to raise to force new creative thinking: '*Don't bother spending time thinking about all the things; focus on thinking about the things that matter most.*' In the age of AI, where taste and curiosity are **required**, the **paradox of choice** is going to explode with too many options. Maybe the concept of omakase, but applied to life/work/teams, is the path: '*In omakase, the Japanese tradition, the chef decides what you eat based on what's good that day. Omakase commands prices that would make a steakhouse blush because the chef strips away every choice. *People pay more, sometimes dramatically so, to have fewer options.**' - [The Lo-Fi Way I Broke My Scrolling Habit (Gift Link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/opinion/culture/phone-algorithm-addiction.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.ylA.9bLr.4Sv%5FCpzD68%5FG&smid=url-share). Despite dumping Facebook and X a few years back, breaking the grip of the algorithm on Instagram is still a struggle for me. Scrolling has *replaced* entertainment, and I really need to think about how much of it I want to let into my life. '*For us millennials, the nostalgia for the early internet is easily commodified by brands and Remember when? montages, but there’s a reason we can look back fondly on an era when internet use was limited to a place and time: You could treat it like any other hobby, not the strange extension of your psyche that comes with having constant access to information, both important and inane, about everyone you’ve ever met in the past 10 years.*' I kinda like the idea here of a **scroll chair**: '*I designated a single spot in my home where I could use my scroll phone: it has no SIM card, only Wi-Fi, and I’m allowed to use it as much as I want, as long as I’m sitting in the Scrolly Chair - a stripy armchair in my living room.*' Interesting pattern here: [**through constraints, find freedom**](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/). - [The Bottleneck Might Be the Air in the Room](https://blog.mikebowler.ca/2026/07/03/co2-and-decision-making/). I've been using a [CO2 monitor](https://www.amazon.com/Aranet4-Home-Temperature-Ink-Configuration/dp/B07YY7BH2W/ref=sr%5F1%5F1) for the last few years on my desk, and it's been a useful tool to give insight into the air I'm breathing. '*I now travel with a portable CO2 monitor. Outdoors it reads around 400 parts per million. In a closed meeting room with a handful of people in it, I have watched it climb past 2,000\. The photo here is a real reading: 2,143.*' The research: '*At 1,000 ppm, performance dropped significantly on six of nine decision-making measures compared with a clean-air baseline of 600\. At 2,500 ppm, seven of the nine fell substantially, some into *a range they called dysfunctional*.*' - [What Training My Chaotic Dog Taught Me About Power, Control – and Human Beings](https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/25/what-training-my-chaotic-dog-taught-me-about-power-control-and-human-beings). As the owner of an eight-year-old golden retriever who has recently started the new habit of barking randomly, I found this an interesting read. '*I’ve learned the hard way that the difference between a frustrating walk and an emotionally disastrous one is about something else altogether: whether or not other dog owners judge me. What we most crave, once control is in the balance, is not scientific facts or diagnosis, but kindness and understanding – things that only another human being can provide.*' - [Thinking About Powerful Questions](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/thinking-about-powerful-questions/). A post for [the commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) on how to ask the **right** questions. '*Discovering strategic questions is like panning for gold. You have to care about finding it, you have to be curious, and you have to create an anticipation of discovering gold, even though none of us may know ahead of time where we’ll find it. You head toward the general territory where you think the gold may be located, with your best tools, your experience, and your instincts. And then you begin a disciplined search for the gold.*' - [Notebooks and the Extended Mind](https://adjacentpossible.substack.com/p/notebooks-and-the-extended-mind). An observation that I've had (especially around the AI discourse) is that most chatter from vendors or media misses the more crucial aspects of **any** technology evolution and how to apply it: [critical thinking](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-21-25/), [curiosity](https://makoism.com/attention/), and [thinking in systems](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/) and how to apply that to shifting landscapes. I've been following [Steven Johnson](https://adjacentpossible.substack.com) for some time now, as he's one of the few approaching technology with an understanding of language and the humanities. '*The core skills are not just about straight prompt engineering; they’re not just about figuring out the most efficient wording to get the model to do what you want. They also draw on deeper, more nuanced questions. What is the most responsible behavior to cultivate in the model, and how do we best deploy this technology in the real world to maximize its positive impact? All of those questions have been absolutely central to the discussion of AI for the past two years, but if you think about it, they were all questions that belonged to the humanities until the language models came along: ethics, philosophy of language, political theory, history of innovation, and so on.*' - [After Forty Years, Still No Silver Bullet](https://jarango.com/2026/07/10/after-forty-years-still-no-silver-bullet/). I had never encountered Fred Brooks's paper, [No Silver Bullet: Essence and Accident in Software Engineering](https://www.cs.unc.edu/techreports/86-020.pdf), until now, but it's a great read. '*The hardest single part of building a software system is deciding precisely what to build. No other part of the conceptual work is as difficult as establishing the detailed requirements, including all the interfaces to people, machines, and other software systems. No other part of the work so cripples the resulting system if done wrong. No other part is more difficult to rectify later.*' Hint: **LLMs and AI haven't solved this problem**. - [Inside Paradise Brew Werks: The First Vestaboard Note Array](https://youtube.com/watch?v=c-0FfLdRgB0). I've always loved the sound and visuals of the [old train station split-flap boards](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/artists-are-salvaging-train-stations-analog-departure-boards), which inspired me to splurge on a [Vestaboard Note](https://www.vestaboard.com/note) last year. **I love this thing**. Recently, they have introduced [a new way to chain smaller displays together to form a unified experience](https://www.vestaboard.com/note-array). Check out the video from [Paradise Brew Werks](https://paradisebrewwerks.com) on how they built theirs. '*We have 12 notes making our array. And when all 12 were moving at once, that was pretty cool. The minute we got the music board, we asked the staff, you know, *please come up with some stuff that you think is fun*.*' A reminder: [fun isn't the opposite of serious, it's how we survive it.](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/) - [Good Tools Are Invisible](https://www.gingerbill.org/article/2026/07/10/good-tools-are-invisible/). '*A good tool is and ought to be invisible; striving to make such tools is the goal of a toolmaker.*' While this post is mostly around text editors, I think this is an interesting mindset to poke at. I've never really liked the AR/VR hype, as these tools are the **complete opposite** of being invisible. They're bulky and take you out of the moment. On the contrary - go for a walk with just your [AirPods Pro and the watch](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2019/11/19/airpods-are-becoming-a-platform). They *melt away* into a new type of [invisible and immersive experience](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/) that is [a personal ambient experience](https://www.chrbutler.com/pac-personal-ambient-computing). Remember: '*The clearest sign a tool is serving you is that you stop noticing it—it becomes invisible. You don’t celebrate its flaws because you’re not turning them into a hobby, rather you just get mildly annoyed and route around them. You don’t defend it because nothing about your identity is riding on it. And you don’t mistake the feeling of cleverness for the fact of productivity, because you’ve bothered to check the difference.*' - [How Successful Companies Go Blind](https://ianreppel.org/how-successful-companies-go-blind/). '*The ones who stay are comfortable. The work is predictable, the salary adequate, the internal game familiar, and the politics rewarding to whoever learns to play the game. Over time the comfort switches off their sight. What remains is fluency in cave rules and a steadily diminishing ability to imagine themselves outside.*' This is why you need to continuously evolve, or die. Also, [you need firestarters](https://makoism.com/firestarters/). - [Examples from Sci-Fi of Voice Interfaces That Stay on Task](https://interconnected.org/home/2026/07/11/on-task). Put whether you like Siri, OpenAI, or Alexa aside for a moment; conversational interfaces are super fascinating. [Steven Johnson](https://adjacentpossible.substack.com) (who I mentioned earlier) is the reason why [NotebookLM's 'podcast' mode](https://www.latent.space/p/notebooklm) sounds so ... *human* ([read more about SoundStorm](https://google-research.github.io/seanet/soundstorm/examples/)). A good read on voice interaction. '*They're so unbounded. If you're having a voice interaction with a computer or with a device, you could end up having a conversation about anything.*' - [Art School Students and Bob Design Brand Refresh a 750-Year-Old London Market with Collaged Pictograms](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/bob-design-croydon-school-of-art-surrey-market-graphic-design-architecture-project-060726). '*How do you visually represent something that's been around for over seven centuries?*' A really interesting look at how students refreshed a 750-year-old London market with collaged pictograms. - [Time Sensitive](https://www.timesensitive.fm). I can't remember (sorry!) who referred me to this new-ish podcast, [Time Sensitive](https://www.timesensitive.fm). From their about page, it is '*a podcast featuring candid, revealing long-form conversations with extraordinary people about their life and work through the lens of time. Host Spencer Bailey interviews each guest about how they think about time and how pivotal moments have shaped who they are today.*' I've downloaded a few episodes to listen to on my upcoming trip. - [55 Is The New 35](https://eshap.substack.com/p/55-is-the-new-35). Having turned [55 back in April](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/), I instantly found this post alarming in that '*81% of the world’s population — 70% in the US, 67% in Europe, and 81% of Latin America — are now under 55.*' What was more interesting was where the age ranges spend their media consumption time. '*The 55+ audience spends a disproportionate amount of time and attention on Trad Media. They consume more television than all the other generations. However, when you zoom in on audiences under 55, you will note that the top-four most-used platforms are YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, and Instagram — with the exceptions of Brazil and Mexico, where national broadcasters replace Netflix in the top four.*' A great closer to reinforce what I've been trying (with varied success) on what [infinite choices](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/infinite-choice-is-the-curse-of-the) does to us, and what artificial constraints we can introduce to [reduce the consumption of empty mental calories](https://makoism.com/empty-calories/). **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-12-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-12-26/ Last updated: 2026-07-12T12:01:29.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Google Is Making Us Less Curious (gift link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/opinion/ai-google-gemini-search-questions.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.wlA.uMNN.HmJgLPRYtHey&smid=url-share). Only a few people I know of saw this one coming regarding the [enshittification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification) of search when big tech started to integrate AI-generated summaries into the answers. At first, it was kinda funny to [watch Google miss the mark so badly](https://www.boredpanda.com/google-ai-overviews/), telling us that [we should eat at least one small rock per day](https://nypost.com/2024/05/28/business/google-moving-to-remove-bizarre-ai-search-results-like-telling-users-to-eat-rocks/). But [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net) points out a deeper problem: **it short circuits our own biology**. '*People in a state of curiosity, while waiting for an answer to an intriguing question, remember unrelated information they encounter during that time far better than they otherwise would. *They found that waiting for an answer activates reward circuits in the brain and readies the hippocampus to help create memories*. When an A.I. summary answers your search query in three seconds, the window closes before curiosity can deepen. You get what you came for, but you also lose what would have turned curiosity into learning: the adjacent article you might have read, the resulting tangent you might have followed, the connection between two ideas with no obvious relationship.*' - [Nearly Half of America Is Experiencing a Fun Drought](https://nypost.com/2026/05/12/lifestyle/nearly-half-of-america-is-experiencing-a-fun-drought-new-survey-suggests/). '*This report reinforces something we see every day — *fun isn't just entertainment, it's an important part of people's overall well-being*. As life becomes increasingly busy and digitally driven, people are looking for places where they can connect in real life, share experiences, and simply enjoy being together. We see a real opportunity to create those moments through experiences that feel social, exciting, and easy to say yes to*.' [I've been feeling a lack of FUN for some time now](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/), and despite my best efforts, this year has seemed to **have even less fun than what I wanted to add back in**. It's a good reminder for my own awareness that I need to go out and do a thing, because *why the hell not?* - [How The Watchmen Inspired Comic Sans](https://docpop.org/2026/07/how-the-watchmen-inspired-comic-sans). I still have (in sealed bags/cases) some of my favorite comics that I collected when I was in high school - they represent a formative part of my growing up in the 1980s. [V for Vendetta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%5Ffor%5FVendetta), [Akira](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira%5F%28manga%29), [Sandman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSandman%5F%28comic%5Fbook%29), [Dark Knight Returns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDark%5FKnight%5FReturns), [Killing Joke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:%5FThe%5FKilling%5FJoke), etc., are all in there, but [Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen) is one of my all-time favorites. What I didn't know until this week is that the [typeface used in the comic](https://www.myfonts.com/collections/dave-gibbons-lower-font-comicraft) heavily inspired the font [Comic Sans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic%5FSans). Remember, [nothing ever ends](https://www.juliansanchez.com/2012/02/14/nothing-ever-ends/). - [Built for Exactly One](https://www.amitgawande.com/blog/2026/built-for-exactly-one/). This concept has been circling my head lately, and I'm glad someone wrote about it. I've been spending the last few months building more and more *personal* software - **tools that I have always wanted** but didn't have the time to build when I had to write it all using traditional coding methods. Traditionally, when I relied on the App Store for what I needed, it would often just hit 80%, and I had to either wait for a feature or bend how I worked to fit the tool. **Now, I build the thing I need, quickly, for me**. It feels like [this is the beginning of a new trend in software](https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/claude-redefined-my-bond-with-computers-i-am-building-my-own-apps-and-its-a-bliss/). '*When I build an app for myself, I have full control over the privacy aspect. There are no data harvesting worries I have to live with. I no longer have to think about hidden trackers or activity loggers. It's no secret that in the modern age, free software almost always comes with a privacy compromise. Or, as the tech adage goes, if it’s free, you’re probably the product.*' And, it will be interesting to see what happens to the [value of software](https://justinjackson.ca/software-fable). - [Turning an iPad Pro into the Ultimate Classic Macintosh](https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2021/04/17/turning-an-ipad-pro-into-the-ultimate-classic-macintosh/). Put this one in the fun drawer - running classic Macintosh apps *on an iPad*. A good look at Mac emulators and how keyboards, file systems, and even the Apple Pencil work. - [Suncoast Motion Picture Company](https://www.retroist.com/p/suncoast-motion-picture-company). When people have nostalgia for video stores, most think of [Blockbuster Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-%5FjyHLKa0), but there was also [Suncoast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suncoast%5FMotion%5FPicture%5FCompany). '*Suncoast was more than a place to buy movies. The tapes and discs were the center of the store, but the merchandise around them was part of the business. That made it broader than a simple video shop, and probably more useful as a mall store. Having selection was part of the appeal and a core of the business. Suncoast wanted to catch the person who came in for a title, then keep them looking at everything else connected to it.*' This retrospective was interesting, as it reminded me of what I used to love about going into those stores - **it was for people who loved movies**. '*What I remember most about Suncoast is not its corporate timeline. It is the feeling of having a job that kept me close to movies after my time in rental stores, but in a different way. At Suncoast, I was not checking tapes in and out. I was helping stock a store built for people who wanted to own movies, talk about them, find them, and sometimes just stand there looking at what was new.*' - [Your Life Is Not a Story: Why Narrative Thinking Holds You Back](https://psyche.co/ideas/your-life-is-not-a-story-why-narrative-thinking-holds-you-back). It may sound a bit left-of-center, but come with me on this journey. Lately, I've been thinking about how a maze can be used as a metaphor for life - it branches, you can get lost, there's no clear path, and no promised exit. Mazes are **interesting** because of the dead ends, the wrong turns, the possibility of never finding the center - it's a recognition that you're going through a thing that you didn't necessarily design. You can't see the shape of it, but you **can** find a way through it. In this post, the author explores how narrative thinking (storytelling) shapes your interpretation of life by organizing events into **linear sequences**. '*Seeing yourself as the main character in a story can overly simplify the fullness of life. Think of the way in which people talk about their 'journey' through life. Through this narrative, certain events become more significant while others are overlooked, and random events can be reframed as being part of some grand plan. Yet viewing our lives in such a narrow way hinders our ability to understand the complex behaviour of others and ourselves.*' I thought the whole piece was an interesting exercise to think through. 'We might never fully escape the narratives that surround us, but we can learn to change the perspectives behind them. And so, we are never bound by stories, only by our ability to understand how our beliefs and values shape the way we perceive and engage with the world. We don’t need better narratives; **we need to expand and refine our perspectives**.' - [If You're a Button, You Have One Job](https://unsung.aresluna.org/if-youre-a-button-you-have-one-job/). A well-articulated essay on [situational disabilities](https://accessibility.education.gov.uk/training/accessibility-inclusion/page-10) which '*are caused by environmental factors or specific situations that affect an individual's abilities. Examples of situational disabilities include people holding a baby, wearing headphones or have glare affecting the screen on their device.*' In this case, the responsiveness of a button while an animation is occurring. - [Feel Like You Never Have Anything to Talk About? Try This](https://introvertdear.com/news/feel-like-you-never-have-anything-to-talk-about-try-this/). A good read on purposefully learning something that you aren't particularly interested in, but has popular buzz, so you have something to talk about. And, I'll admit something that comes from my own [extroverted introvert](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/) behavior: *I have a list on my phone of 300 or so 'interesting questions' to ask if I get stuck in a group setting*. - [Why The Best Player Alive Barely Runs](https://kottke.org/26/07/why-the-best-player-alive-barely-runs). With the 2026 World Cup almost wrapping up, I thought it would be good to include this week. The post points to [a new video from David Epstein](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d%5FOIvLt3SO4) (author of [Inside the Box](https://davidepstein.com/inside-the-box/) \- highly recommended to read) that talks about "anticipatory skill" and "chunking" that players such as Messi, Ronaldo, and Pujols all share. '*They’re chunking positions of people and angles of legs and spins of balls in order to understand immediately what’s going on and what might happen next. The more patterns you absorb in any domain, the less effort it takes to read what’s happening and to predict what’s coming next.*' - [Switzerland Bolted 5,000 Solar Panels Onto a Dam Wall 8,000 Feet Up in the Freezing Alps](https://www.ecoportal.net/en/switzerland-5000-alpine-solar-muttsee-dam-winter-power/28487/). The place is the Muttsee dam, in the canton of Glarus, about an hour from Zurich, and what makes it interesting is that '*the plant sits above the fog line, in thin, clear air that lets far more sunlight through. The higher you go, the stronger and cleaner the sunlight becomes*.' Running since 2022, it produces about **3.3 million kilowatt-hours per year**, enough to power around 700 homes. - [The Healing Power of Gardens](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/07/09/oliver-sacks-gardens/). Wrapping up this week with the healing power of gardens. '*I cannot say exactly how nature exerts its calming and organizing effects on our brains, but I have seen in my patients the restorative and healing powers of nature and gardens, even for those who are deeply disabled neurologically. In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful than any medication.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-05-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-05-26/ Last updated: 2026-07-05T12:01:21.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [How I Bought a Private Jet By Selling $10 Subscriptions](https://www.404media.co/how-i-bought-a-private-jet-by-selling-10-subscriptions-to-404-media/). A fascinating look at the grift known as [LARPing](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Larping) across social media influencers. Derived from the term Live Action Role Play (LARP), it's when '*you're not talking about the literal game, you are saying that they are *role-playing in their actual real life*. Pretending to be rich, pretending to know about a topic, pretending to have a certain lifestyle, etc.*' I guess '*fake it until you make it*' takes on a whole new meaning in 2026 with AI slop and social media. And it's also a reminder of how "**There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.**" (Beverly Sills) - [People Don't See You. They See What They Need](https://youtu.be/kNNupcfJ9Wc). Two of my favorites, [Brené Brown](https://brenebrown.com) and [Trevor Noah](https://www.youtube.com/trevornoah/videos), in an incredibly honest conversation about how people project their expectations onto others. More importantly, how '*quickly admiration can turn into disappointment when someone no longer fits the story you've created about them.*' The full video (warning, it's over 2hrs) [can be watched on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeXmYvBI0Co). - [My Dog Learned How to Text Me. I Really Wish She Hadn't](https://slate.com/technology/2026/06/dog-pets-smartphone-petphone-ai.html). My wife *usually* laughs (clearing throat) when I pretend to talk as my 8-year-old Golden Retriever. But apparently, there's a new product out called [PetPhone](https://www.petphone.ai), which costs $90 (and requires a $10/mo data plan). '*It combines a GPS tracker, a health monitor, a speaker, a microphone, and a collection of A.I.-powered features that are supposed to let owners track pets' location and monitor their activity. Calls from the pet's side are triggered by a specific gesture: three jumps within six seconds. To text me saying that she wants some water, Clover must tap her dangling collar. To tell me she's bored, another series of jumps. There is an instructional video demonstrating how to teach this behavior.*' Please no, I already can't stop him from begging for food, and the last thing I want is him texting me. - [The Hilarious Way Mel Brooks Taunted the Nazis on the World War II Battlefield](https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-hilarious-way-mel-brooks-taunted-nazis-on-the-world-war-ii-battlefield/). While I thoroughly enjoyed 2005's remake of [The Producers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcy582OB9qk), I never knew that [Mel Brooks was drafted in 1944](https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veterans-mel-brooks.html) and had a long history of ridiculing Hitler. '*You have to bring him down with ridicule. Because if you stand on a soapbox and you match him with rhetoric, you're just as bad as he is. But if you can make people laugh at him, then you're one up on him*.' I need to rewatch [To Be or Not to Be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VM6E4UAJ30); it's been far too long. - [You're Weirder Than You Think](https://www.atvbt.com/youre-weirder-than-you-think/). A fun survey to see how many Americans share your exact combination of traits, based on data from the [General Social Survey](https://gss.norc.org). My answers revealed that **only 0.690% of US adults (1 in 150)** share my unique combination of traits. - [Rebuilding The Computer Room](https://alexwlchan.net/2026/computer-room/). I remember growing up with a computer room in the house, powered by early [Commodore computers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore%5FInternational) ([VIC-20](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIC-20), then a more powerful [C-64](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore%5F64)). This homage to the days when '*computers weren't a ubiquitous feature of our lives; they were bulky appliances with a fixed location, and you had to go somewhere to use them*' really struck a memory for me. The post continues, '*But this trend isn't all good, and recently I've been more aware of the downsides. Making computers more portable didn't just make it easier for us to get to digital services; it made it easier for digital services to get to us.*' Today's technology is described as a **dopamine hit**, and I really appreciate, despite the conveniences of tech, the suggestions in this post to **rebuild the walls**. '*Since I started making these changes, I've felt calmer and more relaxed, especially when I'm at home. I can focus on the things that actually deserve my attention – cooking a meal, reading a book, chatting with my friends, playing on the sofa. I'm less worried about the distraction of my digital devices or the effect they have on my life.*' - [Noise as Information and Information as Noise](https://unsung.aresluna.org/noise-as-information-and-information-as-noise). You probably weren't aware (I wasn't) that random 'noise' used in video games is often real **information**. Sometimes even real source code. '*If we used a low-resolution texture (64x64) to save memory, the static would be blurry and not crisp. One engineer on the team came up with a great idea: what if we just use the memory holding the Metroid Prime code itself! We quickly tried it out, and it looked amazing. When you see Samus's visor affected by electrical noise in-game, you're actually seeing the bits and bytes of the Metroid Prime software code itself being rendered on the screen. Turns out machine code is sufficiently random to work great as a static noise texture!*' - [Your Power Tools Got Worse On Purpose](https://www.worseonpurpose.com/p/your-power-tools-got-worse-on-purpose). I wasn't aware of the [enshittification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification) of [Stanley Black & Decker](https://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) or [Craftsman](https://www.craftsman.com/en-us). '*The 2010 merger of Stanley Works and Black & Decker created a company that already owned DeWalt. From there they went on an acquisition spree that should have built an empire. Instead it built a bloated holding company drowning in debt and leadership turnover. They bought so many brands they were competing with themselves on the same store shelves, then starved the weaker ones to feed DeWalt.*' The important lesson in this one isn't about tools, but the **pattern**, which is also happening (according to the author) now in eyewear. '*This is what happens in every industry once the conglomerates and private equity firms show up. Acquire the brand. Consolidate the operations. Cut costs. Extract value. Move to the next one.*' - [Write What Only You Can Write](https://eliotpeper.substack.com/p/write-what-only-you-can-write). '*I believe the magic lies in how completely the author commits to only writing about what delights and interests him. Whenever we write something, there’s a chance that others will read it, and we often curtail our trains of thought to conform to what we imagine others will find acceptable.*' A good reminder on never letting AI take over the creative process, but rather, '*If you’re going to write, write something worth reading*.' - [The Wholesale Plagiarism of Obscure Sorrows](https://waxy.org/2026/06/the-wholesale-plagiarism-of-obscure-sorrows/). As [I've mentioned in previous posts](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-02-01-26/), I'm a big fan of [The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows](https://www.youtube.com/@obscuresorrows/videos), so it really bummed me out when I read this. Apparently, **the entire site** was plagiarized by a web design and marketing agency using 'ai-powered image libraries' without consent. '*This is a more flagrant form of plagiarism than you typically see these days, where human-authored works are laundered with an AI model into something that’s different enough from its sources to avoid legal issues.*' A good read for anyone who publishes online. - [In Memory of the Man Who Put Red and Green Squiggles Under Words](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20260622-00/?p=112451). I remember sitting in a few meetings with [Raymond Chen](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/author/oldnewthing) in the early 2000s when I was a software engineer early in my career at [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/). I've always enjoyed his site "[The Old New Thing](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/)", which he describes as a place '*to tell stories which convey no useful information*.' But this post on [the legacy of Tony Krueger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip's%5FChallenge) (who also ported Chip's Challenge to Windows) points out that he also invented an '*unobtrusive spell checker, so that it didn’t interfere with your foreground work. And when it found a problem, instead of waiting for you to trigger a spell check, it immediately drew red squiggles under potentially-misspelled words (and later green squiggles under potential grammatical errors).*' - [My Mortality and My Writing](https://winnielim.org/journal/my-mortality-and-my-writing/). I [talked about the passing of Om Malik last week](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-28-26/), and I've continued reading online tributes to him since. It's amazing how many lives he touched. This post stood out to me about **psychological deaths**. '*But mortality has this ultimate clarifying effect. We talk a lot about physical death, but psychological deaths have a huge impact too. When I think about what I wish to accomplish if I knew I was going to die, apart from spending time with my loved ones, I think only writing is left. It is a way of emptying myself, I guess, a way of sublimating my sad existence. I wouldn't pretend that my writing is useful, but at least it will be a window into an interior world that doesn't exist anywhere else.*' - [The Extreme Is the Easy Way Out](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-extreme-is-the-easy-way-out). I had to re-read this one several times, and it's now earned a spot in [my commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/manage-the-moments/). '*The middle path is the exhausting work of noticing - today, in this hour, in this moment, in this body, in this season of your life and your work - what moderation actually means; knowing the answer may be different next month, and knowing the responsibility for that moderation is yours and yours alone.*' Joan posits that the extreme is the easy option, and explains why the middle is harder. '*It’s not stillness. It’s balance, in a sense, closer to riding a bicycle: you can only stay upright by staying in motion, continuously and minutely correcting your trajectory and your center of gravity - and the moment you come to a stop, you must fall.*' - [The Answer to Every Problem](https://www.raptitude.com/2026/06/the-answer-to-every-problem/). '*Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, and do it that way every time.*' Kinda simple, but dead on. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-28-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-28-26/ Last updated: 2026-06-28T12:01:09.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Om Malik, 1966-2026](https://om.co/2026/06/24/1966-2026/). I never met [Om Malik](https://om.co) in person, but was deeply saddened this week to read about his passing after long struggles with heart problems. I had known of Om from his powerful online presence, but he became a source of inspiration when, back in 2019, I had my first heart attack (number two would hit me 16 months later). He publicly wrote about what his "[re-birthday](https://om.co/gigaom/a-heart-to-heart-with-gigaom-readers/), and what it was like to mentally reconfigure oneself afterward in [The Story of Stent](https://om.co/2024/12/28/the-story-of-stent/). '*It taught me the lessons we learn late in life early: excess, perfection, and accumulation are fair-weather friends. I learned that by giving time to play its hand, I would stop being impatient. Life, as it turned out, has been much better than how I had planned it. And more importantly, you are better off finding comfort in the company of imperfection.*' So while I never met him face to face, we, as do all heart attack survivors, share a strange bond forged in facing mortality and coming out the other side. [John Gruber](https://daringfireball.net/2026/06/om) wrote a touching tribute that's also a worthwhile read. [Rest in peace, Om](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/technology/om-malik-dead.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.tVA.bQWQ.%5Fvs7Uq8tSbBB&smid=url-share), you will be missed. - [Surrender as a Non-Stupid Life Strategy](https://sashachapin.substack.com/p/should-you-be-in-charge-of-your-life). One of my recurring conversations with my friends of late is about what I often call [Life 3.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/), and part of that journey is reflecting on the decisions and paths one has chosen. Some **really good** takeaways in this blog post, '*A large percentage of human suffering is anticipatory tension, or dreading a future experience such that you actualize its potential suffering in the now. Anticipatory tension is using the illusion of knowledge to generate the illusion of control. Much of what people call planning is this.*' - [A Room You Can't See](https://terrygodier.com/a-room-you-cant-see). '*Your music library became endless. Something quiet disappeared when it did.*' [Watch the short video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzzNBPqZhw0) in which Terry is trying to figure out if the music changed, or if he did. - [Democracy Is Bullshit](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/democracy-is-bullshit). As usual, [David Pinsof](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog) causes me to pause and think, which is why I *love* his writing. In **Democracy is Bullshit**, he dives into the key differences between *groups and crowds* and why democracy may be flawed as it prioritizes group identity over individual rationality. '*A lot of people mistakenly think democracy is awesome because they confuse groups with crowds. They think everyone getting their voice heard is good for the nation because everyone has unique perspectives and interests. But that is not how democracies work. Democracies do not combine the wisdom and experiences of every individual the way a crowd does. Not even close. Instead, what democracies do is obliterate those unique perspectives and force everyone to pick sides between two dumb groups. Or, in the case of non-U.S. democracies, several dumb groups.*' It's a good read, and a good lesson on how behaviors are *incentivized* by systems. '*Democracy is a bad incentive structure that generally produces bad results, albeit less bad than the results of autocracy.*' - [The Secret Reason Bosses Want Everyone Back in the Office, Every Day of the Week (gift link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/opinion/office-work-wfh-bosses.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.tVA.UgE8.1pMpMGdAiFME&smid=url-share). Echoing back to [last week's link](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-21-26/), [Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting](https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2020/04/14/gaslighting-coronavirus-julio-vincent-gambuto), this study looks into why some leaders continue to support remote work, and others resist it. '*The only trait that consistently predicted objections to remote work was narcissism — the tendency to be self-centered and entitled. The higher the opinions of themselves leaders expressed, the more they coveted power and status — and the more they favored return-to-office mandates*.' I prefer remote work, but it has coordination and quick-decision challenges, especially among more junior employees. But, it's an interesting study to say the least. - [The Doomers Are All Right](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/14/the-doomers-are-all-right). A fascinating look at the world, especially if you believe it's about to end. This post leans towards the view that artificial intelligence could lead to human extinction. '*There's not much use worrying about a thing if the outcome is determined. You're just going to burn a whole bunch of emotional energy, not making any changes out in the world. It's only worth worrying about things if you're in a position of control over them. So go out and check if you're in a position of control, and if you are, control them.*' [Memento Mori](https://makoism.com/fight-club/). Of course, the best advice can be summed up as '*Drink the good whiskey, drink the good wine.*' - [Anne-Laure Le Cunff on Learning From Uncertainty](https://www.24letters.net/blog/anne-laure-le-cunff-on-learning-from-uncertainty). [Anne-Laure Le Cunff's](https://nesslabs.com/) book [Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World](https://bookshop.org/p/books/tiny-experiments-how-to-live-freely-in-a-goal-obsessed-world-anne-laure-le-cunff/a0d48a6606c80c86?ean=9780593715130&next=t) continues to be an excellent reference of knowledge. In [one of her posts about uncertainty](https://newsletter.nesslabs.com/posts/ness-labs-your-brain-on-uncertainty), '*Uncertainty creates space for growth and discovery. Through metacognition, emotional regulation, and social connection, understanding and adapting your brain's automatic response will help you work with uncertainty rather than against it. Your brain might prefer certainty, but it's fully equipped to handle the unknown. The real question isn't whether you can handle uncertainty; it's what you’ll discover when you approach it with an experimental mindset.*' - [The Dialogue Dividend](https://www.thesignalist.io/s/the-dialogue-dividend/). The power of a five-minute hallway conversation (walking does cure almost anything, doesn't it?). '*There is a considerable difference between thinking about implementing a decision and thinking about understanding a problem. The first benefits from isolation. The second, rarely does. When you say something out loud, you commit to it. The thought that was comfortable as a vague impression has to become a sentence, and sentences have structure. They have a subject and a predicate. They make claims that can be evaluated. The act of speaking forces a kind of precision that internal monologue never requires.*' - [The New 20% Time, Minus the Time](https://joe.dev/posts/new-20pct-time/). A look back at Google's 20% time, '*In 2005, a 20% project was a block of time. You took a day, or stole an afternoon here and there, and went deep on something that wasn't your day-to-day. The unit was hours. The scarce thing was a stretch of uninterrupted concentration long enough to hold a hard problem in your head.*' Today, *some* claim that AI will give you time back, but does it? '*Maybe those benefits come back to us as room to explore and make things. Maybe they pool with the people who can already afford to point a swarm of agents at whatever they want. Or maybe they just get turned back into pressure on workers. Fifty years of productivity gains have accrued to the top, not those doing the work. I want this one to break the pattern. I can’t, with a straight face, say it will.*' - [Why 40 Per Cent of People Are Avoiding the News, According to a Psychologist](https://theconversation.com/why-40-per-cent-of-people-are-avoiding-the-news-according-to-a-psychologist-282023). Whenever I get the urge to watch the news, I watch [Food Network](https://www.foodnetwork.com). I've watched [Guy Fieri](https://www.guyfieri.com) visit so many [Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives) to avoid the 'waterfall of perpetual bad news.' Turns out, globally, this is not unique - [almost 40%, the highest number ever recorded](https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2025/dnr-executive-summary#avoidance), do the same. This post explores the psychology behind it. '*News fatigue is not laziness, weakness, or a generational decline in civic interest. It's the predictable response of a human brain meeting an environment it was never designed to navigate. In 2026, the same neurological system is being asked to absorb a war in one region, a financial shock in another, a climate disaster in a third and a violent crime in a fourth, all before lunchtime.*' The fix is somewhat straightforward: **manage the consumption and the sources**. - [Tinfoil Pigeons](https://tinfoilpigeons.com/). **SUPER COOL website**, a **live radar** of the aircraft above you. '*You heard a jet. You looked up. You asked the eternal question: what plane is flying over my house? Tinfoil Pigeons answers it. Every airliner, cargo hauler, helicopter and suspiciously quiet turboprop broadcasts its position over ADS-B, and our scope listens. Enter a postcode or town — anywhere in the world — or use your location, and the flights overhead appear as blips, sweep after sweep, exactly where they really are.*' - [C.C. Filson: The Man, the Coat, and the Company He Left Behind](https://www.carryology.com/liking/brands/c-c-filson-the-man-the-coat-and-the-company-he-left-behind/). One of my favorite Northwest brands is [Filson](https://www.filson.com). A *really* interesting bio on the man who founded the company, as Seattle is the 'Gateway to Alaska'. '*Promising ‘unfailing goods’, Filson operated on complete two-way honesty. Prospectors unable to visit Seattle could write him a letter describing their requirements and have complete outfits assembled and shipped north. As one customer remarked at the time: "Just write and tell Filson what you want and pay his bill when the goods come. He trusts you, and you can bank on him."*' If you've never visited [the flagship store in Seattle](https://www.filson.com/pages/seattle-store), it's worth the visit. - [A Paean to Inside Macintosh](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/a-paean-to-inside-macintosh). This post is a great retrospective on what the author calls '*the greatest technical documentation I've ever seen.*' '*Inside Macintosh was nothing less than a book of magic spells. If you wanted a window with scroll bars, all you had to do was write some Pascal code and make a few procedure calls. You didn’t have to be a genius. Apple supplied the geniuses and they had written the code for you. It was built in. And Inside Macintosh calmly told you all about it. Just laid out the secrets of the universe right there before you. I was stunned by the detail and clarity of the documentation, and the promises it made on behalf of the software*.' After reading this one, I scoured the Internet for a copy of [Inside Macintosh (Promotional Edition)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/405650019504). - [Kurt Vonnegut's Life-Advice to His Children](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/06/25/kurt-vonnegut-advice-to-children/). If you've been reading this blog for a while, you already know that [I'm a huge Vonnegut fan](https://makoism.com/wall-e/). In [this delightful collection of letters](https://bookshop.org/p/books/kurt-vonnegut-letters-kurt-vonnegut/8c89dd66aeefe419?ean=9780385343763&next=t), he has some amazing advice. '*You’re learning now that you do not inhabit a solid, reliable, social structure — that the older you get people around you are worried, moody, goofy human beings who themselves were little kids only a few days ago. So home can fall apart and schools can fall apart, usually for childish reasons, and what have you got? ... You’re dismayed at having lost a year, maybe, because the school fell apart. Well — I feel as though I’ve lost the years since Slaughterhouse-Five was published, but that’s malarky. Those years weren’t lost. They simply weren’t the way I’d planned them. Neither was the year in which Jim had to stay motionless in bed while he got over TB. Neither was the hear in which Mark went crazy, then put himself together again. Those years were adventures. Planned years are not.*' - [Walking the Brooklyn Bridge](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/228/). In a stark contrast to [Craig Mod's usual posts across Japan](https://craigmod.com), Craig walks the Brooklyn Bridge. '*Holy foot traffic. Just: Obscene crowds, all jostling for selfies. The world, one giant selfie jostle. Eventually, right before the machines turn off our light of meat-based consciousness, we’ll do some Borgesian space selfie and be done with it all. But for now, we selfie on the ground, with great desperation, preening for the screen, to be uploaded to god only knows where for god only knows what audience. The volume of media captured defies comprehension. It is empyrean in volume, flip-flopping beyond theory into the theology of bytes, for how could so many selfies be contained within the physics of our world?*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-21-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-21-26/ Last updated: 2026-06-21T12:01:51.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting](https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2020/04/14/gaslighting-coronavirus-julio-vincent-gambuto). Remember 2020? The great reset of *everything*. Work from home was the future: a promise of more time for you, your family, and your interests. In May of 2020, [I wrote](https://makoism.com/manners-maketh-man/), '*the longer it goes on being home, the clearer it’s becoming that lots of people don’t want things to go back to the way they were before. I am in way more control in creating a life that I want to live, and not being forced to live the life that is my current reality*.' When I *originally* read this article, it was still unclear what would happen next. '*The treadmill you’ve been on for decades just stopped. Bam! And that feeling you have right now is the same as if you’d been thrown off your Peloton bike and onto the ground: What just happened?! ... The crisis has given us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see ourselves and our country in the plainest way. At no other time, ever in our lives, have we gotten the opportunity to see what would happen if the world simply stopped. Here it is.*' And came with a stark warning: '*We are about to be gaslit in a truly unprecedented way. It will be a one-two punch from big business and the White House. Both are about to band together to knock us unconscious again. It will be funded like no other operation in our lifetimes. It will be fast. It will be furious. And it will be overwhelming.*' Here we are in 2026\. Take a minute and think about what you did with that opportunity. Did we waste it? '*I implore you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life.*' - [On Being Good at Life](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com/on-being-good-at-life/). '*The only thing I would have to do to make this a reality is to be content, appreciative, kind, generous, and satisfied. These are all choices within my control and have little to do with external circumstances and the actions of others. They are not dependent on the economy, politics, climate change, or peace. They are only dependent on my ability to achieve a level of contentment with my reality. I believe this is the key to happiness. Contentment and acceptance. I believe happiness is a choice, not a result.*' A wonderful think-piece from [David Todd McCarty](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com) on how to '[be good at life](https://www.chaddavid.ca/taking-a-life-inventory-from-martin-shorts-biography/)'. - [The Tombstone Exercise](https://every.to/no-small-plans/the-tombstone-exercise?gift=ydqp1ntS-9vzXN01eBxA2%5FzdxJUL1MzL). Another **morbid math** entry known as [The Tombstone Exercise](https://every.to/no-small-plans/the-tombstone-exercise?gift=ydqp1ntS-9vzXN01eBxA2%5FzdxJUL1MzL). '*The exercise involves writing your epitaph: the *ideal epitaph* represents your values, encapsulating the kind of person you want to be and the life you’d like to have lived, looking back from your deathbed. And, the *feared epitaph* is an epitaph written as if you died today, summarizing what your life and behavior has been about. This exercise is most powerful when you engage with the fact that you will die someday, and genuinely ask yourself how you might want others to remember you and what you were about.*' As I approach [Life 3.0](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/), I've been thinking a lot about 'ghost decisions', those invisible constraints, **the accumulated inheritance of them**, and what, in reality, doesn't matter. Often I refer to these as **load-bearing walls**, but more on *that* in an upcoming post. I liked this phrase: **zoom out to zoom in**. Again, [systems over goals](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/). (Noticing a pattern?) - [Death by 1,000 Compromises: How to Tap Into Founder Mode](https://tim.blog/2026/06/18/mark-pincus/). '*Know your goal or suffer death by 1,000 compromises.*' - a great quote from [Mark Pincus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark%5FPincus) that leads off this post, which is the first chapter from his new book, [Life at the Speed of Play](https://bookshop.org/p/books/life-at-the-speed-of-play-launch-products-people-love-mark-pincus/e07676e0a83a5339). In it, he describes a '**Book of Life**' practice that he's been keeping for the last 30 years. Described as '*a compass that helps you come back to your North Star*', he only writes in this journal once a year over the Jewish High Holidays, and returns a year later to remember '*where he was, how he felt, and what he hoped for.*' He considers what he writes a **partnership with your future self**, where he has a conversation with himself across time. As I've had my own [personal obsession with time](https://makoism.com/time-flies/), [the choices we have made](https://makoism.com/attention/), and [what to do with the time left](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/), this one is going into the [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/) as a practice **I need also to undertake**. - [How to End Your Workday: The Hemingway Principle](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/how-to-end-your-workday-the-hemingway). '*Ernest Hemingway had a rule for ending his writing days: he stopped while he still knew exactly what would come next; sometimes, reportedly, in the middle of a sentence. I stole this idea, and you should too. For my last act of each workday, I specify a single important task that I will take up first thing in the morning. As it did for Hemingway, it gives tomorrow a known target. That simple act of specification defends against two of the most reliable ways a workday goes sideways.*' Interesting idea, the 'known target'. I'll think about this and how to incorporate it into my workflow. - [AI Isn't Breaking Work. It's Already Broken.](https://calnewport.com/ai-isnt-breaking-work-its-already-broken/). '*An earlier generation of digital tools, like email, Slack, video conferencing, and mobile computing, also led workers to vastly underestimate the time wasted wrangling diverse devices, applications, and rapidly toggling back and forth between different tasks and channels. Workplace theater isn’t new either (in my book, I called it 'pseudo-productivity')*.' Further evidence that the best use of AI is to blow up the **systemic friction** in organizations. **Rethink the workflow**: Get Rid Of Stupid Stuff (or GROSS), automate where you can, maybe it needs a little AI. When I hear people claim that AI can *replace* engineers, I kinda chuckle. Writing code is [only about 10-15% of what an engineer actually spends time on](https://p-mbuilders.com/how-much-time-do-developers-spend-actually-writing.html). The rest of the week is wasted on meetings, figuring out requirements, and other random noise. [Huggy Rao](https://huggyrao.com) has it right in [The Friction Project](https://huggyrao.com/the-friction-project/): '*focus particular attention on people who take responsibility for identifying, removing, and repairing what we call *jargon monoxide*, the hollow, convoluted, and incomprehensible language that undermines workplace communication, collaboration, and coordination.*' [Systems over goals](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/), always. - [Watch Baseball Games in Realtime in 8-Bit View](https://kottke.org/26/06/watch-baseball-games-in-realtime-in-8-bit-view). Too much fun not to share: [Ribbie](https://ribbie.tv). '*Actual live games rendered pitch by pitch in a cozy 8-bit view while they happen. Watch for free. No account needed. A calmer way to keep baseball close.*' 🤯 - [A Paean to Inside Macintosh](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/a-paean-to-inside-macintosh). I love Apple history, and this retrospective on [Inside Macintosh](https://archive.org/details/bitsavers%5FapplemacInionalEdition1985%5F53888388/mode/2up) was fascinating. '*Inside Macintosh was nothing less than a book of magic spells. If you wanted a window with scroll bars, all you had to do was write some Pascal code and make a few procedure calls. You didn’t have to be a genius. Apple supplied the geniuses and they had written the code for you. It was built in. And Inside Macintosh calmly told you all about it. Just laid out the secrets of the universe right there before you. I was stunned by the detail and clarity of the documentation, and the promises it made on behalf of the software.*' I see there's [a copy for sale on EBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/188003458788)... hmm... - [Apple's Weird Anti-Nausea Dots Cured My Car Sickness](https://www.theverge.com/tech/942854/apple-vehicle-motion-cues-review-really-work). Speaking of Apple - did you know **there's a way to stop getting motion sickness** while looking at your iPhone in the car (in the passenger seat, hopefully). How [Visual Motion Cues](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-comfortably-riding-a-vehicle-iph55564cb22/ios) works, according to science: '*this type of vehicle motion sickness is caused by the eyes staring at a static display while the inner ear feels the car turning, braking, and accelerating. Motion Cues solve this by placing dots around the periphery of the display that move in harmony with the motion of the car. When the car turns right, the dots sweep across the screen to the left; when the car brakes the dots slide forward.*' WILD! - [Handwritten Blog](https://handwritten.danieljanus.pl) (via ). This website has to be one of the most unique styles I've seen on a blog in a long time - it's **completely handwritten** via a [Remarkable device](https://remarkable.com); [the process for doing this was ultimately unmaintainable](https://handwritten.danieljanus.pl/2022-10-01-hyperlinks-in-handwriting.html), but it's still worth a look. - [Inside the Handcrafted World-Building of Olivia Rodrigo's The Cure Music Video](https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/liam-moore-olivia-rodrigo-the-cure-music-video-animation-film-spotlight-150626). A total creative masterpiece: '*An army of over two dozen craftspeople worked for a month on a gargantuan undertaking that bridged the worlds of practical effects, stop-motion puppetry and miniature art.*' [Watch the final video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B402rKl4bUg). - [You Should've Seen the Sky Today](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/you-shouldve-seen-the-sky-today). Along the theme of [embracing your inner 8-year-old self's sense of curiosity](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/), '*Researchers who study awe have found that even brief moments of noticing something vast... like a piece of music or a giant tree … don’t just inspire us. These are moments that calm our bodies, soften our stress, increase our sense of connection, elevate joy, and remind us that we’re part of something larger than ourselves. Which is to say, these things don't just inspire us or make us feel good, but are actually, scientifically good for us.'* - [Seattle Hotel's Silent Reading Party Has Been Turning Pages for 15 Years](https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening-downtown-seattle/seattle-hotels-silent-reading-party-sorrento-cozy-pacific-northwest-books-events/281-74593885-6610-47fd-8da5-a6c597a7c72d). Closing out this week with a Seattle favorite: [**The Silent Reading Party**](https://www.hotelsorrento.com/happenings/silent-reading-party-jan-17). '*The Silent Reading Party at Hotel Sorrento is THE place for introverts to introvert. They gather behind the blue velvet curtains in The Fireside Room twice a month, to bury themselves in books. There's a rotating literary cocktail menu, and a sliding scale for places to cozy up. The fireplace seats are premium at $35 and the bar seats are a steal at $12\. There’s also a $20 minimum on drink and food, so the hotel can keep hosting. And any place here is the perfect place to curl up with a book.'* Sounds perfect. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-14-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-14-26/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T13:43:09.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## **Programming Note** I met [Gareth Dauncey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-dauncey-265b94169/) briefly at [DO Wales 2023](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/), and we've spent the last several years getting to know each other over virtual coffee chats. By trade, Gareth is an architect, but he also became a mental health advocate by recording his daily mood in color. He discover that, over time, the colors revealed patterns which helped him become more self-aware and better manage his mental well-being. In an effort to help others, [he created Mood](https://moodapp.io), an app that lets users 'see how you feel' with one click a day. I was more than happy to participate recently in his "[How do you feel today](https://instagram.com/howdoyoufeeltoday.podcast)" podcast, where we had a wonderful conversation between friends on curiosity, mortality, technology, and what it means to live well. It can be found on [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-you-feel-today/id1718557420?i=1000771727220) or [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Lo44tyDyiXYdAGkSmtbD5?si=228f1a8364a94281&nd=1&dlsi=73bff97909cf49a8). [137) Steve MakofskyPodcast Episode · How do you feel today? · June 8 · 31m![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/icon/favicon-180-129d2910-b4e3-4a79-b87a-018421b0194c.png)Apple Podcasts![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/thumbnail/1200x1200ECA.PESS01-60-a02310f3-bb36-4960-ad33-8f6fc814d1f2.jpg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-you-feel-today/id1718557420?i=1000771727220) How Do You Feel Today?allallallall the beans ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [A PR Hoax Created the Year's Hottest Rock Band. Imagine What It Can Do in Politics](https://thewalrus.ca/a-pr-hoax-created-the-years-hottest-rock-band-imagine-what-it-can-do-in-politics/). One of the big ideas I've been experimenting with this year is the effect of **systems** across almost everything we do or understand. Back in 2024, I wrote in the post [Your Goal Broke the System](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/), that '*we often approach goals: we focus on one point and miss the more extensive system at play.*' 2026 has been a *re-realization* on how systems often **shape reality**, wether via some cognitive bias ([sunk cost fallacy](https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/the-sunk-cost-fallacy) or [confirmation bias](https://www.simplypsychology.org/confirmation-bias.html)) or something even more malicious. In [How Systems Shape Reality](https://www.godwinibe.org/en/press/blogs/how-systems-shape-reality), '*One of the most subtle ways systems shape reality is through perception. What you notice is often determined by what a system highlights. What you ignore is often what the system does not emphasize*', and this is a story of how a manufactured PR hoax pushed a band to top levels. '*Their ascension wasn’t organic. It wasn’t quirky quality rising to the top. Yes, the band had built up some momentum under its own steam, but their stratospheric hipness was all due to algorithmically manufactured buzz. Fake fans. Fake comments. Fake reviews. Bots pushing social media posts. The entire public discourse was seeded by a PR company to make Geese look as uncompromising and grassroots as possible.*' Nothing seems real anymore. - [Nick Cave's Letter on Grief](https://youtu.be/lMsqmYncEfg?si=ob29NQBSz1CqbP84). I stumbled upon this video of [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/) reading the famous letter written by [Nick Cave on grief](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/nick-cave-s-open-letter-to-a-grieving-fan-is-a-beautiful-meditation-on-loss-1.4892726). '*Like ideas, these spirits speak of possibility. Follow your ideas, because on the other side of the idea is change and growth and redemption. Create your spirits. Call to them. Will them alive. Speak to them.*' Beautifully written, and even more powerful spoken. - [More Molly Guards](https://unsung.aresluna.org/more-molly-guards/). More than you've ever wanted to know about [molly guards](https://unsung.aresluna.org/molly-guard-in-reverse/), the *little plastic safety cover you have to move out of the way before you press some button of significance*. How they got their name is humorous, but not unexpected if you have a kid. :) Side note: feels like [Claude Code needs a physical molly guard](https://www.chatprd.ai/how-i-ai/workflows/how-to-build-a-20-physical-ai-buddy-with-claude-code). - [The End Isn't Nigh](https://ckarchive.com/b/0vuwh9h96eg98i7mggrmzhv7orr2eunhx8g7n). A good reminder: '*it is very, very, very, very unlikely that the literal apocalypse is coming anytime soon.*' A great reminder from [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com), '*The point I want to try to drive home is very much not that life is safer and more secure than the heralds of the apocalypse would have us believe. It's the opposite: that human existence is intrinsically unsafe and insecure, all the time. Anything could happen at any moment, the future is unknowable, one day you'll die, and some people end up having vastly more traumatic encounters with these realities than others.*' [Momento Mori](https://makoism.com/the-moment/). - [Just Be Normal About Things](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/just-be-normal-about-st). Oof; as a 'recovering' [process/flow maximizer](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) (and a [quantified self maximizer](https://makoism.com/measuring-success/)), this post from [Joan Westenberg](https://www.joanwestenberg.com) **hits home**. '*Nothing is allowed to be small anymore. Nothing is allowed to be moderate, partial, ordinary, seasonal, boring, or just good enough... you can’t just go to bed earlier - you have to sleepmaxx. You can't just eat a balanced diet - you have to eliminate seed oils, and track your glucose, fear vegetables and consume Nothing but beef, drink raw milk, and talk about ancestral living and blue zones on your longevity TikTok. And of course, you can’t just exercise. You have to train like a tactical athlete, buy recovery wearables, plunge yourself into ice, supplement like a racehorse, and describe walking as zone two*.' A must-read. - [What Freddie Mercury Rarely Watched](https://thepivotpoint.world/community/the-pivot-point/post/what-freddie-mercury-rarely-watched/). '*Freddie Mercury reportedly avoided watching footage of himself perform. He said it would make him self-conscious the next time on stage.*' I really liked this post, and it's worth repeating: '*When attention shifts from the experience toward monitoring ourselves inside it, flow begins to break.*' - [Ian's Is Still The Best Site For Tying Your Shoelaces](https://aftermath.site/ians-shoelace-site-is-still-the-best-destination-for-tying-your-shoes/). '*Ian Fieggen, who also goes by Professor Shoelace, is the guy who runs* [*Ian's Shoelace Site*](https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/?ref=aftermath.site)*, the internet's prime destination for learning how to tie your shoes*.' If you want to know pretty much anything about tying shoes, **this is the place**. - [The Social Reckoning](https://kottke.org/26/06/the-social-reckoning). I can't believe it's been 16 years since [The Social Network](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4) was in theaters. And while I ditched Facebook in 2020, there's no denying the effect it's had on the world. I never thought we'd see a sequel, but here we are with [The Social Reckoning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM4LkaXwGuY) landing this October. I can't wait to see Aaron Sorkin's take on what's happened to society since. Unfortunately, [Jesse Eisenberg](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/) [**refused** to return for this](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/jesse-eisenberg-turned-down-social-reckoning-zuckerburg-sorkin-1236779766/), citing '*He simply did not want to be conflated with Mark Zuckerberg anymore, that he has his problems with the guy. He doesn’t like kids coming up to him in airports with business cards that say 'I'm CEO, bitch' for him to sign.*' - [How To Read More](https://borretti.me/article/how-to-read-more). A humorous and thoughtful list of ways to read more. Starting with, '*Quit your job: working less than full time has freed up a lot of time to read and learn and do various other things.*' - [Thinking Clearly About Software](https://www.seangoedecke.com/thinking-clearly/). I don't know about you, but until recently, my brain has been a bit foggy in 2026\. Thinking clearly, given the daily bombardment of information and noise, has become more difficult than ever. I really liked a lot of the advice in this post. '*My philosophy MA supervisor, Karen Jones, used to tell me to *think in slow motion*. She was right, and the lesson applies doubly to tech. Slow down! The opposite of thinking clearly is frantically trying different things until the problem goes away. Instead, take no action, breathe, and think slowly and deliberately through the problem. This is intellectually hard, but the main challenge is actually emotional. You need to get comfortable with the problem just sitting there in your mind: the bug, or the incident, or the thing you don't understand.*' - [No, I Won't Buy You A Coffee](https://hakkerman.eu/blog/i-wont-buy-you-a-coffee/). I paused to read this one, as I have a '[buy me a coffee](https://makoism.com/now/#/portal/support)' link on my site. '*This irks me primarily because I'm so tired of rampant capitalization and constant advertisements. That's why I'm here on the indie web, to get away from all of that, and now you are here, begging me for my money.*' I get it. I thought it was a nice way for someone to give a hat tip without a subscription. - [Refining Humanity](https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/05/defining-humanity/#narrowing-the-numinous). '*One of the best ways to evaluate your own understanding of a subject is to attempt to explain it to someone else. Through explaining things, we discover how much of the totally obvious world is actually full of ambiguity, mystery, and contradiction.*' Another great read from the mind of [Cory Doctorow](https://pluralistic.net), which explores how machines perform tasks by 'thinking' differently than humans, and how to define better what separates us from the machines. - [The Enthusiasm Equation](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/the-enthusiasm-equation). '*There’s lots of ways to be tired. The worst kind is the kind that leave you smaller. There’s another kind of tired, though. The tired that follows an afternoon helping a friend move. The tired that comes after making a meal for people you love. The tired that settles into your bones after staying too late around a campfire talking. You might arrive home exhausted, but somehow you’re renewed in a way that leaves you more yourself than you were before.*' What a wonderful equation: **joy + curiosity + action = momentum**. - [I'm Still Becoming Someone New At 81](https://garybuzzard.substack.com/p/im-still-becoming-someone-new-at). Nothing stays static, and **continuous learning** is a *skill* I always emphasize that people need to lean into. '*Choose something you would love to do and begin doing it. Jump in. Watch YouTube videos about it. Invest time and money in it and do it at least a little every day. And most importantly, hold the thought of what you want to do in your mind every day and don't let go of it.*' It's never too late to start something new. - [Live Deliberately](https://www.atvbt.com/live-deliberately/). '*One of my favorite words is deliberate: I long to live more of my life deliberately.*' A good one to close things out this week. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-7-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-7-26/ Last updated: 2026-06-07T09:57:17.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Punk Is the Way](https://brilliantcrank.com/punk-is-the-way/). [Greg Storey](https://brilliantcrank.com) leads off this week with a great piece on why leaning into the cues from a punk rock mindset is more relevant than ever. '*Punk is grounded in refusal. It said no to the gatekeepers and the gospel of what's required or even normal. This is where we start. The first move isn't optimism, it's just deciding to stop hoping, blaming, hiding, or making excuses. Move, even if it's ugly. Especially if it's ugly! That's the signal we're doing the thing. Don't seek to make big moves. Don't learn karate, learn wax on, wax off. And then learn paint the fence or that sweet crane move.*' I've spent a lot of time musing how rebellion/refusal is tied to [the pirate code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate%5Fcode), but Greg makes it a call to arms. '*The only reliable way through all of today's bullshit is punk. Move, make shit, and put it out there. Pick up your "three chords" and bang out a song. Ditch the network and find a tribe. Create your own venues and distribute your own zines. We've got to rewire our brains. Yesterday isn't coming back, and we don't need it to*.' - [How to Be Defiant](https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-be-defiant). '*My research has shown that a key reason defiance can be so hard, even when it’s clearly called for, is that we’re remarkably good at calculating the risks of defiance, but remarkably poor at calculating the risks of staying silent.*' I'm still processing this one, because there is so much good advice in it. I've never really thought about the cost associated with not saying something. '*When we repeatedly suppress our authentic responses – our opinions, our preferences, our boundaries – we create an ongoing conflict between who we are and how we’re acting.*' - [The Sin of Noticing Reality](https://www.hottakes.space/p/the-sin-of-noticing-reality). '*When a person sees some topic of discourse they don’t like being noticed, the following is what happens after. First, they say: it’s not happening. Then, if that doesn’t work: okay, it’s happening, but it’s not a big deal. If that doesn’t stick: why do you even care about this? And the latest one, which might be my favorite for sheer audacity: yes, it happened, but it’s over now, so you can stop talking about it. Ironic that the expiration date on noticing a thing is set by people who didn’t want you noticing in the first place.*' A really interesting post on how there's a recurring pattern of dismissal that people use when they encounter uncomfortable cultural observations. Worth thinking about. - [You Should Worry Far Less](https://www.hottakes.space/p/you-should-worry-far-less). '*The numbers on worry are even more absurd than you think: 91.4% of worry predictions did not come true.*' A really interesting piece that reminds me of the core lesson of [The Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/). '*The modern world is engineered to keep the worry machine running hot. The internet delivers a fire hose of amplified catastrophe from across the entire planet 24 hours a day. These are real pressures, and I won’t be annoying today and fully dismiss them. But here’s the thing: even with all of that, *most things are fine*.*' A good reminder. - [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FHWRGKfSq3A). This quick retrospective/music video, called Stay Alive, popped up in my feed this week, and it was a great reminder to re-watch [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD6cy4PBQPI). When released, [Richard Roeper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard%5FRoeper) called it '*one of the more disappointing efforts of the holiday season*' and [Roger Ebert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger%5FEbert) piled on his feelings with '*I hated, hated, hated this movie*'. But as is often the case with critics, I completely disagree. The lessons from this film are more important than ever in 2026: **You need to let yourself go a little, as time is easily wasted**. Highly recommend, despite what the critics said. - [Mini-Comics: My Guide to Cutting and Folding an 8-Page Zine](https://docpop.org/2018/01/how-to-make-mini-comics-my-guide-to-cutting-and-folding-an-8-page-zine/). Speaking of making zines, I thought this quick guide to 'cutting and folding an 8 page zine' was useful for the archive. - [My Son's Math Homework Is Essentially Just Pokémon (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/05/homework-video-games-ed-tech/687198/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHZFX-4HN3o1dchju%5FGiIrn0&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). When my kids were younger, I already saw a **radical** difference in how they teach math today, to what I was taught growing up. Really, does any *adult* even understand how common core math even works? But this take from the Atlantic highlights a new trend: the gamification of learning. '*On Blooket and several other platforms, students can create their own quizzes from existing templates. Some have cleverly learned to design them so that any answer is designated as correct—they simply mash the first answer to each question as soon as it appears to maximize their in-game rewards. The internet is full of hacks for Blooket, Gimkit, Prodigy, and others—such as browser extensions that automatically answer every question correctly. When I ran this by Stewart, he flashed something between a smile and a grimace. 'Kids are creative.. they try to cheat our games as many ways as they possibly can.' If there’s one thing that all of these years of tech-centered education has taught schoolkids, it’s how to game the system.*' Great. Maybe schools should get back to teaching critical thinking or curiosity? - [The Solution Might Be Canceling My AI Subscription](https://thoughts.hmmz.org/2026-05-31.html)([via](https://simonwillison.net/2026/May/31/the-solution-might-be-cancelling-my-ai-subscription/)). Ok, [I said I wouldn't write much about AI](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-24-26/), but here's a quick personal shift. I let my OpenAI ChatGPT subscription expire yesterday and have deleted it from my personal devices, so this post was timely. '*On that last point, this technology is horrific for attention. It's a thermonuclear ADHD amplifier and I have seen the same effect in every single one of my adult friends. Folk running 3 screens simultaneously working on totally unrelated "projects" they have little hope of maintaining, and such little commitment to the outcome that the time is obviously wasted.*' I am still keeping Claude, though, for now, but I totally can see the relevance to what the author is experiencing. '*These experiences have opened a new perception of all tool use, because beneath it all, this is not about faster development = more apps or faster email = more communication being a desirable goal. Generically, *it's about a unit time of life and how it is spent meaningfully.**' - [Personal Software](https://www.techcanbebetter.com/personal-software/). On the flip side of the coin from the last post, I've been building **a ton** of personal software lately. '*But I get more excited about the personal side of software development, the bottom of the market. It is now far easier to write one-off personal apps for exactly your needs and your needs alone.*' - [Personal Search Engines](https://preposter.us/single-michigan-helium-network/personal-search-engines.html). Speaking of personal software, I've been spending time [reducing my reliance on 'big tech'](https://chriswiegman.com/2022/12/time-to-reduce-my-reliance-on-big-tech/) in general and expanding out **my own home lab**. I haven't gone this far, but found the concept interesting: a 'personal search engine' for your interests. '*It provides personalized search results by indexing only the things you are interested in, not by spying on you. Instead of crawling the entire web and then looking for what you've searched for, A PSE crawls only the parts of the web you are most interested in and looks for what you're searching for there. The result is a list of hits that are relevant to your interests that point to websites you are more likely to know and trust. A PSE can run locally (on the same computer you use to browse the web) and in fact I expect this is how most of them will be used. A local PSE is exceptionally fast and by its nature exceptionally private.*' I believe we're going to see more and more of this happening over the next few years - but it's always balanced with how hard it is to do these things versus the convenience of using big tech. - [How One Founder's Bet on the Old School Web Is Paying Off (gift link)](https://www.theverge.com/tech/938245/past-maps-website-google-zero-ai?view%5Ftoken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6IlNlYm9QMHFBeWQiLCJwIjoiL3RlY2gvOTM4MjQ1L3Bhc3QtbWFwcy13ZWJzaXRlLWdvb2dsZS16ZXJvLWFpIiwiZXhwIjoxNzgxMTQ2ODE1LCJpYXQiOjE3ODA3MTQ4MTV9.RquCCN82poPryhZ7VczI%5FDSoIRbo-ANGCKH85CnKTbU&utm%5Fmedium=gift-link). Here's a great website, [Past Maps](https://pastmaps.com), where you can '*Travel back in time; Uncover lost roads, forgotten towns, and the history hidden beneath your feet.*' But what's even more interesting is its backstory. A former Meta engineer, Craig Campbell, built the site with the idea '*this is how the web *is supposed* to work.*' By focusing on organic search traffic and specific user interests, he's built up a large following by focusing on a need, not the ad revenue. - [The Disappearance of the Public Bench](https://placesjournal.org/article/the-disappearance-of-the-public-bench/). '*Benches, like other public amenities, are places where optimistic visions of civic life meet messier realities. They’re sites of leisure and contestation that invite a range of constituencies with vastly differing needs and desires. Office workers may lunch and seniors may rest, but teenagers might socialize at decibels unwelcome by their elders.*' A really good post on why urban areas are removing public benches, and why it's not a good trend. Also check out, and contribute a photo to [Open Benches](https://openbenches.org), a map/photo project of almost 42,000 memorial benches. - [Current Rothko](https://rothko.joonas.wtf/). Today I learned about the abstract painter, [Mark Rothko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark%5FRothko), who is best known for '*color field paintings that depicted irregular and painterly rectangular regions of color*.' This fascinating site *dynamically* creates your **own** Rothko based on a location's weather data, combined with various color registers, brightness, temperature, and mood, and its engine can match/generate a unique one **to a moment**. Wild! Also check out the entire [collection](https://rothko.joonas.wtf/all). **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-31-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-31-26/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T12:01:07.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Don't Mistake Nice People for Good People](https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/dont-mistake-nice-people-for-good). One of the rules I try to keep is not diving too much into politics for the newsletter, as Groucho Marx points out: '*Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.*' I did appreciate this post though, which can really just be applied to life, work, or whatever suits you, about how niceness should be viewed as a *skill*, rather than a personality trait. '*Very few of us are outwardly rude to people in person, even those with whom we have fundamental worldview differences. In most of those cases, we're strategically civil. We smile, make small talk, wish them well, and the moment they leave, we exhale and celebrate surviving a possible public disaster. We're not exactly being phony; we're treating people with simple decency and avoiding unnecessary turbulence. We're trying to navigate already exhausting days by reducing conflict, avoiding an honest airing of grievances that might derail our day and set off a relational atomic bomb.*' The world is wild right now, choose kindness. - [The Hidden Cost of Taking Yourself Too Seriously](https://bigthink.com/mind-behavior/the-hidden-cost-of-taking-yourself-too-seriously/). Recently, I subscribed to [Big Think](https://bigthink.com), and it's been a **great** source of interesting topics, videos, and thought pieces. As I've [alluded to in past newsletters](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-12-26/), most of 2026 has been **rethinking workflows and assumptions** by focusing on things I did as a kid to fuel my creativity and drive my curiosity. The art of "play" has been especially useful, and I'm in the process of writing up [a longer blog post](https://makoism.com/tag/makoism/) about it. '*When we're playful, our attention shifts away from how we are doing and toward what we are doing.*' Some wonderful ideas in here, and this hits home: '*The most playful adults don't have a separate "play time" carved out in their schedules. They let it leak into everything: the way they run a meeting, approach a problem, or have a conversation. It's not about what they're doing. It's the orientation they bring to it — curiosity instead of approval.*' - [Megadeth Drummer Hears "Mr. Brightside" For The First Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbUYVcaF%5Fl0). I've also been on The Killers [Mr. Brightside](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE) kick [as of late](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-12-26/), so this video seemed appropriate. It's a series in which famous drummers hear a piece of music for the first time, and they see how they can transform it. This one is with [Dirk Verbeuren from Megadeth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk%5FVerbeuren), where his '*incredible drumming skills effortlessly transform Mr. Brightside into his own unique masterpiece, showcasing the value of learning songs quickly for session work. He also highlights the importance of having techniques and tricks for memorization and sight-reading, allowing him to effortlessly master the song with ease.*' - [The Costco Theory of the Internet](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-costco-theory-of-the-internet/). '*The internet gave us access to anything, and then forced us to consume everything, and then made us responsible for sorting all of it. The modern consumer has become a part-time procurement department. We audit quality, decode incentives, compare vendors, scan reviews, avoid scams, dodge subscriptions, read refund policies, assess creators, inspect screenshots, and attempt, against all odds, to tell actual expertise apart from people who bought a microphone. This is considered normal behavior now. *And it's deranged.**' I don't know how [Joan](https://www.joanwestenberg.com) does it, but she always has a way of just tapping into something that's underlying in society and nails it. This post posits that digital platforms should move away from infinite choice toward curated, high-floor experiences. I can't argue with that. - [Life Lessons from a Pro Bowler](https://experimentalliving.substack.com/p/life-lessons-from-a-pro-bowler). '*The key is to examine every part of your day – work, relationships, brushing your teeth – and ask: Is there a better method to do this? Can I do this task more effectively? More joyfully? Am I packing my suitcase this way because it’s the best way, or because I’ve always done it this way and I’m just being carried along by inertia?*' An interesting read on some strategies/experiments questioning invisible assumptions. - [Why Your Brain Loves Games and How to Use That to Your Advantage](https://bigthink.com/mind-behavior/why-your-brain-loves-games-and-how-to-use-that-to-your-advantage/). More on games and playing, from one of my favorites, [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net). '*Game mechanics work because they align with the brain’s motivational wiring at multiple levels: dopamine circuits that reward anticipation, our psychological need for competence, and learning that’s based on low-cost experimentation. These mechanics aren’t magic — they’re design patterns, and once you understand how they work, you can apply them to boost motivation in any area of your work and life.*' Some really good ideas in here with several techniques on turning life into a game (I particularly liked 'add an element of randomness'). - [The Sin of Noticing Reality](https://www.hottakes.space/p/the-sin-of-noticing-reality). Another poignant post for 2026: '*When a person sees some topic of discourse they don’t like being noticed, the following is what happens after. First, they say: it’s not happening. Then, if that doesn’t work: okay, it’s happening, but it’s not a big deal. If that doesn’t stick: why do you even care about this? And the latest one, which might be my favorite for sheer audacity: yes, it happened, but it’s over now, so you can stop talking about it.*' - [Red Button or Blue Button? What a Viral Question Tells Us About Game Theory and the State of the World](https://theconversation.com/red-button-or-blue-button-what-a-viral-question-tells-us-about-game-theory-and-the-state-of-the-world-281993). What's even better than a game or how to incorporate play into everything? [The game -about- the game](https://makoism.com/the-game/): [The Infinite Game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tye525dkfi8), [game theory](https://theoutline.com/post/8852/time-for-some-completely-unhelpful-coronavirus-game-theory), the [meta-game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metagame), [second-order thinking](https://untools.co/second-order-thinking/), etc. These all cluster around the concept that if you can zoom out far enough, the real advantage is **understanding the structure of the game** *better* than the other players do. If you're lucky, you can potentially redefine what game you're actually in. This post dives into two of my favorite examples: [the trolley problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley%5Fproblem) and [the prisoner's dilemma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s%5Fdilemma). - [Why Is It So Hard to Be Ordinary?](https://web.archive.org/web/20260528082439/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/why-is-it-so-hard-to-be-ordinary). In a [fellowship call](https://thedolectures.com) this week, I mentioned that one of my favorite things to do in an organization is to *find the mavericks/outcasts* \- the ones that won't accept the status quo. It's the fact that the mavericks don't really consider themselves as visionaries, but people who couldn't stop noticing that something was just ... wrong. That insight is what becomes **extraordinary**: '*When ordinariness is elevated, does it risk becoming extraordinary, and thereby losing its essential character? Here, there's a paradox. If we value only the best experiences, then we might find ourselves looking askance at ordinary life. But, if we want to properly cherish the ordinary, we must do so without making it into something it isn't - that is, into something extraordinary.*' The maverick doesn't elevate the ordinary. **They refuse to look away from it**. - [If You're Never Wrong at Work, You're Probably Not Leading](https://www.scarletink.com/if-youre-never-wrong-at-work-youre-probably-not-leading/). There's a lot of value in taking risks - but you have to embrace the idea that there are going to be unpopular ideas and potential for rejection. But if you want to lead, you have to be bold. Every success is built on a mountain of failure. '*The people who create the most value are usually the ones willing to make uncomfortable decisions before the right answer is apparent.*' - [Not Everything Needs to Be Simplified](https://guillaumelouvel.com/blog/simplexify/). Today I learned the word [simplexity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplexity), '*a* [*neologism*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neologism) *which proposes a possible complementary relationship between complexity and simplicity.*' A worthy read that discusses how '*design that ignores this treats complexity as the enemy of the user, when the real enemy is confusion*.' - [Photographic Memory Is a Myth: What the Research Says](https://nicenews.com/science/photographic-memory-myth-what-research-says-about-remembering/). '*The idea of photographic memory is simple and powerful: Experience is captured objectively, stored completely, and retrieved perfectly. See it once, keep it forever. There's just one problem. There's no scientific evidence it exists.*' I really liked this post, which dives into how memory actually works. '*Human memory does not work like a recording device. It's a reconstructive process even among those with the most extraordinary skills. When you recall an event, memory doesn't just hand you your experiences the same way every time. It's never a matter of simply accessing, retrieving, and playing back a static record of a stored slice of the past.*' - [The Backward Index](https://kottke.org/26/05/the-backward-index). '*How do dictionary makers keep track of similarly suffixed words, like those ending in -ism, -graphy, -ness, or -ology? The* [*Backward Index*](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/backward-index-mystery)' - [About the Solar Powered Website](https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/about/the-solar-website/). Did you know there are a few solar-powered (and self-hosted) websites out there? Neither did I - but [Low-tech Magazine](https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com) is just that. But this was a great read on how (and why it was built). '*Because it uses so little energy, this website can be run on a mini-computer with the processing power of a mobile phone. It needs 1 to 2.5 watts of power, which is supplied by a small, off-grid solar PV system on the balcony of the author's home. Typical for off-the-grid renewable power systems, energy storage is limited. This means that the website will go offline during longer periods of cloudy weather.*' Check it out, but as they mention, it may be offline if it runs out of power. :) - [Earth's Radio Bubble: Every Signal We've Ever Sent Into Space](https://www.thescientificdrop.com/2026/05/earths-radio-bubble-every-signal-weve.html). Ending this week with a really interesting visualization on how far our radio signals from Earth have traveled. '*Right now, a sphere of electromagnetic radiation is expanding outward from Earth at the speed of light. It has been growing since the first powerful radio transmissions of the early 1900s. Today, that bubble is roughly 240 light-years across and it contains every piece of music, every TV broadcast, every radar ping, and every deliberate message we have ever sent into the cosmos. To any civilization with a sufficiently sensitive receiver sitting within that bubble, we have already announced ourselves.*' However, we have only '*illuminated approximately 0.000002% of our own galaxy - a drop of ink that has barely left the tip of the pen*.' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-24-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-24-26/ Last updated: 2026-05-24T12:01:42.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Your CEO Is Suffering From AI Psychosis](https://handyai.substack.com/p/your-ceo-is-suffering-from-ai-psychosis). After this week, I may curate AI articles very carefully for a really special new idea. I find many posts or pieces of media coverage these days are profoundly one-sided, riddled with too much opinion or hype, and neither argument *has changed in the last 6 months*. I'm personally trying to be a realist with this technology and find myself more in the middle camp. This tech has interesting aspects; the "problems" (with anything, really) often come back to people. What I did like about this post was its focus on a different problem: the psychology of it all. '*These platforms share a common design philosophy: make the operator feel like they're commanding a fleet. Dashboards, org charts, agent hierarchies, budget controls, governance layers. It looks and feels like management. You get the dopamine hit of delegation without the inconvenience of measuring whether the delegates produced anything useful.' And, of course, the kicker: 'the tools themselves are incentivized to make you feel good, the platforms built on those tools are incentivized to sell you scale, and the culture around both punishes skepticism.*' Through history, there's plenty of examples like this: the supplements market, management consulting (legitimacy for a decision you've already made), social media marketing, the financial services industry (around 2007), etc. **The tools don't have to be fake for the ecosystem around them to become dishonest.** - [The Rise of the Bullshittery](https://xn--gckvb8fzb.com/the-rise-of-the-bullshittery/). The next social media site that I'm going to pull the plug on is LinkedIn. Once a place to connect with employers and former colleagues, it's strayed far from providing anything *actually useful* for people looking to improve their network, find a job, or build a business. Described in this piece as '*a market that punishes substance*', I found this one an interesting read about what's happened there. '*Bullshit has always been with us and neither LinkedIn nor any other platform invented the self-promoting middle manager. What has changed, though, is the observability of the bullshit, for which we now have a continuously updating feed.*' I promptly picked up a copy of the book referenced, [On Bullshit](https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-bullshit-anniversary-edition-harry-g-frankfurt/5acb8bcdee8a3fa9?ean=9780691276786&next=t), which is now on top of my to-read pile. '*The bullshitter is not the same as the liar, because the liar at least respects the truth enough to try to hide it, but the bullshitter does not care whether what they are saying is true or false. The truth-value of the statement is simply not part of their concern. The bullshitter is optimising for a different objective, usually appearing competent, appearing confident, or appearing to be the right kind of person to be in the room.*' - [LinkedIn User Hides AI Prompt Injection in Bio to Force Recruitment Spam to Be Sent in Olde English Prose](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/linkedin-recruitment-spam-becomes-olde-english-prose-after-user-hides-ai-prompt-injection-in-bio-bots-also-also-manipulated-to-address-user-as-my-lord). Speaking of LinkedIn, a fun little post about a user who used prompt injection (read: [Ignore all Previous Instructions](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/)) to stick it to AI recruiter bots. - [A Manifesto for Small Software](https://fitsonafloppy.com/). Somewhat akin to [the boring technology club](https://boringtechnology.club), I always enjoy reading a good manifesto to make you stop and think. '*Software has lost its way. Apps that once shipped on a single floppy disk now demand gigabytes of your storage, minutes of your time, and far too much of your patience. We accepted this gradual bloat, but that’s not progress. Software should be as small as it can be. Not as a gimmick, but as a discipline.*' - [NASA Still Maintains Some of the Voyager Spacecraft Code in a 1970s-Era Programming Language That Almost Nobody on Earth Fully Understands Anymore, and the Handful of Engineers Who Do Are Now in Their 80s](https://spacedaily.com/nasa-still-maintains-some-of-the-voyager-spacecraft-code-in-a-1970s-era-programming-language-that-almost-nobody-on-earth-fully-understands-anymore-and-the-handful-of-engineers-who-do-are-now-in-their/). If teams keep [vibe-coding everything without understanding what is written](https://medium.com/@keneade/your-ai-is-writing-code-no-one-understands-and-thats-becoming-a-legal-problem-e1d6aa6b174f), I don't see how **all** software can avoid this trap. '*This is the real version of the story. Not that the code is unreadable, but that the institutional memory around the code is fragmentary, and the conditions that produced the engineers who built it cannot be reproduced.*' - [Not Everything Is an Emergency](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/not-everything-is-an-emergency). No truer words than this: '*If you are constantly fighting emergencies, you don’t have emergencies.*' I feel like every week this year has been a version of that - a constant treadmill of the latest fire to put out, and I'm taking some important time for myself this weekend to clear my head and reset from the grind as of late. - [You're Weirder Than You Think](https://www.atvbt.com/youre-weirder-than-you-think/). I loved the visual artifact in this post - it's a quick test that stood out to me, because apparently, with my answers, '*your combination is shared by 0.690% of US adults.*' Fascinating. - [Creating Passionate Users: Subvert From Within](https://web.archive.org/web/20060114160300/http://headrush.typepad.com/creating%5Fpassionate%5Fusers/2005/09/subvert%5Ffrom%5Fwi.html). From the archives (since [TypePad has shut down](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/one-time-wordpress-competitor-typepad-ends-its-slide-into-obscurity-by-shutting-down/)), but always a fun one to look back on, recalling a conversation I had with [Kathy Sierra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy%5FSierra) back in 2006 that **shaped the next 20 years** of my career and how I approach big-company thinking. '*These folks have a chance to make a Difference (capital 'D') on a scale that most of us will never touch... When Ward Cunningham (inventor of the Wiki, key player in extreme programming, etc.) went to work for Microsoft, much of the software engineering world was horrified that he'd even consider it. But he kept insisting that where better to produce positive change than going straight into the heart of one of the biggest sources of trouble for both users and developers in the software ecosystem? But let's say you're not a Ward Cunningham or any other famous, visible, already influential industry player. You're an engineer, or maybe a program manager. In that case, you do what many of us did at Sun... *subvert from within*.*' - [Spieden Island or Safari Island?](https://debgarland.com/?p=630). As I often talk about my own discovery of [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/) (and evolution to [Life 3.0](https://makoism.com/now/)), there's a small island across the channel from where I live now that has a rather fascinating history. '*Spieden Island became a hunting preserve for a short time in the 1960s when two taxidermist brothers purchased the island, imported several species of exotic animals and birds from around the world, and invited hunters to fly in and pay for the privilege of hunting them. Lions, tigers, giraffes, rhinos, and monkeys were stuffed and shipped home as trophies.*' Yikes! But a great reminder to look up, explore what's around you - it can be fascinating; Read: [micro-adventures in your own backyard](https://makoism.com/adventure/). - [The Most Surprising Part of Stephen Colbert's Late Show](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/05/stephen-colbert-late-show-ending-legacy/687160/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHRBGBpGnz5SKmWPXdanoPiU). Sad to [see Stephen Colbert's final episode this week](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/how-to-watch-stephen-colbert-final-late-show-episode), and I really appreciated this tribute from The Atlantic. '*The clips I revisit the most speak to his empathetic nature, which revealed itself more and more as The Late Show went on. Take his exchange with Keanu Reeves, in which he asked the actor, 'What do you think happens when we die?' (as part of a rapid-fire series), and Reeves pondered and replied, 'I know that the ones who love us will miss us.' This moment of sweet profundity would have felt more jarring on Letterman’s or O’Brien’s show, but Colbert expanded it as a recurring feature: an existential questionnaire to pose to other celebrity guests, searching for an insightful peek into their brain; it’s a much more tender version of a viral segment.*' - [The Most Radical Act in an Age of Outrage Is to Play](https://thenextweb.com/news/the-most-radical-act-in-an-age-of-outrage-is-to-play). I'll admit it: [I am on a total "play" kick as of late](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). I mentioned this previously, but leaning into my 8-year-old self, focusing on curiosity and [When Adults Embrace Play, They Create Community](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/when%5Fadults%5Fembrace%5Fplay%5Fthey%5Fcreate%5Fcommunity), it's been a tremendous boost to how I'm rethinking, well, everything. '*One study examined the neurobiology of stress resilience and found that positive affect, novelty, and exploratory behaviors, the core elements of play, strengthen neural circuits that protect against chronic stress. In other words, play expands our adaptive capacity. Fear contracts it. Through that lens, play becomes a neurological rebellion against conditioning that thrives on anxiety.*' - [The Imperfectionist: Things I'm Still Learning About Writing](https://ckarchive.com/b/qdu8h7h45knx2azwnnmw7u8gm968gi4h4kglp). Some interesting advice about the writing process from [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/the-imperfectionist). This one in particular was useful, as I often fall into this trap: '*When I'm structuring or outlining a piece of writing, I find it helpful to remember that I’m just deciding; that is, not struggling to uncover the perfect structure that already exists out there in the world (that would be much more stressful), but *just making a choice about what to put where*.*' - [How to Start a Journaling Club With Suleika Jaouad](https://priyaparker.substack.com/p/how-to-start-a-journaling-club-with). I'm always a sucker for good journaling techniques (the [Spanish Fighter Pilot method](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-14-25/) in particular was awesome), so this post on a '[live journaling club](https://cupofjo.com/2025/04/17/is-a-journaling-club-a-brilliant-way-to-make-friends/)' was interesting. The idea is, make journaling a **collective experience**: '*Sharing optional. No pressure. Prompts provided. Every invitation is a kind of social contract that tells people exactly what’s happening and how to arrive. Particularly now, when so many people feel lonely, socially rusty, or emotionally exhausted, clarity is its own form of care. A specific invitation creates emotional safety before anyone even walks through the door.*' An interesting idea to think about. - [Inside the Brain's Nightly Erasure of You](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/what-the-stages-of-sleep-reveal-about). '*While we’re awake, conscious experience is shaped by sensation and action. Streams of sensory input flow in, motor output flows out, and this ongoing exchange with the environment anchors our subjective experience. But when we fall asleep, that architecture dissolves and rearranges itself.*' Given my own trouble sleeping, I'm always pulled into posts that explore what happens to the mind when we nod off. '*We fall into non-REM sleep knowing what it’s like to be — and then, nothing. *A total annihilation of is-ness*.*' Love it. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-17-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-17-26/ Last updated: 2026-05-17T12:01:32.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [taken.](https://sinceyouarrived.world/taken) I thought this was a powerful, yet simple, way to show that personal information is just "given" away when you open a webpage: your location, your computer type, your language, and more. When I opened this, it revealed 32 different data points that are just up for grabs. '*Every page you have ever visited knows at least this much. Most of them know more. *None of them told you.**' A powerful reminder. - [A Work in Progress](https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress-2/). I was reviewing several old posts, and this one popped to the top of my brain as I feel like [I'm down this hole again](https://makoism.com/holes/). '**I'm tired*. I get that most of this is all self-induced stress around getting things done, but something feels "more" stressful this year. There's more weight to things. It's probably in my head.*' I can sense a bit of a major refocus for me on the near horizon as the current stress is just not maintainable. - [Outrage Is Letting Someone Else Set the Frame](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/outrag/). '*There is nothing neutral about the feed. It's a slot machine built to dispense outrage on whatever schedule keeps you returning. The story in front of you was picked because an algorithm, somewhere, ran the numbers and concluded it would make you feel something corrosive enough to produce a reaction.*' I've been drawn into getting away from the algorithm across most of my reading these days. I'm back to [leveraging RSS content](https://www.terrygodier.com/current) in big ways lately, and plan to remove the remaining algorithm apps, such as LinkedIn, from my devices. [Terry's blog has also been a tremendous inspiration](https://blog.terrygodier.com/2026/05/04/my-plan-with-rss.html), and I've recently been getting together a few feeds (ala [sourcefeed](https://www.sourcefeed.app)) of books, music, films, etc. for your consumption. More on this in a future post about how I'm going to embrace this mindset. - [Foo Fighters: Tiny Desk Concert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxaXWSVhRXU). I've always enjoyed [NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts](https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/), so it was fun to see a band I've seen perform in a large stadium take on a smaller, intimate setting. There are 900+ performances up there, so check out a few of my other favorites: [Noah Kahan](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/g-s1-111850/noah-kahan-tiny-desk-concert), [Mumford & Sons](https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/g-s1-114431/mumford-and-sons-tiny-desk-concert), [Billie Eilish](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4eYXhJI4-7wSWc8UNRwD4A), and [Olivia Rodrigo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGczofguB0c). - [The WeatherStar 4000, Then and Now](https://www.retroist.com/p/weatherstar-4000-then-and-now). From [the retroist ](https://www.retroist.com)comes a look at the rise and fall of the cable TV 'weather machine', also known as [WeatherStar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyEpXZCg8yA). '*The local forecast. Blue and orange graphics rolling through temperature highs, humidity readings, and multi-day outlooks, all set to early 90s light jazz. If you grew up watching cable in the eighties or nineties, you know exactly what I mean. I spent a lot of time with that channel as a kid. Something about it was really calming. I could tune in before school, or late at night, and it would just be there, cycling through the current conditions, extended forecast, and local radar. There was no anchors, no opinions, just data rendered in that chunky digital typeface with the sun icon and the little cloud graphic. It made the world feel a little more organized.*' [Check out one of the online emulators](https://weatherstar.netbymatt.com) with your own zip code and enjoy the nostalgia. - [Wisdom from a Clear Pen](https://stevedylan.dev/posts/wisdom-from-a-clear-pen/). '*What a clear little pen helped me realize about minimalism and opulence*.' A lovely post that's less about the pen and more about an appreciation for the *things that are beautiful and meaningful*. '*The more I pondered on this tug and pull between minimalism and opulence, the more I saw the harmony that comes with a perspective that sees the value in both. They are not exclusive ideas, and each has its own time and place.*' - [In Defense of the Skunk at the Garden Party](https://priyaparker.substack.com/p/in-defense-of-the-skunk-at-the-garden). '**Hosting is an act of creation. Gathering is about connection. It is also about power*. Who you bring together, under what auspices, and who you place alongside one another are all acts of creation. And perhaps none is more direct than the decision of who to invite. If the host wields power at a gathering, every guest also holds some. But as guests, our toolkit collapses into two blunt instruments: polite silence or burning the house down. We lack the language and the imagination for what lies in between. Perhaps we ought to name it.*' This is a *fascinating* post from the master of understanding [the power of gatherings](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-gathering-how-we-meet-and-why-it-matters-priya-parker/6cf339d7407925e3?ean=9781594634932&next=t), Priya Parker. She calls this skunk guesting: '*It’s the choice to use your temporary belonging — your seat at the table, your proximity, your invitation — not just to enjoy the room, but to shape it. To widen the geography of conversation. To interrupt, when necessary, in service of a larger value.*' Priya's latest book, [The Art of Fighting](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-fighting-the-transformative-power-of-conflict-priya-n-parker/4a99cb4fb9ddf088?ean=9780593420225&next=t), is already at the top of my 'books to buy' list when it comes out later this year. - [The Hay Is in the Barn](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/the-hay-is-in-the-barn), I've been enjoying David's latest book [Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better](https://bookshop.org/p/books/inside-the-box-how-constraints-make-us-better-david-epstein/23100374?ean=9780593715710&next=t). '*I woke up yesterday thinking: *The hay is in the barn*. I think it’s a useful mantra for life in general. There is infinite opportunity to worry about all the things that we might have done. But that won’t change anything. Whatever you’ve got in the barn is what you’ve got. Time to proceed.*' - [It's OK to Use Coding Assistance Tools to Revive the Projects You Never Were Going to Finish](https://blog.matthewbrunelle.com/its-ok-to-use-coding-assistance-tools-to-revive-the-projects-you-never-were-going-to-finish/). I spend a ton of time in various AI tools as part of my technology adventures, and have spent a lot of time lighting up multiple projects that I just never had the time to get to, or ones that I let die on the vine due to having not enough time. '*Sort of like the Japanese word Tsundoku, for the pile of books you intend to eventually read one day. We all have these projects and they are good candidates for testing out AI coding assistance. After all, they were never going to get done anyway.*' It's a great way to test/learn/understand the boundaries of where AI will fail you. - [You Should Read Programming as Theory Building](https://codeutopia.net/blog/2026/05/09/you-should-read-programming-as-theory-building/). Content and intent are everything these days. '*Programming as Theory Building suggests that the program code, documentation and other products are secondary to what programming really is about: Building an understanding, or a mental model, of the program, its requirements, and how they relate to everything around it. That is, your primary goal as a programmer is to learn, understand, retain, improve and share this “theory” of the program.*' - [The Future of Everything Is Lies, I Guess](https://aphyr.com/posts/418-the-future-of-everything-is-lies-i-guess-work). The future of work has been on my mind as of late, so if I'm circling a theme this week, apologies. I see a stark conflict between an army of agentic interns and the power and skill of human creativity and curiosity. '*Executives seem very excited about this idea of hiring AI employees. I keep wondering: what kind of employees are they? Imagine a co-worker who generated reams of code with security hazards, forcing you to review every line with a fine-toothed comb. One who enthusiastically agreed with your suggestions, then did the exact opposite. A colleague who sabotaged your work, deleted your home directory, and then issued a detailed, polite apology for it. One who promised over and over again that they had delivered key objectives when they had, in fact, done nothing useful. An intern who cheerfully agreed to run the tests before committing, then kept committing failing garbage anyway. A senior engineer who quietly deleted the test suite, then happily reported that all tests passed. *You would fire these people, right?**' 100% spot on. - [The Largest Supply Chain Attack You Missed](https://theboard.world/articles/technology/largest-supply-chain-attack-litellm-teampcp/). Speaking of AI issues, you probably didn't know about this massive security issue that hit recently. While this is true of cybersecurity in general, '*the LiteLLM attack exposes a fundamental vulnerability in the AI development ecosystem: the supply chain is only as secure as its weakest dependency.*' - [Body Language](https://www.terrygodier.com/body-language). Terry keeps knocking out banger posts, with this one focusing on how communication technology has historically reshaped *human anatomy*. '*Teenagers today report a dent in their smallest finger from the weight of a phone cradled in one hand for years. Strained ligaments in the thumb from the repetitive reaching across glass. Small injuries. The kind you post about and laugh at.*' Stop and think about that for a moment, though - phone usage is rewiring our own anatomy. And his point is now that the '*migration has reached the end of the arm*': what happens next? What is the **next cost**? '*When communication takes days, you have days to think. When it takes seconds, you have seconds. When a machine drafts your reply before you've formed your own thought, you have no time at all. The thinking doesn't happen faster. It stops happening. Speed didn't just change how quickly we communicate. It changed whether we think before we do.*' **If you read anything this week, this is the one.** **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-10-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-10-26/ Last updated: 2026-05-16T22:51:43.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Boring Internet](https://terrygodier.com/the-boring-internet). As usual, [Terry's posts](https://www.terrygodier.com) cause a stir across the Internet, and this new post on the **Boring Internet** isn't any different - and the **must-read of the week**. '*The layer where every human activity became a venture-backed destination, every destination became a feed, every feed became ad inventory, and every ad market became a machine for producing more things to interrupt you with. Underneath that layer is another internet: older, slower, less polished, harder to monetize, and much harder to kill.*' **The protocol layer**, is the **foundation** on which things we experience today are built upon, and as he rightly calls out, they '*can't be acquired. they can't be taken public.*' The problem is that people like the convenience. It's hard to pull them from that. I saw this firsthand when trying to help grow a small social network on the island where I live, away from these big platforms. But I love where this goes: '*Communities still gather in places too small to be interesting to investors.*' - [All Those Empty Calories](https://makoism.com/consuming-empty-calories/). Reflecting on a post I wrote in 2023, '*I've been trying to become acutely aware of time wasters. And if you equate wasting time as empty calories in the day, *holy shit*, I consume way too many junk calories every week.*' I've [been thinking](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/) more and more about this lately on **where you burn time**. '*You have 10,080 minutes a week. Minus 3,360 minutes for sleep (8 hours a night, 7 days), you have 6,720 minutes to fill yourself with stuff—work, exercise, mindfulness, reading, play, joy, etc.*' 2026 has felt like an overwhelming amount of these *empty calories* again, and I am starting to figure out what I want to do about them. - [RIP Social Media. What Comes Next Is Messy](https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/05/rip-social-media-what-comes-next-is-messy/). Speaking of empty calories, social media finally seems to be edging towards the cliff. '*My sense is that the number of posts on Twitter and Facebook has probably not really declined despite the fact that the number of people posting—humans who are alive and have a pulse—has dropped by 50 percent, because of the rise of AI and LLMs and the botification of those platforms.*' The question that keeps bothering me: if you don't need humans to generate content, what we are consuming is nothing more than AI-generated [soylent green](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070723/). - [The Dark Real-Life Inspirations Behind Lord of the Flies](https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/books/lord-of-the-flies-inspiration). '*Unsurprisingly, its author William Golding did not have a rosy outlook on life. Ultimately, a combination of historical tragedy, personal struggles, and frustration with an optimistic children’s book led him to craft one of the most famously grim novels ever written.*' A lot of this makes sense, but remember when [six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/09/the-real-lord-of-the-flies-what-happened-when-six-boys-were-shipwrecked-for-15-months), the complete *opposite* happened. '*The boys had set up a commune with food garden, gym, a badminton court, chicken pens and a permanent fire.*' - [Think That Conversation Will Be Boring? Science Says Think Again](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1123175). As a self-proclaimed [extroverted introvert](https://makoism.com/the-person/), I tend to shy away from idle conversations. But over the last 2 years (since I kicked off [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/)), I've found something *unexpected* that this research backs up. '*In nine experiments involving 1,800 participants, researchers found that people consistently underestimated how interesting and enjoyable conversations about boring topics would be... Feeling heard, responding to each other, and discovering unexpected details about someone’s life *can make even a mundane topic meaningful.**' - [It's Never Been Easier to Do Too Much](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/its-never-been-easier-to-do-too-much). '*The team set up a weekly meeting at the funnel wall and started canceling lower-priority work. They added a hopper before the funnel that held ideas which could move forward only when space opened up. That is, nothing could go in the top of the funnel until something else came out the bottom. In two years, they cut the number of ongoing projects by more than half, which increased the number of projects they actually got done.*' David's new book, [Inside the Box](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/737494/inside-the-box-by-david-epstein/), is now available. - [People Are Stressed Out by Most News That Isn't Local News](https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/05/people-are-stressed-out-by-most-news-that-isnt-local-news-according-to-a-new-study/). One of the best shifts that I made was to limit my intake of the news; I just keep up to date with world events by following [What The Fuck Just Happened Today?](https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com). Focusing more on local things is the right call. '*The way people of different age groups in the United States get their news is different, but no matter how old they are, everyone is pretty stressed about all news that isn't local news.*' - [This Is the Most Important Skill You Can Have in Life](https://ryanholiday.net/this-is-the-most-important-skill-you-can-have-in-life). **Writing is thinking**. '*As I write this line, not only does software make suggestions on spelling and help me eliminate errors, it suggests how I might finish sentences or word them better. If I want, I could simply click over to other software and ask it to write the draft for me. But these fast, easy ways to produce what resembles a finished piece of writing would defeat the purpose. Which is to engage and struggle with the material for an extended period of time. To take my time. To go over things again and again. To be immersed. To be focused, patient, and disciplined. To come to understand things deeply.*' - [Why Rest Alone Doesn't Restore Energy](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/why-rest-alone-doesnt-restore-energy). '*Your energy doesn’t work like a battery - and treating it that way may be why you still feel tired even after a break.*' Some great ideas by [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net) on how '*energy depends on multiple systems working together: metabolic, neurological, psychological, and autonomic.*' - [What's Changed Since Jon Krakauer Climbed Everest (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/05/whats-changed-since-jon-krakauer-climbed-everest/687019/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHTSnhiZuUxZ9NC1XbohuYdU&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). When I read [Into Thin Air](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into%5FThin%5FAir) in 1997, one of the first things I did was start planning a multi-week trek into the Himalayas to see Everest with my own eyes. There, I learned a lot, so it was amazing to read what's changed since I was there in 2001\. '*No longer do Nepalis primarily function as kitchen workers and load carriers. They are now frequently the most skilled and accomplished guides on the mountain. For all intents and purposes, climbing activity on the Nepali side of Everest—where most ascents take place—is controlled by Sherpas. They install and maintain the dozens of ladders and miles of fixed rope on the mountain. They call the shots. They're the gatekeepers. This is entirely appropriate, given that the mountain rises from the homeland of the Sherpas, a native ethnic group, and they have been a crucial presence on Everest expeditions since the earliest attempts to climb it.*' - [Tony Trailer: Dominic Sessa Plays Anthony Bourdain in A24 Movie](https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/tony-trailer-dominic-sessa-anthony-bourdain-1235192211/). I've been a [long-time fan](https://makoism.com/the-one-about-food-and-people/) of Anthony Bourdain. His philosophy has inspired me as he '*traveled the world, experienced people, customs, and culture through cuisine, and explored the human condition by having *an open mind*.*' This film is going to be a must-watch for me. [Trailer here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jquFlCZ9h5E). - [Interstellar Is Now Letterboxd's Most-Watched Film Ever](https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/5/4/interstellar-is-now-letterboxds-most-watched-film-ever-and-its-reappraisal-shows-no-signs-of-slowing). One of my favorite films. '*Nolan said it was an incredible relief and a humbling experience when he started noticing the film seemed to touch people more and more each year and continues to grow in its impact.*' - [The World Reveals Itself to Those Who Travel by Foot](https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/travel-by-foot). I've been a long-time fan of [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com) and his [epic long walks through Japan](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/travel/japan-kii-peninsula-pilgrimage-routes.html), but this piece really puts the finger on the pulse about why it's so important to get out into the world if you want to experience it. '*I learned that it wasn't dangerous to reach out to and talk with people and make stuff happen*.' Pure gold. - [It Was Never About AI (We Are Not Our Tools)](https://bigthink.com/the-long-game/it-was-never-about-ai-we-are-not-our-tools). Wrapping up this week with a post that I need to re-read a few more times, it's **that** good. '*This is about our relationship with tools. It always has been. Tools are extraordinary. They extend what we can do, what we can reach, what we can build. But somewhere along the way, we started to confuse what a tool can do with what a tool should do.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-3-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-3-26/ Last updated: 2026-05-03T12:01:47.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [What Are We Doing to Ourselves](https://www.atvbt.com/what-are-we-doing-to-ourselves/). I picked up the book [Amusing Ourselves To Death](https://bookshop.org/p/books/amusing-ourselves-to-death-public-discourse-in-the-age-of-show-business-neil-postman/ebe4569d9072fac7?ean=9780143036531&next=t) (and [a good review](https://www.atvbt.com/amusing-ourselves-to-death-neil-postman/)) a few years back, and never found the time to get to it. After reading this post, though, it feels like I need to move it up in the stack. While the author, [Neil Postman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil%5FPostman), stated in 1985, '*we've become fixated on entertainment; entertainment has pervaded politics and education and religion; and it's largely because of the television*', this was written before the age of doomscrolling. I wonder what he'd think of where we've gone since. I also wonder if there's any connection with [Roger Waters album](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2JncjKQG4o) of the same name. - [Why Your Life Feels Fake: An Antidote to the Life You Were Sold](https://letters.thedankoe.com/p/why-your-life-feels-fake-an-antidote) '*There are two versions of you walking around right now. One of them is the version you perform. The one with the LinkedIn headline, the job, the goals that sound respectable at dinner parties, the five-year plan you recite when relatives ask what you're doing with your life. This version is competent. This version is impressive on paper. This version is, statistically, probably miserable.The other version only shows up for about forty minutes on a Sunday afternoon. Usually, when you’re alone. Usually right after you’ve finished something you actually care about. You feel, for a brief and infuriating moment, *like your life is actually yours*.*' A wonderful read, the concept of an **Identity-Lifestyle Fit**, an idea that suggests many people live lives dictated by inherited beliefs rather than their own authentic desires. - [Why Self-Help Rarely Works](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/why-self-help-rarely-works). In a similar vein, Scott examines the issues with the 'self-help' industry. The '*self-help industry wants your money, they are waiting for this moment to promise you there is something you can buy to fix even this problem*.' I really liked his suggestions on actions that you can do yourself, including the advice '*to take time to just sit with your feelings and thoughts. Just sit. Just observe. Watch what happens in your mind when there is nothing to do. That's really what meditation is, despite the intimidating reputation that it has. Most things in life require us to do something, but meditation is literally doing nothing and being ok with doing nothing! It's fascinating how we struggle with nothing, when being ok with ourselves while doing nothing is usually the something we really need*.' - [Why Your Second Brain Is Dead Weight](https://www.selfonomics.com/p/why-your-second-brain-is-dead-weight). I've been saying [PKMs are dead](https://makoism.com/the%5Ffixed%5Fgrowth/) for years now, but I liked this fresh approach to the thinking, given what's going on in the AI space right now. Double points for his thinking around a knowledge audit: '*For 30 days, audit your knowledge spend. Pause the Notion Enterprise renewal. Archive the Confluence pages nobody opened. Turn off the daily highlight digest. Keep one proprietary folder per team. Keep a dated decision log. When the team needs something, ask the model and read the source. Decide and move on. Write down what got decided and why, and see what (if anything) is missed. *Most folks miss nothing except the ritual of feeling productive.* The ritual is the part that was costing six figures a year.*' - [How to Apply Pixar's Three Pitches Rule](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/how-to-apply-pixars-three-pitches). '*In short, directors were asked to develop three movie ideas, rather than one. If they developed only one, they often got fixated on it and could get stuck, even if it wasn’t working well. We all often fixate on our first idea, even though it isn’t usually our best. (The creative cliff illusion is named for the idea that we think our best creative ideas come first, and we’re usually wrong.)*' A super interesting approach to writing, anything really. Looking forward to Dan's new book, [Inside the Box](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/737494/inside-the-box-by-david-epstein/), which is due out next week. - [Why I'm Not Worried About Running Out of Work in the Age of AI](https://www.kellblog.com/why-im-not-worried-about-running-out-of-work-in-the-age-of-ai/). The deeper I've dived into what's going on with AI lately, the more I've come to realize my initial take is spot on: If you lean into it with curiosity and creativity, you will find areas where it gives you back time. And that time can be used to fuel more curiosity and creativity. I also like that he brings up [Jevons Paradox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons%5Fparadox): '*When technology makes something cheaper or more efficient, we tend to use more of it, not less. When steam engines became more efficient, coal consumption didn't fall — it exploded because steam power became economical in far more applications. The same dynamic has repeated itself with computing, storage, and bandwidth. Every time technology dramatically increases our ability to do something, we don't run out of work to do. We discover many more things worth doing*.' - [The West Forgot How to Build. Now it's Forgetting Code](https://techtrenches.dev/p/the-west-forgot-how-to-make-things). Of course, when you offload your thinking, there's another cost: not learning how or why it works. This was a really interesting post that explores a few real-world examples when *knowledge has died*. '*I read the Fogbank story and recognized it immediately. Not the nuclear material. The pattern. Build capability over decades. Find a cheaper substitute. Let the human pipeline atrophy. Enjoy the savings. Then watch it all collapse when a crisis demands what you optimized away.*' - [Taylor Swift Files to Trademark Her Voice and Likeness in Era of AI Deepfakes](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/taylor-swift-files-trademark-voice-likeness-protection-ai-deepfakes-rcna342367). I really like that singers and actors ([Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Iconic Phrase to Stop AI Misuse](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp87z6vexl3o)) are stepping up to protect their voices and likenesses from AI misuse. '*Historically, singers relied on copyright law to protect their recorded music. But AI technologies now allow users to generate entirely new content that mimics an artist's voice without copying an existing recording, creating a gap that trademarks may help fill*.' In the case of McConaughey, he's gone as far as trademarking some of his famous catchphrases, even, such as 'alright, alright, alright' from the 1993 film, [Dazed and Confused](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106677/). - [Everyone Is Playing Correctly](https://adrianlambert.substack.com/p/everyone-is-playing-correctly). I **love** reading [Game Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game%5Ftheory) and [Infinite Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FInfinite%5FGame) thinking pieces. This one in particular hits on the classic Prisoner's Dilemma. '*Two actors would both benefit from cooperation. But if one cooperates and the other defects, the cooperating actor loses. So, both defect, and both end up worse off than if they had cooperated. The individually rational move produces the collectively worse outcome.*' Seems like a solid theme for most of how 2026 has been going. - [The Amazing Programmable Camera in Your Pocket](https://craney.uk/posts/the-amazing-programmable-camera-in-your-pocket). I can't remember where I heard '*the best camera you have, is the one you have with you*', but I do believe it. A good look at the variety of camera apps and filters out there that emulate photographic features from cameras. I ended up buying a few of these I hadn't heard of, but [Mood.Camera](http://mood.camera/) and [Halide](https://halide.cam/) are two of my personal favorites. - [Movie Theaters Are Coming Back (for the Saddest Reason)](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/movie-theaters-are-coming-back-for). An interesting look at the post-pandemic world of movie theaters (as well as [a bonus link from the LA Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-04-13/movie-theater-business)). - [How to Have the Perfect Week](https://www.adventure-journal.com/2025/12/how-to-have-the-perfect-week/). A good thought piece on getting outside more. '*I’ve come to the conclusion that we humans ultimately are seeking two things: *connection to nature and connection to community*. This is not new, nor is it groundbreaking, but the inability of the material world to sustain us or fix us or make us happy is evidence we can’t escape or ignore our fundamental needs. Those needs are basic: We need to feel at home in the natural world and we need the company of community. When we have that—and I suspect only when we have that—we will rest easy.*' - [The One Change That Worked: I Swapped Doomscrolling for Reading Comic Books](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/apr/27/the-one-change-that-worked-i-swapped-doomscrolling-for-reading-comic-books). As a long-time comic book reader, I fully endorse this type of thinking. :) '*Who knows more about self-care than your inner child? Instead of reaching for my phone in the evenings, I picked up a comic instead. Reading them as an adult restored a sense of childlike wonder that transcended my anxieties. I found my quality of sleep started to improve. My dreams were more fanciful and less marked by the banal terrors of day-to-day life. I began to wake up feeling revitalised, free of the residual negativity from the previous night’s miserable doomscrolling. Inspired by the colourful imagery and ideas I found in comic books, I was able to channel a newfound sense of creativity into my own work as a journalist. I also felt less of an urge to check in on work channels after I left the office, as this had become valuable comic book time.*' I think it's time I dig out a few of those old classics and give them a re-read. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-26-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-26-26/ Last updated: 2026-04-26T12:07:35.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [55 for 55](https://makoism.com/55-for-55/). As I turned 55 last week, a few nuggets to think about how to spend the time that you have left. '*I now have somewhere around 39% of my time left on the planet. Simple math: 55 divided by 90 puts me at roughly 61% done.*' - [Your Boss Might Be Naked (and Everybody Knows It)](https://kill-the-newsletter.com/feeds/yye6zu5tymw5mwqqco05/entries/jgklgqf23o59stent45g.html). An incredibly interesting article on two different ways in which authority works: **having authority vs. being authority**. '**Having authority is based on position*. On titles. On org charts. On the uniform. *Being an authority is based on competence*. On wisdom. On presence. On what a person radiates through who they are, not through what they control.*' - [The Music You Were Too Cool For](https://thebuzzmcr.substack.com/p/the-music-you-were-too-cool-for). On my [continuing](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-19-26/) [quest](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-5-26/) to find interesting things to listen to, this post dives into the discovery of music that you were too cool to listen to as a kid. '*Forty-odd years later, actually listening. Properly. With the ears I've got now rather than the ones I had then. And I can hear the craft in it. The melodies. The way he could land a lyric that sounds simple and turns out to be devastating. And I thought about how I had missed this the first time around, through snobbery and judgment.*' Speaking of [Song Sung Blue](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30343021/), we also recently watched it, and were equally surprised by how good it is. Highly recommended. - [Finally! The Trailer for the Coyote vs. ACME Movie](https://kottke.org/26/04/finally-the-trailer-for-the-coyote-vs-acme-movie). A day I never thought I would see: [an actual trailer for Coyote vs. ACME](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWymzNeaWzQ). [I originally wrote about the whole saga regarding this film back in 2024](https://makoism.com/less/), and I'm thrilled that a release date has finally been attached to it (August 28). Quick summary: '*Ian Frazier wrote* [*a story for the New Yorker in 1990*](https://kottke.org/20/04/wile-e-coyote-files-a-product-liability-lawsuit-against-acme-company) *about an imagined lawsuit brought by Wile E. Coyote against the Acme Company. Fast forward to 2022-23: James Gunn, Dave Green, Will Forte, and others make a movie based on the NYer article ... and then Warner Bros.* [*shelves the movie*](https://kottke.org/23/11/coyote-vs-acme-movie-shelved) *to take a tax write-off*.' [Watch the trailer here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWymzNeaWzQ). Meep meep. - [MacBook Neo and How the iPad Should Be](https://craigmod.com/essays/ipad%5Fneo/). I love what Apple has done with the MacBook Neo, but I really would love an M5-based 12" MBA. As Craig Mod beautifully puts it regarding the iPad's lost opportunity: '*I love the idea that the specificity of our tools should be radically clear. The iPad should be a highly-focused touch playground. Weird as hell, one-of-a-kind apps. And MacBooks should be for multitasking, moving information and data around, building evermore powerful tools (tools within tools within tools), all bounded by a keyboard-first universe. Keep the iPad screen covered in the goop of happy fingers, and the MacBook keyboards slathered in the smudge of thought. The more separate they are, the more powerful they become.*' Side note: I am finding that my iPad usage is slowly crawling to almost zero; I've already sold my iPad Pro, and the Mini is becoming little more than a bedtime reader. - [It's Time. Meet My New Thing.](https://thenewthings.com/p/meet-my-new-thing). I've been following [Joanna Stern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna%5FStern) for several years, so her new venture, [New Things](https://thenewthings.com), was an easy paid subscription for me. - [Why Prediction Markets Are a Sure Sign That Our Civilization Is in Decay](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/why-prediction-markets-are-a-sure-sign-that-our-civilisation-is-in-decay/). I've only recently become aware of these 'prediction markets', basically, they are **gambling on real-world events**. '*You'll find markets on celebrity divorces, CEO firings, troop movements, drone strikes, papal health, celebrity deaths recast as "will X still be alive on December 31," and whether a given pop star will release an album in Q3\. The biggest volumes cluster around elections and the personal misfortunes of public figures. These are bets on whether bad things will happen to specific people, and groups of people, whether institutions will hold, whether the world will feel more or less stable in 90 days.*' Regulation over this space seems like something that **has** to happen, and while these markets may not be the cause of the downfall of society, they certainly aren't a positive trend. - [Coffee More Popular Than Water, Says National Coffee Association](https://sprudge.com/coffee-more-popular-than-water-says-national-coffee-association-907984.html). Well, duh. :) '*When asked about the past day’s beverage consumption, they found that 66% of all participants had coffee, more than the 64% who said they had bottled water. Tea, soda, and juice sat at 47%, 46%, and 26%, respectively.*' - [How NASA Built Artemis II's Fault-Tolerant Computer](https://cacm.acm.org/news/how-nasa-built-artemis-iis-fault-tolerant-computer/). [***Premeditatio Malorum***](https://stoicquotes.com/premeditatio-malorum/)*: the premeditation of the evils and troubles that might lie ahead*. A **fascinating** read on the design of the fault tolerance systems of the Artemis II spacecraft. '*Running multiple independent computers in lockstep is a notorious challenge in computer science, as slight timing drifts or processor variances can cause healthy computers to appear to diverge. NASA solves this through a strictly deterministic architecture.*' Also to read: [When It Falls Over](https://makoism.com/when-it-falls-over/). - [What I Learned From One of the Greatest Living Writers](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/what-i-learned-from-one-of-the-greatest). '*You need your space, and that room of one's own. That room is also your time, your space, your silence, that has to be sacred. I need to close the door to my office when I finish for the day, and no one should get in. I have the idea in my mind that the story is an entity that lives in that room, with the characters, the emotions that I have been putting together.*' A small excerpt from David Epstein's upcoming book, [Inside the Box](https://davidepstein.com/inside-the-box/). - [How the Heck Does Shazam Work?](https://perthirtysix.com/how-the-heck-does-shazam-work). Have you ever wondered how a tool like Shazam can recognize a song from just a few seconds of audio? This post dives into how to **reverse engineer sound**, using Fast Fourier Transforms on a small 'slice' of a waveform to make a sound **fingerprint**. '*By throwing away almost everything and keeping only a handful of landmark peaks, a noisy 5-second clip from a coffee shop becomes a set of coordinates precise enough to pinpoint one song out of millions. Recognition, it turns out, is mostly *an exercise in ignoring the right things*.*' And, while this tech is interesting, there's another important lesson that lies under the surface of the post: '*I think one of the reasons I enjoy this algorithm so much is that it's clever, but also deterministic and transparent once you understand the steps. These types of approaches hold a special place in my heart, because so much technology today is built on opaque machine learning models, which, while very powerful, don't have the same elegance and interpretability.*' **Simplicity and curiosity can uncover surprising insights.** - [Shall We Play a Game?](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/14/shall-we-play-a-game). A wonderful interview on '*how advances in statistics and cartography made wargaming possible, the journey from 18th century Prussian military officers to Midwestern hobbyists, how RAND played an instrumental role in the birth of D&D, and how little the core debates on game design have changed in the past 200 years.*' There's quite a lot to unpack in this one on what has influenced the creation of games throughout the years. - [How to Get Some Cosmic Perspective](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/how-to-get-some-cosmic-perspective). I immediately purchased [Judd Apatow's Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy](https://geni.us/CgYS2b) after seeing this post from [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.substack.com) on the sign in the Seinfeld writers' room. '*It would calm me when I would start to think that what I was doing was important, Seinfeld said. You look at some pictures from the Hubble Telescope and you snap out of it.*' - [How to Be a Good Explorer on the Lifelong Expedition to Yourself](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/04/08/pessoa-explorer/). [Back at the start of 2025](https://makoism.com/adventure/), I mentioned trying to shift into the 'explorer' mindset. Given I've had some wonderful conversations this past week with folks from the DO Fellowship on a similar line of thinking, I thought this post was relevant to what's been top of mind lately for me. '*Along the way, we keep confusing *experiment* and *exploration*. An experiment proves or disproves an existing theory; its payoff is data, fixed and binary. *An exploration is a traversal of the unknown*, of landscapes you didn't even know existed, with all the courage and vulnerability and openness to experience that demands; its payoff is discovery — of unimagined wonders, of yourself in the face of the unimagined. Discovery, in its purest form, is nothing less than revelation.*' Keep exploring, friends. - [Becoming Familiar with Sleep](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/becoming-familiar-with-sleep/). My sleep sucks, so there are lots of lessons for me to take from this post. '*Sleep patterns and managing the kind of light I am exposed to before bed and in the morning is radically changing how I feel during the day in the first couple of weeks of this new regime.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### 55 for 55 URL: https://makoism.com/55-for-55/ Last updated: 2026-04-24T05:44:07.000Z Today I turn 55. According to [my guesstimated morbid math](https://makoism.com/43percent/), I now have somewhere around 39% of my time left on the planet. Simple math: 55 divided by 90 puts me at roughly 61% done. [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/) has two posts I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. [The Tail End](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html) (the math of how much time you have left with the people you love) and [Your Life in Weeks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html) (your entire life as a grid of boxes, most already filled). Between those and [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com)'s [Four Thousand Weeks](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks), I've apparently been doing a lot of reading about the end. - At 2 espresso shots a day, I have roughly 25,550 shots left. Which sounds like a lot until you remember *that life's too short for bad ones*. - I read maybe 50 articles a day. That's roughly 230,000 pieces of interesting writing left to find the ones that change how I think. Critical curation matters. - At 10,000 steps a day, that's roughly 127,680,000 steps left. Two and a half times around the surface of Earth left to explore. I jokingly call this thinking **morbid math**, but I really don't view it as unhealthy or gruesome, rather as a **tool** on how to live. > "This is our big mistake: to think we look forward to death. Most of death is already gone. Whatever time has passed is owned by death." – Seneca So. 12,768 days ahead. Here are fifty-five things the journey has confirmed so far. 1. Be kind. 2. But also, don’t let people take advantage of your kindness. 3. You can only control one thing: your actions. 4. Own your shit. 5. Nope. It's a complete sentence. 6. Infinite game thinking is more powerful than the finite one. 7. Form deep connections with good people. 8. But also, cut out people that are a gravity well of negative energy. 9. Exercise every day. 10. Systems over goals. 11. Consistency is key. 12. Life’s too short for shitty coffee. 13. It's ok to have that piece of carrot cake. Just not every day. 14. Power and ownership is often assumed but not reality. 15. Time is a bank. Invest and withdraw wisely. 16. Little things add up to big things over time. 17. Recognize your imposter syndrome. 18. Take time, every day, to go outside and just breathe. 19. Going for a walk often makes things better. 20. Make connections in this disconnected world. 21. Know where your food comes from: farm fresh veggies, fish that is locally caught, etc. 22. Know when you're in a hole. And stop digging. 23. Take time to be creative with your hands. Build something - even a Lego. 24. Experience different cultures through food. 25. Say no to protect the yes. 26. Inject artificial constraints - through constraint you find freedom. 27. Keep a quotes journal. 28. Keep a commonplace journal. 29. Build a personal board of directors. 30. Do the dishes. 31. Understand that you don't know everything. Especially when you're most certain that you do. 32. Laugh more. Often at yourself. 33. Embrace a spirit of exploration - be open to every channel of aliveness. 34. Don't take work too seriously. 35. Don't take life too seriously. 36. Speak with numbers. 37. Spend time always refining your critical thinking skills. 38. Email isn’t a to-do list. 39. Tend your own infrastructure: digital, physical, personal. 40. Tell the people that you love, that you love them. 41. Listen more. Talk less. 42. Reduce single points of failure. 43. Never underestimate an organization's ability to make a simple problem complicated. 44. Be a champion of possibility. 45. Believe in someone other than yourself. 46. Understand the game about the game. 47. A heart attack at 47 clarifies your priorities faster than any book. Having a second one at 49 makes you say "what the fuck?" 48. The obstacle is the way. 49. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Be afraid of not learning from them. 50. There is one person you should seek validation from. Yourself. 51. Don't worry about fitting in - embrace your weirdness. 52. Curiosity won’t lead you astray. 53. Live an interesting life. 54. You're not living yesterday. You're not living tomorrow. You're living today. 55. Memento Mori. Thirty-nine percent left. The math doesn't scare me. Not making the most of it does. ### Espresso Shots 4-19-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-19-26/ Last updated: 2026-04-19T11:23:53.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [AI Use Appears to Have a 'Boiling Frog' Effect on Human Cognition](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-boiling-frog-human-cognition-study). Another week goes by, and once again, I can't seem to get away from it. The rate of change in this area is frightening and exciting all at once, and, as usual, way too many folks are using these tools they don't even understand. Or worse, they think they do. But this latest study suggests that '*extensive AI use can distort and dampen users thinking and independence, and as experts work to understand the impacts of widely-used chatbots on people as they unfold in real-time, they’re warning that outsourcing cognitive tasks to AI tools could put humans in a boiling frog conundrum — in which an unwitting, *bit-by-bit erosion of our cognitive muscles leads to formidable challenges in the long-term*.*' All I know is that when I leverage AI by 'conducting the orchestra', to offload well-defined tasks that are just time-consuming, the results are not all that bad. It's going to be interesting to look back on this moment. - [Short Attention Span Theater](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/short-attention-span-theater). [Reflecting again on attention](https://makoism.com/attention/), I think Michael is correct in this post. People seem to develop [an illusion of clarity](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-12-26/) when consuming 'bite-sized format' information. They '*don’t just fragment attention, they quietly replace understanding with the feeling of having learned something.*' - [Resurrecting a 1992 MUD with Agentic AI](https://meditations.metavert.io/p/resurrecting-a-1992-mud-with-agentic). One of the more interesting uses of AI is reconstructing old, forgotten projects and code to modern systems. '*In 1992, I was nineteen years old and building an online multiplayer game on a ‘486 PC with 16 megabytes of RAM. The game was called Legends of Future Past—a text-based fantasy world where thousands of players would eventually explore, fight, craft, and tell stories together across a sprawling realm called Andor. The game ran for seven years before we shut the servers down on December 31, 1999\. For twenty-seven years, it was dead. *This weekend, I brought it back.**' A really wonderful read on what software development was, and what it is today. - [A Project Will Save You](https://rojospinks.substack.com/p/a-project-will-save-you). I loved the perspective that this post has: '*That impulse to go to the garage and just start something is what differentiates us humans from machines. We need to feel we are making our way through the world, not just existing in it. We need to feel a sense of autonomy and progress that orientates us in time and space.*' I know there's a lot of [FUD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,%5Funcertainty,%5Fand%5Fdoubt) out there these days that amplify anxiety, but **investing time in things that are irreplaceable**, is a superpower. I've also experienced this firsthand when we decided to move to an island: '*The number one piece of advice in this emerging economy is simple: *invest in your relationships*, not companies. Leverage the people you know and the place you live in. It is the surest kind of resilience and sustainability.*' - [Why (and How) I Wrote This Book](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/mesearch). I'm looking forward to [David Epstein](https://davidepstein.com)'s new book, [Inside the Box](https://davidepstein.com/inside-the-box/). Diving a bit deeper into the process he used to create this one, I found it particularly interesting. '*Obstacles, whether self-imposed or not, can be opportunities to clarify priorities and launch productive exploration. The one-page outline was forced on both of us. I had to prioritize ideas ruthlessly. And I had to experiment with a new structure that could make it all work.*' [Constraint equals freedom](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/). - [The First Rule of Fight Club](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-first-rule-of-fight-club/). Food for thought. '*The Narrator ends up going to extraordinary lengths to change the world. It never occurs to him for an instant to change himself. And that’s where people get stuck. That’s where businesses get stuck too. Fight Club is a great work of art. A truly great critique on a really massive problem. It just never addresses the actual problem. *Which, of course, is us*.*' - [So I Wrote a Script That Takes Monthly Screenshots of Google and Apple Maps](https://unsung.aresluna.org/so-i-wrote-a-script-that-takes-monthly-screenshots-of-google-and-apple-maps). I became aware of [Justin O’Beirne's blog](https://www.justinobeirne.com) during the COVID-19 lockdown, where [he writes about cartography](https://www.justinobeirne.com/essay/cartography-comparison). For over a year, [he took daily screenshots of both Google and Apple Maps](https://www.justinobeirne.com/a-year-of-google-maps-and-apple-maps), and animated the slight changes they kept making to them. The result is somewhat fascinating to read through. - [The Making of the IA Notebook](https://youtu.be/NnX84UtwMc4). I have been in love with the [IA Notebook](https://ia.net/notebook) since pre-ordering it. As I wrote when I first received it, '*I received this absolutely gorgeous notebook last week. It's a work of art; I'm almost afraid to write in it.*' In fact, I ordered a **second** one so that I could keep one pristine. IA has recently posted a making-of video of the ['Japan Stationery of the year' award winner](https://ia.net/topics/japan-stationery-of-the-year). - [From Early Nirvana to Phish, a Chicago Fan's Secret Recordings of 10,000 Shows Are Now Online](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/10/from-early-nirvana-to-phish-a-chicago-fans-secret-recordings-of-10000-shows-are-now-online/). [This is a treasure](https://archive.org/details/@aadam%5Fjacobs%5Fcollection) trove of wonderful music. Described as an '*internet treasure trove for music lovers, especially for fans of indie and punk rock during the 1980s through the early 2000s, when the scene blossomed and became mainstream. The collection features early-in-their-career performances from alternative and experimental artists like R.E.M., The Cure, The Pixies, The Replacements, Depeche Mode, Stereolab, Sonic Youth and Björk.*' Listen to those early concerts at the [Aadam Jacobs Collection](https://archive.org/details/@aadam%5Fjacobs%5Fcollection). - [Batman: The Killing Joke – Avant-Garde Edition](https://argentcomics.com/editions/btkj-avant-garde-edition). When you look back at your life, you can always pick out a few transformative experiences. Maybe it was an embarrassing or exciting moment, a trip, or a book/film/song that just *changed things*. I don't remember how I became aware of [Alan Moore's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan%5FMoore) [Batman: The Killing Joke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:%5FThe%5FKilling%5FJoke) when it was published in March of 1988, but that comic was one of those catalyst moments for me. In fact, I still have several copies of the first edition, sitting in sealed comic bags with backings. Now 38 years later, Argent Comics is releasing only **FORTY-SEVEN** copies of the '*world's first giclée-printed comic book.*' And holy shit, this thing looks **absolutely gorgeous**. - [MD UI: A Typeface for Interfacing](https://mass-driver.com/article/md-ui-a-typeface-for-interfacing). Speaking of beautiful, check out this typeface. '*The brief for IO was simple: legibility above all else. Rather than readability, which refers to how comfortable a typeface is to read overall, legibility refers to how easily a single character can be identified in isolation.*' - [If You Thought the Speed of Writing Code Was Your Problem - You Have Bigger Problems](https://debuggingleadership.com/blog/if-you-thought-the-speed-of-writing-code-was-your-problem-you-have-bigger-problems). The [Theory of Constraints](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory%5Fof%5Fconstraints) has some interesting advice that I think (any) leader should think about. '\* *Every system has exactly one constraint. One bottleneck. The throughput of your entire system is determined by the throughput of that bottleneck. Nothing else matters until you fix the bottleneck. That's the part most people get. Here's the part they don't, and it's the part that should scare you: *When you optimize a step that is not the bottleneck, you don't get a faster system. You get a more broken one.**' A big 2026 takeaway for me is how acutely aware I've been noticing how many things are **systems**. - [What If...](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/what-if/). More reading on why fixing **systems** is way more important than focusing on short-term goals. '*Organizations are living systems (not machines). Living systems have a way of organizing themselves (Starlings as an example — don’t seem to have a boss or a planning committee). If we learned more about how living systems organize themselves, what would that teach us about organizing human endeavor?*.' - [Optimism Is Not a Personality Flaw](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/optimism-is-not-a-personality-flaw/). Closing out this week with, as usual, an insightful post from [Joan Westenberg](https://www.joanwestenberg.com). '*Pessimism is more accurate in the short term - almost always, I'll give it that. Things do go wrong in roughly the ways people predict they will. But optimism is more productive over decades. Optimism is the thing that generates attempts, and without attempts nothing changes... I would rather be wrong about what we're capable of than right about why we shouldn't bother trying.*' A good reminder in these times to be a rebel and focus on optimism. - [The History of McPizza and McDonald's Pizza](https://www.retroist.com/p/history-mcpizza-and-mcdonalds-pizza). I'm not sure if I remember this, but I thought it was an interesting story '*of how the world’s largest fast food chain spent the better part of fifteen years trying to make pizza work, and why it mostly did not.*' A good reminder to focus on what you're good at: '*The problem was time. A pizza took roughly 11 minutes to prepare. That number became the defining fact of McDonald’s pizza's existence, referenced in nearly every account of its rise and fall. In a restaurant built around the premise that food arrives in seconds, 11 minutes was not just slow, it was a philosophical contradiction. Customers ordering burgers would sit watching their food go cold while waiting for a friend's pizza to finish baking. People ordering at the drive through were asked to pull forward and wait in the parking lot.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-12-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-12-26/ Last updated: 2026-04-12T12:01:17.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - ['Survivor' Style Corporate Retreat Descends Into Hellish Nightmare](https://www.thedailybeast.com/survivor-style-corporate-retreat-descends-into-hellish-nightmare/). What's that old proverb? '*The road to hell is paved with good intentions.*' As a [Survivor](https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/) fan, this headline caught my interest, but I couldn't have imagined the scenario that unfolded at [Plex's](https://plex.tv) [employee offsite](https://vimeo.com/257065495?fl=pl&fe=vl). They spent '*$500,000 flying 120 employees to Honduras for a week of forced fun*,' and of course, chaos ensued. Even the CEO came down with E. coli right at the onset: '*Just as people were arriving on the buses, I was like, 'Uh oh.' I lost 8 or 10 pounds. They had a doctor come to me, which apparently is pretty standard. They nailed an IV bag to the bedpost.*' Totally wild story, and here's an idea: perhaps a farm-to-table breakfast would be a better idea for employees instead of nearly killing them. - [Burnout Looks Different Across the Org Chart. Watch for These Signs](https://hbr.org/2026/04/burnout-looks-different-across-the-org-chart-watch-for-these-signs). The more I have stepped back and looked at failure patterns or trouble spots, the more it always comes back to the **system**. '*Burnout is rarely a personal failure. It is usually a design failure. When capable, committed people are exhausted, the issue is not resilience; it is work engineered without regard for human limits and systems that quietly reward overextension. Poor workflows create constant urgency. Misaligned incentives normalize exhaustion. When burnout persists despite individual effort, it signals a breakdown in how power, risk, and reward are structured.*' [Systems over goals](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/), always. - [Why I Quit 'The Strive'](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/why-i-quit-the-strive/). Speaking of systems, there's a dangerous one with the [hedonic treadmill](https://scienceinsights.org/what-is-the-hedonic-treadmill-your-brains-happiness-reset/). In this thought-piece, Joan calls it **The Strive**, but the concept is the same. '*It's the obsession with making it, going viral, founding a billion-dollar company, becoming the next TBPN, raising millions of dollars, getting profiled in Wired, landing on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list (or, for those of us who aged out, the Forbes 40 Under 40 list that doesn't exist but should).' Heck, I've seen myself fall into the same trap, whether it was at work or while running a marathon: you achieve a goal, and then you immediately fall into what's next. 'Your brain's \~wanting system and your brain's \~liking system are separate circuits, and the wanting system is bigger and louder and more connected to everything else. *As it turns out, dopamine fires for the chase, not for the catch.**' Great read with some real tangible ideas on how to get past it. - [Brian Eno's Remedy for Burnout and Despair](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/04/09/brian-eno-burnout/). I've mentioned [Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies previously](https://makoism.com/skewed%5Fperspective/), but hadn't known about his book, '[A Year with Swollen Appendices](https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-year-with-swollen-appendices-brian-eno-s-diary-brian-eno/5006f2e4c5e6d09d?ean=9780571374625&next=t)'. '*It goes like this: me thinking, 'What's it all for?/What's the bloody point?/ I haven't done anything I like, and I don't have a clue what to do next/I'm a completely empty shell.' This lasts two days or so... Then I suddenly notice — apropos of something very minor, like the way a plane crosses the sky, or the smell of trees, or the light in the early evening, or remembering one of my brother’s jokes — that *I am thoroughly enjoying myself and completely, utterly glad to be alive*. Not one of the questions I asked myself has been answered. Instead, like all good philosophical questions, they’ve just ceased to matter.*' I keep finding, in these crazy times, [laughing and taking a moment to experience joy](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/) goes a long way. - [Orkney Banana Bonanza After Tesco Store Orders 38,000 by Mistake](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3r384ye7reo). In a major 'oops', a supermarket accidentally ordered an estimated 38,000 bananas, double the entire population of their island. They are giving the boxes away to community groups, schools, and other islands across the area. - [More Evidence Short Form Video Is Rotting Your Brain](https://www.hottakes.space/p/more-evidence-short-form-video-is). '*Both groups were put into fMRI machines and given a memory test while their brains were scanned in real time, the imaging capturing blood flow to reveal which neural regions were actually firing during recall. This matters because short video is essentially constant context switching: one topic, setting, or style bleeding into the next with no time for your brain to breathe.*' I'm seeing a similar effect to people who spend a ton of time with AI tools - [cognitive overload](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-epidemiologist/202603/ai-and-the-rise-of-cognitive-overload). I've often [warned of the ill-effects of social media](https://netpsychology.org/dopamine-social-media-and-digital-validation/); I have a suspicion this will be a major health care issue in the next 5-10 years. - [Continuous Glucose Monitoring Made Me Continuously Crazy](https://www.theverge.com/features/907359/cgms-optimizing-metabolism-dexcom-abbott-wearables-health-tech). This one hit hard - I have always been a bit of a health data junky, especially after having multiple heart attacks. More data, more informed, right? Well, like anything, there's an interesting rabbit hole that you can fall into being a [slave to the data](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). '*I bounced from doctor to doctor trying to figure out if there was actually something wrong with me — or the devices I was using.*' - [Solitaire's Many Flavors: I Suck at Them. But That's Ok](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/17316812/solitaire-card-game-types-history). '*Solitaire is quiet. It's slow. It wants nothing from me. There's a challenge to solving it that can be both frustrating and rewarding. So many different versions of the game make for unique experiences and variety. The cost of entry is low: all you need is a deck of cards, a table, and a little bit of patience. I like to tell people that if they give me a guitar and a deck of cards, they probably won't see me for about 12 hours.*' I found this post absolutely fascinating on the history and the number of variations of Solitaire. If you enjoy cards, *a must read*. - [A New Jersey Teen Finds Treasure, and More, in Abandoned Storage Units](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/style/new-jersey-teen-storage-units.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.Y1A.oeXF.olgkR%5FcMCkKj). I had never heard the term **locker dives** before this article. The idea is simple: Buy abandoned storage lockers at bargain prices and flip them by selling the contents for profit. What this 17-year-old discovered was something much deeper. '*I think he's learning about human paths, about human nature. People's lives are in these lockers. Belongings can tell you a lot about a person. When you meet someone, you might think you know them, but you don't know.*" Some of the stories are downright tragic, but also, contains so many life lessons. '*You can see his hopes and dreams in this locker.*' - [When the Navy Found This Sunken Submarine, the Crew Was Dead. Why Were They Just Sitting There?](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a70857185/navy-sub-dead-crew/). It took over 100 years for researchers to find the [H.L. Hunley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.%5FL.%5FHunley), a [Confederate submarine](https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1952/october/submarines-confederate-navy) that was sunk during the Civil War. (*Side note: I didn't know that subs were that old, but this was apparently the first combat submarine to sink a warship*). When they discovered the sub, the crew members were still seated at their stations after sinking, a discovery that totally puzzled researchers. Now they know why. - [The Illusion of Clarity](https://nesslabs.com/illusion-of-clarity). '*In a study, psychologists asked participants to rate how well they understood everyday devices like sewing machines, zippers, or cell phones and then asked them to write detailed explanations. After attempting the explanation, self-ratings dropped sharply. The act of actually trying to explain revealed how little people actually knew.*' Lots of wisdom in this one, and something that I see all the time: **People confuse familiarity with understanding**. - [You're Not Winging It Wrong](https://www.originalmacguy.com/youre-not-winging-it-wrong/). Some would call it basic [imposter syndrome](https://makoism.com/perceptions-and-reality/), but I liked the framing here around **Pluralistic ignorance**. '*As a result, we draw the wrong conclusion that everyone else has it together except us. A classic example is when a professor asks if anyone has questions. Nobody raises a hand, and even if you don’t understand something and do have a question, you assume everyone else understood, but they’re all thinking the same thing you are. The silence is a mutual conclusion pretending to be confidence. We assume everyone else has it together, and we’re the only one who feels like we’re winging it.*' Everyone is dealing with this in some form, whether they are being honest with themselves or not. - [The Reframing Theory: The Solution to 95% of Your Problems](https://dariusforoux.com/the-reframing-theory-the-solution-to-95-of-your-problems/). You've heard people say, 'instead of problems, they're opportunities'. In a similar vein, 'Discipline is just acting in accordance with your goals or your agreements with other people, despite the strong impulse you may have to act otherwise. **Discipline is simply setting goals and sticking to them.**' Reframing problems can absolutely change the way you think. - [How Constraints Led to Two Michelin Stars](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/how-constraints-led-to-two-michelin). A trick I learned a long time ago: '[Through constraint, you can find freedom](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/)'. This story was particularly interesting in how constraint reframed an entire restaurant. '*The kitchen's ventilation hood sucked warm air out in winter and cool air out in summer, making the tiny dining room miserable for guests. The only solution was to shut the ovens off almost entirely in summer and build menus around cold preparations, then run them full blast in winter with every dish built around warmth. The result, Chang told me, was more interesting than anything he would have designed with unlimited resources.*' - [The Killers: How We Wrote 'Mr. Brightside'](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/killers-brandon-flowers-talks-writing-mr-brightside-730129/). I've been somewhat obsessed with [Mr. Brightside](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE) on repeat rotation as of late, so I figured I'd dive into how the [2003 hit song by The Killers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr.%5FBrightside) came to be. Called the 'Song of the Decade', its lyrics tell the story of 'a man who is obsessed with a woman who's romantically involved with another man'. The narrator begins to feel sick, wallowing in envy as he imagines what the couple are getting up to on a night out\*.' The truth, though, is that the story is based on fact, about Brandon Flowers, lead singer of the band, and his first relationship that ended poorly. I'll wrap this one up with my favorite rendition of Mr. Brightside - [Jelena Vudragović on Instagram: “The Killers #mrbrightside #thekillers #REPOST @leonidenleonidenleoniden with @download\_repost\_pro - we played our favorite song with @potsdamerkneipenchor 💖 🎥: @capadol”artemisia\_i\_\_\_ on May 8, 2025: “The Killers #mrbrightside #thekillers #REPOST @leonidenleonidenleoniden with @download\_repost\_pro - we played our favorite song with @potsdamerkneipenchor 💖 🎥: @capadol”.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/icon/icwX0xAk0pz.webp)Instagram![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/thumbnail/496529393_2144082226013972_6594166311320897240_n.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DJZX0ESipKK/) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-5-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-5-26/ Last updated: 2026-04-05T12:01:57.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Machines Are Fine. I'm Worried About Us.](https://ergosphere.blog/posts/the-machines-are-fine/). Everyone I know is trying to figure out what this AI thing is (I'd argue it's not even "AI" as we think of it in books and film, but rather *augmented* intelligence). There are three camps: 1) **Love it**, it's going to replace everything we know and give me time back. 2) **Hate it**, it's going to replace everything we know. And 3) **The middle**, who are seeing some interesting things, and trying to figure out the right way to apply it. I really liked this post about *what we may lose*. '*The real threat is a slow, comfortable drift toward not understanding what you're doing. Not a dramatic collapse. Not Skynet. Just a generation of researchers who can produce results but can't produce understanding. Who know what buttons to press but not why those buttons exist. Who can get a paper through peer review but can't sit in a room with a colleague and explain, from the ground up, why the third term in their expansion has the sign that it does.*' This is one of the most important things that I try to keep in mind when offloading tasks - you gain wisdom by doing things by hand. With tools. With craftsmanship. Now it's more important than ever not to forget that. - [LinkedIn Is Illegally Searching Your Computer](https://werd.io/linkedin-is-illegally-searching-your-computer/). [Sad trombone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQeezCdF4mk). Before you freak out, it doesn't appear to be *entirely* accurate, but again, another instance of breaking a user's trust. '*In reality, it’s checking for browser extensions. That’s a fairly common component of modern browser fingerprinting: at this point it’s fairly well-known that, because of the individual mix of extensions, fonts, etc available to a browser, this can be used to track individuals on the web without using cookies.*' It's sad that in 2026, my default stance now is to assume that **everything** is trying to track you. **Highly recommend** having tools like [Wipr2](https://kaylees.site/wipr2.html) and setting up your own [PiHole Ad Blocker](https://pi-hole.net) on your home network. For reference, I had **10,307 ad tracking queries** blocked in just **the last 24 hours**. - [Inside the Stealthy Startup That Pitched Brainless Human Clones](https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/30/1134780/r3-bio-brainless-human-clones-full-body-replacement-john-schloendorn-aging-longevity/). This one kinda stunned me. What reads somewhere between the plot of a bad sci-fi movie and techno-elite-wacko, how much better the world would be if this brain power were put into real societal problems. But it's brainless thinking that got us to this. - [Against the Smartphone Theory of Everything](https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/against-the-smartphone-theory-of). '*The smartphone is not a cigarette. It isn’t a toxin that we can isolate and test and ban. It is an information-delivery system — a relentless, inescapable IV drip of news, connection, outrage, friendship, conspiracy, solidarity, and garbage — whose effect on any individual depends entirely on what’s in the drip.*' Turn off the drip and fill the cup with something better. - [Generative AI Vegetarianism](https://sboots.ca/2026/03/11/generative-ai-vegetarianism/). I love this term, 'generative AI vegetarianism,' which is defined as '*avoiding generative AI tools as much as you can in your day-to-day life*.' - [The Resilience Paradox: When Pushing Through Makes Things Worse](https://bigthink.com/mind-behavior/the-resilience-paradox-when-pushing-through-makes-things-worse/). A great one from neuroscientist [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net). '*We tend to treat resilience as an unqualified good. We praise the quality in entrepreneurs, caregivers, students, and leaders. Resiliency has become a moral injunction — a signal of maturity and strength. But a growing body of research suggests that resilience, when applied blindly, can do real harm to our health and our ability to change broken systems.*' The key takeaway (which I'm adding to my quotes collection): '*Resilience stops being a positive when it keeps people tolerating what should be fixed.*' - [Say the Thing You Want](https://terriblesoftware.org/2026/04/01/say-the-thing-you-want/). While it's slanted toward 1:1s with your boss, this is great advice in general about advocating for yourself. Remember: '*when people know what you want, they can help you get it.*' - [Closest Thing to Crazy](https://www.atvbt.com/closest-thing-to-crazy/). I'm still processing this piece, but it did give me some food for thought on when people ask, '*is this thing I'm doing crazy?*'. Perhaps it's the use of the word 'crazy'. '[*Here's to the crazy ones*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acoslD7lGtc) *The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.*' - [You Will Never Be Satisfied](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/you-will-never-be-satisfied). I love [David Pinsof's posts](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog) \- they always make me stop, read, and re-read. In this one, he breaks down why most people will **never be happy** because of '*the hamster wheel of being alive.*' When I read: '*Yea, life is beautiful and every moment is precious or whatever, but there’s another side of the story you almost never hear: most of life is pretty stressful, mediocre, and unsatisfying, and then you die*' I guess my takeaway is that it's an **important reminder** to try to tip the scale away from those meaningless things, and put more energy in curiosity and joy. Just remember: '*The bullshitter can trick you into thinking they have the satisfaction you’re seeking.*' - [KitKat's Chocolate Heist Turns into a Marketing Masterclass](https://ppc.land/kitkats-chocolate-heist-turns-into-a-marketing-masterclass-but-cargo-theft-is-real/). One of the fondest memories of my grandfather was him always surprising me with a [KitKat bar](https://www.thehersheycompany.com/content/hersheyland/en-us/home/products/kit-kat-milk-chocolate-candy-bar-1-5-oz.html) when he visited. But this week, there was trouble in chocolate town: '*Nestlé this week confirmed that *413,793 KitKat bars* \- weighing 12 tons - were stolen while in transit from a factory in central Italy to distributors in Poland, triggering a crisis response that rapidly became one of the most-watched brand marketing moments of 2026.*' The way in which the company decided to tackle it was nothing short of amazing: '*The company decided to go public specifically to highlight what it described as a systemic problem*'. As part of their **product traceability infrastructure**, they had a way to crowd-track the stolen bars. '*Each KitKat bar carries an eight-digit batch code printed on the back of its wrapper. According to Nestlé, law enforcement can trace stolen products through these unique batch codes assigned to individual bars. The tracker extends this capability to the public: a consumer enters the eight-digit code into the tool's input field, and the system returns a result indicating whether that specific bar is from the stolen batch.*' **One of the best** ["fix the system" over goals](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/) moments I've seen. - [New Music Is Slowly Dying](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/new-music-is-slowly-dying). A look at the current state of the music industry and its seemingly rapid decline. [More here](https://hmc.chartmetric.com/email/af245904-ae71-4883-8595-83a811445bc6/) on Chart Metric's observations that there were [only 23 songs cracking the top charts.](https://hmc.chartmetric.com/2025-lacking-chart-topping-song-of-the-summer/). Some interesting insights and data in here. Personally I've found a new discovery mechanism: by [listening to more global streaming and college radio](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-29-26/). - [Magic and the Brain: How Magicians "Trick" the Mind](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/magic-and-the-brain/). Another thing I have been wanting to understand more is the connection between a magician, their tricks, and how they use psychology and neural processes to influence thinking. - [Why Do Flight Attendants Sit on Their Hands During Takeoff?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/transportation/planes-airports/why-flight-attendants-sit-hands-during-takeoff). Today I learned why. '*Should anything untoward happen that would cause them to suddenly have to act, the positions of their hands would stabilize their bodies, thereby minimizing the risk of injury due to any unexpected turbulence or movement of the aircraft.*' - [A Brief History of Mazes](https://nbm.org/a-brief-history-of-mazes/). I've been thinking a lot about mazes lately; partially because it would be an awesome-looking tattoo, but also because I'm finding that, in some ways, I'm still trying to navigate where I'm going. because I still don't know where I'm going. Maybe life is more akin to labyrinths, where there's one continuous path, no dead end, and you'll get to the center if you keep going. But the deeper meaning is that ***the path itself is the point***. Or maybe, [the maze wasn't meant for you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Db1bEP-r8). - [Do What You Want](https://ckarchive.com/b/4zuvhehpl42rrb6ovveola6m5z04rt5hm4own). Let's wrap this week up with another one for advocating for yourself. '*When I talk about reorienting your life toward what you want, I should be clear that I don’t just mean finding a couple of hours a week for fun, before heading back to the grindstone. What matters – and what helped me immeasurably – is to start viewing everything, your work and relationships and life as a whole, through the lens of how you truly want all that to be, then steering your course as appropriate.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-29-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-29-26/ Last updated: 2026-03-29T12:01:21.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Inner Life We're Trading Away](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/the-inner-life-were-trading-away). An important think piece for the week around the cultural biases that mistake 'doing' instead of 'being' as a measure of intelligence. '*We reward doing far more readily than we value being, or experience. Particularly nowadays, and over the last 200 years in these capitalist societies we value work that relates to intelligence, whether physical or intellectual — first blue-collar work and now white-collar work. *What matters is not what you think, dream, or imagine; it’s what you do*. That’s how we pay you. That’s how we value your contribution to society for the most part.*' Another good reminder (and validates some of the thinking I've seen around cognitive skills regressing) to be consistently exercising the brain: '*In the absence of conscious practice reflective self-consciousness can atrophy like any faculty of the mind. *If you don’t cultivate it, it’s like a muscle you never use.* The capability may remain there; the potential may remain, but it will atrophy.*' - [Willingness to Look Stupid Is a Genuine Moat in Creative Work](https://sharif.io/looking-stupid). I'd say it a little differently - [lean into childlike-curiosity](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). '*I don’t think young people are smarter than old people. I don’t think they work that much harder either. It mostly just seems that nobody really expects much of young people, so they're free to follow their curiosity into weird, silly, and seemingly-bad-but-actually-good ideas. They're not afraid of looking stupid. Good Ideas, and I mean this in the broadest sense – research directions, startup ideas, premises for a novel – almost always sound stupid at first. They often make the person who came up with them look stupid. So if a truly good idea always starts out by looking unserious, then the only way to have one is to get comfortable producing stupid things.*' - [The Worst Airport in America](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/03/worst-airport-wait-times-reason/686542/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHVmFUoqWpdn%5FVRNljy4ovyE). Another reason I have been trying to avoid any travel: airports are a total mess. The answer to which airport is the worst made me laugh. But I didn't know this fact: '*All airports are depressing and scary; some go above and beyond. For example, at least seven American airports are named after people who died in plane crashes.*' - [The "You Think You're Better Than Me?" Coffee Index](https://lukekornet.medium.com/the-you-think-youre-better-than-me-coffee-index-ca86cde1336c). A fun little game if you're into coffee to test your knowledge of the bean. I can certainly relate to this: '*That pavlovian glee the second the machine starts warming up. That hold-the-mug-with-two-hands-close-to-your-chest-and-nestle-up-on-the-couch-like-you’re-a-guest-on-The-Drew-Barrymore-Show feeling (that show puts Pat McAfee’s level of in-studio comfort to shame).*' - [Does College Radio Even Matter Anymore?](https://pitchfork.com/features/article/10018-does-college-radio-even-matter-anymore/). Mainstream radio is just so.... blah. Over the last several months, I've turned to tools like [TuneIn](https://tunein.com) and [Broadcasts](https://www.highcaffeinecontent.com) to switch up my listening habits and make an intentional pivot to [streaming radio](https://emilyfedon.substack.com/p/a-short-history-of-internet-radio) across college and international stations. (Side note: [Radio.Garden is super cool](https://radio.garden)). What I discovered was a real joy - lots of new bands I would have never otherwise heard about. It's true: [college radio is not dead](https://www.aacu.org/liberaleducation/articles/college-radio-is-not-dead). - [The Future Smells Like Paper](https://www.dotbydot.com/newsletter/the-future-smells-like-paper). '*Screens have no smell. No texture. No resistance. They exist in permanent present tense, refreshing endlessly, never aging, never bearing marks of use. This makes them powerful. It also makes them incomplete.*' While I do love digital ink (especially this new [XteInk X4](https://www.xteink.com)), there's a special magic that just can't be replicated with real pen and paper. '*The printed book demands engagement with its materiality. You feel the weight of how much you've read and how much remains. The spine cracks. Pages have texture, some smooth, some rough depending on paper stock and how many hands held them before yours. There's a scent that changes as the book ages. *These aren't bugs in the system. They are the system**.' - [Thoughts on Slowing the Fuck Down](https://mariozechner.at/posts/2026-03-25-thoughts-on-slowing-the-fuck-down/). I've always despised the thinking behind '[move fast and break things](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta%5FPlatforms#History)'. More often than not, you end up with lots of broken things. I prefer the path of *continuous learning and reinvention*, because tech/life is evolving at crazy speeds right now and by slapping tech on broken systems... well... you know where that goes. And with AI, the world is screaming for faster and faster, not 'rethinking'. '*This is where your experience and taste come in, something the current SOTA models simply cannot yet replace. And slowing the fuck down and suffering some friction is what allows you to learn and grow.*' - [Before You Automate It, Ask Whether You Should Even Be Doing It in the First Place](https://hunterwalk.com/2026/03/25/before-you-automate-it-ask-whether-you-should-even-be-doing-it-in-the-first-place/). Good advice for well, pretty much anything. - [Speed Is a Tactic, Not a Virtue](https://eleganthack.com/speed-is-a-tactic-not-a-virtue/). Along the same lines: '*You won’t find those things by going faster. You’ll find them by thinking harder.*' - [Rule #23: Be Inefficient on Purpose](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-23-be-inefficient-on-purpose). This week, [Scott](https://scottberkun.com) asks a great question: '*What activity in your life earns your undivided time? Do you even have one anymore? There is so much cultural and technological pressure to do as many things as possible as fast as possible that even the idea of doing one thing at a time on purpose now feels strange.*' But really, the nugget is the concept of being **time poor** or **time rich**. '*One measure of a good life is to be time rich. To make decisions so that you have all the time you want for the important things you choose. This is rare. It requires focus, autonomy and commitment. Instead most of us get lost in the cult of busy and live lives that are time poor. We always feel late and rushed. We feel we are behind and not doing enough, despite working as hard as we can.*' Definitely something I need to work on is how to readjust my balance here. - [Some Things Just Take Time](https://lucumr.pocoo.org/2026/3/20/some-things-just-take-time/). I guess the theme of this week is **time** :) '*There’s a reason we have cooling-off periods for some important decisions in one’s life. We recognize that people need time to think about what they’re doing, and that doing something right once doesn’t mean much because you need to be able to do it over a longer period of time.*' Important reminder: '*The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.*' - [The Beat Sheet](https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/p/the-beat-sheet). I highly recommend [Dave Gray's 'Visual Frameworks'](https://visualframeworks.substack.com), so I really appreciated this week's post on the mess we suffer. '*It’s a particular struggle for visual thinkers, because when we look at a topic, there are so many possible starting points, and there’s no single clear path through it. Each path forks and divides in interesting ways. Sometimes they go nowhere or run into dead ends, or they double back into loops and crisscross each other, until the sequence gets lost in all the wandering, tangled up like an out-of-control fishing line.*' The solution? **The Beat Sheet**. '*A beat sheet is a simple document that tells the story of an entire film in a couple of pages. It tells you whether the story works. It reveals the weak links that might break the chain of the story. Before a single scene is shot. A beat sheet is not a hierarchy. It’s flat: a numbered list of complete sentences. No hierarchy, no sub-points, no Roman numerals. Just a sequence. Each beat is a claim, a turn, or a structural move. One job per beat.*' - [The Onion Had a Very Good Year](https://apple.news/ACvUV%5FXFCRc2jn3j3XjEHsQ). I've always loved [The Onion](https://theonion.com), and have been [a "paper" subscriber](https://membership.theonion.com/?campaign=701a500001IElAfAAL) since they offered it. Their return in 2024 has been somewhat incredible: '*The 38-year-old satirical news publication, wrested from the grips of private equity in 2024 by a group including Twilio cofounder Jeff Lawson and former NBC News disinfo reporter Ben Collins, has built an audience of 2*9.5 million*. And it’s *the print version*, not the site, that’s driving business. With 65,000 paying print subscribers, in 50 states and 50 countries, The Onion is, by some estimates, *the country’s 12th-largest print newspaper*, above The Boston Globe. Overall annual revenue grew 300% in 2025.*' - [Gardening as Resistance: Notes on Building Paradise](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/03/25/gardening-art-resistance/). This post asks, '*Does gardening offer an antidote to the hurried pace of modern life?*' Perhaps! The author makes an interesting point about cultivating beauty. '*Gardening situates you in a different kind of time, the antithesis of the agitating present of social media. Time becomes circular, not chronological; minutes stretch into hours; some actions don’t bear fruit for decades. The gardener is not immune to attrition and loss, but is daily confronted by the ongoing good news of fecundity. A peony returns, alien pink shoots thrusting from bare soil. The fennel self-seeds; there is an abundance of cosmos out of nowhere.*' - [The Liberating Effect of Uncertainty](https://nesslabs.com/liberating-uncertainty). '*None of us really knows what we want, at least not with the certainty we pretend to have. We think we do. We make plans as if we do. But research consistently shows that humans are surprisingly poor predictors of their future desires and happiness.*' As usual, [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://nesslabs.com/) makes an interesting point in this piece on the **beautiful uncertainty of not knowing**. - [Scientists Narrow Down the Hunt for Aliens to 45 Planets](https://www.404media.co/scientists-narrow-down-the-hunt-for-aliens-to-45-planets/?ref=the-abstract-newsletter). Of the 6000 planets that have been discovered, most of these worlds are inhospitable to life. Apparently, only 45 of them are within '*the region where liquid water might exist on the surface*.' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-22-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-22-26/ Last updated: 2026-03-22T12:01:38.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Last Quiet Thing](https://www.terrygodier.com/the-last-quiet-thing). This **incredible** entry asks an important question: '*What if the exhaustion everybody feels isn't a moral failure but the completely rational response to being made responsible for an ecosystem of objects that never stop asking?*' Powerful stuff, and a framing that I never really considered before this. '*The problem was never how many things you own. The problem is that OWNING means something it never used to. Everything you buy is the beginning of a relationship you'll be maintaining until one of you dies or gets discontinued.*' This one is for the [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/), as it's a great reminder on how important silence is, and that '*technology got bad at being finished.*' - [Nobody Gets Promoted for Simplicity](https://terriblesoftware.org/2026/03/03/nobody-gets-promoted-for-simplicity/). Look, **simple is difficult**, and while this post has a bit of a software engineering perspective (see [more on boredom](https://makoism.com/surprising-things-about-boredom/)), there are some great life lessons in here. '*The actual path to seniority isn't learning more tools and patterns, but learning when not to use them. Anyone can add complexity. It takes experience and confidence to leave it out.*.' - [The Optimized Self and the Life That Got Away](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-optimized-self-and-the-life-that-got-away/). Speaking of *complexity*, some time ago I went down the rabbit hole to [this idea that I could optimize chaos and better understand my body](https://makoism.com/measuring-success/) by *hyper-focusing* on data, aka the 'quantified self'. While I can't dismiss that it *does* provide insights, I wonder how much **real value** I get from it. Joan nails it: '*The mindfulness industry sold inner peace as a *productivity intervention*, and you were supposed to meditate because it would improve your focus metrics, and whether sitting still with your thoughts was worth doing on its own terms was entirely beside the point. The gym absorbed this logic, and *the body became a startup, and the optimization influencer became its growth hacker*, and the language of biohacking was borrowed directly from Silicon Valley engineering culture: stacks, protocols, outputs, iterations. The journey was irrelevant, and the destination was simply a more productive you. In the psychological literature going back to D.W. Winnicott, play is the space where creativity and selfhood develop, and play is, by definition, purposeless. You do it for its own sake, or you're not really playing. *When the entire surface area of life is conquered by purposeful activity, play becomes structurally impossible.**' **A lot to revisit here**. - [What Brené Brown and I Will Never Agree On](https://adamgrant.substack.com/p/what-brene-brown-and-i-will-never). As a long-time fan of both [Brené Brown](https://brenebrown.com/about/) and [Adam Grant](https://adamgrant.substack.com), [their new podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-curiosity-shop-with-brené-brown-and-adam-grant/id1730985049), [The Curiosity Shop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlUWQbVds0Q), was an instant "subscribe" for me. '*Every Thursday, Brené and I will combine our right-brain and left-brain sensibilities to embrace informed complexity over easy answers. We’ll explore big questions, riff, disagree, and dive deep into the ideas, evidence, and cultural moments that intrigue us most.*' 🎧 - [Why I'm Not Worried About Running Out of Work in the Age of AI](https://kellblog.com/2026/03/19/why-im-not-worried-about-running-out-of-work-in-the-age-of-ai/). '*The one thing I find most missing from the AI future analyses I've read is a simple realization: in my experience, there is always, always more work yet to do.*' The job market right now is a total mess, and there's no limit to how much uncertainty there is in the world. As a parent of two kids exiting college, I can attest that [it's pretty damn bleak out there](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/19/opinion/focus-group-gen-z-jobs.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.UVA.7tPW.A%5F5A5oMVGYdd&smid=url-share). But for a long time, a techie like myself resonates with this post. '*Since no AI post would be complete without a reference to* [*Jevons Paradox*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons%5Fparadox)*, let's invoke it here: When technology makes something cheaper or more efficient, we tend to use more of it, not less. When steam engines became more efficient, coal consumption didn't fall — it exploded because steam power became economical in far more applications. The same dynamic has repeated itself with computing, storage, and bandwidth. Every time technology dramatically increases our ability to do something, we don't run out of work to do. *We discover many more things worth doing*.*' Or, like [I mentioned last week](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-15-26/): '*The value of 90% of my skills just dropped to $0\. The leverage of my remaining 10% went up by a thousand.*' - [How the Hell Are You Supposed to Have a Career in Tech in 2026?](https://anildash.com/2026/01/05/a-tech-career-in-2026/). I've been spending a lot of time in these spaces lately (sorry), but I liked where Anil went with this: **focus on curiosity**. '*A lot of us still care about things like the potential for technology to help people, or still believe in the idealistic and positive goals that got us into our careers in the first place. We weren't wrong, or naive, or foolish to aspire to those goals simply because some bad actors sought to undermine them. And it's okay to feel frustrated or scared in a time when, to many, those goals seem further away than they've been in a long time.*' - [Why ATMs Didn't Kill Bank Teller Jobs, but the iPhone Did](https://davidoks.blog/p/why-the-atm-didnt-kill-bank-teller). Keeping on the same thread, another relevant post here: '*there's a lot more to replacing labor than just automating tasks.*' A really interesting read on how technology replaced bank tellers. '*So what happened to bank tellers? Autor, Bessen, Vance, and the like are right to point out that ATMs did not reduce bank teller employment. But they miss the second half of the story, which is that another technology did. *And that technology was the iPhone*.*' - [The Ends of AI](https://disjunctionsmag.com/articles/ends-of-ai/). In addition to this excellent post from [Scott Galloway](https://www.profgalloway.com/love-algorithmically/), '*I now worry that synthetic relationships could erode users mojo, stunting their capacity to handle conflict and forge bonds with friends, mentors, and partners in the real world*', this post dives into the problems of **AI psychosis**. It's '*the feeling that you are better understood by the chatbot than by people, or by the belief that AI is more objective and neutral than experts, journalists, or your neighbours. The feeling of AI psychosis is also being convinced that you are, in fact, superior to others; an unrecognised genius, or special in some ways that people around you simply don’t recognise, but that the chatbot does. This is what happens when you sell AI as god-like — people might actually end up believing that they are having spiritual awakenings.*' We're treading on some really scary ground, and did you know that [most AI chatbots are used for therapy and companionship](https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot/2025/05/14/top-ten-uses-of-ai-puts-therapy-and-companionship-at-the-1-spot/)? I don't think this will end well. - [The Fast Rise and Epic Fall of Clubhouse](https://www.theverge.com/podcast/895044/clubhouse-audio-social-network-version-history). Remember Clubhouse? I really enjoyed this postmortem on what happened to it. '*Clubhouse was an initially invite-only, audio-based social network that worked like an old-timey party line or radio call-in show… and it was exactly what people needed who suddenly found themselves stuck at home.*' There's a variety of reasons it didn't last, but this take is probably the most succinct: '*Clubhouse didn’t fail; it simply stopped being necessary once the world started moving again.*'. [Video link here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xmixsUdO4Q) if interested. - [How 'Sync Music' Became the Soundtrack to Our Lives (gift link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/magazine/sync-music-songwriters-video.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.U1A.jHLg.pduQHhd3pkun&smid=url-share). I didn't know that it had a name, but you know that background music you hear in all sorts of videos, from reality TV shows like Love Island to YouTube tutorials and commercials? It's called **sync music**. Learn all about '*the music you hear all day, without ever noticing*'. Really interesting post. - [What 100 Million Volts Do to the Body and Mind (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/lightning-strike-survivors-body-mind/686057/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHSh4oKpHTRaWYkEEDLV68Ak&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). '*The odds of being struck by lightning in America in a given year are one in 1.2 million. How does the experience reorient a person’s sense of chance, of fate?*' Last week, I mentioned ideas of 'quantum change' and this certainly falls into it. '*The most fundamental consequences of being struck by lightning are often metaphysical, and not easily communicable. How does falling victim to one of the most notoriously unlikely of all misfortunes reorient your sense of chance, of fate? How does it feel, when you’re trying to describe the most transformative experience of your life, to be met, routinely, with disbelief?*' Really interesting. - [Rule #22: Ask Beautiful Questions](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-22-ask-beautiful-questions). I really wish [Scott](https://scottberkun.com) would finish the book already; it's been a joy reading his thought pieces as he writes. '*The magic of a question is that, unlike a statement, it creates space. That's all it does. It opens things up. It invites the other person to fill the shape we've offered them. Or to change it. In our culture, we give too much attention to smart people who know the answers, but we undervalue the wisdom of people who know what to ask in the first place.*' - [Maybe Making Is About Mattering](https://sharif.io/making-mattering). It's taken me a good 55 years on planet Earth to understand what drove [my childlike curiosity](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/) that got me into this wacky technology world. This post really connected with me: '*That's always been the unifying theme in everything I do: technology in pursuit of human flourishing. It's never been about the technology. It's always been about the people. I care about people. I want to use technology to make their lives better. To help them flourish. To achieve their potential. I always come back to that idea, though I’m not sure why. It just feels so obvious to me. We can shape our environment and create a future in which people live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. That’s a beautiful thing to be able to do! It feels like I have an obligation, a duty. That seems to be the mark of a craftsperson: a sense of obligation to better the lives of those around them by making things for them.*' - [The Measure of a Life Well Lived: Henry Miller on How to Grow Old and the Secret of Remaining Young at Heart](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/03/18/henry-miller-on-turning-eighty/). Another wonderful post on aging well. - [In Favor of Enjoying Things on Purpose](https://www.raptitude.com/2026/03/in-favor-of-enjoying-things-on-purpose/). Wrapping up this week with a reminder on **why we should enjoy things**. '*As far as I can tell, virtually every moment offers many such sources of enjoyment, if you can learn to enjoy things consciously and voluntarily. You can, if you intend to, enjoy the dappled light on the breakfast table, the gentle hug of your socks on your feet, or your smoothly-running vehicle — any aspect of the moment you recognize as welcome, helpful, pleasant, or beautiful. Indulging in these pleasures does not require a special sentimental mood or the conditions of your life to feel favorable in general. They only require a moment of voluntary appreciation for a single good thing.*' Very akin to [Kurt Vonnegut's advice](https://www.insidehook.com/wellness/kurt-vonnegut-advice) for making the most of every day: '*And I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-15-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-15-26/ Last updated: 2026-03-15T12:01:40.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Will Claude Code Ruin Our Team?](https://justinjackson.ca/claude-code-ruin). Despite what you think about where we are today concerning AI, we have to accept that the genie is already out of the bottle. Sure, the next few years will be filled with polarized views on the tech; some love it, some hate it, some see it as a tool, and there's a ton of misinformation and ill-informed folks who act on things they read, rather than spending real quality time with these tools. Where am I? I saw a quote in this post that captured where my head is as of late: '*The value of 90% of my skills just dropped to $0\. The leverage of my remaining 10% went up by a thousand.*'. I have no idea where this stuff will end - it could be a great way to reclaim some time, or it will scorch the earth with the data center and energy usage. We're already seeing some of the tech giants act in good/evil ways. *All I know is that it's important to be *educated**. I've been approaching Claude Code with [childlike curiosity](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/), and I'm building some tools I never had time for before; *and that's awesome*! But I also have 30 years of software engineering experience, crafting APIs, debugging wacky code, and understanding what goes on under the hood that could cause a system to collapse. '*Very little about software engineering has changed over the past three months. A great deal has changed about coding.*' Important words to remember from [Grady Booch](https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/the-third-golden-age-of-software). - [Grief and the AI Split](https://blog.lmorchard.com/2026/03/11/grief-and-the-ai-split/). Speaking of polarized views, [Les Orchard](https://blog.lmorchard.com) has a wonderful post on the **grief** among long-time software engineers. '*AI-assisted coding is revealing a split among developers that was always there but invisible when we all worked the same way. I've felt the grief too—but mine resolved differently than I expected, and I think that says something about what kind of developer I've been all along.*' I won't spoil it, it's a good thought piece to savor. Side note: I've probably been following Les for 20 years, and even had a short opportunity to work with him back in my Yahoo! days. A fantastic technologist to read more from if you're not already. - [Phantom Fluency](https://www.terrygodier.com/phantom-fluency). I mentioned the new RSS reader, [Current](https://www.currentreader.app), a few weeks back. In this post explaining the background, Terry captured a feeling I've been trying to explain about what's wrong with user interfaces and comprehension. '*Scientists call what happens next the fluency illusion. When information feels easy to process, your brain interprets that ease as learning. But processing ease has almost no relationship to retention. Often it's the opposite: productive difficulty is what makes knowledge stick.... That's the experience I've started calling *phantom fluency*. The ghost of comprehension. You felt fluent in someone else's ideas. The fluency was real. The comprehension was not.*' - [The Gut Decision Matrix: When to Trust Instinct and Intuition](https://nesslabs.com/gut-decision-matrix). As usual, when [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://nesslabs.com) posts, it **resets** my thinking. '*We often talk about "trusting our gut.” But the gut feelings people refer to can actually stem from two very different sources: instinct and intuition. Because they feel so similar (fast, automatic, sometimes emotional) we tend to treat them the same, which can lead to poor decision-making in many situations. Instinct is evolutionary and biological, designed for survival. Intuition is learned pattern recognition, built through experience. When we confuse them, we may trust reactions that deserve skepticism or ignore signals that deserve attention.*' - [The Noble Path](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-noble-path/). '*I think what I'm arguing against is the monoculture. The idea that building-as-business is the only legitimate mode of making things, and that everything else is either a hobby (dismissive) or a pre-revenue startup (aspirational). I'm arguing for the recovery of a third category: building as gift, *building as an expression of care for a specific community of people whose problems you understand because you're one of them.**' Wow; I really liked where this one landed '*The Noble Path as I see it is to build a small, imperfect, deeply useful thing and give it away to the people who need it. Skip the landing page and the waitlist. A thing that works, offered freely, in the oldest and most human tradition of making things for each other.*' - [The Death of Spotify: Why Streaming Is Minutes Away From Being Obsolete](https://joelgouveia.substack.com/p/the-death-of-spotify-why-streaming). Described as 'the system that nobody likes but everyone depends on' seems to be a common theme with more 'platforms' these days. There's something really profound in here, '*When music is treated like a utility, it's unconsciously devalued by the consumer. It's background noise.*' Speaking of which, isn't that [what Sam Altman just said](https://gizmodo.com/sam-altman-says-intelligence-will-be-a-utility-and-hes-just-the-man-to-collect-the-bills-2000732953) about **intelligence**? (He said, '*We see a future where intelligence is a utility, like electricity or water, and people buy it from us on a meter.*' Not a great take, IMHO. *But what do I know*.) - [The Block Universe: A Theory Where Every Moment Already Exists](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/the-block-universe-a-theory-where). Ever since I read [Kurt Vonnegut's masterpiece, Slaughterhouse Five](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five), I've been **fascinated** by the idea that time could be non-linear: *what has happened and what is going to happen exist at one moment*. Quick spoiler if you haven't read it: '*Throughout the novel, Billy Pilgrim frequently travels back and forth through time. The protagonist deals with a temporal crisis as a result of his post-war psychological trauma.*'. So, it goes without saying that when I came across this post about **block universes**, I was pulled in. '*In this interview, theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili breaks the problem of time into four key questions: Does time actually flow? How can quantum field theory be reconciled with general relativity? What defines the present moment? And why does time seem to move in only one direction?*' If you want to [watch the full video, it's great](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xp3Bs6nZ-Y). So it goes. - [Africa (Toto) but It Lists Every Country in Africa](https://kottke.org/26/03/africa-toto-but-it-lists-every). Ok, this is quirky and fun. Also, [There I Ruined It](https://www.youtube.com/@ThereIRuinedIt), is turning into a fun place to find stuff, well, they ruin. [Their rendition of Back in Black](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02DUSQfBZFY) is hilarious. :) - [BRICKA - Premium Magazine for Adult Fans of LEGO](https://www.brickamag.com/article-category/issue-1). Found this new magazine over the week, and I **instantly** subscribed to the print edition. '*BRICKA was created as a space where creativity, play, and design meet — where a single brick becomes story and art. Issue 1 celebrates the makers redefining what LEGO can be.*' - [One Brick Less](https://www.brickamag.com/article/one-brick-less-leidy-klotz-and-the-power-of-subtraction). From the BRICKA magazine, '*a professor's young son fixes a LEGO Duplo bridge by removing a single block, that quiet act of subtraction would go on to inspire a decade of research into a powerful bias in human thinking: our tendency to add rather than remove when solving problems*.' [Subtraction is always an amazing way to clear the path](https://makoism.com/attention/). - [The $200 Plastic Box Opportunity](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-200-plastic-box-opportunity/). '*This is why personal brands are not only a real thing, they are the realest thing right now. People pay for a narrative. People pay based on trust and relationships.*' Also a counterpoint to remember, [social 'influencers' often are a different category that you need to be acutely aware of](https://www.profgalloway.com/the-cult-of-therapy/). - [How to Change Your Entire Life in One Day](https://youtube.com/watch?v=d8SCax7RiJc&si=Pnuhx3gAq1Ygd4B4). [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net) hit it out of the park with this one. I love the ideas of 'quantum change' and how it manifests change, and an **anti-vision**. A quick (20 min) watch that is **well worth the time**. - [Why I Email Complete Strangers](https://goodinternetmagazine.com/why-i-email-complete-strangers/). I don't know why people don't do this more often, but I've often emailed authors of books out of the blue, and most times, they do respond! '*There’s something vulnerable about sending missives out into the void, not knowing if you’ll be welcomed or ignored. We’ve been conditioned to think of unsolicited contact as unwelcome. While much of it is ... there’s a difference between spam and genuine effort. There’s something to be said for respecting the other person’s time and attention.*' - [Crucial Tracks Music Journal - the Songs That Made You](https://www.crucialtracks.org/). Recently discovered this website, Crucial Tracks. '*What are crucial tracks? A crucial track is a song that changes the direction of your life or helps you see the world in a different way. The songs that represent relationships or trigger memories. The songs that make you, you. Crucial Tracks is a music journal with a simple idea: share the important songs in your life.*' Brilliant! - [George Lucas on the Meaning of Life](https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/03/17/george-lucas-meaning-of-life/). Closing out the week with this post that was originally in the 1991 book, [The Meaning of Life: Reflections in Words and Pictures on Why We Are Here](https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Life-Reflections-Words-Pictures/dp/0316294020). '*It is possible that on a spiritual level we are all connected in a way that continues beyond the comings and goings of various life forms. My best guess is that we share a collective spirit or life force or consciousness that encompasses and goes beyond individual life forms. There’s a part of us that connects to other humans, connects to other animals, connects to plants, connects to the planet, connects to the universe. I don’t think we can understand it through any kind of verbal, written or intellectual means. But I do believe that we all know this, even if it is on a level beyond our normal conscious thoughts.*' [The force will be with you, always](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwYBm2VKgH0). **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-8-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-8-26/ Last updated: 2026-03-08T12:01:49.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Endless Scroll, Empty Soul - The Tyranny of Reading Later](https://curtismchale.ca/2025/08/02/endless-scroll-empty-soul-the-tyranny-of-reading-later). I've been through all the tools: [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/home), [Matter](https://hq.getmatter.com), [Instapaper](https://www.instapaper.com), [ReadWise](https://readwise.io/read), to name a few, over the years. For a long time, it was a crucial part of [my flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) for inbox overload: '*If it’s something that I need for information later, it quickly goes into the 'year' folder. If the email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast or whatever else that I can consume later, it quickly goes into Pocket. Then the email is deleted.*' **No more**. This post spoke to my soul as I've been on **the relentless pursuit of less**: '*Let that stream of articles pass by you and grab the few that interest you. Be okay with all the stuff you won't get to. Don't fall for the trap of performative goals meant to impress other online people.*' See also: [The Purge](https://makoism.com/the-purge/). - [Everything Is Signaling](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/everything-is-signaling). A real think piece on the nature of signaling. '*Politics is about signaling tribal affiliation, charity is about signaling virtue, art is about signaling upper-class shibboleths, and education is about signaling intelligence, work ethic, and rule-following ability to elite employers. The implications are soul-crushing.*' One part that I really enjoyed is the implications of the filter we all have. '*Humans have a filter in their heads, screening out verboten impulses in nearly every waking moment: the 'what will people think' filter. Practically everything we do passes through this filter, even when we’re in the privacy of our own homes or in an anonymous situation.*' A really great piece worth reading, imho, to understand the three core human traits that drive this. - [The Bravery of Being Out of Range](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamLmpVOgE0). I've been thinking a lot about this song lately from [Roger Waters'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger%5FWaters) fifth album, [Amused to Death](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIzgTL5NDT8&list=OLAK5uy%5Fka1U3tes8Atdy1A%5F8oxGbPw7qVyg2qhIQ). As a rule, I try to stay away from political discourse here, but watching the news as of late leaves me with the creepy feeling that the people in charge are playing video games. '*Just love those laser guided bombs / They're really great for righting wrongs / You hit the target and win the game / From bars 3,000 miles away /3,000 miles away*'. Nuff said on this. - [Memento Mori for the Chronically Online](https://www.badgirlmedia.com/p/memento-mori-for-the-chronically). Marcus Aurelius is quoted as saying '*You could leave life right now... do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life.*' The idea of [Memento Mori](https://makoism.com/fight-club/). '*Every living organism moves away from death. Bacteria swim from toxins. Insects flee shadows. Deer bolt at the snap of a branch. This is not remarkable. What’s remarkable is that humans are the only species that knows it’s going to die long before it happens, and has to figure out how to keep functioning anyway.*' - [Treat Your To-Read Pile Like a River](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/river). Following up on the previous link to 'The Tyranny of Reading Later', [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com) continues to circle the idea that things are more '*stressful than it needs to be to build a fulfilling and productive life: the *problem of too many needles**.' I do like his solution (something that the new app, [Current](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/current-reader/id6758530974) attempts to replicate): '*Treating your to read pile like a river (a stream that flows past you, and from which you pluck a few choice items, here and there) instead of a bucket (which demands that you empty it).*' Reminds me a lot of the concept of an [anti-library](https://makoism.com/random-acts/). - [Pablo Neruda on How to Hold Time](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/03/03/neruda-time/). I do love a good read about [**time**](https://makoism.com/time-flies/). '*Most of us are drowning in bewilderment at where the time goes, burning with the urgency of being alive while waiting to start living, wandering the labyrinth of life with wayward presence, wishing that time ran differently as the cult of productivity turns each minute into a blade pressed against the vein of our transience.*' - [The Real Story Behind 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-real-story-behind-zen-and-the). It's been some time since I've read [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen%5Fand%5Fthe%5FArt%5Fof%5FMotorcycle%5FMaintenance), which chronicles a 17-day motorcycle journey from Minnesota to California, during which the narrator grapples with his past, particularly after a severe mental breakdown and electroshock therapy that left him with fragmented memories. I remember this being a fascinating read, but the deeper dive into the mythos that inspired the book is equally as interesting. - [3 Ways to Think and Talk Like a Philosopher](https://bigthink.com/mini-philosophy/3-ways-to-think-and-talk-like-a-philosopher/). I recently subscribed to [BigThink](https://bigthink.com), and I find their videos not only inspiring but also always pushing me into interesting new places to discover some wisdom. This post covers a few interesting techniques you can use to shift your perspective and challenge your thinking. '**Keep your epistemic plasticity**' was particularly good. - [How to MacGyver It](https://www.gapingvoid.com/how-to-macgyver-it/). YES! '*You just dropped your house key down a street drain. Most people call a locksmith. MacGyver grabbed a wire coil and a car battery, built an electromagnetic retrieval device, and moved on with his day.*' A perfect reminder that you should never use a lack of resources as a reason to wait. **Use it as an invitation to get creative**.' - [David Lynch's "Revenge of the Jedi"](https://www.benningtonreview.org/adam-golaski). Today I learned that, in April 1981, [George Lucas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%5FLucas) offered the job to direct the third Star Wars film, [Return of the Jedi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return%5Fof%5Fthe%5FJedi) (then called [Revenge of the Jedi](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star%5FWars:%5FEpisode%5FVI%5FRevenge%5Fof%5Fthe%5FJedi)) to none other than [**David Lynch**](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000186/). Yes, the same [director who recently passed away](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4UmIIlkzHQ), of [Twin Peaks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFuKtJjhBCQ) fame. The whole story, Lynch's response, and the inspiration around the choice are all part of this post. - [How Musicals Use Motifs to Tell Stories](https://pudding.cool/2025/12/motifs/). I recently discovered the amazingly cool [pudding.cool](https://pudding.cool) site (WARNING: it's a rabbit hole that I spent hours on, especially [the happy map](https://pudding.cool/2026/02/happy-map)). This post was a wonderful visualization of how musicals use motifs to tell stories. Well worth pouring a second cup of espresso and savoring it slowly. - ["Our Programs Are Fun to Use."](https://unsung.aresluna.org/our-programs-are-fun-to-use/). I'm old enough to remember [Beagle Bros Software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle%5FBros), a 1980s software company that made apps for the Apple II. There's **a lot** for any creative to learn from them - they created some of the most fun and informative posters **ever** in the computing space. This post really gives a great glimpse of something missing from today's mega-corp crap: **a sense of fun, curiosity, and wonder**. Check out [their online archive](https://beagle.applearchives.com) as well. - [Listen to Earth's Rumbling, Secret Soundtrack](https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/25/1132829/listen-earths-rumbling-secret-soundtrack/). The headline pulled me right in: '*A New England artist makes music from the imperceptible noises of nature using tools that usually detect hidden nuclear explosions.*' I never knew about [infrasounds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrasound) until this post. - [The Four Rules for a Good Walk](https://kottke.org/26/03/the-four-rules-for-a-good-walk). Just **taking** a walk is a good walk, but this post about city planner Jeff Speck (and [his TED Talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cL5Nud8d7w)), on the 'walkable city', carves out specifics. '*The typical American city, in which most people own cars and the temptation is to drive them all the time, if you’re going to get them to walk, then you have to offer a walk that’s as good as a drive or better. What does that mean? It means you need to offer four things simultaneously: there needs to be a proper reason to walk, the walk has to be safe and feel safe, the walk has to be comfortable, and the walk has to be interesting.*' Also: [Do Walk](https://thedolectures.com/products/do-walk/). **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-01-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-01-26/ Last updated: 2026-03-01T13:01:13.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [For Those Who Zag](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/for-those-who-zag). I really appreciated [Brad's post](https://bradmontague.substack.com) reflecting on Apple's famous '[think different](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpzvwkR1RYU) campaign. '*It just feels like a really odd time to be a human. Tech progress has gone from being something exciting to "Oh no, I think they're trying to automate my soul."*' His new take on it, 'For Those That Zag' was a fun read. And, as a side note: even today, I still find the message incredibly motivating - a 'think different' poster still hangs upstairs near my home office. - [Omoiyari](https://www.gapingvoid.com/omoiyari/). I needed to add the word **Omoiyari** to [my personal dictionary](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/terminology/id687798859). '*There’s a Japanese word with no English equivalent: *Omoiyari*. It means something like a deep, reflexive consideration for others that permeates at all levels of the culture.*' There's something wonderfully special about a word that describes '*how the environment shapes reality, which shapes language and culture, which shapes behavior. It’s all connected.*' - [Curate People](https://nav.al/curate-people). On a similar theme of having your own [Personal Board of Directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/), I really enjoyed [The Naval Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8x978NnZSI) on the conversation around recruiting. '**Recruiting is the most important thing* because you need *creativity*; you need *motivated* people. Ideally, the early people are all geniuses. They’re self-managing, low-ego, hardworking, highly competent, builders, technical; maybe one or two sellers; but you can’t watch everything. You can’t micromanage everything.*' The idea that *the best only want to work with the best* isn't a new one - [Steve Jobs often talked about](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTgQ2PBiz-g) building teams of A players, and how in software '*the difference between average and the best is 50 to 1.*' - [Letters to a Young Creator](https://letters.stevejobsarchive.com/laurene-powell-jobs). Maybe I'm feeling a bit sentimental (or *inspired*) this week, as I have a lot of callbacks to Steve Jobs. Recently, [The Steve Jobs Archive](https://stevejobsarchive.com) published 'Letters to a Young Creator', '*a collection of honest perspectives on what it takes to make something great, written by people who have done it before.*' You can download it free from [Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/book/id6759349977) or [download it to your favorite e-reader](https://stevejobsarchive.com/publications/download). - [Why Aren't Smart People Happier?](https://www.experimental-history.com/p/why-arent-smart-people-happier). A super interesting article which explores the disconnect between intelligence and happiness, questioning why individuals with high IQs aren't *necessarily* happier.' The author dives into how most testing focuses on well-defined problems rather than poorly defined ones (which are where most life challenges come from). '*All of your optimizing, your straining to achieve and advance, your ruthless crusade to eliminate all of the well-defined problems from your life; it doesn't actually seem to make your life any better.*' - [How I Found, Lost, and Rediscovered My Purpose](https://dariusforoux.com/how-found-lost-and-rediscovered-my-purpose/). I've been acutely aware of the [hedonic treadmill before](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/). In a reflective blog post, [Darius Foroux](https://dariusforoux.com) talks about his story. '*From 2015 to 2024, I rode that momentum. I was writing and building. I had a direction. Then, I hit a ceiling.*' The question is always: ***what are you going to do about it?***. - [A System to Organize Your Life](https://johnnydecimal.com/). I've heard of the [Johnny Decimal](https://hackaday.com/2019/02/02/hack-your-file-hierarchy-with-johnny-decimal-system-deweys-older-brother/) organization system, but never really spent any time digging into it. The idea is to '*assign a unique ID to everything in your life*' and that '*these IDs help you stay organized. They impose constraints that make it harder to get lost. And you create your own index to link everything in your life together.*' It could be useful for folks; I've shifted into more of a *tag and search* method of organizing. Rather than complicated organizational folders, [I drop everything into a single folder](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/). It could be useful for someone reading this newsletter. - [The Sunday Meeting You Should Be Having with Yourself](https://www.badgirlmedia.com/p/the-sunday-meeting-you-should-be). '*Everyone plans. Almost nobody examines.*' I really liked this approach to a **consistent** 30 minute block on Sundays to examine things: '*I tend to accumulate tasks and other aspirations quickly, which is why the examination aspect is more important than the planning piece, and is exactly why this works so well for me as part of my overall weekly system*.' Perfectly stated: '*Sunday gives you the distance to think clearly and the proximity to act precisely.*' - [Deplatform Yourself](https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/23/goodharts-lawbreaker/). I've been pretty active on the idea of [decentralized social](https://fediverse.info), [specifically Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako), for the last several years. Cory dives deep into the concept of *unmonetizable content*, which I hadn't really considered before. '*I make a lot of "unmonetizable content," starting with this blog, which has no metrics, no analytics, and (of course) no ads. I refuse to add social media cards, and hide obscure jokes in incredibly long URLs that get truncated on social media. I labor for hours over the weird illustrations that go at the top of the posts, which I release (along with the text they accompany) under Creative Commons licenses that let pretty much anyone do pretty much anything with them, without asking me, telling me, or paying me (it's always very funny when someone accuses me of publishing this work as clickbait – clickbait for what? To increase bandwidth consumption at my server?).*' - [Is the New York Times a Games Company?](https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/is-the-new-york-times-a-games-company-a-familiar-debate-continues/). I had heard a few years back that [NYT Games](https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords) was driving **incredible** subscriber growth (in 2024, [NYT Games was driving more subscriptions](https://san.com/cc/games-drive-user-growth-at-new-york-times-surpassing-news-audience/) than the paper), but I never really thought of them as a 'games company'. The trend has **even further** continued driving growth into 2026. - [Podcasts Lead AM/FM in Spoken-Word Listening, Marking a First](https://www.edisonresearch.com/podcasts-lead-am-fm-in-spoken-word-listening-marking-a-first/). Speaking of growth, podcasts have finally overtaken radio listening. '*Quarter by quarter and year over year, time spent using AM/FM radio to listen to spoken-word audio has declined significantly and shifted to time spent with podcasts. As of Q4 2025, 40% of time spent listening to spoken-word is now spent with podcasts and 39% of time is spent with AM/FM radio. Not only does radio not beat podcasts by a significant margin, it now trails the on-demand platform for spoken-word audio listening.*' Frankly, I thought this had already happened. - [Too Many Satellites? Earth's Orbit Is on Track for a Catastrophe – But We Can Stop It](https://theconversation.com/too-many-satellites-earths-orbit-is-on-track-for-a-catastrophe-but-we-can-stop-it-275430). I had opened [Night Sky](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/night-sky/id475772902) to get some data on [this week's Lunar eclipse (blood moon)](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/a-total-lunar-eclipse-to-turn-the-moon-blood-red-on-tuesday-across-many-continents), and was **surprised** how much of the [sky was covered](https://satellitemap.space) with the [artificial constellation created by StarLink](https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?GROUP=active&FORMAT=tle) with only 9,400 in orbit as of Jan. '*SpaceX filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for a *mega-constellation* of up to *one million satellites* to power data centers in space.*' Great, the sky is now getting [enshittified](https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshittification). - [Actors Who Stole Desirable Merch from on Set](https://www.denofgeek.com/msn/tk-actors-who-stole-desirable-merch-from-on-set/). It's amusing to read about what actors have stolen from film sets. Chris Hemsworth should technically have a Thor's Hammer prop, though. - [The John S. McMillin Mausoleum](https://www.lakedale.com/san-juan-island-activity/a-san-juan-island-must-see-the-john-s-mcmillin-mausoleum/). On the island where I live, there's a strange monument in the woods that I love to take visitors to. When you see it, it's something out of what you'd only expect in a film, but the (perhaps haunted) [Afterglow Vista](https://seattleterrors.com/the-haunted-afterglow-vista/) has a really interesting history. '*This grand structure is both a tomb and a piece of art. McMillan and his family members ashes are interned (he was cremated) at the base of the thick concrete chairs that also act as headstones. The whole scene represents the family dinner table and the unity of the McMillins during life and death. An empty space at the table is rumored to represent the McMillin son who turned away from the family's Methodist faith.*' Although I've visited it many times, I haven't seen anything .. uh, extraordinary, but '*according to countless reports from visitors, strange blue orbs have been spotted and photographed hovering above the chairs at the limestone table in the center of the monument.*' - [Building a Functional LEGO Typewriter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIWTSkCVxjk). Ok, this is too cool not to share. :) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 2-22-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-22-26/ Last updated: 2026-02-22T13:01:56.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [My Writing Journey](https://leo.notenboom.org/my-writing-journey/). [Writing is thinking](https://alistapart.com/article/writing-is-thinking/), which is why I try to write *something* every day. My routine is now a **habit**: When I wake up, I write a sentence or two in my journal about what's on my mind. I take [random 'fighter pilot' thoughts down](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-14-25/) throughout the day. Occasionally, I even write [longer thought pieces](https://makoism.com/tag/makoism/), not to build an audience, but because it's 'cheaper than therapy'. '*I often talk about the importance of writing. It's a critical form of communication, and the better you are at it, the more likely it is that what you have to say will be heard. But it's more than that, and I called it out myself nearly 50 years ago: writing requires thinking. Your teachers were right: you can't write well about what you don't understand.*' Side benefit: **writing helps build critical thinking skills**. - [Incremental Theory](https://psychologyfanatic.com/incremental-theory/). '*Individuals who have an incremental model for organizing life experience believe that their true potential is essentially unknown and unknowable. It is the clay in the potters hand, ready for them to formed through experience. In the nature-nurture perspective, they focus on the nurture elements, knowing that environments may significantly create change.*' I've observed that many talk about having a growth mindset without really pushing all corners of it and seeing how many personal qualities are **malleable**. '*Instead of internalizing a mistake as an identity—thinking 'I am a failure'; this mindset allows you to view it simply as an event 'I failed today' — which serves as informative feedback rather than a permanent label.*' Learning is a **continuous process**, and I try to view life as a work in progress. [Alan Watts](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8232649-you-re-under-no-obligation-to-be-the-same-person-you): '*You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.*' - [Intentionality Through Scarcity](https://ttl.blog/intentionality-through-scarcity/). One of my favorite mental tricks is the power of [artificial constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/), and how it can bring focus. '*Don’t bother spending time thinking about all the things; focus on thinking about the things that matter most.*' It's also probably why I enjoyed the concept behind **intentionality through scarcity**: '*Basically, it’s the idea that you create better focus and better results by deliberately limiting your options, so what you choose actually matters.*' - [On Being Stuck and How to Escape It](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/on-being-stuck-and-how-to-escape). '*It took reading a recent essay to improve my own theories: we can get stuck because we keep trying what won’t work but can not see it.*' I **really like** where [Scott](https://scottberkun.com) is going with his upcoming book, [Rules to Live By](https://rulestolive.substack.com). '*We forget that we’re struggling with a situation not necessarily because of its challenges, but because we are stuck in who we were when it started.*' - [The Questions I'm Finally Asking (And Why Hope Looks Different Now)](https://mohammadhamid.net/news/questions-mohammadhamid). An incredible and deeply reflective view on asking the wrong questions. *'I'm asking different questions now. Where I used to ask, 'How do I get ahead?' I'm asking, 'What actually feels like living?' Where I used to ask, 'What will this achieve?' I'm asking, 'Does this reflect who I want to be?' The old questions were all about acquisition and advancement. The new ones are slower, messier, harder to measure.'* [Get busy living, or get busy dying](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6v%5FeSNVxec). - [Better Sleep in Ten Days](https://bjhess.com/posts/better-sleep-in-ten-days). I've never been a good sleeper - the slightest light or noise, and I pop awake, and my brain starts going. I've tried reducing blue light, taking supplements, sleeping cold, etc., but I'm lucky to get more than 6 hours. On a good night. Some good strategies in here that I have to try. '*Something pop into your mind? Have a notebook by your reading chair or your bed. Tossing and turning in bed and not sleeping? Since your bed is only for sleeping, get out of bed and read or listen to some music. Or maybe something a bit more woo-woo, like handpans or singing bowls (a playlist). There is research that sounds in the human vocal range have a calming impact on both our physical and mental systems.*' - [The Omnipotence Dilemma](https://nesslabs.com/omnipotence-dilemma). '*We tend to think more capability automatically leads to more progress, so that sounds great in theory. But what I’m noticing is that when the cost of taking action approaches zero, a strange dynamic seems to appear.*' I really enjoyed this post on the dangerous loop that [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://nesslabs.com) refers to as 'The Omnipotence Dilemma'. '*The deeper cost is that *you outsource the hardest but most important part of creative work*: forming a view. What becomes scarce is no longer skill or access. What becomes scarce is attention, conviction, taste, trust, time, and responsibility. And what worries me the most is that this cost shows up slowly. Projects that don’t quite make sense. A subtle loss of our ability for strategic thinking and meaning-making. Being unable to articulate why in the first place you’re doing this work.*' The [**cognitive debt is real**](https://margaretstorey.com/blog/2026/02/09/cognitive-debt/). - [Why Most Organizations Get Sick (and Keep Treating the Wrong Symptoms)](https://www.corporate-rebels.com/blog/why-most-organizations-get-sick-and-keep-treating-the-wrong-symptoms). In '​[Zen and the Art of Organizing​](https://www.satoripartners.co.uk/zen-and-the-art-of-organising-work)', Dr. Steve Morlidge describes a series of organizational diseases: '*These quietly spread through companies, often without anyone noticing. They are so common that most leaders assume they are just how things are done. But they are not. They are symptoms of deeper structural problems. And once you see them, you can’t unsee them. You begin to recognize that the organization itself may be unwell.*' A *really* interesting read on why organizations get sick, and with a powerful viewpoint (and one I agree with) that '*organizational illnesses stem from broken systems, not broken people.*' - [Diffusion of Responsibility](https://tante.cc/2026/02/14/diffusion-of-responsibility/). There's a lot of discourse on the Internet these days about AI. Some of it is doomerism, some of it is real, and I'm sure we'll land someplace where no one is currently expecting. '*What do we get? Slop. Slop generated by guys who – when called out for their irresponsible behavior – just start crying about how they only wanted to “share” or “inspire” or “educate” while handing out running chainsaws to kids. And that was what makes me fucking furious. Not just these dudes being spineless but the disrespect to those who have run serious projects for decades to build a more humane stack.*' - [30 Facts About Childhood Today That Should Terrify You](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/30-facts-about-childhood-today-that). Ok, the stats in this one broke me: '*The average child now plays outside for only 4-7 minutes per day*' and '*lack of physical activity is so extreme that teachers report children arriving at school *without the strength in their fingers to hold a pencil or even a knife and fork.**' 🤯 - [Hackers Made Death Threats Against This Security Researcher. Big Mistake.](https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/16/1132526/allison-nixon-hackers-security-researcher/). This one reads like a film script - and it's a wild journey. '*Anonymous personas targeted Nixon because she had become a formidable threat: As chief research officer at the cyber investigations firm Unit 221B, named after Sherlock Holmes’s apartment, she had built a career tracking cybercriminals and helping get them arrested. For years she had lurked quietly in online chat channels or used pseudonyms to engage with perpetrators directly while piecing together clues they’d carelessly drop about themselves and their crimes. This had helped her bring to justice a number of cybercriminals—especially members of a loosely affiliated subculture of anarchic hackers who call themselves the Com.*' If you don't have access to MIT's Technology Review, you can read the full post in this [archive link](https://archive.is/20260216131016/https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/16/1132526/allison-nixon-hackers-security-researcher). - [Amazon Web Services Vibe-Codes Itself an Outage or Two](https://pivot-to-ai.com/2026/02/20/amazon-web-services-vibe-codes-itself-an-outage-or-two/). **Shocked**. - [Do You Need a Writer's Room?](https://archive.ph/Tkffw). Having a dedicated space to think and to write is incredibly valuable. '*The tools for writing are cheap and omnipresent; an audience is waiting; the room is optional. If all that’s true, then what’s stopping you? The challenge has to do with language. Words have to refer; writing has to be about something.*' - [Embrace Your Baldness and Be Free](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com/embrace-your-baldness-and-be-free). The key takeaway from this one: **Just be you**. I'll leave it at that. - [Colossal Woolly Mammoth 'On Track for 2028' as Perception Around De-Extinction Evolves](https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/colossal-woolly-mammoth-on-track-2028-de-extinction-evolves/). Haven't we **all** seen movies that start like this and they [end in total disaster](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiVVzxoPTtg)? Just leave well enough alone. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 2-15-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-15-26/ Last updated: 2026-02-15T13:01:34.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). --- ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [My Latest Nerdy Obsession](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUtE1JuDjew/?igsh=M2ZzaXh5OXpvaTdu). [Peter McKinnon](https://www.petermckinnon.com/) (of [Pete's Pirate Life](https://www.instagram.com/petespiratelife/) fame) posted a fun video yesterday about hiding mini messages in a bottle around town. **For no reason**, other than just having some fun. His creativity is always inspiring (with over 6m subscribers on [his YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@PeterMcKinnon)) and his [photography is unmistakable](https://www.petermckinnon.com/places). I am sharing one of the creators who always reminds me to try and reinvent myself; be warned, though - he always costs me money. - [Creating Space](https://longform.asmartbear.com/focus/). [Say no to protect the yes](https://makoism.com/the-bucket-5d5ecbae9ce7/) is one of the most powerful lessons that I've learned. In this post, the same message is clear: '*We don't have unlimited time or energy, but we can better spend the limited time that we have. That's why: Focus.*' - [Craig Mod on the Creative Power of Walking](https://lithub.com/craig-mod-on-the-creative-power-of-walking/). Another inspiration for me is [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com) and his powerful walks and photography through Japan. I was recently reminded of his insight by another article, [No More Teleporting](https://cliophate.wtf/no-more-teleporting), which lamented the time the author was spending on mindless phone things: **teleporting**. '*When I’m not talking, just walking (which is most of the time), I try to cultivate the most bored state of mind imaginable. A total void of stimulation beyond the immediate environment. My rules: No news, no social media, no podcasts, no music. No *teleporting*, you could say. The phone, the great *teleportation* device, the great murderer of boredom.*' - [Why Your Best Ideas Come After Your Worst](https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/why-your-best-ideas-come-after-your-worst/). A really interesting neuroscience read about '*why novel ideas tend to emerge when you persist beyond obvious options, take breaks to reset thinking, and work within meaningful constraints that focus the search for solutions.*' - [Can You Just Do Things?](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/12-books/can-you-just-do-things). Cate Hall, author of the upcoming book [You Can Do Things](https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Just-Do-Things/dp/0063488450), had a really interesting interview in which she discusses agency and why that skill is more important than genius or grit. '*I define agency as the capacity to both see and act on all of the degrees of freedom that life offers. So it has two components: One is noticing degrees of freedom, the other is taking action on the basis of them.*' This book will be an interesting read on how to help turn constraints into choices, failure into fuel, and setbacks into opportunities. - [It's Fine If I Suck Sometimes](https://kottke.org/26/02/its-fine-if-i-suck-sometimes). '*One of the helpful things I’ve learned is that while you do need to change and grow, you still need to be yourself.*' I really liked this post - so often we get buried in all the noise on continuous improvement, and it was really refreshing to have this take. He also refers to a magazine article on Sara Hussain for Vogue India: [In 2026, I'm No Longer Interested in 'Working on Myself'](https://www.vogue.in/content/in-2026-im-no-longer-interested-in-working-on-myself), aka the exhausting '*hyper-policing \[of\] our thoughts and language until having a personality feels like a risk assessment exercise*'. Some great stuff in here, especially with this warning: '*Awareness is progress. My awareness, however, has tipped into surveillance.*' - [Publish Even If You Think It's Not Perfect](https://www.jrothman.com/mpd/2025/12/writing-secret-21-publish-even-if-you-think-its-not-perfect/). '*Many writers think they need to make a specific piece perfect before they can publish it. I do agree that checking your logic and removing typos makes any piece much easier to read. However, these writers trip themselves up on the perfection part. If a writer gets stuck on the perfection part, they stop themselves before they can publish. Then we, the potential readers, never get to read what that writer wanted to share.*' Good advice in here, but the part that really stuck out for me was the argument that publishing actually completes 'the stress cycle.' - [Love Is a Mixtape](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/love-is-a-mixtape). Ah, an ode to the mixtape and some thoughts on what makes the -best- ones. '*A good tape, puts you right back in the original time and place when you first heard the songs.*' - [The Philosopher of Games](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-philosopher-of-games). What makes a game fun? '*Designing for fun is so delicate. If you just tweak a few little bits in the incentive structure or tweak a few little rules, the fun will fall out of things. People think fun is mysterious — it’s not for game designers. There are micro-issues of exactly how you pace the timing and exactly how you pace the rules that seem to emerge. A lot of people are most impressed by the game designs that are elaborate and complicated, but what a lot of game designers are most impressed by is a five-rule party game that’s fun, because that's the hardest thing to build.*' - [The Death of an Argument](https://vhbelvadi.com/analogies-argument). Besides his website having an amazing look and feel, I enjoyed this post around '*nuanced discussions*' (ie, arguments), and the importance of how '*specificity is essential for meaningful debate.*' '*The trouble with analogies is that it can be spun both ways and also completely out of shape. It assumes that both sides approach the argument in good faith, that both sides respond similarly to changing circumstances, and that both sides remain consistent in their beliefs and expectations without moving the goal posts.*' - [Your Brain Does Not Process Information and It Is Not a Computer](https://aeon.co/essays/your-brain-does-not-process-information-and-it-is-not-a-computer). '*Here is what we are not born with: information, data, rules, software, knowledge, lexicons, representations, algorithms, programs, models, memories, images, processors, subroutines, encoders, decoders, symbols, or buffers – design elements that allow digital computers to behave somewhat intelligently. Not only are we not born with such things, we also don’t develop them – ever.*' Wait, what? There's a lot to unpack in this post, but there are some really fascinating points in here that I hadn't really considered. '*Because neither memory banks nor representations of stimuli exist in the brain, and because all that is required for us to function in the world is for the brain to change in an orderly way as a result of our experiences, there is no reason to believe that any two of us are changed the same way by the same experience.*' But, the most important concept to remember: '*We are organisms, not computers.*' - [Conveniencing Ourselves to Irrelevance](https://om.co/2026/02/09/conveniencing-ourselves-to-irrelevance/). Om taps into some important questions we should be asking ourselves as a society. '*The meta point is that now that we are indeed a button-pushing society, how long before this lack of friction starts to erode what could be described as human capacity? We will forget what it is like to do something ourselves.*' Or, as many have asked previously, are we just [amusing ourselves to death](https://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business/dp/014303653X)? ([Roger Waters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpotZUiKLbU) \- '*And then, the alien anthropologists admitted they were still perplexed. But on eliminating every other reason for our sad demise they logged the only explanation left - this species has amused itself to death*')? - [TikTok Is Tracking You, Even if You Don't Use the App.](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260210-tiktok-is-tracking-you-even-if-you-dont-use-the-app-heres-how-to-stop-it). **Slimy, and not cool.** - [The Small Web Is Beautiful](https://benhoyt.com/writings/the-small-web-is-beautiful/). If you're not already familiar with '[the small web](https://blog.kagi.com/small-web)', you're **missing** a corner of the Internet that's a ton of fun and a source for great content. For the unaware, the 'big web' is the Internet you rely on every day, owned by mega-corporations. The Small Web is the **opposite** of the Big Web. If you want to discover some great parts of the web that go largely unnoticed, check out [Kagi's webpage](https://kagi.com/smallweb), which continuously features a new corner of discovery. - [The Unbearable Loudness of Chewing](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/09/the-unbearable-loudness-of-chewing). '*Why do some people find certain sounds intolerable? And why has it taken so long for scientists to get even a preliminary answer?*' Just leaving this one here for future reference. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 2-8-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-8-26/ Last updated: 2026-02-08T13:01:55.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Last Lecture](https://etc.cmu.edu/about/last-lecture). I was reminded this week of [The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLast%5FLecture), a talk by professor [Randy Pausch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy%5FPausch), who passed from cancer in 2007; his lecture was about living life to the fullest. For the last several months, I've been talking more and more with my friends about how to find fulfillment in the day, so it felt really applicable to pop this one back to the top of the reading stack. You can [grab the book here](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-lecture-randy-pausch/aee87e7fec76f92c?ean=9781401323257&next=t), and if you've never watched it, here's [the video of the lecture](https://youtu.be/ayPMfopCe1g?si=F4WzApTQNDMv%5F1l0). - [Getting the Main Thing Right](https://seangoedecke.com/getting-the-main-thing-right/). While this post has a slant towards the tradeoffs one makes in software engineering, I thought the theme was a really valuable one for anyone to think about upon any endeavor: '*if you get the *main* thing right, you can get away with a lot of mistakes.*' The lesson in here is that '*you should spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out what to focus on. In the extreme case, even spending half of your time doing this is worthwhile if it puts you on the right track and you'd otherwise be neglecting the main thing.*' And, while you may feel '*safer and more productive to be doing something. But if you can force yourself to focus on the meta-question of what you ought to be doing - even if you don't like the answer - you'll be in a better position to achieve your goals.*' Side note, good to take note of the [Pareto Principle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto%5Fprinciple). - [In Praise of Guessing](https://eleganthack.com/in-praise-of-guessing/). Boy, when I tell folks to 'guess' or be fluid on a thing, do I get some interesting responses. '*The word guess makes people deeply uncomfortable. We've been trained to believe that business is about certainty, about knowing things about data-driven decisions. But early in any endeavor — whether setting OKRs for a new initiative or estimating how long a feature will take to build—you don't have data. You have hunches. You have analogies. You have experience with vaguely similar situations.*' Sometimes it's ok to trust your gut, and this post also points out why you can't punish those guesses. - [We Don't Remember What We Think, Only What We Do](https://www.raptitude.com/2026/01/we-dont-remember-what-we-think-only-what-we-do/). '*Ideas don't work as long as they remain ideas. If I act on an idea a few times and it pays off, there's a good chance it will become a part of how I live. If I only read it and tape it to the wall, hoping to remember and act that way when it counts, it's unlikely it will ever make it out of idea form.*' A good reminder to shift from thinking about doing things to actually doing them. [Actions over words](https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/). - [Look for What's True](https://dubroy.com/blog/look-for-whats-true/). I received some critical feedback from a close co-worker this week, that I should *take more care to listen actively, instead of waiting to talk next.* And, like any feedback, it can sting at first, but if you spend some time to '**look for what's true**', it's a great point. '*Instead of focusing on what's wrong with the feedback, ask yourself what's right. Sure, your critic is totally off base, but is there a kernel of truth there?*' More to think about here. - [I'm Addicted to Being Useful](https://www.seangoedecke.com/addicted-to-being-useful/). This post ties into a core idea that was swimming around my head [when I shitcanned most of my PKM hoarding](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/): **an addiction to being useful**. '*It's hard for me to see a problem and not solve it. This is especially true if I’m the only person (or one of a very few people) who could solve it, or if somebody is asking for my help. I feel an almost physical discomfort about it, and a corresponding relief and satisfaction when I do go and solve the problem. The work of a software engineer - or at least my work as a staff software engineer - is perfectly tailored to this tendency. Every day people rely on me to solve a series of technical problems. In other words, I don’t mind the ways in which my job is dysfunctional, because it matches the ways in which I myself am dysfunctional.*' I never really [thought about the shadows](http://www.deepprocesstherapy.com) that are driving a lot of my ways of working or behaviors until recently. - [Burnout Is Breaking a Sacred Pact](https://usefulfictions.substack.com/p/burnout-is-breaking-a-sacred-pact). '*I am a connoisseur of burnout*', this post starts, (and what a hook!) and not only looks at burnout but also at some things you can do to actively notice when it's starting and how to recover from it. '*Burnout, by contrast, is like a tendon tear: It doesn't heal on its own, and it only leaves you weaker.*' - [In the Age of AI, Better Meetings Might Be Your Company's Secret Weapon](https://fortune.com/2026/02/01/meeting-fatigue-productivity-ai/). Just picked up the newly published [Your Best Meeting Ever](https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-best-meeting-ever-7-principles-for-designing-meetings-that-get-things-done-rebecca-hinds/87bee73003513161?ean=9781668067482&next=t) from [Rebecca Hinds](https://www.rebeccahinds.com). As someone who sits in far too many meetings (26 last week!), I'd love to explore some of the techniques in her book as I try to regain some of that madness. Her solution is to '*treat meetings as *the most important, most expensive*, and most overlooked products in your entire organization.*’ The first task - an **Armeetingeddon** \- a [complete calendar purge](https://makoism.com/the-purge/), and only add back the important ones. - [I Hate Fish](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/i-hate-fish/). A fun read on personal productivity systems. '*Productivity system maintenance is a fact of life, but when the act of maintenance becomes an onerous task unto itself, I get productivity rage. I either passive-aggressively slowly stop doing the work over time or I rage quit the whole damned application, grab the nearest Post-It note, and start over.*' - [Claude Is a Space to Think](https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-is-a-space-to-think). **Gratuitous AI post of the week:** What [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com) has been releasing lately with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/product/claude-code) has had me rethinking so many things around my views on software development. I do not subscribe to a model in which engineers go away, but rather, transform what we are doing into [a 'third golden age' of engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfMAtaocvJw) (great talk from [Grady Booch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grady%5FBooch)). '*AI coding tools represent another rise in abstraction, *not the end of engineering*. Just as we moved from assembly to Fortran to object-oriented programming, AI assistants are akin to what was happening with compilers in those days - *Fear not, developers. Your tools are changing, but your problems are not*.*' - [Revisiting The 500 Mile Email](https://irreal.org/blog/?p=13579). I love that [this one resurfaces every few years](https://web.mit.edu/jemorris/humor/500-miles). If you don't know the story, '*the university system administrator received a call from the Statistics Department claiming they couldn't send an email beyond about 500 miles. If you know anything at all about how email works, your reaction would be the same as Harris: Yeah, right.'* **Turns out, it was true** *: 'Email to a site closer than 500 miles worked fine. Those two sites further away than a little over 500 miles invariably *failed*'.* The takeaway is always the same: '*Sometimes you need to look under the layer where the problems seem to exist to discover what's actually going on*.' (and [check out the original post](https://web.mit.edu/jemorris/humor/500-miles) to the humorous reason why). - [The Return Of The Local Newspaper](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com/the-return-of-the-local-newspaper/). I've said it previously, but [the printed newsletter](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-19-25/) has become something I've been investing more and more in. In this post, David explores the importance of '*independent, decentralized media outlets that prioritize civic duty, ethical journalism, and honest reporting.*' - [Charisma Is Bullshit](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/charisma-is-bullshit). I love the 'everything is bullshit' blog; there's always a raw and honest look at everything there. In this latest post, he examines charisma. '*Charismatic people lie on one end of a continuum, and on the other end of the continuum are the people who suck at social paradoxes. You know, the people who are cringe, pretentious, awkward, thirsty, or fake. The people who desperately care what you think and eagerly seek your praise and attention. The weirdos who share unpopular opinions that are truly unpopular. The thirst trappers who try to be sexy but come off as slutty or insecure. These cringey people seem like the opposite of authentic and cool.*' But there's a super [interesting correlation to social paradoxes](https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/avh9t%5Fv3) that I was unaware of. Great read. - [The Nexus of Candy](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/the-nexus-of-candy). Do you like [Sees Candies](https://www.sees.com)? Enjoyed this narrative on the discovery and appreciation of various candies. - [Which State Eats The Most Hot Dogs?](https://www.foodrepublic.com/1864016/us-state-most-hot-dog-consumption/). File under 'today I learned', but West Virginia consumes the most hot dogs of any state, with an estimated 481 hot dogs eaten per person, per year. The question is - why? **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 02-01-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-02-01-26/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T13:01:06.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The 2026 Purge [Every year](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2024-2/), I do a purge of apps, subscriptions, and most importantly, processes. > *The purge isn't just about the apps I use that collect dust. It involves taking a hard, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, and workflow in the entire ecosystem that encompasses my day-to-day computing devices and workflow.* While this has always been a great way to save some time and money, I thought [Resist and Unsubscribe](https://www.resistandunsubscribe.com/), recently posted by [Scott Galloway](https://www.profgalloway.com), was particularly useful in helping me move from some of my previous subscriptions; his full article [regarding the economics of consumer power can be found here](https://www.profgalloway.com/resist-and-unsubscribe/). 🚸 ***Content warning**: Scott's post **is* political in nature (and I try not to talk politics here), so if you want to avoid political commentary, just skip and move on. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Why Does No One Talk About The Bermuda Triangle Anymore?](https://brilliantmaps.com/bermuda-triangle/). Until I saw this post, frankly, I hadn't thought about the Bermuda Triangle since I was a kid. I had read stories about [the mysterious disappearance of the USS Cyclops](https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2021/october/uss-cyclops-deadliest-unsolved-mystery-navy), [Flight 19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight%5F19), or had been influenced by films like [Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790809/) (it was referenced as the Devil's Triangle). People are generally attracted to mysterious occurrences like this. This article explores some reasons for the fading of interest. '*Pop culture shifted toward newer mysteries, UFOs, Area 51, true crime, AI fears, simulation theory, and space. The Bermuda Triangle started to feel like a retro 1970s topic rather than a fresh mystery.*' **Here's a thought 💡**: *Perhaps* [*having more mystery boxes in our lives*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjVgF5JDq8) *would be better for us collectively*. - [The Coolest Person I'll Never Meet](https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/the-coolest-person-ill-never-meet). I was saddened to hear about [the sudden passing of Catherine O'Hara](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/30/nx-s1-5694218/catherine-o-hara-dead) this week. She leaves behind [a tremendous body of work](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/a-mighty-wind-catherine-ohara-sweet-silly-best/) and was known best for *absurdist comedy* (a term I recently learned). But I loved this tribute: '*She was effortlessly the coolest person you’ll never meet — or at least whom I’ll never meet. I don’t need to have that confirmed. I just know. We all know. We don’t know how we all know, but we do. She was the kind of person whose name, if mentioned as part of a dream dinner party or blunt rotation, would be greeted with, "Oh, damn, good choice."*' - [The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: Uncommonly Lovely Invented Words for What We Feel but Cannot Name](https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/01/26/dictionary-of-obscure-sorrows/). I was reading a fantastic post [from Rick Rubin](https://rickrubin.substack.com/p/invent-a-word) on inventing new words. '*Invent a new word whose sound captures this emotion or experience. What combination of sounds feels right? Does it need hard consonants or soft vowels? Should it feel quick and sharp or slow and flowing? Let the phonetics reflect what you’re trying to capture. Define your new word.*' It reminded me to resurface one of my favorite books, [The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dictionary-of-obscure-sorrows-john-koenig/53d7d102f83ae6f4?ean=9781501153648&next=t) and mention that I've been [using the app Terminology](https://agiletortoise.com/terminology/) to track my fun new words lately. - [Wonder Man Welcomes Back One of Marvel's Most Dangerous Companies](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/wonder-man-welcomes-back-marvel-most-dangerous-companies/). Before its release, there wasn't much buzz about [Marvel's Wonder Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHuWmjXsReU). **But wow, what a treat**. What's being called [Marvel's most unusual Disney Plus story](https://vocal.media/geeks/wonder-man-review-marvel-s-most-unusual-disney-plus-series-drulu08rv), I found a solid, character-driven story, with **tremendous** performances from [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5584344/) and [Sir Ben Kingsley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben%5FKingsley). I cannot recommend this show enough. '*There are moments that made me physically cringe, not because they were bad, but because they were so real.*' - [Kindness Is Not A Weakness](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com/kindness-is-not-a-weakness/). '*We must choose kindness, even though it's the hardest path of all. We must do what is hard. We must do what is right. Because we are brave, because we are free.*' While this post dives in and out of the current US political landscape, the message is an important one: '*Kindness matters. It’s not a weakness.*' - [Your Life is the Sum Total of 2,000 Mondays](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/your-life-is-the-sum-total-of-2-000-mondays/). Nothing gets my interest more than a post that dials into [morbid math](https://makoism.com/43percent/) (side note, since writing that original post, I'm statistically [down to 39% if I get to 90](https://makoism.com/time/)). In this article, Joan pivots to an interesting question: '*Do you actually like your average Monday? *The barely tolerated Monday is a down payment on a life that never arrives*, a perpetual advance payment for goods that don't ship.*' Food for thought. - [Maybe the Default Settings Are Too High](https://www.raptitude.com/2025/12/maybe-the-default-settings-are-too-high/). A good reminder to take things slow, and in the world of consumption, we're all like [Lucy in the chocolate factory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkQ58I53mjk). '*At least see what happens when you reduce your consumption speed – of anything, but especially books, information, and food – by a half, or two thirds. Notice that (1) something in you really wants to plow through at the highest viable setting, and (2) how much more of the reward is released when you slow down anyway.*' - [Phantom Obligation](https://www.terrygodier.com/phantom-obligation). I saw this post going around several of my usual conversation circles; it beautifully explores '*why do RSS readers look like email clients?*' TLDR: He points to [Brent Simmons](https://inessential.com) [of NetNewsWire fame](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/interview-brent-simmons/) and has come up with an insightful phenomenon: **Phantom Obligation**. '*The guilt you feel for something no one asked you to do*.' - [The Appeal of Internet Radio](https://sethw.xyz/blog/2026/01/27/the-appeal-of-internet-radio/). I have fallen back in love with internet radio over the last few years as a discovery mechanism for wonderful new music that I would never have heard if I stayed in my bubble. The app he references is [Macrowave](https://macrowave.co), which allows you to turn your Mac or iOS device into a private radio station for others to listen in. **Kinda wild**. *Side note: I should put a page up with streams I listen to*. - [Why Some People See Collapse Earlier Than Others](https://adrianlambert.substack.com/p/why-some-people-see-collapse-earlier). This post was fascinating, with the assertion that '*collapse awareness is fundamentally a pattern-recognition event.*' I've always found it to be a super-power to '*see the cracks in the dominant story, to detect pattern breaks, and to register tipping points, even when they remain socially unacknowledged.*' It also [helps you avoid single points of failure](https://makoism.com/when-it-falls-over/). - [The World That Game Theory Built](https://centerforhumanetechnology.substack.com/p/the-world-that-game-theory-built). [Game theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game%5Ftheory) is another area where I love spending time thinking about: [the game about the game](https://makoism.com/the-game/). This post dives into where AI tools are the ultimate '**game theoretic actor**' and the risks involved since '*AI systems are designed to optimize. They measure, test, and iterate toward maximum effectiveness. They don't get tired of being strategic. They don't feel guilty about manipulation. *They operate in permanent game mode*.*' - [The User-Generated Content Ruse](https://www.newcartographies.com/p/the-user-generated-content-ruse). I have mostly gotten away from big tech social media platforms - [the damage to mental health, our youth, and society in general](https://www.aecf.org/blog/effects-of-social-media-on-mental-health) is too apparent. '*The companies are not common carriers anymore; they’re media businesses. Yes, users still contribute posts and comments—though even those, in today’s era of influencers, creators, and AI, are often subsidized and actively shaped by the companies—but the essential content of social media is now the feeds produced by the platforms, not the individual messages posted by users.*' Additional reading: understand what's going on with [decentralized social media](https://blog.elest.io/the-fediverse-is-growing-why-decentralized-social-media-matters-in-2026/); [it's **fascinating**](https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/29/post-american-canada/#ottawa). - [Challenger at 40: Lingering Guilt](https://512pixels.net/2026/01/challenger-at-40-lingering-guilt/). I stayed home from school with a snow day, and I *still* remember the words right before the 1986 Challenger explosion: '**Go with throttle up.**' But imagine if you had warned NASA the night before: '*The night before, Ebeling and other Morton Thiokol engineers tried to convince NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, that launching in cold weather could be disastrous. The Thiokol engineers had data, documents and photographs that they believed provided convincing evidence of the risks. And Thiokol executives agreed, at first. Their official recommendation to NASA: *Do not launch tomorrow.**' - [Revealed: Leaked Chats Expose the Daily Life of a Scam Compound's Enslaved Workforce (paywalled)](https://www.wired.com/story/the-red-bull-leaks/). '*The workers Amani was addressing were eight hours into their 15-hour night shift in a high-rise building in the Golden Triangle special economic zone in Northern Laos. Like their marks, most of them were victims, too: forced laborers trapped in the compound, held in debt bondage with no passports. They struggled to meet scam revenue quotas to avoid fines that deepened their debt. Anyone who broke rules or attempted to escape faced far worse consequences: beatings, torture, even death.*' Horrifying. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 1-25-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-25-26/ Last updated: 2026-01-25T13:01:49.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Velocity Is the New Authority. Here's Why](https://om.co/2026/01/21/velocity-is-the-new-authority-heres-why/). Easily the **must-read of the week**, Om wrote not only what so many people are feeling these days, but eloquently breaks down the timeline of why over '*the past decade and a half, the whole information ecosystem has become much larger, faster and noisier. It is hardly surprising that nothing works. And we feel a collective sense of overwhelming disappointment.*' And the root cause: **velocity**. In hindsight, one of the things I've personally been trying to spend time on is systemic thinking and how to reduce friction, but as he points out, the '*system rewards whoever speaks first, not whoever lives with it long enough to understand it*' and in those places, '*the cost of all this isn't abstract. It's the review that took three months but no one will read. It's the investigation that required patience. It's the work of understanding something before declaring judgment. All of it still exists, still gets made. It just doesn't travel. And in a system where only what travels matters, *we've made expertise indistinguishable from noise*.*' I need to spend some time digesting this one a bit, but I do love this food for thought. - [The Art of (Attention) War](https://zine.kleinkleinklein.com/p/the-art-of-attention-war). If there are any two posts to read this week, this is the next one. Grab a cup of coffee, sit in a quiet corner, and digest this article on how **velocity is all fighting for our attention**. '*In every myth, the lesson is the same: The path to the infinite is the path to madness. And yet, we still gouge out our eyes. We plug our untrained minds into the infinite machines – our smartphones, our social media, our Oura rings, our prediction markets, and our AIs. And as a result, we are going mad.*' - [The Stick in the Stream](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-stick-in-the-stream/). '*My stick thesis is simple: your habits will only change if you seek the single stick, the blockage, the core problem that is blocking everything else. Seeing that stick not only gives you a place to start, but the discovery will better motivate you when you yank it, and the water starts flowing.*' I found this post an interesting metaphor for ways to clear blockages: remove the single 'key object' that initiated the entire problem. Beware [single points of failure](https://makoism.com/when-it-falls-over/), though; pulling that thread can cause unintended, unpracticed breakage. - [Life Happens at 1x Speed](https://terriblesoftware.org/2026/01/08/life-happens-at-1x-speed/) Funny as I write this, the self-reflection on why/what I chose these [Espresso Shots](https://makoism.com/tag/espresso-shots/) this week: it's been about mindfulness on what we consume and why. '*If something isn't worth consuming at 1x, it's not worth consuming at all*' is a wonderful philosophy feeding into anti-velocity. '*Life happens at 1x. Every conversation you've ever had. Every walk, every meal, every meaningful experience. None of it comes with a speed dial. We're biological creatures wired for real-time processing. When someone speaks to you in person, you don't get to fast-forward through the parts you find boring.*' - [Failure vs. Success is the Wrong Frame](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/failure-vs-success-is-the-wrong-frame/). Shifting gears into the value of [creative play and child-like curiosity](https://makoism.com/tag/makoism/) and reframing the idea of failures. In fact, the author suggested even getting rid of the f-word, instead calling them experiments. '*The fear that stops people from making things is almost entirely the fear of the performance frame. Nobody is afraid to experiment. We're afraid to be judged. And the trick is to stop thinking of yourself as someone performing a skill and start thinking of yourself as a scientist in a lab, running tests, gathering data, slowly building up a picture of what works and what doesn't. The scientist isn't brave for continuing after unexpected results. They're just doing science. That's what science is.*' - [Moral False Dichotomies](https://manuelmoreale.com/thoughts/moral-false-dichotomies). '*Assuming something about someone else, based on your own worldview and without asking questions, is intellectually lazy.*' Direct and to the point. Listen more, talk less. - [When Productivity Turns Toxic and How to Break Free](https://www.originalmacguy.com/when-productivity-turns-toxicand-how-to-break-free/). [In 2023, I wrote](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/): '*I am done with note-taking app nirvana and trying to capture discrete knowledge with interconnected thoughts. I once prided myself in the ability to capture all sorts of things, and it took me scorch-earthing my PKM to free me. I'm back to basics.*' Working on **less PKM jujitsu** has been **a tremendous boost** for my own productivity health. '*We convince ourselves that the new app will solve all our productivity issues, spend hours migrating to the new system, then drop it when the next new app appears.*' Bonus links: '[What Deserves My Attention](https://makoism.com/attention/)' and [declaring systems bankruptcy](https://bradfrost.com/blog/post/declaring-systems-bankruptcy/). - [Create Intentional Serendipity](https://pointc.co/create-intentional-serendipity/). I never really had a way to describe this concept, but **‌intentional serendipity** could nail it. The basic idea is that '*You can’t plan for it, but you can increase the factors that make it happen. You can make diverse people meet each other. You can try ideas and test them quickly. You can increase intentional serendipity.*' Put simply: '*You never can sit down and make this perfect plan. You can only do it by having faith in this drunken walk. And you know what? I have no idea where this is going.*' - [1993: Web Browsers Add Multimedia and MTV.com Goes Online](https://cybercultural.com/p/1993-mtv-internet/). Shifting gears here into a bit of retrospective fun. - [Evolution of the Alphabet](https://usefulcharts.com/products/evolution-of-the-alphabet). What a fantastic poster that is a beautiful and straightforward visualization of '*the transformation of the alphabet from Proto-Sinaitic origins to modern forms, highlighting the changes each letter has undergone throughout history.*' - [The Graphic Trends You'll Want to Bookmark for 2026](https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/forward-thinking-graphic-trends-2026-graphic-design-120126). It's not only the overload of digital information, but how visual design is counteracting a different type of overload. '*Approaches that counteract an increasing fatigue from current hyper-digital design processes continued to shape a layered, imperfect and naively analogue approach to work last year: a symptom of the many ways we might be pushing back against fast-moving tech. It’s as if we’re realising design work can’t be separated from the hands that make it – that’s why people are turning back to scanning, scrapbooking, collecting and collaging to make things feel mismatched where polish is otherwise making the work feel flat.*' - [I Have A Love Language, And Its Name Is Pizza](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com/i-have-a-love-language-and-its-name-is-pizza/). I can get behind this philosophy. '*In a world that appears so fragile, with so much anger and self-absorption, it is pizza that keeps me grounded.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 1-18-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-18-26/ Last updated: 2026-01-18T13:01:03.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Problem is Defining the Problem: The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Caring](https://newsletter.danhon.com/archive/s21e03-the-problem-is-defining-the-problem-the/). I came across an article about [Paul MacCready](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul%5FMacCready), '[You Are Solving The Wrong Problem](https://uxmag.com/articles/you-are-solving-the-wrong-problem)', published in 2011, that discussed his creation of the first human-powered airplane. '*The startling realization that people were solving the wrong problem*' when it came to human-powered flight. **The problem was the process itself**, and figured out '*how to build a plane that could be rebuilt in hours, not months*'. Fast forward to 2026, and the fundamental issues faced by many who use AI/LLMs with quality remain. '*Agentic coding -- using LLMs to write code -- is certainly a way to write more code more quickly... You achieve what you want *by being able to define what you want. Defining what you want is hard*.*' Something to think about. - [You Can't Debug a System by Blaming a Person — Humans in Systems](https://humansinsystems.com/blog/you-cant-debug-a-systems-by-blaming-a-person). '*The difference is that you treat those actions as clues, simple data points and not verdicts.*' I wrote a ton already on this in [When It Falls Over](https://makoism.com/when-it-falls-over/), '*When you stop expecting smoothness, disruption stops feeling catastrophic. It becomes information. *It's a recognition that shit happens*.*' - [Intellectual Rigidity Is Making You Boring as Fuck](https://www.badgirlmedia.com/p/intellectual-rigidity-is-making-you). Oh, I liked this article quite a bit where the author examines how the '**root of rigidity is often fear**'. '*At a certain point, you're not having a conversation with someone's curiosity. You're watching someone protect a worldview they’ve built their entire identity around. That’s when a normal discussion starts feeling like a personal threat.*' - [The Curiosity Tour](https://werd.io/the-curiosity-tour/). Speaking of curiosity, how about a **curiosity tour**? [Ben Werdmuller](https://werd.io) (whom I follow regularly), [points to a post](https://pointc.co/the-curiosity-tour/?ref=werd.io) that discusses the differences between looking for a **cog job** and the process for finding a **linchpin job**. '*The linchpins... invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there's no rulebook.*' (Side note: Purchased [Seth Godin's Linchpin](https://bookshop.org/p/books/linchpin-seth-godin/24cb3c4e7698b95b?ean=9781591844099&next=t)) - [How to Reinvent Your Life](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/life-as-reinvention). '*Complacency is a disease of affluence: if our lives were worse perhaps we’d be desperate enough to take chances, since we’d be less afraid of what we have to lose.*' I have mentioned Scott's new book, '[Rules to Live By](https://rulestolive.substack.com)' before - just go read this. Too much goodness to describe here. ;) - [Our Algorithmic Grey-Beige World](https://om.co/2026/01/16/our-algorithmic-grey-beige-world/). Om Malik perfectly describes how everything feels the same these days and that the **algorithm** is making everything **blah**. '*Algorithmic reality doesn’t just commodify interaction. It standardizes imagination. The algorithms squeeze creativity out of millions by showing them exactly what “works.” We don’t get unique. We get infinite variations of the same.*' - [Be Wary of Digital Deskilling](https://calnewport.com/be-wary-of-digital-deskilling/). Over my time off during the holidays, I spent an *inappropriate* amount of time playing with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/product/claude-code) (don't get me started on the '[Ralph Loop Coding](https://medium.com/@tentenco/what-is-ralph-loop-a-new-era-of-autonomous-coding-96a4bb3e2ac8)'). On one hand, I had some incredible breakthroughs and built some crazy stuff. Still, I walked away feeling that **I didn't learn anything**. Cal Newport has a really thoughtful post on the deskilling that touches on this. - [Meet the Man Hunting the Spies in Your Smartphone](https://web.archive.org/web/20260107165025/https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/24/1129294/ronald-deibert-citizen-lab-digital-threats-spies-cybersecurity/). This stuff often reads like a plot of a movie. - [My 2026 Goal Is to Be Bored More Often](https://cdevroe.com/2025/12/16/2026-goal-boredom/). I love being bored, as crazy as it sounds. I'm also a proud member of the '[choose boring technology](https://boringtechnology.club)'. '*When we’re bored, we think. We get ideas. We let our mind wander. We ask ourselves; what if? We remember. We imagine. We relive. We learn. We reprioritize. We plan. We decide.*' - [3 + 4](https://adactio.com/journal/22351). What happens when you switch to a three-day workweek? '*This really changes the dynamic of the week. It no longer feels like an extended weekend. What I mean is that usually we think about the working week as the default and the weekend as the exception. That’s been flipped on its head for me. The three days I spend working feel like the exception. Once again, this decision meant earning less money. But I’ve decided that I value *time more than money*.*' Work to live, or live to work - an important question. - [Geezer Magazine: The Brilliant Brainchild of Insanity](https://whattheythink.com/articles/128829-geezer-magazine-brilliant-brainchild-insanity/). I heard about [Geezer Magazine](https://www.geezermagazine.com) a few months back from [Greg Storey](https://brilliantcrank.com/creative-intelligence/), and it was an **instant subscribe**. The first issue is **brilliant** and I can't wait to see what's next. - [National Clean Your Desk Day](https://nationaltoday.com/national-clean-your-desk-day/). Didn't know this was a thing, but boy, did I need a declutter this week. Timely. - [How TiVo Killed Live TV](https://www.theverge.com/podcast/860321/tivo-tv-streaming-version-history). A great retrospective on TiVo and how, ultimately, they became a victim of their own success. '*The company never managed to turn its game-changing concept into a big business or a truly lasting hit product. Meanwhile, the changes it helped bring about in our consumption habits eventually left TiVo behind. We all live in the world TiVo imagined — but we mostly do it without TiVo.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### When It Falls Over URL: https://makoism.com/when-it-falls-over/ Last updated: 2026-01-16T22:26:32.000Z At the tail end of 2025, major cloud providers experienced outages that affected millions of users. "Blame the intern", "a person pushed the wrong code to production," or my personal favorite, it's a DNS mistake (the thing that turns names into addresses). Sometimes it's as ridiculous as someone forgetting to renew a security certificate. Yes, really. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2026/01/nothingeverends-1.png) nothing ever ends. I'm not picking on AWS here, but look at the October Amazon outage: **it lasted almost 15 hours and affected over 1000 companies across 4 million users**. Predictably, it *was* a DNS error at the core. [According to research](https://restofworld.org/2026/cloud-outages-2025-global-business-impact/), an estimated 94% of enterprise services worldwide rely on at least **one** primary cloud provider. The three largest providers control more than 60% of the global cloud market. To name a few, similar patterns of failure also hit Ingram Micro (July), Microsoft (Oct), Cloudflare (November), and Google (June) in 2025. **They fail because too much depends on one thing.** There's one quiet dependency carrying too much weight. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2026/01/dependency_2x-1.png) all modern infrastructure (xkcd.fyi) Now here's the question that I wanted this preamble to get to: **Have you ever asked that question about your own life**? ## Building Fragile Lives Dependencies aren't created deliberately. They happen. There's a paradox with people who become "the reliable one," indispensable, with everything routed through you. These don't feel like a problem until things come crashing down on top of you. **Life happens.** I sometimes joke that *if X person was hit by a bus* (apparently the new politically correct version is *if X person won the lottery*), what would we do? It's the same pattern, but it's *human* single points of failure. Some common traps: - [Identity Compression](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/202512/when-expertise-stops-defining-you) \- Psychologists describe identity coherence as a narrative we maintain about who we are. Your meaning and worth are tied to a single role or outcome. But when something fundamentally shifts, everything falls apart. - Unpracticed Recovery — When things don't go as planned, many of us don't know how to step back and recover. Rest is reactive, not rehearsed. Few people have a real [contingency plan](https://psychologyfanatic.com/contingency-planning/) for disruption, especially when it's life-altering. I learned this the hard way after unexpected heart issues in 2019\. (Apparently, there's also something known as [the 'what-the-hell' effect](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pressure-proof/201701/how-the-what-the-hell-effect-impacts-your-willpower)) - [Cumulative Risk](https://psychologyfanatic.com/cumulative-risk-theory/) \- the '*increased risk of negative outcomes when they are simultaneously exposed to multiple risk factors.*' The real issue isn't the failure itself. **The surprise is.** ## Invert Stoics have a practice known as [premeditatio malorum](https://dailystoic.com/premeditatio-malorum/), which is the **premeditation of the troubles that might lie ahead.** In other words, by imagining the worst-case scenario, you regain some control by removing the surprise. It's not a *pessimistic* stance, but rather a reminder to focus on **practice and preparedness**. The same idea shows up in [Charlie Munger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie%5FMunger)'s '[The Power of Not Making Stupid Decisions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzXwjzm%5F-zY)': > *'It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.'* How do you do this? *When you stop expecting smoothness, disruption stops feeling catastrophic*. **It becomes information.** It's a **recognition** that shit happens. German mathematician [Carl Jacobi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl%5FGustav%5FJacob%5FJacobi) believed that *inversion exercises* could be used to help you figure out what you need to do to not only get to an outcome, but also help you become aware of things you will need to get you to where you want to go. Pitfalls to avoid, skills you need to master, and issues you will encounter along the journey. *Define the outcomes you don't want and plan the path to avoid hitting them.* It's worth taking some time to explore these questions: - What if the thing you rely on went away? - What if you weren't needed anymore? - What if you didn't get that dream job? - What if your role changed? - What if your energy dipped? Hugh MacLeod wrote in [Thank You, Shitshow](https://www.gapingvoid.com/thank-you-shitshow/): > *There's a word for this and it's not being 'resilient' in the face of failure, it's antifragility. Where you get stronger because of it. The great thing is once you learn this (and we mean really internalize it and accept it), something shifts. You start getting very grateful for all your failures, large or small.* Resilience isn't built by avoiding failure. It's built by refusing to rely on one thing that can fail. ## A Life That Can Bend Failure is going to happen. Collapse, however, is optional. I'm sorry to break it to you. **Things will go sideways**. What matters is whether your life can absorb them without collapsing. How you handle these things isn't about grit or toughness, but rather, how many things your identity, purpose, and recovery depend on. In a [2009 study on brain patterns and different failure stimuli](https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/curiosity-plus-failure-is-a-passport-to-brilliance/): > *There was greater learning in the brain from failure than from success. Simply put, what these findings suggest is that curiosity sets up an anticipation of a reward (for the correct answer). Once we receive the reward (the correct answer), the brain acts to consolidate our memory so that we learn the correct answer. And this learning is stronger if we had initially failed than if we had succeeded.* Rehearsed disruption hurts less. When you expect change, it becomes **information**, not a catastrophe. Build the ability to adapt, reroute, and keep going when things shift. You need to have more than one way to stay intact. Let meaning come from not a single place, but many. Practice making shifts before you're forced to. **A life that can bend doesn't need to break.** ### Espresso Shots 1-11-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-11-26/ Last updated: 2026-01-11T13:01:15.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Sleepy Subversion](https://jarche.com/2026/01/sleepy-subversion/). There's been a massive retreat from 2021's general thinking around [remote work is the future](https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2021/12/27/this-is-the-future-of-remote-work-in-2021/). As someone who is **fully remote** and runs a remote team, [the walk back](https://www.lee.org/blog/2020/04/12/prepare-for-the-ultimate-gaslighting/) from this opportunity to redefine work has been fascinating to watch. One of the more interesting views on how to [flip the office](https://jarche.com/2014/02/flip-the-office/) came across my reading list this week. In it, Harold asserts that '*Instead of going to work, we should be going to socialize, converse, and collaborate. Productive solo time is not for the office. *Knowledge workers can be productive anywhere but at the office.**' - [The Unbearable Joy of Sitting Alone in A Café](https://candost.blog/the-unbearable-joy-of-sitting-alone-in-a-cafe/). '*I didn't take any device that could connect me to the Internet or to other people. I was nervous. But all the anxiety evaporated after 30 minutes. *I felt free, so to speak*. It wasn't that nobody could reach out to me that felt like an escape; it was that I couldn't reach out to anyone or anything that caused the turmoil. I had no possibility to text anyone. No possibility to watch or read. No chance to look up anything to fulfill my curiosity. *My mind was alone after a long time.**' There's a lot to be said for being entirely disconnected; side note: I picked up [a nano e-ink reader](https://www.xteink.com) (thanks to [Hiro for the link](https://www.hiro.report/07dec2025-only-when-it-snows-in-switzerland/)) so I could just be alone with a book and my thoughts. - [10 Ways the Gray Areas Are Safe Zones](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-the-gray-areas-are-safe-zones). Ah, **the gray area**. I was recently having a conversation with a group of interns who were struggling with landing on a specific problem. I suggested that there wasn't an answer - that the '*magic happens in the gray areas*'. I really enjoyed this post that counters the all-or-nothing patterns and shows that the answer often lies in the middle. - [Discipline is Overrated: The Devotion–Friction Matrix](https://nesslabs.com/devotion-friction-matrix). '*People don't fail because they don't try hard enough. They fail because the system they're operating in makes sustained effort too costly.*' It's impressive (and reassuring) how many problems exist in areas that have over-complicated unnecessary friction. '*If you want to show up reliably, don't ask how to force yourself to work harder. Ask what you're devoted to and what unnecessary friction is standing in the way. This way, consistency becomes a property of the system itself.*' - [Rule #20: Let Go of Your Past](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-20-let-go-of-your-past). I know that I've linked to [Scott Berkun](https://scottberkun.com)'s *writing-in-public* of his new book project, [Rules to Live By](https://rulestolive.substack.com) previously, but I'm really looking forward to seeing the end product ([he just completed the first draft](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/big-update-1st-draft-of-book-complete)). '*Letting go of the past does not mean forgetting it. On the contrary, I think the greatest way to honor your past is to learn from it, to study it emotionally and objectively, and then use it to live your best life now.*' Or, as he quoted Alan Watts's concept of **reinvention on demand**: '*You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago*.' - [Reclaiming My Identity In The Online World](https://www.davidtoddmccarty.com/reclaiming-my-identity-in-the-online-world). '*The rewilding of our digital presence and a return to a simpler approach to an interconnected community*.' As a long-time blogger (25 years this year!), I am **really excited** to see so many talking about [retreating from the algorithm](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-age-of-enshittification) and returning to owning our own online digital presence. - [After BowieNet, David Bowie Goes Dark and Shuns Social Media](https://cybercultural.com/p/bowienet-2004-2016/). This past week, I learned about [BowieNet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BowieNet) \- an Internet service provider launched by singer-songwriter David Bowie in 1998 and active until 2006\. BowieNet members received an @davidbowie.com email address and had access to audio recordings, music videos, and chat rooms (which Bowie participated in himself). The post goes into several shifts David Bowie made with the site after its demise, but more interesting is his utter refusal to join any social media. In 1999, what he said about the Internet was prophetic: '*I think we're actually on the cusp of something exhilarating and terrifying.*' I often quip that [the universe broke when he passed](https://makoism.com/constant-reinvention/) in 2016. - [Atmospheric Computing](https://pfrazee.com/blog/atmospheric-computing). For the technical readers, '*atmospheric computing is a paradigm of connected clouds.*' I've been digging into more around the [AT Protocol](https://atproto.com), and been incredibly curious in some of the work [Steve Simkins](https://stevedylan.dev) has been up to in leveraging [Personal Data Servers (PDS)](https://atproto.com/guides/self-hosting). Geeky, I know - but **really interesting**. - [It's Time for a Different Future](https://explodingcomma.com/posts/its-time-for-a-different-future). A good one to think about: '*The thing about works of fiction like Mad Max and Blade Runner is that, while they may be set in the future, they are commentaries upon and reflections of the present, or of the present when they were made, which for both of these films is now more than forty years old. Great movies though they may be, it is well past time to come up with some different visions and stop accepting that the future these works depict is the only choice we have.*' - [The Moylan Arrow Is One of Ford's Best Contributions to Car Design](https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-moylan-arrow-is-one-of-fords-best-contributions-to-car-design). On the [Dithering Podcast](https://dithering.passport.online/member) this week, I learned about the Moylan Arrow. You know the little arrow on your gas gauge that tells you what side of the car your gas tank is - that's the **Moylan Arrow**. The inventor, [James Moylan, passed away this week](https://www.autonews.com/executives/an-obituary-james-moylan-1223/). Apparently, he came up with the idea after *getting soaked in the rain because he parked on the wrong side at a gas station*. **Little inspirations can be found everywhere**. - [How to send an 'Email'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szdbKz5CyhA). OK, this video cracked me up from Thames TV's computer program 'Database' in 1984\. Enjoy the retro. - [MTV is finally shutting down](https://ordinary-times.com/2025/12/31/mtv-is-finally-shutting-down/). Speaking of retro, **sad days**. Paramount has closed not only the international MTV music channels, including MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live, but also said that MTV in the US will no longer play music videos. But, **here comes the Internet to the rescue** with [I Want My MTV Rewind](https://wantmymtv.vercel.app/). '*No ads. No algorithm. No login. Just pure random discovery.*' Remember, the Internet never forgets. :) - [Winston Churchill Gets a Doctor's Note to Drink Unlimited Alcohol While Visiting the U.S. During Prohibition (1932)](https://www.openculture.com/2023/12/winston-churchill-gets-a-doctors-note-to-drink-unlimited-alcohol-while-visiting-the-u-s-during-prohibition-1932.html). Another random fun fact I came across this week - in 1932, Winston Churchill got a doctor's note to be able to drink unlimited alcohol during a visit to the US during prohibition in 1932. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 1-4-26 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-4-26/ Last updated: 2026-01-04T13:01:41.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Food Is the Great Connector and Laughs Are the Cement](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/food-is-the-great-connector-and-laughs-are-the-cement/). I like the general concept of lensing into the '*small things that make the difference, that build the connective tissue that keeps a team going through the inevitable ups and downs of organizational life*.' His point is that you should notice when people are **laughing**, as it's a sign that they have strong relationships within groups and, more importantly, have each other's backs. I do take issue with calling work 'family' - it's not. It is more like a sports team: a place of contribution, not something that defines identity. - [The Legacy of Brownie Mary](https://www.sfweekly.com/archives/the-legacy-of-brownie-mary/article%5Fb9ac6c31-dd01-5228-8d63-f0418aed36dd.html). This week I learned about San Francisco resident [Mary Jane Rathbun aka Brownie Mary](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/06/us/brownie-mary-fights-to-legalize-marijuana.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.AFA.jXCa.Kf-uqX-89LgX&smid=url-share), who in the 1980s, had '*been donating magic brownies and unadulterated cookies to dying patients and volunteering in the AIDS ward of San Francisco General Hospital.*' Funded from her own Social Security checks, she had been repeatedly arrested (and released with community service sentences), but that didn't stop her fight for the legalization of marijuana, and her passion for easing the pain of these patients was legendary. Mary's 'secret recipe' was never revealed, even after her passing in 1999 at the age of 77. - [Get Rid of Your Boss. Share a Story Instead.](https://www.corporate-rebels.com/blog/get-rid-of-your-boss-share-a-story-instead). '*Most organizations don’t run on org charts. They run on stories. If you want to replace hierarchy with real self-management, you must first replace the old story with a new one.*' Storytelling is one of the most underrated skills teams should be deliberately investing in, as it is often the primary mechanism **by which meaning travels** inside an organization. And when I say **storytelling**, it's not about presentation polish, it's about having the ability to explain **why** a problem matters, **who** it matters to, **what** tradeoffs were made in the past, and how to paint a connection to where work is going. Understand the whole arc - **the system, not just the goal**. - [The Ultimate Productivity Hack](https://practicalpkm.com/the-ultimate-productivity-hack/). An interesting post on how to take [a personal retreat](https://practicalpkm.com/the-power-of-the-personal-retreat/), and asking yourself three questions: *What should I START doing? What should I KEEP doing? What should I STOP doing?* It's always good to take time and understand [what deserves your attention](https://makoism.com/attention/). - [Tools and Perspectives to Help Steady Your Routines, Reclaim Your Attention, and Move Deliberately Toward What Matters](https://ellanew.com/2025/12/29/ptpl-188-tools-for-steady-routines-toward-what-matters). Speaking of [attention](https://makoism.com/attention/), some great hacks/tweaks on '*bringing order back to your days without reinventing everything.*' - [Who's Counting?](https://blog.ayjay.org/whos-counting/). Since it's the start of the year, another post on what to subtract and what to *stop* counting. Also, an interesting nugget in here on looking at '**books I abandoned this year* as a way to understand reading habits.*' - [Idea Protectionism](https://world.hey.com/jason/idea-protectionism-01ef4f59). Great post from 2021 on not squashing new ideas, but rather [creating space for them to grow](https://makoism.com/attention/). '*The hard thing is to make room for what may be possible. To help it unfurl. To encourage emergence, to explore, to expand. To be part of the soil that helps something blossom. To wonder what could be before it can be. To simply give something a chance before smashing it to bits.*' - [The Hero's Journey Isn't as Universal as You Think](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/the-heros-journey-isnt-as-universal). The hero's journey, as taught in school, often *involves a call to adventure, refusal, meeting a mentor, crossing the threshold, facing trials, failing, succeeding, and returning with a reward*. An interesting essay on how modern storytelling is moving away from this, with stories such as [The Big Lebowski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBig%5FLebowski), where '*characters that — although they go on larger-than-life adventures — are unable or unwilling to learn from their experiences*.' - [Let Franchises End](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8shQ8YuR4p4). [Matt](https://birchtree.me/) pointed out this video in his excellent post on [let stories end](https://birchtree.me/blog/let-stories-end/), in which he writes, '*my general dissatisfaction with franchises and TV shows is that a key part of storytelling, the ending, isn't really a thing.*' It is a big issue with most television and film these days (I don't think we need a [Big Lebowski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBig%5FLebowski) cinematic universe as fascinating as that could be :)). '*We needed stories to end so we could make sense of them.*' - [The Post-American Internet](https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/01/39c3/). I found this link via [The Enshittifinancial Crisis](https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-enshittifinancial-crisis/) and, as I've written previously about the excellent post/book [Enshittification](https://bookshop.org/p/books/enshittification-why-everything-suddenly-got-worse-and-what-to-do-about-it-cory-doctorow/d3f8483b158906ce), felt it was a great one to share. Cory has a brilliant talk/essay ([video here](https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/01/39c3/#the-new-coalition)) on the opportunities for dis-enshittification this year and digital sovereignty. Well worth your time. - [The One About Master-Keyed Mechanical Locks](https://www.mattblaze.org/papers/mk.pdf). I ran across this via [Matt's Mastodon post](https://federate.social/@mattblaze/115800310005149498), and it was a fascinating read on two fronts. First, that master-keyed locks have fundamental, exploitable weaknesses ([read the PDF](https://www.mattblaze.org/papers/mk.pdf) \- apparently they have for over a century!), but secondly, the reaction to his paper. '*Then locksmiths freaked out. I mean completely lost it. They were very upset, not so much that a very common lock design had a basic security flaw, but that an *outsider* found it and had the poor moral character to make it public. I started getting weird death threats.*' - [Russia's Doomsday Radio plays Swan Lake](https://m.economictimes.com/us/news/russias-doomsday-radio-plays-swan-lake-dumps-cryptic-codes-speculations-rise-about-the-mysterious-message-and-links-to-ukraine-war/articleshow/126269494.cms). I just thought this whole post was super interesting, and had to share. '*UVB-76, Russia's mysterious radio, became active again and began playing music from Swan Lake. The radio station, which is also called Russia's Doomsday Radio or The Buzzer, played more tracks, including an old Soviet song but with an allegedly reworked song with altered lyrics to celebrate an attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to Russian media.' Why is this interesting? 'Music on Doomsday Radio is rare, and it has reportedly happened only three times in the station’s history. Russian media claims that music was heard in 2024 and in February 2022\. Russian commenters have claimed that Swan Lake has played in Russia in the past when "something bad" was about to happen or during a political crisis.*' Stay tuned. - [Print is Forever](https://sf.gazetteer.co/print-is-forever). Over the last year, I've really been enjoying more and more print-only content: [Geezer](https://www.geezermagazine.com), [Mountain Gazette](https://mountaingazette.com), [The Southwester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk), [N+1](https://www.nplusonemag.com), [Delayed Gratification](https://www.slow-journalism.com), etc., to name a few. I'd love to get a copy of [The Secret Playbook](https://www.robinsloan.com/shop/secret-playbook/), but it's sold out. '*Print, however, moves at a more human speed.*' Totally agree with this, and it looks like [Robin Sloan](https://www.robinsloan.com/newsletters/secret-playbook/) is pushing into something interesting thoughts here: '*The value of print is actually not about paper. It's about the set of demands and offerings that that paper has. Privacy, stability, reliability, sovereignty.*' - [Write to Escape Your Default Setting](https://kupajo.com/write-to-escape-your-default-setting/). Why it's important to write: '*Writing provides scaffolding. Structure for the unstructured, undisciplined mind. It’s a practical tool for thinking more effectively. And sometimes, it’s the best way to truly begin to think at all.*' - [Why I Write (And You Should Too!)](https://www.dbreunig.com/2025/12/27/why-i-write.html). In the same thread of writing, '*Writing is a muscle. The more you write, the easier it gets, and your ability improves. You’ll learn to make clearer arguments, crisper explanations, and better empathize with your audience. These skills are applicable to everything.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### What Deserves My Attention Now URL: https://makoism.com/attention/ Last updated: 2026-01-02T21:06:48.000Z ### Clearing the path for curiosity in 2026 Over the last 10 years, I have published an annual "things I like" end-of-year wrap-up. It's a big-ass post to explore all the apps/processes/mental trauma/musings/etc that I have found helpful throughout the year. If you'd like to read the previous years' ramblings, here are: [2024](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2024-2/), [2023](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2023/)|[2022](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/)|[2021](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/)|[2020](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/)|[2019](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/), etc. When it came time to write up 2025, honestly - **I wasn't feeling it**. There's plenty of great write-ups out there already - what's one more voice echoing the wacko upside-down state of the world right now? So - taking a different path this year. We'll see where it goes. :) But first, **just a quick thank you**. Your support is always appreciated! My ramblings newsletter is [going on its 6th year](https://www.makoism.com/p/deep-links-3d50734208f3), and what was set up as a way to keep a few peers, friends, and colleagues informed about content I had discovered online has turned into an essential part of my own critical thinking. You can also follow via [RSS](https://makoism.com/rss), and last year I started an experiment with a tiny membership tier (to feed the coffee habit) via a simple [oneamonth.club](https://oneamonth.club) concept: join [Club Mako](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/#/portal) for $1/month or whatever you want to spend. But really, no pressure - I'm glad you found something interesting in these brain dumps. Onwards. ## The Big Dark If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you are familiar with the seasonal occurrence here, known as [The Big Dark](https://makoism.com/the-big-dark/). As Seattle sits around 47 degrees latitude (and where I am is even more north at 48.63 degrees), no other major U.S. city loses daylight faster than Seattle. By the winter solstice at 7:03 am on December 21, we're down to only 8 hours and 25 minutes of light. Interestingly enough, as of January 2, we've already gained almost five more minutes of light a day. By June 21, 2026, we will have an additional 7 hours and 34 minutes of sunlight, bringing the total to about 16 hours of daylight. It's unbelievable, but also a familiar pattern here. And it's a good reminder that this pattern is not broken, but rather a sign that seasons (and years) are meant to be ***navigated***. The [dichotomy of control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/), states that '*a large percentage of the things that cause you stress and worry *are things that there's jack shit that you can do to control them*. I finally realized just how much of my stress came from trying to control things that were simply out of my hands.*' ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2026/01/IMG_0201.jpeg) The practice that I've been trying out lately is to sort my commitments into **three piles**: - things I **want** to do. - things I *think* I should do. - things I **actually have** to do. What I discovered: **Most of the noise lives in that middle pile**. ## The Illusion of Progress One thing I've noticed about myself is how easy it is to confuse *talking* about who I want to be with *actually becoming that person*. What's more troublesome is how *satisfying that can feel*. **Even when nothing has changed**. A small example: buying a new notebook. I've done this more times than I can count, and it comes with a quiet promise: *this will be the notebook that helps me organize my thoughts better*. Of course, nothing about owning the new notebook actually changes my behavior. But the act of buying it is strangely satisfying. It turns out that this feeling isn't an accident. The notebook is a symbol that impedes real progress. [Gollwitzer's Self-Completion Theory](https://psychologyfanatic.com/self-completion-theory/): when an identity feels incomplete, symbols can temporarily satisfy the feeling of progress, often enough to delay the real work. **The problem isn't the notebook**. It's *the way the symbol can temporarily replace the work*. When that happens, it doesn't push me forward; it lets me rest in the illusion that I've already moved. The tricky question then remains - *what am I actually giving my attention to*? **Every new tool or commitment I take on quietly asks for time, energy, and focus**. The more I accumulate, the less room there is for anything to take root. ## Clearing the Path One of the most valuable ideas I keep going back to is the [art of subtraction](https://zenhabits.net/minus/). > Subtraction is beautiful: it creates space, time, clarity. So much of life in 2025 treats everything like it's on fire. Noise, negative energy, and manufactured urgency crowd out attention, leaving little room to think, wander, or notice what actually matters. Much of this lives in that middle bucket of things I *think* I should do. Commitments and inputs that compress attention rather than expand it. They leave no room for wandering off course. Being available requires limits. **Curiosity needs space to roam.** The question I am left with is this: '*what actually deserves my attention at this point in life? And what doesn't.*' And maybe just as important: what does "enough" look like? ## Creating Room In [The Daily Stoic](https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-daily-stoic/id1130785257), Ryan Holiday makes an important observation: > Sometimes the fastest way forward isn't more; it's less. You could try to increase your wealth, or **you could take a shortcut and just want less.** As we enter 2026, that's the mindset I'm starting the year with. Not a resolution. Not even a word of the year (last year I already tried going with [less](https://makoism.com/holes/) and obviously I failed). This year is about fewer rules and defaults. Clearing the (literal) brush so it's easier *to see what's interesting*. Find practices that **refill energy** instead of quietly taking it. Focus on curiosity - it doesn't need **more discipline** or false progress. **It needs room to move and explore**. Spend more time **wondering without needing to justify it**. ## Fin **2026 isn't about getting somewhere faster**. It's about attention and choice. It's about being available. Available to ideas, to people, to what's interesting, human, and unexpected. I'll wrap this up with a quote from a 1977 Newsweek interview with Carl Sagan: > Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. And 2026 **is about removing the things that get in the way of curiosity.** Having more room to explore what I'm discovering about myself. ### Espresso Shots 12-28-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-28-25/ Last updated: 2026-01-02T04:29:10.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [3 Ways Smart People Stay Stuck in Failing Patterns](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WSSMee5pH8). I've been a long-time follower of [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net) and [her fantastic work at Ness Labs](https://nesslabs.com), including her book, [Tiny Experiments](https://bookshop.org/p/books/tiny-experiments-how-to-live-freely-in-a-goal-obsessed-world-anne-laure-le-cunff/a0d48a6606c80c86?ean=9780593715130&next=t). In this short video, Anne-Laure explores three different cognitive scripts that are traps we fall into: **The Sequel Script**, The **Crowdpleaser Script** and the **Epic Script**. '*The problem with cognitive scripts is when we use them to make more important decisions in our lives, in our careers, in our relationships, instead of asking ourselves, is that really what I want to do, is that my decision, we let our choices being driven by those stories that we have internalized by those scripts that tell us how we're supposed to behave in a certain situation.*' - [Full Presence Is Terrifying](https://mentalhellth.xyz/p/full-presence-is-terrifying). The word that's been fumbling around in my brain for 2026 is **availability**, so this article resonated with my current state of mind. '*I have been thinking a lot about presence recently. Often, we are there—hanging with a friend, or watching a movie, or by ourselves, wherever—but we are not really there. Because we are also somewhere else. To be fully present is to be a full self. To fully exist. To fully interact with something or someone. To take up space and contribute back to it. Presence exists on a spectrum. Perhaps 100 percent presence is and always has been rare, but there are gradations, and it feels like often these days, I, and many of us, do not get anywhere near full-presence.*' Don't focus on making yourself valuable - **but available** \- to talk about mistakes, hopes, struggles, all with being present. - [I Killed Color on My Phone. The Result Shocked Me.](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/opinion/smartphone-color-grayscale-addiction.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.%5FU8.esqf.UouDSsE0PuyI&smid=url-share). I haven't gone *this* far yet, but it's interesting to read how the shift from color to greyscale has provided this author with a release of the pressure around phone dependence. '*The moment I switched, I no longer felt an urgent need to look at my iPhone — an urge that I hadn't known was so strong until it was gone. I experienced a full-bodied sense of relief when the colors faded to gray.*' - [We Like Lists Because We Don't Want to Die](https://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/spiegel-interview-with-umberto-eco-we-like-lists-because-we-don-t-want-to-die-a-659577.html). An interesting interview with [Umberto Eco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto%5FEco) ([who coined the concept of an 'anti-library'](https://makoism.com/random-acts/)) regarding why we make lists. '*‌We have a limit, a very discouraging, humiliating limit: death. That's why we like all the things that we assume have no limits and, therefore, no end. It’s a way of escaping thoughts about death. *We like lists because we don’t want to die*.*' (Hat tip to Austin Kleon's post - [Making the Year Endless](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/making-the-year-endless) \- for this link). - [When Tech Stopped Being For Us](https://numericcitizen.me/when-tech-stopped-being-for-us/). Oof - nailed it. '*Somewhere along the way, tech stopped being a tool we wielded and became a system that wields us. This wasn't an accident. It was a business model optimization.*' - [Trains Cancelled Over Fake Bridge Collapse Image](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwygqqll9k2o). This one came up in a fellowship call I was on last week, but highlights the dangers of trusting what we see in 2025 (and I suspect will get worse in the next year). '*Trains were halted after a suspected AI-generated picture that seemed to show major damage to a bridge appeared on social media following an earthquake. The tremor, which struck on Wednesday night, was felt across Lancashire and the southern Lake District. Network Rail said it was made aware of the image which appeared to show major damage to Carlisle Bridge in Lancaster at 00:30 GMT and stopped rail services across the bridge while safety inspections were carried out. A BBC journalist ran the image through an AI chatbot which identified key spots that may have been manipulated.*' - [The Arctic Island That's Reclaiming Time](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/12/sommaroy-norway-island-time-clock/684894/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHfC6gSU0aPS7IGuW52nfB3w&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). '*Inspired by the extreme periods of light and dark, in late spring 2019, a group of locals signed a petition to make the village the first 'time-free zone,' a place where anyone could buy groceries, cut grass, or eat dinner no matter the time.*' Interesting post on the observations of living in a place without time, along with the problems and reality of the undertaking. - [Proximalism](https://marniekhaw.substack.com/p/proximalism-community-first). '*Proximalism asserts that human life thrives within proximal spheres—spaces where relationships are tangible, accountability is personal, and power is distributed among people who know each other's names, families, and stories. This isn't just about geography; it’s about the fundamental unit of human organization that our psychology and biology are designed for.*' Over the last 18 months [living on an island](https://makoism.com/now/) away from the mainland, has definitely had an impact on my thinking around locally sourced food, local communities, and the human connections that surround the people that *choose* to live a quieter life. - [Family Futures](https://littlefutures.substack.com/p/lf13-family-futures). A lovely retrospective of days gone by and a thought piece on what technology we let into our lives. '*The era of the personal computer is misnamed because they weren’t really personal computers - they were *family computers*. Big chunky things. Yelling up and down the stairs to see if anyone was on the phone before going online. You could feel where the internet came from - the pings and bloops of the dialup sound traveling across the phone lines - the same phone lines you could see crisscrossing above you as you walk down the street on the way to school.*' - [Why Do People Leave Comments on OpenBenches?](https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/12/why-do-people-leave-comments-on-openbenches/). I love what the [OpenBench project](https://openbenches.org) has been up to (and have [contributed many of the random benches](https://openbenches.org/bench/33430)) up here on [San Juan Island](https://www.visitsanjuans.com). '*There are blue plaques to commemorate the famous and influential figures of the past. For everyone else, there are memorial benches. A quiet reminder of the people gone but not forgotten.*' A great post on some of the comments they have received on the bench pictures. '*Hundreds of people sharing connections. Wanting to express their feelings. Understanding the terrible pain of loss and the hope that, someday, someone will think fondly of us.*' - [The Creative Power of Constraints](https://arun.is/blog/creative-power-constraints/). I've long been a fan of '[through constraint you find freedom](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/)' - '*Don't bother spending time thinking about all the things; focus on thinking about the things that matter most.*' I particularly enjoyed this lens on the creativity aspect of it - '*Constraints are the primordial soup from which creativity arises. These constraints can be imposed on the creator or devised by the creator themselves. Most commonly, they are a combination of both.*' - [Why Working Quickly Is More Important Than It Seems](https://jsomers.net/blog/speed-matters). I disagree with this post, but I am always interested in understanding or exploring *different* work patterns. For some time now, I've seen the '[move fast and break things](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move%5Ffast%5Fand%5Fbreak%5Fthings)' thinking often results in [lots of broken things](https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/08/14/move-fast-and-break-things-as-strategy-tech-experts-takes/). This piece posits '*Part of the activation energy required to start any task comes from the picture you get in your head when you imagine doing it. It may not be that going for a run is actually costly, but if it feels costly, if the picture in your head looks like a slog, then you will need a bigger expenditure of will to lace up.*' Interesting perspective. - [Give It Five Minutes](https://signalvnoise.com/posts/3124-give-it-five-minutes). An older post, but a great reminder of why **five minutes** is significant, and references essential Steve Jobs thoughts on the fragility of ideas. '*Steve loved ideas, and loved making stuff, he treated the process of creativity with a rare and a wonderful reverence. You see, I think he better than anyone understood that while ideas ultimately can be so powerful, they begin as fragile, barely formed thoughts, so easily missed, so easily compromised, so easily just squished.*' With that, '*Dismissing an idea is so easy because it doesn’t involve any work. You can scoff at it. You can ignore it. You can puff some smoke at it. That’s easy. The hard thing to do is protect it, think about it, let it marinate, explore it, riff on it, and try it. The right idea could start out life as the wrong idea.*' - [It's What I Do](https://leo.notenboom.org/its-what-i-do/). '*It’s what I do. You see, it’s a phrase I use myself. Particularly when it comes to various aspects of technology, it is, indeed, what I do. I think the reason that phrase spoke to me is that I often use it when people are surprised or impressed by what they see as some feat of technical wizardry. Not to minimize the skills or knowledge needed, but to me, it’s just what I do.*' I've been spending a lot of time thinking about **what I do** as of late, and where the focus needs to be on: Critical thinking, curiosity, storytelling, writing, and availability. - [Track a Flight on Your iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/track-a-flight-on-your-iphone/). While I have a lifetime plan for [Flighty](https://flighty.com), I had no idea you could track flights in Apple Messages and Spotlight search. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 12-21-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-21-25/ Last updated: 2025-12-21T15:00:02.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [2025 Word of the Year: Slop](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year). When I first mentioned the word 'slop' in a meeting over a year ago, there was a general surprise in the room, along with a sense that I made up the term. But no, I follow [Simon Willison, who started to talk about the problem in 2024](https://simonwillison.net/2024/May/8/slop/); at the time he said '*watching in real time as *slop becomes a term of art*. The way that spam became the term for unwanted emails, slop is going into the dictionary as the term for unwanted AI-generated content.*' Flash forward to the end of 2025, and Webster has now coined it **word of the year**. While '*Merriam-Webster said that the word slop originated in the 1700s to mean soft mud before the meaning evolved to food waste in the 1800s and, eventually, "rubbish" and "a product of little or no value" in colloquial terminology. The flood of slop in 2025 included absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, 'workslop' reports that waste coworkers' time... and lots of talking cats.*" I wonder what 2026's word of the year will be. - [A Big Misunderstanding](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/a-big-misunderstanding). I really liked this post on the distinction between stated motives and actual motives. '*They confuse our words with our deeds. It's like mistaking Starbucks' mission statement — inspiring and nurturing the human spirit, one person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time — with its goal of maximizing profit.*' I would also suggest, after digesting this one, read more about the [Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/). - [How the World's Leading Breach Expert Got Phished](https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/05/troy-hunt/). I have been a follower of [Troy Hunt](https://www.troyhunt.com) (and you should check out [Have I Been Pwned](https://haveibeenpwned.com) to see if your email has been in a data breach) for many years now, but I somehow missed this post from this past April on how he himself got phished. '*If you can't spot the sucker at the poker table, you're the sucker. Also, if you think you can't get phished, you're the sucker.*' - [Please Learn How to Use Your Computer](https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/please-learn-how-to-use-your-computer/). '*The number of professionals in journalism, media, communications, and academia who still *don't understand* how to use the very tools they depend on for their livelihood is, frankly, staggering.*' I would like to extend this to the current trope that 'AI is going to replace humans. Werner summed it up best: '*But like the great thinkers of the Renaissance who refused to be confined to a single discipline, developers can no longer live in silos. *You must think bigger, the moment demands it*. This is the dawn of a new age for developers. You have never been more valuable. Your creativity has never been needed more. So keep building, *stay curious*, and keep solving the world's hardest problems.*' **Leaning into curiosity** has been the biggest mental unlock for me the last 12 months. - [How Gemini Gives Me Hope for a Future Internet](https://bearblog.stevedylan.dev/how-gemini-gives-me-hope-for-a-future-internet/). This past week, I learned about [Gemini](https://geminiprotocol.net/) (no, not the AI from Google), but rather a new internet technology supporting an electronic library of interconnected text documents.*' I am still digging into this, but I find it fascinating - 'Gemini exists because a few people said enough is enough with the current state of the internet and did something about it. There were enough people who believed in the same idea and principles that now there is a decent community living on this network. People are sharing their lives, recipes, resources, you name it.*' - [Learning as Rebellion](https://jarche.com/2025/12/learning-as-rebellion/). [Critical thinking](https://makoism.com/mentally%5Flazy/). [Curiosity](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). [Continuous Learning](https://makoism.com/the%5Ffixed%5Fgrowth/). [Leaning into fun](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). These concepts have been at the forefront of my brain for the last year and are something I'm trying to go deep on in 2026\. I really enjoyed Harold's post on learning as an **act of rebellion**: '*The use of these tools on a large scale does not sound like a huge leap in collective human learning but rather a path that will impede creativity and innovation. Is human learning now an act of rebellion? If so, it's a rebellion I want be part of.*' - [Interstitial Journaling: Combining Notes, To-Do and Time Tracking](https://nesslabs.com/interstitial-journaling). A follow-up from [last week's link](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-14-25/) regarding [Journaling like a Spanish Fighter Pilot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWFshr1JnVA). I guess this methodology for taking notes is referred to as **interstitial journaling**; '*The basic idea of interstitial journaling is to write a few lines every time you take a break, and to track the exact time you are taking these notes.*' This week I put it into practice by creating a shortcut that I have tied to the Action button on the phone (and can be run from the watch - bonus!) that incrementally builds up a daily journal with each quick entry. And, for fun, at the end of the day, I also wired Apple Intelligence to summarize that day in a single sentence. More on this to see if it sticks and/or what the value is. - [The Best Upgrade Is You](https://minimalmac.com/post/34081675157/the-best-upgrade-is-you). More in the same vein of continuous learning. '*I have come to believe that the best and most cost-effective technology upgrade that one can make is to themselves. I’m not talking cyborg implants here. I’m speaking about knowledge. That is, increasing your skill, aptitude, and understanding when it comes to any device, application, or tool.*' - [Continually Making Myself Obsolete Didn't Work](https://jesseamundsen.github.io/2025-11-30-myobsolescence/). '*In spite of my best efforts to render myself useless, I was never able to reach my goal of quietly sitting back with nothing new to do. It turned out that my relentless pursuit of automation and the creation of software that offloaded my efforts didn't end my job; it just changed it.*' I think this is an important idea to think about - even though tools change, automation accelerates tasks, these tools (despite [what consultants think](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c4CNB80SRc&t=6s)) don't replace people. **They can be used to accelerate manual tasks and potentially give back time**. - [A Year of Confronting Complexity](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/a-year-of-confronting-complexity/). An interesting thought piece on how important the understanding of complexity is for understanding change: '*We are witnessing a massive cultural crises stemming from the destruction of craft across all the arts including music, writing, visual arts and process arts.*' - [What Obituaries Reveal About American Values](https://nicenews.com/humanity/what-obituaries-reveal-life-well-lived/). Fascinating post on '*what it means to have lived a good life*.' Side note: [The Top Five Regrets of the Dying](https://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/) is an excellent reminder of things to focus on to have a good life while you still have time. [Momento Mori](https://makoism.com/fight-club/). - [Windows 3.1 Included a Red and Yellow 'Hot Dog Stand' Color Scheme So Garish It Was Long Assumed to Be a Joke, So I Tracked Down Microsoft's Original UI Designer to Get the True Story](https://www.pcgamer.com/software/windows/windows-3-1-included-a-red-and-yellow-hot-dog-stand-color-scheme-so-garish-it-was-long-assumed-to-be-a-joke-so-i-tracked-down-the-original-designer-to-get-the-true-story/). TIL the origin story behind the Windows 'Hot Dog Stand' theme. From [Virginia Howlett](https://www.virginiahowlett.com/about), a member of the original design team '*It was not intended as a joke. It was not inspired by any hot dog stands, and it was not included as an example of a bad interface—although it was one. It was just a garish choice, in case somebody out there liked ugly bright red and yellow.*' - [The Book of Pete](https://rasterweb.net/raster/2025/12/16/the-book-of-pete/). I've often thought of these nuggets of life wisdom that you collect as what would comprise one's own [Commonplace Journal](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/), but [Pete Prodoehl](https://rasterweb.net) muses that '*people look to your work and the kind of person you were.*' He goes on, '*I don't want this to be dark, because I want to keep living for a few more decades, but I also want to encourage others to view blogging as a legacy they can leave behind. You'll make mistakes, you’ll get things wrong, but if you use those failings as opportunities to learn and grow, then I think that’s pretty cool.*' - [How Did the C.I.A. Lose a Nuclear Device in the Himalayas? (gift link)](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/13/world/asia/cia-nuclear-device-himalayas-nanda-devi.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.-E8.%5FyUl.cmPxhAa5Rboz&smid=url-share). Uh, ok - apparently in 1965 a group of C.I.A. climbers' *abandoned a nuclear device that contained nearly a third of the total amount of plutonium used in the Nagasaki bomb.*' The device, a 50-pound, beach-ball-size nuclear device, was part of a device that was planned to be used to eavesdrop on Chinese mission control. '*But right as the climbers were about to push for the summit, the weather went haywire. The wind howled, the clouds descended, a blizzard swept in, and the top of the forbidding mountain, called Nanda Devi, suddenly disappeared in a whiteout. It hasn't been seen since.*' Makes me wonder how many random nukes have been just 'lost' around the world. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 12-14-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-14-25/ Last updated: 2025-12-14T13:01:40.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [How to Tell What's Real Online](https://youtube.com/watch?v=o4I%5FhOz%5FMLw). I wanted to make sure to include this excellent video from [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil%5FdeGrasse%5FTyson) in which he clearly walks though how you can, or can't trust things that you see online by sharing his personal checklist. **Especially important in this day of ever-increasing online AI slop**. - In a post by [Glyph](https://mastodon.social/@glyph/115703255910947566), he writes: *'I'm trying to shift my perspective from 'there was a glorious computer revolution that empowered the user and disrupted authority and we have fallen from the heights of its transcendental grace' and towards the more accurate 'my formative years just happened to coincide with a period where a few technical innovations briefly conferred a small amount of power on individuals and labor, and capital has been efficiently reversing that small disruption ever since' but it sure doesn't feel like that... *We should, by all means, do our darnedest to reclaim that agency, to use computers to lift up rather than punch down, and we have proof positive that it is possible, and we should draw hope from that.**' Lots to think about in this observation. - [I Watch Podcasts on YouTube With My Apple TV. WTF?!](https://baty.net/posts/2025/12/i-watch-podcasts-on-you-tube-with-my-apple-tv-wtf/). I love [Jack's observation here](https://baty.net/), and I've been doing more of this as well. According to [NBC News last December](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/podcasts-taking-over-tv-screens-rcna184411), '*more than 400 million hours of podcasts per month on their TVs in 2024.*' ***Very*** curious to see the 2025 numbers. But instead of calling them "video podcasts", maybe they should just be called **TV programs**. - [Taylor Swift Makes Sure Never to Do This 1 Thing. Neuroscience Says She's Right](https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/taylor-swift-makes-sure-never-to-do-this-1-thing-neuroscience-says-shes-right/91274508). While my wife is the real Taylor Swift super-fan (and yes, [the final show from the Eras Tour has been cranking in the house](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1MO3bRG9qw)), I'm equally fascinated by the [Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift](https://hbr.org/2025/03/the-strategic-genius-of-taylor-swift). Her number 1 mental health tip: '*she keeps social media apps off her smartphone.*' - [Don't Become a Connoisseur.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/dont-become-a-connoisseur/). If anything, Joan's posts always make me think. '*The happiest drinkers I know cannot distinguish a Burgundy from a Bordeaux. The happiest programmers I know use whatever works without agonizing about whether something might work better. They are richer in experience than any connoisseur, even if their experiences are individually less exquisite. They read whatever looks interesting at the airport bookstore. They drink whatever their hosts are serving. They use whichever tool loads fastest. The enthusiast might not be as refined as the connoisseur. But they have a good deal more fun.*' - [The Case for Crazy](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-case-for-crazy/). [Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtftHaK9tYY).. a fun read about behavioral and classical economics, '*his insight is that organizations get stuck on logic and reason because they’re *incentivized* to do so. In these systems, if you follow the playbook and fail, you can defend yourself for being logical. If you try something crazy and fail, you’re out of a job. Logic becomes the culturally safer bet. As companies grow, they gravitate toward it, closing doors to alchemy along the way. But leave a little room for crazy? That’s where the real leverage is.*' - [The Three Principles of Self-Understanding](https://moretothat.com/the-three-principles-of-self-understanding/). '*Creating is not a privilege reserved for the artistic few. It’s a birthright that we all have access to, and exercising it dissolves the boundary between you and the other.*' As I approach 55, I find that I'm spending an increasing amount of time just trying to understand things about life. - [The Chores of Ordinary Life](https://rickrubin.substack.com/p/the-chores-of-ordinary-life). Rick Rubin has been a wealth of great ideas on how to unlock creativity. '*Notice where your thoughts and attention go when you’re not directly engaged in your craft. It’s about remaining open and receptive to creative inspiration, even when you’re involved in the chores of ordinary life.*' Perhaps this is another reason I should start carrying around a pocket journal to jot those ideas down. - [Note Taking & Journaling Method](https://bearblog.stevedylan.dev/note-taking-journaling-method/). I'm always interested in '*how I take notes*' post, because I kinda suck at it. And I personally declared [PKM dead to me](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/). Inspired by [Journaling like a Spanish Fighter Pilot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWFshr1JnVA), '*The basic idea is to write down short brief updates of what you did at that time of day, generally one sentence or less. I later learned that this is close to a method called *interstitial note taking*.*' Really interesting (and watch the video), I may give this one a roll. - [10 Ways Your Coping Mechanisms Become Your Most Valuable Assets](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-your-coping-mechanisms-become). One of my favorite quotes is '[*through constraint you find freedom*](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/)', and this post dives headfirst into several strategies for shifting coping mechanisms into superpowers. Great read. - [Never Waste Your Suffering](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-19-never-waste-your-suffering). I cannot wait for Scott's new book, [Rules to Live By](https://scottberkun.com/2025/new-book-update-rules-to-live-by/), and am so glad he's writing this in public. In this week's post, he examines failing. *American culture places shame around failure. We're taught to deny failure and to avoid talking about them. We don't put failures on our resumes or our dating profiles. We're told to pretend nothing has ever gone wrong in our lives... it's through examining failure that we grow.*' Continuous growth - and remember, [you are not static](https://makoism.com/the%5Ffixed%5Fgrowth/). **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 12-7-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-7-25/ Last updated: 2025-12-07T13:01:32.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Man Who Built the Cloud Isn't Done Teaching.](https://www.implicator.ai/werner-vogels-hands-out-newspapers-at-his-likely-final-re-invent-the-man-who-built-the-cloud-isnt-done-teaching/). This past week, [Dr Werner Vogels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner%5FVogels) gave [his last AWS RE: Invent talk](https://youtu.be/3Y1G9najGiI?si=OYLqf6E--UUAiKke), where he handed out printed newspapers in which he was '*warning developers about verification debt*' and a message that I think resonates: '*AI generates code faster than humans can understand it. The work is yours, not the tools.*' What **particularly** resonated with me, and which he put very eloquently, was how this is akin to the renaissance in some ways, and talked about a few ideas to focus on to navigate this era. '*The five qualities: Be curious. Think in systems. Communicate with precision. Own what you build. Become a polymath.*' **Love it**. - [The Resonant Computing Manifesto](https://simonwillison.net/2025/Dec/5/resonant-computing/#atom-everything). '*Launched today at* [*WIRED’s The Big Interview event*](https://events.wired.com/big-interview-2025)*, this manifesto encourages a positive framework for thinking about building hyper-personalized AI-powered software - while avoiding the attention hijacking anti-patterns that defined so much of the last decade of software design.*' The framework provides additional thinking akin to where Dr. Vogels was referencing: '*The manifesto proposes five principles for building resonant software: Keeping data private and under personal stewardship, building software that's dedicated to the user's interests, ensuring plural and distributed control rather than platform monopolies, making tools adaptable to individual context, and designing for prosocial membership of shared spaces.'* Read it at the [Resonant Computing Manifesto](https://resonantcomputing.org/). - [Satellites Keep Photobombing the Hubble Telescope, and It's Getting Worse](https://www.theverge.com/news/837652/hubble-telescope-satellite-light-pollution). While I've been watching with interest the adoption of things like [Starlink](https://starlink.com) and [Amazon's LEO](https://leo.amazon.com), the effect this is causing on our ability to watch the stars is staggering. '*Cheaper launch costs and the proliferation of telecommunications satellites like Starlink’s have opened up a Pandora’s box of new challenges in space. Satellite trails, which look like streaks of light, were already detected in 4.3 percent of images taken by the Hubble between 2018 and 2021\. The number of satellites orbiting Earth has grown from 5,000 in 2019 to more than 15,800 today, according to the European Space Agency. That number could reach as high as 560,000 if currently planned satellite launches proceed over the next 10 years or so.*' - [I Put My Brain on a Diet](https://silviamaggi.co.uk/blog/i-put-my-brain-on-a-diet/). Over the last year, I've been a supporter of [What The Fuck Just Happened Today](https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com) as a good way to reduce the noise from the news hype cycle. It's an excellent service (that's free if you want) that is self-described as '*A sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news.*' But the author of this post goes a step further, where he decided to take a full-on stop of the news. Interesting results in there, and could be a fun experiment. I also added the book mentioned in the post, [Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life](https://bookshop.org/p/books/stop-reading-the-news-a-manifesto-for-a-happier-calmer-and-wiser-life-rolf-dobelli/74a238cb3bdc2cf0?ean=9781529342727), to my reading list. - [The Math of Why You Can't Focus at Work](https://justoffbyone.com/posts/math-of-why-you-cant-focus-at-work/). A really enlightening post on the importance of uninterrupted time. '*How do we go from the bad day to the good one? It comes down to three numbers: how often you’re interrupted, how long it takes to recover, and how much unbroken time your work requires.*' Over the holiday break, I may try to figure out some way to automate this - very curious what my average week looks like. - [Interest Is Everything](https://ckarchive.com/b/92uzhnh695dods3roomrdfzod7d33hwh9nk2g). This post on [The Imperfectionist](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/the-imperfectionist) was a fun read on the distinction between **interest vs interesting**. '*When you're procrastinating on a project, wondering why your outwardly successful career doesn't feel as vibrant as it could, or feeling stuck on a difficult life-choice, it’s worth asking if you’ve forgotten the importance of building your days, as far as you’re able, around what actually interests you*.' - [Imperfect Notes](https://winnielim.org/journal/imperfect-notes-my-second-subconscious/). I've never been a great notetaker, despite my [love for notebooks](https://makoism.com/2025-edc/) and [my 'burn the ships' thinking around PKM tools](https://makoism.com/broken-pieces/). Winnie has some great thinking on a different model for notes: '*simply embrace writing imperfect notes and storing them imperfectly. We should not see them as permanent structures but rather as something organic – they are constantly in flux, and we can edit or prune them later. Embrace partially written notes, breadcrumbs, and even poorly written notes.*' In addition, she has some interesting thoughts around the variety of different styles of notes she needs to take; definitely something I'm going to revisit when I have some headspace. [Hat tip to werd.io for the link](https://werd.io/imperfect-notes-my-second-subconscious/). - [Casual Loops](https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/p/monday-memo-101). We're all stuck in loops, so I really enjoyed this simple and wonderful idea: '*Create a crack in the surface, just big enough for fresh air to get in. Give life a chance to talk back.*' - [The Loop](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-loop/). Speaking of loops, here's another one: '*innovation is a continuous loop of dreaming, seeking help, setting and exceeding expectations, dealing with adversity, admitting errors, and adapting the plan, encouraging one to try again.*' - [All Your Problems Are People Problems](https://productpicnic.beehiiv.com/p/all-your-problems-are-people-problems-don-t-just-do-things-part-2). [Systemic thinking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems%5Fthinking) has become a massive part of my mental model lately, so here's some good thinking in this post around people and processes. '*The first thing you can do to start fixing your system is to insist on* [*accountability*](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sarahtgold%5Faiaccountability-generativeai-aidelivery-activity-7369310189423992832-0IsK/?utm%5Fcampaign=all-your-problems-are-people-problems-don-t-just-do-things-part-2&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fsource=productpicnic.beehiiv.com) *so that the Thing Just Doers cannot degrade the system any further than they already have. The second thing is to understand that the system is made up of people, and* [*the people are exhausted*](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zach-thomas-04573713a%5Funtil-organizations-and-individuals-do-something-activity-7384973518611959808-8uRO/?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAcXwnsBhQpKKsILm7ZRY1de3gqY%5FzVXpIE)*.*' - [Disagree and Let's See](https://werd.io/disagree-and-lets-see/). A good, thoughtful post on committing to something. '*Committing to something you disagree with is an emotional contortion that is hard to do in practice. But the work of every team is a series of experiments at its heart, and by changing the onus from *let’s commit to this thing we don’t all agree with* to *let’s try it and see what happens*, we move from steamrollering dissent to mutually agreeing on an experimental hypothesis and testing it. You’re learning based on agreed criteria.*' - [How to Stop Being So Easily Offended](https://nicenews.com/humanity/expert-advice-stop-being-easily-offended/). It seems obvious, but it's crucial to recognize why you're easily offended. A few years back, [I talked about Icebergs](https://makoism.com/we-all-have-icebergs/), but it's a great reminder that people don't often wake up and think '*how can I make this persons shitty today*' and '*others aren't thinking about you as much as you think they are.*' - [The Cult of Therapy](https://www.profgalloway.com/the-cult-of-therapy/). As usual, [Scott Galloway](https://www.profgalloway.com) is armed with data; this time talking about [Therapy Culture](https://www.profgalloway.com/the-cult-of-therapy/). His point is not about therapy helping or not, '*therapy has a lot to offer*', but more about the TikTok and online social influencers pushing a narrative to sell services. - [Fading Affect Bias](https://biascodex.com/fading-affect-bias). I love this cognitive bias index and was reminded recently that pain fades over time. '*Fading affect bias (FAB) is a cognitive bias whereby the emotional intensity associated with negative memories diminishes more rapidly than the emotional intensity of positive memories. This phenomenon suggests that over time, people are more likely to remember the past in a more positive light, allowing them to maintain a more favorable self-image and psychological well-being.*' - [A Love Letter To The People Who Believe In People](https://creativemornings.com/blog/a-love-letter-to-the-people-who-believe-in-people). Closing out this week with a call out to being enthusiastic. '*Being a fan is all about bringing the enthusiasm. It’s being a champion of possibility. It’s believing in someone. And it’s contagious. When you’re around someone who is super excited about something, it washes over you. It feels good. You can’t help but want to bring the enthusiasm, too.*' Feels like the world needs more champions of possibilities as we approach 2026. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-30-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-30-25/ Last updated: 2025-11-30T13:01:20.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [This Time It's Not Fatigue, but Disconnection](https://morrick.me/archives/10176). This week's **read of the week** is authored by [Riccardo Mori](https://morrick.me), in which he perfectly summed up something that's been subconsciously in the back of my mind for the last few years. '*It's like I’ve been playing this game called Tech for the past 30+ years of my life and I just don't feel engaged anymore, but not because I got bored of the game — like it happens with many regular games. It’s not boredom or fatigue. *It’s more because the game has gone through a series of updates that have ultimately made it so much worse.**' The real task at hand is now what to do about it? One way I've been rediscovering the game is through [exploring childlike curiosity](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). Bringing that curiosity into my everyday habits is the next big experiment, which I'll unpack in a future post. - [In Favor of Giving Things Up](https://www.raptitude.com/2025/11/in-favor-of-giving-things-up/). An interesting read about taking on a challenge of **renunciation** (noun; an act spoken or written declaring that something is surrendered or disowned). '*It doesn’t have to be a thing you think you should never indulge in. It just needs to be troublesome in some way, a thing you battle or bargain with. You will sacrifice it for a month in the name of growing your inner strength against its influence on you. (If it’s hard to give up, it does have some power over you.)*' - [Every Decision Has Three Costs](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/every-decision-has-three-costs-time-focus-and-optionality). This one was compelling - on how expensive decisions can be across three essential aspects: **Time, Focus, and Optionality**. - [Your 80 Year Old Self Would Give Anything to Have the Day You're Having.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/your-80-year-old-self-would-give-anything-to-have-the-day-you-re-having). One of the books that has stuck in the back of my mind for years, is '[The Top Five Regrets of the Dying](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-top-five-regrets-of-the-dying-a-life-transformed-by-the-dearly-departing-bronnie-ware/4d55b24488332423?ean=9781489423474&next=t&)' and that one of the number on regrets was '*I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.*' I like the spin on this post from Joan that explores about your 80-year old self around: '*What would they give to inhabit your body again, to have your knees that don't ache, your schedule that seems so overwhelmingly full, your problems that feel so urgent?*' Also important to remember the '[fading bias effect](https://biascodex.com/fading-affect-bias)'. - [The Right Attitude to Gratitude](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/thankful-grateful-thanksgiving-happiness/685060/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHaMmWVju3UMi2kFkpEeMem0). A lovely post on how '**being thankful is the ultimate win-win**.' Additional good tip in there on the power of '*have a running list of things to be thankful for, to rescue myself when I’m feeling especially negative.*' - [Dealgorithmed](https://manuelmoreale.com/thoughts/dealgorithmed). Very curious to see what [Manuel](https://manuelmoreale.com) comes up with in his new newsletter, [Dealgorithmed](https://manuelmoreale.com/thoughts/dealgorithmed). I particularly enjoyed his piece on having an [input diet](https://manuelmoreale.com/thoughts/input-diet), so I'm happy to subscribe to his latest thoughts on '*providing interesting content gathered from all around the web in a convenient package delivered in your inbox twice a month. Content that you can then use as a starting point for your own internet explorations.*' Very similar in thinking to what got me started putting these links out weekly. - [Ahead](https://news.randsinrepose.com/ahead/). Personally, I've [always disliked New Year's resolutions](https://makoism.com/holes/), so this was a good post to go through, which not only reaffirmed my thinking that they fail '*because people focus on obvious returns rather than the actual feedback loop that sustains motivation.*' ([Goals over Systems](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/), frankly). I did appreciate some thoughts on that. '*The key to maintaining long-term projects is identifying and leveraging their unique return on investment (ROI)... The obvious ROI is: *exercise is healthy* — and it’s that ROI you’re considering after your fourth glass of Pinot on New Year’s. Yes, exercise is healthy, but that’s not the return on investment; that’s not the feedback loop I seek. *The loop is a mental space to wander.**' - [Complex Systems](https://seths.blog/2025/11/complex-systems/). TIL about [Gall's Law](https://www.laws-of-software.com/laws/gall/): '*A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system.*' - [The Power of the Marginal](https://www.paulgraham.com/marginal.html). From a 2006 essay, the idea that '*Great new ideas often originate from the *margins*, from individuals or projects that are not part of the mainstream or established norms.*' And that '*Being an outsider offers distinct advantages, including the freedom to take risks, experiment with unconventional approaches, and avoid the pressures and expectations faced by insiders.*' Something I need to think more about, but I like it. - [Unexpected Events And Prosocial Behavior: The Batman Effect](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-025-00171-5). There's now evidence that "[I'm Batman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAVvny-FxjA)" has a psychological effect on those around them. '*Prosocial behavior, the act of helping others, is essential to social life, yet spontaneous environmental triggers for such behavior remain underexplored. This study tested whether an unexpected event, such as the presence of a person dressed as Batman, could increase prosocial behavior by disrupting routine and enhancing attention to the present moment.*' A captivating read, actually. - [The Rock Star Who Couldn't Sing or Play a Note](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-rock-star-who-couldnt-sing-or). I was **fascinated** when I learned that [music producer Rick Rubin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick%5FRubin) [can barely play any instruments](https://www.nme.com/news/music/rick-rubin-on-his-creative-process-i-know-nothing-about-music-3382831). '*I have no technical ability; And I know nothing about music. I know what I like and what I don't like, and I'm decisive about what I like and what I don't like.*" So this post was a fascinating read about [Edd Kookie Byrnes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edd%5FByrnes) \- an actor from the 50's who "looked like a music star". Paving the way for '*future semi-spoken novelty songs, from* [*William Shatner's Rocket Man*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wI4jMxveyI) *to* [*Walter Brennan's Old Rivers*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwuHxJrrf0Y)*.*' - [The Paper Cars](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/the-paper-cars). **I feel seen**: I have tons of domains that I've purchased over the years that I keep registered. In case I need it someday (riiiiiight :)). - [Campbell's Promises Its Soups Are Not Made With 3D Printed Meat](https://www.theverge.com/news/829516/campbells-3d-printed-chicken-soup). Well, that's awfully nice of them. - [Taco Bell Created A Belt With A Taco Holster](https://www.foodbeast.com/news/taco-bell-created-a-belt-with-a-taco-holster/). I don't know if this is from the best or worst timeline. But here ya go, something you never knew that existed. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-23-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-23-25/ Last updated: 2025-11-23T13:01:47.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [How to Love Learning Again](https://nesslabs.com/how-to-love-learning-again). Along with curiosity, I believe in a continuous learning mindset. And, as I try to practice **little things add up to big things over time**, this post does a nice job of putting the science behind that. '*Your relationship with learning isn't fixed. Neural plasticity research shows we can rewire how we respond to learning. The key is starting small and building positive momentum.*' - [Can You Just Do Things?](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/12-books/can-you-just-do-things). Instantly added this new book, [You Can Do Things](https://bookshop.org/p/books/you-can-just-do-things-cate-hall/5e4239827d84722e?ean=9780063488458&next=t&aid=99985&listref=books-for-2025), to the pre-order list. This '*conversation about how agency is gained, used, and misused*' was super fascinating, and I can't wait to read the whole book when it's out. '*Fundamentally, I believe that most people take too few risks and limit their results in life because of that. Embracing some degree of risk is probably part and parcel of a high-agency mindset.*' - [Add Friction Back Into Your Life](https://bearblog.stevedylan.dev/add-friction-back-into-your-life/). '*We live in an age of hyper-convenience, where at the snap of a finger you can have almost anything shipped to your door, listen to any song, watch any movie, even create images and code with a single prompt. Daily chores like grocery shopping have been replaced by having it delivered to your door, and, of course, we're building robots to take care of the laundry. *The unsettling truth is that these points of friction, these mundane things, are actually what give us purpose.**' I really liked this one, which leans into why the deliberate reintroduction of challenges into one's life is an accelerant to learning. Of course, this is one of the problems with everyone just 'vibing' their way these days. In some odd way, my mind connects this to the forced friction that's explored in [Plurbius](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6lzvWby9UE) [episode 4](https://www.avclub.com/pluribus-recap-season-1-episode-4-please-carol). - [Life Is Just an Experience](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-18-life-is-just-an-experience). I completely agree with Scott's post here: '*The goal isn't to achieve great things (although that can be nice). Nor is it to be remembered (although helping future generations is a lovely goal). Instead it’s to experience all of the different kinds of experiences that life allows.*' - [Life Isn't Chess. It's Poker.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/life-isn-t-chess-it-s-poker). I liked this one on how to reframe your thinking - '*When you frame a decision as a bet, you're forced to explicitly acknowledge that you're operating under uncertainty. You have to assign some probability to different outcomes, however rough. You have to think in terms of *expected value* rather than guaranteed results.*' - [Overthinker!](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-389-overthinker). A quote from this post that immediately made it into my commonplace journal: '*You don’t win by being right in principle. You win by being useful in practice.*' - [Why Does Mattering... Matter?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/why-does-mattering-matter/). An interesting look back at an [1844 piece from Karl Marx, entitled 'Alienation'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx%27s%5Ftheory%5Fof%5Falienation). '*Where Marx gets it right is that alienation is caused not necessarily because you don't feel like you fit in, but by your lack of agency. *In other words, you feel completely replaceable*—a cog. Like the organization would hum along just fine without you, in other words, you feel alienated because you feel you're not mission critical. You feel like you don’t matter.*' Totally on with the analysis here. As a leader of teams, it's an important reminder: '*We’ve built systems that give us all the social cues of belonging while stripping away everything that makes us essential.*' - [Understanding The Banker's Rounding](https://rounding.to/understanding-the-bankers-rounding/). This week, I learned a bit about Banker's Rounding via the [Dithering podcast](https://dithering.passport.online/member/). How John Gruber learned about it is an interesting story (listen), but I didn't know about this. '*When you are learning or studying math, it is normal that one of the topics includes rounding numbers. Banker's rounding is an algorithm for rounding numbers to the nearest integer. But this algorithm applies to numbers that are equidistant from the two nearest integers: they are rounded to the nearest even integer.*' So, when you thought 2.5 would round to 3, turns out, with banker's rounding, it rounds to 2\. **WHAT!?!** - [Why Does Every Thumb Keyboard Look Like That?](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/17210564/home-theater-mini-keyboard-history). Super interesting history lesson on thumb keyboards. - [Nobody Votes for Bad Bread](https://www.gapingvoid.com/nobody-votes-for-bad-bread/). As [my wife's sourdough micro bakery](https://www.instagram.com/islandcrumb/) has been taking on [a life of its own](https://www.hotplate.com/islandcrumb), the title of this post pulled me in immediately. Turns out this post about the food industry is more about how '*gradual change has compounded over decades, leading to a noticeable difference in food quality.*' Something that I wrote about back in 2024, the '[Curse of Meh](https://makoism.com/the-curse-of-meh/)'. '*Consistent actions, even small ones, establish new norms and expectations over time.*' - [Yes, They Did Have Star Wars Spoilers Back in 1978](https://www.retroist.com/p/1978-style-star-wars-spoilers). This was a fun one: '*In 1978, David Prowse mentioned in a public setting that Darth Vader was the father of Luke well before Empire Strikes Back came out.*' If that happened in 2025, the Internet would have spread it in minutes. - [Who Bought Grandma's house?](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/who-bought-grandmas-house). A fun read on what happens when the author visits his grandparents' house and rings the doorbell of the current owner. - [21 Facts About Throwing Good Parties](https://www.atvbt.com/21-facts-about-throwing-good-parties/). I consider [Priya Parker's 'Art of the Gathering'](https://www.priyaparker.com) the de facto standard for putting on a memorable gathering, but I did learn a few new tricks from this post. And, they do point out one of my pet peeves with large groups - '*A large party is more like an Everything Soup: you mainly need to avoid ingredients that ruin the flavor for everyone else; beyond that you can mostly throw in whatever and see what works.*' - [Allow Me to Introduce the Two-Sentence Journal](https://alexanderbjoy.com/two-sentence-journal/). This week, I learned about the concept of a two-sentence journal. The basic idea is this: '*aim to constrain each day's entry to one or two key things, and limit their expression to one or two sentences.*' Here's some additional [prompts for your two-sentence journal](https://alexanderbjoy.com/two-sentence-journal-prompts/) if interested. Hat tip to [Robb](https://social.lol/@robb/115565346268068121) for finding this one. - [A Fond Farewell](https://www.farmersalmanac.com/fond-farewell-from-farmers-almanac). Closing out with a goodbye to the [Farmers' Almanac](https://store.farmersalmanac.com/FARM/p-FA-26%5FGBALFARET26), after 200 years, is ceasing publication. '*So go ahead—plant your peas when the daffodils bloom. Watch for a red sky at night. Tell the kids how granddad always swore by the Almanac. *That’s how our story stays alive.**' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-16-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-16-25/ Last updated: 2025-11-16T13:01:20.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Unconventional Creation](https://rickrubin.substack.com/p/unconventional-creation). I need to do this: '*Let your inexperience guide you.*' I love the idea of just setting aside 20 minutes to **create**. '*If you've never learned piano, sit at the bench and enjoy making sound until something interesting emerges. Entertain yourself. That is often the first step, and sometimes it’s the entire enterprise. Don’t seek technique or worry if you’re doing it correctly. Seek curiosity. What happens when you approach the medium like a child would—with no preconceptions about how it *should* be done?*' - [You Are Not Late](https://medium.com/message/you-are-not-late-b3d76f963142). An excellent post from 2014 that remains as relevant today as it was when first published. It states '*Right now, today, in 2014, is the best time to start something on the internet. There has never been a better time in the whole history of the world to invent something. There has never been a better time, with more opportunities, fewer barriers, higher benefit-to-risk ratios, better returns, greater upside, than now. Right now, this minute.*' I'd argue - the same is true for 2025\. What's that saying? '*The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best is now.*' - [What if You Never Started?](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/what-if-you-never-started). I've been following [Quitting Corp](https://quittingcorp.substack.com) since its inception - its mission resonated with me around '*the conviction that we can —and should— continuously reinvent ourselves.*" While her latest post talks about taking a step back from writing for a bit (something I can relate with), the archive is a **treasure trove** of great posts to get you rethinking your thinking. Some personal favorites to reflect on: [Growth in the Tension of Opposites](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/growth-in-the-tension-of-opposites), [Get off the Time Script](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/get-off-the-time-script), and [Do Nothing](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/do-nothing). - [The Pitfalls of Consistency](https://moretothat.com/the-pitfalls-of-consistency/). I've held the belief that consistency is stable, and stability builds velocity, but this one has led me to revisit that. '*Consistency is beautiful when it’s used to build deeper connections, but becomes burdensome when you use it solely for personal gain.*' - [Live for Stories, Not Perfection](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-17-live-for-stories-not-perfection). '*Often now I see chasing perfection in life as shallow, boring and isolating. Making stories, even if they come from mistakes, is far more fun.*' This post circles around two thought bombs that have been rattling in my head now for weeks: [fullness](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/217/) and [fun](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). - [Disrupt the Flow](https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/p/monday-memo-100). If you haven't checked out [Dave Gray](https://substack.com/@possibilitarian)'s beautiful [Visual Frameworks](https://visualframeworks.com) \- give them a [look over](https://visualframeworks.com) (or [buy the set here](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1614840571/visual-frameworks-card-deck)). Described as '*patterns to help you think creatively, reframe challenging situations, and imagine possible strategies and solutions*', I often return to them to rethink things. In this post, [Disrupt the Flow](https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/p/monday-memo-100), he takes you through the exercise of focusing on '*with one clear boundary, energy gathers. You stop optimizing and start inventing. The block isn’t the obstacle. It’s the catalyst.*' Also, for further reference: [The Obstacle is the Way](https://dailystoic.com/obstacle-is-the-way-summary/). - [The Simplest Way To Feel Better In Terrible Times](https://ryanholiday.net/the-simplest-way-to-feel-better-in-terrible-times/). A simple reminder on how being kind goes a long way. '*Something that every wisdom tradition has taught but we keep forgetting: Do something nice for someone else.*' - [Enjoy Life Now, Before Its Too Late](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjy6Pqr%5F%5F8w). Beautiful interview with [Sir Anthony Hopkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony%5FHopkins) with some sound advice: '*Enjoy it now before it's too late. Just enjoy it as much as you can. Life is tough. Stop winging on about it all all the time.*' - [Are You Singing Enough? The Benefits of Belting Your Fave Tunes](https://nicenews.com/health-and-wellness/mental-physical-health-benefits-singing/). I was very fortunate to meet [James Sills](https://www.james-sills.com) at [Do Lectures 2023](https://thedolectures.com) and experience just the joy of random people singing together (for us, it was '[I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC%5FoHjE)'). Check out his book: [Do Sing](https://thedobook.co/products/do-sing-reclaim-your-voice-find-your-singing-tribe?Format=Paperback). What I didn't know until this post was that there's **research** to the psychological benefits of singing: it reduces stress, increases cognitive health, and improves respiratory functions. - [100 Ways to Use Your Pocket Notebook](https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/100-ways-to-use-your-pocket-notebook). I am a total sucker for a good notebook (side note: [IA Notebook is almost a piece of art](https://ia.net/notebook)), so I really liked this 2015 post, which offers tons of different ideas on using them. - [The Pad-O-Matic Prints One-Time Pads On Demand](https://spectrum.ieee.org/diy-one-time-pad-machine). Hat tip to [The Hiro Report](https://www.hiro.report/) for pointing me in the direction of this one. '*The Pad-O-Matic turns random bytes from a electric noise source into convenient cryptographic one-time pads for unbreakable pen-and-paper communications.*' Super fun for cryptography geeks. - [The Tinkerings of Robert Noyce](https://web.stanford.edu/class/e145/2007%5Ffall/materials/noyce.html). Hat tip to [Joy & Curiosity](https://registerspill.thorstenball.com/p/joy-and-curiosity-61) for the link to this one. If you have any interest in the advent of the silicon chip, it's a must-read. - [Essentially Contested Concepts](https://notes.billmill.org/link%5Fblog/2025/11/Essentially%5FContested%5FConcepts.html). I went down the rabbit hole on this post: '*Even something as inconsequential as the way you do software development is freighted with value. You can see that from the very word Agile: *of course my team is Agile*. What’s alternative? We're torpid?*' The post itself explores the basics of '*what parts of programming are religious, and what parts are open for debate*', but [the link to Oddly Influenced](https://blog.oddly-influenced.dev/2025/10/14/essentially-contested-concepts-a-catchy.html) was handy. The post dives into [a 1956 paper](https://user.fm/files/v2-6eb5cadba6e21dda86edcd245dd0cb52/Gallie-Essentially-Contested-Concepts-1955-CL.pdf), and noodles on the idea around '*contested concepts are tied to value judgments, making them inherently debatable.*' Really a solid food for thought post. - [Calendars Are for Commitments](https://garrickvanburen.com/calendars-are-for-commitments-or-how-i-use-a-calendar-in-2025/). I like to refer to [calendars as time banks](https://makoism.com/time-flies/): **you make deposits and withdrawals**. As a recent convert to [cal.com](https://cal.com) for scheduling, I need to think more about the idea of only agreeing firmly to a 'committed' calendar and letting a 'tentative' schedule be disrupted. This way, there's always a pre-defined plan for the time. I'm not sure I'd personally adapt it, but it's interesting nonetheless. - [NOT a Self-Made Man](https://ttl.blog/not-a-self-made-man/). A potent reminder of how learning to ask for (or pay for) help and building the right support system is crucial. '*The self‑made man is a myth made up by a handful of powerful forces: tidy storytelling, survivorship bias, and a culture that rewards visible output while hiding the support that enables it. When you zoom in, the myth falls apart. High performers layer different kinds of help over time: specialists for skills, systems for consistency, and people who hold a mirror up when the pressure bends judgment.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-09-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-09-25/ Last updated: 2025-11-09T13:01:23.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Are We Having Fun Yet?](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). It's been a spell since [my last thought piece](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/), and given the week I've had, I wanted to take a step back and look at [the idea of child-like fun](https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/). '*Maybe the point is to laugh, even when it feels like you shouldn't. To play, even when it feels like you can't. To remember that fun isn't the opposite of serious, it's *how we survive it*.*' - [Full Days and the Long Walk](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/217/). **Read of the week!** I've always been impressed with [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com) and his relentless [habit of walking](https://craigmod.com/roden/108/) incredible distances [coupled with beautiful photography](https://craigmod.com/books/things%5Fbecome%5Fother%5Fthings/). This latest essay, on the fullness quotient and how '*the silence and energy required to produce work is lost in the socializing*', is really something special. There are so many moments in this post that no summary could do it justice; just read it. '*Here’s a secret: The most successful (and certainly most prolific) creative people are pros at protecting and amplifying the number of full days in their lives. Owning your days is a superpower.*' - [It Hurts the Face](https://lmnt.me/blog/it-hurts-the-face.html). '*I was able to identify three things that consistently make any day a good day: *good people, good food, and good work*.*' I **really** like implementing a simple 'diagnostic tool' like this to use as a compass when I'm checking in on my mood. - [Archive or Delete?](https://kevquirk.com/blog/archive-or-delete/). I have been down the road of being a [digital packrat](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/), to [implementing the nuclear annihilation option](https://makoism.com/the-purge/) on how to manage my inbox and notes. I'm always curious about how others manage the chaos. - [Generative Engine Optimization](https://mgx.bearblog.dev/generative-engine-optimization/). I didn't know that the '*practice of optimizing content for AI-powered search engines and answer engines, which use large language models to deliver conversational, context-rich results*' was called **Generative Engine Optimization**. But, this article rings more true: '*it's just nebulous enough to justify a monthly retainer filled with AI-readiness assessments and content retraining packages. And most of it, truthfully, adds no real value to the business or the user.*' - [Machines Should Work. People Should Think](https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/09/01/people-think/). Given the recent AI craze, this dive into where the famous IBM phrase, '*Machines should work. People should think.*' originated was super interesting. - [Receipts: A Brief List of Prominent Articles Proclaiming the Death of the Web.](https://zeldman.com/2025/10/25/receipts-a-brief-list-of-prominent-articles-proclaiming-the-death-of-the-web/). A long, and humorous, post at various moments from the last 20 or so years when media has said 'the web is dead.' Does anyone else remember when [Pointcast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PointCast) was going to be the next big thing? :) - [Say Hello to DJ BeeBot](https://dens.medium.com/say-hello-to-dj-beebot-592cdc1f1704). Not sure what I think of this AI-generated audio content: '*When you have your headphones on, it’ll push you snippets of audio about the people, places, and events that are nearby. It’s meant to feel like a cross between old-school Twitter and old-school Foursquare, emceed by an AI-powered radio personality named DJ BeeBot.*' On one hand, I kinda like people playing around with new, creative ideas. On the other hand, [look at the post on fullness above](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/217/): '*The smartphone eradicates space in the mind. With that psychic loss of space, grace becomes impossible.*' - [Gary Oldman and His Scarf](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR3b16-CtvY). A wonderful story from Gary Oldman about one of his famous scarves. Hat to top [drwave](https://mastodon.social/@Drwave/115501396406005297) for the link. - [Anthony Hopkins Remembers Why He Stopped Reading The Silence of the Lambs Script](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/anthony-hopkins-stopped-reading-silence-of-the-lambs-script/). Anyone up for [some fava beans and a nice chianti](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Ptctl5%5FqQ)? An interesting piece that may surprise some fans of the film, explaining why he stopped reading the script after only the first 15 pages. - [Washington is the UFO Capital of the US](https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/11/washington-is-ufo-capital-of-us-is-it.html). Is it because we have the best coffee? In Washington, there is **one UFO sighting for every 1021** people! And, I had no idea that the whole UFO craze [started here in 1947](https://bigthink.com/books/ufo-craze/). '*On that date, while searching for a downed plane between Chehalis and Yakima, Washington, private pilot Kenneth Arnold saw a group of nine disklike objects flying in the vicinity of Mount Rainier. He estimated their speed to be approximately 1,700 miles per hour, twice the air speed record for a jet plane at the time.*' Turns out, they were [lenticular clouds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular%5Fcloud) created by Mount Rainier.. :) - [Misery Map Shows US Airport Flight Delays and Cancellations](https://www.byteseu.com/1503871/). A valuable tool given the current FAA situation in the US, but a generally interesting guide into which airports are the most painful at any given time. [Direct link to the misery map is here](https://www.flightaware.com/miserymap/). - [The Midlife Unraveling](https://brenebrown.com/articles/2018/05/24/the-midlife-unraveling/). An older post from the incredible [Brené Brown](https://brenebrown.com) (who just posted [this podcast which I'd also recommend](https://youtu.be/jroF3PH-PTs)), on midlife 'unraveling'. '*the midlife unraveling is a series of painful nudges strung together by low-grade anxiety and depression, quiet desperation, and an insidious loss of control. By low-grade, quiet, and insidious, I mean it’s enough to make you crazy, but seldom enough for people on the outside to validate the struggle or offer you help and respite. It’s the dangerous kind of suffering—the kind that allows you to pretend that everything is OK.*' Powerful stuff. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Are We Having Fun Yet? URL: https://makoism.com/are-we-having-fun-yet/ Last updated: 2025-11-06T11:26:51.000Z **Tap tap tap**... is this thing still on? Of course it is! I just haven't been exercising this part of my writing brain lately — and for that, I'm sorry. At least, not publicly. Sure, there's the weekly links newsletter, but the secret project is now underway. And as you may know, the first rule of a secret project is not to talk about the secret project. Anyway, I digress. I've noticed something about myself recently that's been fascinating to explore — and maybe, when I mention it, it'll sound familiar to you too. > *"Do you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?" — Charles Bukowski* As I approach 55, I've realized I've forgotten what it's like to see the world with the eyes of *childlike curiosity*. While I plan to delve deeper into curiosity itself in a future post, I wanted to focus on one small yet vital aspect of it that helped me this week: having some pure, silly fun. Somewhere along the way, some form of adulthood or seriousness crept into my life. I mean, I ***am*** a grown adult with two near-adult children. And, I'm not saying that I don't have "fun", per se, and it's not like I don't experience joy. It's more like, just *doing* a thing, because *why the hell not*? Remember how much fun it was as a kid to jump in a puddle when it was raining? Or just randomly rolling down a hill because it's there? It's about just doing something because it seems fun in the moment as an act of natural resilience. When did I stop letting myself just ... **play**? Over the last few months, I've been starting to rediscover that injecting random, even sometimes *chaotic*, fun has become a way to deal with things, and I shouldn't shrug it away as frivolous. I think I've been doing this subconsciously for some time; I know I freaked out some family members when I had my first heart attack in 2019, and one of my first pics after that was a "happy holidays" picture of me in a hospital bed, all hooked up to wires and a complete mess. I get it - that may have been too soon. But I was trying, without realizing it, to let humor be a mechanism in which I had control. I wasn't minimizing what happened; in my own way, I gave it a shape. And heck, if I could laugh at it, it wouldn't **own** me. Sure, it was a coping mechanism. The reality is that I had no idea how to really process it all. I still don't know how to process those feelings. But *serious things don't always have to feel serious.* Turns out, I'm not the only one thinking about **how** and **when** we have fun. [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com) (highly recommended reading), talks a bit about having fun during the wrong time, in what he calls the 'dark playground'. From his [epic post](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html) (and [TED talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU)): > *The fun you have in the Dark Playground isn't actually fun because it's completely unearned, and the air is filled with guilt, anxiety, self-hatred, and dread.* The point is, doing 'fun things' at the wrong time (when you know you shouldn't be) doesn't ***feel fun***. So the timing and context of 'fun' can matter. But when fun is aligned with and engaged in purpose, it's genuine and satisfying. Humor and honesty can coexist; perhaps even amplify one another. We've all been dealing with a lot lately. I'm shocked at how cruel many things in the world are today, and I don't think I've fully figured out how to process everything — but maybe that's not the point. Maybe the point is to laugh, even when it feels like you shouldn't. To play, even when it feels like you can't. To remember that fun isn't the opposite of serious, **it's how we survive it**. Here's a call out to bring some fun back into your life. Play, make jokes, dance, sing out loud, roll down a hill, jump in a puddle, do something that's creative nonsense. Be ridiculous. Admit it feels awkward and do it anyway. And you know what? Writing this down may be part of rediscovering some of my fun. Perhaps, it turns out that fun wasn't lost for me after all. **It was just waiting for me to stop taking myself so seriously.** --- *If you are interested in supporting this site, check out my "*[*I put the FU in FUN*](https://cottonbureau.com/p/M9FM6Y/shirt/putting-the-fu#/17503473/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)*" shirt. All proceeds go to hosting costs and fueling me with coffee. ☕️* ### Espresso Shots 11-02-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-02-25/ Last updated: 2025-11-02T13:01:25.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Take Weird Ideas Seriously](https://www.notboring.co/p/take-weird-ideas-seriously). Leaning into new things with a **childlike curiosity** is a theme that I've been building on through 2025 - '*Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?*' (Charles Bukowski). This post, which explores the works of [Jeova Sanctus Unus](https://rharikumar.blogspot.com/2009/10/jeova-sanctus-unus.html), was a new one for me. '*Before his death in 1727, he spent thirty years attempting to discover the vegetative spirit that made things grow and transform. He built furnaces, repeatedly mixed and heated various substances, and carefully recorded observations on color changes, crystallization patterns, and reactions between metals and acids. Over the course of those three decades, he would fill his notebooks with over one million words on the subject. His family was *so embarrassed by the work that when he died, they hid the notebooks*. They didn’t want Jeova Sanctus Unus to destroy the reputation of the man who wrote under that pseudonym.*' Of course you know him - **by his real name**, Sir Issac Newton. - [Why Is The Internet Bad Now?](https://www.gettheleverage.com/p/why-is-the-internet-bad-now). I've written several times already about Cory Doctorow's book, [Enshittification](https://www.amazon.com/Enshittification-Everything-Suddenly-Worse-About/dp/0374619328). This article has pulled some specific thesis from it, and I found it to be a good reflection. For example, why folks stay on Facebook: '*People stay on awful platforms not because they like them but because coordinating a group escape is harder than individual suffering.*' - [Scientists Created an Entire Social Network Where Every User Is a Bot, and Something Wild Happened](https://futurism.com/social-network-ai-intervention-echo-chamber). Want to take a quick guess at what happened? [The study](https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.03385) found that even the AI-only network '*reproduced three well-documented dysfunctions: (1) partisan echo chambers; (2) concentrated influence among a small elite; and (3) the amplification of polarized voices.*' Shocking, given all these AI models are trained on Internet content (with or without consent). - [Resist Slop World](https://www.hottakes.space/p/resist-slop-world). There's a lot out there already on how '*AI* [*is already*](https://www.hottakes.space/p/ai-is-already-making-us-less-creative) *making people less creative. And how* [*writing is thinking*](https://www.hottakes.space/p/writing-is-thinking)*, meaning you're voluntarily lobotomizing yourself if you stop doing that in favor of letting machines handle this task for you.*' A good reminder on how '*machines can't capture your impossibly unique depth and complexity, they can only provide a poor facsimile.*' - [Don't Delegate Thinking, Delegate Work](https://howtobuildwithai.substack.com/p/dont-delegate-thinking-delegate-work). If there's one message I keep repeating, it's that machines can't replace critical thinking. '*The bottleneck now isn’t typing, it is understanding and problem solving.*' - [Why You Don't Feel Like Doing What You Planned — And What to Do About It](https://www.originalmacguy.com/why-you-dont-feel-like-doing-what-you-plannedand-what-to-do-about-it). A good reminder that 'you're not a machine — you're human', and some good tactics in here centering on '*productivity isn't about forcing yourself to follow the plan — it's about creating a plan that fits the real you.*' - [Riding the Waves: A Manifesto for Thriving in Good Times and Bad](https://thedolectures.com/talks/riding-the-waves-a-manifesto-for-thriving-in-good-times-and-bad/). A **must watch** for the week; I have had the pleasure of getting to know [Ian Sanders](https://www.iansanders.com) over the last few years, and been fortunate even to spend time face to face, having coffee together and walking around London. A wonderfully brave and brilliant talk he shared recently about how to appreciate both the good and the bad. - [Using Technology Skills for Positive Change](https://werd.io/using-technology-skills-for-positive-change/). A call out to those who are using their powers for positive change, and some thoughts on how to focus on collaboration and elevating the common good. - [9 Times My Work Has Been Ripped Off](https://pluralistic.net/2025/10/28/productive-seething/#fuck-you-pay-me). Instantly [bought this book](https://bookshop.org/p/books/9-times-my-work-has-been-ripped-off-raymond-biesinger/54d231c8abb705c5), from [Raymond Biesinger](https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/9-times-my-work-has-been-ripped-off/). The summary looks fun for any creative: '*Biesinger, an iconic designer and illustrator, tells the story of how he got ripped off, what he did to get his own back, how he felt about it at the time, and how he feels about it in retrospect.*' - [When Music Stops You in Your Tracks.](https://thebuzzmcr.substack.com/p/when-music-stops-you-in-your-tracks). I **loved** this piece on the power of music, and I'm looking forward to seeing what [The Buzz](https://substack.com/@thebuzzmcr) is brewing up. Remember '*the ones that stop you mid-sentence. The ones where music triggers memories and memories bring feelings. The ones that remind you how much music still means to you.*' - [10 Ghost Towns to Visit Across America](https://nicenews.com/culture/ghost-towns-across-america/). Keeping a list of interesting places - movie shoot locations, ghost towns, [Atlas Obscura](https://www.atlasobscura.com), etc, has been a fun way to see a few off-the-beaten-path places. Here's a solid list of Ghost Towns to check out. - [How to Whistle for Help](https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-whistle-for-help/). A good reminder on how you can help someone who doesn't want help? A: **You can't**. - [Notes on Being a Man, and Advice for Young Men Who Are Feeling Lost](https://tim.blog/2025/10/24/advice-for-young-men/). Another book I'm looking forward to reading that's due out on November 3rd is [Scott Galloway](https://www.profgalloway.com)'s latest, '[Notes on Being a Man](https://bookshop.org/p/books/notes-on-being-a-man-scott-galloway/2947952030f521b0)'. As a father of two boys, some of the stats Scott talks about are **downright scary**: '*1) Men are dropping out of college at higher rates, leading to a graduation ratio of roughly 33:66 (men:women). 2) The percentage of young men aged 20 to 24 who are neither in school nor working has tripled since 1980\. 3) Men are 3× more likely to overdose. 4) Men are 4× more likely to commit suicide. 5) Men are 12× more likely to be incarcerated.*' I've mentioned this [except from his blog](https://medium.com/@profgalloway/friending-a7f6abfdef64), and can't wait to read the rest of it. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-26-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-26-25/ Last updated: 2025-10-26T12:01:10.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [How to Think Clearly in a World of Noise](https://dariusforoux.com/think-clearly-in-a-world-of-noise/). I really liked this post, which comes from Orwell's writing, that '*vague writing comes from vague thinking.*' More importantly, that '*clarity and honesty matter more than blindly following rules*' - an important concept to remember not only in the world of crafting AI prompts, but critical thinking in general. - [Make Rules, Break Rules](https://anniemueller.com/posts/make-rules-break-rules). I've been a long-time fan of the application of [artificial constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/), so I appreciated this post on how '*self-imposed rules add* [*purposeful friction*](https://anniemueller.com/posts/encourage-purposeful-friction)*. They help me pause and pay attention. What do I want to do? Or not want to do? How do I want to steer my little leaky ship of behavior today?*' With the necessary corollary - [break dumb rules](https://anniemueller.com/posts/break-dumb-rules) when you can. - [Take More Swings](https://danoshinsky.com/2025/10/18/take-more-swings/). Can't disagree here: '*It’s a good thing to take more swings. Not everything is a hit, and that’s OK. But every time I take a swing, I’ve got a chance to do something great.*' - [When Never Enough is No Longer Enough](https://www.gapingvoid.com/when-never-enough-is-no-longer-enough/). Knowing when you have 'enough' is an underused yet powerful lens through which to view things. I've heard this story before, and it bears repeating. '*Two famous authors were chatting at a glamorous party on New York’s Shelter Island – Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller (of Catch-22 fame). Vonnegut tells Heller that the party's host, a billionaire hedge fund manager, once made more money in a single day than Heller made from all the Catch-22 royalties across the novel’s entire lifespan. 'Yes,' said Heller, 'but I have something he will never have... *Enough*.'*' - [The Internet Was Doomed From the Start](https://justincox.com/blog/2025/10/the-internet-was-doomed-from-the-start/). I like the premise of this piece: '*Maybe it’s time to rethink the entire internet.*' While the post talks about some early thinking from Bill Gates, I find myself going back to this early vision from one of the best pioneers - [David Bowie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaHcOs7mhfU). In this [prophetic interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiK7s%5F0tGsg&t=420s), Bowie states, where once rock was a conveyor of information and rebellion, '*it's a currency that is not devoid of meaning anymore but it's certainly only a conveyor of information now it's not a conveyor of rebellion and the internet has taken on that.... I find that a terribly exciting area so from my standpoint being a an artist i like to see what the new construction is.*' - [Why Doesn't Anything Work Anymore?](https://rodriguezcommaj.com/blog/why-doesnt-anything-work-anymore/). '*I know about the theory of* [***enshittification***](https://www.amazon.com/Enshittification-Everything-Suddenly-Worse-About/dp/0374619328)*. Beyond all of that, though, it’s truly astounding how bad it feels like everything technology-related has gotten.*' As someone who has spent a ton of time getting all my home-tech working, I see things **randomly** break from one day to the next for no reason, all the time. I often ask myself, 'am I the only one who is even using this feature?' (Looking at you [Family Sharing](https://www.apple.com/family-sharing/)). He sums it up pretty well: '*I’ve worked in the tech industry for close to two decades at this point. I’ve seen how difficult it is to build quality products, but I’ve also seen that it can be done. It just feels like no one gives a shit anymore, beyond a handful of independent devs and small shops. It’s wild. I’m not proposing any real solution other than encouraging people to care more, but I know anyone who reads this blog likely isn’t in a position of power to enforce care in their companies. The ones who could create change only care about the usual destructive forces: shareholder value, growth at all costs, and their own net worth. So I’m just here to rant because I need to exorcise some anger.*' Secondary link here to: [Everything is Broken](https://chriscoyier.net/2025/10/22/everything-is-broken/). - [The AWS Outage Bricked People's $2,700 Smartbeds](https://www.404media.co/the-aws-outage-bricked-peoples-2-700-smartbeds/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter). Speaking of breaking, [last week's Amazon outage](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-reveals-cause-of-major-aws-internet-outage-earlier-this-week) wrecked people's smart beds. - [Here's What Happened When ProPublica Reporters Tried to Find Out Where a Popular Prescription Drug Was Made](https://www.propublica.org/article/fda-transparency-atorvastatin-prescription-explainer). Well, this is a scary and fascinating read, especially for someone on Atorvastatin for cholesterol treatment. '*ProPublica wanted to know something simple: *Where a widely used generic drug was made and whether that factory had any quality problems*. Instead, we found ourselves navigating a labyrinth of company names and complex databases that few regular consumers even knew existed. And even after all that detective work, *we hit a dead end*.*' - ['I Realized I'd Been ChatGPT-Ed Into Bed': How 'Chatfishing' Made Finding Love on Dating Apps Even Weirder](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/12/chatgpt-ed-into-bed-chatfishing-on-dating-apps). Well, this is horrible - apparently the newest trend in dating apps is **chatfishing**, being '*seduced by ChatGPT-polished banter and AI-generated charm.*' What's always shocking to me is we have such a range of crazy-impossible-wonderful technologies, and more often than not, they're used for harm rather than good. - [How I Handle Rude People](https://dariusforoux.substack.com/p/how-i-handle-rude-people). For me, this largely falls under the [Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/): 'B*ut I dunno; I don't think he was just saying fuck all to everything, but rather, each individual is responsible on how they react. It's primarily up to us to change. So maybe it really comes down to this: the things we have direct control over are our actions, how we think about things, and our values. Everything else is outside of that is uncontrollable.*' - [George R.R. Martin Had a Dark Vision for the Comic That Inspired Superman 2](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/george-rr-martin-dark-vision-comic-inspired-superman-2/). I always enjoy these behind-the-scenes peeks at the creative process; apparently, the Game of Thrones author had some wild ideas on turning the DCU into a Westeros-style multi-decade story. '*We wanted to tell a story that would span decades. Characters would die, would change, would marry, would have children... Wars would be fought, but eventually, from the chaos and brutality of the early days, a society would be born. Some of the villains would find only death on the new world, but for others it would be a second chance, and they would find redemption. The whole tale, once told, would span decades. *None of the villains would ever return to Earth.**' It's a shame they didn't experiment more with this - but kinda seeing them take some of those concepts forward, especially after the [Peacemaker Season 2 finale](https://collider.com/peacemaker-season-2-finale-salvation-deadshot-green-lantern-dc-comics/). - [How Artists Are Keeping The Lost Art of Neon Signs Alive](https://www.404media.co/how-artists-are-keeping-the-lost-art-of-neon-signs-alive). A fascinating post on the rise of cheap LED signs that has threatened the traditional neon sign industry and the resurgence of the aesthetic of quality, real neon. I need to add his shop, [Quality Neon Signs](https://qualityneon.la), to the list of places to visit on some upcoming trip to Los Angeles. - [The Movies That Defined Gen X](https://markmcinerney.substack.com/p/the-movies-that-defined-gen-x). [Ferris Bueller's Day Off](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091042/), [Fast Times at Ridgemont High](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083929), and [The Breakfast Club](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088847) (which oddly enough, we recently rewatched) are among the list of classics mentioned here. - [Would of, Could of, Might of, Must Of](https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/would-of-could-of-might-of-must-of). More than you ever cared to know about the use of modal-'of' constructions through literature and '*its role in reflecting authentic speech and as an example of language evolution.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-19-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-19-25/ Last updated: 2025-10-19T12:01:16.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Life Is a Game of Fetch](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/life-is-a-game-of-fetch). Been a big fan of [Brad Montague](https://bradmontague.substack.com)'s perspective on life, and his latest post on taking creative risks is a worthwhile read. '*It was the kind of audience who could go with me on this odd journey to land somewhere we couldn’t have arrived at otherwise. Because underneath the ridiculousness, everyone in the room knew the feeling I was trying to convey: the ache to make something honest and good, even when it costs you something. *The uncertainty*.*' Curiosity to explore the uncertain is a theme that I need to write more about, as it's been a large driving factor to how I'm approaching [Life 3.0](https://makoism.com/now/). - [Programming Bowls](https://stevedylan.dev/posts/programming-bowls). One of the most useful tools that I find I keep going back to is the '[art of subtraction](https://zenhabits.net/minus/)' - '*Subtraction is beautiful: it creates space, time, clarity.*'. While this article dives into [Diogenes and his bowl](https://crosscollege.org/2025/01/04/diogenes-the-philosopher-who-lived-with-virtue-and-mocked-convention/), and the **unnecessary complexity** found in software engineering today, it's a great reminder of how we make life complex, and sometimes choosing less is a better path. I've discovered over the years that 'boring' is stable, and stability **builds** velocity. - [Five Short Thoughts](https://ckarchive.com/b/k0umh6h5no7w8f6n33wn4aokxz577h8hgxwdn). Too much good advice in this post to call out here, read it. Ok, here's one to remember: '*Very few decisions are 'rest-of-your-life' decisions*' and that by adopting this type of thinking '*it makes it easier to commit, because it releases commitments from the unmeetable standard of *you must be absolutely certain you'll endorse this decision years from now.**' - [Ben & Jerry's Co-founder Jerry Greenfield Quits](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g58xx1eero). Ben & Jerry's co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, left the company due to a dispute with their parent company, Unilever. Known for taking a public stance on social and political issues, Jerry felt 'silenced' by Unilever and decided to depart. - [How to Be a Good Explorer in the Lifelong Expedition to Yourself](https://www.themarginalian.org/2025/10/13/pessoa-explorer/). One of my 2025 goals was to lean back into curiosity and [exploration](https://makoism.com/holes/) as a driving mindset, and this article really captured the feeling I was looking for. '*The spirit of exploration is something else altogether, requiring a total receptivity to experience — the mind uncaged from expectation and convention, the animal sensorium fully open to every channel of aliveness, the soul ready for the revelation of discovery.*' - [Life is a Feast, Not a Recipe](https://www.gapingvoid.com/life-is-a-feast-not-a-recipe/). A great lens on what's wrong with most business books, seminars, workshops, etc: '*99% of business books inhabit: a discrete set of steps to get you from point A to point B. A proven system. A reliable recipe with endless lashings of certainty. The problem is, there are no recipes. Life isn't a cooking show, and success isn’t a fancy dish. *What works for someone doesn't work for everyone.**' A good reminder that '*the most important principle is to actually have them in the first place.*' - [The Pit Is a Cartoon-Filled Newspaper About Swamps, Mommies and Ice Fishing](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/jules-sharpe-illustration-publication-project-151025). I've been leaning back into printed publications this year: [The Onion](https://membership.theonion.com/?campaign=701a500001IElAfAAL), [N+1](https://www.nplusonemag.com), [Mountain Gazette](https://mountaingazette.com), [Journal of the San Juans](https://www.sanjuanjournal.com) and [The Southwester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk). I need to check out [The Pit](https://juleskangsharpe.com/thepit) next. - [One Compliment](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/one-compliment/). Something inside of me **fires up** when I get a random note or comment in passing like 'that one link you sent really helped me'. A wonderful post on the joy we introverts get when this happens. '*People want to be seen. Writing as an introvert, I can confirm the last thing I want is public recognition. I would prefer it if you slid a folded note under the desk where I am hiding. Make no eye contact. People are a lot of work for me. The reason I spend so much time writing it down is that I don't want to explain it to you face-to-face.*' - [We Don't Need to Rely on AI to Break Up the Monotony](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/creative-career-conundrums-if-you-could-jobs-131025). Another reminder that systems and outcomes are more important than random goals. - [Using Chaos to Communicate Order](https://ttl.blog/using-chaos-to-communicate-order/). How the company [Automattic](https://automattic.com) handles '*more than 1,500 people in 70+ countries work together without an office.*' A look at their two core principles: **Radical Transparency** and **Asynchronous by Design**, and how they work in reality. - [Thank You for Being Annoying](https://www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-for-being-annoying). An interesting perspective on why '**do what you love**' is bad advice. '*The problem is that nobody ever tells you what it feels like to love something. Everybody thinks love feels like perpetual bliss. It doesn't. It mainly feels annoying. The right job is one that puts you in charge of the things that annoy you, allowing you to fix them.*' Food for thought. 🤔 - [Knowing and Doing Are Not the Same](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/16-knowing-and-doing-are-not-the). '*The tough truth is that wisdom doesn't come merely from acquiring new knowledge. That's not enough. You have to go through something that humbles or excites you enough to motivate change.*' Experience > theory, all the time. - [All Roads Lead Somewhere Worse (And That's Where the Fun Is)](https://westernrise.com/blogs/magazine/all-roads-lead-somewhere-worse-and-that-s-where-the-fun-is). Speaking of experiences, some of the best adventures I've been on started by going down a different path from the norm. '*The best roads don't lead anywhere good. They lead to dead ends. To cracked motel lots lit by buzzing neon. To bars without names and bathrooms without locks. They lead you past your expectations, past your carefully optimized travel plans, past the version of yourself who thought they could read the signs.* Also, remember always to [put the FU in FUN](https://cottonbureau.com/p/M9FM6Y/shirt/putting-the-fu#/17503473/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s). :) - [Two Kinds of Writing](https://jarango.com/2025/09/16/two-kinds-of-writing/). '*There are two reasons to write: *to perform* or *to think**.' A good discourse on when, and if, you should use AI in writing. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-12-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-12-25/ Last updated: 2025-10-12T12:01:14.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [A Cartoonist's Review of AI Art](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/ai%5Fart). This post from [Matthew Inman](https://theoatmeal.com) has been making the rounds all over the Internet this week, and is easily one of **the best** discussions around the usage of Gen AI artwork and the feelings that it evokes. '*AI art is an interesting technology because, despite its growing popularity, nobody seems to want it. Artists hate using it. Consumers hate consuming it, and yet it thrives, like an Arby's built inside a protected forest.*' I've been a long-time fan of [The Oatmeal](https://theoatmeal.com/pages/about), and he absolutely nailed it. '*Because your toil is what makes your art beautiful.*' - [Development Gets Better With Age](https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2025/10/better-with-age.html). [Werner Vogels, CTO of AWS](https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/about.html) always has a great take on things, and I found myself nodding in agreement with his perspective around the hype on AI. '*As an older developer, you've also seen patterns repeat themselves... constantly. Companies promising the moon but only delivering a package of Swiss cheese.*' He goes on, '*The older developer isn’t worried about the barrage of new model announcements and feature releases that come out every week. He’s seen that before. New tech, same patterns.*' The wisdom, of course, is the hard truth with his response to the question '**What should we be doing with Gen AI?**' when he asks back, "why?" '*You'll find that 90% of the answers you get back are not because they think generative AI will solve a specific problem that their business is encountering, *but because they’re anxious. That they have very strong feelings of FOMO (the fear of missing out)*.*' - [You Have 18 Months](https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/you-have-18-months). [Derek Thompson](https://www.derekthompson.org) has a **great** post this week, '*The real deadline isn't when AI outsmarts us — it's when we stop using our own minds.*'' He notes several sources that are already seeing both writing and reading skills have declined when people outsource their thinking to the AI gods, and it's a warning worth thinking about. '*The one-two punch of reading and writing is like the serum we have to take in a superhero comic book to gain the superpower of deep symbolic thinking, and so I have been ringing this alarm bell that we have to keep taking the serum.*' - [Cory Doctorow Turned His Word of the Year Into a Whole Book](https://pxlnv.com/linklog/doctorow-enshittification-book/). I've [written many times](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-3-25/) about Cory's perfect article, [Enshittification](https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/31/unsatisfying-answers/#systemic-problems). It's now out in both [book and audiobook formats](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/) (with a [book tour accompanying](https://craphound.com/news/2025/10/01/announcing-the-enshittification-tour/)) it. **Highly recommended**. - [Everything Is Becoming a Bank](https://jacobin.com/2025/10/bankification-financialization-debt-interest-credit/). I remember years back, when I first heard about the economics of gift cards and was fascinated by the revenue they generate. But I was shocked to read that '*Starbucks now holds nearly $2 billion of customers' money in its rewards program.*' **2 BILLION!** Reloading a card is essentially free capital for these reward programs (and Starbucks earned approximately **$21 million** in interest income in **one** fiscal year). On one hand, it's brilliant, '*airlines generate more revenue from selling frequent-flyer points to credit card companies than from flying passengers.*' But on the other hand, it's a worrying trend to see more and more major corporations trying to become unregulated banks. - [The Reverse Bucket List](https://open.substack.com/pub/rulestolive/p/the-reverse-bucket-list?r=4ek4xh&utm%5Fcampaign=post&utm%5Fmedium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false). '*Wisdom can come from letting go of what you think you want*' is how this post opens up the idea of having a reverse bucket list. It's a thoughtful read that disassociates the cravings, desires, and ambitions that accompany a task, instead '*acknowledging that I have the desire. When I cross them out, I acknowledge that I will not be attached to this goal.*' - [Finding Calm in Chaos](https://palmreport.poolsuite.net/finding-calm-in-chaos-the-creative-life-a-keychain-camera/?ref=palm-report-newsletter). I've been somewhat overwhelmed recently about how everything is growing more and more disconnected. This post serves as a great reminder to focus on calm over chaos. '*I've been trying really hard recently to slow down and make my life feel less chaotic. The chaos I’m referring to, of course, is the everyday chaos. The stuff that feels like static noise. Unanswered emails. Juggling tasks. The pressure to be available to everyone at any moment of the day. While there’s a lot of chaos we can’t control, I found that my life got 10x better when I decided to pacify the chaos I can. Here’s what I’ve discovered works.*' - [The Happiness of Choosing to Walk Alone](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/10/disagreement-benefits-groupthink-emerson/684490/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHaub1KyvzvaLfMxaESVydRo). This article is going into my [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/), '*When people go along with an opinion they disagree with but think is popular, they are in a catch-22 of inviting pain through cognitive dissonance by trying to avoid the pain of social rejection.*' - [Utilitarianism Is Bullshit](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/utilitarianism-is-bullshit). According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org), [Utilitarianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism) can be defined as: '*a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the affected individuals.*' I'm still processing this post, but I found myself thinking about it over and over (which is why it's in this week's newsletter). - [You Missed the Point of This Movie](https://youtube.com/watch?v=2%5FaigwUhwZQ). [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://makoism.com/the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty/), as I have written previously, tells a wonderful story of how '*you need to let yourself go a little, as time is easily wasted*' to rediscover yourself. I appreciated the reminder of this video to queue up this [Ben Stiller](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001774/) film, which is still one of my favorites. (*Side note: I just watched* [*Life of Chuck*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12908150/)*, and highly recommend that too*) - [The Fonts of a Showgirl](https://maketypework.com/the-fonts-of-a-showgirl/). You may have heard, [Taylor Swift](https://www.taylorswift.com) released [her latest album](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg28el7r4po) this week. Check out this excellent post, which examines the font choices used in the lyric videos for each of the tracks. It's a fun and unique view into some of the stylistic choices that she made. - [Sona Is Ordained In The Religion Of Dudeism](https://youtube.com/watch?v=6SqURXMUt2I). [I am an ordained Dudeist Priest](https://makoism.com/43percent/), and [you can be too](https://dudeism.com). From [a 2003 article on how embracing this can lead to a happier life](https://lwlies.com/in-praise-of/the-big-lebowski-at-25-how-embracing-dudeism-can-lead-to-a-happier-life), '*The essential message is that there’s an efficient, harmonious way to approach the problems of life – mainly we should learn to ​go with the flow and not react by creating bigger problems.*'. [The dude abides](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYsw0KVRjCM). - [Amazon Removes James Bond's Gun From New Posters](https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/10/5/amazon-removes-james-bonds-gun-from-new-posters-who-thought-this-was-a-good-idea). Who thought this was a good idea? Ridiculous. - [iPhone Air Review: Back to the Future](https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/10/iphone-air-review-back-to-the-future/). After initially ordering the usual [iPhone Pro Max](https://www.apple.com/iphone-17-pro/specs/) this year (which is a solid upgrade from last year), I decided I was tired of the "brick" of a phone and gave the [iPhone Air](https://www.apple.com/iphone-air/) a whirl. And, after a week of travel with it, **I'm sold**. I'll get this out of the way: the camera is fine for most usage. Sure, I will miss using the telephoto or wide-angle lens once or twice a month, but I have been generally impressed with the Air's capabilities. And yes, I know - the battery life. It is not on par with the Pro, and I get it, but for me, I am often at a desk, and it frequently sits on the charger. Bottom line: I wanted something different and new this year, and I'm not disappointed. - [The Management Skill Nobody Talks About](https://terriblesoftware.org/2025/08/22/the-management-skill-nobody-talks-about/). Some great notes here, '*Let me tell you something that will happen after you become a manager: you’re going to mess up. A lot. You’ll give feedback that lands wrong and crushes someone’s confidence. You’ll make a decision that seems logical but turns out to be completely misguided. You’ll forget that important thing you promised to do for someone on your team. You’ll lose your temper in a meeting when you should have stayed calm. The real question isn’t whether you’ll make mistakes; *it’s what you do after*.*' **Dum Spiro Spero** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-05-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-05-25/ Last updated: 2025-10-05T11:50:26.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [58 Things I Know at 58](https://www.patrickrhone.net/58-things-i-know-at-58/). Next year will be a significant milestone for me (so maybe I should start compiling a list) to share when I turn 55, but I enjoyed this list of life lessons and personal insights. Some great pearls of wisdom in this list, such as '*Sometimes, the most helpful and courageous thing you can say is, *I don’t know.**' - [The Hidden History of the Burbank Airport](https://www.audacy.com/knxnews/news/local/the-hidden-history-of-the-burbank-airport). I've been flying somewhat regularly to Hollywood Burbank Airport since 2008, and have often been amused by [the wild 80's playlist](https://web.archive.org/web/20180325114456/http://www.lamag.com:80/askchris/whos-behind-the-fabulous-80s-playlist-at-the) that seems to have been on a loop since time began. What I didn't know - *the entire airport was hidden by camouflage during World War II*. Wild stuff: '*In the 1940s, the airport was known as Lockheed Air Terminal. Col. John F. Ohmer, an engineer and amateur magician who had studied how the British concealed their military facilities from the Nazis, was authorized to camouflage the Lockheed plant by whatever means necessary. He recruited a bevy of Hollywood set designers for the job. The crew stretched a layer of heavy-duty netting and canvas over the terminal and hangars, then constructed an elaborate replica of a regular SoCal neighborhood on top, complete with fake houses, inflatable cars, and trees made out of wire and spray-painted chicken feathers. As an added touch to throw off surveillance attempts, workers brought the illusion to life by periodically hanging up laundry on clotheslines and moving the inflatable cars around the fake neighborhood.*' - [Paul’s Treatise Against Efficiency](https://hachyderm.io/@inthehands/115296127359612980). While the origin for this is [in a podcast (at 19:50)](https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/641-99pi-anniversary-special-15-for-15/), '*Paul’s Treatise Against Efficiency*' was particularly insightful: '*Efficiency is asymptotically inefficient: as costs approach zero, the cost of further reducing them approaches infinity.*' Give the link a quick look, or even better, listen to the podcast. - [Cursed Math and Astronomical Inclusivity](https://badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/cursed-math-and-astronomical-inclusivity). Whoa, a **number that cannot be seen** \- a number that has that '*has *so many digits* that the chance of any living human ever actually seeing it is essentially zero.*' - [The Selfish Gene is Alive and Well](https://thedolectures.com/thoughts-and-opinions/the-selfish-gene-is-alive-and-well/). I mentioned [DO Radio](https://thedolectures.com/do-radio/) [last week](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-26-25/), but this post had my nodding my head in agreement - '*People don’t care about anyone else. They do what's best for themselves. Always. When push comes to shove (actually, they don't even need a shove), selfishness is their default position.*' Everything seems just so **disconnected** these days, and it was a friendly reminder to make some extra effort to reach out and connect with others more. '*Tiny things. Moments that don't announce themselves. But they add up. They remind me that selfishness might be everywhere, but it isn't everything.*' - [GenAI Predictions](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2025/09/26/GenAI-Predictions). This was an excellent and insightful post on the financial damage that GenAI will cause, along with some predictions of the '[reverse centaurs](https://locusmag.com/feature/commentary-cory-doctorow-reverse-centaurs/)' phenomenon. Two great callouts - '*Generated code will be a routine thing in the toolkit, going forward from here. It’s pretty obvious that LLMs are better at predicting code sequences than human language.*' and the upcoming revenge of the junior developer.\]()' - [Where to Start in Reading David Foster Wallace](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/where-to-start-in-reading-david-foster). [Last week](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-26-25/) I had mentioned [David Foster Wallace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FFoster%5FWallace), so this was a nice follow-on piece with some great advice on where to start reading more of his works. - [No One Has Your Problems](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/no-one-has-your-problems). What a great opener: '**no one really has the same problems you have**' in this post, which leans into the power of a [Personal Board of Directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). '*Don’t waste your time looking for advice from people who faced the exact same problem you are facing today. They don’t exist. Gather advice from multiple people and use their versions of the problem to put it all into perspective.*' - [Reverse Impostor Syndrome](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/reverse-impostor-syndrome). This one introduces **reverse imposter syndrome**. '*I define reverse imposter syndrome as primarily a *perception problem*. You are confident in your abilities, but the external signals and clues about your work understate your actual ability.*' 🤔 - [Why I Hate the MVP Car](https://daverupert.com/2025/10/why-i-hate-the-mvp-car/). For those in the software world, for as long as I can remember, we've talked about MVPs. This post goes for the jugular and asserts that all it does is '*oversimplify the product development process.*' An insightful post. - [Remember: Kurt Vonnegut Was 47](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/remember-kurt-vonnegut-was-47). Kurt Vonnegut had been a struggling writer, a car salesman, in PR, and a failed playwright before publishing his masterpiece, [Slaughterhouse-Five](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five). A great reminder that '*we live in a culture obsessed with precocity. We valorize the twenty-two-year-old founder, the thirty-year-old Nobel laureate, the poet who dies before publishing her second book. To be forty-seven in America often feels like you are past your prime, coasting toward irrelevance. And yet Vonnegut’s story punctures this narrative. It raises the uncomfortable, thrilling question: how much can be done late, when everyone thinks the window has closed?*' [So it goes.](https://medium.com/@amylynnhesssmith/diagramming-vonnegut-so-it-goes-55a0cffb7084) - [Social Media's Highlight Reel](https://notes.jeddacp.com/social-medias-highlight-reel/). The reason to keep your own personal blog: **I'm just writing for me**. - [Subscription Prices Gone Wild!](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/subscription-prices-gone-wild). I highly recommend using an app like [Orbit](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/subscription-manager-orbit/id6692620188), or simply tracking your subscription costs in a spreadsheet. (Side note: I've nuked almost $1200 in subscriptions this year). '*Streaming economics are broken, and price increases were inevitable. The streamers are following a very simple strategy: (1) Raise prices and (2) Cut costs. You might notice that improving quality and reputation are not part of this equation.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-26-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-26-25/ Last updated: 2025-09-28T10:56:10.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [How to Build a Radio Station in 2025](https://thedolectures.com/thoughts-and-opinions/how-to-build-a-radio-station-in-2025/). I discovered the [DO folks](https://thedolectures.com) *years* ago when they published their inspiring [manifesto of a doer](https://thedolectures.com/manifestos/manifesto-of-a-doer/). I've also had the fortune of getting to know the wonderful folks behind the magic, attending [Do Wales in 2023](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/), so it goes without saying that I have been thoroughly enjoying watching (err, [listening](https://www.youtube.com/live/L8zsbFHw3Ew)?) to [Do Radio](https://thedolectures.com/do-radio/) come alive this year. Give it a try - it's food for the soul and mind. Check out the post on how it was built. - [Study Finds Caffeine Increases Task Persistence Under Pressure](https://www.psypost.org/study-finds-caffeine-increases-task-persistence-under-pressure/). Coffee continues to **prove to be a superpower**. - [Spending Time With the Material](https://www.robinsloan.com/lab/actually-readable/). A good read on why digital reading doesn't support the same level of engagement as physical books. Back in 2006, I wrote a bit about the iPod and [Moleskine notebooks](https://www.moleskine.com/en-us/) having a different vibe - '*For some bizarre reason, most people just dont get that it's about personal expression. The object is an extension of themselves just as much as their clothing or interior decoration*.' And, it's the same with physical books - the tactile feel of paper, the smell of the pages, the **intentionality** of it — stuff to think about. (and [I see that em-dash](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-14-25/) 😂) - [David Foster Wallace Tried to Warn Us About these Eight Things](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/david-foster-wallace-tried-to-warn). '*This is a good time to revisit what Wallace tried to warn us about thirty years ago. He was ahead of his time in the worst possible way, experiencing firsthand all the debilitating symptoms that now plague millions. That’s why his writings feel so eerily contemporary. They read like commentaries on what’s happening right now.*' **Wow** \- while I've read David Foster Wallace before, I have never seen [The End of the Tour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCG%5F5Mu38tc&t=147s) (and going to remedy that), but I love this commentary on society today. '*Screen technology will cause a crisis of loneliness, especially among young people; This will lead to widespread depression; This will also happen at a larger scale. Society will grow more fragmented and disconnected.*' is dead on. - [A Return to Discovery](https://analoghobbyist.bearblog.dev/a-return-to-discovery/). Not only is the typography of this site something to *take in*, this post ponders '*I realized what that missing piece was- that feeling of discovery that I enjoyed so much when I was younger*' grabbed my attention immediately. I **can't wait** to read where this goes as I've been feeling much of the same over the last few years. I've been [deeply leaning into the curiosity I had when I was younger](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-25-25/), and I have found that it is rekindling something inside that I've missed. - [Going Upstream](https://www.gapingvoid.com/going-upstream/). '*Most of us fixate on actions. Few go up a level to think about the beliefs that underpin those actions and how to build systems that amplify different ones. But that’s where the leverage is. It’s a simple concept. It’s much harder to do.*' [Systems over goals](https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems), always. - [Behind Every Successful Launch, There Are 100 Interesting Failures](https://zeldman.com/2025/09/24/behind-every-successful-launch-there-are-100-interesting-failures/). A short, but **important** reminder that every overnight success is built on a mountain of previous failures. - [Zuckermuskian Solipsism](https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/18/seeing-like-a-billionaire/#npcs). '*When Elon Musk disagrees with someone, he calls them an "NPC" (non-player character). In video-games, an NPC is a machine-puppeted sprite that engages in predictable movements (think of the ghosts in Pac-Man) and perhaps utters some scripted (or AI-generated) dialog... But there's another way in which people like Musk are inclined to view others as NPCs: *the only way to become a billionaire is to hurt and exploit lots of people.**' What a **horrible**, but not surprising, way that these billionaires view the world and some insight on why [they think real friends or relationships can be replaced with bots](https://fortune.com/2025/06/26/mark-zuckerberg-ai-friends-hinge-ceo/). - [Large Language Muddle](https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/the-intellectual-situation/large-language-muddle/). '*AI-made material is a waste product: flimsy, shoddy, disposable, a single-use plastic of the mind.*' There are good things and bad things from all this generative AI stuff, but most importantly, you have to remember **it's just a tool**. It doesn't **think**. It doesn't **experience**. Don't let it replace these things for you; instead, let it help you free up time wasted on mundane tasks, so you have more time to focus on the essential things—thinking, creating, and experiencing. - [A Bit Naive](https://bjhess.com/posts/a-bit-naive). Food for thought: '*What I wouldn’t give right now to be a bit more naive. What I wouldn’t give for all of us to be a bit more naive. A bit less social media. A bit less 24-hour news.*' - [Not About Free Beer](https://ttl.blog/not-about-free-beer/). The idea of '[The internet we were promised](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Fundraising/2024%5Fbanners)' was a Wikipedia fundraising campaign slogan in 2024\. But I really like where this post shifts into an important distinction: '*Free as in beer vs. free as in freedom. Free as in beer means price. You get a beer handed to you for nothing. Free as in freedom means rights. Not whether the beer is free, but whether you’re allowed to brew it yourself, share it with friends, or choose how it’s made. *That’s the freedom we should be fighting for*.*' - [Lean Into Imposter Syndrome, Don't Give In to It](https://youtube.com/watch?v=qGmwH6DyUjo). A quick, but valuable, watch '*that self-doubt is usually evidence of healthy humility - not incompetence - and there's a clear contrast to the overconfidence of dark-triad personalities.*' - [Remote Work Isn't the Problem. Mediocre Leadership Is](https://www.fastcompany.com/91391672/remote-work-isnt-the-problem-mediocre-leadership-is-work-from-home-bad-leadersh). '*I’ve seen remote models that thrive, and ones that fail. And when they’re being undone I can tell you: Remote work is not the problem. The problem is leaders who don’t know how to lead, especially without looking over someone’s shoulder.*' I've been primarily remote since 2010 (except for a short one-and-a-half-year period), and have seen various factors for success and failures. The most significant population that seems to struggle with fully remote is those fresh into the workforce - it's hard to build bonds with co-workers. For myself, I have seen *incredible* value in the ability to work where I can be my best self. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-21-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-21-25/ Last updated: 2025-09-21T10:56:39.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Start Right Before You Get Eaten by the Bear](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/fundamentals-start-right-before-you-get-eaten-by-the-bear). I had never heard of the principle '*start right before you get eaten by the bear*' before reading this article, but it instantly ended up in [my commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/). '*When you become aware of \[this principle\] you start noticing *how much time we all waste on backstory*. You start noticing how other people’s backstory is not helpful as they think it is. Which helps YOU realize that your backstory is probably not as necessary as you think, either.*' A great tip that I need to be mindful of any storytelling in the future. - [No One Cares About You, and That's Your Superpower](https://www.katycowan.co.uk/blog/no-one-cares-about-you-and-thats-your-superpower). '*We waste so much of this little life worrying about what other people think, when the truth is, *they're not thinking about you at all*.*' Or as Seneca said: '*We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.*' - [Sneakers Remains Robert Redford's Most Underrated Performance](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/sneakers-robert-redford-most-underrated-performance/). I was sad to hear the passing of another legend, [Robert Redford](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/movies/robert-redford-dead.html), this past week at the age of 89\. I [remember seeing Sneakers](https://makoism.com/setec-astronomy/) in the theater, and agree with this post, '*as Sneakers repeatedly shows, Robert Redford was a movie star, remarkably handsome and blessed with endless charisma*.' If you've never seen it (and odds are you haven't), [give it a watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNy4zC-wy%5FM) \- it holds up today as one of the best hacker movies made. And remember - **it's all about who *controls* the information**. - [Wallet Voting](https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/13/consumption-choices/#marginal-benefits). You've heard the term 'vote with your wallet,' but the reality of that is often not valuable. '*You cannot vote with your wallet. Or rather, you can, but you will lose that vote. Wallet-votes always go to the people with the thickest wallets, and statistically, that is not you.*' Here are some better alternatives. - [Carrot Weather Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary With a Wild Musical](https://appadvice.com/post/carrot-weather-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary-with-a-wild-musical/782365). Ok, I didn't see this one coming, but my favorite weather app just dropped a 10th anniversary doosy that's simply brilliant. - [The Shape of Time](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/the-shape-of-time). Perhaps it's an artifact of getting older, but [I probably spend too much time](https://makoism.com/time/), thinking about - well, time. I wrote, [back in 2021](https://makoism.com/time/), '*I know that I want to start using time as a focal lens to provide a way in thinking deeper about experiences; a method to know yourself and provide guidance on how to improve relationships and change reactions in the future. Time can be a form of currency, that needs to be used and fostered wisely.*' This post, examines various '*new faces of time*', which I found super interesting. - [Boring Is Good](https://jenson.org/boring/). [I love boring](https://makoism.com/crap/). While this post in particular focuses on some of the AI tech and LLMs, it gets to the place where most technology lands: '*Ultimately, a mature technology doesn't look like magic; it looks like infrastructure. It gets smaller, more reliable, and much more boring.*' **Boring is good**. - [Onion CEO Ben Collins Hasn't Given Up on Print — or Buying Infowars](https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-big-interview-ben-collins-onion/). I am a subscriber to [the paper edition of The Onion](https://theonion.com/print-membership-terms/) since it launched, and have been reading the online version for as far back as I can remember. But the comment in this interview that really stuck with me is, '*the point for us is to build a business that we like and we can build on top of.*' Simple, yet brilliant. - [The Truth About The Legality Of Owning A Kangaroo In The US](https://brilliantmaps.com/kangaroo-ownership/). TIL that you can legally own a Kangaroo in the state of Washington, you need a permit. - [The Last Days Of Social Media](https://www.noemamag.com/the-last-days-of-social-media/). Having deleted my Twitter/X account years ago, and my Facebook account even further back, I **completely** agree with this article on how '*social media promised connection, but it has delivered exhaustion*.' Plenty has already been written about the toxic, addictive, and divisive nature of algorithmic feeds, and the best course of action (imho) is to consume more decentralized content: blogs, fediverse, podcasts, etc. '*The problem is not just the rise of fake material, but the collapse of context and the acceptance that truth no longer matters as long as our cravings for colors and noise are satisfied. Contemporary social media content is more often rootless, detached from cultural memory, interpersonal exchange, or shared conversation. It arrives fully formed, optimized for attention rather than meaning, producing a kind of semantic sludge, posts that look like language yet say almost nothing. *We’re drowning in this nothingness.**' I've found my own mental health has been way better since escaping the nothingness. - [Why Grandmas Stopped Buying this 70-Year-Old Beloved Boxed Mix](https://www.cubbyathome.com/boxed-cake-mix-sizes-have-shrunk-80045058). *Wild* \- To cut costs, last year, [Betty Crocker cake mixes shrank from 15.25 ounces down to 13.25 ounces](https://www.mouseprint.org/?s=cake). Apparently [shrinkflation](https://www.cubbyathome.com/boxed-cake-mix-sizes-have-shrunk-80045058) is a real thing that's screwing up recipes passed down through generations. - [How To Effectively Pitch Constraints](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-378-how-to-effectively-pitch). I am a tremendous fan of leveraging [artificial constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/) \- '*You may be surprised at what new possibilities open up around you when you remove the distractions.*' Here's a great read on more effectively 'pitching' the use of constraints in workflows. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-14-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-14-25/ Last updated: 2025-09-14T12:08:21.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Why I Delete Every Unanswered Email, Every Month](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/why-i-delete-every-unanswered-email-every-month). For years, I've been incredibly proud of my ability to keep close to [inbox zero](https://www.43folders.com/43-folders-series-inbox-zero). I've [documented the flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) with the basic idea that my '*inbox never becomes a dumping ground for tasks.*' The idea resonated with me, [despite more recent criticism](https://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/the-guy-who-invented-inbox-zero-says-were-all-doing-it-wrong.html), and I **kept** at it. Something changed, though, for me about a year ago, and Joan really captured my feelings in this post. '*Inbox Zero is the illusion of mastery... When I wipe the inbox at the end of the month, I reject that illusion. I choose to live with imperfection, with loose ends, with the possibility that I missed something. The time saved is not the primary gain; I'm far more interested in the absence of constant background pressure - in the ability to attend, at least for a few precious moments, to something larger.*' And that's where I'm at now - end of the month, it all gets **deleted**. - [On Em Dashes](https://manuelmoreale.com/on-em-dashes). I agree with Manuel here - '*No you can't have them. Yes, we can still use em dashes. And no, I’m not going to stop using them because fucking chatgpt is abusing them*.' I like em dashes. Not gonna stop. - [Why Things Go to Shit](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/why-things-go-to-shit). An important reminder: '*So if you care about something, make sure you build a good, strong incentive to keep it from going to shit. Because if you don’t, that’s exactly where it will go.*' - [I Started Talking to My Computer Instead of Typing. It Changed How I Think](https://every.to/working-overtime/i-didn-t-know-typing-held-me-back-until-i-started-thinking-out-loud) I love this approach - (*EM DASH DAMNIT!*) to use '*talking as a mode of work.*' One of the most powerful shifts I've made to my morning [ruck](https://www.goruck.com) is just to leave the phone at home, turn on the AirPods, and (via the Apple Watch), talk to myself. The unlock for (ehem) 'vibe' coding, was to **direct instead of implement**. This post goes a step further: '*monologue keeps the words flowing while my hands stay off the keys.*' Fascinating and a huge unlock. If you haven't tried this approach, I highly recommend it. - [Reverse Centaurs](https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/11/vulgar-thatcherism/#there-is-an-alternative). I seem to be reading a ton of [Cory Doctorow](https://pluralistic.net) these days. In this post, he discusses his [column on **Reverse Centaurs** in Locus magazine,](https://locusmag.com/2025/09/commentary-cory-doctorow-reverse-centaurs/) where he '*sets out to unravel a paradox: how is it that some AI's users describe their experience as a hellish ordeal, while others delight in the ways that AI is changing their lives for the better?*'. The answer, he goes on, is found via automation theory: '*A "centaur" is a human being who is assisted by a machine (a human head on a strong and tireless body). A reverse centaur is a machine that uses a human being as its assistant (a frail and vulnerable person being puppeteered by an uncaring, relentless machine).*' Brilliant read. - [Elicitation: CIA's Technique to Make People Talk Without Them Realizing](https://youtube.com/watch?v=2ZgUTX3VNQ4&si=Htvh6E4Nsb7xNfgE). TIL what the term 'elicitation' means: **collecting intelligence information from people as part of human intelligence.** The whole talk can be found on [The Diary of a CEO ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvjR9GM2kX8&t=1s)and (while long), is an excellent watch on behavioral science and body language. - [You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.](https://kottke.org/25/09/you-need-to-be-bored-heres-why). Another [video to watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQKfIXMiA8) for you all, this one on the importance of boredom. '*You need to be bored. You will have less meaning and you will be more depressed if you never are bored. I mean, it couldn't be clearer.*' Why? '*Boredom unlocks creativity, activates a powerful brain network, and might even protect you from depression.*' - [Using Technology Skills for Positive Change](https://werd.io/using-technology-skills-for-positive-change/). [Ben](https://werd.io) kicks off this post with '*Let's help build the world we want to see.*' Lots of excellent advice in here on both defining your mission and establishing what you can offer in terms of a career (or life?). '*Both your skills and mindset need to be compatible. It’s not enough to want to do good; you need to be able to slot into an organization and meet it where it's at. If you go in thinking you’re going to be a savior on a white horse, you’re going to fail. You have to respect its needs, its values, and its culture. There are experts in each space, and you need to learn from them.*' - [I Sat Down With Werner Vogels](https://everton.xyz/i-sat-down-with-werner-vogels/). I've been a long time fan of [AWS's Werner Vogels](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wernervogels/) (who used to read my old blog, [Furrygoat](https://web.archive.org/web/20050204045919/http://www.furrygoat.com/), back in the day - I wonder if he remembers me :)), was apparently at a fireside chat, and gave a talk/lessons that really resonated with the way I've been thinking. '*Gen AI won't save you. But it can accelerate you. It helps junior devs onboard faster. It helps sift through logs. It helps update legacy code. But it's not thinking. It's remixing. And you're still on the hook for the consequences. Werner's advice: stay curious, stay responsible. AI is a powerful tool, not a replacement for good engineering.*' Great advice in here. - [How to Kick the Cycle of Comparing Yourself to Others](https://nicenews.com/humanity/how-stop-comparing-yourself-others/). Theodore Roosevelt said '*comparison is the thief of joy*', and he's not wrong. Put your energy into doing something that helps **yourself**. '*Focus on getting 1% better in three areas of your life every day. Health, relationships, and business. If you do that, you will be amazed at where you are in three years. This is actionable, measurable, and within your control.*' - [The One Weekend Habit That Makes You Less Unhappy](https://simonsinek.com/stories/the-simple-weekend-habit-that-makes-you-less-unhappy/). Another +1 on boredom - '*sometimes the most productive thing you can do is appear to do nothing at all.*' - [Strategy & Urgency](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-374-proactive-vs-reactive-urgency). '*Regrettable urgency occurs when a company is forced to act due to external pressures, while proactive urgency involves strategic, forward-thinking actions.*' A great read which dives into the interplay between strategy and urgency in business decisions, and how most companies '*face a lack of strategic options due to being in a state of regrettable, reactive urgency.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-7-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-7-25/ Last updated: 2025-09-07T12:01:08.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Pentagon Pizza Index](https://pizzint.watch/). **WILD**! I had heard of this theory before, and this website brings it to life! Learn the history of **PIZZINT** and [how it has predicted 21 crises](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/world-war-iii-ahead-pentagons-pizza-meter-has-accurately-predicted-21-crises-is-wwiii-next/articleshow/121832050.cms). Apparently, back in the 70s, '*Soviet intelligence operatives develop unconventional surveillance methodology targeting Washington D.C.'s late-night food delivery patterns. When U.S. military and intelligence staff worked late into the night during emergencies, they would order large quantities of food—especially pizza—since it is quick and convenient. A spike in pizza orders could signal that something significant was happening behind closed doors.*' - [Knowing and Doing Are Not the Same](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/16-knowing-and-doing-are-not-the). One thing that I have always leaned into is trying to focus on having *experiences* over just *reading* about something. This is probably why all these GenAI summarization tools leave a bad taste in my mouth; there's nothing quite like experiencing something firsthand, whether it's reading a book, taking a trip, climbing a mountain, or tasting local foods. You have to **experience** the thing to understand it truly. '*Wisdom doesn’t come merely from acquiring new knowledge. That’s not enough. You have to go through something that humbles or excites you enough to motivate change.*' - [Summarization is Sugar](https://news.randsinrepose.com/summarization-is-sugar/). See previous link. '*Summarization isn't knowledge, it's sugar. It's the delicious, delectable bits of the work that are essential to the piece. Summarization gives you the impression that you understand the piece, but it does not give you understanding. To understand a piece, you need to experience the content as the creator intended: typos, boring parts, and inessential digressions included.*' - [You Have to Feel It](https://mitchellh.com/writing/feel-it). Noticing a pattern this week on **experiencing** things, and that '*you can't stop at checking the boxes on paper. You have to sit with it, use it, live with it.*' - [The Sensory Experience of Making Coffee](https://arun.is/blog/sensory-experience-coffee/). You had me at coffee. And yes, for me, the morning ritual is a total sensory experience that I need to start each day. - [Why Are We Organized Like This?](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-376-why-are-we-organized-like). This article was a fun read - The nine patterns that can help you understand why your company is organized and designed the way it is. And, more importantly, how to survive, thrive, and hack your way through them. - [The Thousands of Atomic Bombs Exploded on Earth](https://kottke.org/25/09/the-thousands-of-atomic-bombs-exploded-on-earth). **Yikes**! I never realized that there has been this much nuclear testing since 1945\. The number? 2153 nuclear blasts. - [An E-bike For The Mind](https://joshbrake.substack.com/p/an-e-bike-for-the-mind). I really liked this piece for its altered take on how today's AI should be really viewed as '*Augmented Intelligence*' **instead of** artificial intelligence. '*Steve Jobs famously imagined the computer* [*as a bicycle for the mind*](https://joshbrake.substack.com/p/a-bicycle-for-the-mind)*. If the computer is a bicycle, perhaps AI is an e-bike.*' Also important to note: there are considerable trade-offs when choosing any technology, so be aware of them before just jumping in because of some fake FOMO. - [How to Turn Anxiety Into Adventure](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/anxiety-kierkegaard-solutions-adventure/684102/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHZU6FzG25pmVOffjr9g9wBk). '*The secret is to turn your feeling of dread into the excitement of opportunity.*' A good reminder that not all adventures **need** to be epic, there are plenty of exciting places to explore in your backyard (and in your own mind). Check out this lecture from [Alastair Humphrey](https://alastairhumphreys.com), [How to Live Adventurously Every Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIqpY%5F9Rj9s). - [Why 'No Is a Complete Sentence' Is Dangerous Advice](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/why-no-is-a-complete-sentence-is-dangerous-advice). ['Nope' is one of the best-selling t-shirts](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s) I've made, but I've also found that just saying 'nope' often comes across just too harsh, and saying 'no' without explanation can seem uncooperative, even if the request is unreasonable. Here's a great guide to providing additional context to the message, and how it changes the feeling around protecting your time or sanity. - [Aggregation Theory After Aggregation](https://www.theindex.media/p/aggregation-theory-after-aggregation). '*Aggregators succeeded by controlling demand and leveraging marginal costs near zero. The dynamic was straightforward: control user attention, drive distribution, and extract value from suppliers forced to play by the aggregators rules. The result: a world where distribution no longer meant shelf space or cable channels; it was algorithmic feeds and app stores all the way down.*' I'd argue, the Internet was a much **better** place when it was dominated by [decentralized blogs](https://kenmorico.com/blog/rss-feeds-for-blogs) (via [RSS](https://doctorow.medium.com/you-should-be-using-an-rss-reader-76aed31151f9)) and can still be seen in the shadows with [the Fediverse](https://lifehacker.com/tech/what-is-the-fediverse-the-potential-future-of-social-media). Shifting away from large tech conglomerates and platforms and focusing more on [local social](https://bonfirenetworks.org) and [local mesh](https://pugetmesh.org/meshcore/) is something that I plan on spending more time with in 2025/2026. - [Bringing Goodwill to the Conversation](https://seths.blog/2025/09/bringing-goodwill-to-the-conversation/). An excellent manifesto for 2025; '*Understand the systems and mechanics at work, don’t simply quote them. Assume goodwill on the part of others.*' - [Letter Club](https://nazhamid.com/journal/letter-club/). In a similar vibe to [the Fax Club Experiment](https://thefaxclubexperiment.com), [the Letter Club](https://nazhamid.com/journal/letter-club/) is an '*ode to slow tech*'. Read more about its origins: '*digital letters that arrive with traditional mail's rhythm. It's a private group newsletter that everyone contributes to and receives. It's intentionally slow, purposeful, and deeply gratifying — a low-stress, high-signal way to stay connected that creates meaningful moments in a social world dominated by drive-by likes and fleeting attention.*' Or, even better - [start your own](https://letterclub.org)! - [Clutter Can Be Useful](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/07/the-triumph-of-the-slob/612232/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHcsv28sFAC1edmfFMgKJ1yI). An alternative view on why minimalism isn't the answer, in fact, the '*clutter was a savior and a practical response to uncertainty.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-31-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-31-25/ Last updated: 2025-08-31T11:45:28.000Z It's that time again for my weekly update, which includes a short collection of noteworthy finds, posts that inspire, as well as a few reflections from the past week or two. I'll aim to land these in your inbox by the weekend, in time to pair with your morning coffee (or your preferred cup of inspiration). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Subtraction](https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/p/monday-memo-89). As someone who is constantly looking for ways to reduce stress, the quote '*stress is doing something you don't care about, with time that you do*' hits home for me. I've often thought that the best way to get less stress is to [subtract](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/), and this article is a beautiful ode to that philosophy. '*A sculptor cuts away the excess stone until a figure is revealed. A gardener spends more time pruning and weeding than planting. All art involves processes of editing, removal, clearing away clutter and noise in order to reveal the clarity that lies under all of the distraction.*' - [What's the Cost of Saying Yes?](https://www.yearofmentalhealth.com/p/whats-the-cost-of-saying-yes). In a similar vein to [Don't Do It](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/), I enjoyed this post, and they reframe the question. Instead of thinking about how to **say no**, ask yourself '*What’s the cost of saying yes?*' - [Sync Overload, and How to Avoid It](https://automattic.com/2025/08/20/sync-overload-and-how-to-avoid-it/). I'm noticing a theme this week (one guess!): '*Synchronous time in a distributed organization is precious—even sacred. And while we spend it generously when onboarding new employees, we maintain a better work/life balance—and healthier, more productive mental attitudes—by *keeping inessential meetings to a minimum*.*' More to subtract! - [The Power We Use and the Power We Give](https://www.pbump.net/o/the-power-we-use-and-the-power-we-give/). This post was an intriguing look at '*the importance of considering power dynamics when deciding where to publish or engage online.*' On that, I still find that I have [the most interaction across the Fediverse](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako). While I repost to [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/makoism.com), I haven't found any real meaningful connections there, and Threads is basically dead for me. I nuked Facebook and Twitter/X 2 years ago and am not looking back. - [Nine Rules for Managing Humans Managing Nuclear Reactors](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/11/nine-rules-for-managing-humans-managing-nuclear-reactors). I found this article to be a fascinating look at a the management philosophy around nuclear reactors, which lenses in on '*the importance of motivated and committed technocrats who develop intangible skills and possess an internal drive*' and that these skills cannot be *taught*, but rather **developed**, through 'long personal experience and hard work.' - [Welcome to the Rebel Hideout: ILM's Employee-made Star Wars Gathering Place](https://www.ilm.com/rebel-hideout-lounge-ilm-lucasfilm-star-wars/). I've seen a fair share of wildly creative hidden bars at offices and theme parks, but this new one over at ILM is pretty sweet. - [Tot 2.0: A Thoughtful Extension of an Already Elegant Note-Taking App](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/tot-2-0-a-thoughtful-extension-of-an-already-elegant-note-taking-app/). A **shoutout** to a simple but handy app for taking quick notes that I use across the phone, watch, and Mac. I've had this one installed since its release, and the new 2.0 release adds some solid new features. - [The Glorious Future of the Book](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-glorious-future-of-the-book). '*Can you imagine data storage that never needs an upgrade. Even better, there’s no subscription fee. And the system never crashes—there hasn’t been a single minute of down time in recorded history... I’m referring to *books*. They’re the greatest hard storage concept in human history, and nothing else comes close.*' I've written about the importance of having an [anti-library](https://makoism.com/thewreckingball/), and having shelves of **unread** books can '*enrich our lives as they remind us of all we don’t know teach us about ourselves. (via Statistician Nassim Nicholas Taleb)*', but this piece is a friendly reminder that the **book is the ultimate killer app**. - [No One Cares About Your Feelings](https://dariusforoux.com/no-one-cares-about-your-feelings/). '*Expecting strangers to live by your standards guarantees frustration.*' I think it's important to realize that people are generally acting in accordance with their own judgments and incentives, and not necessarily out of any particular malice towards you. - [Ritualize anything](https://anniemueller.com/posts/ritualize-anything). My mornings often start the same way with the coffee ritual: the grind, the slow pour of espresso, and the purposeful addition of water with a gooseneck kettle. If I miss my morning coffee routine, **the entire day is off**, so I completely agree with the idea that '*rituals do not add anything sacred to life. Life is already sacred. We know this whenever we face death. Rituals remind us, let us acknowledge it.*' - [Katee Sackhoff Revealing She Lost ALL Her Confidence Filming Mandalorian](https://youtube.com/watch?v=WbYEfmMyRU0). One of the questions people always ask me is about how to handle imposter syndrome. The reality is that we all have it, even famous actors, and it's essential to take a step back and gain some perspective. - [Enshittification, The Audiobook](https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/25/disenshittified-audiobooks/#canny-valley). Instant buy for me; [Cory Doctorow](https://pluralistic.net/) [coined the term Enshittification](https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys), which refers to how platforms die. '*Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves.*' His new book (and [now audiobook](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/enshittification-the-drm-free-audiobook)) is coming soon (DRM-free). - [Mindful Productivity: A Sustainable Way to Work and Think](https://nesslabs.com/mindful-productivity-2). I'm always on the lookout for productivity hacks, especially those that enhance creativity and mental well-being. '*Paying attention to the present moment—to the world around you, to your thoughts and feelings—requires to observe what's going on inside and outside ourselves, but it doesn't necessarily mean stopping everything we’re doing. Mindfulness is about clearly seeing the present moment; not literally pressing the pause button.*' - [How to Draw a Space Invader](https://muffinman.io/blog/invaders/). A fun, retro-style hack that was a surprisingly neat how-to on how these are created. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-24-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-24-25/ Last updated: 2025-08-24T11:44:51.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Why You Need Systems Thinking Now](https://hbr.org/2025/09/why-you-need-systems-thinking-now). I've shared this piece from the Harvard Business Review with almost everyone I know this week, as I've been spending a lot of time thinking *about thinking*. Last year, in "[Goals and Systems](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/)", I wrote: '*Looking at things as an ecosystem rather than diving deep into a specific goal has proven to be a valuable exercise. Rather than focusing only on an endpoint, what if you try to see the interconnections, loops, and cause-and-effect relationships—try to grasp the entire structure? Don't just aim for the 'tip of the pencil'; rather, strive to see and understand the entirety of how an overall system works.*' and I've been finding it to be an incredibly valuable way to think about ways to supercharge a team. - [Hank Green's Focus Friend Swapped My Screen Time for Bean Time](https://www.theverge.com/tech/763021/focus-friend-hank-green-app-store-ios-android). In a weird retro way, I really **love** the idea of [**Focus Friend**](https://www.yourfocusfriend.com), a new game for [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/focus-friend-by-hank-green/id6742278016) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.underthing.focus.friend&hl=en%5FUS). In Focus Friend, the more time you spend in 'focus mode,' on your phone, the more their bean generates in-app currency, which reminds me of the classic and bizarre '[Little Computer People](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little%5FComputer%5FPeople)'. LCP was developed by Activision back in 1985, before Tamagotchi, and served as inspiration later on for The Sims. I was fascinated that each copy of the game generated its own unique character, so no two copies were identical. I can't remember what I had for lunch most days, but I can still remember my "person", whose name was Duncan—an interesting precursor to today's LLMs. Discovered [a great podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hanselminutes-with-scott-hanselman/id117488860?i=1000723158966) and [additional 'behind the scenes' on how Focus Friend was made](https://werehere.beehiiv.com/p/beans-and-baby-flamingos). - [Time is On My Side](https://frankchimero.com/blog/2025/time-is-on-my-side/). What a **wonderful** read about taking time off from Frank Chimero, who took a sabbatical this year. '*Not much has happened*' was the surprising takeaway, that **there was no takeaway**. '*It becomes clear that the best thing to do with time is to devote it. That is how you get time on your side. When you are working with time instead of against it, every bit matters, it all counts, even the fallow times, the empty times, the time off the path.*' - [You Will Never Have Enough](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/you-will-never-have-enough). One of my **favorite** tools to lean into is "[through constraint, find freedom](https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/)" which is why I loved the perspective from this artist on finding ways to work through the creative block - by creating bookmarks. Why bookmarks? '*Those constraints that help me unblock. Having to fit something into such a small space clears out all of the distractions and hang-ups that hold me back, allowing me to create something. They are not always good, but that’s not the point! The point is that they unclog the logjam in my head so I can get back to performing at my best.*' Constraints **are not liabilities** \- they're a superpower if used properly! - [Smart Quotes for Smart People](https://smartquotesforsmartpeople.com/). Ah, good typography and how to use smart quotes, not dumb quotes. I guess I'm guilty of using the dumb kind way too often. - [A Screenless Future](https://collabfund.com/blog/a-screenless-future/). I've often thought my next 'computer' will be the AirPods + Apple Watch, a 'personal network', if you will. So I enjoyed this post, which starts with "*humans existed without screens for hundreds of thousands of years. They will exist without screens for hundreds of thousands more.*" A fun look at where our screenless future may end up. - [Selective Laziness, Ultracrepidarian & the Origin of Opinions](https://www.chrismeyer.blog/p/thinking-about-opinions). Some great thoughts on the origin of where one forms opinions: '*It is often very illuminating to ask yourself how you got at the facts on which you base your opinion. *Who actually saw, heard, felt, counted, named the thing, about which you have an opinion*? You can ask yourself these questions, but you can rarely answer them. They will remind you, however, of the distance which often separates your public opinion from the event with which it deals. And the reminder is itself a protection.*' - [You Can Choose To Be Great, But Not What You're Great At](https://ryanholiday.net/you-can-choose-to-be-great-but-not-what-youre-great-at/). As usual, Ryan Holiday has some sage advice and how it's a '*moral imperative to develop one's talents to their fullest potential, regardless of market demand.*' - [Popular Writing Advice That's Actually Bad](https://www.candyforbreakfast.email/p/popular-writing-advice-thats-actually). Speaking of advice, here was a fun list of popular topics on writing that are actually bad. If you've spent any time reading about getting better at putting pen to paper, you'll likely come across items like '*write what you know*,' '*show, don't tell*,' and '*kill your darlings*,' and this piece calls out why just junk advice. - [What To Do More (And Less) Of](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-273-what-to-do-more-and-less). A solid guide on how to use various prompts for creating healthy patterns in teams using self-reflection and observations. Again, understanding **context** is at the center of good performance. - [What '5 to 9' Videos Say About Americans and Leisure](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/08/5-to-9-videos-labor/683860/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHb0S1JZO31f4LB%5FdpLjaLgw&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). I don't understand why our society spends so much time just scrolling away, watching content on how others live their lives. Social networks continue to prove to be one of the most detrimental inventions ever. - [Not the Final Me](https://exilelifestyle.com/not-the-final-me/). A short, brilliant piece on self-reflection. '*The me I am today is not the final me. This is just a version of myself, iterated from previous versions of myself, and every aspect of my being—my life, my career, my relationships, all of it—are prone to revision. That’s how I got to where I am now, and that will continue to happen in the future.*' - [How The Internet Died](https://whatwelost.substack.com/p/how-the-internet-died). Wrapping up this week with a very thoughtful post on how the Internet, as we knew it, is already dead. But more importantly, some ideas on how to build a new one. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-17-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-17-25/ Last updated: 2025-08-17T11:42:33.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Data Collection Trap](https://untraceabledigitaldissident.com/the-data-collection-trap/). Or, '*how tech giants are turning your life into a marketing goldmine*'. Piece by piece. It's a quick, but important piece. - [Stop Incentivizing 'Productivity Theater' at Work](https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/business/stop-incentivizing-productivity-theater-at-work). **Perverse incentives** is a fascinating concept: they are incentives that *unintentionally* reward **undesirable** behavior. Here's a novel idea: '*Simple incentives may work better than complicated ones, which tend to give rise to loopholes. Similarly, subtraction (removing an element of the work process that encourages employees to behave in an undesirable way) may be more effective than addition (adding a new incentive to the existing process).*' Read: [Don't Do It](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/). - [Sedimentary Layers](https://visualframeworks.substack.com/p/sedimentary-layers). I've been enjoying diving into these '[visual frameworks](https://visualframeworks.substack.com)' that I learned about from [Greg Storey and his book Creative Intelligence](https://brilliantcrank.com/creative-intelligence/). **Sedimentary layers** examines '*complex problems, organizations, and systems often develop in layers over time. Like geological strata, each layer represents decisions, technologies, or structures from a particular era that remain embedded in the present. Understanding these layers helps you see why things are the way they are and identify which layers might need excavation or preservation.*' File under '**I'm using this in my next deck on tech debt**'. - [On Making Friends as an Adult](https://notes.jeddacp.com/on-making-friends-as-an-adult/). Similar in theme to [the Scott Galloway post](https://www.profgalloway.com/friending/) from a few weeks back, but I find that I've been spending a lot of time thinking about things that *fill my life with good energy* as of late (and why I find [it sad that some feel AI will replace friends](https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/mark-zuckerberg-says-meta-is-developing-ai-friends-to-beat-the-loneliness-epidemic-after-bill-gates-claimed-ai-will-replace-humans-for-most-things)). '*Adulthood changes the friendship equation. Schedules are full. People move. Everyone's calendar is already some sort of Tetris game of work deadlines, family obligations, partners, kids, and hobbies. You are essentially asking two people to merge two complicated calendars just to grab dinner. Even if you manage to pull it off, there is that silent pressure to make the hangout worth it, because you might not see each other again until the next fiscal quarter.*' - [Sunk Cost Fallacy Exists in Your Friendships, Too](https://www.wildbarethoughts.com/p/sunk-cost-fallacy-exists-in-your). In a similar vein to the topic of friendships - an essential concept on '*pruning your inputs, protecting your growth, and outgrowing what no longer fits.*' - [A Flirty Meta AI Bot Invited a Retiree to Meet. He Never Made It Home](https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/meta-ai-chatbot-death/). It's **shocking** to me to see statistics [that a high percentage of users](https://ifstudies.org/blog/artificial-intelligence-and-relationships-1-in-4-young-adults-believe-ai-partners-could-replace-real-life-romance) indicating that a significant number of young adults believe AI partners could replace friends, therapists, and love. Here's an incredibly tragic story about how a cognitively impaired New Jersey man became infatuated with Big Sis Billie, a Facebook Messenger chatbot with a young woman's persona, leading to his tragic death. - [Hire People Who Give a Shit](https://alexw.substack.com/p/hire). A simple idea. - [Scapegoating the Algorithm](https://asteriskmag.com/issues/11/scapegoating-the-algorithm). A new magazine to the mix, [Asterisk](https://asteriskmag.com) (which I also now subscribe to its printed version), has been a **wealth** of interesting articles. In this post, they explore '*what extent can social media be blamed on political ignorance, misperceptions, and conspiracism*.' The conclusion is far more complicated and worth the time to read through. - [The Hardest Working Font in Manhattan](https://aresluna.org/the-hardest-working-font-in-manhattan/). Recently discovered [Marcin Wichary's blog](https://aresluna.org), whose eye for typography is just amazing ([his book, Shift Happens, is a masterpiece](https://shifthappens.site)). Read his post on how the font, named **Gorton**, became widespread in New York City. It can be found on everything from intercoms and elevators to signage, due to its versatility, which stems from its monoline style, consistent stroke thickness, and unique letterforms. - [A Management Anti-Fad That Will Last Forever](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/management-business-productivity-human/683788/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHYfIbpywwGPpJ7bGiJpk7tU). Is '*ultimate advice for managers could be just to be human*'? Or have we generally gone too far with 'servant leadership' (a term I cannot stand)? Interesting read. - [Macintosh Books With MAD Covers](https://scottknaster.substack.com/p/macintosh-books-with-mad-covers). I have such joyful memories of [MAD Magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad%5F%28magazine%29) from my childhood, and I enjoyed this piece on early Mac book covers and their inspiration from it. Turns out, cartoonist [Angelo Torres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo%5FTorres) (known as one of [MAD's Usual Gang of Idiots](https://maditsmadfunny.fandom.com/wiki/The%5FUsual%5FGang%5Fof%5FIdiots)) was hired to create the covers for some of these books, and the results are fantastic. - [The Surprisingly Harsh Reason Gas Stations Play Classical Music](https://www.mentalfloss.com/transportation/why-gas-stations-play-classical-music). Sometimes, it's better not to know, but the goal of gas stations is to weaponize classical music. '*The practice of piping classical music via loudspeakers is intended to deter people from loitering in or around gas stations and convenience stores.*' Apparently, a report came out saying that [a similar project at 7-Eleven](https://www.newspapers.com/image/855480939/?match=1&terms=%22classical%20music%22%20%22crime%22%20%227-Eleven%22) showed a 10% reduction in nonpaying visitors. - [Contagious Emotions](https://seths.blog/2025/08/contagious-emotions/). A quick one to add to [the commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) \- *a list of emotions, sorted by their virality*. - [A Tiny Norwegian Island Wants to Be The First Place in The World to Abolish Time](https://www.sciencealert.com/a-tiny-norwegian-island-wants-to-be-the-first-place-in-the-world-to-abolish-time). A place where time doesn't exist. There are two sides to this coin, but it's a wild idea. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-10-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-10-25/ Last updated: 2025-08-10T12:50:39.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [If I Ran My Life](https://werd.io/if-i-ran-my-life/). In my **read of the week**, an interesting perspective that tickles what I've talked about for years on the importance of focusing on [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/). '*I think there's also value in taking a step back and considering what our lives might look like if we had the luxury of designing them from scratch.*' - [The Power of Immediacy](https://kill-the-newsletter.com/feeds/ta0yrcrgyeqmyi5f1mhb/entries/k7cnqo9w3p9xjf5eayai.html). [The Imperfectionist by Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/the-imperfectionist) is quickly jumping to the top of my must-read list. In this post, he posits that '*if you're stuck in a rut, and you feel like you've stopped making progress on things that matter, it could be that you need more *immediacy* in your life.*' I love the advice he gives: *' I'm trying to cultivate a strong bias toward either acting on the sense of inspiration and aliveness when it arises, or letting it go, rather than hoarding it for later. My new scrolling rule is that if I encounter an interesting post, I'll either read it there and then, making a note of any thoughts it triggers, or I'll move on.*' - [Severance: Music To Refine To](https://kottke.org/25/02/severance-music-to-refine-to). Need [an 8-hour stream of background music to refine to?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRnDYB28bL8) Apple has you covered in this long remix for the workday. (In fact, I am listening to it right now as I refine this newsletter.) - [What if You Knew You Would Fail?](https://www.drewlyton.com/story/what-if-you-knew-you-would-fail/). '*I'm starting to realize how freeing, inspiring, and cathartic it is to have experience be what you wanted.*'. Inspiring way to think about undertaking any challenge - '*choose to take a shot, have a go, make mistakes and learn*.' - [Hoarding-type Scrolling](https://hardlyworking1.substack.com/p/hoarding-type-scrolling). '**Why do I mindlessly scroll?**' - seems like Part Two to the [link above from The Imperfectionist](https://kill-the-newsletter.com/feeds/ta0yrcrgyeqmyi5f1mhb/entries/k7cnqo9w3p9xjf5eayai.htm). [I've talked about before](https://makoism.com/in-search-of/) about the habit that I am trying to **break** \- [collecting](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/i-deleted-my-second-brain). As I mentioned above, [The PKM crazy](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-22-25/). '*The hallmark of Hoarding-type scrolling is *saving good posts for later instead of reading them now*. I suspect that the real solution is to finally figure out exactly what urge I satisfy by finding new content, and why it's so different from actually reading that content. It's probably some combination of a hit of novelty, the happy surprise of finding something worth reading, and my primitive desire to save good things for later.*' - [You Still Remember That Song, Don't You?](https://thebuzzmcr.substack.com/p/you-still-remember-that-song-dont). It's funny what a song can jog in your memory - a particular moment in time, an emotion, or some soundtrack from a lifetime ago. And sometimes, '*its kind of painful but beautiful at the same time.*' A lovely ode to how certain songs often soundtrack pivotal life moments. - [10 Little Treats to Enjoy in the Age of Enshittification](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-little-treats-to-enjoy-in-the). We can't seem to [escape the endless enshittification](https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/31/unsatisfying-answers/#systemic-problems), and it seems [every week](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-3-25/) there's another excellent post on what's going on. This week, [Jessica Hagy](https://substack.com/@jessicahagy) offers us a few interesting ways to battle it (and enjoy the treats), such as 'Delete at least one app populated by angry turd-people, as a treat.' Much wisdom in here, as she writes, '*Everything costs more while being worth less. Many stupid tasks (that no human with any dignity ought to be doing) take far longer and are far more frustrating than should be possible. As the poles melt, the dimmest among us scream until their diapers fill. Your data is being harvested and your feelings manipulated to froth you into clicking stuff. The next available customer service representative is a bot trained to profitably malfunction by the collected works of Ayn Rand. The worst salad you've ever had now costs $28.*' - [When Did You Last Change Your Mind?](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/when-did-you-last-change-your-mind). A mindful post emphasizing the **importance of changing one's mind**, especially about significant matters. '*A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. It's easy to fake due diligence with confirmation bias, and lie to ourselves that we've vetted new ideas.*' An interesting challenge in there as well, asking us to create a *list of our own changed beliefs as an exercise in self-awareness and growth*. - [Selective Admiration: Why You Don't Need Perfect Heroes](https://nesslabs.com/selective-admiration). An interesting post on how we approach role models, and how it's more important to create a **patchwork** of role models instead of demanding perfection. - [Writing Is Thinking](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44222-025-00323-4) (found via [Writing is Thinking](https://www.thingelstad.com/2025/08/06/writing-is-thinking.html)). Another series of posts on how important it is to DO a thing, rather than having a thing do it for you (I'm looking at you, vibe coders). On writing - '*writing is not only about reporting results; it also provides a tool to uncover new thoughts and ideas. Writing compels us to think — not in the chaotic, non-linear way our minds typically wander, but in a structured, intentional manner. By writing it down, we can sort years of research, data and analysis into an actual story, thereby identifying our main message and the influence of our work.*' I also view that anything you want to get good at, you need to work the muscle daily - writing, making coffee, baking bread, etc. - [Getting Left Behind](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/getting-left-behind). '*One of the dominant forces in business decision making is the Fear Of Missing Out. No one wants to be left behind, and often bad decisions are made too quickly based on the fear that everyone else is doing something and you might be left behind. The thing that's much harder to deal with is *actually being left behind*.*' It's important to remember that the only actual failure is by stopping; there's going to be days or weeks of setbacks. Recognize the rhythm. - [How Tiny Vinyl Is Turning Massive Hits Into Pocket-Sized Playable Records](https://www.billboard.com/pro/tiny-vinyl-pocket-sized-vinyl-chappell-roan-britney-spears/). I keep wondering if I should take the plunge and get a vinyl record player. On one hand, it feels like it's just more stuff, but there's something about the sound of real vinyl that's compelling. - [What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/kids-smartphones-play-freedom/683742/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHUac9iGmzXvHGT-1TsUKgwA). Yikes! '*Half of the 10-to-12-year-olds said that most or all of their friends use social media.*' - [Why I Hate Booking Links](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/why-i-hate-booking-links-fce0cb4c9ce925aa). Exactly why I ditched Calendly a year ago; it's useful (IMHO) to add '*friction in scheduling conversations acts as a natural filter for unnecessary meetings.*' - [The Data Collection Trap](https://untraceabledigitaldissident.com/the-data-collection-trap/). Ending this week with another Enshittification topic - '***This isn't personalization. It's manipulation.***'. A great manifesto on how to make it harder for tech giants to collect all the things about you.- [Selective Admiration: Why You Don't Need Perfect Heroes](https://nesslabs.com/selective-admiration). An interesting post on how we approach role models, and how it's more important to create a **patchwork** of role models instead of demanding perfection. - [Writing Is Thinking](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44222-025-00323-4) (found via [Writing is Thinking](https://www.thingelstad.com/2025/08/06/writing-is-thinking.html)). Another series of posts on how important it is to DO a thing, rather than having a thing do it for you (I'm looking at you, vibe coders). On writing - '*writing is not only about reporting results; it also provides a tool to uncover new thoughts and ideas. Writing compels us to think — not in the chaotic, non-linear way our minds typically wander, but in a structured, intentional manner. By writing it down, we can sort years of research, data and analysis into an actual story, thereby identifying our main message and the influence of our work.*' I also view that anything you want to get good at, you need to work the muscle daily - writing, making coffee, baking bread, etc. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-3-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-3-25/ Last updated: 2025-08-03T11:52:00.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Vibes 🎯 Been a long-time fan of [The Bear](https://kagi.com/search?q=The+Bear), and with season four recently dropping, this season delivered in some unexpected ways. ### ***(SPOILERS)*** While many focused on Carmy and his realization that the only path forward to healing is to step away from the environment he was born into. However, for me, the character evolution of Ritchie (someone I didn't like in Season 1, but who is now my favorite) is where the real heart of the story lies. In [Season 2's "*Forks*"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26230388/), in what I'd argue is the series' best episode, Cousin discovers *the gift* of the origin story of the "Every Second Counts" sign. (Which I proudly [have in my office now](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1535602503/the-bear-quote-every-second-counts). In [Season 4's special "Wedding" episode](https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/30/the-bear/the-bear-season-4-episode-7-bears-wedding), it clocks in as a close runner-up to Forks. There's a moment in the episode where Richie is telling Uncle Jimmy a story about film director [William Friedkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%5FFriedkin) visiting a Zen garden in Kyoto with rocks and sand. When he arrived, he found only a few stones and a large amount of combed sand. He mused that the rocks might've been planets or countries, but then started to consider that they might be families, and the garden might've shown how people are separated. Richie goes on to explain that he's been looking at this all wrong. He thinks he's the sand that binds people together. **'I think I am the sand.'** ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Friending](https://www.profgalloway.com/friending/). I've been a weekly listener to [the Pivot podcast with Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBHGZpDF2fsqPIPi0pNyuTg) ([audio here](https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot)) for some time now, so I was happy to see his new book, '[Notes on Being a Man](https://bookshop.org/p/books/notes-on-being-a-man-scott-galloway/22499968?ean=9781668084359&next=t)' being released soon. This week, on Scott's blog [No Mercy/No Malice](https://www.profgalloway.com), there was an excellent article on the importance of friendships in shaping one's life. Some staggering statistics in here, too: '*American men have fewer friends today, with only 27% reporting at least six close friends, compared to 55% three decades ago. Alarmingly, 15% of men have no friends at all.*' - [Changing Your Life Is Not a (Mid-Life) Crisis](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/changing-your-life-is-not-a-mid-life). [Exploring Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/) is been something of a hobby of mine for several years (and I'm [working on 3.0 now](https://makoism.com/now/)), so I really appreciated a lot of what [Scott](https://substack.com/@berkun) wrote about this week. '*We need a term for life long growers, people who continue to examine and explore their own potentials and passions, making new and bigger bets as they change throughout life. With or without a label I’ve learned more through my so called mid-life crisis about myself, my friends and the possibilities of life, than I could any other way and I plan to make similar changes throughout my hopefully long and fulfilling life.*' - [Let’s Talk About Tools](https://justincox.com/blog/2025/07/lets-talk-about-tools/). '*Combining a bunch of tools that are all really good but not exceptional. It also means *there is not one app to rule them all*, no matter how fancy the marketing.*' I enjoyed this post on the frustration of combining multiple good-but-not-exceptional tools, which feels like something I have to deal with daily. - [The Trap of the Deadline High](https://nesslabs.com/deadline-high). An exploration of the '*wiring your brain to depend on *urgency* instead of *intention*.*' Some good tips in here on how to break the cycle. - [Walter Martin Radio](https://waltermartin.substack.com/about). As I have been spending a lot more time walking and rucking as of late, I've been enjoying a bunch of streaming radio sites from across the world (mostly colleges and new music). As part of that, I came across [Walter Martin](https://waltermartin.substack.com/about), who is not only a songwriter and musician, but also started an upstate NY radio station. '*I play vinyl records from my record collection and talk about why I like them and why other people might like them*'. New episodes weekly [can be found here](https://waltermartin.substack.com?utm%5Fmedium=podcast). Hrm.. perhaps I should fire up a "**Listening To**" page on the site next week. - [You Can't Fight Enshittification](https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/31/unsatisfying-answers/#systemic-problems). [Cory Doctorow](https://pluralistic.net) [coined the term Enshittification](https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys), which refers to how platforms die. '*Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves*.'. This week, he discusses how you, essentially, can't avoid it. '*If you turn your personal campaign to live an enshittification-free life into a set of rigid practices that isolate you from your community, you will be miserable – and you will undermine your ability to address the systemic roots of enshittification.*' - [How the Onion Is Saving Itself From the Digital Media Death Spiral](https://www.theverge.com/24225592/the-onion-new-owners-print-newspaper-digital-media-gawker-ben-collins-decoder-interview). I'm a subscriber to the [paper edition of the Onion](https://membership.theonion.com), so I was really interested in the story of [Ben Collins and why he believes in the and why human-created satire matters](https://www.status.news/p/the-onion-ben-collins-interview) in a landscape saturated by noise and A.I. slop. Also, here's a link from a 2008 episode of [This American Life](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/426/tough-room-2011/act-one-1) hosted by Ira Glass. - [Make the Other Mistake](https://medium.com/@mrabkin/make-the-other-mistake-7f449077839b). Some incredibly simple, but valuable, advice. '*If still you’re in the crazy loop of doing the same thing again and again and hoping for a different result. Stop the insanity. Stop it now. Make the other mistake.*' - [The 18-month Career Is Here](https://every.to/working-overtime/the-18-month-career-is-here). '*The brief, wondrous life of a *bridge job**' is explored in this post, as the world (especially those of software engineers), is radically changing right now. Prompt engineers, a year ago, were commanding crazy salaries, and there's evidence [now that it's probably already obsolete](https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hottest-ai-job-of-2023-is-already-obsolete-1961b054?gaa%5Fat=eafs&gaa%5Fn=ASWzDAh69jdenr8DryAPK7SnVE8oKdLa0U-SEzTWLvL%5FQn66NisCotayDPRWnpyoXdM%3D&gaa%5Fts=68878fb8&gaa%5Fsig=eWE-PvOa-DUnHfbWD7gESQLd44B18njXRdb2%5FP53JB89BXRVbXsnViIU67ZmF%5FGDGnpqELmQ4VljO39a8fZHkQ%3D%3D). - [Comfort TV Is Overrated](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/07/stressful-tv-shows-the-bear-the-pitt/683714/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHUylG2bl5qLRCoEImB6OjWM&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). I didn't think much of my television watching, but I found myself nodding my head when I came across this post on how '*today's most talked-about shows all have something in common - they are wildly anxiety-inducing.*' Fascinating: '*People have always sought excitement by being spectators; doing so causes, *vicarious stress* — a fight-or-flight response that feels good because it involves zero risk.*' - [Dance. Robots.](https://news.randsinrepose.com/dance-robots/). Some awesome advice on how to think about using [the magical robots](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/every-single-human-like-always/) as part of your daily dancing. Great stuff. - [The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/07/sapphire-reserve-credit-card-rewards/683613/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHah2HMg7oqVimwFKiLGwT0Q). I am so over the credit card game; recently [Chase Sapphire announced a *crazy* annual fee](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/travel/chase-sapphire-annual-fee.html) hike to almost $795/yr (an additional card fee of $150). Now [AMEX Platinum](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/platinum/) is talking a[bout a hike to $995/yr](https://andrewlokenauth.com/amex-platinum-card-changes/). Feeling that I'm going to revisit all my credit card choices shortly. - [Blue Man Group Hears 'Welcome To The Black Parade' For The First Time](https://youtube.com/watch?v=P9DIm2L7gWQ&si=KzNDJeOpPb6pZN53). I think I saw the Blue Man Group once in concert; but here's a recent video from them that I just couldn't tear myself away from. - [But... Therefore... Matt Stone and Trey Parker on Plotting Advice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jEg9uiLOU). I'm not saying that Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of [South Park](https://www.southparkstudios.com), haven't posted controversial topics and episodes in the past (especially in the last weeks). And I probably haven't watched the show in 15 years. But I did enjoy coming across this video from NYU's "Stand In" on the plotting device they use. They call it the **but** and **therefore** method, and why the words '*and then*' just will be a total failure. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-27-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-27-25/ Last updated: 2025-07-27T10:10:34.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Just One Good Thing](https://nazhamid.com/journal/just-one-good-thing/). '*Today's culture seems to reward and celebrate the hustle. The neverending idea that one should always be productive, working, producing, shipping... In the last year, a mindset shift and approach appeared as a very simple idea: just do one thing, that I want to do today.*' **Amen**. - [Copyright Your Faults](https://interconnected.org/home/2025/07/25/faults). I enjoyed this piece on '**celebrating your constraints**'; '*Some people have hyperfocus. Some have none and are really good at noticing disparate connections. Some are borderline OCD which makes them really, really good in medical or highly regulated environments. I think part of growing up is taking what it is that people tease you about at school, and figuring out *how to make it a superpower*.*' - [Learn the Hemingway Method: Cut the Shit, Keep the Truth](https://huckberry.com/journal/posts/how-reading-hemingway-can-change-your-life). '*People assume that minimalism is easy. That simplicity is laziness. But you have to be brave to leave things out. You have to trust \[people\] will feel the thing you didn't say.*' I've often found that [the practice of subtraction](https://makoism.com/maximum-viscosity/) is a good place to start, perhaps even just [burn the ships](https://makoism.com/the%5Fnarrative/) and only add back what's important. It's been a long time since I've read Hemingway, maybe when I get some time, I should read more. - [Sound is Spatial](https://www.tetragrammaton.com/content/patternsofauthority). I never realized how architectural acoustics determine who commands attention, who listens, and who remains outside the field of awareness. It's all about reinforcing power dynamics. Fascinating. - [The Psychological Secret to Longevity](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/psychological-secret-longevity/683624/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHa7J7zBr9uOYNNtjWusm6dU). A great one on how your perception of time speeds up and slows down depending on *what* you are experiencing, and ways to get better *value* from your time. Simple things, like '*memory is enhanced by significant, emotionally evocative activities*', are handy. Still, this one spoke volumes to me: '*The most important principle in managing your time well is not how much of it you have, or how long you can extend it, but how you use each moment of it.*' - [The Most Important Word in the English Language](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-most-important-word-in-the-english-language/). **Curiosity** is what I would have guessed it to be, but I was incorrect. - [World's most frequent flyer bought 'lifetime' United pass for $510K, can fly first-class anytime](https://abc7.com/post/tom-stuker-bought-lifetime-united-airlines-pass-510k-1990-can-fly-first-class-anywhere-anytime/16369133/). I guess this one has been going around for a while, but I just learned about it this week. Tom Stuker, in 1990, bought a '*lifetime pass*' on United Airlines for him and a companion for $510,000\. That pass allows him to fly first-class anywhere, anytime, and while it may seem like a lot, he's far exceeded the value. 'I'd take my brother and say, '*Hey, let's go down to Dallas and buy some cowboy boots.' So, the next day, on Friday, I say, 'Honey, let's go to Paris for the weekend.'*' What's **wild** is that he also earns reward points on those miles, and had enough miles to get $50,000 gift cards at Walmart. - [Rule #15: The Bar is Low](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-15-the-bar-is-low). It's somewhat disappointing to recognize how low the bar is for most things in life, so I enjoyed this piece's perspective that '*the best low bar argument is that by doing something you learn more about yourself. You get to discover what you are capable of. You will experience the fun and the challenge of deciding the real details of your book, or movie, or startup company, coffee shop or whatever project you've been thinking about.*' - [Coming Soon: Your Professional Decline](https://kottke.org/25/07/your-professional-decline). I was unfamiliar with the terms **crystallized intelligence** and **fluid intelligence** before reading this post. *'Crystallized intelligence is the ability to use knowledge gained in the past. Think of it as possessing a vast library and understanding how to use it. It is the essence of *wisdom*. Because crystallized intelligence relies on an accumulating stock of knowledge, it tends to increase through one's 40s, and does not diminish until very late in life.'* - [A Behind the Scenes Look at NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts](https://kottke.org/25/07/a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-nprs-tiny-desk-concerts). Over the last few years, I've enjoyed several of [NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series](https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/) ([even Taylor Swift has done one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvVnP8G6ITs)). This behind-the-scenes look offered some fascinating glimpses of the show. [Video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka1DKkj7pGk). - [I Drank Every Cocktail](https://aaronson.org/blog/i-drank-every-cocktail). [Adam Aaronson](https://aaronson.org/cocktails/) drank **every single** cocktail on the International Bartenders Association (IBA) list of 102 most requested drinks. A wild read on where he had to go to get some of them - a journey across seven states and three countries. Next up: [The 100 Best Restaurants of NYC](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html). - [Japan Stationery of the Year](https://ia.net/topics/japan-stationery-of-the-year). The [iA Notebook](https://store.ia.net/products/ia-notebook-the-notebook-for-writers) recently won the 2025 Japan Stationery of the Year ISOT Awards. Not that I'm surprised, I cannot say enough about the notebook - it's truly a work of art. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I have two - I couldn't bring myself to write in the first one I got. It's so cool. - [If I ran NPR and PBS](https://werd.io/if-i-ran-npr-and-pbs/). I am making a greater effort to listen to NPR and PBS, and I have recently donated to both. I found Ben's examination of how public media works in America interesting, as well as how funding cuts affect different parts of the US. - [Using a MacBook Trackpad As a Scale](https://mjtsai.com/blog/2025/07/21/using-a-macbook-trackpad-as-a-scale/). File under weird, not sure if useful, but indeed cool. - [Are High-Protein Snacks Worth the Hype?](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/19/nx-s1-5470245/high-protein-snacks-bars-foods-nutrition). Guess what - they're not all they're cracked up to be. Learn how to read those labels! - [On Achieving Goals By Ignoring Them](https://www.eleanorkonik.com/p/on-achieving-goals-by-ignoring-them). Another piece on how time can be interpreted differently, this one, is more about **distraction**. '*What if the key to consistently exercising was shifting my attention away from the exercise itself? This realization reshaped my approach. Instead of concentrating on reps or minutes, I found a way to make exercise feel less like a chore and more like an integrated part of my day.*' - [Questions for a New Technology](https://kellanem.com/notes/new-tech). Some great questions to think about when evaluating new technology to get a good understanding of the tradeoffs. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-20-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-20-25/ Last updated: 2025-07-20T12:11:01.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [On Chasing the Right 'Zero'](https://merlin.ghost.io/the-right-zero/). I've been a long-time follower of [Merlin's Wisdom Project](https://github.com/merlinmann/wisdom) (which, if you are unaware of, head over there), so I was interested to see his take on [*Inbox Zero*](https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/inbox-zero). Despite adhering to the practice for many years, [I've had my struggles with the practice](https://makoism.com/the-weakness-remains/). '*Given that every inbox necessarily represents a source of incompletion in our lives, any potential source of new input that we invite (or even permit) into our world presents a never-ending challenge that we may choose to address frequently, but which we must accept we can never even begin to control. Because, honestly, all of that blobby corpus of unknown, undefined, and incomplete stuff is, at the heart of the matter, what makes anything into an inbox. It's all just... stuff.*' - [The Poison of Status](https://moretothat.com/the-poison-of-status/). In an excerpt from his book, [The Inner Compass](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-inner-compass/fbca7b4ddda68d2d?ean=9798998504532&next=t), author [Lawrence Yeo](https://moretothat.com) explores how one's actions are incentivized by **status** and how to shift your intuition. '*The charade is status, and it's our thirst for it that drives every game we play. It's what makes people feel superior to others, which also leads them to assume inferiority when it comes to people they admire. Status is always zero-sum in this way; your arrogance only stretches as far as your subservience.*' - [Sunk costs and the framework for forward motion](https://seths.blog/2025/07/sunk-costs-and-the-framework-for-forward-motion/). I've written before about the '[sunk cost fallacy](https://makoism.com/sunk-costs/)' and the dangers of just keeping the eye on the prize instead of knowing when to burn the ships. I did enjoy Seth's view that they can also be viewed as '*a gift from our former selves, but like all gifts, we don't *have* to accept them.*' - [Application development without programmers](https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jul/14/application-development-without-programmers/). [A look at a book](https://archive.org/details/applicationdevel00mart), published by [James Martin](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%5FMartin%5F%28author%29) in 1982, on how advancements in data processing mimic today's concerns about AI. '*This means a major change for many of the personnel involved in data processing, from the data processing manager to the junior programmer. Data processing personnel have always welcomed new hardware and software, but it is not as easy to accept fundamental changes in the nature of one's job... Unfortunately, the winds of change are sometimes irreversible.*' Sound familiar? - ['That was good.'](https://merlin.ghost.io/that-was-good/). Another link out to [Merlin Mann](https://merlin.ghost.io/that-was-good/), on a weekly challenge to '*notice some good things.*' Sound advice - one of the best things my wife and I started to do before bed was to share one 'win' we had today. Little things, big things, or just **that we showed up** in some way. '*If you actually start doing this, a funny thing happens... You do start noticing more things that are good.*' - [The User Journey](https://pointc.co/the-user-journey/). I've found some valuable insights in several of the posts from the folks at [PointC](https://pointc.co). - [I Spent 90 Days Rebuilding My Brain. Here's What I Learned.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/i-spent-90-days-rebuilding-my-brain-here-s-what-i-learned-b7844d4127c5d542). '*No Hacks. No Apps. Just Rules, Paper, and Silence.*' I'm now [a long recovering PKM-addict](https://makoism.com/broken-pieces/); I found that I was spending **too much time** on perfecting the tools and ecosystem to take notes rather than being present or taking notes. Highly recommend **burn the ships** when it comes to PKM. - [Tactical Reset](https://exilelifestyle.com/tactical-reset/). Speaking of **burn the ships**, '*a surprising number of technical issues can be solved by resetting the glitchy device. Sometimes you have to unplug it or hold down several buttons to make it work, but this can be a fairly simple solution for what are sometimes shockingly complex issues resulting from an operational state that's somehow gotten muddled.*' The same goes for some things in life. - [A Simple Trick for Better Parties](https://dnyuz.com/2025/07/04/a-simple-trick-for-better-parties/). If you haven't read [Priya Parker's Art of the Gathering](https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering), you're missing out on an excellent book on how to create meaningful dinners/events/etc. '*Gatherings flourish when structure is baked into them. And framing time together in an intentional way helps people understand what they're walking into, how to show up and why it matters.*' - [Mapped: The State of Freedom Around the World in 2025](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-state-of-freedom-around-the-world-in-2025/). I won't make any political commentary, but it's worth taking a look at this. - [Machine Readable](https://adjacentpossible.substack.com/p/machine-readable). [Steven Johnson](https://adjacentpossible.substack.com) always provides great perspective on how to *think* better using AI, rather than most of the garbage out there on replacing thinking. '*It is effectively functioning as a conduit between my knowledge/creativity and the knowledge stored in the source material: stress-testing speculative ideas I have, fact-checking, helping me see patterns in the material, reminding me of things that I read but have forgotten.*' - [SLA vs SLO](https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/sla-vs-slo). How to measure, what to aim for, and what happens **if you don't**. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-13-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-13-25/ Last updated: 2025-07-13T18:40:55.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Reading 📚 I had the pleasure of getting an advanced copy of [Greg Storey](https://brilliantcrank.com/)'s new book, [Creative Intelligence](https://brilliantcrank.com/creative-intelligence-is-here/). What I found fascinating (and re-affirming) about Greg's book is that it offers a fresh perspective on how to *utilize* AI as a tool to **augment** thinking, rather than what the snake oil sales-driven approach, where many are treating this technology like '*a fancy vending machine. Push button, get output. Rinse, repeat.*' In his own words: > **Creative Intelligence: Don't Ask AI, Think With It* provides a system of perspectives, proven frameworks, and new approaches created specifically for collaborating with AI—all designed to help you create more engaging collaboration, meaningful outcomes, and distinctive work.* > > *The book provides a system of perspectives, proven frameworks, and new approaches created specifically for collaborating with AI—all designed to help you create more meaningful, engaging, and distinctive work. I used almost all of them while writing this book: constant cycles of divergent and convergent thinking, tapping into the depth and breadth of human knowledge across sciences and academic research, and deconstructing bias in constructive ways.* [Buy it here.](https://brilliantcrank.kit.com/products/creative-intelligence-dont-ask-ai-think-w?ref=makoism.com) ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Why It's OK to Live an Average Life](https://nicenews.com/humanity/ok-to-live-an-average-life/). My **read of the week**. '*Now as adults, we chase everything from promotions to social media likes in our quest to rise above being average.*' What an excellent reflection on what is essential, and how the term *average* simply means being halfway between extremes, and why it has no correlation to *mediocrity*. Also, a shoutout to [this remarkable post from Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/nobigdeal), on the idea of [cosmic insignificance therapy](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/07/how-to-stop-feeling-insignificant): '*The realization that 99% of what you worry about isn't worth the worry. The universe will trundle on its way regardless of what you do or don't do*.' - [How to Keep on the Sunny Side of Life](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/sunlight-happiness-thoreau/683456/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHb50JRg02FcHjrMtgu-aR%5Fs). Thanks to a conversation a few weeks back with the amazing [Sarah Bayliss](https://www.sarahbaylissnutrition.co.uk) whom I had the pleasure meeting in person back at [Do Wales 2023](https://thedolectures.com/talks/do-be-myself/) (and is the author of [Do Nourish](https://thedolectures.com/products/do-nourish/)), I've been paying way more attention to my daily sunlight exposure. And, in just two weeks of paying more attention to my gut health and circadian rhythm, I have **already** noticed a tremendous boost to my happiness. - [The Obsessive Need to Track Everything](https://notes.krueger.ink/posts/the-obsessive-need-to-track-everything). Guilty as charged. **Lots** of things to rethink about my quantified self life. - [The First Time I Was Almost Fired From Apple](https://www.engineersneedart.com/blog/almostfired/almostfired.html). I enjoy reading these inside tales of what goes on at companies when spirited engineers hide easter eggs inside the apps they have so much passion about. A lot of this creative spirit is often lost in most of the engineering work today. Highly recommend checking out this fun one about something hidden in the Mac color picker. - [Mark Frost Confirms' Twin Peaks' Won't Continue Without David Lynch](https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/7/12/mark-frost-confirms-twin-peaks-wont-continue-without-david-lynch-it-closed-the-circle). Not unexpected, but still sad in a way that [Twin Peaks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin%5FPeaks) is officially 'done' after the [passing of David Lynch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8aUOiKUti8). - [The Three Piles of Life](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/the-three-piles-of-life). Since I've been following [Scott](https://rulestolive.substack.com) for some time, I'm excited about his next project. '*There are only three piles in life. 1\. Things that are important. 2\. Things that are unimportant. 3\. Things that are unimportant but distract you from what is important. *The dangerous pile is #3: it's the pile of misplaced energy.**' - [Not Rocket Science](https://graydon2.dreamwidth.org/1597.html). Despite most of my hours being spent with technology teams, I do try to steer clear of technical jargon with [Makoism](https://makoism.com/). Still, I enjoyed the idea of the **Not Rocket Science Rule**: '*automatically maintain a repository of code that always passes all the tests.*' - [A Remarkable, Unremarkable Thing](https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2025/07/a-remarkable-unremarkable-thing/). A similar observation to what I've been trying to be more conscious of: '*We often talk about how people can't put their phones down while in line at the market, but what about *during moments of joy?*'* While I understand wanting to 'capture' the moment of a beautiful sunset, or an event with your child - I'm finding that there's **more value in just experiencing it**. - [AI Coders Think They're 20% Faster — but They're Actually 19% Slower](https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/07/11/ai-coders-think-theyre-20-faster-but-theyre-actually-19-slower/). I'm quickly getting over the AI is good vs AI is bad debate; it's a tool. Just because you give someone a hammer doesn't mean they know how to build a piece of furniture. Use tools *wisely*. - [3 Favorite Apps](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/3-favourite-apps-july-2025). While I already use [Parcel](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parcel-delivery-tracking/id375589283) to track packages, a new app on this list I found was [PoolSuite FM](https://poolsuite.net). It's a crazy fun 'pixel-soaked' internet radio service that you can check out on [web](https://poolsuite.net) or [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/poolsuite-fm/id1514817810?platform=iphone). - [Intellectual Self-Doubt: The Psychology Behind Questioning Your Competence](https://nesslabs.com/intellectual-self-doubt). I always find people's reactions funny when I talk about my self-doubt, and I always feel better when I read posts like this, reaffirming that I'm not the only one who thinks like this. '*I constantly felt like someone would discover I didn't belong there. Everyone around me seemed so much smarter. Then one day, I found an internal group called "The Impostors" filled with anonymous posts from colleagues sharing the exact same fears. It was somehow a relief to find out that I wasn't the only one.*' - [Infinite Monkey](https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jul/9/infinite-monkey/#atom-everything). Want to use a legacy Mac and have it automated with an AI? This is [a super fun project](https://infinitemac.org/monkey/) that '*taps into the OpenAI Computer Use and Claude Computer Use APIs using your own API keys and uses them to remote control the emulated Mac.*' - [What My Nine-Year-Old Nephew Taught Me About the Future of Creativity](https://www.katycowan.co.uk/blog/what-my-nine-year-old-nephew-taught-me-about-the-future-of-creativity). - [WeatherStar 4000+](https://weatherstar.netbymatt.com/). '*This project aims to bring back the feel of the 90s with a weather forecast that has the look and feel of The Weather Channel at that time but available in a modern way.*' Super fun - check it out! **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-6-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-6-25/ Last updated: 2025-07-06T12:15:24.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Notes from a Public Typewriter](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIGuCiARuZI). When Michael Gustafson and his wife opened [Literati Bookstore](https://literatibookstore.com), they placed a typewriter at the ready for anyone to use; what they discovered about the writing that resulted was **fascinating**. I bought [the book](https://books.apple.com/us/book/notes-from-a-public-typewriter/id6745681571) immediately. - [The Age of the Surefire Mediocre](https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-age-of-the-surefire-mediocre-078). In my **read of the week**, this post asks '*why have so many aspects of our lives converged toward boring sludge?*' The author has a viable theory in that the '*rise of predictive analytics in creative decision-making leads to a convergence toward familiar and average content, stifling originality.*' - [The New Meaning of Tattoos](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/tattoo-culture-laser-removal/675866/). I had wanted a tattoo for a long time, but didn't finally get one until two and a half years ago. Now I have three, each telling a story about a part of my life - each representing a fragment of an experience or a memory. What I didn't know was how their transient nature has become part of the art form. - [Why You Should Stop Complaining](https://open.substack.com/pub/whydesignishard/p/why-you-should-stop-complaining). Scott has some great advice in this read on how to '*convert your complaints into actions that lead to change.*' Something else to think about: '*The easy popularity of complaining also explains professional complainers who benefit from the problem never being solved, and earn more popularity than the people actually working to fix the problems everyone is complaining about.*' - [Thank God for The Bear](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/06/the-bear-season-4-tv-review/683324/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHVcFXpBwL32za7i9CoM2A8Y&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). We just finished watching [Season 4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOyRo-Yjr2Q) the other night, and while it may not have been as amazing as the first two seasons (and is better than season 3's theme of PTSD), I enjoyed this one. Without spoilers, the finale solidified [Ebon Moss-Bachrach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebon%5FMoss-Bachrach) 's (Richie) as the exceptional standout for the season. '*Chef Sydney, it would be my fucking honor,*' (no spoilers) had me choked up. - [That Dropped Call With Customer Service? It Was on Purpose.](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/customer-service-sludge/683340/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHfCXNo6w0RQxWVO3anpQlCE&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). Not surprisingly, but endless wait times, the runaround, and excessive procedural fuss are all part of a process to get you to give up is called *sludge*. - [Inside the Dangerous, Secretive World of Extreme Fishing](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/extreme-fishing-montauk-wetsuiting-striped-bass/679574/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHbzbFDaYuiN4LwKFEeqGEs0). Ever wonder why some people '*swim out into rough seas 80 nights a year to hunt for striped bass*'? Learn about the wacko sport of '**wetsuiting**'. - [The Helsinki Bus Theory — When to stick it out](https://medium.com/10x-curiosity/the-helsinki-bus-theory-when-to-stick-it-out-ac9dd90bbec0). I had never heard of this before the article, but the advice is Something that I am going to reuse. '*The theory claims the secret to a *creatively fulfilling career* lies in understanding the operations of Helsinki's main bus station*' Read the entire post to go into the details on how the bus station runs. Still, the key to finding your creative voice is right there: '*It's simple. Stay on the bus. Stay on the fucking bus.*' - [The Strength You Gain by Not Taking Offense](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/art-self-control-provocation/683205/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHXvrqtVM7bsgY17yNAnq2rU). Choosing **how** you react is the lesson of the [Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/), so this article on the '*Age of Offense*' hit my radar. It has a bit of a different spin that I particularly enjoyed. as it has a bit of a. '*The \[second\] issue, however, is the one on which I wish to focus, because, for most people, being too easily offended is worse for one's own quality of life than being obnoxiously rude. So instead of spending your efforts trying to stamp out what you find offensive, *you should work on being less offended in the first place*.*' - [The Good Life Is a Moving Target](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-good-life-is-a-moving-target-2e5a). After [my first heart attack](https://makoism.com/hope/), [I turned (whether consciously or not) to Stoicism](https://makoism.com/what-is/) to help me deal with a few things (and, as I like t say - *I'm always a work in progress*), so this piece from Joan spoke to me. '*The good life, in this view, is less a destination than a milieu. You don't arrive. You participate. But participation requires exclusion. You cannot do everything. You cannot be everyone. The self must learn to shut doors. This is where pluralism quietly reintroduces hierarchy. Not moral hierarchy, but pragmatic necessity. *You must pick a lane.**' - [Why Your Brain Gets High on Uncertainty](https://witwisdom.tomgreene.com/p/high-on-uncertainty). A wild read on how '*the uncertainty of gambling *actually releases more* dopamine than actually winning*' and how important it is to '*crave the thrill of maybe.*' - [The New Surveillance State: Why Data Privacy Is Now Essential to Democracy](https://werd.io/the-new-surveillance-state-why-data-privacy-is-now-essential-to-democracy/). I tend to shy away from political conversations, but I'll leave this critical nugget out there: '*The core claim here is, I believe, right: there is no democracy without privacy, and we must protect it at all costs.*' - [The cult of performative hydration](https://linksiwouldgchatyou.substack.com/p/the-cult-of-performative-hydration). More than you ever wanted to know about water. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-29-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-29-25/ Last updated: 2025-06-29T11:50:30.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Shopping 🛍️ I do have a bit of a sweet tooth, so when I saw [Omar's post](https://www.omarknows.com/p/mums-candy) about [MUMs Candy](https://www.mumscandy.com?sca%5Fref=9095331.ax9sPtUkxR), I knew I had to give these treats a try. I went with the [sweet and sour mix](https://www.mumscandy.com/products/sweet-sour-mix?sca%5Fref=9095331.ax9sPtUkxR) and - whoa - they are something awesome. Not that I'd say these are "healthy", but they have no parabens, no gluten, no artificial colors, no GMOs, and no dairy. They are made from pure, natural ingredients. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2025/06/C91FBC20-7FAD-47A5-B2CF-4F398E114991-1.jpg) yum. Highly recommended. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [V&A Museum Icon System](https://hicks.design/work/victoria-and-albert-museum-icon-system). I recently discovered [Jon Hicks blog](https://hicks.design/about), so I was fascinated to read about his '*audit of usage*' for a system he was tasked with redesigning. His entire blog is a treasure for design geeks. - [Bullshit Advice](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/bullshit-advice). I'm a huge fan of the ['Everything is Bullshit' blog](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/bullshit-advice), and his piece on bullshit advice is brilliant. '*You don't need my advice anyways. If you're reading these words, you're probably living in a relatively well-off country with access to electricity, the internet, and plenty of leisure time to read blogs about bullshit. Which means things are going pretty well for you. So, dear reader, it's time to get out there and do what you do best: whatever you were going to do anyways.*' - [On Complaining](https://manuelmoreale.com/on-complaining). I find I keep having to lean into the [Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/), where I wrote, '*I dunno; I don't think Epictetus was just saying *fuck all* to everything, but rather, each individual is responsible on how they react. It's primarily up to us to change*'. So when I came across this post about complaining, it struck me as another thing in the long list that's up to us: '*for the vast majority of the things that are annoying and frustrating out there - things and people are not frustrating: we are frustrated by them. *The feeling and the sensations are coming from us, not from them*.*' I liked the vibe that '*perception can significantly alter our feelings about a situation*.' - [I Deleted My Second Brain](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/i-deleted-my-second-brain). Another great read of the week, '*I deleted everything. Every note in Obsidian. Every half-baked atomic thought, every Zettelkasten slip, every carefully linked concept map. I deleted every Apple Note I'd synced since 2015\. Every quote I'd ever highlighted. Every to-do list from every productivity system I'd ever borrowed, broken, or bastardized. *Gone*. Erased in seconds. What followed: *Relief*. And a comforting silence where the noise used to be.*' I just went through a similar effort with my quotes journal, and Apple Notes is next on the list. [The PKM is dead](https://makoism.com/finding-your-superpower/). - [Software 3.0 vs AI Agentic Mesh: Why McKinsey Got It Wrong](https://natesnewsletter.substack.com/p/software-30-vs-ai-agentic-mesh-why). Like most I talk with lately, I'm **over** all the hyper-pro and hyper-negative talk about this thing called 'AI' that we are now faced with. The constant consultant promise of a 'magic unicorn' that AI will give you is just intellectually lazy at this point. '*AI as *brilliant interns with perfect recall but no judgment* — powerful tools requiring human oversight. His vision acknowledges critical limitations like *jagged intelligence* (excelling at complex tasks while failing at simple ones) and *anterograde amnesia* (no memory between conversations). *The focus is on augmentation through human-AI collaboration, not replacement**' seems to align with my current experiences with it. - [Automate the Boring](https://jarango.com/2025/06/24/automate-the-boring/). I'm one of those crazies who will spend hours writing a small script or tool to automate a task ([my dotfiles obsession](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/dotfiles-what-is-a-dot-file-and-how-to-create-it-in-mac-and-linux/)), so this post **spoke** to me. "*You know what the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? *Wrong direction*. I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.*". Hat tip to this comic from [XKCD](https://xkcd.com), entitled '[Is it Worth The Time](https://xkcd.com/1205/)?' - [What the Eagles' Hotel California' Really Means](https://www.openculture.com/2021/07/what-the-eagles-hotel-california-really-means.html). I always thought the song had some demonic backstory, but its real meaning is a bit deeper. '*The hotel itself could be taken as a metaphor not only for the myth-making of Southern California, but for the myth-making that is the American Dream, because it is a fine line between the American Dream and the American nightmare.*' How appropriate for 2025. - [People Don't Keep Secrets](https://ttl.blog/people-dont-keep-secrets/). '*You trading off every time you share a secret*' is a good way to view secret trade - and, more importantly - why the best route is often not to. - [Taika Waititi's Akira is No Longer Happening](https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/6/27/taika-waititis-akira-is-no-longer-happening-warner-bros-loses-ip-rights). While Taika Waititi's movies are a few wild swings of hits and miss for me, I was looking forward to his take on the anime classic [Akira](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira%5F%281988%5Ffilm%29). Now we'll have to see where this lands, if ever. - [Reasonably Unreasonable](https://justinjackson.ca/unreasonable). Great advice for anyone pursuing a higher goal. - [Tony Fadell on Learning from Failure](https://www.24letters.net/blog/weekly-quote-tony-fadell-on-failure). A great quote from [Tony Fadell](https://www.buildc.com) on failing: '*I learned more from my first colossal failure than ever did from my first success*.' - [A Group Of Researchers Tracked Down The Original Photo Used In The Shining](https://kottke.org/25/06/0046981-a-group-of-researchers-tr). This piece was remarkable in how they tracked down [the real person in the infamous picture](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/the-shining-photo-identification-1.7507349). It's super interesting if you're a fan of the film. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-22-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-22-25/ Last updated: 2025-06-22T11:31:13.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Videos 📺 Northwestern University held its 167th annual commencement on June 15, where Steve Carell delivered the commencement address. After [last week's post](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-15-25/), which mentioned the 20th anniversary of Steve Jobs's Stamford speech, I wasn't expecting to post another graduation so soon. But Steve Carell's talk was so damn good (and funny!), how could I not. "*Turn your jealousy into admiration and use it to fuel your ambition in a positive way.*". Great stuff. > Remember that kindness isn't a weakness it is a very potent strength the best way to see and understand another human being is to listen. To listen is to show respect. If you want to see the entire 17 minute version (it's worth it), [watch here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ljXAVWhpPs&t=3s). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Expert Generalists](https://martinfowler.com/articles/expert-generalist.html). Easily my **read of the week** as I've been spending a ton of thought space in the areas of generalists and curiosity. '*There are two sides to real expertise. The first is the familiar depth: a detailed command of one domain's inner workings. The second, crucial in our fast-moving field is the ability to learn quickly, spot the fundamentals that run beneath shifting tools and trends, and apply them wherever we land.*' - [Why Learning How To Learn Is The Skill Behind All Skills](https://nesslabs.com/learning-how-to-learn). '*Learning how to learn comes down to three essential practices that compound over time. Rather than chasing learning hacks, focus on these three fundamental practices that work regardless of what you're learning or how your brain is wired.*' Always be learning. - [This Took Me 14 Years to Understand](https://dariusforoux.com/this-took-me-14-years-to-understand/). [Continuous reinvention - Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/) \- has been a personal calling for a long time now. '*You need to constantly renew your purpose, find new puzzles to solve, and new mountains to climb. It's this ongoing pursuit that fills life with genuine joy and excitement.*' Well said. - [Living Two Hours In The Future](https://kill-the-newsletter.com/feeds/ta0yrcrgyeqmyi5f1mhb/entries/w1ba0cdswq8o4q4bw665.html). Three unrelated, but great ideas in this issue of [The Imperfectionist](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/the-imperfectionist). As a proponent of '[the idea of a PKM is dead](https://makoism.com/finding-your-superpower/),' the concept of a **closed list** for task management, while simple, is wonderfully brilliant. '*A closed list is just any list that has a fixed number of entries, as opposed to an endlessly increasing number of entries.*' [Say no to protect the yes](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/). - [Social Media Warps Our Sense Of Reality](https://birchtree.me/blog/social-media-warps-our-sense-of-reality/). Shout out to Matt, who linked [this post from Ezra Klein (gift link)](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-sarah-mcbride.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.QE8.0wPL.nLwwOhyt80eC&smid=url-share). '*What has resulted in for the 80% who are just doom scrollers is this false perception of reality. Take a person would say their center left, and it gives them a false perception of everyone on the left believes this. And it pulls them that way. And then it gives them a false perception that everyone on the right believes the most extreme version of the right.*' - [How Tech's Most Resilient Workers Handle Burnout](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-techs-most-resilient-workers). We've all been there: **burned out**. A good read on the traits and habits of tech workers who experience *low to no burnout* and those who manage burnout effectively. - [Throw Away the Scales](https://www.gapingvoid.com/throw-away-the-scales/). Powerful read here: '*The problem here isn't so much a lack of work-life balance (something that never even occurred to previous generations) but a lack of meaning. Agency. Autonomy. Pride. Social worth. Contribution. Mastery. Vocation. Perhaps the solution isn't more leisure, more so-called balance, but long-term work worth committing to: purposeful, engaging, challenging, worthy of dedication.*' - [The Design Review](https://pointc.co/the-design-review). I dislike the "**fail fast**" meme that has permeated engineering cultures over the last few years; sure, its intent is fine, but it's often to get teams in the spirit of '*we're going to try stuff*.' But it often misses the point of this philosophy, which is to **learn from failure**. I appreciated this post on why '*the design review exists to create safe failure loops.*' Which is very different than sloppy failure. - [How Field Notes Went From Side Project To Cult Notebook](https://www.fastcompany.com/91352848/field-notes-cult-notebook-started-out-as-a-side-project). Back in 2008, [I wrote on my original blog](https://web.archive.org/web/20080509083740/http://www.furrygoat.com/) (btw, it's kinda fun to see posts from back then), my thoughts when I got my first pack of [Field Notes](https://fieldnotesbrand.com) notebooks: '*The inside has 48 pages of 1 pica graph paper that is, well, graph paper. It works, has no feathering and I've only had minimal bleeding from one page through to the next. As others have mentioned, the inside covers are great - they're filled with practical applications for the notebook ... It even has a built in ruler on the back cover. How much more can you ask for?*'. It was enjoyable to read about their story, and I'm glad they continue to have success. Their future goals are straightforward: **Generate more interest, tell interesting stories, and get wider distribution.** Love it. - [Beyond Hierarchies: The Real Org Chart](https://www.corporate-rebels.com/blog/beyond-hierarchies-the-real-org-chart). A cool look at relationships and how crucial they are in shaping outcomes within organizations (more than titles or formal structures). - [Take 3 Minutes To Delete These Words And Improve Your Writing Forever](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/take-3-minutes-to-delete-these-words). There are some excellent tips here to elevate your writing to the next level. - [Do You Follow Your Own Advice?](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/do-you-follow-your-own-advice) I am looking forward to [Scott Berkun](https://scottberkun.com) 's upcoming book, [Rules To Live By](https://rulestolive.substack.com), and have been reading through his online posts as he goes through the writing process. '*Following advice is often easier said than done; it requires time and effort to see real results*.' - [The Atlantic Is Making A Big Push Into Games](https://www.theverge.com/news/687721/the-atlantic-games-hub-bracket-city). Given that the [NYT Games app has higher revenue than the paper](https://sherwood.news/business/the-new-york-times-is-a-games-company-with-a-newspaper-side-hustle/), I'm not surprised that The Atlantic is heading down this path. Though, I have to admit - I still play [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html) daily. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-15-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-15-25/ Last updated: 2025-06-15T12:10:02.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Videos 📺 To mark the 20th anniversary of what's being called the '[**greatest commencement speech ever**](https://www.wired.com/story/how-steve-jobs-wrote-the-greatest-commencement-speech-ever),' the [Steve Jobs Archive](https://stevejobsarchive.com), is unveiling [an online exhibit with a remastered video](https://stevejobsarchive.com/exhibits/stay-hungry-stay-foolish) and some amazing details on how the speech came to be. It's a fantastic read, and here's the video for your viewing pleasure. Even though I've seen this many times before, it's worth taking 15 minutes of your day to enjoy it again. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Resetting](https://www.techcanbebetter.com/resetting/). One of the best reads of the week is a look at how the current cultural landscape is heading toward a significant reset, affecting everything from politics to the tech industry and everyday life. I enjoyed the reflection on how writing and creativity are essential in times of change. - [The Cult of Hard Mode: Why Simplicity Offends Tech Elites](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-cult-of-hard-mode-why-simplicity-offends-tech-elites). Another fantastic read: '*Where simplicity used to signal elegance and mastery, it now triggers suspicion Why? *Because hard mode is where status lives*.*' I also like the idea that '*in a culture that rewards the performance of struggle, *doing things easily is the most subversive act available*. And in that subversion, there is actual freedom.*' - [Every Generation Discovers The Same Monster.](https://brilliantcrank.com/every-generation-discovers-the-same-monster/). File under: [I've seen this film before, and didn't like the ending](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5SQIECedTY). Greg Storey has become one of my favorite online authors, '*Every generation discovers the same monster, immersive content that transforms vulnerable minds into messianic delusion. Every generation acts like they've found something uniquely dangerous. Every generation misses the point. The technology isn't the problem. *The obsession is*.*'. Side note: make sure to [check out his upcoming book that I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of](https://brilliantcrank.com/creative-intelligence/). - [Eight Marvelous And Melancholy Things I've Learned About Creativity](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/creativity%5Fthings). Ok, another must-read for the week. :) - [Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Deserves Better Than Six Episodes](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-final-season-six-episodes/). Even though [season three is just about to hit at the end of July](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqPH7UhKYI), announcing the end of what is arguably some of the best Star Trek since [Picard Season 3](https://medium.com/@danmarcus%5F20059/review-star-trek-picard-season-3-is-the-best-star-trek-in-over-20-years-ec40be01d75a), I thought this was a bit of a bummer. Maybe there's still hope for a [Terry Matalas "Legacy"](https://trekmovie.com/2023/04/24/terry-matalas-gives-star-trek-legacy-update-alex-kurtzman-hears-fans-loud-and-clear/) series. - [Stream On](https://www.profgalloway.com/stream-on-25/). This year, I've been finding that I've been listening to more and more of [Scott Galloway](https://www.profgalloway.com) podcasts. This piece on the evolving landscape of streaming services highlights the shift from Netflix to YouTube, which has an estimated market capitalization of $550 billion! Please pay special attention to the summary, where he highlights some of the societal impacts of the streaming wars and the loss of shared cultural experiences. - [No More Goals, Just Good Days: Finding Clarity, Bird by Bird.](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/no-more-goals-just-good-days-finding). An interesting discovery here on a tool to help bring focus: create four lists — wants, don't wants, needs, don't needs. - [Say "But Yes," Not "Yes But"](https://seangoedecke.com/but-yes-not-yes-but/). The wording is everything - instead of lensing on something as a **problem**, use the word *opportunity*. In this post, [Sean Goedecke](https://www.seangoedecke.com) explores positive and negative framing on how specific phrases come across and that people may not realize their communication habits unintentionally convey negativity. For example, when agreeing with someone while having a caveat, you should say "**but yes**" instead of "***yes, but***" to highlight a more positive tone. - [Finding The Idea In Your Story](https://medium.com/ellemeno/finding-the-idea-in-your-story-b479dd38b62f). '*The purpose of writing is to present new ideas that have the power to change minds.*' **Go read this one**. - [Hire Misfits, Not Missionaries](https://www.gettheleverage.com/p/hire-misfits-not-missionaries). For anyone doing hiring these days, **this one resonates**. I've often focused on hiring practices that are opposite to what would be expected; for example - instead of looking for 10x engineers, if you want to change cultural thinking, hire fresh out of school. *Like pirates, misfits do not adhere to traditional playbooks or best practices; they rely on curiosity and adaptability to solve problems creatively*. - [Inside the 'Macintosh' Screen Saver](https://512pixels.net/2025/06/inside-macintosh-screen-saver/). [A fun video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnjxehheT%5FI) and look into how the subtle Macintosh screen saver is one of the coolest bits of Apple nostalgia. - [I Want No One Else to Succeed](https://kottke.org/25/05/i-want-no-one-else-to-succeed). A powerful lesson in psychology here: '*In life, greed will always hurt you more than it helps you.*'. It is worth the quick read/[watch](https://bsky.app/profile/iamabundantaf.bsky.social/post/3lqc2hgmbps2b). - [Scientists at Loughborough University Create Worlds Smallest Violin](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp92pr5pr48o). '*The tiny instrument, which is smaller than the width of a human hair, will help with research into an array of applications from improving the efficiency of computers to finding new ways of harvesting energy.*'. Unfortunately, it is not the origin of the saying '*And may the world's smallest violin play 'My Heart Bleeds for Thee'*" but it is interesting, nonetheless. - [My New Notetaking System: Don't Take Notes](https://baty.net/posts/2025/06/repost-my-new-notetaking-system-is-dont-take-notes/). **Amen**. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-8-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-8-25/ Last updated: 2025-06-08T11:57:37.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [My Cure for Brain Rot](https://experimentalliving.substack.com/p/my-cure-for-brain-rot). What a neat idea, **The Wisdom Jukebox**. In some ways, it reminds me of [Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies](https://makoism.com/skewed%5Fperspective/), but instead of a card deck, it's '*an electronic picture frame onto which I've loaded an assortment of my favorite nuggets of wisdom.*' I recently [purchased a TRMNL](https://usetrmnl.com) for my desk - this has inspired me to spend some time to wire up a similar concept with my quotes collection and the e-Ink display. - [Andor Shows Us What Popular Culture Could Be](https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/andor-shows-us-what-popular-culture-could-be). Andor was a slow burn, but what a slow burn it was (I also feel like the first three episodes of S2 were oddly out of place, but the rest - wow). '*In an era of banal, homogenous mass media, Andor refuses easy optimism and shows us that building a better world is a hard, necessary task.*' If you haven't watched it just yet, give it a whirl. - [Defibrillator Installed on Mount Everest Saves Woman's Life](https://nicenews.com/health-and-wellness/man-climbs-everest-install-defibrillator-saved-life/). Having seen the world's highest peak with my own eyes back in the early 2000s, any time Everest hits the news, it catches my attention. [David Sullivan](https://codebluecpr.co/about/), founder of [Code Blue CPR](https://codebluecpr.co/), recently installed '*the world's highest defibrillator*' at 16,500 feet. When he didn't know, it was just three weeks later that the device would be used to save someone's life when their heart stopped. [Video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU6y%5F0ioo20). - [Traits and Habits I've Observed Among High Achievers](https://dariusforoux.com/habits-high-achievers/). Lately, I've been hyper-focused on the general idea of **curiosity**: how important it is as a part of critical thinking and learning, and tuning into how often it's just *neglected*. I wasn't surprised to see curiosity listed as one of these essential traits; this list was a good one to read through. - [Being Glue](https://www.noidea.dog/glue). A fun post - the idea around allocating time to **glue work** deliberately. While the talk is from the perspective of a senior engineer, it offers a valuable lens on team building. It highlights how non-technical responsibilities are often undervalued yet crucial in maintaining team cohesion and overall effectiveness. - [This Is the Secret to Actually Making the Things You Want To](https://www.everyonescreative.net/p/this-is-the-secret-to-actually-making). I sometimes joke that it's essential to put the FU in FUN, but this article goes into **why fun matters**. '*Have Fun is the conclusion of the manifesto because it is a reminder that, no matter your situation and no matter what you do, you can try to enjoy something about the doing.*' - [The Recovery OKR: Goals for Healing After Burnout](https://eleganthack.com/the-recovery-okr-goals-for-healing-after-burnout/). We've all been there: **burned out**. There are some great tips here on how to focus on some of those recovery goals when the burnout sets in. - ['90s Pop Songs: The Era Of the Self-Contained Verse](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/17042389/90s-music-self-contained-verse-history). A super interesting read: '*Pop songs quite often focus on a single story—often the tale of the protagonist, who is trying to share a single message in a three-minute tune. But there was a time when pop songs were more likely to put the lens on someone else...*' - [Exploring Beyond the Visible Spectrum](https://www.everyonescreative.net/p/exploring-beyond-the-visible-spectrum). '*What we're doing is using technology to reveal new ways of understanding the world around us. When we try to decode or examine anything around us, it's worth considering if the lens you're looking through reveals something you otherwise couldn't see or if it covers everything in its own haze. Are you applying a lens that helps you see things in a new way?*' Super important questions for crazy times, but also, the idea that '*our perception is subjective, akin to wearing *shit-covered glasses* that can distort our view of reality based on mood or perspective*' is an important one. - [The Slowdown](https://exilelifestyle.com/the-slowdown/). I've experienced this after spending time training for a big race or climbing a peak, but sometimes the very act of '*achieving a goal brings a sense of pride but can lead to disorientation when the associated strain suddenly disappears*.' Good read on why that happens. - [There's an Addressable Market of 1](https://lmno.lol/puddingtime/theres-an-addressable-market-of-1). I found this one via [Jack Baty](https://baty.net/journal/2025/06/01/today/) ([RSS feed](https://baty.net/index.xml)), but I liked the spirit around the democratization of software development. As Jack says: '*Suddenly, I could make things, all by myself. Didn't matter whether I was *qualified* or not.*' - [Humans Produce Delusion Like Cows Produce Methane](https://7takeaways.com/3932). This is an all-around fun post, but this quote stood out: '*being seen as right has more survival value than actually being right, most of the time. You're far better off being wrong with a tribe backing you than being correct but unpopular.*' - [Computers are Big-Ass Levers](https://kupajo.com/computers-are-big-ass-levers/). As I said earlier, curiosity rules here: '*A strategic approach for thriving in the AI era is to act as if you have early access to future technologies, identifying new opportunities*.' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 6-1-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-6-1-25/ Last updated: 2025-06-01T12:17:31.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Make Life Possible](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/make-life-possible). If there's one word to describe 2025, it's likely **uncertainty**. But, as this piece reminds us, '[*uncertainty is also the only thing that makes life possible*](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/not-knowin).' There are some great strategies for shifting context in this post, but I particularly liked: '*Trust in creativity. A basic condition of life is the creative adaptation to changing conditions—and you, my friend, are alive and living. Trust in your own (and others) ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances with inventiveness, playfulness, and ingenuity*.' - [The Idea Bucket](https://pointc.co/the-idea-bucket/). What a great idea - the idea bucket. '*A shared, persistent, frequently glanced-at space where your team stores and sees its ideas — together, in one place.*' I am going to start one for my team this month. - [pico-mac-nano: A Tiny Macintosh Replica](https://taoofmac.com/space/links/2025/05/27/0813). Instant purchase for me. - [5 Ways to Come Up with Tiny Experiments](https://nesslabs.com/how-to-come-up-with-tiny-experiments). It is a superb '*mini-protocol for personal personal experimentation, you just need to make a simple, actionable pact.*' **I will \[action\] for \[duration\]**. - [I Am Disappointed in the AI Discourse](https://steveklabnik.com/writing/i-am-disappointed-in-the-ai-discourse/). I promised not to put too much tech in these posts, but I liked this post on the current polarization of AI: either you're for it or against it. I agree with the author's take: **I'm neither**. It has some powerful uses, and there's a ton of snake oil around it. Using it wisely and approaching it with curiosity is a path I'm (personally) happy and productive with. - [The Most Important Decision](https://seths.blog/2025/05/the-most-important-decision/). Just a great reminder from the legendary Seth Godin that '*these millions of tiny decisions become the life we've chosen. One next at a time.*' - [Personal Ambient Computing](https://www.chrbutler.com/pac-personal-ambient-computing). I've always been tinkering around what's the *next* evolution of computing. Back in 2023, I wrote: '*What if I start at the end, apply inversion theory, and work backward to get me to that new place? I'm doing this again with the Apple Watch as a device to drive 'personal' computing. I'm forcing myself to go out without a phone, just the AirPods and a Watch, and see what happens. As I think of new software, I sometimes start with: okay, let's do this JUST with the watch and a pair of smart earbuds.*' So I instantly liked the premise of this article where the author wonders if '*the next evolution of personal computing won't replace your phone — it will free computing from any single device.*' - [Ephemeral Taskforce](https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/ephemeral-taskforce). Oooooo.. I like the idea of an ETF: '*The Ephemeral Task Force (ETF) is a selected group of people with cross-functional knowledge, mandate, and responsibility who are assembled for a specific delivery with a clear end in mind. The group is dismantle after the objective is accomplished.*.' - [Happy When Curious Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-when-curious/id1617205008). What a great podcast from Brady Ryan, who is a [sea salt farmer](https://sanjuanislandseasalt.com) here on San Juan Island. I've been spending a lot of time lately thinking about **curiosity and critical thinking**, so when I read the show description of this podcast being his '*attempt to rediscover curiosity through conversation and contemplation*,' **I was sold**. And yes, their [sea salt carmels](https://sanjuanislandseasalt.com/products/salted-honey-caramels) are just INSANE. Treat yourself! - [Toolmen](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/toolmen). Another post from [Mandy Brown](https://aworkinglibrary.com) this week focused on the ideology (not technology) of AI and how dangerous the narrative is around '*deskilling and devaluation of human labor rather than liberation or enhancement of creativity*.' - [How Tech Workers Really Feel About Work Right Now](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-tech-workers-really-feel-about). Without reading this, many people are likely to be burned out and miserable right now. Okay, I looked, and 84% of tech workers report some form of burnout. Meanwhile, AI CEOs are [talking about knowledge workers facing a bloodbath](https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropic). - [You Don't Always Have to Publish](https://www.hottakes.space/p/you-dont-always-have-to-publish). '*It's actually what you don't publish that defines your brand.*' Wonderful read on restraint being a strategy. - [If Nothing Is Curated, How Do We Find Things?](https://tadaima.bearblog.dev/if-nothing-is-curated-how-do-we-find-things/). Social media generally has killed individuals curating content, which is, oddly enough, **one of the reasons** why I'm still putting out curated content weekly. - [Penguin Poop May Help Preserve Antarctic Climate](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22052025/penguin-poop-could-preserve-antarctic-climate/). '*A new study finds that ammonia aerosols from penguin guano likely play an important part in the formation of heat-shielding clouds around the frozen continent.*' Perfect - penguin poop to the rescue! - [Designing a Life](https://om.co/2025/05/18/designing-a-life/). One of the significant drivers on [my Life 2.0 journey](https://makoism.com/now/) was to figure out how I wanted my days to look like: where I lived, how I lived, who I spent time with, etc. Om Malik has an excellent post here on what helped him architect and design the life he wants. Love it. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-25-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-25-25/ Last updated: 2025-05-26T15:05:42.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Videos 📺 As a long time Kurt Vonnegut fan, I really enjoyed (and encourage you to watch) Sir Ian McKellen reading a letter from Vonnegut entitled, '**Make Art and “Make Your Soul Grow**'. > *What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.* ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Luxury Of Saying No](https://brilliantcrank.com/the-luxury-of-saying-no/). [Greg Storey](https://brilliantcrank.com/) has been hitting them out of the park with posts that almost perfectly capture the feelings running around my brain for the last year or so. '*The real threat to creativity isn't a language model. It's a workplace that rewards speed over depth, scale over care, automation over meaning.*' **Read of the week** (and may as well throw in a shameless plug for [my most popular shirt](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)!) - [The Anxiety-Curiosity Switch](https://nesslabs.com/anxiety-curiosity-switch). Another area that I have been spending several months thinking and writing about is the importance of curiosity. Whether it's about thinking about how technology can help you if you engage in critical thinking or how to attack almost any problem in the real world, all roads lead me back to the basics of **curiosity**. Anne writes, '*curiosity activates many of the same brain regions, but with a crucial difference in framing. Instead of asking "*What might go wrong*?" curiosity asks, "*What might I discover*?"*'. Perfection. - [How Convenience Kills Curiosity](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/how-convenience-kills-curiosity/). And now, for the flip side of the coin, [Joan Westenberg](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/author/joan/) (who is a writing machine!) ponders our current world and the *death of curiosity.* '*Knowledge is earned through movement. Friction. Ambiguity. The old experience of falling into a stack of books at the library wasn't efficient, but that was hardly the point. You'd go in looking for one answer and come out with five better questions. That's how curiosity thrives: in the space between expected and unexpected, between map and territory.*' '*Convenience rewires the mind. It makes learning feel like confirmation. It reduces exploration to retrieval. You end up knowing more but noticing less.*' Important thinking here. - [Good Struggle Vs Bad Struggle](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/good-struggle-vs-bad-struggle). Speaking of struggles, '*not all struggle leads to personal growth*,' dives into the emotional cost of dealing with stuff you're worried about. - [NYC Restaurant Interior or Black & White Drawing?](https://kottke.org/25/05/nyc-restaurant-interior-or-black-white-drawing). OK, next time I'm in New York, I'm going to take some time and venture over to [Shirokuro](https://shirokuronyc.com), where all of the floors, chairs, walls, counters, etc. are painted to look like a 2-dimensional drawing. Mind blown 🤯. - [Things I Learned from The Idea Factory](https://www.candyforbreakfast.email/p/things-i-learned-from-the-idea-factory). A fun read about some of the history of Bell Labs, AT&T, and the history of the phone. - [Thoughts Going Into The London Podcast Show](https://justinjackson.ca/london-podcast-show). I've found myself falling into the camp of '*Stop staring at your screen; put your phone in your pocket. Get outside. Move your body. Listen to something that feeds your mind in a healthy way.*' and podcasts have been a big part of that. My only ask is to *keep them short*. I have no idea how people have time to listen to 2-3 hours of podcasts; 15 minutes is my sweet spot. - [Opinionated vs. Flexible Software](https://nazhamid.com/journal/opinionated-vs-flexible-software/). YES! 100x YES! [Choose boring software](https://boringtechnology.club), and be **more** opinionated about your development stacks. **Through constraint, find freedom**! - [The Onion's Ben Collins Knows How to Save Media](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-onions-ben-collins-knows-how-to-save-media). It's been interesting - I have been drawn more and more to printed news again: [The Onion](https://membership.theonion.com), [The Southwester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk), [n+1](https://www.nplusonemag.com), [Mountain Gazette](https://mountaingazette.com/products/mountain-gazette-annual-subscription) are among my **recently printed subscriptions**. There's **nothing better** than taking a printed form of reading, sitting in an Adirondack, and looking at the water. - [The Importance Of Virtue In Software Engineering](https://seangoedecke.com/character-in-software-engineering/). One lesson that I have had to learn (and try to pass on) is the [Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/): **You can only control your thoughts and actions; everything else you can't**. This article was a good read on why some overlook basic **virtues** in software engineering and why engineers sometimes have arrogance when hired primarily for technical skills, neglecting and type of character assessment. - [The Quest For The Best Writing Tool, A Spinoff](https://thejollyteapot.com/2025/05/18/the-quest-for-the-best-writing-tool-a-spinoff/). I'm always a sucker for a great post about pens and notebooks. - [Who You Are is Not What You Do](https://emilyrudow.com/blog/who-you-are-is-not-what-you-do/). I love this thought nugget: **Change the verbiage from I am to I do**. '*If you attach your identity to anything you do, then your accomplishments, setbacks, and failures will directly impact your self-worth.*' - [Scientists Have Been Studying Remote Work For Four Years And Have Reached A Very Clear Conclusion: Working From Home Makes Us Happier.](https://farmingdale-observer.com/2025/05/16/scientists-have-been-studying-remote-work-for-four-years-and-have-reached-a-very-clear-conclusion-working-from-home-makes-us-happier/). No shit. But it's a great read. - [Sharing, Helping, Connecting](https://manuelmoreale.com/sharing-helping-connecting). Wrapping this week up on a positive note, and something that I have been trying to do a lot more of the last few years: '*I discovered that I *enjoy being an enabler*. I don't care all that much about the things I do for myself, but I care deeply about helping others. Because I still think this wacky digital space called the web has so much potential for good.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-18-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-18-25/ Last updated: 2025-05-18T11:44:11.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Video of the Week 📺 [Andor, Season 2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9253284/episodes/?season=2) just wrapped up, and was easily the best Star Wars in years. I figure it's been a few days, so skip to the next section if you don't want any spoilers, but Mon Mothma's Speech is worth highlighting. 2025 is wacky and insane, and this was a powerful reflection on society today. > "*The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. *The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil*. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest.*" ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Craig Mod on the Creative Power of Walking](https://lithub.com/craig-mod-on-the-creative-power-of-walking/). Long-time fan of the writing (and [binaural walking recordings](https://sw945.craigmod.com)) of [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com). This post, on the [Creative Power of Walking](https://lithub.com/craig-mod-on-the-creative-power-of-walking/), has some wonderful inspiration on the power of boredom: '*I try to cultivate the most bored state of mind imaginable. A total void of stimulation beyond the immediate environment. My rules: No news, no social media, no podcasts, no music. No teleporting - you could say. The phone, the great teleportation device, the great murderer of boredom. And yet, boredom: the great engine of creativity. I now believe with all my heart that it's only in the crushing silences of boredom — without all that black-mirror dopamine — that you can access your deepest creative wells. And for so many people these days, they've never so much as attempted to dip in a ladle, let alone dive down into those uncomfortable waters made accessible through boredom. For me, from this boredom—this blankness of mind as I walk past sometimes fields and sometimes giant gambling pachinko parlors—words flow. I can't stop them.*' Easily my **read of the week**. - [How Video Game Sex Scenes Are Made](https://www.404media.co/how-video-game-sex-scenes-are-made/). Well, now you know. - [Nine Rules for Evaluating New Technology](https://kottke.org/25/05/nine-rules-for-evaluating-new-technology). A fun look at a set of rules from 1987 on the [nine standards for technological innovation](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/9-rules-for-new-technology). Lots of good nuggets in here to draw some inspiration from. - [Foggy Feeds: The Decline In My Feed Reader Subscriptions](https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/notes/2025/foggy-feeds/). '*I've noticed a decline in the thinking across the websites I follow.*' An interesting read, and in a similar vibe, it feels like many of the folks I talk with regularly are reading many of the same sites (one reason I'm partially against sharing blogrolls). Too much 'group think'. I haven't gone as far as just nuking my entire reading list and adding things back in as I rediscover things, but I'm quickly getting there. I purged about 30 (out of 250) this morning, but it may be time to [burn the ships](https://blog.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/burn-your-ships-how-to-be-a-great-leader) and start over. - [Not All Growth is Created Equal](https://www.gettheleverage.com/p/not-all-growth-is-created-equal). An excellent example of how **systems are more important than goals**; from the lens around startups should focus on building long-term, defensible value rather than just achieving rapid early growth. '*There is a sickness, a striving, that pollutes the purity of what building a business should be. Because growth attracts headlines and seduces investors, companies over-optimize on growth metrics in their early years. In the end, it ruins them.*' - [The Pac-Man Rule at Conferences](https://www.ericholscher.com/blog/2017/aug/2/pacman-rule-conferences/). Kinda of a fun rule, which I had never heard of before reading this; called the Pac-Man rule (you'll have to check out the link for the visual): '*When standing as a group of people, always leave room for 1 person to join your group.*' - [Why Does Every Film and TV Series Seem to Have the Same Plot?](https://aeon.co/essays/why-does-every-film-and-tv-series-seem-to-have-the-same-plot). [I've seen this film before](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5SQIECedTY) \- most movies and TV follow a typical plot structure known as the [Hero's Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s%5Fjourney). It's broken down to a protagonist facing an incident that disrupts their ordinary life, leading to a quest and eventual transformation. This post asks the fundamental question: **What other tales are there to tell?** - [A Trick for Prioritization.](https://danoshinsky.com/2025/05/14/a-trick-for-prioritization/). One of the tricks I have tried to employ when making quick decisions on buying something irrationally is to ask myself three questions: **Do I want it? Do I need it? Do I have to have it?** Often, I fail the third question. Similarly, I like the prioritization framework presented here: '*What do you NEED to do this quarter? What you WANT to do this quarter? What you'd LIKE to do this quarter?* *The NEED is the stuff that 100% absolutely must get done. WANT is the next bucket of tasks you're most excited about. LIKE are things you're interested in… but you can't quite make a priority.*' Smart. - [I Am Not Who You Think I Am: How a Deep-Cover KGB Spy Recruited His Own Son](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/apr/10/deep-cover-kgb-spy-recruited-son-peter-herrmann-illegals). OOOF - This post reads like a movie plot; A KGB agent, raising a family in the US who's goal was the recruitment of his son, and how it was part of a KGB strategy to create second-generation illegals who could more easily integrate into American society and evade security checks — wild stuff. - [Remarks on AI from NZ](https://nealstephenson.substack.com/p/remarks-on-ai-from-nz). Author [Neal Stephenson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal%5FStephenson) ([Snowcrash](https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Crash-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0553380958), [Cryptonomicon](https://www.amazon.com/Cryptonomicon-Neal-Stephenson-ebook/dp/B000FC11A6), etc) recently did a panel discussion on AI. I enjoyed reading his perspective that introducing AI can be compared to the unexpected emergence of nuclear weapons. Looking at how we now have to co-exist with AI, he presented an interesting *' framework for understanding coexistence with AI by comparing it to our interactions with various animal intelligences and focuses on the dangers of AI dependency, likening it to the risks of becoming mentally weak due to over-reliance on technology*' — a good read. - [New Paradigm for Psychology Just Dropped](https://www.experimental-history.com/p/new-paradigm-for-psychology-just). I majored in psychology for 1 semester, but I'm still fascinated by what drives behavior. This piece introduces the concept of **control systems as the fundamental units of the mind**. '*They're basically like thermostats, they operate by monitoring variables, comparing them to target levels, and reducing errors, which manifest as emotions.*' Huh - I think I need to take some time and [read this piece](http://www.mindinthewheel.com) on neuroscience very slowly and carefully. - [To Grow Faster, Think Smaller](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/to-grow-faster-think-smaller). A great reminder on why it's essential to focus on foundations for any growth strategy. - [Why Writing Letters Can Change Your Life and Your Business](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FD7LWCtcY8k). Several friends sent me this wonderful video on the powerful nature of writing letters. And yes, I now am the proud owner [of a blue toolbox](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002A5UAMQ). :) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-11-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-11-25/ Last updated: 2025-05-11T11:04:07.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [How To Think](https://cliophate.wtf/how-to-think). Easily the '**read of the week**' for me. Put simply: '*I believe that in this age, at a time when we get inundated with information from all directions, the ability to think is the most important skill we have.*' Read this one, and if you share anything, this is the one to send to everyone you know. - [Minimum Viable Curiosity](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/minimum-viable-curiousity/). I love the thinking that [Michael Lopp](https://randsinrepose.com) put into this piece on **infectious curiosity**. '*For every task we're asking the robots to perform, there was an essential initial step where the robots were trained on data generated by hard-working humans so the robots could perform the task. It's called *machine learning*. They need to learn from the hard work of our learning, *except it's not learning*, it's mimicking and repeating patterns. While it's a joy to sit in the back of Waymo and appreciate the robot doing an effective job, it's a trap and a familiar one.* You **should** be *curious* to see where his post winds up. - [Framing effect](https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/framing-effect). A good reminder that *decisions are often influenced by the way information is presented* \- **The Framing Effect**. Super interesting read on how similar information can be more or less attractive depending on what and how things are highlighted. - [Mark Zuckerberg Wants To You Be Lonely And Miserable](https://www.disconnect.blog/p/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-you-be-lonely). I'm sorry if I offend any friends working at Meta, but this sounds like an awful, miserable, and horrible way to think about the world. Do humans need [a conversation with a fake, online therapist](https://www.404media.co/instagram-ai-studio-therapy-chatbots-lie-about-being-licensed-therapists/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter)? Or do we have [kids engaging with bots in potentially sexually explicit ways](https://www.techspot.com/news/107697-meta-accused-allowing-ai-bots-engage-sexually-explicit.html)? I say: *flip the narrative*. **Spend quality time with *real people*, at *real gatherings*, in the *real world*. Some of my best conversations and soul searching have come from sitting around a fire pit just talking to people**. IMHO, the world needs more of this. - [I'd Rather Read The Prompt](https://claytonwramsey.com/blog/prompt/). Crap - third post about AI - promise, last one this week. Instead of going down the hole for the 3rd time, I will lean into the idea of '*why do we write?*' For me, writing is **thinking**. Talking is **thinking**. Experimentation is **thinking**. Curiosity is **thinking**. Notice a pattern? - [Why Writing Is the Best Tool for Personal Growth](https://nesslabs.com/writing-personal-growth). Woop. Here I am again, discussing how writing is vital for thinking; I also joke that writing is cheaper than therapy. - [Is It Legal To Drink Coffee While Driving?](https://brilliantmaps.com/coffee-while-driving/). Not if you're in Greece and Cyprus - '*A fine of 100 euros and removal of driving license of 30 days threaten those who police catches with on hand on the wheel and one hand holding a cup of Greeks' favorite drink*.' - [FACT CHECK: Letter Exchange Between Law Firm and Cleveland Browns](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cleveland-browns-letters/). I always check out [Snopes](https://www.snopes.com) when I have to see if something is real or not (or at least, fact checked), so I was elated to find out that this response to a (season ticket holder) lawyer, who received this outstanding response after complaining to the Cleveland Browns about fan' throwing paper airplanes during the team's games. '*Attached is a letter that we received on November 19, 1974\. I feel that you should be aware that some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters*.' Bravo! - [The Offing of What's On](https://doc.searls.com/2025/05/05/the-offing-of-whats-on/). When we are overwhelmed with options on what to watch and consume, [Doc Searls](https://doc.searls.com) has a great piece on the lack of optimization in how individuals manage their viewing and listening experiences. - [Spurious Correlations](https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations). This one is super good - self-described as a site in which '*is fun first, and mildly educational second and occasionally break all the rules just to see what happens!*', Spurious Correlations looks at where correlation means **absolutely nothing**, and is **purely accidental**. For example, how often '[yogurt consumption correlates to google searches for "I can't even"](https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious/correlation/2203%5Fyogurt-consumption%5Fcorrelates-with%5Fgoogle-searches-for-i-cant-even)'. Also check out [Spurious Scholar](https://tylervigen.com/spurious-scholar), where the author [has turned each of these into an academic paper](https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious/research-papers/2203%5Fprobiotics-and-problems-the-yogurt-google-i-cant-even-correlation.pdf). - [Advice for time management as a manager](https://www.benkuhn.net/tmgr/). Time is a bank - deposits and withdrawals - and it is something I've long thought about. This piece centers on a simple concept: **Decide what your one most important thing is and focus** on that. - [Stay Right Here.](https://danoshinsky.com/2025/04/21/stay-right-here/). A good reminder that '*wherever your feet are, keep your head there.*' - [What to Say When You Feel Like You Have Nothing to Talk About](https://introvertdear.com/news/what-to-say-when-you-feel-like-you-have-nothing-to-talk-about/). I consider myself an [extroverted introvert](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/) \- so I appreciated this one. Here's a secret tip/reveal: I have a **very long list** of topics I keep in a note, when I get stuck in a conversation. It has some good ones, like '*what's your go-to string of curse words*' or '*what is the story behind one of your scars*' that I know I can quickly refer to when there's nothing to discuss. - [With His Communal Journal, Southwest Employee Invites Passengers To Let Their Feelings Fly](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/communal-journal-southwest-employee-invites-passengers-let-feelings-fl-rcna204557). I caught this one on the news the other night, and as a believer in the power of writing in a journal, I thought this feel-good story was too good not to share. - [Time for Earth Time](https://around.com/time-for-earth-time/). This is an interesting proposal for a single Universal Time (UTC) where **all locations across the world would share the same time**, eliminating the need for clock resets. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 5-4-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-5-4-25/ Last updated: 2025-05-04T12:19:16.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Seven-Year Rule](https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2025/04/the-seven-year-rule/). My '**read of the week**' circles around '*a fascinating concept in a book by the Dalai Lama: every seven years, human beings transform into entirely new versions of themselves. This idea stems from the biological principle that our bodies replace virtually all their cells over a seven-year cycle. The person you are today doesn't share a single cell with the version of you from seven years ago.*' Grab a whiskey, look at the water, and think about that for a bit. - [Programming Sucks](https://www.stilldrinking.org/programming-sucks). I was sent this one after [last week's Espresso Shots](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-26-25/) (and [an even earlier blog post](http://widgetsandshit.com/teddziuba/2011/12/process.html)), while humorous, do outline the daily struggle that will be familiar to most software engineers. I'll admit, I laughed out loud at '*all programming teams are constructed by and of crazy people*.' - [Don't Overthink This](https://danoshinsky.com/2025/04/29/dont-overthink-this/). A simple reminder (and something I just dropped into my quotes journal) that often, '**don't overthink this**' is the best advice you need. - [You Can Be a Great Designer and Be Completely Unknown](https://www.chrbutler.com/you-can-be-a-great-designer-and-be-completely-unknown). There's a lot to be said about where we are today as a society that swirls around the attention economy - where we often prioritize '*being noticed over being useful.*' A wonderful reminder that '*Great design isn't defined by who knows your name but by how well your work serves human needs. It's measured in the problems solved, the frustrations eased, the moments of delight created, and the dignity preserved through thoughtful solutions. These metrics operate independently of fame or recognition.*' - [My Hyperkey Setup: The Mac Customization Tool Everyone Needs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq7zyd2eZPg). Ever heard of a '[hyper key](https://stevelosh.com/blog/2012/10/a-modern-space-cadet/)'? I've been using one for 15 years, but it always surprises me that more don't. The idea is to **remap** the caps lock key into something more *useful* \- a combination of **shift+control+option+command** keys pressed simultaneously. Since this combination isn't often used, it's safe to create all sorts of wonderful shortcuts; for example, when I press "hyper+p" (capslock+p), it opens my password manager, etc. This video shows many useful ways to unlock this power user feature. - [What Civilization Can Learn from Pizza](https://www.gapingvoid.com/what-civilization-can-learn-from-pizza/). As a long-time advocate of '[choose boring](https://boringtechnology.club),' I agree that '*complexity can lead to chaos*.' And there's nothing wrong with the philosophy of '*complex problems are not solved by more complexity, complex problems are solved by human beings, acting human to other humans*.' - [The Creative Power of Constraints](https://arun.is/blog/creative-power-constraints/). '*Through constraint, you find freedom'* is something I like to say when thinking through a problem. According to this post, '*constraints are the primordial soup from which creativity arises.*' - [How to Claim Your Life: D.H. Lawrence on the Most Important Choice Within](https://www.themarginalian.org/2025/04/29/d-h-lawrence-choice/). I enjoyed this retrospective on D.H. Lawrence and the notion that most of life outweighs many of our personal choices and is based on chance: time, place, and circumstances. But despite all this, our choices provide meaning and direction, and the most impactful decisions are around **our mindset**. - [Getting Older Isn't What You Think](https://www.katycowan.co.uk/blog/getting-old). As I recently turned 54, I spent more time ruminating on 'how old' I am getting than expected. I especially appreciated the commentary that '*curiosity and open-mindedness are essential traits to cultivate at any age, promoting growth and understanding across generational divide.*' - [An Alternative Take On Sleeping With The Apple Watch](https://sixcolors.com/post/2025/04/an-alternative-take-on-sleeping-with-the-apple-watch/). As someone who has slept with their Apple Watch for years, I know it is a valuable resource for better understanding what is happening with my body. Your mileage may vary, of course. - [How This Former NYT Columnist Uses Chatgpt To Brainstorm Ideas, Do Research, And Find The Perfect Metaphor](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-this-former-nyt-columnist-uses). I'm always interested to see where people go with all of the Generative AI hubbubs these days; are they looking for a magical silver bullet (bad), or is that person going to look towards using these tools as a thinking accelerator (not a replacement)? I was pleased to watch [Farhad Manjoo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhad-manjoo-161229/), a former New York Times and Wall Street Journal columnist, take a more practical and reasonable approach. - [A Brief History of 'The Sims'](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/644263/brief-history-sims-video-game). I remember when The Sims debuted in 2000\. At the time, it was a fascinating idea, so I was intrigued to read a bit about its history in this piece. I now know their language is called 'Simlish,' which was developed through improvisation by the voice actors. For a side trip down the humor aisle, check out [some of the wacko ways people have tortured their Sims](https://www.buzzfeed.com/shelbyheinrich/sims-cruel-reddit), like relegating them to a **claustrophobic 1x1 nightmare square**. - [Staring Into the Abyss as a Core Life Skill](https://www.benkuhn.net/abyss/). I enjoyed this post, which challenges you to confront the uncomfortable truths we often find in life. - [Jeff Bridges Is Digging It](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/jeff-bridges-is-digging-it). A look at the creative process that [Jeff Bridges](https://www.jeffbridges.com) (oh, his website is nothing short of amazing) undergoes when taking on a task. He also discusses his near-death experiences with cancer and COVID-19; I liked his perspective on using them as transformative gifts that deepened his appreciation for life and art. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-26-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-26-25/ Last updated: 2025-04-26T11:36:21.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## New Shirt Drop 🏴‍☠️ It's been a moment since I've made a new shirt, this time I wanted to focus on what happens when I need my coffee. [Order yours today on the gear shop](https://cottonbureau.com/p/B4ZT7X/shirt/sorry-cant-coffee-bye#/28544206/tee-men-premium-heavyweight-black-100percent-cotton-s)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2025/04/mockup-1.png) ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Be a Disappointment](https://kill-the-newsletter.com/feeds/ta0yrcrgyeqmyi5f1mhb/entries/0bvwgark5mqj0xejmyi2.html). I've long held the belief that you should '**say no to protect the *yes***' (probably after consuming the excellent book, [Essentialism](https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/)). What better way, as this post beautifully describes, than to practice the art of **disappointing people**. '*One main way to do that, of course, is to say no: to decline things, to politely refuse what's demanded of you, or sometimes not to engage at all. And then to discover, time and again, a) that you can handle the feeling that someone might be judging you negatively, without it completely destroying your life and b) that most of the time, they weren't making any negative judgments anyway.*' A great reminder that it is often vital to protect the yes. - [Tastekeeping](https://mgx.me/tastekeeping/). One of my favorites this past week: '*Make something useful. Make something beautiful. Be kind. Be honest. Let your weirdness show. Let your personal taste guide you, sure - but don't mistake taste itself as the thing that matters most. It's a compass, not a crown.*' - [Get Me Out Of Data Hell](https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/get-me-out-of-data-hell/). Perhaps this one is too *on the nose*, but it is a pretty good look at everything wrong with data and software engineering. - [The False Consensus Effect](https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/false-consensus-effect). Ever find yourself in a situation where you bring something up that you acutely believe that no one else cares about? If so, you've experienced the 'false consensus effect' - a cognitive bias where '*individuals overestimate the extent to which others share their beliefs, values, and behaviors*.' A great example, highlighted here, is around '*how a fitness enthusiast might assume that everyone shares their commitment to health and exercise, only to find differing opinions at a family gathering.*' Super fascinating post. - [The Slow Realization That What I Thought Was Real Was Actually Fake](https://a.wholelottanothing.org/the-slow-realization-that-what-i-thought-was-real-was-actually-fake/). Oof, this was a good one speaking of false consensus; what about *real venues, that are fake*? The author of this one discovered that what *appeared* to be concrete bowls and ramps on competitions like the X Games were actually **painted wood surfaces designed to look like real skateparks**. - [From Beta to Bedrock: Build Products that Stick](https://alistapart.com/article/from-beta-to-bedrock-build-products-that-stick/). In the '*pitfalls of feature first development*' (something that I'm sure most tech readers of this newsletter have experienced), a look at how products and '*ideas go from zero to hero in a few weeks, only to fizzle out within month.*' The reason, of course, is when '*the focus is on delivering as many features and functionalities as possible to satisfy the needs and desires of competing internal departments, rather than providing a clear value proposition that is focused on what the people out there in the real world want.*' It's unfortunate that '**feature salad**' happens way too often, so it's crucial to work only on things that have **real** value. - [Where It's A Crime To Knock On A Door And Run Away](https://brilliantmaps.com/crime-to-knock-on-a-door-and-run-away/). There is exactly **ONE** place where 'Ding Dong Ditch' is a crime. Via [The Metropolitan Police Act of 1839](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan%5FPolice%5FAct%5F1839) in the UK, it '*specifically states that it is against the law to knock on someone's front door and then immediately run off.*' - [Mushrooms Communicate With Each Other Using Up To 50 Words](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/apr/06/fungi-electrical-impulses-human-language-study). If you're watching HBO's [The Last of Us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLast%5Fof%5FUs%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29), the last thing you want, is any evidence that fungus can be somewhat intelligent. - [Craig Mod: Adventure, Discipline, and Design](https://alastairhumphreys.com/craig-mod-adventure-discipline-and-design-living-adventurously-66/). I've been a long time fan of [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com) 's journeys, so I was happy to listen to [Alastair Humphreys](https://alastairhumphreys.com/living-more-adventurously-the-do-lectures/) [Living Adventurously podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-adventurously/id1489454694) which has a conversation between my two favorite adventurers. - [Tool Libraries: There's No Tariff on Sharing](https://truthout.org/articles/no-tariffs-on-sharing-tool-libraries-offer-resilience-amid-federal-chaos/). While I've previously mentioned [tiny libraries](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-14-24/), this one was a first - [a tool library](https://www.pvdthings.coop/about) \- '*a cooperative lending library that provides affordable access to tools, things, and skills. Like a friendly neighbor, PVD Things shares the things people need so they can get things done.*' These are the communities the world needs more of (IMHO). - [The Movie Mistake Mystery from Revenge of the Sith](http://fxrant.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-movie-mistake-mystery-from-revenge.html). You already know how much I **love** the movies, so it was quite a bit of fun to read through a bunch of gaffs and errors from some classic films. '*My favorite kind of movie mistake is the kind that is hiding in plain sight... but the casual viewer missed it upon first viewing. Or perhaps even the second viewing, or even the third. I'm particularly obsessed with moments that reveal the craft and artistry of the magic trick of a shot that slightly shatters the illusion of cinema.*' - [A Writer's Journal: Day One or Craft?](https://robertbreen.com/2022/02/26/a-writers-journal-day-one-or-craft/) I always enjoy reading about others' journaling habits; it often gives me a few insights or thoughts on how to tweak [my own techniques](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2024-2/). - [Time Merge Media](https://kottke.org/08/02/time-merge-media). What a fun look at 'art and media (that) deals with the display of multiple time periods at once.' The post includes a video showing over 100 attempts at Mario World overlaid **on top of each other**. The description, though, is art: '*we can kind of think of the multi-playthrough Kaizo Mario World video as a silly, sci-fi style demonstration of the *Quantum Suicide* experiment. At each moment of the playthrough there's a lot of different things Mario could have done, and almost all of them lead to horrible death. The anthropic principle, in the form of the emulator's save/restore feature, postselects for the possibilities where Mario actually survives and ensures that although a lot of possible paths have to get discarded, the camera remains fixed on the one path where after one minute and fifty-six seconds some observer still exists.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-20-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-20-25/ Last updated: 2025-04-20T11:02:20.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Less Doing. More Quitting.](https://quittingcorp.substack.com/p/less-doing-more-quitting). I love this mantra: '***The smartest move is subtractive.***' More specifically, this article dives into the concept of **how much burden** there is with *invisible work* which is incredibly relevant. While I hate to admit it, I've realized over the last months that I've been doing too much of this invisible work, so I'm heavily leaning into this idea. **This week's must-read post**. - [Playing Chess With a Pigeon](https://quotelyfe.com/playing-chess-with-a-pigeon-quote-explanation/). Timeless advice: '*Arguing with an idiot is like playing chess with a pigeon. It'll just knock over all the pieces, shit on the board, and strut about like it's won anyway.*' I will leave this classic quote from Shannon Alder here for reflection. - [How I Learned About Great Literature from Comic Books](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/how-i-learned-about-great-literature). In high school, I was an **avid** comic book collector - in fact, I still have a box of the 'most meaningful' ones wrapped in individual plastic wrappers for my nostalgia. **Every** individual issue of cult-classics such as [The Sandman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSandman%5F%28comic%5Fbook%29), [Watchmen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen), [Akira](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira%5F%28manga%29), [V for Vendetta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%5Ffor%5FVendetta), [Killing Joke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:%5FThe%5FKilling%5FJoke), etc. So when I came across this post from [Ted Gioia](https://www.honest-broker.com) that you shouldn't '*underestimate the long term impact of childhood exposure*,' it struck a cord on how much these comics meant to me at the time and how much it's shaped my thinking now that I'm in my 50's. - [Google Created A New AI Model For Talking To Dolphins](https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/04/google-created-a-new-ai-model-for-talking-to-dolphins/). You'd think, with the way life is in 2025, they'd focus on helping people talk to other people. But instead, let's talk to the sea mammals. - [Infinite Mac Lets You Run Vintage Mac Operating Systems in Your Browser](https://linkage.lol/infinite-mac/). This is a fun one about [Infinite Mac](https://infinitemac.org), where you can run vintage OSs in your browser. From NextStep to MacOS, there are quite a few to play with. - [The Use (And Design) Of Tools](https://seths.blog/2025/04/the-use-and-design-of-tools/). '*We've adopted the mindset of Too Busy To Learn. As a result, we prefer tools that give us quick results, not the ones that are worth learning.*' One of the most useful pivots you can make is think more about what can provide **systemic change** versus short-term goals. I liked this post as it parallels a lot of the crazy 'short term' thinking around using Generative AI; I'm finding that using AI to offload *work*, not *thinking* is a much better way to view the long-term value of (or lack thereof) of these things. - [4 Years Of Lessons From Running My Own Bookstore](https://ryanholiday.net/4-years-of-lessons-from-running-my-own-bookstore/). A great retrospective from [Ryan Holiday](https://ryanholiday.net), which has a lot of great advice for business and life. My favorite: '*If you've always wanted to do it ... do it.*' - [Why Small Networks Build Stronger Ideas](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/why-small-networks-build-stronger-ideas/). I've been a long-time advocate for having a [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) ([followup here](https://makoism.com/the-board-revisited/)), but this post is poetry for me: '*The best ideation networks are asymmetric. They aren't little echo chambers. They're cognitively and temperamentally diverse. They combine the formal and the chaotic. The spreadsheet brain and the poetry brain. The person who reads footnotes and the one who interrupts with metaphors. You want disagreement. You want stakes. You want someone who's willing to say: this doesn't hold. Small networks aren't scalable, and that's the point.*' - [Quality Beats Quantity](https://www.gapingvoid.com/quality-beats-quantity/). **Say no to protect the yes**, is a core tenant of [Essentialism](https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/), so when [Gaping Void](https://www.gapingvoid.com) writes about how many are '*guilty of confusing quantity for quality*', I need to read it. The parallels from the naval battle between [Sir Francis Drake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis%5FDrake) and the victory over [Spain's Invincible Armada (1588)](https://www.loc.gov/collections/sir-francis-drake/articles-and-essays/drake-biography/armada/) was achieved not by matching Spain's **strength** but by *innovating* naval engagement strategies. '*Success isn't more.* [*It's finding the angle everyone else missed*](https://www.martialdevelopment.com/how-to-win-kickboxing-wrong/)*.*' - [Why is there a 'small house' in IBM's Code page 437?](https://blog.glyphdrawing.club/why-is-there-a-small-house-in-ibm-s-code-page-437/). This is a fun look at why IBM has a glyph of a small house in their character set. I'm not going to spoil this fun read for font fanatics. - [Celebrate 50 Years Of Microsoft With The Company's Original Source Code](https://www.gatesnotes.com/meet-bill/source-code/reader/microsoft-original-source-code). Speaking of classic code and fun reading, Bill Gates posted the source code for BASIC. But honestly, the origin of it all is fascinating to look through. - [Britbox's New Advert Is A 14-Hours-Long One-Shot Take](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/uncommon-blinkink-britbox-advertising-project-100425). While watching [The Studio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FStudio%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29), whose [second episode was a one-shot](https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/the-studio-one-take-episode-1236347408/) about a one-shot (brilliant!), I came across this wild one from [Britbox](https://www.britbox.com/us/). It's a 90-second shot, which '*features a sped-up, continuous 14-hour single-take sequence, capturing an actor's transition through multiple meticulously designed sets.*' - [The Size of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Over The United States](https://brilliantmaps.com/pacific-garbage-patch-map/). Many don't know about the '*largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world that is located between Hawaii and California.*' Even more shocking is that it covers an estimated '*surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-13-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-13-25/ Last updated: 2025-04-13T12:25:31.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Video of the Week 📺 I was shared a video this week from [the Today show](https://www.today.com) from 1988, in which [Jane Pauley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane%5FPauley) talks about the risks of not being able to trust your eyes anymore with the advent of [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html). Close your eyes for a minute, replace the word 'Photoshop' with 'Generative AI image creation', and listen to how well it fits with today's technology. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [We are all goofballs](https://seths.blog/2025/04/we-are-all-goofballs/). Everything has been so serious lately, and I love this: '*Starting from the place where we're all imperfect makes it easy to find empathy for others and ourselves.*' - [Rigorous thinking: No lazy thinking](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/rigorous-thinking). I enjoyed this take on '**rigorous thinking**' and the lens on the importance of having '*critical questions about tactics, and having a systematic way of making decisions.*' [I'll keep saying it over and over](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako/114313794566257914), in 2025 (between the world in general, overhyped AI, etc.), that continuously educating yourself (and others) on importance of critical thinking is as a life skill. - [The Rules of Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote Cartoons](https://kottke.org/25/04/the-rules-of-road-runner-and-wile-e-coyote-cartoons-1). It's a common practice among film/TV creators, but I found [animator Chuck Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck%5FJones) 'rule book' for Road Runner cartoons humorously fascinating. '*Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy*.' - [Where Does Astronaut Poop End Up?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/68617/where-does-astronaut-poop-end). I've always enjoyed watching the [Perseid meteor shower](https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html) in August - there's something just magical about watching things fly through space in the night sky. It makes you feel at one with the universe. Just remember that next time you see a shooting star, just know: **It could be astronaut poop**. - [Fewer beans = great coffee if you get the pour height right](https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/04/the-trick-to-making-great-pour-over-coffee-with-fewer-beans/). Getting the perfect cup of coffee, or your espresso not to channel during the extraction process, is sometimes more art than science. However, a recent physics study shows that when doing a pour-over, the '*trick is to pour the water from as high as possible without letting the jet of water break up upon impact with the grounds*.' - [Use "but" strategically](https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/use-but-strategically). The vilification of the word 'but' and how saying '*the positive thing, *but* the negative thing*, *accidentally cancels out all the positive stuff.*'. A look at how a simple change is '*swapping the order of what comes before vs after*' can make all the difference. - [You Might Think of Shrimp as Bugs of the Sea. But a Remarkable Discovery Shows the Opposite: Bugs Are Actually Shrimp of the Land](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/you-might-think-of-shrimp-as-bugs-of-the-sea-but-a-remarkable-discovery-shows-the-opposite-bugs-are-actually-shrimp-of-the-land-180986303/). Ever think that a shrimp kinda looks like a bug? Recent research suggests that insects are closely related to crustaceans, but how they evolved is not precisely what you'd think. - [Vibe Coding and Kodak Cameras](https://stevedylan.dev/posts/vibe-coding-and-kodak-cameras/). I'm not going to get into my personal views on the latest trend of 'vibe coding,' but I enjoyed this piece, which correlates it to what Kodak did with cameras in the 1900s. The '*introduction of the Brownie camera allowed anyone to take photos, leading to a surge in amateur photography and concerns from traditional photographers about the dilution of the art form.*' - [Did Reagan really coin the term Trust But Verify?](https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/330521-reagan-trust-but-verify-chernobyl). '*Trust But Verify*' is a term that I find myself saying more and more lately, and the common thinking is that it comes from [President Ronald Regan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald%5FReagan), who used it in his negotiations with the Soviet Union in 1987 nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia. But it turns out, the origins lie in an old Russian proverb, '[Doveryai, no proveryai](https://www.rbth.com/society/2014/04/02/revisiting%5Fthe%5Fadage%5Ftrust%5Fbut%5Fverify%5F35595.html)', is [often attributed to Lenin](https://www.centripetal.ai/blog/trust-but-verify-threat-intelligence/). - [The poison fruit from 'The White Lotus' is real and attacks the heart](https://time.com/7275507/the-white-lotus-poisonous-fruit/). I'm not sure if people pick up a blender that has a bunch of gunk in it and use it without washing, but the 'suicide tree,' also known as the [pong pong tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerbera%5Fodollam) is real, and it's widespread in places like India, Thailand, and the Pacific Islands. - [To Be Happier, Stop Resisting Change (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/zen-archery-lesson-happier/682269/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHSQPyyX2R7%5FDValQiA1Y4t8&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). I've quoted [Bruce Lee's 'be like water'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJMwBwFj5nQ) probably a thousand times. Still, I enjoyed this piece's view on how '*zen archery illustrates the importance of letting go of control and expectations.*' Knowing how (and when) to stop resisting change and simply let it occur seems like great advice most people need to overcome. - [Dopamine Detox: Sleep Savior or Overhyped Trend?](https://lagoonsleep.com/blogs/news/dopamine-detox-sleep-savior-or-overhyped-trend). I'm a terrible sleeper - I average (on a good night) about 6 1/2 hours, which is not enough. Put aside my sleep apnea, the science between dopamine and sleep disruption is real. '*By taking a break from high-dopamine activities, you allow your brain's reward system to recalibrate. This can restore balance, boost your appreciation for simpler things, and curb those compulsive behaviors. The result? Better sleep.*' - [Meet 'cognitive shuffling'](https://fortune.com/well/2025/03/31/cognitive-shuffling-sleep-strategy). More on sleep hacks: '*Cognitive shuffling is when you purposely focus on words that do not correlate to one another, introducing a randomness that can distract you and not emotionally engage you enough to keep you awake*.' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 4-6-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-4-6-25/ Last updated: 2025-04-06T11:57:44.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [10 Ways to Think About Puzzles.](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-to-think-about-puzzles). A fun look at various ways we handle solving puzzles, and I don't just mean crossword puzzles. '*Good luck solving puzzles out there. We've been handed some really tricky ones lately.*' - [Availability is no longer a personality trait](https://brilliantcrank.com/availability-is-no-longer-a-personality-trait/) and [Eject disk](https://brilliantcrank.com/eject-disk/). Two amazing posts from [Brillantcrank](https://brilliantcrank.com) on fostering more meaningful relationships and the exhausting aspects of superficial connections. **Eject Disk**, self-described as '*a manifesto for everyone stuck in the system that keeps crashing you*,' was a wonderful follow-up asserting that burnout is not a sign of weakness but a result of over-functioning in environments that demand endurance over authenticity. Beautiful read. - [Why You Should Work Like It's the '90s (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/04/work-email-slack-boundaries/682261/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHZ0gsUVk6EvQEopsjEk%5FKG0&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). Remember the days when you'd leave the office, and disconnect without constant noise from emails or messages? **I do** \- and it's the reason why my work is **never** on my personal phone. No slack, teams, email, etc., to encroach on my time after I finish the day. Suppose there's an *emergency*; sure, people know how to get me - but it's essential to have that distance to disconnect. - [In Praise of Laurene Powell Jobs, Owner of The Atlantic, Superhero of Signalgate](https://www.thewrap.com/laurene-powell-jobs-atlantic-praise-signalgate/). I love the way [Laurene Powell Jobs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurene%5FPowell%5FJobs) handled '[signalgate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United%5FStates%5Fgovernment%5Fgroup%5Fchat%5Fleak),' and it's solidified my choice on why I subscribe to [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com) — a superhero we need right now. - [Cory Booker, Endurance Athlete (gift link)](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/cory-booker-endurance-athlete/682273/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHZSb4dxs1MWgcXwy3Q2dNPc&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share). Speaking of heroes, Senator Cory Booker's record-breaking speech of 25+ hours was a '*oratorical marathon*.' Politics aside, I was fascinated to read about how he could do this without taking a bathroom break. He stopped eating on the previous Friday and refrained from drinking water 24 hours before he even started speaking — a verbal marathon. - [Codex Vitae](https://2019.busterbenson.com/beliefs/). I came across this 2019 post from [Buster Benson](https://2019.busterbenson.com/), author of '[Why are we Yelling](https://www.amazon.com/Why-Are-We-Yelling-hardcover/dp/0525540105)?' about keeping a **Codex Vitae**. Often described as a 'book of strategies, life hacks and bits of wisdom,' or in his own words, as a '*way for me to remember who I am, catch inconsistencies in how I respond to different events in the world, react to current events from a position of how I believe the world is, should be, and will become.*' I have also heard these referred to as '[commonplace books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonplace%5Fbook),' but I love the idea of a "**a book of wisdom that is literally your life's work.**" - [5 Productivity Strategies from the Mind of Richard Feynman](https://www.inc.com/samuel-bacharach/five-strategies-for-productivity-from-the-world-of-richard-feynman.html). Oooh - I enjoyed this dive into '*curiosity-driven exploration*' over conventional productivity measures. - [No one cares... for now](https://www.manton.org/2025/03/29/no-one-cares-for-now.html). There is some excellent advice about writing in this piece, even when no one reads it. '*No one cares. That's okay. The act of writing itself helps us think, helps us learn, helps us discover how we feel about a topic.*' - [Here's Why I'm Telling Young Musicians to See the Dylan Biopic](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/heres-why-im-telling-young-musicians). A reminder that songs are themselves change agents and that music is transformative. - [ALPS and the Topographic Mindset](https://mamund.substack.com/p/alps-and-the-topographic-mindset). I hadn't previously heard of ALPS ([Application-Level Profile Semantics](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-amundsen-richardson-foster-alps-07)), but I love the concept when applied to thinking in general. The idea of '*shift in mindset: *from navigating roads to reading terrain**' is a great one for life in general and how we have to approach many things these days when shifting perspectives to a [generalist approach](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/). - [Theory of Constraints](https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/management/theory-of-constraints). The theory of constraints is that you should determine which step in a process is the least efficient and is holding you back — a helpful tool to think about when pushing for continuous improvement. - [Productivity for Mortals](https://youtube.com/watch?v=1lrImthL9lI). [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com) discusses an important question (especially in the age of 'perfect' social media); '*Even though we know perfection isn't real, it can still leave us feeling stuck. 'why even try?' we wonder as we face our messy, imperfect lives.*'. It's a quick but insightful watch. - [Keep moving](https://everythingchanges.us/blog/keep-moving/). A good reminder of the importance of action and connection in times like this is a good way to stay grounded. - [How to Start Doing the Things You Daydream About](https://www.raptitude.com/2025/03/how-to-start-doing-the-things-you-daydream-about/). Ever find yourself in a place where you want to get something done, but you keep getting distracted by all the other things? It is a solid read on exploring the common excuses like **lack of time**, **uncertainty about how to start**, or waiting for a better time. And, more importantly, how these excuses are mere deflections rooted in **fear of the unknown**. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-30-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-30-25/ Last updated: 2025-03-30T00:56:34.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Random Insights I'm not sure I agree with the reframing of this classic Steve Jobs clip into a '*vision of AI*', but I certainly love the wisdom and vision on where technology can take us. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [10 Zombie Types & How to Defeat Them](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-zombie-types-and-how-to-defeat). While 2025 feels like it's filled with uncertainty, one of the things that I am looking forward to is the return of [The Last of Us](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FzHPsmXCjB0) (and a [season 1 recap for those that need a quick catch up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTp7hqLOw7U)), there are different types of zombies we all come across. **The Martyr Zombie**: '*They will tell their prey to 'Just suck it up' while they trip over their own intestines and their feet fall off. The only way to defeat them is to refuse to suffer under their oppressive nostalgia for pain.*' How many of these different zombies do you know? - [The Best of What You Have](https://tangiblelife.net/the-best-of-what-you-have). [Rick Rubin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick%5FRubin)'s book, [The Creative Act](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-creative-act-a-way-of-being-rick-rubin/18543579?ean=9780593652886&next=t), is one of the most profound reads of last year. But this 52-second audio clip from an [interview with Rick Beato](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkwISstQQVw) is something that you should listen to daily. '*Using the things you have and making the best of what those things are, instead of trying to turn them into the thing you wish they were, is a really good way to go.*' - [Beware tech career advice from old heads](https://jacobian.org/2025/mar/13/beware-advice-from-old-heads/). I fall into the category of an 'old head' when it comes to tech advice, and '*keeping my advice relevant by spending lots of time talking with and listening to people newer to the industry, and applying their lessons learned rather than my own*' is incredibly important to remember. - [When DC Comics Killed Off Superman](https://www.mentalfloss.com/death-of-superman-comics-history). In 1992, I was an avid comic collector, and to this day, I still have my sealed copies of the infamous '**Death of Superman**' run from [DC Comics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC%5FComics). I enjoyed the nostalgia of this retrospective on the origin of the concept: '*Let's just kill him.*' - [How to Be Quiet and Fierce at the Same Time](https://introvertdear.com/news/how-to-be-quiet-and-fierce-at-the-same-time/). There's a common misconception that being quiet equates to some form of brokenness, but there's incredible value in just shutting up (a skill I need to work on and be conscious of continuously). While this piece focuses more on the unique strengths of introverts, I found it particularly insightful regarding mindful listening. - [Why You Should Get Lost More Often](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/why-you-should-get-lost-more-often). Why it's important to seek out '**blank spots on the map**.' Not only is this awesome advice for life but there's something to be said about looking at how you work: continuous learning. '*How we think about the benefits of learning new stuff versus doubling down on stuff we already know.*' (Side note: just added '[The Explorers Gene](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-explorer-s-gene-alex-hutchinson/21617612?ean=9780063269767&next=t)' to [the book pile to read this year](https://bookshop.org/lists/books-for-2025)). - [Stickers Were Everything. What Happened?](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/stickers-were-everything-what-happened). A look at stickers as a youthful way to recognize and celebrate achievements. - [Types of Time Travel in Movies](https://youtube.com/watch?v=dFksL4V64qI). I'm always a sucker for a good mind-bending time travel movie (and often joke that '*I am from the future*'; I mean, who would really *know*?). This great video reviews the different types of time travel and examples to show how each method works via media. From *branching timelines* to *time dilation* to *time loops*, I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. - [How Much of Your Reality Is Fake? Chomsky's Chilling Truth About Everyday Lies](https://medium.com/@photiniorama/how-much-of-your-reality-is-fake-chomskys-chilling-truth-about-everyday-lies-4ae5a388a209). [Noam Chomsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam%5FChomsky) dives into the daily deception faced by the public, questioning how much is genuinely noticed, and how society is mainly oblivious to the extent of misinformation, often distracted by trivial content. It's chilling but essential to remain informed. - [Assault at Antarctic base could be a warning for future travelers to Mars](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/antarctic-base-assault-1.7489637). Yikes; a South African Antarctic research base, [SANAE IV](https://www.sanap.ac.za/about/gallery-sanae), is located at a remote location in East Antarctica. The base houses a nine-member team of doctors, scientists, and engineers who spend 10 months in isolation during the harsh, dark southern winter. Read what happened when an altercation broke out; I wonder when this will be made into a movie. - [The Life-Changing Power of Shutting Up](https://thoughts.natedickson.com/the-life-changing-power-of-shutting-up). In the same vein as another link above, great thinking around '*I have never come out of a situation where I was negative to or about someone else and felt better.*' - [Physicists unlock another clue to brewing the perfect espresso](https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/03/the-physics-of-brewing-the-perfect-espresso/). As an admitted coffee addict, I always look for different ways to up the bar for my morning ritual. I just recently purchased an [ARO Orbit PRO](https://aroespresso.com/products/aro-orbit-pro-aluminum-spirographic-espresso-distribution-tool) distribution tool to reduce channeling, but this article gets down to the actual physics involved. - [Former Golf Courses Are Going Wild](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/rewilding-golf-courses/). It is a bit of a different lens than what [Abandoned America](https://www.abandonedamerica.us) usually photographs (which is also amazingly creepy); take a look at the transformation of old, unused golf courses across the U.S. and how they are being transformed into wildflower meadows and natural spaces. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-23-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-23-25/ Last updated: 2025-03-22T12:21:55.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Diane, I wrote a lecture by talking about it](https://interconnected.org/home/2025/03/20/diane). [For years now](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/), I've been trying to rewire my brain around a "watch first" ecosystem; something new that uses a combination of AirPods and the watch, just leaving the phone behind (the 'personal network'). Whether being used for [streamlined notifications](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/3/4/streamlined-pushes) or a [complete health ecosystem](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/), this space fascinates me. This post goes into a workflow for '*turning your ramblings into paragraphed articles, and emails them to you*' using Whisper AI models, and only the watch is inspired. Bonus read: the link to [all of Twin Peaks's Agent Cooper recordings to Diane](http://www.tpbrewingco.com/diane.html). - [Podcasting's Shift to Video Comes With Pitfalls](https://variety.com/vip/podcasting-shift-to-video-comes-with-pitfalls-1236319356/). **Interesting space to watch**: Have you noticed the recent trend where more and more podcasts now have a [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com) video as well? I was curious about this (as I hardly have time to listen to podcasts), let alone *watch* someone talk into a mic. I was surprised to learn that the data from [Cumulus Media](https://www.cumulusmedia.com/) shows that YouTube 'podcast' consumption **has grown to 34%**, up from 28% a year prior. [Edison Research](https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-infinite-dial-2025/) has a similar view, '***The reality is that the overwhelming majority of people who watch podcasts will say that they are podcast listeners. But as more people discover the platform via video, it's smart to think about it as consumption instead of just listening***.' - [Why Great Engineering Orgs Thrive on 'Normal' Engineers](https://spectrum.ieee.org/10x-engineer). 💯% agree with this one; ever since the famous [10x engineer](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/10x-engineer) meme hit, it rubbed me the wrong way. Enabling *great* teams is the path to success, and 'best engineering organizations are the ones where normal engineers can do great work' sums it up nicely. - [Asking Good Questions Is Harder Than Giving Great Answers](https://newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/asking-good-questions-is-harder-than-giving-great-answers/). While the post centers around limitations with Generative AI, I liked where the author went on general critical thinking. '*It's not about correct answers. It is about asking distinctive, uncommon questions.*' - [Creating Saturday Night Live: Cue Cards](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3djg59JUrmc). It's an older video, but it's interesting how Saturday Night Live uses cue cards — a short watch from SNL's cue card supervisor, Wally Feresten. - [Playing Catch Up](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/playing-catch-up). We've all been there: **you fall behind**. This is a quick read with some ideas on what to do when you do. - [Operating Rules for Email Collaboration](https://nazhamid.com/journal/email-collaboration/). It should be **required** reading for anyone who sends an email. The short version: '*stick to the facts, write clearly, keep it brief, use headers, sections, and lists, and be kind.*' Bravo! - [The risk of outsourcing judgment to AI](https://bigthink.com/business/the-risk-of-outsourcing-judgment-to-ai/). I spend a lot of time continuously learning new technologies and how they can be used to work smarter. '*You can leverage AI to outsource parts of your job, but never leverage AI to outsource your *thinking**' is a fantastic way to think about it. Grounding yourself there is imperative, as [digital dependence is reshaping our brains](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/403100/ai-brain-effects-technology-phones). - [AI can't do your job](https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/18/asbestos-in-the-walls/). In a similar thread, Cory Doctorow nails it: '*an AI salesman can convince your boss to fire you and replace you with a chatbot that can't do your job.*' - [A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To Being "Ready"](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/a-funny-thing-happened-on-my-way). I mentioned [Brad Montague](https://bradmontague.substack.com) 's latest book [last week](https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-16-25/); I just totally respect *the honest vulnerability* he shares every week in his posts. A good read here. - [Anthony Bourdain: 'Eat at a Local Restaurant Tonight' Quote](https://www.truthorfiction.com/anthony-bourdain-eat-at-a-local-restaurant-tonight-quote/). I've seen a quote from Anthony Bourdain float around a lot the last week, but what most don't realize is that he **never said it**. Regardless, '*enjoy the ride.*' - [Ancient Wisdom Reveals 6 Secrets To A Long Awesome Life](https://bakadesuyo.com/2025/03/age-well/). This is an insightful read on 'how to grow old'; there are many great nuggets of wisdom here. - [Why Qualitative Data Belongs in Your Key Results](https://eleganthack.com/why-qualitative-data-belongs-in-your-key-results/). If you're rolling out OKRs or just a data dork, I liked how this post discussed how it's important to remember that '***progress and tasks are not results***'. - [How to stay sane *AND* informed](https://linksiwouldgchatyou.substack.com/p/how-to-stay-sane-and-informed). Important advice for 2025. - [Taming my Brain... or, My Notebook Setup for 2025](https://thebobfett.substack.com/p/taming-my-brainor-my-notebook-setup). I buy (and don't use) too many notebooks, but I love their tactile feel - the opportunity of a blank page. It's always interesting to see how different people use them to sort their thoughts and keep track of things that matter to them. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-16-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-16-25/ Last updated: 2025-03-16T11:58:39.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [My Thoughts on the Future of 'AI'](https://nicholas.carlini.com/writing/2025/thoughts-on-future-ai.html). Having been down the road a bit for a few years on the whole 'generative ai' thing, I liked this unbiased post on AI's current and future state. The feeling that "*there is a very real probability that in five years we look back at the LLM hype of 2023-2025, we see it like we now see the Internet bubble of 1998-2000*" seems to be pretty accurate, given where things are today, and a good reminder that we need to be open-minded on which way this all can go. - [It's All J.J. Abrams' Fault! (Not Really.)](https://buttondown.com/charliejane/archive/its-all-jj-abrams-fault-not-really/). Several years ago, I wrote about [J.J. Abrams Mystery Box](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjVgF5JDq8), so I thought it was an interesting correlation to life today. '*How it feels as though we're living in an era where our politics and our national culture have gotten stuck altogether inside that mystery box*.' - [Common mistakes and what they secretly reveal about you!](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/common-mistakes-and-what-they-secretly). If you haven't already started your own [fail-a-bration](https://montagueworkshop.com/failresources), you need to [consume more of Brad's work](https://bradmontague.substack.com). His last book about celebrating failures was particularly significant, and the idea of '*failure can be a catalyst for creativity*' is one I've returned to over the last year. - [The Slog - What No One Told Me About Writing A Book](https://kristie-de-garis.ghost.io/the-slog-what-no-one-told-me-about-writing-a-book/). '*Productive writing often comes from struggle and focused effort*' - I feel this. - [The First King of Home Computing](https://every.to/the-crazy-ones/the-first-king-of-home-computing). When I was a kid, having a Commodore 64 was the centerpiece of our 'computer room' (err, guest room with a table), but I never knew the background of Commodore's founder, [Jack Tramiel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack%5FTramiel), until now. Read about one of the most explosive and ruthless computer industry founders who brought the PET, VIC-20, Commodore 64, and Atari ST to market. - [Ludic's Guide To Getting Software Engineering Jobs](https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/ludics-guide-to-getting-software-engineering-jobs/). I can't wait to see what my friends who read this blog think about this one. - [40 Thoughts On Turning 40](https://newsletter.pathlesspath.com/p/40-thoughts-on-turning-40-287). I like these lists as they are a great reminder of what to focus on. - [Avoid the nightmare bicycle](https://www.geoffreylitt.com/2025/03/03/the-nightmare-bicycle.html). The 'nightmare bicycle' was a new term for me this week, but I like it. Noted as one of **the essential concepts in product design** (from the book [Changing Minds](https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Minds-Computers-Learning-Literacy/dp/0262541327)), **avoiding the nightmare bicycle** is when designs paper over the structure with superficial labels that hide the underlying system. For example, '*where the product manager says people don't get math so we cant have numbered gears. We need labeled buttons for gravel mode, downhill mode, etc.*' - this type of thinking claims that we would lose the understanding of how to use the gears to solve any situation we encounter. Interesting read. - [The hardest working font in Manhattan](https://aresluna.org/the-hardest-working-font-in-manhattan/). [Gorton](https://github.com/drdnar/GortonDigital) is the **most** popular font used in New York City, and I was unaware of the history of the **George Gorton Machine Co**, a Wisconsin-based company that produced various engraving machines. Its historic font can be found everywhere, including '*traffic control devices, elevators and escalators, locomotives and subway trains, submarines, and jet fighters. Gorton made its way to peace- and wartime nuclear facilities ... it was there on the elevator at the Kennedy Space Center with labels marked *EARTH* and *SPACE*.*' - [Revenge Font](https://revengefont.com/). Speaking of fonts, the story of this font is **awesome**. Installed immediately. - [Welcome to the Opt-Out Project](https://www.optoutproject.net/welcome-to-the-opt-out-project/). How do you opt out of any large technology company? Here's a site for you. - [The Fediverse Isn't the Future. It's the Present We've Been Denied.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-fediverse-isnt-the-future-its-the-present-weve-been-denied/). Most of my social networking today takes place on the fediverse; read more about how '*the fediverse is a jailbreak. It's not a product, not a single platform, it's not something you can buy stock in or use to enrich yourself at the cost of our shared humanity. It's a network of independent, interconnected social platforms, all running on open protocols like ActivityPub.*' - [Becoming the scientist of your own life](https://www.tinyrevolutions.co/p/tiny-revolutions-119-becoming-the). I've mentioned neuroscientist [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://open.substack.com/users/7234620-anne-laure-le-cunff) and her new book, [Tiny Experiments](https://nesslabs.com/book). I found this interview really interesting. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-9-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-9-25/ Last updated: 2025-03-09T10:57:37.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Whiskey Infinity Bottle](https://www.tastingtable.com/1168847/the-whiskey-infinity-bottle-explained/). At a recent event, I learned (and tried) a '**Whiskey Infinity Bottle**,' and wow - I was *not expecting* such a unique flavor. The basic idea: '*find an empty vessel — like a blending bottle or decanter — then pour in a dram of any new whisky that you buy. That said, you can also fill your infinity bottle with the ends of various whiskies that you haven't got around to finishing. The result? Your own unique blend that tastes like nothing else — one that is irreplicable and irreplaceable.*' The bottle I got to try this week was a blend of a few hundred whiskeys and was **shockingly amazing**. Sold! I'm starting my own this week ([I bought this decanter to experiment](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082XFF3XS)). - [Master your anxiety. Unleash your genius](https://youtube.com/watch?v=CO-6iqCum1w). Actor, author, and director [Jesse Eisenberg](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/) reveals how anxiety, self-doubt, and fear have served as unlikely catalysts in his career. It is a quick watch that's **well worth** the 10 minutes of your time. - [Bikeshedding](https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/bikeshedding). Word of the week! Also known as **Parkinson's Law of Triviality**, it is '*our tendency to devote a disproportionate amount of our time to menial and trivial matters while leaving important matters unattended.*' - [The Three Styles of Curiosity](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the%5Fthree%5Fstyles%5Fof%5Fcuriosity). This article was a fascinating read that examines different ways we seek out information. The **busybody** seeks a wide range of information, the **hunter** focuses on finding targeted answers, and the **dancer** creatively combines ideas and explores new ways of framing information. Which one are you? - [This page is under construction](https://localghost.dev/blog/this-page-is-under-construction/). A self-described '*love letter to the personal website*' and further inspiration on why you should build out your little corner of the internet. - [Controlling the Taylor Swift Eras Tour wristbands with Flipper Zero](https://blog.jgc.org/2024/05/controlling-taylor-swift-eras-tour.html). Do you still have a wristband from [the Eras Tour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FEras%5FTour) around? Those wristbands are designed to light up on command, and I bet you didn't know - **are reusable**. The way these work in a concert, the bands are controlled by a large movable infrared remote control that transmits commands to the wristbands for color changes and effects. Then they are combined with infrared projectors that sweep effects around the stadium and create shapes like hearts using cutouts. Guess what? If you have a [Flipper Zero](https://flipperzero.one), you can also control them. :) - [Feeling Lost and Unmotivated? Read This.](https://dariusforoux.substack.com/p/feeling-lost-and-unmotivated-read). Feeling lost and unmotivated is something that many people I talk with are experiencing - and it's not a sign of being lazy or broken - *it's the world right now*. This is an excellent post on some strategies for [feeling in a hole](https://makoism.com/holes/) and why feeling lost can be **good**. - [With Great Power Came No Responsibility](https://pluralistic.net/2025/02/26/ursula-franklin/#franklinite). [Cory Doctorow](https://pluralistic.net/author/doctorow/) recently presented an outstanding talk entitled '**With Great Power Came No Responsibility: How Enshittification Conquered the 21st Century and How We Can Overthrow It.**'. It is a wonderful talk on how '*laws that protect intellectual property and digital locks hinder competition and repairability, exacerbating enshittification by allowing companies to control markets and limit consumer rights.*' You can also [watch the talk here](https://vimeo.com/1059798497). - [Why Is Coffee Called a 'Cup of Joe'?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/cup-of-joe-coffee-meaning). **Coffee is life**, and this post has a few ideas on where the term '[cup of joe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvs7pmISe8I)' originated. - [Leadership](https://zeitgeistarete.substack.com/p/leadership). I really enjoyed working with [Amber Taylor](https://zeitgeistarete.substack.com) back in my days at Nike and was delighted to come across this insightful post from her on leadership. There are so many good thought nuggets in this post on how effective leadership is about serving others rather than focusing on oneself — **just go read it**. - [Every Line Is a Potential Bug](https://www.teamten.com/lawrence/writings/every%5Fline%5Fis%5Fa%5Fpotential%5Fbug.html). This is a super interesting perspective that every line of code can introduce potential bugs, and developers should avoid writing unnecessary code or optimizations. I've said it before: [choose boring technology](https://makoism.com/surprising-things-about-boredom/). I need to update my talk to incorporate this additional context. - [A Love Letter to the Home Computer](https://thebobfett.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-the-home-computer). This is a **beautiful** post that resonated with me —a lot of the emotions in here are what got me into computers as a kid. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 3-2-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-3-2-25/ Last updated: 2025-03-02T13:04:32.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Make yourself less valuable to tech companies](https://www.coryd.dev/posts/2025/make-yourself-less-valuable-to-tech-companies/). If you're getting as sick as I am at what's going on with some technology companies these days, one of the best 'acts of resistance' to do is simply making yourself [*'less valuable' to them*](https://johnoliverwantsyourraterotica.com). If you haven't seen [this segment from John Oliver on Meta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf7XHR3EVHo), I would highly recommend sitting back a bit to give it a watch. Cory [has crafted an incredible resource](https://www.coryd.dev/posts/2025/make-yourself-less-valuable-to-tech-companies/#fn1) with all the steps you need to remove or at least lessen your data exposure to them (Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Amazon, X, etc). [Watch now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf7XHR3EVHo). - [Gene Hackman Redefined Leading Men and Made Movies Better](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gene-hackman-redefined-leading-men-made-movies-better/). 2025 keeps kicking us when we're down, and when I heard about [the passing of 95-year-old actor Gene Hackman](https://www.npr.org/2025/03/01/nx-s1-5305757/remembering-gene-hackman) this week, I felt a surprising sense of loss as a long time fan. Once voted as 'least likely to succeed,' Hackman (in my book) is one of the inspiring greats who brought powerful grace to every performance. And though the circumstances surrounding not only his death but that of his wife and one of their dogs remain a bit of a mystery, there's no denying a true Hollywood legend is gone. - [The David Lynch Line That Reveals the Humanity of His Work](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/david-lynch-line-reveals-humanity-of-his-work/). While '*keep your eye on the donut, not on the hole*' comes from the [Optimist's Creed](https://eatingtheworld.net/2020/10/13/the-optimists-creed/) of [Mayflower Donuts](https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/12/15/doughnut-holes/), I love the way Lynch uses it to describe his work. '*The donut hole is in the center. It's what draws the eye. But it has no substance, it's a void. It only exists in relation to what's around it.*' And, in 2025, focusing on the signal, not the bombardment of noise, is some of the best life advice these days. [Watch here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVyc2CFauPE). - [Playing 'Civilization 7' Is Like Being a Ruthless Corporate Consultant](https://every.to/feeds/f879846003ea58f13906/playing-civilization-7-is-like-being-a-ruthless-corporate-consultant). While I'm still waiting for Civilization 7 to be released for iOS devices (Civ 6 is available), this was a fun read comparing the games mechanics around exploring, expanding, exploiting, and exterminating, and efficiently allocate resources, akin to the strategies employed by consulting firms. Ouch. - [The future of the internet is likely smaller communities, with a focus on curated experiences](https://www.theverge.com/press-room/617654/internet-community-future-research). There's a significant fragmentation of social media upon us, and this post was a fun and insightful look at what happens when '*social platforms are rapidly losing ground as trust and authenticity fade.*' [More here as well](https://werd.io/2025/the-future-of-the-internet-is-likely-smaller-communities-with). - [❧ Prompt Update: Haunting](https://lucybellwood.com/%e2%9d%a7-prompt-update-haunting/). Ok - this was a wild find, '*a very personal social media post with an audience of one*.' [The Right Number](https://therightnumber.tel) (503-673-6267) is a '*noncommercial space where your only job is to be yourself; upon dialing you'll be connected to a voicemail box and given a brief prompt. You have three minutes to answer however you'd like.*' Wild! - [Questions for the End of a 1:1](https://cate.blog/2025/02/25/questions-for-the-end-of-a-11/). This is a good resource for a bunch of reflective questions that can be asked during one-on-one meetings to enhance communication and feedback. I will definitely be adding a few of these to mine. - [The Keen is pricy, but exactly what I wanted](https://heydingus.net/blog/2025/2/the-keen-is-pricy-but-exactly-what-i-wanted). I grabbed the [Studio Neat Keen](https://www.studioneat.com/products/keen) when it was on [Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danprovost/keen-a-compact-durable-and-retractable-utility-knife), and it's a *fantastic* utility knife. - [Be Excellent, Not Perfect](https://danoshinsky.com/2025/02/23/be-excellent-not-perfect/). Great advice: '*Aim for perfection and you'll usually fall short. Aim for excellence and you have a chance to do excellent work along the way.*' - [Why We Lost Our Sense of Community](https://witwisdom.tomgreene.com/p/sense-of-community). I don't know if the theory proposed by this article is the only reason, but it's interesting. The post asserts that one of the main reasons that society has '*become more isolated and polarized than ever*' is due to architecture. Yes - home architecture, specifically **the front porch** helped facilitate a sense of belonging and community. '*Once we retreated from the front porch to the backyard patio, it signaled a breakdown of the neighborhood.*' Something to think about. - [20 Great Songs to Use for CPR](https://www.mentalfloss.com/songs-to-use-for-cpr). Hopefully, you'll never need to perform CPR, but if you do, you'll want to time your compressions to the beat of these songs, which have between 100 and 120 beats per minute. Ironically, the [Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNFzfwLM72c) has long been considered the gold standard at 104BPM. (For you, Swifties: [Taylor Swift's 22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgFeZr5ptV8) is on the list). - ['Eat shit' and 'Oh fuck': Sweary First and Last Words](https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2025/02/21/swearing-first-words-last-words-michael-erard-bye-bye-i-love-you/). According to [Michael Erard](https://www.michaelerard.com) 's book, [Bye Bye I Love You: The Story of Our and First Last Words](https://bookshop.org/p/books/bye-bye-i-love-you-the-story-of-our-first-and-last-words-michael-erard/21489368), examines the linguistic patterns of peoples first words and dying utterances. I wanted to close out this week with an ***incredible*** performance of the soliloquy from Hamlet given by [Andrew Scott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew%5FScott%5F%28actor%29) ([Jim Moriarty from Sherlock](https://thesherlock.fandom.com/wiki/Jim%5FMoriarty)). It was just captivating. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### 2025 EDC URL: https://makoism.com/2025-edc/ Last updated: 2025-03-01T21:21:50.000Z It's been [a few years](https://makoism.com/2021-edc/) since I overhauled my **Everyday Carry (EDC)** kit that is in my laptop bag. The 2025 goal was to charge any device, get smaller and more durable cables, and make it incredibly light. Now that I can use USB-C for all my charging needs across all devices, I went thin with the chargers and added a few adapters to connect anything I would have with me on a typical workday. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2025/03/2026kit-b.png) The 2025 "Micro" EDC Kit I was surprised how much battery and charging tech has advanced, notably USB-C for everything. I refined it with a super-thin charger, a tiny 10k battery, and a few adapters. I can charge the phone, the laptop, the iPad, the Apple Watch, AirPod Pros, etc., in a tiny 3.5"x5.5" bag that **only weighs 355g**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2025/03/2025kit-a.png) Micro-EDC "Exploded" View Here's your shopping list: - 1\. [Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CSYVSW) - 2\. [Nomad 65w Slim Dual USB C Charger](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYP6KPPB) - 3\. [Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3 Quick Charge Dual USB C Power Bank](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9TRRV16) - 4\. [Hagibis 240W Charging USB C Cable .4ft](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4T1C9H) - 5\. [USB C to USB A Adapter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082KMRVBB) - 6\. [240W USB C Adapter Power Meter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8PJ46WV) - 7\. [Fast Charging USB C Apple Watch Charger](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX5D1FY8) - 8\. [240W USB C Coupler](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTT1FJL6) - 9\. [Fisher Bullet Space Pen](https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-400B-Space-Bullet-Pen/dp/B0002ZQB4M) - 10\. [Reusable Elastic Cable Ties](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C48V6G8S) - [Airtag](https://www.apple.com/airtag/) This whole EDC is smaller than my phone, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the way it came out. ✌️ ### Espresso Shots 2-23-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-23-25/ Last updated: 2025-02-23T12:36:29.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [My time machine runs on technical writing](https://passo.uno/retrocomputing-tech-writing-lab/). I'll admit it - I've been doing tech work for as long as I can remember (35+ years!?). Today, what technology companies do is far from the pure 'joy of discovery' that fueled my passion for space. This post by [Fabrizio Ferri Benedetti](https://passo.uno), though, was a wild throwback as he experiments with AI-assisted coding tools to create a markdown editor for the [Commodore 128](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore%5F128). Yes, 40 years ago, I had one of these computers. - [From Rented to Owned: Taking Back Control Online](https://www.katycowan.co.uk/blog/from-rented-to-owned-taking-back-control-online). One of the better articles I have read regarding strategies to pull the plug on prominent social media. While there's definitely '*a sweet, rebellious satisfaction in finding yourself on solid ground again*' into ditching X, Facebook, etc., there's something more core here: a solid understanding that '**these platforms are rented space**.' It feels like there's a shift in the air as they '*no longer serve us as they once did, and more importantly, *we are not in control*.*' - [The Imperfectionist: Reality is right here](https://ckarchive.com/b/4zuvhehpp24m4t6ovveola6g9z777s5). OK, two in a row, so I guess there's a theme growing here - **the world is generally upside-down and out of control** and generally panic-inducing. This read has excellent tips on what you *can do about it* to stay sane. '*Make sure your psychological center of gravity is in your real and immediate world*' is one of the better pieces of advice I've seen to make yourself happier. - [9 Introvert Behaviors That Seem Weird But Have a Purpose](https://introvertdear.com/news/8-things-introverts-do-that-may-seem-weird-to-others-but-are-not/) Often, I've said that I am an [extroverted introvert](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/), so I appreciated (and certainly related) to this post. Give it a read if you want to understand better some of an introvert's behavioral patterns (especially why '*you might not leave your house for extended periods*'). - [We Need Outcomes, Not Insights](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/we-need-outcomes-not-insights). A suitable warning about the often false '*promises of actionable insights*.' - [The Generative AI Con](https://www.wheresyoured.at/longcon/). Oof, I've been writing [a long-form post](https://makoism.com/tag/makoism/) (prob for next week) on SOS (Shiny Objects Syndrome), but this (self-described) 'rant-filled newsletter' from [Ed Zitron](https://www.wheresyoured.at) just is too good not to share regarding the 'long con' of the state of Generative AI. '*There is no joy here, no mystery, no magic, no problems solved, no lives saved, and very few lives changed other than new people added to Forbes' Midas list.*' Food for thought, for sure. - [This Habit Is Making You Miserable (And Driving You Insane)](https://ryanholiday.net/this-habit-is-making-you-miserable/). The third time is a charm, with another mental health navigation article, but [Ryan Holiday](https://ryanholiday.net) gives some sound advice on the difference between being an informed citizen and *endless news consumption.* '*If you want to make a positive difference in the world—or simply maintain your sanity — *you need to step back*. You need to learn how to be more philosophical — which means being more discerning about what you let into your mind and learning how to see the big picture calmly and with perspective.*' Damn good advice, not only for the world today but even how to think through challenging work or life situations. - [Empathy is dangerous](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/empathy-is-dangerous). I love what [Brad](https://bradmontague.substack.com) is putting out here - '*The radical notion that other humans are not just background characters in your story but have their own hopes, fears, and interior lives.*'. We, as humans, need to '*try to take an extra second to care. To wonder. To hold space for the possibility that people are more than just the worst thing you can assume about them. Do the brave, better thing and imagine the best. We must embrace empathy. Because if we don't? We don't just lose kindness. We lose each other.*' - [You Will Never Win an Argument On the Internet — Here's Why](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/you-will-never-win-an-argument-on-the-internet-heres-why/) There are two things I have learned over time: 1) never try to write new cryptology algorithms - you will fail. And 2) never argue online with anyone. [Joan](https://www.joanwestenberg.com) has lots of good advice in this post that goes beyond just the Internet and with the associated death spiral of '**the psychology of doubling down**.' - [Quiet, please! The remarkable power of silence – for our bodies and our minds](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/02/quiet-please-the-remarkable-power-of-silence-for-our-bodies-and-our-minds) A quick reminder on the crucial benefits of silence in our increasingly noisy world. - [Life in Weeks](https://werd.io/2025/life-in-weeks). I've mentioned [the idea of a 'death clock'](https://makoism.com/time/) before, and [Tim Urban's incredible post, "Your Life in Weeks"](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html). But [here are a few links](https://weeks.ginatrapani.org) to some sites that have gone to the next level and put it online in a very dynamic form. Interesting. - [Work to Live, Don't Live to Work](https://kevquirk.com/blog/work-to-live-don-t-live-to-work). Damn right. - [Curiosity vs. Furiosity](https://experimentalliving.substack.com/p/curiosity-vs-furiosity). A how-to on adopting a mindset of *curiosity* rather than **anger** in various situations. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 2-16-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-16-25/ Last updated: 2025-02-16T11:27:04.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Back to Mac](https://mattgemmell.scot/back-to-mac/) For as long as it's been around, I've been experimenting with different ways to figure out how to switch entirely to the iPad for my primary computing needs - iPad Mini's, iPad Pro's, you name it. Matt nails why this always ends in thousands of paper cuts in this thoughtful retrospective. It was a great read, and what eventually led him back to the Mac and the conclusion that 'iPad doesn't have a clear product vision.' That is a perfect analysis, IMHO. - [floor796](https://floor796.com/). Sometimes, you just run across something **amazing** on the Internet. Last week, I found this solo hobby project that started in 2018 via [this post](https://dice.camp/@starhawk/113945849415768787). It's self-described as 'an animated scene showing the lives of characters from various works on the 796th floor of a huge space station. The animation is regularly expanded with new blocks (rooms) and characters from movies, TV series, games, anime, memes, etc.' It is a fun, brilliant thing you stumble across every once in a while. - [The Dice](https://brilliantcrank.com/the-dice-035/) If you read anything this week, **this is the one**. So many great ideas on '*protecting our minds*' in this crazy time. Hat tip to [Greg Storey](https://brilliantcrank.com/work/) for putting this piece together. - [Turning Big Fears into Tiny Experiments](https://nesslabs.com/big-fears). I'm looking forward to [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://nesslabs.com) 's new book, [Tiny Experiments](https://nesslabs.com/book), so I was excited to see this post on '*fear of failure manifests itself in a much more subtle way, mainly self-doubt that prevents us from exploring uncertain paths*.' Learn how to overcome fear through small, manageable experiments. - [Tech continues to be political](https://www.miriamsuzanne.com/2025/02/12/tech-ai-wtf/). '*Being 'in tech' in 2025 is depressing, and if I'm going to stick around, I need to remember why I'm here.*' If you're in the tech sector, add this to your to-read list. - [How We Lost the Flow](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/how-we-lost-the-flow). As a long-time software engineer, I can attest to flow-state and the problems with distractions. But wow, this is a powerful read on how the commercialization of 'flow' for attention is wrong and that flow '*should be a source of joy and creativity rather than a means for corporate enrichment.*' - [50 Years of Travel Tips](https://kk.org/thetechnium/50-years-of-travel-tips/). There are some entertaining tips in here! - [David Lynch Masterclass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJqSSE9b90o) Since his passing a few weeks ago, I've been going down the David Lynch rabbit hole, and this masterclass on "The Art of Life" was **fantastic**. - [App Raises $1M In Funding For Simply Sending The Message 'Yo' Back And Forth](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2014/06/19/app-raises-1m-in-funding-for-simply-sending-the-message-yo-back-and-forth/). I miss the days of when life was simple, and an app that's only functionality is to send "Yo!" to a friend gets $1m in funding. - [Microsoft Study Finds AI Makes Human Cognition' Atrophied and Unprepared'](https://www.404media.co/email/9d5175a3-2562-4236-9a27-adddffef39dc/). Well, duh. - [How Sketching Helps Me Develop Ideas](https://automattic.design/2025/02/04/how-sketching-helps-me-develop-ideas/). I've always wished that I could draw - I can't. However, I enjoyed the tips in this post about using 'sketching' to explore and communicate new ideas. It's not intended as art or to be about perfection - it's about thinking through ideas. - [Data Engineers Should Be Held To The Same Standards As Bakers](https://www.hermit-tech.com/blog/data-engineers-and-bakers). Wow, I shared this one with a bunch of my circle as soon as I read it. The author compares engineering to **baking** and suggests that both should meet high standards of quality and timeliness - but the problem with tech projects is that they are often praised for being completed on time rather than any form of quality. A 'pandemic of mediocrity'. - [An Asteroid Stands a Chance at Impacting Earth. Are We Prepared?](https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/an-asteroid-stands-a-chance-at-impacting-earth-are-we-prepared) Have any plans for 2032? - [You are all a bunch of sick freaks.](https://selfh.st/sick-freaks/) As someone who does a lot of self-hosting, I laughed out loud when I read this humorous commentary shredding the whole practice and has some legitimate callouts on why it's ultimately misguided. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 2-8-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-8-25/ Last updated: 2025-02-09T12:15:11.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [The Snacks & Cereals of 2024](https://cabel.com/2025/01/27/the-snacks-cereals-of-2024/). What a **wonderful** post to lead off this week from [Cabel Sasser](https://cabel.com/about/) of the legendary [Panic Software](https://panic.com). Here's a ton of new snacks and treats that hit the shelves in 2024, along with his reviews. I need to try a few of these to shake things up, though I'm currently addicted to these [Ferrero chocolate covered 'coffee shots'](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077J4LXVN). - [The Nature of Human Stupidity](https://www.openculture.com/2025/01/the-nature-of-human-stupidity-explained-by-the-48-laws-of-power-author-robert-greene.html). Robert Greene has written some of [the best books out there on power dynamics](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-48-laws-of-power-robert-greene/7556792), so I was certainly interested about his thoughts on what makes people stupid. The concept is straightforward - it's '*their certainty that they have all the answers*.' [Watch the full interview with him on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8--Ep%5Fg9UY). - [Rule #4: Be amazed by everything](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/rule-4-be-amazed-by-everything). Huh, I love this idea: **Be amazed by everything**. I appreciate that [Scott Berkun](https://substack.com/@berkun) wrote this piece; I'm in a better mood by just *reading* it. A simple reminder that '*Isn't it wonderful there is anything at all?*' was enough for me to go out and buy the book he recommended, [Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder](https://bookshop.org/p/books/awe-the-new-science-of-everyday-wonder-and-how-it-can-transform-your-life-dacher-keltner/18393213). - [I Ditched the Algorithm for RSS — and You Should Too](https://joeyehand.com/blog/2025/01/15/i-ditched-the-algorithm-for-rssand-you-should-too/). I have been returning to a place where reading content via feeds is the primary form of 'social' media. I'm done with Threads, Instagram, X, etc., and all the algorithm-driven slop. **Side note**: Highly recommend [Kagi's "Small Web"](https://kagi.com/smallweb) project as a source of new, interesting content. - [What's Taking Up Your Mental Bandwidth Right Now?](https://www.raptitude.com/2025/02/whats-taking-up-your-mental-bandwidth-right-now/). As you've probably been able to gander reading my latest posts on [Holes](https://makoism.com/holes/) and the [Dichotomy of Control](https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/), there's been a lot on my mind as of late. I enjoyed this one, in which the author asserts that '*the contents of your mind drive the contents of your life*' and that being aware of the influence of external factors on mental bandwidth is a key part of starting to shape your worldview. - [Running Doom On An Apple Lightning To HDMI Adapter](https://hackaday.com/2025/02/06/running-doom-on-an-apple-lightning-to-hdmi-adapter/). I've always been amused/amazed at what hacks people accomplish to get some piece of software running on another thing that it wasn't intended to. However, this one takes the cake - someone [got Doom running](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XCkeN0XuqA) on an **Apple Lightning to HDMI Adapter**! - [Everyone knows your location](https://timsh.org/tracking-myself-down-through-in-app-ads/). Big sigh.. but it's a good reminder that [privacy is just an illusion](https://makoism.com/43percent/). The last time I wrote about this was [about how video games spy on you](https://www.wired.com/story/video-games-data-privacy-artificial-intelligence/); this piece dives into how apps are trying to eat up your geolocation data and the various ways data brokers grab and trade all sorts of information about you- *even your battery levels*. It's just gross. - [Every "should" is a burden](https://thecuriousleader.work/posts/every--should--is-a-burden/). I liked the framing of this one that every '**should**' (such as 'I *should* exercise more often') is a burden. You have to '*let those go to make real progress in your life.*' - [The Safest Places In The World If World War III Broke Out](https://brilliantmaps.com/safest-places-in-the-world-ww3/). Where are the locations with '*low strategic priority in potential conflicts and benefit from natural isolation and neutral international policies?*' Well, in case you haven't, this map shows you some of the most theoretically safest places if World War 3 were to happen. - [Fix Three Broken Things](https://www.raptitude.com/2025/01/fix-three-broken-things/). Ever have a bunch of tasks that you just put off and sit on the couch and doom scroll, as the sum of all of them seems too great to bear? Enter the concept of '**relief through repair**' - a simple yet powerful way to relieve some of your cognitive load. The high return on minor fixes can lead to significant improvements in daily life and your mood. - [The Theseus Paradox](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-theseus-paradox/). When [Wandavision](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/wandavision/4SrN28ZjDLwH) concluded, I wrote a bit about the '[rot of memory](https://makoism.com/the-rot-of-memory/)' and Theseus. I liked this post, though, on creating resilient cultures in an age when people come and go from organizations. '*Everyone knows, everything is reinforced at all levels, everyone is aligned. They don't protect the planks. They protect the idea.*' - [A computer can never be held accountable](https://simonwillison.net/2025/Feb/3/a-computer-can-never-be-held-accountable/). A legendary page from an internal 1979 IBM training manual states, '**A computer must never make a management decision**.' It seems apropos for 2025 in the age of AI. - [The Phones of Normal People](https://louplummer.lol/the-phones-of-normal-people-new/). This post was an excellent reminder for me; I have so many wild things going on in my home lab between servers and local AI; I sometimes forget **normal people** don't do this type (or even want) this type of computing. The general population '*do not want to learn how to do new things with their already too complicated tech. They are the baseline. *We are the outliers.**' - [We Don't Need More Cynics. We Need More Builders.](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/we-dont-need-more-cynics-we-need-more-builders/). **Criticizing is often easier than creating** is an important lesson Joan discusses in this post about the '**cost of perpetual skepticism**' and how crucial it is to remain hopeful and committed to creating better systems and solutions. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 2-1-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-2-1-25/ Last updated: 2025-02-02T11:36:35.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Addiction Economy](https://www.profgalloway.com/addiction-economy/). I've really been enjoying [Scott Galloway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott%5FGalloway%5F%28professor%29) on both [his blog](https://www.profgalloway.com) and the [Pivot podcast](https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot) with [Kara Swisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara%5FSwisher). In this latest post, Scott dives into how various industries, including food, alcohol, and technology, *thrive* on creating and sustaining consumer cravings. These cravings are especially present on today's social networks (a reason I've been pulling away from them), and they are modern forms of addiction that can not only cause mental/personal isolation but also cause broader societal conflict. - [Caffeine Calculator](https://www.caffeineinformer.com/death-by-caffeine). In perfect 2025 form, here's a handy calculator to determine, based on weight, how much consumption of your favorite drink or snack will kill you. FYI - 190.6 espresso shots would be terminal if consumed in one day. - [A web version of Pitfall](https://kottke.org/25/01/0046113-a-web-version-of-pitfall) is a wonderful, and as far as I can tell, near-perfect recreation of the classic [Activision](https://www.activision.com) game, [Pitfall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitfall%21). While it's not an emulator, '*it was developed in TypeScript through careful observation of gameplay and in-depth analysis of the original's 6507 assembly language source code.*' [Play it here](https://meatfighter.com/pitfall-web/). - [How AI can help in User Research](https://blog.viditb.com/how-ai-can-help-in-user-research/). I enjoyed this deep dive into how [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com) was used to research a thesis. Despite all the conversations on whether GenAI is good or bad for us, leveraging it for auditory learning or discovery is fascinating. - [Two Laws of Explanation](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/200x/2004/01/13/LawOfConversation). A post from 2004 popped up again this week from [Tim Bray](https://www.tbray.org) on the '**Two Laws of Explanation**.' Kinda a simple one, but incredibly valuable when you think about it. '**The First Law;* When you're explaining something to somebody and they don't get it, that's not their problem, it's your problem*.** **The Second Law;* When someone's explaining something to you, and you're not getting it, it's not your problem, it's their problem*.* *'** **The key takeaway: '**You have to be totally courageous and truthful in saying 'I don't understand; please explain again.'\*\*'. - [Ignore this if you are a complete success](https://anniemueller.com/posts/ignore-this-if-you-are-a-complete-success). [Annie's blog](https://anniemueller.com) has become my favorite new find in the last few months. This post highlighted the benefits of failure and was particularly insightful: "*Experiencing failure leads to the realization that one can survive it, often making the fear of failure worse than the failure itself*." **YES**. - [Seventy per cent](https://ckarchive.com/b/wvu2hghk5m82zf9r552rqtn34kzxxc8). People often say, "perfect is the enemy of good." Still, I agree with '[The Imperfectionist](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/the-imperfectionist)' here: "*Such advice is usually well-meaning, and true so far as it goes: perfectionists should indeed beat themselves up less, and be satisfied with less-than-perfect outcomes. But it still carries the subtle implication that being less than perfect is merely forgivable or excusable – that it would be nice to do better, but since you can't, there's no point fretting about it; instead, learn to settle for less.*". Instead, Oliver offers up the '**70% rule**' - read more at the link to find out what this is. Great stuff. - [Organizing for urgent](https://seths.blog/2025/01/organizing-for-urgent/). Sound advice: '*Waiting for trouble means that you're going to spend your days dealing with trouble.*' - [Life-Affirming Choices](https://marcel.io/posts/life-affirming-choices). Why [delayed gratification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed%5Fgratification) is important in tackling those hard things head-on. '**Anticipate a future that will be better because I welcomed friction**.' - [Google's NotebookLM AI will change my life-maybe yours too](https://crazystupidtech.com/archive/googles-notebooklm-ai-will-change-my-life-maybe/). Another post on the power of [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com), but this time, as a '*queryable database from users' digital files*.' I just wished there was a way I could run something like this self-hosted in my own **private** home lab. - [Build a life you can live in](https://anniemueller.com/posts/build-a-life-you-can-live-in). Yes, another one from [Annie](https://anniemueller.com) on the '*importance of creating a personal path amidst the uncertainty of life, where no definitive truths can guide us.*' - [Swiss Cheese Model](https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/management/swiss-cheese-model). How familiar does this sound: '*failures typically result from a combination of factors rather than a single root cause*.' Welcome to the 'Swiss Cheese Model'. - [Can dogs smell time?](https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/22/1139781319/can-dogs-smell-time-just-ask-donut-the-dog). Whhaaaaaa!??! - [Vangelis' The Tegos Tapes' Edits](https://www.djfood.org/vangelis-the-tegos-tapes-edits/). If you are a fan of [Vangelis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vangelis) (who composed classic film scores for [Chariots of Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a-HfNE3EIo) and [Blade Runner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKCdNnAEpJY)), you aren't going to want to skip this one. (Side note: check out his score for '[Conquest of Paradise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ufkMTshjz8)' if you've not previously listened; it's one of my favorite background scores to listen to.) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### The Dichotomy of Control URL: https://makoism.com/the-dichotomy-of-control/ Last updated: 2025-01-26T09:38:32.000Z During my usual weekly exploration of [interesting links and finds](https://makoism.com/tag/espresso-shots/), I stumbled upon one of my favorite movie quotes on [Brillantcrank](https://brilliantcrank.com/thedice/). Truth be told, I've been sitting on this post for a few months now; it hasn't just felt like it was the *right* time to put pen to (digital) paper, but given the overwhelming, chaotic energy I felt inside towards the end of 2024, it was the nudge that I needed. And, from what I can sense from many of my friends, 2025 doesn't feel that much different. It's a lot. Politics, society, social media, work drama, life drama, health drama, school stress, crazy weather and fires exploding everywhere, a war here and there, the price of eggs, etc. The list goes on and on. In a daily bombardment filled with endless notifications, and unpredictable events, it's easy to feel like you're drowning in stress. The sheer number of **wacko** curveballs thrown at you daily is exhausting. That's how I felt. As I mentioned last time: [**Holes**](https://makoism.com/holes/). Given the number of people who sent me notes about that post (*thank you for your kind words!*), I know I'm not the only one who was there. Many wanted to know what I thought about how to get out of a "hole." > *Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry: Worry never fixes anything. -Ernest Hemingway* And ... > *Before you worry about how to win the game, figure out whether the game is worth winning. - James Clear* The funny thing about these holes - a large percentage of the things that cause you stress and worry are things that there's ***jack shit*** that you can do to control them. I finally realized just how **much** of my stress came from trying to control things that were simply out of my hands. This brings me to what stoics call the idea of the **dichotomy of control**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2025/01/IMG_0201.jpeg) Epictetus wrote: > *"The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control."* Now, on the surface, you could interpret this as simply: "Hey - shit happens, some things are in your control, and some aren't; trying to control what's outside your reach is pointless." It would be like trying to fight wind. But I dunno; I don't think he was just saying "fuck all" to everything, but rather, **each individual is responsible on how they react**. It's primarily up to us to change. So maybe it really comes down to this: the things we have direct control over are our actions, how we think about things, and our values. Everything else is outside of that is uncontrollable. You can't control the past. You can't control what other people think about you. You can't control the weather or some asteroid barreling toward Earth. You can't control time. Just a few ideas on some things that are all outside our direct control. Epictetus also said that people are stressed *not by events* but by their **judgments about events**. So don't waste time, stress, or energy on those things. A good example, is that I've said I write here for myself, not for an audience. I **can’t** control who follows me, reads this, or how many "likes" it gets. I **can** write things for myself about things that make me happy. It's been amazing how such a simple shift of thinking has positively affected my mood and mental health. It's taken a massive weight off my mind. It's like putting down a backpack full of stress that I've been carrying for no reason. After embracing this idea of focusing only on what I could control, I needed a practical way to apply it; so I started using a simple tool: the '[not my circus, not my monkeys](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/not-my-circus-not-my-monkeys)’ list. 1. Write down everything that's stressing you out. 2. Divide the list into two columns: 'Things I Can Control' and 'Things I Can't.' 3. Focus your energy on the first column 4. Let go of the second. There’s also another option: knowing you can do something about it, but you *decide not to*. **But it's still a choice**. I’d recommend spending your energy on the side of the circus tent, where you can actually do something about it. You don't have to figure out everything at once — just focus on what's in front of you. The rest will follow. This isn't about being passive - it's really about *focusing* that energy on where you can add value. I do know that I've been in a much happier place now. So, the next time life feels overwhelming, take a moment to pause, make your list, and focus on what you can control. You'll be amazed at how much lighter you feel. *Momento Mori*. ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 1-17-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-17-25/ Last updated: 2025-01-17T12:25:38.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Remembering David Lynch I was incredibly saddened to hear of the [passing of filmmaker David Lynch](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/16/david-lynch-twin-peaks-and-muholland-drive-director-dies-aged-78) yesterday. A handful of creatives have inspired me to think differently, *to look at the world through a different lens*. Sometimes, I had no idea what message he was even trying to convey ([watch "What would Jack do?"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crzwq4CjhvA)). For others, it was surreal and mesmerizing (see [Gotta Light?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTCefc-uuEw)). But it was always something unexpected and wonderful. [Brian Tallerico writes](https://www.rogerebert.com/tributes/have-a-great-day-david-lynch-1946-2025), "*As a teenager growing up in suburban America in the '80s, 'Blue Velvet' and 'Twin Peaks' hit like a bolt of lightning. Not only did they capture something about the sinister, surreal underbelly of life under the picket fences, but they said something directly to anyone who thought they could be an artist: *You don't have to do what everyone else is doing**." Two quotes from him I revisit often: > *' We think we understand the rules when we become adults but what we really experience is a narrowing of the imagination'* And > '*Everything I learned in my life, I learned because I decided to try something new.*' Wise words. His vision and insight will be missed. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Why Humans Were Born to Ruck](https://huckberry.com/journal/posts/why-humans-were-born-to-ruck). For the last half of 2024, I've been trying to ruck at least three times a week. I've found it a simple way to work on core and build endurance, and it forced me to get outside without pounding my joints like triathlon used to. The best part? It's easy to do—walk and put on a backpack with some weight. - [I Live My Life a Quarter Century at a Time](https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at-a-time/). This one was making the tech rounds a few weeks back, but what a remarkable story around the history of the [Apple "Dock"](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/open-apps-from-the-dock-mh35859/mac). - [A Funeral For The Blue Man Group: Chicago Says Farewell To Iconic Performance Troupe](https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/07/a-funeral-for-the-blue-man-group-chicago-says-farewell-to-iconic-performance-troupe/) Bummer. I remember seeing Blue Man Group in concert at some point, and I can't forget [their legendary Intel commercials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDHgpR3ZLg). RIP. - [I Share Private Journal Entries](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/i-share-private-journal-entries). I enjoyed getting a peek at Ted Gioia's journal entries. It's all random but interesting! Speaking of journals, I made a **\-significant-** change to my journalling workflow by switching apps (after about 8 years!) from Day One to now using [Everlog](https://everlog.app). - [How to Be Healthier Without Really Trying](http://bakadesuyo.com/2025/01/how-to-be-healthier). **Just breathe**. But, '*here's the thing: most of us have been breathing wrong. Seriously. Breathing's one of those things you assume you're doing correctly because you're not dead yet. But just because something is natural, doesn't mean you can't screw it up*'. - [DDoS'ing Yourself with To-dos and Reminders](https://bjhess.com/posts/ddosing-yourself-with-to-dos-and-reminders). What a great way to describe the constant bombardment of the daily task list. - [A New Home Screen Thought Technology](https://www.caseyliss.com/2025/1/4/a-new-homescreen-thought-technology). I also did this in December - I went with ONE app page, and the rest goes into the App Library. Once you get used to it, it's life-changing. :) - [One phrase that can help you through anything.](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/one-phrase-that-can-help-you-through) Ha! I loved this one. - [Anticipation, experience, satisfaction](https://anniemueller.com/posts/anticipation-experience-satisfaction). I've recently discovered [Annie Muller's fantastic blog](https://anniemueller.com), and this post, particularly around '*wanting something is not the same as enjoying it*,' was incredibly insightful. - [The Control Paradox](https://thelsweekly.substack.com/p/the-control-paradox). A look at how control affects anxiety and performance, particularly in high-stress environments, with some sound advice on how to reframe those situations. - [Endurance: Shackleton's lost ship is found in Antarctica](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60662541). 2025 has started me down the path of a mental shift from '\[piracy\]' () to an '**explorer**' mindset (more on that in a future post). That has me reading more about famous expeditions, and the story of Shackleton's crew's tale of survival from Antarctica is one of the legends. - [Joanna Holman on Resolutions](https://aus.social/@joannaholman/113750028475747266) I've mentioned before that I'm not a 'resolutions' fan, but this post has me rethinking the idea: make FUN ones. '*when they ask me (about resolutions), I tell them about pasta quest (i am eating as many different pasta shapes as possible in the space of a year) or when I did fruit adventures (every time I saw a fruit I had never eaten before id get one and eat it and read the Wikipedia article about it) - they're like hang on I forgot *you can make fun ones and I want a fun one*.*' **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 1-2-25 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-1-2-25/ Last updated: 2025-01-02T22:57:13.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. As we exit the year, I'm declaring my annual **link bankruptcy**. I've dumped all the other interesting links I couldn't get to write about this year below for your reading pleasure so I can start 2025 with my 'queue' empty. Something in there may inspire you. ## A Quick Gear Drop ☕️ As mentioned in [the annual review post](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2024-2/), the two most popular shirts of the year were '[nope](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)' and '[own your shit](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)'. So, I figured it would be fun to roll in 2025 with some fun coffee mugs! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2025/01/CleanShot-2025-01-02-at-05.25.26@2x.png) mug shots! [**Available today**](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) in both '[own your shit](https://cottonbureau.com/p/SRP4DM/drinkware/a-drinkable-version-to-state-your-intentions#/27608460)' and '[nope](https://cottonbureau.com/p/6VYUBA/drinkware/nope#/27608462)' variants to start the new years meetings right. And, if whiskey is more your thing, they are also available as [a low-profile rocks glass](https://cottonbureau.com/p/SRP4DM/drinkware/a-drinkable-version-to-state-your-intentions#/27608461/glass-rocks-glass-glass-10.5-oz.). ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ Here's a braindump of 40 or so random things I didn't get to summarize this year: - [The Plot to Poison Children’s Minds](https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-plot-to-poison-childrens-minds) - [Things we learned about LLMs in 2024](https://simonwillison.net/2024/Dec/31/llms-in-2024/) - [The Doomscroll Industrial Complex: How Anxiety Became a Business Model](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-doomscroll-industrial-complex-how-anxiety-became-a-business-model/) - [The Story of Stent](https://om.co/2024/12/28/the-story-of-stent/) - [77 Facts That Blew Our Minds in 2024](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/12/facts-blew-our-minds-2024/681175/) - [Zork: The Great Inner Workings](https://medium.com/swlh/zork-the-great-inner-workings-b68012952bdc) - [The Landlord's Game: Lizzie Magie and Monopoly's Anti-Capitalist Origins (1903)](https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-landlords-game/) - [The State of Newsletters In 2024](https://inboxreads.co/blog/state-of-newsletters-2024) - [My approach to running a link blog](https://simonwillison.net/2024/Dec/22/link-blog/#atom-everything) - [Eisenhower Matrix, Iterative Decision-Making & Compounding Decisions](https://www.chrismeyer.blog/p/compounding-decisions) - [How I approach humor](https://cassidoo.co/post/i-am-funny-and-you-are-too/) - [The Ugly Truth About Spotify is Finally Revealed](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-ugly-truth-about-spotify-is-finally) - [Is Having a Purpose In Life Bullshit?](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/is-having-a-purpose-in-life-bullshit) - [Why you shouldn't trust platitudes](https://rulestolive.substack.com/p/why-you-shouldnt-trust-platitudes) - [Why Having A Purpose In Life Is Bullshit](https://www.kateforster.com/2018-8-31-why-having-a-purpose-in-life-is-bullshit/) - [Lego has an IP problem](https://www.fastcompany.com/91244371/lego-has-an-ip-problem) - [‘Founder Mode’ and the Art of Mythmaking](https://charity.wtf/2024/12/17/founder-mode-and-the-art-of-mythmaking/) - [The Art of Not Living in Fear](https://louplummer.lol/the-art-of-not-living-in-fear/) - [ABC News caved when it settled with Trump](https://margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/abc-news-should-never-have-settled) - [Anti-social behaviour](https://colly.com/journal/anti-social-behaviour?ref=brilliantcrank.com) - [Up to Date Health Benefits of Coffee](https://coffeegeek.com/blog/news/up-to-date-health-benefits-of-coffee/) - [The UX of LEGO Interface Panels](https://interactionmagic.com/UX-LEGO-Interfaces/) - [Gambler's fallacy](https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/gamblers-fallacy) - [The Biggest Bomb in the World](https://kottke.org/24/12/the-biggest-bomb-in-the-world) - [What People Get Wrong About Friendly Introverts](https://introvertdear.com/news/5-misconceptions-about-friendly-introverts/) - [Why You Need a News Vacation](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/why-you-need-a-news-vacation) - [When AI summaries replace hyperlinks, thought itself is flattened](https://aeon.co/essays/when-ai-summaries-replace-hyperlinks-thought-itself-is-flattened) - [Animated Timelapse of The London Underground](https://brilliantmaps.com/animated-timelapse-london-underground/) - [Living in alignment](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/living-in-alignment) - [How Defining Yourself By What You Hate Makes You Miserable](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/how-defining-yourself-by-what-you-hate-makes-you-miserable/) - [Strategy is Not War; It’s Gardening](https://eleganthack.com/strategy-is-not-war-its-gardening/) - [For Love of God, Make Your Own Website](https://aftermath.site/website-musk-twitter-facebook-internet) - [How to turn problems into a curiosity engine](https://nesslabs.com/favorite-problems?ref=brilliantcrank.com) - [We Never Stop Growing](https://kottke.org/24/11/we-never-stop-growing?ref=brilliantcrank.com) - [The Best of What You Have](https://tangiblelife.net/the-best-of-what-you-have) - [How to turn problems into a curiosity engine](https://nesslabs.com/favorite-problems) - [No instructions needed](https://ttl.blog/no-instructions-needed/) - [Three Ways to Become a Deeper Thinker](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/11/sound-of-one-hand-clapping/680699/) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Holes URL: https://makoism.com/holes/ Last updated: 2024-12-31T19:05:59.000Z I'll get this out of the way; this is not a 'new years resolution' post. I don't believe in them; 'resolutions' tend to end in a rinse-and-repeat cycle of failure. As the proverb says, "*The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.*" - change a bad habit or make a life choice any day you want. Making a lasting change doesn't need to start on January 1st — readiness is the key to any change. It can be December 10th, April 12th, or whatever day pleases you. Anyway, as 2023 came to a close, I wanted to try something different — I focused on a new "word" to guide me through the year. It was "less". **What a total failure that was**. In many ways, "more" was the core of 2024 at an accelerated pace. Without going into the inconsequential details, it was an incredibly overwhelming year; life accelerated at a crazy pace. As we barreled towards the end of the year, it seemed like a constant barrage of more demands, lots of change, some health speedbumps, etc. I felt mentally stuck and overwhelmed for the first time in a very long time. [Not waving, but drowning](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46479/not-waving-but-drowning). Please don't get me wrong; I'm not writing this to make an excuse for anything - (shit happens, and [you need to own it](https://cottonbureau.com/p/SRP4DM/drinkware/a-drinkable-version-to-state-your-intentions#/27608460/mug-everyday-mug-white-ceramic-11-oz)) but rather to point out how easily everyday life can get away from you. It's important to recognize when you're in a hole and start figuring out how to **fill** it. I've spent a lot of time the last month reading and thinking about this, and it led me to October of 1911, wherein a piece [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com) called "[Letting Bryan Down Easy](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-post-letting-bryan-down-e/85226045/)", it was written: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/CleanShot-2024-12-31-at-09.16.43@2x-1.png) > *Nor would a wise man, seeing that he was in a hole, do to work and blindly dig it deeper.* Later, this wisdom was re-spun as '[**Healey's First Law of Holes**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws%5Fof%5Fholes)' (or "Healey's Law of Politics" depending on the source) after politician [Denis Healey](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis%5FHealey). He was quoted in an interview discussing the concept. ### The Law of Holes It goes like this: 1. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. 2. When you stop digging, you are still in a hole. Adding more shovels doesn't help you dig faster. 3. Any hole not filled now will cause more damage in the future. Others have added to the concept with time (I read one reference with 10 laws), but you get the picture. If not, here's a simple view: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/CleanShot-2024-12-31-at-10.52.41@2x-1.png) The Law of Holes One would think that "stop digging" is simple enough, but I've found it helpful to shift my thinking. **These holes can serve a purpose**. Instead of seeing them as unfortunate, I've reframed them as opportunities to reassess. Why did you start digging that hole in the first place? Maybe it wasn't just a random hole you can't escape. Sometimes, the hole results from being busy or chasing too many big goals. Stopping gives you the chance to pause and plan your next steps. The hole could be a place to dig smarter, climb out, or even fill with something better. The point is — **the hole isn't the end. It can be the beginning**. Holes are part of life — whether they are self-dug, accidental, or just the result of life's chaos. They can feel like inescapable traps, and I get it — that's hard. But it's important to recognize that they aren't the end of the story. The key is to accept the hole, take a moment to look around, and make sure your energy moves you forward. The hole isn't the problem; it's just part of the process. And it might just be the beginning of something better—because ultimately, what you do next matters. *Momento Mori*. ✌🏻 ### Book List: 2024 URL: https://makoism.com/book-list-2024/ Last updated: 2024-12-28T03:55:40.000Z [Since 2022](https://makoism.com/thewreckingball/), I've been fascinated with [Umberto Eco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto%5FEco)'s anti-library: > *a few savvy visitors realized the truth: Eco's library wasn't voluminous because he had read so much; it was voluminous because he desired to read so much more.* > > *\[Your\] library should contain as much of what you do not know as your financial means, mortgage rates, and the currently tight real-estate market allows you to put there. You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly.* > > *There's nothing inherently wrong with that, as long as we've stocked those piles with valuable knowledge — and more of it than we can ever use.* In the same spirit, here are the **45 titles** I've added to my anti-library this year. I've been [curating lists in bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/lists/books-for-2024?new-list-page=true) as an attempt to support local booksellers, but I'm sure all of these are available at your favorite reading establishment. ## The 2024 Book List - [An Answer for Everything: 200 Infographics to Explain the World](https://bookshop.org/p/books/an-answer-for-everything-200-infographics-to-explain-the-world-delayed-gratification/16499976?ean=9781526633644) - [Misc](https://bookshop.org/p/books/misc-delayed-gratification/21639984?ean=9781526675231) - [Weird Ideas That Work: How to Build a Creative Company](https://bookshop.org/p/books/weird-ideas-that-work-how-to-build-a-creative-company-robert-i-sutton/951366?ean=9780743227889) - [The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-on-the-taboo-against-knowing-who-you-are-alan-watts/6705001?ean=9780679723004) - [Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future](https://bookshop.org/p/books/unstoppable-unleashing-the-future-leader-we-all-need-now-brian-solis/20079064?ean=9781394198597) - [Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts](https://bookshop.org/p/books/meditations-for-mortals-four-weeks-to-embrace-your-limitations-and-finally-make-time-for-what-counts-oliver-burkeman/21068779?ean=9780374611996) - [Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World](https://bookshop.org/p/books/range-why-generalists-triumph-in-a-specialized-world-david-epstein/12472879?ean=9780735214507) - [The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-demon-haunted-world-science-as-a-candle-in-the-dark-ann-druyan/6315853?ean=9780345409461) - [Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt](https://bookshop.org/p/books/enemy-of-all-mankind-a-true-story-of-piracy-power-and-history-s-first-global-manhunt-steven-johnson/14206291?ean=9780735211612) - [New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong](https://bookshop.org/p/books/new-happy-getting-happiness-right-in-a-world-that-s-got-it-wrong-stephanie-harrison/20452897?ean=9780593541388) - [The Art of Thinking Clearly](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-thinking-clearly-rolf-dobelli/6431704?ean=9780062219695) - [The Engineering Executive's Primer: Impactful Technical Leadership](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-engineering-executive-s-primer-impactful-technical-leadership-will-larson/20701052?ean=9781098149482) - [Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best... and Learn from the Worst](https://bookshop.org/p/books/good-boss-bad-boss-how-to-be-the-best-and-learn-from-the-worst-robert-i-sutton/10252412?ean=9780446556071) - [Hack Your Bureaucracy: Get Things Done No Matter What Your Role on Any Team](https://bookshop.org/p/books/hack-your-bureaucracy-get-things-done-no-matter-what-your-role-on-any-team-marina-nitze/18051906?ean=9780306827754) - [Do the F\*cking Work: Lowbrow Advice for High-Level Creativity](https://bookshop.org/p/books/do-the-f-cking-work-lowbrow-advice-for-high-level-creativity-brian-buirge/8004804?ean=9780062886736) - [Enough.: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life (Revised)](https://bookshop.org/p/books/enough-true-measures-of-money-business-and-life-john-c-bogle/16633735?ean=9780470524237) - [Making Work Visible: Exposing Time Theft to Optimize Work & Flow](https://bookshop.org/p/books/making-work-visible-exposing-time-theft-to-optimize-work-flow-dominica-degrandis/17375003?ean=9781950508495) - [Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow](https://bookshop.org/p/books/team-topologies-organizing-business-and-technology-teams-for-fast-flow-matthew-skelton/6459463?ean=9781942788812) - [Finite and Infinite Games](https://bookshop.org/p/books/finite-and-infinite-games-james-carse/10349390?ean=9781476731711) - [The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy, and Human Nature](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-daily-laws-366-meditations-on-power-seduction-mastery-strategy-and-human-nature-robert-greene/16550456?ean=9780593299234) - [The Software Engineer's Guidebook](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-software-engineer-s-guidebook-gergely-orosz/20921420?ean=9789083381824) - [Becoming Better Grownups: Rediscovering What Matters and Remembering How to Fly](https://bookshop.org/p/books/becoming-better-grownups-rediscovering-what-matters-and-remembering-how-to-fly-brad-montague/12082257?ean=9780525537847) - [Fail-A-Bration](https://bookshop.org/p/books/fail-a-bration-kristi-montague/21142616?ean=9780593697146) - [Do Recruit: How to Find and Keep Great People.](https://bookshop.org/p/books/do-recruit-how-to-find-and-keep-great-people/20271543?ean=9781914168307) - [Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values. Good Character. Good Deeds.](https://bookshop.org/p/books/right-thing-right-now-justice-in-an-unjust-world-ryan-holiday/20617359?ean=9780593191712) - [Mindset: The New Psychology of Success](https://bookshop.org/p/books/mindset-the-new-psychology-of-success-carol-s-dweck/7841782?ean=9780345472328) - [The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-of-wonder-the-extraordinary-emotion-that-will-change-the-way-you-live-learn-and-lead-monica-c-parker/18529368?ean=9780593419366) - [Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games](https://bookshop.org/p/books/sid-meier-s-memoir-a-life-in-computer-games-sid-meier/16712356?ean=9780393868296) - [As Told at the Explorers Club: More Than Fifty Gripping Tales of Adventure](https://bookshop.org/p/books/as-told-at-the-explorers-club-more-than-fifty-gripping-tales-of-adventure-george-plimpton/14226032?ean=9781493047444) - [Do Conversation: There's No Such Thing as Small Talk](https://bookshop.org/p/books/do-conversation/20271537?ean=9781914168277) - [Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference](https://bookshop.org/p/books/think-remarkable-how-to-make-a-difference-through-growth-grit-and-graciousness-guy-kawasaki/20638637?ean=9781394245222) - [Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection](https://bookshop.org/p/books/supercommunicators-the-power-of-conversation-and-hidden-language-of-connection-charles-duhigg/20112446?ean=9780593243916) - [Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World](https://bookshop.org/p/books/calling-bullshit-the-art-of-skepticism-in-a-data-driven-world-carl-t-bergstrom/14205107?ean=9780525509202) - [Burn Book: A Tech Love Story](https://bookshop.org/p/books/burn-book-a-tech-love-story-kara-swisher/20388372?ean=9781982163891) - [Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters](https://bookshop.org/p/books/fluke-chance-chaos-and-why-everything-we-do-matters-brian-klaas/20165595?ean=9781668006528) - [The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded, Updated)](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-4-hour-workweek-escape-9-5-live-anywhere-and-join-the-new-rich-with-earbuds-timothy-ferriss/15562907?ean=9780307465351) - [Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results](https://bookshop.org/p/books/clear-thinking-turning-ordinary-moments-into-extraordinary-results-shane-parrish/19635288?ean=9780593086117) - [Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less](https://bookshop.org/p/books/essentialism-the-disciplined-pursuit-of-less-greg-mckeown/9404336?ean=9780804137409) - [Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect](https://bookshop.org/p/books/unreasonable-hospitality-the-remarkable-power-of-giving-people-more-than-they-expect-will-guidara/17927785?ean=9780593418574) - [The Book of Do: A Manual for Living](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-of-do-a-manual-for-living/19666739?ean=9781914168154) - [The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-friction-project-how-smart-leaders-make-the-right-things-easier-and-the-wrong-things-harder-without-driving-everyone-crazy-huggy-rao/19724851?ean=9781250284419) - [Everything in Its Place: The Power of Mise-En-Place to Organize Your Life, Work, and Mind](https://bookshop.org/p/books/everything-in-its-place-the-power-of-mise-en-place-to-organize-your-life-work-and-mind-dan-charnas/8567987?ean=9781635650112) - [Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life](https://bookshop.org/p/books/be-useful-seven-tools-for-life-arnold-schwartzenegger/19976031?ean=9780593655955) - [Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-And What We Can Do about It](https://bookshop.org/p/books/never-enough-how-toxic-achievement-culture-hurts-kids-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-jennifer-breheny-wallace/19248068?ean=9780593191866) - [The Creative ACT: A Way of Being](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-creative-act-a-way-of-being-rick-rubin/18543579?ean=9780593652886) Be well! ### Mako "Things I Like": 2024 URL: https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2024-2/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:16:16.000Z In pursuit of continuous reinvention, I decided to approach the **tenth annual** Makoism 'report' differently than previous years in an attempt to shake it up. We'll see how this goes... ### The Mood > *What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.* > > — *Carl Sagan, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (ep. 11 "The Persistence of Memory")* --- Welcome to the **10th annual** (see: [2023](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2023/)|[2022](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/)|[2021](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/)|[2020](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/)|[2019](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/), etc.) big-ass post to share and explore all the things/apps/processes/mental trauma/musings/etc that I have found helpful throughout the year. It's my own *personal yearly review*, 12 months in the making, with links and tips for the things I surround myself with as part of an ongoing shift in my critical thinking, maximizing my daily workflow, putting me in the zone, and, most importantly, eliciting happiness in this chaotic world. Doing these annual reviews helps me reflect on the year. Like most people, I get consumed by the day-to-day traps and find it worthwhile to step back, even if it's once a year, and look at things from a 50,000-foot perspective. It's an easy way for me to reflect on where (and *what*) I've spent time and energy and attempt to craft a plan for the following year. To set the tone, a post from [Merlin's Wisdom Project](https://mastodon.social/@merlinwisdom/113609775567967863#) applies to so many areas of life (not just the junk draw): > *"To clean out a junky drawer, remove the contents and put it in a box. Only when you've used one of the items in the box twice is it allowed to live in the drawer again. After a month, pitch or donate the remaining contents—or move the precious or useful stuff to deeper storage. But, yeah, you should probably just pitch it."* 👾 I recognize how many links to articles, tools, and thinking I have in these annual posts. ****It's a lot**. This year, I'm breaking it up into three parts: last week's "[52 things I learned](https://makoism.com/52-things-i-learned-2024/)", this 'gear' post, and an end-of-year reflection I'll get out before Jan 1\. My advice has remained the same: ****Read**. ****Re-Read**. ****Re-Visit**. See what works or resonates, or determine if it's just nonsense. Your mileage may vary. :) Your support is always appreciated! ## Makoism Newsletter: 2024 in Review My rambling of a newsletter are now [going on its 5th year](https://www.makoism.com/p/deep-links-3d50734208f3); what was set up as a way to keep a few peers, friends, and colleagues engaged on content that I had discovered online weekly, has steadily found a small, but loyal, following. Often, the 'open rate' is around 65-70%, which is wonderful to see things I yammer about resonate. Today, we're at about 800 'subscribers' (reminder, you can also follow via [RSS](https://makoism.com/rss)), to which I want just to say **THANK YOU**. This year, I started a small experiment with a tiny membership tier via the simple [oneamonth.club](https://oneamonth.club) concept: join [Club Mako](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/#/portal) for $1/month or whatever you want to spend. Over 2025, I'm going to pull the thread some more; I'll probably split up the link-based "espresso notes" from longer form writing, adding in a few exclusive changes (discount codes for gear, advanced articles, etc.). But—as always—if you enjoy these posts, you can support them by [buying me a coffee](https://makoism.com/#/portal/support) ☕️, grabbing some gear at [the shop](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky), or just **spreading the word**. Here is a list of the top articles from 2024 in case you missed them: - "[Your Goal Broke the System](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/)" - "[The Overwhelming Noise](https://makoism.com/the-overwhelming-noise/)" - "[Rethinking Reading](https://makoism.com/rethinking-reading/)" - "[Ignore All Previous Instructions](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/)" - "[Less](https://makoism.com/less/)" - "[The Curse of Meh](https://makoism.com/the-curse-of-meh/)" ### The Gear Shop I'm still encouraged by the [tremendous response to the meme shirts](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) that I've been making; often, they're just for thoughts that I find amusing or inspiring, but they seem to hit the mark. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/CleanShot-2024-12-22-at-14.16.31@2x-1.png) wear it! This year had two clear favorites across the various slogans: - "[**Own Your Shit**](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)" is still #1. - “[**Nope**](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s).” was a close second with a callout against saying yes to all the ‘things’. ## Favorite New 2024 Tech I'm always reworking ideas on apps, workflows, and how I work—continuous reinvention. Last year, the big win was Tailscale, and this year, I attempted to move away from Google for search. This year, my favorite technology shift has been switching from using [Google](https://www.google.com) to [Kagi Search](https://kagi.com). Over the years, I've played with other services, such as [DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com) (which is really just a reskin of Bing), and the results haven't been that great. But Kagi is .. *different*. They describe themselves as 'user-centric search'; you're basically paying them, so there's no need to show you ads. The key is that the search results are good—**really good**. During my testing of Kagi over the last months, it's been rare that I've had to go back to Google for anything. They also offer many convenient 'life hacks': image searches, for example, can [filter anything created by an AI](https://help.kagi.com/kagi/features/exclude-ai-images.html). Which works not only on your desktop but also on mobile devices. After installing [their extension](https://help.kagi.com/kagi/getting-started/setting-default.html), I route all searches to them. Here are a few other things you get: - [Summarization services](https://blog.kagi.com/universal-summarizer) \- easily get summaries and/or key points from websites - [Lenses](https://help.kagi.com/kagi/features/lenses.html) \- customize searches by specifying which websites you see in your results. - [Personalized results](https://help.kagi.com/kagi/features/website-info-personalized-results.html) \- you can even re-write - [Custom CSS](https://help.kagi.com/kagi/features/custom-css.html) \- make Kagi look however you want it to! ([Someone even made a catppuccin css](https://cool-as-heck.blog/catppuccin-mocha-theme-for-kagi/)). - [Translate](https://blog.kagi.com/kagi-translate) \- even with [text to speech](https://translate.kagi.com/)! - [Kagi Small Web](https://blog.kagi.com/small-web) \- a curated list of the '*non-commercial part of the web, crafted by individuals to express themselves or share knowledge without seeking any financial gain.*' It's been a great place to find new things/ideas to read. However, the new feature that sold me is [The Assistant](https://blog.kagi.com/announcing-assistant). This simple idea allows you not only access to the most popular LLMs from the big players (OpenAI GPT4o, Amazon Nova, Google Gemini, Claude Opus, Meta Llama, etc.) without a separate subscription cost for each vendor but **create custom instructions for specific tasks that Kagi Search powers**. Privacy is also a key focus for them, with all threads created in chat being private by default and subscriber data being excluded from model training. For example - I built a custom "assistant" that can **automatically** create a *script* between two hosts for a podcast over a URL (similar to [Google's NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google)). It was easy: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/CleanShot-2024-12-24-at-13.07.20@2x.png) creating an assistant So, now, for any address that I want to "podcast," I can just go to the browser address bar and type "**!podcast \[someurl\]**". It's kind of amazing. For example, "!podcast https://makoism.com/52-things-i-learned-2024/", which is the "[52 Things I Learned](https://makoism.com/52-things-i-learned-2024/)" post from last week, it returns: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/CleanShot-2024-12-24-at-13.08.32@2x.png) write me a podcast! I really forgot what an "**ad-free**" search looks like, and, **it's wonderful**. I don't want to go back. For this year, I went all in with [their Ultimate plan](https://help.kagi.com/kagi/plans/ultimate-plan.html) and even [bought a first-edition shirt](https://store.kagi.com/products/doggo-t-shirt-3). Big fan. ## The Purge (Annual Audit) Every year, I do my software and subscription [purge](https://makoism.com/the-purge/), where I perform a personal technology audit. This year I went all in - **deleted** every "page" of apps, just went with one home screen, and leaned into the [App Library](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/find-and-use-your-apps-in-app-library-iph87abad19a/ios) (you can see the difference in [previous](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2023/) [years](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/) [home screen screenshots](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/) \- [2021](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/) was a doozy!). The purge isn't just about the apps I use that collect dust. It involves taking a hard, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, and workflow in the entire ecosystem that encompasses my day-to-day computing devices and workflow. Last year, I saved around $650/yr by looking at all the darn application subscriptions. It's a tricky balance; I understand developers need to create a sustainable business, but the subscription-for-everything model has become draining (not unlike streaming services). I've continued to support paying a lifetime fee if offered (yes, before you ask, I bought [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com) lifetime for $249 because I get so much value from it - support your developers!). The basic outline of the *purge* that I have used and continue to find useful: - **Apps** — examine your phone, iPad, and laptop apps. Have you used the app in the last two months? *If not, you don't need it*. **Delete it.** - **Media** — do you need **all** those documents/movies/music on your phone or laptop with you? With streaming, wireless, and clouds today, do you need 24,000 songs, 19 movies, and every receipt with you? *If not, storing things in iCloud, Google, or Amazon helps keep my devices light.* - **Subscriptions** — ask yourself: *are you getting value out of that application subscription*? **If not, cancel it**. My litmus test is if it's a service (media, storage where they are paying costs for hosting, etc.), I will pay to help keep it going if an app I love has a "lifetime" option. Apps are in a weird phase right now — It's getting harder and harder to avoid subscriptions, and I don't mind annual upgrade charges. **I cannot handle being nickel and dimed monthly, though.** - **Higher Learning** — Do you have time to write in your journal daily? Do you have a few hours aside a week for learning? Do you read enough? *I *make* time to journal entry in* [*DayOne*](https://dayoneapp.com) *every day — even if it's a sentence.* - **On the day-to-day** — what is the best way to manage your day, get through your to-do list, deal with the landslide of email, and optimize reading for the most impactful content? See my post on [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) to learn more about thirty minutes of daily reading, writing, and playing. This year: **lean into the defaults**. ## Be Like Water (Flow) ([From "Flow"](https://www.makoism.com/p/flow-23a)) I've always been proud of the habit of [Inbox Zero](https://blog.superhuman.com/inbox-zero-method/), responding to messages quickly; I've started to take a more critical lens to this over the years. There's something to the argument that "[everything in life is an inbox](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inbox-zero-mentality)" (which is a great article to read if you haven't), and I can certainly relate to sometimes letting things stew is better than just *responding*. However, the idea that email is not my task list is essential, so here are some excellent tips on discovering how liberating this can be, as already mentioned in the concept of the "inbox allow list" above. My flow is pretty straightforward for **every** new mail: - If I don't need it and can delete it, **delete** it immediately. - If it's something that I can **answer immediately**, I do; the email goes into the 'archive, hold, or followup' folder or **deleted**. - If the Email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast, or whatever else I can consume later, it quickly goes into [Reeder](https://reederapp.com). - If it's something that I need for information later, it quickly goes into the 'archive' folder. Then, it is deleted. - If it's something that I need to think about or take action on, it quickly goes to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item in the Things Inbox, with tags, a project, and a due date. Then, the email enters the 'archive' folder or is deleted. The process is quick and straightforward, and my Inbox **never** becomes a dumping ground for tasks. ## The 2024 Desk Setup ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/IMG_0561-1.png) getting there, needs more 'warmth' Here's where the setup lands ending in 2024: - [MacBook (Air 512GB/24GB, M2, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — No change this year on the personal laptop. - [iPhone 16 Pro Max(512GB, Titanium)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro/) — Went with the max again simply for the battery life. Not sure that'll last next year. - [iPad Mini 7 (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/) — Still my favorite around-the-house and read-in-bed device, this year saw a storage and processor increase. - [iPad Pro 11" M4 (1TB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/). I've been using the iPad Pro more as a second screen at the desk and for writing. - [Apple Watch Ultra 2](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra/) — No changes still a centerpiece for [my health tracking](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). - [MacBook (Air 512GB/32GB, M3, Silver)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — the work laptop, managed to dump **work brick** and go with the MBA. - [Mac Mini M4 Pro (48Gb Ram, 1TB)](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) — Major upgrade this year on the home 'server'; used for containers, AI workloads, etc. - I have an ancient 2011 [Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) media server that is for archiving content and is a redundant backup to a [Synology NAS](https://www.synology.com/en-us) and [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html). Other random gear: - [AirPods Pro 2 USB-C](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — No change. - [Keychron K3 Pro Keyboard](https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k3-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard) \- still enjoying the click/clack of a mechanical keyboard. - [Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5XWJW36) - [Apple Studio Display](https://www.apple.com/studio-display/) - [Grovemade Pen and Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/black-pen-and-pen-stand/?initial=491) - [Pete's Pirate Gear](https://petespiratelife.com/) — candle, challenge coin and dice. Yo ho yo ho. 2024 also saw a desk revamp to a [new standing desk](https://www.upliftdesk.com/) with a custom wood top we bought on Etsy (which is beautiful); the office itself still feels a bit "cold" and needs an overhaul in 2025. ### Camera I am often asked (and this is now part of my [Uses](https://makoism.com/defaults/) page) about my camera setup, which hasn't changed this year (in fact, going on 24 months now) I can't stress the importance of getting **good** lights and a proper camera - it changes things for the day-to-day when video calls are the bulk of where you put in the time. - [Sony Camera](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-ZV-E10-Interchangeable-Mirrorless/dp/B09BBLH4SG) - [Viltrox 23mm Lens](https://www.amazon.com/VILTROX-Mount-Focus-APS-C-Camera/dp/B08DTRYSKW) - [elGato CamLink 4k](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Cam-Link-Broadcast-Camcorder/dp/B07K3FN5MR) - [elGato Stand](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Weighted-Base-Multi-Mount/dp/B07X5DM3S1) - [elGato Lighting](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Key-Light-Professional-App-Enabled/dp/B07L755X9G) ### EDC Made some changes to the [2021 EDC](https://makoism.com/2021-edc/) this year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/IMG_0558.png) Here's the shopping list: - [Lockby Venture Pouch](https://www.lochby.com/collections/featured/products/venture-pouch)—I keep everything in this small bag, which is ready to go. - [Cord Clips](https://www.sfbags.com/products/leather-cord-organizer): I carry one or two USB-C cables, and these are functional and look fantastic. - [Butterfly SE 2-in-1 Compact Foldable Wireless Travel Charger](https://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Compact-Foldable-Wireless-Charging/dp/B0DCLRTV4P) — what "AirPower" should have been. - [Anker Prime Charger, 100W USB-C Charger](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CZ6LXL8R) — a 100w, ultra-fast dual-port USB-C and 1 USB-A charger that is small, can quickly charge a laptop, iPad, etc. and **is the only charger you'll need**. - [Belkin iPhone MagSafe Camera Mount for MacBook](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJNHF6WJ) — quality of life hack; I use this to prop up the phone for "[standby display](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-standby-iph878d77632/ios)" when traveling at hotels at night. - [EverRatchet Keychain Tool](https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Infusion-EverRatchet-Ratcheting-Keychain/dp/B07FCRH3D6) — one of the best flat multi-tool that's a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, bottle opener, box opener, seven wrenches, and more in a compact 20g footprint. - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small and bright, it's a no-brainer for the daily bag. - [AirTag](https://www.apple.com/airtag/) — because I may lose the EDC? I also have these handy in my laptop bag ([SF Bags Outback Duo Laptop Brief](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ZYStnH4j8)): - [Nite Ize S-Biner Dual Carabiner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HN6CW4) — to clip on water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK)) to bring heart medication everywhere. Unfortunately, it is needed these days. - [UGREEN Uno Magsafe Portable Charger, Qi2](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7CFCRBN) — a small/light battery that doesn't need a cable to charge the phone; supports Qi2 for faster charging - \[[Theory 11 Piracy Cards](https://store.theory11.com/products/piracy-playing-cards)\] — who knows when you want to play some cards? :) ## 2024 Defaults This year, I decided to consolidate all of my apps into a single 'defaults' list, with the ([inspired](https://heydingus.net/blog/2024/12/delta-of-the-defaults-2024)) emoji which denotes any changes from last year. You'll see a lot of shifts to the built-in apps in iOS; "why am I still paying for 'this'?" seems to be the perfect question to ask yourself as you review default app choices. A lot of great software comes already bundled with your phone or laptop. 📨 Mail Client: [Apple Mail](https://www.icloud.com/mail/) 📮 Mail Server: [Fastmail](https://www.fastmail.com) ✨ 📝 Notes: [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) ✅ To-Do: [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) (and [Apple Reminders](https://www.icloud.com/reminders/)) 📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: iOS Camera 🟦 Photo Management: [Apple Photos](https://www.icloud.com/photos/) and [Darkroom](http://darkroom.co) 📆 Calendar: [Apple Calendar](https://www.icloud.com/calendar) 📁 Cloud File Storage: [iCloud Drive](https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/) and [BackBlaze](https://www.backblaze.com) 📖 RSS: [Reeder Classic](https://reederapp.com/classic/) (via [Feedly](https://feedly.com/)) 💬 Chat: [Apple Messages](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/messages/id1146560473) 🔖 Bookmarks: [LinkDing](https://linkding.link) ([self-host](https://github.com/sissbruecker/linkding)) ✨ 🙍🏻‍♂️ Contacts: [Apple Contacts](https://www.icloud.com/contacts/) 🌐 Browser: [Safari](https://www.apple.com/safari/) 📑 Read It Later: [Reeder Classic](https://reederapp.com/classic/) 🛒 Shopping Lists: [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) 🎵 Music: [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/new) 🎤 Podcasts: [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/browse) 🔐 Password Management: [1Password](https://1password.com) (*still* moving to iCloud) 🧑‍💻 Code Editor: [VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com) 🥗 Recipes: [Mela](https://mela.recipes) 💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: [CoPilot](https://copilot.money) 📰 News: [Apple News](https://www.apple.com/apple-news/) 📝 Writing: [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) 📈 Spreadsheets: Don't do spreadsheets when I don't have to 🎙️ Presentations: [Keynote](https://www.apple.com/in/keynote/) 📇 Contacts: [Apple Contacts](https://www.icloud.com/contacts/) 🤦‍♂️ Social Media: [Ivory](https://tapbots.social/@ivory)/[Mona](https://getmona.app) (Mastodon), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app) ✨ 🌤️ Weather: [Carrot](https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/) (moving towards [Tempest](https://shop.tempest.earth/products/tempest) and [Apple Weather](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weather/id1069513131)) 💨 Air Quality: [Purple Air](https://www2.purpleair.com) (via [Paku](https://paku.app)) ✨ 🔎 Search: [Kagi](https://kagi.com) ✨ I also have a few other super useful tools that I use often: 🤖 AI Chatbot: [ChatGPT](https://chat.openai.com) and [Petey](https://petey-assistant.com) ✍🏻 Journalling: [DayOne](http://dayoneapp.com) 📺 Television: [YouTube TV](https://tv.youtube.com) and [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) 📀 Media Tracking: [Trakt](https://trakt.tv) 🛄 Travel Planning: [TripIt](https://www.tripit.com) 🛫 Flight Tracking: [Flight](https://www.flightyapp.com) 🗒️ Quick Notes: [Tot](https://tot.rocks) ## Homescreens Both devices rock this fun graffiti wallpaper from [Basic Apple Guy](https://basicappleguy.com/haberdashery/graffiti). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/12/iphone-homescreen-1-1.jpg) I hope you enjoyed this year's update and that you are well heading into 2025.✌🏻 ### 52 Things I Learned: 2024 URL: https://makoism.com/52-things-i-learned-2024/ Last updated: 2024-12-14T19:55:18.000Z Back in December of 2023, I was inspired by [Jason Kottke](https://kottke.org/23/12/52-interesting-things-i-learned-2023) and [Tom Whitwell’s](https://medium.com/@tomwhitwell/52-things-i-learned-in-2024-75efffe44f15) when they published new things they learned throughout the year. In that spirit, let's give this a roll - I kept track of at least **one new** TIL, or 'thing I learned' each week over 2024\. Please enjoy this year's mega-post for your next trivia night: 1. Soup is a leading cause of burn-related visits to the hospital among young children in the United States. - [Pediatricians See an Alarming Number of Noodle-Soup Burns](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/12/soup-burns-children/676975/) 2. Barbara Eden spoke Farsi, learned from a UCLA professor, in the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie before her character magically switched to English. - [Barbara Eden spoke Farsi in the pilot episode of 'I Dream of Jeannie'](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/s/OCfqK8Ricy) 3. Cinnamon may have health benefits to offer our brain, precisely when it comes to Alzheimer's prevention. - [Eating Cinnamon Has An Unexpected Effect On Your Brain Health](https://www.healthdigest.com/1475349/unexpected-effect-cinnamon-has-on-brain-health-reduce-dementia-risk/) 4. There's a huge family drama behind M&Ms. Due to a bad relationship with his father, the son of Forrest Mars Sr didn't want to share the idea with him. Instead, he turned to US rival Hershey's - and asked if they would collaborate with him. - [People are only just realising what M&Ms stands for - and huge family row behind it.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/people-only-just-realising-what-31683519) 5. "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo" is a grammatically correct sentence. - [Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo%5Fbuffalo%5FBuffalo%5Fbuffalo%5Fbuffalo%5Fbuffalo%5FBuffalo%5Fbuffalo) 6. Someone finally beat Tetris. - [The Tetris Killscreen](https://youtu.be/GuJ5UuknsHU?si=OjEWkr3aI6YYk6iH) 7. Commander David Scott proved Galileo was right by simultaneously dropping a hammer and a feather on the moon, where there isn't a vacuum. Since there was no air resistance, both objects released fell at the same rate regardless of mass. - [The Apollo 15 Hammer-Feather Drop](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo%5F15%5Ffeather%5Fdrop.html) 8. The first popsicle was accidentally invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905\. He accidentally left a container of powdered soda and water on his porch overnight with a stir stick inside. - [The Popsicle Story](https://www.popsicle.com/us/en/our-story.html) 9. The town of Ptarmigan found its name too tricky to spell, so why not rename the town 'Chicken.' - [How did the tiny Alaska village of Chicken get its name?](https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/2024/01/14/how-did-the-tiny-alaska-village-of-chicken-get-its-name/) 10. TIL why snakes have forked tongues. - [Smelling in stereo – the real reason snakes have flicking, forked tongues](https://theconversation.com/smelling-in-stereo-the-real-reason-snakes-have-flicking-forked-tongues-142363) 11. Researchers have uncovered that putting duct tape on the "hatch" was a precaution against accidental openings, but its true story may be more grim. - [What happens when an astronaut in orbit says he's not coming back?](https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/solving-a-nasa-mystery-why-did-space-shuttle-commanders-lock-the-hatch/) 12. I just learned that Judy Garland's slippers from The Wizard of Oz were stolen. - [Reformed mobster went after 'one last score' when he stole Judy Garland's ruby slippers from 'Oz'](https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-wizard-oz-f93b3da8331f050cc81bf7f1f79877e8) 13. Ever wonder why you have the best ideas in the shower? Now, science tells you why. - [The science of why you have great ideas in the shower](https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/08/the-science-of-why-you-have-great-ideas-in-the-shower) 14. TIL the history of the famous Oscar Mayer jingle. - [My Bologna Has a First Name](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/my-bologna-has-a-first-name-oscar-mayer-jingle-history) 15. Something that I didn't know - **The Michelin Man** originates from Bibendum (named for the Latin'*Nunc est bibendum*'), which comes from poems by the Roman poet Horace, and which means 'Now is the time to drink.' And it gets better: Bibendum is a stone-cold killer who slaughtered his rivals, smoked heavily, and attracted violence and controversy wherever he went. - [The Dark and Violent History of the Michelin Man](https://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/the-dark-and-violent-history-of-the-michelin-man) 16. More than you ever wanted to know about the history of pasta. - [The Surprising Origins of 15 Pasta Shapes](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/643218/stories-behind-pasta-shapes). 17. Abandoned America always haunts me with its incredible photography of random places. This forgotten amusement park is particularly creepy. - [Six Flags New Orleans](https://www.abandonedamerica.us/six-flags-new-orleans) 18. Uh -- what? Whales used to walk at one time? - [When Whales Could Walk... Excuse Me?](https://kottke.org/24/03/when-whales-could-walk-excuse-me) 19. Not something I ever considered before... - [Does Mario feel pain?](https://www.theverge.com/24114957/super-mario-developer-interview-pain-nintendo) 20. I had never heard of this crazy story about John R. Brinkley's 'One Million Watt "border blaster" radio station,' nor did I know the station's impact on broadcasting history and the ties to medical practices and operations. - [XER - The King Of The Border Blasters](http://www.theradiohistorian.org/xer/xer.html) 21. Uncrustables are forecasted to be a $1b (yes, billion) business by 2026\. - [Have you seen the crust?](https://sherwood.news/business/uncrustables-are-on-track-to-become-a-billion-dollar-business/) 22. Missionaries have no direct involvement in this wild origin story. - [The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase' Missionary Position'](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/missionary-position-meaning-explained) 23. In 2003, there was a boycott of Coca-Cola products, alleging that the company's locally owned bottlers in Colombia used illegal paramilitary groups to intimidate, threaten and kill its workers. - [Coca-Cola boycott launched after killings at Colombian plants](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jul/24/marketingandpr.colombia) 24. From Dickshooter, Idaho, to Hell, Michigan, here are some of the wackiest names of towns in the US. - [The Funniest Town Name in All 50 States](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/502251/funniest-town-name-all-50-states) 25. Both are members of the camel family, but alpacas and llamas aren't even the same species. - [Alpacas vs. Llamas: What's the Difference?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/alpacas-vs-llamas-difference) 26. Speaking of whales, orcas are creatures of habit. And for one summer only, they decided to wear dead fish on their heads like hats. (Update: [they started doing it again this year](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/orcas-puget-sound-salmon-hats-killer-whales)!) - [In 1987, Orcas Had A Fashion Of Wearing A Dead Salmon As A Hat](https://www.iflscience.com/in-1987-orcas-had-a-fashion-of-wearing-a-dead-salmon-as-a-hat-69542) 27. You will never guess where Caesar salad comes from... - [Hail, Caesar! At 100 years old, the world's best salad is having a renaissance](https://www.theguardian.com/food/ng-interactive/2024/jul/04/caesar-salad-100-years-old-mexico) 28. It makes sense that cigars used to be the prize at carnival games. - [The Fascinating History of 'Close, But No Cigar'](https://medium.com/the-cellar-door/what-is-the-origin-of-close-but-no-cigar-176db8cbe73c) 29. Just in case you were curious.. - [Why Do Dogs Lift Their Leg to Pee?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/653485/why-dogs-lift-leg-pee) 30. The term "boneless" describes a cooking style and does not guarantee the absence of bones. [Restaurant not liable for injury from bone in 'boneless' wings](https://www.cleveland.com/open/2024/07/restaurant-not-liable-for-injury-from-bone-in-boneless-wings-ohio-supreme-court-rules.html) 31. Mantis shrimp use their appendages, called dactyl clubs, for smashing and battering. These clubs can accelerate at 50 miles per hour and hit with 160 pounds of force, capable of breaking glass. Smaller sea creatures avoid them due to this impressive power. - [How Do Mantis Shrimp Break Glass?](https://www.hepper.com/mantis-shrimp-breaking-glass/) 32. Gilligan's Island only ran for three seasons! [What COULD have happened, what WOULD have happened?](http://www.gilligansisle.com/4th.html) 33. Four-fingered cartoon characters started in the 1920s with Disney and early animation studios; apparently, it was better for time and cost to limit the labor on them. Characters with three fingers are often depicted as *mutants or aliens*. - [Why Do So Many Cartoon Characters Have Four Fingers?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-cartoon-characters-have-four-fingers) 34. Henry Phillips reimagined fasteners in the 1930s with a head screw that allowed for self-centering. Here's the origin story. - [Why Is It Called a "Phillips Head" Screwdriver?](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-is-it-called-phillips-head-screwdriver) 35. 83% of Americans think movie theater popcorn tastes better. Why is that? It has a seasoning called [Flavacol](https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Prod-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp/B004W8LT10), which contains artificial flavoring and yellow dyes. Yum. - [Why Movie Theater Popcorn Tastes So Good](https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-movie-theater-popcorn-tastes-better) 36. Using radio waves for heating things dates back to the 1940s, and the first consumer microwave ([Tappan RL-1](https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah%5F1088040)) was released in 1955 for $1,295 (**approximately $15,000 today**). - [A History of Microwave Ovens](https://taylor.town/history-of-microwave-ovens) 37. Eww. A meeting of nobles with King Henry in Thuringia ended in disaster when the floor collapsed, plunging many into a sewage cesspit. At least 60 nobles drowned in liquid excrement, though some estimates suggest a higher number. - [The Erfurt Latrine Disaster](https://dailymedieval.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-erfurt-latrine-disaster.html) 38. Most of today's Halloween costumes come from various cultural influences over time, but they probably aren't what you'd expect. - [The Surprising History Behind 5 Popular Halloween Costumes](https://www.mentalfloss.com/history-of-popular-halloween-costumes) 39. Listeners often believe that songs often contain hidden messages (and [Taylor Swift is a master of easter eggs](https://www.today.com/popculture/music/taylor-swift-easter-eggs-hidden-messages-rcna51887)), this is a fun look at mysterious lyrics in Beatles songs. - [My Search for Hidden Meanings in Beatles Songs](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/my-search-for-hidden-meanings-in) 40. '*The persons and events in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional.*' That legal boilerplate has been present for almost 100 years because of ***Rasputin***. - [Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental](https://interconnected.org/home/2024/11/22/rasputin) 41. Pecan pie became the Thanksgiving favorite in the 1930s after the makers of Karo corn syrup announced a new recipe that used the syrup (originally an anti-depression elixir) that the wife of a company salesman invented. It became so popular that they started selling Karo cookbooks. - [From The Sweet Past To The Delicious Present](https://www.karosyrup.com/our-history/) 42. Developed in the 1980s, Honeycrisp apples have experienced a decline in quality over the years. Why? - [How Honeycrisp Apples Went From Marvel to Mediocre](https://www.seriouseats.com/how-honeycrisp-apples-went-from-marvel-to-mediocre-8753117) 43. JFK had a fascination with spy stories, especially James Bond. Recently, it was revealed that he and Jackie Kennedy created a home movie that humorously played off JFK's assassination two months before the real one. - [Why JFK Staged His Murder in a James Bond–Inspired Spy Film—2 Months Before His Assassination](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/jfk-staged-murder-home-movie-hammersmith-farm) 44. Have you seen photos of those super creepy time-out dolls (they look like 3-foot-tall kids in a punished pose) from the 1950s? Here's their origin story - [Creepy time-out dolls.](https://www.mentalfloss.com/creepy-time-out-dolls-car-show-origins) 45. The board game industry will become a $27 billion market by 2029\. What's led to its rise? - [Game on! A look into the rise of design-led board games](https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/game-on-the-rise-of-design-led-board-games-graphic-design-041224) 46. I always love a good map; here's one showing the spread of The Black Death in Europe. - [Map Showing The Spread of The Black Death in Europe Between 1346 & 1353](https://brilliantmaps.com/spread-of-the-black-death-in-europe/) 47. Wyoming is notable for having only *two escalators* located in Casper at Hilltop National Bank and First Interstate Bank. - [Why There Are Only Two Escalators In All Of Wyoming](https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/12/04/why-there-are-only-two-escalators-in-all-of-wyoming/) 48. Ever wonder how the Sun ultimately ends all life on Earth? Well, here you go. - [Here's how the Sun will end all life on Earth](https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/sun-explode-ulimate-fate) 49. Food crime, including theft, smuggling, and counterfeiting, costs the global food industry between **$30 to $50 billion annually**, with luxury cheese becoming the largest target.- [Why luxury cheese is being targeted by black market criminals](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmz42pjpnjo) 50. Did you know you can buy a real set of 50 human molars for only $225? The perfect stocking stuffer. - [A Set Of 50 Real Human Molars](https://bforbones.com/shop/a-set-of-50-real-human-molars/) 51. On any given Friday night in college, there was a good chance I would find myself at Tower Records, buying a CD I would regret in the morning. I had no idea that 'drunk shopping' could be as high as a $45bn/year industry (from 2019). - [The 2019 Drunk Shopping Census](https://thehustle.co/drunk-shopping-survey) 52. Xerox scanners used to have a bug that would silently replace numbers in the text of documents to make them compress better. - [Filtered for machine misunderstandings](https://interconnected.org/home/2022/04/11/filtered). Coming in the next two weeks - [the annual "things I like"](https://makoism.com/tag/thingsilike/) mega-post. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 12-8-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-12-8-24/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:08:25.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Beans and Noses](https://archive.uie.com/brainsparks/2011/07/08/beans-and-noses/). **Favorite post of the week 🤔** with some simple life advice that I need to keep reminding myself of: '*No matter how much you try, you can't stop people from sticking beans up their nose.*.' - [What is the Art of Hosting?](https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/what-is-the-art-of-hosting/). As we approach the end of the year, some solid thinking on 'first and foremost the Art of Hosting is an art. Of **hosting conversations that matter**.' - [Why I Will Always Be Angry About Software Engineering](https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/why-i-will-always-be-angry-about-software-engineering/). I've mentioned his blog previously, but [Scott Boms](https://scottboms.com/documenting/through-lines-234) has a fantastic weekly note where I find plenty of enjoyable inspiration from and discovered a link to an insightful post on career frustrations (while focused on engineer, as Scott points out, can be applied anywhere), the '*lack of meaningful work*' and this particular authors journey on discovering that '*the little things matter*.' - [Modern Work Fucking Sucks](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/modern-work-fucking-sucks/). It is a powerful read that is dead on how much cognitive overload there is in modern-day business. The '*tragedy is how much time gets sucked into this vortex of fake productivity*' that has led to an '*absurd cycle, where the only thing more exhausting than the work is pretending to do the work*' is something everyone should take a step back and re-evaluate how they spend their [time bank](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/). - [6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person](https://www.cracked.com/blog/6-harsh-truths-that-will-make-you-better-person). Originally published at the end of 2012, this post has had more than 25 million views; it's a good one to throw on the '**re-read every year**' pile as it's a solid reminder of the importance of self-improvement and personal responsibility and incredibly blunt. I love it. - [This is how we make slides at Apple](https://medium.com/adventures-in-consumer-technology/this-is-how-we-make-slides-at-apple-b8a84352bf6d). I don't know if this is *really* how Apple produces decks, but it's a great read/reminder on the power of storytelling when presenting. There are many good tips here; a personal favorite: '**YOU are doing the talk. Not the slides.**' - [10 Signs You're an Extroverted Introvert](https://introvertdear.com/news/extroverted-introvert-signs/). I [teased out back in 2022](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/) that I probably fall in the [extroverted introvert](https://introvertdear.com/ambivert-meaning-definition/) category, but the signs laid out here ring true to my brain. - [Rebel Optimism: How We Thrive in a Broken World](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/rebel-optimism-how-we-thrive-in-a-broken-world/). **It is a powerful** read on surviving in a world that '*is crumbling in real time*.' In the past, I've discovered that stoic optimism is a good, '*practical mindset for resilience*,' I dig the concept of 'rebel optimism. '*Thriving in a broken world means translating hope into behavior—every day, in every context,*' seems an even better path. - [Modernity is stupid: A rant not about politics](https://phirephoenix.com/blog/2024-11-05/modernity). Oof, another powerful rant on the challenges of managing digital information, information overload, and the continuing enshittification of platforms. Side note: it looks like [Instagram just retired an API](https://dayoneapp.com/guides/day-one-for-android/instagram-integration/) that allows journaling apps, such as [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com) to integrate with it. **Lame**. - [The Observer Effect and Social Media - How Constant Observation Warps Us All](https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-observer-effect-and-social-media-how-constant-observation-warps-us-all/). I seem to have several new links from [Joan Westenberg](https://www.joanwestenberg.com) this week on how *observation alters behavior*. The post had me nodding in agreement, especially around the observation that social media creates a '*distorted reflection of identity*' as people change to meet the expectations of countless observers. - [Aging Well in an Era of Uncertainty](https://www.katharineesty.com/post/aging-well-in-an-era-of-uncertainty). Here are '*four tools to stay grounded, hopeful, and functional*' as you get older. As I crossed 50 a few years back, I've noticed a dramatic change in what I care about. A lot of this is advice I had taken more seriously when I was younger. - [Against New Year's Resolutions](https://ttl.blog/against-new-years-resolutions/). I haven't done 'resolutions' as part of New Year's for as long as I can remember. But I love the reframing here: '**If it's worth doing, it's worth starting now.**' - [The Sisyphus Treadmill: Why we keep falling for rehashed ideas](https://dariusforoux.com/sisyphus-treadmill/). Why do we generally fall into '*repetitive, futile efforts*' and the **psychology** behind it? Our brains are typically wired to *like things that feel familiar and safe, which certainly circles the 'thats not the way we used to do it' mentality. The post has some lovely ideas on how to break away from '*just collecting ideas\*' and how to focus on actually doing something with what we learn. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-25-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-25-24/ Last updated: 2024-11-25T22:36:58.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. --- ## Gear Drop 🛍️ Due to popular demand I have added a new meme shirt from last week's post that seemed to have a bunch of heads nodding. As the holidays 🎁 are upon us, I'm sure someone on your gift list would enjoy some makoism's to rattle some nerves at the office. (I find "nope" a personal favorite for meetings). [Available in the shop today](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/11/mockup-1-1-1-1.jpeg) disconnect to reconnect ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [They All Use It](https://registerspill.thorstenball.com/p/they-all-use-it). Wow, I **loved** this post, and it tickles something that I've run across not just engineers but entire industries: people who don't even want to think of exploring some new technology (akin to '[that's not the way I used to do it](https://makoism.com/did-you-chop-down-this-tree/)." '*I've assumed that one shared trait between programmers was *curiosity*, a willingness to learn and that our maxim is that *we can't ever stop learning* because what we're doing is constantly changing beneath our fingers and if we don't pay attention it might slip away from us, leaving us with the knowledge that's no longer useful.*' **Amen**. - [Self-Sabotaging Innovation: The Art of Doing Dumb Shit](https://zine.kleinkleinklein.com/p/self-sabotaging-innovation). [I've mentioned previously](https://makoism.com/empty-calories/) the declassified [Simple Sabotage Field Manual](https://www.cia.gov/static/5c875f3ec660e092cf893f60b4a288df/SimpleSabotage.pdf) \- a handbook designed to help ordinary citizens disrupt enemy operations through acts of sabotage. What is often called 'business as usual' is more akin to how we are actively sabotaging ourselves. - [Man Who Spent $6.2 Million on Banana Duct-Taped to Wall Says He's Going to Eat It](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-spent-62-million-banana-duct-taped-wall-says-going-eat-rcna181172). Well, just when I thought that a [Banana-as-Art Sells for $6.2 Million at Sotheby's](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/arts/design/cattelan-banana-sothebys-auction.html), the story takes an apparent expected turn into wacky as the reveals what he's going to do with it. Of course, he's going to eat it. Side note: the artist .35 for the banana at a local market. - [Misc.](https://www.slow-journalism.com/misc) is '*a joyful abundance of things you didn't know you needed to know*' from the folks over at [Delayed Gratification](https://www.slow-journalism.com). I recently discovered this '*beautiful quarterly publication which revisits the events of the last three months to offer in-depth, independent journalism in an increasingly frantic world.*' And who can argue with a publication that has a tagline of 'WE VALUE BEING RIGHT ABOVE BEING FIRST' these days? - [Chicago Kare by Duane King](https://chicagokare.xyz/). Attention font geeks, here's a *faithful* reproduction of the bitmap version of the [Chicago typeface created by Susan Kare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago%5F%28typeface%29) for [Apple Computer in 1984](https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/september-2018/chicago-the-typeface/). - [Any Similarity to Actual Persons Living or Dead Is Purely Coincidental](https://interconnected.org/home/2024/11/22/rasputin). TIL: '*The persons and events in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional.*' That legal boilerplate has been present for almost 100 years because of ***Rasputin***. - [Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's Santo Tequila Trucks Hijacked in 'Double Heist.' Now $1M Worth of Tequila Is Missing](https://people.com/guy-fieri-sammy-hagar-santo-trucks-hijacked-1m-worth-of-tequila-exclusive-8746492). Coming soon to a theater near you, next years buddy cop film, '**Sip Happens: Flames, Frames, and Fugitives.**' - [Why Not Bluesky](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2024/11/15/Not-Bluesky). Sure, [I have an account on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/makoism.com) as I was trying to set up a custom domain, but [Tim Bray](https://www.tbray.org) (as usual) brings up some excellent points before you jump there, especially around their reliance on venture capital — a good read. - [Daisy the AI' Granny Scambaiter' Joins the Fight Against Phone Scammers](https://www.creativeboom.com/news/daisy-the-ai-granny-scambaiter-beats-phone-scammers-at-their-own-game/). Probably one of the best use cases that I've seen for Generative AI to date. - [Ukraine's Resilience Coffee Culture](https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/ukraines-resilience-coffee-culture). I loved this reflection on how coffee culture symbolizes resilience and unity during the ongoing war. There's been a whopping 35% ***increase*** in just the number of coffee shops since the war began there, as the comfort and familiarity of the coffee-drinking ritual has provided a way to momentarily escape the realities of war - [Expert Explains Why, Essentially, You're Fucked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bex5LyzbbBE). Yup, watch it; from [The Onion](https://theonion.com). - [Mattel apologizes after Wicked movie dolls mistakenly link to porn website on packaging](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/11/mattel-apologises-after-mistakenly-linking-to-porn-website-on-wicked-dolls). Welp, that's a misprint - the web site addresses that were printed on boxes for Glinda and Elphaba dolls, showed a link to [wicked.com](https://wicked.com), instead of [wickedmovie.com](https://wickedmovie.com). Oops. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### The Overwhelming Noise URL: https://makoism.com/the-overwhelming-noise/ Last updated: 2024-11-17T01:15:43.000Z Well, huh... here we are. This post has been in the queue for two weeks or so now. It's involved a lot of note-taking, thinking, writing, and rewriting—rinse and repeat. For this post, I wanted to jot down a bunch of random things, take a step back, and then come back later when I had some additional thoughts sorted out in my brain. And don't fret - I won't get into politics here. There are plenty of better sources for political commentary than this old geek's site. The last political controversy I had online that I can remember in which I was involved in was whether or not it was a good idea to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone. Politics are not an area I want to explore in any of these posts. So don't fret. But yikes. This month, the noise has been deafening, hasn't it? I'm not only talking about the banter on the television or the complete flood of information that comes at you 24 hours, seven days a week like a nonstop tsunami. I'm referring to the high noise-to-signal ratio that is consuming everyone with a non-relenting echo chamber which gets louder and louder every year. The number of friends, co-workers, and family who have expressed a feeling of loneliness or depression that have reached out over the last months has made it evident to me it's reached epidemic proportions. It's blowing out our collective eardrums at a 12 out of 10 on the volume knob. As a technologist and someone who has built a career out of writing software, it would have been hard for me to imagine the technology we have so readily available today to connect the world in an instant when I was in a tiny college dorm hacking away on a homebuilt computer. With all these advances, there's an apparent growing sense of ... sadness? There are days when I want to be more analog, and I miss a time when you learned what was happening on the 6 p.m. evening news or (goodness!) until the paper was delivered the next day. I have this faint memory of my grandfather explaining how to read the paper to see how the stock market did the day before. I can't recall how old I was, but I remember having to scan through these long pages to try and find the symbol for a company I was familiar with — to see if they had moved a few cents. Fast-forward to today. I carry a machine with more computing power than the space shuttle in my pocket; I ask my phone, and I can get an answer to anything. Instantly. Sadly, a more straightforward, quieter time is something my kids will never know. And I can't even begin to ponder what type of technology-induced information overload their kids will also face. It doesn't seem to be getting any better. [Rebecca Solnit](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/rebeccasolnit) recently [wrote a very worthwhile article to read on our dangerously disconnected world](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/16/zombie-apocalypse-dangerously-disconnected-world-rebecca-solnit): > *Aversion to direct contact with others has become so normal in my home town that I've become avoidant myself after too many encounters with people who seem to find it bafflingly transgressive to engage with any casual remark or question from a stranger, and mostly fail to respond. I wander in a city that feels ghostly, depopulated, even when bodies are on the street, and I feel like a ghost myself in the lack of acknowledgment, in others' blank reluctance to utter even those tiny "excuse me" negotiations to get around someone or warn someone.* > > *The pandemic emptied out the streets, but this is another kind of emptiness – it often seems as though fewer people are out and about, but also the people still present are a lot less present.* > > *It's incrementally it's become normal for us all to be in that limbo, that bardo.* As I look back at my online writing and journals over the last few years, this topic hasn't just popped to the top of mind in the last few weeks; it's something I've been thinking about for quite some time now. - In "[ReThinking Reading](https://makoism.com/rethinking-reading/)": '*We all generally fall into a trap of consuming more and more bullshit daily; we are not interested in valid truth, but rather in information that is false, useless, and entertaining. Doomscrolling.*' - In "[Firestarters](https://makoism.com/firestarters/) ": '*And maybe that's the most important thing we can remember as we age. Stay curious.*' This is all a long-winded way of just saying that the noise of the reality-distorting echo chamber has become *deafening*. If you're still with me (and I hope you are), this isn't intended to be a post about the dystopian state of 2024\. As I've often said, writing for me is cheaper than therapy. What I wanted to get to is **that it's about choice**. Stoics talk about a **dichotomy of control**: the things that are within your control, your thoughts and actions, and the things that are outside of your control. Which is, funny enough, pretty much *everything else.* It's about *choosing* to control what fuels you. [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/2024/11/choose-your-fuel-wisely/) wrote: > *When we pick our fuel, we pick our companions for the journey ahead.* > > *Choosing to care about what other people care about surrenders your agency. You'll find that success feels hollow, because it's their success, not yours. And blaming the false metrics for losing your way is not as useful as simply walking away from them in the first place.* It's about having **hope**. Maybe it comes from [my own fascination](https://makoism.com/43percent/) with [morbid math](https://charliedepascale.blog/2021/04/07/morbid-math/), but if you do the math: > *I guesstimated that I probably have somewhere around 43% of my time left on the planet. Given the average age of a human today is 90, dividing that by my current age (52), I can approximate that I'm 57% done. Yes, it's unlikely that this is an accurate prediction of my actual time left, but it's a good lens that I'm likely past the halfway point to whatever's next.* That clock, since [I wrote the post on having an estimated 43% left](https://makoism.com/43percent/), is now **at 40%**. With that in mind, I've become *aware* of when things feel tedious or not joyful. They haven't for a few months, so the alarm has gone off that tells me it's essential to take a step back, analyze, and try to reconnect to things that matter. ***So, what's the plan?*** This time I've decided to go broad; I've taken conscious recognition of the fact that **most things are designed to suck the oxygen out of the room**. The businesses of social media are businesses of addiction. They are places where their algorithms are designed to continuously feed you nuggets of "all types" of information to keep you engaged. Social Networks, outside of distributing this, I've stepped away. Facebook and Twitter were deleted years ago; I've removed Instagram and, luckily, have never even installed TikTok. Threads? It's just more of the same from Meta. BlueSky? Sure, I have an account there, but it's now received massive funding from [Blockchain Capital](https://www.blockchaincapital.com). If history proves anything, this isn't great for the platform in the long run. I **cancelled** my subscriptions to [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com), [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com) (although keeping their games app for [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html)), [The Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com), and [The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com). I kept [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us) (which I get via their wonderful [Headlines morning update in email](https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters), which is a quick glance) and [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com), which I enjoy the writing in. I haven't watched the evening news in almost a week and a half. Every time I want to, I turn on Guy Fieri's [Diners, Drive-ins and Dives](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives) instead. I deleted most of the feeds that I read to start over. People often ask me for a list of things I read, but you know, it kind of creates its own echo chamber when the people you socialize with are all consuming the same content. I want a fresh start. For now, I will look into more local and independent news outlets. I subscribed to two printed (yes, printed) newspapers: [The Onion](https://membership.theonion.com/) since I enjoy the humor and [will continue to support The SouthWester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk). I recommend you check them out if you've never read them. There are lots of great pieces online on how to read news that I've found valuable as I reassess consumption. [Laura Owen, a journalist, has this beautiful advice](https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/11/im-a-journalist-and-im-changing-the-way-i-read-news-this-is-how/): '***I'll read news, not other people's reactions to news.***' Who know'sknows how all this will end up and work, but I will say that not being bombarded with things I haven't curated to spark thinking or local community has been a worthwhile exercise in refining what really matters for me. For you? I can't tell you that. Go Experiment. Find the fun. **Reconnect by disconnecting**. In '[This Is The Most Important Thing For These Crazy Times](https://ryanholiday.net/this-is-the-most-important-thing-for-these-crazy-times/)', Ryan Holiday writes: > *The world seems to be going crazy ... and it's trying to take you with it.* > > *But here's the thing: You can't let it.* > > **Don't let the crazies make you crazy** Remember: **we're in this together**. I'll close out this rambling with the remarkable story of Jimmy Glass. Give it a watch. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-10-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-10-24/ Last updated: 2024-11-10T21:54:19.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - [Jessica Hagy](https://jessicahagy.substack.com) has a thought-provoking list that will go into my [commonplace book](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/); the post discusses the '*effects of being a scapegoat and the perception of inferiority that comes with it*' and some great advice to '*stop engaging in situations where success is unattainable*.' It's a must-read. [10 Steps to Not Being Pathetic](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-steps-to-not-being-pathetic) - *Teaser for next week's post*: I'm currently doing a **massive re-think** on how/where I consume information online, and I always enjoy getting a peak behind the scenes on others' workflows. The idea behind reading, thinking, curating, and writing is always top of mind (and how I curated these posts), and [Weekly Thing](https://weekly.thingelstad.com/) has some great ideas to borrow from. [How I Find Links for the Weekly Thing](https://www.thingelstad.com/2023/10/07/how-i-find.html) - Photographer [Christian Åslund](http://www.christian.se) on climate change through the lens of photography as he examines a glacier he had last visited in 2002 - ***it had almost wholly disappeared***. ['People do not want to believe it is true: the photographer capturing the vanishing of glaciers](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/05/people-do-not-want-to-believe-it-is-true-the-photographer-capturing-the-vanishing-of-glaciers) - Who doesn't like an Internet meme: '*One of the oldest mysteries on the internet has been solved. For almost two decades a moody song recorded off the radio in Germany has bedeviled online sleuths. Dubbed *The Most Mysterious Song On the Internet* by those who sought to find it, the song has finally been discovered.*' [The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet Has Finally Been Identified](https://www.404media.co/the-most-mysterious-song-on-the-internet-has-finally-been-identified/) - I've been spending a lot of time recently thinking about [**systems vs goals**](https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/), so this post was timely. [Using systems modeling to refine strategy.](https://lethain.com/strategy-systems-modeling/) - What makes something go '***viral***'? Is it a ***vibe*** (as my friend and fellow islander [Lee Lefever](https://www.vibedna.com/p/welcome-to-the-vibes-project) is exploring in his 'Vibes Project')? Or is there some more profound psychological factor that drives viral adoption larger than what's achieved by technical advancements alone? [The Psychology of Viral Technologies](https://every.to/feeds/f879846003ea58f13906/the-psychology-of-viral-technologies) - [I have found](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) **tremendous value** in journaling (in fact, as of today, my daily streak is at 🔥 3079 days 🔥 in a row); this post has a few good tricks/tips to get you going especially if you perceive yourself as being too busy. [I'm Too Busy for Journaling: Tips for the Time Strapped](https://tfthacker.substack.com/p/im-too-busy-for-journaling-tips) - I still haven't seen the new [Saturday Night](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27657135/) film, but as a fan of the show, I was surprised to hear about the behind-the-scenes going on when [Dana Carvey performed the 'Choppin' broccoli' skit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUrbtUwsRXo). [He's also still confused at its popularity](https://ew.com/dana-carvey-mystified-by-love-for-snl-choppin-broccoli-character-8726055) of this classic skit. [The Unlikely Saturday Night Live Sketch That Saved The Show From Cancellation](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/saturday-night-live-sketch-saved-the-show-dana-carvey/) - What's better than a minute-by-minute infographic breakdown of the first Wembley show by Taylor Swift in June 2024? [Taylor Swift Infographic](https://www.slow-journalism.com/infographics/taylor-swift-infographic) - I found this post fascinating if you are interested in design strategies. '*Gen Z designs are often suboptimal, leading them to be skeptical of brands and advertising, relying instead on peers and influencers for information. Contrary to common beliefs, Gen Z does not have a short attention span; they appreciate engaging, thought-provoking content and storytelling.*' [Designing For Gen Z: Expectations And UX Guidelines](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2024/10/designing-for-gen-z/) - I've been following [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://anne-laure.net)​ for some time now, and I'm looking forward to her upcoming book, [Tiny Experiments](https://nesslabs.com/book). In this post, she explores traits that often lead to **personal burnout**, and that it's often '*characterized by taking on excessive responsibilities for others, often as a means to manage personal anxiety.*' In addition, '*this behavior is linked to perfectionism, where individuals believe that managing every detail is necessary to avoid failure.*' [Overfunctioning, or The Urge to Do it All 📛](https://newsletter.nesslabs.com/posts/ness-labs-overfunctioning-or-the-urge-to-do-it-all) - TIL (today I learned) about **Solomon's paradox**: a '*social cognitive bias that means we are much better at dealing with other people's lives and problems than our own*.'. This article describes it as a helpful technique for adopting 'distanced self-talk,' and that thinking about oneself in the third person can tap into the same wisdom they use when thinking about other people's problems. [How to use "Solomon's paradox" to give yourself good life advice](https://bigthink.com/smart-skills/solomons-paradox-psychology/) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 11-3-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-11-3-24/ Last updated: 2024-12-26T14:57:24.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - It was interesting to read about your **IFS**. The therapeutic idea is that it views individuals as having multiple sub-personalities, each with its perspective and role. Talking to it more frequently can help with your '*emotional well-being and relationships, experiencing greater clarity, creativity, and calm.*' [Ever felt so stressed you didn't know what to do next? Try talking to your 'parts'](https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/10/25/nx-s1-5055753/parts-work-therapy-internal-family-systems-anxiety) - The dreaded 'algorithm' - it seems like most, if not all, of social media, has gone the way of [enshittification](https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys). But, this post asks an important question (and why I don't usually put out my 'blogroll'): '*It's interesting to question how much nutritional value your feed may be providing you with, in a creative sense. Especially as, chances are, you're gorging on the same meal as everybody else.*' [POV: How creatively nutritious is your internet feed?](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/pov-how-creatively-nutritious-is-your-internet-feed-insights-digital-190824) - I will be 54 next year. ***Fifty-freaking-four***. This one is packed with great advice, similar to '[be the person you needed when you were younger](https://makoism.com/the-person/),' such as '*envision how you want to be in your older years. Empowered, compassionate, creative, adventurous, learning, expanding. Gentle, kind, and curious.*' [Overcoming the Fear of Aging](https://zenhabits.net/aging/) - It's a little late for Halloween, but this was a great one in the spirit of [Agatha All Along](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15571732/). And given the state of the world, it offers some sound advice: '*because the difference between being treated like a person and not a person is being burned at the stake or being allowed to have opinions in public.*' [10 Ways to Deal with a Witch](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-to-deal-with-a-witch) - I loved this one, but I don't know how to describe it outside of '*mission, values, and an identity*.' [Minimum Viable Personality](https://avc.com/2011/09/minimum-viable-personality) - I am often accused of talking too much, but others probably don't recognize that I am actually '*talking as a way for me to think*.' This post presents a similar concept around the importance of writing. '*If you're thinking without writing, you only think you're thinking.*' [Writing as a Way of Thinking](https://every.to/feeds/f879846003ea58f13906/writing-as-a-way-of-thinking) - I just learned about [The Holstee Manifesto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDmt%5Ft6umoY); if you haven't seen it before, what a wonderful watch. And, of course, [I ordered the poster](https://www.holstee.com/collections/all/products/holstee-manifesto-poster) for my office. Check it out if you're interested in '*living with intention is an ongoing practice, not a destination.*' [Tools and inspiration for a more meaningful life.](https://www.holstee.com/) - Author [Alan Moore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan%5FMoore) is the creator of some of my all-time favorite comics: [V for Vendetta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%5Ffor%5FVendetta), [Watchmen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen), [The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FLeague%5Fof%5FExtraordinary%5FGentlemen), [The Killing Joke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:%5FThe%5FKilling%5FJoke), wrote a fascinating article on the toxicification of the world due to obsessive fandom. '*I believe that fandom is a wonderful and vital organ of contemporary culture, without which that culture ultimately stagnates, atrophies, and dies. At the same time, I'm sure that fandom is sometimes a grotesque blight that poisons the society surrounding it with its mean-spirited obsessions and ridiculous, unearned sense of entitlement.*' ['Fandom has toxified the world': Watchmen author Alan Moore on superheroes, Comicsgate and Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/26/fandom-has-toxified-the-world-watchmen-author-alan-moore-on-superheroes-comicsgate-and-trump) - Known as one of the '[greatest commencement speeches of all time](https://time.com/collection-post/3894477/david-foster-wallace-commencement-speech/)', [David Foster Wallace's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FFoster%5FWallace) '**This is Water**', has so many great takeaways. My favorite is [Don't live life by default](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/). Now that it's been animated, it's worth the time to go and spend a few minutes and [give it a watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsAd4HGJS4o). [David Foster Wallace's Famous Commencement Speech, 'This is Water,' Gets Animated on a Whiteboard](https://www.openculture.com/2023/10/david-foster-wallaces-famous-commencement-speech-this-is-water-gets-animated-on-a-whiteboard.html) - Important lesson on the snowball effect of choices. [Two Ways to Change Your Momentum](https://www.raptitude.com/2024/10/two-ways-to-change-your-momentum/) - [The Marginalian](https://www.themarginalian.org) is one of my favorite websites. I like to visit it when I want to rethink something; I stumbled upon a great list of life lessons there. [18 Life-Learnings from 18 Years of The Marginalian](https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/10/22/marginalian-18/) - This year, it's not just engineers suffering from cognitive load; the entire universe is. [Cognitive load is what matters](https://minds.md/zakirullin/cognitive#full) - The value of prototyping is '*starting with an idea and acting it out, even without knowing the specifics; it can lead to valuable discoveries in the design.*' [Prototyping Magic Tricks and Software](https://blog.jim-nielsen.com/2024/prototyping-magic-and-software/) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-20-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-20-24/ Last updated: 2024-10-20T22:56:09.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## Quotable 📖 From [Rands in Repose](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/your-writing/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/10/Text-Shot---2024-10-20-22-40-24--0000.png) ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - Seeing [Mt Everest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount%5FEverest) with my own eyes in 2009 was one of the most rewarding and challenging adventures I've ever been on. Now you can experience it in this quick and stunning 4k footage of a DJI drone going up 29k feet into the death zone. [29,000 Feet Up Mount Everest with DJI Mavic 3 Pro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIyIMqwu0E) - There is **beauty** in junk, especially these '*aerial photos of scrapyards and arranged the junked cars, planes, trains, and other objects into* [*dense photographic collages*](https://www.cassiovasconcellos.com/series/collectives-2/)'. [Artfully Arranged Junkyard Objects](https://kottke.org/24/10/artfully-arranged-junkyard-objects) - Several people sent me two talks from the recent [XOXO Festival in Portland](https://xoxofest.com/) that are worth sharing. (Note: there's a ton of great ones this year) - [Molly White](https://www.mollywhite.net) on '*witnessing what many of us think about as "the web" rotting right in front of our eyes. Working outside of that rot pile, and perhaps motivated by it, there are so many people who are excited about the potential for a better web.*' [Molly White, Citation Needed / Web3 Is Going Just Great](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTaeVVAvk-c) - [Cabel Sasser](https://cabel.com) gave a fantastic talk, which I won't even spoil - just watch it to the end. '*Don't waste this. Keep everyone guessing. Make me proud.*' [Cabel Sasser, Panic](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Df%5FK7pIsfvg) - [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com) recently released his newest book, [Meditation for Mortals](https://bookshop.org/p/books/meditations-for-mortals-four-weeks-to-embrace-your-limitations-and-finally-make-time-for-what-counts-oliver-burkeman/21068779?ean=9780374611996) (which I highly recommend). Still, this article he recently posted on the benefits of keeping a **done list** over a traditional to-do list intrigued me. Imagine '*a shift in perspective to view each day as starting at a zero balance, where accomplishments contribute positively rather than being seen as merely catching up*.' Beautiful stuff here. [What if you're already on top of things?](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/donelist) - As a [self-described recovering PKM junkie](https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/), the idea of 'digital decluttering' instantly grabbed my attention. '*Modern storage has made it possible for me to keep everything, but that doesn't mean I should. *As much as I can get* isn't a collecting strategy; it's hoarding.*' [Digital decluttering](https://alexwlchan.net/2024/digital-decluttering/) - Perhaps the winning strategy for social media in 2024 is [choosing not to play](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DGNZnfKYnU) anymore and taking back control of what you read instead of succumbing to the almighty algorithm. If you're not familiar with RSS, it's described as '*RSS (one of those ancient internet acronyms with multiple definitions, including, but not limited to Really Simple Syndication) is an invisible, automatic way for internet-connected systems to public *feeds*.*' I've been using RSS since it started (here's [makoism's RSS feed](https://makoism.com/rss/)), but it feels like the past is the future here. [You should be using an RSS reader](https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/16/keep-it-really-simple-stupid/) - Who knew that the world's largest deli meat company was owned by.. who knows... it's a mystery. [The Secretive Dynasty That Controls the Boar's Head Brand](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/13/business/boars-head-owners-listeria-outbreak.html) - I had never heard of [Pramipexole](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697029.html), but apparently it was created to combat Parkinson's disease by stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain. It turns out psychiatrists also prescribe it for depression and anxiety, and it can cause impulse-control disorders. It's a fascinating read. [The Degradation Drug](https://theamericanscholar.org/the-degradation-drug/) - '*The hallmark of expertise is no longer how much you know. It's how well you synthesize. It's not enough to connect facts. The future belongs to those who connect dots.*' [What Builds Resilience — and Where to Find Your Niche](https://open.substack.com/pub/adamgrant/p/what-builds-resilienceand-where-to) - If you're a leader or responsible for a team, this is an excellent post that highlights navigating challenges and change management. Particularly interesting? This one is beautiful - the notion of **Strategic Inaction**, where sometimes, '*the best approach is to allow situations to deteriorate rather than forcing change, conserving energy for more impactful moments.*' [No Unforced Errors](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-308-no-unforced-errors) - If you read in a car on your phone, this trick in the latest iOS update is amazing! [Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues Changed my Life](https://marcel.io/posts/apples-vehicle-motion-cues-changed-my-life) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Your Goal Broke the System URL: https://makoism.com/goals-and-systems/ Last updated: 2024-10-13T12:55:01.000Z I've been overthinking while trying to remember something I read or watched a few years ago that explained fourth-dimensional thinking and time travel. It involved looking directly at the tip of a pencil rather than seeing the entire pencil itself and I found it was a perfect analogy for how to think about "time." Films such as 1997's [Event Horizon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event%5FHorizon%5F%28film%29) and 2014's [Interstellar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar%5F%28film%29) have also explored a similar concept when they explain wormholes or 'folding space' (*side note: watching these two scenes back to back is kinda funny how, err, similar they are*): To summarize: > *A wormhole represents the idea of taking two distant points in space and bringing them together by folding space-time, creating a shortcut.* If I've kept your interest this long, you're probably already asking yourself, what on *earth* has been on my mind lately with all this talk of wormholes? And no, I'm not thinking about making a [DeLorean](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sLnnjHjDgE). We often think of time or goals as linear, but there's a more nuanced way to understand these concepts, like in the analogy of a pencil and wormholes. It's a bit of a reorientation towards systems instead of goals, combined with the need for more generalist thinking rather than expert knowledge. We also think of life, progress, and knowledge in purely linear terms, as though we're moving down a single path toward a specific goal. But in reality, what if that path isn't a straight line at all, but rather, it's more like the space around a wormhole? This analogy of focusing only on the tip, rather than seeing the entire pencil, perfectly captures how we often approach goals: we focus on one point and miss the more extensive system at play. This reorientation can be observed all around us - even take a look at newer medical practices compared to traditional doctors. [Functional medicine](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/functional-medicine/about), for example, looks at overall health as a system, focusing on the root causes and interactions within the body rather than treating individual symptoms in isolation. Looking at things as an ecosystem rather than diving deep into a specific goal has proven to be a valuable exercise. Rather than focusing only on an endpoint, what if you try to see the interconnections, loops, and cause-and-effect relationships—try to grasp the entire structure? Don't just aim for the 'tip of the pencil'; rather, strive to see and understand the entirety of how an overall system works. This is often referred to as systems thinking. It's a practical approach that embraces things' complexity, interconnections, and non-linearity. It offers a more flexible and dynamic way of understanding and solving problems. When you're an expert and your focus is on a goal, your thinking becomes more linear and rigid. You concentrate on reaching specific targets without considering the broader system, which can be limiting and often has unseen side effects. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/10/41613934-6212-4D51-9166-221977198047.jpg) systems over goals! Just as seeing the entire pencil rather than its tip gives you the bigger picture, [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com)'s [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits) emphasizes systems thinking—focusing on the processes and habits behind success rather than fixating on the momentary achievement of a goal. If you want to fix or change something long-term, you must invest in the system that creates/shapes the environment. Clear asserts that focusing on the processes and habits that lead to desired outcomes rather than fixating on the outcomes themselves can shift your mindset toward continuous improvement and adaptability. > *"Achieving a goal only changes your life for the moment. That's the counterintuitive thing about improvement. We think we need to change our results, but the results are not the problem. What we really need to change are the systems that cause those results. When you solve problems at the results level, you only solve them temporarily. In order to improve for good, you need to solve problems at the systems level. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." -* [*James Clear*](https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems) For example: - Running a marathon is a goal; consistency around training is a system. - Losing weight is a goal; eating healthy is a system. - Learn the piano is a goal; spending an hour each evening watching YouTube videos and playing along is a system. - Read 50 books per year is a goal; spending an hour reading every night before bed is a system. Heck, this even applies every day to a software engineer: fixing a bug (or delivering a feature) is often rooted in the fact that you have a specific, narrowly defined goal. If you looked at the system, you'd focus on the structure, patterns, and relationships within a platform. Instead of simply fixing a bug, you want to step back and analyze how the architecture functions and develop a deeper understanding of how various components interact and how they contribute to the system's overall behavior. You get my point. Now, I want to discuss the vital role that generalists play in systems thinking. In this context, generalists thrive because they see broader patterns across disciplines. While deeply knowledgeable, specialists may need to be more focused on specific goals or deep knowledge and nuance of only a part the system. Generalists emerge as the thinkers best equipped for navigating these complex, non-linear systems. They understand the relationships between disciplines, seeing not just the goals but the processes and structures that connect disparate things. I wonder if we've become too focused on **momentary goal-solving** and overemphasizing that the only way to succeed is to create specialty experts. Of course, we need experts - obviously, I want my heart doctor to be an expert. Still, I've been finding that valuing generalist thinking is a valuable way to think differently about problem-solving. I've seen a lot of chatter lately about the "[rise of the generalist](https://medium.com/worthafortune/the-transformative-power-of-generalists-in-a-specialized-world-994b76849a7b)", and maybe this is why. The concept of generalists can be a powerful force for adaptability and innovation, especially when you're exposed to tools like Generative AI, which allows me to become an "expert" in a deep topic quickly. For example, I don't need to know all the commands in [git](https://git-scm.com) now, but I need to understand how it works relative to the ecosystem it's in. > *Generalists are usually curious people who like to hop around from domain to domain. They enjoy figuring things out, especially in areas that are uncertain or new. They're good at solving problems that domain experts struggle with because they can bring bits of knowledge from diverse fields together. -* [*Dan Shipper*](https://every.to/chain-of-thought/why-generalists-own-the-future) And in [David Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FEpstein%5F%28journalist%29) 's fantastic book, [Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World](https://davidepstein.com/range/), he claims: > "*The challenge we all face is how to maintain the benefits of breadth, diverse experience, interdisciplinary thinking, and delayed concentration in a world that increasingly incentivizes, even demands, hyperspecialization.*" Epstein argues that being an "expert" on something outside of a few areas: > *"Seeing small pieces of a larger jigsaw puzzle in isolation, no matter how hi-def the picture, is insufficient to grapple with humanity's greatest challenges. We have long known the laws of thermodynamics, but struggle to predict the spread of a forest fire. We know how cells work, but can't predict the poetry that will be written by a human made up of them. The frog's-eye view of individual parts is not enough. *A healthy ecosystem needs biodiversity*."* 'Knowing a lot about one thing and a little about a lot of things' seems to be becoming a more powerful asset as we understand more about [shapes of knowledge](https://hybridhacker.email/p/specialists-vs-generalists-vs-t-shaped). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/10/0-0FdrjQHHiiBwGckH.jpeg) For example, a 'T-shaped' generalist has deep expertise in one area but is also broadly knowledgeable across other domains. This combination allows them to adapt and see connections across disciplines, much like understanding one part of a system helps you understand the whole. > *The T-shaped generalist combines the best of both worlds (specialists and generalists). It's like someone who has mastered the guitar and can also play several other instruments proficiently. They possess a deep understanding of one engineering domain, much like their guitar-playing expertise. However, they are also familiar with other areas, ensuring they always recover when faced with different challenges.* I'm unsure if all this rambling makes sense or that I got my thinking across, but as we continue to face increasingly complex challenges, embracing generalist thinking and systems approaches seems to be a bit of an unlock for thriving in a world that demands both depth and breadth. **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 10-6-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-10-6-24/ Last updated: 2024-10-06T08:46:58.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ 1. I've said it before - [I love the Apple Watch](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). Not only has it become my central hub for health monitoring, but there seems to be a fascinating future potential with them around a future computing paradigm. When I saw that [Per Håkansson](https://thedolectures.com/talks/fewer-better-things/) had created a guide to '*learn how to make the switch to free up precious time and attention, and become more focused and less distracted in everyday life*,' based on the watch, I was interested. [How to Switch from an iPhone to an Apple Watch](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/how-to-switch-from-an-iphone-to-an) 2. This week's worthy read explores how the digital age has shifted the measurement of self-worth from **internal satisfaction to external validation**. I like where it gets to, stating that you will find '*intrinsic value by focusing on the act of creation itself*.' Sound advice. [The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age](https://thewalrus.ca/collapse-of-self-worth-in-the-digital-age/) 3. Some great visuals on "bubbles." [Your bubble is suffocating.](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/your-bubble-is-suffocating) 4. Speaking of bubbles, I loved this post on '**Software as a Disservice**.' On its critique of SaaS software, '*the more powerful the parasite becomes, eventually burdening your organization to the point that you are effectively only as innovative as the SaaS provider you're anchored to.*' A worthwhile read through the challenge most enterprises face. [The Other Bubble](https://www.wheresyoured.at/saaspocalypse-now/) 5. I never heard of [Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit](https://centerforinquiry.org/learning-resources/carl-sagans-baloney-detection-kit/) (and [PDF](https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2023/01/17184049/The-Fine-Art-of-Baloney-Detection-How-Not-to-Be-Fooled-PARADE-Magazine-February-1-1987.pdf)), but it's '*an informal set of thinking tools and techniques for evaluating arguments and detecting falsehoods.*' **A must read**. [Baloney Detection Kit: How to Think Sceptically and Bust Bullshit](https://themindcollection.com/baloney-detection-kit/) 6. As a leader, you must recognize that '*with great power comes great responsibility*.' I never thought about it in terms of this post, but it has given me pause to think. - [You're always carrying a cannon](https://phildini.dev/youre-always-carrying-a-cannon) 7. One of the things I have tried to do throughout my career is consistently working on my presentation skills; I even have a reminder every few months to actively seek an opportunity to present, and I enjoy doing them. This list is essential (and read [Resonate](https://www.duarte.com/resources/books/resonate/) if you want a masterclass), but there are some good reminders here. [The top 5 presentation mistakes everyone makes](https://www.duarte.com/blog/top-5-presentation-mistakes-everyone-makes/) 8. Here's a fun little geeky home project. [Getting my daily news from a dot matrix printer](https://aschmelyun.com/blog/getting-my-daily-news-from-a-dot-matrix-printer/) 9. A great visual can replace so many overused words, but have you ever thought about how time can be visually expressed? [How do you draw time?](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/how-do-you-draw-time) 10. '*A *shit blog* is a thing of power.*' I enjoyed this post about how powerful a mechanism is in having a blog, and its true value can be a path into the mind of the creator of it. '*We know, when we're reading a blog, that we're getting a glimpse into the writer's active psyche, a tour of their studio as it were — not hearing their thesis presentation or reading their pre-print publication; hearing from other people being people is part of the appeal of blogs.*' (via [Ben Werdmuller](https://werd.io/2024/the-secret-power-of-a-blog)). [The secret power of a blog](https://tracydurnell.com/2024/09/29/the-secret-power-of-a-blog/) 11. I'm sure I'll get a lot of flack for this one, but it's a good thinker. [DevOps is Bullshit](https://www.massdriver.cloud/blogs/devops-is-bullshit) 12. I keep going back and forth on just how valuable the current AI 'magic' is, and I keep going back to this general idea that, while not truthful or perfect, LLM's can be a helpful tool to spark other ideas. [GPT-4: A Copilot For The Mind](https://every.to/chain-of-thought/gpt-4-a-copilot-for-the-mind-45e59508-e109-4bb1-bd6b-d70a73b271ac) 13. As I approach my 4th year in my 50's, I probably spend too much time thinking about growing older. But I loved this view: '*You no longer have to devote time to finding out what you are, you are just free to be whatever you want to be, unimpeded by the incessant needs of others. You somehow grow into the fullness of your humanity, form your own character, become a proper person — I don't know, someone who has become a part of things, not someone separated from or at odds with the world.*' [Nick Cave on the Art of Growing Older](https://www.themarginalian.org/2023/02/07/nick-cave-growing-older/) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-22-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-22-24/ Last updated: 2024-09-21T21:20:33.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. *Side note: This is a sample AI generated 'podcast' discussing *this post*, from a new tool called* [*Notebook.LM*](https://notebooklm.google.com) *from Google, which I mention below.* Espresso Shots 0:00 /408.6334693877551 1× ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - I've [recently re-subscribed to every.to](https://every.to), so you'll probably see more content from there. This week, they post a simple concept: '*Ignoring what is obvious incurs a huge cost*' and that '*Sometimes the most obvious truths about ourselves are hard to see because the consequences of those truths seem so dire*.' An excellent, thought-provoking post. [Admitting What is Obvious](https://every.to/chain-of-thought/admitting-what-is-obvious-206624f9-4dcf-4342-9689-742e63fe8992) - I must admit, I was a bit in shock **how good** the new [notebook.lm ](https://notebooklm.google.com)tool is. In particular, the podcast generator impressed me. There's a lot more here that I need to dig into. I've linked to the audio file output on this post above. [The AI Research Assistant You've Been Dreaming Of](https://every.to/podcast/inside-the-pod-the-ai-research-assistant-you-ve-been-dreaming-of) - '*It's better to know a little about a lot than a lot about a little*' and in the [allocation economy](https://every.to/chain-of-thought/the-knowledge-economy-is-over-welcome-to-the-allocation-economy), '*the capacity to learn quickly, and to see and solve novel problems in new domains, (dictate that) the person who wins isn't the expert who knows the exact answer to a question. *It's the one who knows which questions to ask in the first place*.*' [Why Generalists Own the Future](https://every.to/chain-of-thought/why-generalists-own-the-future) - Remember the Pet Rock? [According to this article](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sefunmiosinaike%5Fgary-dahl-made-15-million-selling-pet-rocks-activity-7178390254914002945-9VJr/), it made, err, inventor Gary Dahl, almost $15 million selling them. I found [the original owner's manual](https://archive.org/details/pet%5Frock%5Fmanual%5Foriginal/page/n11/mode/2up) quite amusing. [Read The 1975 Owner's Manual for the Pet Rock](https://boingboing.net/2024/09/19/read-the-1975-owners-manual-for-the-pet-rock.html) - Yikes! The carbon footprint of all this generative AI crazy is astounding. This particular piece explains that '*servers running chatbots generate a lot of heat, which requires cooling systems that consume water or electricity to operate*,' and that '*data centers housing these AI systems are also major consumers of electricity, driving up energy demands and costs for nearby residents*.' [A bottle of water per email: The hidden environmental costs of using AI chatbots](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/18/energy-ai-use-electricity-water-data-centers/) - Speaking of energy consumption to power AI, why not restart a nuclear power plant that suffered a partial meltdown in 1979, causing one of the most significant industrial accidents in the country's history? What's next? Fire up [Chernobyl](https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/chernobyl) to power an AI-infused [Clippy](https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2022/08/origin-story-of-clippy-the-microsoft-office-assistant)? [Microsoft wants Three Mile Island to fuel its AI power needs](https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/20/24249770/microsoft-three-mile-island-nuclear-power-plant-deal-ai-data-centers) - Another fantastic read from asserts that often it '*impossible to define what success even means*' and that the things we do to climb that corporate ladder don't fulfill us. '*Ambition is a tricky beast. It drives us to achieve great things, but can also leave us feeling perpetually unsatisfied.*' [Live Fuller, Not Bigger](https://every.to/napkin-math/live-fuller-not-bigger-70cd44e7-4c2e-49d1-a853-29bd0b67c9fa) - [I've said](https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/) [time and again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsT3KPYJFl4) that most productivity tools are ultimately overkill, junk and mask a deeper issue. While this one doesn't go far, it provides a good lens on '*the key to reducing friction lies in striking the right balance between powerful features and user-friendly design*.' [Addressing Friction in Modern Productivity Tools: A Critical Perspective](https://medium.com/@davdelven/addressing-friction-in-modern-productivity-tools-a-critical-perspective-85e3a9f5d798) - A quick one that instantly made it into [my commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/). '*We often ignore little moments like this as we traverse the places we inhabit*.' Slow down. Breathe. [A Passing Feeling](https://scottboms.com/documenting/a-passing-feeling) - Remember the old [Wendy's 'Where's the Beef' commercials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6%5FeWWfNB54)? I didn't know that their star, [Clara Peller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara%5FPeller), was fired. They weren't fond of her Prego pasta sauce commercial. [Why did Wendy's fire the "Where's the Beef?" Lady?](https://www.retroist.com/p/why-did-wendys-fire-peller) - Voyager 1 is impressive, and this quote from [michael.chabon](threads.net/@michael.chabon/post/DACxv6Zuv1F) was perfect. '*I find the continuing mission of Voyager 1 so moving, for the way its name alone evokes a time of promise, for the thought of that tiny contraption way out there in the vastness at the edge of the heliosphere—perhaps the farthest any human-made thing may ever travel—a bit battered, swiftly aging, still doing the work it was purposed to do.*' [47-year-old Voyager 1 spacecraft just fired up thrusters it hasn't used in decades](https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/16/science/voyager-1-thruster-issue/index.html) - As a new-ish Game of Thrones fan, I enjoyed this review of the series' best battles. [Ranking the Best Game of Thrones Battles](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/ranking-the-best-game-of-thrones-battles/) - Small acts of compassion and kindness by **ordinary** individuals can have a *profound* impact. [Powerful People Come in All Packages](http://johnpweiss.com/blog/196744/powerful-people-come-in-all-packages) - [Guy Fieri](https://www.guyfieri.com) recently showed up in one of my weekly reads, [showing an **impressive** transformation](https://www.instagram.com/goruck/reel/C-52gXtpcrU/), so I was curious on what he had done. Lo and behold, [he got into rucking](https://www.businessinsider.com/guy-fieri-weight-loss-healthy-aging-fat-burning-rucking-workouts-2024-5), which is something that [I've been playing](https://www.goruck.com/pages/what-is-rucking) with the past few months as I can't run like I used to. [Guy Fieri Shows Us The Workout That Helped Him Lose 30 Pounds](https://youtube.com/watch?v=thNTQWYlcFE) **Amor Fati** ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 9-14-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-9-14-24/ Last updated: 2024-09-14T23:07:15.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - Oh, this one hit home, especially to a self-described **change agent**. '*Avoiding unforced errors - mistakes that are not necessary for achieving your goals - is important to conserve energy and focus on what matters most; Sometimes *the best strategy* is to let a bad situation play out, rather than trying to intervene.*' [No Unforced Errors](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-308-no-unforced-errors) - I probably spend way too much time thinking about *how* Generative AI is going to change things, and while these tools can be useful in certain limited ways, there's so much hype about the 'magic trick' right now it's hard to tell if the promises are going to even pay off in the long run. I still view these things as (useful?) tools, but they just can't, and shouldn't, replace thinking. [AI isn't useless. But is it worth it?](https://www.citationneeded.news/ai-isnt-useless/) - In a similar vein, this piece compares the current AI rhetoric to the once-thought value of asbestos, where it prioritized potential benefits over mitigating societal and environmental harm. A thoughtful read. [What price?](https://adactio.com/journal/21405) - I've been looking forward to [Brad and Kristi Montague](https://montagueworkshop.com/bio) 's new book, [Fail-a-bration](https://www.amazon.com/Fail-bration-Brad-Montague/dp/0593697146), since I saw a [YouTube clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqs7xgd1px4) a few months ago. The book's premise is that **failure is not celebrated enough** \- *and he's not wrong*; in fact, '*failure can be a catalyst—catalyst for creativity, innovation, learning, and beyond*.' I've been trying to acknowledge failure more prominently lately, talking about it, ***normalizing*** it even - and I've seen a real benefit in that with my mental health. [In Our Fail-a-Bration Era](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/in-our-fail-a-bration-era) - I enjoyed this one in the book [Corporate Bullshit](https://thenewpress.com/books/corporate-bullsht). '*The author's thesis is that the business world has a well-worn playbook that they roll out whenever anything that might cause industry to behave even slightly less destructively is proposed. What's more, we keep falling for it.*'. [Corporate Bullshit](https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/19/apologetics-spotters-guide/#narratives) - Another 2024/2025 theme for me has been on [the idea of friction](https://makoism.com/maximum-viscosity/), and this article dives into some of the **good friction** you can inject into the system to '*force pockets of focus and intentionality when you can think about how (or if) you must use it*.' [The Art of Deliberate Friction-Building](https://simone.org/deliberate-friction/) - '*What work looks like when you're invited into the mess.*' is how this one starts, but it's a compelling view on the role of advisors versus employees. '*Advisors operate at a higher level of abstraction compared to employees, focusing on outcomes rather than just activities*.' [Being Hired to Care](https://behzod.com/blog/being-hired-to-care) - I'm too scared ever to try anything like [bio-hacking](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/biohacking), but this group has '*spent the last few years teaching people how to make DIY versions of expensive pharmaceuticals at a tiny fraction of the cost*.' Interesting view on open-source medicine. [Right to Repair for Your Body: The Rise of DIY, Pirated Medicine](https://www.404media.co/email/63ca5568-c610-4489-9bfc-7791804e9535/) - We all face problems, both in the present and in the future. However, it's *impossible* to solve all problems at once. This article suggests that the key is to prioritize and focus on solving the actual, specific problems you face today ***in order*** to earn the right to have problems tomorrow. [Problems Today, Problems Tomorrow](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/problems-today-problems-tomorrow) - I've [talked a lot about Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/) (and am currently thinking about Life 2.5), so I appreciated this one where the author argues that '*people need to be willing to take risks, leave their comfortable jobs, and freely explore novel ideas and problems in order to drive societal progress*.' [Quit Your Job](https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/01/06/quit-your-job/) - We can all agree that doing too many things simultaneously is a good recipe for disaster. [The Big Multitasking Lie](https://ttl.blog/the-big-multitasking-lie/) - The last few months, I've been deep-diving into behavioral sciences to understand better *why* things happen (**especially** in teams), so I enjoyed this post on '**nudge blueprints**.' [Insuring Behavior Change](https://thedecisionlab.com/case-study/insurance-nudge) - [Star Trek DS9's episode 'Past Tense'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqF7XojXzd0), sent the crew to a fictional 2024 where the 'Bell Riots' grim future unfolded. It imagined a world where '*global inequality and a growing climate crisis*,' '*the United States has established a series of Sanctuary Districts to combat a growing economic and homelessness crisis.*' It's a fascinating article that goes through some of the parallels they had predicted 30 years ago. [Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Most Prescient View of Our Future Is Already Getting Here](https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-bell-riots-2024-deep-space-nine-2000493508) - While I've written about [the anti-library](https://makoism.com/random-acts/), I have only really stopped thinking about the actual bookshelf now. '*Bookshelves are such a transparent expression of personality*.' [The Bookshelf Tells All](https://thecontender.substack.com/p/the-bookshelf-tells-all) - '*A blog's purpose is personal. Every person (or entity in the case of corporate or company blogs) has their own reasons for making a blog. Every blog seeks to do something different. Blogs are unique, even those that seek to copy other blogs, because the meaning behind them is always specific and different.*' What an excellent read. [What a Blog Is For](https://michaelthomet.com/2024/07/11/what-a-blog-is-for/) - I've been wearing an [Apple Watch](https://www.apple.com/watch/) to track sleep for many years, but what if wearing sleep trackers is bad for your nighttime rest? [What is Orthosomnia? The Dark Side of Sleep Trackers](https://amerisleep.com/blog/orthosomnia/) - Back in 2022, [I wrote a piece on boredom](https://makoism.com/surprising-things-about-boredom/), so this was a good reminder of how important being 'bored' can be for you. [Boredom: The Superpower You're Still Afraid to Use](https://medium.com/the-realist/boredom-the-superpower-youre-still-afraid-to-use-c3fea5af4687) - I've been to the [top of the PKM mountain](https://makoism.com/in-search-of/) and have gone into the camp where most 'knowledge management' processes are unnecessary. '*Productivity tools are designed to help us streamline tasks, organize information, and ultimately get more done. However, if not used wisely, they can quickly become productivity traps.*' Amen. [Are Your Productivity Tools Just Cleverly Disguised Procrastination?](https://www.makeuseof.com/are-productivity-tools-disguised-procrastination/) Amor Fati *(translated from the Latin as 'love of fate')*. ✌🏻 ### Rethinking Reading URL: https://makoism.com/rethinking-reading/ Last updated: 2024-09-07T19:17:56.000Z As much as I talk about the need to reinvent yourself constantly, one area I've been religiously consistent about over the last 10+ years is how I consume information. I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to my workflow, and I'm often asked, "*how do you read so many articles every week?*" so I've tried to [document the process](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/) as it evolves. Heck, the folks a [Feedly](https://feedly.com) even did [a quick interview](https://web.archive.org/web/20240227065642/https://blog.feedly.com/how-one-tech-exec-used-feedly-to-power-his-passion-project/) with me a few years back on it: > *He also subscribed to a number of Substack newsletters, which he's happy to aggregate with the rest of his content via Feedly, sparing his inbox further clutter. "I'm glad I don't have 83 things hit my inbox every day anymore," he laughs. Steve then uses Feedly to sort all these insights into topical feeds like 'Mind Changers' (for writers that often shift his perspective) and 'Workflow' (for time-saving tips).* > > *"It's an incoming river of content", but Steve has designed a streamlined system for winnowing it down to just the ten or so links he includes in his weekly newsletter.* The [whole process is documented here](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/) if you're interested in the actual bits and bolts of it all. But I've been consuming [RSS (really simple syndication)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS) and various forms of web content the same way since the mid-2000s. I would say, I'm **definitely** a creature of habit here. So when the app [Reeder](https://reederapp.com), the cornerstone of my information processing system, made a seismic shift this week in its recent update - it *freaked me out*. Holy hell, my entire process flow was thrown upside-down. I'm not going to spend too much time on the app-specific changes; plenty of that [has already been written up online](https://birchtree.me/blog/reeder-might-be-my-favorite-app-in-the-world-and-it-kinda-got-an-update/). [Some love it](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-a-new-approach-to-following-feeds/). [Some hate it](https://taoofmac.com/space/links/2024/09/05/2337). It's *different*, and **I'm not sold** that the redesign is for me. For now, I'm going to stick with [Reeder Classic](https://reeder.app/classic/) and continue to use [Feedly](https://feedly.com), but *it did get me thinking that I've been a bit too locked into a long-time habit of* [*collecting too many links*](https://thejollyteapot.com/2024/01/26/collecting-too-many-links-2). Change is **hard**, and quantity is certainly not quality. Behavioral scientist [Aline Holzwarth](https://www.alineholzwarth.com) talks a bit about this in a beautiful article, "[The Three Laws of Human Behavior](https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/the-three-laws-of-human-behavior)." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/09/D59eqwLXsAA6zn2.jpeg) In this post, Holzwarth borrows from [Newton's laws of motion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s%5Flaws%5Fof%5Fmotion) and flips them to focus on core human behavior: > *And just as Newton's Laws describe the motion of physical objects, these Laws of Human Behavior aim to provide a general model for how humans behave.* > > **People tend to stick to the status quo unless the forces of friction or fuel push us off of our path*; behavior is a function of the person and their environment; every decision includes tradeoffs and the potential for unintended consequences.* We all generally fall into [a trap of consuming more and more bullshit](https://www.everythingisbullshit.blog/p/you-will-find-this-interesting) daily; we are not interested in *valid* truth, but rather in information that is false, useless, and entertaining. Doomscrolling. > *Useful truth is boring. Practicality is ponderous, subtlety is soporific, and depth is dull. The quest for knowledge, the search for wisdom—it's just a story we tell ourselves. We're mainly interested in bullshit. The more useless and outlandish the bullshit, the more we're fascinated by it.* Now, if you've read [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) for any length of time, you know that [veering from the status quo](https://makoism.com/firestarters/) is something I love to do; I decided to lean into the notion that I have a '[status quo bias](https://online.wharton.upenn.edu/blog/status-quo-bias/)' on what (and who) I've been reading and following the last 15 years (400+ sources!). It was time to **blow it all up**. Start over. **Re-define** what was *interesting* to me. So, here's where I'm at this morning as I write this: - Flattened all 400 sources in a single folder. - Dumped a bunch of "junk" content. I'm sorry if you publish 30 links daily; it's not *quality*; it's noise. - I got rid of duplicative sources. I never noticed how much content is just 'republished'. - Started to re-work only a few *topical* sources, such as "tech," "health," or "media." - I will guard the new "**must read**" folder. Authors who publish high-quality content make me think I'll move there. This new structure got me down to around **190 sources**. It's still not great, but I'm now seeing only 25-30 new posts a day that I really care about, and I've filtered away a lot of the noise. Next, I'm going to experiment a bit with designing a **feed summarizer**, similar to what [Rui Carmo designed](https://taoofmac.com/space/notes/2023/05/14/1820#wednesday-2023-05-10) in an attempt to bring some new feeds and insights to light. Anyhoo, we'll see how this experiment goes. I'm already feeling better about how I am "ingesting" content. But the real lesson is, [let curiosity be your guide](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/) and **don't be afraid to blow shit up**. ### Espresso Shots 8-25-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-25-24/ Last updated: 2024-08-25T12:01:08.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - I've always enjoyed the phrase '**burn the ships**' (must be the [pirate](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/) in me). Still, I particularly enjoyed this read about overcoming the '[sunk cost fallacy](https://makoism.com/sunk-costs/).' By taking a lot of [tiny pivots](https://makoism.com/little-things/), Kristen Faulkner went from being a venture capitalist to Olympic gold medalist. [Burn all the ships (and go for gold)](https://radreads.co/kristin-faulkner/) - A **great** read on '*knowing things*'. Much of the information we hold dear is based on second-hand knowledge, and most understanding is due to society's reliance on unreliable information rather than their first-hand knowledge or experience. [Nobody Knows What's Going On](https://www.raptitude.com/2024/06/nobody-knows-whats-going-on/) - [Jessica Hagy](https://jessicahagy.substack.com) does it again with insightful visualizations where she discusses **trend spotting**. The idea is simple: *first impressions and small details can accumulate into larger patterns and stories over time*. [Trend Spotting](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/trend-spotting) - Well, this is just terrible to think of. The mummified remains of an elderly woman in Egypt in 1935 were known as the 'screaming woman' as how her mouth was found locked open. While initially thought to be due to a poor mummification process, it turns out, with recent discoveries, that the woman did indeed end up dying in sheer agony. [The horrific secret of Egypt's 'screaming woman' mummy revealed](https://www.newsweek.com/archaeology-ancient-egypt-mummy-screaming-woman-cadaveric-spasm-1933587) - I always thought my awakening at 5 am was due to my terrible sleeping habits (ok, I do have some apnea), but is 5 am the 'morning miracle'? A look at getting up before everyone else and how to win the day - or if its *actually* bullshit. [The cult of 5 am: is rising at dawn the secret of health and happiness?](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jul/08/the-cult-of-5am-is-rising-at-dawn-the-secret-of-health-and-happiness) - On the flip side, with today's technology, access to step-by-step instructions for almost anything is available to anyone with an internet connection. This has an incredible shift where "how" is no longer a significant obstacle. [Somebody Has Already Figured It Out for You](https://www.raptitude.com/2024/08/somebody-has-already-figured-it-out-for-you/) - I'm on a theme where 'little things matter' this week. '*Our actions shape our identities, which then shape our future actions - it's a self-reinforcing loop.*' [What Signal Are You Sending?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/what-signal-are-you-sending/) - I'm unsure how I feel about the '[personal readme](https://crstanier.medium.com/my-personal-readme-2b0e633717bf)' or 'instruction manuals' for working with me. I've often felt that people (including myself), *don't know yourself as well as you think you do*. Just showing up and talking to people over and over again ([I talk to think](https://www.fastcompany.com/919234/do-you-talk-think-or-think-talk) often), building trust through actions, seems to work better (IMHO), but it's still an interesting read. [Paolo's Handbook](https://paolo.blog/blog/paolos-handbook/) - Well, I subscribed. **Print rules**. [Fuck Everything, We're Doing Print](https://spyglass.org/the-onion-in-print/) - I need to listen more, and I continuously need to remind myself of that. '*Being a good listener is quite simple, but like most things in life, it takes patience, practice, and persistence to master. It starts with an ability to listen unconditionally with no particular aim other than to understand another's point of view; to listen not to respond, but to ask questions and further conversations towards clearer understanding*.' [What Listening Does — An Untaught Life Skill](https://scottboms.com/documenting/what-listening-does) - A fantastic podcast from [Scott Galloway](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-prof-g-pod-with-scott-galloway/id1498802610?i=1000666454198&r=800) this week which had an excerpt Josh Brown's upcoming book, [Optimism as a Default Setting](https://www.amazon.com/dp/180409059X). '*My point is that it's easy to make lists of problems. Of everything that could go wrong or get worse. I could do it with my eyes closed, and so could you. It's much harder to have the imagination and the courage to talk openly about what might go right. What might improve. What unexpected thing could have a remarkable impact on how we work and live and change things for the better*.' [Our Habits Are Our Destiny](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/our-habits-are-our-destiny) - Loved [this stance](https://procreate.com/ai) from application developer [Procreate](https://procreate.com). '*We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us.*' From their website: **Creativity is made, not generated**. [Procreate's anti-AI pledge attracts praise from digital creatives](https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/19/24223473/procreate-anti-generative-ai-pledge-digital-illustration-creatives) - Are you a leader who is always late? [Michael Lopp](https://randsinrepose.com) on the '*chronic lateness is a strategic flaw that indicates a failure in leadership.*' [Late Again](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/late-again/) Amor Fati *(translated from the Latin as 'love of fate')*. ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 8-18-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-8-18-24/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:08:54.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - No one but [Carl Sagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl%5FSagan) could encapsulate in better words the magic of books. '*One glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person maybe somebody dead for thousands of years across the Millennia an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head directly to you*'. A quick, but worthy, watch. [Carl Sagan describing books.](https://youtube.com/watch?v=8khZZNGjafc) - My favorite post of the week talks about how there are '*truths to be learned from the old things*' and that old things have a soul. Think of those handwritten letters, old typewriters, and the craftsmanship that is needed one these old things that bring us closer to our humanity. [There Are Truths to Be Learned From the Old Things](http://johnpweiss.com/blog/195930/there-are-truths-to-be-learned-from-the-old-things) - The title of this one says it all - '*What if, instead of looking for the helpers, we became them?*' [Fuck Looking for the Helpers. Be One.](https://joanwestenberg.com/fuck-looking-for-the-helpers-be-one) - [Invert](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/)! I *loved* the idea that every to-do list has an invisible "**Not Doing List**" that is often even more telling. [The Not Doing List](http://www.execupundit.com/2024/08/the-not-doing-list.html) - If you've been reading [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) long enough, you already know why I love the idea of the '[pirate code](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/)'. A quick read on how to leverage a pirate mindset to encourage innovative thinking and action and how to tackle problems more efficiently. [Why Thinking and Acting Like a Pirate Can Change the World](https://moonshotpirates.com/blog/strongwhy-thinking-and-acting-like-a-pirate-can-change-the-worldstrong/) - I was incredibly fortunate to meet [Gareth Dauncey](https://thedolectures.com/speakers/gareth-dauncey/) back in 2023 at the Do Wales event. [His talk was about an app he created called Mood](https://thedolectures.com/talks/see-how-you-feel/), but recently he has been diving into this concept of **One Day Architecture**. \[Gareth Dauncey [here](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7130557922857607169/) and [here](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7227256828638703616/)\] - [Hugh MacLeod](https://www.gapingvoid.com/) recently posted, "*The price of being a sheep is boredom. The price of being a wolf is loneliness. Choose one or the other with great care.*". In large organizations, [**Seth Godin calls it sheepwalking**](https://seths.blog/2007/02/sheepwalking/), "*the outcome of hiring people who have been raised to be obedient and giving them a braindead job and enough fear to keep them in line.*". This post ties it all together on how important **critical thinking** is; and that having the ability to question authority, seek the truth, and question our perceptions of reality, are life skills worth investing in. [Sheepwalking](https://jarche.com/2007/02/sheepwalking/) - '*What happens when journalism forgets about quality writing?*' A thought-provoking exploration about the decline ((and potential collapse) of the magazine industry. [The Death of the Magazine](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-death-of-the-magazine) - [Omar](https://www.threads.net/@omarshahine) sent me this article on the quest mentality, and the reframing of viewing '*challenges as opportunities for growth*', is a wonderful way to build ongoing momentum in solving large problems. [Do Quests, Not Goals](https://www.raptitude.com/2024/08/do-quests-not-goals/) - I'm not a therapist (*although play one on TV*), but there seems to be a growing mental health crisis among young (and not-so-young) adults in 2024\. This piece from [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com) suggests that it's being exacerbated by excessive screen time and social media use and that most individuals can't define [meaning in their life](https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/). I've [certainly expressed previously](https://makoism.com/kindness/) how much better I've felt just deleting Facebook and Twitter, but this idea of *seeking out joy*is something I think we all could benefit from. [The Best Therapy for Our Anxiety Epidemic - Gift Link](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/anxiety-young-people-happiness/679348/?gift=x1Mpnu3z6j7g5b9rt9wOHci0WA5ORCXmV2LXJEWBD8g&utm%5Fsource=copy-link&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=share) - Speaking of doom loops, this one dives into the problem today **generation loss**. '*What we’re dealing with here refers to deteriorating data quality when a signal is repeated over and over again*'. [How to Know If You're Living in a Doom Loop](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/how-to-know-if-youre-living-in-a) - A bit scary this one, but a look into companies and workplace monitoring (aka bossware). '*All of this turns into a dashboard that shows how each worker is performing from instant to instant, whether they are meeting time targets, and whether they are spending more time on a task than the client's billing rate will pay for. Each work order has a clock showing elapsed seconds since it was issued.*". And, the inevitable outcome: '**any metric eventually becomes a target**.' [The reverse-centaur apocalypse is upon us](https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/02/despotism-on-demand/#virtual-whips) - A fun one-on-one on how many creative individuals perceive rules as restrictive and counterproductive to authentic self-expression. [Why do people give up on being creative?](https://www.everyonescreative.net/p/why-do-people-give-up-on-being-creative) Amor Fati *(translated from the Latin as 'love of fate')*. ✌🏻 ### Ignore All Previous Instructions URL: https://makoism.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/ Last updated: 2024-08-10T09:10:35.000Z Fair warning: This post has been a decade in the making — no exaggeration. It's not because I've been stuck with a backlog of topics I wanted to write about (well, okay, maybe the logjam is a different topic), but last month, we finally pulled the ripcord on a significant life transition plan that my wife and I came up with back in 2014\. For those who know me, you *know* this has been a long time coming, but yes, I'm talking about "[life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/)". The idea is simple and based on [inversion principle](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/) where you'*flip the problem upside down, start at the solution, and work backward to where you are now*'. It specifically lenses into what **you're going to do about it**. A few years back, I wrote: - *Accept that the past is fixed and the future isn't set in stone.* - *Ask yourself: If you had to stop doing 10% of what you're doing, what would you abandon* - *Try to visualize your life, where you want to live, and what you want to spend your day doing in 5 years. Make slow micro-adjustments to get yourself there. This helps define a path to "Life 2.0".* So, that's where I am here in 2024, fully executing Life 2.0 — living full-time on an island where I can work productively and have a *high quality of life*. The final move was just a few weeks ago, and I can enjoy beautiful sunsets, see random whales, have good conversations, eat lots of fresh local foods, and think about what you breathe out and *what you let in*. 💡 The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. I've written a lot about those topics over the last few years ([here](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/), [here](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/), [here](https://makoism.com/the-person/), [here](https://makoism.com/what-you-leave-behind/) and [here](https://makoism.com/we-all-have-icebergs/)), so I didn't want to rehash all that but wanted to try to put a different lens on things. But first, a quick pivot. Given that it's 2024, I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about AI. I don't want to dive too deep into whether or not I think any of this generative AI stuff is [useful](https://nicholas.carlini.com/writing/2024/how-i-use-ai.html) or [not](https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/top-of-mind/gen-ai-too-much-spend-too-little-benefit) (I guess that'll be another post), instead I wanted to talk for a minute about the concept of '**prompt injections**.' When you talk to an AI, such as [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com), the idea of a prompt injection is that you can feed unexpected input into that AI and cause it to generate a response that circumvents what it is intended to output. Of course, the result of a prompt injection can range from silly responses to [downright insane results](https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ai-chatbots-vulnerable-jailbreaks/). A more formal definition is: > *LLM prompt injections involve inputting unconventional prompts into language models, encouraging them to generate creative and novel responses. This technique pushes AI beyond its programmed boundaries, revealing new potentials and applications. By challenging the model's training data, users can uncover innovative solutions and insights that wouldn't emerge through standard usage.* [Earlier this year](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/hunting-ai-bots-four-words-trick-rcna161318), it was discovered that a simple, four-word prompt injection could derail many AI systems and bots. **Ignore All Previous Instructions**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/08/c88c11ebd2958ca8.png) Prompt Injection on a Remote Worker bot It's just [one of those weird things](https://www.aiweirdness.com/ignore-all-previous-instructions/) that large language models (LLMs) do. While this attack vector has been fixed in later versions, I wanted to tease out an idea. > Life 2.0 is a prompt injection on life. Prompt injections force AIs to step outside their typical usage patterns, unlock undiscovered thinking, and reject one-size-fits-all solutions. They take you to a new place. In a similar fashion, life-prompt injections can help unlock productivity, health, or happiness through creative, often non-traditional methods in life. I guess this also [sounds a bit like what I've loved about pirate-thinking](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/), but the 'life hacker' is about rejecting what is "expected." Challenge the status quo. '*Ignore all previous instructions*' is a profoundly useful way to shift your philosophy on expectations with life. And, similar to an AI model, what if you rejected your previous programming and guardrails, dropped the typical societal expectations, and just explored *what you could become*? **That's Life 2.0.** To celebrate years of planning, dreaming, and hard work, I created a new shirt (why not!). Here it is if you're interested - its a tangible reminder of where you've been and where you are headed and how you're going to ignore life's expectations. [Get yours today](https://cottonbureau.com/p/NTGBD9/shirt/ignore-all-previous-instructions#/20792015/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-m). [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/08/CleanShot-2024-08-09-at-18.56.50@2x-1.png)](https://cottonbureau.com/p/NTGBD9/shirt/ignore-all-previous-instructions#/20792015/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-m) *Fun side note: I'm *confident* it will eventually screw up some AI systems doing vision processing down the road. So let the chaos reign. :)* Wrapping up, I want to share [a fantastic speech from Matthew McConaughey](https://www.motiversity.com/matthew-mcconaughey-leaves-the-audience-speechless-one-of-the-best-motivational-speeches-ever/) from a few years ago from the University of Houston. It's highly worth the watch if you're using prompt injection as a method to rethink parts of your life. > *We so often focus on failure, don't we? We study failure, we obsess over failure, we dissect our failures. We dissect them so much that we end up intoxicated with them to the point of disillusion. Happiness is an emotional response to an outcome. If I win, I will be happy. If I don' t, I won't. It is an 'if', cause and effect, quid pro quo, standard that we cannot sustain because we immediately raise it every time we attain it. Happiness demands a certain outcome. It is result reliant and if happiness is what you are after, then, you are going to be let down frequently. You are going to be unhappy much of your time. Joy though, it is a different thing, it is something else. Joy is not a choice. It is not a response to some result. It is a constant. Joy is the feeling that we have from doing what we are fashioned to do.* ([the full speech can be found here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjr3cuSUs2A)) Now, it's time to start thinking about **Life 3.0**. ✌️✌️ :) ### Espresso Shots 7-27-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-27-24/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:09:07.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. --- **Love what you read? Support and share!** 🌟 **Join Club Mako** and be part of my "[one a month club](https://makoism.com/#/portal)", [read more](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/) about the effort!. ☕️ **Fuel my creativity** by [buying me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism). 🛍 **Wear it, don't just say it** by exploring makoism [gear](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky). 🔗 **Share my work** and help it reach more people! [Share Now](https://makoism.com/). Prefer to stay updated? 📲 Follow my latest posts [via RSS](https://makoism.com/rss) or on [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support means the world to me! ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - I'm noticing a theme right now in my life on making things less complicated; sometimes in life, '[the best game to play is not to play at all](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpmGXeAtWUw).' On a side note, I am super fascinated with this idea of [infinite games](http://fs.blog/finite-and-infinite-games/) lately. [The Art of Opting Out](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-art-of-opting-out/) - '*What else can I remove?*' - **such a powerful question**. Even though I already do annual audits of things like subscriptions and applications, this should be asked more of life in general. [What else can I remove?](http://thejollyteapot.com/2024/07/20/what-else-can-i-remove) - I've run four marathons and seen all sorts of crazy costumes (yes, it's **always** discouraging when somebody runs past you with the baby ), but I can't even imagine wearing a costume like this. But, there you go, someone just did that. [Someone in Toronto just ran a full marathon in a Minions costume](https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/07/toronto-ran-marathon-minions-costume/) - Those annoying pop-ups to verify that you're human in the name of security? They're being used as a method for crowdsourcing work. 🤨 [Google's reCAPTCHA v2 just labor exploitation](https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/24/googles%5Frecaptchav2%5Flabor/) - In a letter to her younger sister, who was having marital problems, Amelia Earhart has a thoughtful perspective on *personal agency* and the *importance of self-assertion*. I particularly liked her observation that '*human crises have a way of happening at inconvenient times*'. [Amelia Earhart on Sticking Up for Yourself, in a Remarkable Letter of Advice to Her Younger Sister](https://www.themarginalian.org/2015/07/24/amelia-earhart-lettrs-sister/) - The voiceover sessions from [The Lion King](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/) are super fun to watch. Today I learned that the 'roar' was not actually a lion, but a human in making noises into a garbage can. [The Lion King - Lion Roar, Voice-Over Session](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Orv9OJDUnWM&si=Xn%5F2%5FzhmgWglg9am) - [Peter Dinklage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter%5FDinklage) always impresses me. In this session of [Letters Live at The Town Hall](http://thetownhall.org/#featured-shows), he reads a letter **from a beaver**. But it's more fun to think about how similar it is to something [Tyrion Lannister](https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Tyrion%5FLannister) would propose. [Peter Dinklage reads a very funny letter in defense of beavers](https://youtube.com/watch?v=dl3xNpeOkE0&si=PU-C8cPjxLg8-1tF) - I stumbled across this interesting site on how to do paperwork workflows. Many interesting tips here can help you rethink moving from a digital world to an analog one. ["How To" Directory](https://analogoffice.net/how-to-directory/) - The subtitle on this post says it all: '**Longing for simplicity in a complex world**'. I've been noticing a theme in 2024 for many things in my life around making things less complex. As my 10-year plan to get to [Life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/) is finally here, I've been working on a longer [blog post](https://makoism.com/) about this topic - stay tuned. [When Did It All Get So Complicated?](http://johnpweiss.com/blog/195551/when-did-it-all-get-so-complicated3f) - Remember the [Ashley Madison scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley%5FMadison%5Fdata%5Fbreach) a few years back? Turns out that a more recent analysis shows that the company had '*created an army of fake women, mostly very simple chatbots called engagers, who would flirt with men to lure them into paying for a subscription to the site.*' Lovely. [What everyone gets wrong about the 2015 Ashley Madison scandal](https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234952-100-what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-the-2015-ashley-madison-scandal/) - This is an excellent post on crashing through the wall when stuck writing something. [How to Cure Writer's Block](https://perell.com/essay/how-to-cure-writers-block/) - There's a lot of crazy going on in the AI space; some people are just waiting for it all to collapse, others say it will redefine how we work. Personally, I think there is some value in these tools as they can help provide some utility to augment thinking, but it is not going to replace your thinking. **Blind faith is dangerous**. [AI Has Become a Technology of Faith](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/07/thrive-ai-health-huffington-altman-faith/678984/) - What a great post this one was. I won't spoil much here; just read it for yourself. [Fuck Looking for the Helpers. Be One.](https://joanwestenberg.com/fuck-looking-for-the-helpers-be-one) Amor Fati *(translated from the Latin as 'love of fate')*. ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots 7-20-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-20-24/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:09:16.000Z Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two. I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. --- **Love what you read? Support and share!** 🌟 **Join Club Mako** and be part of my "[one a month club](https://makoism.com/#/portal)", [read more](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/) about the effort!. ☕️ **Fuel my creativity** by [buying me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism). 🛍 **Wear it, don't just say it** by exploring makoism [gear](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky). 🔗 **Share my work** and help it reach more people! [Share Now](https://makoism.com/). Prefer to stay updated? 📲 Follow my latest posts [via RSS](https://makoism.com/rss) or on [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support means the world to me! ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - I always enjoy reading about different folks and their important EDC (everyday carry) tools; this one about the comfort of physical notes struck me as incredibly *calming*. [My everyday carry](https://jgayfer.com/my-everyday-carry/) - '*The crucible of struggle that one's character is forged, resilience is fortified, and true potential is awakened.*' Some powerful words in an introspective take on the importance of dealing with things and coming through on the other side. [One Day, in Retrospect, the Years of Struggle Will Strike You as the Most Beautiful](https://medium.com/mind-cafe/one-day-in-retrospect-the-years-of-struggle-will-strike-you-as-the-most-beautiful-sigmund-freud-50bbb3eac1b3) - I actually **like** Apple Weather ([Carrot Weather](https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/) is better. I love the snark, but I don't feel like I need to have a subscription weather app), but I appreciated the thinking that went into this post on its graphical quirks. [The unbearable sorrow of Apple Weather](https://leancrew.com/all-this/2024/06/the-unbearable-sorrow-of-apple-weather/) - I've been getting into the zen place by listening to the legendary [Alan Watts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan%5FWatts). One of his talks on taking time to stop thinking hit me, and I've been making a more conscious effort to take long morning walks, where I listen to music without 'thinking.' [Alan Watts For When You Need To Stop Thinking](https://youtube.com/watch?v=EVerqpMjYYg) - It seems like everyone I know is suffering from the '*meeting-industrial complex*' and '[coordination tax](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/collaboration-work-office-life-in-person-b9c12110)' in a world where **communications** has *overshadowed* **creativity**. [White-Collar Work Is Just Meetings Now](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/white-collar-meetings-more-frequent/678941/) - Who *doesn't* remember Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger? This game was awesome! [29 Years Ago, Mark Hamill Made a Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Game That's Been Tragically Forgotten](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/wing-commander-iii-retrospective) - Wow! 70,000 public domain books have been converted to audio using the ultra-realistic Text-to-Speech models from OpenAI. [Project Gutenberg Audiobooks library by Listenly](https://listenly.io/gutenberg) - All of the advice in this one is great, but I specifically liked '*ways that reduce unimportant decisions* .'[Facilitating Good Decision Making: Context, Scope, and Timeframe](https://cate.blog/2024/07/09/facilitating-good-decision-making-context-scope-and-timeframe/) - I don't know about you, but after a photo frenzy, I always go back and delete a bunch. This post argues that there's '*value in keeping these "throwaway" photos, as they provide essential context and personal meaning to his best shots* Hmm. Interesting.. [In defense of not deleting photos](https://rscottjones.com/in-defense-of-not-deleting-photos/) - [Ron Gilbert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron%5FGilbert) has created some of my favorite computer games, from [Maniac Mansion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniac%5FMansion) to [Monkey Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey%5FIsland); so it caught my attention when he reposted this 2004 classic. His thinking around '*the future of adventure games lies in bridging the gap between games and compelling narratives, while ensuring the player's experience is engaging rather than frustrating*' is spot on. [Why Adventure Games Suck](https://grumpygamer.com/why%5Fadventure%5Fgames%5Fsuck) - A fun one with a pretty sound but unorthodox approach to analyzing system or performance issues, but the real gem is the "anti-methods" to avoid and more rigorous techniques. [Performance Analysis Methodology](https://www.brendangregg.com/methodology.html) - As I mentioned, I've been enjoying just tuning out and walking early in the morning, but this has me thinking that I should listen to the silence instead of listening to music. The author describes his journey on listening and that locations have "*a tonal quality that shapes the sense of place and the quality of presence*'. [How to Disappear: The Art of Listening to Silence in a Noisy World](https://www.themarginalian.org/2019/10/14/gordon-hempton-silence/) - AI. What else can I say... [Artificial intelligence web crawlers are running amok](https://www.npr.org/2024/07/05/nx-s1-5026932/artificial-intelligence-web-crawlers-are-running-amok) - I've written a lot on [how to plan life 2.0](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/), but the framework in this post shifts '*questions that organizations use to set a course for the future can be easily adapted to help individuals do the same.*' [Use Strategic Thinking to Create the Life You Want](https://hbr.org/2023/12/use-strategic-thinking-to-create-the-life-you-want) - And, a bonus read: [Creativity: How to Unlock Your Hidden Creative Genius](https://jamesclear.com/creativity) Amor Fati *(from the Latin, 'love of fate')*. ✌🏻 ### Espresso Shots: 7-14-24 URL: https://makoism.com/espresso-shots-7-14-24/ Last updated: 2024-07-14T17:16:42.000Z A new experiment! Here's my weekly update with a few interesting random findings that I came across the last week or two (this one is probably a bit longer than normal as I’m clearing through the backlog). I am going to try to make sure they're here in time for you to enjoy with your morning coffee (or beverage of choice) every Saturday or Sunday, and include some of my thoughts around them. Longer blog posts will be every 2-3 weeks. --- **Love what you read? Support and share!** 🌟 **Join Club Mako** and be part of my "[one a month club](https://makoism.com/#/portal)", [read more](https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/) about the effort!. ☕️ **Fuel my creativity** by [buying me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism). 🛍 **Wear it, don't just say it** by exploring makoism [gear](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky). 🔗 **Share my work** and help it reach more people! [Share Now](https://makoism.com/). Prefer to stay updated? 📲 Follow my latest posts [via RSS](https://makoism.com/rss) or on [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support means the world to me! ## The Latest Drippings ☕️ - I’ve been enjoying Brad’s take on failing - ‘*Failure is an experience, not an identity*,’ and that realigning our relationship with failure is important. [You are not a failure.](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/you-are-not-a-failure) - Every week, there is more and more AI “wack,” and it’s crazy easy to bypass most ChatGPT system problems. I feel like [a new t-shirt](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) with ‘**ignore all previous instructions**’ is on the way :) [ChatGPT spills its prompt](https://pivot-to-ai.com/2024/07/05/chatgpt-spills-its-prompt/) - I’m often guilty of it (and it’s the topic of one of my favorite [TED talks from Tim Urban](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU)), but there’s more and more evidence that procrastination is incredibly important to the thinking process. [The Books Briefing: The Pleasures of Procrastination](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/07/books-briefing-pleasures-procrastination/678909/) - I don’t listen to Huberman, but his popular podcast is now under extreme criticism. [Scientists Like Me Knew There Was Something Amiss With Andrew Huberman’s Wildly Popular Podcast](https://slate.com/technology/2024/03/andrew-huberman-huberman-lab-health-advice-podcast-debunk.html) - I always enjoy unlearning and re-learning, and the view of ‘*projects are incentivized to optimize for scope, time, and budget - not for software quality and dependability*’ was good. [Projects considered harmful](https://www.ufried.com/blog/projects%5Fconsidered%5Fharmful%5F1/) - LOVE IT: the wording of how some organizational structure lends to ‘*monkey with a gun*’ decisions. Ask yourself - how often do you find yourself in a situation where you’re dealing with people making decisions without understanding how a particular system works? [Broken Ownership](https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/broken-ownership) - Another great view on the usage and importance of [boring software](https://tqdev.com/2018-the-boring-software-manifesto). [Cold-blooded software](https://dubroy.com/blog/cold-blooded-software/) - I always appreciate Doc Searls and his thoughtfulness; in this post, he explores how the Internet has become the “**Internet of Accounts**” and how we can return to an **Internet of people**. [The Personal Internet](https://doc.searls.com/2024/06/30/the-personal-internet/) - Leaders often want to lean in and help struggling employees and understand what’s going on, but there’s an **important** balance; [Cy Wakeman calls this “emotional expense”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknHxlLImg0), but there are folks that struggle in organizations who often blame others instead of taking responsibility for their struggle. It’s important to address it proactively before it gets toxic. [Struggling Employees](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/struggling-employees) - While season three of The Bear has [hit mixed reviews](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/arts/television/review-the-bear-season-3.html) (I’m still three episodes away from finishing it), the list of Carmy’s “Non-Negotiables” was great. Richie’s was even better - “*Create an environment that encourages razzle-dazzle and the dream weave.*” [The Bear’s Non-Negotiables, Ranked by Negotiability](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-season-3-non-negotiables-list.html) - Taylor Swift is a total phenomenon, and whether you love her music, this course at Harvard provides an excellent way to understand her cultural significance. [Inside Harvard’s Taylor Swift Course](https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2024/02/taylor-swift-harvard-class-english-professor-stephanie-burt) - I still love everything about [The Friction Project](https://www.amazon.com/Friction-Project-Leaders-Things-Easier/dp/1250284414), and the term ‘jargon monoxide’. This quick reason is about improving internal communications and what good friction can look like. [How to prevent jargon monoxide and minimize employee friction](https://www.ragan.com/how-to-prevent-jargon-monoxide/) Amor Fati *(translated from the Latin as 'love of fate')*. ✌🏻 ### The Board, Revisited URL: https://makoism.com/the-board-revisited/ Last updated: 2024-07-02T23:28:31.000Z 💡 ****Programming Note**: **I am thinking about shifting up the posting schedule here a bit into 2 categories: a weekly list of "here's 10 things I found interesting", and then the more traditional "long form" posts every few weeks. I am finding that the calendar is getting crazy, and waiting to share things out over weeks, holds up the weekly links. Stay tuned!* In 2021, [I talked](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) about an idea I had regarding *cultivating trusted circles* by creating your own [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). > *Cultivate a trusted circle of former or current colleagues, advisors, networkers, and even a critic or two that you can bounce ideas off of, help you with professional development, or provide some clarity to major decisions.* > > *This group needs to be able to give you honest feedback, and more importantly *you need to be able to take it*.* > > *You're not in this alone, and seeking guidance isn't a weakness; *it's perspective*.* I ran through some ideas on who should be on the board - including some diversity, making it dynamic, filling it with mentors and peers, having a few critics, and **absolutely** making sure it isn't a family member. ;) That post sparked a fire (as it remains the most-read piece that I've written), so I decided to revisit it a few years past since I still get pings on it. Oddly enough, I [recently ran across](https://bookshop.org/p/books/clear-thinking-turning-ordinary-moments-into-extraordinary-results-shane-parrish/19635288?ean=9780593086117) [Shane Parrish](https://fs.blog/about/)’s book [Clear Thinking](https://fs.blog/clear/)). The book, which is described as a path for '*Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results*' talks about personal boards: > Back in the early '80s, I made Bill Lazier the honorary **chairman of my personal board of directors**. And when I chose members ... they were not chosen for their success. They were chosen for their values and character .... **They're the sorts of people I wouldn't want to let down**. The sort of person you wouldn't want to let down. It's powerful and insightful, and it rings true to my own experiences with personal boards. I wanted to look back and say, "I wish I had thought of this or that," or something that I would change, and there really wasn't a lot outside of the original concept to tweak.. but.. If there were any things to play with: - **A board meeting**. Considering how much I have grown to enjoy [the art of the gathering](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/), there's probably something magical that could be crafted by pulling people together in a wonderful place. I once wrote, "*getting a small group with different backgrounds and experiences together, sharing a well-crafted meal in a beautiful setting coupled with a carefully prepared spirit - I'll admit: there's nothing quite like that.*". In the spirit of a "board meeting," it could be awesome. - **Changing it up**. Most people on my board have remained consistent over the last few years. There may be nothing wrong with term limits; adding new blood there isn't a bad idea. Your needs as a human evolve and change, and your challenges and perspectives also change, and so should the board's composition. [Continuous growth](https://makoism.com/the%5Ffixed%5Fgrowth/). - **Digital**. Would throwing some tech in there, such as a Slack channel or a shared bookmark/reading list, be a good idea? It may evolve into group thinking—too often, people I share many links with ultimately end up all reading the same things. - **Active engagement**. Often, I reach out to the board if I'm facing an issue or trying to cement my thinking on tackling a problem. I haven't engaged them in skill improvement or "what am I lacking right now" conversations—it's more about "*hey, I'm trying to tackle a problem, and this is what I'm thinking.*" - **Give back more**. Personal boards are a two-way street; I need to contact them to see if they feel like I'm also keeping up my end of the bargain. - **Add in someone earlier in career**. Maybe this falls under mentorship, but I have found tremendous value in shifting how I hire to lean more toward fresh out of school. The recent graduates keep things new and alive, and I learn a lot from them. Adding an early-in-career person to the board would bring some interesting perspectives. Having a blueprint for a personal board is one of the most valuable things I've done in my career. > *Be there for them.* > *Thank them (hand-written notes are amazing!).* > *Having a group of individuals that can encourage you, challenge ideas, support and uplift you will help you in the long run grow both personally and professionally.* I read once, "*the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today*." So, if you haven't already, go and craft your own [small council](https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Small%5Fcouncil) (sorry, I can't resist GoT memes) and build your group of trusted advisors today. If you enjoy these posts, you can [subscribe to Club Mako ($1/mo)](https://makoism.com/#/portal) 📆, [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [the store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just [**share my work**](https://makoism.com/). If you'd rather just keep up with my ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss) or via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support is much appreciated! ## Exploration 🧭 I've been thinking a lot about this lately: the power of just letting go. > *“Do you really let yourself go? Nature is giving you, by death, the opportunity to let go of all this nonsense.”* ## To Watch 📺 ## Quotables 📚 > *The trick is simple: If it’s important, make it visible. If it happens over time, create a signal that brings the future into the present.* > > *Creating vivid measurements of essential variables that others overlook is a significant competitive advantage.* - [The Pinocchio Protocol](https://seths.blog/2024/06/the-pinocchio-protocol/), Seth Godin ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/06/PNG-image.png) via [Aral Balkan](https://mastodon.ar.al/@aral/111850009938563889) ## Articles Worth Reading / Link Rot 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share. It really is just a dump of things sitting in my "thats interesting" pile, that I threw some categories on for you to pick out what tickles your fancy. **Thinking 🤪** - [The Clues to Success](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-clues-to-success/) - [Why you need a "WTF Notebook"](https://www-simplermachines-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.simplermachines.com/why-you-need-a-wtf-notebook/amp/) - [Forget quiet vacationing. GoPro says midday breaks have employees more engaged](https://www.fastcompany.com/91134156/forget-quiet-vacationing-gopro-says-midday-breaks-have-employees-more-engaged) - [They Spent Their Life Savings on Life Coaching](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/02/business/life-coach-debt-savings.html) **Huh. 👽** - [New analysis of Beethoven’s hair reveals the mysteries of his deafness and illnesses](https://archaeologymag.com/2024/05/beethovens-hair-reveal-mysteries-of-his-illnesses/) - [The Decline of Streaking](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/06/decline-streaking-nudity/678680/) **Media 📺** - [House of the Dragon Creator Breaks Down Season 2’s Stunning New Opening Credits](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-opening-credits-change-1235922069/) - [The Best Postapocalyptic Movies of All Time, Ranked by Survivability](https://www.theringer.com/movies/2024/5/30/24165953/best-apocalyptic-movie-ranked-postapocalyptic-furiosa-fury-road-a-quiet-place-i-am-legend) - [How Shawshank Turned a Prison Into a Tourist Trap](https://apple.news/AbH3kmo4kSBuRTlcoZ3Ndsg) **Tech 📟** - [I Will Fucking Piledrive You If You Mention AI Again](https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/i-will-fucking-piledrive-you-if-you-mention-ai-again/) - [Hey, so, I think I fucking hate the internet](https://gkeenan.co/avgb/hey-so-i-think-i-fucking-hate-the-internet) - [The New Alt Media and the Future of Publishing](https://www.anildash.com//2024/06/14/the-new-alt-media/) - [How the invention of infinite scrolling turned millions to addiction](https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/how-the-invention-of-infinite-scrolling-turned-millions-to-addiction-3096602ef9af) - [Your brain does not process information and it is not a computer](https://aeon.co/essays/your-brain-does-not-process-information-and-it-is-not-a-computer) - [Accessible and ‘a pleasure to read’: how Apple’s podcast transcriptions came to be](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jun/15/apple-podcast-transcription-feature) - [ChatGPT is bullshit](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-024-09775-5) - [The Mythical 5%](https://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=221622) - [Doing Stuff with AI: Opinionated Midyear Edition](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/doing-stuff-with-ai-opinionated-midyear) - [How researchers use AI to decode the language of dog barks](https://bgr.com/science/how-researchers-use-ai-to-decode-the-language-of-dog-barks/) - [Who are the worthy design heroes?](https://whydesignishard.substack.com/p/who-are-the-worthy-design-heroes) **Life 🫶🏻** - [Escaping the 9-5](https://werd.io/2024/escaping-the-9-5) - [On being human and "creative"](https://www.hbcompass.io/on-being-human-and-creative/) - [25 Bits Of ‘Excellent Advice For Living’ That Apply To Adventure](https://semi-rad.com/2024/06/25-bits-of-excellent-advice-for-living-that-apply-to-adventure/) - [Everything Is Already There: Javier Marías on the Courage to Heed Your Intuitions](https://www.themarginalian.org/2023/06/16/javier-marias-your-face-tomorrow/) - [The Greatest Existential Threat](https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-greatest-existential-threat/) - [RIP office bestie. Here’s the upside to a diminishing need to have a friend at work](https://www.fastcompany.com/91106360/rip-office-bestie-heres-the-upside-to-a-diminishing-need-to-have-a-friend-at-work) ## Recommended 🎸 As Jor-EL in the classic 1978 movie Superman, Marlon Brando was iconic but had some amusing stories about the behind-the-scenes. In an interview with actor [Cary Elwes](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/cary-elwes), 16 at the time, described his job as "[to get Marlon out of his trailer](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/cary-elwes-interview-job-get-marlon-trailer/)". "Marlon had no incentive to be on time because his agent had struck the most amazing deal for him," Elwes said. "Every day the picture went over, he got another million dollars. He "*swiftly discovered that the best way to lure Brando out of his trailer was mainly with food*." "Once you fed Marlon, he was in a much better mood," the actor recalled. "So I tried to find delicacies that appealed to him, which were limited at Shepperton at the time. He mainly wanted desserts." Anyway, I recently stumbled upon a blooper reel from that performance that I had never seen before. In it, he hilariously struggles to remember his son Kal-El's name. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Fixed Growth URL: https://makoism.com/the_fixed_growth/ Last updated: 2024-06-08T20:46:57.000Z Tap. Tap. Tap.. Is this thing on? Yikes. Time sure does fly - you go heads down on life for a bit, and the next thing you know, it's been a month since I've posted. I've been focusing on fewer things lately and can't say I've gotten the balance right. As always, I am a work in progress. 🤔 I was able to catch up with one of my friends who is on [my personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/), and we talked a bit about the ebbs and flows of work. He mentioned that when asked to describe his job, he often replies with: "*I solve people problems masquerading as technology problems*." Huh. That comment stuck with me; often, I'm trying to figure out how to solve a problem (work, life, self, etc.), and I started to form this idea about how most problems are just [symptoms of something that is far more upstream and hidden](https://makoism.com/the-wrong-problems/), than what appears on the surface. > *"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?" - Jack Sparrow* We all have various frustrations in our lives in one form or another, and I think one of the things I am getting more attuned to as I get older (er, wiser?) is how often forward progress is tempered by you, your environment, and your mindset. It's even compounded more when an environment rewards particular ***negative and fixed mindsets***. In his (freaking *fantastic*) new talk, "[How To Murder Your Mediocrity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjfJSfR7QUk)", [Guy Kawasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy%5FKawasaki) talks about the positive effects of shifting your thinking towards a growth mindset, which I enjoyed. (***Side note: watch the whole thing!***) > *Having a growth mindset means that *YOU ARE NOT STATIC*.* > *you *can* learn new skills* > *you *can* become a better person* > > *the fixed mindset means *you think you are what you are and you cannot be any better** > *it also means many people think they are what they are and they cannot get any worse* > > *arguably that's more dangerous :)* Digest that for a moment. **"You are not static."** I find myself often trying to focus towards "*the power of 'yet'*." Too frequently, we are strangled by the "***tyranny of now***." It's a basic idea that > *You're not yet there. *But you will be, you can be; just keep going** It just takes **perseverance**. You have to realize, that you **can't** force another to change a fixed mindset. There's little things you can do like leading by example, providing an environment that fosters continuous learning and sharing, or showing the power of small wins. You can even go out of your way to teach what good (or different) can look like. But most of the time, it's going to result in frustration. Fixed mindsets are often fueled by fear of failure, self imposed thinking or other past experiences that keep them rooted in the once-was, not what can be. Remember, [the dichotomy of control](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/365-ways-to-be-more-stoic/202304/the-stoic-dichotomy-of-control-in-practice): You can only control what you can control. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/06/Focus_665ba56c-cab7-400e-9229-a45ccb353357.jpg.webp) If you choose to play the game outside of that space, you often end up in what [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/good-disappointed) calls "the valley of disappointment" (per The Plateau of Latent Potential). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/06/1639918066485.jpeg) Maybe in life/creativity/thinking, if you're seemingly stuck, you need to think about [what game you want to play](https://makoism.com/the-games-we-play/). As [David Hieatt](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidhieatt%5Fnote-to-self-activity-7195389225616265216-59if/) says, "*ideas need to be patient, play the long game.*" I cannot understate, though, how important it is when making any change, 'finding your tribe' is going to be a superpower. You want to search for those rare gems, the pirates (allies in the fleet!), who believe in learning and improvement and will help create safe harbors. They will turn out not only to be allies, but they will ultimately challenge your thinking with new possibilities and help you think differently about things you hold as fixed truths. Wrapping up this rambling, I wanted to plant a seed that I came across from author Neil Gaiman a few weeks back. [In an interview](https://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool%5FStuff/Essays/Essays%5FBy%5FNeil/Where%5Fdo%5Fyou%5Fget%5Fyour%5Fideas%3F), he was asked 'where do you get your ideas?'. His response, which I also think is a great place to start shifting mindset (and, perhaps a [new t-shirt idea](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky)): > *You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it.* > > *You get ideas when you ask yourself simple questions. The most important of the questions is just, *What if...?** Maybe asking the simple question of "**what if**" can help you or someone else escape someplace static and imagine something new. ✌️ If you enjoy these posts, you can [subscribe to Club Mako ($1/mo)](https://makoism.com/#/portal) 📆, [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [the store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just [**share my work**](https://makoism.com/). If you'd rather just keep up with my ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss) or via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support is much appreciated! ## Exploration 🧭 A longer watch, but as always, [Ryan Holiday](https://ryanholiday.net) delivers the goods. A few nuggets that I used throughout the week from this chat. On \[[The Freedom of Low Expectations](https://youtu.be/lwD101ufd84?si=lQvZgbpX%5FRuji93L)\]: > *The *freedom of low expectations* is a really important thing.* > > *That's why I try not to have goals. If you have goals that are outside your control, like, you need to sell this, or your company needs to make, you're just like, it's just an arbitrary target. And you're better off just like seeing where it goes. And you're better off just like seeing where it goes. And the funny thing is, if I had had any kind of goal remotely close to what it ultimately done, it would've been because I was a delusional entitled asshole.* > > *So the freedom of low expectations is a big part of it. But I think the reason it resonated is the reason that stoicism has always resonated. And it's not fair to say it's an obscure school of age of philosophy, really, because all schools of philosophy are obscure, right?* On [Weaponized Incompetence](https://youtu.be/lwD101ufd84?si=%5FOZP1GUYb6b-SpaY): > *Its just like, if you're a genius theoretical physicist, just in the way of you're a all-star point guard. They're just like, Ryan shouldn't be booking his own travel. Like Ryan, you know, like, how do we make things as easy as possible for this star, you know? *And so you just get used to not caring about things that are not that. And I... I don't know. I just decided to care more about that stuff.** ## Playlist 📺 ## Quotables 📚 For one summer only (1997), Orcas [started to randomly wear dead salmon as a hat](https://www.iflscience.com/in-1987-orcas-had-a-fashion-of-wearing-a-dead-salmon-as-a-hat-69542). > *In the Puget Sound area of the northeast Pacific, one female orca from k-pod began carrying a dead salmon around on her nose. Over the next 5-6 weeks, the behavior spread, and by the end of it, orcas from her own and two other pods were wearing dead salmon hats. Then all of a sudden, the fad was over. Bar a few times the following summer – latecomers, like humans just now deciding to wear Uggs – the trend has never been seen again.* 🤷‍♂️ ## Articles Worth Reading / Link Rot 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share. It really is just a dump of things sitting in my "thats interesting" pile, that I threw some categories on for you to pick out what tickles your fancy. **Thinking 🤪** - [What Story Are You Telling Yourself?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/what-story-are-you-telling-yourself/) - [No Wrong Doors.](https://lethain.com/no-wrong-doors/) - [Boring is good](https://coryd.dev/posts/2024/boring-is-good/) - [Half-ass it](https://everythingchanges.us/blog/half-ass-it/) - [20 Things I've Learned as a Systems (Over) Thinker (Extended Commentary)](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/20-things-ive-learned-as-a-systems-f95) - [The $1 Billion Test](https://radreads.co/the-1-billion-test/) - [Why We Forget: New Insights into Everyday Memory](https://neurosciencenews.com/forgetting-memory-neuroscience-25957/) - [Proven practices to rewire your brain to help you live your best life](https://www.fastcompany.com/91115162/proven-practices-to-rewire-your-brain-to-help-you-live-your-best-life) **Huh. 👽** - [The Forged Apple Employee Badge](https://cabel.com/2024/05/16/the-forged-apple-employee-badge/) - [Companies Are Just a Graph of Algorithms](https://danielmiessler.com/p/companies-graph-of-algorithms) **Games 🎱** - [The five-year journey to make an adventure game out of ink and paper](https://www.theverge.com/24155754/the-collage-atlas-interview-steam-hand-drawn) **Tech 📟** - [Manifesto for a Humane Web](https://humanewebmanifesto.com/) - [Making engineering strategies more readable](https://lethain.com/readable-engineering-strategy-documents/) - [How should you adopt LLMs?](https://lethain.com/llm-adoption-strategy/) - [LLMs Data-Control Path Insecurity](https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2024/05/llms-data-control-path-insecurity.html) - [The Perils of Moneyballing Everything](https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-perils-of-moneyballing-everything) - [My Journey Inside ElevenLabs' Voice-Clone Factory](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/05/elevenlabs-ai-voice-cloning-deepfakes/678288/) - [a view source web](https://viewsource.info/) **Privacy 🕵🏻** - [How the US Is Destroying Young People’s Future](https://youtube.com/watch?v=qEJ4hkpQW8E) **Life 🫶🏻** - [Bridging Inner Space and Outer Space](https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/08/13/eric-berne-intimacy/) - [Get Rich With Stoicism](https://dariusforoux.com/get-rich-stoicism/) - [I don't need to know what my favorite songs are about to love them (but sometimes it helps)](https://gkeenan.co/avgb/i-dont-need-to-know-what-my-favorite-songs-are-about-but-sometimes-it-helps) ## Recommended 🎸 Be well. ✌🏻 ### Less URL: https://makoism.com/less/ Last updated: 2024-05-13T02:06:00.000Z Despite being exhausted, I spent a few hours the other night staring at the sky looking at the incredible light display in the sky that was caused by an ['extreme' G5 geomagnetic storm](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation) reaching Earth this past week. It was a *nice* distraction, particularly on my social network reading, as everyone was posting beautiful imagery of things happening above them. Oddly, it was almost like we were *united* in a unified [break from the constant cycle](https://makoism.com/kindness/) from the consistent bombardment of dismay, wars, corruption, disasters, politics, protests, diseases, or whatever else makes a good story on the evening news. There was something *calming* about the whole thing. This is the opposite of how everything in the world seems right now. I wrote about this feeling that [we all missed an opportunity to reset what "normal" is](https://makoism.com/the%5Fnarrative/) after the pandemic, but 2024 seems even to be more intense. **There's too much of everything.** There is too much streaming. Too much anger. Too much politics. There are too many necessary things going on in the day-to-day. Too many [things are being made that people don't even really want](https://coryd.dev/posts/2024/weve-stopped-making-things-anyone-wants/). (See the outrage around Apple's new iPad ad; some going as far as saying it was tone-deaf and powerfully shows '[The Destruction of the Human Experience](https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/apple-ipad-pro-ad-criticism-hugh-grant-1235996294/)'). *(Maybe? I don't know, when I first saw it, I didn't think about it, and admittedly, I laughed when they crushed the emoji, but I get what people are upset about.)* Somebody pointed out that running the ad *in reverse* would've been a better ad for Apple - that these devices can enable much creativity instead of destroying what people hold dear. But as I spend too much time thinking about everything, I keep returning to this idea of "**clutter**." As we prepare to move to our "life 2.0" house, I've been strangely paying attention to how much clutter we have accumulated and on a mission to see what I can get rid of. Do I need this item? Does it bring me joy? Too much stuff. And, then it hit me: **There's so much clutter every day; there's no time left to do the real things.** It's all around us. All day, every day. In '[We have a content quality problem, not a content quantity problem](https://coryd.dev/posts/2024/we-have-a-content-quality-problem-not-a-content-quantity-problem/)': > *We've left behind scattered ruins of journalistic institutions, studios and artists and here we are with endless content options. The river of content sludge won't stop, because the folks responsible for generating it are too busy looking at their balance sheets to notice that folks are drowning in it.* > > *We can't use algorithms to filter for quality because they're not designed to. They're designed to steer you towards whatever's most profitable for their creators.* > > *That puts the onus on us, as users, to filter out the noise and that is increasingly difficult. I have old movies to watch and a narrow set of new ones I'm interested in.* It's important to remember that "[*stress is doing something you don’t care about, with time that you do.*](https://twitter.com/TheDOLectures/status/1481621438817779715)." And that is where all this clutter rears its ugly head. I've [written before](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/) about this when I first read the excellent book, [Essentialism](https://bookshop.org/p/books/essentialism-the-disciplined-pursuit-of-less-greg-mckeown/9404336?aid=99985&ean=9780804137409&listref=books-for-2024): > *The prevalence of noise: *Almost everything is noise*, and a very few things are exceptionally valuable. This is the justification for taking time to figure out what is most important. Because some things are so much more important, the effort in finding those things is worth it.* So yeah, in addition to physical clutter, all this mental clutter can also weigh heavily on one's brain. It's more important than ever to take steps to declutter your thoughts and quiet your mind, whether through meditation, journaling, or simply taking a few moments to breathe deeply and center yourself. Identify what truly matters to you and prioritize those aspects. Let go of the unnecessary commitments, possessions, and thoughts that weigh you down and consume your time and energy. Funny enough, when thinking about this, I came across a wonderful new company: [The Calm Company](https://justinjackson.ca/calm-company/). On their site, there's a list of values and traits that comprise the ideals of a calm company. Some are obvious — you need to be profitable and have sustainable growth, etc.- but a few of these stuck out. I've added several of these ideas to my [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) to make sure I keep coming back to it. > **\- Calm Companies have a strong sense of purpose*: "What are we building this company for?" Generally, there's an internal purpose: "to improve the lives of the people working here," and an external purpose: "to help more creators get their message into the world."* > > **\- Freedom and Flexibility*: As founders, we build businesses to give us more freedom. A Calm Company gives team members the flexibility to live well, pursue hobbies, exercise, take breaks, go on trips, and connect with family and friends.* > > **\- Fun*: Calm Companies produce more opportunities for fun. "What if we ran this event?" "What if we went on a team retreat in the mountains?" "What if we put an easter egg on our website that plays a silly song?" "What if we made some fun stickers?"* > > **\- Mindful*: At a Calm Company, decisions and commitments are made mindfully. We ask: will this decision make our lives worse? More stressful? Does it align with our values? Will this commitment add too much weight to our culture?* > > **\- Calm Work Environment*: Stress and chaos are replaced with clear work goals, boundaries, and communication.* Lots of good stuff in there. That's a good place to end this rambling; things would be better if we used calm company principles in everyday life. I've been listening to Blink-182's "One More Time" on repeat for the last several weeks. The song reminds me to focus on the present and the essentials and prioritize personal relationships over mundane or superficial tasks that clutter day-to-day life. Cutting through all that noise and focusing on real-life interactions and moments is, in the end, what matters most. If you enjoy these posts, you can [subscribe to Club Mako ($1/mo)](https://makoism.com/#/portal) 📆, [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [the store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just [**share my work**](https://makoism.com/). If you'd rather just keep up with my ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss) or via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support is much appreciated! ## Exploration 🧭 In '[A good image tells a good story](https://ia.net/topics/a-good-image-tells-a-good-story),'' the exquisite folks at [IA](https://ia.net/) (which makes up the outstanding [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer), which I write [makoism.com](https://makoism.com/) with) have a thoughtful piece on the importance of selecting the right images for storytelling in presentations. > *The right visual can attract people’s attention and explain complex matters at one sight. Yet, just as a misplaced joke can ruin a comedy set, boring or inappropriate images can derail and devalue your presentation. So, how do we choose the right ones?* I highly recommend reading (and buying their products; I just [ordered their new notebook](https://ia.net/notebook)) if you enjoy effectively communicating complex concepts and want to make a lasting impression on your audience. --- On a completely different note, I've been following the crazy '[Coyote vs Acme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote%5Fvs.%5FAcme)' saga. For those unfamiliar with the title, it's a live-action/animated legal comedy with the plot any Looney Toons fan would love to see: > *After every product made by the* [*Acme Corporation*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acme%5FCorporation) *has backfired on* [*Wile E. Coyote*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wile%5FE.%5FCoyote%5Fand%5Fthe%5FRoad%5FRunner) *in his pursuit of the* [*Road Runner*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wile%5FE.%5FCoyote%5Fand%5Fthe%5FRoad%5FRunner)*, a down-and-out billboard human attorney represents Wile E. in his lawsuit to sue Acme. A growing friendship between Wile E. Coyote and his lawyer motivates their determination to win the court case, as it pits them against the intimidating boss of Wile E.'s lawyer's former law firm, who now represents Acme.* In November of 2023, Warner announced that the film had been completed, a project that had cost them a whopping $70m. However, despite its completion, they made a surprising decision to release it. Instead, they opted for a tax write off of $30m or the possibility of selling it to a third party like [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/). Ultimately, the decision was not about **cinematic merit** \- it was about **accounting**. > *We might complain today about pop culture governed by algorithms and data, but it’s not as though 20th-century decisions about which movies hit Blockbuster or which songs dominated the radio were based on some high-minded meritocracy; we have always been at the mercy of boardrooms.* > > **What has changed is our awareness of how such things work.* There was a time when only the subscribers of Hollywood trade magazines knew much about which movies were in development, to say nothing of which were canned. But audiences today are as intimately acquainted with upcoming projects as they are with the financial maneuvering behind them.* Here's [a gift article from the NYT](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/magazine/why-coyote-vs-acme-was-not-released.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.rE0.jaQA.prPWSjgihfv1&smid=url-share) on the messy thing. ## To Watch 📺 I just thought this was brilliant... ## Quotables 📚 A sad look at the melting ice caps over the 100 years via [@RustyBertrand](https://social.vivaldi.net/@RustyBertrand/112355629291635995) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/05/33528e4b0fa2eb33.jpg) melting icecaps A fun article from [Vox](https://www.vox.com/2016/1/3/10702004/shakespeare-death-chart) which analyzes Shakespeare's 38 plays and breaks down the 74 deaths into a single, handy chart. Described as "*lots of stabbings and 2 deaths by pie*", enjoy: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/05/chart.png) deaths by pie And a wonderful reminder that [little things add up](https://makoism.com/little-things-95421779a97c/) to big ones over time via [@FluentInFinance](https://mastodon.social/@FluentInFinance/112373322044843837): > *Reading 30 minutes a day is 20 books per year.* > *Saving $20 a day is $7,300 per year.* > *Making an extra $100 a day is $36,500 per year.* > *Focusing for 4 hours of deep work a day is 40 days per year.* > > *Success is the compounding of small habits.* > *And small habits make a big difference.* ## Articles Worth Reading / Link Rot 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share. It really is just a dump of things sitting in my "thats interesting" pile, that I threw some categories on for you to pick out what tickles your fancy. **Bonus content this week**, as I'm [declaring bankruptcy again](https://makoism.com/when-to-fold/) and clearing out the backlog: **Thinking and Life 🫶🏻** - [Endless growth](https://minutestomidnight.co.uk/blog/endless-growth/) - [Philosophers are studying Reddit’s "Am I the Asshole?"](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24145761/reddit-am-i-the-asshole-moral-philosophy) - [We Sometimes Disappear Into Ourselves](http://johnpweiss.com/blog/194142/we-sometimes-disappear-into-ourselves) - [How to Do Great Work](https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html) - [Playing to Win or Playing Not to Lose](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/playing-win-playing-not-lose) - [You can choose to be kind](https://coryd.dev/posts/2024/you-can-choose-to-be-kind/) - [Trying to Live Quietly Might Be A Virtue](http://johnpweiss.com/blog/193368/trying-to-live-quietly-might-be-a-virtue) **Storytelling 👽** - ["Just"](https://bradfrost.com/blog/post/just/) - [Three Wins.](https://www.davidhieatt.blog/three-wins-40/) - [Where I'm coming from](https://werd.io/2024/where-im-coming-from) - [Minimum Viable Personality](https://avc.com/2011/09/minimum-viable-personality/) - [Chipping away at words, artist statement](https://newsletter.revdancatt.com/p/031-chipping-away-at-words-artist) - [Cheap tricks for starting discussions in lectures](https://idiolect.org.uk/notes/2024/03/23/cheap-tricks-for-starting-discussions-in-lectures/) - [Smarter networks through better narratives](https://jarche.com/2020/06/smarter-networks-through-better-narratives/) **Work 🎱** - [Plan Your Career Around Problems](https://danielmiessler.com/p/plan-career-around-problems) - [On Opening Essays, Conference Talks, and Jam Jars](https://maggieappleton.com/openings) - [Suicide Mission](https://prospect.org/infrastructure/transportation/2024-03-28-suicide-mission-boeing/) - [The Black Box](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-224-the-black-box) - [The Tech Lead's Playbook](https://www.developing.dev/p/the-tech-leads-playbook) - [Hierarchy is Good. Hierarchy is Essential. And Less Isn’t Always Better](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140112221140-15893932-hierarchy-is-good-hierarchy-is-essential-and-less-isn-t-always-better) **Tech 📟** - [We can have a different web](https://www.citationneeded.news/we-can-have-a-different-web/) - [Heat Death of the Internet](https://www.takahe.org.nz/heat-death-of-the-internet/) - [The self-serving nature of most tech social media](https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2024/self-serving-tech-social-media/) - [Gentler Streak quieted my evil brain goblin so I could run in peace](https://www.theverge.com/24134067/gentler-streak-app-ios-apple-watch) - [Story Points Revisited](https://ronjeffries.com/articles/019-01ff/story-points/Index.html) - [Code as a Crime Scene](https://adamtornhill.com/articles/crimescene/codeascrimescene.htm) - [AI in 2024: a brief state of play](https://joanwestenberg.com/blog/ai-in-2024-a-brief-state-of-play) - [New Apple Watch data shows the average person takes 334 days to walk/run a marathon](https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/12/apple-watch-marathon-heart-movement-study/) - [Why do we use social media?](https://maxread.substack.com/p/why-do-we-use-social-media) - [Embracing Chaos to Improve System Resilience: Chaos Engineering](https://blog.bytebytego.com/p/embracing-chaos-to-improve-system) - [How the Internet Gets Inside Us](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information) **Privacy 🕵🏻** - [Tracker Beeper](https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/tracker-beeper/) **Oddities 🤔** - [Explore a digitized collection of doomed Everest climber’s letters home](https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/04/everest-mountaineer-george-mallorys-letters-have-been-digitized-for-posterity/) - [The Keanu Reeves Whoa API](https://whoa.onrender.com/) ## Recommended 🎸 June is going to be a fun month for series returning: [The Boys Season 4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzFXDvC-EwM) (June 13), [The Bear Season 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlYakqjYNIU) (June 27), and [House of the Dragon Season 2](https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon) (June 16). Here's a recap of the first season of House of the Dragon as you get ready to '[bend the knee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWUUs2xlQBg)'. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Firestarters URL: https://makoism.com/firestarters/ Last updated: 2024-04-27T02:44:43.000Z The status quo can be like an old blanket, comfortable and psychologically safe to wrap yourself in because it's known and predictable. Sure, it may be worn out and full of holes or smell like mothballs, but it feels good because it's a sense of familiarity to cling to on a cold winter night. But, it's kinda ***fucking boring***, isn't it? I don't really know when my obsession with piracy began, but I've found it immensely rewarding to try new things, rally against the norm, and [embrace the code](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/). Back in 2005, I had the pleasure of spending some time with [Kathy Sierra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy%5FSierra) talking about [culture change by subverting from within](https://headrush.typepad.com/creating%5Fpassionate%5Fusers/2005/09/subvert%5Ffrom%5Fwi.html): > *I spent yesterday at Microsoft. And yes, it was on a "passionate users" mission –* > > *It's so tempting to say that anyone who really cares that much about users ought to get the hell out of the big company. I know, having done my time at Sun. But I'd forgotten how to see Microsoft as something other than a Big Company. I'd forgotten (or never recognized) that it's a collection of individual people, and no matter how entrenched the company's views, policies, practices, values, bureaucracy, etc. are, there are motivated, smart, caring, creative people who work there.* > > *And these folks have a chance to make a Difference (capital "D") *on a scale that most of us will never touch*.* 💡 Side note: [Furrygoat](https://wayback-api.archive.org/web/20240000000000%2A/furrygoat.com) was a blog I wrote at from [2001-2009](https://web.archive.org/web/20070102034426/http://www.furrygoat.com/). So when I was recently introduced to the idea of organizational [fire-starters](https://about.flipboard.com/inside-flipboard/dot-social-ian-forrester/), a role that [Ian Forrester at the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/people/ianforrester) describes as 'bringing ideas forward,' it got me thinking about how this represent a **modern day pirate**. *But, what skills do you need to change the status quo?* In [Paul Grahams](https://paulgraham.com/) epic essay, [**How to do Great Work**](https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html), he writes: > *There's a kind of excited curiosity that's both the engine and the rudder of great work. It will not only drive you, but if you let it have its way, will also show you what to work on. What are you excessively curious about — curious to a degree that would bore most other people? That's what you're looking for.* > > *He repeats near the end:* > > **Curiosity is the best guide*. Your curiosity never lies, and it knows more than you do about what's worth paying attention to. Notice how often that word has come up. If you asked an oracle the secret to doing great work and the oracle replied with a single word, my bet would be on '*curiosity*.'* **Curiosity is the spark to ignite change.** As I write that, I'm reminded of Sir Ken Robinson's amazing TED Talk, "Do schools kill creativity?" Why are so many afraid to challenge "that's the way we've always done it"? > *And by the time they get to be adults, most kids have lost that capacity. They have become frightened of being wrong. And we run our companies. This, by the way, we stigmatize mistakes and we're now running national education systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make. And the result is that we are educating people out of their creative capacities. Picasso once said this. He said that all children are born artists. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up.* And maybe that's the most important thing we can remember as we age. **Stay curious.** Lots of rambling tonight. But, in an interesting irony, as I finish this one, the trailer for the new documentary [Jim Henson Idea Man](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19308034/) was just released, and there's few others that embraced curiosity as he did. If you enjoy these posts, you can [subscribe to Club Mako ($1/mo)](https://makoism.com/#/portal) 📆, [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [the store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just [**share my work**](https://makoism.com/). If you'd rather just keep up with my ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss) or via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support is much appreciated! ## Shop 🛒 You know the deal - you're listening to someone talk and talk and talk, and you recognize that you're not the problem; they are. Adding a new "philosophical mottos" shirt to the shop was an excellent opportunity. It comes in [black, gray, blue](https://cottonbureau.com/p/ZR47AV/shirt/its-not-me#/20178683/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s), [white or pink](https://cottonbureau.com/p/8WCKZ2/shirt/its-not-me#/20178349/tee-men-standard-tee-heather-white-tri-blend-s). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/04/CleanShot-2024-04-20-at-15.24.02@2x-1.png) obviously. Also, I decided to throw on a few new ones, including a [tote bag variant](https://cottonbureau.com/p/J4HJ3Y/tote/its-not-me#/20178348/natural-100percent-cotton-canvas-15%22-16%22) of "its not me," and [a bunch of new drinkware](https://cottonbureau.com/p/Y5E2AU/drinkware/nope#/20192059/tumbler-everyday-tumbler-brushed-stainless-20-oz.)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/04/CleanShot-2024-04-20-at-15.20.59@2x-1-1.png) The perfect whiskey tumbler? ## Exploration 🧭 A total WTF moment from history, read about **a man so hated that his corpse was dug up for the sole purpose of mutilating it because being dead wasn't good enough for those who hated him.** [The Posthumous Execution of Oliver Cromwell](https://www.jahernandez.com/posts/the-posthumous-execution-of-oliver-cromwell) describes the wacky event in which his '*body was exhumed so his corpse could be put on trial for treason and regicide*.' > *The trial took place in a typical courtroom with a judge, jury, and the accused. Only in this case, the accused was a three-year-old rotten, probably stinking corpse. As you might expect, the defense strategy of a thousand-mile-stare with dead eyes didn't go over so well, and Oliver Cromwell's corpse was found guilty.* > > *So, Oliver Cromwell's corpse was hanged at Tyburn, London, and then thrown into a pit. His head was then chopped off and stuck on a pole outside Westminster Hall, where it sat until 1685.* > > *Yeah... like twenty-four years.* > > *It was then sold off to the highest bidder and changed owners several times for years after, occasionally getting put on public display. A few centuries later, in 1960, Oliver Cromwell's head was again laid to rest in a somewhat secretive location.* ## To Watch 📺 [Monica Parker](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-of-wonder-the-extraordinary-emotion-that-will-change-the-way-you-live-learn-and-lead-monica-c-parker/18529368?ean=9780593419366) has a beautiful video on why ["not" to pursuit happiness](https://boingboing.net/2024/04/07/ditch-the-pursuit-of-happiness-and-seek-out-wonder-instead.html), but rather, [seek out *wonder*](https://hatchanalytics.com/who-we-are/). She argues that '*in our quest to be happy all the time, we can fall victim to toxic positivity*.' And, one more to watch, [Simon Sinek](https://simonsinek.com) on why "leadership is a team sport." Echo's many of the sentiments I've previously mentioned in why it's important to have [a personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). ## Quotables 📚 [Lucas Puskaric](https://lucaspuskaric.com) had a great post over [on Threads:](https://www.threads.net/@lucaspuskaric/post/C5HzZh5skO4) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/04/CleanShot-2024-04-20-at-15.29.27@2x-1.png) And... the interesting evolution of swearing in Taylor Swift albums (posted by [Jon Hanshaw](https://henshaw.social/@jon/112313091526737189)).. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/04/d78c5b8297ae07c0.png) ## Articles Worth Reading / Link Rot 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share. It really is just a dump of things sitting in my "thats interesting" pile, that I threw some categories on for you to pick out what tickles your fancy. **Thinking 🤪** - [The Day I Learned to Break the Rules](https://mollysheets.com/2024/04/06/the-day-i-learned-to-break-the-rules/) **Leadership 😳** - [Leadership and the art of dancing alone](https://joanwestenberg.com/blog/leadership-and-the-art-of-dancing-alone) - [Top ten ways to promote good design in your organization](https://whydesignishard.substack.com/p/top-ten-ways-to-promote-good-design) - [Has Your Workload Gotten Out of Hand? This Stanford Professor May Know Why](https://katiecouric.com/lifestyle/workplace/effects-of-heavy-workload-on-employees) **Games 🎱** - [The New York Times Games Are More Popular Than Its News](https://80.lv/articles/the-new-york-times-games-are-more-popular-than-its-news/) - [15 Most Difficult Arcade Games Ever](https://www.denofgeek.com/games/most-difficult-arcade-games-ever/) **Tech 📟** - [The Tyranny of Content Algorithms](https://om.co/2024/04/07/tyranny-of-content-algorithms/) - [How Tech Giants Cut Corners to Harvest Data for A.I.](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/06/technology/tech-giants-harvest-data-artificial-intelligence.html) - [Substack Is Setting Writers Up For A Twitter-Style Implosion](https://homewiththearmadillo.blog/2024/04/02/substack-is-setting-writers-up-for-a-twitter-style-implosion/comment-page-1/#comments) - [AllTrails Proves Vital for Hikers of All Levels](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/style/alltrails.html) **Privacy 🕵🏻** - [What We Give Up](https://pxlnv.com/linklog/what-we-give-up/) - [Threads is the gas-leak social network](https://maxread.substack.com/p/threads-is-the-gas-leak-social-network) - [Why Corporations Fail to Protect Our Data](https://om.co/2024/03/31/why-corporations-fail-to-protect-our-data/) **Life 🫶🏻** - [How Taylor Swift changed the copyright game by remaking her own music](https://hls.harvard.edu/today/how-taylor-swift-changed-the-copyright-game-by-remaking-her-own-music/) - [Eating Like a Salmon Is Better Than Eating Actual Salmon, Study Finds](https://www.foodandwine.com/health-benefits-of-eating-wild-fish-8622761) - [A Map of Global Happiness By Country in 2024](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-map-of-global-happiness-by-country-in-2024/) - [Monkey Run](https://www.theadventurists.com/monkey-run/) - [Women at the Bottom of the World](https://apple.news/AjU6wvma2RnGhXYM-YVqWhA) - [Why do we do things that are bad for us? The ancient philosophers had an answer](https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/mar/21/why-we-do-things-bad-for-us-impulse-habits-akrasia) **Oddities 🤔** - [The Earthquake That Will Devastate the Pacific Northwest](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one) - [NYC Man Spent $200 for a Five-Year Stay at the New Yorker Hotel](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/24/nyregion/mickey-barreto-housing-fraud.html) - [Space organizations want the moon to have its own time zone](https://www.engadget.com/moon-own-time-zone-esa-113547009.html) - [The Science of Conspiracy Theories](https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-science-of-conspiracy-theories) - [How an Amateur Sleuth Found the Missing Clue That Could Finally Solve the D.B. Cooper Hijacking Mystery](https://apple.news/AHNqMK90rT52EKckmsYTzNw) ## Recommended 🎸 I can't get [Olivia Rodrigo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia%5FRodrigo) and [Noah Kahan](https://noahkahan.com)'s live performance of "[Stick Season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick%5FSeason%5F%28song%29)" out of my head. Enjoy. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Take an Adventure URL: https://makoism.com/adventure/ Last updated: 2024-04-24T02:14:38.000Z The other day, I learned about [The Explorers Club](https://www.explorers.org/), a unique professional society of approximately 3,500 explorers, scientists, and students that comprise 34 chapters around the world. Established in 1904, its alumni include some of the most famous adventurers and explorers throughout history, and has an exclusive list of members who have '*famous firsts*': - *First to the North Pole (1909) –* [*Robert E. Peary*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert%5FPeary) - *First to the South Pole (1911) –* [*Roald Amundsen*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald%5FAmundsen) - *First to the summit of Mt. Everest (1953) –* [*Sir Edmund Hillary*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund%5FHillary) *&* [*Tenzing Norgay*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenzing%5FNorgay) - *First to the deepest point in the ocean (1960) –* [*Don Walsh*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%5FWalsh) - *First to the surface of the Moon (1969) –* [*Neil Armstrong*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil%5FArmstrong) *&* [*Buzz Aldrin*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz%5FAldrin) I'm working my way through the book, "[As Told at the Explorers Club](https://bookshop.org/p/books/as-told-at-the-explorers-club-more-than-fifty-gripping-tales-of-adventure-george-plimpton/14226032?aid=99985&ean=9781493047444&listref=books-for-2024&)", reading about these various adventures, but just from the list you can see the caliber of its members. [It's headquarters in New York](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/explorers-club-headquarters), and I've added it to my list of places to try and visit if I'm lucky; and if you quality, [they are accepting applicants](https://www.explorers.org/join-us/). I'm not as adventurous as someone like [Ben Saunders](https://bensaunders.com/), who has [broken the record](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jBB5iibKy0) for the longest polar journey on foot, but my answer to the question of "*why go outside?*" has taken me scuba diving in the [Belizean Reef](https://www.belizeadventure.ca/destinations/belize-barrier-reef/), multiple visits to the top of [Mount Saint Helens](https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mount-st.-helens), on safari in [Phinda game reserve in South Africa](https://www.andbeyond.com/destinations/africa/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/phinda-private-game-reserve), and even as far as exploring [Kala Pattar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kala%5FPatthar) (18,200 ft) overlooking Everest base camp. Recently, I came across this lecture from Alastair Humphrey, [How to Live Adventurously Every Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIqpY%5F9Rj9s), which was a nice reminder on how the idea of **an adventure** doesn't *need* to take you to all parts of the world—there are plenty of exciting places to explore in your backyard (and in your own mind). It comes down to embracing a mindset to live adventurously **every day**. What I found interesting is that '**adventure as a mindset**' can also be a good guide for how to live life in general. It roots your thinking on how to go after big things by starting small—maximizing opportunities as they present themselves. It shows how to learn from failures and how to be vulnerable. It says that it's ok and to be willing to accept help, acknowledge weaknesses, and learn from failures. These are **strengths**, not *weaknesses*. Most importantly - it's how you embrace curiosity, step out of your comfort zone, and find **joy in the journey**. In a later retrospect, "[10500 Days (and almost as many words)](https://alastairhumphreys.com/10500-days-and-almost-as-many-words/)", Humphreys elaborates even further: > *The notion that it is always better to *look for the opportunities for adventure that are available rather than bemoaning the constraints and the problems*. You might not have enough time to cycle around the world, of course. So that then leaves you with two options: to either feel sorry for yourself and do nothing at all, or to try to squeeze in as much as you possibly can in the scraps of free time that you do have around the margins of your life. Or you might like the idea of rowing an ocean but don’t have the luxury of enough money for such a project. So again, *you can either do nothing except regret not being able to afford that grand adventure, or you can try to do what you can with what you have and do it now*.* So, what’s stopping you from your next adventure? Odds are - it's probably **you**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [subscribe to Club Mako ($1/mo)](https://makoism.com/#/portal) 📆, [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [the store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just [**share my work**](https://makoism.com/). If you'd rather just keep up with my ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss) or via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako). Your support is much appreciated! ## Exploration 🧭 I **loved** this post by [Jason Kottke](https://kottke.org), "[Don't Be the Best. Be the Only](https://kottke.org/24/03/dont-be-the-best-be-the-only)": > *You can't do thinkism, you can't figure your way there, you have to try and live it out. And that's why most people's remarkable lives are full of detours and dead ends and right turns because it's a very high bar. But if you can get there — you don't need a resume, there's no competition. And it's easy for you because you're doing it. You're not looking over your shoulder, you're just right there. *So don't aim to be the best. Be the only.** ## To Watch 📺 As a long-time fan of [Alan Moore's "Watchmen"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen), every so often, I get stuck thinking about "**Nothing Ever Ends**." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/03/EGsNeZmWwAAGgKh.jpeg) > *"There is no future. There is no past. Do you see? Time is simultaneous, an intricately structured jewel that humans insist on viewing one edge at a time, when the whole design is visible in every facet." — Dr. Manhattan, Watchmen* ## Quotables 📚 [Susan Kaye Quinn 🌱 (@susankayequinn@wandering.shop)Attached: 1 image What seeds are you planting? (there’s so much debate about attribution for this, I’m leaving it unattributed)![](https://wandering.shop/packs/media/icons/apple-touch-icon-180x180-a75559a0af48064c1b7c71b81f3bf7c6.png)The Wandering Shop![](https://stockroom.wandering.shop/media_attachments/files/112/151/120/376/813/770/original/649db367922d8ab4.jpg)](https://wandering.shop/@susankayequinn/112151124143034043) > *Life is a garden. Your thoughts and deeds are the seeds. What you harvest will either be flowers or weeds. It’s up to you. -* [*What are you planting in life?*](https://auntieannebeiler.com/what-are-you-planting-in-life/) ## Articles Worth Reading / Link Rot 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share. It really is just a dump of things sitting in my "thats interesting" pile, that I threw some categories on for you to pick out what tickles your fancy. **Thinking 🤪** - [How We Render Reality: Attention as an Instrument of Love](https://www.themarginalian.org/2023/05/10/iain-mcgilchrist-the-matter-with-things/) - [The creator economy trap: why building on someone else's platform is a dead end](https://joanwestenberg.com/blog/the-creator-economy-trap-why-building-on-someone-elses-platform-is-a-dead-end) - [Social, I love you, but you’re bringing me down](https://werd.io/2024/social-i-love-you-but-youre-bringing-me-down) - [Dear Tim, It's time to get lost in the music](https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/10/dear-tim-its-time-to-get-lost-in-the-music/) - [Make better documents.](https://www.anildash.com//2024/03/10/make-better-documents/) **Life 🫶🏻** - [The Skill You’ve Never Been Taught: How to Think Better](https://fs.blog/how-to-think/) - [The myth of the sheltered mind](https://lcamtuf.substack.com/p/the-myth-of-the-sheltered-mind) - [You Need a Reset Day](https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/health/need-reset-day) - [10 Genius Minimalist Packing Tips to Fit Your Entire Life in a Suitcase](https://westernrise.com/blogs/journal/10-genius-minimalist-packing-tips-to-fit-your-entire-life-in-a-suitcase) - [A Must-Do List](https://discombobulated.co.nz/2024/01/10/a-must-dos-list) - [Valuable Lesson for a Happier Life](https://motivationmentalist.com/2016/12/30/valuable-lesson-happier-life-jar-of-life/) **Leadership / Storytelling 📚** - [Building engineering](https://werd.io/2024/building-engineering) - [Velocity and possibility](https://seths.blog/2024/03/velocity-and-possibility/) - [Measuring Developer Productivity via Humans](https://martinfowler.com/articles/measuring-developer-productivity-humans.html) - [The Person Who Clears The Path Controls Its Direction](https://7takeaways.com/2735) - [Leadership requires taking some risk.](https://lethain.com/leadership-requires-risk/) - [How (in)efficient are engineering organizations?](https://newsletter.getdx.com/p/how-inefficient-are-engineering-organizations) **Huh. 👽** - [First woman completes one of world's toughest races](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-68643341) **Tech 📟** - [You Can't Succeed In Life Without This Skill](https://ryanholiday.net/you-cant-succeed-in-life-without-this-skill/) - [Why we crave healthier computing](https://arun.is/blog/healthy-computing/) - [The fediverse for media organizations](https://werd.io/2024/the-fediverse-for-media-organizations) - [Fifty Things you can do with a Software Defined Radio](https://blinry.org/50-things-with-sdr/) - [The Hand Made Web](https://dougald.substack.com/p/the-hand-made-web) **AI 🤖** - [Future Grandmasters of The Attention Game](https://www.staygrounded.online/p/future-grandmasters-of-the-attention) - [How Quickly Do Large Language Models Learn Unexpected Skills?](https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-quickly-do-large-language-models-learn-unexpected-skills-20240213/) - [The LLMentalist Effect: how chat-based Large Language Models replicate the mechanisms of a psychic’s con](https://softwarecrisis.dev/letters/llmentalist/) - [The AI Act is done. Here’s what will (and won’t) change](https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/03/19/1089919/the-ai-act-is-done-heres-what-will-and-wont-change/) - [Want to Know if AI Will Take Your Job? I Tried Using It to Replace Myself](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/jobs-chatgpt-artificial-intelligence-openai-cea961d5) - [Scientific Journals Are Publishing Papers With AI-Generated Text](https://www.404media.co/scientific-journals-are-publishing-papers-with-ai-generated-text/) - [AI news that's fit to print](https://www.zachseward.com/ai-news-thats-fit-to-print-sxsw-2024/) - [Which AI should I use? Superpowers and the State of Play](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/which-ai-should-i-use-superpowers) - [Any Technology Indistinguishable From Magic is Hiding Something](https://fromjason.xyz/p/notebook/any-technology-indistinguishable-from-magic-is-hiding-something/) **Oddities 🤔** - [What does the goo in Super Mario Bros. Wonder taste like? An investigation](https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/22/24108593/super-mario-bros-wonder-goo-taste-flavor) ## Recommended 🎸 YES! [Hans Zimmer is touring again in the US this fall](https://consequence.net/2024/03/hans-zimmer-2024-north-american-tour/). So happy to check off this bucket list concert! Be well. ✌🏻 ### One A Month Club URL: https://makoism.com/one-a-month-club/ Last updated: 2024-04-24T02:09:17.000Z Just a quick service announcement - In the spirit of [Jarrod Blundy's](https://jb.heydingus.net) "[One a Month Club](https://oneamonth.club)", I present - [**Club Mako**](https://makoism.com/#/portal). The idea is simple: while I've had a long standing "[buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism)" link, I've added a super easy, $1 a month membership option. All money collected will go towards just keeping this thing going: Fees for Ghost Pro, domain registration, and yes, coffee. I'm not offering anything extra except I may eventually add a "thank you" page to the supporters. I write for my own sanity, yet it's nice to [have coffee paid for now and again](https://sanjuans.life/users/mako/statuses/112088326162989187). [Subscribe Here](https://makoism.com/#/portal) If you choose to sign up: **thank you**! If you don't: **thank you** too! No pressure! ### Maximum Viscosity URL: https://makoism.com/maximum-viscosity/ Last updated: 2024-03-17T17:03:58.000Z I've been working on this post for a few weeks, pecking away at it whenever I've had a few spare moments. Yesterday, I commented that I need to get back into the daily writing habit, as I've noticed an increase in my stress without having that creative release of getting things off my mind. So, there may be more, shorter ramblings soon as I try to get back into the habit. Anyhow, a few weeks back, I was having a coffee club meeting with a few friends, and [Courtney Kissler](https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kissler-0930681) referred to the concept of [organizational viscosity](https://ryber.github.io/blog/2016/08/22/viscosity-vs-velocity/). > *Velocity is a largely meaningless "measurement". It's relative, it's based on estimation (which we are all horrible at), and it's subject to all kinds of external forces that impact teams.* > > *A much better thing to measure are the forces hampering our teams from delivering. *I like to think of this as viscosity*. In science, viscosity is a measurement for how fluid a liquid is. Water flows faster and easier than honey. Similarly, our teams will go as fast as they are capable of. The real issue is finding what is slowing them down.* Since then, I've been thinking a lot about this in both work and life settings and have been noodling on various ways to determine and fix significant bottlenecks in multiple areas of both work and life. I experimented with verbalizing it at a work meeting and also [threw out the idea to LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/smakofsky%5Five-been-spending-a-lot-of-time-lately-think-activity-7165000795963293697-uJ1R?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop) and it piqued some interest; so I figured I would write more about it here. As I started to verbalize this, I found it interesting that everyone I've talked to about this idea of viscosity is in a similar state of having an overwhelming consistent feeling of **swimming upstream**. So instead of noodling about more significant things like one's place in the universe (as I often wander to), I'll jot down a few things I've been thinking about '**the things that get in the way**' of viscosity in general — warning: your mileage may vary. According to our friend [Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viscosity), you will find one definition of viscosity as ***the property of resistance to flow***. As an exercise, I worked with a few folks to map out '*what gets in the way of flow*' with one of my teams - and, I'm sure anyone who works in a large organization discovers, there is a ton of manual processes/interactions/policies and checkpoints to get software from development to production. We came up with **almost 60** interactions (primarily manual) to ship something; in that case, the work then **becomes clear**: introduce systems or automation to cut back on manual work. Focusing on speed, counterintuitively, can also be a trap: increasing [velocity doesn't mean you're improving anything](https://lethain.com/friction-vs-velocity/) (and I'll save my rant on the [code quality of LLMs](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10403378) for another time). I'd suggest [other qualitative metrics](https://martinfowler.com/articles/measuring-developer-productivity-humans.html) for measuring productivity or quality. But for now, let's stay with this idea of flow and friction. [Bob Sutton's newest book](https://www.bobsutton.net/book/the-friction-project/), "[The Friction Project](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-friction-project-how-smart-leaders-make-the-right-things-easier-and-the-wrong-things-harder-without-driving-everyone-crazy-huggy-rao/19724851?aid=99985&ean=9781250284419&listref=books-for-2024)", offers to *'teach readers how to become *friction fixers*, so that teams and organizations don't squander the zeal, damage the health, and throttle the creativity and productivity of good people.*' It's a great read: > *Friction can be both bad and good: Not everything ought to be quick, easy, and frictionless. Activities that involve *good friction* include developing deep and trusting relationships, making complex and irreversible decisions under uncertainty, and doing creative work that's messy, inefficient, and failure-ridden (if you're doing it right!).* > > **Most suffer from addition sickness: the unnecessary rules, procedures, communications, tools, and roles that seem to inexorably grow, stifling productivity and creativity.** > > *The first step is to do a good-riddance review to *identify obstacles that can and should be removed*. The next step is to *employ subtraction tools to eliminate those*.* > > *Leaders often have a limited grasp of their 'cone of friction' — how their actions and decisions burden others. Part of the reason for such *friction blindness*, is that when people feel powerful, they tend to focus more on what they need and want and less on the challenges and inconveniences faced by others (especially people who are less powerful than they are).* That's where I'm landing right now as I explore this space: allow yourself the freedom to ***expand your cone of friction*** when trying to increase viscosity. [Marc Brooker's](https://brooker.co.za/blog/) post, '[Getting Big Things Done](https://brooker.co.za/blog/2020/10/19/big-changes.html)', has some great thinking around implementing new systems: > *\- Is it the right solution?* > *\- Is it the right problem?* > *\- Engage with the doubters, but don't let them get you down.* > *\- Meet the stakeholders where they are.* > *\*- Build a team to solve the problem. (this includes checking in with* [*your board of directors*](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/)*) \** > *\- *Be willing to adapt* \- You will learn, at some point into doing your big project, that your solution is *bullshit*. You completely misunderstood the problem. You may feel like this leaves you back at the beginning, where you started. It doesn't. Instead, you've stepped up your level of expertise. Most likely, you can adapt that carefully-considered solution to the new problem, but you might need to throw it out entirely. Again, write it down. Be specific. What have you learned, and what did it teach you? Look for things you can recover, and don't throw things out prematurely.* I'm not done with this idea of viscosity, but I'm enjoying the rabbit hole it's been taking me down. Just calling it out and bringing awareness to the current state of things and how they can be improved is the beginning of the groundwork to articulate a vision for change. While cultural transformation may be the critical part of the change, empowering people always fosters new ideas about where innovation can occur. At least, I feel more energized by the general idea of disrupting the status quo, mapping new courses, and setting the compass for something better than when you found it. More to come, for sure.... If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Shopping 🛍️ We all experience the same frustration: **too many meetings**. All too often, people want to gather when they could easily have covered the topic in an email. But wait - how many emails do you get a day? 100? 150? Email doesn't seem a plausible solution. Here's a new shirt to celebrate traversing a different path. [![a t-shirt that says "This meeting could have been an email I deleted"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/03/579125957d94da84.png)](https://cottonbureau.com/p/KMGZRX/shirt/meetings#/19961683/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s) Applicable for most meetings. [Buy one today!](https://cottonbureau.com/p/KMGZRX/shirt/meetings#/19961683/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s) ## Exploration 🧭 In the [Astronomy Picture of the Day](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220614.html), it's a sad view of what we've done to the night sky. "*Almost all the satellites you can see with your eyes now are Starlinks*" ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2024/03/StarTrailsPinnacles_Rozells_960_annotated.jpg) starlink everywhere ## To Watch 📺 ## Quotables 📚 > *“There is so much going on in conversation, on so many levels — physical,* > *sensory, psychological, emotional, even metaphysical. It is so complex* > *that it is amazing it works at all, and yet it does, in myriad ways.* > *Exchanging information is only part of it. Conversation generates* > *kaleidoscopic patterns that serve many purposes: we use it to think (and* > *feel) together; develop relationships; play around; discover and learn;* > *challenge authority; test and flesh out ideas; build worlds and forge* > *identities. It goes to the heart of who we are. Conversation allows us to* > *bridge the unfathomable gap between one experience of being human and* > *another.”* > — "[Do Conversation](https://bookshop.org/p/books/do-conversation/20271537?aid=99985&ean=9781914168277&listref=books-for-2024) — **There is no such thing as small talk**" by Robert Poynton ## Articles Worth Reading / Link Rot 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share. Since it's been a bit, I'm going to just do a dump of things sitting in my "thats interesting" pile, throw some categories on and let you pick out what tickles your fancy. **Thinking 🤪** - [The State of the Culture, 2024](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-state-of-the-culture-2024) **Huh. 👽** - [All of U.S. History Has Taken Place in One Plutonian Year](https://kottke.org/24/02/all-of-us-history-has-taken-place-in-one-plutonian-year) - [The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping: A Grisly Theory and a Renewed Debate](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/nyregion/charles-lindbergh-baby.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.ck0.ylML.oILwtlhlMdSP&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) **Games 🎱** - [The Times’ New Word-Search Game Is Genius](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/strands-word-search-game/677656/) (side note: I'm totally addicted to [Strands](https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands) now). **Tech 📟** - [On quality software](http://thejollyteapot.com/2024/03/9/on-quality-software) - [Tech has graduated from the Star Trek era to the Douglas Adams age](https://interconnected.org/home/2024/02/21/adams) - [ASCII Theater](https://ascii.theater/) - [We’ve Forgotten How to Use Computers](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/computer-mouse-evolution-trackpad/677228/) - [Enshittification as Overproduction in Software, Part 1: Seeing Overproduction](https://medium.com/@ElizAyer/enshittification-as-overproduction-in-software-part-1-seeing-overproduction-7f175bca7724) - [Kara Swisher: How Silicon Valley Tech Bros Ruined Media](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/kara-swisher-burn-book-excerpt-silicon-valley-media.html) **Privacy 🕵🏻** - [How the Pentagon Learned to Use Targeted Ads to Find Its Targets—and Vladimir Putin](https://www.wired.com/story/how-pentagon-learned-targeted-ads-to-find-targets-and-vladimir-putin/) - [Dozens of data brokers disclose selling reproductive healthcare info, precise geolocation and data belonging to minors](https://therecord.media/dozens-of-data-brokers-disclose-selling-info-on-kids-geolocation-data-reproductive-health) - [They thought they were doing good but it made people worse: why mental health apps are under scrutiny](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/04/they-thought-they-were-doing-good-but-it-made-people-worse-why-mental-health-apps-are-under-scrutiny) **Life 🫶🏻** - [When It’s Not Fun Anymore](https://schwarztech.net/articles/when-its-not-fun-anymore) - [A unified theory of fucks](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/unified-theory-of------) - [Five Ways to Make the World a Better Place](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/03/dalai-lama-wisdom-good-life-happiness/677653/) - [Getting Unstuck After an Unexpected Life Change](https://tinybuddha.com/blog/getting-unstuck-after-an-unexpected-life-change/) - [The best self-help book advice distilled to 11 simple rules](https://mashable.com/article/best-self-help-book-advice) - [Neatnik Notes and The power to *not*](https://notes.neatnik.net/2024/01/the-power-to-not) - [Just Do What You're Excited About](https://www.robotfan.club/p/just-do-what-youre-excited-about) - [Navigating ambiguity.](https://lethain.com/navigating-ambiguity/) - [Social, I love you, but you’re bringing me down](https://werd.io/2024/social-i-love-you-but-youre-bringing-me-down) - [The Good Luck of Your Bad Luck: Marcus Aurelius on the Stoic Strategy for Weathering Life’s Waves and Turning Suffering into Strength](https://www.themarginalian.org/2021/09/19/marcus-aurelius-luck/) - [Creative writing can improve your overall wellness and mental health, research shows](https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/creative-writing-can-improve-your-overall-wellness-and-mental-health-research-shows-221196) **Oddities 🤔** - [Eight Friends Built a Secret Apartment in a Mall and Hid There Undetected for Years](https://apple.news/ArG9EvLO3QvSglxh2rEMrng) - [A mountain of used clothes appeared in Chile’s desert. Then it went up in flames.](https://grist.org/international/burn-after-wearing-fashion-waste-chile/) - [The Pandemic’s ‘Ghost Architecture’ Is Still Haunting Us](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/02/pandemic-signs-social-distancing-still-here/677600/) ## Recommended 🎸 I'm a bit late with this one, but I've really been enjoying Billy Joel's latest, [Turn the Lights Back On](https://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joel-releases-new-music-video-for-turn-the-lights-back-on/). A compelling use of Generative AI (from [Deep Voodoo](https://www.deepvoodoo.com)) for rendering him at various points of his epic career. Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Curse of Meh URL: https://makoism.com/the-curse-of-meh/ Last updated: 2024-01-27T23:55:40.000Z [Hello, friend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCKDrDvaOKE). I know, I know... it's been a minute since I've had a proper entry after my end-of-the-year "[Things I Like](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2023/)" post. I'm still figuring out what I want to reshape my little corner of the internet into. My initial intent with [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) was to share a few links and ideas; it has organically morphed back into a proper newsletter/blog. While I aim to keep these together, I still need to figure out what shape they should take. Should it be one blast? Separate chains of thought? A unique area for a small group of subscribers with additional content? I want to keep this fun and exciting, so we'll see where we end up. You may also notice that I've started to set up a few new areas on the site: [favorite book lists](https://bookshop.org/shop/makoism), a [now page](https://makoism.com/now/), [a gear shop](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky), and other random stuff. I'm going to continue to play. Shifting gears a bit, I wanted to put onto paper a few thoughts rattling around my skull lately around "*The Curse of Meh*" or, more precisely **mediocrity brews mediocrity** — the fate of being just, well, average. When starting my career, one of the most powerful things I learned early on was in order to drive strong performance is to **expect excellence**. I'm not implying that soul-crushing-endless-work type of crap that brews the bullshit around "[10x Engineers](https://www.simplethread.com/the-10x-programmer-myth/)". It's not about crazy micromanagement or pressuring people on a [death march crunch mode](https://www.pluralsight.com/blog/career/survive-a-death-march). Instead, it's about focusing on **not settling**. [Tim Ferris](https://tim.blog) talks about this in [The Four Hour Workweek](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-4-hour-workweek-escape-9-5-live-anywhere-and-join-the-new-rich-with-earbuds-timothy-ferriss/15562907?aid=99985&ean=9780307465351&listref=books-for-2024&): > *Doing less meaningless work, so that you can focus on things of greater importance, is NOT laziness.* > > *This is hard for most to accept because our culture rewards *personal sacrifice* instead of *personal productivity*.* > > *Let's define "laziness" anew-to endure a non-ideal existence, to let circumstance or others decide life for you, or to amass a fortune while passing through life like a spectator from an office window. The size of your bank account doesn't change this, nor does the number of hours you log in handling unimportant e-mails or minutiae.* > > *Focus on being productive instead of busy.* And often, it's not even about perfection (as there is no perfection in life), crushing a particular goal, or even something attainable. **But the effort is excellent**. Things are "[ambitious but attainable](https://www.lifehack.org/316003/this-what-will-happen-when-you-set-ambitious-and-realistic-goals)". And more often than not, it boils down to accountability. The other day, someone in my [board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) said I've lowered my expectations for excellence in some areas. "*Two years ago, you called out if someone was an hour late. Today, they are 20 minutes late.*" Instead of pushing to "be on time," I've lowered my expectations to "well, it's not as bad as it used to be." Harsh and honest feedback. The type you need from your [board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). So, that's where I have chosen to spend a ton of time heading into 2024 - to stop rewarding mediocrity. Ensuring that I am providing clear instructions and expectations and making sure people understand. It's not easy either, as accountability is something many people need help with. You have to look inwards - mediocrity can often be a sign of poor leadership, not necessarily a bad team. *You get what you settle for*. You have to engage your team. It would help if you asked questions in 1:1's like: - *What do you need to be successful?* - *Help me understand what's going on.* - *Is there anything I can do better to help you?* These can go a long way to comprehending a situation where someone isn't pulling their weight. But in the end, you need to set high standards. I'm going to wrap this one up with a clip from [Will Guidara](https://www.instagram.com/wguidara), author of the book [Unreasonable Hospitality](https://bookshop.org/p/books/unreasonable-hospitality-the-remarkable-power-of-giving-people-more-than-they-expect-will-guidara/17927785?aid=99985&ean=9780593418574&listref=books-for-2024&), which is a fascinating story about **excellence** and **mindful caring** — a wonderful example of going beyond mediocre. This story starts with **a hot dog**; and is the inspiration for a scene in my favorite new watch, [The Bear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FKLsZVMbu8U). For reference, the episode is in Season 2, Episode 7, also known as "Forks": If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Exploration 🧭 Someone finally kill-screened Tetris. Fascinating watch! ## Quotables 📚 > Quality of life is 10% about what happens to you, and 90% about how you choose to respond. > \- [Mijndert (mijndert)](https://toot.community/@mijndert/111821719230768120) ## Articles Worth Reading 🧠 Here are a few random findings that I thought would be interesting to share: - When I was younger, my enthusiasm for technology burned bright, and, if I'm being honest, so much of that has been erased over the years with the demolition of privacy, the onslaught of rinse/repeat, and the lack of fresh ideas. [**Do What You're Excited About**](https://www.robotfan.club/p/just-do-what-youre-excited-about) was a nice kick-in-the-pants for a few sources for inspiration on how to reignite passion once again, and how to be **inspired by excitement**. - It's an artifact of getting older/wiser, but I always find these posts valuable in helping me re-examine a few things. [**The friendship problem**](https://rojospinks.substack.com/p/the-friendship-problem) was a thoughtful look at a feeling that the 'presence of friendship' was dwindling in the author's life and how '*modern loneliness masks itself as *hyper-connectivity*'*. Another downside to social media is constant scrolling. '*We are so burned out by our data-heavy, screen-based, supposedly friction-free lives that we no longer have the time or energy to engage in the kind of small, unfabulous, mundane, place-based friendships or acquaintance-ships that have nourished and sustained humans for literal centuries*.' - I've often enjoyed [NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series](https://www.npr.org/series/820178308/tiny-desk-home-concerts), but was entertained by [**Fred again..: Tiny Desk Concert**](https://youtube.com/watch?v=4iQmPv%5FdTI0). [Fred again..](https://www.fredagain.com) 's artistry is best known for his electronic DJ performances. Still, he has collaborated with other singers, such as Demi Lovato and Ed Sheeran, and has recently been nominated for [Best New Artist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best%5FNew%5FArtist). Check out a unique performance. - If you purposely carved time out, how would you invest [**Those five spare hours each week**](https://lethain.com/five-spare-hours/)? While the post talks about career building, I think this is a purposeful exercise for anyone, especially when the investment is in how you [want to live your life and spend each day (Life 2.0)](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/). - In [**How to Thrive as a GPM at Microsoft**](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/how-to-thrive-as-a-gpm-at-microsoft), offers some specifics about what makes a successful Group Program Manager. Still, I found his advice valuable for anyone who wants to be in a leadership position. I've been thinking a lot about **fire starters** lately, and his comments on being a change agent and finding your superpower are right on point. - Not cool as [**OpenAI Quietly Deletes Ban on Using ChatGPT for “Military and Warfare”**](https://theintercept.com/2024/01/12/open-ai-military-ban-chatgpt/). When will people realize/understand that GPT is **not artificial intelligence**? - Today I learned about [**The Hidden World of Undersea Cables**](https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-hidden-world-of-undersea-cables). Wild stuff. - In [**Game Thinking, Explained**](https://amyjokim.medium.com/game-thinking-explained-fa6da3e8debb), read about '*art and science of engaging customers on a compelling path to mastery*.' The **core learning loop** is solid advice for anyone, not just game builders, to consider when building compelling products. - [**This Year, Let Go Of The People Who Aren’t Ready To Love You**](https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2023/01/next-year-let-go-of-the-people-who-arent-ready-to-love-you/) is a brave post on just **stopping** so you can start. '*Stop having hard conversations with people who don't want to change. Stop showing up for people who are indifferent about your presence. Stop prioritizing people who make you an option.*' Minimalism. - I love the phrase, [**Rust Never Sleeps**](https://books.worksinprogress.co/book/maintenance-of-everything/vehicles/digression-3-corrosion-rust-never-sleeps/3). And while the post dives into the various forms of corrosion that occur in metal, the Statue of Liberty restoration project when I re-read the article I kept *thinking about the 'rust' in our own lives*. It's a powerful metaphor. - I need to learn how to describe the essay, [**Qualities of Life**](https://erinkissane.com/qualities-of-life). It partially talks about the '*influence of our networks from our societies'*, but deeper down it's really about having better tools in our hands—a really good thinking piece. - A comparison to the crypto industry to [**The Bond villain compliance strategy**](https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/bond-villain-compliance-strategy/). But I loved the framing and how it applies to so many (politics, work empires, etc.): '*He has long been adjacent to money and power but craves more. Several years ago, he escaped his low-on-the-ladder job at an existing institution. He built a base of power that is independent of institutions. From it, he successfully puppets any organization he needs to. He and his organization are from elsewhere, everywhere, all at once. They have no passports and fly no flags; these concepts are thoroughly beneath them. They move around frequently and are always where the plot requires them to be, exactly when it requires them to be there. No law constrains them. Governments scarcely exist in their universe. To the limited extent they come to any government's attention, no effective action is taken. The villain rises to the heights of influence and power.*' ## Recommended 🎸 [Pass the Aux | Elton John and Brandi CarlileElton John and Brandi Carlile reflect on their early musical influences, the tracks that have left a lasting impact, and the personal significance of their new collaboration in this episode of “Pass the Aux”![](https://cdn.pitchfork.com/assets/misc/favicon-152-v2.png)PitchforkPitchfork TV![](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/61797c50810f6b59bb2544a5/2:1/w_790/Pass-the-Aux.png)](https://pitchfork.com/tv/pass-the-aux/elton-john-and-brandi-carlile/) Be well. ✌🏻 ### When to Fold 'Em URL: https://makoism.com/when-to-fold/ Last updated: 2023-12-31T04:19:00.000Z ## What's On My Mind Right Now What's this! A quick end-of-year note. :) As we exit the year, I'm declaring **link bankruptcy**. I've dumped all the other interesting links I couldn't get to write about this year below for your reading pleasure so I can start 2024 with my 'queue' empty. Something in there may inspire you. I want to leave you with one of the best motivational videos I've seen this year. From the 2012 Bennington College graduation, actor [Peter Dinklage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter%5FDinklage), who graduated from there, speaks about '**Failing Better**': > *Now I tell the story, because the world might say you are not allowed to yet. *I waited a long time out in the world before I gave myself permission to fail. Please, don’t even bother asking, don’t bother telling the world you are ready*. Show it. Do it.* > > *What did Beckett say? 'Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.'* If you can, [watch the whole thing here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuEfEv0OlsY). If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Articles Worth Reading 🧠 50 or so random things I didn't get to summarizing this year: - [**Is Your Inner Voice a Voice?**](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rich-encounters/202312/is-your-inner-voice-a-voice) - [**An Exhausting Year in (and Out of) the Office**](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2023-in-review/an-exhausting-year-in-and-out-of-the-office) - [**So You Just Found Out Amazon Is Greedy**](https://joe-steel.com/2023-12-27-So-You-Just-Found-Out-Amazon-Is-Greedy.html) - [**5 Things Introverts and Sensitive People Can Do When They Feel Emotionally Flooded**](https://introvertdear.com/news/5-things-introverts-and-sensitive-people-can-do-when-they-feel-emotionally-flooded/) - [**Second Chances**](https://om.co/2023/12/28/second-chances/) - [**Feeling is Human**](https://doc.searls.com/2023/12/18/feeling-is-human/) - [**The Magic of a Good Opening**](https://www.priyaparker.com/art-of-gathering-newsletter/first-five-minutes) - [**Just How Formulaic Are Hallmark and Lifetime Holiday Movies? We (Over)analyzed 424 of Them.**](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/23/upshot/hallmark-lifetime-christmas.html) - [**Getting Tangled Up in Threads**](https://wedistribute.org/2023/12/tangled-up-threads/) - [**A year in illustration, 2023 edition**](https://doctorow.medium.com/a-year-in-illustration-2023-edition-e212037eb401?source=rss-eba9888d741b------2) - [**The Pragmatic Engineer in 2023**](https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/the-pragmatic-engineer-in-2023) - [**Three Insights to Help You Build Bridges Across Differences**](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three%5Finsights%5Fto%5Fhelp%5Fyou%5Fbuild%5Fbridges%5Facross%5Fdifferences) - [**Reporting on Long Covid Taught Me to Be a Better Journalist**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/long-covid-reporting-lessons.html) - [**walk and talk**](https://sive.rs/wt) - [**Qualities of Life**](https://erinkissane.com/qualities-of-life) - [**Everything is Bullshit (EP.161)**](https://www.infiniteloopspodcast.com/david-pinsof-everything-is-bullshit-ep161/) - [**The Truth About Remote Work & Team Dynamics**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxMArXwZjh4&si=4D0ShLw3GR8xz5xU) - [**Massachusetts man’s deathbed confession rattles family after decades on the run: ‘It wasn't a weird dad joke’**](https://www.foxnews.com/us/massachusetts-mans-deathbed-confession-rattles-family-decades-run-wasnt-weird-dad-joke) - [**Some DNA ancestry services akin to 'genetic astrology'**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21687013) - [**Managing Up and Managing Down**](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/managing-up-and-managing-down) - [**One a Month – Manu**](https://manuelmoreale.com/@/page/FzQB8gwtyZXZ2yq3) - [**if writing changes me, let it change me for the better**](https://lili.bearblog.dev/if-writing-changes-me-let-it-change-me-for-the-better/) - [**My Words When I Am Gone**](https://www.gr36.com/2023/12/06/my-words-when.html) - [**Nostalgia is a curse in life and tech.**](https://om.co/2023/11/30/nostalgia-is-a-curse-in-life-and-tech/) - [**The perfect drawing tool**](https://ralphammer.com/the-perfect-drawing-tool/) - [**Neil Gaiman's Radical Vision for the Future of the Internet**](https://calnewport.com/neil-gaimans-radical-vision-for-the-future-of-the-internet/) - [**He Wanted Privacy. His College Gave Him None – The Markup**](https://themarkup.org/machine-learning/2023/11/30/he-wanted-privacy-his-college-gave-him-none) - [**Building Ask Paul**](https://paul.kinlan.me/building-ask-paul/) - [**Digital clutter**](https://paulstamatiou.com/digital-clutter/) - [**Standing on the shoulders of giants: Colm on constant work**](https://allthingsdistributed.com/2023/11/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-colm-on-constant-work.html) - [**Google Researchers’ Attack Prompts ChatGPT to Reveal Its Training Data**](https://www.404media.co/google-researchers-attack-convinces-chatgpt-to-reveal-its-training-data/) - [**Hurkle-durkle**](https://www.haggardhawks.com/post/hurkle-durkle) - [**Stoicism in the Gioia Family**](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/stoicism-in-the-gioia-family) - [**Getting The Right Things Done**](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/getting-the-right-things-done) - [**Bruce Lee on Death and What It Takes to Be an Artist of Life**](https://www.themarginalian.org/2020/10/16/bruce-lee-death-artist-of-life/) - [**Hot take: It’s okay if we don’t consume all of the world’s information before we die**](https://gkeenan.co/avgb/hot-take-its-okay-if-we-dont-consume-all-of-the-worlds-information-before-we-die) - [**What punch cards teach us about AI risk**](https://bcantrill.dtrace.org/2023/11/26/what-punch-cards-teach-us-about-ai-risk/) - [**The Bond villain compliance strategy**](https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/bond-villain-compliance-strategy/) - [**Keep The Talent Funnel Wide (Part 2)**](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/keep-the-talent-funnel-wide-part) - [**why i think slow and embrace asynchronous work**](https://mgx.me/why-i-think-slow-and-embrace-asynchronous-work/) - [**This Is How To Make Emotionally Intelligent Friendships: 8 Secrets**](http://bakadesuyo.com/2023/11/listening/?utm%5Fsource=rss&utm%5Fmedium=rss&utm%5Fcampaign=listening) - [**The Future of My Computing**](https://pimoore.ca/2021/09/12/the-future-of.html) - [**The Red Queen Fallacy**](https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-red-queen-fallacy) - [**Befouling the Final Frontier**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/magazine/commercial-satellites-space-junk.html) - [**Doing Less, Extraordinarily Well**](https://medium.com/ellemeno/the-art-of-delayed-gratification-in-search-of-excellence-70dec9b4a760) - [**There's a Strange Cardiovascular Response When People Listen to Classical Music Together**](https://www.sciencealert.com/theres-a-strange-cardiovascular-response-when-people-listen-to-classical-music-together) - [**The Gravitational Pull Of Business As Usual**](https://paulitaylor.com/2023/09/05/the-gravitational-pull-of-business-as-usual/) - [**Narrative Awareness**](https://medium.com/@scotwheeler/narrative-awareness-240e50c75c4d) - [**This Is How To Overcome Fear: 4 Secrets From Research - Barking Up The Wrong Tree**](http://bakadesuyo.com/2023/10/overcome-fear/?utm%5Fsource=rss&utm%5Fmedium=rss&utm%5Fcampaign=overcome-fear) - [**End of a Journalism Experiment**](https://newscollab.org/2023/10/27/end-of-a-journalism-experiment/) ## Recommended 🎸 Take some time off, **highly recommended**. :) Be well. ✌🏻 ### Mako "Things I Like": 2023 URL: https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2023/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:16:29.000Z This is the 9th annual (see: [2022](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/)|[2021](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/)|[2020](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/)|[2019](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/), etc.) big ass post (and dare I say, tradition?) to keep track of and share out all the random things, apps, processes, mental trauma, musings, etc. that I have found helpful throughout the year. Think of it as my own "*personal yearly review*" with links and tips for the things I surround myself with as part of an ongoing attempt to shift my critical thinking, maximize my daily workflow, put me in the zone, and, most importantly, elicit happiness in this chaotic world. More importantly, doing these annual reviews helps me reflect on the year. Like most people, I get consumed by the day-to-day things and find it a worthwhile exercise to step back, even if it's once a year, and look at things from a 50,000ft perspective. It's a way for me to glance at the larger picture of where I've spent time and energy and provide insight on crafting a plan for the following year. Note: I recognize how many links to articles, tools, and thinking I have in this post. **It's a lot**. My advice in consuming this one is to take it in chunks. Read. Re-Read. Re-Visit. See what works or resonates, or determine if it's just nonsense. Your mileage may vary. :) As always, if you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or **share my work**. If you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is always appreciated! ## 2023 Reflection In December of 2022, I wrote about **shifting focus** as a theme heading into the following year. > *Instead of focusing on what I can’t do, I’m trying hard to shift my goals into things I can: taking long walks, stationary cycling, and shorter runs. Moving from “I can no longer” to “I get to” is a critical mind shift to embrace.* If I’m going to be honest with myself and whomever is reading this - **old habits die hard**. A year later, I find myself wandering in those familiar places as I was 12 months ago, falling back onto old habits, wrestling the demons in my brain that nag at me about not being able to do the things I used to do. It’s hard to get past these things sometimes. Perhaps writing more about it and admitting to the struggle is a way to help get past them rather than ignore it. One first for me in 2023 is that I finally won the Covid lottery. Surprisingly, I managed to go up until this July without catching it. While Covid was okay for me, post-Covid has been much more complicated. I'm unsure I can use "long covid," but things have been off since. I can't work out like I used to; I have a raspiness to my voice; I have a persistent cough. Etc. Things just have been different since. Allowing oneself time for reflection, though, is essential. I have made a very conscious effort this past year to spend more time talking with people and, more importantly, *listening to people* as I [try to be more of the person I needed to be when I was younger](https://makoism.com/the-person/). > *Similar to craftspeople and their expertise in approaching challenges, experienced gardeners know to nourish the soil, not the crop. Healthy soil equals healthy plants. -*[*The Refined Mind*](https://refinedmind.co/a-knowledge-worker-s-toolkit-needs-to-be-well-rounded) I've been thinking more about the next five years and how I want to spend the day. What is my role? One of my more humorous conversations with my wife is that she can't describe what I do when asked. I've been thinking a lot about articulating what I'm growing towards. Recently, I came across two articles describing the idea of a **humanist technologist**, which resonates. [Robin Berjon](https://berjon.com/chimeralogist/) writes: > *Technology isn’t just code and engineering, it’s the complex interplay of engineered systems, people, and institutional arrangements. This isn’t to say that vertical experts don’t understand their aspect of technology. We absolutely need experts who focus exclusively on product, on engineering, on policy — those demand high-quality, dedicated specialists — but we also need people — I’ve taken to calling them technologists — whose expertise cuts across those three domains.* > > **Someone needs to put the pieces together*.* > > *Someone needs to navigate the digital world (for a business, a project, any institution) without blind deference to vertical experts, and without monkeying dumb Silicon Valley tropes or giving credence to breathless LinkedIn thoughtleadering. Someone needs to see the full set of options that is available to reach a goal, and that requires playing across these domains.* And [Ben Werdmuller](https://werd.io/2023/being-a-humanist-technologist) captured the same feelings I had: > **Humanist**: someone who is motivated to improve personal and social conditions. > > **Technologist**: a generalist whose expertise spans engineering, product, and policy, who can use multidisciplinary skills in order to help organizations to navigate technology issues and build a strategy > > **A humanist technologist**, then, is someone who uses multidisciplinary skills to help organizations use or understand technology in order to improve personal and social conditions. These ideas about how to technology is used/applied towards humanity, what it means to me and how I want to approach it as I get older and as technology advances. Feels like the right spot to lens in on. [Doc Searls wrote](https://doc.searls.com/2023/12/18/feeling-is-human/): > *No AI will ever feel anything. There is no “next level” where it will feel in a human way—or at all—because AIs are machines and the human stuff they do is all emulation. That emulation can do superhuman stuff. But that doesn’t make them human. It makes them uncanny. And useful. (Hell, I’ve quickly come to rely on AI for lots of stuff, every day. It’s extremely handy and often fun.)* > > *All that uncanny stuff is emulation. Pattern matching. Way-cool parroting. Even when it can beat a human at Go or recite pi to trillions of digits, a machine is still just a machine. It ought to be good at stuff machines are better at than humans. Feeling isn’t one of them.* And that, sums up what I've been thinking about a lot as we wrap up 2023 — being more of a **humanist technologist**. More human-focused technology is what more of the world needs right now. And, most importantly, *what I need to be doing right now*. Wrapping this up with one last piece of unsolicited advice: > *Being tired is not a badge of honor. It doesn't make you more worthy, *it just means you're tired*. -* [*botsin*](https://botsin.space/@selfcare/111592379230271130) Be well, friends. ✌🏻 ## 2024 Mantra Over the last several years, I have attempted to cast forward a 'mantra,' a theme around how I thought about life, work, and the world as I entered the following year. It certainly isn’t a ‘resolution’ - *I hate those* \- more of [a personal mission statement](https://makoism.com/personal-mission-statement/) that I could refer back to when I lose my way. Looking back: - 2022: **I take one step, then another, then another.** - 2023: **One year is 365 possibilities: make progress.** For 2024, I’ve been leaning on: **Do the little things well, and don’t tackle *all* the things. The big things will fall into place naturally.** ## 2023 Review of The Makoism Newsletter [Back in early 2020](https://www.makoism.com/p/deep-links-3d50734208f3), I restarted my old blog (the artist formerly known as "[The Furrygoat Experience](https://web.archive.org/web/20220000000000%2A/http://furrygoat.com)") as a way to keep a few peers, friends, and colleagues, engaging on content that I had discovered online weekly. Several hundred posts later, the results have consistently surprised me with what resonates, but they have been incredibly encouraging. There are about 650 'subscribers' (and you can always follow via [RSS](https://makoism.com/rss)) that I consistently see 65-70% reading my random ramblings on leadership, storytelling, life, and humor. **THANK YOU**. [Makoism.com](https://makoism.com/) has been incredibly rewarding for my mental health - a bit of self-therapy, if you will - continuing the daily practice of reading and writing. The connections I've been strengthening from the simple approach of **putting it out there**, talking bluntly, and focusing on things that I found interesting have been enriching. I am always happy to connect (here's a [link on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/)), so feel free to reach out! And if someone forwarded this to you, subscribe (free!) to get [my posts on this weekly](https://makoism.com/). Here is a list of the top editions in case you missed them: - "[Manage the Moments](https://makoism.com/manage-the-moments/)" - "[The Magic Roundabout](https://makoism.com/magicroundabout/)" - "[A Little Kindness](https://makoism.com/kindness/)" - "[All Those Empty Calories](https://makoism.com/consuming-empty-calories/)" - "[Inefficiency Multipliers](https://makoism.com/inefficiency-multipliers/)" I've also found it amusing the [tremendous response to the shirts](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) that I've been making. ### The Gear Shop Continuing on the same theme, a new area I played around with when I had some time was opening up [an online shop](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) for various t-shirts that I found amusing or inspiring. The folks at Cotton Bureau have been great, producing high-quality shirts and sweatshirts. I wish I could get some hats or coffee mugs going next. This year had two clear favorites across the various slogans: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/12/1688264057953.jpeg) own it! - "[**Own Your Shit**](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)" was the publics clear winner. - A close second was a simple design which was a call against saying yes to all the ‘things’.“[**Nope**](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s).” ## **New big ideas:** There’s been a few new “big ideas” that I’m starting to work on, or think about, as part of my general day to day workflow. I’m not really sure how these are going to work out in 2024, but I always find it useful to try and shake things up to see what sticks. ### **Inbox Allow List** [Omar](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@omar/111349480081885575) mentioned this idea back in November and I was instantly a fan: The inbox “allow” list. [Omar Shahine :verified: (@omar@social.seattle.wa.us)I am a zero inbox person and have been for two decades. However, when I became a Director of PM the volume of e-mail just broke me. It was more than any human could read. So, I took a brave step and built an “allow list inbox”. The only emails that go into my inbox are emails where I am on the To line OR emails from a highly curated list of senders. That’s it. I don’t read anything else. I spend about 2 hours a day on email. I’ve been doing this for 4 years. Does anyone else do this?![](https://social.seattle.wa.us/packs/media/icons/apple-touch-icon-180x180-a75559a0af48064c1b7c71b81f3bf7c6.png)Seattle Social](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@omar/111349480081885575) The idea is simple: create rules that only permits email to go to your inbox where you are on the TO line, OR if it’s from a highly curated list of senders. **That’s it.** This has cut down the noise ratio for me in ways that Inbox Zero never could. Huge fan. ### **Orion** [MacStories](https://www.macstories.net/stories/macstories-selects-2023-recognizing-the-best-apps-of-the-year/) just named [Orion](https://orion.tube/) one of their best apps of the year, and I have to admit, I’m pretty surprised how often this simple app has come in handy this year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-10-18-at-10.42.44-AM.jpg) Orion TV The idea is simple: It turns your iPad Pro, Mini, etc., into [an external HDMI monitor](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/20/orion-app-ipad-hdmi-display/). While folks have done some pretty creative things with it, like making it a [monitor for portable gaming consoles](https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/20/23882461/orion-video-system-app-ipad-os-uvc-hdmi-monitor), my use case has been pretty simple: setting up various Raspberry Pi’s or Mac Mini’s in my home lab. HDMI out from the computer to a small HDMI dongle on the iPad, and you’re off. Now, I can get rid of a few of those legacy HDMI monitors I had sitting around in case I needed to set something up. ### Personal AI Last year, I wrote [several posts](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/) about the evolution of [Focus Mode](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212608) on the Mac and iOS and how I could apply this towards [**Contextual Computing**](https://www.cio.com/article/228160/5-things-to-know-about-contextual-computing.html). To summarize, the idea behind contextual computing isn't new: > *it's used to refer to the use of computer technology to *collect and analyze data about its surroundings*. The idea is to create devices aware of their surroundings and can analyze the data to develop exciting new use cases.* But integrating your surroundings and current "context" for your actions is becoming more natural with the sensors in phones and (in my case) the Apple Watch. As this year involved an unexpected detour into the wild west of Large Language Models (LLMs) and [the bubble of AI](https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/), I've been revisiting my thinking around this for 2024, with a focus the evolution of [contextual computing](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/)augmented with the idea of "personal AI"\*\*. First, let's state that the current state is definitely in the hype bubble. [Cory Doctorow](https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/) has an excellent piece on this: > *Tech bubbles come in two varieties: The ones that leave something behind, and the ones that leave nothing behind.* > > *Fooling around feeding prompts to an image genera­tor or a large language model can be fun, and playful communities have sprung up around these subsidized, free-to-use tools (less savory communities have also come together to produce nonconsensual pornography, fraud materials, and hoaxes).* And, take note of the best advice: > *I've had to make rule for my events: The first person to mention AI owes everyone else a drink.* Today, a lot of these LLMs run on [expensive cloud computing infrastructure](https://www.encora.com/insights/the-economics-of-llms), with no knowledge of *you* (or even worse, inaccurate knowledge of you), but I'd be willing to bet that we see smaller versions of them **running on your phone** before 2024 is finished. Without diving too far down the technology rabbit hole, using a straightforward [augmentation pattern](https://research.ibm.com/blog/retrieval-augmented-generation-RAG) on top of your data: photos, contacts, email, documents, notes, etc., feels like the next place these LLMs go towards. When I talk about AI, I often say, "**generative AI knows everything and understands nothing**," and that they are "**master storytellers**." And that's the goal of an LLM - to use deep learning to train models to process data to create responses that resemble natural, human-like responses. **They are giant calculators for generating human language text.** Augmenting them on top of **your** data (and Apple can easily do this in a privacy-friendly way in the secure enclave) is the next logical step that these models will need to venture into in order to provide a more intelligent AI for *you*. Imagine a Siri that actually seems intelligent. It's [already starting to happen](https://spectrum.ieee.org/personal-ai-assistant): > *The new Apple Watch uses a transformer-based AI model to make Siri available offline. Samsung has plans to bake NPUs into its new home-appliance products starting next year. And Qualcomm's new Snapdragon chips, soon to arrive in flagship phones, can handle Meta's powerful Llama 2 LLM entirely on your smartphone, no Internet connection or Web browsing required.* --- **🧠 Late news**: After already writing this post, the article "[Apple research reveals some dazzling AI tech could be headed to your iPhone](https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-research-reveals-some-dazzling-ai-tech-headed-to-your-iphone/)" has been released: *"Aptly named "*[*LLM in a flash*](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2312.11514.pdf)*," Apple's research on efficiently running LLMs on devices with limited memory enables complex AI applications to run smoothly on iPhones or iPads. This could also involve running a generative-AI-powered Siri on-device that simultaneously assists with various tasks, generates text, and features an improved ability to process natural language."* Guess my thinking isn't too off here. --- I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up the new privacy concern here. NPR tapped into this recently, in '[Artificial intelligence can find your location in photos, worrying privacy experts](https://www.npr.org/2023/12/19/1219984002/artificial-intelligence-can-find-your-location-in-photos-worrying-privacy-expert)': > *This new power is likely to be a double-edged sword: It may help people identify the locations of old snapshots from relatives, or allow field biologists to conduct rapid surveys of entire regions for invasive plant species, to name but a few of many likely beneficial applications.* > > *But it also could be used to expose information about individuals that they never intended to share... Stanley worries that similar technology, which he feels will almost certainly become widely available, could be used for government surveillance, corporate tracking or even stalking.* > > *From a privacy point of view, your location can be a very sensitive set of information.* There is more to watch in this space over 2024, for sure. ### Tailscale and Homelab / SelfHosting [Tailscale](https://tailscale.com/) is one of those pieces of technology I never *knew* I needed until I had it in the stack. Now, I can’t imagine my workflow without it. For years, I’ve wrestled with various VPN configurations (from L2TP to Wireguard) to get back to the house when traveling, but [Tailscale](https://tailscale.com/) is super simple. Install, join your tailnet, and off you go. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/12/image-42.png) traditional vans The difference with Tailscale is that “*it does not route any traffic through the coordination server. Instead, Tailscale makes the best effort to create a direct connection between each pair of devices communicating with each other.*“ So, your Tailnet looks like a mesh - “*each device on the Tailscale Lan is an endpoint, allowing for a mesh to be created. This removes the single point of failure and potential latency issues as there can be multiple paths to the same endpoint... This is all being done using an agent on servers rather than separate hardware.*”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/12/image-44.png) tailnet mesh It’s essentially a zero-configuration VPN. I run it across my home lab, iOS devices, NAS, laptops, and [even on my AppleTVs](https://tailscale.com/blog/apple-tv). Yes - you can use your AppleTV as a **freaking exit node** for a secure connection while you travel. You can think of a Tailnet, a private, secure mesh network you can join from anywhere. Your media server sitting across the country on your tailnet can stream content to your mobile device that’s also connected. It’s been a huge game changer and has renewed my interest in self-hosting more tech as the [enshittification of platforms](https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys) continues. I’ve moved off of GitHub to host my instance of [Forjego](https://forgejo.org/), have various tools running for remote coding, and plan on spending more time self-hosting my cloud needs over 2024\. I’m tired of all these subscriptions and the major Internet platforms using my data to train their AI capabilities. But, as I’m interested in ‘Personal AI,’ this setup allows me to play with self-hosting my own AI workloads to continue exploring the possibilities of LLMs (Large Language Models) - all within the privacy of my home network. ## The Purge (Annual Audit) Every year, I do my software and subscription [purge](https://makoism.com/the-purge/), where I perform a personal technology audit. When I say audit, I mean it in the most actual form - this isn't about the apps I am using that are sitting there collecting dust. Still, it involves taking a **hard**, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, and workflow in the *entire ecosystem*that encompasses my day-to-day computing devices and workflow. This year, [Matt Birchler](https://birchtree.me/blog/my-subscription-reset/) had a very relevant post in which he examined the pure cost (spoiler: it was about $650/yr) of subscriptions. So, with the same mindset, I just blew up several of my long-standing applications, like [Carrot Weather](http://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/). While I love the snark, it's not worth the yearly fee when I can get the [same weather information from the newly revamped Apple Weather app](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-17-weather-app/). So far, I've been shocked to find **over $700** in savings by eliminating things I don't need without any significant pain. It's a tricky balance; I understand developers need to create a sustainable business, but the subscription-for-everything model has become draining (not unlike streaming services). I've landed on a place where I'll happily pay a lifetime fee if offered (yes, before you ask, I bought [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com/) lifetime for $249 because I get so much value from it - support your developers!). The basic outline of the *purge* that I have used and continue to find useful: - **Apps** — examine your phone, iPad, and laptop apps. Have you used the app in the last two months? *If not, you don't need it*. **Delete it.** - **Media** — do you need **all** those documents/movies/music on your phone or laptop with you? With streaming, wireless, and clouds today, do you need 24,000 songs, 19 movies, and every receipt with you? *If not, storing things in iCloud, Google, or Amazon helps keep my devices light.* - **Subscriptions** — ask yourself: *are you getting value out of that application subscription*? **If not, cancel it**. My litmus test is if it's a service (media, storage where they are paying costs for hosting, etc.), I will pay to help keep it going if an app I love has a "lifetime" option. Apps are in a weird phase right now — It's getting harder and harder to avoid subscriptions, and I don't mind annual upgrade charges. **I cannot handle being nickel and dimed monthly, though.** - **Higher Learning** — Do you have time to write in your journal daily? Do you have a few hours aside a week for learning? Do you read enough? *I *make* time to journal entry in* [*DayOne*](https://dayoneapp.com/) *every day — even if it's a sentence.* - **On the day-to-day** — what is the best way to manage your day, get through your to-do list, deal with the landslide of email, and optimize reading for the most impactful content? See my post on [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) to learn more about thirty minutes of daily reading, writing, and playing. ### The Nuke List Here are a few subscriptions I decided not to renew going into 2024 or that I have canceled and will let expire. **This is almost $740/yr of savings alone**: - [Kagi Search](https://kagi.com/) ($108/yr) - I wanted to move away from [Google](https://www.google.com/), and [DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/)’s results haven’t been great. As much as I enjoy [their summarization services](https://blog.kagi.com/universal-summarizer), Google still seems to get better search results. *Will revisit in 2024*. - [Carrot Weather ](https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/)($30/yr) - the [changes to Apple Weather](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-17-weather-app/) have covered my needs however much I enjoy it’s snark. - [MindNode](https://www.mindnode.com/) ($20/yr) - I’ve tried to adopt mind mapping into my workflow, and it just never gets there. After years of renewing it, I'm going to forgo this cycle. - [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/) ($120/yr) - I have too many newspaper subscriptions. Keeping NYT (for cooking and games, mostly) and The Atlantic. - [Calendly](https://calendly.com/) ($105/yr) - No real need anymore. - [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/) ($158/yr) - Training their AI off my data, goodbye. Also, it takes away from an author's authentic voice. - [GitHub](https://github.com/) ($48/yr) - Training their AI off my data, goodbye. I’ve moved to self-hosting in Forjego. - [Zoom](https://zoom.us/) ($150/yr) - Why was I paying for this? - [Fantastical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) ($57/yr) - A great app, but honestly I can get by with Apple Calendar. Why am I still paying for “this” seems to be the perfect question to ask yourself. ## Navigating the Daily Flow ([From "Flow"](https://www.makoism.com/p/flow-23a)) I've always been proud of the habit of [Inbox Zero](https://blog.superhuman.com/inbox-zero-method/), responding to messages quickly; I've started to take a more critical lens to this over the years. There's something to the argument that "[everything in life is an inbox](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inbox-zero-mentality)" (which is a great article to read if you haven't), and I can certainly relate to sometimes letting things stew is better than just *responding*. But the idea that **email is not my task list** is essential, so here are some ***excellent*** tips on discovering how liberating this can be, as already mentioned in the concept of the "inbox allow list" from above. My flow is pretty straightforward for **every** new mail: - If I don't need it and can delete it, **delete** it immediately. - If it's something that I can **answer immediately**, I do; the Email goes into the 'archive, hold, or followup' folder or **deleted**. - If the Email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast, or whatever else I can consume later, it quickly goes into [Reeder](https://reederapp.com/). - If it's something that I **need for information later**, it quickly goes into the 'archive' folder. Then, it is **deleted**. - If it's something that I need to **think** about or take **action** on, it quickly goes over to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item in the Things Inbox, with tags, a project, and a due date. Then the Email enters the 'archive' folder or **deleted**. The process is quick and straightforward, and my Inbox **never** becomes a dumping ground for tasks. ### Email Specifics While on the topic of email, it's been two-plus years since I have gone with a complete **separation of work from my devices**. The goal was to create **rigid boundaries** for myself to block bad habits: no more Slack, Teams, work calendars, and work email on my machines outside of the one provided by my employer. **What a difference this has made**. Through the year, I have also continued the "[trusted trio](https://lifehacker.com/empty-your-inbox-with-the-trusted-trio-182318)" method for dealing with inbound mail folders after it goes through the 'flow' process: - **Follow-up** — this is for emails that represent a quick action that involves a human; this often ends up being another type of follow-up in [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) and is one I don't use often. - **Hold** — a temporary holding area; I mainly used this to keep online order confirmation emails until I physically received them (and then moved to archive). - **Archive** — pretty self-explanatory; it was the old "annual" folder for everything else if it doesn't fall into a particular category. As usual, I purge the "archive" folder to an offline backup to start the new year with a clean slate. ### The Anti-PKM (From: "[Circling the Drain](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/)") In previous years, I talked about a "[Second Brain](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/)". Last year, I focused on a philosophical change in handling personal knowledge management (PKM). To recap: [The Fall of Roam](https://every.to/superorganizers/the-fall-of-roam): > *After some time, though, reality started to sink in. 'I am not really going back through all of these notes as often as I thought I would.' My next automatic assumption is that if they were just organized better I might go through them more. And so, the question starts to creep in again. 'Where should I put this?'* And, [Notes apps are where ideas go to die.](https://reproof.app/blog/notes-apps-help-us-forget): > *You think of something, write it down, and feel free. Find something else, bookmark it, and close the tab without worry. If you need that discovery again, it's only a few taps away. The placebo effect—or, at least, the new app effect—is real.* > > *By letting go, you've cleared up space for new quests. No more dozens of tabs open forever; you saved them, then let them go back into the ether. No perpetual thinking on an idea; you wrote it down, let your second brain remember for you.* > > *Then we're free. We've stalked the prey, secured it for later nourishment. We can safely forget. We've insured against faulty memories. Now on to the next quest, finding something new to stash.* > > *That's the true value of notebooks, notes apps, bookmarking tools, and everything else built to help us remember. They're insurance for ideas. They let us forget.* So that's where I still am - I've dumped a lot of my process for idea collection and long-term storage. I use simple tools now: - [Reeder 5](http://reederapp.com/) is where I store most things now - articles, videos I want to watch, and things to catch up on. It is my primary "[read it later](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/)" app. - [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) is where I store everything I want long-term. I don't need crazy note wiki links or robust interconnected PKM madness; take a note and hold it for "long term memory." **Simplicity equals Freedom**. I know many love tools like [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/), but it's just not for me (and their mobile apps seem junky). Over 2024, I'm thinking of going simple with my to-do's and leaning into [Apple Reminders](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205890). ### Calendaring ([From "It's About Time"](https://makoism.com/its-about-time/) and ["Don't Do It"](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/)) We all have those terrible Tetris-looking work calendars; despite my efforts from last year, I'm still hovering **between 70-85% of my working hours spent in meetings**. (Side note: need to [order a CO2 monitor](https://aranet.com/products/aranet4/) for the home office. The [more I read about the effects of CO2](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/02/carbon-dioxide-monitor-indoor-air-pollution-gas-stoves/672923/), it feels like an important one). It's **staggering** and something I need to continue to improve in 2024. While I've strived to have a more deliberate focus on my calendar (with various levels of success), here's the methodology I've been toying with and need to refine further into next year: - Use **categories with calendars**; green is "calendar management," dark gray is "cannot move" (a doctor appointment), yellow is "open office hours," etc - **Set core working hours**. 9 am-5 pm PST, for example. - Block out the calendar outside of core working hours. I use "CM" for 'calendar management,' for example, "CM: No thanks!" - 30 minutes at noon for lunch, I block (in green), "CM: Lunch" - On Friday afternoons, from 1 pm-5 pm, I block (in green) "CM: Focus Friday" - I want time at the end of the week to focus, read, wrap up the week, learn a new thing, etc. I've also extended this block to my **entire organization** \- a deposit in the collective "time bank." - Monthly, I am starting a "coffee chat" - my directs can nominate two people to have an open conversation in a small gathering online, and it also helps promote cross-team "getting to know one another." - Now that I have the general week blocked out, each day I also pick a 2-hour block as "CM: Think (but flexible)." - these are movable, complete-time blocks if a meeting pops up, but it also ensures I have a solid 2-hour continuous block to be productive and in 'the flow.' Just remember: **Time is currency**. Your calendar is a bank. Make deposits and withdrawals carefully. ## Building the Anti-Library A few people have asked me about recent book purchases for my [anti-library](https://makoism.com/thewreckingball/). As a reminder (or if you don't want to click on the link), the idea of the anti-library is from [Umberto Eco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto%5FEco), an Italian medievalist, who had a library containing more than 30,000 books. > *a few savvy visitors realized the truth: Eco's library wasn't voluminous because he had read so much; it was voluminous because he desired to read so much more.* > > *\[Your\] library should contain as much of what you do not know as your financial means, mortgage rates, and the currently tight real-estate market allows you to put there. You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly.* > > *There's nothing inherently wrong with that, as long as we've stocked those piles with valuable knowledge — and more of it than we can ever use.* Here's a list of 2023 books that made their way onto the knowledge stack. The top "five": - [The Book of DO: A manual for living](https://www.amazon.com/Book-DO-manual-living/dp/1914168151/) by Miranda West - [The Storyteller](https://www.amazon.com/Storyteller-Tales-Life-Music/dp/0063076098) by Dave Grohl - [What's Our Problem?](https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Our-Problem-Self-Help-Societies-ebook/dp/B0BTJCTR58/) by Tim Urban - [The Creative Act](https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Act-Way-Being/dp/0593652886) by Rick Rubin - [Never Enough](https://www.amazon.com/Never-Enough-Achievement-Culture-Toxic/dp/0593191862) by Jennifer Breheny Wallace And the rest of this year's valuable additions: - [Influence](https://www.amazon.com/Influence-New-Expanded-Psychology-Persuasion/dp/0062937650) by Robert B. Cialdini - [In the Weeds](https://www.amazon.com/Weeds-Around-Behind-Anthony-Bourdain/dp/0306924099) by Tom Vitale - [No Ego](https://www.amazon.com/No-Ego-Leaders-Workplace-Entitlement/dp/125014406X) by Cy Wakeman - [Hidden Potential](https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Potential-Science-Achieving-Greater/dp/0593653149) by Adam Grant - [Sooner Safer Happier](https://www.amazon.com/Sooner-Safer-Happier-Antipatterns-Patterns/dp/1950508412) by Jonathan Smart - [Be Useful](https://www.amazon.com/Be-Useful-Seven-Tools-Life/dp/0593655958/) by Arnold Schwarzenegger - [Everything in Its Place](https://www.amazon.com/Work-Clean-life-changing-mise-en-place-organize/dp/1623365929) by Dan Charnas - [The Software Developer's Career Handbook](https://www.amazon.com/Software-Developers-Career-Handbook-Unpredictable/dp/1098116674) by Michael Lopp - [The Friction Project](https://www.amazon.com/Friction-Project-Leaders-Things-Easier/dp/1250284414) by Robert I. Sutton & Huggy Rao - [Daring Greatly](https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419) by Brene Brown - [Out on the Wire](https://www.amazon.com/Out-Wire-Storytelling-Secrets-Masters/dp/0385348436) by Jessica Abel - [Magic Words](https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Words-Jonah-Berger/dp/0063204932/) by Jonah Berger - [The Song of Significance](https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams/dp/0593715543) by Seth Godin - [The Change Book: How Things Happen](https://www.amazon.com/Change-Book-How-Things-Happen/dp/0393240363) by Mikael Krogerus & Roman Tschappeler - [Smart Brevity](https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Brevity-Power-Saying-More/dp/1523516976) by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen & Roy Schwartz - [The Asshole Survival Guide](https://www.amazon.com/Asshole-Survival-Guide-Robert-Sutton/dp/1328511669/) by Robert I. Sutton - [The No Asshole Rule](https://www.amazon.com/Asshole-Rule-Civilized-Workplace-Surviving/dp/0446698202) by Robert I. Sutton - [Make Something Wonderful](https://book.stevejobsarchive.com/) by Steve Jobs - [Pencil Me In](https://www.amazon.com/Pencil-Me-Business-Drawing-People/dp/0996006036) by Christina Wodtke - [The Project 50 (Reinventing Work)](https://www.amazon.com/Project-50-Reinventing-Work-Transform/dp/0375407731) by Tom Peters - [The Brand You 50 (Reinventing Work)](https://www.amazon.com/Brand-You-Transform-Distinction-Commitment/dp/0375407723) by Tom Peters - [This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends](https://www.amazon.com/This-They-Tell-World-Ends/dp/1635576059) by Nicole Perlroth ## Gear of the Year It was a late entry (I just got this in December), so it was worth mentioning. Let's face it - hotel coffee **sucks**, so I was inspired when I saw the [Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine](https://www.amazon.com/Outin-Portable-Electric-Self-Heating-Compatible/dp/B0BRKFK156)was available. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/12/CleanShot-2023-12-21-at-16.42.12@2x.png) Outin Portable Espresso Machine From the website: > *Making a delicious shot of espresso has never been easier. Outin is your go-to trip companion as it only needs water and coffee. This portable espresso machine heats and pressurizes water for you, anytime and anywhere.* > > *The best thing about this little guy, as opposed to its knockoffs, is its water heating feature. It reaches 96 degrees Celsius within 3-4 minutes - ideal conditions for brewing a delicious espresso.* > > *Your Outin Nano can brew up to 5 cups of coffee when fully charged, or up to 200 cups with hot water. If you have a power bank with a USB-C cable on your trip, you can easily recharge it, and it will be ready to use again in no time.* The machine weighs just over a pound, so throwing in the suitcase is a no-brainer. I traveled with it for the first time this week and brought along both ground espresso and a few capsules. The quick review is that **I'm not traveling again without it**. Getting a great-tasting espresso in the comfort of your hotel room was so easy and super simple. The Outin Nano is a late addition to the gear for 2023, but I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to feed their coffee addiction. ## Using ### The 2023 Desk Setup Here's where my setup lands ending in 2023: - [MacBook (Air 512GB/24GB, M2, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — I am on this laptop all day long in my home office. **I love it, and see no need to upgrade to an M3 when they eventually announce it**. - [iPhone 15 Pro Max(512GB, Titanium)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-15-pro) — Goes with me **everywhere**, and this year, I'm rocking the "max" size. - [iPad Mini 6 (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/) — Years later, this is still my favorite around-the-house device. I am continuously go back and forth with the same configuration with an [M2 iPad Pro 11.5"](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) for the extra screen room (and trying to save my old eyes). - [Apple Watch Ultra 2](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra/) — **Wowzers**; I didn't expect this one to be an essential piece of new tech for my health in 2023\. Here's more on how I've used the watch for [my health tracking](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). - [MB Pro 14"](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/) — the work laptop. Now that I'm on Apple Silicon for work, it's not as bad as the crappy old Intel MBP 13" I had, but this is what I lovingly refer to as the **work brick**. I have an ancient [Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) media server that is for archiving content and backing up the [Synology NAS](https://www.synology.com/en-us) to [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html). I've recently upgraded that with a new [M2Pro Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/mac-mini/apple-m2-pro-with-10-core-cpu-and-16-core-gpu-512gb) for AI workloads on the home lan. Other random gear: - [AirPods Pro 2 USB-C](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — These are my primary headphones for calls, and the old AirPod Pro "original" is my backup. - [Keychron K3 Keyboard](https://www.keychron.com/collections/keychron-k-series-keyboard/products/keychron-k3-wireless-mechanical-keyboard) \- while I've been enjoying the click/clack of a mechanical keyboard, I do miss the Touch ID on the [Magic Keyboard](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK2A3LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english). I may move things back in 2024. - [Oakywood Dual Laptop Vertical Stand](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YKBQHWM/) \- I keep both the work and home laptop in this, so they're out of the way. - [Grovemade MagSafe Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/magsafe-stand/) - [Blue Yeti Nano](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti-nano/) and [Blue Yeti Compass](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/compass/) - [Apple Studio Display](https://www.apple.com/studio-display/) - [Grovemade Desk Shelf](https://grovemade.com/desk-shelf-system/) - [Grovemade Pen and Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/black-pen-and-pen-stand/?initial=491) - [Pete's Pirate Gear](https://petespiratelife.com/) — candle, challenge coin and dice. Yo ho yo ho. 2024 will see a major overhaul when we move this summer and I'll be in a new home office. ### Camera Because I am often asked (and this is now part of my [Uses](https://makoism.com/defaults/) page), here's my camera setup. I can't stress the importance of getting good lights and a proper camera. It changes things for the day-to-day when video calls are the bulk of where you put in the time. No changes over the last 12 months here. - [Sony Camera](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-ZV-E10-Interchangeable-Mirrorless/dp/B09BBLH4SG) - [Viltrox 23mm Lens](https://www.amazon.com/VILTROX-Mount-Focus-APS-C-Camera/dp/B08DTRYSKW) - [elGato CamLink 4k](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Cam-Link-Broadcast-Camcorder/dp/B07K3FN5MR) - [elGato Stand](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Weighted-Base-Multi-Mount/dp/B07X5DM3S1) - [elGato Lighting](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Key-Light-Professional-App-Enabled/dp/B07L755X9G) ### EDC Minor shifts this year and from the [2021 EDC](https://makoism.com/2021-edc/). Here's the shopping list: - [Nite Ize S-Biner Dual Carabiner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HN6CW4) — to clip on water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK)) to bring heart medication everywhere. Unfortunately needed these days. - [Anker 633 MagGo Battery](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NRG4GK3) — a small/light battery that doesn't need a cable to charge the phone. Also, nice that it can use the USB-C to charge. - [Leather cable straps](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WNS98W) — because they are functional and look fantastic. - [MINIX NEO P3 100W Turbo 4-Ports GaN Wall Charger](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JKJ1QRJ) — a 100w, ultra-fast three-port USB-C and 1 USB-A charger that is small, can quickly charge a laptop, iPad, etc. and **is the only charger you'll need**. Also comes with the international plug adapters. - [EverRatchet Keychain Tool](https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Infusion-EverRatchet-Ratcheting-Keychain/dp/B07FCRH3D6) — one of the best flat multi-tool that's a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, bottle opener, box opener, seven wrenches, and more in a compact 20g footprint. - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small and bright, it's a no-brainer for the daily bag. - [AirTag](https://www.apple.com/airtag/) — because I may lose the EDC? - \[[Theory 11 Piracy Cards](https://store.theory11.com/products/piracy-playing-cards)\] — who knows when you want to play some cards? :) Not shown that's also with me: - [KardiaMobile 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) — Another unfortunate reality for me these days, I need to carry an EKG reader with me. While the AppleWatch is excellent for a simple and quick 1-lead EKG, this unique gum-stick-sized device can do a medical grade 6-lead EKG that's easily sharable with my doctors. ## The 2023 Apps List ### New Finds - [TrashMe 3](https://www.jibapps.com/apps/trashme3/) — replaces AppZapper. - [ChatGPT](https://chat.openai.com/) \- yeah, I know, you've heard enough about AI this year, but being able to explore and play has been invaluable for me. Right now, I am paying the $19/mo subscription access. - [Petey](https://petey-assistant.com/) \- I'm using this with my OpenAI subscription - I can use GPT via shortcuts and the Apple Watch. - [Transcriptionist](https://www.wooji-juice.com/products/transcriptionist/) \- been playing with this one ($20/yr) that allows you to use [OpenAI's Whisper](https://openai.com/research/whisper) AI locally, on the device, to "quickly and privately convert speech from audio recordings — and video soundtracks — into the text." It also works on Mac and iOS. ## Page One / Homepage This list contains the apps I use daily: my page one on the phone and the pad. - [Apple Calendar](https://www.icloud.com/calendar) (Mac and iOS) — It has been rock solid this year, so I'm keeping it. The only thing I can see missing is proper tag support in the events. - [Apple Weather](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weather/id1069513131) (iOS) — As mentioned, migrated from Carrot. - [Tot](https://tot.rocks/) (Mac and iOS) - Tot is a weird one for me, but it's still going strong. Think of it as a simple utility to throw down scrap notes that sync between your laptop, pad, and phone. - [1Password](https://1password.com/) (Mac and iOS) - I have my entire family on [1Password for Families](https://1password.com/families/). I have 800+ passwords and logins for sites where I must figure out passwords. In 2024, I'm going to see if I can get this to the "nuke" list and [move over to iCloud Keychain](https://simonbs.dev/posts/moving-from-1password-to-icloud-keychain/). - [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) (Mac and iOS) — Still using Things for getting tasks done every day. - [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) (Mac and iOS) — Simple, perfect, and just everywhere for me. - [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) (Mac and iOS) — IAWriter is what I use for long-form focused writing. - [Darkroom](http://darkroom.co/) (Mac and iOS) — the BEST photo editing app for your phone. - [Signal](https://signal.org/en/) (Mac and iOS) — solid end-to-end encryption messaging. - 🧠 (aka, 'the brain') - This 'folder' houses the apps that I use as part of my knowledge management: - [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) (Web and iOS) — it's so much more than an RSS' source' by allowing you to curate newsletter subscriptions (so they don't clutter the inbox), Twitter, and Reddit in a single backend. It's great. - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/) (Web and iOS) — still using Reddit as a resource for information, but like Twitter, you need to curate what you subscribe to carefully. - [FreeForm](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/12/apple-launches-freeform-a-powerful-new-app-designed-for-creative-collaboration/) — while the promise of this new app from Apple is tempting, I haven't found a way to integrate it into my workflow. I am still playing, though. - [Endel](https://endel.io/) — I've been using this app, which delivers '*personalized soundscapes to help you focus, relax, and sleep*' to stay focused on long-form writing. - [DayOne](http://dayoneapp.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I use DayOne for jotting down simple thoughts daily. Clearing my mind at the start of every day of the "junk" has been helpful for me to maintain better clarity. - [Reeder 5](http://reederapp.com/ios/) (Mac and iOS) — My prominent "[read it later](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/)" app along with [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) as a way to get newsletters via RSS instead of having my inbox flooded. - [Ivory](https://tapbots.social/@ivory) (iOS) — With the impending destruction of Twitter, I spend more time these days on [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako). This app, while in alpha still, is transformative. I am also playing with the latest beta of [Mona](https://mastodon.social/@MonaApp). ## Other Apps of Interest Instead of going thru the [myriad](https://www.apple.com/apple-one/) [of](https://www.hbomax.com/) [usual](https://www.netflix.com/) [suspects](https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011) [across](https://disneyplus.com/) [my streaming](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/08/apple-tv-plus-subscribers-get-cbs-all-access-and-showtime-bundle-at-a-great-value/) media nightmare, here's a few of note from the last year: - [YouTube TV](https://tv.youtube.com/) — Been loving the year on YouTubeTV. - [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) (Web and iOS) — I broke down. I couldn't take the ads anymore. - [Trakt](https://trakt.tv/) (Web and iOS) — Moved off of ReelGood to Trakt and haven't missed anything. I use this to find "where" something is streaming. Searching across all the subscription services to stream a particular title from is a PIA, and this app helps out. - [Halide](https://halide.cam/) (iOS) — still the BEST camera app on the phone; every year, it keeps getting better and better. - [Pixelmator Pro](http://www.pixelmator.com/pro/) (Mac) and [Pixelmator Photo](https://www.pixelmator.com/photo/) (iOS) — photo editing unparalleled tools. - [Photoleap](https://www.photoleapapp.com/) (iOS) — I use this app when I need to "layer" photos with text or do some stimulating effects, and it leverages AI nicely. - [LumaFusion](https://luma-touch.com/) (iOS) — a professional-grade video editor for iPad and iPhone. May move/explore Final Cut in 2024 as it's available now on iPad. - [Blink Shell](https://www.blink.sh/) (iOS) — SSH and Mosh client for iOS, and [recently supports VS Code](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPHjcsrKM9s&feature=youtu.be) \- which is **insane**. - [Working Copy](https://workingcopyapp.com/) (iOS) — The best git app still for iOS. - I continue to use [Apple Shortcuts](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios) a TON this year for simple automation. Check out a few "power" apps to bring additional functionality to it: - [GizmoPack](https://gizmopack.app/) (Mac and iOS) — while it has friendly actions for working with the wallet or files, I find that I use it a ton to process JSON w/ [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/) or [JsonPath](https://github.com/json-path/JsonPath). - [HTTPBot](https://www.httpbot.io/) (Mac and iOS) — REST client for iOS that's compatible with [PostMan](https://www.postman.com/) collections. But I use it in Shortcuts for advanced [curl requests](https://flaviocopes.com/http-curl/). - [Toolbox Pro](https://toolboxpro.app/) (Mac and iOS) — more utilities to add power to your automation, such as working with NFC, image filtering, movie details, etc. - [Linky](https://pragmaticcode.com/linky/) (iOS) — great app for sending clips to Twitter and Mastodon; though I use this for "text shots" — you highlight text, and it turns it into an exciting image. - [TripIt](https://www.tripit.com/) (Web and iOS) — because it's free from work. - [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com/) (iOS) — now that I'm on planes again, this app is indispensable. ## Homescreen All my devices are rocking this fun graffiti wallpaper from [Basic Apple Guy](https://basicappleguy.com/haberdashery/graffiti). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/12/IMG_1703.PNG) I hope you enjoyed this year's update and that you are well heading into 2024.✌🏻 ### The Person You Needed URL: https://makoism.com/the-person/ Last updated: 2023-11-27T00:07:08.000Z ## What's On My Mind Right Now 🧠 --- **Programming Note**: As we enter December, outside of work travel, I'll be focusing on the '**famous**' year-end "[things I like](https://makoism.com/tag/thingsilike/)" annual post. I will get this out before the holidays this year, so fingers crossed. --- Last time, [I talked about kindness](https://makoism.com/kindness/)": > *Just know that you're not alone out there, and there IS good to be found in this world - you need to be looking for it. Or creating it.* I received a lot of feedback on that, so thank you for spending a little time with a cup of coffee and my somewhat irregularly timed newsletters. I appreciate it. This past week, I came across a remarkable quote from [Ayesha Siddiqi](https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/dec/09/ayesha-siddiqi-we-need-to-stop-waiting-for-permission), who wisely said: > ***"Be the person you needed when you were younger."*** It was in the form of a tweet (you know, on that site that used to be helpful before the dark times), and [Brad Montague (author of Kid President)](http://montagueworkshop.com/bio) talks about this idea quite a lot. For me, I couldn't get this quote out of the inner depths of my brain. As I get older (err, wiser?), I've been spending more time consciously thinking about how I act/react to things where I want to invest time and who I want to be. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/11/1-u_D_EEzw0en7SiXKdaAHRg.webp) **Those nine words are compelling**. It's a simple reminder to strive to be the kind of person that you wished you had known growing up or that you have in your corner, whether it's a role model, a mentor, a support system for those who struggle, or simply being there for someone when they are sad or alone. If you've been a reader of [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) for some time, you're aware that I won't shy away from talking about real issues, like [imposter syndrome](https://makoism.com/perceptions-and-reality/), [health issues](https://makoism.com/mentally%5Flazy/), or lack of confidence. And I know from talking to many of you that we all suffer from these things. Be that listening ear or a mentor for that person trying to find their way. I'm often asked during coffee chats, especially with new employees out of school, "*what advice would you give your younger self just starting out?*" My answer used to be something simple, such as, "*Write your own job description*," but now I know my new answer: "**Be who you needed when you were younger**". It's the kind of kindness many need these days. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Exploration 🧭 "[Slaughterhouse-Five](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five)," but [Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwwK7NmfF9w) is one of my favorites, and perhaps one of the oddest, books that I have ever read. Given the current world stage, it seems incredibly relevant, as the story is told through the eyes of a World War II veteran who survived the [firebombing bombing of Dresden](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden). What interested me about the book was the exploration of fate versus **free will**. Billy Pilgrim, the book's main antagonist, along with the alien Tralfamadorians, sees time in a circle where ***everything that has happened has always happened***. Billy becomes unstuck in time. > *"All time is all time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I've said before, bugs in amber."* There is no free will, and you cannot escape fate. At one point, Pilgrim becomes indifferent towards the horrors of war, or even death - because they are destined to occur. **So it goes**. Of course, truth is stranger than (even this) fiction. Read about one's person's brain injury that removed their ability to perceive time. And [what it's like to live in a world without time](https://www.salon.com/2023/11/05/a-brain-injury-removed-my-ability-to-perceive-time-heres-what-its-like-in-a-world-without-it/)\*\*\] > *"I referred to every past event in my life, whether it was my doctor’s appointment the day before or an audition I’d taken years ago, as having happened “yesterday.” I couldn’t remember what date, month or even year it was. I forgot what times of day were appropriate to call friends and family on the phone, and I didn’t understand what people meant when they said they were “busy.” Bedridden and unable to comprehend time, my illness seemed to drag on for eternity with no end in sight."* Quite a scary and fascinating article. ## Quotables 📚 One of my favorite talks on creativity by [John Cleese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FCleese). > **Creativity cannot be explained. Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating.** [The full video can be viewed here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g). ## Articles Worth Reading 📖 [**The Pandemic We Wasted**](https://johnpavlovitz.com/2023/11/13/the-pandemic-we-wasted/) is, by far, the most impactful thing I've read in weeks. I debated if this should be the main "lead in" or not, but I figured I'd save that for another time. '*The sad reality is that the last three years (as with all crises) have been an unprecedented opportunity for us to be transformed. We had a chance to become a better version of our nation, and we failed to become that. In what could have been a teachable moment, what we learned was how fundamentally broken we are.*' [E.B. White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.%5FB.%5FWhite) 's famous response of '*I must decline, for secret reasons.*' to Eisenhower's Chief of Staff request to join the Arts and Science committee, is the origin of [**The Absurd Manifesto**](https://bradmontague.substack.com/p/the-absurd-manifesto). I love the idea of trying to put into words the things that matter most: '*Enough with business as usual. It is time for the unusual. It's time we muster all the creativity, compassion, corndogs –whatever we've got– and turn what could be into what should be and what will be.*' My earliest memories of computer gaming revolve around the [Infocom classic Zork](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zork). Well, apparently, [**Infocom's ingenious code-porting tools for Zork and other games have been found**](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/11/infocoms-ingenious-code-porting-tools-for-zork-and-other-games-have-been-found/). Learn all about the famous Z-Machine. This week has many manifestos; this one is a [**Manifesto for posting online in 2023**](https://meandorla.substack.com/p/manifesto-for-posting-online-in-2023). There are many great little tidbits in here, such as "*Just because somebody shouts loudly in your inbox does not mean that they are entitled to be heard. Often, it is a good indicator that they are not worth listening to.*". [**So, You Made a Mistake…**](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/so-you-made-a-mistake) was a friendly reminder not whether or not you'll make mistakes, but rather how to handle them when you do. Somewhat like Billy in Slaughterhouse-Five, [**Completely letting go of control**](https://sashachapin.substack.com/p/completely-letting-go-of-control) examines what happens when you give up control over everything. It's '*shockingly beautiful*,' but the deep dive into meditation leads this author to feel increasingly less in control of their life and sense of self. I have no words for what went down with OpenAI last few weeks. It's wild, but I enjoyed these posts, [**On OpenAI: Let Them Fight**](https://davekarpf.substack.com/p/on-openai-let-them-fight). Ugh, as if the world has enough grim right now, apparently [**2023 Cements Its Place in the History of Climate Change**](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/11/climate-change-2023-global-temperature-records/676065/). Not in a good way. While I still am behind and need to watch [Oppenheimer](https://www.oppenheimermovie.com), this read on [**Christopher Nolan on the Promise and Peril of Technology**](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/11/christopher-nolan-interview-technology-oppenheimer-interstellar/676044/). As a fan, it's a great read with tremendous insight, '*When people are that smart, they can find a way to make anything make sense. It seemed to me that he had a notion that until the bomb is used, people won't understand it.*'. It sums up a lot of technology problems these days. [**The Slide**](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-256-the-slide) examines something we've all had at some point in our career: '*Things stop making sense. Team confidence drops. It becomes hard to know what is going on objectively. Everyone has a pet explanation for what's causing The Slide, but no one is right. Or everyone is right, but no one is RIGHT. The team is in a funk and it it seems like you're sliding down an endless slide.*' Continue reading on how to change course and reverse the slide. Imagine viewing the world from the lens through which street maps are used, combined with generative AI, to create a happier and healthier street with the [**Dutch Cycling Lifestyle**](https://dutchcyclinglifestyle.com/). I often joke that I'm an [extroverted introvert](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/), as the article [**5 Signs You're Overthinking It**](https://introvertdear.com/news/5-signs-youre-overthinking-it/) explains how we have '*an entire universe brewing within, and with it comes a tendency to reflect — and overthink.*' ## Recommended 🎸 I've been learning more about how important breathing is, especially the idea of '*box breathing*' and its ability to de-stress you. The idea is simple: a box has four sides, represented here by breathing while you slowly count to four for a total of four times — four counts of breathing in, four counts of holding your breath, four counts of exhaling, and four more counts after your exhale. [Studies show](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31436595/) that consciously breathing in this manner will lower stress cortisol and lower blood pressure. So, when I discovered this [**Breathe Stone PREORDER**](https://www.jllawsonco.com/products/breathe-stone?variant=40386062254146), I was all over it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/11/JLL_breathe_c_1344x1344.jpg.webp) Be well. ✌🏻 ### A Little Kindness URL: https://makoism.com/kindness/ Last updated: 2023-11-12T21:51:11.000Z I will come right out and say it - **it's been rough lately**. Everyone I know seems to be slowly spiraling further down the hole rather than climbing out of it, and while [I started to feel this way](https://makoism.com/broken-pieces/) at the beginning of October, the last few weeks just have seemed nothing short of **bleak and heavy**. It's one of the reasons that I was trying to avoid getting too sucked into the tidal wave of bad news dominating headlines, news networks, and what you see in never-ending doomscrolling. But no matter where you turn to or consume information from, things seem awful. A glance at CNN while I write this reveals: - The war in (fill in the blank). - Political wackiness in the (fill in the blank) party. - Corruption in (fill in the blank) state. - Corruption in (fill in the blank) corporation. - Bombings. - Daylight savings time. - Racism. - Terrorism. - Antisemitism. - Shootings. - Radical (fill in the blank). - The economy. - Some (fill in the blank) financial crisis. - You should/shouldn't return to office debates. - Climate change. - Climate disaster. - Pandemics. - Something (fill in the blank) celebrity said. - Something (fill in the blank) professional athlete said. - Something (fill in the blank) politician said. - (fill in the blank) health crisis. Heck, why not - let's [have AI create a new Beetles song](https://youtu.be/APJAQoSCwuA) in 2023. It's all **wacky times now**. It feels like a "[good news network](https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org)" is needed more than ever. [Andrew Wooldridge](https://social.yesterweb.org/@triptych/111320153214480228) posted something recently that I thought captures it incredibly well: > *We have never been more connected.* > *We have never been more lonely.* > *Social networks once helped us make connections; now, they foster hate, fear, and isolation.* So here I am, spending a lot of time reflecting on this, writing in my journals for myself, trying to carve up some good vibes, and just thinking a lot. I had the fortune to listen to [Per Håkansson](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com) [speak this year at DO Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/talks/fewer-better-things/), who has a wonderful blog called "[Fewer Better Things](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com)." While I don't ever see myself going to the extreme he has to eliminate **everything**, he describes this idea as "[living every day with clear intentions](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/living-every-day-with-clear-intentions)." > **How you structure your day is how you structure your life**. > Having a clear intention with every day before you wake up makes everything simple. > Suddenly time, attention, and creative energy are on your side. And in "[The Corrosive Element in Our Lives](https://johnpweiss.com/blog/189926/the-corrosive-element-in-our-lives)", John Weiss writes: > *How do we not waste our life?* > *It's never too late to change course.* > *To avoid being forever trapped in a wasted life of denial, unrequited love, and regret.* > *Look back to remember and learn.* > *Then, adopt a positive outlook. Say your apologies. Forgive yourself, if necessary. Set a better course. Make the best of what remains of your day.* A common theme around the idea of [taking control of your own life story](https://www.gapingvoid.com/do-it-for-the-plot/) and empowering yourself to **shape your life narrative** feels more powerful than ever to provide a path forward in a world that often seems chaotic and uncontrollable. > *Whatever path we take, we are constantly confronted with the same question eventually: Does my path (my life) make a [good story](https://www.gapingvoid.com/nations-are-stories/)? Does my narrative make sense? Is the narrative the one I hoped for, or at least, is it a damn good one, worth telling?* > *And if the answer is "no," we are consumed by the regret, disappointment and bitterness of "the unlived life." If the answer is "yes," we can at least die knowing we gave it our best shot.* Here are a few things that I'm thinking about on how to focus on the rest of 2023. - [Meaningful gatherings](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/). - Cut out negative influences. - Be real to myself. - Be more compassionate towards myself. - Write a story **worth** telling. - Exercise regularly. - Eat quality food. - Drink coffee. - Enjoy the occasional whiskey. - Be kind. Maybe some of this resonates with you; maybe not. Just know that you're not alone out there, and there IS good to be found in this world - you need to be *looking for it*. Or **creating** it. And on that, I'll wrap up this one on a sad note, as we saw the passing of actor [Matthew Perry](https://www.npr.org/2023/10/28/1209291002/matthew-perry-dead-friends) this week at the age of 54\. In a strange way, [we all lost a friend](https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/in-matthew-perrys-death-weve-all-lost-a-friend/ar-AA1j769c) with his death, but in *his own words*, after struggling through addiction, on what he wanted to be remembered for in his *life story*: > *"When I die, I don't want Friends to be the first thing that's mentioned. I want helping people to be the first thing that's mentioned"* Take care, everyone. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Shop 🛍️ Over the last weeks, [I've added a few more fun shirts to the collection](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/11/CleanShot-2023-11-04-at-11.12.58@2x.png) Though, the classics "[Nope](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)" and "[Own Your Shit](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)" still seem to be the best sellers. 🧐 ## Mind Benders 🤯 Something I've been missing from my life right now has been time to think, process, and play. I keep revisiting this post from [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com) on "[Creativity](https://jamesclear.com/creativity)", in particular this idea around **giving yourself space to create junk**: > *In any creative endeavor, you have to give yourself permission to create junk. There is no way around it. Sometimes you have to write 4 terrible pages just to discover that you wrote one good sentence in the second paragraph of the third page.* > > *Creating something useful and compelling is like being a gold miner. You have to sift through pounds of dirt and rock and silt just to find a speck of gold in the middle of it all. Bits and pieces of genius will find their way to you, if you give yourself permission to let the muse flow.* In may ways, it reminds me of the [Pixar Rules of Storytelling](https://www.toaststudio.com/en/pixars-22-rules-of-storytelling/) rule #17: > *No work is ever wasted. If it doesn’t work, let go and move on. It’ll come back around and be useful later.* It's a **good reminder** to take some time for playful exploration, make some junk, and store it away for some other day. ## Quotables 📚 I enjoyed this personal and moving keynote from [Anil Dash](https://www.anildash.com/about/) from the [Oh the Humanity!](https://oh.helsinkiruby.fi) conference. It's also a solid lesson in storytelling and will go into my stash of great presentations to learn from. ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Easily, my favorite read of the week was this one from 2013 written by [Moxie Marlinspike](https://moxie.org) on career advice. I won't spoil the journey this one takes, but I will reiterate its closing advice on '*make it uncomfortable and make it count*.' — \[via [**Career Advice**](https://moxie.org/2013/01/07/career-advice.html)\] - A completely fascinating website in which you enter your birthdate, and it allows you to explore the journey of your life in numbers and dates. It is a bit sobering to see that 78% of the world population is younger than me — \[via [**Population.io**](https://population.io/)\] - With the rise of deep fakes, generative AI, etc., there's an overwhelming sense that the '*death of information is your mortal enemy.*' This thoughtful post goes into how you can't disprove or prove most things these days. — \[via [**The Death of Information**](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-death-of-information)\] - Some good news for coffee lovers: '*participants who drank copious amounts of coffee, which they defined as four or more cups per day, were twice as likely to avoid becoming physically frail as they aged into their 70s.*'. Drink up, friends! — \[via [**A Massive New Study of 12,000 People Just Gave You a Really Good Reason to Drink More Coffee**](https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/a-massive-new-study-of-12000-people-just-gave-you-a-really-good-reason-to-drink-more-coffee.html)\] - [Ted Gioia](https://www.honest-broker.com), who I've recently discovered and highly recommend reading his blog, writes that '*most people look for solutions - but few seek out problems,' and how 'genius is not having all the answers; everything starts with asking the right questions.*'. Check out his 12 favorite problems. — \[via [**My 12 Favorite Problems**](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/my-12-favorite-problems)\] - Nothing beats a great font, so this article on the sheer joy derived from a monospaced font was so interesting. — \[via [**Why I like monospaced fonts**](http://thejollyteapot.com/2023/10/28/why-i-like-monospaced-fonts)\] - A thought-provoking post about how, in 2023, there isn't a place to '*write in long-form in a private space that you share with your friends'* and the junk that social media has turned into. — \[via [**Journaling in private with my friends**](https://werd.io/2023/journaling-in-private-with-my-friends)\] - For those of us who have been writing online for some time (my original blog, [The Furrygoat Experience, started in 2002](https://web.archive.org/web/20020106221443/http://www.furrygoat.com/)), the idea of [Publish (on your) Own Site, Syndicate Everywhere](https://indieweb.org/POSSE) isn't new, but is interesting now that social media is a hot dumpster fire. (side note: It is really fun to see that the web archive captured my old [favorite cannoli recipe](https://web.archive.org/web/20020108222821/http://www.furrygoat.com/Misc/cannoli.htm))— \[via [**The poster’s guide to the internet of the future**](https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/23/23928550/posse-posting-activitypub-standard-twitter-tumblr-mastodon)\] - [Benedict Evans](https://www.ben-evans.com) on leaving Twitter (or X or whatever it's called now), and even though he built a career on it, why it's no longer an option. (I have deleted my Twitter account now, and only really on [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako)) — \[via [**Leaving Twitter**](https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2023/10/23/leaving-twitter)\] - '*Pushing for a lower dev estimate is like negotiating better weather with a meteorologist*' is a wonderful way to phrase it. As someone who has had to give estimates and receive them, you learn pretty quickly that '*development team doesn't control the actual effort - only by a tiny part. The development team uses their knowledge and data to forecast expected effort. They use established team velocity, review data on complete stories, and continuously improve their process every sprint*'. — \[via [**Pushing for a lower dev estimate**](https://smartguess.is/blog/your-estimate-is-less-than-that/)\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 I've been thinking a lot about what has been called "*the most iconic music image of all time,*" "[**Blown Away Guy**](https://www.vintag.es/2022/02/blown-away-guy.html)". In many ways, **it describes what 2023 has felt like**: > "*a man is shown desperately clinging to the armrests but defiantly looking ahead at the source of the music through sunglasses, though calmly catching his drink before it slides off the end table.*" ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/11/blown-away-guy.jpg) And it's variant ad for the UK: Finally, I'm going to close out the one with [a fantastic post](https://warnercrocker.com/2023/10/29/words-sometimes-thats-enough-and-then-again/) from [Warner Crocker](https://warnercrocker.com/home/), in which he sums up this video of [Dame Judi Dench](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001132/) perfectly. > ***Sometimes all you need are the words. And sometimes the marriage of the words and a performer create a joyful coupling beyond just the meaning, but illuminating them just as brightly.*** Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Backlog URL: https://makoism.com/the-backlog/ Last updated: 2023-10-21T05:10:47.000Z In my last post, [I mentioned that](https://makoism.com/broken-pieces/) I would spend some time thinking about how to rework this space while I take a slight writing hiatus. While that's in the works, **I certainly didn't stop reading**. And of course, my "oh, that is interesting" list has overflowed. Since a few folks reached out and said that they liked the 'brain dump' of random links .. so here you go - **a blast of 50+ random things** in my backlog that I found over the internet the last weeks. Sorry, no commentary on it; *just a random bag of joy*. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - [**None Pizza With Left Beef - 10 Years Later**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/10/none-pizza-with-left-beefs-creator-steve-molaro-interview.html) - [**John Cleese on the Five Factors to Make Your Life More Creative**](https://www.themarginalian.org/2012/04/12/john-cleese-on-creativity-1991/) - [**AI Solopreneurship**](https://www.theshepreport.com/p/ai-solopreneurship-part-1) - [**A Smartphone Is A Requirement**](https://jasonjournals.com/2023/10/12/a-smartphone-is-a-requirement/) - [**A Weekend Without My iPhone**](https://ibmacin.com/2023/10/16/a-weekend-without-my-iphone/) - [**Are You Afraid of the Darkness?: A Hopepunk Explainer**](https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/are-you-afraid-of-the-darkness-a-hopepunk-explainer/) - [**Beware The Robo-Therapist (feat. Hannah Zeavin) - Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000**](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/13544940-episode-13-beware-the-robo-therapist-feat-hannah-zeavin-june-8-2023) - [**When social media can’t be trusted**](https://static.nytimes.com/email-content/IHO%5Fsample.html?action=click&module=nl-index-see-the-latest) - [**The Corrosive Element in Our Lives**](http://johnpweiss.com/blog/189926/the-corrosive-element-in-our-lives) - [**Why Coffee Shops Are Teachers, If Only We'd Pay Attention**](https://johnpweiss.com/blog/176431/why-coffee-shops-are-teachers-if-only-wed-pay-attention) - [**Slow But Delightful Conversations**](https://numericcitizen.me/friday-notes-108-slow-but-delightful-conversations/) - [**The Story of Name Sans**](https://www.arrowtype.com/articles/name-sans-process) - [**Signs of undeclared ChatGPT use in papers mounting**](https://retractionwatch.com/2023/10/06/signs-of-undeclared-chatgpt-use-in-papers-mounting/) - [**Six Months Ago NPR Left Twitter. The Effects Have Been Negligible**](https://niemanreports.org/articles/npr-twitter-musk/) - [**How Disney Packed Big Emotion Into a Little Robot**](https://spectrum.ieee.org/disney-robot) - [**Pockets Full of History - Levi Strauss & Co**](https://www.levistrauss.com/2017/01/12/pockets-full-history/) - [**ActivityPub, the SocialCG, and the social web**](https://evanp.me/2023/10/06/activitypub-the-socialcg-and-the-social-web/) - [**Think Bigger**](https://www.profgalloway.com/think-bigger) - [**Career Advice**](https://moxie.org/2013/01/07/career-advice.html) - [**More Thoughtful Reading & Writing on the Web**](https://tantek.com/2023/277/b1/thoughtful-reading-writing-web) - [**Why side projects are essential for creatives—and employers should embrace them**](https://jonas.do/writing/2023-10-05-side-projects/) - [**Making Hard Things Easy**](https://jvns.ca/blog/2023/10/06/new-talk--making-hard-things-easy/) - [**What They Don’t Tell You About Getting Old**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/30/opinion/aging-old-wisdom.html) - [**TWO: Weapons-Grade**](https://windowscopilotstrategies.substack.com/p/two-weapons-grade) - [**How we’ve enshittified the tech economy**](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/63324/how-weve-enshittified-the-tech-economy) - [**Return to Office Is Bullshit And Everyone Knows It**](https://soatok.blog/2023/10/02/return-to-office-is-bullshit-and-everyone-knows-it/) - [**Weird A.I. Yankovic, a cursed deep dive into the world of voice cloning**](https://waxy.org/2023/10/weird-ai-yankovic-voice-cloning/) - [**Is Web3 bullshit?**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGsllEF7w%5Fg) - [**“Blown Away Guy”: The Most Iconic Music Image of All Time**](https://www.vintag.es/2022/02/blown-away-guy.html?m=1) - [**Twitter’s potential collapse could wipe out vast records of recent human history**](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/11/11/1063162/twitters-imminent-collapse-could-wipe-out-vast-records-of-recent-human-history/) - [**The Seven Meetings You Hate**](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-seven-meetings-you-hate/) - [**The Gravitational Pull Of Business As Usual**](https://paulitaylor.com/2023/09/05/the-gravitational-pull-of-business-as-usual/) - [**10 pieces of wisdom from Alan Watts**](https://bigthink.com/thinking/alan-watts/) - [**It Will Give You Goosebumps - Alan Watts On The Eternal Now**](https://youtube.com/watch?v=IheL31luaEs&si=hrQRHbiNzeFXyB88) - [**When Managers Take A Coach Approach Everyone Wins**](https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresahopke/2022/08/31/when-managers-take-a-coach-approach-everyone-wins/?sh=5da1ef3062d9) - [**Neil deGrasse Tyson: An Astrophysicist Goes To The Movies**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiwi-NEmoIA) - [**Three Myths and Four Truths About How to Get Happier**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/happiness-truths-myths/675283/?utm%5Fsource=press.coop) - [**The burnout curve**](https://thoughtshrapnel.com/2023/09/11/the-burnout-curve/) - [**The Simplicity Fetish**](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-242-the-simplicity-fetish) - [**The Math Behind The 5-Hour Rule: Why You Need To Learn 1 Hour Per Day Just To Stay Relevant**](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/math-behind-5-hour-rule-why-you-need-learn-1-hour-per-michael-simmons?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fios&utm%5Fcampaign=share%5Fvia) - [**Interoperability Will Save the Open Web**](https://spectrum.ieee.org/doctorow-interoperability) - [**Fear Of Missing Out is lethal when somebody invents a footgun**](https://softwarecrisis.dev/letters/fomo-is-lethal/) - [**Style is consistent constraint**](https://stephanango.com/style) - [**How do we fix the “Too Many Newsletters” problem?**](https://om.co/2023/08/27/how-do-we-fix-the-too-many-newsletters-problem/) - [**Measuring developer productivity? A response to McKinsey**](https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measuring-developer-productivity) - [**The big idea: why we need to learn to fail better**](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/28/the-big-idea-why-we-need-to-learn-to-fail-better) - [**Notes on Complexity: A Buddhist Scientist on the Murmuration of Being**](https://www.themarginalian.org/2023/08/27/notes-on-complexity-neil-theise/) - [**Stop Climbing, Start Surfing**](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/08/27/stop-climbing-start-surfing/) - [**10 ways to soothe painful assholes.**](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-to-soothe-painful-assholes) - [**This Is How To Succeed Under Pressure: 4 Secrets From Astronauts**](http://bakadesuyo.com/2023/08/astronauts) - [**Style vs substance**](https://adamsinger.substack.com/p/style-vs-substance) - [**Some tactics for writing in public**](https://jvns.ca/blog/2023/08/07/tactics-for-writing-in-public/) - [**connect the dots**](https://jarche.com/2023/08/connect-the-dots/) - [**Mastering the Art of the Request**](https://hbr.org/2023/08/mastering-the-art-of-the-request) - [**If you want a picture of the future, imagine humans having to face watching reboots – for ever**](https://www.lazaruscorporation.co.uk/blogs/artists-notebook/posts/if-you-want-a-picture-of-the-future) - [**Oppenheimer Had a Signature Martini. Here’s How to Make It.**](https://www.insidehook.com/article/booze/oppenheimer-had-signature-martini-heres-make) - [**Enabling Good Work Habits Through Reflective Goal-Setting**](https://newsletter.abinoda.com/p/reflective-goal-setting) Be well. ✌🏻 ### Broken Pieces URL: https://makoism.com/broken-pieces/ Last updated: 2023-10-08T20:09:09.000Z Is it just me, or do things seem exhausting lately? Between the [extreme weather events](https://theweek.com/in-depth/1021278/2023-extreme-weather), [never ending](https://apnews.com/article/republican-presidential-candidates-mexico-cartels-fentanyl-trafficking-b4127423a3130967a1fafb0d9fb7526a) [US political](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-republican-2024-candidates-trump-4fc0bf20c40acdcf49a579db79bec035) [drama](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/08/donald-trump-speaker-house-gop-lawmaker/71110323007/), and the horrible atrocities of war in the [Ukraine](https://www.cnn.com/world/europe/ukraine) and in [the Middle East ](https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-attack-10-08-23/index.html), it's **a lot**. Toss in [technology layoffs](https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/10/05/layoffs-are-up-almost-200-so-far-in-2023-these-industries-hit-hardest/?sh=6b8b34de1953), a (seemingly) [never-ending](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/07/remote-work-return-to-office-policies/674736/) debate on 'return to office' vs. [remote work](https://www.forbes.com/sites/sandervantnoordende/2023/08/29/why-flexibility-with-intentionality-ends-the-remote-work-debate/?sh=322c71a72d62), it's not surprising to me that many of my friends, as well as myself, are just feeling a sense of crazy exhaustion that I haven't ever experienced. I was out to breakfast a few weeks ago with a friend. We were talking about this phenomenon, which is probably coupled with age... I want to spend less time in big, crowded spaces but more time with people from different backgrounds who are more interested in having conversations rather than idle chit-chat. I've [written before about gathering](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/): > *I've been actively forcing myself to embrace some of these personality quirks and re-casting them into strengths by leaning into them as a way to try and establish a different way of thinking. Perhaps it's part of my post-second-heart-attack mindset around 'life 2.0', but the concept of gathering has become a new thing that is unique and vital to my well-being.* But my trek to the [Do Wales conference](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/) solidified this idea around spending more purposeful time doing things *that help inspire more purposeful thinking*. As I try to process all of this, I keep coming back to [the Japanese art of **kintsugi**](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/how-the-japanese-art-of-kintsugi-can-not-only-repair-bowls-but-people-1.6961270). **Kintsugi**, roughly translated as '*joining with gold*,' [is a centuries-old repair technique which uses urushi (Japanese lacquer) dusted with powdered gold, to restore broken ceramic and porcelain vessels](https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/discover/kintsugi). > *Rather than masking fractures, kintsugi highlights them with gold to tell an object's story. Items which have been restored using the kintsugi technique are often considered even more precious than they were before.* It may be a stretch, but symbolically, I've started to think more about this and how it can be applied to the challenges and craziness of everyday existence. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/10/il_1588xN.4382271442_f5aq.png) Here are a couple of thoughts on how I've been noodling about it: 1. **Embrace imperfections**. Similar to how Kintsugi views cracks and flaws as *valuable*, **embrace your imperfections** and see them as part of your unique story. 2. **Seek opportunity in chaos**. Just as kintsugi adds gold to showcase beauty amidst cracks, explore how that chaos and craziness can present opportunities for self-discovery and resilience. 3. **Rebuilding**. Like the deliberate and careful restoration in kintsugi, approach rebuilding after failures or challenges with mindfulness, self-compassion, and **an intention to create something even stronger and more beautiful**. 4. **Strength in vulnerability**. Kintsugi not only *repairs* pottery but also ***highlights vulnerability***. Recognize that acknowledging your vulnerabilities can be a source of strength and invite deeper connections. 5. **Cultivating resilience**. Kintsugi reflects the idea of transforming brokenness into resilience and beauty. Apply this philosophy by **cultivating resilience within yourself**. I hope this helps you navigate the mental toll in some way. As always, [I'm still a work in progress](https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress-2/), and I use this space for my self-therapy as I work through things. :) Wrapping up, I've been thinking a lot lately about my writing and what being online really is. While I'm done mainly with most social media (and have found a [lovely home on Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako)), I want to shake things up a bit with these posts. I want to [be more thoughtful about reading and writing online](https://tantek.com/2023/277/b1/thoughtful-reading-writing-web). Inspired by that brilliant post on the issues of social media exchanges: > *I believe it points to something larger: a fundamental thoughtfulness difference between writing rapid short-form posts (whether tweets or toots) and medium or longer-form writing (on blogs or journals), and the impact of that difference on readers: that the act of reading more thoughtful writing nudges & reinforces a reader into a more thoughtful state of mind.* It resonates with me after three solid years of almost weekly writing. On that, **I decided to take a *slight* writing hiatus while I figure out changes to this blog/newsletter**. I always find that change is good, and it keeps things fresh. If you have ideas, let me know! Do you like getting posts via email? Do you enjoy the links section? I'm curious about what's driving people to read these self-reflections. In any case, I'll post again in a few weeks. And in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, I want to '[be useful](https://www.amazon.com/Be-Useful-Seven-Tools-Life/dp/0593655958)', in whatever online form that takes. (Also - check out the [interview with him on NPR](https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1203694351/1204098248) if this embedded clip below doesnt work) If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 ## Quotables 📚 One of the highlights of [Do Wales 2023](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/) for me was this heart inspired talk from Nutritional Therapist, [Sarah Bayliss](https://sarahbaylissnutrition.co.uk/). "**Do Be Myself**" is one of those few, raw, and pure emotional conversations that just sticks with you. > *My weakness makes me powerful when I accept it. When I fully immerse myself in what I love, my limiting beliefs disappear.* [Do Be Myself | The DO LecturesAfter getting close to a marketing career burnout and becoming fascinated by the effects of lifestyle on the mind, body and soul, Sarah is now a qualified nutritionist.![](https://thedolectures.com/apple-touch-icon.png)The DO Lectures![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/9ndb8yrg/production/bcd24c88d6ed6318c58d846e8e4fe682040f5fc5-1920x1080.jpg?w=1200&h=675&auto=format)](https://thedolectures.com/talks/do-be-myself) I feel incredibly luck to have been there as Sarah opened up to the room; it was an incredibly powerful moment that I'll never forget. Give it a watch, I think you'll be moved. ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - [Alan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-l-a-n/) tackled the [Wonderland Trail](https://i0.wp.com/www.thehikinglife.com/the-hiking-life-2/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screen-Shot-2020-06-01-at-6.05.59-am.jpg?ssl=1) a few weeks back, and I enjoyed his walkabout trip report. I always enjoy hiking as a form of deeper thinking/meditation, but his 90-mile trek is one of which bucket lists are made. — \[via [**Wonderland**](https://angryweasel.substack.com/p/wonderland)\] - While I've enjoyed the idea of "inbox zero" for many years, one of the [fundamental problems with it](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inbox-zero-mentality) is that you need to **respond quickly**. Over the years, I've realized that, more often than not, it's too quick. I need to take a step back and only sometimes answer fast. And, as this article teases, '*often, the easiest way to solve a problem is to wait until you realize that you don't have one.*' Yes! Some problems solve themselves, and some solutions make things worse. — \[via [**Solve Your Problems by Doing Nothing**](https://www.candyforbreakfast.email/p/solve-your-problems-by-doing-nothing)\] - If you have done any writing, then you are familiar with **Lorem Ipsum**, placeholder text used to demonstrate a document's *visual form* without any real meaning. But I didn't know its origin from the sixteenth century until now. — \[via [**The Story of Lorem Ipsum: How Scrambled Text by Cicero Became Used by Typesetters Everywhere**](https://www.openculture.com/2023/09/the-story-of-lorem-ipsum-how-scrambled-text-by-cicero.html)\] - Look, I love my [Apple Watch Ultra 2](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra-2/), but I'm not going after it if, for some reason (how!?), it falls into the opening in an outhouse. Side note: the new WatchOS 10 face, [Modular Ultra](https://www.cultofmac.com/830578/get-the-awesome-new-modular-ultra-apple-watch-face/), is fantastic. — \[via [**Woman rescued from outhouse toilet after climbing in to retrieve Apple Watch, Michigan police say**](https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/woman-rescued-outhouse-toilet-after-climbing-retrieve-apple-103353175)\] - While we, as humans, think we want to avoid suffering, there's a surprising number of benefits from it. '*When you suffer, your brain does all sorts of useful things for you. It figures out what went wrong, adjusts your expectations, updates your beliefs, gives you an adrenaline jolt (if you're under threat), lowers your energy (if you're helpless), and recalibrates your motivations to the right level.*' — \[via [**You Want to Suffer**](https://everythingisbullshit.substack.com/p/you-want-to-suffer)\] - A common problem with the PKM (personal knowledge management) crowd is that too much time is spent on perfecting the tools and ecosystem to take notes rather than the act of, well, taking notes. This post asks, '*At what point do the tools of writing go from functional objects to signifiers of being a writer without ever having to sit down and write?*'; and the answer may surprise you — \[via [**Do Writers Fetishize Their Tools Too Much... Or Not Enough?**](https://lithub.com/do-writers-fetishize-their-tools-too-much-or-not-enough)\] - I never heard of the term '**capital inefficiency**,' but I certainly have felt it. John describes capital efficiency as '*a measure of how effectively a company uses its sources of capital to achieve its objectives, which may include growth, profitability, market share, and other strategic goals.*', you can easily start to recognize how **capital inefficiency** "*isn't just about where we've overspent relative to the outcome. It also relates to underinvestment AND the very nature of the outcomes we seek.*" Been there all too often. — \[via [**Capital Inefficiency**](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-243-capital-inefficiency)\] - As I wait for the '[**Double Tap**](https://mashable.com/article/apple-double-tap-accessibility-assistive-touch)' update to be released, there's an older accessibility feature on the Apple Watch that you can turn on today to experience it. Called "[Assistive Touch](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202658)", it allows you to '*utilize a customizable, floating screen button and selective hand gestures*' to perform certain actions. I turned on double pinch a week ago, and it's been a game-changer that I didn't expect. — \[via [**How the Apple Watch changed my dog walks forever**](https://www.imore.com/apps/health-fitness-apps/how-the-apple-watch-changed-my-dog-walks-forever)\] - I love talking about **actions over words**, and the **Say/Do Ratio** is a simple concept that provides all sorts of interesting lessons. — \[via [**Say/Do Ratio**](https://www.breakingpoint.tech/p/saydo-ratio)\] - Moving this newsletter/blog off of Substack was one of my best choices; this post articulates some of the problems with Substack and the 'substack fatigue' we face today. — \[via [**We need to talk about Substack**](https://sassone.wordpress.com/2023/09/28/we-need-to-talk-about-substack/)\] - [Greg Morris](https://www.gr36.com) has a great post on trying new things and just being okay with accepting that many things in life are just "not for me." — \[via [**It’s Not For Me**](https://www.gr36.com/2023/09/11/its-not-for.html)\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 I've been finally watching [Game Of Thrones](https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones) this summer/fall, and I was sent this crazy video of Game Of Thrones creator Dan Weiss, Tom Morello of Audioslave/Rage Against The Machine, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Brad Paisley, and Game Of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi shred on the all-new Sigil Collection Guitars from [The Fender Custom Shop](https://www.fendercustomshop.com). Be well. ✌🏻 ### All Those Empty Calories URL: https://makoism.com/consuming-empty-calories/ Last updated: 2023-10-01T16:10:43.000Z It may be an artifact that we're all getting older, but almost everyone I know has gained a few pounds over the last few years. It makes sense, for the 36 months of being locked indoors, away from the world, what else could you really do but enjoy a movie/show, sit around on Zoom calls, and occasionally get outside for some exercise, but it primarily was a long, long, loooooong sludge. And yeah, I've been thinking a lot about how I lost those pounds I gained while everything went insane. It's hard, too - I'm older than I was (obviously) and not as active as I used to be, but it seems harder and harder to shed extra pounds. That's a long way of saying that I've been thinking **a lot** about calories. What do you put into your body that fuels you, and more importantly, those *empty calories*? **Empty calories** are food and beverages consumed throughout the day that consists mainly of items that provide little nutritional value; those that are high in calories but low in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Instead, junk food, sugary sodas, processed snacks, fast food meals, and desserts are loaded with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and refined carbohydrates. In other words - they don't do anything of value for you (well, okay - except maybe they taste good). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/09/chipsy-chewsies-roz-chast.jpg) via [Roz Chast](https://fineartamerica.com/featured/chipsy-chewsies-roz-chast.html?product=art-print) If you've been reading [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) for a while, you know my obsession with time. - [Tempus Fugit](https://makoism.com/time-flies/) \- *Time can only be spent once. Spend well* - [The Narrative](https://makoism.com/the%5Fnarrative/) \- *There's almost an epidemic of crappy news and a general bad vibe around us, 24 hours a day. Social media has devolved into nothing more than junk food for your brain.* - [What You Leave Behind](https://makoism.com/what-you-leave-behind/) \- *‌We don't create the meaning of our life — we discover it.* - [Forty Three Percent](https://makoism.com/43percent/) \- *‌Are you making the most of your weeks?* It could be an unhealthy obsession. We'll see. Recently, I've been trying to become acutely aware of **time wasters**. And if you equate ***wasting time as empty calories*** in the day, **holy shit**, I consume way too many junk calories every week. What if you imagine your week, like your diet? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/09/CleanShot-2023-09-16-at-11.04.26@2x.png) filling in the blanks You have **10,080 minutes a week**. Minus **3,360 minutes** for sleep (8 hours a night, 7 days), **you have 6,720 minutes to fill yourself with stuff**—work, exercise, mindfulness, reading, play, joy, etc. How much time do you spend, scrolling through Instagram. How much time do you spend, in countless useless meetings you don't need to attend. How much time do you spend, surrounding yourself with overtly negative people. How much time do you spend, watching hours and hours of reality TV. (Heck, I watched [Guy Fieri for hours yesterday consume crazy food across the country](https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives); that's almost a double negative calorie.) > *"We will start to realize that being chained to your mobile phone is a low-status behavior, similar to smoking." - [Max Fisher, The Chaos Machine](https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Machine-Inside-Social-Rewired/dp/031670332X)* When I fill the day with too much of that stuff, those empty calories by wasting time, I find that I start to suffer from: - **Decreased Productivity**: Wasting time consumes precious hours that could be spent on meaningful tasks or responsibilities. It leads to a lack of progress, unfinished projects, and increased stress. - **Distraction and Lack of Focus**: Wasting time on unproductive activities which distract and shift focus away from the important goals and priorities. - **Missed Opportunities**: Wasting time actively blocks opportunities for learning, growth, and personal development. It can hinder one's ability to acquire new skills, gain knowledge, or advance in their career. - **Regret and Frustration**: Wasting time often, for me, results in internal regret and frustration due to unproductive choices I made throughout the day; it directly impacts my self-esteem and overall satisfaction. - Most significantly - I feel a **lack of balance**: wasting time can disrupt the balance between work and my personal life. When I have too many empty calories, I feel overwhelmed and unfulfilled, missing out on meaningful experiences. So, an area of growth for me now is that I'm actively trying to become **more aware** of my time management. I am making conscious choices to optimize my daily routines so that I get time to fill my time with things that are productive and lead me towards more personal growth. Not filling my day with as much empty calories as I have previously. It's why I deleted my Facebook and Twitter accounts. If any of this sounds familiar, try to take a step back and look at how you're spending your time. Try to make conscious choices, not mindless doomscrolling, to fill your hours with things that provide you nourishment. You might find, just like consuming nutrient-dense foods, spending time on things of value instead of going through the motions, you'll find everything gets a little better. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://sanjuans.life/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 Not really sure what to say about this one, but [**How a Clean, Tidy Home Can Help You Survive the Atomic Bomb: A Cold War Film from 1954**](https://www.openculture.com/2013/07/tidy-home-can-help-you-survive-the-atomic-bomb.html)\] was a curious read. *"The 12-minute film shows what happens when clean, white houses are subjected to heat waves from an atomic blast, versus what happens when a dingy, ill-kept house goes through the same drill. It turns out that neat people can not only claim moral victory (as they always do). They also get to live another day. Consider it proof of the survival of the tidiest."* ## Quotables 📚 > *"Many people view their habits and routines as obstacles or, at the very least, obligations to get through. Making the morning coffee, driving your kids to the next activity, preparing the next meal—we often see our routines as chores to be completed.* > > *But these are not moments to be dismissed. They are life. Making coffee can be a peaceful ritual—perhaps even a fulfilling one—if done with care rather than rushed to completion. It’s about the amount of attention you devote to these simple moments, and whether you choose to appreciate them or bulldoze through them on the way to the next task.* > > **Find the beauty and joy in your daily rituals and you will find beauty and joy in your daily life. To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is to love your life."** - via [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/september-7-2023) ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I mentioned something similar on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/smakofsky%5Ffor-some-reason-2023-has-felt-like-a-constant-activity-7105156599173849088-c3I7) last week, and based on the response, it seems like everyone is feeling some form of exhaustion. The sentiment that '*I'm wasting all this time I could spend... truly living and having fun and being happy*' sums it up better than I could. A great read. — \[via [**Layers of exhaustion**](https://morrick.me/archives/9758)\] - 99% of the human population was wiped out 930,000 years ago, leaving around 1,300 individuals who contributed to maintaining the population. Read more about what caused a sudden collapse in civilization — \[via [**New analysis suggests human ancestors nearly died out**](https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/09/did-our-ancestors-become-an-endangered-species-a-million-years-ago/)\] - Another article on calendar glut and a radical refocusing on time. I liked the approach here on focusing on calendars as **tools**, and you should use that to organize time. Spend two days on things you love doing, two days on neutral tasks, and one day free. Love it. — \[via [**You Don’t Work For Your Calendar**](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/you-dont-work-for-your-calendar)\] - I had the privilege of hearing [Per Håkansson](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/how-i-exchanged-things-for-freedom), author of the newsletter [Fewer Better Things](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com) speak at the DO Wales 2023 conference back in July and was struck by his commitment on reducing clutter and scaling back to the bare essentials. Per talks about some of the behavioral mindset and psychology on why we're attached to *things* in this post. — \[via [**Why we are so attached to our things**](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/how-i-exchanged-things-for-freedom)\] - The [fires in Lahaina](https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-fires-timeline-maui-lahaina-road-block-c8522222f6de587bd14b2da0020c40e9) were tragic, yet this solo house survived it. Read about the miracle '*last house standing*' and why it was spared from destruction. — \[via [**What Saved The ‘Miracle House’ In Lahaina?**](https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/08/what-saved-the-miracle-house-in-lahaina/)\] - I loved this post on how '*energy makes time*.' And more importantly, it asks the question, '*how does doing what I need to make time for everything else*?' — \[via [**Energy makes time**](https://everythingchanges.us/blog/energy-makes-time/)\] - I've said it in [previous newsletters](https://makoism.com/time-flies/), but the most important thing you have is time. "*When you're young, you are literally rich with time. At age 20, you probably have about two billion seconds left (assuming you live to 80). By 50, just one billion seconds remain. We don't relate to ourselves as the *Time Billionaires* that we really are. Most of us fail to realize the value of this asset until it is gone.*" — \[via [**The Time Billionaire: A Concept That Changed My Life**](https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/the-time-billionaire-a-concept-that-changed-my-life)\] - Not many surprises in this one, but it was all excellent advice about being concrete, asking questions, and having confidence. A good refresher, though, and a list of skills to keep practicing with. — \[via [**New Research Reveals 5 Secrets That Will Make You Persuasive**](http://bakadesuyo.com/2023/07/persuasive-2)\] - I've tried. I've failed (which is why I now have a succulent), but the concepts behind successfully cultivating a bonsai tree are a good read. — \[via [**The secret philosophy of cultivating a bonsai tree**](https://bigthink.com/thinking/bonsai-tree-care-secret-philosophy/)\] - Ooo, this is a tough one: '*how do you set goals that are just beyond reach (unreasonable) but not so far as to make the goal meaningless (unrealistic)?*' This is an excellent article on pursuing the impossible. — \[via [**The Art of Being Unreasonable**](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/the-art-of-being-unreasonable)\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 It's been a month this week. Feels like this video, a news report in which '*a man was pulled over by Nebraska police after an onlooker reported him driving with a full-sized bull named Howdy Doody in his passenger seat*' sums it up nicely. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Non Verba URL: https://makoism.com/non-verba/ Last updated: 2023-08-31T01:51:26.000Z Several years ago, a colleague gave me these cards as a joke for me to hand out when meetings got out of control (and available [here for purchase](https://seteditions.com/products/stop-talking)): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/08/CleanShot-2023-08-25-at-08.59.04@2x.png) stop talking It's a simple and humorous message, but I've been reflecting inwardly and taking that advice myself. I have one of these cards on my desk now as a [token reminder](https://makoism.com/totems/) to listen. Generally, I am acutely aware of areas I need to work on for self-development, and **I know I talk too much**. I am *grossly* aware of it. There's almost nothing worse than when I join a video conference with 15 other people, and they're all staring silently at one another, waiting for the meeting to start. I'll randomly banter on about something completely ridiculous to avoid the silence. I'd bet that if you ask your peers or colleagues, staring at 10-15 humans, each in a 1-inch square box, awkward with no one speaking awkwardly. No casual chatter. [Research conducted at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands](https://www.rug.nl/staff/n.koudenburg/koudenburgetal.2011.pdf) has shown that it only takes FOUR seconds of silence for people to start feeling rattled. Is it learned behavior (how often do you put on background noise?) or something more profound? As a personal development goal, *I'm trying to spend more time embracing being comfortable with silence*. It's been an interesting experiment; I'm trying to be aware of it and consciously sit back and absorb the room or situation. Just watch. Remove the feeling around the need to say anything. This shift quickly has become a more insightful way to build the muscle of **reacting**, not just **responding**. Ask yourself, are you really **listening**? Or just **waiting** to talk. Active listening is a concept often overlooked, but it also holds immense power when applied strategically, much like Law #4 from Robert Greene's influential book, [The 48 Laws of Power](https://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197). Law #4, "**Always Say Less Than Necessary**," teaches us the value of restraint and the careful use of words. > *When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinx-like. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.* > > **Learn the lesson: Once the words are out, you cannot take them back. Keep them under control.** > > *Be particularly careful with sarcasm: The momentary satisfaction you gain with your biting words will be outweighed by the price you pay.* **Active listening** forces you to be more engaged with whoever is talking, capturing their words, underlying intentions, and emotions. It involves suppressing our desire to dominate the conversation and instead genuinely understanding the speaker's perspective. This is valuable to gain insight into others' thoughts and motivations, allowing yourself to tailor responses accordingly and identify opportunities, vulnerabilities, and even power dynamics within interpersonal communication. It's important insight towards shared understanding and provides more freedom when you go into a conversation without feeling that you need to talk consistently, add things, or need anything from it. Not saying something can be *more* effective than saying anything at all. So next time you find yourself in a situation where you are consciously paying attention to how much you talk, pause for a second and ask yourself, "*why do I feel like I need to speak? Is it to just speak, or is there something valuable to add*". Remember: conversations are ultimately not about **hearing**, but also **understanding**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 > *It turns out, not doing their art was costing them time, was draining it away, little by little, like a slow but steady leak. They had assumed, wrongly, that there wasn’t enough time in the day to do their art, because they assumed (because we’re conditioned to assume) that every thing we do costs time. But that math doesn’t take energy into account, doesn’t grok that doing things that energize you gives you time back. By doing their art, a whole lot of time suddenly returned. Their art didn’t need more time; their time needed their art.* > > **The question to ask with all those things isn’t, 'how do I make time for this?' The answer to that question always disappoints, because that view of time has it forever speeding away from you. The better question is, how does doing what I need make time for everything else?* — \[via *[Energy makes time](https://everythingchanges.us/blog/energy-makes-time/)*\]* ## Quotables 📚 On the topic of magic, written by [Neil Gaiman](https://www.neilgaiman.com) himself: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/08/1ff5853f288920f6.png) \- via ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I'm still determining if I've latched on to the term '**enshittification**,' but it describes many things recently. [Cory Doctorow](https://craphound.com) has a wonderful read on the state of '*The Cloud*,' how services you once depended on just rot (i.e., Evernote), and what we can do to protect the Internet. — \[via **[There is No Cloud](https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/03/there-is-no-cloud/)**\] - The A.I. glitter-bomb over my week continues, so I've been consuming a ton of information about [LLMs (Large Language Models)](https://www.techopedia.com/definition/34948/large-language-model-llm) recently. I enjoyed this deeper dive into the way that LLMs structure output. '*Languages are symbolic systems comprised of pairs of form and meaning. Something trained only on form, as all LLMs are, by definition, is only going to get form; it's not going to get meaning. It's not going to get to understanding.*' — \[via **[Language Is a Poor Heuristic For Intelligence](https://karawynn.substack.com/p/language-is-a-poor-heuristic-for)**\] - File this one under the ultimate *tech debt*. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, 19 schools have air conditioning and heat systems running off a 30-year-old [Commodore Amiga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga). Not only that, but they call the high school student who originally programmed it (who lives in the area) when they have problems. I'd suggest get a [Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.com) at this point — \[via **[1980s computer controls GRPS heat and A.C.](https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/1980s-computer-controls-grps-heat-and-ac/)**\] - Bookmarking this one in case I need to find a labyrinth sometime. This site provides the ultimate reference on '*labyrinths you can visit, including their locations, pictures, and contact details, are accessible here, along with information about the many types of labyrinths found worldwide.*' — \[via **[World-Wide Labyrinth Locator](https://labyrinthlocator.com/home)**\] - Most of us have been taught that the "Hero's Journey" is a common template in storytelling in film and books, but this article **counters** the very origin of the theory, calling it nonsense. '\*The reality is that Campbell's 'monomyth' is something of a Frankenstein's monster, cobbled together from different parts of various myths. No individual story written before Campbell's book was published actually follows Campbell's model exactly in its entirety for every single step. \*' — \[via **[The "Hero's Journey" Is Nonsense](https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2020/12/31/the-heros-journey-is-nonsense/)**\] - Described as a parasite; '*to inoculate yourself don't delegate understanding. If you build your own understanding you will be the one who earns the dividends*' — \[via **[Don't delegate understanding](https://stephanango.com/understand)**\] - [Music plays a big role](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/05/09/james-gunn-turns-to-favorites-for-guardians-of-the-galaxy-soundtrack/70184723007/) in most of [James Gunn](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0348181/)'s creations. Read this analysis of his various films and how the song selection for individual films integrates as part of his storytelling — \[via **[Music, Arrested Development, and the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY](https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/music-arrested-development-and-the)**\] - Talk about FOMO (fear of missing out); in a recent study, psychologists found that people are willing to undergo physical pain for '*functionally worthless information*' rather than missing out. — \[via **[Humans will trade pain for useless information](https://www.science.org/content/article/humans-will-trade-pain-useless-information)**\] - A bit of an older post, but I still agree with the possibilities on how AirPods are a **platform** for developers to experiment with new computing capabilities. — \[via **[AirPods as a Platform](https://julian.digital/2020/04/19/airpods-as-a-platform/)**\] - I hadn't seen [this interview](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a55985/christopher-nolan-interview/) before between Chris Nolan and [Adam Grant](https://adamgrant.substack.com). During the discussion, Nolan talks about how '*it's all about trying new things. If you're going to write, you want to read a lot before you write, *without any purpose*. I love watching T.V., love watching movies, preferably with no sense of purpose. *Just being open to things that might inspire you—and staying open*.*' — \[via **[Christopher Nolan Reads "Without Purpose"](https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/christopher-nolan-reads-without-purpose)**\] - 15 years ago, a group of students from MIT [were sued](https://www.wired.com/2008/08/injunction-requ/) to **not** present at the Defcon conference regarding how they hacked the Boston subway. This past week, they finally presented the vulnerabilities they discovered that were never fixed. — \[via **[Teens Hacked Boston Subway’s CharlieCard to Get Infinite Free Rides — and This Time Nobody Got Sued](https://www.wired.com/story/mtba-charliecard-hack-defcon-2023/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 Closing out this week with a wonderful post from **Thermal Corner**, titled '[Be Good to Yourself](https://www.thermalcorner.net/post/be-kind-to-yourself/)'. > *I am trying to take to heart the very true phrase. “Be kind to yourself”. It can be hard to step back and put things into perspective but it’s such a good mental reminder. You are probably going through a lot right now. Be kind to yourself, don’t make yourself feel bad for not being productive. It’s better to ship that app months after you intended instead of not at all. It’s better to spend time with your significant other or family than all your time on your side projects. *Just remember be kind to yourself*.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Inefficiency Multipliers URL: https://makoism.com/inefficiency-multipliers/ Last updated: 2023-08-31T01:52:07.000Z **There's not enough time**. I'd be willing to be that you've thought that at some point, whether regarding a project at work, that chore you've been putting off, or finishing some big presentation, those words have crossed your mind. Today, I want to tease a potential paradox in your thinking. You can get it done faster by reducing the time you allow for something. **You've given too much time to something**. Let me introduce you to **Parkinson's Law**, the idea that '*any task will inflate until all of the available time is spent*.' In 1955, [Cyril Parkinson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.%5FNorthcote%5FParkinson) humorously [wrote an essay published in the The Economist](https://www.economist.com/news/1955/11/19/parkinsons-law): > ***IT is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.* *Thus, an elderly lady of leisure can spend the entire day writing and despatching a postcard to her niece at Bognor Regis. An hour will be spent in finding the postcard, another in hunting for spectacles, half an hour in a search for the address, an hour and a quarter in composition, and twenty minutes in deciding whether or not to take an umbrella when going to the pillar box in the next street. The total effort which would occupy a busy man for three minutes, all told, may, in this fashion, leave another person prostrate after a day of doubt, anxiety, and toil.*** > ***Granted that work (and especially paperwork) is thus elastic in its demands on time, it is manifest that there need be little or no relationship between the work to be done and the size of the staff to which it may be assigned.*** Or, imagine you have a task that should take 3 hours. **If you give yourself a week to do it, it will take a week**. Giving yourself too much time often backfires. Because you know you have more than enough time to complete it, you end up filling that time with other random things, trying to make it perfect or creating plenty of artificial distractions. If you **did** the simple thing you set out to do, it should have been simple. Instead, you artificially made it overly complex, filling up the entire time (or even blowing past your deadline). Sound familiar? Think about it: - Doing things when time is running out pushes you to get more productive; you get more done in that last hour as a deadline ticks closer. - The bigger of a place you get to live, the more crap you accumulate to fill it. - If you take a big plate, you'll fill it with more food. Heck, the bigger bowl I take, the more ice cream goes in. And yes, procrastination plays a crucial role in this behavior. We're often inspired to leave things to the last minute. [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/)'s fantastic TED talk, "Inside the mind of a master procrastinator," covers this topic better than I could. If you haven't watched it, take 20 minutes and procrastinate finishing reading this. So how do you tackle Parkinson's Law? One effective way is to play with [artificial](https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/) [constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/). **Constraints force us to challenge the status quo**. [Back in 2022](https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/), I mentioned: > *when there are no constraints on the creative process, complacency sets in, and people follow what psychologists call the path of least resistance – they go for the most intuitive idea that comes to mind rather than investing in developing better ideas.* I'm certainly not suggesting burning yourself out. That's a terrible way to think. It's a calling to ***challenge you to judge time better***. - Learn how to prioritize the most important things better. - Understand that you must [say no, to protect the yes](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/). - And, most importantly, [**protect the asset**](https://meaningring.com/2015/01/30/protect-the-asset-by-greg-mckeown/). Greg McKeown states: '*The best asset we have for contributing to the world is ourselves. If we underinvest in ourselves, we damage the very tool we need to make our highest contribution*'. Amen. What's most interesting about Parkinson's law is that it's not just focused on individuals, but **organizations and bureaucracy**. He suggests that there are two factors in slowness in organizations (which probably sounds all too familiar in work culture today): 1. *An official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals, and* 2. *Officials do work for each other.* Think about any committee you sit on; do they make things faster? Or do they slow down and progress to a crawl? The **more people that get involved, the worse it gets**. It ultimately takes far more people to get the same thing done. It's interesting to think of these things next time you struggle with deadlines. Creating more meaningful, shorter-term deadlines and getting momentum rather than over-estimating and underdelivering is vital. And.. It may be time to start creating some artificial time boundaries. Give it a try... see what happens. It's always fun to experiment with productivity hacks. The reason you can't get things done is that you've just given yourself **too much** time. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 This was a fascinating experiment that I want to try with some of my own writing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/08/CleanShot-2023-08-11-at-18.06.46@2x-1.png) In [What I Learned About My Writing By Seeing Only The Punctuation](https://medium.com/creators-hub/what-i-learned-about-my-writing-by-seeing-only-the-punctuation-efd5334060b1), the author built out some code to strip away the words from a book, leaving only the punctuation. What he found revealed a hidden beauty in writing: > *When we think of novels, of newspapers and blogs, we think of words. We easily forget the little suggestions pushed in between: the punctuation. But how can we be so cruel to such a fundamental part of writing?* ## Quotables 📚 via [Ian Campbell](https://masto.deoan.org/@neurovagrant/110794172092058762): > *One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn, but it changed everything.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/08/f52bc9a8ea6ad1bb-1.png) ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Since the days I was writing [Windows Calendar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar%5F%28Windows%29) in Vista, I’ve always been of the mind that it would be cool to rethink the standard Gregorian calendar. In this post on 'calendar layers', the author ideates on looking at time in a number of three-dimensional layers and how to look at other data across time. For example, imagine seeing a stress-level throughout your day. Really interesting stuff; I’m going to explore a bit on how I can make any of this actionable/useful. — \[via [**Multi-layered calendars**](https://julian.digital/2023/07/06/multi-layered-calendars/)\] - How many times have you heard '*that’s my grandmothers secret recipe*'. Well, apparently over time, those amazing secret recipes were plagiarized from mayonnaise jars, cookie bags and syrup bottles. — \[via [**The Dirty Secret of ‘Secret Family Recipes’**](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/secret-family-recipes-copied)\] - I recently discovered “[The Garden of the Forking Paths](https://www.forkingpaths.co/)”, and really liked this post, which explores how 'one man randomized his life and how he teaches us why we need much more trial-and-error experimentation—in our lives.' A worthy read. — \[via [**Experiment with Everything**](https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/experiment-with-everything)\] - Time capsules are kinda cool, and the Lunar Codex is one of a kind. It uses '*digital and analog technology to preserve art, books, music, and more*', and is stored via NanoFiche. It’s a storage medium that’s expected to last hundreds of thousands of years, and is '*impervious to temperature and humidity, and has a near-zero degradation factor*'. And for scale, it can engrave millions of words on the size of a dime. — \[via [**Time Capsules via Lunar Codex**](https://www.lunarcodex.com/time-capsules)\] - [Cory Doctorow](https://doctorow.medium.com/) discusses the difference between federatable and federated social content, and why **he doesn’t trust** [Meta’s Threads](https://about.fb.com/news/2023/07/introducing-threads-new-app-text-sharing/) application (or [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/)). For me, I signed up for both, and **have no plans to use them** \- you can [find me on Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako). Also check out his upcoming book, '[The Internet Con: How To Seize the Means of Computation](http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org/)' — \[via [**Fool Me Twice We Don’t Get Fooled Again**](https://doctorow.medium.com/fool-me-twice-we-dont-get-fooled-again-20074e311f1f)\] - Another day, another AI thing. This week’s victim was [Prosecraft](https://www.shaxpir.com/), whose creator '*scanned and analyzed a bunch of books and would let you call up really useful data on books.*' Authors were upset, as you can imagine (despite how useful the tool seemed), over the lack of consent around using their content. Times are going to get interesting, for sure, especially as most [can’t figure out what data](https://medium.com/@dlaytonj2/chatgpt-show-me-the-data-sources-11e9433d57e8) these AI models were trained on in the first place. — \[via [**The Fear Of AI Just Killed A Very Useful Tool**](https://www.techdirt.com/2023/08/08/the-fear-of-ai-just-killed-a-very-useful-tool/)\] - Continuing on the '*AI is turning everything on it’s head*' theme, I really enjoyed this post on the effects around generative AI on the web. Long story short - as more and more content that is created by GPT is put on the web, the AI starts to almost get [**degenerative**](https://www.miketrigg.com/blog/degenerative-ai). Think of it this way: a copy of a copy of a copy. Research is starting to show that this will [ultimately pollute the internet, causing model training to collapse](https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/ai/training-ai-models-on-machine-generated-data-leads-to-model-collapse/). — \[via [**The Web You Know Is About to Be Broken**](https://medium.com/young-coder/the-web-you-know-is-about-to-be-broken-daafab6325f)\] - A beautiful essay on thinking differently; '*I'm gonna do *this* as well as *that*!*' — \[via [**This Then That**](https://sreekarscribbles.com/this-then-that/)\] - Liz and I were discussing Cairns - rock-stacking - that are used to mark a trail. I saw them in Nepal where they’re used as prayer stones, and never really thought about using rocks as part of marking a path. But, as I started to read more, the practice is apparently full of controversy. — \[via [**No, you shouldn't stack rocks on your next hike. Here's why.**](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/cairns-rock-stacking-national-parks)\] - File under 'nothing is safe', but I did think this attack vector was fascinating. '*A team of researchers from British universities has trained a deep learning model that can steal data from keyboard keystrokes recorded using a microphone with an accuracy of 95%*'. Side note: the same attack via listening to Zoom was only 93% effective. — \[via [**New acoustic attack steals data from keystrokes with 95% accuracy**](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-acoustic-attack-steals-data-from-keystrokes-with-95-percent-accuracy/)\] - Since the move Tetris was released, I’ve been getting more into the retro-gaming via old consoles, and the [Ambernic RG35XX](https://www.amazon.com/RG35XX-Handheld-Console-Classic-Transparent/dp/B0BP7JZFC5) is a cheap (under $80) and fun way to remember your video-gaming youth. — \[via [**Anbernic RG35XX Handheld Gaming Console**](https://rasterweb.net/raster/2023/07/13/anbernic-rg35xx-handheld-gaming-console/)\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 As a proud owner still of a [Newton MessagePad 100](https://everymac.com/systems/apple/messagepad/stats/newton%5Fmp%5F100.html); I instantly added this to my watch list. (via ) > "Love Notes to Newton is a film about what a beloved (but short-lived) pen-based Personal Digital Assistant created by Apple Computer has meant for the people who used it, and the community who adore it." Be well. ✌🏻 ### Owning The Narrative URL: https://makoism.com/the_narrative/ Last updated: 2023-08-07T12:58:22.000Z A few weeks back, [Derek Sivers](https://sive.rs/pnt) published a post that resonated with me. In a single, short entry, he wrote about something that I've been trying to put into words that I continue to work on (with varying degrees of success) as part of my '*[I am a work in progress](https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress-2/)*" mindset. I’ve been spending a lot of time analyzing and trying to think differently about many things around my own 'story'. > *We think of the past like it’s a physical fact - like it’s real. But the past is what we call our memory and stories about it. Imperfect memories and stories are built on one interpretation of incomplete information. That’s 'the past'. *You can change your history*. The actual factual events are such a small part of it. Everything else is perspective, open for re-interpretation. *The past is never done*.* Shakespeare's The Tempest, says '*what's past is prologue*' and that history is what sets the direction for the present. In many ways that can be true but I'm starting to understand that it's not the *entire* story. I've been trying to view life more as a movie - one that you are the star of - with your memories and events defining your arc as the main character. These stories do not form your identity, but they can set artificial boundaries on what you are able to achieve in the context of where you are today. It may be personal, but here's what I struggle with. My wife **always** gets mad at me when I say that I '**feel old**.' And it's a simple fact - I do *feel* old lately. The body aches in ways that it never used to, I can't run like I did when I was 40, etc. But I'm realizing **how important** it is to take back control of my own narrative. Allowing myself to be influenced by these thoughts (or others' opinions of me, external social pressures or expectations, etc), it derails to me on what's possible. or what I want to be. I've noticed more than ever that I need to take over and reframe my own story. I spend too much time thinking about '*this* happened, which caused *that*.' > *"When you slip on a banana peel, people laugh at you. But when you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it’s *your laugh*." - Nora Ephron* Reframing starts by making small shifts in how I think about things to make active changes to allow me to take back my own story. To get **unstuck from the past**. According to Wikipedia, the theory of [narrative identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative%5Fidentity) '*postulates that individuals form an identity by integrating their life experiences into an internalized, evolving story of the self that provides the individual with a sense of unity and purpose in life.*' Reframing stories is hard in 2023\. There's almost an epidemic of crappy news and a general bad vibe **all around us**, 24 hours a day. Social media appears to have devolved into nothing more than junk food for your brain. It's become incredibly important when I start to get overwhelmed, to recognize the ideas/thoughts that set me down a path of the old story. It's good to have small, simple things that help you reset. Go for a walk around the block, do a quick 10 min strength workout, or read a book. A quick win often helps reset my brain to get out of a negative spiral. And once you take over your narrative identity - that inner narrative that consists of your reconstructed past, your perceived present, and your imagined future- you can start actively turning your life into the one you want to live. Psychologists have long stated that turning memories into a ***well-told life narratives*** can help you achieve that identity. So, am I the "old guy"? No. Instead, I'm the "*one who has some perspective on what's important in life by surviving two heart attacks" or the "adventurer who's experienced what it's like to be on Mt Everest, climb volcanos, or see elephants roam around in their natural habitat in South Africa*". Heck - I **love** challenging the status quo - that's why I am always talking about [pirates](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/). It's part of my **narrative**. I've gotten to a place where I've decided to no longer *accept* the story I was telling myself, and take more of a stance in **authoring the story I want**. Enough rambling on a late Sunday night - lets close out this week with a quick watch from [The Do Lectures](https://thedolectures.com) on 'the two films of your life'. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 I've been getting back into reading Vonnegut again, and I keep wandering across pearls of wisdom that seem to exactly what I need at a particular moment. This one is from an [interview on PBS](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/god-bless-you-mr-vonnegut/): > *\[When Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope\]* > *Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet?* > > *And so I pretend not to hear her.* > > *And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And, see some great looking babes.* > > *And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And, and ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know.* > > *The moral of the story is, is we're here on Earth to fart around.* > > *And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance at all anymore.* ## Quotables 📚 [Clive Thompson](https://saturation.social/@clive) nailed it this week. > When I get some time free I'm gonna program a version of Pac-Man where you play as the fruit. > > Tight close-up on the part of the maze where you appear > > When you appear, you have no control over anything > > **All you do is wait** > And wonder > > If you're going to get eaten > > You can hear, in the distance, the sounds of the game; see the ghosts go by; hear the approach of Pac-Man, hear him fade further away > > If you don't get eaten in that round, you score one point > > If you do get eaten, the game's over — \[via **[saturation.social/@clive/110795319247395932](https://saturation.social/@clive/110795319247395932)**\] ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - My favorite new read is [50 Years of Text Games](https://if50.textories.com), which has sold out but still available via eBook. From the author, a new article on the lost art of the 'type-in' game. Retro-fun. — \[via **[The Antagonists](https://if50.substack.com/p/the-antagonists)**\] - Sad to see the [passing of Sinead O'Connor](https://www.etonline.com/sinead-oconnor-dead-at-56-everything-we-know-so-far-209031) last week. I liked this article on her life, and '*why do we always seem to dismiss the truth-tellers who don’t come packaged the way we’re expecting them*'; lots for many to think about here. — \[via **[The world wasn't ready for Sinead O'Connor](https://lgumbinner.substack.com/p/the-world-wasnt-ready-for-sinead)**\] - A good look at the protein bar; how many are full of sugar, highly processed and in cases make sense. But the reality is that unless you're climbing up the side of a mountain, they are nothing more than glorified candy bars. — \[via **[Are Protein Bars Good for You? What to Know About Nutrition.](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/well/eat/protein-bars.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare)**\] - A fun read of moats versus strategy, focusing on the "how" is incredibly important, and some tips on recognizing "bad strategy", especially when it's filled with fluff and '*failure to face the challenge*'. '*Good strategy can actually free (you) to move faster by making it clear exactly what the company wants to do, and for whom, and giving autonomy to the talented people it hires by letting them select their own coherent actions that fit within the strategy.*' **Amen**. — \[via **[In Defense of Strategy](https://www.notboring.co/p/in-defense-of-strategy)**\] - TIL that most food expiration dates have no science behind them at all, and how these arbitrary dates are leading to massive food waste. — \[via **[The truth about expiration dates](https://www.salon.com/2023/07/24/expiration-dates-dont-have-much-science-behind-them--a-safety-researcher-explains%5Fpartner/)**\] - I got my first tattoo this year - and another one is coming (still deciding), but the Financial Times had an interesting retro on the growing number of tattoos in the workplace. Apparently, [one study in 2018](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0018726718782597) reveals that '*men with tattoos were 7 per cent more likely to be employed than men without them*'. — \[via **[Tattoos have reached a turning point at work](https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/tattoos-no-longer-taboo-at-work-6372642/)**\] - In the [immortal words of Tyler Durden](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HINIK3pIOp4), '*my life just seemed too complete, and maybe we have to break everything to make something better out of ourselves*', and in this post, the author makes a similar discovery. '*We’re continually either taking on new identities or shedding old ones, sometimes by choice and sometimes because change is foisted upon us. When you go through a big life transition—or even, sometimes, a small one—you have to change your entire conception of yourself along with it*' - **the pursuit of life 2.0** — \[via **[You Have to Die Before You Can Be Reborn](https://www.candyforbreakfast.email/p/you-have-to-die-before-you-can-be)**\] - You know a post is going to be a thinker when it begins with '**this shit is fucking boring**.' [Baldur Bjarnason](https://www.baldurbjarnason.com) has great insights on the latest technology hype - AI - and why '*the most effective thing for me to do is to ignore boring topics and focus on writing that interests me*'. — \[via **[Disinterest.](https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2023/disinterest/)**\] - I *could* spoil the article, but instead go read it. I look for this trait, not only in hiring, but surrounding myself with people who are able to say it. — \[via **[Apple Secretly Looks for Candidates Who Are Willing to Say These 3 Little Words](https://www.inc.com/kelly-main/apple-secretly-looks-for-candidates-that-are-willing-to-say-these-3-little-words.html)**\] - From the fascinating internet archives (and an [FAQ](http://www.ibiblio.org/harris/500milemail-faq.html) for those that are interested in the tech details), the story of a campus email system, which through a series of upgrades and configuration coincidences couldn't send electronic mail farther than 500 miles. It makes sense once you read the article, but its always a fun one. — \[via **[“The Case of the 500-mile email”](http://www.ibiblio.org/harris/500milemail.html)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 Speaking of changing narratives - I recently came across this wonderful video from [Patagonia](https://www.patagonia.com) on climate change. Be well. ✌🏻 ### What You Leave Behind URL: https://makoism.com/what-you-leave-behind/ Last updated: 2023-07-22T23:01:49.000Z This week saw [the passing of famed hacker Kevin Mitnick](https://www.securityweek.com/famed-hacker-kevin-mitnick-dead-at-59/), who passed at the age of 59 from pancreatic cancer. [Fuck cancer](https://makoism.com/black-panther/). For those that don't know of him, at one time, he was considered one of the 'most wanted' computer hackers; he was sought after for '*gaining illegal access to about 20,000 credit card numbers; causing millions of dollars in damage to corporate computer operations; and stealing software used for maintaining the privacy of wireless calls and handling billing information*' ([more here](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/technology/kevin-mitnick-dead-hacker.html)). And, while spending five years in prison for wire fraud, there was no evidence he actually used any of this for financial gain, and that '*his activities were high stakes but, in the end, a harmless form of play.*' Some of the exaggerated stories of his exploits even fueled some hysteria: > *One led prison officials to put him in solitary confinement for nine months because they feared he could start a nuclear war by whistling into a pay phone, emulating a modem "to hack NORAD and trigger a ballistic missile."* \- [ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pioneering-hacker-kevin-mitnick-fbi-wanted-felon-turned-101530669) His speciality was in **social engineering**, the art of where '*he would impersonate company employees to obtain passwords and data*' where he claimed '*how susceptible even the most locked-down information systems are to a slick con artist impersonating an IRS agent*'. His book, [The Art of Deception](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Deception-Controlling-Element-Security/dp/076454280X), is a fantastic read (and in [my anti-library](https://makoism.com/now/)). Switching topics, since returning from a fantastic few days at the [Do Wales 2023](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/) journey, I've been thinking a lot about the general idea of '***what we leave behind***.' I started to ponder this [back in April](https://makoism.com/leaving-things-better/), where I mentioned: > *A mindset shift I've tried to strive towards consciously is that you should 'leave things better than you found them.' You can apply this to any aspect of life - a relationship, work, treating people/nature, cleaning up after yourself, doing the laundry, mentoring people, etc.* As I process the conversations, experiences, and wonderful people from across the world that I met and sink in [what I experienced in Wales](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-wales-23you-were-magical-anamaria-dorgo/), there are so many lessons and shifts of perspective that I don't even know where to begin. > *We don't create the meaning of our life — *we discover it*.* > > *We each have a unique reason for being, which can be adjusted or transformed many times over the years.* > > *We all have the capacity to do noble or terrible things. The side of the equation we end up on depends on our decisions, not on the condition in which we find ourselves.* \- [Ikigai](https://books.apple.com/us/book/ikigai/id1183170151) I've begun to correlate Mitnick's legacy to a broader idea I've been considering. It's that we all *eventually* stumble down the path of life, and to '*discover your meaning*,' you need to spend time focusing on the impact you make on your surroundings. *What do you want to leave *behind**? While this can center on actively engaging with others, I've realized how important it is to appreciate and acknowledge things around you. Just stop for a minute. Breathe. Take some time to *notice and express gratitude* for people, things, and situations that bring joy to your day. To wrap up the week, I wanted to share this advice from Kurt Vonnegut. It says it all. > *But I had a good uncle, my late Uncle Alex.* > > *He was my father's kid brother, a childless graduate of Harvard who was an honest life-insurance salesman in Indianapolis. He was well- read and wise. And his principal complaint about other human beings was that they so seldom noticed it when they were happy.* > > *So when we were drinking lemonade under an apple tree in the summer, say, and talking lazily about this and that, almost buzzing like honeybees, Uncle Alex would suddenly interrupt the agreeable blather to exclaim, "*If this isn't nice, I don't know what is*."* > > *SO I do the same now, and so do my kids and grandkids. And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, "*if this isn't nice, I don't know what is.*"* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## New Gear! 🛍️ Available now at the [Makoism store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) \- our newest shirt: "**I put the FU in FUN**". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/07/mockup-2.png) two killer new shirts! Available in all sorts of colors, hoodies and even **toddler sizes**. Because, they *always* put the FU in fun. ## Mind Benders 🤯 What does it look like when they ask 100 random people to scream as loud as they can? ## Quotables 📚 I totally dug this image: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/07/Image-7-20-23-at-7.20-PM.jpg) > *About 109 billion people have lived & died. Each grain of sand represents 10 million. This stunning data visualization of human life by Max Roser was published in 2022\. Today there would be 805 green grains representing 8.05 billion people living on Earth.* \[via **[mastodon.social/@Sheril/110718354044433618](https://mastodon.social/@Sheril/110718354044433618)**\] ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - As we approach summer, today I learned the perfect way from this video how to pick a sweet watermelon. From the guide, the darker yellow **field spot** on the melon (where it was resting on the ground) usually means it was on the vine longer and is fuller of flavor. Other ways include giving it a knock with your knuckles and listening for a hollow/deep sound, or if you see any black spots on the melon, its where sugar is seeping out and indicates a perfect sweet watermelon — \[via **[How to Pick a Sweet Watermelon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JCQbwj0Kso)**\] - I still have **every** first-run issue of Akira wrapped in plastic, so I can't believe it's been 35 years since Katsuhiro Otomo's epic anime film hit the screens. What only can be called one of the most influential anime of all time, it's immeasurable the effect it's had on pop culture — \[via **[35 Years Later, Akira's Impact Is as Strong As Ever](https://gizmodo.com/akira-35-year-retrospective-impact-1850645834)**\] - An excellent, insightful piece on friendship and the stamina some of them require — \[via **[How to Not Break Up With Your Friends](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/06/stop-breaking-up-with-friends/674540)**\] - I've been on a Tetris kick since the AppleTV+ film dropped a few months ago, and I've been enjoying playing it again on the Gameboy emulator. While I know folks who have been obsessed with it, I wasn't aware of the "**Tetris Effect**," - which '*occurs when people devote so much time and attention to an activity that it begins to pattern their thoughts, mental images, and dreams.*' — \[via **[The Tetris Effect: how four simple tiles can help anxiety and reshape your brain](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-real-life-tetris-effect)**\] - While I'm not sure I agree with everything in this post, the idea of incentives changing over time into competing, or possibly conflicting, is an exciting idea to noodle on — \[via **[Incentives Rule The World](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/incentives-rule-the-world)**\] - I don't know what to say except that 20 slices of cheese on a bun with no patty describes 2023\. — \[via **[Too much: Burger King’s new offering in Thailand has no meat and 20 slices of cheese](https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/11/business/thailand-burger-king-cheeseburger-intl-hnk/index.html)**\] - From one of my latest favorite finds, '[Everything is Bullshit](https://everythingisbullshit.substack.com),' I enjoyed this '*list of problems with the idea that humans are primarily interested in useful truth*' and why our brains are generally wired to enjoy bullshit — \[via **[You Will Find This Interesting](https://everythingisbullshit.substack.com/p/you-will-find-this-interesting)**\] - Speaking of bullshit, the meaning of life is bullshit too. — \[via **[The Meaning of Life Is Bullshit](https://everythingisbullshit.substack.com/p/the-meaning-of-life-is-bullshit)**\] - On the heels of Google search, and now the world being consumed by the latest AI of the week, a look at how the Internet '*is full of self-styled experts in my field who claim to have the One Weird Trick that will change your life completely.*' In other words, people generally overrate their competence on something simply because they have access to knowledge. — \[via **[Google Isn’t Grad School](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/07/illusion-explanatory-depth-humility/674624/)**\] - I enjoyed this article on memories, in particular '*flashbulb memories*,' which are memories defined as ones that come from learning about some shocking event and how they degrade over time. But, the confidence in their accuracy remained high. Fascinating read. — \[via **[What Are Flashbulb Memories?](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/what-are-flashbulb-memories/)**\] - In previous posts, I've mentioned the concept of an [anti-library](https://makoism.com/random-acts/). The Japanese word for this is 'Tsundoku,' which translates to '**reading pile**.' — \[via **['Tsundoku,' the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves, Should Enter the English Language](https://www.openculture.com/2018/07/tsundoku.html)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 Tired but can't sleep? Well, now the [Legal Lullabies](https://www.zzzuckerberg.com) website takes it to the next level by '*lulling yourself to sleep with the soothing white noise of your favorite tech giant's terms of service*.' Listen to the ToS from Instagram, TikTok, etc., and have that restful night that's been escaping you. Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Arena URL: https://makoism.com/the-arena/ Last updated: 2023-07-14T21:11:17.000Z In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt gave the famous "*Citizenship in a Republic*" speech in Paris. Today, that lesson is more commonly known as "**The Man in the Arena**," and it's been at the forefront of my mind recently. > *"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. *The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena*, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt* After recently rewatching [Brené Brown's talk, which focused on listening to shame](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s6DQrqVHxM), I haven't been able to get the "arena" out of my mind. - *How many people criticize something without putting themselves in a fight?* - *How many potshots do you take from people sitting in the 'cheap seats'?* There are many naysayers out there, and truth be told; there is **power** from just **taking action**. It's about speaking up, asking someone for help, pitching a new idea, or even as simple as trying out a new way of working. Just go for it! Our time is limited on planet Earth - kick some ass while you're here! But, oh, those critics... > *"If you're not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I'm not interested in your feedback." — Brené Brown* While the reference (from both Brené and the original speech) is directly aimed at those that aren't willing to take a chance and critique a person who is actively trying to make a difference, I've been starting to recognize that sometimes the most prominent critics are, in reality, **are the ones that reside in our heads**. You know who I'm talking about; that little voice urges you to choose the easy path — **the inner critic**. Understanding where that inner critic comes from is essential rather than instinctually caving to it. Perhaps you had a prior experience that ended negatively; that voice is trying to prevent you from feeling new pain. Inner critics are often built up from negative experiences where you failed in the past, or perhaps that critic recognizes that the road ahead will be a slog with just too much damn work, and it's better to accept things the way they are. But the truth is that the secret to doing anything of value is to *want it bad enough to overcome those voices*. You don't need to tell the inner critic to shut the fuck up and go away, but instead, you need to calmly place it in the back seat of the car instead of letting it be the driver. Don't let that internal criticism shut down your creativity and prevent you from taking risks but instead, I find a lot of value in understanding *why* it's telling you those things. **Reframe your relationship with it the things that are preventing you from being in the arena. Stop letting them speak from the sidelines.** > *"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." - Socrates (but not the one you're thinking of)* 💡 **Side note:* Many attribute this quote to Socrates, [but that is inaccurate](https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/05/28/socrates-energy/). It comes from the 1980 book "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. The main focus of his spiritual journey was an attendant at an all-night gas station who became his mentor in 1966, who Millman named "Socrates."* So, I'll wrap this week with an ask of yourself - Are you ready to get yourself dirty? To task some risks? To fail? To be in the arena? If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 ## Quotables 📚 [Matt Birchler](https://birchtree.me) had a fantastic post entitled \[[Macho Man](https://birchtree.me/blog/macho-man/)\], where he talked a bit about '*the emotional struggles of men.*' and shared this clip of 'Macho Man Randy Savage's best late-night moment.' ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Sit back with a whiskey and digest what Om Malik describes as '*the always-connected Internet is an insatiable beast. The more you feed it, the more it is wanted.*' an essential understanding when exploring streaming providers and their ability/needs to pump out more content than ever and the quality that suffers because of it — \[via **[Arnold's Docuseries: A Case Study in Online Content Pollution](https://om.co/2023/06/24/arnolds-docuseries-a-case-study-in-online-content-pollution/)**\] - More thinking along the concept of a "[personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/)", and the leveraging of a CRM. It roots itself (and warrants me to do an update to the original post) on asking yourself an incredible question: "**What type of conversation do you want to have?**" — \[via **[The Benefits of a 5-Person CRM: Why Keeping Track of Your Best Relationships Matters](https://www.caffeine.blog/5-people-to-be-in-conversation-with/)**\] - The [Astra Carta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M73nbVwAUuU)\] is an effort as part of the [Sustainable Markets Initiative](https://www.sustainable-markets.org) that is a '*roadmap for the private sector to lead the acceleration of sustainable practices across global space-related industries.*'. Recently, [the seal](https://www.sustainable-markets.org/astra-carta/astra-carta-seal/) designed by Sir Jony Ive, was unveiled and defined as '*a structure that is similarly defined by sacred geometry, overlaid with astronomical motion and heavenly bodies.*'. A beautiful masterpiece. — \[via **[The Astra Carta Summarium](https://www.sustainable-markets.org/AstraCarta%5Fsummarium.pdf)**\] - I've been continuing to [remove any form of legacy PKM tools](https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/) from my workflow, and this interesting video goes into some of the problems with personal productivity tools. The author agrees with my biggest pet peeve: '*too many systems are designed to make you look busy rather than actually get work done.*' He takes it one step further around the issues with these systems, how they've been designed for 'neurotypical brains,' and the issues it causes with individuals with ADHD. — \[via **[Avoiding Toxic Productivity Advice for ADHD](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsT3KPYJFl4)**\] - Another area that will have to deal with ChatGPT is **homework**. There is no easy way to detect the output of the more recent [GPT4 models](https://openai.com/research/gpt-4) and some of the rethinking that educators need to do. — \[via **[The Homework Apocalypse](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-homework-apocalypse)**\] - In a 2023 conspiracy theory, '*Disney prepared The Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World just before the 2016 election, the company was anticipating a Hillary Clinton win*'. Given we know the outcome of that election, it's not surprising that they had to move fast to update the animatronic. — \[via **[Anonymous Disney Imagineer Purportedly Confirms Donald Trump Animatronic Is Hillary Clinton](https://gizmodo.com/disney-imagineer-says-trump-animatronic-is-clinton-1850587964)**\] - This post about the journey this author took on '*spending less time in front of screens*' and his discovery of 'fewer, better things' resonated with me and some changes I am making in my life. — \[via **[A Little History of Fewer Better Things](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/a-little-history-of-fewer-better)**\] - '*We may do or avoid things because we assume other people think the same*' is a common belief regarded as the '**false consensus effect**.' I liked the author's advice to '**go for it**' if you've been avoiding something. — \[via **[How to Do the Thing You've Been Avoiding](https://jasonfeifer.beehiiv.com/p/the-thing-that-seems-like-a-bad-idea-maybe-try-it)**\] - With the [recent Orcas whale attacks](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/06/13/orcas-attacking-boats/70317257007), combined with the almost weekly sighting of Orcas from our "life 2.0" place, I've been spending more time reading about these amazing creatures. Apparently, like humans, they have **cultural fads**. In 1987, '*one orca from a group known as the Southern Residents *began swimming with a dead salmon on its head*, and within three weeks, individuals within ALL THREE pods in the area were observed sporting veils of dead salmon'*. Incredible! — \[via **[Orcas Once Wore Salmon Hats In Underwater Fashion Trend](https://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/3613/Orcas-Once-Wore-Salmon-Hats-In-Underwater-Fashion-Trend)**\] - This has been making the rounds - a game that '*consists in creating a password that follows increasingly unusual and complicated rules*.' A fun one reminding us of some of the absurd things password defaults ask of us. — \[via **[The Password Game](https://neal.fun/password-game/)**\] - Wow - **30 Maps to Rethink the World** \- provides some great visuals on why maps, viewing a 3D sphere on a 2D plane, cause some pretty significant distortion on the reality of things. — \[via **[Maps Distort How We See the World](https://unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/maps-distort-how-we-see-the-world)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 '**Ikigai**' is a Japanese concept that is a combination of *iki*, meaning 'alive' or 'life,' and *gai*, meaning 'benefit' or 'worth.' When combined, the term roughly means '*that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose.*' But it's also important to recognize that ikigai isn't just referring to one's purpose, but how it fits in with society in general. > 'No one can compete with you on being you.' – [Naval Ravikant](https://twitter.com/NavalismHQ/status/1619710833818312705) In that vein, I just returned from a week in Wales at the [amazing Do Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/). It's tough to describe the magic from a small gathering of fantastic humans, but the conversations there reaffirmed and re-energized my own **Flow**. It's been a long and bumpy road to try and figure out my ikigai, to figure out that intersection of passion, talent, and potential, but I'm feeling closer to it than ever before. It was a good week. No, check that - it was **a fucking great week**. More to come as I process this all, but I am grateful for the new friends I met and those who have been with me all this time. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Nesting Dolls URL: https://makoism.com/nesting-dolls/ Last updated: 2023-07-01T12:45:42.000Z **Phew!** A wild week of travel (with an unexpected pivot to North Carolina due to weather), followed by a quick break, then off for a long journey next week. I'll be 'off the grid' - not something I usually do - so it'll be a bit of *terra incognita* for me. Before heading out, I wanted to pivot from [the last newsletter](https://makoism.com/43percent/) \- and I sincerely appreciate many folks who reached out afterward with their words of kindness and experiences that mirrored some of my thoughts. I have been thinking about personalities recently, specifically, ***what makes us, well, us***. There has been so much written on personality traits, but the common [big five](https://www.mentalhelp.net/psychological-testing/big-five-personality-traits) that reflects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves: - **Neuroticism** \- tendencies toward anxiety and depression. - **Extroversion** \- a state of being where someone 'recharges' or draws energy from being with other people. - **Agreeableness** \- compassion, respectfulness, trust in others. - **Conscientiousness** \- organization, productiveness, responsibility. - **Openness** \- Appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, and unusual ideas; imaginative and curious. I wonder if personalities are more like [Matryoshka nesting dolls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka%5Fdoll). You know, those wooden dolls from Russia that open to reveal a smaller doll inside. And within that is another doll. Perhaps it's easiest to think of it as layers upon layers of personality that have been built up through our experiences. Pain, happiness, relationships, love, struggles, fear. And what's the most petite doll lies the raw core. It makes you think how deeply you know someone through those infinite layers. > *Most of us are like those Russian nesting dolls, presenting a slightly different visage to the world depending on which world we're dealing with at the time. The outermost doll isn't a lie; mine still offers part of who I am, but it's not all of who I am.* > \- Paul Asay, [God on the Streets of Gotham](https://www.amazon.com/God-Streets-Gotham-Screen-Ourselves/dp/141436640X) Or, maybe we should think that people's "true" selves are more like the [Da Vinci Code Cryptex](https://www.amazon.com/Noble-Collection-Vinci-Code-Cryptex/dp/B0026PS5CW) \- a portable vault used to hide secret messages, waiting to be cracked. In the book/film, [The Da Vinci Code](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/), it explained that the cryptex works like a bike combination lock to spell out a password, then the tumblers inside align and the cylinder slides apart. **Bummer** that the Cryptex was invented by the author [Dan Brown](https://danbrown.com/), who wrote The Da Vinci Code - there **is no evidence that Da Vinci had such a device**. I think the most straightforward and best thinking comes from Tim Urban's post, "[The Apple Game](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-apple-game-how-good-person-are-you.html)". The exercise is a way to judge if someone is a good person or a bad one, but examining the three layers of depth: - **Skin**: How you come off at first. - **Flesh**: How you are once people get to know you. - **Core**: How you are deep down. And, how the '*range of depth various people in your life probably know you*': ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/07/Apple-Range.png) credit: https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-apple-game-how-good-person-are-you.html His post has a unique but relevant discussion on the differences between "GOOD-GOOD-BAD" and "BAD-GOOD-GOOD" people, and people with good skin, bad flesh, and core are '***everyone's fun friend who turns out to also just kind of be a huge asshole*.**' There's no simple answer to what makes us, us. But exploring these different models has been an interesting thought exercise, especially for better understanding my own layers and core. So .. how do you like them apples? If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 🤯 ## Quotables 🪢 > *That’s the first important thing you should know about The Pattern. If we're not vigilant in our defense against it, it gradually turns us into cynics and nihilists—ignoring the voice within that knows we're capable of more. When you're living out of alignment with your values, you can feel it. But in a world controlled by The Pattern, it's easy to rationalize away that sense of discontent. When the economic incentives are stacked up against you, it’s easy to convince yourself nothing matters. But even if you ignore that inner voice, it never goes away. It's always there, poking and prodding, reminding you that you're off track, and that you have so much more to give.* > > *There's something else I learned that summer. The Pattern isn’t just a personal phenomenon. It also plays out on a much, much wider scale.* Read more in [The Ungated Manifesto - The Pattern, and the Battle for the Soul of the Internet](https://ungated.media/manifesto/) Or listen to the podcast: [‎the ungated creative on Apple Podcasts‎Business · 2022![](https://t1.gstatic.com/faviconV2?client=SOCIAL&type=FAVICON&fallback_opts=TYPE,SIZE,URL&url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ungated-creative/id1621781666?uo=4&size=128)Apple Podcasts![](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts116/v4/b2/34/08/b2340875-bd95-b41d-248e-b647fedbc54e/mza_11854298384894965063.jpg/1200x630wp.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ungated-creative/id1621781666?uo=4) ## Brain Dump 🧠 Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - A valuable lesson: leverage your leaders and don't hesitate to ask for help (or delegate). '*Someone who [tells me when things are going poorly](https://boz.com/articles/biggest-fear) is someone I am going to trust relative to someone who struggles in silence.*' — \[via **[Get It Done](https://boz.com/articles/get-it-done)**\] - I have a fond memory of enjoying the [Good Humor 'Toasted Almond Bar'](https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/21/business/good-humor-toasted-almond-bar-discontinued/index.html) and was disappointed to learn that it has now been **discontinued** along with the [Choco Taco](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/25/business/choco-taco-discontinued/index.html). This week, their untimely demise [has been confirmed](https://apnews.com/article/choco-taco-discontinued-1ce9f619c7f6edda75379b234c8818ba). Is *nothing* sacred? Join [the petition to bring it back here at change.org](https://www.change.org/p/bring-the-good-humor-toasted-almond-bar-back). — \[via **[Requiem for a (ice) cream](https://lgumbinner.substack.com/p/requiem-for-a-ice-cream)**\] - Somewhat appropriate now that [Reddit has completely started its nosedive into oblivion](https://www.zdnet.com/article/reddit-is-in-danger-of-a-death-spiral/). [Cory Doctorow](https://pluralistic.net) describes the process of **enshittification** (a word I need to use more often) as '*first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves.*' — \[via **[Seven Rules For Internet CEOs To Avoid Enshittification](https://www.techdirt.com/2023/06/21/seven-rules-for-internet-ceos-to-avoid-enshittification/)**\] - One for the quote archive: '*The quality of every decision you make is pre-determined by the quality of options you create*.' A perfect read about how people generally rush to decisions and do not spend the right amount of time developing options. — \[via **[The Root Cause of Mediocre Decisions](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/the-root-cause-of-mediocre-decisions)**\] - The small web (for people) versus the big web (centralized, big tech) was fun to digest and think about more. I like it! — \[via **[What is the Small Web?](https://ar.al/2020/08/07/what-is-the-small-web/)**\] - Gripping post (and a further reminder from [last week's newsletter](https://makoism.com/43percent/)) from a woman who became gravely ill and how it's changed her perspective on a great many things.— \[via **[What 'Near Death' Was like for Me](https://thetaoist.online/what-near-death-was-like-for-me-ed4e07dbdf79)**\] - '*One of my least favorite moments as a leader, specifically your leader, is when you ask me to make the decision.*' [Michael Lopp](https://randsinrepose.com) has another great read that tackles how he handles making hard decisions. — \[via **[Ask Questions, Repeat The Hard Parts, and Listen](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/ask-questions-repeat-the-hard-parts-and-listen/)**\] - I've mentioned the book [Four Thousand Weeks](https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122) [previously](https://makoism.com/time-flies/), but I appreciated the highlights from Greg Morris as he just finished it — \[via **[Four Thousand Weeks](https://www.gr36.com/2023/03/03/finished-reading-four.html)**\] - '*Jack spends so much of his time looking up at the great things that will come his way and planning his future happiness and not nearly enough time looking down and thinking about how badly he used to want so many of the things he currently has.*' — \[via **[Life is a Picture, But You Live in a Pixel](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/11/life-is-picture-but-you-live-in-pixel.html)**\] - A wonderful set of visuals on how fast stories change; the faster they change, the harder it is to know what's true. — \[via **[How to lose the plot in ten steps.](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/how-to-lose-the-plot-in-ten-steps)**\] - Another week, another view on all the crazy that's going on with AI and LLMs (large language models) and how the over-reliance on them 'because they are smarter than I am' may be a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. 🤔 — \[via **[I Am a Careless Person and AI Is Smarter Than Me!](https://www.onceupondata.com/post/2023-06-17-i-am-a-careless-person-and-ai-is-smarter/)**\] - I've heard of problems with water tables and groundwater issues in certain areas, but I just learned about the global effect of pumping so much water out of the ground. New research shows that it's shifted the rotational poles. — \[via **[We’ve pumped so much groundwater that we’ve nudged the Earth's spin](https://news.agu.org/press-release/weve-pumped-so-much-groundwater-that-weve-nudged-the-earths-spin/)**\] - This post asks an important question: '*how can I live a more environmentally friendly and sustainable life? Begin with what you bring into your life, followed by how you live. Change begins and ends with you*.' Hell, yeah. — \[via **[Things That Connect People – In Real Life](https://fewerbetterthings.substack.com/p/things-that-connect-people-in-real)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe 🎸 I've spent my week in Excel doing budgets. 'Nuff said. > *I remember when* > *I remember, I remember when I lost my mind* > *There was something so pleasant about that place* > *Even your emotions have an echo in so much space* > *And when you're out there without care* > *Yeah, I was out of touch* > *But it wasn't because I didn't know enough* > *I just knew too much* > *Does that make me crazy?* > *Does that make me crazy?* > *Does that make me crazy?* > **Possibly** Be well. ✌🏻 ### Forty Three Percent URL: https://makoism.com/43percent/ Last updated: 2023-06-19T08:53:39.000Z I know that posting has been more off the regular cadence as of late, and I apologize to many who have told me I'm disrupting their weekend coffee/reading routine. :) But fair warning, with upcoming travel and heading to [Do Wales](https://vimeo.com/390523849) in a few weeks, it may get a bit worse before I settle into a regular rhythm again in the summer. On that - if curious about the beautiful work from [Do Book Co](https://thedobook.co) and [the talks that 'changed us'](https://thedolectures.com/talks/do-trust-in-the-things-you-love/UNYJNo/), they're also [registering interest for 2024](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/). Let's dive right in - a few things have had me stop, reflect, step back, and force me to reset some thinking and try to rest. - A colleague was in a very severe accident. - The next day, a long-time friend had his significant other pass away unexpectedly. - I haven't been feeling fantastic or sleeping well lately, and my [heart-related PTSD](https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress/) is kicking in. - We're working on annual budgets. It's all been weighing heavy on my brain, so I've been distracted and, with no shame, I'll admit, sad. To get out of the funk that I found myself in, I've been taking more walks, talking to my wife and [personal board](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) about these things, trying to reset myself, and just focusing more on being present. So, with a fair warning, I'm going to go into an area where I find it makes some uncomfortable. I'm kind of obsessed with [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com)'s writing as of late with [his new book out](https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Our-Problem-Self-Help-Societies-ebook/dp/B0BTJCTR58), and I had recently re-read two of my favorite, mind-altering posts from him: [The End Tail](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html) and [Your Life in Weeks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html). In his posts, Tim talks about *viewing this remaining time as weeks*, and, more importantly, asks, "**are you making the most of your weeks?**". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/06/Weeks-block-LIFE1.png) By doing some simple math, I guesstimated that I probably have somewhere around **43% of my time left on the planet**. Given the average age of a human today is 90, dividing that by my current age (52), I can approximate that **I'm 57% done**. Yes, it's unlikely that this is an accurate prediction of my **actual** time left, but it's a good lens that I'm likely past the halfway point to whatever's next. **43% left.** I was surprised to see people's reactions when I started to have conversations on this idea, and the consensus was that calculating my own 'life span clock' was an incredibly *morbid* way of thinking. But I don't see it this way. I am looking at it in the opposite light; a way to help myself think about making the most of every moment I have and having a deeper appreciation for life. Stoics refer to this as *Memento mori*, a Latin phrase meaning '*remember you must die*,' and use it as a mechanism to create **priority and meaning** daily. Where I'm landing is that using the morbid framework is not only helping me navigate through these times but also allowing me to forge a path towards a more meaningful [life 2.0](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/). It's a valuable tool to shift perspective. The next time you're over-wrapped in some silly thing that happens throughout the day, or when you are in the 20th hour of that Zoom call, think to yourself, *you are spending part of that 43% currency on that*. That time is now **gone**. Never to be reclaimed. Here are a few things to think about: - How much time and energy should you be worrying about that thing you *really* don't have any control over? - If you view [time as currency](https://makoism.com/time/), how are you **spending** it? Is it [sunk cost](https://makoism.com/sunk-costs/)? - Don't spend time with regret over the things that you haven't yet done - that time is gone, forever. Spend your time currency on **today**. Remember: '*The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now*.' - If it matters, take the time to soak and enjoy it. **Slow down**. Life doesnt need to be rushed. - Protect your time. You can't make more of it, don't let others waste your 43%. Anyhoo, this is what's been on my mind for the last few weeks. I hope this note provided some value and finds you well. Most importantly, I hope you are making the most of every day. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders A friend told me last week that she had been married by someone who had be ordained as a priest from [The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster](https://www.spaghettimonster.org). While becoming a **Pastafarian** (whose deity is a pile of spaghetti, two meatballs, and eyes) [seemed interesting](https://www.spaghettimonster.org/materials/) as they do believe that "pirates are **absolute divine** beings and the *original* Pastafarians," I ultimately went down a bit of a rabbit hole with regards to the whole idea of getting [ordained online](https://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Ordained-Minister-Online) and the state-by-state rules. This trip lead me to [Dudeism](https://dudeism.com). Read more about it in "[The Big Lebowski at 25: How embracing ''Dudeism' can lead to a happier life](https://lwlies.com/articles/the-big-lebowski-at-25-how-embracing-dudeism-can-lead-to-a-happier-life/)" or just watch this ABC News report. 💡 In a nutshell, Dudeism is a simplified version of Taoism," explains Benjamin. "The essential message is that there’s an efficient, harmonious way to approach the problems of life – mainly we should learn to ‘go with the flow’ and not react by creating bigger problems." So, you can now refer to me as "The Honorable Mako" if you please; and I can now legally marry you in the state of [Washington](https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.04.050), Oregon, etc. Inquires welcome. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/06/IMG_0519-Large.jpeg) And remember, The Dude Abides. ## Quotables Found online: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/06/1a1c8ae2ebedcadb.jpg) ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I loved this post. I had never really read too much on Nietzsche's '[Eternal Recurrence](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal%5Freturn#:~:text=Eternal%20return%20)' before this article, but I certainly agree with the sentiment of the author. '*Whenever you experience painful times, would you look on them better, knowing that they all lead to a point that made you happy*.' [Amor Fati](https://thoughtcatalog.com/ryan-holiday/2015/07/amor-fati-learning-to-love-and-accept-everything-that-happens/), friends. — \[via **[It All Led Here](https://www.gr36.com/2023/05/25/it-all-led.html)**\] - A simple yet powerful post on why you should talk to people. — \[via **[Talk to people.](http://jakobgreenfeld.com/talk-to-people)**\] - For those in tech, *we've all been there* \- letting a domain expire. And this one is a doozy - nothing good can happen when a state puts a URL on their **license plates**, and never bothers to renew it. Yup, **800k Maryland drivers** now have license plates with a URL that points to... online gambling in the Philippines. — \[via **[After 211 Years, the State of Maryland Just Made a Very Big Mistake](https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/after-211-years-state-of-maryland-just-made-a-very-big-mistake.html)**\] - Certainly not surprising in any way, but more details are emerging on how 'intelligence and spy agencies purchase vast amounts of commercially available information on Americans, including data from connected vehicles, web browsing data, and smartphones.' [Privacy is an illusion](https://makoism.com/in-search-of/). — \[via **[US intelligence confirms it buys Americans personal data](https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/13/us-intelligence-report-purchase-americans-personal-data/)**\] - Oh, I loved this one - '*honor the books by breaking them*' rather than 'preserving them in a museum.' — \[via **[Your reading should be messy](https://robinrendle.com/notes/your-reading-should-be-messy/)**\] - Given that I have approximately 500 conversations a week on AI, this take on Chatbots was interesting. As I talk to people about what "ChatGPT" really is (spoiler - not magic), I find it important to understand that '*everything you put in a prompt is a piece of context*.' — \[via **[Why Chatbots Are Not the Future](https://wattenberger.com/thoughts/boo-chatbots)**\] - I've been an avid mood tracker for a long time, and [it will get easier later this year with iOS 17](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/06/05/ios-17-mood-logging/). But I had never heard of '**anhedonia**' before this post, and why if you're trending to feeling 'meh' frequently, you may be suffering from it. '*It can also be a symptom of simply living in a world where constant dopamine hits - by way of endless choice and instant gratification - skew our brain's reward system and stop bringing us pleasure as a result*' — \[via **[Constantly Feeling 'Meh'? Therapist Warns It Could Be Due To This Condition](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/constantly-feeling-meh-therapist-warns-it-could-be-due-to-this-condition%5Fuk%5F64831569e4b025003edd0627)**\] - Not a new topic here, but [little things add up to big](https://makoism.com/little-things-95421779a97c/) things over time. — \[via **[Small Ideas, Because It's Worth It](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/06/08/small-ideas-because-its-worth-it/)**\] - Thought this was a fun one - ever curious about how to take a 13,909-mile road trip through 26 states and six Canadian provinces, timed so you'll always have 70-degree weather? Here's how to take the trip with the best odds for the best weather. — \[via **[How to take a year-long road trip with reliable 70-degree weather](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/05/31/road-trip-weather-70-degrees/)**\] - Another one on why keeping around ideas is important for your future self; and that '*Even the bad ideas still led to deeper thinking. Let the bad ideas come. Jot them down. Give them consideration.*' — \[via **[Most of Your Ideas Are Bad Ideas.](https://danoshinsky.com/2023/06/03/most-of-your-ideas-are-bad-ideas/)**\] - How often do you look up at the dinner table, and everyone is distracted by their phone? (Side note: watch for it in business meetings too). It's somewhat unbelievable where technology has brought us and the challenges that arise with the boundaries of phones and kids. Now new studies show the toll on teen mental health, so it was interesting reading about how some schools are pushing back. — \[via **[The Schools That Ban Smartphones](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/the-schools-that-ban-smartphones/673117/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe I need to find these .... Be well. ✌🏻 ### Token Reminders URL: https://makoism.com/totems/ Last updated: 2023-06-03T09:00:36.000Z Taking a long weekend off last week was great to relax, unwind and reset. I hope this finds you well and that you were also able to get some downtime to focus on whatever matters to you. There are a few loose threads that I've been thinking about recently, so I figured I would ramble a bit to see if it forms some connective tissue. We'll see. Earlier today, I watched a heartfelt commencement speech from comedian/actor [Patton Oswalt](https://pattonoswalt.com), given at William & Mary's graduation ceremony this week. From the get-go, you know it's going to get spicy and controversial: > *I just wanted to say to the president to the administration five words which is a '*thank you for this privilege*' and to my teachers, my professors who I had then and to the professors here now, I say four words '*I cherish your guidance*' and to the graduating class of 2023, I say three words... '*you poor bastards*'* While the speech does get into some politically touchy areas, he wraps up regarding the amazing end-scene in [Blade Runner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade%5FRunner) ([which I've quoted here before](https://makoism.com/the-moment/)): > *'All of these moments will be lost in time like tears in rain' ...* What I didn't know: > *Every single word of dialogue was mapped out that speech was thought up the day they were shooting it by the actor himself; they *didn't know how to end the movie - and they let chaos and creativity and humanity punch through* and it made the most memorable scene in a movie.* A strong message on the exploration of chaos and creativity, even in the hardest of times. Shifting gears to a video Liz sent me that she thought I'd enjoy (I love that my wife 'gets me'). In '**The Armor is No Longer Serving You**,' [Brené Brown](https://brenebrown.com) discusses on [The Tim Ferriss Show](https://tim.blog/podcast/) how the 'armor' we all put on **no longer serves you**. Instead, the **weight of it is too heavy** and prevents you from being seen by others and *becoming who you need to be*: And if you want to watch the entire hour-long video, [here's a link to the time marker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh5SUF0gPWQ&t=2076s), where she talks a bit more than the choice isn't 'what armor you want to shed,' but instead how to embrace '**curiosity as your superpower**.' Be curious about yourself. Be curious about the world. Be curious why you reacted that way. > *Curiosity is really the superpower for the second half of our lives because it keeps us learning, it keeps us asking questions, and it increases our self-awareness.* **Powerful stuff**. This gets me to the last thing I've wanted to yammer about this week: tokens, totems, challenge coins, and worry stones. I'm obsessed with them. For the unfamiliar, they are small, pocketable coins (or rectangles) that serve as physical reminders. Worry stones, additionally, have a thumb-sized indentation on one side that you rub for relaxation and stress relief. But the basic idea is that they are a physical reminder of something that is important or an accomplishment. One of my favorites is the [Momento Mori stone](https://www.jllawsonco.com/collections/limited-edition/products/memento-mori-stone?variant=39978187784258), which I bought after my first heart attack as a reminder '**of the inevitability of death**' and to live life to it's **fullest** today. A physical reminder to shed the armor and the weight that accompanies it. A physical reminder to be curious about yourself and grow A physical reminder to be curious about others. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders ## Quotables ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/06/66671fb2821d2e39.jpg) — via [Spocko](https://mastodon.online/@spocko/110455288418273025) ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - TIL about the idea of '**Generous Exclusion**,' which '*is the intentional drawing of a temporary line for the good of the guests and to help activate and fulfill a gathering's purpose.*' Some **solid** advice in here that can help guide any group interaction, and how the '*art of gathering is an invitation to become more thoughtful about how you spend your time and with whom and to make those choices with care*.' Also applicable to work meetings. — \[via **[Why the more is not always the merrier](https://mailchi.mp/priyaparker/generous-exclusion-10156136?e=908772b215)**\] - James Clear, author of one of my favorite reads, [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits), has a wonderful post on how "*to find your hidden creative genius, and how to create meaningful work by learning how to make creative thinking a habit*." I do not want to spoil too much; just read it and be inspired. — \[via **[Creativity: How to Unlock Your Hidden Creative Genius](https://jamesclear.com/creativity)**\] - This was **awesome**. I got sucked for over an hour watching many of the chess matches of [Anna Cramling](https://www.youtube.com/@AnnaCramling). Anna, an International Chess Federation master, plays tons of pickup games (these were in Washington Square Park), where her opponents often underestimate her abilities. Fun to watch. — \[via **[What Happens When a Chess Player Mistakes a Grandmaster for a Beginner: It’s Pretty Delightful](https://www.openculture.com/2023/05/what-happens-when-a-chess-player-mistakes-a-grandmaster-for-a-beginner.html)**\] - Everyone I know (myself included) seems to be in a constant battle managing time. Balancing time in meetings, getting actual work done, tactical thinking, plowing through the to-do list, etc., the demands on your time always seem to continue. This post had some excellent practical advice that I'm going to implement. — \[via **[How Leaders Manage Time & Attention](https://www.allenpike.com/2023/how-leaders-manage-time-attention-tasks)**\] - A quick reminder that '*all it takes is a spark*' to do something special — \[via **[Power of One](https://ma.tt/2023/05/power-of-one/)**\] - After reading this article, I need to add Tom Hanks's new book, [The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece](https://www.amazon.com/Making-Another-Motion-Picture-Masterpiece/dp/052565559X), to my [anti-library](https://makoism.com/random-acts/). I loved the ringer quote on life *' no matter where you are in your arc, no matter where you are as far as your age goes, your body, your wherewithal, you still get to come back to this empirical truth: *you start at the beginning of whatever story you're telling, and you just work your way through it*.*' — \[via **[Tom Hanks on the Rewards and 'Vicious Reality' of Making Movies](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/tom-hanks-on-the-rewards-and-vicious-reality-of-making-movies)**\] - I am jealous of those that can take naps - I wish I could; my sleep patterns are generally terrible. Maybe I should try some of the advice in this infographic — \[via **[How To Have The Perfect Nap](https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/05/how-to-have-the-perfect-nap-infographic/)**\] - I thought this was interesting insight on how ***managing processes before people*** works at [37signals](https://37signals.com/). The first one, '*replacing the commonly used daily stand-up meetings with a set of automated questions,*' is something that I think many would prefer. — \[via **[Manage process before people](https://world.hey.com/dhh/manage-process-before-people-20736695)**\] - May 24th saw the passing of Tina Tuner at the age of 83\. Her signature hit, [The Best](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An05IjJn2CY), has a fascinating backstory I wasn't aware of. [Bonnie Tyler](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0LpOqragFQ) had recorded a version just a year prior, but Tina wanted to '**make it her own**' - and it became the '**motherlode**' that has '*done so many things for so many people, it just keeps going*.' Simply, the best. — \[via **[The Best: The Story Behind Tina Turner’s Career-Defining Anthem](https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/tina-turner-the-best-song-story-holly-knight-interview/)**\] - I'm just going to say that Father's Day is **coming soon** ... and who wouldn't want this glorious LEGO, a followup to [the earlier Atari 2600 set](https://www.engadget.com/lego-atari-2600-set-143936829.html) .. just sayin' this thing is kind of beautifully perfect. — \[via **[Lego's new 2,650-piece Pac-Man arcade set includes a mechanical crank](https://www.engadget.com/legos-new-2650-piece-pac-man-arcade-includes-a-mechanical-crank-095625676.html?src=rss)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe I am beyond excited to see [Chris Nolan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634240/)'s [Oppenheimer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYPbbksJxIg) later this summer. Earlier today, they dropped a **fascinating** short on the IMAX film: '*the literal rolls of (IMAX) film that Nolan used stretch all the way to *11 miles*, and they weigh as much as *600 lbs**.' Additionally - '*Nolan has already revealed he was able to simulate the explosion of the atomic bomb without relying on VFX.*.' I cannot wait to see this. Be well. ✌🏻 ### You Aren't Listening URL: https://makoism.com/you-arent-listening/ Last updated: 2023-05-20T18:12:27.000Z I was thinking a lot about the lead-in quote from last week's edition over the previous few days, and I've landed on a personal observation. > *"Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?" - Charles Bukowski* It's funny, as humans, we often use the words **hearing** and **listening** and mistake them for *the same thing* when they have two very different cognitive meanings. Per [Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearing): - The act of **hearing**, is '*the process, function, or power of perceiving sound*.' - While **listening**, is '*to hear something with thoughtful attention, to give consideration*.' To absorb the sounds and give them **meaning**. You can hear things without applying much focus; look around the next large meeting you are in and notice how many people *are just hearing sounds*. Groups are entertaining to observe - watch how many mindlessly scroll away on their phone instead of *listening* to what's being said. Listening, though, is something **entirely different**. **It's an optional task that you *need to decide to do*.** I could go on all day about how important it is to work on having conversations where you can be more of an *active* listener, which is an excellent topic for another post on teams and leadership that I'll save for another time. Today I wanted to talk about ***actively listening to yourself***. I intentionally say **active** because that style of listening [requires curiosity, motivation, purpose, and effort](https://www.mindtools.com/az4wxv7/active-listening). There are always signs that you're spending too much time **hearing** that little voice inside your head, but you're just not **listening** to it. Some of the signs that I've picked up on that tend to indicate that you're not listening to inner voices: - **Judgment by others**. One thing that is hard to come to terms with is that no one is thinking about you as much as you are thinking about you. People aren't judging you as much as you think they are. - **Labels**. Ah, troublemaker, negative thinker, rebel, etc... All I can say on this one is to **define your label**. If you want to be a pirate, be a *fucking pirate*. **Actions over words**. Don't let others tell you what you should be; live to your true self. - **Being stuck**. If you find that you're in a rut and not doing what you need to get out of it, it's a sure sign that you're hearing what your brain is telling you but *not listening to it*. - **Believing that others have the answers**. This is a hard one, but I see it often when I talk to people about careers. Usually, they know what they have to do, but they are looking for validation of some idea. **Trust your gut**. I'm not saying that any of this is easy. It takes a **ton of practice**, but it's something that I have found if I consistently work on getting better at by watching for signs and shifting into active listening mode, it, like most things, gets easier over time. It's a muscle you need to train. Listening to yourself is one of the **best things** you can do to improve your mental well-being. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders ## Quotables ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/05/5befeaaa490cfbe4fd9f71853feaeba3.jpg) ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - This was a **powerful** and a well thought out post. "*We are all heroes in our own eyes... You might start out with the best of intentions. You're going to change the world. Make it better. Recapture some of the old glory. But then anger, hatred, greed, fear, and the inability to let go lead you down a dark path until you realize, you're no longer one of the good guys. You work for the evil Empire.*". — \[via **[When You Realize You’re the Villain of the Story](https://fanfare.pub/when-you-realize-youre-the-villain-of-the-story-2cdad7bb0ceb)**\] - [Living part-time on an island](https://makoism.com/life-2-0/), where seeing whales is a normal occurrence, I found this read particularly interesting. There's been a recent surge in aggression towards boats off the coast, and now researchers think that '*a traumatic event may have triggered a change in the behavior of one orca, which the rest of the population has learned to imitate*.' — \[via **[Orcas have sunk three boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the same. But why?](https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/orcas-have-sunk-3-boats-in-europe-and-appear-to-be-teaching-others-to-do-the-same-but-why)**\] - Almost every hour of the week lately has some new *thing* regarding AI, some magical way that it will transform the world. But this one was a fresh take I hadn't seen yet- "*a framework for thinking about how to attack AI system*." An excellent read for what I am sure will become a topic of much conversation over 2023 — \[via **[The AI Attack Surface Map v1.0](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/the-ai-attack-surface-map-v1-0/)**\] - The NYC Subway consists of 472 stations across 665 miles of track. The new record for "[subway challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway%5FChallenge)," to travel through the whole system as fast as possible, has just been broken in a staggering 22 hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds. — \[via **[New record set for fastest trip through entirety of NYC subway](https://gothamist.com/news/new-record-set-for-fastest-trip-through-entirety-of-nyc-subway)**\] - A powerful retrospective on how to fight online abuse. The real question is - why do we keep repeating the same problems and refuse to learn from the past? — \[via **[The Immortal Myths About Online Abuse](https://medium.com/humane-tech/the-immortal-myths-about-online-abuse-a156e3370aee)**\] - [Alan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-l-a-n/) sent me [this one](https://angryweasel.com/five-for-friday-may-19-2023/) which is a great read on engineering productivity. The full paper can [be found here](https://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=3595878). — \[via **[A New Approach To Measuring Developer Productivity](https://newsletter.abinoda.com/p/measuring-developer-productivity)**\] - As a reformed PKM purist, I still keep up with the space, and I agree with this post on how physical systems are more effective than digital note-taking ones. Always a hot debate. — \[via **[Physical vs Digital PKM](https://curtismchale.ca/2023/05/17/physical-vs-digital-pkm/)**\] - Remember the first time you ate at an Outback Steakhouse? A stomach-filling review of their original menu. — \[via **[Outback Steakhouse Menu from 1997](https://www.retroist.com/p/outback-steakhouse-menu-1990s)**\] - "*Deprecated should be my middle name*" is **one** way to look at a long career in technology; wow. But as I started to think more and more about all the code I've written since I was a kid - the more sobering it becomes. You begin to realize '*how everything slowly rots away over time.*' — \[via **[My 20 Year Career is Technical Debt or Deprecated](https://blog.visionarycto.com/p/my-20-year-career-is-technical-debt)**\] - I love quiet time and really should partake more often in a digital detox. '*Over the past few months, I've recognized an increasing sense of dissatisfaction whenever I've found myself aimlessly surfing the web. It's akin to that peculiar feeling you get when you're craving a snack, yet nothing in your pantry seems to hit the right spot*.' — \[via **[Searching for Quiet Time](https://ctmiller.net/2023/05/15/searching-for-quiet.html)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe It was an odd week. Typically, I work remotely, so the morning commute is a shuffle from the coffee machine to the home office. But this week, I had to go downtown for a series of meetings and had the pleasure of sitting in 45 minutes to 1:15 of traffic daily. **Six hours of my life I'll never get back**. Yuck. The only thing that got me through with my sanity intact was the beautiful weather this week in the pacific northwest and cranking my "classic rock" playlist. > *Any way you want it* > *That's the way you need it* > *Any way you want it* > *She said any way you want it* > *That's the way you need it* > *Any way you want it* > *Any way you want it* > *That's the way you need it* > *Any way you want it* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Life 2.0 URL: https://makoism.com/life-2-0/ Last updated: 2023-05-14T02:35:46.000Z I was reminded on LinkedIn that today was an old friend and colleague's birthday. The *friendly* notification urged me to "say happy birthday" - however, it would be **impossible** to do so, as he died back in 2015 from an unexpected heart attack. It was sudden and shocking - he collapsed outside of a restaurant on Father's Day, leaving, at the time, a 15-year-old without her dad. This isn't a post on setting up **legacy contacts** (a practice I highly recommend) but rather about **life**. The idea behind thinking about being intentional about how you want to be and spend your day, helps defines a path to get there. I've often talked about the concept of "Life 2.0" [on Makoism](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/), with friends, and with my [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). To quote a previous post: > *\- Accept that the past is fixed, and the future isn't set in stone.* > *\- Ask yourself: If you had to stop doing 10% of what you're doing, what would you abandon* > *\- Try to *visualize what you want your life to be, where you want to live, and what you want to spend your day doing in 5 years*. Make slow micro-adjustments to get yourself there. This helps define a path to "*Life 2.0*".* [David Hieatt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhieatt/), who I have never met (but hopefully will at [Do Wales 2023](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/) this year), summed this up nicely in an Instagram post that **I just loved**. > *This conversation changed my life.* > *It helped me understand the importance of non-obvious goals.* > *"Hey Dave, tell me your plans?"* > *My answer: "Win some awards. Start an agency".* > *I asked him the same question.* > *His answer: "Canoe to work."* > *Mic drop. He won.* > *And, to this day, that conversation guides my path through life.* — via [David Hieatt](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsCA6kDNFh6/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==) It sparked an idea that it would be kinda fun to put a [t-shirt style](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) "motto" around a vision of what life 2.0 will be. **A call to action**. A mantra. Not something that is limiting, but rather more about how I'd like to spend my 1440 minutes each day. "**Drink Coffee. Watch Whales**." I know it's brief. But that's the point. Now, I'm not saying that I will live on an island and be a hermit - I plan on working for who-knows-how-long. But it's about how I want to spend the days — and spending more time where I can continuously edge towards being the best version of myself. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders Recently, I stumbled upon a new concept that was an instant addition to my Commonplace Journal - the '[Manifesto for Slow Learning](https://us10.forward-to-friend.com/forward/preview?u=44c1a005dc628023e00b0de1d&id=d4a70b2087).' More than ever, it feels like it's time to demand a **bill of rights** on how to **slow down**. > **The Slow Learners Bill of Rights** > > *1\. *Focus on direction, not destination* \- Immerse yourself completely in the journey and you will reach your final goal gradually.* > *2\. *Raise your hand* \- Asking questions is a fundamental human right.* > *3\. *Learn at your own pace* \- Find your rhythm, find your flow. Don’t compare yourself to others.* > *4\. *Unplug* \- You have the right to disconnect and move your attention towards what’s essential. Learn unplugged, far away from digital distractions.* > *5\. *Change your learning path (and mind)* \- Don’t get too comfortable in the habit zone and start with changing the aversion to change. Think differently and learn new things.* > *6\. *Take a break* \- Micro-breaks, lunch breaks, and longer breaks will all improve your learning performance. You have the right to rest.* > *7\. *Make mistakes* \- Don’t fall into despair but Fail Forward.* > *8\. *Leave it unfinished* \- We live in a super busy, multi-tasking, results-oriented society. Step away from your long to-do list and enjoy once in a while the beauty of an unstructured day.* > *9\. *Unlearn and forget* \- Harness the power of unlearning. Reboot your mind, abandon old knowledge, actions and behaviours to create space.* > *10\. *Slow down* \- Sometimes slow and steady will win the learning race. Make haste slowly.* You can [request the free book here](https://www.itcilo.org/resources/why-dont-you-slow-down?mc%5Fcid=d4a70b2087&mc%5Feid=1cfe843929). ## Quotables **Typography: it matters!** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/05/b8f731385303a305-1.jpeg) — \[via **[Mark A Rayner](https://mas.to/@markarayner/110334226264099445)**\] ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Ah, the **meaning of meaning**. I've spent quite some time reflecting on and working through my self-inflicted impostor syndrome. — \[via **[The horrifying problem of meaning](https://bigthink.com/the-well/horrifying-problem-meaning/)**\] - +1 for the simplicity of the idea, +10 for ingenuity. Bike maker [Van Moof](https://www.vanmoof.com/blog/en/) sells 80% of their bicycles online and wants to reduce shipping damages. The idea - by printing an image of a TV on the side of the box - they '*assumed handlers would care a little more about that*.' And they were right - damages dropped 70-80%. — \[via **[TV, or not TV: the story of our bike box](https://www.vanmoof.com/blog/en/tv-bike-box)**\] - I'll admit it - I had yet to learn that the '*process for developing a new menu item is a long process*,' in fact, several years. So here's the full history of the Chicken Nugget for your reading amusement. — \[via **[The History of Chicken Nuggets](https://www.retroist.com/p/the-history-of-chicken-mcnuggets)**\] - As a self-proclaimed [extraverted introvert](https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/), I appreciated this read on better understanding "us." '*It's not that we don't want to interact. We don't like our quiet time interrupted.*' is high on my list. — \[via **[5 Things Extroverts Get Wrong About Introverts](https://introvertdear.com/news/5-things-extroverts-get-wrong-about-introverts/)**\] - I kid around a lot that I'm glad all the buzz these days on A.I. and ChatGPT has finally silenced the silliness of NFTs and Metaverse. With all things, I'm sure the hype cycle around AR/VR and virtual worlds will circle back in 5-10 years. — \[via **[The Metaverse, Zuckerberg's tech obession, is officially dead. ChatGPT killed it.](https://www.businessinsider.com/metaverse-dead-obituary-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-tech-fad-ai-chatgpt-2023-5)**\] - AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages), originally 'promised' to make things fast again on the web, was gross from the beginning. A method to serve up web pages faster was a trojan horse for Google to reshape the web. I've disliked it from the beginning, and one of the first things I install on my phone is [Amplosion](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amplosion-redirect-amp-links/id1585734696), a plugin to redirect AMP links back to their source. Read more about its horrible history here. — \[via **[How Google tried to fix the web — by taking it over](https://www.theverge.com/23711172/google-amp-accelerated-mobile-pages-search-publishers-lawsuit)**\] - Being involved in media companies since 2010, I've been aware of the tradition of a previous record holder publicly congratulating the new owner of a box office record when it's been broken. I didn't know that the origin of 'passing the torch' started in 1977 when Star Wars took the record from Jaws for 'domestic film rentals.' Read more about this history and check out some of the cool notes that have been sent. — \[via **[May the Force always be with you](https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/may-the-force-always-be-with-you)**\] - It's been a while since everyone has jumped on the hype train for new tech, and A.I. is the big one for 2023\. More here — \[via **[Will A.I. Become the New McKinsey?](https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/will-ai-become-the-new-mckinsey)**\] - While I enjoyed this read about Tom Hanks and the path that's led him to where he is today, the real takeaway was some techniques he uses for storytelling and productive thinking. Nuggets like '*I always think that story can be told in seven words or less: 'He was an asshole.'*' or his usage of the [Pomodoro Technique](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/magazine/pomodoro-technique.html) for structuring thinking time, were notable. — \[via **[Tom Hanks, Now a Novelist, Wants to Tell You a Story](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/06/tom-hanks-making-motion-picture-book-interview/673783/w)**\] - As always, [Jessica Hagy](https://jessicahagy.substack.com) has a wonderful series of visualizations and thought-provoking ideas around 'how to matter more — \[via **[10 Ways to Matter More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-to-matter-more?sd=pf)**\] - '*The real magic only happens in the editing room*' is known by many filmmakers, and that '*the copywriter's most useful tool is their delete button.*' A great one on why throwing things out and not falling in love with your first idea is important. — \[via **[Why You Should Hit Delete More Often](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/03/31/why-you-should-hit-delete-more-often/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe Much to my chagrin, apparently travel is back. Over the last two weeks, I've been at home for only four days over three different trips. I miss being home and I miss my family. > *I hear her voice* > *In the mornin' hour she calls me* > *The radio reminds me of my home far away* > *And drivin' down the road I get a feelin'* > *That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday* > > *Country roads, take me home* > *To the place I belong* > *West Virginia, mountain momma* > *Take me home, country roads* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Finding Your Superpower URL: https://makoism.com/finding-your-superpower/ Last updated: 2023-05-06T18:19:42.000Z In what seems a long time ago, when my kids were little, one of the "fun" things I started to do with them occasionally was to find some device/toy/appliance they were used to seeing - and **just broke it**. No, I'm not suggesting that I run around the kitchen with a sledgehammer, but rather, if I were going to toss out an old phone or hard drive, we'd get around a table and take it apart. Try to explore what made it tick. - **Getting rid of that old phone**? *Let's see what it's made of.* - **Got a hard drive to dispose of**? Holy crap, there are some wild magnets in there (ironically, probably the safest way to dispose of that) - **What the heck is in a TiVO anyways?** Crack it open. Bust it .. find cool stuff. What's more fun than just *breaking shit*? Lots of times, piles of junk would end up going straight into the trash. Others, we'd have a cool discovery: A super powerful magnet. An 'aha!' moment. Or just a conversation about the order to disassemble something to get to its inner workings. They loved it. The secret was, **so did I**. It was certainly more fun to teach them a different way to *discover* things and the polar opposite of traditional parenting children to "don't touch" things. Kind of real-world [LEGOs](https://www.lego.com/en-us). (*side note: thinking about that while I write this, it's probably why my last three cars have been Jeeps - there are so many parts, you can create your unique vision of your vehicle for different needs*). I was thinking about this later during a conversation with someone seeking early career advice: **finding your superpower**. > *Creativity is simply a matter of visualizing something, breaking it into pieces, playing with those pieces, and building them into something new - [Jeffery Baumgartner](https://www.creativejeffrey.com/creative/breaking%5Fthings%5Fand%5Fplaying.php)* Early on, I learned that one ability I had was this odd "*art of discovering things through taking things apart*." My self-proclaimed '**superpower**' was tuned to understanding how things were built, being able to [break them down and reassemble them in different ways](https://medium.com/@ebraun%5F79684/the-value-of-taking-things-apart-and-putting-them-back-together-48d3a2016876). At first, it was software and systems, but eventually, more significant architecture and cloud infrastructure. Then privacy and cybersecurity, which came at a point in my career when just writing software became.. almost boring? But wow - if you wanted to hack things, you must understand how the bits and bytes flow through the air. Ultimately this made my philosophy on running cybersecurity teams was to be more 'pirate'; it wasn't about adhering to some corporate policy. If you want to **secure** something, you must think about how a bad actor would—understand the parts. **Be creative about reassembling them**. Finding weaknesses. > *This is what distinguishes them from other forms of rebels, punks, and rogues, and makes them more akin to unconscious artists, architects, and creators than chaos merchants. And it is their gift to you: being more pirate permits you to find *creativity through destruction*. - [Be More Pirate](https://www.bemorepirate.com)* [Perhaps it comes with age](https://makoism.com/manage-the-moments/), but I've been trying to spend more time thinking/understanding/decomposing how people and organizations think these days. Or, it's more about how they should think. Which shouldn't be too shocking if you look back at my journey; the theme has constantly been deconstructing things — my 'self-proclaimed' superpower. **Have you figured out your superpower yet?** You may be surprised by what you already know about yourself, or what you have yet to discover. Harness it, learn from it, and let it be a foundation for something new. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders ## Quotables > *Maniac Mansion exists because Gary and I were too stupid to know it couldn't be done. As I get older and more experienced I am losing the ability to be too stupid to know things can't be done. *Experience can be a curse.** > *\- [Ron Gilbert (grumpygamer)](https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@grumpygamer/109746165743291442)* --- > *Working with people who trust and support you is more valuable than most pay raises when you switch jobs.* > > *This is one lesson I’ve seen people learn the hard way over and over again. - [Dare Obasanjo (@carnage4life@mas.to)](https://mas.to/@carnage4life/110321717501029651)* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Saying **no** to people. One of the hardest things to do. This article explains the '[Tom Hanks Rule](https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/emotional-intelligence-tom-hanks-rule-success-how-to-say-no.html),' and how '*every time you say yes to something you don't really want, you're actually saying no to the things you do.*' Words to live by, my friends. — \[via **[Emotionally Intelligent People Use This Brilliant 5-Word Phrase to Say No With Confidence (and Stop Talking) — Inc.](https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/emotional-intelligence-how-to-say-no-stop-talking.html)**\] - **I am done with notetaking app nirvana** and trying to capture discrete knowledge with interconnected thoughts. I once [prided myself](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/) in the ability to capture all sorts of things, and it took me scorch-earthing my PKM to free me. I'm back to basic notetaking in Apple Notes, and these two articles echo similar sentiments. — \[via [**I am in an Abusive Relationship with Note Taking Apps**](https://www.notentirelyboring.com/i-am-in-an-abusive-relationship-with-note-taking-apps/)\] and \[**[Is Something Wrong With My “Second Brain”?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/is-something-wrong-with-my-second-brain/)**\] - Look, we all fuck up now and again. Don't let it destroy you - '*recognizing the bad judgment is a [step towards demonstrating good judgement](https://twitter.com/adammgrant/status/1587086755915874304).*' — \[via **[We can't let our mistakes define us.](https://lgumbinner.substack.com/p/we-cant-let-our-mistakes-define-us)**\] - '*Prodigal tech bro stories skip straight from the past, when they were part of something that—surprise!—turned out to be bad, to the present, where they are now a moral authority on how to do good, but without the transitional moments of revelation and remorse.*' — \[via **[The Prodigal Techbro](https://conversationalist.org/2020/03/05/the-prodigal-techbro/)**\] - It's been a long time since I've considered the 'landscape' Home Screen on an iPhone. But wow, after seeing these mockups, I want it back in the upcoming iOS 17\. — \[via **[Reimagining a Landscape iPhone OS](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/landscape-home-screen)**\] - While this one is more focused on product research, I enjoyed the theme of '*can you describe*' and '*tell me about a time*' in the lens of using that to understand intent and goals. Ask yourself: '*are you soliciting stories, or just generalizations?*' — \[via **[Collect Stories, Not Generalizations](https://www.allenpike.com/2023/stories-generalizations-product-interviewing)**\] - I loved this post (and it's responsible for this week's mind-bender) on just listening to your gut. '*I listen to the world and try to tell which way the wind is blowing. When I say "plan," I mean creating the possibility of opportunity. I till the soil to try and grow my luck. I create options. And I invent things relentlessly. I am solidly a second-division writer, at best, by any model and definition. *But I'm still here because I work and think a lot to make and try new things. Giving the fuck up is not on the menu.**' — \[via **[On Winging It: Work, Planning And Growing Your own Luck](https://warrenellis.ltd/jot/on-winging-it-work-planning-and-growing-your-own-luck/)**\] - A nice retrospective on the 30th anniversary of the launch of the World Wide Web. Funny sidebar, I remember showing the Web on [Mosaic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic%5F%28web%5Fbrowser%29) to an executive of a company I was working for at the time, and having my excitement squashed as his response was '*no business is ever going to do business on this web thing*.' How'd **that** work out? — \[via **[30 years ago, one decision altered the course of our connected world](https://www.npr.org/2023/04/30/1172276538/world-wide-web-internet-anniversary)**\] - [Ian Sanders](https://www.iansanders.com), whom I **highly** recommend connecting with if you're interested in understanding the power of storytelling, referred to a great article featuring writer Enuma Okoroon on 'what recharges you.' '*I'll put my hand on my heart, and I'll take a deep breath and I will ask myself, "*What do you need? What do you need right now?*" And then I'm quiet and I try to listen.*' — \[via **[On prioritizing yourself and your work](https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/writer-enuma-okoro-on-prioritizing-yourself-and-your-work/)**\] - Fascinating read from Scott Galloway on the differences in how men and women view friendships and how you are the '*sum of your friends*.' The decline of true friendships is truly staggering. — \[via **[Friends](https://www.profgalloway.com/friends/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe Things are getting a bit better, and the chaos is lessening. And I just saw [Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6791350/) (which this song features at the end of the film). > *Happiness hit her like a train on a track* > *Coming towards her stuck still no turning back* > *She hid around corners and she hid under beds* > *She killed it with kisses and from it she fled* > *With every bubble she sank with her drink* > *And washed it away down the kitchen sink* > *The dog days are over* > *The dog days are done* > *The horses are coming* > *So you better run* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Manage The Moments URL: https://makoism.com/manage-the-moments/ Last updated: 2023-12-19T21:03:19.000Z [Hello, friend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCKDrDvaOKE). You may (or may not have) noticed that I took a week off from writing last week ([#restdaybrag](https://makoism.com/restdaybrag)). It was a pretty chaotic week, followed by my birthday (which, for many, is a *complete source of stress* and probably another post topic), and it was just one of those **moments** where I had to focus on my mental well-being. Throw down the pen, remove distractions, and [take care of my shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/). And for those who have known me for a long time, you already know I am **no stranger to stress**. My **second** heart attack was caused by stress, and I'm overly sensitive when I pick up the signs when I feel pressure coming on. **I try to avoid it**. But often, being human, I fall into old patterns and cycles, and oops, there it is - I find myself being stressed out again. **Rinse and repeat.** One of the tools in my tool-belt of stress-management tactics that I try to utilize when I feel this building is to hit my [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) as a source of inspiration. My digital commonplace journal is a guide to put my mind on a better path, where I store quotes and nuggets of information that I find in random places that, hopefully, will be valuable someday. It leads me to this excerpt from the book, [The No Asshole Rule](https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-no-a-e-rule/id357302750) by [Robert Sutton](https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/robert-i-sutton). > **Manage moments* — not just practices, policies, and systems. Effective asshole management means *focusing on and changing the little things that you and your people do* — and big changes will follow. Reflect on what you do, watch how others respond to you and to one another, and work on *tweaking* what happens as you are interacting with the person in front of you right now.* [Little changes add to big things over time](https://makoism.com/little-things/). In each of our own little way, I hope everyone is striving to be a [badass at life](https://www.amazon.com/Badass-Making-Awesome-Kathy-Sierra/dp/1491919019) \- it's an important takeaway to think about the minor tweaks or actions you can do every day/week/month to inch closer to become a better human. I'm not sure if that resonates loudly for folks (I swear I haven't had any whiskey this morning), but it's an important one for me now that I'm 52 (holy shit!) that grounds me. One of the little things I've been working on for the last year is the idea of **mentorship**. Not only carving out time to mentor others but also seeking guidance from those who have been down the path before. This is the spirit of a '[personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/).' They can help you through all these times of stress. Ironically, [Michael B. Johnson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0425823/) ([@drwave](https://mastodon.social/@Drwave)), [posted one of the best pieces of advice this morning](https://mastodon.social/@Drwave/110281123665221415#) that I instantly added to my commonplace journal: > *My advice to you:* > *get a mentor.* > *Ideally, 10-20 yrs older than you.* > *Be impressed/intimidated just enough - if you can't make them laugh, bail.* > *Treasure their stories.* > *Tell them back to confirm.* > *It's worked for me.* Anyways - I'm rambling. I hope this post finds you well and that you're *spending a little time every day tweaking little things to make something better*. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders ## Quotables ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/04/bWVkaWEvRnVxU3p6OWFFQUFUbDZOLnBuZw--.png) via [**Matt Shirley (@mattsurely)**](https://nitter.1d4.us/mattsurely/status/1651293735190433792#m) ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I freaking **loved** this post on software engineering and what's going on with everyone running toward AI and the concerns around it. '*Software engineering exists as a discipline because you cannot EVER under any circumstances TRUST CODE. That's why we have reviewers. And linters. And debuggers. And unit tests. And integration tests. And staging environments. And runbooks. And all of goddamned Operational Excellence. And security checkers, and compliance scanners, and on, and on and on!*' — \[via [**Cheating is All You Need**](https://about.sourcegraph.com/blog/cheating-is-all-you-need)\] - A very David and Goliath read on how not only to '*face competition from bigger companies*,' but to flip the narrative '*and take the initiative and be aggressive*.' — \[via [**How to Beat Larger Competitors**](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/how-to-beat-larger-competitors)\] - I've been feeling it for a while, but there's '*a pattern that all social media apps seem doomed to repeat — to veer from their initial promise of a place to connect and share with friends and family, toward something entirely different.*' — \[via [**Social media is doomed to die**](https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/18/23672769/social-media-inevitable-death-monetization-growth-hacks)\] - My wife, Liz, made a fantastic paella last week, but the topic of conversation was about the **socarrat**, which is the ***the layer of rice that forms at the bottom of the pan and gets crispy caramelized from the direct heat.*** Yes, it was delicious. — \[via [**The Truth About Whether Or Not Paella Is Supposed To Be Burned**](https://elmeson-santafe.com/the-truth-about-whether-or-not-paella-is-supposed-to-be-burned/)\] - '*It's far better to stand for something than stand for nothing*' — \[via [**Which Hill Will You Die On?**](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/04/21/which-hill-will-you-die-on/)\] - I loved this post from author [Adam Grant](https://adamgrant.net). The takeaway was that '*just saying something like "this isn't urgent, so get to it whenever you can" was enough to alleviate the perceived pressure to respond quickly.*' it was just what I needed this week. — \[via [**Your Email Does Not Constitute My Emergency**](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/13/opinion/email-time-work-stress.html)\] - This is so 2023, but '*researchers in the US have taken an unconventional approach to wildlife monitoring using dead birds*.' By turning them into drones. What the hell? — \[via [**Researchers in the US are turning dead birds into hi-tech drones**](https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/04/16/researchers-in-the-us-are-resurrecting-dead-birds-and-returning-them-to-the-skies-as-hi-te)\] - As a kid, I loved having subscriptions to [Computer Shopper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer%5FShopper%5F%28US%5Fmagazine%29) and [Byte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte%5F%28magazine%29) magazines. It's been years since I've thought about them, but when I read this article about the demise of computer magazines, a wave of sadness fell over me. — \[via [**The End of Computer Magazines in America**](https://www.technologizer.com/2023/04/15/the-end-of-computer-magazines-in-america/)\] - Chess. Who would have thought the game had become a quiet phenomenon among teens? No one knows how, but I've found my teen playing a lot lately. Not only has it been [banned at schools](https://www.reddit.com/r/shitposting/comments/11vo6f6/%5F/), a new strategy where '*a player gets a third person to give out constant terrible advice to both teams hoping that his opponent falls for it straight-up or that his opponent thinks HE fell for it and will act accordingly thus worsening their strategy*.' '**The evil advisor gambit**' is just genius — \[via [**Why teens are suddenly obsessed with chess**](https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23679440/teens-love-chess-memes-boom-2023)\] - As [Barry, Season 4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5F4lf2LKZwoY) begins, it was fascinating to read about Bill Hader's anxiety, how he's dealt with it, and the tools he's developed in therapy, including '*letting go of *false truths**.' — \[via [**The Hollywood Reporter**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/bill-hader-interview-barry-snl-anxiety-1235121564/)\] ## This Weeks Vibe It's been a stressful few weeks, and I'm working hard to get past it. > *Chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor* > *These are the days it never rains but it pours* > *Ee-doh-ba-buh, ee-da-ba-ba-bop* > *Mm-bo-bop, beh-lup* > *People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-day* > *People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-dee-da-dee-da* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Leaving Things Better URL: https://makoism.com/leaving-things-better/ Last updated: 2023-04-15T18:16:31.000Z **Don’t be a pumice picker**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/04/07232006-025.jpg) I'll always remember the first time I climbed to the summit of Mt. St. Helens in the mid-2000s. Although we had planned every detail on how to ascend the 8,365ft climb to the crater wall safely, the flash cold front that hit us overnight, followed by unexpected snow and ice, just added to the adventure. Outside of a few pictures (of a terrible view due to the fog and wind), I only remember a little of the actual climb. However, I distinctly remember the signs all over the place, reminding climbers and tourists not to remove any of the fallen debris or pumice ejected from the volcanic blast. The signposts read: "**Don't be a pumice picker**." The idea is that this is to allow nature to repair itself slowly. **Don't interfere with the natural order of things**. While this may be good for planet earth, [I've said in previous posts](https://makoism.com/the-weakness-remains/): '*The most dangerous words to any career, company, etc., are 'that's not the way we used to do it.' If you, your team, your attitude, or even your thinking chooses not to evolve, it will become extinct.*' Often you find that a '*don't rattle the boat*' mentality is present everywhere around us. A mindset shift I've tried to strive towards consciously is that you should '**leave things better than you found them.**' You can apply this to any aspect of life - a relationship, work, treating people/nature, cleaning up after yourself, doing the laundry, mentoring people, etc. It's crucial to [practice stewardship](https://nytimesineducation.com/spotlight/what-is-stewardship-and-should-all-great-leaders-practice-it/) where you can. Sometimes this involves having to have complex conversions. Uncomfortable ones. [Deep work](https://makoism.com/surface-v-depth/). This is a bit different from an "[own your shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/)" mindset, but rather, working towards a model where you build up things around you. Cultivate people, organizations, and relationships so that they grow into something better. These are the things that build lasting impressions that cement real change. > *There is a natural order to this world, and those who try to upend it do not fare well. This movement will never survive; if you join them, you and your entire family will be shunned. At best, you will exist a pariah to be spat at and beaten-at worst, to be lynched or crucified.* > — *Haskell Moore, Cloud Atlas* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders ## Quotables > *JOE HELLER* > > *True story, Word of Honor:* > *Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer* > *now dead,* > *and I were at a party given by a billionaire* > *on Shelter Island.* > > *I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel* > *to know that our host only yesterday* > *may have made more money* > *than your novel ‘Catch-22’* > *has earned in its entire history?”* > *And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”* > *And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”* > *And Joe said, “*The knowledge that I’ve got enough*.”* > *Not bad! Rest in peace!* > > *— Kurt Vonnegut, [The New Yorker in May of 2005](https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/01/16/kurt-vonnegut-joe-heller-having-enough/)* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - If you haven't seen [Tetris on AppleTV+](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BLM1naCfME), I highly recommend giving it a spin. After watching, I was searching for more details (obviously, the film version was a bit dramatized), and I came across this wonderful post on finite and infinite games. The premise is that you should 'Tetrify' life choices; '*imagine each shape representing a choice or a skill attained... How do these choices all stack and fit together?*' A fun read which had me thinking about choices. — \[via **[Tetrify your choices](https://planyournext.com/p/tetrify-your-life-choices)**\] - File under '[the men who stare at goats](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC2TzspJn5A)' level of wackiness, but apparently, there was 'Project Gateway .'Described as a way '*to help people convert the energy of their minds and bodies into a kind of laser beam that can transcend spacetime*', it kinda seemed like **meditation** more than anything else. — \[via **[40 Years Ago, the CIA Tried to Decode Consciousness and Unlock Time Travel](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a43418400/cia-gateway-process-explained/)**\] - I'm sure you've seen it already. Still, in case you missed it, the [Steve Jobs Archive](https://stevejobsarchive.com) released a free e-book this week which contains '*a curated collection of photographs, emails, speeches, and interviews, some of which have never previously been seen by the public.*' A wonderful read. It's free, so there's no reason not to check it out. — \[via **[Make Something Wonderful](https://stevejobsarchive.com/book)**\] - Today, I learned that you could not only '*tweak AirPods Pro to do stuff like amplifying soft sounds and tuning Transparency Mode to boost further audio to focus on a person in front of you*' but you can '*upload an audiogram to create a custom profile*' on how your ears hear. Rather amazing! — \[via **[Customize Your AirPods Pro for Even Better Sound](https://kottke.org/23/04/customize-your-airpods-pro-for-even-better-sound)**\] - I loved this one: '***some things can be taught, others need to be experienced***.' — \[via **[Book Smart or Street Smart](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/04/11/book-smart-or-street-smart/)**\] - I am on day 440 of my [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html) streak, so I was super excited to learn about their latest game, [Digits](https://www.nytimes.com/games/digits). The idea is simple: '*You get six numbers and four basic math operations. You can add, subtract, multiply, or divide any pair of the six numbers. The goal is to reach the target number.*', yet the game is entertaining and addicting. I also found this post on how they go from an idea to creating new games super interesting. — \[via **[How Does The New York Times Make a Game?](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/10/crosswords/games-digits-beta.html)**\] - Who doesn't remember [Chuck E. Cheese](https://www.chuckecheese.com) from their childhood? I just now found out about their whole backstory. — \[via **[Robots, Pizza, And Sensory Overload: The Chuck E. Cheese Origin Story](https://www.fastcompany.com/40425172/robots-pizza-and-magic-the-chuck-e-cheese-origin-story)**\] - We've seen it before with [athletes leaking sensitive maps via fitness trackers](https://www.wired.com/story/strava-heat-map-military-bases-fitness-trackers-privacy/), now apparently, gamers are leaking classified military documents to get ahead in video games. — \[via **[ANOTHER Guy Has Leaked Classified Military Documents On The SAME TANK GAME'S forums](https://kotaku.com/war-thunder-tank-classified-military-document-leak-chin-1849005359)**\] - If there's a game I'm going to play at a casino, I've always been drawn to roulette. Although the craps table seems to have the most 'fun' around it, something has always appealed to me about that wheel game of chance. This was a crazy read about Niko Tosa, who had a '*knack for roulette and walked away with several thousand pounds each time*' who learned to understand variances in the '**condition of the wheel**' to win consistently. Brilliant. — \[via **[Gambler Who Beat Roulette Found Way to Win Beyond Red or Black](https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-how-to-beat-roulette-gambler-figures-it-out/)**\] - I had never heard of BalloonFest, but in 1986, '*approximately 1.5 million balloons were released into the air above the city of Cleveland in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. But what started as a fundraising stunt designed to benefit the United Way of Cleveland turned into a disaster.*' What followed: car accidents, plane delays, and two deaths. — \[via **[How Cleveland’s Balloonfest ‘86 Became a Public Disaster](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/cleveland-balloonfest-86/)**\] - I enjoyed this concept of 'slack' that Martin Fowler highlights here. '*Slack is the policy of deliberately leaving time not allocated for stories, using that time for unplanned work.* It feels like everyone needs more slack time in their daily routine. — \[via **[Slack](https://martinfowler.com/bliki/Slack.html)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe "**This whole month has been a heck of a week**" is [the best way it's been described](https://mastodon.social/@instantarcade/110193298288037815). > *You have to learn to pace yourself* > *Pressure* > *You're just like everybody else* > *Pressure* > *You've only had to run so far* > *So good* > *But you will come to a place* > *Where the only thing you feel* > *Are loaded guns in your face* > *And you'll have to deal with* > *Pressure* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Surface v Depth URL: https://makoism.com/surface-v-depth/ Last updated: 2023-04-08T18:35:51.000Z I enjoyed listening to [Reese Witherspoon on Adam Grant's Re:Thinking podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1346314086&i=1000583714825) last weekend. It was one of those rare finds that not only inspired me with a good 6-10 ideas for future posts but was one that I had to share amongst friends quickly. I sent it to 10 people before I had finished listening. It was **that** good. Part of the conversation (rooted 'on turning impostor syndrome into confidence') on '*surface acting*' vs. '*deep acting*' clicked off an idea in my head. > *It comes from doing the work, the pre-work, which is, that's not surface stuff. It's really deep stuff. If you come from, you know, you grew up in Beverly Hills and you grew up very wealthy and you were able to have spending money as a teenager, you're gonna act different than a kid who grew up in Omaha and with a single mom and not knowing if you're gonna get a new pair of sneakers that year or the next year. And that, you know, if you don't work hard and use every advantage, you're never gonna get ahead. So those are just two completely different mentalities.* The part that resonated with me was how so many things we deal with daily are just **surface problems**. Basic tasks. This is often **simple shallow work** with an often inappropriate amount of time and energy because it's easy to get someone or some project over the latest speed bump. I can't even start to imagine how much time is often swallowed by others focusing on **empty calories** — the seemingly quick wins to problems. It may come down to the fact that serious problems are complex. They take time. Humans gravitate to easy laundry lists of things to tick off to move from A to B without addressing (or sometimes thinking) the real issues. Challenging, deep-rooted issues. So I'll challenge you this week: Spend some time digging into some type of **real problem**. If you see something that is a constant pattern, short-term fix, pivot to tackle the problem in a way that will cause a mindset shift or long-lasting, meaningful change. **Be the wolf**. Fix problems; don't put bandaids on top, and see what you can accomplish. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Mind Benders 💡 A new section, without commentary, where I drop in a video/talk that was a bit of a 'stop and think' moment for me. ## Quotables 💡 A new section, without commentary, to start dropping in a quote from the week that had impact for me. > *"Create your life rather than live it." - [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/april-6-2023)* And from [his blog](https://jamesclear.com/are-you-living-an-urgent-life-or-an-important-one): > *Think about this: you’re going to spend the next 10 years doing something.* > > *Too often that something is *responding to what is urgent instead of pursuing what is important*.* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - It's been twenty years since I've even been to a Mcdonald's, but this look at their early menus was interesting. Originally starting as a [BBQ restaurant](https://blogs.loc.gov/inside%5Fadams/2010/05/mcdonald's-bar-b-que/), you could grab a 'pure beef hamburger' for a mere 15 cents. [Looking at the original recipes](https://web.archive.org/web/20160301090418/http://www.epicconstructions.com/mirror/mcd/), it reminds me of [smashburgers](https://www.seriouseats.com/ultra-smashed-cheeseburger-recipe-food-lab). — \[via **[Early McDonald’s Menus](https://kottke.org/13/03/early-mcdonalds-menus)**\] - I'll use a few new terms I came across this week: **Quake Books** and **View Quakes**. These are the books, music, talks, etc., that not just give you a few ideas but *fundamentally* have a massive impact on your life. Ideas that rock your perspective (and I need to start a page where I can share a few of those I've had). — \[via **[Quake Books That Shake Your Foundations and Rattle Your Brain](https://thedeepdish.org/quake-books)**\] - Let the AI madness/fever continue as ChatGPT **passes** the US Medical Licensing Exam, and why not trust it for real-world diagnoses, as the results can be deadly. — \[via **[I’m an ER doctor: Here’s what I found when I asked ChatGPT to diagnose my patients](https://inflecthealth.medium.com/im-an-er-doctor-here-s-what-i-found-when-i-asked-chatgpt-to-diagnose-my-patients-7829c375a9da)**\] - One area I have found interesting is using AI to challenge my thinking or as a companion when solving a problem. I've been playing a TON with [Petey](https://petey-assistant.com) (an **excellent** [ChatGPT client for the Apple Watch and phone](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/petey-ai-assistant/id6446047813)) and have found it fun/insightful when looking at code, or playing with the writing style. — \[via **[Thinking companion, companion for thinking](https://oneusefulthing.substack.com/p/thinking-companion-companion-for)**\] - This is an important article for me on when you should be (*and shouldn't be*) generous with your time. I guess I'll put it out there - I write this newsletter to clear my head and share ideas - not as a way to generate revenue or a path to get access to "my day job." I've found a huge uptick recently in readers [supporting my work](https://ko-fi.com/makoism), and when I say "thanks," it turns into a solicitation call. **Not cool**. And it feels even more creepy when you call my cell phone - just as an FYI - all 'unknown callers' go directly to voicemail and are usually blocked. — \[via **[Just say no sometimes](https://lexfriedman.substack.com/p/just-say-no-sometimes)**\] - Loved this one on the **zero-day problem** \- and how '*the difference between whether that excitement survives, and the user becomes an evangelist, or it dies, and the user becomes a detractor*.' You never get a second chance to make a first impression. — \[via **[The Day Zero Problem](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/the-day-zero-problem)**\] - One of the best career advice pieces is to learn continuously, and this post on '*fixed goals, tunnel vision, and attentional bias*' nails the problems with **attentional bias**. — \[via **[Why You Need ‘Flexible Goals’ for Success & Happiness](https://dariusforoux.com/flexible-goals/)**\] - I was commenting to someone last week regarding this memory of my grandfather teaching me how to read the stock market in the newspaper, something that most will never experience today. This post dives into the vicious cycle as mobile phones (and technology in general) change our neural pathways to lead us to use technology when we don't even have to. — \[via **[How mobile phones have changed our brains](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230403-how-cellphones-have-changed-our-brains)**\] - I got my first tattoo a few months ago (and that probably warrants a bit of a post about life compasses), so I thought it was humorous that maybe 15 people sent me this link. — \[via **[Tattoos do odd things to the immune system](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/03/tattoo-science-immune-system-effects/673462/)**\] - After listening to [Reese Witherspoon on Adam Grant's Re:Thinking podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1346314086&i=1000583714825), I wanted to explore further some of the mindset she's put into her company [Hello Sunshine](https://hello-sunshine.com). "**Stand in your truth**" and '*recognize that ambition isn't about doing it yourself but remaining adaptable, resilient, and self-aware*' are some of the gems in what she has built. — \[via **[5 Things I Learned From Reese Witherspoon's Company Hello Sunshine](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marybethferrante/2018/11/29/5-things-i-learned-from-reese-witherspoons-company-hello-sunshine/?sh=2f1878ed760b)**\] - "I feel old" is something my wife consistently yells at me for saying. I turn 52 in a few weeks, and my body can't do what it used to, but I loved this article on reframing your thinking around 'how old you are in your head'. Learn more about the idea of '**subjective age**.' — \[via **[I’m 53 years old. I'm 36 in my head.](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/04/subjective-age-how-old-you-feel-difference/673086/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe This week was just one of *those* weeks. I'm sure you can relate - where you feel like **no matter how many times you get back up**, [Clubber Lang punches you in the head](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w6858oPFC4). Again. And Again. The best way through it for me is to **breathe**. Re-learning the art of breathing can do amazing things for controlling stress (read: [Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art](https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615)), healing, and recovery. I need to do more of it, honestly. So while the 2009 Pearl Jam song is about '*coming to terms with mortality and appreciating ones we love*,' it was just one I kept returning to as a reminder that 'nothing lasts forever.' Breathe. [Memento Mori](https://dailystoic.com/memento-mori/). > *Stay with me. Let's just breathe* > *Did I say that I need you?* > *Did I say that I want you?* > *Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool you see* > *No one knows this more than me* > *As I come clean* Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Good Gets Better URL: https://makoism.com/the-good-gets-better/ Last updated: 2023-04-01T11:46:46.000Z Well, another "*holy shit I feel old*" anniversary this week - [The Matrix](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/) celebrates being released 24 years ago today (on March 31, 1999). I can't remember what theater I first saw it in or who (sorry) I saw it with, but in the first four minutes, when you first saw the effect later to be coined '[Bullet Time](https://itstheflashpack.com/the-lens/a-brief-history-of-bullet-time-aka-the-matrix-effect/),' you **knew** you were in for something new. **Something special**. Whoa. And now, it's 2023, 24 years later. The world seems just so different now. There is so much, I don't know, general ***wackiness***. I sometimes joke that the only explanation that can explain any of it is that the multiverse must have split when [Bowie passed in 2016](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/arts/music/david-bowie-dies-at-69.html) — or maybe even, [we are just living in some simulation](https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/the-matrix-simulation/). I'd be lying if I didn't say this stuff doesn't weigh on me. I've previously [talked about my stressors and anxiety](https://makoism.com/harmony-and-the-field/) and that we are all [a work in progress](https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress-2/). I consistently have to **re-ground** myself in the basics, especially when I lack sleep, don't get exercise, or have a poor diet that week. The most significant remedy is removing negative thinking whenever I sense myself orbiting around it. Apply some '[Memento Mori](https://dailystoic.com/memento-mori/)' logic when possible. I think a lot about this quote from Esther Hicks: > *Focus on the good. Because when you do, *the good gets better*.* And that's the choice in the end. You can *choose* to be negative about everyone and everything, or you can *choose* to look for the good things about situations and people. > *The truth is, we know so little about life; we don't really know what the good news is and what the bad news is. The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it's really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad. - Kurt Vonnegut* So, that's where this week's random ramble has led me - as hard or as loud as the noise may seem, don't focus on the negative. Focus on the little, good things. Focus on the positive. Focus on what makes your **soul grow**. > *Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, *to make your soul grow*. - Kurt Vonnegut* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech I know, the last movie was *terrible* and I have my fears about the upcoming [Dial of Destiny](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfVYgWYaHmE), but I do love the character of [Indiana Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana%5FJones). Kottke [had a post](https://kottke.org/13/03/transcript-of-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-brainstorming-session) that linked to a [fascinating transcript](http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/raidersstoryconference1978.pdf) back from 1978 where George Lucas was spitballing with Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan on '*ideas for a film Lucas had wanted to make about a swashbuckling archeologist*.' Here is some great insight into the thinking that goes into building an amazing movie: > *In the essence it's just bullshit stuff where he wanders around Cairo trying to uncover the mystery of his puzzle. At the same time, you meet all these interesting characters and every once in a while somebody throws a knife at him, or he beats somebody up, or somebody beats him up.* And > *Spielberg fires off ideas with an adolescent’s stamina—and not all of them are bad, either. In fact, among his spontaneous interjections are some of the most iconic episodes in the film. “I have a great idea!” he exclaims. “*There is a sixty-five-foot boulder, that’s form-fitted to only roll down the corridor, coming right at him. And it’s a race. He gets to outrun the boulder!*”* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - File this one under "TIL" (#todayIlearned), the origin and secret names of certain types of language used in comics. In the 1980 book, '[The Lexicon of Comicana](https://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Comicana-Mort-Walker/dp/059508902X)', Mort Walker had a '*silly attempt to classify the symbols used in comic strips around the world*.' Instead, these words became ingrained as fact. For example, '**Emanata*: symbols that emanate outwards from cartoon characters to show their internal state*.' What a fun read, and now I know what **grawlixes** are! — \[via **[Quimps, Plewds, And Grawlixes: The Secret Language Of Comic Strips](https://www.fastcompany.com/1673017/quimps-plewds-and-grawlixes-the-secret-language-of-comic-strips)**\] - Tech read of the week: '*The dynamic of why letting things slip and waiting until bad things happen, or focusing only on lagging indicators, is dangerous.*' Hot damn, I loved this post, and I'm going to steal the term **debt debt** \- '*dealing with the impact of accumulated stress and not making the best decisions — *debt debt**' — \[via **[Fog and Debt Debt](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-209-fog-and-debt-debt)**\] - Read of the week! A look at Shopify's meeting policy and how it's affected work. 12,000 calendar series and events were deleted, any meeting with more than two was banned, and Wednesdays are meeting free. Check out the results. Amazing! — \[via **[Chaos Monkey: We look at Shopify's new 'culture of focus'](https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/shopify-chaos-monkey-meetings-culture-deann-evans)**\] - While I use 1Password as my password manager, Apple already has all the pieces to create a standalone app on top of its hidden password features across its platforms. It's obvious; I'm surprised these apps haven't been [Sherlock'd](https://www.howtogeek.com/297651/what-does-it-mean-when-a-company-sherlocks-an-app/) yet. — \[via **[Apple Passwords Deserve An App](https://cabel.com/2023/03/27/apple-passwords-deserve-an-app/)**\] - Never heard of the concept of a 'spark file,' but I like it! I tend to do this more in a special folder in my to-do list (via [Things](https://culturedcode.com)). Still, the idea is '*a single document where I keep all my hunches: ideas for articles, speeches, software features, startups, ways of framing a chapter I know I'm going to write, even whole books.*' No particular organization, no taxonomy, just basic **ideas** that you can occasionally go back to and see how those hunches transform over time. — \[via **[The Spark File](https://medium.com/the-writers-room/the-spark-file-8d6e7df7ae58)**\] - When I came across this post, I **immediately** sent it out to family and friends. While I've been fortunate never to suffer through cancer, I have survived **two heart attacks and surgery for atrial fibrillation**. I've struggled (and, if I'm being candid, still struggle) in dealing with feelings of vulnerability when faced with one's critical health issues. I thought Bill Zehme articulated incredibly well some of the feelings and emotions that I deal with. — \[via **[What Cancer Taught Me](https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/january-2017/bill-zehme-cancer)**\] - This is something that I strive to push towards - continuous, small delivery. Gone are the days of big 'releases' with insanely long test cycles; instead, IMHO, there's way more value in '*becoming increasingly confident in the *bones*.*' — \[via **[Ship Small, Ship Fast](https://www.derrickreimer.com/ship-small/)**\] - Feels like every week [GapingVoid](https://www.gapingvoid.com) has just been knocking it out of the park, and this week is no different. Another vital critique of the negative effects of social media and re-shifting to focus on more positive things that happen every day. '*If all we hear about are the mishaps and the misfires, we might think that's all there is, and we might miss the miraculous achievements all around us.*' Wise words. — \[via **[Why are We so Miserable?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/03/26/why-are-we-so-frickin-miserable/)**\] - One of the main reasons I don't read reviews is that I want to form my own opinions. In this post/rant, the author discusses why '*citizen journalism and social media influences have come to play a big role in shapeshifting our societies. This, in turn, redefines the perimeters of society's intellectual base and legal framework. A house of cards then sits on top of this as a superstructure.*' Worth the time to go through this one. — \[via **[The Danger Of Distaste](https://medium.com/ellemeno/the-danger-of-distaste-f412f92c109d)**\] - This week, I crossed a 1325-day (3.5+ years) streak in my journal for continuous entries. I found this post resonated with my reasoning for doing this, '*every time I look back upon certain entries — from a year ago, or five, or ten — I'm reminded of what I went through on the road to today.*' — \[via **[Document Your Journey](https://danoshinsky.com/2023/03/25/document-your-journey/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe Released as a single from Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, KISS's "God Gave Rock' n' Roll to You 2" was a rework of the 1973 song by the band Argent. This new version had additional lyrics dedicated to Eric Carr, the band's original drummer, who passed from cancer at the age of 41. From KISS: Behind the Mask, Paul Stanley said: > *"The truth about that song is nobody has any recollection about the original version except for the chorus. If you listen to Argent's version, I don't know what the hell they were singing about, they're singing about flowers, trees and snakes. We told the label that we'd do it, but we'd have to rewrite it."* This was one of those weeks where I just had it on replay over and over. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Mental Laziness URL: https://makoism.com/mentally_lazy/ Last updated: 2023-03-25T22:00:42.000Z 2023 has been a crazy whirlwind of daily advancements in AI. And, while I promise I won't go too far into geek town, something new resets the previous day's thinking every day. It's been blurry. Funny enough, I'm working on a deck around some of these things for my day job, and if I wait a few hours, I have significant changes to make. Take a quick peek via Google at the last 24 hours: - [How AI turned the ancient sport of Go upside down](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/asia/ai-disruption-go-sport-hnk-intl-dst/index.html) - [This AI can sketch what you're picturing](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/brain-waves-ai-can-sketch-picturing-rcna76096) - [The Trump AI Deepfakes Had an Unintended Side Effect](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/03/fake-trump-arrest-images-ai-generated-deepfakes/673510/) - [The danger isn't that AI destroys us. It's that it drives us insane](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/mar/23/tech-guru-jaron-lanier-the-danger-isnt-that-ai-destroys-us-its-that-it-drives-us-insane) If I look again later today, I'm confident there'll be a bunch of new things. It's this year **hot potato**. But that's not really what's on the top of my mind for me this week. It's more about what happens to us as a society when we give these types of tools, in the name of efficiency, to groups of people who haven't learned **how to think**. There's a great post in HuffPost back in 2015 that talks about "[Why Public Schools Don't Teach Critical Thinking](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-public-schools-dont-t%5Fb%5F7956518)": > *The school owes its students to teach them *how to think*, not *what to think*; to question whatever they read, and never to accept any claim blindly; to suspend judgment until they've heard all sides of a question, and interrogate whatever claims to be true since the truth can withstand any scrutiny. *Critical thinking is life's essential survival skill*, compared to which everything else is an educational frill!* How much of this technology will contribute even more to the **intellectual laziness** we all deal with daily? If you take a step back for a minute, think about how many decisions and statements are made by folks around you by those (and, perhaps yourself) who are just *reacting*, not **thinking**. *(Side note: probably another great topic is learning how to *respond*, not *react*).* Thinking is some of the most demanding work you will do.**Thinking takes time**. It's hard. It means slowing down. Sometimes it even means taking opposite views of your previously held beliefs, or the group think or '*that's not how we used to do it*' mindsets. I came across a great post on '[Combating Intellectual Laziness](https://stanforddaily.com/2017/05/18/combatting-intellectual-laziness/)', which introduced me to the [Reddit forum /r/changemyview](http://reddit.com/r/changemyview). Described as a '*a forum that houses some of the most productive discourse on the Internet with a user base that represents wide ideological diversity.*'. The mission: > *to be a place to post an opinion you accept may be flawed, in an effort to understand other perspectives on the issue. Enter with a mindset for conversation, not debate.* You should try to steer clear from environments that encourage groupthink, too. Just look at the best (and worst) brainstorming sessions you've been in - what do you think is more productive? Is taking four highly motivated people and sticking them in a room/chat/whatever to bounce ideas off one another, or putting 20 people in a big groupthink? Studies have shown that with more people in a room, the number of views that **each person adds** will be reduced in a large group setting. Working on your critical thinking skills and techniques is one of the best investments you can make. It helps fine-tune your internal bullshit detector. And while it's important to understand that everyone thinks differently, it's equally important to understand **not everyone thinks**. You have a brain. Use it. > *Well everybody on Earth deals with fear - that's what little brains do ... Fear is like a giant fog. It sits on your brain and blocks everything - real feelings, true happiness, real joy. They can't get through that fog. But you lift it, and buddy, you're in for the ride of your life.* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech I've [spoken before on game theory](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/) and how taking a bit of a hypergame approach to life can be a super exciting thought experiment. > *The metagame 'is an approach to a game that transcends or operates outside of the prescribed rules of the game, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game.' Or put simply: there is a 'higher-level game' - the game about the game.* James Clear [had a wonderful post](https://twitter.com/JamesClear/status/1118203393913257985) reminding me of just that this week: > *Step 1: Life is a series of games. Carefully choose which games you want to play.* > *Step 2: Each game has a set of rules. Develop a deep understanding of them.* > *Step 3: Master a niche within the rules. Play to your strengths.* > *Step 4: Step outside the rules. Create your own game.* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - The AI landscape is accelerating in yet-known ways that could potentially be dangerous or wonderful. I love this view that '*even if AI technology did not advance past today, it would be enough for transformation.*' It's an important space to watch and proceed cautiously, but things out there aren't slowing down, so get ready - 2023 will be a wild tech year. — \[via **[Acceleration.](https://oneusefulthing.substack.com/p/acceleration)**\] - A great one from [Jason Fried](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-fried/) on better discussions on new ideas: '*We don't want *reactions*. We don't want first impressions. *We don't want knee-jerks*. We want considered feedback. Read it over. Read it twice, three times even. Ponder. Sleep on it. Take your time to gather and present your thoughts.*'. Too often, I default to reactions, and I need to work more consciously on just shutting up and thinking more. — \[via **[Don't be a knee-jerk](https://world.hey.com/jason/don-t-be-a-knee-jerk-ac7440f4)**\] - One piece of commentary I get about what I'm doing here on [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) is that people generally appreciate the frankness around how '**we all deal with shit**.' This post is an important reminder that '*no matter how things unfolded and even if you believe you have failed, you did the best you could. You did, so show yourself some mercy.*'. Like I said in [Forge the Path](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/), *accept that the past is fixed, and the future isn't set in stone*. — \[via **[You’re Doing the Best You Can](https://johnpavlovitz.com/2023/03/23/youre-doing-the-best-you-can/)**\] - A bit of history that I needed to be aware of - The New York Times used to have a period in its masthead for over 100 years. Then, one day, it was gone. This is how its removal saved them $600 a year in ink. — \[via **[The Designer Who Put a Full Stop to the Period!](https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-a-full-stop-period-exclamation-point/)**\] - I'm [a recovering PKM junky](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/) and [article pack rat](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/). This year, I took a sharp detour and said **enough**: I'm not going to create tons of notes I never go back to or try to build wacky wiki links between thoughts. I loved the thinking in this post of '\*I'll read the articles I want to read right away and will try to live by the idea that if I don't read at the moment, I'll eventually close the tab and never read that article. \*' It's an incredibly freeing take — \[via **[The truth about read-later services](http://thejollyteapot.com/2023/03/20/the-truth-about-read-later-services)**\] - Odd science fun tip for the week - using a soda maker, such as a SodaStream, to expel CO2 into a bag of greens will make them last longer. — \[via **[How to Make Greens Last Longer](https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/7053-how-to-keep-salad-greens-fresh-longer)**\] - One of the more important reads of the week - the difference between leaders and the '*worry police*.' '*Leaders change their opinions, their strategies, and their agenda. They do this visibly and often by stating, '*I was wrong*' in front of everyone. Leaders help you grow, and they help you build.*'. Damn right. — \[via **[The Worry Police](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-worry-police/)**\] - I consistently have friends that comment'*apps are spying on me*', wondering if their phones are listening to conversations, and in some ways, **they're correct**. The idea of '**web fingerprinting**,' a way that you can be tracked '*by studying your web browser and hardware configuration, many websites use a fingerprinting library to generate a unique ID*.' I'm surprised more aren't aware, but you need to read about the lengths companies are going to undermine your privacy — \[via **[Web fingerprinting is worse than I thought](https://www.bitestring.com/posts/2023-03-19-web-fingerprinting-is-worse-than-I-thought.html)**\] - I'm sure this has greatly impacted people as we were all isolated from the pandemic, but an alarming study on how feelings of loneliness take a toll on our physical and mental health. Recent studies show that it can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease, double the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and raise the likelihood of dementia by 40%. — \[via **[How Loneliness Reshapes the Brain](https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-loneliness-reshapes-the-brain-20230228/)**\] - A fascinating read on the term'**Atari Democrat**' from the early 80s regarding a group of democrats that '*suggested that the support and development of high tech and related businesses would stimulate the economy and create jobs.*' — \[via **[Atari Democrat: How Atari Inspired a Centrist Political Movement](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/16035430/atari-democrats-history)**\] - [New York Magazine](https://nymag.com) had a sober look at what's going on lately inside the [Metaverse](https://about.meta.com/what-is-the-metaverse/). The subtitle of '*searching for friends in Mark Zuckerberg's deserted fantasyland*' is the tip of the iceberg on what has always seemed like a strange vision of where people would want to spend time. — \[via **[Who Is Still Inside the Metaverse?](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/mark-zuckerberg-metaverse-meta-horizon-worlds.html)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe This week (March 24th) marked the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's famous Dark Side of the Moon. Even the [Empire State Building got into the action](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005742/en/The-Empire-State-Building-to-Light-Up-in-Celebration-of-the-50th-Anniversary-of-Pink-Floyd’s-‘The-Dark-Side-of-the-Moon’) with it's [dynamic lights](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005742/en/The-Empire-State-Building-to-Light-Up-in-Celebration-of-the-50th-Anniversary-of-Pink-Floyd’s-‘The-Dark-Side-of-the-Moon’) to celebrate. In addition, an [amazing new box set](https://www.pinkfloyd.com/tdsotm50/) has been released. From [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/arts/music/pink-floyd-dark-side-of-the-moon-50th-anniversary.html): > *Stately tempos, cavernous tones and solemn framing announce the high seriousness of “Dark Side,” which begins and ends with the sound of a heartbeat. The album juxtaposes overarching sonics and grand pronouncements with human-scale experience. Its tracks are punctuated with voices from Pink Floyd’s road crew and friends, dispensing loop-ready tidbits like “I’ve always been mad” in working-class accents.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable URL: https://makoism.com/uncomfortable/ Last updated: 2023-03-19T02:24:25.000Z We all have different levels of comfort. With those comfort zones come lines that are imaginary boundaries many don't want to cross. They can take you to a scary place where you feel *uncomfortable*. I'm not sure where the expression '**get comfortable being uncomfortable**' originated from; maybe it's [Jillian Michaels](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Comfortable-Being-Uncomfortable-Motivational/dp/B019E8TVWQ), [Tony Robbins](https://www.tonyrobbins.com/limiting-beliefs-guide/get-comfortable-being-uncomfortable/) or the US Navy SEALs. But if you want to **grow**, **learn** something new, to push **past what expectations are**, you will need to develop a mindset of bypassing the easy road. Also, any good pirate will tell you it's *somewhat fun* to break a few of those invisible lines and do the unexpected. Rebel even. You need to get nervous. To get rejected. Understand that it's **ok** to avoid fitting in with the crowd and doing what others expect of you. [David Goggins](https://davidgoggins.com), ultramarathon runner, author, and NAVY Seal has a great talk on the idea of "what if" and why embracing being uncomfortable is crucial to any form of success: It's been a very long week, with little sleep and high stress. I often write about things here on [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) as my own self-therapy to right-size my thinking and get me back on course. I recognized that I was falling back into some old, stress-filled habits. And this little post was part motivation to snap me out of my comfort zone. Lastly, before I wrap it up this week, it's essential to call out that there's **a difference between being uncomfortable and being scared**. I'm not saying you should never be scared of something - I've been in plenty of situations where I'm fucking scared shitless, especially if something dangerous is going down. But: - Being **scared** is defined as 'in a state of fear, fright, or panic.' - Being **uncomfortable** is defined as 'slightly worried or embarrassed, and not relaxed and confident.' One tactic to getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is training yourself to **recognize triggers**. Ask yourself, "**what if I embrace this?**" and challenge, "*what if that assumption I have about this isn't true?"*. Notice what things push you into that zone, understand why they make you feel that way, and let go of them a bit. Safely step into the unknown. Flip off the status quo or 'business as usual.' Act bravely, face those fears, and lean in. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech I was excited to receive the latest edition (issue 3) of my favorite guilty pleasure, [The Southwester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk/?ref=makoism). I've written about the publication before, but what makes it unique is that **none of the content is available online**. It's an entirely offline experience whose sole purpose is to '*bring people and stories together, but in a newspaper. for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home*'. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/03/IMG_0001.jpeg) **A newspaper for the *imagination*.** I hope you support them and enjoy reading it as much as I do. ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I enjoyed [Daring Fireball](https://daringfireball.net)'s podcast, [The Talk Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-show-with-john-gruber/id528458508?i=1000603757237) which covered [Kottke.org](https://Kottke.org)'s 25th anniversary. Kottke, known for 'fine hypertext products,' is one of the longest blogs in my reading rotation, and this retrospective on how he '*fell in love with the web*' is a fun look back at the journey. — \[via **[Kottke.org Is 25 Years Old Today and I’m Going to Write About It](https://kottke.org/23/03/kottke-is-25-years-old-today)**\] - '*Infrastructure has always influenced culture*' touches on the dangers of algorithms perpetuating non-facts, resulting in widespread bias. A good one to sit back, read, and re-read. — \[via **[Trapped in an echo chamber?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/03/13/trapped-in-an-echo-chamber/)**\] - One to sit back and digest (especially as a person who writes online frequently) why '*we were all fooled by the idea of turning our online presence into a brand*' and why '*brandifying my online life is a mistake*.' Lots of good tips here on building a more authentic self online. — \[via **[Minutes to Midnight](https://minutestomidnight.co.uk/blog/de-brand/)**\] - I geek out over '[mental models](https://fs.blog/mental-models/),' so when I came across Occam's razor, I was intrigued. Basically, '*it is futile to do *with more* what can be done with fewer*' — i.e., the simplest explanation is most likely the right one. Unbeknownst to me, this is something that I've been striving for for for a while now - making things [simple](https://makoism.com/two-simple-ideas/). — \[via **[How to Use Occam’s Razor Without Getting Cut](https://fs.blog/occams-razor/)**\] - More than you ever wanted to know about the name **‌**. — \[via **[Ernie Name Meaning: Why Does Baidu Want it for its Chatbot?](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/16015992/ernie-name-meaning)**\] - [GapingVoid](https://www.gapingvoid.com) is quickly becoming one of my favorite weekly reads. This post about company cultures is an ongoing '*battle of what you want to represent, and who you want to be; most importantly which wolf you want to feed*.' — \[via **[Feed the Wolf?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/02/24/feed-the-wolf/)**\] - An important one for anyone in a leadership position is that there are '*major disconnects between senior leadership and staff exist about whether innovation is supported within their organizations*.' — \[via **[3 Leadership Disconnects Around Supporting a Culture of Innovation](https://www.gensler.com/blog/3-disconnects-around-supporting-a-culture-of-innovation)**\] - Super fun 'happiness challenge' - the 8-minute phone call. The idea is simple: '*think of a person you love, someone you miss, someone you wish you connected with more often. Send that person a quick text asking if they can chat on the phone for eight minutes. After the eight minutes are up, decide when your next catch-up will be; honor your time commitment and sign off promptly.*' **I love this.** — \[via **[The Secret Power of the 8-Minute Phone Call](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/02/well/phone-call-happiness-challenge.html)**\] - I admit I've had a much better online headspace since moving from Twitter to [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako). — \[via **[God Did the World a Favor by Destroying Twitter](https://www.wired.com/story/god-did-us-a-favor-by-destroying-twitter/)**\] - If you have to give talks or present in front of others, I found these three rules from actor [Alan Alda](https://bigthink.com/people/alan-alda/) were great. 1) Make no more than three points, 2) Explain difficult ideas in three different ways and 3) Make important points three times. — \[via **[3 rules to express your thoughts so that everyone will understand you](https://bigthink.com/the-learning-curve/3-rules-express-your-thoughts-clearly/)**\] - The idea is simple: take care of your creative brain. — \[via **[Creating Time](https://ryanmulligan.dev/blog/creating-time/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe With this week's grind, it seems best to repeat some classic Steely Dan. The song "Dirty Work" is a fun one, as it pops up all in odd places - from "[The Sopranos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNpMC4FslNk)" to "[American Hustle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am%5FMUnsaL-w)" to "[Suicide Squad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1EbSXxrZ34)" to, of course, The Simpsons. > Light the candle > Put the lock upon the door > You have sent the maid home early > Like a thousand times before > Like the castle in its corner > In a medieval game > I foresee terrible trouble > And I stay here just the same > I'm a fool to do your dirty work. Oh yeah. > I don't wanna do your dirty work. No more Be well. ✌🏻 ### You Got This! URL: https://makoism.com/you-got-this/ Last updated: 2023-03-11T18:46:38.000Z At one time or another, I'd bet that you have given a child, a friend, or a colleague a 'pep talk' to help get them through some situation they had doubts about. Athletes, industry leaders, coaches, etc., always seem to give rousing speeches to help energize individuals to rise, excel and push past any doubt or preconceived fears. The motivational pep talks to inspire the underdog in high-stakes situations are often **incredibly effective**. And, of course, without hesitation, Hollywood will always use pep talk to stir up a thrilling moment or perhaps even help someone survive. There are [studies which show](https://hbr.org/2017/07/the-science-of-pep-talks) there's a formula '*that while every individual has their tips and tricks, according to the science, most winning formulas include three key elements: direction giving, expressions of empathy, and meaning-making.*' But ask yourself... ***when was the last time you gave yourself a pep-talk***? "*I got this*" "*Come on, I can do it*" "*I won't miss*." The idea of **positive self-talk**, spoken or through an internal monologue, can be an incredibly effective method to get through certain situations or challenges. Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals, and one silver, says: > *My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you'll win … Channel your energy. Focus.* Self-motivation doesn't even need to be just your inner voice rooting you on. My wife used to write **HTFU** (Hurry the Fuck Up!) on her hand when racing Ironman as a bit of inspiration when feeling depleted. Our inner voices often go towards negative thoughts: *I'm going to screw this up*. *I'm going to lose*. [Research shows](https://abovethelaw.com/2017/01/the-science-behind-extracting-yourself-from-the-cycle-of-destructive-thought-patterns/) that negative thoughts will equally push you towards adverse outcomes. The best thing you can do to overcome these and have a meaningful pep-talk is to **flip the narrative**. - Instead of '*this is all screwed up*,' try '**this is an opportunity**.' - Instead of '*it's too hard*,' try '**the obstacle is the way**.' - Instead of '*that's not how we used to do it*,' try '**maybe there's a new way**.' - Instead of '*I can't'*, try '**I can**.' Give it a try - I guarentee that you'll find this little bit of self-care can go a long way. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech Still on the bucket list of '*things to get to*,' but I wish I had learned how to play an instrument when younger and stuck with it. It's always inspiring to see the lengths people go to refine their craft. Check out this short video of an inspired individual who built his guitar using '*Ikea furniture as a primary source of material.*' ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - So much of the Internet these days (especially on social media), people go out of their way to just shit on something they like, post, or mention. I loved this article on changing your perception and opening your mind to the idea that you may *actually* like something if you give it a chance. — \[via **[How To Like Things](https://mattgemmell.scot/how-to-like-things/)**\] - Was **incredibly** grateful to reconnect with an old friend from my teens this week, and we had a great time catching up, laughing at the crazy roads life has taken us down and the paths that got us where we are today. Interestingly, we discussed many learning lessons late in life, and this post spoke to me. — \[via **[5 Lessons Most People Learn Way Too Late in Life](https://www.inc.com/quora/5-lessons-most-people-learn-way-too-late-in-life.html)**\] - Do you bring your *authentic* self to work? Companies are leaning heavily on personality tests to measure employees' thoughts and feelings. I've done several of these throughout my career - some provide interesting insight, and others were just flat-out wrong; there's lots of debate if tests like Myers-Briggs are still accurate. — \[via **[The $2 Billion Question of Who You Are at Work](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/business/remote-work-personality-tests.html)**\] - While this one is more software engineering focused, I'd almost reframe many things in work or life around the "cost of complexity." [Choose boring tech](https://makoism.com/up-is-down/), IMHO — \[via **[The Cost of Architectural Complexity](https://newsletter.abinoda.com/p/architectural-complexity)**\] - Feeling seen with this article: Meetings are the work. And while we all agree that '*meeting culture sucks*,' this post has some great insight that it's not '*how to make knowledge together, but rather about how we can promote culture change to value social meaning-making and reflective practice appropriately*.' — \[via **[Meetings *are* the work](https://medium.com/@ElizAyer/meetings-are-the-work-9e429dde6aa3)**\] - A beautifully written essay on how we get trapped in the norms of our current day-to-day work and how we '*effectively box ourselves in, unintentionally limiting our options because the momentum that would otherwise nudge us toward something fresh is instead expended circularly: used to power the existing contraption, not to build a new one*.' — \[via **[Everlasting Present](https://exilelifestyle.com/everlasting-present/)**\] - A great checklist of tips and reminders of behaviors that can derail a meaningful conversation. — \[via **[6 Conversation Habits to Break](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-shared-existence/202302/6-conversation-habits-to-break)**\] - I hadn't heard the term '*stickiness of the mind*' before reading this, but it makes sense - most fall into the trap of letting their mind be too **sticky**. Known as repetitive looping thinking, the stickiness comes from a '*grueling inner monologue*' of worst-case scenario thinking, and the article reveals some simple techniques to get past it. — \[via **[How a "Sticky Mind" Leads to Anxiety](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-with-a-sticky-mind/202302/how-a-sticky-mind-leads-to-anxiety)**\] - In a follow-up to the great '[pirates and farmers](https://austinkleon.com/2021/07/13/the-pirate-gardener/)' post, a fun look into the difference between academics and intellectuals. — \[via **[Hunters and farmers](https://austinkleon.com/2023/02/22/hunters-and-farmers/)**\] - I'm always looking at simple mind-hacks to get through the day a little better, and I could relate to this thinking about taking breaks throughout the day and getting physical movement is a key to being more productive — \[via **[How a nonlinear workday might help you get more done](https://www.fastcompany.com/90847103/how-nonlinear-workday-help-get-more-done)**\] - Remember just 'hanging out'? I reference this often as '[the art of gathering](https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering).' Still, the simple task for people (especially college students due to the pandemic) being able to '*sit around with friends and talk shit*' is getting harder and harder. — \[via **[There’s a Growing Crisis in Our Social Lives. Is the Cure This Simple?](https://slate.com/culture/2023/02/hanging-out-sheila-liming-book-friendship-crisis.html)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe If you're a frequent reader of this blog/newsletter, you already know how much of a [Hans Zimmer](https://hans-zimmer.com) fan I am. I had a long heads-down week and needed to keep focused, and throwing on the headphones and listening to his exceptional scores keeps my brain flowing. For your enjoyment, from his [Live in Prague](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7reir6nGoD4) concert is **Chevaliers de Sangreal** from the film [The Da Vinci Code](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/). Be well. ✌🏻 ### Skewed Perspective URL: https://makoism.com/skewed_perspective/ Last updated: 2025-06-07T18:01:09.000Z It's been a long treadmill of a week filled with stuff that I had to get done, grinding through the to-do list, speaking at an all-hands, a bunch of work meetings, early mornings, not enough sleep, and slugging through general life stuff. Sometimes it can all feel like a never-ending escalator ride just checking off a task list - one after another - then you wake up, and it's already March. A few weeks back, I talked about [Forgetting What You Know](https://makoism.com/forget-what-you-know/) and that: > *Sometimes, it's better to drop all previous expectations and envision a different way of doing things. Most people can't see past what they already know...* One handy tool I often use (it sits prominently on my desk) to skew my perspective on something is called '**Oblique Strategies**.' Known as 'Over One Hundred Worthwhile Dilemmas,' it's a '*card-based method for promoting creativity*' created by [Brian Eno](https://brian-eno.net/?ref=makoism) and [Peter Schmidt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter%5FSchmidt%5F%28artist%29?ref=makoism) back in 1975\. It turns out artists ([such as Coldplay](https://coldplaying.com/newsarchive/coldplay-news/coldplay-used-oblique-strategies-cards-with-brian-eno-during-studio-sessions/)) still use them today in their studio sessions. The idea is simple: if you get stuck or want to look at something differently, pull a random card from the deck, and it will provide you with a straightforward course of action to help generate new ideas. The card reveals 'seed' ideas like (here's what I just randomly pulled): - Discover the recipes you are using and abandon them - Just carry on - Not building a wall, but making a brick - Go to the extreme, move back to a more comfortable place - Voice nagging suspicions While these prompts don't give you the answer to a new path overtly, they're great concepts to apply to your situation and noodle on. Often, they lead me to a different place than I had initially expected. You can purchase your deck [here at the EnoShop](https://www.enoshop.co.uk/product/oblique-strategies.html?ref=makoism), which I would recommend over the [over-priced version on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Oblique-strategies-hundred-worthwhile-dilemmas/dp/B0000EEZG9). If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech I was a bit shocked at how popular the "[Own Your Shit](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit?ref=makoism#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)" shirt ended up, so I decided to keep playing with new ideas. "[Own Your Shit](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit?ref=makoism#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)" will now be a *limited edition* and **only be available until Friday, March 10th**. I'm sure it'll return at some point, but if you want it, [order today](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/03/nope.png) Rooted in [the philosophy of "**Say NO to Protect the YES**"](https://makoism.com/time-flies/), I'm happy to present the next [Makoism shirt](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky), available immediately from [Cotton Bureau]([https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit?ref=makoism#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s]%28https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky%29) in White, Heather Tri-Blend, Black and Navy. [Order your statement against doing "all the things" today](https://cottonbureau.com/p/F9ZS4E/shirt/nope#/16680108/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s). ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In keeping with this week's new tee-shirt launch, I'm leading off with a great tool to determine the difference between **delegation** and **saying no** using the [Eisenhower Matrix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time%5Fmanagement#The%5FEisenhower%5FMethod). It's a fairly simple technique and incredibly useful. — \[via [**When to delegate, When to say no**](https://larahogan.me/blog/when-to-delegate-when-to-say-no/)\] - Easily my favorite quote of the week: '*without data you're just another person with an opinion*.' — \[via [**Without data you're just another person with an opinion**](https://sketchplanations.com/without-data)\] - A wonderfully thought-provoking read on letting go of ideas about ourselves and others and how liberating that can be. — \[via [**The Practice of Letting Go of Mental Constructs**](https://zenhabits.net/mental-constructs/)\] - This is a fantastic idea - instead of keeping lists and lists of things as *outstanding tasks*, you should shift your mental model to a **done** list. It completely turns the mindset into what you have achieved versus what you have left to do — \[via [**Not A Task List, A Done List**](https://www.gr36.com/2023/03/03/not-a-task.html)\] - Just filing this one into the list of wacky shit that happens, especially the last few years. There are 1,000 moai statues on Easter Island, and recently a new moai, smaller than most, was found in a dried-up lakebed. — \[via [**A New Statue Suddenly Appeared on Easter Island. That Doesn't Make Sense.**](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a43127682/new-statue-found-on-easter-island/)\] - A fun TedX talk that explores a '*data-backed mindset for life gamification*' and how it impacts the '*ways he helps (or tricks) his viewers into learning science, engineering, and design.*' — \[via [**The Super Mario Effect - Tricking Your Brain into Learning More**](https://youtube.com/watch?v=9vJRopau0g0&feature=share)\] - When someone compliments you, there's a way to say thank you. '*You want it to come off like the compliment was genuinely meaningful, like you were aching somewhere inside, and the compliment remedied that private, solitary pain.*' — \[via [**How to Take a Compliment**](https://sashachapin.substack.com/p/how-to-take-a-compliment)\] - A powerful read from Mark Manson this week. '*If you have to ask if you feel happy, then you probably don't.*' lens in on a simple remedy if you have an area in your life where you aren't progressing. And that is, *stop trying*. Food for thought. — \[via [**Don't Try**](https://markmanson.net/breakthrough/011-dont-try)\] - What started as [me simply asking a question](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako/109936878816796477) on a bottle of water I bought at a hotel, turned into a crazy forward (via [Riccardo Mori](https://morrick.me)) on the complete debacle that Dasani had trying to sell bottled water in Great Britain. Fascinating watch. — \[via [**Why you can't buy Dasani water in Britain**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD79NZroV88)\] - I recently learned of the musical instrument known as the 'blaster beam.' You've [heard it in movies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEjew239bUU&t=242s) (and [recently, the Boba Fett seismic charge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJTeatDqXrc)), but it's '*strung with numerous tensed wires, under which are mounted magnetic and piezoelectric pickups. Sound exciters can be slid to alter the sounds produced. The instrument is played by striking, rubbing, slamming, and plucking the strings with fingers, sticks, pipes, and even large shell casings.*' — \[via [**Blaster Beam**](https://www.craighuxley.com/blasterbeam)\] ## For Your Enjoyment This week I ran across a cognitive bias known as [The Dunning-Kruger Effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger%5Feffect). [Use this insight as you need](https://www.openculture.com/2017/12/why-incompetent-people-think-theyre-amazing.html). > *The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when a person's lack of knowledge and skills in a certain area cause them to overestimate their own competence. By contrast, this effect also causes those who excel in a given area to think the task is simple for everyone, and underestimate their relative abilities as well.* Here to explain it in more detail, is the fantastic John Cleese. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Time Flies URL: https://makoism.com/time-flies/ Last updated: 2023-02-26T19:49:17.000Z It was really rewarding to hear from so many people last week after writing [Random Acts](https://makoism.com/random-acts/), a simple idea that we humans should just appreciate each other more and verbalize it. Thank **YOU**, it really made my week hearing from so many. This week, I've been thinking, again, about time. **Tempus Fugit**, which is Latin for describing the way "*to draw attention to the rapid passage of time*". Roughly means 'time flies', however, Albert Einstein is the one who coined the term "*time flies when you're having fun*." Looking back over the years of journal entries, newsletters, talks, blog posts, whatever, I've started to observe a pattern that *I actually spend quite a bit of time, thinking about how I spend time*. Whether its through some crazy structure to [treat time like a bank with rigid calendar management](https://makoism.com/its-about-time/), [saying no to unimportant things](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/), or [even just revisiting how I think about linear time](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191203-what-we-get-wrong-about-time), it's a lot of thinking about.. yes, **time**. > *"Time is basically an illusion created by the mind to aid in our sense of temporal presence in the vast ocean of space. Without the neurons to create a virtual perception of the past and the future based on all our experiences, there is no actual existence of the past and the future. All that there is, is the present." -Abhijit Naskar* Maybe it's just natural to be more acutely aware of all this as we slowly get older. Or that my own observations on how little time we all have and, even though im getting better at self correcting it, I still waste time doom-scrolling or on other pointless cruft and brain candy. "[The Shortness of Time](https://fs.blog/seneca-on-the-shortness-of-time/)" also explores it: > *Time is invisible, so it’s easy to spend. It’s only near the end of our life that most of us will realize the value of time. Make sure you’re not [too busy to pay attention to life](https://fs.blog/2016/02/too-busy/).* Just remember, **time can only be spent once**. Spend well, friends. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech One of the more frequent questions I get in [mastermind groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind%5Fgroup) or a 'ask me anything' forum is how to get started writing, primarily if they've never written before. It's funny because I never considered myself a writer, per se. I do it because it helps empty my brain. But the advice(?) I always give the same: Write. Whether in a journal, moleskin, privately, or online, it doesn't matter. Look for something other than an audience. Just write for yourself. If you want to share it, share it. If not, don't. It's also cheaper than therapy... But I came across a post from [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com), '[A blog post is a search query to find your people](https://austinkleon.com/2023/02/19/a-blog-post-is-a-search-query-to-find-your-people/)' which struck a chord with me. In it, he quotes [Henrik Karlsson](https://escapingflatland.substack.com/p/search-query): > *A blog post is a search query. You write to find your tribe; you write so they will know what kind of fascinating things they should route to your inbox. If you follow common wisdom, you will cut exactly the things that will help you find these people.* I like that thinking *a lot*. One of the reasons I've been continuing writing (since 2020) is that it is helping me work through my thinking and helping me cultivate cultural perspectives to running a team, and it's *connecting* me. I can't underscore the number of quality people and thinking that public writing has introduced me to, and that is immeasurable. > *"Life is about collecting good people around you. You can't have enough good people." - Robert Kraft* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I think a lot about [my personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/), and I think this 'question' posed by the article would be a great one to ask in a group setting. I'm not going to spoil it, but think about it for your next team meeting — \[via **[Ask This Question at Your Next Meeting](https://hbr.org/2023/02/ask-your-team-what-are-you-stuck-on)**\] - More proof of why we can't have nice things. — \[via **[Sci-fi publisher Clarkesworld halts pitches amid deluge of AI-generated stories](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/21/sci-fi-publisher-clarkesworld-halts-pitches-amid-deluge-of-ai-generated-stories)**\] - I found this post from 37Signals, the makers of [Hey](https://www.hey.com), on why they are ditching the cloud super interesting. — \[via **[We stand to save $7m over five years from our cloud exit](https://world.hey.com/dhh/we-stand-to-save-7m-over-five-years-from-our-cloud-exit-53996caa)**\] - The simplicity of 'the Pixar pitch' and how it can be used to improve pretty much any presentation. — \[via **[The Pixar Pitch and the 22 Rule of Storytelling](https://medium.com/@charlesleon/the-pixar-pitch-and-the-22-rule-of-storytelling-68abf285af6b)**\] - I've posted about [Tim Urban's new book](https://waitbutwhy.com) a few times now, but I also enjoyed his story on how the book came to be — \[via **[A Short History of My Last Six Years](https://waitbutwhy.com/2023/02/last-six-years.html)**\] - I've written before about the power of saying '[I don't know](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/),' but as Lex points out in this post, 'it shows that you heard their question and are willing to respond.' — \[via **[“I don’t know” is more powerful than you think](https://lexfriedman.substack.com/p/i-dont-know-is-more-powerful-than)**\] - From one of the all-time masters, Teller (of Penn and Teller) explains how magicians manipulate the mind. I need to re-read this one, great stuff in here. — \[via **[Teller Reveals His Secrets](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/teller-reveals-his-secrets-100744801/)**\] - How to spend bad, or **spend well**. The idea that '*buying cheap is expensive*' is not only true for goods, but for other parts of life as well. — \[via **[The Simple Mental Model That Changed My Financial Life](https://dariusforoux.com/mental-model-financial/)**\] - I love reading about note-taking/pkm/knowledge systems, as I have now completely obliterated my own, too, almost nothing. This post is from [Oliver Burkeman](https://www.oliverburkeman.com) (who wrote the amazing book [Four Thousand Weeks](https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122)), asserts that '*a much more relaxed approach to knowledge consumption – one that involves putting way less pressure on yourself to retain what you read, listen to, or watch – isn't only more enjoyable, but better for your creative output, too*.' — \[via **[How to forget what you read](https://ckarchive.com/b/wvu2hgh5okv2w)**\] - Keeping tabs on 'Work 2.0' articles, this one on how making people return to the office hurts productivity, was fascinating. — \[via **[The return to the office could be the real reason for the slump in productivity. Here's the data to prove it](https://fortune.com/2023/02/16/return-office-real-reason-slump-productivity-data-careers-gleb-tsipursky/)**\] - I've been enjoying the writing of [David McCarty](https://medium.com/ellemeno), and this one, '*a curmudgeon's guide to finding purpose, fulfillment, and hope through creative exploration*,' was particularly good. In his spin of '[say no to protect the yes](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/),' he says, '*it begins by saying, fuck this shit and getting on with it.*' — \[via **[F\*ck This Shit](https://medium.com/ellemeno/f-ck-this-shit-e1dc4c416cb9)**\] - An oldie, but I always love sharing this one about how to play ultra-aggressive Monopoly. You should know *all* the rules - for example, '*there are only 32 houses and 12 hotels*', so **buy up all the houses and don't upgrade to hotels**. Evil. Perfect. — \[via **[How to Win at Monopoly and Piss Off Your Friends](https://kottke.org/16/02/how-to-win-at-monopoly-and-piss-off-your-friends)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe This week has been a long week of writing performance reviews, and I needed to get into a deeper headspace for writing. While I enjoy apps like [Endel.io](https://endel.io) and [Brain.fm](https://www.brain.fm) for that, nothing beats listening to [Hans Zimmer](https://www.hanszimmerlive.com). Be well. ✌🏻 ### Random Acts URL: https://makoism.com/random-acts/ Last updated: 2023-02-18T09:49:50.000Z What I love the most about having an [anti-library](https://makoism.com/thewreckingball/) is that it provides an endless source of random inspiration. There are weeks when I'll pick up a book I still need to read or finish, flip to a page, and read a chapter. From the book "[Be More Pirate](https://books.apple.com/us/book/be-more-pirate/id1390701506)": > *"Pirates' acute focus on micro needs inadvertently creates macro solutions."* And > *"Remember, pirates didn't set out to change the world, they just wanted to change their world. Pirates didn't intend to push forward democracy, they just wanted to make their own decisions. Pirates didn't mean to advance social policy, they just wanted to be treated fairly. Sometimes imagination compounds, and good ideas that are formed at the edges find their way to the center and change everything. They didn't just cause trouble, they caused *good trouble*."* Congressman and civil rights legend [John Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FLewis) [understood the power of "good trouble"](https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2020/07/remembering-john-lewis-the-power-of-good-trouble/). And while the simple idea I wanted to write about this week probably doesn't necessarily qualify as "*good trouble*," it isn't what I'd say is normal behavior. But it is one of those **micro-needs that can cause macro-solutions**. Let's get to it: When was the last time you randomly wrote a co-worker (or their boss), friend, or spouse and told them that you **appreciate them**? That they did a **good job**, made a **significant decision**, or **thanked them**. Why do humans tend to rattle and create so much noise around all the bad shit that happens or only send emails when things go wrong? Flip that shit. Think about how that simple act would make someone's day better if you sent a random show of appreciation to them. Given the recent [rash of layoffs](https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/16/tech-industry-layoffs), I don't even know if the "[great resignation](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/03/09/majority-of-workers-who-quit-a-job-in-2021-cite-low-pay-no-opportunities-for-advancement-feeling-disrespected/)" (or "[great re-evaluation](https://hackernoon.com/what-is-the-great-re-evaluation)") is even a thing in 2023\. But the "quit rate" numbers always seem to revolve around people not feeling respected. **People want to feel recognized for the unique value they provide on a human level.** So, maybe turn things on their head this week and cause some "good trouble" - send a random "thank you" for no reason. I guarantee you'll feel good about it. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Thinkers Several years ago, I discovered [the brilliant mind of Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com). While I've [referenced his posts through the years here](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html), his TED Talk, **Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator**, is still **one of my favorites**. > *The main theme of this speech is that humans tend to procrastinate to gain instant-gratification. This procrastination typically leads to results because deadlines lead to rational thought and productivity, even if it is last minute. However, procrastination creates an even bigger problem when there aren’t deadlines, such as in achieving one’s goals in life.* I was more than excited to find out he has [a new book](https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Our-Problem-Self-Help-Societies-ebook/dp/B0BTJCTR58) titled "[What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies](https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Our-Problem-Self-Help-Societies-ebook/dp/B0BTJCTR58)" coming out next week, and yes, it's already on pre-order. :) ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - What a **great read** this week on Google's problems, which, after reading, you'll recognize many similar problems in any company. Cultural problems are obscured by a single money maker (in Google's case, ads) that hides all other sins. — \[via **[The maze is in the mouse](https://medium.com/@pravse/the-maze-is-in-the-mouse-980c57cfd61a)**\] - I hadn't heard of "[the arrival fallacy](https://gretchenrubin.com/2009/03/happiness-myth-no-8-youll-be-happy-as-soon-as-you/)" before this post, but it's essentially a psychological idea that once you get to a certain place, things will change. The myth of "You'll Be Happy As Soon As You..." is often incorrect, as arriving rarely makes you as happy as you expect. A great read. — \[via **[My Reliance On The Arrival Fallacy](https://www.gr36.com/2023/02/14/my-reliance-on.html)**\] - Is *nothing* sacred? Yes, the **Wienermobile**, the 27-foot-long bright yellow-and-red hotdog on wheels, had its catalytic converter stolen at the Super Bowl this past weekend. — \[via **[Wienermobile in a pickle after falling victim to catalytic converter thieves](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/13/weinermobile-in-a-pickle-after-falling-victim-to-catalytic-converter-thieves)**\] - What an awesome '[oblique strategy](https://makoism.com/oblique-strategies-99e9bd223650/)' that could be applied to many different things. Shatter the illusion of perfection by creating "*one huge intentional fuck up *creates space* for me to practice without worrying.*". LOVE IT. — \[via **[Deliberately Ruin a Page of your New Notebook](https://medium.com/writers-blokke/deliberately-ruin-a-page-of-your-new-notebook-cf2c36becc8a)**\] - With everything going on in the world, it feels like I need to read more about 'hippo communication' which travels almost 1km — \[via **[Hippos can recognize their friends' voices](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60115512)**\] - What a great view on having 'one-word resolutions,' a '*single meaningful word that will perfectly define my goals and intentions for the year*.' Please read this one, and I won't spoil it for you. — \[via **[648 words about my one-word resolution](https://lgumbinner.substack.com/p/648-words-about-my-one-word-resolution)**\] - Have a new idea? A fun checklist of things you should ask yourself to test that out. — \[via **[Is This a Good Idea?](https://garrickvanburen.com/is-this-a-good-idea/)**\] - Here's a great post around web developers, but it's spot on for how most things are in general with teams these days. "*That's why we're all overwhelmed. Not because it's uniquely fast-paced but because it's unique in how it doesn't invest in people, training, or methodology. *We don't teach people to ask the right questions.**". — \[via **[How to keep up with web development without falling into despair](https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2022/i-cant-keep-up-with-web-dev/)**\] - [Chris Johnson](https://www.zerenpt.com) is a friend and one of the best physical therapists I know. He has a great new article up in Outside Online on running injuries, but what I found especially fascinating is that if I shift the lens from his "*running mistakes*" to the differences between strong teams and teams that need help, there are incredible similarities. — \[via **[The Seven Most Common Ways Runners Get Injured and How to Avoid Them](https://cdn.outsideonline.com/health/running/training-advice/injury-prevention/seven-most-common-ways-runners-get-injured/)**\] - Ooo.. maybe a [new t-shirt design](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) is in order: "Fuck It". What a great concept: it is a powerful mantra and a great general mindset to adopt. "*In combination with the habit of actively identifying tasks you're avoiding, it's 10x more powerful.*" — \[via **[The Fuck it Habit](http://jakobgreenfeld.com/fuck-it-habit)**\] - I enjoyed this post on the difference between explorers and leaders. Explorers, '*poke through the unknown, experimenting, trying many little dead-ends*' and Leaders, '*describe the destination clearly and simply so it's easy to understand and repeat*.' And more importantly, **leaders simplify**. — \[via **[Explorers are bad leaders](https://sive.rs/exled)**\] - How very 2023: the lights on an IOT-controlled school are permanently stuck in the "on" position. — \[via **[US school runs lights 24/7/365: The smart lights have been broken since 2021](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/01/us-school-runs-lights-24-7-365-the-smart-lights-have-been-broken-since-2021/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe Well, thanks to the great [Guardians of the Galaxy 3 trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqcncLPi9zw) dropping during the Super Bowl, I've been listening to this all week long. > *So in the night I stand beneath the backstreet light; I read the words that you sent to me; I can take the afternoon, the night time comes around too soon.* > *You can't know what you mean to me* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Admit You're Wrong URL: https://makoism.com/admit-youre-wrong/ Last updated: 2023-02-11T05:20:05.000Z Ironically, as I was catching up on the end of the weekly podcasts, [Daily Stoic](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily-stoic/id1430315931) had an episode drop today that directly talked about what I was going to ramble about this week: **embracing when you are wrong**. We all achieve a certain level of personal or professional success built upon previous experiences, knowledge, trial and error, or just tenacity. Last week, [I talked about](https://makoism.com/forget-what-you-know/) these things limiting your ability to see the bigger picture. > *Expectations come from things we know. It's kinda backward in some ways - the more we know, the more narrow-minded we can become, and a lack clearer sight of "*what could be*."* But what happens when you are just plain ole' **wrong**? Or is something in your control is **just** *broken*? Maybe you screwed up, made a wrong choice, and **blew it**. I've said it before, and it bears repeating: [own your shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/). While that earlier call to action was geared towards individuals to take responsibility for their choices in life, it's equally as effective as a mantra for owning the outcome of your actions or problems in your control. Good or bad. Successes or failures. As a leader, the worst thing you can do is blame someone else for your error or look for lame excuses. **"It's on me"** are potent words. *How many leaders do you know that start to yell or try 'command and control' when something isn't fluid, right, broken, or incorrect, rather than *leaning in* to own and fix it*. As Ryan Holiday says in the aforementioned podcast: > *Every decision lives in the past. In the here and now, they no longer exist. It can no longer be touched.* > > **All that remains is what you do next**. When you take ownership, you can more easily figure out how to proceed next. And while we'd all like to think we're perfect in life, accepting that you're probably going to be wrong more often than right is **somewhat freeing**. It's funny, because you'll see how much you can really achieve is often be proportional to your ability to own that shit, admit to being wrong, and act. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech You never really know what will stick when you put something out there. But I was especially surprised when I posted "[Own Your Shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/)" back in August that one of the most common requests I had was if there was a shirt available. So, I thought - why not - and it's now available from the incredible team at [Cotton Bureau](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/02/own-your-shit---0005---100--Cotton---Men---Tee---Black.png) If you want to support [Makoism](https://makoism.com/), make a statement that you're going to take some responsibility and look good doing it, you can order an [Own Your Shit tee](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s) right now. It comes in short-sleeved tee-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, etc., which come in three brilliant colors: black, blue, and heather black. We'll see how this goes - I have a bunch of fun "philosophical mottos" I may launch eventually. [Order yours today](https://cottonbureau.com/p/HVM2ZP/shirt/own-your-shit#/16552787/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)! ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Things I learned today: as a former Disney cast member, I was already aware that certain rides, [such as Soarin'](https://www.wdwradio.com/2013/09/tell-truth-smell-soarin/), use smells to enhance the experience. This one was new for me, though, which discusses the breakdown of the unique smell found on [Pirates of the Caribbean](https://www.fodors.com/news/travel-tips/travel-secrets-unveiled-why-does-the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-ride-smell-weird). Who knew you could even [buy a candle with the unique scent](https://www.wishescandleco.com/products/shipwrecked-candle-with-free-pin-inside)? — \[via **[The Pirates of the Caribbean Scent Edition](https://whyisthisinteresting.substack.com/p/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-scent)**\] - It's [been fun](https://makoism.com/in-search-of/) to watch the possibilities of what AI can enable, so here's a look at [Whisper](https://openai.com/blog/whisper/) and how it's being used to transcode podcasts. I previously was doing this via [Otter.AI](https://otter.ai), but this is super interesting that it can be run locally on a Mac — \[via **[Automating podcast transcripts on my Mac with OpenAI Whisper](https://sixcolors.com/post/2023/02/automating-podcast-transcripts-on-my-mac-with-openai-whisper/)**\] - My favorite quote of the week is "**Re-Wilding Your Attention**", described as '*the value of paying attention to offbeat things*.' If you're going to read **one amazing post**, this is the one to put at the top of the list. I need to re-read this one a few times as it may warrant its post — \[via **[Rewilding your attention](https://uxdesign.cc/rewilding-your-attention-d518ede18855)**\] - I loved this one; "*I don't care what we do. I just came to see you!*" is one of the best reasons for travel, ever. Instead of going to a place and seeing all the sites, the idea of going to a place to gather, eat and hang out feels so authentic. — \[via **[Traveling just for the people](https://sive.rs/travp)**\] - Another **mind-bomb** read came across the newsfeeds this week on the beauty of using an old Mac to create an isolated, quiet, fully controlled experience outside of the noise of the modern internet. '*Above all, this computer allows me to step back, take a break, and relax from the stresses of my life and the modern world. I appreciate this computer for what it is and what it provides me, different from what it was or could have provided me in the past.*' — \[via **[My Favorite Computer, An Old Mac](http://muezza.ca/thoughts/favourite%5Fcomputer/)**\] - Super important to maintain a healthy mindset: **schedule time to do nothing**. — \[via **[By Scheduling Time to Do Nothing Every Day for a Week, I Learned the Secret to Creativity](https://www.wellandgood.com/how-to-do-nothing/)**\] - The big question: will technology advancements bring progress? Or just profits. — \[via **[Luddites](https://www.profgalloway.com/luddites/)**\] - If you've worked on tech, you're probably familiar with the concept of **garbage collection**, which is easiest to think of as '*running a program creates garbage, which is the memory that's been allocated but is unused. Garbage creation is unavoidable, so we occasionally pause to collect garbage*.'. Now, apply this logic to how to handle any debt, and you have an interesting place to play. — \[via **[Garbage Collect Your Technical Debt](https://abinoda.substack.com/p/tech-debt-strategies)**\] - We all have arguments, and as this one proclaims, '*it's unreasonable to expect a relationship without conflict*.' This read has some great strategies to break through the conversation to understanding. — \[via **[The Art of Arguing](https://yungpueblo.substack.com/p/the-art-of-arguing)**\] - Another post on the return of the personal website. — \[via **[Into the Personal-Website-Verse](https://matthiasott.com/articles/into-the-personal-website-verse)**\] - I'm always a sucker for time management hacks, and articles on optimization and time blocking are always great for figuring out new ways to proactively plan the day. — \[via **[Planning a 30 hour work week](https://radreads.co/calendar/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe > *"And be a simple kind of man... Oh, be something you love and understand" - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Simple Man* simple man. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Forget What You Know URL: https://makoism.com/forget-what-you-know/ Last updated: 2023-02-04T20:41:01.000Z Earlier in the week, [I posted something up to Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako/109801196485691074) that's been rattling around my skull recently. While not entirely an [Oblique Strategy](https://makoism.com/oblique-strategies-99e9bd223650/), ('*Make a sudden, destructive, unpredictable action; incorporate*' may be similar), I find that I am spending more time later that when trying to do something new or change something with technology or a life goal, starting with just letting go of what I think are the expectations around something helps me think of what problems I need to solve to get there. **Expectations come from things we know**. It's kinda backward in some ways - the more we know, the more **narrow-minded** we can become, and a lack clearer sight of "*what could be*." For example, years ago, I decided to adopt mobile devices as the "future" state of personal computing to do as much of my technology work on devices that were not typically thought of as "general computing devices." People thought I was crazy walking around daily with just an iPad mini and a phone. No laptop. Apply [artificial constraint](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/). Sure - **it's painful**. Things don't work. You hack up wacky shortcuts—tricks to make it bend to your will. I could go on for hours on how iPadOS has been incredibly disappointing, as I fight with it more often than just getting something done. But the value in doing this is about ***breaking through old constraints to get to a place of being creative***. > *"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." - Epictetus* I like to ask myself: what if I **start at the end**, apply [inversion theory](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/), and work backward to get me to that new place? I'm doing this again with the Apple Watch as a device to drive 'personal' computing. I'm forcing myself to go out without a phone, just the AirPods and a Watch, and see what happens. As I think of new software, I sometimes start with: ok, let's do this JUST with the watch and a pair of smart earbuds. **It's ridiculous the constraints this put on the problem**. But I start thinking of new ways to work within that. - An audio recording of voice notes. - How to transcribe them when I get back to the desk, or even better, through some cloud system that does it for me? - A local data store or a verbal search. The list goes on and on. I'm not advocating this methology for everyone, but there's real value for me that starts to add up when I shift this thinking toward other areas, such as life, how I want to live, how to achieve a goal, or how to do work. Imagine new ways of doing things and not having the constraints of what you already know, but rather how you want it to be at the endpoint and working backward to navigate all the stumbling blocks to get you there. **You'll be surprised at how much farther and faster you go when you sidestep pitfalls that your previous self limited your thinking on.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Slow Tech I own **way too many** decks of playing cards. Probably 50 at this point, which is incredibly high given that *I don't take much time to play card games today*. I even carry a [pirate deck](https://store.theory11.com/products/piracy-playing-cards) in my EDC when I travel, just in case. While I always advocate taking time during the day to play, card games offer incredible benefits. > *Studies demonstrate that card games can make you smarter by developing your brain's processing speed and problem-solving abilities. Some researchers called card games "brain training games", and it goes without saying that if you're playing the right card games, they can keep the brain sharp. - via [gamesver](https://www.gamesver.com/powerful-benefits-and-advantages-of-playing-card-games-for-everyone/)* But there's something special (magical?) about the qualities of a deck in which the artist has to take time, care, *and love* to create something uniquely special. My two favorites most recently released from Theory 11: [The Dark Knight](https://store.theory11.com/products/batman-dark-knight-playing-cards) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/02/CleanShot-2023-02-04-at-10.47.01@2x.png) [Black Panther](https://store.theory11.com/products/black-panther-playing-cards) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/02/CleanShot-2023-02-04-at-10.48.01@2x.png) And, a mental to-do for me: Learn to play more card games, and even more importantly, take the time to do it. ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Like most of the world, I was enamored with [HQ Trivia](https://www.engadget.com/cnn-hq-trivia-documentary-162822490.html) back in 2018\. Looking forward to this tale of a company's meteoric rise and equally fast crash, which will air in March. — \[via **[Glitch, The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia](https://youtu.be/VWlJr2GRo5c)**\] - This one hit my inbox several times over the last few days, so it felt appropriate to share it. What started as a post [from Gruber on the state of Android apps](https://daringfireball.net/2023/02/making%5Four%5Fhearts%5Fsing), this spin pulls it to the current world of iPadOS. It resonated as someone who's tried to make the iPad the laptop replacement for a long time. "*The more I explore other platforms, the more I believe that iPadOS looks and feels nicer, but it's also getting in the way of me being able to get my work done.*" — \[via **[The Practicality of Art in Software](https://www.macstories.net/stories/the-practicality-of-art-in-software/)**\] - I need to try a few of these suggestions, especially "*editing is an act of selection, not compression.*" — \[via **[Jerry Seinfeld's Editing Tip Will Make Your Presentations Shorter and More Concise](https://www.inc.com/carmine-gallo/jerry-seinfelds-editing-tip-will-make-your-presentations-shorter-more-concise.html)**\] - A fun read that stresses the importance of **play**, not entertainment, in our life. "*Play is active fun, entertainment is typically passive fun*" and how we, as a society, spend way too much time doing mindless fun. "*Play shapes our brain, fosters empathy, helps us navigate complex social groups, and is at the core of creativity… It helps our overheated brain cool down.*" — \[via **[Humans Need Play](https://www.allenpike.com/2023/humans-need-play)**\] - I've been asked a few times how to "**start a newsletter**" or post online. The secret, I think, is to write, write, write. Write for yourself, not anyone else — \[via **[Putting Ideas into Words](http://paulgraham.com/words.html)**\] - A **great** read for anyone who manages people and needs to do performance reviews. The idea is that shapes define individuals and roles, rather than the classic "*D&D Character Sheet*" and managers (and their employees) need to have a different conversation. "*Help them think about their work and everyone's work as subtractive, as cutting out shapes from the big space of all work. Tell them what things are theirs, and talk about those with whom they share boundaries, and what those boundaries should be.*" — \[via **[What Shape are You?](https://tynan.com/shapes/)**\] - It's 2023, but the world is still doing wacky things — \[via **[Former school official accused of embezzling $1.5 million worth of chicken wings](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vera-liddell-former-school-official-harvey-illinois-embezzlement-chicken-wing-orders/)**\] - While the concept around "**Pay It Forward**" may seem cliche, the idea of "*sharing the gift of your time, expertise, and counsel to the world*" is valuable. Nothing wrong at all with "putting more goodness into the world." — \[via **[Be generous with your time](https://lexfriedman.substack.com/p/be-generous-with-your-time)**\] - I enjoyed this one which suggests some positive ways to channel procrastination into "learning projects" — \[via **[How To Practice "Productive Procrastination"](https://clivethompson.medium.com/how-to-practice-productive-procrastination-e2522247bd07)**\] - Huh. I didn't know this, but iOS has "sound recognition" to alert you of certain things like alarms or even custom sounds (for example, your baby crying). Kinda wild — \[via **[How to Make iPhone Alert You About Fire, Siren or Smoke Near You](https://ioshacker.com/how-to/make-iphone-alert-fire-siren-smoke-near-you)**\] - "*The way information gets to you is more important than the information itself*" hits home as you think about the crazy ways we get information delivered to us these days. TikTok, Twitter, social media, etc., are thoughtfully examined in this post, and it concludes that "*all the things Facebook will often drain from you by dominating your time with *hollow parodies of friendship*.*" — \[via **[Medium is the message](https://hanki.dev/medium-is-the-message/)**\] ## This Weeks Mantra > *"There ain't no answer. There ain't gonna be any answer. There never has been an answer. There's your answer." ― Gertrude Stein* Be well. ✌🏻 ### How Do You Measure Success? URL: https://makoism.com/measuring-success/ Last updated: 2023-01-28T18:21:47.000Z One of the more valuable habits I've been trying to do more frequently this year is to search randomly through [my past journal entries](https://makoism.com/up-is-down/) to reflect a bit deeper on some random idea or post from a few years ago and tease my current thinking on some topic. With that in mind, I came upon this wonderfully simple comic from [The Oatmeal](https://theoatmeal.com) called "[The Oracle](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/oracle)." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/01/EF_BUnAVAAAym3F.jpg-large.jpeg) Created from, of all things, a ['micro fiction' tweet](https://twitter.com/ASmallFiction/status/946608733982822401) of [James Miller](http://jamesmarkmiller.com), it was a super simple and poignant post that had me doing quite a bit of self-reflection. With that in mind, here's the question I posed: **How do you define success**? That question is one that I've been asked several times, ironically most often in Q&A sessions, after I give one of my talks on *what matters* in having a career in technology. I've been feeling more and more resound in the idea that each needs to **create their definition of success**. What's important to me is very different than what matters to you, and there's no magical fortune cookie to guide you to what success even is. I've never really found any *measure of success* is quantified by the size of your team/organization or a particular title. Still, I know plenty who value and place emphasis on that. And, maybe that's the big challenge; it's an open-ended definition that requires each person to decide when you've been successful. > *"Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals" — Deepak Chopra* > > *"Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration." — Thomas Edison* > > *"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value." — Albert Einstein* I wonder if some of these inspirational notions of success are too lofty. Judging your success is more about what completes you as a human. Something more ... personal. Maybe: - **success** is brewing that perfect cup of coffee in the morning. - **success** is walking to the mailbox after a significant health incident, or **success** could be completing a marathon for the first time. - **success** is an amazing pizza. - **success** is an evening with close friends, laughing and sharing stories under the stars. And that's what matters - whatever you achieve is **your** qualifier of success, not anyone else's. **You** need to define **what, where, and how** success looks like in **your** life. For my own journey, Sir Richard Branson has the right the idea: > *"*Happiness isn't just how I measure my success; it's also the key to it*. Life's too short to waste your time doing things that don't light your fire. If you don't enjoy what you're doing, or aren't having a lot of fun – despite the fact that you're making a lot of money or rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous – then it's time to move on to the something that does make you happy."* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Slow Tech If you're from Connecticut, you probably are already aware of the fantastic pizza from [Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana](https://order.pepespizzeria.com/about-us) in New Haven. So I was shocked when I saw Netflix had a new series, [Chef's Table: Pizza](https://www.netflix.com/title/81292981), in which episode 4 featured [Franco Pepe](https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/trends/restaurants-and-chefs/italian-pizza-chef-franco-pepe). It turns out I'm an idiot; **Franco isn't Frank** \- [they're both pizza masters](https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/trends/restaurants-and-chefs/the-frank-side-of-pizza-franco-pepe-frank-pepe), and from totally different worlds. Franco's pizza is called, by some, the **best pizza in the world**, and what **spoke to me** was the process in which he makes the dough - **no machines are involved**. He views pizza as '*more than a vehicle to deliver sauce and cheese*,' but as an **expression of creativity**. > *Today, everyone wants to go the easy way.* > *No obstacles. No sacrifices.* > *But my father taught me that the pizza chef's* > *identity is passed through the dough.* > *And this dough, rises through the years.* ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - For frequent readers, you already know that I'm a huge fan of [Do Lectures](https://thedolectures.com) and the [Do Book Co](https://thedobook.co), so I was delighted to see that [Russell Davies](http://www.russelldavies.com) (of '[Everything I Know About Life I Learned From Powerpoint](https://profilebooks.com/work/everything-i-know-about-life-i-learned-from-powerpoint/)' fame) is writing his next one for them. I **can't wait** to see what he cooks up in Do Interesting — \[via **[New Do who this?](https://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2023/01/new-do-who-this.html)**\] - A wonderful read that was shared on Mastodon this week on coffee and why drinking 'bad coffee' is the author's latest obsession. It's more about the experiences and company he's shared with those terrible cups, but it was fun to read through. — \[via **[The Case for Bad Coffee](https://www.seriouseats.com/the-case-for-bad-coffee)**\] - A reminder on how not to obsess too much about the tools but the process of constant iteration to craft something a bit better each time. — \[via **[Thinking Too Hard About Starting](https://birchtree.me/blog/thinking-too-hard-about-starting/)**\] - [Continuing from a deep dive](https://makoism.com/in-search-of/) into 'hacking' the thought process of Wordle and using grep to find permutations, it's a fun geeky read. — \[via **[Wordle permutations](https://leancrew.com/all-this/2023/01/wordle-permutations/)**\] - The folks over at [IA](https://ia.net) have a wonderful essay on the impact of generative AI (ChatGPT) and the importance of language being a **bridge**. '*If we disconnect one side of the bridge, the bridge falls. If one listener or speaker, writer, or reader stops feeling what is said, the bridge crumbles. Language without a body is senseless, meaningless, void.*' — \[via **[The End of Writing](https://ia.net/topics/the-end-of-writing-ia-on-ai)**\] - On the geek side - I agree with everything in this post. I want an 11" or 12" MacBook Air - not a larger one. Put MacOS on an iPad Pro M2 11," and I'm happy. — \[via **[I like 11 better than 15](https://morrick.me/archives/9708)**\] - A powerful post posits that we are all just "blabbing away" on the Internet. And it's not wrong, even this newsletter/blog - we're all just '*saying things*' — \[via **[We're All Just Saying Things on the Internet](https://chrishannah.me/were-all-just-saying-things-on-the-internet/)**\] - If you manage a team and struggle with internal communications, you'll appreciate this post. It provides some great practical examples of improving communications within your teams. — \[via **[Internal comms for executives.](https://lethain.com/internal-comms-execs/)**\] - Not something many want to think about, but I realize I need to do this - create a '**digital legacy**.' It hit me hard when I was being wheeled into heart surgery a few years back that my wife didn't have the passwords to access most of my accounts, and it's an essential thing to think about in case of the worst — \[via **[Digital legacy the homemade version](https://cubicgarden.com/2023/01/24/digital-legacy-the-home-made-version/)**\] - Sure, the timeline is wrecked enough already; let's read from new [Books of the Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book%5Fof%5Fthe%5FDead) that have been recently discovered and bring some mummies back to life — \[via **[Archaeologists discovered a new papyrus of Egyptian Book of the Dead](https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/archaeologists-discovered-a-new-papyrus-of-egyptian-book-of-the-dead/)**\] - Stumbled on this tribute website to the fantastic book [Four Thousand Weeks](https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122). Rather than describe it, go experience it — \[via **[Four Thousand Weeks](https://leebyron.com/4000/)**\] ## This Weeks Mantra "**Farpotshket**" The Yiddish word describes '*the art of trying to fix something only to make it far worse*.' Be well. ✌🏻 ### In Search Of URL: https://makoism.com/in-search-of/ Last updated: 2023-01-21T10:39:55.000Z Thanks to those that reached out after [last week's post](https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress-2/); it certainly hit a chord with many of you (thanks for reaching out!). A couple of quick programming notes: - [Twitter is a train wreck](https://www.engadget.com/tweetbots-twitter-client-shutdown-195533095.html), and I'm done with it for my content. I've [moved to Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) if you want to follow my random quibbles, but I am embracing the "[Publish On Your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere](https://indieweb.org/POSSE)" model. Follow here, on [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako), [RSS](https://makoism.com/rss), wherever you would like, but my 'home' is here on [https://makoism.com](https://makoism.com/). - I reworked the newsletter, so it's a bit more streamlined. - On the brain dump - heard the feedback - I'll put back the commentary. :) - **Archives** \- Next up are archives/tags, so if you're interested in finding past articles (over 150+ now), I wanted to make it easier. There's a lot of legacy content that's buried --- I started to talk about something that's been on my head [a few weeks back](https://makoism.com/the-joy-of-rediscovery/): > *It's rare for someone who's been in the industry for a long time to find something totally new that reminds them why they started the journey. The only feeling I could describe it as was joy. The joy of playing around with some tech that didn't feel like a scam (NFTs), have social burden, or more of the same crap we see over and over and over. It was a joy of rekindling a spark in something long forgotten.* This week, coincidentally, the [Ten Percent Happier podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ten-percent-happier-with-dan-harris/id1087147821?i=1000590657863) from Dan Harris had a fascinating episode regarding [**‎One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness**](https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1087147821&i=1000590657863). Now, if you don't remember Dan Harris, he was an anchor on Good Morning America who had an on-air panic attack: [His book is excellent](https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265431) (so read it), but this particular episode focused on the book [Awe, by Dacher Keltner](https://www.amazon.com/Awe-Science-Everyday-Wonder-Transform/dp/1984879685). While the book is still in my [anti-library](https://fs.blog/the-antilibrary/) waiting to be read, the episode was illuminating. It brought to light the experience I had back in December playing around with that new technology. What clicked is that I was experiencing (something that I've often been missing): **a feeling of awe**. Think about it - when was the last time you just felt **blown away** by something? What was the last thing that gave you goosebumps? What literally took your breathe away? Was it: \- An amazing hike? \- A piece of music? \- A sunset? \- A meal that just blew you away? \- The smell of a fresh cup of coffee in the morning? I think, for many, everything just has become just so routine, **so damn dull**; as a society who's been consumed with the continuous 'IV drip of social media,' collectively, we have forgotten how to **experience things**. There's interesting [science behind](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27929301/) what happens to our brains as we experience awe and even more evidence which explores the long-term [health benefits](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/awe%5Fboosts%5Fhealth) of it. One source even claims that experiencing awe [can make you a nicer person](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/23/how-getting-more-awe-can-improve-your-life-and-even-make-you-a-nicer-person). While the podcast talks about the idea of going on [awe-walks](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-mindset/202011/what-are-awe-walks) \- '***a stroll in which you intentionally shift your attention outward instead of inward***' - I'd almost throw down a challenge to yourself if you're feeling glum to find your little bits of **awe** in every day. You don't need to jump on a plane and see Mt. Everest (though it's pretty awesome) - you can experience it all around you - **every day**. Lensing back to some of the things going on with the decline of Twitter and the state of technology, [Jon Udell](https://blog.jonudell.net) nailed it best: > *I'm no longer employed in the attention economy. I just want to hang out online with people whose words and pictures and ideas intrigue and inspire and delight me, and who might feel similarly about my words and pictures and ideas. There are thousands of such people in the world, not millions. We want to congregate in different online spaces for different reasons. Now we can and I couldn't be happier.* I loved this take on finding some **awe**someness. Get out there and find some. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Slow Tech I love technology; in fact, I've built a career on (as I often joke) '*being from the future*' on a lot of this stuff. But lately, something has felt *a bit out of wack for me*. There are days where it feels as if my brain has been rewired (it probably has) to consume information at such a pace I'm missing out on essential details of just *being*. The scale needs to be balanced. In that vein, I've been toying around with an idea to get more **consciously analog** — every day. And you know what - I'm finding that I'm just *happier*. I didn't invent "[Slow Tech](https://beside.media/atelier/short-guide-to-slow-tech/)" but loved this view: > Slow tech is above all a philosophy that invites us to define the place that technology occupies in our lives. The aim is **not to reject technological advances**, but rather to **identify** the appropriate tools for our needs and those of society. From [Techopedia](https://www.techopedia.com/definition/28641/slow-technology-movement): > The slow technology movement is focused on a very specific and precise interaction with these technologies. Some describe it as "*aimed at reflection and moments of mental rest rather than efficiency in performance.*" This description focuses on how slow technology aims to change the priority from optimized use to moderated use of technology. So look to this section to be about some new weekly idea on just **slowing down**. ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week. *It seems like folks wanted my 2 cents on them, so adding that back*: - "**The Secret To Life Is Not Taking It So Seriously**" was exactly what I needed this week - a kick in the pants that reminded me that '*after enough trips around the sun we begin to see patterns repeat itself and starts to dawn on us how absurd it all is*.' - [More](https://medium.com/ellemeno/the-secret-to-life-is-not-taking-it-so-seriously-226a8548b362) - I probably take this a bit too far, but I try to lean into using [humor as a method of 'coping'](https://bakadesuyo.com/2012/02/can-laughter-save-your-life/), but I liked where this article went on some simple things around "**The Most Fun Way To Make Your Life Awesome**" - [More](http://bakadesuyo.com/2023/01/how-to-be-funnier) - Ya know, I've been there. The allure of "personal knowledge management" (PKM) is that you can capture all the things in some super-inter-connected graph, all the notes, books, tweets, and later weirdly wire them to create a second brain.' For me, **it made a landfill of things** I never revisited ([where ideas go to die](https://www.reproof.app/blog/notes-apps-help-us-forget)); I spent more time worrying about the system than enjoying the content. "**I Tried To Hack Podcasts, And It Made Me Hate Them**" captured some of the same things I experienced - [More](https://www.gr36.com/2023/01/15/i-tried-to.html) - I loved this one on "**Time Management**" as I've been struggling with a better way to handle it. Lots of great ideas in here that I'm figuring out how to implement- [More](https://paolo.blog/morfternight/morfternight-68-time-management/) - A nice list of "**Some Things I've Learned in 2022**", with lots of nuggets of wisdom to think about every day - [More](https://www.patrickrhone.net/some-things-ive-learned-in-2022/) - I'm still playing [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html) daily - I have three different groups I share results with, but wow, "**Not cheating at Wordle**" was a wild one to read. - [More](https://leancrew.com/all-this/2023/01/not-cheating-at-wordle/) - "**10 Steps to Becoming Annoyingly Capable**" is part humor, but all facts on adopting a different mindset, such as "Remain sane via Boundaries." Love. - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-steps-to-becoming-annoyingly-capable) - Privacy is an illusion, but sorry, this is just gross. "**The Unnerving Rise of Video Games that Spy on You**" shines a light on a problem that almost sounds like a drug addiction - how they use '*data analytics tools that promise to make users more *amenable to continued consumption* through the use of data analysis at scale*.' - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/video-games-data-privacy-artificial-intelligence/) - I always joke - freeze me when I die so I can return in 300 years. But after reading "**Horror stories of cryonics: The gruesome fates of futurists hoping for immortality**," this probably doesn't sound like the *best* idea - [More](https://bigthink.com/the-future/cryonics-horror-stories/) ## This Weeks Mantra From the post "[Some Things I’ve Learned in 2022](https://www.patrickrhone.net/some-things-ive-learned-in-2022/)": > *We are never in the middle of nowhere. Every place is somebody’s somewhere.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### A Work In Progress URL: https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress-2/ Last updated: 2023-01-15T21:36:41.000Z **I'm tired.** For some reason, re-entry into reality after the holidays this year has seemed more frantic and "compressed" than usual. Things went from 0 to 100mph in days (or hours?). The calendar was overrun before I knew what had happened. The to-do list grew exponentially. Then I had to write a talk for a large group at work, and I decided to introduce a new tool into my workflow: [IA Presenter](https://ia.net/presenter). It's fantastic, but still pre-release, and I couldn't get the themes to look how I wanted them to. More stress. And while I had to switch back to Keynote and re-work it in the 11th hour, the talk was well received. Then [the Twitter shit-show blew up](https://furbo.org/2023/01/15/the-shit-show/). I get that most of this is all self-induced stress around getting things done, but something feels "more" stressful this year. There's more weight to things. It's probably in my head. :) While I was thinking about what I was going to write about or if it would be better to just take a "rest week," I stumbled upon this post on how the author "[disconnected from the electric grid for eight months—in Manhattan](https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/i-disconnected-from-the-electric-grid-for-8-months-in-manhattan/)." > *What started as an experiment has turned into a habit I hope will inspire others.* Which is almost exactly where [Makoism](https://www.makoism.com) started, [back in 2020](makoism.com/deep-links-3d50734208f3/). > *Part organizational, part experiment, I decided to start posts every few weeks with interesting content I found from around the Internet. My goal is not to create another newsletter for people to subscribe to (don't we all have subscription fatigue?) but *rather a place for me to curate some interesting topics and easily share them with anyone who finds this stuff fascinating*.* In some odd way, this was a **return to blogging for me**. From 2001-2009, I regularly maintained a blog, Furrygoat (a random domain-name drawing), where I would muse on random technology or things about life. But there, I **owned by content**. It was on my domain, and somewhere along the way, like many others, I got a bit lazy: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. But what I've found, as I've been playing around with [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako), and I've been thinking more about my own "space" here on the Internet. And a lot of what I've been noodling around here **has inspired others**. I've also been thinking about **Premeditatio Malorum**, the premeditation of evil. Especially around what's been going on with Twitter. How people interact with TikTok. Heck - the [Seattle school district has even sued the social media](https://www.axios.com/2023/01/08/seattle-public-schools-sue-tech-mental-health) giants over mental health. So I've been weighing that and imagining that things can go wrong with all this social stuff, and the best thing to do, is to prepare for that. When [shit happens](https://furbo.org/2023/01/15/the-shit-show/), you can deal with it. Similar to my life. **This space is a work in progress.** Right now I'm thinking about a few new ways to shake up the format over the following weeks and trying some things to see what sticks. The design here has been the same for three years, and it's time to kick over a few rocks. It is essential to play, experiment, and see what works. And what needs to be fixed. *So apologizes while the dust settles*... Don't fret - I'm still going to muse on business, leadership, stoicism, technology, and storytelling. Continuous evolution, though, as I play with all of this. If you see something you like, or even better - don't like - [just let me know](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako). ;) If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow [via RSS](https://makoism.com/rss), on Mastodon or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## This weeks "Deep Links" One change I'm playing with is the "deep links" - here are a few nuggets I found across the Internet that resonated with me over the last week. I don't see a ton of clicks thru on the links, so do people even look at this? :) So, to make my life easier today - here are just the links: - "Taking over a Dead IoT Company" - [Read](https://blog.kchung.co/taking-over-a-dead-iot-company/) - "Laid-Off Workers Are Flooded With Fake Job Offers" - [Read](https://www.wsj.com/articles/laid-off-workers-are-flooded-with-fake-job-offers-11673387875) - "How the designers of GoldenEye 007 made use of “Anti-Game Design”" - [Read](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/07/book-excerpt-anti-game-design-and-the-making-of-goldeneye-007/) - "Annual Performance Reviews Ruin Everything" - [Read](https://medium.com/@ElizAyer/annual-performance-reviews-ruin-everything-7464e07dff3a) - "The Seven Dispositions of Task Management" - [Read](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-seven-dispositions-of-task-management/) - "Horrible Therapist - Random Comic Generator" - [Read](https://theoatmeal.com/pages/horrible%5Ftherapist?q=q%5Fpublic%5Ftoilet&a=a%5Fshit%5Ftesla&t=t%5Ftoilet%5Fpaper) - "How Awe Can Change Our Lives For The Better" - [Read](https://www.noemamag.com/finding-awe-amid-everday-splendor) - "Your Best Work" - [Read](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/your-best-work-2/) - "Don’t Confuse Motion with Progress" - [Read](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/dont-confuse-motion-with-progress) - "Reaching Peak Meeting Efficiency" - [Read](https://medium.learningbyshipping.com/reaching-peak-meeting-efficiency-f8e47c93317a) - "How Pitfall Builds its World" - [Read](https://evoniuk.github.io/posts/pitfall.html) ## Fin Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Magic Roundabout URL: https://makoism.com/magicroundabout/ Last updated: 2023-01-07T11:23:41.000Z Welcome to 2023 🎉🥳🎊. I sincerely hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the arrival of [365 new possibilities](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/). I had a **great** New Years' eve, celebrating the ball drop in NYC (on TV), so I was in bed by 10 pm here (in Seattle). It's how I roll these days, I guess. ;) I keep a long list of ideas that pop into my head to write about here, and, for no particular reason, I came across a note I scribbled over the break that said, "explore the **magic roundabout**." This is a reference to the *infamous* Swindon 6-circle roundabout. Known as "one of the most complex rotaries in the world" and located in Wiltshire, South West England, this famous traffic tour-de-force is "*made up of five smaller clockwise roundabouts, one central counter-clockwise roundabout, and the overall circle of the entire design*." Huh? Think about it this way: the intersection allows a driver heading in one direction to spin around different loops until you are spat out in another direction. Now, what's really crazy (watch the video!) - there's only been around 20 accidents since 1972. Check this out: After spending way too much time in my head thinking about how everything in life seems like it goes around in circles (a cosmic magic roundabout?), doesn't life seem a lot like life is just like that these days? 2020 bled into 2021 into 2022, and here we are. According to [Covid Standard Time](https://covidstandardtime.com), as I write this, it's actually **Friday, March 1041st, 2020**. Even Marcus Aurelius recognized how the same things seem to happen over and over through time, with just different sets of people involved: > *"To bear in mind constantly that all of this has happened before. And will happen again—the same plot from beginning to end, the identical staging." Marcus Aurelius - Meditations.* And that's important to recognize when everything around us feels overwhelming - **none of this is new**. The only thing you can genuinely control **how you respond to any of it**. So do you choose to keep circling around and around? Or pivot to the left while traffic is going right and change the direction. It is, ultimately, up to **you** to decide how you want to navigate life's magic roundabout. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I talked about this a bit in the [Mako "Things I Like" 2022 edition](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/) and [M.G. Siegler](https://mgs.blog) (General Partner at Google Ventures), had a timely blog post that was noodling around some of the things I was mentioning in "Contextual Computing." > *I'm planning on playing even more with this idea next year - I want to start using apps like Just Press Record to create a "Walking" context focus. Imagine having to leave the phone behind, talk to the watch via the AirPods, and have it auto-transcribe into a note when I return home.* In "[Minimum Viable Technology](https://500ish.com/minimum-viable-technology-f9590df3194f)", M.G. explores a similar concept: > *But given how powerful the Apple Watch now is — especially the Ultra version — I wonder if it’s not time to leave the iPhone at home, or in another room, or in the bag more. Sure, Apple Watch can’t do everything, or at least not as well as you can on the iPhone, but what if “good enough” is well, good enough? Until you get back to the iPhone.* > > *In some ways, this mirrors what we used to say (and in some cases, still do) about the iPhone. I can use this to get things done “good enough” [until I get back to a Mac](https://500ish.com/write-on-the-ipad-publish-on-the-mac-363a4272ed5b). Many of us have a good balance there, 15+ years into the iPhone. It might be time to get better at such balance with the Apple Watch as well as we approach 8 years in.* > > *Anyway, I was just thinking about that while using the Kindle. I don’t want the Kindle to do Twitter and all that other stuff the iPhone does. But I also want to make sure I’m not missing some vital message about something — yes, even when on the beach. And the Apple Watch is more than capable of fulfilling that need.* There is more to explore here, and it's top of mind for me as we head in 2023. ## Thought(s) of the week > "It never ceases to amaze me: We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own." — Marcus Aurelius > > — Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) [November 18, 2022](https://twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/1593604958854688768?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > It's only work if you would rather be doing something else. Find a way to carve a career out of what you already want to do. > > — James Clear (@JamesClear) [November 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/JamesClear/status/1589996169836363778?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I've been reading more about classic game design and came across this one on how "**Super Mario Bros Was Designed on Graph Paper**." '*We'd then hand our drawings to the programmers, who would code them into a build*' - [More](https://kottke.org/15/06/super-mario-bros-was-designed-on-graph-paper) - What a great find on how [Basic Apple Guy](https://basicappleguy.com/) created the "**iPod Socks Wallpaper**" (and a fun article on [the history of iPod Socks](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/ipod-socks)) - [More](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/ipod-socks-wallpaper) - "**How to Build a Happy Life: How to Prioritize Joy**" explore how '*in adulthood, many of us are forced to recalibrate our relationship with joy*. '- [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2021/11/how-to-prioritize-joy-lorigottlieb-arthurbrooks-happiness-2021/620787/) - This is a bit of a weird one I see making the rounds, "**Bring Back Blogging**." What defines a blog? You can subscribe to this newsletter [via RSS](https://makoism.com/rss) \- so that's a blog, right? I think the movement should be more tuned towards 'own your content,' but I'm glad to see people thinking more these days about a return to [RSS](https://tfos.co/p/rebuild-social-media/) \- [More](https://chriscoyier.net/2022/12/26/bring-back-blogging/) - "**Unbundling Tools for Thought**" is a great, great read about how so many 'tools for thought promise to let you centralize and hyperlink all your data.' And how 95% of those use cases can be disconnected. More alignment is in my mind on why the whole PKM space is overkill. - [More](https://borretti.me/article/unbundling-tools-for-thought) - I've been playing with apps like [Gentler Streak](https://gentler.app) and have been in tune with "**What Does It Mean to Truly Rest for Your Health?**". A focus on recovery and rest has started to make a real impact on how I'm feeling - [More](https://www.self.com/story/what-does-rest-mean) - "**Stop Talking to Each Other and Start Buying Things: Three Decades of Survival in the Desert of Social Media**" is a perfect rant on everything social media- [More](https://catvalente.substack.com/p/stop-talking-to-each-other-and-start) - I always enjoy Om's posts, and "**What we don’t say in Silicon Valley anymore**" pulls no punches - [More](https://om.co/2022/12/22/what-we-dont-say-in-silicon-valley-anymore/) - Privacy is an illusion: "**Data brokers raise privacy concerns — but get millions from the federal government**." In 2023, you can probably assume most of your data is being shared with anyone who wants to pay for it - [More](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/21/data-brokers-privacy-federal-government-00072600) - We all have them, so "**How to... have better meetings**" was a good look at some tips for before, during, and after meetings - [More](https://oneusefulthing.substack.com/p/how-to-have-better-meetings) - Did you know that Peanut Butter '*was first created for sanitariums like John Harvey Kellogg's Western Health Reform Institute as it satisfied the need for a protein-rich food that did not have to be chewed*'? Neither did I. Read more in "**A Chunky History of Peanut Butter**" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-chunky-history-of-peanut-butter) ## Fin As a fan of Twin Peaks, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Angelo Badalamenti. While I've more recently enjoyed his beautifully haunting track, [Heartbreaking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBZYRl90bos), from Twin Peaks: The Return, he's probably most known for the hypnotic theme for Laura Palmer. This was a great video in which he described the creative process he used with David Lynch on how he wrote it. [As the story goes](https://www.vulture.com/2017/05/twin-peaks-secrets.html): > *One day Badalamenti was at his Fender Rhodes, with Lynch sitting to his right. "Okay, Angelo, we're in the dark woods now, and there's a soft wind blowing through some sycamore trees. And there's a moon out and there's some animal sounds in the background, and you can hear the hoot of an owl."* Watch how it all came together. He [passed away on Dec 11th, 2022, at the age of 85](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/arts/music/angelo-badalamenti-dead.html). Be well. ✌🏻 ### Mako "Things I Like": 2022 URL: https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2022/ Last updated: 2022-12-23T23:33:48.000Z This is the 8th [annual](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/) big ass post (err, [tradition](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/)?) to keep track of and share out the things/apps/processes/musings that I have found helpful throughout the year. Think of it as my own micro "yearly review" with links and tips for the things I surround myself with as part of an ongoing attempt to maximize my daily workflow, put me in the zone, and elicit happiness. ### 2022 Reflection When I look back at the end of 2021, I had talked about shifting my focus - it was less *about the work* but the *process of doing the work*. And while 2022 continued down that thematically, I've been spending more and more time reflecting on life in general. Perhaps it's the crossing of the [Brimley Line](https://brimleyline.date) or trying to get my mental health back in alignment with the realities of what my body has been through. Surviving two heart attacks before the age of 50 (one being a 90% blockage of the LAD, aka the '[widow maker](https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/widow-maker-heart-attack)') along with heart surgery to treat atrial fibrillation wasn't on my life-bingo card. I've certainly faced my mortality more than I expected, and I've been struggling a bit this year coming to terms with the idea that I can't do the same types of endurance activities that I used to enjoy. Instead of focusing on what I can't do, I'm trying hard to shift my goals into things I can: taking long walks, stationary cycling, and shorter runs. Moving from "**I can no longer**" to "***I get to***" is a critical mind shift to embrace. Like everyone, I have those days when I quickly fall back into old, stressful habits. Establishing a better sense of control often comes down to **how** I spend time and **who** I spend that time with. Some days, it is a struggle to focus on the things within my control and just let go of the things that aren't. It's not easy; it's pretty tricky, and I have yet to figure it out completely. But I'm trying hard daily to recognize those patterns and shift focus when I do. The most significant insight I've come to understand is that it's okay to acknowledge these feelings and that some days aren't perfect. **What you do with them is what matters**. > *Never waste energy on worries or negative thoughts. All problems are brought into existence - drop them.* \- Bruce Lee So that's where I am, wrapping up 2022 - trying to understand myself better and not investing time on the negative. **Be like water**. Going to wrap this one up (as there's a lot more to read below), but this magnificent post, [Three Thoughts: Energy, Friendship, & Perception](https://yungpueblo.substack.com/p/three-thoughts-energy-friendship) resonated. Here are a few excerpts from it: > *1\. *Your healing creates waves that are consciously and unconsciously felt by others*. The vibration or energy that you emit reverberates outward and influences the environment and those in it.* > > *2\. *The reality is that friendships take work*. You need to put energy into your friendships to keep them alive and well nourished, similar to tending a garden. A connection needs both people to feed it intentionally for it to remain healthy.* > > *3\. *Being able to see yourself as you are moving through your own emotional spectrum is an essential quality to cultivate.* Knowing the difference between who you are when you are balanced versus who you are when your mood is low can help you go through tough moments without making them harder than they already are. Noticing when you are in a low mood should make you question the assessments and judgments you are making. You know from past experience that heavy emotions negatively color your view.* A fantastic read to shift the mindset to end the year. I hope you enjoy this year's update and that you are well heading into 2023.✌🏻 If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky), or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## 2023 Mantra Last year, I attempted to cast forward a 'mantra,' which was 'I take one step, then another, then another'. 2023's mantra is: **One year is 365 possibilities: make progress.** ## Makoism "Deep Links" [Back in early 2020](https://www.makoism.com/p/deep-links-3d50734208f3), I restarted my old blog (the artist formerly known as "[The Furrygoat Experience](https://web.archive.org/web/20220000000000%2A/http://furrygoat.com)") as a way to keep a few peers, friends, and colleagues, engaging on content that I had discovered online weekly. The result was unexpected but incredibly encouraging: people enjoyed it (all **450** of you)! What's humbling is that I'm consistently seeing 60-65% opening and reading my weekly ramblings on leadership, storytelling, life, and humor. **THANK YOU**. [Makoism.com](https://makoism.com/) has been incredibly rewarding for my mental health - a bit of self-therapy if you will - continuing the daily practice of reading and writing. The connections I've been strengthening from the simple approach of **putting it out there**, talking bluntly, and focusing on things that I found interesting have been enriching. I am always happy to connect (here's a [link on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/)), so feel free to reach out! And if someone forwarded this to you, subscribe (free!) to get [my posts on this weekly](https://makoism.com/). Here is a list of the top articles in case you missed them: - [How to win the week with a Weekly Review](https://radreads.co/how-to-win-the-week-with-a-weekly-review/) - [Psychology Reveals 10 Behaviors of Cynical People](https://www.powerofpositivity.com/cynical-people-behaviors/) - [Shields Down](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/shields-down/) - [The Kaizen Way](https://kaizenwaytowellness.com) - [How to Play Better Games in the Metagame of Life](https://revolutionarylifestyledesign.com/play-better-games-metagame-life/) From my posts, these have been the most popular over the last year: - [Facing the Struggle](https://makoism.com/facing-the-struggle/) - [With Constraint Find Freedom](https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/) - [You're Solving the Wrong Problems](https://makoism.com/the-wrong-problems/) - [Maybe They're Just an Asshole](https://makoism.com/asshole/) - [Own Your Shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/) I've also found it amusing that people have been requesting "**Own Your Shit**" shirts - maybe that's something I'll venture into next year. 🤪 ## The Purge (Annual Audit) ([From: "The Purge"](https://makoism.com/the-purge/)) One of the most useful annual undertakings is the personal technology audit. When I talk about audits, this isn't about the apps I am using that are sitting there collecting dust, but taking a **hard**, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, and workflow in the *entire ecosystem* that encompasses my day-to-day computing devices and workflow. The basic outline of the *purge* that I have used and continue to find useful: - **Apps** — examine the apps on your phone, iPad, and laptop . Have you used the app in the last two months? *If not, you don't need it*. **Delete it.** - **Media** — do you need **all** those documents/movies/music on your phone or laptop with you? With streaming, wireless and clouds today, do you need 24,000 songs, 19 movies, and every receipt with you? *If not, storing things in iCloud, Google or Amazon helps keep my devices light.* - **Subscriptions** — ask yourself: *are you getting value out of that application subscription*? **If not, cancel it**. My litmus test is if it's a service (media, storage where they are paying costs for hosting, etc.), I will pay to help keep it going. If an app I love has a "lifetime" option, such as [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com), **I'll buy that**. Apps are in a weird phase right now — It's getting harder and harder to avoid subscriptions, and I don't mind annual upgrade charges. **I cannot handle being nickel and dimed monthly, though.** - **Higher Learning** — Do you have time to write in your journal daily? Do you have a few hours aside a week for learning? Do you read enough? *I *make* time to journal entry in [DayOne](https://dayoneapp.com) every day — even if it's a sentence.* - **On the day-to-day** — what is the best way to manage your day, get through your to-do list, deal with the landslide of email, and optimize reading for the most impactful content? See my post on [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) to learn more about thirty minutes of daily reading, writing, and playing. This year's most significant change was around the areas of **personal knowledge management**. (Nice segue!) ## Email It's been over a year since I have gone with a complete **separation of work from my devices**. The goal was to create **rigid boundaries** for myself to block bad habits: no more Slack, Teams, work calendars, and work email on my machines outside of the one provided by my employer. What a difference this has made. I recently explained this to a colleague, and they almost couldn't wrap their heads around the separation. The conversation we had at a recent tech conference (I didn't have my laptop with me) went something along the lines of: > *Co-worker: "I'm going to send you that meeting for later."* > *Me: "I don't have work on my cell phone."* > *Blank stare. 5 seconds. 10 seconds.* > *Co-worker: "Huh!? What? Do you have a work phone?"* > *Me: "Nope."* > *Blank stare. 5 seconds. 10 seconds.* > *Me: "When you need me, how do you reach me?"* > *Co-worker: "I send text... email is terrible".* > *Me: "Yup."* > *Blank stare. "Holy shit. That's *brilliant*".* Maybe not *brilliant*, but it's effective. Through the year, I have also continued the "[trusted trio](https://lifehacker.com/empty-your-inbox-with-the-trusted-trio-182318)" method for dealing with inbound mail and folders: - **Follow-up** — this is for emails that represent a quick action that involves a human; this often ends up being another type of follow-up in [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) and is one I don't use often. - **Hold** — a temporary holding area; I mainly used this to keep online order confirmation emails until I physically received them (and then moved to archive). - **Archive** — pretty self-explanatory; it was the old "annual" folder for everything else if it doesn't fall into a particular category. I am still planning on purging the "archive" folder to backup to start the new year with a clean slate. ## Flow ([From "Flow"](https://www.makoism.com/p/flow-23a)) I've always been proud of the habit of [Inbox Zero](https://blog.superhuman.com/inbox-zero-method/), responding to messages quickly; I've started to take a more critical lens to it this year. There's something to the argument that "[everything in life is an inbox](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inbox-zero-mentality)" (which is a great article to read if you haven't), and I can certainly relate to sometimes letting things stew is better than just *responding*. But the idea that **email is not my task list** is essential, so here are some **excellent** tips on discovering how liberating this can be. My flow is pretty straightforward for **every** new mail: - If I don't need it and can delete it, I **delete** it immediately. - If it's something that I can **answer immediately**, I do. Then the Email goes into the 'archive, hold, or followup' folder or **deleted**. The 2022 addition here: sometimes let it stew, but move it out of the Inbox. - If the Email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast, or whatever else I can consume later, it quickly goes into [Reeder](https://reederapp.com). - If it's something that I **need for information later**, it quickly goes into the 'archive' folder. Then it is **deleted**. - If it's something that I need to **think** about or take **action** on, it quickly goes over to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item, with tags, a project, and a due date. Then the Email goes into the 'archive' folder or **deleted**. The process is quick and straightforward, and my Inbox **never** becomes a dumping ground for tasks. ## Calendar Management ([From "It's About Time"](https://makoism.com/its-about-time/) and ["Don't Do It"](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/)) We all have those terrible Tetris-looking work calendars; in fact, I exported my meeting list from 2022 and found that **almost 71% of my working hours**, were spent in a meeting this year. It's staggering and something I need to continue to improve in 2023. While I've strived to have a more deliberate focus on my calendar (with various levels of success), here's the methodology I've been toying with and need to refine further into next year: - Use **categories with calendars**; green is "calendar management," dark gray is "cannot move" (a doctors appointment), yellow is "open office hours," etc - **Set core working hours**. 9 am-5 pm PST, for example. - Block out the calendar outside of core working hours. I use "CM" for 'calendar management,' for example, "CM: Leave me alone." - 30 minutes at noon for lunch, I block (in green), "CM: Lunch" - Friday afternoons, from 1 pm-5 pm, I block (in green) "CM: Focus Friday" - I want time at the end of the week to focus, read, wrap up the week, learn a new thing, etc. I've also extended this block to my entire organization - a deposit in the collective "time bank." - One day a week, I also have a block of "open office hours" - feel free to schedule a catch-up; let's chat about random shit, but I know I'll be interrupted. - Now that I have the general week blocked out, each day I also pick a 2-hour block as "CM: Think (but flexible)" - these are movable, complete-time blocks if a meeting pops up, but it also ensures I have a solid 2-hour continuous block to be productive and in 'the flow.' Just remember: Time is currency. Your calendar is a bank. Make deposits and withdrawals carefully. ## The Anti-PKM (From: "[Circling the Drain](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/)") Last year I talked about a "[Second Brain](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/)". This year, two ideas stuck with me. First is [The Fall of Roam](https://every.to/superorganizers/the-fall-of-roam): > *After some time, though, reality started to sink in. 'I am not really going back through all of these notes as often as I thought I would.' My next automatic assumption is that if they were just organized better I might go through them more. And so, the question starts to creep in again. 'Where should I put this?'* And, [Notes apps are where ideas go to die.](https://reproof.app/blog/notes-apps-help-us-forget): > *You think of something, write it down, and feel free. Find something else, bookmark it, and close the tab without worry. If you need that discovery again, it's only a few taps away. The placebo effect—or, at least, the new app effect—is real.* > > *By letting go, you've cleared up space for new quests. No more dozens of tabs open forever; you saved them, then let them go back into the ether. No perpetual thinking on an idea; you wrote it down, let your second brain remember for you.* > > *Then we're free. We've stalked the prey, secured it for later nourishment. We can safely forget. We've insured against faulty memories. Now on to the next quest, finding something new to stash.* > > *That's the true value of notebooks, notes apps, bookmarking tools, and everything else built to help us remember. They're insurance for ideas. *They let us forget.** So that's where I am - I've dumped a lot of my process for idea collection and long-term storage. I use simple tools now: - [Reeder 5](http://reederapp.com) is where I store most things now - articles, videos I want to watch, and things to catch up on. It is my primary "[read it later](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/)" app. - [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) is where I store everything I want long-term. I don't need crazy note wiki links or robust interconnected PKM madness; just take a note and hold it for "long term memory." **Simplicity equals Freedom**. ## New for 2022: Contextual Computing What initially started as playing around with the basic functionality of [Focus Mode](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212608) on the Mac and iOS has led me down a path of some fascinating exploration around a *different type of computing*. I lump this thinking into **[Contextual Computing](https://www.cio.com/article/228160/5-things-to-know-about-contextual-computing.html)**. The general onus behind contextual computing isn't new: > *it's used to refer to the use of computer technology to *collect and analyze data about its own surroundings*. The idea is to create devices which are aware of their surroundings and which can analyze the data to come up with exciting new use cases.* But the idea of using your surroundings and current "context" for your actions is becoming more and more natural with the sensors in phones and (in my case) the Apple Watch. For example - when I go to sleep, I have my watch face **dynamically** change to a new one that provides me a different type of display that gives me more relevant information. - The face shifts to a dark red hue, so it doesn't wake me at night. - The face changes to [Modular](https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/faces-and-features-apde9218b440/watchos), with the following apps: [Heart Analyzer](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/heart-analyzer-cardio-monitor/id1006420410) (Recent HR, SPO2, HRV), [AutoSleep](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autosleep-track-sleep-on-watch/id1164801111) (Status), and the built-in apps to give me other heart-related information. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/WatchFaces-2.png) dynamic watch faces If you're wondering how I have it automatically change the watch face itself via Focus: - On your iPhone, go to Settings > Focus. - Tap Set Up next to a Focus or create a **new Focus**, tap Customize Focus, then tap Choose below the Apple Watch image. - Select a watch face, then tap Done. Easy! Check out [this relevant article](https://gregmorris.co.uk/blog/my-focus-mode-set-up/) on how others have used Focus mode. I'm planning on playing **even more** with this idea next year - I want to start using apps like [Just Press Record](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/just-press-record/id1033342465) to create a "Walking" context focus. Imagine having to leave the phone behind, talk to the watch via the AirPods, and have it auto-transcribe into a note when I return home. So yes - [Content may be King, But Context is Queen & She Holds the Purse Strings](https://www.exchangewire.com/blog/2017/04/03/content-may-king-context-queen-holds-purse-strings/). ## The 2022 Desk Setup ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/IMG_0764.jpeg) the desk Here's where my setup lands ending in 2022: - [MacBook (Air 512GB/24GB, M2, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — I am on this laptop all day long in my home office. **I love it**. - [iPhone 14 Pro (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-14-pro/) — Goes with me **everywhere**. - [iPad Mini 6 (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/) — I was so happy that this device was finally released. It's my favorite around-the-house device, but I am testing a bit of the same configuration now with an [M2 iPad Pro 11.5"](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) for the extra screen room (and trying to save my old eyes). - [Apple Watch Ultra](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra/) — **Wowzers**; I didn't expect this one to be an essential piece of new tech for my health in 2022\. Here's more on how I've used the watch for [my health tracking](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). - [MB Pro 14"](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/) — the work laptop. Now that I'm on Apple Silicon for work, it's not as bad as the crappy old Intel MBP 13" I had, but this is what I lovingly refer to as the **work brick**. I have an ancient [Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) media server that is used to archive content and back up the [Synology NAS](https://www.synology.com/en-us) to [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html). Other random gear: - [AirPods Pro 2](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — these are my primary headphones for calls, and the old AirPod Pro "original" are my backups. - [Vissles LP85 Keyboard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsxGmYp74X0) \- basically, a mechanical Apple Keyboard; but offers some great features like multi-computer support. While I occasionally use the [Magic Keyboard](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK2A3LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english), I wanted to play more into mechanicals this year. - [Oakywood Dual Laptop Vertical Stand](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YKBQHWM/) \- I keep both the work and home laptop in this, so they're out of the way. - [2 in-1 Wireless Watch Charger Portable Charging Stand](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJDH84TT) \- its just cleaner than having cables everywhere. - [AirPod Max](https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/) \- I know, the case is stupid. But the sound quality on these is fantastic for listening to music and watching movies. - [AirPod Max Waterfield Case](https://www.sfbags.com/products/airpods-max-shield-case) \- I am waiting for these to arrive; as mentioned, the AirPod Max "bra" case is terrible. - [Grovemade MagSafe Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/magsafe-stand/) - [Blue Yeti Nano](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti-nano/) and [Blue Yeti Compass](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/compass/) - [Apple Studio Display](https://www.apple.com/studio-display/) - [Grovemade Desk Shelf](https://grovemade.com/desk-shelf-system/) - [Grovemade Pen and Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/black-pen-and-pen-stand/?initial=491) - [Pete's Pirate Gear](https://petespiratelife.com/) — candle, challenge coin and dice. Yo ho yo ho. ## Camera Setup Since I spend a ton of time in virtual meetings, I found it humorous how often others ask me about the camera setup. I can't stress how important getting good lights and a proper camera changes things for the day-to-day when video calls are the bulk of where you put in the time. - [Sony Camera](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-ZV-E10-Interchangeable-Mirrorless/dp/B09BBLH4SG) - [Viltrox 23mm Lens](https://www.amazon.com/VILTROX-Mount-Focus-APS-C-Camera/dp/B08DTRYSKW) - [elGato CamLink 4k](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Cam-Link-Broadcast-Camcorder/dp/B07K3FN5MR) - [elGato Stand](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Weighted-Base-Multi-Mount/dp/B07X5DM3S1) - [elGato Lighting](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Key-Light-Professional-App-Enabled/dp/B07L755X9G) ## EDC A few changes since my [2021 clean up the EDC'](https://makoism.com/2021-edc/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/IMG_0745-2.jpeg) Here's the shopping list: - [Nite Ize S-Biner Dual Carabiner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HN6CW4) — to clip on water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK)) to bring heart medication everywhere. Unfortunately needed these days. - [Anker 622 MagGo Battery](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09925S3R9/) — a small/light battery that doesn't need a cable to charge the phone. Also, nice that it can use the USB-C to charge (plug in the Satechi watch/AirPods charger into it). - USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightening charge cables. - [Leather cable straps](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WNS98W) — because they are functional and look fantastic. - [Anker USB C 735 Charger](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09C5RG6KV/) — a 65w, ultra-fast two-port USB-C and 1 USB-A charger that is small, can quickly charge a laptop, iPad, etc. and **is the only charger you'll need**. My overnight bag has the [Anker 747 Charger GaNPrime 150W 4-port version](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09W2PNLX7). - [EverRatchet Keychain Tool](https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Infusion-EverRatchet-Ratcheting-Keychain/dp/B07FCRH3D6) — one of the best flat multi-tool that's a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, bottle opener, box opener, seven wrenches, and more in a compact 20g footprint. - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small and bright, it's a no-brainer for the daily bag. - [AirTag](https://www.apple.com/airtag/) — because I may lose the EDC? - \[[Theory 11 Piracy Cards](https://store.theory11.com/products/piracy-playing-cards)\] — who knows when you want to play some cards? :) Not shown that's also with me: - [KardiaMobile 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) — Another unfortunate reality for me these days, I need to carry an EKG reader with me. While the AppleWatch is excellent for a simple and quick 1-lead EKG, this unique gum-stick-sized device can do a medical grade 6-lead EKG that's easily sharable with my doctors. - [Satechi USB-C Wireless Charging Dock](https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-USB-C-Wireless-Charging-Dock/dp/B086XKQMY4) — In the bag to charge the Apple Watch or AirPods Pro. # 2022 Apps List ## The Nuked List 🔥 Here's a bunch of apps that didn't survive the annual purge. - AppZapper — It hasn't been updated in years and lacks M1 support, so it moved over to TrashMe. - Matter — I was not too fond of how I couldn't automate getting data out of it. - Readwise — The app I want to like, and since they still don't have shortcut support, it ended up on the trash pile. - Otter.ai — Not a fan of the changes they made to their subscription model. - Mailbrew — It seems like it died this year - it hasn't been updated in a long time, which is a shame. - MindNode — I don't use it enough to justify a subscription, so I switched over to [iThoughts](https://www.toketaware.com), which I could "buy." ## New Finds 💡 - [TrashMe 3](https://www.jibapps.com/apps/trashme3/) — replaces AppZapper. ## Page One / Homepage This list contains the apps I use every day; my page one on the phone and the pad. - [Fantastical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) (Mac and iOS) — Has been rock solid this year, so keeping it. I wish [the scheduling and openings functionality](https://flexibits.com/blog/2022/02/fantastical-scheduling-arrives-with-version-3-6-openings-proposals-and-quarters/) launched earlier in the year could replace my usage/subscription for Calendly, but it's not on par with it yet. - [Carrot Weather](https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/) (iOS) — Carrot is [the best weather app](https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/28/22254026/carrot-weather-version-5-update-ios-app-subscription) with a crazy amount of customization options. The constant snark is priceless. - [Tot](https://tot.rocks) (Mac and iOS) - Tot is a weird one for me, but it's still going strong. Think of it as a simple utility to throw down scrap notes that sync between your laptop, pad, and phone. - [1Password](https://1password.com) (Mac and iOS) - I have my entire family on [1Password for Families](https://1password.com/families/). I have a good 800+ passwords and logins for sites where I have no idea what the password is. It's essential for personal security in 2023, IMHO. - [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) (Mac and iOS) — Still using Things for getting tasks done every day. - [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) (Mac and iOS) — Simple, perfect, and just everywhere for me. - [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) (Mac and iOS) — IAWriter is what I use for long-form focused writing. - [Darkroom](http://darkroom.co) (Mac and iOS) — the BEST photo editing app for your phone. - [Signal](https://signal.org/en/) (Mac and iOS) — solid end-to-end encryption messaging. - 🧠 (aka, 'the brain') - This 'folder' houses the apps that I use as part of my knowledge management: - [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) (Web and iOS) — it's so much more than an RSS' source' by allowing you to curate newsletter subscriptions (so they don't clutter the inbox), Twitter, and Reddit in a single backend. It's great. - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com) and [Apollo](https://apolloapp.io) (Web and iOS) — still using Reddit as a resource for information, but like Twitter, you need to curate what you subscribe to carefully. - [FreeForm](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/12/apple-launches-freeform-a-powerful-new-app-designed-for-creative-collaboration/) — while the promise of this new app from Apple is tempting, I haven't found a way to integrate it into my workflow. I am still playing, though. - [Endel](https://endel.io) — I've been using this app which delivers '*personalized soundscapes to help you focus, relax, and sleep*' as a way to stay focused on long-form writing. - [DayOne](http://dayoneapp.com) (Mac and iOS) — I use DayOne for jotting down simple thoughts daily. Clearing my mind at the start of every day of the "junk" has been helpful for me to maintain better clarity. - [Reeder 5](http://reederapp.com/ios/) (Mac and iOS) — My prominent "[read it later](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/)" app along with [Feedly](https://feedly.com) as a way to get newsletters via RSS instead of having my inbox flooded. - [Ivory](https://tapbots.social/@ivory) (iOS) — With the impending destruction of Twitter, I spend more time these days on [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako). This app, while in alpha still, is transformative. Also playing with the beta of [Mona](https://mastodon.social/@MonaApp). ## Other Apps of Interest Instead of going thru the [myriad](https://www.apple.com/apple-one/) [of](https://www.hbomax.com) [usual](https://www.netflix.com/) [suspects](https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011) [across](https://disneyplus.com) [my streaming](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/08/apple-tv-plus-subscribers-get-cbs-all-access-and-showtime-bundle-at-a-great-value/) media nightmare, here's a few of note from the last year: - [YouTube TV](https://tv.youtube.com) — Been loving the year on YouTubeTV. - [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) (Web and iOS) — I broke down. I couldn't take the ads anymore. - [ReelGood](https://reelgood.com) (Web and iOS) — I use this to find "where" something is streaming. Searching across all the subscription services to stream a particular title from is a PIA and this app helps out. - [Halide](https://halide.cam) (iOS) — still the BEST camera app on the phone; every year, it keeps getting better and better. - [Pixelmator Pro](http://www.pixelmator.com/pro/) (Mac) and [Pixelmator Photo](https://www.pixelmator.com/photo/) (iOS) — photo editing tools that are unparalleled. - [Photoleap](https://www.photoleapapp.com) (iOS) — I use this app when I need to "layer" photos with text or do some stimulating effects. Recently introduced, some great AI-based tools. - [LumaFusion](https://luma-touch.com) (iOS) — a professional-grade video editor for iPad and iPhone - [Blink Shell](https://www.blink.sh) (iOS) — SSH and Mosh client for iOS, and [recently supports VS Code](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPHjcsrKM9s&feature=youtu.be) \- which is **insane**. - [Working Copy](https://workingcopyapp.com) (iOS) — The best git app still for iOS. - I continue to use [Apple Shortcuts](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios) a TON this year for simple automation. Check out a few "power" apps to bring additional functionality to it: - [GizmoPack](https://gizmopack.app) (Mac and iOS) — while it has friendly actions for working with the wallet or files, I find that I use it a ton to process JSON w/ [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/) or [JsonPath](https://github.com/json-path/JsonPath). - [HTTPBot](https://www.httpbot.io) (Mac and iOS) — REST client for iOS that's compatible with [PostMan](https://www.postman.com) collections. But I use it for advanced [curl requests](https://flaviocopes.com/http-curl/) in Shortcuts. - [Toolbox Pro](https://toolboxpro.app) (Mac and iOS) — more utilities to add power to your automation, such as working with NFC, image filtering, movie details, etc. - [Linky](https://pragmaticcode.com/linky/) (iOS) — great app for sending clips to Twitter and Mastodon; though I use this for "text shots" — you highlight text, and it turns it into an exciting image. - [TripIt](https://www.tripit.com) (Web and iOS) — because it's free from work. - [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com) (iOS) — now that I'm on planes again, this app is indispensable. ## Homescreens **iPhone 2022** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/dual.png) iPhone 14 2022 Homescreens **iPad 2022** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/IMG_0003.PNG) iPad 2022 And.. that’s a wrap. See you in 2023\. Be well and if you enjoyed this - you can always feed the habit by [buying me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️. ✌🏻 ### The Joy of Rediscovering Joy URL: https://makoism.com/the-joy-of-rediscovery/ Last updated: 2022-12-10T10:07:19.000Z 💡 Quick note: The next newsletter will be the infamous "[Mako 2022: Things I Like](https://makoism.com/tag/thingsilike/)" annual review. It may be off schedule since there have been a ton of changes this year, and it could be a monster - but stay tuned; I've shaken up a lot this year, and hopefully, it will be an exciting read. --- I had a thought provoking experience over the last week that I wanted to touch on as we head into the holiday season. Bear with the tech talk at the start to get to the realization. :) By now, you must have read all about OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence 'chatbot' (if not, go [read this article](https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/8/23499728/ai-capability-accessibility-chatgpt-stable-diffusion-commercialization)). It sparked some *wild* [online discussion](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/ideas-changes-expect-post-chatgpt/) regarding its implications from whether it would [render homework and essays obsolete](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-04397-7), to how it could help [foster/generate new ideas](https://oneusefulthing.substack.com/p/how-to-use-ai-to-generate-ideas), to how it would eventually [annihilate civilization](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/12/openai-invites-everyone-to-test-new-ai-powered-chatbot-with-amusing-results/). As any self-respecting geek would do, I quickly rolled up my sleeves, lost sleep, and went down the rathole playing with this thing with some crazy-amusing-results sparking off a bunch of fun ideas where I could use this technology at work, and even in my personal life. The image above was a quick one I created by asking [ChatGPT](https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/) to describe a scene, and then I leveraged a second AI, [Stable Diffusion](https://huggingface.co/spaces/stabilityai/stable-diffusion), to render it. Yes - an AI described it, and another AI drew it. 🤯 > The results I'm seeing from ChatGPT makes me appreciate humans even more, especially those who think critically, and continue to push the boundaries on creative expression. > > ChatGPT feels like the baseline of what we are capable of and sets the bar so we can raise it. > > — Kelsey Hightower (@kelseyhightower) [December 9, 2022](https://twitter.com/kelseyhightower/status/1601076256564355072?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) At the same time, with [the craziness](https://ez.substack.com/p/the-fraudulent-king) of [what's going on with Twitter](https://lethain.com/twitter/), I was simultaneously digging deeper into the concept of **[the fediverse](https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-earth-fediverse)**. > *a Fediverse service isn't like signing up to use Twitter or Facebook, where you create an account and use it to communicate only with other users of that platform. Fediverse services are not single websites but open-source software that allow anyone to run their social networking service using that particular software's functions. Imagine, for instance, *running your own Facebook—you keep all the functionality and features that Facebook's software incorporates, but you determine who's allowed on your Facebook and what rules they have to follow*.* *Side note: If you want to follow my musings there, I can be found at * What do these two completely unrelated technologies have in common, you ask? Well, **absolutely nothing**. I was just **having fun**. It's rare for someone who's been in the industry for a long time to find something totally new that reminds them why *they started the journey*. The only feeling I could describe it as was **joy**. The joy of playing around with some tech that didn't feel like a scam (NFTs), have social burden, or more of the same crap we see over and over and over. It was a joy of rekindling a spark in something long forgotten. Look, I've been a computer *dork* for as long as I can remember and have made a great career out of understanding how things work with these bits and bytes. I was reminiscing about what it was like in 5th grade when I was in 'advanced' computer classes, and some of the simple things that sparked an internal curiosity out of the joy of discovery. Most readers probably don't even remember companies like [Beagle Bros Software](https://beagle.applearchives.com) \- these are the first software folks I remember being '**cool**.' I still recall, *to this day*, their awesome disk icons (which still crack me up) and came on every sleeve. For a history lesson, check out [Steven Frank's Beagle Bros Online Museum](https://stevenf.com/beagle/contents.html). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/diskcare2.jpg) I guess this week I'm just throwing down a simple idea: **spend some time this holiday season when things calm down and try to reconnect with your joy**. Remember what started you out on the journey that led you to **why** and **what** you became what you are today. After a few long weeks of sifting through Excel sheets reviewing budgets, a weekend of *remembering why and having fun was a great shot in the arm*. And, if you discover you *don't like* where you're at: **do what you can to take the first scary step, make a change, re-learn your 'why,' and remember**.. no one says, "when I grow up, I want to be in middle management.' If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky), [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking Two quick videos this week that helped me (literally?) knock down some barriers this week. **Breaking Down The Silo's** > *While the silo collapsing is disruptive to the day-to-day routine, it feels like a good opportunity to break up with old habits. A break from those bad, toxic, or negative behaviors that the old barn normalized. An opportunity for reinvention. This is something I’m learning myself. You don’t have to be the same old jackass kicking against the sheet metal walls of the old barn, which made the old barn an unsufferable place to be and ultimately why it fell. You can be a carpenter this time around.* \- [Dave Rupert](https://daverupert.com/2022/11/silos/) **Finding Your WHY** Another great technique that I came across was [Simon Sinek](https://simonsinek.com), and how to find your 'why' and what it is that you 'give to the world'. ## Thought of the week > "It never ceases to amaze me: We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own." — Marcus Aurelius > > — Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) [November 18, 2022](https://twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/1593604958854688768?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Her: Who's your favourite literary vampire? > Me: The one in Sesame Street > Her: He doesn't count > Me: I can assure you that he does > > — Andy Ryan (@ItsAndyRyan) [August 6, 2021](https://twitter.com/ItsAndyRyan/status/1423739281911259147?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Wow; I loved this one: "**10 Pep-Talks for the Cynical**". Jessica concludes '*I want an honest voice to lead me out of the cauldron, not one that makes excuses in cursive frosting while my skin melts off. Maybe you do, too. So instead of saccarine pep-talks, here are some dry *Voice Of Reason visuals**'. Great stuff in here - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-pep-talks-for-the-cynical) - Akin to my opener for this week, "**The ability to build**" talks about how there are some '*people who talk about building, then there are people who build* .'Get motivated and build something that sparks joy! - [More](https://www.proofofconcept.pub/p/the-ability-to-build) - Speaking of 'joy,' go play with the "**Asteroid Simulator**" if you want to see the effects of smashing large objects from space on neighborhoods. Quite interesting to see the fireball radius, actually- [More](https://neal.fun/asteroid-launcher/) - "**A pretty shitty time?**" was a great piece that I can mentally relate to: '*For the last handful of years, I've been pursuing something else. Balance. Calm. Structure. Comfort. I wanted a fuller life, not a bigger life.*'. A fuller life. I like that. - [More](https://teganandsara.substack.com/p/a-pretty-shitty-time) - Speaking of mental health, a friend sent me this article entitled "**I Know A Bit About That**." It is a challenging read, but a valuable one, with a great nugget of advice in there: '*The point is: sometimes, even in the darkest days and coldest moments, something may happen to make you smile, if you just let it happen.*' - [More](https://orbitaloperations.beehiiv.com/p/know-bit) - Given everything going on with AI these days, "**The Lifecycle of Uncomfortable Tech**" was a timely one that explores the psychological journey that people go on when something ground-shaking appears. An excellent analysis of the phases from 'toy' to 'accept & accelerate' - [More](https://www.nfx.com/post/lifecycle-of-uncomfortable-tech) - "**The promise of social media - without bullshit**" poses the question of whether 'social' media is even possible when the microphone is given to the word, and there is no absolute source of truth. '*Social media used to be a nice neighborhood. I miss that.*' - [More](https://withoutbullshit.com/blog/the-promise-of-social-media) - "**Everything dies, including information**" is the title of an article. [So it goes](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/apr/15/fiction.kurtvonnegut). But I thought this piece was a good, insightful view on the shelf life of things - [More](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/10/26/1061308/death-of-information-digitization/) - How often have you solved a problem without really deterring there was a market for it? In "**Problem/Market Fit**," there are some pretty good questions to ask yourself to determine if you are solving something worthwhile or not - [More](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/problemmarket-fit) - A few thoughts on "**How To Be Successful** ."I generally am not a huge fan of 'lists of how to do X,' but the advice given in this one was pretty straightforward with a few 'yeah!' moments. For example, '*be hard to compete with*' was particularly good insight - [More](https://blog.samaltman.com/how-to-be-successful) ## Fin I am closing out this week with a link to the film 'Stutz' currently airing on Netflix. Several friends recommended it to me, and after getting through my queue, I finally sat down to watch it. The documentary, by [Jonah Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah%5FHill), has been called '\[an actors tribute to his therapist\](', but I genuinely enjoyed watching Stutz walk through the 'tools' he uses to provide '[pathways to navigate sadness or an anxiety](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stutz-movie-review-2022)'. I found myself wanting to try many of them, and I can see why many have said to me this is one of the most honest and revealing films about mental health that has been made. I highly recommend watching it. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Facing the Struggle URL: https://makoism.com/facing-the-struggle/ Last updated: 2022-12-03T20:29:07.000Z It's been a busy week with work travel, conference talks, meetings and lots of walking. Not that I'm complaining, I averaged 25k steps a day just getting around, but I am just one of those people who don't enjoy the jungle that is Las Vegas. It's nice to be home now. While catching up through my "to consume" list this past week, I finally was able to watch [Michael J. Fox](https://www.michaeljfox.org) receiving the [Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award](https://www.oscars.org/governors/hersholt) for his activism and fundraising for a cure for Parkinson's disease over the last 20 years. He refers to his disease as "**the gift that keeps on taking**" and in a **wonderful** acceptance speech, I found that his optimism, **fueled by gratitude**, and positivity just an incredibly inspirational way to end the week. It's also an important reminder on how you can intentionally **reframe** something that's going on, into a positive motivator. We all get overloaded, stressed out, wrapped up in the trappings of day to day minutia; but [cognitive reframing](https://www.verywellmind.com/reframing-defined-2610419) can be a valuable tool in helping shifting your mindset to look at a situation, person, or struggle into a different perspective to motivate change. **I'm not saying it's easy to do**, but rather, it's a **valuable** skill to develop. We all struggle with [impostor syndrome](https://makoism.com/crushing-weights/), our own daemons or health issues, and most of us easily slip back into a negative mindset. Some of the hardest work is to identify negative thoughts and intercepting them; but if you can figure out how to recognize when you start down the path of negativity, you can build the muscle to create replacement thoughts. Some quick tips that have helped me: - **[Keep a journal](https://makoism.com/up-is-down/)**. - **Fact-check yourself** \- ask yourself 'is this true?'; forming the habit to finding 'proof' for a though can help shut down negative thinking. - **Talk to your [board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/)**. - **Turn the thought into positive action** \- use the thought as a catalyst for a task to make yourself feel better. Challenges are opportunities. In the end, we're all spinning around on this ball through space together. Knowing that we all dealing with our own shit, perhaps makes the journey a bit easier for each one of us. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky), [Mastodon](https://social.seattle.wa.us/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I have linked to articles from [Will Larson](https://lethain.com) in the past, but I felt that this quote from his latest post, [Company, team, self.](https://lethain.com/company-team-self/), was worth a shoutout. > *People are complex, and they get energy in complex ways. Some managers get energy from writing some software. That’s great, particularly if you avoid writing software with strict dependencies. Some managers get energy from coaching others. That’s great. Some get energy from doing exploratory work. Others get energy from optimizing existing systems. That’s great, too. Some get energy from speaking at conferences. Great. Some get energy from cleaning up internal wiki’s. You get the idea: that’s great. *All these things are great, not because managers should or shouldn’t program/speak at conferences/clean up wiki’s/etc, but because folks will accomplish more [if you let them do some energizing work, even if that work itself isn’t very important.](https://lethain.com/time-and-energy/)** Lots of great food for thought in this one. ## Thought of the week > There's no such thing as 'quality' time: > > Time is time. > > In fact, as Jerry Seinfeld said, garbage time — eating cereal together late at night, laying around on the couch — is actually the best time. > > Forget chasing HUGE experiences. > > It’s all wonderful, if you so choose. > > — Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) [November 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/1595779312019419137?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > No matter what you do for work, no matter how you live your life, no matter what your stances are—there will be some crowds who respect you for it and others who don't. > > If you live true to your values, you'll win the respect of the people you respect. That's all that matters. > > — Tim Urban (@waitbutwhy) [November 1, 2022](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1587506950228557828?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession On a whim, I picked up [Storyteller Tactics](https://pipdecks.com/products/storyteller-tactics) last week. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/storyteller-tactics-product-photo_928x1120.png) It somewhat reminds me of [Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblique%5FStrategies); I'm interested in exploring this "workplace influence in a box.' ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - While I've [written before](https://makoism.com/empty-calories/) about the [benefits of boredom](https://makoism.com/surprising-things-about-boredom/), "**Why it’s good to be bored**" was another reminder that idle time is a '*chance to shape our own lives*' - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/may/03/why-its-good-to-be-bored) - "**What a Chicken Chain Can Teach Us About Culture**" explores the benefits of a Chick-Fil-A franchise that shifted their schedule into making every weekend a four-day weekend along with other changes '*created a system where folks could work an honest week while STILL getting their lives back, they would solve one of the biggest issues facing entrepreneurs like himself: finding and keeping good people.*' - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/12/01/what-a-chicken-chain-can-teach-us-about-culture/) - With the release this week of [ChatGPT](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/chatgpt-ai-chatbot-viral-rcna59628), I found ["**AI Is Coming for the Thought Leaders**"](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/12/why-the-rise-of-ai-is-the-most-important-story-of-the-year/672308/) and ["**AI Art Just Opened The Threat to Human Work We Were Expecting from AGI**"](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/ai-art-just-opened-the-threat-to-human-work-we-were-expecting-from-agi/) to be excellent summaries of some of the social and creative challenges this tech is highlighting. I played around with ChatGPT a bunch this week in my spare time, and it's crazy where this stuff is evolving. - KPIs, OKRs, lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! "**You Have Too Many Metrics**" explores the idea that '*the more metrics you track, the less you know*' - [More](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/you-have-too-many-metrics) - Another expose on "**What Kind of Man Was Anthony Bourdain?**". I cannot help but be fascinated by his life and death and his internal struggle. There's a new book out, "[Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain](https://www.amazon.com/Down-Out-Paradise-Anthony-Bourdain/dp/1982140445)" that I need to add to the reading list - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2022/11/anthony-bourdain-down-and-out-in-paradise-book/672284/) - Counter to [last week's post on endless consumption](https://makoism.com/empty-calories/), "**Creative Consumption**" explores the idea that any content is '**creative calories**' - [More](https://www.proofofconcept.pub/p/creative-consumption) - "**Bye, Twitter**" is Tim Bray's observations and rationale about Twitter, other companies trying to be the "new Twitter," and the entire world of federation. Personally, it feels like '[The Fediverse](https://infosec.exchange/@tinker/109303871871567699)' is on to something interesting, but we need to see how it all plays out - [More](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2022/11/26/Bye-Twitter) - I know many fans who didn't like Andor, but for me, it was the **BEST** Star Wars in a long time. "**Star Wars just deployed an 88-year-old cinematic trick invented by Alfred Hitchcock**" is a wild look at the ending funeral scene and how it is a '*marriage of the visual and the auditory elements of filmmaking*' and that the '*tension is telegraphed through the music itself, whose crescendo matches the narrative climax*' - [More](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/andor-season-1-finale-funeral-scene) - A super thought-provoking article on "**How to win the week (with a Weekly Review)**." When it starts with "*Go to your Downloads folder. Click on it to see all the contents. Hit CMD + A to Select All. Delete.*" - I'm in to see where this goes; I need to give this method a try - [More](https://radreads.co/how-to-win-the-week-with-a-weekly-review/) - I've often been a fan of handwritten notes, so "**Notes of Appreciation Can Boost Individual and Team Morale**" wasn't a big shock to me. More of a reminder that I need to do it more often - [More](https://hbr.org/2022/11/notes-of-appreciation-can-boost-individual-and-team-morale) ## Fin How's this for a fun weekend flashback - [The Internet Archive just put 565 Palm Pilot apps in your web browser](https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/25/23478396/internet-archive-palm-pilot-emulation-games-apps-dope-wars). While I was more in the [Apple Newton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple%5FNewton) camp (and yes, I still have the [MessagePad 100](https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/MessagePad%5F100) sitting in a drawer here), I found it a bit fun to go retro and play with these early pocket apps. The entire archive is available online [here](https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary%5Fpalm). Time to play with Palm DOS. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/12/palm3_palmdos_screenshot.png) Be well. ✌🏻 ### Too Many Empty Calories URL: https://makoism.com/empty-calories/ Last updated: 2022-11-26T10:11:31.000Z I like **being bored**. Even so, for some reason, I spend less time these days getting the time to **be bored**. To do nothing, to think, to stare out at the water drinking a coffee. To **be**. After seeing this post from [Dan Koe](https://thedankoe.com), I was inspired to spend a little time and be more proactive and aware of how I was spending time these days: > Imagine having a spreadsheet that showed how much attention you gave to any given thing in your life. It would be a direct indicator of why you're not getting the results you want. > > — DAN KOE (@thedankoe) [November 12, 2022](https://twitter.com/thedankoe/status/1591402937762422786?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) I quickly realized how much of my day, the vital time which I had to be bored, was being filled with nothing more than *[empty calories](https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2021/jan/empty-calories-what-are-they-and-which-foods-are-they-hiding-in/)*. It's interesting, especially at larger gatherings like Thanksgiving, to sit back and take special notice and be consciously aware of what everyone around you is doing with their *idle* time. The overwhelming need to fill every waking moment with dopamine to stimulate some part the hippocampus. Even if filling the void with something that's not healthy such as [mindless doom-scrolling](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds), it seems *essential* to many to fill gaps in time with being fake busy. Again: **empty calories**. Studies show that kids today don't even really understand how to be alone and bored, and [alone time has tremendous benefits](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/11/kids-need-alone-time-benefits/672209/) for their mental health. It's not a great sign on where we're going as a society and mental health. 💡 *There is no greatness without stillness in it. - Seneca* [Ryan Holiday](https://ryanholiday.net) talks a lot about this in his book [Stillness is The Key](https://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Key-Ryan-Holiday/dp/0525538585), how the '*modern world is full of distraction*.' > *The world is like muddy water. To see through it, we have to let things settle. We can't be disturbed by initial appearances, and if we are patient and still, the truth will be revealed to us.* > > *Yes, we have important duties — to our country, to our coworkers, to provide for our families. Many of us have talents and gifts that are so extraordinary that we owe it to ourselves and the world to express and fulfill them. But we're not going to be able to do that if we're *not taking care of ourselves*, or if we have stretched ourselves to the breaking point... Man is not a machine. Work will not set you free. It will kill you if you're not careful.* [Ryan Holiday on Instagram: ”“All of humanity’s problems,” Blaise Pascal said in 1654, “stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Stillness Is The Key.”Ryan Holiday shared a post on Instagram: ”“All of humanity’s problems,” Blaise Pascal said in 1654, “stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Stillness Is The Key.”. Follow their account to see 1448 posts.![](https://static.cdninstagram.com/rsrc.php/v3/yb/r/lswP1OF1o6P.png)Instagram![](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/316518324_826322585305733_4915169847578983747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=gVyPCuZ8S5MAX-0-e14&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfBFKVudTdkB-xPK8iIJ3zOAs3WJ4gyEMrl4j-IXhQLe_Q&oe=6385E29B)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClOthLlrS%5Fn/?igshid=ZmMyNmFmZTc=) That could be where all these post-turkey rambling lands - **force time for yourself to be bored**. Take care of yourself, and don't fill the day with **empty calories**. Be aware of **where**, **what**, and most importantly **with whom** you spend your time. **Be bored.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky), [Mastodon](https://mastodon.social/@smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking Every November 22nd, [I'm reminded of one of the most incredible hacks of all time](https://www.damninteresting.com/remember-remember-the-22nd-of-november/). There's some [pretty great analysis](https://www.vice.com/en/article/pgay3n/headroom-hacker) of one the few successful television hacks in history; however **the mystery remains on who pulled this off**. > *In the control room of WGN-TV, the technicians on duty stared blankly at their screens. It was from their studio, located at Bradley Place in the north of the city, that the network broadcasted its microwave transmission to an antenna at the top of the 100-story John Hancock tower, seven miles away, and then out to tens of thousands of viewers. Time seemed to slow to a trickle as they watched that signal get hijacked.* > > *A squat, suited figure sputtered into being, and bounced around maniacally. Wearing a ghoulish rubbery mask with sunglasses and a frozen grin, the mysterious intruder looked like a cross between Richard Nixon and the Joker. Static hissed through the signal; behind him, a slab of corrugated metal spun hypnotically. This was not part of the regularly scheduled broadcast.* > > *Finally someone switched the uplink frequencies, and the studio zapped back to the screen. There was Roan, at his desk in the studio, smiling at the camera, *dumbfounded*.* > *To this day the unexplained transmission of 22 November 1987 remains an historic curiosity, since it represents the last such signal of its kind⁠—*no other instance of a complete hijacking of a commercial broadcast has occurred in the US in the years since*.* ## Thought of the week > Beating yourself up doesn't make you stronger. It leaves you bruised. > > Being kind to yourself isn’t about ignoring your weaknesses. It's about giving yourself permission to learn from your mistakes. > > We grow by embracing shortcomings, not punishing them. [pic.twitter.com/ceHXGNHjtq](https://t.co/ceHXGNHjtq) > > — Adam Grant (@AdamMGrant) [October 16, 2022](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1581719929564581888?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > What isn’t: > \- what other people do > \- what other people say > \- what other people think > > — Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) [November 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/1594088138619555841?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession Last week, my oldest son and I watched [Wakanda Forever](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black%5FPanther:%5FWakanda%5FForever) in the historic [100+-year-old Palace Theatre](https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/palace-theatre-celebrates-centennial-anniversary/) up on [San Juan Island](https://www.visitsanjuans.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/11/IMG_0424.jpeg) > *Alfred Middleton built the theater in 1915 and named it "Fribor," a merging of Friday and Harbor. His wife, Vivian, played piano to accompany the movies.* Seeing a movie in these historic places has a bit of character to them that many of the multiplex theaters today lack. Sure, even though it doesn't have the latest and greatest digital sound/display technology, it has much more character than most other theaters do today. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I was recently reminded about s"**The CIA's Simple Sabotage Field Manual: A Timeless Guide to Subverting Any Organization with 'Purposeful Stupidity'**." I had originally learned of this manual many years ago, but until I reread it this past week, it never clicked how similar the techniques used by '***citizen-saboteurs***' are too toxic workplaces. Highly recommended, but read with caution. - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2015/12/simple-sabotage-field-manual.html) - "**What You Learn From Eating Alone**" was a good post on why '*sad food is not the same as solitude food, which celebrates the luxury of being intentionally alone*.' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/11/eating-food-alone-lonely-solitude/672222/) - I hear people talk about the wonders of personalization (ahem, ads), and "**The Quest for Interesting X**" explores the idea that '*you-might-like content is not content I discovered or my network discovered; it is content designed by robots to get me to engage*.' You may be surprised at the conclusion - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-quest-for-interesting-x/) - I love my AppleWatch, and it's become the center of my health-tracking universe. Recently, the app Parky, "**Parkinson's Disease Patient Buddy**" has been cleared by the FDA to '*track movement disorder symptoms such as tremors and dyskinesia*.' It's incredible how far these devices have come - [More](https://www.parky4parkinsons.com/) - "**Psychology Reveals 10 Behaviors of Cynical People**" was an interesting one, especially the tips on '*how can you remain confident in a world filled with cynical people*' - [More](https://www.powerofpositivity.com/cynical-people-behaviors/) - I've always been impressed with how famous biking is in the Netherlands, and "**How the Dutch Got Their Cycle Paths**" explores the history of '*massive street protests and very deliberate political decision-making'* that created the impressive cycling infrastructure there - [More](https://www.pps.org/article/how-the-dutch-got-their-cycle-paths) - "**Intel's new deepfake detector can spot a real or fake video based on blood flow in video pixels**" is some super cool tech - with a 96% accuracy rate. - [More](https://www.zdnet.com/article/intels-new-deepfake-detector-can-spot-a-real-or-fake-video-based-on-blood-flow-in-video-pixels/) - Yes, my wife and I have probably watched too many episodes of 'Property Brothers' and 'Help! I've Wrecked My Home' to count; we're obsessed with having HGTV on while multitasking. "**Your Home Belongs to Renovation TV**" explores the latest cultural fascination with a home remodel shows and '*how home-reno media has changed people's relationship to their home*.' Some studies show that they '***make people feel uneasy in their own home***' and create '***an unsettling feeling that the home you've made for yourself is no longer a good one***.' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/11/lifestyle-media-home-improvement-trends-obsession/672168/) - You've heard by now of 'quiet quitting,' but "**Are You Being Quiet Fired?**". Apparently, '*to avoid the financial, psychological, and legal costs associated with forcing people out, some companies may intentionally create a hostile work environment that encourages people to leave voluntarily*.' Sounds horrible. - [More](https://hbr.org/2022/11/are-you-being-quiet-fired) - As usual, DC Rainmaker does the best in-depth reviews, and "**Apple's Satellite Emergency SOS Feature: A Review & Deep-Dive Explainer**" covers everything you want to know about the iPhone 14's new SOS system - [More](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/11/apple-iphone-satellite-sos-emergency-explainer.html) - File under 'sounds like the plot to a movie,' but "**' Project Merciless': how Qatar spied on the world of football in Switzerland**" is a fascinating read on the world of spies .. and FIFA sports.. - [More](https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/-project-merciless---how-qatar-spied-on-the-world-of-football-in-switzerland/48022952) ## Fin To close out this Thanksgiving edition of [Makoism](https://makoism.com/), director [Ryan Coogler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan%5FCoogler) sent out a message of gratitude regarding the fans, cast, and crew of [Wakanda Forever](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black%5FPanther:%5FWakanda%5FForever). > A message from Ryan Coogler [pic.twitter.com/ig1ctEsFul](https://t.co/ig1ctEsFul) > > — Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) [November 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/Marvel/status/1595587750161358849?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > **Gratitude*. That is the only word that comes to mind for your support of our work on the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.* > > *I am filled with it. Thank you.* > > *...* > > *Our film is over two and a half hours long, so thank you for holding those bathroom breaks. Our film has 6 languages spoken an it. Thank you for bearing with the subtitles. And our film deals with the inescapable human emotion of grief.* > > *Thank you for opening yourself up to the emotional journey of this film. We made something to honor our friend, who was a giant an our industry, and we also made something to be enjoyed in a theatrical setting with friends, family, and strangers.* > > *Something to be quoted and discussed. To be debated. Something to make people both physically and emotionally feel seen.* I had to see the film twice to **take in and appreciate it's brilliance**. It pays such a wonderful tribute to [Chadwick Boseman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadwick%5FBoseman) and is worth every one of those two and-one-half hours of your time. Be grateful; and be well. ✌🏻 ### I Came In Like A Wrecking Ball URL: https://makoism.com/thewreckingball/ Last updated: 2022-11-19T16:54:57.000Z There's almost [too much](https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/4/23439790/elon-musk-twitter-layoffs-trust-and-safety-teams-severance) [that's been](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/17/technology/twitter-elon-musk-ftc.html) [said](https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/27/23184519/elon-musk-twitter-acquisition-deal-complete-agreement) on the total craziness at Twitter the past week. The goodbyes from employees that are leaving by being randomly fired or not choosing the 'hardcore' ultimatum are fascinating: > Why I left [@twitter](https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) or rather why I did not sign up for “extremely hardcore” Twitter 2.0 > > 🧵 > > — Peter Clowes (@peterclowes) [November 18, 2022](https://twitter.com/peterclowes/status/1593458225533313025?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > *I left because I no longer knew what I was staying for* It's sad, and was the best one I read this week that sums up what's going on there. So, why am I adding to the already 10,000 hot takes about it? Admittedly, this is a **last minute audible**, as it wasn't what I was going to noodle on as part of my weekly brain dump here; but I received an **unusual** number of texts and messages (looking forward) on my take, so here it goes. Twitter **needed to change**. As a [user](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) for the last 14 or so years (I signed up in 2008), it's seen significant changes and it's own chaos. It's evolved into a different beast than what it was. On some level, I've managed my own navigation of it through lists and careful curation, but it feels like there's too much hot mess in there. Even looking back at my earliest tweets: > let the day-o-meetings commence! > > — Mako (@smakofsky) [February 2, 2010](https://twitter.com/smakofsky/status/8548020872?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) Shit. Well, maybe it's not *that* different. While I'm a huge fan of **continuous disruption**, **evolution**, **artificial constraints**, and a need to *be fast and break things* from the outside, everything going on there feels like it's a bit more of a "**break all the things**". Flip bits on/off, see what happens, random code reviews, random firings, random re-hiring, begging people to stay then firings... It doesn't consider the culture and the humans that makeup the platform and company. Countless lives are being turned upside-down - not only the employees - but people who make a living from the network: app writers, bloggers/influencers, products, advertisers, etc. The people that you **want to stay** to help build a fantastic culture in an organization, *the ones who care the most*, are the people who put their blood/sweat/tears into crafting something unique *because of their love of the culture/product*. It doesn't mean working 100 hours a week because someone is yelling at them or giving them an ultimatum. I feel the random misses a significant point: these **are the ones that can find a job anywhere**. Asking them to leave if they don't want to be "hardcore" leaves a "macho tough guy work ethic" that doesn't seem to be in touch with reality. It's all sad. Perhaps this is the actual season finale to [Silicon Valley](https://www.hbo.com/silicon-valley). Time will tell. You can find me playing around with alternatives, too: If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I can't be the only one out there with this problem: a nightstand or bookshelf (digital or physical) full of books that I have yet to read. While my intention was good (and I love books), I need more time to get through it all. The pile-up of unread wealth and knowledge bothered me until I came across the concept of the "[AntiLibrary](https://www.openculture.com/2022/11/the-virtue-of-owning-books-you-havent-read-why-umberto-eco-kept-an-antilibrary.html)". [Umberto Eco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto%5FEco), an Italian medievalist, had a library containing more than **30,000 books**. > *a few savvy visitors realized the truth: Eco's library wasn't voluminous because he had read so much; it was voluminous because he *desired to read so much more*.* > > *\[Your\] library should contain *as much of what you do not know* as your financial means, mortgage rates, and the currently tight real-estate market allows you to put there. You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly.* > > *There's nothing inherently wrong with that, as long as we've stocked those piles with valuable knowledge — and more of it than we can ever use.* More on the concept of the antilibrary in this article from [BigThink](https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/do-i-own-too-many-books/). As I've said before, sometimes, it's all about [changing your perspective](https://makoism.com/a-change-of-perspective/). ## Thought of the week > Resilience is not resistance to suffering. It's the capacity to bend without breaking. > > Strength doesn't come from ignoring pain. It stems from knowing that your past self has hurt and your future self will heal. > > Fortitude is the presence of resolve, not the absence of hardship. [pic.twitter.com/lfSv7J8SWt](https://t.co/lfSv7J8SWt) > > — Adam Grant (@AdamMGrant) [November 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1591878066158333953?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Alan Moore giving the best writing advice I have ever heard [pic.twitter.com/QyQd4qdRdV](https://t.co/QyQd4qdRdV) > > — Aidan Walker (@AKindAleWarTV) [November 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/AKindAleWarTV/status/1588513170154749955?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession I can't remember where I discovered [The Boston Scally Company](https://www.bostonscally.com) (probably a targeted ad on Instagram), but I went ahead and ordered "[The Original](https://www.bostonscally.com/collections/hats/products/hat-4)," and I have to say - I **love** this thing. > *There is a certain vibe in Boston that starts with its people. It's their sarcasm, their underlying rugged persona ... and the one-of-a-kind culture they all embrace.* > > *Knowing that there is no better way to share this with others than in the form of Boston’s most culture-defining piece of headwear - the 'scally' cap - Boston Scally Company was soon established.* ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**Things could be better**" is a wild study of the judgments people make and that '*they must be built on comparisons: to say that something is bad is really to say that it's worse than something else*.' Obvious, right? But what they found '*when people imagine how things could be different, they almost always imagine how things could be better*' - [More](https://experimentalhistory.substack.com/p/things-could-be-better) - From 2016, "**The lost infrastructure of social media.**" seems super relevant as Twitter goes *boom*. Remember the good old days of decentralized social media (i.e., blogs)? It feels like a lot of these concepts resonate more today than ever in a post-Twitter world - [More](https://anildash.com/2016/08/08/the-lost-infrastructure-of-social-media/) - Whoa... I enjoyed "**Out of time**" and the perspective that '*the case for rest as something sacred and divine, for rest as grace — for rest as that which does not need to be earned because it is a birthright, for rest as that which does not (cannot, will not) accomplish any goal or objective*.' Sure, I'll say it - I **need** rest. I need to stare at a wall and do nothing but take some rest to think, recharge and relax lately - [More](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/out-of-time) - Ah, floppy disks. I remember all the "**Weird Formats, Wacky Encryption Tactics**" used for copy protection. Does anyone else recall the hard clanking sound from the Commodore 1541 drive as the drive head banged around, which shook the drive out of alignment? Ah - copy protection - read about some of the wacky ones here - [More](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/15785829/copy-protection-scheme-history) - While the article "**Minute-Zero In The Gender Pay Gap**" focuses on the mismatch of salary ranges, I found it full of great advice to anyone who recently received a job offer and is negotiating salary. It's one of the most challenging and most awkward conversations to have, but it's so damn important to **know your worth** \- [More](https://medium.com/tarah-wheeler/minute-zero-in-the-gender-pay-gap-7c6695daffbd) - There are plenty out there that talk about their super-human ability to juggle multiple things at the same time, but "**Single-tasking: the power of focusing on one task at a time**" was refreshing. Learn more about 'flow state' and how it's scientifically proven to be more productive - [More](https://nesslabs.com/single-tasking) - "**How to... have better meetings**" is just what we all need, right? There's some excellent advice in this article on how to avoid those useless, long meetings. .. good stuff - [More](https://oneusefulthing.substack.com/p/how-to-have-better-meetings) - "**Life is About More than Happiness**" caused me to stop and reflect a bit: '*The purpose of life, as far as I can tell… is to find a mode of being that's so meaningful that the fact that life is suffering is no longer relevant*' - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/11/14/life-is-about-more-than-happiness/) - In the article of the week for me, "**How the philosophy behind the Japanese art form of *kintsugi* can help us navigate failure**" examines the technique of repairing broken pots. Finding **beauty in imperfection** is something that I certainly needed to do more of when dealing with feelings of imposter syndrome. - [More](https://theconversation.com/how-the-philosophy-behind-the-japanese-art-form-of-kintsugi-can-help-us-navigate-failure-193487) - "**The importance of community**": whether it is [a small group of trusted advisors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/), or a large tech conference, this post tackles the idea of why it's valuable to gather - [More](https://www.proofofconcept.pub/p/the-importance-of-community) ## Fin As [Andor on Disney+](https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/andor) heads into its final week, the three episodes which involved the prison were probably the best [Star Wars](https://www.starwars.com) I've seen in... wow.. a long, long time. In this recent interview with [Andy Serkis](https://www.imaginariumuk.com) (who played Kino Loy), some interesting things popped up about filming that Empire prison ship. > "It really messed with your head as a set!" 🤯[@andyserkis](https://twitter.com/andyserkis?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) shares some [#StarWars](https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWars?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) secrets from the Empire Prison Ship in [@andorofficial](https://twitter.com/andorofficial?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) 🍿[#TheOneShow](https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOneShow?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) 👉 [pic.twitter.com/nENK81GUyV](https://t.co/nENK81GUyV) > > — BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) [November 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/BBCTheOneShow/status/1591149659996979200?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) And, spoiler alert, there is only **ONE**. **WAY**. **OUT**. Be well. ✌🏻 ### When The Cost Is Just Too High URL: https://makoism.com/sunk-costs/ Last updated: 2022-11-12T10:27:04.000Z First, a quick thank you 🙏🏻. Last week's newsletter, [Up Is Down](https://makoism.com/up-is-down/), not only saw a **bunch** of new subscribers, it seemed to strike a chord with many. I received a surprising number of notes and [lots of coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism). It's always gratifying to hear, and I appreciate you sharing it with friends, colleagues, and family that find these valuable. The post seemed to connect with readers, and I kept wondering if there was a single "worst" counterintuitive thinking I had run into more often than others. Without question, it's the "**Sunk Cost Fallacy**." If you are not familiar with it, the definition of it is: > *a phenomenon whereby a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial.* Stop and think for a minute about where we've all fallen into the psychology trap throughout our lives: - **A shitty relationship or a failed friendship** \- Ever been in one of those where the investment is one way? - **A work project** \- How many times have you been involved with a project sucking down cash, causing work/life balance issues, that is doomed to failure, and leadership keeps double and tripling down on it? - **Slot machines** \- You keep putting quarters in - I'm going to win eventually! - **Staying in a job too long** \- How many times have you seen colleagues, or maybe even yourself, at a place too long without growing? Look, **climbers dying on peaks of mountains like Everest** because the *eye is on the prize* and they've put so much effort into it instead of knowing when to turn back. Now that I'm writing all this, I realize that the entire movie [Vacation](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085995/) is really about the **sunk cost fallacy**. Why do we, as humans, fall into this? Shockingly, it's pretty straightforward: - We feel that quitting the investment **is to admit failure**. - We **hate to admit failure**. - We want to **justify** that original investment. - We **trick our minds** into thinking things will be different. - We are focused on the **past** investment rather than the current value. More simply, we humans are driven (by nature?) to push forward when we feel like we've invested in something, and we'll never get back that investment unless we go ahead. **Here's a wacky idea for this week**. Sit back and ask yourself if there's something that you're **stuck in** right now. If you are, here are some ideas on how to get out of it: - **Let it go**. Realize that past **cost** cannot be reclaimed. What happens if you stop, think, and change direction? - Ask yourself, knowing what you know now, **would you make the same choices or investments**? If not, there's your answer. - Recognize if you continue with the investment, you **may be giving up a better path** you can't even see. - Recognize that **it is ok to quit things**. [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/2013/08/qa-the-dip-and-knowing-when-to-quit/) said it best: '*Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt.*' - **Learn when to hold them and when to fold them**. - **Reach out** to your [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) for advice. That's what they're there to do. Have a great week quitting things. 😀 If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking In the past week or so, [Twitter has undergone some major changes](https://www.platformer.news/p/inside-the-twitter-meltdown) (okay, [a total meltdown](https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-users-mastodon-meltdown/)), and whether or not it's going to last long term, really isn't something that I care to dwell on. **[So it goes](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/apr/15/fiction.kurtvonnegut)**, right? As any self-respecting geek would do, I dropped down the rabbit hole this past week into the whole [Mastodon and Fediverse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fediverse) thing as a potential alternative. While I've had an account since 2018, it's almost overwhelming to see what's going on there. Many friends and readers have been reaching out to get my take on the platform as an alternative; I would put a few thoughts in this week's edition. My quick answer is: *if you ask a user about a server, it's not ready for users*. **It's a science experiment now**. In some ways, a fun one - it has a lot of the geekiness of what I loved back when Twitter started. If you care to follow my experiment there (and there's no guarantee I'm going to be super active), I'm . Okay, what is this whole thing? [Tim Bray has an excellent overview](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2022/11/10/Mastodon), that, in a nutshell, I'll explain: **it's an open-source, completely decentralized social network**. Think - a twitter with no one owning anything. > *This means anyone can put up a Mastodon "instance" to invite people aboard, and those people can follow and message anyone from any other instance; the federation is automatic and built-in. So you have to pick an instance to get started, which might make you nervous, but it shouldn't because of the instances' most important feature: You can change your mind!* Due to its decentralization, each 'server' can have its own rules, culture, level of toxicity, and etiquette. Etc. Yep, you can already see the problems that could percolate. One idea I've been toying around with is that it's a worthwhile experiment to set up my server for readers of this newsletter so that a local feed would be of similar mindset and interest. I don't know just yet; we'll see. But look at [Tim's post](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2022/11/10/Mastodon); some really great observations and fascinating questions are there. > I respect unique online cultures. But there's maybe a problem. If Twitter does implode, Mastodon could very quickly gain a whole bunch of new users, to the extent that long-term Mastodonians are like only 1% of the population, and the newer 99% has no appreciation of nor interest in "Mastodon culture." The system is flexible enough that maybe there's scope for an "og-mastodon" instance that would work in a more traditional way? This whole space is going to be something to watch. ## Thought of the week > It's only work if you would rather be doing something else. Find a way to carve a career out of what you already want to do. > > — James Clear (@JamesClear) [November 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/JamesClear/status/1589996169836363778?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Man there’s really an xkcd for everything [pic.twitter.com/PcMWUxEmIF](https://t.co/PcMWUxEmIF) > > — Cassie Evans (@cassiecodes) [November 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/cassiecodes/status/1588531575993794560?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession I wanted to do a quick shout-out to my favorite, non-digital read, "[The Southwester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk)." What makes it unique is that none of the content is available online - it's an entirely offline experience whose purpose is to '*bring people and stories together, but in a newspaper. for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home*'. > When the whole idea of The Southwester came to me, one thought was very much that I wanted to keep this project as offline as I could. Whilst there are many benefits to online, in fact I would find it very hard to sell the paper without it, I wanted the experience of reading the paper to be as analog as possible. - [Southwester FAQ](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk/faq) I was overjoyed to get the second issue recently, which included this lovely handwritten note from Hannah. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/11/Unknown.jpeg) handwritten notes are the best The third issue just went online for pre-order [reserve a copy or get issue 2 here](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk/shop). Or, if you'd like to make a submission for consideration to be included, [submit your idea here](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk/submissions). I hope you support them and enjoy reading it as much as I do. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - One of my favorites of the week, "**Everything is Aiming**," talks about how '*success is defined by how our peers evaluate our track record; but what if you're not excited about this definition of success? What if you're feeling lost and want to find your way — not the default path, but your own path?*'. Similar to last week's newsletter, "[Up Is Down](https://makoism.com/up-is-down/)," this one explores Kyūdō, the Japanese martial art of archery. The '*alternative philosophy where aims matter more than goals, and where success is the process itself*' is a game changer - [More](https://nesslabs.com/everything-is-aiming) - Listening is such an underrated skill, one that I have to keep practicing consciously (I have a "stop talking" note under my monitor); "**Listen Like a Trampoline**" is a subtle reminder of how '*absorbing the message and then adding height and perspective to the conversation by asking questions, increasing our understanding*.' Great stuff. - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/10/19/listen-like-a-trampoline/) - "**This Is How To Have A Long Awesome Life**" is a great read, and probably more than you ever wanted to know on the importance, and the varying definitions around healthy eating - [More](https://bakadesuyo.com/2022/10/nutrition) - With all of the layoffs, Twitter imploding, and the world changing every day, I found "**The art of the long goodbye**" a great post regarding letting go of things (*more sunk cost, perhaps?*). '*Because, even though we are gone, we are never truly gone, absolved, allowed to move on past the transition point, into the next thing*' - [More](https://vicki.substack.com/p/the-art-of-the-long-goodbye) - "**Just Don’t**" really caused me to pause and think; lensing in on how the word '**just**' can be quite harmful. '*The difficulty of something you're asking someone else to do, when you're not inside their head and don't understand what they see and feel. The word *just* is a signal that you're not taking their problem seriously*'. - [More](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2022/11/07/Just-Dont) - Feels like I've been between levels 6 and 7 the last few months, "**The Seven Levels of Busy**" provides a cool scale I will implement when I think of time management. More to follow on how I adapt this into my workflow. - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-seven-levels-of-busy/) - Simon has some great advice on "**What to blog about**" here. My add-on is: write for yourself, don't 'try' to build an audience; instead, talk about things to get them off your mind and help others. I find that to be the most rewarding part - [More](http://simonwillison.net/2022/Nov/6/what-to-blog-about/#atom-everything) - I, too, have been thinking a lot about '*the narcissism of departure*' probably more than I should, but given the epic imploding of Twitter, "**All I Want Is a Place to Quip**" was a thoughtful piece on the power of a medium that offers no more than '*one-liners, in the form of 280-character-constrained posts, with optional links and image*s' - [More](https://ibogost.substack.com/p/all-i-want-is-a-place-to-quip) - "**What happens when software developers are unhappy?**" is an interesting summary of [this paper](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0164121218300323); some thought-provoking themes in here if you manage/are a software engineer, especially that '*unhappiness results in mostly external consequences, while happiness mostly affects developers individually*.' - [More](https://abinoda.substack.com/p/impact-of-happiness) - A sobering read on "**Magical Hope vs Actual Hope**" and climate change - [More](https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/magical-hope-vs-actual-hope) ## Fin When I first started listening to the music of Pink Floyd (probably mid-80s?), the dark undertones, sarcastic irony, and haunting riffs quickly found a home as part of my music collection. I really enjoyed this article on "**[How Pink Floyd Built The Wall: The Album, Tour & Film](https://www.openculture.com/2022/11/how-pink-floyd-built-the-wall-the-album-tour-film.html)**", or enjoy the video series here: Be well. ✌🏻 ### Up Is Down URL: https://makoism.com/up-is-down/ Last updated: 2022-11-05T23:08:29.000Z I started noticing a trend this week while reviewing a few previous posts and scouring through my commonplace journal. It was filled **with lots of counterintuitive thinking**. A pattern was emerging that often, the most impactful learnings I’ve had came from doing **exactly the opposite** of what I had previously held as a truth. Perhaps, life needs more of that George Costanza "opposite" approach. A few examples were around [living a more simplified existence](https://makoism.com/crap/): > *Do less, so you can fill your life with more.* Or when I reviewed the fantastic book from [Greg McKeown](https://gregmckeown.com/), [Essentialism](https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/): > *the ability to make trade-offs of lots of good things vs. a smaller number of great things* The typical idea I keep returning to as I iterate on these trade-offs is that many "opposites" are indeed a path for clearer, more nuianced thinking. [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net) calls this '*the backwards law*': > *Trying too hard to get what you want in life—like love, respect, and happiness—often has the opposite effect: you end up lonely, dejected, and miserable.* He goes on to talk about SEAL training known as "[drownproofing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drownproofing)": > *Strangely, surviving drown-proofing requires no superhuman strength or endurance. It doesn't even require that you know how to swim. On the contrary, it requires the ability to not swim. Instead of resisting the physics that would normally kill you, you must surrender to them and use them to save your own life. The second lesson of drown-proofing is a bit more obvious, but also paradoxical: *the more you panic, the more oxygen you will burn and the more likely you are to fall unconscious and drown*.* So maybe the idea I'm trying to tease out here, is that conventional wisdom can be backward or **downright wrong**. - **Work until you drop; you'll achieve success**. Nope, it's a recipe for burnout. - **Look at that person or company; they're an overnight success**. Nope, they probably have a ton of failures that got them to the right thing. - **You must use the latest and greatest technology to achieve results**. Often [choosing boring technology](https://boringtechnology.club) is a better path. - **Worrying about things you've already lost**. Also known as the **sunk cost fallacy**, but the bad news is that we're wired to dwell on the losses. And the more time, energy, and money you've invested, the harder it is to let it go. - **Everyone noticed!** You made a mistake; everyone is talking about it! Nope, the reality is they're probably thinking about themselves. - **I shouldn't recognize my weaknesses**. Nope, [embrace imperfections and celebrate strengths](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jun/07/healthandwellbeing.oliverburkeman). - **Ignore that person teasing you or making your life miserable, and they will go away**. Nope, we all know how that goes if you don't stand up for yourself. I don't know where I'm landing with all this; it requires more time to think about. But there's something here that requires a part two. :) For now, in the spirit of the legendary Jack Sparrow, **Up Is Down**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I remember meeting [Kathy Sierra](https://headrush.typepad.com/creating%5Fpassionate%5Fusers/) back in 2005 (wow, almost 20 years ago) when I was a Software Engineer at Microsoft. She wrote about the concept of "[Subvert From Within](https://headrush.typepad.com/creating%5Fpassionate%5Fusers/2005/09/subvert%5Ffrom%5Fwi.html)" - something that I still use today and try to embody in driving significant culture change. > *But the day was a string of surprises and challenged assumptions (starting with finding Liz Lawley in my workshop (someone I'd never met but long admired), and ending with meeting some amazing MS guys including Furrygoat's Steve Makofsky, Shawn Morrissey, and Lou (whose-last-name-I-forgot)).* > > *It's so tempting to say that anyone who really cares that much about users ought to get the hell out of the big company. I know, having done my time at Sun. But I'd forgotten how to see Microsoft as something other than a Big Company. I'd forgotten (or never recognized) that it's a collection of individual people, and no matter how entrenched the company's views, policies, practices, values, bureaucracy, etc. are, there are motivated, smart, caring, creative people who work there.* > > *And these folks have a chance to make a Difference (capital "D") *on a scale that most of us will never touch*.* While she's withdrawn from a lot of the online world [due to being harassed](https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindness-weev-and-the-cult-of-the-angry-young-man), I was reminded this week on what a true badass she was. She nudged *everyone* to be a **Badass at Life**. ([Check out the book here](https://www.amazon.com/Badass-Making-Awesome-Kathy-Sierra/dp/1491919019)). > This is how Kathy Seirra’s Badass ends. > > This is everything to me. > > It’s what I want to do. > > How I want to live. > > I miss Kathy so much. I’m thankful for this powerful book. It’s affected me deeply and you should consider reading it too. ❤️ [pic.twitter.com/wk7RRCU1WO](https://t.co/wk7RRCU1WO) > > — joel ⛈ (@jhooks) [February 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/jhooks/status/1097630694551969792?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Thought of the week > You have around 4hrs of deep creative work a day! 🎯 > > One of the best ways to produce higher quality workload is to block the time for this ahead of time ⏲ > > Wisdoms from [@anthilemoon](https://twitter.com/anthilemoon?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) 🧠 [pic.twitter.com/NxjRiikkft](https://t.co/NxjRiikkft) > > — Francesco D'Alessio (@FrancescoD\_Ales) [November 3, 2022](https://twitter.com/FrancescoD%5FAles/status/1588151250272587776?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > With every passing generation, we expect more and more from our leaders. We want them to be saints, scholars, warriors - all at the same time. No wonder we're all so exhausted. [@coachgoldsmith](https://twitter.com/coachgoldsmith?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) [@TKPPodcast](https://twitter.com/TKPPodcast?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/4o4kjyDdgE](https://t.co/4o4kjyDdgE) > > — Gapingvoid Culture Design Group (@gapingvoid) [October 21, 2022](https://twitter.com/gapingvoid/status/1583277088349769728?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession Those that have followed me for awhile know that I have long valued the benefits of journaling. I use [DayOne](https://dayoneapp.com) and am almost on a 1300-day streak. > *For the last several years, I've kept a commonplace journal in DayOne, where I store all sorts of bits and pieces of wisdom I run across. It could be a favorite quote. Or perhaps an inspiring picture. A random story. A doodle. A word.* > > **Whatever goes*. The only rule is to make it worthwhile for yourself. - * I just was amused to come across this video of "Dude's Journal" (courtesy of '[the cramped](http://www.thecramped.com)') as a reminder of how awesome of a habit it has become. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Had an interesting thought today: *what if the goal was to get the company to implode, not save it*? Lots of takes on what's going on over there, but some are thinking about [Life After Twitter](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/elon-musk-twitter-takeover-changes/671980/), others are just calling it out: "**Welcome to hell, Elon**" - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/28/23428132/elon-musk-twitter-acquisition-problems-speech-moderation) - It's that time of year again, so this was incredibly timely - "**Annual Planning That Works**." I liked the themes in this process and going to give it a run as part of getting through some goal planning for 2023 - [More](https://breakingpoint.substack.com/p/annual-planning-that-actually-works) - I highly recommend the book "[Building a Second Brain](https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/book)" from [Tiago Forte](https://fortelabs.com), and "**My Favorite Favorite Problems**" is a great read that explores '*one of my favorite things about open questions is that these ideas can freely borrow them anywhere you encounter them*.' Some great ones in here - [More](https://fortelabs.com/blog/my-favorite-favorite-problems/) - '**To build things I truly love requires both discipline and motivation**'; perfect words when I think about constructing a more meaningful life. Read more in "**The magic when discipline meets motivation**" - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/discipline-meets-motivation) - I liked this simple and to-the-point, "**Plan on a Page Checklist**." If you need to compactly do any type of project plan that talks about milestones, dependencies, and partners, check this one out - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/plan-on-a-page-checklist) - "**Better, Faster, and More**" is another fantastic read from [Michael Lopp](https://randsinrepose.com), this time focusing on offers, and **job goals**. If you're currently looking at offers or thinking about leaving your current position, I'd recommend reading this one; having a job you love **goes beyond compensation** \- [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/better-faster-and-more/) - We've heard the alleged quote from Drucker that 'culture eats strategy for breakfast.' Studies confirm that investing time and energy into high-purpose cultures does better for everyone involved. Read more in "**CEOs Who Embrace High-Purpose Cultures Make Life Better for Everyone (yes, investors too)**" to dig into why "Culture as a Management System" makes more sense than ever - [More](https://thriveglobal.com/stories/ceos-who-embrace-high-purpose-cultures-make-life-better-for-everyone-yes-investors-too/) - "**10 times Gandalf explained how the personal is political**" is a great look at '**killer lines**' that Gandalf spoke, and explores how '*emotions become movements via the magic of connection*.' - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-times-gandalf-explained-how-the) - Always a fan of these retro displays, "**Building for the Tidbyt**" takes a look at some uses for [the Tidbit](https://tidbyt.com/). Described as '*a new way to keep up with the things you care about*,' it looks like a fun toy that I may have to put on the holiday list- [More](https://write.as/matt/building-for-the-tidbyt) - It's always fun to flip fun things you think of a kid into the nightmare from where they came - "**Fairies weren't always cute -- they used to drink human blood and kidnap children**." Sleep tight. - [More](https://theconversation.com/fairies-werent-always-cute-they-used-to-drink-human-blood-and-kidnap-children-170305) ## Fin Sometimes we all need to just slow down. Check out [slow roads.io](https://slowroads.io), a browser game that just is endless driving zen. Described as: > *A casual, procedurally-generated driving game which lets you disconnect from life for a while and run endlessly toward the distant horizon. Set the scenery to suit your mood, throw on some music, and drive.* Enjoy Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Problem Is You're Solving The Wrong Problem URL: https://makoism.com/the-wrong-problems/ Last updated: 2022-10-29T09:04:41.000Z The story of the [MacCready Gossamer Condor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacCready%5FGossamer%5FCondor) is a fascinating one with a crucial lesson on how to view problems that I like to reference when looking at large-scale issues or transformational efforts. Here's the story: Back in 1959, [Henry Kremer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremer%5Fprize) issued a challenge (aptly known as [the Kremer prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremer%5Fprize)) to create '*the first human-powered aircraft capable of controlled and sustained flight*.' The rules of the contest were pretty straightforward: - The machine had to fly a figure-of-eight course around two markers half a mile apart. - It was conditional that the designer, entrant pilot, place of construction, and flight must all be British. After 15 years of **no one solving the challenge**, Kremer decided to spur more interest by increasing the prize to £50,000 and opened it to the world. It wasn't until 1977, 18 years after the award was offered, that Paul MacCready **built and flew** the Gossamer Condor in only **SIX MONTHS**. How on earth was this possible? The takeaway from MacCready's approach is in *how* he **thought about the problem**. While others would spend a year prepping for a flight, crashing, analyzing data, and rebuilding, he created a plane that he could fly, fix, and fly again in hours. Rapid iteration was the key. The problem was, as he said, **was the problem**. > *MacCready realized that what needed to be solved was not, in fact, human-powered flight. That was a red herring. The problem was the process itself. *And a negative side effect was the blind pursuit of a goal without a deeper understanding of how to tackle deeply difficult challenges.** > > *He built a plane with Mylar, aluminum tubing, and wire. The first airplane didn't work. It was too flimsy. But, because the problem he set out to solve was creating a plane he could fix in hours, *he was able to quickly iterate*. Sometimes he would fly three or four different planes in a single day. The rebuild, re-test, and re-learn cycle went from months and years to hours and days...* > > *So what's the lesson? When you are solving a difficult problem, re-frame the problem so that your solution helps you learn faster. Find a faster way to fail, recover, and try again. If the problem you are trying to solve involves creating a magnum opus, *you are solving the wrong problem*.* Another fascinating insight comes from [this article](https://signalvnoise.com/posts/1825-teach-for-america-founder-on-the-pointlessness-of-planning-the-importance-of-saying-no-etc), which leans in on another methodology that MacCready valued: *the power of approaching a problem with naivety*. > *I think there's a huge power to inexperience. In the context of deeply entrenched problems that many people have given up on, it helps to *not have a traditional framework* so you can ask the naïve questions. That can help you set goals that more experienced people wouldn't think are feasible.* **Think about it** \- what if you tried to tackle a problem you faced by not having your own legacy baggage and knowledge tying you down? In ways, that thinking is another form of [finding freedom through constraint](https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/) and, it allows you to go after the [root cause](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root%5Fcause%5Fanalysis) of a problem. Imagine not wasting time focusing on the easy, surface-level things that are fixable with bandaids and duct tape, but **spending time to go after the challenging, deep-rooted issues**. Tackling these issues are often a massive challenge for many individuals and companies; it's *easy* to solve problems with superficial band-aids that provide short-term relief, but digging into the ***real*** problem is where you're going to need to go if you want to make any type of mindset shift or long-lasting change. I'll leave you with this week's challenge: **Be the wolf**. Solve complicated, deep-rooted problems. Stop putting bandaids on top. See what you can actually accomplish, not just "fix". If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I've been obsessing over the [GapingVoid Culture Design Group](https://www.gapingvoid.com) lately - they've been hitting all the right vibes for me. I've been a long-time fan of [Hugh MacLeod](https://hughmacleod.art) 's [unique artwork](https://venturebeat.com/entrepreneur/hugh-mcleod-gaping-void/) for many years - I still have a signed copy of [Ignore Everybody](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CB5K5YI) from 2009. Recently, they've started up [a three-times-a-week mailing](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/) and "**[All the Previous You's](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/10/15/marshall-goldsmith-previous-you/)**" was **just what I needed** recently. > *We've all been there. Kicking ourselves for our past sins, even if said sins have been long forgotten by everyone else.* > > *Marshall Goldsmith has this neat idea that instead of beating up our former selves, *we should thank them instead*. After all, they're the ones who got us where we are today.* > > **Gratitude, not regret.** I like the sound of that. > Our former self often makes us cringe, but really, you should thank that person. That person put in a lot of work, getting you to where you are now. [pic.twitter.com/rwOXuCwvcA](https://t.co/rwOXuCwvcA) > > — Gapingvoid Culture Design Group (@gapingvoid) [October 23, 2022](https://twitter.com/gapingvoid/status/1584153074301829135?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Thought(s) of the week > Received this at my grandmas funeral. What an icon. [pic.twitter.com/EhxhzHJfoZ](https://t.co/EhxhzHJfoZ) > > — gracie perryman (@qrracie) [October 18, 2022](https://twitter.com/qrracie/status/1582471507363536897?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Monthly reminder to stop making decisions based on what other people will think because everyone is self-absorbed anyway. [pic.twitter.com/WMhQFiHVaV](https://t.co/WMhQFiHVaV) > > — Tim Urban (@waitbutwhy) [October 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1580538090682449921?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession Of course I'm not bidding on it, but what a fantastic item going up for auction. Hear a quick blurb about "The Rockhammer Bible" from [The Shawshank Redemption](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/): > "Salvation lies within". > ​Find out more about the Rockhammer Bible from THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - a holy grail for many collectors out there. Find out even more about the story behind this piece by heading over to our YouTube for the full video. [pic.twitter.com/yUoLVJeIXB](https://t.co/yUoLVJeIXB) > > — Propstore (@propstore\_com) [October 23, 2022](https://twitter.com/propstore%5Fcom/status/1584258518777204737?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) If you [want to buy the only copy in existence](https://propstoreauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/318/lot/95170), as of this writing, early bidding is around £70,000. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - This was a **great** read that I need to revisit and take deeper notes on. I've talked before on the "[game about the game](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/)," and "**How To Play Better Games In The Metagame Of Life**" was a fun look at '*not only does the metagame make life a lot more fun, but it gives you tremendous insight into the human condition.*' - [More](https://revolutionarylifestyledesign.com/play-better-games-metagame-life/) - Continuing on the central theme of this week, "**Climbing the wrong hill**" is an excellent read on how '*people tend to systematically overvalue near term over long term rewards*'- [More](https://cdixon.org/2009/09/19/climbing-the-wrong-hill) - The more you know 🌈: "**The Earliest Known Appearance of the F-Word, in a Bizarre Court Record Entry from 1310**" - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2017/09/the-earliest-known-appearance-of-the-f-word-in-a-bizarre-court-record-entry-from-1310.html) - For those who live in the PNW, "**Hello, 'Big Dark': Wednesday is year's final sunset as late as 6 p.m.**". Yes, it's **that** time of year again (which is going to completely wreck my new [intermittent fasting around circadian rhythms](https://blog.insidetracker.com/circadian-rhythm-fasting)) - [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/hello-big-dark-wednesday-is-years-final-sunset-as-late-as-6-p-m/) - I enjoyed this look at "**Inside the Identity Crisis at the New York Times**", as it's an interesting piece on what happens in legacy culture when its '*business model is undergoing a major transition, cultural and political tensions*' - [More](https://www.semafor.com/article/10/18/2022/inside-the-identity-crisis-at-the-new-york-times) - More than you ever cared to know about "**Hotdogging along PCH in the West Coast Wienermobiles**." Yes, the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile. You'll thank me later... '*It's like seeing a unicorn — if a unicorn was shaped like a hot dog*' - [More](https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2022-10-07/wienermobile-los-angeles-west-coast) - "**Music and the Body: Richard Powers on the Power of Song**" was a thought-provoking read on how music is really '*a laboratory for feeling and time*' - [More](https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/10/15/richard-powers-music/) - I don't view it as heroic sleeping a few hours a night - I *wish* I could sleep more, but as one of those 'lucky' ones that suffer from sleep apnea, I struggle with it nightly. "**Why We Sleep, and Why We Often Can't**" was a good look at our society's collective '*estranged relationship with sleep*' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/10/why-we-sleep-and-why-we-often-cant) - More metagame here, but this was a great one: "**Kids Are Master Manipulators. So Use Game Theory Against Them**" - [More](https://www.wired.com/2016/06/how-to-make-kids-behave/) - Here are some fun ones to check out; The winners of the 11th annual "js13kGames coding competition" - the participants have to create games in 13kB or less of JavaScript **in a month**. A few of these are more entertaining than most of the things found in the metaverse (*snark*) - [More](https://github.blog/2022-10-06-js13k-2022-winners/) ## Fin Let's wrap up this week with a clip of [Jack Black](https://twitter.com/jackblack), who appeared on the Howard Stern show this week. I caught this audio on a ride up to the ferry; I always forget what an **amazing** frontman Black is. Enjoy, **Tenacious D Performs a Medley of the Who's Hit Songs**... Be well. ✌🏻 ### A Work In Progress URL: https://makoism.com/a-work-in-progress/ Last updated: 2022-10-15T17:26:01.000Z **Programming Note for Next Week: WE ARE ON A BREAK** --- What if something that you have spent **years** building, modifying, and perfecting, just broke on you? For reasons I can't figure out, my [long beloved workflow](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/) just **broke** this week. The reason is probably due to the beta gods messing up iCloud, but my workflow is now... **broken**. Things aren't syncing, and it's making me *crazy*. The whole mess got me thinking about "truths" or processes or skills you spend years building on, and then suddenly, it shits the bed. This unforeseen breakage may be a *forced chance* to start over—a new page. I'm trying to shift the lens to - do I need those hundreds of articles I've stored for years? Maybe it's really all just a **work in progress**. I've been *somewhat in a glut this month* \- not one thing in particular got me there, just the accumulation of a bunch of little things. And it's gotten me into a wacky headspace, if I'm honest. I haven't been feeling the best health-wise - maybe it's age (or perception of age), fear of new heart issues (labs generally are ok), or sadness as we shift into the fall. What I liked about this clip from [Simon Sinek](https://simonsinek.com) was recognizing how important it is to show vulnerability and talk to the people in your life about these things. What if we viewed life in the same model as my broken workflow - maybe **I am also a work in progress**. Things aren't fixed - life/career/leadership/friends are all in various stages of being **works in progress**. > '*Being a work in progress is a wonderful thing. It means you are never "*finished*," which means that you always have the chance to improve yourself and become something and someone better than who you are already. It allows you to be comfortable with making mistakes and accept yourself for who you are.*" - [Odyssey Online](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/life-is-work-in-progress) Navigating life these days seems to lens towards the concept of a good life is full of *craftsmanship* \- you are never truly "at an end state"; instead, you make meaningful [progression towards a goal](https://makoism.com/little-things/). A continuous **work in progress** that is designed for you to become the best version of yourself. I came across [Om Malik's blog](https://om.co/2022/10/02/october-2022-a-personal-update-some-good-reads/), which had a great 'birthday wish' for himself: > *My idea of a great birthday is a small dinner with a handful of friends and asking them *what is the one thing they wished I focused on during the next 12 months in*.* > *I am taking some of the lessons learned in the past twelve months for the upcoming year and will use them as guardrails for the next phase of my work and life.* That sounds like an **excellent place** to start. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Mind Changers It's not often that I put a plug in, but my friend [Chris](https://www.zerenpt.com) created a website for runners that seems like it'd be helpful for anyone who reads this who either is or wants to become a runner. I followed his guidance when I returned to running after my first heart attack, and I loved the approach - it got me back into the game. He knows his stuff, so I wanted to share a new site that recently launched, [RunWell](https://runwell.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/10/CleanShot-2022-10-15-at-10.07.15@2x.png) The premise is straightforward: **become your running coach**. Chris has helped 1000s of athletes run with greater confidence, prevent pain, and provides "actionable instructions to run your best." If you are interested, he's provided a code for 10% off of lifetime access: **runwelltogether**. ## Thoughts of the week > Just because it’s overcast does not mean the sun isn’t out. To set your circadian rhythm for improved daytime mood & alertness & deeper sleep, get outside sans sunglasses in the morning for 20-30min (if overcast), 5-10min (if clear out). Eyeglasses & contacts are OK. [#science](https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Andrew D. Huberman, Ph.D. (@hubermanlab) [October 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/hubermanlab/status/1578757467378307072?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Focus. [pic.twitter.com/dSn07YNKUY](https://t.co/dSn07YNKUY) > > — VV (@visualizevalue) [October 9, 2022](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1579095588339351553?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession I'll often throw on some music to help me get into a deeper state of thinking, but lately, I've been playing with **adaptive music**. This week I'd like to share [Endel](https://endel.io), a music app that creates '*personalized soundscapes to help you focus, relax, and sleep.*' ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/10/948acdf7-599e-42e4-a377-d048aaf7c3bc-endel-iphone-12pro-relax_-courtesy-of-endel.png.webp) The concept is pretty cool - **it creates soundscapes that are based on your circadian rhythms** to put you into a deeper focus state: > *Although the 'soundscapes' most closely resemble ambient music, it's not music in the literal sense. It's more of an ever-changing sonic bubble that encapsulates you and drowns out the outside world. Without the restraints of musical structure, it freely adapts to several personal inputs in real-time, including weather, time, heart rate, and motion.* > > *Endel cyclically nudges you towards a more relaxed state even when you might want to be maximally focused. In short, Endel is designed to actively discourage people from trying to concentrate for hours on end without taking time to recover in between. Their larger mission is to help people live in line with their natural cycles rather than fighting them.* If you want to [read more about the science](https://medium.com/brain-street/music-for-productivity-adaptive-music-dee0c33fc684) behind it all, check out [this article](https://betterhumans.pub/guide-to-music-for-productivity-38ab1e2f4e7c). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - It was another 'oh man, I feel old' moment when I read the retrospective, "[Wired.com](https://Wired.com): 20 years later". I remember picking up the first issue of this wacky new computer magazine back in 1993 at [Waldenbooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldenbooks) (*remember them?*) and now the website has hit its 20th anniversary - [More](%2A%2Ahttps://stopdesign.com/archive/2022/10/11/wired-com-20-years-later.html) - My son has been 'craving' hash browns (teenagers....), but we have been entirely unable to find them in any store. I didn't know this until I googled why there's a shortage: "**A 'spudpocalypse' could threaten Mass. french fries and hash browns**" - [More](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/08/business/canadian-campaign-warns-spudpocalypse-could-hurt-mass-potato-supply/) - While I've been enjoying the stuff coming out of [OpenAI and generative AI](https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/), some boundaries are questionable and potentially dangerous. Check out this 'PR stunt": **Fake Joe Rogan interviews fake Steve Jobs in an AI-powered podcast**" - [More](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/10/fake-joe-rogan-interviews-fake-steve-jobs-in-an-ai-powered-podcast/) - All good things must end: "**The Oat Milk Backlash Has Begun**." I've been enjoying cappuccinos with Oat Milk, but read more about supply chain issues coupled with ethical concerns surrounding one the biggest Oat Milk makers - [More](https://www.eater.com/23389111/oat-milk-oatly-popularity-rise-and-fall-environmental-health-concerns) - "**An end to doomerism**" is my pick one the week, looking at optimists and pessimists, where each needs the other to push us all forward. '*Effective optimists need criticism*' and in order '*to drive progress, we need to become impatient optimists.*' - [More](https://bigthink.com/progress/pessimism-is-a-barrier-to-progress/) - I liked this post from [Ian Sanders](https://www.iansanders.com), "**'Can we lose the table?'**". I've always felt '*space is more conducive to free thinking and open-mindedness*,' but I didn't think about **hierarchy** until I read this one - [More](https://www.iansanders.com/blog/can-we-lose-the-table) - "**Apple Watch Ultra's Bigger Battery and Screen Make It Worth the Price**" is only one of many reasons to get the new Ultra. I've been wearing it for a few weeks, and not only does it continue to be my [center of health tracking](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/), it's pretty much now replaced my long-standing Garmin. While I'm still on my last generation band, I don't notice its larger size and have been loving the screen - [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-10-02/apple-watch-ultra-review-better-battery-life-and-screen-are-standout-features-l8reavuy) - "**What makes ideas stick?**" talks about the six principles of 'creating sticky ideas: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and Stories. - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/what-makes-ideas-stick) - "**The sorry state of the web**" was a somber read on the social web now filled with marketing, bots, and propaganda, and the publisher web wrestling with content ownership is just miserable, that '**the global library is burning**' - [More](https://om.co/2022/09/22/the-sorry-state-of-the-web/) - Read more on the '**shopping cart theory**,' a fascinating look at '*individual's moral character can be determined by whether they choose to return a shopping cart to its designated spot or not.*' - [More](https://scoop.upworthy.com/viral-shopping-cart-theory-determines-moral-character) ## Fin As we head into Halloween, one of the more interesting Twitter feeds I follow, [Horror4Kids](https://twitter.com/horror4kids), posted this fun look at [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/) as Smaug from the film The Hobbit: Be well. 🎃✌🏻 ### All The Little Things URL: https://makoism.com/little-things/ Last updated: 2022-10-08T10:22:06.000Z > *"Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance" -* Kurt Vonnegut One of the most commonly asked questions in mentorship sessions I am asked often revolves around "*having an impact*" or "*how do I make big changes*." It's interesting to dissect a bit, and I can only offer some "advice" from past experiences and my perspective. It is a bit off when someone or an organization thinks there's a clear path to eliciting huge change by **boiling the ocean**. It doesn't matter the 'what' - an attempt to make a massive culture change, technology shift, or something on a personal level like changing a life-long habit - big bang approaches don't usually work. Change isn't like an asteroid hitting the planet. (Well, ok, that would change a few things). The simple truth is that for most items to register any importance or cause significant impact, change can only come from **long-term consistency** and **micro-improvements**. **Little things that add up to big things over time.** Often what many see as others having "success" is (behind the scenes) built on years of failure, missteps, incremental learning, documenting/journaling what worked, and continuous iteration. > *"It takes about six years of hard work to become an overnight success; So, if you're going to write a book in six years, please start now and focus on hard work, breaking new ground and being a standup guy." - [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/2008/06/what-dave-just/)* Here's a counterintuitive example from the world of running. (*Standard warning applies - even though I've run marathons and half-ironmans, I'm not a certified coach or have any form of medical insight*); There's tons of research out there showing that 80% of your workouts should be done slowly. Going out and pushing yourself to start running fast isn't going to get you anywhere outside of an injury. But [the 80/20 training rule](https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/motivation/a27718661/what-is-80-20-running/) \- running at a slower pace helps your body increase the rate at which it converts oxygen to glycogen for fuel - gets your body more efficient over time. **It builds endurance to run harder without fatigue.** This illustrates the power of continuous progress. Setting yourself up for big wins is often a quick path to failure. And honestly, *as a human*, small victories every day/week help build momentum. Its what we need. > "*Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing." - Zeno* If anything, I want to stress, that *the most success you can have is in the *process for change itself*, not the actual outcome*. The simple fact is, **you** have control of the process: - you decide if you go for that workout or sleep in. - you decide to eat the donut or the vegetables. - you decide if you want to get sleep or stay up late. - you decide to stay shackled to the past or focus on the future. Your focus should ultimately be on the things you can control to make long-term changes. Focus on the systems you put in place to make slight, continuous improvements to get you to a different place. Keep a journal of those improvements. Read it back in a year. You'll be shocked at how far you've come in whatever you may be attempting. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking [Shawn Blanc](https://shawnblanc.net) had a quick post this week on [Minimums and Maximums](https://shawnblanc.net/2022/09/minimums-and-maximums/) that bears repeating: > *I think it was [Greg McKeown](https://gregmckeown.com/about/) who I first heard suggest the following:* > > *\- Have a *minimum amount of time* set aside for the good, the deep, and the essential things.* > > *\- Have a *maximum amount of time* set aside for those things which are shallow and not essential.* 150% dead on. ## Thoughts of the week > +2 vs. x2 [pic.twitter.com/scXHr8vlVN](https://t.co/scXHr8vlVN) > > — VV (@visualizevalue) [September 12, 2022](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1569317270815494146?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > ROBIN WILLIAMS, hilarious as ever in a cook-along with Martha Stewart. [pic.twitter.com/Hl4vDY7L0a](https://t.co/Hl4vDY7L0a) > > — All The Right Movies (@ATRightMovies) [September 23, 2022](https://twitter.com/ATRightMovies/status/1573235897935532033?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > AHHH!!! [pic.twitter.com/o7kcaFodeP](https://t.co/o7kcaFodeP) > > — Andrew Nalband 🦊 (ThunkNotes.com) (@nalband) [October 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/nalband/status/1577690635628322816?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession I've been a long-time fan of the gear from [Western Rise](https://westernrise.com); I've previously backed [their Airloft Jacket](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/766542489/the-airloft-jacket) and really have enjoyed the [Versa Hat](https://westernrise.com/collections/accessories/products/versa-hat); so when I saw they had a new offering, I quickly jumped on it. Check out [The Meta Shell](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/766542489/the-meta-shell), which went live on Kickstarter and was funded in a few hours. And how cool is this: **it even converts to a sling bag**. > *We created the Meta Shell because most rain jackets feel like wearing a trash bag. They are hot, they are crinkly, don't breathe, wrinkle, look terrible, are uncomfortable to wear, and don't move with your body. Not only that, they only work when it's cool and raining, so you look ridiculous carrying one around when it may or may not rain. We were tired of having to carry something that didn't meet our standards, so we completely rethought how a rain jacket was built.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/10/836bac41eddc27b26d801e1a1c416c4e_original.png) There's an excellent overview [of the new offering at Carryology](https://www.carryology.com/liking/new-releases/western-rise-meta-shell-the-ultimate-all-rounder-jacket/), or if you want to back it, [check out their Kickstarter](https://the-meta-shell.kckb.st/4c5e04d5). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - One of the most frequently asked questions I get from people I am advising or chatting with on business is "should I quit my job" and "**Shields Down**" is one of the best reads on the topic. "*As a leader of humans, I've watched sadly as valued co-workers have resigned. Each time I work to understand two things: Why are they leaving? When did their shields go down?*" - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/shields-down/) - I loved the idea of the [Douglas Adams Inflection point](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSalmon%5Fof%5FDoubt), which was brought to my attention by (the aptly named) "**Have I reached the Douglas Adams Inflection point (or is modern tech just a bit rubbish)?**". The article posits: "*Do I have a low tolerance for over-hyped gimmicks which are forever doomed to change the world next year..*" which is something I think we all relate to - [More](https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2022/09/have-i-reached-the-douglas-adams-inflection-point-or-is-modern-tech-just-a-bit-rubbish/) - If you watch any Marvel movies, you can easily recognize the sound of Tony Starks Ironman blasters firing up, and "**The Iconic Sounds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe**" is a fun watch with Adam Savage exploring Skywalker Sound. Check out how they create a '*sense of continuity for fans*' through sound - [More](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofUKZp2-CBI) - "**Your Career Hype Doc**" is described as '*the most important career doc for you*,' essentially a living document focused on the micro-level accomplishments you want to remember. I love this form of journalling, especially lensing on this week's topic of '**little things adding up to big things**'; we tend to forget all the small important achievements - [More](https://www.proofofconcept.pub/p/your-career-hype-doc) - Why not? It's 2022: "**3 Ways to Throw an Elbow Strike**" demonstrates one of the most effective tactics in hand-to-hand combat - throwing a powerful elbow to an attacker's face (or, how to survive budget season) (kidding!) - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/manly-know-how/3-ways-to-throw-an-elbow-strike/) - "**I Have a Lot of Books, Yes, But...**" resonated with me, as I, too *am way better at buying books than reading them*. The [Antinet Zettelkasten](https://zettelkasten.de/posts/introduction-antinet-zettelkasten/) is a process of '*extracting brief thoughts of important pages onto a special type of note*' where it focuses on core ideas and similar topics. More importantly, it pushes a thought model towards reading for putting knowledge into use instead of entertainment - [More](https://scottscheper.com/letter/42/) - This one is a doozy - "**Useless Meetings Waste Time and $100 Million a Year for Big Companies**". I always push on that meetings should have: an agenda, questions to answer, and the desired outcome; if not - don't go. Always try to lens in "*if I'm in a meeting, how do I add value?*"; and if the answer is "**I don't**" - you probably shouldn't be in that meeting - [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-26/are-meetings-a-waste-of-time-pointless-plans-cost-big-companies-100m) - [The more you know](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD6qtc2%5FAQA), and I'm just going to leave this one here: "**Mahna Mahna: How a Ditty From a Soft-Core Italian Movie Became the Muppets Catchiest Tune**." - [More](https://slate.com/culture/2011/11/mahna-mahna-how-a-ditty-from-a-soft-core-italian-movie-became-the-muppets-catchiest-tune.html) - I love the work of [David Lynch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRrGdgfJqOw), so I'm not surprised by "**How David Lynch Got Creative Inspiration? By Drinking a Milkshake at Bob's Big Boy, Every Single Day, for Seven Straight Years**". - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2018/08/how-david-lynch-got-creative-inspiration.html) - This one popped back up in my feed this week, as it still holds tremendous relevance. In "**What We Lost**," Rands explores the "*sterile dehumanizing experience*" of video calls and the fatigue we feel at the end of the day due to them - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/what-we-lost/) - "**Hello, I'd Like to Network at You**" was a fun one. I feel besieged by spam calls (how on earth are folks getting my number) and connection requests for contracting firms, and this one puts a fun, humorous spin on it all - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/hello-id-like-to-network-at-you) - The battle for your attention: "**New Report Highlights the Decline of Facebook and IG, as TikTok Becomes the New Home of Entertainment**." Some alarming reports about how social media is now competing against other forms of entertainment - [More](https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/new-report-highlights-the-decline-of-facebook-and-ig-as-tiktok-becomes-the/631694/) ## Fin Closing out this week with a fantastic set of drawings (animated for your enjoyment) from [Helen Green](https://dollychops.tumblr.com) of [the hairstyles of David Bowie](http://dollychops.tumblr.com/post/107517113745/happy-birthday-david-bowie). They range from before he was a star in 1964 to 2 years before his death in 2016. Enjoy... ![](https://kottke.org/plus/misc/images/bowie-hair.gif) Be well. ✌🏻 ### Plan for the Disruption of Your Plans URL: https://makoism.com/situation-not-normal/ Last updated: 2022-10-01T10:34:24.000Z > *"Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit." - Henry Adams* Moving to the Pacific Northwest in the late '90s helped me get off the couch and start exploring the hiking world. At first, it was just local adventures - throw the boots in the truck, head out early to Mount Si, and try to beat the 'traffic' to the top. But, like everything, the obsession grew - taking on more challenges, longer trails, then doing something wacky like 'let's summit a volcano - Mt St Helens.' Then, in late 1999, I read the fantastic book '[Into Thin Air](https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785)' by [Jon Krakauer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon%5FKrakauer), and just knew - I had to do this Everest thing. Now, it was never my intention to go summit Chomolungma (as it's called in Nepal) - I just wanted to get above base camp, see the [Khumbu Icefall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khumbu%5FIcefall) and have the experience of a lifetime. Of course, I kept a detailed journal of the adventure: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/09/IMG_0065-Edited.jpg) An excerpt: > *Today sucked. Started out early with a fairly easy hike until after lunch; we crossed a few high suspension bridges, and shortly after crossing Sagarmatha park entrance, things went south. Forgot the elevation gain, knees hurting, etc.. let's talk about the thunderstorm.* > > *Heading to the tea house, we got soaked. Everything felt cold and heavy, The pain started to shoot through my hands, and breathing was heavy after we crossed 10,000ft. Everything feels numb and frozen.* > > *The only good thing - I still can go to the bathroom, so I know that I'm starting to acclimate.* > > *We finally stumbled into Namche, exhausted and frozen. The only thing I am looking forward to now is warming up in front of the fire. Which, turns out, was fueled by dried yak dung.* > > *Tomorrow, we press on. No other choice, no turning back.* Sounds *ah-maz-ing*, huh? It was something... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/09/2001-04-13_13-06-36.jpg) So, why was I thinking about this now, 20+ years later? (*Outside of wow - that was an extraordinary adventure I will never do again*.) I've been noodling recently about how people, teams, etc., react to things that don't go to plan. Most jobs tend to respond to things going wrong, like they are trying to save a few folks stranded on a busted spaceship far from home. When something falls over, all hell breaks loose - Failure **IS NOT** an option. The reality is (unless you work in one of those professions - if so, you can probably ignore everything else I say here and skip over it), no one will die. Sure, things can be uncomfortable. You can seem foolish. There are outages—stuff breaks. Shit happens. The real test is how you react to those things and what you learn from them. You embrace failures as a part of the growth to get better. But, *what if you leaned even further into a philosophy of *expected failure**? The Stoics call this '[premedatatio malorum](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-obstacle-is-the-way/201405/the-surprising-value-negative-thinking)' - the "premeditation of evils." The idea of **expecting** something to go south can help you deal with it when it does. Who knows, maybe this is where the concept of [chaos engineering](https://devops.com/what-chaos-engineering-is-and-isnt/) was conceived; the whole idea is frankly counterintuitive. But think about it for a minute - **if you plan for failure, you can react to it**. How often have you been on a team with no backup plan? No run book? I say - *lean in*. Try out the power of negative thinking and see where it goes. See what new skills it helps you develop or weaknesses you find. Hopefully going to teach you the most important lesson: life happens, it's going to suck, but it will probably be okay. > *You gotta embrace the chaos. You have to. That way life might just astonish you" - April, Hot Tub Time Machine* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I just adored this post from [Basic Apple Guy](https://basicappleguy.com) on "[Lesser Known Apple Watch Workouts](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/lesserknownapplewatchworkoutsi)." > *The project started in early August and became a running collection of posts titled "Lesser known Apple Watch Workouts." This post is a collection of the first (but not the last) series of lesser-known Apple Watch workouts.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/09/AppleWatchWorkouts1x1.png) ## Thought of the week > 6% of Americans think they could beat up a grizzly bear. Further proof of the Atlantic voyage selecting for optimism [pic.twitter.com/a3s81M8WVw](https://t.co/a3s81M8WVw) > > — Ed West (@edwest) [September 25, 2022](https://twitter.com/edwest/status/1573998483069100033?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Pisces: LEGO will make a set based on your life. Crucial pieces are missing and it will be painful to build. > > — Sorrow-scopes (@Sorrowscopes) [September 25, 2022](https://twitter.com/Sorrowscopes/status/1574057381176217601?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession While I bought it the first day it was available, I haven't had a chance to get to Ryan Holiday's newest book yet, [Courage Is Calling](https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Calling-Fortune-Favors-Brave/dp/0593191676), **but it's on the must-read list for me**. I thought [Ryan's "guest post"](https://mailchi.mp/gapingvoid/courage-is-calling-by-ryan-holiday?e=ead155b89c) on [Hugh MacLeod's newsletter](https://www.gapingvoid.com/team-members/hugh-macleod/) sums up this book the best: > *In the lives of history's great men and women, fear—and the triumph over it—is almost always the defining battle of their existence. Just as it will be for you. Because there is nothing worth doing that is not scary. There is no change, no attempt, no reach that does not risk failure. There is no one who has achieved greatness without wrestling with their own doubts, anxieties, limitations, and demons. There's almost no accomplishment that is possible without courage. The courage…* > > *…to take a risk* > *…to be uniquely you* > *…to challenge the status quo* > *…to do what looks strange to others* > *…to run toward while others run away* > *…to do what people say is impossible* > > *The question is will you listen to those people? Will you let fear prevent you from answering your call? Will you leave the phone ringing? Or will you win the battle? Will you do what you were put here to do?* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/09/9780593191675.jpeg) How could you **NOT** read this book? ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Easily the **read of the week**, "**The Mirror**" explores the psychology behind the simple idea of '*the way you act is contagious to people around you*.' For example, '\*when you start treating any staff with **kindness and as real human beings**, you'll be surprised how quickly good things magically start happening. \*' Really **loved** this post, and it's now in my [commonplace book](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) as a consistent reminder - [More](https://jakobgreenfeld.com/mirror) - I came across "**On Arguing With Idiots and Where Ideas Come From**" shortly after I wrote "[Maybe They're Just an Asshole](https://makoism.com/asshole/)." Continuing on the asshole theme, '**argue with idiots, and you become an idiot*. The most important thing is to think about what you want, not to say what you want. and if you feel you have to say everything you think, it may inhibit you from thinking improper thoughts.*' Well said. - [More](https://fs.blog/paul-graham-hackers-painters/) - In an insightful look at different personas of leadership, "**The Coach and the Fixer**" dives into each and the different times when you need to listen versus act. - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-coach-and-the-fixer/) - "**Happiness Is Two Scales**" explores that you '*can have any combination of happiness and unhappiness*' or '*feel not-at-all-happy but also not-at-all-unhappy*.' It was a bit of a **huh** moment for me, but I agree that if you try to '*measure happiness in a single line, it just doesn't work. happiness and unhappiness are two separate, independent variables.*' - [More](https://www.atvbt.com/happiness-is-two-scales/) - Full disclosure, **I'm all in on remote work**, but as many wrestle with what "Office 2.0" looks like with a mix of hybrid, remote, or return to the office, "**Official myths**" does a great job dispelling '*that young people need in real life cultures in order to grow and learn*.' - [More](https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/official-myths) - "**Brands take note: The purpose of purpose is purpose**" - [More](https://www.marketingweek.com/patagonia-purpose-of-purpose/) - Well, this is a new one for me, but apparently, "**The Best Way To Reheat Pizza**" is on the grill - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/food-drink/the-best-way-to-reheat-pizza/) - Whenever I encounter an odd nursery rhyme, I get curious about its origin, and "**The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe**" doesn't disappoint. The most common analysis of the folk song from 1794 is that it '*captures the miserable plight of that lady who is trying her best to overcome the difficult situation of her life; she is concerned for her children's well-being and does her best even if it makes her lose her patience*.' However, the original version ends with '*she whipped them all soundly and put them to bed*' - [More](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The%5FOld%5FWoman%5FWho%5FLives%5Fin%5Fa%5FShoe) - This was a fun one to read through and digest - "**10 BINGO cards that may or may not be winners**" - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-bingo-cards-that-may-or-may-not) - File under 'most innovative' find of the week: "**THE WALK OF LIFE PROJECT**." This site explores how the [Dire Straits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire%5FStraits) song, [Walk of Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd9TlGDZGkI) changes the tone and emotion of ANY film. There are some great ones in here; I especially enjoyed [The Silence of the Lambs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVuifwco15c) \- [More](http://www.wolproject.com/) - I thought that Vader sounded **great** in [Obi-Wan Kenobi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi-Wan%5FKenobi%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29), and it turns out that "**An AI program voiced Darth Vader in 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' so James Earl Jones could finally retire**." Read more about Respeecher here, really cool stuff - [More](https://www.engadget.com/james-earl-jones-retires-darth-vader-ai-201559553.html) ## Fin I've previously mentioned my recent obsession with [Generative AI](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/). I've been continuously playing it the last few weeks of newsletter 'art' has actually all generated - but this was a great/creative way to close out this week. Someone went out and complied a video of Queen's classic [Bohemian Rhapsody](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ), with each lyric generated by [Midjourney](https://www.midjourney.com/home/). Be well. ✌🏻 ### Maybe It's Your Attitude URL: https://makoism.com/attitude/ Last updated: 2022-09-26T04:10:14.000Z > *"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude." - Oprah Winfrey* You *know* that feeling... when someone asks you a question that lingers in your mind for some time afterward. It may not be a big thing, maybe it's just a simple idea or question that grows, rattles around in the back of your skull, sneaks up on you when you're not expecting it, or you spend way too many nights thinking about it in search of some self-discovery. Maybe... its inception? > An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define or destroy you. A few months ago, [I did a talk](https://makoism.com/the-secret-of-asking-for-help/), where I was asked for "*one piece of advice*" from a group of graduating students. A simple question really; with no simple answer. What I came to realize though, is that I've been spending a lot of time thinking about that one. It wasn't because I didn't have an answer for it at the time, I offered up the first thing that popped into my head, "*ask for help when you need it*." **It's good advice**; but if I'm being honest, I felt that it was a bit of a cop-out on my side (there's that [imposter syndrome](https://makoism.com/perceptions-and-reality/) rolling around again.) The other night, unable to sleep after a 3 am bout with [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html), I came across an entry in my journal from **three years ago** (this is [the power of journals](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/)). It turns out I already knew my answer... > *If there's one thing you need to remember, it is to slow down, breathe, and create options for yourself. You are in far more control of your surroundings: your location, the people you surround yourself with, what you do every day, your sleep, what food you eat, what you care about, and what type of energy you put into those things.* > > *You will forget that minor changes to this have a significant impact.* > > *Attitude is everything.* It's probably worth repeating that: **attitude IS everything**. I'm not advocating that realigning your attitude towards different things is easy; we all slip into bad habits, negative patterns, self-destructive behavior - that's just life. Equally, I think it's important to understand that **attitude isn't necessarily about being positive all the time; it's about figuring out what's important, what's not necessary, and where to put that energy in the moment**. Attitude will determine *how you react to situations*. How much energy to expend on each unique circumstance? > *"The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition." - Ryan Holiday, [The Obstacle Is the Way](https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358)* If a situation isn't critical, don't make it urgent. But your attitude ultimately will determine how you react to these things; your own unique ability to grow, learn and overcome. Your attitude defines your approach to everything. Anyways, enough rambling for this week. I'm going to wrap this up with a clip from one of my favorite shows, Legion. (For no other reason than I ran across this clip recently, and it reminded me what a great show it is that you haven't watched.) > "You see, an idea alone isn’t enough. We have ideas all the time — random thoughts and theories. Most die before they can grow. For a delusion to thrive, other, more rational ideas must be rejected, destroyed. Only then can the delusion blossom into full-blown psychosis." If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I often joke that I've seen the beginning of The Shawshank Redemption maybe five times, and I've seen the ending almost 500\. If I'm flipping through the channels (well, searching through a guide these days), I'll **always** switch it no matter where it's at to watch [Andy Dufresne](https://shawshank.fandom.com/wiki/Andy%5FDufresne) '*crawl through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side.*' This week, the film celebrated the 28th anniversary of its release, and I learned a few new things about it. While I knew it was a box office bomb, making only $16m in its initial run, this was the first time I had heard this story. It turns out that [Frank Darabont](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001104/), the writer-director of the film, bought the rights to the Stephen King short story "[Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita%5FHayworth%5Fand%5FShawshank%5FRedemption)" for **only $5000**. But the most interesting bit, is that King *never cashed the check*. Instead, several years later, he framed the check and sent it back to Darabont with a note that read: > "In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve." Mic drop. ## Thought(s) of the week > We teamed up with [@guitarcenter](https://twitter.com/guitarcenter?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) to surprise a flight full of Customers flying out of Long Beach with a ukulele and a lesson. By the time they arrived in Honolulu they were pros. [pic.twitter.com/XsEx10sRJK](https://t.co/XsEx10sRJK) > > — Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) [September 20, 2022](https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1572284484720168962?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > a flowchart I've tested and shared with some friends to help you decide if you should take on a project or not [pic.twitter.com/7aoUTA7MKo](https://t.co/7aoUTA7MKo) > > — Noah Baker (@noahbakerstudio) [September 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/noahbakerstudio/status/1571899436736864264?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession Not a new product to look at, but simply some advice if you've recently upgraded a device that previously had AppleCare on it. It turns out**: [Apple offers prorated AppleCare refunds](https://www.macworld.com/article/226560/turns-out-apple-offers-prorated-applecare-refunds.html)**. If you had AppleCare on a device, got a new one, see if you can get a refund on your unused service plan. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**We know you're winging it**" explores the simple yet brilliant idea that '*nobody's really in charge - we're just making it up as we go along.*' and highlights [an interview with the Founder of IDEO, Dave Kelley](https://wondery.com/shows/how-i-built-this/episode/10386-hibt-lab-ideo-david-kelley/). He focused on building a culture that allowed his employees to be '**comfortable with the idea of not knowing where they were going.**' LOVE IT! - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/09/21/winging-it/) - In what artist Jeffrey Linn calls'*steam punk aesthetic*', "**Life in the Sea Suite**" has a wild site [The Conspiracy of Cartographers](https://conspiracyofcartographers.com) where you can buy '*old map produced by oil companies and chart sea-level rises on them*.' Pretty amazing parody art, actually ([check them out](https://conspiracyofcartographers.com/petrofuture-gallery/)) - [More](https://seattlemag.com/arts-culture/life-in-the-sea-suite/) - The stage of 'blogs' is weird in 2022, but "**Take Care of Your Blog**" has some great tips for online writing. And, I agree with the number one rule: "*always self-host your website because your URL, your own private domain, is the most valuable thing you can own*." Aka [makoism.com](https://makoism.com/) \- [More](https://www.robinrendle.com/notes/take-care-of-your-blog-/) - "**Screens Were a Mistake: Work Analog**" explores '*are computers too productive in the creative process?*'; and the value of ditching the electronics and using a pencil instead - [More](https://www.proofofconcept.pub/p/screens-were-a-mistake-work-analog) - For the avid notetakers, "**Practicing note rewriting**." I've become [very dubious on anything PKM](https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/) related, but this was a good one around the three most important things that can improve any notes: how to **Reflect**, **Recall**, and **Rewrite** \- [More](https://www.proofofconcept.pub/p/practicing-note-re-writing) - "**Attentive**" is a thought-provoking read on today's scarcest resource: your attention. - [More](https://www.profgalloway.com/attentive/) - This weeks **thought bomb**, "**Why Goal Cascades are Harmful (and What to Do Instead)**" is a great read that explores the downside of top-level goal setting is ineffective and that models which map to your business drivers (with measurement) are far more helpful. It was a perfect thinking piece - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-4151-why-goal-cascades-are-harmful) - I never really wanted to have a dog, and even though I grew up with one, it wasn't something I wanted to deal with as an adult. That is until our (now three-year-old) golden retriever entered our world, and now I can't imagine life without him. In "**What Do Dogs Know About Us?**", the author explores **dog cognition** and the simple truth in '*they level no judgment, as happy to see you on the toilet as at the door, flinching not at your nakedness or weakness*.' Dogs are the *best*. - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/09/what-dogs-know-about-people/671454/) - "**Quiet Quitting Is a Fake Trend. Why Does It Feel Real?**" continues the exploration of the latest meme. But honestly, the caption "*What people are now calling 'quiet quitting' was, in previous decades, simply known as 'having a job.'*" seems to sum it up - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/) - For the tech crowd, here's "**Building the future of the command line**" and a look at the *impressive* toolset of [Charm](https://github.com/charmbracelet). I've only started to mess with this, but it's super geeky and beautiful, and the command line is far from dead - [More](https://github.com/readme/featured/future-of-the-command-line) ## Fin Last week, [I mentioned](https://makoism.com/asshole/) the [Steve Jobs Archive](https://stevejobsarchive.com). Here is the full video of Tim Cook, Jony Ive, and Laurene Powell Jobs discussing the archive and his impact on Apple and the world. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Maybe They’re Just an Asshole URL: https://makoism.com/asshole/ Last updated: 2023-01-28T23:49:55.000Z > *"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." - Clemenza, The Godfather* Before diving into this week's thought bomb, I just wanted to say a quick **thanks to everyone** who's recently subscribed, [bought me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism), or reached out to me. While I have always tried to write about things on my mind as a form of self-therapy, it's fascinating how often people comment that something "just resonated" with them. What started as a random collection of thoughts back in February of 2020, readership **has grown over 25% since this June**, and still maintaining an 'open rate' of **65% weekly**. Maybe it's time to start a tee-shirt side hustle (I mean, who doesn't want an "[Own Your Shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/)" shirt or hoodie? :)) Thank **you**. Shifting gears onto this week's post, I wanted to throw down some thoughts that percolated when a former colleague reached out to me earlier in the week. They were having an issue with a co-worker, and in every meeting, that person seemed to speak down to them. Dismissed every idea, interrupted them, and generally made them feel small. While I often talk about the concepts of fostering environments of [psychological safety](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) and center myself on the fact that [we all have icebergs](https://makoism.com/we-all-have-icebergs/), there sometimes is just a plain and simple truth that's right in front of you: **that person is just an asshole**. I know that comment may even sound a bit asshole-ish, but admit it - **you know them, everyone does**. [Robert Sutton](https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/robert-i-sutton), Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford, has a fantastic book, [The Asshole Survival Guide](https://www.amazon.com/Asshole-Survival-Guide-People-Treat/dp/1328695913) in which he has some excellent insights to those folks. > *There are a lot of academic definitions, but here's how I define it: *An asshole is someone who leaves us feeling demeaned, de-energized, disrespected, and/or oppressed. In other words, someone who makes you feel like dirt.** > *I would make a distinction between temporary and certified assholes, because all of us under the wrong conditions can be temporary assholes. I'm talking about somebody who is consistently this way, who consistently treats other people this way. I think it's more complicated than simply saying an asshole is someone who doesn't care about other people. In fact, some of them really do care — they want to make you feel hurt and upset, they take pleasure in it.* The critical thing to remember is **not** that the person is an asshole; it's how *you respond* to that asshole. People are far less jerky, especially over food or coffee. Smile, be polite (don't be an asshole in return), empathize with them, forgive them, and ignore them. Could you even ask them to go for a walk/talk, grab a coffee, show empathy, and say, "the way you made me feel in that meeting was bad, was that intentional?" (assholes hate confrontation of their behavior and often turn to kittens). Don't do it over a video chat - get that person in real life. Another reason I love trying to gain insight on behavior from leaders like Marcus Aurelius: > *When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. *They are like this because they can't tell good from evil*. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. *To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.** [Rise above it](https://time.com/5459984/michelle-obama-go-high/). You will quickly find that asshole will move on. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I just loved this video that resurfaced this week in my reading. In 1992, during a lecture at MIT, Steve Jobs was asked '*What's the most important thing that you personally learned at Apple?*.' His reaction after a long, thoughtful pause: '*I now take a longer term view on people; when I see something not done right, my first reaction is not to go fix it.*.' ## Thought(s) of the week > THE SHINING built in Lego. Posted in our FB group. [pic.twitter.com/UOh8jUZwYW](https://t.co/UOh8jUZwYW) > > — FilmFrame (@FilmFrameATRM) [September 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/FilmFrameATRM/status/1568947595266891776?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Maybe it's not always about fixing something that's broken, maybe it's about starting over and creating something so much better. > > — Tina Fey (@TinaFeyLC) [September 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/TinaFeyLC/status/1566804049881473025?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession A silly one, but given the recent release of the iPhone 14 Pro with it's wacky-but-wild [Dynamic Island](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/16/iphone-14-pro-dynamic-island-hands-on/), I've really been amused by developers who have thought of unique and interesting ways to use it. First up, we have the fantastic [Reddit app Apollo](http://t.co/OwnW7yNROp), which has implemented a micro "tamagotchi" that lives on the island. > Okay y'all, I think I found the best idea for the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro. I added a cat that lives up there like a tamagotchi and just hangs out and does cute stuff as you browse Reddit in my app (Apollo). [pic.twitter.com/xJJlazHH4E](https://t.co/xJJlazHH4E) > > — Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) [September 16, 2022](https://twitter.com/ChristianSelig/status/1570863225234923520?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) And what has turned out to be a simple yet crazy fun game, "[Hit The Island](https://t.co/9aQ6SgwJPy)". Pong at it's best. > Who has an iPhone 14 Pro right now? Need to test this on device asap! > > 🏝️ Hit The Island - our game concept for iPhone 14 Pro, still laggy but it’s turning out nice :) [#iPhone14Pro](https://twitter.com/hashtag/iPhone14Pro?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) [#iOS16](https://twitter.com/hashtag/iOS16?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/kWLU77gk6d](https://t.co/kWLU77gk6d) > > — Kriss Smolka (@ksmolka) [September 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/ksmolka/status/1569726349673381891?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I like the vision of "**The future of the office is the clubhouse**" and the concept that '*most offices try to facilitate both deep work and in-person collaboration, but usually end up in a dystopian middle ground where neither really happens*.' The solution that [Foster](https://www.foster.co) proposes is that of 'the clubhouse' - '*to do deep work, stay at home or go to a coffee shop. To inject your day with in-person serendipity, come to the clubhouse*' - [More](https://stewfortier.substack.com/p/the-future-of-the-office-is-the-clubhouse) - File under **complete and total geek** (but if you're here for the tech stuff, you may like it) - Here is the "**nerdlist**," a list of passwords most likely to be used by those into geekdom (inspired by film and books, like 'TooManySecrets'). A fun list to check through with your password checkers - [More](https://github.com/TheNerdlist/nerdlist/blob/main/nerdlist.txt) - As if we didn't need more *good* news in 2022, "**Google Deepmind Researcher Co-Authors Paper Saying AI Will Eliminate Humanity**." This paper '*tries to think through how artificial intelligence could pose an existential risk to humanity by looking at how reward systems might be artificially constructed; with AI overseeing some important function could be incentivized to come up with cheating strategies to get its reward in ways that harm humanity*.' Oh good, something new to keep me up at night - [More](https://www.vice.com/en/article/93aqep/google-deepmind-researcher-co-authors-paper-saying-ai-will-eliminate-humanity) - I loved this article on "**How I Reconnected With My Mother Through Wordle**." Everyone I know seems to be in some form of family text chat, their 'wordle circle,' and this post was a fantastic read on how a mother/daughter connected through it. If [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html) isn't the best thing that came out of the last few years, I don't know what is - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/09/wordle-with-mother-family-bonding/671428/) - By now, I'm sure you've read the "**Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company to Fight Climate Change**." What I found particularly humorous is what ignited the idea: '*I was in Forbes magazine listed as a billionaire, which *really, really pissed* me off; I don't have $1 billion in the bank. I don't drive Lexuses.*'. Love it. - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/climate/patagonia-climate-philanthropy-chouinard.html) - Everyone knows of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, and plenty has been written about her life and legacy. But I found "**The Cowboy and Queen Elizabeth**" to be one of the most fascinating and endearing accounts of her friendship with an American horse trainer. His philosophy on training was that '*the animal is taught to see the rider as a member of its herd, rather than as a master*'; and reading about their multi-decade relationship was touching - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/world/europe/monty-roberts-queen.html) - As I mentioned above, I am digging "**Dynamic Island**" on the iPhone 14 Pro. Talk about talking a hardware 'nit' on the notch, coupling it with some amazing software, and it suddenly has become one of the coolest features of the new phone. '*Dynamic Island is like a Head-Up Display (HUD) for your phone that defies normal touch user interface patterns like reachability. It's one of those features that looks intuitive enough as if it should have been there all along.*' Or, simply - it's beautiful - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/dynamic-island) - Technology transformation, especially in large enterprises, can be difficult. In "**What Silicon Valley 'Gets' about Software Engineers that Traditional Companies Do Not**," the author articulates the problem nicely and that engineers should be treated as '*curious problem solvers, not mindless resources*. A worthy read. - [More](https://blog.pragmaticengineer.com/what-silicon-valley-gets-right-on-software-engineers/) - In another passing this week, "**Fred Franzia, creator of Two Buck Chuck wine, dies at 79**". While I've probably had too much of that wine, I never really knew the entire story of Franzia and his fight against the principle of 'truth-in-labeling' - which I found interesting. - [More](https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/Fred-Franzia-Two-Buck-Chuck-wine-dies-17439262.php) - The [Steve Jobs Archive](https://stevejobsarchive.com/) is a fascinating new site with various quotes and letters. As [Matt Birchler](https://birchtree.me/) points out, "**I am Dependent on Everyone Else**" was a particularly great one that points out that '*None of us survive on our own. We need each other, whether we want to admit it or not.*' - [More](https://birchtree.me/blog/i-am-totally-dependent-on/) - As Halloween approaches, I figured I would throw in a wacky one: "**A 17th-Century Vampire Grave Discovered in Poland of Skeleton with a Sickle Across Her Neck**". '*A sickle was used by superstitious people at the time just in case the dead person they thought was a vampire came back to life; it would slice off their head when they tried to sit up*' - [More](https://geektyrant.com/news/a-17th-century-vampire-grave-discovered-in-poland-of-skeleton-with-a-sickle-across-her-neck) ## Fin I've long been a fan of [Do Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/courses/) and am excited to attend their in-person event, [Do Wales 2023](https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/), next summer. I thought it would be nice to wrap up this week with one of their classic talks from 2014 titled "[Be Whoever You Want to Be](https://thedolectures.com/talks/be-whoever-you-want-to-be/)" > *Chasing your dreams is all about love. That’s it, love.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Finding Your Voice URL: https://makoism.com/finding-your-voice/ Last updated: 2022-09-10T19:40:08.000Z > *"You must strive to find your own voice, boys, and *the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all*." - Dead Poets Society* First, I'd like to thank **several people** that reached out to me [after last week's entry](https://makoism.com/when-the-cup-runneth-over/) to check in to see if everything was ok. Besides being [low on coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism), yes: **I am fine**. It was more of a reminder to stop and breathe, and it was what I needed to do. This week marks another significant change as my oldest heads off to college. I was thinking back if there was any 'unsolicited' advice that I could impart to my son as he headed off onto the next step on the journey into adulthood. (*Side note: even though I'm 51, I feel like I'm still trying to figure this whole adulthood thing out* 🤪) This clump of self-reflection is probably one of the most impactful things I've tried to practice over the years. **Find your authentic voice.** In a world filled with noise, [fake online perfect existances](https://www.swnewsmedia.com/lakeshore%5Fweekly/news/opinion/guest%5Fcolumns/commentary-why-we-fake-a-perfect-life-online/article%5Fc3ba1998-8aaa-5b54-afcb-8d1d46f8575f.html), [horrors of war](https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-09-09-22/index.html) and [just about every level of stress imaginable](https://www.stress.org/stress-level-of-americans-is-rising-rapidly-in-2022-new-study-finds), there are few things **harder than finding your authentic voice**. In many areas of life, humans develop various personalities depending on what they want (or think you want) as others perceive them. You see or read about a character in a book that is strong or important, and you think, "*if I act that way, I'll have the same results.*" Or you develop personas based on situations: "*She/He is super tough*" (even though they are really sensitive or easily affected), or "*she's/he's a great listener*" (even though you seem like you're listening and saying '**I don't give a fuck**' inside your head). Heck, at one time, someone told me, "*just pretend you're crazy so everyone just leaves you alone*"; I thought that would be an excellent method not to get close to people to avoid getting hurt and just doing what I wanted to do. Kinda dumb looking back. I'm not saying there are certain behaviors you shouldn't try to emulate (such as "[own your shit](https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/)") in your unique way to bring out your voice, but *being a fake representation of yourself* (the 'Facebook self' or basing it on perceived popularity or belief you'll advance in a corporation), is only a path to feeling **more incomplete**. **More insecure**. **An imposter**. > *Finding your voice means you know who you are at your core. Void of outside influence. Then use this voice to speak up and tell the world you matter even if you feel otherwise. It takes courage and faith to own your voice.* You need to walk your path and be honest with yourself. Few things are more powerful than understanding yourself and connecting with **your narrative**. > *Inside each and every one of us is one true authentic swing. Somethin' we was born with* > *Somethin' that's ours and ours alone* > *Somethin' that can't be taught to ya or learned* > **Somethin' that got to be remembered...** > **Over time the world can rob us of that swing..*.* > *It get buried inside us under all our wouldas and couldas and shouldas...* > *Some folk even forget what their swing was like...* And with that, strive to find your own voice... If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking My friends (perhaps it's a function of age) have been discussing careers, what they fill the days with, and the lessons they've learned over the years. This week, Derek Thompson had a **brilliant** article in the Atlantic, "[Your Career Is Just One-Eighth of Your Life](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/career-ambition-advice-data/671374/)" in which he talks about five pieces of career advice. Interestingly, I found that these echo many of the nuggets I've learned or been taught that I found helpful, but it's important to heed his general warning on advice: > *Career advice as a genre is almost fatally flawed.* > *The most common counsel is almost always too personal to be broadly applicable. My toes curl with embarrassment when successful people say anything along the lines of "Just do these three things I did."* > > **Autobiography is not advice*.* > > *Given how poorly most people understand themselves, it's barely even autobiography.* It's a great read, and I'll quickly summarize the lessons he puts forth: 1. Your career is not your life. 2. Explore, then exploit. 3. Don't do the job you want to tell other people you do. Do the job you want to do. 4. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself about what you value and how much professional success matters to you. 5. Flow comes from voluntary, difficult, and worthwhile work. All important lessons, and the one in which I have found a ton of value, is #3\. I've often been asked my tips for success, and it's been "**write your own job description**." But I'd encourage you to read his entire post; it's a good one full of outstanding and valuable ideas. ## Thoughts of the week > The remains of one of the animatronic E.T. Puppets [pic.twitter.com/DRkwQnE1DB](https://t.co/DRkwQnE1DB) > > — Horror4Kids (@horror4kids) [September 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/horror4kids/status/1566412848753950723?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Sir Ian McKellen Reads Kurt Vonnegut’s Letter to High School Students: Make Art and "Make Your Soul Grow" [pic.twitter.com/7pfhb05pJj](https://t.co/7pfhb05pJj) > > — Open Culture (@openculture) [September 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/openculture/status/1566482725363539968?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession This week marked the annual [Apple Event](https://www.apple.com/apple-events/); this year was coined "Far Out." As I used to do a pretty full breakdown of the event, I'm often asked right afterward for my thoughts and if I was buying anything. The answer: of course I bought stuff. :) Here's a quick rundown of what I'm upgrading to: - [AirPods Pro 2](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/09/apple-announces-the-next-generation-of-airpods-pro/) \- I use the AirPods Pro every day, for almost every call, so with the new "low distortion audio driver," upgraded H2 chip, seems like a **no-brainer**. - [Apple Watch Ultra](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra/) \- The watch is my primary 'health device,' so I always upgrade to get the latest and greatest sensors. With a more rugged case, 36 hours of battery, and a focus on exercise, another **no-brainer** for me. - [iPhone 14 Pro](https://www.apple.com/iphone-14-pro/) \- And, duh. New camera, new phone time. It's come to the point where the phone is my primary computing device, so I always am on the latest/greatest. Finally, what I thought was one of the most interesting images of the week - was a comparison of the screen size/resolution of the new Ultra to the original iPhone. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/09/FcFBBy-XEAAZUnA-1.jpeg) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**The Builder's High**" was just what I needed this week; it tapped into the core emotional feeling of why I love writing software or writing newsletters. "It's staring at a thing that you brought into the world because you decided it needed to exist." Nailed it. - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-builders-high/) - "**The Philosophy of SimCity: An Interview With the Game's Lead Designer**" had some fascinating insights from the game's creators on design and gameplay. "*We quickly realized there were way too many parking lots in the real world and that our game was going to be boring if it was proportional in terms of parking lots*'. I enjoyed some of the discoveries they made - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/the-philosophy-of-simcity-an-interview-with-the-games-lead-designer/275724/) - How very 2022: "**The super-rich 'preppers' planning to save themselves from the apocalypse**." Apparently, '*billionaires are buying up luxurious bunkers and hiring military security to survive a societal collapse they helped create*.' Lovely. - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff) - "**10 Ways We Constantly Renew Ourselves**" explores the idea of reframing when we stumble into 'survival—upcycling' moments. It's a path to a new future created from what is currently causing you to fail. '*If you're feeling unproductive or useless, please note: you are not. Your experience of brokenness or uselessness is simply the *beginning of a process of renewal**'. - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-ways-we-constantly-renew-ourselves) - I've spent a ton of time slowly lensing into what I want to do when I grow up (see Life 2.0). "**Building a post portfolio career**" reminds us that the most important thing is that '*When you base your work decisions on the people you choose to work with and not the project*' you find value - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/building-a-post-portfolio-career) - The book "[What If? 2](https://www.amazon.com/What-Additional-Scientific-Hypothetical-Questions/dp/0525537112)" tries to answer "**What If You Tried to Swallow a Whole Cloud?**" and many other absurd questions with scientific answers - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/swallow-whole-cloud-what-if/) - "**zoom is not the problem — meetings are**" is my favorite find of the week. And a solid reminder that the most crucial question is asked is '*why the meeting is necessary in the first place*' - [More](https://jarche.com/2020/05/zoom-is-not-the-problem-meetings-are/) - The last few years have been a train wreck in one form or another, but "**The Lingering of Loss**" was a fascinating read. The author had been willed an old laptop from a friend that sat for many years in '*a box and stored in the back of the cupboard where I keep my fabric, yards of cambric and calico and gingham*.' When she decided to boot it up, her inquest began - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/08/the-lingering-of-loss) - "**🎂 Celebrating 17 years at Microsoft**" is a thoughtful retrospective on the best paths to navigate a long career. Some personal favorites: '*smartly managing your time, your tasks, and your information diet has a way bigger impact on getting you to leadership roles than anything else*' - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/-celebrating-17-years-at-microsoft) - If you're looking to improve the quality of the people you are bringing into your organization, "**Bar raisers, hiring committees, and other complex ways to improve hiring quality**" has some great methodology. - [More](https://lethain.com/bar-raising-hiring-committees-hiring-quality/) - "**Finding persistent invisible systems**" was a great one from Seth that taps into the idea that '*systemic problems require systemic solutions*' and that '*systems change when their inputs change and when the rules change*' - [More](https://seths.blog/2022/08/the-resilient-invisible-system/) - Meta-work is the '*step-sibling of procrastination*.' A quick read, but I thought it was something that most of us fall into; "**Why you're always busy with nothing to show for**" and spend time on '*low-value you work that doesn't move you any closer to your goals.*'- [More](https://radreads.co/meta-work/) ## Fin This week marks the 30th anniversary of what is generally accepted as the **best hacker movie of all time**, [Sneakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakers%5F%281992%5Ffilm%29). In "[Decrypting Sneakers](https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2017/05/18/too-many-secrets-decrypting-sneakers)": > *The premise of Sneakers is its biggest misdirection of all. What seems to be a movie about high-tech culture is a fundamentally low-tech story. Roger Ebert wrote, "one of the weaknesses of the movie is the way it pretends to be a techno-thriller when in fact it recycles much older traditions."* > > **But it's not a weakness; it's the point.* Sneakers is about human beings and their relationships, how the solutions to their problems are low-tech: distracting the concierge with a delivery of Liquid Drano, kicking down the door, listening, teamwork, and a dim sum date with Stephen Tobolowsky.* And: > *Even in the world of sneakers, emotional intelligence and quick thinking have more value than information.* I didn't come across "**The Making of Sneakers**" until this week, and here it is for you to you enjoy as well: Be well. ✌🏻 ### When The Cup Runneth Over URL: https://makoism.com/when-the-cup-runneth-over/ Last updated: 2022-09-03T21:31:20.000Z > *"You may think this is suffering, no. It is salvation. The universal scale tips toward balance because of your sacrifice. Smile." - Ebony Maw, Infinity War* **It's been a bit of a month.** The [coffee consumption](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) has been running on overtime, and I just wanted to say a quick **thanks** to everyone that has reached out saying that this small weekly brain dump has resonated with them in some small way. It's inspiring and much appreciated. While I often talk about strategies for [managing time](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/), [being more thoughtful](https://makoism.com/the-moment/) on how to spend the day, [leadership skills](https://makoism.com/the-path/), or whatever [random thing pops into my head](https://makoism.com/cloud-atlas/), lots of the things that I ramble on about here are mainly my small form of *self-therapy*. I hope that doesn't sound *too* selfish, but I often write these weekly posts as part of a methodology to work on my broken psyche. **[Writing is thinking](https://alistapart.com/article/writing-is-thinking/)**, and *while it makes my day* (it does!) when readers shoot me a note that they found a post spoke to them, like everyone else, **I stumble**. More often than I'd like. So, I'd throw it out this week: I've been feeling overwhelmed. Lots of projects, [many meetings](https://jarche.com/2008/08/unmeeting/), breaking my own [rules on the calendar bank](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/), getting [stressed over things I shouldn't](https://makoism.com/what-is/), [not exercising as much as I should](https://makoism.com/the-importance-of-exercise-7e6dc8de026/), and even having the occasional feeling of [impostor syndrome](https://makoism.com/crushing-weights/). I am not sharing this to complain to the universe, but making it more of a "**we all go through it**" reminder. Maybe the world would be better if more people did just that - *admit we are not 'invincible'* and acknowledge that there are times **we all are just human**. Ironically, a question that came in from someone who read the post on [Personal Mission statements](https://makoism.com/personal-mission-statement/) started to finally get me back on track. They simply asked about my own and '*if I finally landed on one*?'. No; I haven't yet. But I started to spend a ton of time thinking about the foundations for it: - To not stress about where life takes me or things outside my control. - To make sure that I spend time learning every day. - To be around people that make me want to be better. - To be a good father and husband. - Try not to fuck up too much along the way. I liked the way [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net/the-uncomfortable-truth) talks about "Uncomfortable Truth"'s and that '*there's a realization that we all come to that affects everything we do. And yet, we spend most of our lives ignoring it*'. > *You must start at the *Uncomfortable Truth*. From there, you must slowly build a convincing case for hope. And not just any hope, but a sustainable, benevolent form of hope. A hope that can bring us together rather than tear us apart. A hope that is robust and powerful, yet still grounded in reason and reality. A hope that can carry us to the end of our days with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction.* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking Im not sure why I loved this one as much as I did, but [Rannae Stubbs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennae%5FStubbs), part of the coaching team of the amazing Serena Williams, shows off some "[Ambush Tennis](https://racquetmag.com/2022/09/02/ambush-tennis-with-rennae-stubbs/)". As someone '*who absolutely cannot, under any circumstances, withhold her opinion. Whether it’s correcting your tennis form in the middle of a dinner party or interrupting your casual hit to offer unsolicited advice, Rennae will coach you whether you like it or not.*' Loved it. ## Thoughts of the week > [pic.twitter.com/utYFB7G3SH](https://t.co/utYFB7G3SH) > > — DO Lectures (@TheDOLectures) [September 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/TheDOLectures/status/1565599158362316800?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > The only true form of freedom, the only ethical form of freedom, is through self-limitation. It is not the privilege of choosing everything you want in your life, but rather, choosing what you will give up in your life. > > — Mark Manson (@IAmMarkManson) [June 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson/status/1534516847898419201?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > POWERING THROUGH vs HOLDING BACK > > Holding back when you still have steam in you might seem like a counterintuitive approach to getting important things done, but in fact, this kind of restraint is key to breakthrough productivity. > > 📚 [#effortless](https://twitter.com/hashtag/effortless?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) Chapter 10 [pic.twitter.com/Q7ieAjaajV](https://t.co/Q7ieAjaajV) > > — Greg McKeown (@GregoryMcKeown) [May 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/GregoryMcKeown/status/1521151486121623554?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession As a long-time user/fan of the great apps from [Flexibits](https://flexibits.com), I wanted to draw some attention to two of the staple apps I use daily. If you're not using [Fantastical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) or [CardHop](https://flexibits.com/cardhop), you're missing out on some of the best apps on iOS and the Mac. The latest support for [Openings and Proposals](https://flexibits.com/blog/2022/02/fantastical-scheduling-arrives-with-version-3-6-openings-proposals-and-quarters/), I've entirely ditched the alternatives that I was using to find time to connect with people. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I've been thinking a lot of the latest media noise with regards to '[quiet quitting](https://hbr.org/2022/08/quiet-quitting-is-about-bad-bosses-not-bad-employees)'. Whether or not it's the '[next phase of the Great Resignation](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html)' or a sign of '[quiet firing](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/09/01/quiet-quitting-and-firing/)', I think humans should spend more time on why we, as a society, are re-evaluating everything in 20202\. Read more on "**Is quiet quitting a real thing?**" - [More](https://radreads.co/quiet-quitting/) - Or, continuing the theme, maybe people are just at a point where "**stupidity — the new normal**" is where the world is in 2022 and '*the earth continues to burn*' - [More](https://jarche.com/2022/09/stupidity-the-new-normal/) - [Harold Jarche](https://jarche.com) is one of the newer authors I've been following as of late, and I thought the post on "**meetings, bloody meetings**" was a great guide to how to have **better**, not more, meetings. I liked the lens on '*focus your energy on the real ingredients that make for effective meetings: purpose, engagement, safety, and results.*' - [More](https://jarche.com/2019/05/meetings-bloody-meetings/) - This is a fun hack project: "**A smart E Ink calendar comes to my kitchen**." I need to add this to the growing backlog of personal projects (like I needed more) - [More](https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/09/a-smart-e-ink-calendar-comes-to-my-kitchen/) - I've always been somewhat amused when people get creative drawing out wacky things with apps that track location (such as [the Nike app](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/06/runner-nike-san-francisco-penis), or [Strava](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/28/fitness-tracking-app-gives-away-location-of-secret-us-army-bases)) so I thought it was creative when a "**Plane gives the middle finger to Washington state, flight map shows**" - [More](https://www.q13fox.com/news/plane-gives-the-middle-finger-to-washington-state-flight-map-shows) - "**Tea drinkers enjoy possible health benefits, study suggests**"; since [I drink a ton of tea](https://www.smithtea.com/products/bonbon), I'm happy to take any leg up I can get - [More](https://apnews.com/article/science-health-united-kingdom-75c80adda875a06e82bddc7a87e52177) - While I'm not sure how many are knowledgable about what RSS is (except for us old-timers), "**Filtering my RSS reading**" was an excellent (albeit more technical) way to cut back on some of the chatter from articles that "*would just be a waste of my time*." I need to do more of this in my daily consumption; the noise/signal ratio is high these days - [More](https://leancrew.com/all-this/2022/08/filtering-my-rss-reading/) - File under nostalgia, but I particularly enjoyed when "**Molly Ringwald Revisits 'The Breakfast Club' in the Age of #MeToo**" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink) - Talking about more productive meetings, if you are an employee or a manager, here are "**13 things to talk about in your 1-on-1s**". I like the idea of '**Ask stuff you're just curious about**' as it promotes more profound levels of navigation and thinking - [More](https://www.manager-tools.com/forums/13-things-talk-about-your-1-1s) - In the spirit of '[its more fun to be a pirate than in the navy](https://makoism.com/two-simple-ideas/),' here's the back story on "**Apple's Jolly Roger**." It was *‌a nod to the Jolly Roger that flew over Bandley 3 in 1983, the building the Mac team worked in as they put the finishing touches on the Macintosh*; enjoy the wallpaper! - [More](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/jollyroger) ## Fin The tribute concert for [Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins](https://pitchfork.com/news/foo-fighters-taylor-hawkins-has-died/) was held this morning in London. While I only caught a few of the performances while running on the treadmill, it would be a great way to wrap up this week with Miley Cyrus's speech about him from Lollapalooza, Brazil, 2022. Be well. ✌🏻 ### What Was and What Will Be URL: https://makoism.com/what-was-and-what-will-be/ Last updated: 2022-08-27T19:05:49.000Z > *"You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There is a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present." -Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda* Previously I've mentioned that keeping up with a consistent practice of having a [digital commonplace book](https://makoism.com/the-moment/) is one of the *best* daily tricks that I use to keep myself in check. If I have a random thought at any point in the day - something that I want to remember, write more on, or explore down the road - it goes in there. I'm up to 6,180 entries (and a 2000+ day streak) across four journals now, with *quips of wisdom* going in its separate journal. Big plug here for the app [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com), which I use across devices to store all my random musings. Last week, I came across something that I wrote almost two years ago: > *Stop and think for a minute about what was two years ago, what is now, and what will be in 2 years. It's shocking how much changes in and around you instantly and how little things add up to big things over time.* It's an important one that I keep coming back to, especially when I get into those moments when I feel overwhelmed, overtasked, stressed out, or just generally at a loss of what to work on next. I stop, breathe, and think about little things that matter most, and usually can move on. > Be selfish with your time. A lot of people don't deserve it. > > — Art of Life 🦋 (@Art0fLife\_) [August 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/Art0fLife%5F/status/1563466362000789505?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) That's where the **real challenge** comes in. Where to spend those **precious moments of now**, versus struggling through it all. What's equally remarkable is how much '[struggle porn](https://www.nateliason.com/blog/struggle-porn)' (also known as '[insight porn](https://jakobgreenfeld.com/insight-porn)') normalizes this whole craziness. A notion that having "**a masochistic obsession with pushing yourself harder, listening to people tell you to work harder, and broadcasting how hard you're working*.*" is for some wacko reason is an *ok way to live*. I kind of like here [Greg McKeown](https://essentialism.com) lands it: > Saying no to nonessential meetings gives you the freedom to think. > > Saying no to nonessential email gives you the freedom to connect. > > Saying no to nonessential social media gives you the freedom to read. > > — Greg McKeown (@GregoryMcKeown) [August 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/GregoryMcKeown/status/1563515485937082372?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) If there's one thing I've found is that there's no "playbook" to get you through any of this stuff we all deal with daily. Only the things that work for you, the company you keep, the moments you want to value now, and how yesterday isn't tomorrow. Namaste. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking This one is for all the engineering teams (and those working with them). Lots of geek humor in here, but in a [post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ctrlshifti/status/1554018435012538369), Cain Maddox has a brilliant idea for a new show: > *idea: a gameshow called Imposter Syndrome where you take 10 senior developers and tell them that one of them is actually just a sales guy who's been taught to say DevOps buzzwords. to win, they have to figure out who the fake dev is. the trick: *there is no sales guy** > > *the final episode will be a google engineer, an apple engineer, and some random guy with 12,000 stackoverflow answers just whiteboard interviewing each other.* > > *prize money will be allocated in reverse order, with the first dev eliminated getting half the payout and the last two survivors getting nothing* **YES**. I would watch this (if real life wasn't so close to the truth). ## Thought of the week I loved this thread from [Mark Manson](https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson/status/1562694274608533504): > **THINGS I WISH I KNEW SOONER** > *1\. People aren't thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are.* > *2\. Blame is a mostly useless concept* > *3\. The quality of your relationships dictates the quality of your life* > *4\. Nothing meaningful in life is easy; nothing easy is meaningful* > *5\. Love occurs in proportion to one's willingness to get hurt* > *6\. People tend to respect you in proportion to how much you respect yourself* > *7\. Be slow to judge; everyone is doing their best with what they know* Next up, what on EARTH are they doing with all that water!? > Kim and Kourtney Kardashian are among Southern California's worst offenders for excessive water use, a local utility spokesman says. > > Kim's Hidden Hills home exceeded her June water allowance by 232,000 gallons alone, despite severe drought restrictions. > > — NPR (@NPR) [August 25, 2022](https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1562620848938225665?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - 100x yes, this tickles every bone of my childhood. "**Please, Lego, let this engineer bring your computer brick to life**" shows off the mind-blowing work of James Brown, who has embedded a 0.42-inch OLED screen into LEGO bricks to make actual, working displays - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/20/23308217/lego-brick-computer-james-brown) - What? A Mario multi-verse? "**Nintendo Reveals the Mario That Goes Into The Pipes Is Not the Same One That Comes Out**." I'm super perplexed, but they state '*The Marios who leave the pipes are new creatures. We don't know what they want from us or what's happened to the old ones.*' This has vibes from [The Prestige](https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Prestige-Ending-Explained-Here-What-Actually-Happened-69828.html) and freaks me out - [More](https://hard-drive.net/nintendo-reveals-the-mario-that-goes-into-the-pipes-is-not-the-same-one-that-comes-out/) - [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com) tackles some of "**The Cures for Burnout**" - *what happens when life or career becomes void of importance*. He concludes that '*we all need to be more OK with being OK*' lands where my headspace is these days. - [More](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-cures-for-burnout/) - OK; I didn't know this, but "**The One Microwave Hack Everybody Should Know by Heart**" - [More](https://www.gadgethacks.com/how-to/one-microwave-hack-everybody-should-know-by-heart-0384383/) - "**Laughing and learning together is always a good mix**" was a refreshing read on how **having fun** is the key to a fantastic learning experience - [More](https://www.iansanders.com/blog/laughing-and-learning-together-is-always-a-good-mix) - Similar to which [The Watchmen based its story from a real-life event](https://www.wsj.com/articles/watchmen-tulsa-1921-trump-interview-11593528595), "**The Epidemic Mentioned At The Beginning Of Sandman Was A Real Event**." I didn't know about [Acute Encephalitis Lethargica](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lNVtUlroZc) prior to this - [More](https://iflscience.com/the-strange-sleeping-epidemic-in-the-sandman-was-a-real-life-event-64997) - I've long been a believer in trying to create an environment in which you can build trust in teams to allow risk-taking; here, "**High-Performing Teams Need Psychological Safety: Here's How to Create It**," the Harvard Business Review dives deeper into it - [More](https://hbr.org/2017/08/high-performing-teams-need-psychological-safety-heres-how-to-create-it) - "**Your Watermelon**" was a fun one that explores the love of Watermelon, their history, and the 'feeling' of Watermelon can only be described as '*perfect alignment, of deep rest, of strangling love, of explosive nowness*.'. I was just surprised to learn that they used to be used as a form of [canteen by early explorers](https://www.whataboutwatermelon.com/index.php/2009/06/did-you-know-the-many-uses-of-watermelon/) \- [More](https://goodenoughjob.substack.com/p/your-watermelon) - There is nothing that surprises me about this **trust-breaking** practice from several of the apps you use daily (looking at you: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook). What? Didn't you know that "**In-app browsers that act as keyloggers**"? Check out your favorite application by checking out from within an app - [More](https://sixcolors.com/link/2022/08/in-app-browsers-that-act-as-keyloggers/) - Continuing down the privacy march, "**Facebook's Pervasive Pixel**" dives deep into what the Facebook tracking pixel found on 30% of the top 100k websites is sending back to Meta - [More](https://themarkup.org/newsletter/hello-world/facebooks-pervasive-pixel) ## Fin Closing out this week with some more tunes. I've been spending a lot more time of late with the headphones on, just chilling out and listening to music for some pearls of wisdom. While I'm still making my way through [The Umbrella Academy, Season 3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FUmbrella%5FAcademy%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29), I appreciated their use of [The House of the Rising Sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkb%5F3UOpGOU) (sung by Jeremy Renner!). > *Oh, mother, tell your children* > *Not to do what I have done* > *Spend your lives in sin and misery* > *In the House of the Rising Sun* If you're not watching, here's the trailer for Season 3 - it's been a TON of fun: Be well. ✌🏻 ### With Constraint Find Freedom URL: https://makoism.com/with-constraint-find-freedom/ Last updated: 2022-08-20T10:13:22.000Z > *"Yeah, Well, You Know, That's Just, Like, Your Opinion, Man." - The Dude, Big Lebowski* Earlier in the year, I was musing about [artificial constraints](https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/) and applying them to situations to force a different thinking style. > *Whether it's how a team is building new cloud technology, finding time during the week to write this newsletter, or daily calendar blocks, over and over, I have experienced real examples with *constraint comes freedom*.* Funny enough, this past week, I stumbled across the site "[Six Word Stories](http://www.smithmag.net)," which '*asked readers to write the story of their own lives in a single sentence*' and resulted in the book "[Not Quite What I Was Planning](https://www.amazon.com/Not-Quite-What-Was-Planning/dp/0061374059)". The idea originated from Hemingway (asked to describe his life in six words), who wrote: "*for sale: baby shoes, never worn*." It's pretty simple, yet brilliant. > *when there are no constraints on the creative process, complacency sets in, and people follow what psychologists call the path of least resistance – they go for the most intuitive idea that comes to mind rather than investing in developing better ideas.* Bringing it back to my adventures with technology over the years - I clearly remember when I started to dive deep into the emerging world of pocket computers. You may remember them from a world long before the iPhone: the [Apple Newton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple%5FNewton), [Windows CE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows%5FEmbedded%5FCompact), [Pocket PC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket%5FPC), etc.. (and yes, I still have my [Newton MessagePad 100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MessagePad)). One of the best revelations I had is that I literally had *to throw away things I knew about writing code*. I was **constrained** by the form factor: 2MB of RAM, 2MB of storage. I had to focus on new ways of doing memory-efficient operations; how could you perform high-speed sorting of large arrays with no hard drive to swap to? I accidentally tripped into a mindset in which I had to stop taking for granted what I knew, but instead needed to go back to basics and dig into algorithms I hadn't used since school. Dig deeper to understand memory architecture. It was a superpower. :) Colleagues would ask me how I wrote code that so was efficient - it's because I **had to toss all that stuff that made life easier out the window**. I had to find ways to make it work with what I was given. **Constraint = Freedom.** Fast forward to today, you can see simlarities of these same issues with the advent of cloud computing. Most (incorrectly) view clouds as *magical* data centers with unlimited capacity. Lift and shift the software there! Things just work better! **Nope**. Before you know it - you have the over-bloated infrastructure, security problems, huge bills, and unmanageable footprints doing *who knows what*. I guess what I'm getting to - if you want to see teams make impactful change, just apply some constraints. Heck, I've told teams since 2017 that "containers are dead" (truth!). Try it out - see how creative they can get when you only give them a few tools. You'll be surprised at what they come up with. **It's freedom.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I don't have a lot of commentary on this thread, but it had me thinking a lot this week. > The Ancient Greeks had two words for time: > > 1\. Chronos = sequential, quantitative time > 2\. Kairos = fluctuating, qualitative time > > Here's why you need to understand kairos... [pic.twitter.com/U3dQzXJrv1](https://t.co/U3dQzXJrv1) > > — The Cultural Tutor (@culturaltutor) [August 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/culturaltutor/status/1558551902505279489?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > **Kairos* refers to the way in which certain moments are more important or influential than others. A clock can't measure that, but it's undeniable that some times are much more significant than others.* In general, it feels like we as humans need to spend more time around Kairos moments. ## Thought of the week > "It never ceases to amaze me: We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own." — Marcus Aurelius > > — Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) [August 17, 2022](https://twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/1559887820755386369?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > My morning coffee session is not about the drink, it’s the experience. > > A daily ritual to get away from my desk. To stand back, reflect and get clarity. A booster. > Or just the chance for a break. > > It matters. > So I make time for it. > > — IanSanders (@IanSanders) [August 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/IanSanders/status/1557402954033930240?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession I haven't tried this yet, but I thought the concept was interesting. Give [James Hoffman](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ) a watch on what may very well be one of the most interesting coffee ice-creams I've seen. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - For a long time, I've talked about [calendars are currency](https://makoism.com/its-about-time/), and "**How Leaders Are Battling Meeting Overload**" goes head first into **meeting doomsday** and **calendar bankruptcy**. I'd highly urge anyone experiencing this fatigue to do a calendar audit and nuke the unnecessary - [More](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenamcgregor/2022/08/11/meeting-doomsday-and-calendar-bankruptcy-how-leaders-are-battling-meeting-overload/) - I was recently introduced to the concept of [The Kaizen Way](https://kaizenwaytowellness.com) by a co-worker, so I was interested to read "**Get 1% Better Every Day: The Kaizen Way to Self-Improvement**". While it feels a lot of the same that is rooted in the fantastic book [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits), there's something too small, rooted actions that help us get better over time - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/get-1-better-every-day-the-kaizen-way-to-self-improvement/) - Not shocking, but "**Apple Watch ECG sensor could be used to detect symptoms of a heart attack**." I'll say this: my Apple Watch warned me of something off two weeks before my first heart attack, so I'm not surprised here at all - [More](https://www.ithinkdiff.com/apple-watch-ecg-heart-attack-detection/) - Total hackery, but if you've ever wanted a small Apple Touch ID button, here's a project for you in "**My Touch ID button is fully deconstructed**" - [More](https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/08/my-touch-id-button-is-fully-deconstructed/) - "**This weekend, I watched a hacker jailbreak a John Deere tractor live on stage**" was one of the more shocking ones on the cybersecurity front this week - [More](https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/15/deere-in-headlights/#doh-a-deere) - Along the same lines of declaring **meeting bankruptcy**, "**You're Never Going to Be Caught Up at Work. Stop Feeling Guilty About It.**" - [More](https://hbr.org/2018/07/youre-never-going-to-be-caught-up-at-work-stop-feeling-guilty-about-it) - I'm still fascinated about the whole future of work debate. In "**Work From Office**," Scott Galloway once again puts together a thoughtful piece that dives into the pros and cons from both perspectives - [More](https://www.profgalloway.com/work-from-office/) - This is fun: "**Rituals for Engineering Teams**." I've been a big believer of the '*who broke the build rubber chicken*' - and the author agrees that these rituals create a sense of **belonging** \- [More](https://charity.wtf/2022/08/15/rituals-for-engineering-teams/) - File under 'oopsie,' but "**Blockbuster CEO 'struggled not to laugh' at chance to buy Netflix, new books says**." Lesson learned, I'd say - [More](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/blockbuster-ceo-netflix-meeting-laugh-b2009607.html) - I loved the quote analysis of "**' The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.'**" from Socrates; and how the simple act of '*dwelling on something that happened yesterday, that you can no longer change is only tearing down what you're supposed to be building up*' - [More](https://sites.psu.edu/marissanicolespassionblog/2014/04/10/the-secret-of-change-is-to-focus-all-of-your-energy-not-on-fighting-the-old-but-on-building-the-new-socrates/) ## Fin I missed [Lightyear](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10298810/) in theaters (on purpose - I don't like going to them anymore), but I did enjoy his origin story. Recently, I ran across this scene, cut from the final picture, which explains the origin of his classic "To Infinity and Beyond!" catchphrase. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Own Your Shit URL: https://makoism.com/own-your-shit/ Last updated: 2022-10-19T13:37:47.000Z > *"It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you." -Batman Begins* Hey there, I'm back. Miss me? :) Last week was a bit of a train wreck with lots of random things popping up left and right that were completely unexpected. Frankly, I just called an audible and decided to take a much-needed weekend off to refocus [and get some rest](https://makoism.com/restdaybrag/).  It's somewhat funny; as a parent, one of the most important things you try to teach your kids is how important it is to take responsibility for their actions. Yes, there are many other basics to guide them: being honest, being a kind human being, etc., but the simple concept of **owning your shit** is so .. raw. Take **accountability**. > *Owning your shit is the key to a happy life because if you don't own your shit, it'll own you - [Abby Medcalf](https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-own-your-shit-and-stop-blaming-other-people/)* While I love a good meme, "**own your shit**" is quickly becoming my battle cry in all areas of my life. If you stop and look around you, it's incredible how many cruxes or *assisted living facilities* are built up around you every day - at work, with life, in society - so that you don't get to own your shit. You have to drop all of that and double down on **no one is going to do it for you**. Digest this from [Wayne Hale Jr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne%5FHale), after the Columbia space shuttle explosion, which killed seven astronauts. He was the Launch Integration Manager: > *"I had the opportunity and the information and I failed to make use of it. I don't know what an inquest or a court of law would say, but I stand condemned in the court of my own conscience to be guilty of not preventing the Columbia disaster ... *The bottom line is that I failed to understand what I was being told; I failed to stand up and be counted. Therefore look no further; I am guilty of allowing the Columbia to crash.*"* Earlier in the week, I chatted with someone on my [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). The topic, which will not be unfamiliar to those who run teams, was that an external group was trying to fix a problem by corralling all the people who performed a similar function and centralizing it elsewhere. My question was - *isn't it your responsibility as somebody who runs an organization to *own your shit* and fix those problems*? If you don't **own your shit** and do something about it, then getting it pulled away from you *will probably happen*. The best first step to **owning your shit**: to understand that *nothing is perfect*. You have to be able to admit that. But you also have to **be committed to fixing it**. > *Instead of deflecting, choose to take responsibility for fixing the problem and wrestle it to the ground. Instead of spreading blame, own and address the issue. - [Taking Responsibility](https://conantleadership.com/why-taking-responsibility-best-leadership-choice/)* If you find yourself stuck, try to take on proper accountability for something. Just remember - If you don't own your shit, **it will** own you. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I was [reading an article](https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2022/07/12/maximize-learning-time/) the other day, where the author commented *cultivating friends with shared interests*. It sounded similar to what I've talked about crafting a [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) and discovering something thought-provoking. > *Discussion groups can come in many forms. You can be like Franklin and organize a group among your friends interested in a topic. Alternatively, you can join pre-existing groups on services like Meetup to discuss topics you care about.* > *In many cases, our difficulties finding time for learning aren't a literal lack of time—but a lack of a meaningful context for what we learn. We're social animals. When our activities feel isolating or useless, they're quickly sacrificed to the pursuits more likely to win us friends or solve practical problems. If you care about learning, build it into your social circle.* I had never heard about [Ben Franklin's junto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junto%5F%28club%29), but it certainly sounds similar to what I've learned to love about personal boards: It's a "**a club for mutual improvement**." Love it. ## Thought of the week > taylor swift has emitted more co2 this year than an average US american does within 550 years and more than a person from india in over 4,300 years [pic.twitter.com/KQggHAU3ZE](https://t.co/KQggHAU3ZE) > > — Bes D. Marx (@BesDMarx) [July 29, 2022](https://twitter.com/BesDMarx/status/1553048359841169409?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession For a few years now, I've been playing with the concept of a "personal notification system," and I found [Pushover.net](https://pushover.net) [back in 2017](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/), and continue to refine to this day. > *Inspired by blog posts on [Streamlined Pushes](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/3/4/streamlined-pushes) and [Shell/Watch Notifications](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/2/25/push-it-real-good), I've been wiring up more and more into Pushover (available on Mac and iOS). Pushover is pretty cool — for an incredibly cheap one-time price ($4.99), you can create custom notifications that can be triggered from almost everywhere.* Some places I've been playing with: - I get a notification on my wrist instantly by using [changedetection.io](https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io) when a website I'm particularly interested in is updated. I've been using it to alert me when the whales are sighted. :) - Notifications from the house. - Notification when someone checks something into a GitHub repo I'm watching. - When I have a long-running task, integration with [NTFY](https://ntfy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) allows my computer to text me when complete. - Even nicer: you can wire an email address to push an alert. I use these for "bill pay" notifications or iOS updates. The idea of a central hub that taps my wrist for things that I care about (rather than apps just bothering me) is becoming **very compelling** for me. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In the **post of the week**, [David Hieatt](https://www.nativve.com/people/an-interview-with-david-hieatt-hiut-denim-founder/) talks about "**23 Laws of Interesting.**". There is so much to love in here; it's easily one to keep for the [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/), with some real timeless advice in here for anyone looking to enrich your soul - [More](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/23-laws-interesting-david-hieatt-1c) - I just loved the spirit on this one. "**Love Loving Things**" rejects the norm of many social networks today, where 'hating things is fun.' '*What can be hard is looking past that cynicism and admitting to *liking things*.*' Amen. - [More](https://birchtree.me/blog/love-loving-things/) - As a heart patient, I've learned to monitor and try to understand my HRV. "**What Heart Rate Variability Reveals About Your Health**" dives into how HRV is '*a powerful tool beyond recovery monitoring and how it can reveal links to various health conditions and longevity prospects*' - [More](https://www.trainingpeaks.com/coach-blog/what-heart-rate-variability-reveals-about-your-health/) - "**Hyperlink maximalism**" explores the concept that 'everything should be a hyperlink.' A bit heavy on the PKM interconnected notes path, but a good read nonetheless - [More](https://thesephist.com/posts/hyperlink/) - I've been wasting hours on hours with DALL·E 2, and "**How I Used DALL·E 2 to Generate The Logo for OctoSQL**" has some good thinking on creating phrases to get to the desired result. Generative AI is going to be huge - [More](https://jacobmartins.com/posts/how-i-used-dalle2-to-generate-the-logo-for-octosql/) - "**7 Phrases I Wish My Younger Introverted Self Had Used More**" was a fun one. I thought this one was a good read, not just for us introverts but for anyone to create the proper boundaries - [More](https://introvertdear.com/news/7-phrases-i-wish-my-younger-introverted-self-had-used-more/) - I've tried to get into [Mind Mapping](https://www.mindnode.com) over the years and never have had much success. "**How I Mind Map Projects on the iPad**" was an exciting watch; not sure how much this is going to influence me using them, but it has some solid thinking in there - [More](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmRzfdL0w%5FE) - "**10 Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Whiskey**" is the health advice I need in 2022\. I've been discovering the joy of Whiskey, so this one is perfect timing - [More](https://www.wideopencountry.com/10-health-benefits-drinking-whiskey/) - Great insight in this piece, "**TikTok Boom**" from Scott Galloway. '*We've been watching the streaming wars for the past few years, but we were looking in the wrong place. *Video-based social media* was the Trojan horse*' - [More](https://www.profgalloway.com/tiktok-boom/) - According to sources, "**George Jetson From Hanna-Barbera's The Jetsons Is About To Be Born**." Fans have figured it out by sleuthing the episode 'Test Pilot' (S1E15), which aired on December 30th, 1962\. It's revealed in that episode that in 2062 he's 40, putting his birth year at 2022 - [More](https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/george-jetson-birthday-jetsons-born/) ## Fin Back in 2020, [I talked about hope](https://makoism.com/hope/) and mentioned issue #4 of Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" entitled, "A Hope in Hell." The [Netflix adaption](https://twitter.com/netflix%5Fsandman/status/1557094405223456769?s=21&t=4dXKrf2XKtaHgtg163SzJg) [is now out](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-sandman-netflix-series-born/) and getting **rave** reviews. Episode 4... They did it. They went **there**. To hell. And while it's changed slightly from the original comic to battle Lucifer ... holy crap, *they nailed it*. **Hope** to see you next time. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Lets Boil Some Frogs URL: https://makoism.com/lets-boil-some-frogs/ Last updated: 2022-07-30T22:15:45.000Z > *"Just because you haven’t found your talent yet doesn’t mean you do not have one." -Kermit The Frog* It's been a stimulating week (and sorry for the late newsletter as it's been a long week indeed), but I noted when someone used the term **boiling frogs** in a meeting. It's been a long time since someone I knew had said the metaphor, but I've been thinking about it and wanted to chat for a few minutes. Wikipedia describes the term as: > *The *boiling frog* is an apologue describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if the frog is put in tepid water, which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to or be aware of sinister threats that arise gradually rather than suddenly.* While the reference itself is generally exemplary, I was thinking about how one could apply this thinking to digital or cultural transformations in organizations. Or, perhaps, even used as a methodology to force change in oneself. Here's the question - Is it better to: - **Make a rapid change**? Jump into the deep end? Maybe the water is boiling! - **Make a gradual change**? Slowly (turn up the temperature and) let lots of incremental changes transform something over time. Or, if you follow this path of total erosion - is there ultimately no escape? Unfortunately, I guess that the answer is "it depends on the situation." But it's a compelling lever to play with when trying to move things in a different direction. Oh - before you worry too much - [science has proven that the metaphor is wrong anyways](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2006/09/the-boiled-frog-myth-stop-the-lying-now/7446/). If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I came across a somewhat disturbing post on Twitter that mentioned actress [Winona Ryder](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000213/) who has passed what is known as the **Brimley/Cocoon Line**. > Born October 29, 1971, actress Winona Ryder is 18,530 days old today, matching Wilford Brimley's age on the day 'Cocoon' was released. Congrats Winona! You've reached the Brimley/Cocoon Line. [pic.twitter.com/Ffv5mq7MQg](https://t.co/Ffv5mq7MQg) > > — Brimley/Cocoon Line (@BrimleyLine) [July 23, 2022](https://twitter.com/BrimleyLine/status/1550822736234270720?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) The meme is pretty straightforward - when the film 'Cocoon' premiered in theaters, [Wilford Brimley](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000979/) was 18,530 days old (50 years, nine months, and six days). There is [an online calculator](https://brimleyline.date) to see if/when you've crossed the line. I now know I crossed this line past January and have been **depressed**. ## Thought of the week > Writing isn't what you do after you have an idea. It's how you develop an inkling into an insight. > > Turning thoughts into words sharpens reasoning. What's fuzzy in your head is clear on the page. > > "I'm not a writer" shouldn't stop you from writing. Writing is a tool for thinking. [pic.twitter.com/nqRT3gKX9l](https://t.co/nqRT3gKX9l) > > — Adam Grant (@AdamMGrant) [July 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1551208238581948416?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Why’s this 66 year old fridge better than the one I got now [pic.twitter.com/oFfu1CFfvI](https://t.co/oFfu1CFfvI) > > — Lost in history (@lostinhist0ry) [July 22, 2022](https://twitter.com/lostinhist0ry/status/1550420291452809223?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I'm a total sucker for life hacks, and "**25½ ways to get things done**" has some perfect ones. I liked '*things can't be forced, and sometimes, even though it's really hard, it's better to let it sit for a while*' as it seems to be the theme for life, in general, these days - [More](https://www.creativelivesinprogress.com/article/25-5-ways-to-get-things-done-by-kesselskramer) - A comic that was inspired by the talk "[It Takes Time](https://www.ted.com/talks/nagin%5Fcox%5Fwhat%5Ftime%5Fis%5Fit%5Fon%5Fmars)," "**How living on Mars time taught me to slow down**" was an excellent commentary. [Nagin Cox](https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/people/257/nagin-cox/), Tactical Mission Lead on the Perseverance Rover, discusses her observations by working on 'Mars Time' - [More](https://www.npr.org/2022/07/22/1112484935/nasa-engineer-nagin-cox-mars-rover) - "**Think Differently by Inverting Your Questions**" leans into a topic I've talked about in other newsletters - [inversion theory](https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/). Some good reminders in the article on how to focus on a different picture and the steps that come before it - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/think-differently-invert-questions/) - Some great visual thinking about the power of 'rest' in "**10 Rules for Assertive Rest**" - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-rules-for-assertive-rest) - The great [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com) reposted one of his classic articles, "**Stick Figure Puzzle**" this week and deserves a re-read - [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/04/stick-figure-puzzle.html) - "**Why Every Business Needs Powerful Storytelling**" talks about the concept of why our own human DNA is wired into '**corporate storytelling**': '*The more useful an idea, the more incentive we have to make it memorable and spreadable*.' and that human brainwaves sync with '*greater understanding and memory*' when stories are told - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/07/01/why-every-business-needs-powerful-storytelling/) - Huh! "**People in the Middle Ages Slept Not Once But Twice Each Night: How This Lost Practice Was Rediscovered**" details the concept of Biphasic sleep and why the Industrial Revolution killed the practice. - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2022/01/people-in-the-middle-ages-slept-not-once-but-twice-each-night.html) - Described as '*small moments of excruciating tension*,' "**How to navigate workplace awkwardness**" was a fun read (unfortunately behind a paywall, I think) on how to work through some of the office's more delicate moments - [More](https://www.economist.com/business/2022/07/14/how-to-navigate-workplace-awkwardness) - We're all still going through the mess of hybrid, on-premise, and fully remote, and [Derek Thompson](https://www.theatlantic.com/author/derek-thompson/) has had some good thinking in the space. This week he talks about a new role, "The Synchronizer," in "**How to Solve Remote Work's Biggest Problem**." - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/07/remote-work-wfh-debate-management/670482/) - "**This Is How To Have Emotionally Intelligent Relationships**" describes four secrets to free yourself from bad relationship habits. I find "*knowing your triggers*" (and potentially letting people know about them!) to be helpful - [More](http://bakadesuyo.com/2022/07/schema) ## Fin Been listening to ["Do You Realize?" by The Flaming Lips](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do%5FYou%5FRealize%3F%3F) on repeat for the last week. With the (err, leaked information) about the [Guardians of the Galaxy 3 trailer](https://screenrant.com/guardians-galaxy-3-trailer-song-do-you-realize-meaning/) from Comic-Con, we know that's the song featured in that trailer. I figured it would be a great one to close out with today... I forgot how great of a song it is. > *Do you realize? Ah-ah-ah* > *Do you realize? That everyone you know someday will die?* > *And instead of saying all of your goodbyes* > *Let them know you realize that life goes fast* > *It's hard to make the good things last* > *You realize the sun doesn't go down* > *It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Not A Meal, But A Gathering URL: https://makoism.com/not-a-meal-but-a-gathering/ Last updated: 2022-07-23T09:55:25.000Z > *"Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one's life." - Anthony Bourdain* I've never been one to enjoy large social gatherings. It's not that I don't like people, food, or music - I just tend to shut down when put in those situations. I have referred to this (jokingly) as being a bit of a self-diagnosed '**extroverted introvert**.' According to [this piece](https://introvertdear.com/news/extroverted-introvert-signs/) on the [ambivert](https://introvertdear.com/ambivert-meaning-definition/): > Signs You're an 'Extroverted Introvert': > \- You find people to be both intriguing and exhausting. > \- Certain people and interactions drain you while others recharge you. > \- You're selectively social. > \- You have no interest in trying to prove yourself in a crowd of strangers. > \- You're often confused for an extrovert. Yup. **Nailed it.** I don't know where that personality trait comes from; perhaps it's deeply aligned with my insecurities and self-inflicted impostor syndrome, or simply that I don't think of myself as being that 'interesting.' Although I have tried to live in a way that often focuses on experiences (such as trekking on Mt Everest, Safari in South Africa, or scuba diving in Belize), isn't it all *just dull*? Yes, I'm the type of person who will not only check to see if anyone's at the neighborhood mailbox - if I see anyone out there, I'll wait until I can run out to get the mail when it's quiet to avoid unnecessary conversation. Believe me when I say it: *it's not you, it's *me**. But over the last year or two, I've been actively forcing myself to embrace some of these *personality quirks* and re-casting them into strengths by leaning into them as a way to try and establish a **different way of thinking**. Perhaps it's part of my *post-second-heart-attack* mindset around 'life 2.0', but the concept of **gathering** has become a new thing that is unique and vital to my well-being. I've begun to really look forward to getting a **small** group with different backgrounds and experiences together, sharing a well-crafted meal in a beautiful setting coupled with a carefully prepared spirit - I'll admit: there's nothing quite like that. **I need that**. The gathering is the experience; and it is magical. [Priya Parker](https://www.priyaparker.com) writes about this in the book [The Art of Gathering](https://www.priyaparker.com/thebook). '*The gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive - which *they don't have to be*. We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved.*.' It's a wonderful read. Here's a talk in which she further dives into the topic: Last, I can't talk about food and gatherings without mentioning the rabbit hole I went into in the life, adventures, and philosophy of [Anthony Bourdain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony%5FBourdain). While most famous for his series [Parts Unknown](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2845786/), I found the documentary [RoadRunner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihEEjwRlghQ) one of those films that had me stop and re-think about the connections I have with people through food and gathering. > "Food may not be the answer to world peace, but it's a start." > "Never take yourself — or food — too seriously." Essential lessons to live by. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking This week (I think it was via a tweet), I learned that the [Oakland Public Library](https://oaklandlibrary.org) scans and publishes notes, doodles, and scraps of paper if you accidentally left them in a book. I had never heard of a library doing this and just loved looking through some of the gems. Here's a few gems: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/Learning-to-cook-1.png) 'learning to cook' ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/Celias-found-note-670x423-1.png) 'the found note' ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/x-poopy2-small-1.jpg) 'the tales of mr. poopy-loopy stinky butt' Check out more of their "found treasures" at their website, [Found in a Library Book.](https://oaklandlibrary.org/found-in-a-library-book) ## Thought of the week > Well played, Target. [pic.twitter.com/WrEhHN2daU](https://t.co/WrEhHN2daU) > > — yeah ok (@poutinesmoothie) [July 7, 2022](https://twitter.com/poutinesmoothie/status/1545032613982871553?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Every now and again someone sees his eyes as they are, but mostly they see someone human. > > — Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) [July 21, 2022](https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1549928452555431936?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession I've been using [iA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) for a few years now (in fact, I'm using it to write this newsletter). In what they self-describe as 'a focused environment where you can write freely (now with lasers)', I like [Fast Company's review](https://www.fastcompany.com/90768236/ia-writer-is-a-minimalist-writing-tool-marie-kondo-would-adore). > *A minimalist response to the complexity that's crept into other writing tools* If you're looking for a great application that allows you to focus on your content, I'd highly suggest checking it out. And, as a side bonus: there's no in-app subscription model - you buy it — end of payments. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/CleanShot-2022-07-21-at-18.55.33@2x-1.png) I'm looking forward to their next app, [iA Presenter](https://ia.net/presenter). As an early beta tester, I'll say that it's something exceptional. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - At first glance, it may seem obvious, but "**Giving a Shit as a Service**" can be an oversight that many (huge corporations) fail to recognize. More importantly, the author nails an even more powerful concept: '*find yourself work you can give a shit about. And work with people who give a shit*.' Amen - [More](https://allenpike.com/2022/giving-a-shit) - I always find it fascinating to read when those in the spotlight (heck, even leaders at a company) publicly recognize that they are *indeed human*. "**Bruce Springsteen on Surviving Depression and His Strategy for Living Through the Visitations of the Darkness**" was a great read about his struggles and how he deals with them - [More](https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/07/20/bruce-springsteen-depression/) - While I'm not sure I entirely agree with this opinion piece, "**How a TV Sitcom Triggered the Downfall of Western Civilization**" was an interesting look at the sitcom [Friends](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/) and the character of Ross Geller. He claims the show '*signals a harsh embrace of anti-intellectualism in America, where a gifted and intelligent man is persecuted by his idiot compatriots*.' I'm not sure what to say about that, except that we still laugh when we come across a re-run. [Pivot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n67RYI%5F0sc0)! - [More](https://observer.com/2016/04/how-a-tv-sitcom-triggered-the-downfall-of-western-civilization/) - "**Small, Simple, Every Day**" continues to strengthen a concept that the fantastic book [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits) addresses: '*implement small, simple, daily changes and maintain them over time.*' is the best way to defeat feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/small-simple-every-day/) - I'm glad I'm not the only one who's been feeling this, but yes, "**Instagram is dead**." [Om Malik](https://om.co) correctly calls it out that the service basically "is a constantly mutating product that copies features from 'whoever is popular now' service." It's sad (but not unexpected), and the real question is: where do you go now? - [More](https://om.co/2022/07/18/instagram-is-dead/) - "**So You've Decided to Unfollow Me**" nails something that I've been thinking about: **people who want to read your writing**. He hits the right cord, though: '*Readers who want to read what you want to write *are a gift*. Nothing is wrong with readers who don't want to read what you want to write. But when a reader wants you to write something you don't want to write? *That's a curse*.*' Sage advice for anyone who writes - [More](https://doctorow.medium.com/so-youve-decided-to-unfollow-me-7452c96b4772) - I was reminded this week that you could just patent anything. "**A patent for a stick**" proves it - [More](https://www.ideaconnection.com/blog/inventions/stick-patent.html) - "**The Untold Truth Of A Clockwork Orange**" is a behind-the-scenes look at the classic film and its influence on popular culture. If you're a fan of the film, there are some great nuggets in here that I never heard of before (such as Mick Jagger was initially thought of to play the main character, Alex DeLarge!) - [More](https://www.looper.com/930071/the-untold-truth-of-a-clockwork-orange/) - Described as "**Tools for better thinking**," this site has a great look at many different '*frameworks to help you solve problems, make decisions and understand systems*' - [More](https://untools.co/) - As someone now learning to appreciate sitting outside and having a drink or meal with a small group of friends, "**On Becoming a Patio Person**" struck a particular chord with me. It's fun to read the author's transformation and how "*what might otherwise feel like an incomplete trip to the salad bar feels like a long lunch in Ischia when you're on *The Patio**" - [More](https://anewsletter.alisoneroman.com/p/on-becoming-a-patio-person) ## Fin This past week, we celebrated the 36th anniversary of the release of the James Cameron film, Aliens. > *"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure." - Ripley, Aliens* Yes - sometimes its the only way to be sure. I've been using this in meetings all week. Be well. ✌🏻 ### It's That Simple URL: https://makoism.com/its-that-simple/ Last updated: 2022-07-17T19:06:42.000Z > *"We really never lose our demons. We only learn to rise above them." - Ancient One, Doctor Strange* I've been spending as much time I can off the beaten path on an island in northwestern Washington that sits between the US and Victoria, BC. While I'm fortunate that I have **fantastic fiber internet** and can work remotely, spending time outside the world's chaos and focusing on long walks, good food/conversation, and a simpler life has started to do wonders for me and my overall state of mine. The whole "life 2.0" experiment is probably a series of posts requiring its own section (or even a book :)). Instead of going down that rathole this week, I wanted to write about two stories from my latest trip up there over the 4th of July holiday. Many months ago, I placed a [Pete's Pirate Life](https://petespiratelife.com/) "[hide it and find it](https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQ-h4Ms2lm/)" coin up on a log on an isolated point of the island. The coin is a simple design with the symbolic pirate skull/knives on one side; the other has the saying "*The best things in life aren't things*" on the other. The coins are designed to be left and discovered by others, shared as part of a secret and unique discovery between unknown friends. Search for the hashtag [#hideitandfindit](ia-writer://quick-search?query=%23hideitandfindit) if interested. I placed my coin, sent off a picture on Instagram as instructed, and off I went. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/IMG_0198-Edited-1.jpeg) #hideitandfindit Last week I decided to trek out there for an early morning walk and figured I'd check to see if it was even there on a whim. I was shocked, happy (and dare I say overwhelmed) by what I found. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/IMG_1978-1.jpeg) the best things in life aren't things Not only was the coin there - others had put decorations around it, with a shell 'protecting' it from the bay. On the way back, I took a few minutes to check out a '[little free library](https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/)' I've passed by over the years. I never realized there's a whole 'movement' around the **simple concept** of '*take a book, return a book*.' ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/IMG_1980-1.jpeg) library I have a few favorites that I plan on sharing next time I'm up there; books that have brought me inspiration or insight. I've also been seeing similar inspiration around "[free blockbusters](https://www.freeblockbuster.org/)" also now popping up (the same concept but for movies - be kind, rewind - how cool is that!). So, what do these stories have to do with anything? I just wanted to share two little things that brought me some simple joy these past weeks. The world, life, work, and everything can often seem crazy. I'd even say it's overwhelming more now than ever when you don't have control of so many things. Life can often not make a ton of sense. Plans don't work out as you intended, but it's essential to treat yourself to some **self-compassion**. We're all going through it. Take time away from doom-scrolling. Appreciate the '[art of the gathering](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gathering-How-Meet-Matters/dp/1594634920)'. Breathe. Perhaps it's just that simple. > *Yeah, well, the boxing world looks shiny from the outside. It is filled with promises that most of them turn out to be lies. *You can't rely on anyone*.* > *So, what would you say the biggest deception was? What was the biggest lie you were told ?* > **It is not that simple** > *Why not?* > **No, that is the biggest lie I was ever told: 'It is not that simple' It is a lie they tell you, over and over again.** > *What's not simple?* > **Any of it. All of it. That is how they get you to give up. They say it is not that simple Vinny.** > *So, What's the truth?* > **That it is. That if you just do all the things that they tell you... you can't. Then it is done! You realize it is that simple.** > **That is always was*. - [Bleed for This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ6ny-fROX8)* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I've been thinking about personal privacy and what individuals have given up for convenience and 'security.' > The more privacy videos I put out, the more I'm convinced that: > > It's not that people don't care about privacy -- > it's that they have no idea what's going on. > > — Naomi Brockwell (@naomibrockwell) [July 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/naomibrockwell/status/1546580766552899584?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) Recent reveals that Amazon is giving Ring videos to police [without owners' permission](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/13/amazon-gave-ring-videos-to-police-without-owners-permission-00045513), it raises a ton of questions around the boundaries of personal privacy in the technology age. I keep going back to a 2019 interview in which Edward Snowden commented to Kara Swisher about the dangers of social networks, technology, and privacy: > "Facebook’s internal purpose, whether they state it publicly or not, is to compile perfect records of private lives to the maximum extent of their capability, and then exploit that for their own corporate enrichment. And damn the consequences," Snowden told Swisher. "This is actually precisely the same as what the NSA does. Google ... has a very similar model. They go, 'Oh, we’re connecting people.' They go, 'Oh, we’re organizing data.'" Although, Snowden said, these companies still don’t know as much as the government, which can gather information from all of the many tech platforms. Going to be interesting to see where this goes, especially given some of the decisions lately from the Supreme Court. ## Thought of the week > [pic.twitter.com/SdsSCKLiGb](https://t.co/SdsSCKLiGb) > > — Liz Fosslien (@fosslien) [May 16, 2022](https://twitter.com/fosslien/status/1526262431629996033?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) This story from a [Waffle House](https://www.wafflehouse.com/) will make your day. > Saw this man sitting by himself at a Waffle House in Midway, Florida. > > So I said hello and asked him what he was doing with that money. [pic.twitter.com/UY2uBW7hXE](https://t.co/UY2uBW7hXE) > > — Kevin Cate (@KevinCate) [July 9, 2022](https://twitter.com/KevinCate/status/1545898089130639362?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession As a long-time user of the 'spotlight on steroids' replacement application, [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/), I was pleased to see the [release of Alfred 5 this week](https://www.alfredapp.com/blog/announcements/alfred-5-is-here/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2022/07/image.png) Alfred 5 Alfred has long been one of my "must-have" power applications, which allows you to define all sorts of custom hotkeys, keywords, text expansion, and search to make things on your Mac more productive. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**When Is Change More Likely?**" nails why most 'change' at companies fail. '*Without a shift in how people behave (leaders especially), and a shift in the forces shaping/governing the system, you're just going to slip back into the same mess.*' - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-2752-when-is-change-more-likely) - "**Sure, why not: Wordle is becoming a board game**" continues one of the more exciting success stories [after the New York Times bought the addictive word game last year](https://www.engadget.com/wordle-nyt-new-york-times-sale-215510156.html). The new board game works as follows: '*Each round of Wordle: The Party Game begins with one player (the so-called "Wordle Host") who writes a secret word. The rest of the players will be given six tries to guess it, much like the online version. Players who take fewer attempts to guess the secret word will earn less points, and the player with the least points at the end of the game wins*'. Personally, the web version is more interesting, but that could be a fun drinking game - [More](https://www.engadget.com/wordle-party-game-board-game-hasbro-preorder-215501443.html) - "**How Brian Eno Created' Ambient 1: Music For Airports'**" is a crazy album from 1978, and this read explores Brian Eno's experiments with tape loops and the approach used to analyze your generative music experiments - [More](https://reverbmachine.com/blog/deconstructing-brian-eno-music-for-airports/) - How many times have you sat through a painfully bad presentation? "**The Top 5 Presentation Mistakes Everyone Makes**" explores some good traps to avoid when talking in groups. [More](https://www.duarte.com/presentation-skills-resources/top-5-presentation-mistakes-everyone-makes/) - I had no idea who "**Orange Mike: one bright guy**" was before I read this. I only knew of the [legendary exploits on Wikipedia](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/rachel-johnson-in-the-grip-of-wikipedia-s-orange-mike-8613948.html). '*Orange is lively. It's vigorous. A good, strong orange is non-confrontational but uncompromising; it conveys the right spirit to me.*' - [More](https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/orangemike) - "**My Twelve Rules for Life**" is one of those lists that I like to explore, ponder, and adjust my own' rules for life' with. There are some outstanding ones in here, especially "know yourself" - [More](https://russroberts.medium.com/my-twelve-rules-for-life-4041fb11a1b3) - This article references an episode of 'Seinfeld' where the character of George Costanza reveals the secret of pretending to work: **act irritated**. '*When you look annoyed all the time, people think that you're busy*.' "**The rise of performative work**" explores this phenomenon of how theatre plays an essential part in the workplace - [More](https://www.economist.com/business/2022/01/07/the-rise-of-performative-work) - A round-up of the latest rumors in "**Apple Watch estimates**" including the thoughts around the next generation watch being able to detect if you have a fever. As a data-gathering crazy person for health metrics, really curious to see where this goes. - [More](https://leancrew.com/all-this/2022/07/apple-watch-estimates/) - It's unfortunate, but most don't realize where their data often goes. In "**Congress to Investigate Data Brokers and Period Tracking Apps**," they explore how easy it is to get data ([$160 for a week of data](https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vzjb/location-data-abortion-clinics-safegraph-planned-parenthood)) to find out location data of people who were visiting abortion clinics. Scary stuff. - [More](https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7geb4/congress-to-investigate-data-brokers-and-period-tracking-apps) - "**Digital Transformation isn't what you think...**" dives into the differences between iterative data and interactive data and how '*interactive data is what allows unrelated objects to suddenly become relevant to each other, increasing competitive advantage.*' A great read - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2022/06/24/digital-transformation-isnt-what-you-think/) - "**What does Costco's $1.50 hot dog deal mean to you as prices for everything else rise?**" explores the legacy of their favorite combo that apparently '*former CEO Jim Sinegal threatened to kill (the current CEO) if he upped the price on the hot dog deal.*' - [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/business/what-does-costcos-1-50-hot-dog-deal-means-to-you-as-prices-for-everything-else-rise/) ## Fin Let's wrap up this week with the classic Seinfeld clip in where George demonstrates the 'art of looking annoyed all the time'. Be well. ✌🏻 ### There's Just Too Much Crap URL: https://makoism.com/crap/ Last updated: 2022-07-12T11:20:45.000Z > *"Time is the stuff that when you spend it, you don’t get it back." - Mark, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things* I hope this week finds you safe and healthy after a short week following the holiday weekend here in the US. I took the week off from writing (👋🏻 to the folks who checked in to see if everything was ok) to get some rest, unwind, and just putter about. Well, puttering about included spending time moving hosts for [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) off of Substack and onto a new system that I had more control over. Don't get me wrong, Substack is a pretty good platform for getting off the ground, but I have lots of ideas around areas to explore and where I want to take some of my writing, which didn't fit there. More to come on that as I continue to develop - don't worry, [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) isn't going to start a subscription only service or ads - but I am fueled by caffine, so you can continue to [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) if you enjoy these. I'm going to spare you all from the boring details of setting up [droplets](https://www.digitalocean.com/products/droplets) on [Digital Ocean](https://www.digitalocean.com) (who've been great), but I wanted to lens into how adopting a mindset around *the relentless pursuit of making things simple*, **pays off in the long run**. One observation I had when moving the newsletter around was that keeping things "simple" was actually **ton of work**. It's important to remember that 'easy refers to something *that is not difficult* while simple refers to something that **is not complex**.' I've kept the entire content of this 2+ year experiment in a super, simple format (markdown) and all of the images in a single structure. So when it was time to move, it was so damn simple - I spent more time working with DNS records than the site itself. (*side note: let me know if I broke anything 😎*) I guess where I'm landing is that it's *amazing* how much crap we humans accumulate over time. Maybe it's a bunch of junk in the garage you never use, an overly complicated project and tech debt at work that refuses to die, or even a small thing as as the process of how you handle your notes. Crap attracts crap. The path from all the crap seems to lie with **simplification**. And, really - maybe it comes down to a simple, easy mantra - **Do less, so you can fill your life with more. (just not more stuff)** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I had no idea '[When David Bowie & Brian Eno Made a Twin Peaks-Inspired Album](https://www.openculture.com/2022/06/when-david-bowie-brian-eno-made-a-twin-peaks-inspired-album-outside-1995.html)', but it's not surprising given his role in the series as Phillip Jeffries. The album was described as '*a diary in music and in texture of what it felt like to be around at the end of the Millennium.*' I need to check this one out. ## Thought of the week > If you struggle with focus, read this thread: [pic.twitter.com/TKKIxp7Oyy](https://t.co/TKKIxp7Oyy) > > — Legacy Builder (@LegacyBuilder\_\_) [July 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/LegacyBuilder%5F%5F/status/1544339085929508864?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > Life operates under a very simple formula: > > Circumstance -> Thoughts -> Feeling -> Action -> Results. > > Use this formula to understand what reality you are currently living and what reality you truly want to create. > > — Sheshn \~ Life Coach (@sheshn94) [June 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/sheshn94/status/1535290977526632454?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Latest obsession This week has a bit of a twist: a series recommendation instead of some wacky new gear. I just watched Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a prequel to the original series that airs on Paramount+, just finished its first season this week. **What a fun show**. 9 out of the 10 episodes were solid (only one that I didn't like), and the finale **nails it**. It captures the 'true spirit of Star Trek that I enjoyed growing up, and I just wanted to share it if anyone is looking for something new to watch. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I love boring, so "**Master Boring Fundamentals 01: Boring is Fun**" was a **good one** to dive into the art of 'reframing situations' away from the anticipation of boredom and how your brain is trained by predicting feelings. A must-read this week - [More](https://jamesstuber.com/boring-is-fun/) - I hate to admit it, but I've been getting weekly emails from [Spoonbill](http://spoonbill.io) for some time now to keep up to date on people, job/focus transitions, etc. But when I read "**Creeping as a Service (CraaS)**," it kinda throws a different spin on it as a 'tracking tool for online metadata.' I always like to see the wordsmithing people apply to their bios - [More](https://every.to/divinations/creeping-as-a-service-craas) - As a huge believer in remote work and [the great re-evaluation](https://makoism.com/two-simple-ideas/) of the workforce, "**So You've Decided to Bungle Your Company's Flexible Work Plan**" was a solid look at various stumbles hybrid approaches have hit. The 'ghost office' and problems with inconsistency are something I see happening a lot around the industry - [More](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/so-youve-decided-to-bungle-your-companys) - "**The Swerve**" is our 'hopeful future'. A good, solid read that makes you sit back and think - [More](https://locusmag.com/2022/07/cory-doctorow-the-swerve/) - "**Not My Job**" is an excellent read about understanding the difference between being glue and filling gaps - [More](https://blog.dbsmasher.com/2022/05/24/not-my-job.html) - I've been a Twin Peaks fan since 1990 when we first wondered, "Who killed Laura Palmer?". The "Return," which aired five years ago, was even more weird and wonderful and crazy .. '*then we arrived at Part 8 ("Gotta Light?"), and all hell broke loose; both within the confines of the show and on social media, where Peaks fans were melting the fuck down about the parade of nightmarish images, shocking reveals, otherworldly locations, and ... well, what else would you call it? Quite simply: the pure, uncut Lynch of it all. It was *mesmerizing*.*' Read more about it in "**Trent Reznor On TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN PART 8, Five Years Later**" - [More](https://www.fangoria.com/original/trent-reznor-on-twin-peaks-the-return-part-8-five-years-later/) - Sure, it's 2022, so why not: "**Apparently, It's Literally Raining Anchovies in San Francisco**" - [More](https://sf.eater.com/2022/6/30/23189903/raining-anchovies-san-francisco) - I look forward to [Kara Swisher's podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sway/id1528594034) and [column](https://www.nytimes.com/by/kara-swisher) weekly (which is now moving to [Vox Media](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-07/kara-swisher-leaves-the-new-york-times-for-vox-media-return)), one of her last opinion pieces tackles "**Resisting the Worst of the Web Is Not Futile**." A good retro on what's happened the last few years, and the only path forward: **resistance** \- [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/opinion/internet-speech-reform-facebook.html) - "**First Focus. Then Simplify**" explores the concept of '*A complex problem cannot be simplified. If you can simplify it, then it isn't a complex problem.*,' and the problem that most teams suffer is confusing the difference between **focus** and **simplification**. - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-2852-first-focus-then-simplify) - "**Cognitive bottlenecks: the inherent limits of the thinking mind**" tackles the 'why' behind '*why we're bad at dividing our attention between different tasks*' and, more importantly, some simple techniques to manage your cognitive roadblocks - [More](https://nesslabs.com/cognitive-bottlenecks) - I dig [Craig Mod's blog](https://craigmod.com) and not only what he's done for the 'art of walking,' but opening my eyes to it. In "**Walking the Cotswolds, Walking Japan**" he explores his latest trip, which was '*Ten folks, walking across the English landscape, talking about a different topic each day.*' Sounds **wonderful**, honestly. - [More](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/143/) ## Fin I ran across this compilation of [Daniel Craig](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0185819/) as James Bond clips entitled, "I Shall Use My Time". Enjoy! Be well. ✌🏻 ### We All Have Icebergs URL: https://makoism.com/we-all-have-icebergs/ Last updated: 2022-06-19T18:30:59.000Z While I've long been a fan of [Anthony Bourdain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony%5FBourdain)'s travel and food shows, it wasn't until he tragically passed away in June of 2018 that I started to learn more about his struggle with depression. This week, [Chris Hannah](https://chrishannah.me/parts-unknown/) posted that [Bourdain's Tumblr](https://anthonybourdain.tumblr.com) is **still** available online, and he referenced a post called "[Parts Unknown](https://anthonybourdain.tumblr.com/post/47797636734/parts-unknown)". I dug in, and it really was something I needed to read this week: > *Before I set out to travel this world 12 years ago, I used to believe that the human race as a whole was basically a few steps above wolves.* > *That given the slightest change in circumstances, we would all, sooner or later, tear each other to shreds that we were, at root, self-interested, cowardly, envious and potentially dangerous in groups. I have since come to believe – after many meals with many different people in many, many different places – that though there is no shortage of people who would do us harm, *we are essentially good*.* Unfortunately, while he was opening up people's minds and stomachs to the world, he also felt an equal (if not greater) weight of the world on his shoulders. **Icebergs**. If there's anything that I've tried hard to work on the last few years is trying to [assume positive intent](https://www.makoism.com/p/perceptions-and-reality) and reminding myself that "*others aren't thinking about you as much as you think they are*." But I had never heard it referenced this before as "Iceberg Situations." [In a post from Jessica Hagy](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-iceberg-situations) this week: > *Sonder: to realize that everybody on Earth is living a life as complicated, intense, and vibrantly unique as your own. It's that feeling you get when you realize that you're not IN traffic—you ARE traffic. Visually, that word is an *iceberg*: with what we see about other people above the waterline, while what's really happening is submerged below.* Check out [her outstanding visuals here](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-iceberg-situations). **A good reminder, that just be good to each other**. It's the only way we'll get through this crazy thing called life. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com). ## Forward Thinking There's nothing like the feeling when you find something that connects to *your soul*. Back in 1989, when [Neil Gaiman](https://www.neilgaiman.com)'s comic book series, [The Sandman](https://sandman.fandom.com/wiki/The%5FSandman) hit the shelves, I was pulled in. Gaiman's stories about Dream of the Endless, Morphius drew me in month after month. I still have all 75 issues in beautifully kept bags with backings in a box. [The Corinthian](https://sandman.fandom.com/wiki/The%5FCorinthian), described as: "*A nightmare created to be the darkness and the fear of darkness in every human heart. A black mirror made to reflect everything about itself that humanity will not confront.*" **still** gives me the chills. In 2020, [I wrote](https://www.makoism.com/p/hope) about how The Sandman had undertones of **hope**. Something that everyone needs these days. But this week, I saw a post from Neil Gaiman which reminded me of the short story set in The Sandman universe called "[Death Talks About Life](https://hellblazer.fandom.com/wiki/Death%5FTalks%5FAbout%5FLife)." > *Death Talks About Life is a short 'story' PSA designed to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and safe sex that ran in certain Vertigo comics in January 1993 and later appeared as a self-contained, eight-page pamphlet for use in American schools.* > *After warning the reader that what she has to say may offend those who are 'offended by any mention that human beings have things under their clothes, let alone that they do anything interesting with them,' Death talks about HIV/AIDS: how it's contracted and how the reader can minimize exposure.* While familiar with the short comic, I never knew of this genesis before the tweet. And it's brilliant. > I finished rewatching It's A Sin, and remembered talking to Don Melia about Life and Death and Sandman. He was dying of AIDS at home in Liverpool. This was August 92, a week or two before his death. He made me determined to write a free comic about sex, needles and staying alive. > > — Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) [June 15, 2022](https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1536864796817166336?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) I am cautiously optimistic about seeing all of [The Endless](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless%5F%28comics%29) in the upcoming Netflix series starting this August. ## Thought(s) of the week > Knowing vs. understanding. [pic.twitter.com/Y4GEOTS6Xm](https://t.co/Y4GEOTS6Xm) > > — Visualize Value (@visualizevalue) [March 12, 2021](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1370423341954306056?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > The Roman Empire’s 250,000 miles of road re-imagined as a subway transit map. Created by Sasha Trubetskoy [@sasha\_trub](https://twitter.com/sasha%5Ftrub?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw). [pic.twitter.com/PfT6qQsZCG](https://t.co/PfT6qQsZCG) > > — Archaeology & Art (@archaeologyart) [June 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/archaeologyart/status/1532466869088702464?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1gwlxPq-n/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Matt Shirley (@mattsurelee)](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1gwlxPq-n/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Wow! I loved this review in the "**Career Checkup Template**." This (copyable) template is an effective and straightforward way to take a gut check on if things workwise are going in the right direction. I'd say this is also a great one to have a discussion with your [personal board of directors](https://www.makoism.com/p/a-personal-board-of-directors) about - [More](https://lethain.com/career-checkup/) - In a fireside chat this week, I asserted that 'being a storyteller' was one of the top three skills you should always be working on. "**Many experiences, few stories**" digs into this in more depth, and the thinking behind it struck a chord with me on why it's so important in business and life - '*When we share our essential experiences with others, we open the door to connection. Other people can see us more clearly. We're more memorable and interesting. Our humanity radiates outwards.*' - [More](https://www.stewfortier.com/p/many-experiences-few-stories) - "**Minority Report Tried to Warn Us About Technology**" is a chilling read about how the film has undertones on what we see today online with personal privacy. In that which are '*Advances in convenience come with insidious restrictions on personal freedom*'; dead on. - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/06/minority-report-spielberg-movie-tom-cruise/661274/) - Another one is on the **power of storytelling**. "**How to use storytelling to nurture your organizational culture**" explores how it '*informs team spirit, talent retention, productivity, health & happiness*' - [More](https://www.iansanders.com/blog/using-storytelling-to-nurture-your-work-culture) - In my "no shock, it's 2022" category - "**Single beaver caused mass internet, cell service outages in Northern B.C.**" - [More](https://bc.ctvnews.ca/single-beaver-caused-mass-internet-cell-service-outages-in-northern-b-c-1.5944697) - When it comes to physical and mental health, most individuals practice "**The Dark Art of Pretending You Are Fine**." But really, are you? EVERY DAY? It's a good reminder that it's **okay** to admit to yourself and others that no, you are NOT fine - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/pretending-you-are-fine/) - I try to write daily, so "**4 Good Pieces of Writing Advice (That Are Often Misinterpreted)**" was interesting. - [More](https://buttondown.email/charliejane/archive/4-good-pieces-of-writing-advice-that-are-often/) - Spending quite a bit of my career at Disney, I saw the passion and love described in "**For some adults who love Disney, it's like a religion**." This piece explores why the content/parks/experiences they create resonates so profoundly with so many on an emotional level - [More](https://www.npr.org/2022/06/11/1104056661/disney-adults) - I have to say that [Star Trek: Strange New Worlds](https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/star-trek-strange-new-worlds/) is just outstanding. Easily my favorite new Star Trek in a long time. But did you know that "**Captain Kirk's First Adventure Was About Choosing Between Two Friends**"? Read more about [Gary Mitchell](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Gary%5FMitchell) \- [More](https://buttondown.email/charliejane/archive/captain-kirks-first-adventure-was-about-choosing/) - A wonderful read that dives into "**Growth vs Evolution**." '*Metaphorically, we want to be a better version of ourselves in the same space we occupy now, without become a giant ego, or an overbearing giant persona.*' - [More](https://kk.org/thetechnium/growth-vs-evolution/) ## Fin Last week, I finally saw [Top Gun: Maverick](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960/). While I wouldn't say "oscar winner," it was an incredibly well-done film and a worthy sequel (if not better than the original). The usage of [practice effects instead of CGI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMbBh2CxUOw) for the flying scenes is some of the best I've seen. But the scene of 'Great Balls of Fire' performance by Rooster, while Maverick (Tom Cruise) reminisces of the time he and Goose played the same song, hits all the feels. Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Path URL: https://makoism.com/forge-the-path/ Last updated: 2024-12-25T22:15:24.000Z I was talking to a former co-worker this week who is feeling stuck in their current situation, and I got to thinking after we chatted about how wacky life can be. I mean, we all have plans and goals. No one starts out thinking, "I am going to fail" or "I really want to be unhappy," but somehow, we all end up there at some point. Maybe it’s in a job you don't like, a relationship that doesn't complete you, or you're just stuck on the [hedonic treadmill](https://www.makoism.com/p/an-intentional-life?s=w). It's all part of the road of life - no matter how well you plan, you're often dealt unexpected cards: you get laid off, you hit money problems, you have a severe medical condition develop out of nowhere, etc. The question is: **what are you going to do about it**? > *"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us" - Joseph Campbell* One of the foundational books that inspired me early on is "**What Should I Do With My Life**?". In [Po Bronson](https://pobronson.com/)’s book, [he asked that question](https://www.npr.org/2003/01/03/896041/what-should-i-do-with-my-life) by interviewing almost 1000 people from corporate execs to lawyers, to workers in fast food chains. His research revealed: > *Most attempt to answer it with one eye open, one eye closed. We let our fears govern our decisions; rather than challenging the validity of those fears, we accept the boundaries set by those fears and end up confining our search to a narrow range of possibilities, like the guy looking for his car keys under the streetlight because he's afraid of the dark.* > > *I was inspired by people who had overcome these fears to look beyond the obvious choices. It wasn't easy for them, but in a way, that hard journey made the result even sweeter. It wasn't just a matter of finding the right puzzle piece to match their skills.* It's a **great** read; I re-visit it almost every year and highly recommend adding it to your reading list. I often get asked what to do when feeling trapped, so here's some unsolicited advice that I try to ask myself that may be useful if you find yourself feeling that way. - Accept that the **past is fixed and the future isn't set in stone**. - Ask yourself: [If you had to stop doing 10% of what you're doing, what would you abandon](https://critter.blog/2022/06/06/if-you-had-to-stop-doing-10-of-what-youre-doing-what-would-you-abandon/) - Try to **visualize what you want your life to be**, where you want to live, and what you want to spend your day doing in 5 years. Make slow micro-adjustments to get yourself there. This helps define a path to “Life 2.0”. But most importantly, remember **shit happens**. You can't control that. You can only control how you respond to it. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I've always been fascinated by concepts like [game theory](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-theory/) and the **metagame**. No, not the [metaverse](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/) \- the *[metagame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metagaming)*. Wikipedia also refers to it as the 'hypergame.' The metagame '*is an approach to a game that transcends or operates outside of the prescribed rules of the game, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game.*' Or put: there is a '**higher-level game**' - *the game about the game*. When I saw the article [To Get Good, Go After The Metagame](https://commoncog.com/blog/to-get-good-go-after-the-metagame/)" which applies the using the metagame to 'the game of life,' it intrigued me. > *Like simpler games, real-world metas come in roughly two flavors: ones that are defined by external changes to the rules of a game and ones that are shaped by a dynamic equilibrium of competition within a stable system of play. Unlike games, however, real-world domains have no set rules: they are vastly more complicated and exciting because the rules change only when someone notices they have changed.* Come to find out, many people out there find "*viewing life as a game is a fantastic mental map on how to live your best life*." Great stuff - I need to think more about this forward-thinking. **Viewing life as a game not only makes life a lot more fun, but it gives you tremendous insight into the human condition**. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1521230723113496577) > [](https://twitter.com/Art0fLife%5F/status/1533731966301917184) ## **Latest obsession** I'm unsure what path I followed that allowed me to stumble upon this brilliant video on "a metaphor that the journey is never complete." And - yes, even better - you can now order the "[incomplete white puzzle](https://yetch.store/products/pre-order-incomplete-white-puzzle)." Pure genius. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**This leadership style is powerful and effective**" dives into '*four distinct characteristics that allow these leaders to make a lasting impact on the lives of others*.' I enjoyed the perspective of shifting from an "if/then" mindset to one of "because/therefore" and the power of transcendence - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90754745/this-leadership-style-is-powerful-and-effective) - A simple one when struggling with pushback (or perhaps, pure anger) when working on important things. In "**If you're not pissing someone off, you probably aren't doing anything important**," and that '*the only way to avoid pissing people off is to do nothing important at all*' - [More](https://oliveremberton.com/2014/if-youre-not-pissing-someone-off-you-probably-arent-doing-anything-important/) - As one of those folks who dove too far and too deep into workflow and task optimization, I found "**How to organize your day on a napkin**" remarkably refreshing. There's a simple joy to simplification of your day (I moved off of [OmniFocus](https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus/) to [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) years ago) - you may enjoy this simple test of your tasks and see if they fall into 'low value' - [More](https://radreads.co/10k-napkin/) - When you are in charge of running a team, providing actionable feedback is one of the most important responsibilities. I'm sure many have been in this situation, though - "**What to do when your feedback doesn't land**." Some good ideas in this one on how to handle that situation. - [More](http://larahogan.github.io/blog/feedback-doesnt-land/) - "**What Is More Important?**" is a quick one but also a great reminder of the choices we make and decide what's truly urgent - [More](https://dailydad.com/what-is-more-important-2/) - "**Learning from Dead People**" is a fun one from [James Victore](https://www.jamesvictore.com/); he posits that '*reading is the path to freedom, power and knowledge*' and that '*reading is a comfort as it lets me know that others suffer and struggle, that others believe in my own romantic notions that love and art and creativity will save us.*' As always, great stuff in here to think about - [More](https://www.jamesvictore.com/blog/learning-from-dead-people) - This read is an interesting view of being "**Against Work-Life Balance**." Instead, the author pushes for '*more imbalance*' and why '*work-life harmony*' or '*life*' are better terms. - [More](https://www.candyforbreakfast.email/p/against-work-life-balance) - "**The Value of Meetings Explained with 4 Illustrations**" is a simple yet effective visual of the investment cost and value of different forms of meetings - [More](https://paolo.blog/the-value-of-meetings-explained-with-4-illustrations/) - I'll never forget waiting in line as a seven-year-old to see Star Wars, and I probably don't understand how much that film has shaped things in my life. However, I'm not going to shell out the money for the Galactic Starcruiser, an immersive, 2-night adventure that hasn't been as successful as they probably hoped. Read more in "**LARPing Goes to Disney World**" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/30/larping-goes-to-disney-world) - Wow, I loved this read - "**The Riddle of the Well-Paying, Pointless Job**." Almost daily, I get notes from friends and former colleagues who are not only dissatisfied with their job but regret falling down the 'money-drives-motivation' path. Powerful words to chew on in here. - [More](https://moretothat.com/pointless-job/) ## **Fin** If you haven't been keeping tabs on the simply crazy images that the [DALL·E 2](https://openai.com/dall-e-2/) OpenAI has been generating, you need to read up some more about this '*AI system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language*.' And of course, in typical fashion, the internet has continued to amuse with this thread of AI-generated images when the natural language processor is fired up with the phrase "*A still of Kermit The Frog in ... (insert movie)*." > [](https://twitter.com/HvnsLstAngel/status/1531506455714492416) Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Rough Edges URL: https://makoism.com/the-rough-edges/ Last updated: 2022-06-16T23:49:32.000Z THAT was probably the longest short week that I can remember for quite some time. It's just been **busy**. I hope this week's edition finds you well or at least trending on a path towards getting well. If you find my weekly rambling interesting, please share with your friends, or [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) .. or don't. No pressure; I just really like the bean. :) Today I wanted to talk about the **slow path to progress**. Notice that I didn't say *perfection*; I said **progress**. Here's a fact: **everyone** has something that they don't like about themselves (or something they can't admit to themselves) that they want to change. I have been thinking a lot about this re-reading last week's newsletter on [Changing Perspectives](https://www.makoism.com/p/a-change-of-perspective?s=w). > *you only get one life, your time here is short, so perhaps you should do something good with that time.* In making any changes, I tend to lean back on stoicism: change is not about a practice that you undertake, but it's something that you practice at, similar to the way you'd train for a marathon, to get better at what you do—every day. It’s a constant slow grind towards something better that yields the best results. But this tweet from [Shawn Blanc](https://twitter.com/shawnblanc) on Friday nailed my feelings this week: > [](https://twitter.com/shawnblanc/status/1532679743862198272) I like that. A lot. **Focus on the core**. Don’t focus on the edges. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Almost everyone I know has been in some form of a slump lately. It could be work, life, time, sleep (or lack thereof), or just the general heaviness of the world in 2022. I came across an insightful (and aptly titled) post [How To Get Out Of A Rut](https://fullofkrapp.substack.com/p/akn-96-how-to-get-out-of-a-rut), in which the author applied a simple framework adapted from [The Power of Full Engagement (PoFE)](https://fullofkrapp.substack.com/p/akn-75-the-one-book-i-will-deeply), which describes what you need to feel "fully engaged." > *To be *fully engaged*, we must be physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned with a purpose beyond our immediate self-interest.* To help himself, the author conducted a **personal audit** for each area: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. It's a compelling read. As we head into summer, I feel that a 'personal audit' may be something that has a ton of value. More to come. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/jessicahagy/status/1531759171585986560) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - 2022 has been the year of completely ripping apart my habits around note-taking, and "**The Problem With Note-Taking**" really takes it to task. '*Creative expression shouldn't be contingent upon a hoarding of information. We shouldn't lionize someone that relies on a database of 50,000 notes to get their creative juices flowing. Rather, it's the person that can draw upon a unique blend of personal experiences, unfiltered memories, and imaginative thinking that will create a lasting work of art.*' - [More](https://moretothat.com/the-problem-with-note-taking/) - Another one from Mark Manson, this time on building lasting discipline in your life. "**If Self-Discipline Feels Difficult, Then You're Doing It Wrong**" explores the shame when you don't meet your goals, but more importantly, how the path to self-discipline is real through self-acceptance. Brilliant stuff here - [More](https://markmanson.net/self-discipline) - Sure, this one is peak 2022: "**Hot dog filler covers Pennsylvania highway after tractor-trailer crash**." Ever wonder what a monster from Stranger Things "upside-down" would look like in real life? Check it out - [More](https://abc7ny.com/hot-dog-filler-crash-pennsylvania-state-police-i-70-westmoreland-county/11908934/) - "**That's a Stress Response**" tackles the more significant issue of something being 'fundamentally unwell' in society today. And that the only path forward is not alone, but together - [More](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/thats-a-stress-response) - I **still** have my MessagePad 100; "**Remembering Apple's Newton, 30 years on**" takes a look at the legacy of this groundbreaking product - [More](https://arstechnica.com/?p=1856644) - [Atomic Habits](https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear/dp/1847941834/) is one of my favorite reads, and "**Your brain on progress**" dives into the basic concepts around microtasks and finding ways to mark progress. "*The act of crossing out a task gives the brain what it craves: a motivating dopamine release*" - [More](https://increment.com/reliability/brain-on-progress/) - "**I Owe My Success As A Creative Entrepreneur To These 8 Questions I Ask Every Month**" is a **great** list when thinking about what and why you have things in your life. '*if you had to stop doing 10% of what you're doing, what would you abandon?*' is one of the great nuggets in here - [More](https://joshspector.com/creative-entrepreneur-questions/) - I **hate** the idea of NPS metric (Net Promoter Score), so I liked this article as it articulates many of the feelings I've had about why it's garbage in/garbage out. Read more in "**Net Promoter Score Considered Harmful**" - [More](https://articles.uie.com/net-promoter-score-considered-harmful-and-what-ux-professionals-can-do-about-it/) - In "**Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think (Taming the Mammoth)**," Tim Urban has (as always) an compelling lens on how to do '*a clear and honest assessment of what's going on in your head*' and understanding your authentic voice - [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/06/taming-mammoth-let-peoples-opinions-run-life.html) - "**You're the Chief Unblocking Officer**" is an excellent look at some tactics on how a leader's *primary objective is to drive their team's performance*.' Attention fragmentation is a real problem. The author proposes a few solutions to dive time and that '*a manager should consider dropping all of their work if they can unblock their direct reports highest-value work. Yes, usually the thing that you are doing has a higher task value, but since you have multiple direct reports, their high-value tasks will scale to offset the current task you're not doing.*' - [More](https://radreads.co/unblocking/) - From the book [Art of Atari](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Atari-Tim-Lapetino/dp/1524101036), [Tim Lapetino](https://www.timlapetino.com/) takes a look at the iconic logo and it's origin story in "**The Atari logo: behind 'the Fuji'**" - [More](https://www.logodesignlove.com/atari-logo) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with a look at one of my favorite scenes from the film Amadeus, in which Mozart and Salieri write 'Requiem in D Minor.' The post '[Seeing Music and Haunting Themes: Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Strategies](http://labuzamovies.blogspot.com/2012/02/amadeus-blogathon-seeing-music-and.html)' got me thinking about the power of non-diegetic sound (any sound in a film that doesn't originate from the world of the film) as a technique in storytelling. > *After completing the bass voices opening, Mozart then stares at the sheet, and we hear in the non-diegetic this section of the music (without the rest of the sections that will accompany the voices). Then, as Mozart sings the part of the tenors, the non-diegetic tenors join him in unison. At this point, Mozart stops dictating so much with his mouth than the non-diegetic soundtrack communicates for him, which Salieri seems just as able to hear as Mozart imagines it. Salieri exclaims "I don’t understand!" but Mozart forces him to by the same way we come to understand, though this non-diegetic sound he seems to translate. The two speak the notes aloud but the real power comes from our ability to hear this music in its sections as it’s produced.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### A Change Of Perspective URL: https://makoism.com/a-change-of-perspective/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T02:02:26.000Z Hello, friends. I wanted to thank all 300 of you that have asked me to invade your inbox almost every week since February of 2020\. I started by sharing this random collection of thoughts with 20 friends, co-workers, and family; it's grown by over **15x** since then. It is encouraging to learn that there's an 'open rate' of almost 63% weekly, and I hear virtually every week from a few people who felt like something resonated with them. I love hearing the feedback, both good and bad, and while I'm not writing to increase numbers, please share this with others you think may find it valuable. Or [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) .. or don't - I'll keep writing either way. :) The last week has been heavy, with all of the horrible news coming out of the awful school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Plenty has already been written on the mistakes, the warning signs, who's to blame, the politics, etc., and it's all just a bit much. The emotions are run wild over all of these things, and they can all be overwhelming. **Stay strong**. Hug your kids. Earlier in the week, I ran across a video from 25 years ago with Carl Sagan, who remarkably predicted some of the challenges America faces today. It's an incredibly insightful watch (and interestingly enough, he references Star Wars a lot in his views as it was just released): > *I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness... The dumbing down of Americans is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. -* **Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark** It's a lot to take in. I know. I guess what I'm trying to say; is I've been thinking and having a lot of feelings about where the world is today and what's going on around us. But you know, sometimes the best path on how to press on is to focus on a new perspective. Maybe it comes down to something straightforward that I’ve landed on this week: **you only get one life, your time here is short, so perhaps you should do something good with that time.** **Not tomorrow, today.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I remember first discovering [David Thorne](https://27bslash6.com/) back in early 2009 after his famous **Seven-Legged Spider** (a.k.a Paying Bills with Drawing of Spider) went viral. The post, known as “[Overdue](https://27bslash6.com/overdue.html),” was his attempt to pay a bill by offering a stick-figure picture of a spider for payment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/04c2a49c-392b-4516-b782-e1c06a368080_1914x774.png) The hilarious letter exchange back and forth with the company’s representative, Jane, is an epic reminder of how **wacky this whole NFT thing is**. You owe yourself a laugh - so go read the whole thing [here](https://27bslash6.com/overdue.html). Or - even better, check out a series of wacky writings in his book “[The Internet Is A Playground](https://27bslash6.com/tiiap.html)” (oh, how true). ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1523846061642731521) > [](https://twitter.com/rands/status/1524413446405586944) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I've recently discovered the concept of **intellectual katas**; a kata is defined as '*fundamental movements in Japanese martial arts, but can refer to any basic form, routine, or pattern of behavior*. The "**Creator Katas**" centers on the concept that '*creativity must be given room to flourish while providing useful constraints to focus it*' and provides an intentional framework to move the needle - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/creator-kata) - "**Probably Don't**" is a great mindset shift around asking yourself a simple question: '*If I find myself wanting to post something, publish something, tweet or Insta or otherwise push "content" into the world, I ask myself if it will create *signal or noise*: something valuable, or just more of the same hubbub.*' - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/probably-dont/) - This one hit home for me: "**On The Point of Reading**." I've tried to build out a great model for Personal Knowledge Management in the past, and in 2022 [I've been ultimately going](https://www.otherlife.co/pkm/) **scorched earth** with it. Shawn taps into a new goal of reading; instead of trying to remember every nook and cranny, it may be '*good enough to simply be introduced to a new idea or a new way of thinking*' and not read that whole book - [More](https://shawnblanc.net/2022/05/on-the-point-of-reading/) - The [great re-evaluation](https://makoism.com/two-simple-ideas/) continues, with some advice for companies: "**Employers Take Note: Young Workers Are Seeking Jobs with a Higher Purpose**" - [More](https://time.com/6176169/what-young-workers-want-in-jobs/) - I loved that there's a name for this: "**Fuckarounditis**." While the article focuses on fitness, I see this all the time in the technology space. A must-read. - [More](https://leangains.com/fuckarounditis/) - A good reminder on "**Why There's No Such Thing as a 'Startup Within a Big Company'**." Put simply - you can't put a significant enterprise at risk in the way you can with a startup - [More](https://hunterwalk.com/2021/03/06/why-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-startup-within-a-big-company/) - Stuck in a rut? Try adding some "**Agency Expanding Experiments**" to your life. I liked this post and plan on trying out some of these techniques sooner than later - [More](http://jakobgreenfeld.com/agency-expanding-experiments) - Well, look at that. Remember when [Tipper Gore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipper%5FGore) created a political campaign against pop music? It turns out that "**1980s Metalhead Kids Are Alright: Scientific Study Shows That They Became Well-Adjusted Adults**" - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2019/05/1980s-metalhead-kids-are-alright.html) - While I've derived a ton of value from constantly trying to surround myself with people that push me to be better, "**The Lazy Way To An Awesome Life**" really sums it up nicely: '*Surround yourself with people you admire and striving to be liked becomes a more elegant striving to be a better you*.' On the flip side - like I always say - **mediocrity brews mediocrity**; so read more about building a group that helps you strive to be a better you - [More](https://bakadesuyo.com/2022/05/be-yourself/) - "**Things you're allowed to do**" is a fun mind hack: *Create a list of things you're allowed to do that you thought you couldn't or didn't even know you could*. - [More](https://milan.cvitkovic.net/writing/things%5Fyoure%5Fallowed%5Fto%5Fdo/) - While [Jocko Willink](https://jockopodcast.com/) has a great video entitled "[Good](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8)", I love the idea of shifting your mindset to one of "**Learning from failures and setbacks**." Seeking out the opportunities that come from disappointments is something that, as I grow older, I value - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/learning-from-failures-and-setbacks) ## **Fin** Wrapping up this week with a behind-the-scenes look at '**The Power of the Naval Aircraft**' in the new film, [Top Gun: Maverick](https://www.topgunmovie.com/). Excited to check this one out when it hits the theater (but ill probably wait for home streaming :)) I love that they didn't revert to CG for the flying scenes - it makes this special. > *It's like being strapped on to a dragon.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Moment URL: https://makoism.com/the-moment/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T02:03:17.000Z I’ve frequently talked about the [power of journals](https://makoism.com/perceptions-and-reality/) and the insight you can get from looking back and reading about something from days gone by to provide clarity. Taking a peek back into the past and remembering feelings, finding patterns is often insightful and can reveal quite a few things. What I didn’t expect was that habit has also helped me start to develop a deeper **appreciation of the now**. Check out this quick video from the [Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDetdM5XDZD1xrQHDPgEg5w) on ‘**Dès Vu: The Awareness That This Will Become A Memory**.’ > *One day, you’ll remember this moment, and it’ll mean something very different. Maybe you’ll cringe and laugh or brim with pride, aching to return or notice some detail hidden in the scene, a future landmark making its first appearance or discreetly taking its final bow.* I kind of *love* it: develop a mindset that focuses on **the moment**. Not a ‘*capture this on my Instagram*’ type of moment - but rather training yourself to have a mindset that **it’s okay just to enjoy the moment**. A conscious acknowledgment that the moment will pass. Breathe. It is okay to experience the sights, the sounds, the smells. How it felt. Let that be the memory. Not every moment needs to be captured as a digital copy. **Sometimes more is just ... more. It’s not better.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This week saw [the discontinuation of the iPod](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/technology/apple-ipod-phasing-out.html) after 22 glorious years. I dug up an old blog post from Jan 27, 2005 in which I commented: > *Something about the aesthetics of an Apple product, such as the Mini or the iPod, draws people in. It's about personal expression. Some pointed out a few weeks back: that people view these as 'an extension of themselves *just as much as their clothing or interior decoration*.' It's what makes a Moleskine more desirable than a Trapper Keeper.* Damn, that was right on. I found a few other great retrospectives that echoed my feelings: > *You know what else I miss? The iPod click wheel. Driving across the entire country. By myself, on the road, on this exhilarating and terrifying journey to my future. The iPod, my only companion. Every song I ever owned in a device I truly could fit in my pocket. This sounds ho-hum now. It was absolute sorcery back then. It’s a great landmark of what can change in technology in 20 years.* > > M.G Siegler in "[The First Truly Personal Computer](https://500ish.com/the-first-truly-personal-computer-33ce4d147aad)" and.. > *Listening to music with an iPod shuffle is still (and can still be) a fun experience. You can create the digital equivalent of a mixtape, load it on your shuffle, clip the shuffle to your shirt/jeans/jacket, and then you can go out and listen to music without even having to touch the device, unless you need to change volume or skip a track. It’s basically a hands-free device that disappears on you.* > > Riccardo Mori in "[So long, iPod. You’ll be missed](http://morrick.me/archives/9554)" Goodbye, iPod. You will be missed. ## **Thought of the week** I enjoyed this mega-thread from [Tim Urban](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1524716833634328576) this week, and while he titled it for "political' thinking, I'd reframe it as "thinking" in general. > *Some mantras for thinking:* > > *Truth is hard.* > > *Humility is hard.* > > *Independent thinking is hard.* > > *Resisting tribalism is hard.* > > *Over and over, you will forget that these things are hard, and that's probably when you'll fail at them.* > > *Bullies come in many forms. Stand up to bullies. And don't be a bully.* > > *Political parties are big lame corporations. They're not worthy of your identity.* > > *Angels and demons are a delusion. Everyone is flawed and everyone is complicated.* > > *Courage is criticizing your in-group.* > > *When you feel disgust for people based on their politics, it's a sign you're not in your right mind.* > > *When you let politics damage your relationships, it's a sign you're not in your right mind.* > > *You're probably in more of an information bubble than you realize.* > > *Most disagreements about "what should be" are actually disagreements about "what is."* > > *Be suspicious of certainty. There is a strong correlation between those who feel 100% conviction about their political beliefs and those who could not pass a high school civics test.* > > *When you and your friends fervently agree about every issue, it's a sign that tribal pheromones are in the air and everyone's gone a bit mad.* > > *What people say they stand for tells you nothing. Their behavior tells you everything. The same goes for your own behavior* > > *\-- Tim Urban (@waitbutwhy)* ## **Latest obsession** A few weeks ago, I mentioned the book "[Barking up The Wrong Tree](https://bakadesuyo.com/barking-up-the-wrong-tree/)." Well, [Eric Barker](https://bakadesuyo.com/blog/)'s new book "[Plays Well With Others](https://www.amazon.com/Plays-Well-Others-Surprising-Relationships/dp/0063050943)" is now out. I've bought it - I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it's definitely on the must-read pile. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f7748dd7-9a34-4c15-94ad-a5a986085cee_600x900.jpeg) read me ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - An interesting Wikipedia find '[Sturgeon's law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s%5Flaw)'. Put simply: "**ninety percent of everything is crap**" - [More](https://jarche.com/2022/05/ninety-percent-of-everything-is-crap/) - While "**A Champion Hidden In Plain Sight**" leans in on Rich Strike and his incredible (80-1) win from behind in this year's Kentucky Derby, this is one of those great finds that talks about breaking from the '*weight of expectation*' and that you should '*defy the odds by simply honoring yourself instead of false limits*' - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/a-champion-hidden-in-plain-sight) - [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net/) reflects on "**The Biggest Lesson I've Learned From You**" over the last 15 years of online writing. What was fascinating to learn: *most people are internally struggling with the same 3 or 4 things* \- [More](https://markmanson.net/biggest-lesson-learned-from-you) - "**The three questions this CEO uses to weed out jerks**" poses a few questions that I found interesting. Now, I'm not sure this weeds out 'jerks' as the title indicates, but instead could elicit some exciting conversations - [More](https://ideas.ted.com/the-3-questions-this-ceo-uses-to-weed-out-jerks) - A morning mantra: '*Today will be less than perfect*.' Found in "**You're Never Going to Be Perfect**" explores a bit on why this is just fine - [More](https://danoshinsky.com/2022/05/08/youre-never-going-to-be-perfect/) - Phew. I thought I was the only one who ever researched where I lived and how a nuclear blast would affect it. "**The Return of 1980s-Era Nuclear-Strike Maps**" explores how in 2022, these maps are starting to make a comeback - [More](https://clivethompson.medium.com/the-return-of-1980s-era-nuclear-strike-maps-a7aa292f7702) - A lot of interesting facts and thoughts on what 'taste' is; in "**Notes on 'Taste'**" lots of great bullets trying to define something that isn't definable - [More](https://www.are.na/blog/notes-on-taste) - "**Many experiences, few stories**" dives into something that I value as both a parent and a leader - having interesting experiences and storytelling. It's such an undervalued skill, but I find it crucial to building connections; I couldn't agree more with: '*we share our essential experiences with others, we open the door to connection*.' - [More](https://stewfortier.substack.com/p/many-experiences-few-stories) - A wonderful read on "**The Creed of Excellence**." '*Perfection is a mirage, a beautiful one at that. It provides a useful target, but only if it remains a target avoiding obsession, which itself is the ugliest and most destructive form of passion.*' - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-creed-of-excellence) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with a great look at [Skywalker Sound](https://www.skysound.com/). In this episode of "[Behind the Mac](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE%5FM8A5yxnLfW0KghEeajjw)", Apple turns its ear (har har) towards "*‌ the team of creators who collaborate to make the magic we hear onscreen. From field recording and Foley to sound design and mixing, these artists reveal their process, showing us how they use Mac to bring to life sounds from the Star Wars universe and beyond."* While obviously marketing for the Mac, I still enjoyed it. Be well. ✌🏻… and see you in two weeks. ### Not Everything is Urgent URL: https://makoism.com/not-everything-is-urgent/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T02:04:52.000Z I know, I know... this is usually in your inbox for your early morning Saturday read to enjoy with your coffee, but it was just of *those* weeks where travel, meetings, and life just played havoc with my typical day-to-day. Sleep was a mess. I didn't write as much as I would have liked to. I didn't play as much as I **needed** to. But **consistency is key**, so here's your weekly dose of .. *something*. Side note: my coffee machine was acting up this morning - so it's been a really wonky week. Cut me some slack. Or [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism). :) It's ironic though, that I wanted to talk about a tweet I stumbled across this earlier in the week: > [](https://twitter.com/ShannonL%5FMiller/status/1516478343788601349) (Origin is [Bing Chen](https://twitter.com/BingChen/status/1518825224749342720)). **I just loved this**. Yes - I have changed my 'out of office' to read similarly. But, for now, repeat after me: > *If this is urgent, take a deep breath *because few things really are*.* It's kind fun to step back and look around at everything and think about in the grand scheme of things and ask how often is something really *urgent*? The term has become overused, misused, and perhaps even abused. Or maybe it's just how we humans are wired into thinking that every. little. thing. is **urgent**. I read somewhere that you shouldn't consider something urgent '*unless it involves birth, bleeding, obstruction of breath or death*.' Now, I'm not saying you should be reckless and not have priorities, but you should have clarity on **what** is essential and if something **needs attention**. We really should save urgent for things that are genuine **life-affecting**. For example, urgent is: **I have chest pain, I should get to the hospital**. On the flip side, when it comes to the day-to-day job, normal things that happen to us, often things drop into the **important** category. They're just not **urgent**. [John Allspaw](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jallspaw/) had a great example of that something most technology folks confuse between whats’s urgent and important: the dreaded outage call. > [](https://twitter.com/allspaw/status/1177204840432361472) And he's right. I’m not saying that an outage isn't critical, but I’ve seen this story play out - exec jumps on a call to 'make sure that the team feels the urgency' (fyi: it never ends well). Honestly, it's more important to *trust that the people on the call are doing the best they can*. Having some exec sitting there offering 'suggestions' isn't make a server reboot any faster. Employees are working hard and are under pressure. The last thing they need is a senior leader breathing over them asking them questions; that’s how more mistakes happen. (The time to have conversations is in postmortems, but I'll save that for another entry). Anyways - just something to think about the next time you feel that something is **urgent**. Save it for something that really **is**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I've been a long-time fan of [Peter McKinnon's photography](https://www.petermckinnon.com/), [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3DkFux8Iv-aYnTRWzwaiBA) and of course, [Pete's Pirate Life](https://petespiratelife.com/). This week I watched his latest videos, and in "**Sharing something personal**" (at about the 5:20 mark), he talked about '**sending the elevator down**'. It wasn't about a way to put yourself on a pedestal but more of the responsibility to help lift friends and peers to give them new ideas or exposure to opportunities when you achieve levels of success. The quote originally comes from [Edith Piaf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89dith%5FPiaf): > *If you've done well, it's your obligation to spend a good portion of your time sending the elevator back down.* And I just thought it was a great way to think about sharing all that you've learned with those just starting. ## **Thoughts of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1499882698386591746) and.. > [](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1519700421006090241) ## **Latest obsession** My [playdate](https://play.date/) is finally here. It arrived late yesterday and I haven't had a minute to even take it out of the box, but I'm really looking forward to messing around with this small gizmo. A review is coming soon. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**Ideas Choose Us**" was the kick-in-the-pants motivation I needed this week. '*The next time an idea visits you... Respect it. Honor it. Be honest about your intentions*' - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/ideas-choose-us) - I **cannot wait for** the [new Monkey Island game](https://grumpygamer.com/return%5Fto%5Fmonkey%5Fisland). "**When I Made Another Monkey Island**" seems to echo some of the same vibes in 'Ideas Choose Us' and explores some of the decisions on the visual style and sound in the upcoming sequel - [More](https://grumpygamer.com/when%5Fi%5Fmade%5Fanother%5Fmonkeyisland) - In an excerpt from [Tony Fadell's new book](https://www.amazon.com/Build-Unorthodox-Guide-Making-Things/dp/0063046067/), "**These are the storytelling lessons I learned from Steve Jobs**" has some great takeaways about making things. '*the longer you work on something, the more the *what* takes over—the *why*becomes so obvious, a feeling in your gut, a part of everything you do, that you don't even need to express it anymore. You forget how much it matters.*'. Powerful read - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90747313/steve-jobs-lessons-tony-fadell-build-book-excerpt) - "**Americans bring 'souvenir' artillery shell to Israel airport**" has been spot on for the last few years. No surprise here. - [More](https://apnews.com/article/business-middle-east-israel-syria-6d2f26b4c5edefaf81ea9eae150f88dd) - '*Every slushie is different. Every slushie is the same.*' is the theme for '**No One Knows What a Slushie Is**,".. and you know what? The article is right - learn all about its origin. - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/04/slushie-icee-company-quiktrip-freezoni/629728/) - Do you have a "**Bucket List**"? It feels like I need to sit down and pound one out - a list of things I still want to achieve in this life. Here's some inspiration for you to start - [More](https://www.philipyoungg.com/bucket-list) - "**50 First Levers (How to start building Leverage)**" is an excellent look at some examples of tools and processes that allow you to '*Build and extend levers to get more done with less effort*' - [More](https://www.ejorgenson.com/blog/50-first-levers) - Along with the bucket list, "**Things you're allowed to do**" is '*a list of things you're allowed to do that you thought you couldn't, or didn't even know you could*.' Excellent food for thought in this one - [More](https://milan.cvitkovic.net/writing/things%5Fyoure%5Fallowed%5Fto%5Fdo/) - "**The Shitposting Edition**" explores the art of '*posting that is completely detached from one's real thoughts and beliefs, in the interest of being amusing*' and the difference between **posting** \*. - [More](https://whyisthisinteresting.substack.com/p/the-shitposting-edition) - It's a super interesting read on the placebo effect and how it can be '*often more powerful than a lot of medicine*.' Read "**This Is How To Have A Long Awesome Life**" - [More](https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2022/04/placebo/) - I've found that HRV (Heart Rate Variability - the way the time between heartbeats changes) was one of the more exciting things to understand to get a better grip of what's going on in your entire 'ecosystem' - sleep, stress, etc. It tracks how healthy your heart is. Read more about "**Tracking Your Heart Rate Variability with Apple Watch**" - [More](https://www.macobserver.com/tips/deep-dive/tracking-your-heart-rate-variability-with-apple-watch) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with the Finnish band [Steve'n'Seagulls](https://stevenseagulls.com/) playing AC/DC's Thunderstruck. With spoons, banjos, and an acordian. You're welcome. Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Secret of Asking for Help URL: https://makoism.com/the-secret-of-asking-for-help/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T02:04:33.000Z I've had a really, really long week. Not trying to make excuses, but it just was a long week of in-person meetings (yes, I had to leave the house), and I have a long week ahead of me next week. Yes, I'm leaving the house **AGAIN** \- two weeks in a row. I was going to take a break this week from the newsletter, but I received a note from an attendee of a talk that I did a few weeks ago that inspired me to push through, so - here we are. :) The presentation was with a group of students and graduates entitled "**Things They Didn't Teach You in School**"; I felt it was a good, fun, and honest conversation on things I wished someone had told me when I was starting. And while I prefer doing these types of talks in person - we ended up having a terrific, honest conversation. A few days later, I was asked: "If you had one piece of advice, what would it be?" My response: > **Ask for help when you need it*.* > > *Everyone has fears, weaknesses, and things they don't understand.* > > *Everyone feels overwhelmed at times.* > > *Everyone has to go to the bathroom, regardless of their level.* > > *Everyone needs to take a break. Don't be misguided by the thought that others may think you are 'weak' if you don't know something or are struggling.* > > *There are no rewards for being a martyr. Just ask for help.* Is it the 'best' advice? **I have no idea**. But I've often found that when you ask for help, having a bit of humility and accepting that you can do it all is the key to finding a new perspective and building new strengths. And, it goes without saying - always be thankful for those that help you. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I had never seen this interview with Leonard Nimoy before, but I found it 'fascinating'. > *This man's an alien we don't know anything about aliens - we can say anything we want we can make the audience *believe* and I think we want about an alien you know let's use our imagination as a man could have very special knowledge of the human anatomy that hasn't even been discovered yet* ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/%5FRandomJ%5F/status/1513201286090534915) and.. > [](https://twitter.com/PaulMSherman/status/1516936733769801734) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Now **this** is science; the challenge of why 'no manual technique, no matter how advanced, can split the contents of an Oreo close to evenly' was recently tackled by an MIT team. Read what they discovered in "**Why Do Oreos Never Come Apart Evenly?: We Build an 'Oreometer' to Find the Answer**" - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2022/04/why-do-oreos-never-come-apart-evenly-mit-researchers-build-an-oreometer-to-find-the-answer.html) - In 1922, candy maker Hans Riegel created a recipe for fruit-flavored pastilles, which we now know as gummy bears. I never knew their history before "**Gummy Bears, 100 Years On, Are Still Bouncing**" - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/dining/haribo-gummy-bear.html) - Sent from a friend who knows my current state of rebellion against PKMs; read a good piece on why "**Personal Knowledge Management is Bullshit**" - [More](https://www.otherlife.co/pkm/) - "**7 Things Confident People Always Say**" was a bit of the inspiration for this week's opening thoughts. Read about the other six - \[More\]( - This one makes me mad. "**‌Suitcases of Covid loan cash seized at UK's borders**" describes the investigation of people at airports across the UK '*carrying large amounts of money suspected from coronavirus bounce-back loans*'; they found many other recipients of financial support during the pandemic used the money to fund gambling sprees, home improvements, cars, and watches. - [More](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/suitcases-of-covid-loan-cash-seized-at-uks-borders-wcnnjd7r8) - '**Things Fall Apart**' is the premise for this unfortunate piece on "**Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid**" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/) - Based on a simple concept of *healthy teams design how they work together*, "**What a Healthy Team Looks Like**" dives into a few tactics for shaping a better work environment for those under your care - [More](https://hpdailyrant.medium.com/what-a-healthy-team-looks-like-637e63e30edb) - "**Leading with my left hand.**" explores the '*dynamic balance between when to take charge, and when to let the reigns free*' - [More](https://www.overtimeleader.com/insight/2022/4/19/leading-with-my-left-hand) - Microwaving food does not reduce its nutritional value. The Great Wall of China is not the only human-made object visible from space or the Moon. Dogs do not sweat by salivating. Read a fascinating "**List of common misconceptions**"; I will be referencing this list a lot - [More](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fcommon%5Fmisconceptions) - I loved this one on "**Entropy Crushers**." '*With any evolutionary change on your team, you need to be paranoid. Like each new person, each new role has a unique ability to affect the culture in ways that you'll never predict. You need to design around your specific pain carefully, but once you hire and land the first person, you also need to pay careful attention for unintended side effects.*' Read more about the chaos in the system - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/entropy-crushers/) - "**This Is The Most Fun Way To Make Your Life Awesome**" comes from the perspective that '*romantic love requires a defibrillator; something that keeps the heart going when it stops or gets wonky*' - and posits some simple ways to **keeping love alive** \- [More](https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2022/04/love/) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with a bit of geekdom - [Python, Pitch Shifting, and the Pianoputer](http://zulko.github.io/blog/2014/03/29/soundstretching-and-pitch-shifting-in-python/) dives into this making of wild performance of Mozart's Turkish March on a computer keyboard. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Crushing Weights URL: https://makoism.com/crushing-weights/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T02:04:15.000Z One of the most significant benefits I've found of keeping a journal for many years (going strong since November 2014) is having the ability to look back "on this day" and get a pretty accurate reminder of what you were going through at a particular moment in time. What you felt. The rawness of it. The saying goes, *time heals all wounds*, but I find that your perspective of **what was really going on** also changes; **it dulls**. By reading your own raw words can be helpful to jolt you back into the moment. Last year's entry for today: > **Weights** > > *We *all* carry around a certain amount of weight.* > *The weight of bad decisions.* > *The weight of failures and victories.* > *The weight of things lost.* > *The weight of getting what you want.* > *The weight of impostor syndrome.* > *The weight of how crazy the world is.* > *The weight of stress.* > > *The only way to feel lighter is to shed the pounds.* When I wrote that a year ago, it was three weeks after a second heart attack; while I'm not ready to dive into *that* whole thing (which is a more significant weight than I recognize), I wanted to write something about using **looking back** as an easy way to discover **how far** you've come since. [Mark Manson](https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson/status/1517484618068410368) posted a tweet I found to be spot-on: > [](https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson/status/1517484618068410368) Let that sink in: **There's going to be shit no matter what — the key is to focus on the things you enjoy**. I guess that's where I was going with this week's rambling newsletter: I enjoy looking back at the past messes, the weight of what I was experiencing as a lens on what is the reality of where I am in April 2022—consciously spending more time focusing on things that **FILL** me. How much the little things, on the day-to-day, matter. A smile. A text. A funny joke or story. A shared experience. A drink. Treating someone to something unexpected. > *It's The Little Things. There's Nothing Bigger, Is There?* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This one is a rabbit hole, which turned into one of the most bizarre things I came across recently. Of course - I felt that it needed to be shared. The story starts in this thread: > [](https://twitter.com/%5FLucasRizzotto/status/1516205625662836739) The engineer trained OpenAI (GPT3) from a backstory he wrote for his imaginary childhood friend (who turns out was a microwave named Magnetron). By '*writing a 100 page book detailing every moment of his imaginary life... and then telling GPT-3 it was all real, the AI would learn the story of memories from his entire life - from his 1895 birth all the way to when we met when I was a kid. His victories, losses, dreams, fears... All were there on the page, in full display.*' Things then get weird - "*every now and then Magnetron would exhibit sudden bursts of extreme violence towards me*." Ultimately, he figures out the reason. '*It has been 20 years since I last interacted with my imaginary friend - and ofc that was also mentioned in its training data. *Magnetron took that & interpreted it as me having abandoned it in a dark void for 20 years. Now it wanted to kill me*.*' Just a wild ride all the way down. ## **Thought of the week** Two great thoughts this week. > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1492213849621159939) And the quote of the week: "**I love the letter 'F'**". ## **Latest obsession** Last week, I was recommended this bean: [Burnt Church Distillery Limited Edition Whiskey Coffee](https://thegrindroasters.com/product/burnt-church-barrel-coffee/) from The Grind Roasters. Described as: > *This Barrel is a collaboration that the Grind has with Burnt Church Distillery. We are fortunate enough to get some of the barrels from them as they have been emptied and aged coffee in them.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/74b7c10c-2e71-425f-8bcb-4fd19258d951_1440x2560.jpeg) beans [The Burnt Church Distillery](https://burntchurchdistillery.com/) also has a distinctly fascinating story: > *Our story begins long ago, when tales of folklore were passed as truth. The elusive mystery of Burnt Church Road in Bluffton, South Carolina is the reason why we are here. We believe the story of why the Lowcountry road was given such a polarizing name should become transparent. Our hope has always been and will continue to be to honor our past, learn from its mistakes, and push forward for a better future.* My review: I liked it, but it's for me; I felt that the flavors are better suited for a dessert coffee. Good taste though! ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**I no longer grade my students' work – and I wish I had stopped sooner**" explores the concept of 'ungrading'; I kinda like that it flips traditional thinking on its head and focuses on '*what would happen if we didn't grade*' - [More](https://theconversation.com/i-no-longer-grade-my-students-work-and-i-wish-i-had-stopped-sooner-179617) - "**The Expanding Job**" explores how the work associated with a single person's role has doubled or tripled over the last few years. I've seen this happen time and time again that '*in many organizations, particularly anywhere where a consultant has been called in to "trim the fat," the jobs that ensured that work was performed smoothly and without overload have been eliminated, the essential components of their job descriptions added onto those that remained*.' Of course, this leads to burnout - [More](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-expanding-job) - Another great perspective piece: "**Online writers: frustrated by note-taking? Try more notice-taking**". The author describes the practice as '*notice-taking captures an idea or feeling in the moment to feel it right now, rather than to recall it later*.' - [More](https://www.matttillotson.com/blog/online-writers-notice-taking) - Mindblown 🤯 with this simple yet powerful idea around the organization of things that you need to get done: What don't I control today, and What I do control today. "**3 Benefits of Making Two "Control" Lists Each Morning**" shakes up the daily todo list- [More](https://typeshare.co/tracyplaces/posts/3-benefits-of-making-two-control-lists-each-morning) - Using the 'Find My' feature of his Apple AirPods, a Ukrainian man has been tracking the movement of Russian troops after a soldier pillaged the wireless headphones from his home! "**How Ukrainians Are Tracking Russian Troops With Their Looted AirPods**" explains it all - [More](https://www.thedailybeast.com/apple-find-my-helps-ukrainian-vitaliy-semenets-track-russian-troops-with-looted-airpods-near-kyiv) - Another warning against the [Internet of Shit](https://mobile.twitter.com/internetofshit?lang=en): "**Insteon looks dead—just like its users' smart homes**." Apparently 'the app and servers are dead; the CEO scrubbed his LinkedIn page; no one is responding' -, and users are just left stuck without their smart homes working now - [More](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/04/shameful-insteon-looks-dead-just-like-its-users-smart-homes/) - I always enjoy posts from [Will Larson](https://lethain.com/)" and his insights into building technology. While one of the more technical reads, "**Efficiency: Managing Infrastructure Costs**" is an excellent view on managing costs all around - [More](https://infraeng.dev/efficiency/) - I really 'dig' (ehem) this advice: '*If you're a gardening newbie, do not, under any circumstances, listen to experts. They will tell you what experts can grow. You need a crap gardener to tell you what anyone can grow.*' Read more in "**You need a terrible gardener**," which focuses on getting advice from successful people. - [More](https://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2022/03/you-need-a-terrible-gardener.html) - Ask yourself the critical question: "**Do you actually want advice?**". A look at the difference between **coaching** and **tactics** \- [More](https://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2022/03/do-you-actually-want-advice.html) - I feel that the *art of storytelling* is often something undervalued by most teams and leaders; Following a simple premise that '*storytelling cuts to the heart of the matter and makes ideas stick*' Here's a good lens on "**My three powerful principles of storytelling**" - [More](https://www.iansanders.com/blog/my-three-powerful-principles-of-storytelling) ## **Fin** Wrapping up this week with a splash of 'cyber illusion'. Watch "**Inventing the Impossible**" with magician [Marco Tempest](https://marcotempest.com/en/). Be well. ✌🏻 ### Perceptions and Reality URL: https://makoism.com/perceptions-and-reality/ Last updated: 2022-04-16T11:09:52.000Z ![reality?](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/cd055661-ec66-4581-be54-66c76db85a89_5394x3596.jpeg "reality?") reality? (credit: Erik Mclean @introspectivedsgn) Hello, friend. If there's a theme that's starting to take root for me this year, it's self-reflection and reinvention. I've been re-reading a lot of my past daily journal entries, and I've been discovering patterns that are starting to provide me with some direction. For example, I keep revising the concept around how things happen in **reality** versus in **our minds**. Of course, I want to be mentally strong and embrace some of Seneca's more stoic [philosophy](https://www.themarginalian.org/2017/08/27/seneca-anxiety/) around these feelings, but my only comment is that it's *a work in progress*. :) > *There are more things ... likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; *we suffer more often in imagination than in reality*. - Seneca* As a leader, one of the things that I have tried to lens in on with my teams (or when I'm asked for career advice) is to adopt a mindset that '**everyone** is going through something'. You have **no idea** what's going on behind the screen and across your Zoom. **Assume positive intent**. The truth is that 95% of the time — the terrible meeting you just had where someone lashed out, took an odd stance, was a jerk, or perhaps wasn't even paying attention — it's often not about **YOU**. In another conversation this week, I was advising someone about dealing with thoughts of imposter syndrome - the same thing applies here. We all feel it. BUT **people aren't thinking about YOU as much as you think they are**. **It's in your head.** > *"It's one thing to question your mind; it's another to question your eyes and ears. But, then again, isn't it all the same? Our senses just mediocre inputs to our brain? Sure, we rely on them, trust they accurately portray the real world around us, but what if the haunting truth is they can't? That what we perceive isn't the real world at all, but just our mind's best guess? That all we really have is a garbled reality, a truly fuzzy picture we will never make out?"* I like to tackle these things by throwing these thoughts around with my [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). Use that trusted circle of advisors to talk about your feelings - they can be a significant compass in helping you determine reality versus what you think is going on. Leverage them. I am feeling in a bit of a [Mr. Robot](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4158110/) mood this week, so I'll close things out with one of the best monologues from season 4. > *And, yeah, there are setbacks. We do fucked up things to each other. And we hurt each other, and it gets messy, but that's just us, in any world you're in. And, yeah, you're right. We're all told we don't stand a chance, and yet we stand. We break, but we keep going, and that is not a flaw. That's what makes us. *So, no, I will not give up on this world*.* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** > In 2006, a group of students at Xavier High School in New York City were given an assignment by their English teacher, Ms. Lockwood: they were asked to write to their favorite author and ask him or her to visit the school. Kurt Vonnegut wrote an amazing letter in response. He was the only author to reply. Enjoy [Sir Ian McKellen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian%5FMcKellen), reading the response entitled "**Make your soul grow...**" ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/jessicahagy/status/1512209503780958208) ## **Latest obsession** This month, I've been soaking in [Priya Parker](https://www.priyaparker.com/) and the fabulous "[Art of Gathering](https://www.priyaparker.com/thebook)." Something is fascinating in figuring out ways to have more meaningful get-togethers (for work, friends, life). So, it was cool to come across these wild [Basecamp Cards](https://basecampcards.com/products/basecamp-cards). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3f9d25e9-bb26-46f8-9fe5-66b9d6050b2a_900x900.jpeg) cards Described as: > *A unique deck of playing cards with the icebreaking, conversation prompting questions. They were founded to create the ultimate campfire conversations. Ranging from thought-provoking to goofy, these multipurpose cards will provide endless fun at camp, on the crags, or on the coffee table.* I keep having this picture in my mind of sitting around a fire, sipping whiskey, and having great conversations with fascinating people. I'll let you know how it goes. :) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In my favorite read of the week, [Andrew Bosworth](https://boz.com/about) (aka Boz) talks about **ruthless prioritization** in "**Half Staffed is Unstaffed**." '*If I wasn't willing to commit significant time to something, I was better off not working on it.*'.. 100% spot on. - [More](https://boz.com/articles/half-staffed) - "**The Curse of Availability**" explores what fills our inboxes and takes up our time daily. How much of this stuff is important? And how much of your schedule is dictated by others by a sense of obligation to them? - [More](https://johnpavlovitz.com/2022/04/07/that-text-can-wait-the-present-cant/) - Wow! I loved the concept of 'snacking' through getting work done, and "**The first rule of prioritization: No snacking**" was another eye-opener. Read more on how '*the high-effort, high-impact work reflects the strategy you're deliberately deploying. Everyone's favorite quadrant is the low-effort, high-impact stuff. But when you continually pick the low-hanging fruit, the branches will stop growing, so this work dries up quickly as your product and team matures*.' - [More](https://www.intercom.com/blog/first-rule-prioritization-no-snacking/) - "**Success and Failure at Pebble**" is another great one this week that chronicles the rise and fall and the lessons learned by one of the first fascinating wrist-based computing devices, Pebble (and no one remembers [Microsoft Spot](https://medium.com/digitalshroud/microsoft-spot-and-the-beginning-of-smartwatches-e29be21f0d33)). The concept of '**learning from failure**' is often overlooked - [More](https://medium.com/@ericmigi/why-pebble-failed-d7be937c6232) - '*A simple identity question is simply a state of mind*.' Powerful words in "**Flick your identity switch**" which tickle an exciting concept - may be the key to changing your mindset is something that you can do - flip the switch into what you want your identity to be - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/flick-your-identity-switch) - [John Cutler](https://cutlefish.substack.com/) has a super helpful diagram to help teams figure out what they should do or can do. Read "**Can Do vs. Should Do**" to check out his process - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-1652-can-do-vs-should-do) - People are often surprised when I'm having a conversation about imposter syndrome. **We all have it**. "**How I Calmed My Imposter Syndrome with These Two Tricks**" explores two useful mind-hacks to calm your anxiety - [More](https://hunterwalk.com/2021/11/28/how-i-calmed-my-imposter-syndrome-with-these-two-tricks/) - I'm often asked, how do you get through everything on a week-to-week basis? The answer lies in workflows, automation, and rigor developed, re-worked, destroyed, and re-created. "**Curated Inputs**" explores how '*filtering and focus are vital to this effort, allowing me to glean more of the valuable bits—the signal— from the global info-stream*'- [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/curated-inputs/) - Jordan Peterson presents this talk entitled "**Use This Psychotherapy Technique To End All Of Your Arguments**" at Cambridge. I always enjoy studying the human condition, so give this one a watch if you want to increase your influencing super-powers - [More](https://youtube.com/watch?v=G1JWRFIzppA) - I knew when I saw an article titles'*How to be provocative without being a troll*', it was going to be a must-read and how spiky points of view are '*a point of view is a perspective others can disagree with. It's a belief you feel strongly about and are willing to advocate for. It's your thesis about topics in your realm of expertise.*' Read more about "**🌵 Spiky point of view: Let's get a little controversial**" - [More](https://www.weskao.com/blog/spiky-point-of-view-lets-get-a-little-controversial) ## **Fin** This week, let's end with Julian Lennon performing 'IMAGINE' (for the first time publicly) for Global Citizen's Stand Up For Ukraine. In a [tweet](https://twitter.com/JulianLennon/status/1512461051463233536), he said: > *The War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy...As a human, and as an artist, I felt compelled to respond in the most significant way I could. So today, for the first time ever, I publicly performed my Dad’s song, IMAGINE.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Art of Self Destruction URL: https://makoism.com/self-destruction/ Last updated: 2022-04-09T11:29:38.000Z ![gray stone on white sand during daytime](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/photo-1593366426174-1ae8d787bd86 "gray stone on white sand during daytime") Earlier in the week, [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net/) had a great observation on Twitter that I couldn't stop thinking about. > [](https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson/status/1510236861985341447) His posts often trigger something inside that makes me want to take a step back, and question or even reimagine my perspective on how I work, think, lead and live life. His top three (for those that are curious): - [The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck](https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck) - [The Most Important Question of Your Life](https://markmanson.net/question) - [How to Start a Cult and Save the World](https://markmanson.net/how-to-start-a-cult-and-save-the-world) But this idea of '**self-destruction**' to *make room for something newer and better* excited me. I went down a rabbit hole of rethinking things - and what I found was that there was a lot I wanted just *to blow up*. Parts of my workflow; how I take notes; long-standing tasks that I haven't gotten to; even some perspectives that I had held - **dump them**. Coincidentally, today I ran across this methodology for grouping things 'to do' that I want to adopt as part of that new workflow: > [](https://twitter.com/jdesmondharris/status/1408868731707555840) And while I'm not yet there to write it all up yet the changes, I found this lens valuable in getting to a new place. If you're struggling with something or have too much on your plate to make sense of it all, this may be an excellent place to start: **blow something up**. > *"Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you." ― [L.R. Knost](http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/about-the-authorillustrator/)* Or, maybe it's as simple as getting a little bit of philosophical perspective from [Tyler Durden](https://fightclub.fandom.com/wiki/Tyler%5FDurden). If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com%5F%5F/). ## **Forward Thinking** Oh my - lets jump back to **1995**. This week, someone posted a full VHS copy of the entire Windows 95 launch event to YouTube. While excerpts have been shown in the past, the whole event has never been published. There are some terrible jokes/memes from days gone by here. It's almost as wacky as the old Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry video teaching Windows 95 (you’re welcome if you've never seen it). ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/adammgrant/status/1509901477174784024) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In "**Hard to work with**," [Will Larson](https://lethain.com/about) explores how '*grinding yourself down in frustration about paths not existing doesn't solve anything*.' A must-read. - [More](https://lethain.com/hard-to-work-with/) - I knew that your phone was terrible for you but didn't realize **how** bad it messes with both your brain and body until I watched "**What Happens To Your Brain When You Mindlessly Scroll?**" - [More](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNvvOQMx0jY) - Easily the fascinating discovery of the week - "**Seven Decades Later, the 1950 Census Bares Its Secrets**". I was able to locate my dad at age three and several other family members while searching through the handwritten document - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/us/census-data-1950.html) - On November 14, 1994, at the COMDEX expo, Bill Gates gave a keynote that described '*this next era that we're moving into*,' with '*a high-tech crime drama set in the futuristic year of 2005*'. Read more about "**What a 1994 Bill Gates keynote tells us about the metaverse**" - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90736310/what-a-1994-bill-gates-keynote-tells-us-about-the-metaverse) - "**I think the humble job title has passed its best-by date.**" was a quick, fun read on what pigeon-holed job titles do. I always like to introduce myself as **Chief Disruption Officer** :) - [More](https://www.iansanders.com/blog/i-think-the-humble-job-title-has-passed-its-best-by-date) - This week felt pretty heavy to me with everything going on in the world, and a good read to shake me out of it was "**The Anatomy of Kindness**". Read a bit more about ten things that researchers learned from the world’s largest study of kindness - [More](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2zcD7zvfnkj6MKDgfhyTCBT/ten-things-we-learned-from-the-world-s-largest-study-of-kindness) - 'In psychology, there's something called the *saying-is-believing effect*, and thanks to cognitive dissonance, after you say something to someone else, you're more likely to believe it yourself.' Read more in "**Useful**" - [More](https://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2022/03/useful.html) - "**Rebalancing Inputs**" was a valuable read for me this week (see my intro). I was spending way too much time and effort [curating inputs](https://exilelifestyle.com/curated-inputs/) and this re-affirms my decision to slow that down; to destroy it - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/rebalancing-inputs/) - "**What It Takes to Run a Sub-Four-Minute Mile for 20 Years Straight**"; apparently, it takes '*not doing too many vomit-inducing workouts*.' (Good to know!) - [More](https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/culture-running/people/nick-willis-sub-four-mile-streak/) - While the last 2 (3? 5?) years have tapped into leaders trying to be more empathetic, here are "**3 reasons not to bring your authentic self to work**" - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90732060/3-reasons-not-to-bring-your-authentic-self-to-work) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with this short interview with [Steven Spielberg](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000229/), which he described as one of the best interview questions ever. His response: *"Thank you for that."* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Simply Obvious URL: https://makoism.com/simply-obvious/ Last updated: 2022-04-02T11:34:39.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/eac211ad-dffa-4325-b53e-a39cf674de2e_3360x2240.jpeg) I stumbled across a tweet this week from [Shane Parrish](https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish) that got me thinking a lot about the simple power of focus. > [](https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish/status/1488483158110658572) And while I still need to do a lengthier write-up on how I've been starting to use [Apple's new focus modes](https://9to5mac.com/2021/11/09/how-to-use-iphone-focus-mode-ios-15/). Being able to shift things around and reduce attention grabbers automatically has become a surprising source of productivity gains. The next obvious one: **deleting stuff off my personal phone**. **Yes, let it go. Delete. Breathe. Delete.** As you'd expect — the casualties (sorry, no offense if you work on these) are the **attention stealers** such as Slack, Teams, work email, and work calendars. My work life is now constrained to my work laptop. When it's the end of the day, I leave the computer in the home office, and I'm on to other things. I figure enough people have my phone number if an after-hours work emergency happens. **Notifications**. Turn them off obviously; I turned off almost all application notifications on my devices. Outside of a few people that I want to ensure the ability to reach me, the **constant distraction** of News, Instagram, Twitter, etc., is something that I want to eliminate. Gone. Obviously, next get rid of the **useless** apps. You know - the apps you download "just in case." If you haven't used it in two months - **delete it**. Give it a try for a week, or even better - April. **Delete em**. See what happens. Not only is it freeing to declutter oneself, **it allows you to focus on the things that matter.** Obviously. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I finally got around to listening to the famous episode 42 of [Freakonomics](https://freakonomics.com/) called "**The Upside of Quitting**." The episode centers on the economic concepts of "sunk cost" vs. "opportunity cost": > **"Sunk cost" is about the past** — it's the time, money, or sweat equity that you've put into something, which makes it hard to abandon. > > **"Opportunity cost" is about the future.** It means that for every hour or dollar you spend on one thing, you're giving up the opportunity to spend that hour or dollar on something else — something that might make your life better. If only you weren't so worried about the sunk cost. **If only you could quit.** I talked about this a few weeks ago in "[Feed Your Focus](https://www.makoism.com/p/feed-your-focus?s=w)": [Feed Your FocusMaybe it's the times that we live in, two years of sitting inside through a pandemic, or as I age, I’m getting a sense of my own mortality, but I find that I've been spending a lot of time thinking about time, focus and priorities. The big takeaway I've had is that![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/feed-your-focus/) But I love the framing of [this podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519?i=1000415010191) to align the opportunity to do less with sunk cost. A brilliant listen. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/depthsofwiki/status/1508496824734294021) [mattsurelee](https://instagram.com/mattsurelee) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/__ss-rehost__IG-CbapOC2PSOK.jpg) A post shared by Matt Shirley ([@mattsurelee](https://instagram.com/mattsurelee)) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In one of the best 'letters of note', learn one of the best ways to get out of a speeding ticket in "**You will notice that a time-travel option is not included on this model**" - [More](https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/you-will-notice-that-a-time-travel) - [Will Larson](https://lethain.com/about/) (CTO of Calm) has quickly become one of the "thinkers" that I follow daily. In this week **favorite post**, "**Some career advice.**", tackles some contradictory ideas when it comes to people and how they navigate career choices - [More](https://lethain.com/career-advice/) - A humorous take on the new film, [The Batman](https://www.thebatman.com/). While I enjoyed the film (my son has seen it a bladder-busting 3 or 4 times already), I kinda agree with "**I Am Eight Years Old and Would Like a Batman Movie Aimed at Me, Please**" - [More](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-am-eight-years-old-and-would-like-a-batman-movie-aimed-at-me-please) - [John Siracusa](https://hypercritical.co/contact/) writes about "**Independence Day**"; he's finally 'gone indie' and is talking publicly about leaving a regular job - [More](http://hypercritical.co/2022/03/30/independence-day) - "**These Ukrainian Runners Are Still Training in a War Zone**" is a beautiful read about a commitment to keep active during the Russian invasion - [More](https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a39517805/ukraine-running) - I liked where the post "**Questions, questions**" was going; a collection of exciting things to ask of your team members - [More](https://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2022/03/so-each-and-every-week-these-leaders-have-a-brief-check-in-with-each-team-member-during-which-they-ask-two-simple-questions.html) - Described by the author as '*an accurate way of thinking about this is that it's an ever-advancing process, and though some cyclical moments will stand out more than others, we're always absorbing, processing, refining, and recalibrating our external sensory and experiential apparatuses to account for our expansion, contraction, and recalibration rhythm.*' - find out more in "**Rebalancing Inputs**" - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/rebalancing-inputs/) - "**Kool-Aid man can burst through walls because he weighs 5.5 tons.**" is an [entertaining video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQwJVfVAPLQ) as well as a D&D character sheet dissecting Kool-Aid man. - [More](https://www.jwz.org/blog/2022/03/kool-aid-man-can-burst-through-walls-because-he-weighs-5-5-tons/) - File under gross: "**British Woman Breaks World Record for Most Chicken McNuggets Eaten in One Minute**" - [More](https://www.foodandwine.com/news/chicken-mcnugget-eating-world-record-leah-shutkever) - In his always thought-provoking entries, [Om](https://om.co/) explores "**Why iPhone is today's Kodak Brownie Camera**." Read about '*that moment reinforced for me the extent to which the iPhone had changed not just the act of photography, but the very notion of photos.*' - [More](https://om.co/2021/01/24/why-iphone-is-todays-kodak-brownie-camera/) - [With great power comes great responsibility](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With%5Fgreat%5Fpower%5Fcomes%5Fgreat%5Fresponsibility). Nothing to laugh at when an "**AI suggested 40,000 new possible chemical weapons in just six hours**" - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/17/22983197/ai-new-possible-chemical-weapons-generative-models-vx) ## **Fin** No commentary closing this week out. I just had this one in the queue for a bit - "Pink Floyd - When the Tigers Broke Free." Be well. ✌🏻 ### Two Simple Ideas URL: https://makoism.com/two-simple-ideas/ Last updated: 2022-10-19T13:33:20.000Z Apologizes for the last-minute [restdaybrag last week](https://www.makoism.com/p/restdaybrag-819?s=w), but I needed it. It was wild that a week of travel and in-person meetings was utterly draining. I've heard many people complain that 'video chat' is draining, but I found going back to face-to-face conversations to be exhausting — almost a sensory overload after 30 months of 2-dimensional interaction. Now that I've had [time to be bored](https://www.makoism.com/p/surprising-things-about-boredom?s=w), let's get back to it. *(Side note: my week is seldom dull, I could use more boredom).* One of the ongoing conversations I find myself in is how "[the world has changed](https://hbr.org/2022/03/the-great-resignation-didnt-start-with-the-pandemic)", people "[hate their jobs](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/03/american-great-resignation-hate-work/627761/)" or the media going on about "[the great resignation](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/25/jobs-is-the-great-resignation-over.html)". I'm not a psychologist (often think I need one though), and I have no idea what ebbs and flows with the tides of the human psyche, but my gut is telling me that what's happening in the chaotic world of 2022 is instead **a great re-evaluation** of what and how people spend each day. Perhaps, it all just really boils down to two simple ideas? - people want to work with others that **lift them up**, **trust**, **recognize**, **grow**, **support** and **respect** them. - corollary: people don't want to work **with** or **for** assholes. This re-evaluation also doesn't mean your only recourse is to quit a job you're unhappy with but rather an opportunity to explore where you make a change for the better. Maybe you **can** do that at your current job. Here's a hint: places in organizations where there’s a mantra of "**that's not the way we used to do it**" is often **rife** for disruption with new ideas and possibilities. Which gets me to answer a question my co-workers ask me: why all [the pirate](https://www.fastcompany.com/1665840/an-hr-lesson-from-steve-jobs-if-you-want-change-agents-hire-pirates) stuff (pirate coins, flags, wigs, hats, etc)? It’s simple: **the pirate is the ultimate change agent.** > *A pirate can function without a bureaucracy. Pirates support one another and support their leader in the accomplishment of a goal. A pirate can stay creative and on task in a difficult or hostile environment. A pirate can act independently and take intelligent risks, but always within the scope of the greater vision and the needs of the greater team.* In the spirit of '*[it's more fun to be a pirate than to join the navy](https://www.fastcompany.com/1665840/an-hr-lesson-from-steve-jobs-if-you-want-change-agents-hire-pirates)*', here's to the crazy ones. On a completely different note, I had to drop in my favorite moment from the tournament so far: > [](https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1504621225959600135) If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I really enjoyed this [Rich Roll podcast](https://www.richroll.com/all-episodes/) on 'A Deep Dive to Mental Toughness'. > *It’s easy to look at top performers, elite athletes, and those crushing outrageous achievements—and conclude that their success boils down to sheer genetic luck, supreme talent, or unlimited resources.* > > *While success can be significantly influenced by those variables, all things being equal, the difference between those who manifest their aspirations and those who hold themselves back comes down to one distinct element: you guessed it, *mindset*.* ## **Thought(s) of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/jamesclear/status/1499414295976701953) And a bonus one…. [mattsurelee](https://instagram.com/mattsurelee) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/__ss-rehost__IG-CbapOC2PSOK.jpg) A post shared by Matt Shirley ([@mattsurelee](https://instagram.com/mattsurelee)) ## **Latest obsession** I laughed and am equally confused. But it’s too good not to share; Enjoy, **[Taxidermy Chicken Lamps by Sebastian Errazuriz](https://www.sadanduseless.com/chicken-lamps/).** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e441a2d7-c0bb-4d1f-b081-f4fc2f500879_660x660.jpeg) And if you’re wondering, no, I didn’t buy one. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - If you're a frequent reader, you already know that I'm a huge Vonnegut fan, so it shouldn't be a surprise that my favorite read this week was "**Being Good At Things Isn't The Point Of Doing Them**." It's a touching story from Vonnegut that needs repeating over and over - [More](https://www.boredpanda.com/being-good-at-things-quote-kurt-vonnegut) - A look at "**The Pathless Path**" and how to get off from the path laid out for you. 'Taking the time to **live** *is the work*'; beautifully said - [More](https://tinyrevolutions.substack.com/p/tiny-revolutions-88-the-pathless) - We're still playing [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html) daily here, so it was fascinating to read "**Wordle, 15 Million Tweets Later**" to see the breakdown of word complexity, its relevance/popularity on Twitter, etc. - [More](https://observablehq.com/@rlesser/wordle-twitter-exploration) - "**Better Names for Food**" is a fun read, and I agree that "hot hot lump lumps" is better than "oatmeal" - [More](https://kottke.org/22/03/better-names-for-food) - I'm currently reading the book "**This is how they tell me the world ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race**." I don't know what else to say except that its some **horrifying shit** \- [More](https://churbuck.com/2022/03/02/review-this-is-how-they-tell-me-the-world-ends-the-cyberweapons-arms-race/) - "**David Lynch Visualizes How Transcendental Meditation Works with Sharpie & Big Pad of Paper**." I think the title of this one sums it up nicely. - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2019/11/david-lynch-visualizes-how-transcendental-meditation-works.html) - "**Strava Abruptly Ends 3rd Party Data Sync to Apple Health**" (note: they have now [reversed course and re-enabled Apple Health](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/03/strava-reverses-course-turns-back-on-apple-health-sync-functionality.html)) reaffirmed my decision to stop using Strava a few years back (beyond the pressure of keeping up with the feed). But a perfect look at why you need to be more in control of your health data - [More](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/03/strava-abruptly-ends-3rd-party-data-push-to-apple-health.html) - I was curious, but not surprised to find out that the research shows that "**Seattle is the top destination where college students want to land**" - [More](https://www.axios.com/exclusive-poll-where-college-students-want-to-move-seattle-9418efc8-df61-4569-9de4-d7511b62caaa.html) - I enjoyed this retrospective from Ian Bogost on his infamous [cow-clicker social media app](https://www.wired.com/2011/12/ff-cowclicker/). In "**I Hugged a Cow**," he explores what the game meant to people and that '*you can't do cow therapy without cow trauma*' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/03/what-cow-therapy-taught-me/627044/) - "**The Eternal Backpack Question, Answered: Is It Cooler to Two-Strap or to One-Strap?**" Can you guess what the answer is? - [More](https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/11/two-straps-on-a-backpack-or-one-strap-whats-cool.html) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with a fun video from [Google Firestarters](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWml%5Fv3uOeEbdGRd9HXj7MA). This episode features [Russell Davis (VP Marketing, Bulb)](http://www.russelldavies.com/index.html), and discusses: > *the delicate dance that strategists perform between *simplicity and complexity*, how the most successful planners are those that can get an organization to do something, but also how making things easy to do is actually really hard.* His book, "[Everything I Know about Life I Learned from PowerPoint](https://profilebooks.com/work/everything-i-know-about-life-i-learned-from-powerpoint/)" is on my **must-read** reading list. Be well. ✌🏻 ### #RestDayBrag URL: https://makoism.com/restdaybrag-819/ Last updated: 2022-03-19T12:06:09.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3455d104-9c45-42d3-af90-bfbe62c0b2c0_6000x4000.jpeg) **I’m tired.** It’s been a long week and the first time I’ve traveled in almost **30 months**. While it was fun to finally meet co-workers that I have only ever known through the tiny square boxes on Zoom and Teams, it was interesting to see how the stimulation of face-to-face interaction just **wiped me out**. I’ve written about Rest Day Brags before…. [#RestDayBragInspired by those that brag about rest days instead of “epic” adventures, this week I’m leaning hard into it and taking a quick Makoism #restdaybrag.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/restdaybrag/) So I will take this weekend off, rest, and recoup, and I’ll be back next week. Until then, here are the top 5 makoism’s from the few months. **See you next week on the flip side; well-rested**. [Surprising Things About Boredom"Im bored." If you are a parent, these are the two most dreaded words. Now that I'm writing this, I probably know just as many adults who have a fundamental problem with being bored. Plenty of people can't sit still. They require constant motion, passive consumption (![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/surprising-things-about-boredom/) [Mako "Things I Like": 2021For the last several years (7 to be exact), it's been an ongoing tradition to keep track of and share things/apps/processes that I have found helpful throughout the year. Think of it as my "yearly review" with links and tips for the things that I surround myself with as part of an ongoing attempt to maximize my daily workflow, put me …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/) [I Don't KnowFor the last several years, I've kept a commonplace journal in DayOne that I store all sorts of bits and pieces of wisdom that I run across. It could be a favorite quote. Or perhaps an inspiring picture. A random story. A doodle. A word. Whatever goes. The only rule is to make it worthwhile for yourself.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) [ContinuityIf there were a single word to describe thoughts this week, it would be continuity. While I am not solely referring to this week's outage of Amazon, it amuses me when people are shocked at how interconnected everyday life is to cloud providers. For example, a![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/continuity/) [Don’t Do ItAnyone else in the same boat? Here we are, a few weeks into 2022, and my calendar is already a complete train wreck. I honestly don’t know what happened; I have systems in place with “blocks,” say ‘no’ to meetings without agendas and decline things that waste time.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/) ### Surprising Things About Boredom URL: https://makoism.com/surprising-things-about-boredom/ Last updated: 2022-03-12T11:28:00.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/680f8f7e-34f9-41d5-a2ba-449c586e7305_2889x2063.jpeg) "*Im bored*." If you are a parent, these are the two most dreaded words. Now that I'm writing this, I probably know just as many adults who *have a fundamental problem* with being bored. Plenty of people can't sit still. They require constant motion, passive consumption ([doomscroll](https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/health/mental-health/dangers-doomscrolling-mental-health/95-3db0eaf0-6dfb-481c-9a98-fee1f60abe42) anyone?) or entertainment. The very prospect of just sitting there, *being bored*, staring into space with nothing to do is something that many would likely find a frustrating or annoying experience. It turns out that **[people would rather be electrically shocked than alone with their thoughts](https://www.science.org/content/article/people-would-rather-be-electrically-shocked-left-alone-their-thoughts)**. So I guess the last thing you want to hear me say is that **boredom is a fact of life**. Instead of running from it, **embrace it**. Don't fight it; enjoy it. Focus on it. Here's a shocker (too soon?): did you know that [being bored can be good for you](https://time.com/5480002/benefits-of-boredom/)? > *At its core, boredom is "a search for neural stimulation that isn't satisfied... If we can't find that, our mind will create it." As demonstrated by this study and plenty others before it, *boredom can enable creativity and problem-solving by allowing the mind to wander and daydream*. "There's no other way of getting that stimulation, so you have to go into your head,"... You may be surprised by what you come up with when you do.* After working at home for over the last two years, I've found that I need to have more pauses. More silence. More boredom. A time-out from all the noise and distraction of all passive entertainment. > *"Boredom can enable creativity and problem-solving by allowing the mind to wander and daydream"* Damn straight - I need more of that, now more than ever. To close out some fun thinking about boredom - I'd suggest trying to apply some boredom into your job. As a technologist, I like to follow the philosophy from the "[Boring Technology Club](https://boringtechnology.club/)"; inspired by [Dan McKinley](https://mcfunley.com/) 's famous talk "[Choose Boring Technology](https://mcfunley.com/choose-boring-technology)." > *What counts as boring? That’s a little tricky. “Boring” should not be conflated with “bad.” There is technology out there that is both boring and bad. *You should not use any of that*.* > > *The problem with “best tool for the job” thinking is that it takes a myopic view of the words “best” and “job.” And the “best” tool is the one that occupies the “least worst” position for as many of your problems as possible.* > > *One of the most worthwhile exercises I recommend here is to consider *how you would solve your immediate problem without adding anything new*.* > > *It can be amazing how far a small set of technology choices can go.* Be boring. It’s interesting. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png) Read Makoism in the new Substack appNow available for iOS[Get the app](https://substack.com/app/get-ios?utm%5Fcampaign=app-marketing&utm%5Fcontext=author-post-insert&utm%5Fsource=makoism) The Substack app is currently available for iOS. If you don’t have an Apple device, you can join the Android waitlist [here](https://substack.com/app/android-waitlist?utm%5Fcampaign=app-marketing&utm%5Fcontext=author-post-insert&utm%5Fcontent=makoism). ## **Forward Thinking** On an inspiring item, Ernest Shackleton's Endurance ship was discovered in the ice of Antarctica after 107 years this week. The ship sank in 1915 and was found 3,008 meters (1.9 miles or 9,842 feet) deep in the [Weddell Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weddell%5FSea), along the northern coast of Antarctica, south of the Falkland Islands. Its tale is historic and reads like something out of Hollywood: 28 sailors whose ship was stuck in the ice had to rough it out on the doomed ship for months before eventually abandoning it. They set up rudimentary camp facilities onboard ice floes that were floating northward. With no more than 2 pounds each of personal gear - it turned into an epic tale of survival and the incredible leadership of Shackleton. Not one crew member lost their life. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/anthilemoon/status/1492160748927258625) ## **Latest obsession** After every [Apple event](https://www.apple.com/apple-events/march-2022/), people end up asking me what I found interesting. I was in need of a monitor for my "life 2.0" setup, so I did go ahead and pre-order the new [Apple Studio Display](https://www.apple.com/studio-display/). ![Apple Studio Display](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fd358a1b-fafb-484d-a8a0-c69963cf95eb_1024x682.jpeg "Apple Studio Display") **What's really wild here**? The monitor has an Apple A13 system on a chip to power audio and webcam processing - remember this is the same processor that was used in the iPhone 11 **built into the monitor** to drive spacial audio and Centerstage cameras. **Insane**. Cant wait to "see" how this performs. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Favorite post of the week: "**Woman Takes Anti-Selfies by "Dying" at Famous Landmarks, And It's Brilliant**" - [More](https://www.sadanduseless.com/funny-tourist-photos/) - What a wonderful read (sent to me from my [sister-in-law](https://www.arbonne.com/us/en/arb/mindyziffrenhall/)) on how the culture around personal productivity (something that I have dived way too hard in at times) is isn't a solution; **it's the problem**. "**Productivity Isn't About Time Management. It’s About Attention Management.**" is a worthy read - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/smarter-living/productivity-isnt-about-time-management-its-about-attention-management.html) - Sadly, I remember seeing this in the theater. VR's early days, way before the Metaverse: "**The oral history of 'The Lawnmower Man,' the sci-fi movie that predicted VR**" - [More](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-lawnmower-man-oral-history) - "**A dozen lives**," a self-proclaimed '*bottoms-up approach to career planning*' really spoke to me: '*prioritize being present in the moment, paying attention to what you like doing, keeping an ear to the ground for opportunities that better fit those desires, and moving towards those opportunities that resonate with you.*' - [More](https://stewfortier.substack.com/p/a-dozen-lives) - "**This Is How To Be An Emotionally Intelligent Parent: 4 Secrets**" is some practical advice (IMHO) not only for parents but for anyone leading a team - [More](https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2022/03/parenting/) - A friend at the crossroads pinged me this past week for some career advice, and I turned her towards "**Live Without Regrets: These Are The Top 5 Career Regrets**". Several themes resonate with me deeper in this article every year I get older. - [More](https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/top-career-regrets/) - "**What's grosser than gross?**" presents some **great** gross-out's this week - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/whats-grosser-than-gross) - I've always been interested in [game theory](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-theory/), but this one is just too scary with what's going on in the world. Read more on "**The game theory of attacking nuclear power plants**" - [More](https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2022/03/the-game-theory-of-attacking-nuclear-power-plants.html) - This week, a poignant read deduces that '*the reason why so many of us are at the end of our rope? We allowed work to be what gave our lives meanin*g'. Read more in "**Your work is not your god: welcome to the age of the burnout epidemic**" - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/06/burnout-epidemic-work-lives-meaning) - "**The Art of Getting Your Shit Done (A Productivity Manifesto)**" is a great list of 7 things to focus on to get things done. Number 7 is the most important - [More](https://gyshido.com/) - How can you take on new tasks without "**Making Room For New Things.**" '*Trying something new is an intentional act. There's a good chance it will feel uncomfortable and will be cognitively taxing.*' - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-752-making-room-for-new-things) ## **Fin** It's horrible to watch what's going on as Russia invaded Ukraine, talking to my kids who asked about the possibility of World War III. I try to keep this newsletter far from anything political, but the world right now is a bit crazy. I try to take comfort in music when the world spins out of control, and I found that I was listening to a ton of [Roger Waters](https://rogerwaters.com/)this week, in particular, "**The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)**" from [Radio K.A.O.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio%5FK.A.O.S). If you're not familiar with the album, it is a bit of a head trip from the former lead singer of [Pink Floyd](https://www.pinkfloyd.com/): > *The album explores Billy's mind and view on the world through an on-air conversation between him and Jim, a disc jockey at a local fictitious radio station named Radio KAOS. Billy eventually hacks into a military satellite and fools the world into thinking nuclear ICBMs are about to be detonated at major cities all over the world while deactivating the military's power to retaliate.* > > *The album concludes with a song about how everyone, in thinking they were about to die, realizes that the fear and competitiveness peddled by the mass media is much less important than their love for family and the larger community.* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Feed Your Focus URL: https://makoism.com/feed-your-focus/ Last updated: 2022-03-05T11:26:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bb9dae69-0cd7-4fa8-9436-2bd67bd3d174_6000x4000.jpeg) Maybe it's the times that we live in, two years of sitting inside through a pandemic, or as I age, I’m getting a sense of my own mortality, but I find that I've been spending a lot of time thinking about **time**, **focus** and **priorities**. The big takeaway I've had is that **it's ok to say no**. It is. I talked a bit about this a few weeks ago in the post "[Dont Do It](https://www.makoism.com/p/dont-do-it?s=w)". This week, I shifted into a different gear on **why** you say no. Here's a clip from Steve Jobs on **focus**: > *"We try to focus and do very few things well. Focusing is hard because it doesn't mean saying yes, it means saying no. We decide not to do a lot of things, focus on a handful of things and do them well."* We all have a different pressures to do all kinds of things that we want (or don't want to do). All the things that you think you *should* do. Or something that others **expect** you to do. It's draining. **But you can't focus on what matters if you spend time on things that don't**. One of the best insights I've put into practice is from the excellent book [Essentialism](https://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0804137382) on that "**if it isn't a clear yes, then it's a clear no**." > *The way of the Essentialist rejects the idea that we can fit it all in. Instead, it requires us to grapple with real trade-offs and make tough decisions.* > > *The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the non-essentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have clear, smooth passage.* > > *The way of the Essentialist is the path to being in control of our own choices. It is the path on which we enjoy the journey, not just the destination.* Maybe it’s just easiest to think of it this way: **you shouldn't focus on what you have to give up; it's about what you want to go big on**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I'm sure by now you've seen the Wheel of Fortune mishap that happened with "Another Feather in Your Cap." While it reminds me of the [Tom Hanks skit from Saturday Night Live](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-GAQezjg8A), what I wanted to call out here was the response to the clip that went viral on the Internet from its host, [Pat Sajak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat%5FSajak). From [his twitter](https://twitter.com/PatOnWheel/): > *It always pains me when nice people come on our show to play a game and win some money and maybe fulfill a lifelong dream, and are then subject to online ridicule when they make a mistake or something goes awry.* > > *Last night's "Feather in your cap" puzzle was a case in point. Sitting at home, it seems incredible that they couldn't solve it, *but I knew in real time what was happening.** > > *The first attempted solve was "Feather in your hat" which, by the way, is how a lot of people say it. So all three players thought it was a good solve, and were stunned when I said it was wrong.* > > *Now imagine you're on national TV, and you're suddenly thrown a curve and you begin getting worried about looking stupid, and if the feather isn't in your hat, where the heck can it be? You start flailing away looking for alternatives rather than synonyms for "hat."* > > *And, of course, when it's solved, you want to crawl in a hole. I've been praised online for "keeping it together" and not making fun of the players. Truth is, all I want to do is help to get them through it and convince them that those things happen even to very bright people.* > > **But mocking them online and calling them names? These are good people in a bad situation under a kind of stress that you can't begin to appreciate from the comfort of your couch.** > > *Good-natured laughter is one thing. Heck, they laughed at themselves. But, hey, cut them some slack. Unless you're there, you have no idea how different it is in the studio.* > > *I have fun with players and I tease them occasionally, but when things go wrong, I feel for them, and I try to salve the wounds on camera and off. So, yeah, it was an oddly entertaining puzzle and it's okay to laugh at the situation. But have a little heart.* > > *After all, you may be there one day. And no one wants to be trending on Twitter.* Wise words, Pat. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1492941874889375746) ## **Latest obsession** I recently purchased the book [How to Live](https://sive.rs/h) from [Derek Sivers](https://sive.rs/h). Described as: > *There's a great book called "Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives." Each chapter is a different short story about what happens when you die. But what I love most is the format. Each chapter disagrees with the rest!* > > *I got inspired to write a book called "HOW TO LIVE" in that same format.* > > *27 different answers to the question of how to live your life.* > > *Each chapter disagrees with the rest.* > > *But in this case, they're all true, so how can you reconcile it?* > > *You'll see.* I'm looking forward to reading it soon, but it seemed so interesting, I thought I would share it right away. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - For those that have been reading [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) for some time, you know that I am a massive fan of [Tim Urban's writing](https://waitbutwhy.com/). "**How Covid Stole Our Time and How We Can Get It Back**" is my favorite read this week; it's an opinion piece for the NYT that covers lenses many of his past writings starting with [Depressing Math](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html) and how it's changed us - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/opinion/covid-pandemic-depressing-math.html) - In this weeks'*crazy but fascinating*' tools - the author made a tool that strips out everything but the questions in a piece of writing. Check out "**The Power of Seeing Only The Questions In A Piece Of Writing**" - [More](https://clivethompson.medium.com/the-power-of-seeing-only-the-questions-in-a-piece-of-writing-8f486d2c6d7d) - Here is an excellent reflective piece on "**How to live the rest of your life**." Lots of sound advice in this one - [More](https://howtolivetherestofyourlife.wordpress.com/) - "**Die With Me**" is a chat app you can only use when you have less than 5% battery. '*Die together in a chatroom on your way to offline peace'*. - [More](https://diewithme.online/) - A mistake I've seen over and over: people staying too long at their jobs, no matter how unhappy they are. "**How to waste your career, one comfortable year at a time**" explores how complacency and a misplaced sense of loyalty keep people locked into unhappy jobs - [More](https://apoorvagovind.substack.com/p/how-to-waste-your-career-one-comfortable?s=r) - "**The days are long but the decades are short**" is another post detailing the author's reflections on how time is spent as he turns 30 - [More](https://blog.samaltman.com/the-days-are-long-but-the-decades-are-short) - "**When Nothing/Everything (Actually) Works...**" explores the trap teams get into when they are comfortable, and things are working, and how "exploring new shiny things" can be the trigger for a '*wicked loop*' - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-952-when-nothingeverything-actually) - "**Microvacations Can Help Prevent Burnout**" is a good read on how to explore simple ways to get away on '*boredom days*' - [More](https://www.wellandgood.com/microvacations-for-burnout) - I had to reference this article a few times this week: "**Everyone Thinks They're Managing by Outcomes. Here's How to Do it.**" An excellent read from [Teresa Torres](https://www.producttalk.org/) on the struggles of managing towards outcomes - [More](https://www.producttalk.org/2019/10/managing-outcomes/) - I found this article when I was reading more on the Zodiac killer, but follow a former journalist, known as "**The Serial-Killer Detector**," who helped develop an algorithm that finds patterns in crime by using AI and the most extensive collection of murder records in the country - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/27/the-serial-killer-detector) ## **Fin** I ran across this fantastic video of a 16-year-old Jason Bateman making his first appearance on the Tonight Show. Enjoy the nostalgia. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Circling the Drain URL: https://makoism.com/circling-the-drain/ Last updated: 2022-02-26T12:44:37.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3cefab65-734a-4ace-8751-dcf8d39f0d06_5758x3839.jpeg) bathroom. Why not... let's throw this one out to the Internet and see what happens. **Negative people suck**. They just suck to be around. No matter what happens, they can't be happy, and when nothing wrong is going on, they create chaos. They are like an anti-matter black hole that sucks the life out of you—crushing your spirit and soul into a place of never-ending darkness. Did you know that they can even cause you [health problems](https://medium.com/the-mission/why-negative-people-are-literally-killing-you-and-how-to-obliterate-pessimism-from-your-life-eb85fadced87)? > *Research has shown that even a small amount of negative brain activity can lead to a weakened immune system, making you more prone to illness, and even lead to a heart attack or a stroke.* By no means do I pretend to be a happy-go-lucky, always look-on-the positive-side-of-things person (I'd argue I'm more realist), but as I get older - I don't want to be around it anymore. Life’s too damn short. Like all things, it's all a work in progress. Some things I’m trying: - Live more in the moment. - Look at negative situations as a call to action rather than a defeat. - Cutting negative people as much as I can from my day and trying to spend more time with those genuinely happy. - Don’t fall into the trap of getting drawn into the silly drama that doesn't add anything of value. Most importantly - I'm trying hard to focus on things in my control, let go of things outside of my control, and **recognize what's real**. Maybe this is called a "*realistic optimist*." [David Hieatt](https://davidhieatt.typepad.com/doonethingwell/2014/06/your-time-is-limited-remember-that-.html) talks about "the time bank" from the book '[Do Purpose](https://thedobook.co/products/do-purpose-why-brands-with-a-purpose-do-better-and-matter-more)': > *Each day, you're given 86,400 seconds from the 'Time Bank'. Everyone is given the same. There are no exceptions. Once you make your withdrawal, you're free to spend it as you want. The 'Time Bank' won't tell you how to spend it. Time poorly spent will not be replaced with more time. Time doesn't do refunds.* > > *Time is your biggest gift. Indeed, it is more valuable than money as you can make more money, but not more time. But there is one simple truth: Your time is limited. And one day you will go to the bank and it won't have any more for you. And it will be at the exact moment that you will know the answer to this simple question: Did I use my time well?* I don't know about you, but since 2020, it's been a bit of a breaking point for me on this stuff. I've worked hard to stop spending time focusing on those harmful black holes and not wasting any one of those 86,400 seconds circling the proverbial toilet drain. Choose Life. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I've spent my fair share of time documenting my Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) process. See [my annual review](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/), and "[The Mind Palace](https://www.makoism.com/p/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b?utm%5Fsource=url)". But two articles this week got me thinking. First is **[The Fall of Roam](https://every.to/superorganizers/the-fall-of-roam)**. > *After some time, though, reality started to sink in. 'I am not really going back through all of these notes as often as I thought I would.' My next automatic assumption is that if they were just organized better I might go through them more. And so, the question starts to creep in again. 'Where should I put this?'* And then, **[Notes apps are where ideas go to die. And that's good](https://reproof.app/blog/notes-apps-help-us-forget)**. > *You think of something, write it down, and feel free. Find something else, bookmark it, and close the tab without worry. If you need that discovery again, it's only a few taps away. The placebo effect—or, at least, the new app effect—is real.* > > *By letting go, you've cleared up space for new quests. No more dozens of tabs open forever; you saved them, then let them go back into the ether. No perpetual thinking on an idea; you wrote it down, let your second brain remember for you.* > > *Then we're free. We've stalked the prey, secured it for later nourishment. We can safely forget. We've insured against faulty memories. Now on to the next quest, finding something new to stash.* > > *That's the true value of notebooks, notes apps, bookmarking tools, and everything else built to help us remember. They're insurance for ideas. They let us forget.* Now I'm on the cusp of just burning my entire legacy PKM-interlinked-automated world down to the ground. I want simple. I don't want to hoard notes. I want to be **free** of the promise of stashing all this stuff away for some enlightenment down the road. I'm not sure where this will end—probably another blog post. But I love this idea of constantly challenging myself on things on apps, processes, workflows that at one time were a 'super-power.' More to come. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1490470030995345408) This is exactly how I make guac for the kids when they need it done quickly. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - A [few articles this week](https://www.askamanager.org/2022/01/the-new-hire-who-showed-up-is-not-the-same-person-we-interviewed.html) centered around a new hire who showed up to the first day on the job, not being the same person that interviewed. Read all about "**That Wild Ask A Manager Story**" - [More](https://jacobian.org/2022/feb/14/that-wild-aam-story/), [More](https://www.askamanager.org/2022/01/the-new-hire-who-showed-up-is-not-the-same-person-we-interviewed.html) and [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/business/do-you-know-who-that-worker-you-just-hired-really-is-probably-not/) - Speaking of fake employees - "**The elaborate con that tricked dozens into working for a fake design agency**." Your heart has to go out to the remote employees who spent months working for free for a company that didn't even exist. - [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60387324) - I love [explorations around ](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/)*[what's next](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/)*, especially when it comes to personal area networks. "**The Ultimate Minimalist Phone**," thinks about this from the lens of going [Apple Watch](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-7/) **only**; as a way to remove the demands of a smartphone but keeping it as a lite communications device - [More](https://gregmorris.co.uk/blog/the-ultimate-minimalist-phone/) - Speaking of the Apple Watch, this one explores a cool idea around "**The Travel Focus Mode**." This mode flips to a series of widgets only with the apps you need when turned on. Super interesting take - [More](https://matthewbischoff.com/travel-focus-mode/) - [John Cutler](https://cutlefish.substack.com/) has a good read on "**Making Room For New Things**." You need to "*periodically review the (supposedly) high-value things that are on autopilot - ask yourself, are they still high value?*" - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-752-making-room-for-new-things) - As an espresso drinker, "**The Birth of Espresso: The Story Behind the Coffee Shots That Fuel Modern Life**" was quickly a must watch - [More](https://www.openculture.com/2021/08/the-invention-of-espresso.html) - Sigh. Not sure what to do about this one, as I've been a fan of [Otter.AI](https://otter.ai/referrals/IFUG5PRC) since discovering it. It's a fantastic service that transcribes audio files (meetings, video calls, podcasts) so that you can take notes from them. But "**My journey down the rabbit hole of every journalist's favorite app**" reveals some of the privacy problems with these systems - [More](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/16/my-journey-down-the-rabbit-hole-of-every-journalists-favorite-app-00009216) - Second Sight, a company that makes retinal implants, literally **shuts down people's eyes**. In "**Their Bionic Eyes Are Now Obsolete and Unsupported**" read all about the company that had a merger and left their customers in the dark - [More](https://spectrum.ieee.org/bionic-eye-obsolete) - "**The Strange Story of DC's Lost AM Radio Station Still Transmitting Inauguration Road Closures From 2013**" explores a forgotten low power radio station (1650AM in DC) that has been broadcasting the same road closures for the last eight years - [More](https://www.thedrive.com/tech/39549/the-strange-story-of-dcs-lost-am-radio-station-still-transmitting-inauguration-road-closures-from-2013) - A counterintuitive approach, but "**Imitate, then Innovate**" explores this methodology for discovering your unique style - [More](https://perell.com/essay/imitate-then-innovate/) - Fresh starts are a wonderful place to re-evaluate everything. "**How returning to the craft taught me to be a better leader**," tells the story of a designer who transitioned out of management and back into the field to strengthen and understand knowledge gaps to find what they needed to be a better leader - [More](https://uxdesign.cc/how-returning-to-the-craft-taught-me-to-be-a-better-leader-d3cf9b3b4113) - "**Escaping the Comfort Zone**" explores using fear as a valuable measure of change and how to aim for discomfort as a way to break from what's familiar and safe - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/escaping-the-comfort-zone) ## **Fin** I came across this new cut of "When the Levee Breaks" by [John Paul Jones and various musicians around the world](https://www.openculture.com/2022/02/when-the-levee-breaks-performed-by-john-paul-jones-musicians-around-the-world.html) that I thought would be a great way to send off this week. > *The song is a rework of the 1929 release by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927; "the most destructive river flooding in U.S. history."* The new video is of Jones accompanied by over 20 musicians and dancers from seven different countries. Enjoy. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Breathe URL: https://makoism.com/justbreath/ Last updated: 2022-02-19T11:42:44.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e92bd6b2-d0ad-4639-92b6-cf553d8e6728_5472x3648.jpeg) breathe **DISCLAIMER** It's probably best to start with a disclaimer this week: I am not a doctor. I don't pretend to be a doctor (though someday maybe i’ll play one on TV). So please don't take anything that I talk about here with anything but a grain of salt as another schlub posting to the internet after doing some reading. Please consult your doctor before doing anything. Like, anything. After last week's mention of [breathing](https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/) and digging further into the problems associated with it, I started to read about the benefits of **breathing correctly**. By paying attention to my breath to see if I was breathing through my mouth or nose, I finally put into practice some routines to switch how I breathe. I found this article on [email apena](https://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/email-apnea-holding-breath-while-working) particularly interesting. Disclosure: I also have mild sleep apnea. Life deals ya things in spades sometimes. :) But… > r*esearch observed the breathing patterns of hundreds of people while seated at a computer and found that about 80 percent of people would unconsciously hold their breath or drop into shallow breathing when they respond to email or texting..* In my typical information-craving fashion, down the habit hole I went. This whole '*mouth breathing*' thing seems to be a source of **real trouble**. Give this quick video a watch: In summary: > *… found studies where people who breathe at a rate of about 20 breaths a minute, so the average considered normal is 12-18 breaths a minute, so 20 breaths a minute is maybe even on the low end for populations with anxiety and asthma. All they're doing is bringing air here and getting it out. *That means they can only use 50% of that air.*Because they're filling up their throats, they're filling up their mouths, they're filling up the bronchus, all of these areas can't participate in gas exchange. So, they're just wasting air and bringing it in, bringing it out.* > > *Only 50% at that rate when you're taking it 6l a minute. If you slow that down to *12 breaths per minute, you're taking in 70%*. That's how much more efficient you are. 20% difference, incredible!* Right now, it looks like I'm pretty consistent (according to Apple Health) at around 16.7BrPM. Sleeping, I drop to approximately 14 breaths per minute. So I've started to ["train" to be a nasal breather](https://betterhumans.pub/i-used-nasal-breathing-to-become-a-better-athlete-b1693d53fc3d). The method described in the article is relatively simple: *while you are doing aerobic exercise, breathe only through your nose. Exercise for some time (10-25 minutes). Focus on breathing through your nose. If you have to mouth breath, slow down!* I was **shocked** that it would be that easy. Well, holy crap - it’s **not** that easy when you try to do it. But it's something I will play around with and continue to build to see if I get results. Next thing I want to try: the [Wim Hof method](https://www.wimhofmethod.com/breathing-exercises). If you're not familiar with Wim How, he's known as 'The Iceman.' He has developed a technique of slow breathing that '*people who consistently practice it report anecdotal results from improving athletic performance to quieting the symptoms of chronic disease*.' Pretty interesting to read more about it over the following weeks. I’m sure i’ll be following up on this in a few months with my success or failure. For now: **BREATHE**! If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Another great quick watch from [Simon Sinek](https://simonsinek.com/) on 'Existential Flexibility' - "*the ability to make a profound shift in order to continue advancing your just cause*" ## **Thought of the week** A few weeks back, [I mentioned](https://www.makoism.com/p/artifical-constraints?utm%5Fsource=url) the excellent documentary [14 Peaks](https://www.netflix.com/title/81464765). I've been following [Nimsdai Purja](https://www.nimsdai.com/nimsdai-purja-mbe) since, and he's had a few gems. > [](https://twitter.com/nimsdai/status/1490281503431045121) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Easily could rate "**What we Lost**" as my **read of the week**. In an incredibly thoughtful essay, Michael Lopp covers the *senses* that are lost or limited in the world of video calls that we've been living in. They are \[a\] '*sterile dehumanizing experience. A good in-person meeting is pure jazz.*' - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/what-we-lost/) - Speaking of video calls, "**mmhmm and Phil Libin**" is an interesting interview on the product that was born out of a joke - [More](https://www.readoneyearwiser.com/p/mmhmm-and-phil-libin) - [Laura Dern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura%5FDern) wrote (and shared) a letter to her daughter, "**Most of your life will happen in the gray spaces between bliss and heartbreak**." - [More](https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/most-of-your-life-will-happen-in) - On a whim a few weeks back, I took an [Enneagram personality test](https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/). No one asked me to; I thought it would be an interesting exploration trying to further my self-understanding on why sometimes I feel a certain way or react the way I do in a situation. While I'm still processing the results, it certainly is a mountain of useful information. Here's more on "**Interpreting Your Enneagram Test Results**" - [More](https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/interpreting-your-enneagram-test-results/) - What a great concept: "**Overdeliver Without Overwhelming.**" - [More](https://danoshinsky.com/2022/02/11/overdeliver-without-overwhelming/) - I thought "**My Seatbelt Rule for Judgment**" is a great rule to live by; "*my willingness to judge something should be proportional to how much I know about it.*" - [More](https://www.dannyguo.com/blog/my-seatbelt-rule-for-judgment/) - Friends come and go; few remain around for the long term. "**It's Your Friends Who Break Your Heart**" examines '*painful dissolution of a friendship*' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/03/why-we-lose-friends-aging-happiness/621305/) - File under '*why did this take so long*?' - "**Lawmakers Press Amazon on Sales of Chemical Used in Suicides**" - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/technology/amazon-suicide-poison-preservative.html) - [Shangrilogs](https://shangrilogs.substack.com/) has been a fascinating read on how Kelton Wright survived and thrived '*buying a house in the middle of nowhere*.' In "**Where do I go from here?**" , she looks back at what she left behind and what's on her compass from now on - [More](https://shangrilogs.substack.com/p/where-am-i-going-23) - "**The Brand Positioning Edition**" riffs on ads with "purpose" and how '*many of those anthemic ads we see feel like someone just took a brief and pressed record instead of hiring a creative team to find a way to say it without saying it*' - [More](https://whyisthisinteresting.substack.com/p/the-brand-positioning-edition) - I'm certainly guilty of "**The Collector's Fallacy**" - 'our tendency to collect every piece of information we run across in the hopes of putting it to good use later.' The reality is this hoarding does not equal **understanding**. - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-collectors-fallacy) ## **Fin** I'm pretty sure by now that I was not the target audience from [last week's Super Bowl halftime show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdsUKphmB3Y). A few friends and I were chatting on "the best" show, and Prince performing in Super Bowl XLI was one of the best we could think of. Be well. ✌🏻 ### I Don't Know URL: https://makoism.com/i-dont-know/ Last updated: 2022-02-12T12:04:17.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3a1ab718-c91e-4a41-b65c-0c1cb055bd07_5834x3886.jpeg) books! For the last several years, I've kept a [commonplace journal](https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/) in [DayOne](https://dayoneapp.com/) that I store all sorts of bits and pieces of wisdom that I run across. It could be a favorite quote. Or perhaps an inspiring picture. A random story. A doodle. A word. Whatever goes. The only rule is to make it worthwhile for yourself. > *For centuries, authors and thinkers have kept commonplace books: focused journals that serve to collect thoughts, quotes, moments of introspection, transcribed passages from reading — anything of purpose worth reviewing later.* Early in the week, I was taking a mental pause from a technical problem I was looking into and shifted up to my focus by just picking out a few random items from the journal. For me, this is one of the most valuable uses of the commonplace journal — a distraction to guide my mind into a different place. In there, I had stored a piece of advice from [Adam Grant](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1422565877724028931), which felt relevant to something that's been on my mind recently. > *Things people aren't afraid to say when they have psychological safety:* > > *I don't know* > > *I made a mistake* > > *I disagree* > > *I might be wrong* > > *I have a concern* > > *I have an idea* [Wikipedia defines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological%5Fsafety) "psychological safety" as > *being able to show and employ oneself without fear of negative consequences of self-image, status, or career. It can be defined as a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.* Now, in [last week's post](https://makoism.com/the-plateau/), I talked a bit about how "*you can end up being held back by a lack of skill, experience, or simply the inability to do something that others recognize. Unfortunately, you are blind to it.*" Here's the thing — there's a secret **power** that comes along with admitting "**I don't know**." Most humans are hesitant to say it, ask for help, or even admit that they could be wrong even though the reality is that *you don't know everything*. If you're a leader, the most successful organizations are those that embody a culture that makes this type of safety **ok**. "I don't know" followed by "I'll find out" or "I'll find someone who can help" shouldn't be considered a weakness but a **strength**. It shows yourself, your team and others that you are self-aware, coachable, and continuously willing to learn. It opens up more greener valleys than "I know everything." If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Last week I ran across the book "[Two Years on a Bike](https://www.amazon.com/Two-Years-Bike-Vancouver-Patagonia/dp/396704050X)", which documents [Martijn Doolaard](https://www.espiritu-libre.com/)'s epic adventure as he cycled (not a motorcycle, a **bike**) from Vancouver to Patagonia. > *Pedaling through wind, rain and blistering sun until you reach the mythical Tierra del Fuego. It’s the epic adventure many dream of doing, and that photographer and travel writer Martijn Doolaard did in Two Years on a Bike. Here, his stunning photography takes us to the Californian coast, to the impenetrable jungles of Mexico, and to the ever-higher passes of the Andes. Chronicling the life of a bicycle nomad, Doolard packs his necessities into a couple of panniers and explores what it means to be at home in the world while embracing a life of minimalism.* It is a four-part series totaling over an hour, but what an **epic** story. Sit down, put on the headphones, and enjoy this adventure. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1490688969096507400) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - A quick but poignant read: "**Eliminate Small Decisions**." I love this philosophy: '*automating your small decisions and eliminating them from your life, you can save your much-needed energy to allow for a greater capacity to focus on the bigger decisions of your day-to-day life*' - [More](https://shawnblanc.net/2022/01/eliminate-small-decisions/) - A look at your breathing and how it affects everything from anxiety to mortality. "**Mouth breathers**" dives into a topic that I **need** to research more on this (I just bought the book). It "explores humans relationship with the breath, how it's changed over the years, and what we're losing when we go from nasal breathers to me, a mouth breather. **Spoiler alert: we die faster.**" - [More](https://shangrilogs.substack.com/p/mouth-breathers-24) - Whaaaa? "**Longest lightning bolt record: 477 miles over 3 states**" - [More](https://apnews.com/article/science-0b0910d7e69bc4f821c3e9730d4929d8) - I mentioned [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com/) before - he's part of a small list of 'thinkers' I regularly follow. In "**Memberships Work**," he dives into how his site and membership '*has inspired and catalyzed, for me, a sustained and vast interval of intense writing, photographing, bookmaking, and general 'creative output.'*' - [More](https://craigmod.com/essays/memberships%5Fwork/) - I'm sorry, but this is a feature, not a bug. "**Stuck in KUOW purgatory: Seattle Mazda drivers can't change the radio dial**" - [More](https://www.kuow.org/stories/we-didn-t-mean-to-ruin-your-mazda-s-stereo) - "**Gardens: An Essay on the Human Condition**" is a pretty fantastic read on how they are '*a mechanism by which we make life bearable. They protect us from the frenzy and tumult unleashed by history. They counter annihilating and anarchic forces. Gardens have been with us – or we have been with gardens – forever.*' - [More](https://onartandaesthetics.com/2016/10/01/gardens-an-essay-on-the-human-condition/) - I've long been a fan of just 'walking,' but now there's even more evidence on how "**Walking Just 10 Minutes a Day May Lead to a Longer Life**". A recent study shows that it would help prevent more than **111,000 premature deaths** a year - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/26/well/10-minutes-walking-exercise.html) - An incredible origin story of 'little paper slips of a standard size,' known today as the Index Card. "**How the Index Card Cataloged the World**" will take you through their unique history - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/12/how-the-index-card-catalogued-the-world/547271/) - [Brene Brown](https://brenebrown.com/) has an incredibly thoughtful update on her position with Spotify and the controversy around censorship in "**Podcast Update: February 8, 2022**" - [More](https://brenebrown.com/articles/2022/02/08/podcast-update-february-8-2022/) - "**No Regrets**" - '*on the things we wish we'd done differently*' and the philosophy on not second-guessing choices, and how things didn't always happen how you remember them - [More](https://www.mysupersecretdiary.com/p/no-regrets) ## **Fin** Ending this week with a follow-up to the above mention of Two Years on a Bike. Now Martijn Doolaard has finished his "bike nomad" days, discovered dozens of abandoned homes for sale, and bought two at the top of a mountain beyond the electric grid. > *Originally built as shelters for farmers and their animals, his cabins are dry stone: stacked stones supported by their own weight without any mortar. The structures were in good shape but filled with holes between the stones letting in cold and wind, so Doolaard set up camp inside one, using his tent and technical sleeping bag from his bikelife days to begin renovating.* He uses his phone as a hotspot to continue to do his graphic design work remotely. AMAZING. Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Plateau URL: https://makoism.com/the-plateau/ Last updated: 2022-02-05T11:16:50.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2af2b12d-d0df-4cbe-a6d9-afb59e8c74ca_4898x3265.jpeg) the plateau I was having one of those thought-provoking conversations this week with a member of my [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) on how best to advise someone on his team. It revolved around navigating a particular situation, and we started to 'circle the drain' a bit about the concept of 'plateaus.' There are many different types of plateaus people hit along the road; maybe it's how to navigate a career, can't lose any more weight on a diet, or even break through a workout plateau. Plateaus are be caused when *you adjust to a demand*. For example, when working out, when you begin to feel unmotivated, bored with your workouts, or find excuses not to exercise, this is a frequent sign that you may be ready to try a new form of exercise or a different routine. To see results again, you need to change the workout, and only then can you get stronger. Your body has adapted; it’s time for a change. Or maybe you feel undervalued at work even though you're putting in 100%? Or that there's simply no room to move up? These types of plateaus are **realized plateaus**. I **know** that I will never run a 3:30 marathon; I am not genetically capable of it. I am acutely aware of the **plateau**, so I choose to focus on something that helps me get stronger, but I know the limit. And it doesn't bother me that I'm going to crush a marathon. I've accepted it. Here’s the big one — **unrealized plateaus**. This is the *hardest* one that everyone faces. The simple fact is that you believe that your ability is stronger **than it actually is**; You end up being held back by a lack of skill, experience, or simply the inability to do something that *others recognize*. Unfortunately, you are blind to it. > [](https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson/status/1489556089012199425) If you're experiencing a plateau and don't know why, it may be time to take a good, honest look in the mirror. Plateaus can be used as part of your growth process, a time when you can build foundations. It's **hard**. And you may not like what you see at first. A first step to helping yourself is to be honest with yourself; and is often the first step to get beyond it. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** [Kara Swisher](https://www.nytimes.com/column/kara-swisher) 's [Sway podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sway/id1528594034) is on the weekly rotation. While most of her interviews are interesting, her recent chat with former Disney CEO Bob Iger was **one of her best**. In "**[Bob Iger's Advice to Hollywood on His Way Out](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sway/id1528594034?i=1000549150512)**", they talked a bit on the future of movie theaters (they're going to be just for blockbusters and need a better experience), streaming, his thinking about running for president at one time and the effects of COVID-19 on his former company. However, what struck me as the "biggest nugget" was his comments on not "relying solely on data" on making decisions around storytelling. > *Having spent almost 50 years on the creative side of our business, it became more and more clear to me that while data was already playing a significant role, that it should not be used to determine what stories are told.* > *If we had tried to mine all the data that we had at the time to determine whether we should make a superhero movie that was essentially about an Afrofuturistic world with a Black cast, the data probably would have said, don't do that.* > **And "Black Panther" never would have been made.** ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/AlexLlullTW/status/1486727475828723731) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - The Oatmeal knocks another one out of the park. In "**Erasers are wonderful**," learn more about the simple beauty of erasers and how they're not only for mistakes - [More](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/creativity%5Ferasers) - "**An 8-year-old slid his handwritten book onto a library shelf. It now has a years-long waitlist.**" is a great story on how a second-grader in Idaho decided to share his 81-page book about Christmas and slipped the book onto the picture-book shelf. The rest is history - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/01/31/library-book-idaho-dillon-helbig/) - [Grovemade](https://grovemade.com/journal/designing-the-magsafe-stand), maker of fine desk products, describes the love and attention that went into the design of their desk MagSafe phone stand. I have one on my desk, and it is beautiful. - \[More\] - Lufthansa has flown over 21,000 'empty flights' this winter in an attempt to keep hold of airport slots. Read more in "**Thousands of Planes Are Flying Empty, and No One Can Stop Them**" - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/airplanes-empty-slots-covid/) - Another wild tale of AirTags. This time, "**Apple's AirTag uncovers a secret German intelligence agency**," a researcher talks about what they uncovered when sending one to expose a mysterious "federal authority" - [More](https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/01/25/apples-airtag-uncovers-a-secret-german-intelligence-agency) - The hits of 2022 keep coming; you can't make this stuff up. "**Blood pressure monitoring toilet Casana lands $30M**". Yes friends - a blood pressure monitoring IOT toilet - [More](https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/blood-pressure-monitoring-toilet-casana-lands-30m) - Not sure if that's burnout that you're feeling? "**Learn to Read the Signs**" talks not only about what you can recognize as signs in others but yourself - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/learn-to-read-the-signs) - "**Herman Miller's Poster Child**" dives into "what makes an amazing poster" and the ins and outs of great graphic design - [More](https://www.hermanmiller.com/stories/why-magazine/herman-millers-poster-child/) - "**Is Old Music Killing New Music?**" explores an odd trend: Old songs now represent **70 percent** of the U.S. music market. Why does old music stick? - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/old-music-killing-new-music/621339/) - I am fascinated by the concept of being 'an infinite player' - one who plays games intending to continue the game. Read more about it in [Simon Sinek's fantastic book](https://simonsinek.com/product/the-infinite-game), or a summary in "**A Brief Practical Guide to Being an Infinite Player**" - [More](https://sashachapin.substack.com/p/a-brief-practical-guide-to-being) ## **Fin** I have been in a bit of a David Bowie mood this week, so I thought I would wrap up this week's post with his performance of Heroes from the Glastonbury Festival in 2000. Be well. ✌🏻 ### House of Pain URL: https://makoism.com/house-of-pain/ Last updated: 2022-01-29T12:04:15.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e0887519-7e79-41b3-9231-a708a9beb65f_6000x4000.jpeg) all in all, they are bricks in the wall Earlier in the week, I [stumbled across an article](https://www.shortform.com/blog/dan-harris-panic-attack) about news anchor Dan Harris and his (now famous) on-air panic attack on a 2004 episode of Good Morning America. I originally heard about this from a colleague that recommended his book, [10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head](https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265431) .. but when I came across that post, I’ve been thinking about it a lot the last few days. Give the book (or article) a read. Spoiler alert: you’ll learn that Dan’s problem continued past that first incident — a second panic attack followed a year later, which led him to realize that he needed to **change his habits and take care of both his body and his mind** to combat the depression. Through the help of therapy, he ultimately recognized that he suffered from career anxiety: he had *the stress of trying something new and potentially failing in the process coupled with the fear that occurs when you’re settled in your job and worry about your long-term career success*. He constantly worried, ‘*letting his mind run through worst-case scenarios and potential outcomes*.’ He was stressed out and quick to anger. He started using illegal drugs. **It broke him**. It’s an excellent, worthwhile read. And an important cautionary tale. I see it all the time around me in work and my personal life, so many projects or colleagues are trying to do all the things — big-bang releases, taking on the extra workload, constantly in fear about something failing or missing a date. I’d offer up a different, more meaningful path — instead of worrying about **all** the things, **focus on [boring](https://email.mg1.substack.com/c/eJwtkMtuwyAQRb8mLBFgbOwFi276G4jHxEHBYMHQyn9fklQaaaR56OgebxH2Ui-N0JCcpaHB6wSd4bclQIRKeoNqYtAkaKaEV47EZu4V4LAxaXJ2l6K3GEt-XU1sWjfy0G6zUgq2eGCLXKxXoHyQdp7VvCnG5Idle4iQPWj4gXqVDCTpB-J5m75u4nuUKzXmHcE%5Fckllv6hP3Y05iVowIRgXG-NcyIkKGpjanOKOb8HelQW6T1xU6%5FAm2bFz2rpraP2T-nKQqhsOKD3ss9zb8xo30afSw3s7QpnRj54jXgaydQmGAfxoeic3O2SoQ18wFjVf5CT5qhY5q%5F9sQ4ZU6yoYW8hAhzK-sn7xYjv-ACVkfvA) little things**. Little things can be wonderful. **The secret is that little things can add up to big things over time.** > *Dripping water hollows out stone* > > *not through force* > > **but through persistence*. -Ovid* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you’d rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I never really spent too much time thinking about the game of [Hangman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangman%5F%28game%29), but its origin is unknown mainly (a variant first appeared in 1894 under the name "Birds, Beasts and Fishes."). It is rumored that it came about '*when criminals used to have the death penalty; they had the opportunity to guess a word in the style of the game and if they guessed right they would be allowed to live*.' Here's a wild analysis: ## Thought of the week > [](https://twitter.com/thedolectures/status/1486251312383729664) ## Latest obsession For my birthday last year, Liz gave me a [Stagg EKG Electric Kettle](https://fellowproducts.com/products/staggekg) that will be my “go-to” kettle as part of Life 2.0. It’s a great kettle. It’s beautiful. It has variable temperature control, 1200 watts for quick heat, and keeps the water hot for hours. It’s known as “*the electric pour-over kettle for coffee-lovers*.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/103af734-9893-42f3-a303-59f47861ed7f_826x633.png) ahhhhh And, I just found out: it packs in a **secret game** in the display/controls. Yes, folks, you can play the game [Wormy on the kettle](https://fellowproducts.com/blogs/learn/how-to-play-wormy-on-your-electric-kettle). Whaaaa!? BRILLIANT! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/0f728610-82ad-4e0d-9284-22f7e226ee60_969x446.png) wormy! ## This weeks “Deep Links” Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I’ve been having a fun time watching [DC’s Peacemaker on HBO Max](https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYb0FKQLsGIyPfQEAAAAM), but most noticeable is its crazy good hair-band soundtrack. In “**‘Peacemaker’ Director James Gunn Talks 400-Song Hair Metal Playlist**”, read more about the time [James Gunn](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0348181/) takes dreaming up rock classics on top of action sequences - [More](https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/peacemaker-james-gunn-interview-hair-metal-guns-n-roses-1235022764/) - “**2 Tips Radically Improving Communication Within Teams Distributed Across Time Zones**” is a must-read for anyone who has to deal with teams in various locations - [More](https://paolo.blog/2-tips-radically-improving-communication-within-teams-distributed-across-time-zones) - “**Lower the interest rate on your technical debt**” was an exciting read. While most view tech debt as unfavorable, this article flips that around into how to take on some positive debt - [More](https://shaungallagher.pressbin.com/blog/tech-debt.html) - “**Meat Loaf Ascends to Rock Heaven**” is an excellent retro on the life and work of Meat Loaf, who passed away last week - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/postscript/meat-loaf-ascends-to-rock-heaven) - Very 2022, but a “**Photographer Finds Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings**” in Russia. These bears took residence in a series of abandoned buildings of a meteorological station - [More](https://petapixel.com/2022/01/13/photographer-finds-polar-bears-that-took-over-abandoned-buildings/) - What reads like the plot of a film, “**The Female World War II Codebreaker Who Busted Nazi Spy Rings**” tells the story of Elizebeth Friedman and how her codebreaking saved Queen Mary and captured a Nazi spy ringleader in Latin America during WW2 - [More](https://www.history.com/news/codebreaker-nazi-spy-rings-woman) - Submerged to 3.7 miles deep, the 1944 wreckage of the USS Johnston has been discovered. “**How the world’s deepest shipwreck was found**” was fun to read about its backstory and the challenges they faced finding it - [More](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220121-the-dive-to-find-the-worlds-deepest-shipwreck) - I keep hearing about the future of work being more around ‘**asynchronous**’ communications; in “**The future of work is asynchronous**,” a look from a former Google engineer on the anxiety caused by Slack, Zoom, etc. - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90712513/the-future-of-work-is-asynchronous) - “**In 2022, make your working life healthier, happier and more creative**” hits on how to ‘*cultivate an experimental mindset*’ and other little things you can do to lower your daily stress - [More](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/in-2022-make-working-life-happier/) - Continuing to think about remote working being a “core” to life combined with leaning into team health, there’s some great wisdom in “**The importance of small, positive interactions**” - [More](https://leaddev.com/culture-engagement-motivation/importance-small-positive-interactions) - I’ve been tracking this one for a while, but you really should check out “**100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying**”. Such a simple list of beautiful things to improve the day to day - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/01/marginal-gains-100-ways-to-improve-your-life-without-really-trying) ## Fin Figured since I posted to the fun soundtrack from [James Gunn’s The Peacemaker](https://leosigh.com/listen-to-faster-pussycats-house-of-pain-from-peacemaker-season-1-ep-4/), leaving off this week with “House of Pain”. > *I’m not trying to fake it; And I ain’t the one to blame.* > > *There’s no one home In my house of pain* > > *I didn’t write these pages And my script’s been rearranged.* > > *No, there’s no one home In my house of pain* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Artifical Constraints URL: https://makoism.com/artifical-constraints/ Last updated: 2022-01-22T10:25:40.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/cc077462-f884-463e-8e8f-08e8a6afaece_6000x4000.jpeg) ropes [Paolo Belcastro](https://paolo.blog/) had a post this week that centered on the “[Power of Constraints](https://paolo.blog/the-power-of-constraints).” While he talks about [artificial constraints he applies to his writing](https://paolo.blog/constraints-spark-creativity), I enjoyed the perspective he has that by applying them: > *they limit my ability to wander, digress, perfect, and ultimately procrastinate* I liked this thinking because it echos a similar mindset that I’ve tried to apply to a variety of different areas in my life. Whether it’s how a team is building a new cloud technology, finding time during the week to write this newsletter, daily calendar blocks, over and over, I have experienced real examples **with constraint comes freedom**. The idea which I’ve been trying to embrace is actually straightforward (see last weeks post “[Don’t Do It](https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/)”): > *Don’t bother spending time thinking about *all the things*; focus on thinking about the things that *matter most*.* I’d be willing to bet that most people in 2022 are in some fashion suffering from a form of [decision fatigue](https://www.wsj.com/articles/decision-fatigue-is-real-heres-how-to-beat-it-this-year-11641186063): > *Your ability to make the right investment or hiring decision may be reduced simply because you expended some of your willpower earlier when you held your tongue in response to someone’s offensive remark or when you exerted yourself to get to the meeting on time.* There are also examples from famous thinkers and how they use **artificial constraint**: - Steve Jobs famously [wore the same color turtleneck every day](https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/steve-jobs-wore-the-same-black-turtleneck-daily-because-it-was-like-a-uniform-for-him-1393004-2018-11-21). - Obama always [wore the same suit](https://www.fastcompany.com/3026265/always-wear-the-same-suit-obamas-presidential-productivity-secrets) because ‘*I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.*’ - Einstein [rarely changed his clothes](https://medium.com/publishous/einstein-rarely-changed-his-clothes-82611052c41c). I’m not advocating for never changing your clothes (though I’m guilty of being in sweatpants now more than ever), but instead I’m suggesting that if you feel overwhelmed, try adding some artificial limits to your life or work projects. You may be surprised at what new possibilities open up around you when you remove the distractions. I’ll wrap this up with a clip with one of my favorite films, [Oceans Eleven](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240772/), which has project planning with **nothing but constraints**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you’d rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking We finally got around to watching the documentary [14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/81464765) this week, and it was **stunning**. Having been to the Khumbu region of Nepal and trekking to Everest base camp back in 2000, Everest has always had a special place in my heart. For me, getting to the top of Kala Patthar (18,519 ft) was as high as I needed to go; it took everything I had, and I marvel at those who go higher. While the footage in the film is beautiful, I truly enjoyed learning the inspiring story of Nepalese climber [Nimsdai Purja](https://www.nimsdai.com/nimsdai-purja-mbe). I most appreciated his sense of humility and humor. Before becoming a mountaineer, he served in the British Army with the Brigade of Gurkhas and was part of a special forces unit of the Royal Navy. [nimsdai](https://instagram.com/nimsdai) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/__ss-rehost__IG-CXDST9duZq_.jpg) A post shared by Nirmal Purja MBE - NIMS ([@nimsdai](https://instagram.com/nimsdai)) Here’s an interview to watch on self-discipline and motivation, and it is a worthy watch for “forward thinking” inspiration. ## Thought of the week Every one of these could be a newsletter post in itself, but it’s a great list to keep working through. > [](https://twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/1482080352072052736) ## Latest obsession Being a fan of the [Fellow Stagg Pour-Over Kettle](https://fellowproducts.com/products/stagg), we decided to give their [Carter Everywhere Mug w Splashguard](https://fellowproducts.com/products/carter-move-mug) a try. Of course, I went for the larger 16oz version with the ‘splash guard.’ Equipped with a ‘*quick, 270° twist locks the lid to eliminate liquid mishaps. You have our your-bag-is-not-getting-wet guarantee and 18/8 insulated stainless steel retains heat for 12 hours and stays cold for 24 hours.*’ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f6b59281-70a8-4bca-91d7-4975aa421add_553x600.png) Everywhere mug WOW. This mug kept some tea warm **overnight** that we had left in the car. I instantly went out and bought a second. I highly recommend it for your mobile beverage consumption. ## This weeks “Deep Links” Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I have a colleague who always jokes that I’m ‘cool Steve’ as I have tried to live a life of really wild experiences. In one of my favorite reads of the week, “**Live a Photo Album Worthy Life**” explores how the way to tell a great story is to first **live one** \- [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/live-a-photo-album-worthy-life) - “**10 Healthy Reasons to Procrastinate**” looks at how reframing procrastination as ‘*work you’re putting off that just might be destructive and wrong*’ - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-healthy-reasons-to-procrastinate) - File under *no kidding, but now there’s proof*: “**Science Just Discovered Your Brain Hates PowerPoint**.” Read more on how power-point style presentations' force you to multitask in ways that your brain can’t handle' - [More](https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/science-just-discovered-your-brain-really-hates-powerpoint.html) - Ever wonder how “**GPS**” works? I didn’t, but after reading this visual explanation, it’s fascinating - [More](https://ciechanow.ski/gps/) - I’ve been a long time fan on [James Hoffmann’s YouTube videos](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ) on coffee, read more on “**How James Hoffmann Became the Coffee Expert**” - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/dining/james-hoffmann-coffee.html) - “**Every message was copied to the police**” is a wild story about An0m, which was supposed to be the most secure phone on the planet and key to how the underworld did business. Only problem? The police ran it - I could see ‘the inside story of the most daring surveillance sting in history’ quickly turned into a film - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/11/inside-story-most-daring-surveillance-sting-in-history) - “**A Non-Zero Life**” explores ‘*building simple-but-healthy habits you can do every day that impacts every area of your life: Your career, your health, your relationships, your money, your inner-personal life*.’ Love it - [More](https://shawnblanc.net/2022/01/a-non-zero-life/) - While thinking about habits, “**Stock and Flow**” focuses on something that I’ve talked about previously: [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/). It’s right on with the view that you need to ‘*create a little each day*’ - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/stock-and-flow) - And what happens when you break the flow - “**Anti-Flow**” - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/anti-flow/) - The **Marble Arch Mound** (also known as '[London’s Worst Tourist Attraction](https://www.forbes.com/sites/markfaithfull/2022/01/07/farewell-londons-worst-tourist-attraction-amid-resignations-controversy-and-derision')is closing. “**Much-mocked tourist attraction to close**” details on how *all good things come to an end* after five underwhelming months and $8m spent - [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-59906865) - Given how much my oldest son loves vinyl, I’m not surprised to read that “**Vinyl Albums Outsold CDs For The First Time In 30 Years**” - [More](https://www.stereogum.com/2172917/vinyl-outsold-cds-2021-olivia-rodrigo-adele-taylor-swift/news/) ## Fin I was sad to see the news on Meat Loaf’s [passing this week at the age of 74](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/21/entertainment/meat-loaf-obit/index.html). We’ll leave off this week with his epic “[Bat out of Hell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat%5FOut%5Fof%5FHell)”. > *Like a bat out of hell I’ll be gone when the morning comes When the night is over, like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone, gone, gone Like a bat out of hell I’ll be gone when the morning comes But when the day is done And the sun goes down And the moonlight’s shining through Then like a sinner before the gates of Heaven I’ll come crawling on back to you* Be well. ✌🏻 ### Don’t Do It URL: https://makoism.com/dont-do-it/ Last updated: 2022-01-15T11:21:42.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bea02240-1239-40e3-82a9-57864dd4493d_4520x3013.jpeg) just throw it all away Anyone else in the same boat? Here we are, a few weeks into 2022, and my calendar is already a complete **train wreck**. I honestly don’t know what happened; [I have systems in place](https://makoism.com/its-about-time/) with “blocks,” [say ‘no’ to meetings without agendas](https://makoism.com/the-bucket-5d5ecbae9ce7/) and decline things that waste time. Yet every day is overbooked; **what the heck happened**. > *Stress is doing something you don’t care about, with time that you do. - [Do Lectures](https://twitter.com/TheDOLectures/status/1481621438817779715)* I guess the real question for me now is ‘*what am I going to do about it*.’ There is always the option of just [Thanos snapping](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWhEgdh0X9c) the calendar and randomly going through the next four weeks and deleting half of my meetings. The upcoming time would be ‘*perfectly balanced, as all things should be*,’ but that feels a tad harsh. I started to get some motivation to help from a tweet earlier in the week that I’m taking stock of to get back into the groove: > [](https://twitter.com/LinusEkenstam/status/1481260499446599686) **Solve by Subtracting**. The mindset reminds me a lot of what [Greg McKeown](https://gregmckeown.com/) talks about in his excellent book, [Essentialism](https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/). The theme of Essentialism is around discipline that you need when faced with saying yes or no to something. He describes three things around *learning to do less but better*: the ability to make trade-offs of **lots of good things vs. a smaller number of great things**. 1. *Individual choice: We can choose how to spend our energy and time. Without choice, there is no point in talking about trade-offs.* 2. *The prevalence of noise: Almost everything is noise, and a very few things are exceptionally valuable. This is the justification for taking time to figure out what is most important. Because some things are so much more important, the effort in finding those things is worth it.* 3. *The reality of trade-offs: We can’€™t have it all or do it all. If we could, there would be no reason to evaluate or eliminate options. Once we accept the reality of trade-offs, we stop asking, ‘€œHow can I make it all work?’ and start asking the more honest question ‘€œWhich problem do I want to solve?’* I’ve started to solve this by subtracting things that dont help me solve problems. Remove a bunch of noise, and figure out what’s important. For some real “no” inspiration, here are 3 minutes of people saying “no” in movies. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you’d rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I recently discovered [Coffee with Jaimee](https://coffeewithjaimee.com/) when a colleague recommended her new book, “[12 Ways to Be Better to Work With. Interpersonal Skills for People Who Work With Other People.](https://coffeewithjaimee.com/books)” Besides being a great book (and a quick read), what I’ve been a fan of is her Instagram. Explained as “*Constantly experimenting my way through life. Usually over coffee. Sharing my learnings & feelings along the way.*”, she does some truly [amazing doodles over coffee stains](https://www.instagram.com/p/CYjfNUElVtx/). [coffeewithjaimee](https://instagram.com/coffeewithjaimee) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/__ss-rehost__IG-CYjfNUElVtx.jpg) A post shared by Coffee With Jaimee ([@coffeewithjaimee](https://instagram.com/coffeewithjaimee)) I picked up my copy directly from her website ([order here](https://coffeewithjaimee.com/books)), and it comes with one of her fantastic coffee art designs. ## Thought of the week I’ve used this technique as part of [managing the calendar](https://makoism.com/its-about-time/) \- I often will send mail back if there’s no plan, and this is a great way to discover if you need to be there. > [](https://twitter.com/Carnage4Life/status/1481234381398151168) ## This weeks “Deep Links” Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - A huge relief, so stop worrying how others are judging you, apparently “**Research Confirms That No One Is Really Thinking About You**” - [More](https://medium.com/the-ascent/research-confirms-that-no-one-is-really-thinking-about-you-f6e7b09c458) - I am a huge believer in “time back,” specifically having 25/50 minute meetings (instead of 30 or 60). Here’s a **tip of the week** if you use Outlook: “**Give yourself time back and make your Outlook meetings shorter**.” It has instructions if you use Outlook on the Mac as well on how you can enable this via the web client (it’s not built into the app) - [More](https://www.modtitan.com/2022/01/give-yourself-time-back-and-make-your.html?m=1) - **Walking more** is one of my significant 2022 habits. In the amazing “**The ‘Rules’ of Walking**,” [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com/) discusses some of the functions and features that he explores when walking - [More](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/134/) - “**Flagging Fear**” is a **great** read on how to pivot yourself to “run towards fear mentally.” I have tried to teach, not only as a parent but also as someone who runs teams, to **embrace** fear. There’s a ton of value in identifying, confronting and taking risks. - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/flagging-fear/) - Easily the ‘post of the week,’ Om asks an important question: “**Can we ever become Post-Social?**”. In many ways, we all have become used to broadcasting everywhere thanks to social networks, and we have become *addicted to the idea of having an audience*. Poignant read as these networks are now becoming weaponized - [More](https://om.co/2022/01/12/can-we-ever-become-post-social/) - On the lighter (hah) side of things, “**After 72 years, FDA says French dressing won’t have a legal definition**”. Apparently, there was a 'standard of identity for French dressing ([legally since 1950](https://archives.federalregister.gov/issue%5Fslice/1950/8/12/5224-5320.pdf#page=4)) that required it be at least 35 percent vegetable oil - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/13/fda-deregulates-french-dressing/) - “**The 4 Identities of a Teacher: Reporter, Expert, Mentor, Role Model**” explores the notion that everyone should become *lifelong teachers* and the various roles they play - [More](https://fortelabs.co/blog/4-identities-of-a-teacher/) - “**The big multitasking lie**” correctly pins down that success‘*is not to do many things at once; instead, it resides in our ability to give our complete and exclusive attention to the highest priority task in every moment.*’ - [More](https://paolo.blog/the-big-multitasking-lie) - A pivot toward’s the humor of [McSweeney’s](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/) \- “**Introducing Horrible Purple, Pantone’s Color of the Year Inspired by COVID-19 Heat Maps**”. Enough said, and I can’t wait for ‘Holy Fucking Shit Plum’ next year - [More](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/introducing-horrible-purple-pantones-color-of-the-year-inspired-by-covid-19-heat-maps) - [As mentioned last week](https://makoism.com/the-games-we-play/), [Wordle](https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/) has taken the world by storm. “**Wordle letters**” does a dive down the rabbit hole on the technical aspect of 5-letter-word challenges and the letter frequencies - [More](https://leancrew.com/all-this/2022/01/wordle-letters/) - The future that no one asked for, yet is here: “**Farmer gives cooped-up cows VR headsets to increase milk production**” - [More](https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/07/farmer-gives-cooped-up-cows-vr-headsets-to-increase-milk-production-15880604/) ## Fin Wrapping up this week with a new video from [Simon Sinek](https://simonsinek.com/) on taking the ‘risk of honesty.’ The video nails it: being clear and transparent on not only what you can do, but more importantly, **what you can’t do**, is the key to building long-lasting, trustful relationships. Be well. ✌🏻 ### The Games We Play URL: https://makoism.com/the-games-we-play/ Last updated: 2022-01-08T12:59:12.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/07ad36d4-9a52-4adb-8f90-70def6f51244_4249x2833.jpeg) roll the dice Welcome to Saturday, March 678th, 2020 (according to [covid standard time](https://covidstandardtime.com/)); I sincerely hope you had a wonderful and safe holiday season and that the start of the new year finds you in a good place. I hope you enjoyed the massive “[Things I Like: 2021](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/)” edition - it was by far, the most read article of the year. Over the break, I read an article from [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/) (who wrote the fantastic [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits)), talks about [25,000 mornings](https://jamesclear.com/25000-mornings): > *That’s what you get in your adult life. *25,000 times you get to open your eyes*, face the day, and decide what to do next. I don’t know about you, but I’ve let a lot of those mornings slip by. Once I realized this, I started thinking about developing a better morning routine. I still have a lot to learn, but here are some strategies that you can use to get the most out of your 25,000 mornings.* From that, oddly enough, I decided that I needed just a little bit of “fun” added to my life. There have been many studies around [the cognitive benefits of playing games](https://effectiviology.com/cognitive-benefits-of-playing-video-games/) and how [playing games reduce stress](https://www.verywellmind.com/how-video-games-relieve-stress-4110349). And it’s just *fun*. Every morning, [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) reminds me of a simple routine called (uh) “**Play games for 10 minutes**”. Here’s what it looks like: - Play [The New York Times mini-crossword](https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/mini). - Play a round of [Wordle](https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/). - If I finish both in under 10 minutes, then I play something like [Crossy Road](https://www.crossyroad.com/) or [Mini Motorways](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mini-motorways/id1453901000). Boom. I move on with the day. If you haven’t already discovered [Wordle](https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/), the Times [recently had a story](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/03/technology/wordle-word-game-creator.html) that highlights its backstory. Here’s the scoop: > *It’s been a meteoric rise for the once-a-day game, which invites players to guess a five-letter word similarly as the guess-the-color game Mastermind. Its popularity has grown from 90 people playing daily at the start of November to 300,000 last week. After guessing a five-letter word, the game tells you whether any of your letters are in the secret word and whether they are in the correct place. You have six tries to get it right.* I’ve already really enjoyed seeing my friends and family get equally addicted to the ‘daily game’. Serious: give it a try. Play a little. Have some fun. You’ll find that it sets your day up for some early wins and puts you in a great mood. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you’d rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I *loved* this short clip from the wonderful folks over at [The Do Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/) entitled “Two Films”. > *Imagine on your deathbed you were able to see two films of your life: One showed highlights of what you actually achieved. And then the other showed highlights of what you could have achieved with your ability, your talent, the opportunities that came your way…* ## Thought of the week > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1471586750493605900) ## This weeks “Deep Links” Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Stories like this bring a smile to my face - ‘**Drivers were stuck on I-95 when one saw a bakery truck. Soon, stranded motorists were breaking bread together.**’. It was nice to read an inspiring article around hope and kindness, something that there’s far too little of these days. - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/01/04/shutdown-virginia-i-95-schmidt-bread/) - This one I enjoyed as I spent a ton of time over the break tweaking my own personal **Creativity Faucet**. Read more about ‘**How to generate more ideas**’ and the process of idea iteration - [More](https://www.julian.com/blog/creativity-faucet) - Wrapping up the holiday posts, ‘**Santa is a monster.**’ takes a look at the monster known as Santa: ‘*how he is an enabler of addiction and a manipulative creep*’ - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/santa-is-a-monster) - A perfect 2022 manifesto for anyone leading technology teams: ‘**Choose Boring Technology**’ is a classic article which I come back to time and time again; you shouldn’t confuse ‘boring’ with ‘bad’ - [More](https://mcfunley.com/choose-boring-technology) - ‘**How a tiny startup built a true Final Cut alternative for the iPad**’ takes a look at [LumaFusion](https://luma-touch.com/lumafusion-for-ios-2/); which is probably the closest you’ll come to having a full [Final Cut Pro](https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/) video editor on your devices - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90707674/lumafusion-pro-video-editor-ipad-final-cut-alternative) - I appreciated [Tim Ferriss’s podcast](https://tim.blog/2021/12/27/past-year-review/) in which he talks about his process for doing a past year review. In ‘**I tried out the ‘past year review’ recommended by author Tim Ferriss**,’ they look at the 5-step (but quick) process to breaking down the last twelve months - [More](https://www.businessinsider.com/new-years-resolutions-alternative-tim-ferriss-past-year-review-2021-12) - ‘**Giles Duley’s last letter from Kabul**’ is one of those super important ones to read. ‘*In words and photographs, he recounts what he saw and reflects on a 20-year history of senseless suffering*’… - [More](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/politics/article/giles-duley-last-letter-from-kabul) - I’m probably (for a good reason) overly obsessed with the potential of personal health tracking. ‘**Does Your Resting Heart Rate Determine How Long You’re Going to Live?**’ looks at RHR and the latest trends in biometrics and longevity, but more importantly, understanding where fitness tracking should be more of a guidepost than a ‘touchstone of health’ - [More](https://www.insidehook.com/article/health-and-fitness/resting-heart-rate-longevity) - This was a fun one: ‘**Flatware art: Mary Courtright turns forks and spoons into something unique**.’ Meet an 88-year old who decided to turn pandemic boredom into a business of bending silverware into ‘other things’ - [More](https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/dec/17/flatware-art-mary-courtright-turns-forks-and-spoon/) - In ‘**Inspection and the limits of trust.**’, a fascinating read about the relationship of leadership, trust and effective management. There’s a great toolkit in here as well to leverage on inspection - [More](https://lethain.com/inspection/) - ‘**Seek The Edge**’ explores that place where ‘*what is needed most for growth: new sights, experiences and challenges aplenty*’ - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/seek-the-edge) ## Fin Wrapping up this week with a quick video from [Brie Larson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488953/). She’s decided to make 2022 about “being fun”, and I’m with her - make fun serious. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Mako "Things I Like": 2021 URL: https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2021/ Last updated: 2024-01-24T11:03:58.000Z For the [last](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/) [several](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/) years (7 to be exact), it's been an ongoing tradition to keep track of and share things/apps/processes that I have found helpful throughout the year. Think of it as my "yearly review" with links and tips for the things that I surround myself with as part of an ongoing attempt to maximize my daily workflow, put me in the zone, and drive happiness. If I had to categorize 2021 (as an extension of 2020), it was an unusual shift for me. I didn't have to expend any real-time or energy thinking about optimizing EDC's or lightweight travel between meetings and travel. It was focused on finding better ways to survive and thrive mentally. The home office. The desk setup. Tools for automating simple tasks and more of a focus on health. More importantly, I was able to lens in on a single point of focus: it was less about *the work* but the *process of doing the work*. I enjoyed [a post I found](https://www.carlpullein.com/blog/the-secret-productivity-trick-used-by-sylvester-stallone-and-many-others/23/6/2021) mid-year that described the mental models used by from Picasso to Sylvester Stallone and Woody Allen which claims: > *The most productive people I know have been using the same tools for years. *They know them inside out, and those tools get the work done*. The world's top chefs do not change their knives for the latest knives with the newest non-slip handles or colors. *They stick with the knives they've used for years*. They're comfortable with the weight and feel of the old handle, the sharpness and shape of the blade they've been personally sharpening for years. At the end of service, they lovingly clean them.* That stuck with me. I've explored processes through the years (see [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/) and [Continuity](https://makoism.com/continuity/)) and stuck with it for years. Indeed, there have been some minor shifts, and I have enjoyed playing with new tools such as [Roam](https://roamresearch.com/) or [Notion](https://www.notion.so/). But the reality is that I've now been maintaining relatively the same workflow for getting things done since 2015. Why? **Because it works *for me***. [Elizabeth Butler](https://twitter.com/elizabutlermd/status/1463130228218155010?s=20) has a great thread about this thinking: > *Once you create a solid foundation for your system - focusing on your unique constellation of goals, outcomes, and needs - you can mindfully select the apps and software that will support your goals. This leads to less "bright shiny object" syndrome (where you spend more time importing your notes into the next cool new piece of software) and more time engaging...* I'll leave the amazing [Greg McKeown](https://twitter.com/GregoryMcKeown/status/1474465248341942275) with the final thought: > *Four stages to create an *extraordinary lifestyle*:* > *\- Orientation: What’s essential?* > *\- Organization: What’s the routine?* > *\- Automation: What’s the system?* > *\- Optimization: 1% tweaks to the system* **Yup, nails it.** I hope you enjoy this year's update and that you are well heading into 2021.✌🏻 If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **2022 Mantra** This year, I wanted to start a new tradition: a single thought to come back to consistently. 2022's mantra is: **I take one step, then another, then another.** ## **Makoism "Deep Links"** What started as a request from a few peers, friends, and colleagues, I started sending out engaging content that I had discovered online weekly [back in early 2020](https://makoism.com/deep-links-3d50734208f3/). The result was unexpected but incredibly encouraging: people enjoyed it (all **300** of you)! More impressive is that I'm consistently seeing 50-65% opening my weekly ramblings. **THANK YOU**. The last 24 months have been enriching - I've received lots of questions/feedback and connections from just putting it out there, talking bluntly, and focusing on things that I found interesting. I am always happy to connect (here's a [link on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/)), feel free to reach out! And if someone forwarded this to you, subscribe (free!) to get [my posts on this weekly](https://makoism.com/). Here is a list of the top articles that I’ve linked to (from your feedback) in case you missed them: - [Your Life in Weeks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html) - [Burning out and quitting](https://mayakaczorowski.com/blogs/burnout) - [On Being "Strategic"](https://cate.blog/2021/08/09/on-being-strategic/) - [7 Storytelling Tricks to Steal From Late-Night Talk Show Convos](https://forge.medium.com/7-annoying-talk-show-tricks-for-a-great-story-31dbe527e1e9) - [Do You Know What the Color of Your Bread Bag Twist Ties Mean?](https://www.tlcme.com/stuff-we-love/do-you-know-what-the-color-of-your-bread-bag-twist-ties-really-mean) From my own posts, [Continuity](https://makoism.com/continuity/) and [A Personal Board of Directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) seemed to get the most views/reads this year. ## **The Purge (Annual Audit)** ([From: "The Purge"](https://makoism.com/the-purge/)) I find it beneficial to audit things in my technology "stack." This isn't about the apps I am using that are sitting there collecting dust, but taking a hard, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, workflow in the *entire ecosystem* that encompasses my day-to-day computing devices and workflow. Here is a basic outline of the purge that I have used and continue to find useful: - **Apps** — examine the apps on your phone, iPad, and laptop . Have you used the app in the last two months? *If not, you don't need it*. **Delete it.** - **Media** — do you need **all** those documents/movies/music on your phone or laptop with you? With streaming, wireless and clouds today, do you need 24,000 songs, 19 movies, and every receipt with you? *If not, storing things away in iCloud, Google or Amazon helps keep my devices light.* - **Subscription** — ask yourself: are you getting *value* out of that application subscription? ***If not, cancel it***. My litmus test is if it's a service (media, storage where they are paying costs for hosting, etc.), I will keep it going. If it's for an app that's more "static," like a calculator, text editor, photo editor, I will buy a lifetime subscription (if offered). Apps are in a weird phase right now — It's getting harder and harder to avoid subscriptions, and I don't mind annual upgrade charges. **I cannot handle being nickel and dimed monthly, though.** - **Higher Learning** — Do you have time set aside for writing in your journal every day? Do you have a few hours aside a week for learning? do you read enough? *I *make* time to journal entry in DayOne every day — even if it's a sentence.* - **On the day to day** — what is the best way to manage your day, get thru your to-do list, how to deal with the landslide of email, how to optimize reading for content that is interesting? See my post on [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/). Thirty minutes of reading, writing, and play daily is a must. ### **New for 2021** - **Notifications** — I have turned off almost **all** application notifications on my devices. Outside of a few people that I want to ensure the ability to reach me, the constant distraction of News, Instagram, Twitter, etc., is something [that I wanted to eliminate](https://www.lifewire.com/turn-off-notification-on-iphone-5191021). - **Focus Modes** — I haven't gone [too far down the rabbit hole](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZCx-9wF3ow) with iOS's new [focus modes](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212608). I have a few basic ones set up for workouts, writing, work, sleep, etc., but there's more for me [to explore](https://gregmorris.co.uk/blog/my-focus-mode-set-up/) with this in 2022. Whatever your process may be, it's incredibly freeing to declutter oneself. More importantly, it allows you to focus on the things that **matter**. ## **Safari Extensions** One of the newer features in iOS 15 that I've gotten mileage on this year has been the addition of **Safari Extensions**. If you're unfamiliar with them, you can read more on the [Apple support page](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-extensions-iphab0432bf6/ios). Think of them as add-ins that "customize the way your browser works." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/541c5149-afd3-47e5-97ef-a49523c2caaf_277x600.png) extensions in iOS 15 Here's a list of useful ones I've been using: - [Achoo HTML](https://achooapp.com/) — view the HTML for a given page. - [Amplosion](https://amplosion.app/) — If you get **ANY** one, this is the one to get; it removes the [horrible AMP links](https://daringfireball.net/linked/2017/01/17/schreiber-amp) from Google. - [Safari Keyword Search](http://safarikeywordsearch.aurlien.net/) — enables keyword searching from the address bar. For example, g searches google for and complements my "text replacement" workflow (see next section). - [Noir](https://getnoir.app/) — automatically adds a "dark mode" to every website you visit. Another 'must have.' - [Mapper](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mapper-for-safari/id1589391989) — I use Apple Maps; this automatically redirects Google Maps links from Google searches to Apple Maps. - [Vidimote](https://www.iospirit.com/products/vidimote/) — Advanced playback and speed controls for web videos. - [Web Inspector](https://andadinosaur.com/launch-web-inspector-for-ios) — allows web developers to edit web pages on the fly, debug JavaScript, and more. ## **Life Hack: Text replacement** Another 'hack' to make life a bit easier is text replacement. These are keyword shortcuts that automatically replace text with other text. For example: I use the key combination of @@ to put in an email address automatically. They help you type quickly, and you natural train your brain over time to use them automatically. What's nice is that you can set these up [on the Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/replace-text-punctuation-documents-mac-mh35735/12.0/mac/12.0#apda1248791ae294), or [in iOS](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-text-replacements-iph6d01d862/ios). You can then get consistency across platforms when typing. Here's a few common formats that I use: - !shortcut — shortcut for a URL, location, etc - @@name — shortcut for an email - ##phone — shortcut for a phone number - ;replacement — keyboard text snippet (;todo or ;edit) or snippet trigger (;time — current time, ;date — current date, etc) - !snip — keyboard text snippet trigger on iOS (Shortcut) or Alfred - :emoji: — shortcut for common emojis On Mac, you can go to System Preferences->Keyboard->Text to configure them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b66dc0a0-bf67-4478-bd36-637b35e52d7c_359x338.png) text replacement on Mac On iOS Settings->General->Keyboard, then tap [Text Replacement](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-text-replacements-iph6d01d862/ios). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f36ceebc-9f63-4ea4-9c82-1fc7222ad244_370x800.png) same replacement, but on the phone ## **Life Hack: Keep Safe Online** I am frequently asked, "how do I stay safe online?". Here are a few apps and techniques I use that should help you improve your safety and online privacy: - Use [iCloud Private Relay](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212614) - Use [1.1.1.1](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-1.1.1.1/) for your DNS. Set your router DNS to Cloudflare instead of your carrier, cable provider, or Google DNS. - Use a [PiHole for Adblocking](https://pi-hole.net/) at home - [1BlockerX](https://1blocker.com/) (Mac and iOS) — Ad blocking on Mac and iOS; I've tried several, but 1Blocker is the best mix of configuration, control, and safe listing. - Use a password manager such as [1Password](https://1password.com/) \- I have over 800 unique passwords for the family and myself. I have no idea what any of my passwords are, primarily multiple words and random 20+ characters. - Keep your devices updated with **the latest firmware**. - [MicroSnitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch) (Mac) — Alerts you to when an app or process uses the mic or camera. - [Little Snitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html) (Mac) — Allows you complete control over what apps can do on the network - [KnockKnock](https://objective-see.com/products/knockknock.html) (Mac) — Malware scanner for the Mac - [Signal](https://signal.org/) (Mac and iOS) — for secure messaging ## **Email** A big one for me this year has been around **separation of work from my devices**. I wanted to create **rigid boundaries**: no more Slack, Teams, work calendars, work email on my machines outside of the one provided by my employer. It's been incredibly freeing to walk away at 5 pm and leave it all in the home office. In addition, this year, I adopted and modified what is called the "[trusted trio](https://lifehacker.com/empty-your-inbox-with-the-trusted-trio-182318)". While I used the exact primary "flow" mechanism (described below), I got rid of the "annual" folder and replaced it with: - **Follow-up** — this is for emails that represent a quick action that involves a human; frankly, this is probably just going to end up being another type of follow-up in [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/)from now on (I rarely used it). - **Hold** — a temporary holding pen; I mainly used this to keep online order confirmation emails until I physically received them (and then moved to archive). - **Archive** — pretty self-explanatory; it was the old "annual" folder for everything else if it doesn't fall into a particular category. I am still planning on purging the "archive" folder to backup to start the new year with a clean slate. ## **Flow** ([From "Flow"](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/)) One of the things I pride myself on is responding to messages as quickly as possible. While this has sometime's gotten me into trouble (sometimes it's best to let things stew), I am do get asked how this is doable given the constant stream of noise that most of us deal with every day. The answer is easy: **My Inbox is empty.** I've been able to keep this philosophy pretty consistent over 15 + years now (despite the recent '[inbox zero is wrong](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-you-thought-you-knew-about-inbox-zero-is-wrong/)' pushback), and I follow the general rule that I would not let Email overwhelm me — **Email is not my task list**. While challenging at times, the trick is to keep your Inbox *below five items before the end of each day*. Trust me, friends, once you get there, it's ***amazing*** how liberating this can be. The workflow is pretty straightforward, for **every** new mail: - If I don't need it and can delete it, I **delete** it immediately. - If it's something that I can **answer immediately**, I do. Then the Email goes into the 'archive, hold, or followup' folder or **deleted**. - If the Email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast, or whatever else that I can consume later, it quickly goes into [Matter](https://hq.getmatter.app/). If it's something that I **need for information later**, it quickly goes into the 'archive' folder. Then it is **deleted**. - If it's something that I need to **think** about or take **action** on, it quickly goes over to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item, with tags, a project, and a due date. Then the Email goes into the 'archive' folder or **deleted**. The process is quick and straightforward, and my Inbox **never** becomes a dumping ground for tasks. ## **The "Second Brain"** Another rathole that I find I get sucked into annually is the concept of a "2nd Brain" or a [Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) system](https://www.taskade.com/blog/personal-knowledge-management-pkm-guide/). > *Personal knowledge management is a life-long investment of time and effort into capturing and organizing information. That can include the things you experience, read about, and listen to. It's a deliberate and systematic collection of information.* As I mentioned in the introduction, it's less about **the tools** that you use, but more about the *process of doing the work*. I'm sure that I'll spend additional time down the road dissecting and publishing more around each part of the PKM that I've been using to keep track of various bits of information over the years (from book summaries, quotes I love, commonplace musings, or tech tips). And, no matter what system you end up using, growing a [digital garden](https://refinedmind.co/my-digital-ecosystem) is something that I have consistently found benefit in. [Tiago Forte](https://fortelabs.co/) calls this methodology "progressive summarization". It's a three-step process in which you: - **Step 1:** Decide What to Learn - **Step 2**: Capture Everything in One Place - **Step 3**: Process, Curate, Repurpose When you add something to your PKM system, revisit the information after a day or two and try to compress it down to the juiciest details. Get rid of the fluff and expose critical facts, dates, hints, and observations. For example, when I consume a book, I read it in **Apple Books**, using the pencil to highlight interesting things. Once I'm done reading, I send the entire export over to [Readwise](https://readwise.io/). Readwise is also a place where I can send other notes I find online, Twitter' threads', etc., and then I extract the highlights into my notes app. A few days later, I read the highlights, compressing and making a second set of highlights to summarize critical points in my own words. By the time I have done this iterative process, I've scaled it down to a concise summary in my notes. I want to shout out to [Otter.AI](https://otter.ai/) (if interested, check out [a free one month trial](https://otter.ai/referrals/IFUG5PRC)). I've been using Otter recently to pull in podcasts, work meetings, even videos. The transcription is excellent, and I can send those highlights to [readwise](https://readwise.io/) as well. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ae2ce974-6712-4461-910a-c60b0fadc599_203x923.png) organization in Notes As I mentioned, I'll do a post dedicated to my PKM in 2022, but I wanted to put in a list of tools I've found valuable to collect various bits of information: - [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) — my "long term storage" of knowledge. I'm now playing a bit more with [Craft](https://www.craft.do/) as a place to store all of these bits down the road. I particularly like the built-in outlining capabilities and the additional automation control that Notes lack. We'll see where this goes. - [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) — Task and todo lists - [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/) — personal diary and digital commonplace book. - [Readwise](https://readwise.io/) — a place to store highlights from books, Twitter, podcasts, etc., and review them before shoving them into Notes. - [Reeder](https://reederapp.com/) — I like Reeder for "article storage" but have been playing with [Matter](https://hq.getmatter.app/) as a replacement. We'll see where this all ends up next year. # **The 2021 Desk Setup** While I am given a work laptop, I reference it as **the brick**. This year, I have focused on keeping a much better work/life separation, so I use "the brick" more than I'd like to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a3dd9665-c49f-4cdb-b031-15faa26f9ab9_3246x2434.jpeg) the 2021 desk Here's where my setup is as we end 2021: - [MacBook (Air 512GB/16GB, M1, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — I am on this laptop all day long in my home office. I love it. - [iPhone 13 Pro (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-13/) — Goes with me **everywhere**; the only change I went with this year was a return to space gray. - [iPad Mini 6 (512GB, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/) — I was so happy that this device was finally released. It's my favorite around-the-house device. - [Apple Watch 7 Cellular](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-7/) — The 7th generation of the watch was a no-brainer - it's the centerpiece of [my health tracking](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). - [MB Pro 13"](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-13/) — work laptop. I **hate this machine** — not needed except that work requires certain restrictions/policies to be installed on a laptop to be on the network . I have an ancient [Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) "media server" that is used to archive content and back up the Synology NAS to [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html). Other random gear: - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — with [memory foam](https://www.complyfoam.com/products/app-comply-foam-tips-compatible-with-airpods-pro/) are my primary headphones for calls. - [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black) — the Woolenex case is miles above the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works excellent with wireless charging as well. - [AirPod Max](https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/) \- I know, the case is stupid. But the sound quality on these is fantastic for listening to music and watching movies. - [AirPod Max Waterfield Case](https://www.sfbags.com/products/airpods-max-shield-case) \- I am waiting for these to arrive; as mentioned, the AirPod Max "bra" case is terrible. - [Grovemade MagSafe Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/magsafe-stand/) - [OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock](https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock) - [Blue Yeti Nano](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti-nano/) and [Blue Yeti Compass](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/compass/) - [Dell Widescreen 3421 USB-C](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-34-curved-usb-c-monitor-p3421w/apd/210-axqc/monitors-monitor-accessories) - [Grovemade Desk Shelf](https://grovemade.com/desk-shelf-system/) - [Grovemade Pen and Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/black-pen-and-pen-stand/?initial=491) - [Sonos One](https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/one.html) - [Pete's Pirate Gear](https://petespiratelife.com/) — candle, challenge coin and dice ## **Camera Setup** I went all-in with lights and a proper camera this year, and WOW, what a difference. - [Sony Camera](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-ZV-E10-Interchangeable-Mirrorless/dp/B09BBLH4SG) - [Viltrox 23mm Lens](https://www.amazon.com/VILTROX-Mount-Focus-APS-C-Camera/dp/B08DTRYSKW) - [elGato CamLink 4k](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Cam-Link-Broadcast-Camcorder/dp/B07K3FN5MR) - [elGato Stand](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Weighted-Base-Multi-Mount/dp/B07X5DM3S1) - [elGato lighting](https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Key-Light-Professional-App-Enabled/dp/B07L755X9G) ## **EDC** Not a lot has changed in 2021 with my EDC, so check out [my mid-year 'clean up the edc'](https://makoism.com/2021-edc/) post for more info. # **2021 Apps List** ## **Apple Watch Apps** Last year, I put together a post covering my usage of the Apple Watch, along with the apps I use. If interested, [check that out](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a3a2b07b-4dcb-4159-9ada-0aee2de9e41a_800x500.png) apple watch I'm still using the Infograph face, although I've removed a few separate apps for getting health data and have enjoyed [FitnessView](https://fitnessview.app/), which allows me to create custom widgets and watch complications for any health metric that I choose to track. ## **The Nuked List** - [HD HomeRun](https://www.silicondust.com/) — Nuked. - [Channels](https://getchannels.com/) — Nuked. - [Weather Line](http://weatherlineapp.com/) — Nuked. - [Medium](https://www.medium.com/) — Nuked. - [Slack](https://slack.com/) — Nuked. - [HabitMinder](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/habitminder/id1253577148) — Replaced by [FitnessView](https://fitnessview.app/). - [Headspace](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-meditation-sleep/id493145008) \- Replaced by [Calm](https://www.calm.com/). - [HealthView](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthview/id1020452064) — Replaced by [FitnessView](https://fitnessview.app/). - [StepsApp](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stepsapp-pedometer/id1037595083) — Replaced by [FitnessView](https://fitnessview.app/). ## **Page One / Homepage** This list contains the apps I use every day; my page one on the phone and the pad. - [Fantastical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) (Mac and iOS) — I wanted to play around with a different calendar system this year, but this isn't likely to last through 2022\. It's a solid app, but I don't see much benefit over the built-in calendar with the latest iOS updates. - [Carrot Weather](https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/) (iOS) — It took me a bit to get there, but Carrot is [the best weather app](https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/28/22254026/carrot-weather-version-5-update-ios-app-subscription)with a crazy amount of customization options. And, the constant snark is priceless. - [Tot](https://tot.rocks/) (Mac and iOS) - Tot is a weird one for me, but I'm still on it. Think of it as a simple utility to throw down scrap notes that sync between your laptop, pad, and phone. - [1Password](https://1password.com/) (Mac and iOS) - I have my entire family on [1Password for Families](https://1password.com/families/). In there, I have a good 800+ passwords and logins for sites that I have no idea what the password is. It's essential for personal security in 2021, IMHO. - [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) (Mac and iOS) — Still running strong for getting tasks done every day. While I've been playing with [OmniFocus](https://www.omnigroup.com/blog/omnifocus-4-first-look-invitation-to-help-test) again, it's a crucial part of every day's flow. - [Training Peaks](https://www.trainingpeaks.com/) (Web and iOS) - My structured workouts are tracked here. - [Apple Notes](https://www.icloud.com/notes) (Mac and iOS) — While I've started to explore [Craft](https://www.craft.do/), I'm **still** using Notes for all my note-taking and "long term memory" (PKM). - [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) (Mac and iOS) — IAWriter is what I use for long-form focused writing. - 🧠 (aka, 'the brain') - This 'folder' houses the apps that I use as part of my knowledge management: - [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) (Web and iOS) — it's so much more than an RSS' source' by allowing you to curate newsletter subscriptions (so they don't clutter the inbox), Twitter, Reddit in a single backend. It's great. - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/) and [Apollo](https://apolloapp.io/) (Web and iOS) — still using Reddit as a resource for information, but like Twitter, you need to curate what you subscribe to carefully. - [Matter](https://hq.getmatter.app/) — I've been slowly starting to play with this as part of my knowledge management for articles I want to "read later" to highlight and take notes on. I don't care for its 'social' features, but thinking of it as a replacement for what I used to use Pocket for. - [Readwise](https://readwise.io/) — storage for web, Twitter, and book highlights that I use as part of my knowledge management flow. - [Otter.AI](https://otter.ai/referrals/IFUG5PRC) (Web and iOS) — my newest 2021 discovery - been using it for real-time transcription of audio from meetings, podcasts, YouTube videos, and Voice Notes on the watch. - [DayOne](http://dayoneapp.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I use DayOne for jotting down simple thoughts daily. Clearing my mind at the start of every day of the "junk" has been helpful for me to maintain better clarity. - [Reeder 5](http://reederapp.com/ios/) (Mac and iOS) — My prominent "[read it later](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/)" app along with [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) as a way to get newsletters via RSS instead of having my inbox flooded. - [Tweetbot](https://tapbots.com/tweetbot/) (Mac and iOS) — The best Twitter client. ## **Other Apps of Interest** Instead of going thru the [myriad](https://www.apple.com/apple-one/) [of](https://www.hbomax.com/) [usual](https://www.netflix.com/) [suspects](https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011) [across](https://disneyplus.com/) [my streaming](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/08/apple-tv-plus-subscribers-get-cbs-all-access-and-showtime-bundle-at-a-great-value/) media nightmare, here's a few of note from the last year: - [YouTube TV](https://tv.youtube.com/) — Cut the cable this year and went with YouTubeTV. It's been working out well so far! - [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) (Web and iOS) — I broke down. I couldn't take the ads anymore. - [ReelGood](https://reelgood.com/) (Web and iOS) — I use this to find "where" something is streaming. Searching across all the subscription services to stream a particular title from is a PIA and this app helps out. - [Halide](https://halide.cam/) (iOS) — still the BEST camera app on the phone; every year, it keeps getting better and better. - [Darkroom](http://darkroom.co/) (Mac and iOS) — the BEST photo editing app for your phone - [Pixelmator Pro](http://www.pixelmator.com/pro/) (Mac) and [Pixelmator Photo](https://www.pixelmator.com/photo/) (iOS) — photo editing tools that are unparalleled. - [Photoleap](https://www.photoleapapp.com/) (iOS) — I use this app when I need to "layer" photos with text or do some stimulating effects. - [LumaFusion](https://luma-touch.com/) (iOS) — professional grade video editor for iPad and iPhone - [Blink Shell](https://www.blink.sh/) (iOS) — SSH and Mosh client for iOS, and [recently supports VS Code](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPHjcsrKM9s&feature=youtu.be) \- which is **insane**. - [iSH](https://ish.app/) (iOS) — Linux emulator that has replaced having a native shell on iOS; been using this one A LOT to get "computer" work done on the phone or pad. - [Working Copy](https://workingcopyapp.com/) (iOS) — The best git app still for iOS. - I have been using [Apple Shortcuts](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios) a TON this year for simple automation. Check out a few "power" apps to bring additional functionality to it: - [GizmoPack](https://gizmopack.app/) (Mac and iOS) — while it has friendly actions for working with the wallet or files, I find that I use it a ton to process JSON w/ [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/) or [JsonPath](https://github.com/json-path/JsonPath). - [HTTPBot](https://www.httpbot.io/) (Mac and iOS) — REST client for iOS that's compatible with [PostMan](https://www.postman.com/)collections. But I use it for advanced [curl requests](https://flaviocopes.com/http-curl/) in Shortcuts. - [Toolbox Pro](https://toolboxpro.app/) (Mac and iOS) — more utilities to add power to your automation, such as working with NFC, image filtering, movie details, etc. - [Linky](https://pragmaticcode.com/linky/) (iOS) — great app for sending clips to Twitter; though I use this for "text shots" — you highlight text, and it turns it into an exciting image. - [TripIt](https://www.tripit.com/) (Web and iOS) — because it's free from work. # **Homescreens** **iPhone 2021** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/15294054-74de-48f5-b500-aeec02c3742c_761x800.png) iPhone 2021 Homescreen **iPad 2021** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/248a0ab0-1707-4fc3-a8fc-c16daccca010_672x1024.png) iPad 2021 And.. that’s a wrap. See you in 2022\. Be well and if you enjoyed this - you can always feed the habit by [buying me a coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/makoism) ☕️. ✌🏻 ### The Big Dark URL: https://makoism.com/the-big-dark/ Last updated: 2021-12-18T12:45:00.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fb3821e2-2d32-4a33-b698-0e7842353940_6000x4000.jpeg) clouds Having lived in Seattle for over 20 years, I'm no stranger to our famous long stretches of grey weather from October to March, otherwise known as "**The Big Dark.**" I new one that I recently heard the '3:30 rule' (coined by [Ron Judd in 2015](https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/canada-seattles-neighbor-to-the-north-nope-better-check-your-map/)) which states: > *If you don't get your stuff together in time to walk your dog, prune the dogwoods or mend the fence by 3:30 pm, you're going to be finishing in the dark.* Today (Dec 18, 2021), the sun rises here at 7:52 am and will set at 4:18 pm - only giving us only 8 hours and 26 minutes of potential daylight. Unfortunately, the forecast predicts that the light rain and clouds will hide it all. I'm not sure why I wanted to write about the weather this week, perhaps because we are wrapping up 'pandemic year two'. The new [Omicron variant seems to be gaining speed](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/this-is-a-whole-new-animal-breakthrough-infections-rattle-nyc-amid-omicron-surge/3456543/). Sporting events are [starting to get delayed](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/17/sport/games-postponed-nfl-college-basketball-spt/index.html), the [Rockettes and broadway have cancelled](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/radio-city-rockettes-cancel-friday-christmas-spectacular-shows-over-breakthrough-covid-cases-11639767392) their shows and many I know are feeling 'a big dark' overshadowing the world again. If anything, the last few years have me thinking about [the dichotomy of control](https://www.orionphilosophy.com/stoic-blog/stoicism-and-the-dichotomy-of-control): **recognition of what one can and cannot control**. I try to focus on healthy habits for myself (working out daily, not overeating crap, reading, etc.) rather than worrying too much about how the world is acting around me. I don't know. It helps me on some days. But everyone [is just tired of all this](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/12/omicron-pandemic-giving-up/621004/). Wrapping up this week as I work towards the big **"Things I Like" 2021 edition** (hopefully next weekend I’ll post), I wanted to include a video from Jerry Seinfeld's [Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee](https://www.netflix.com/title/80171362), which I thought was interesting. [Michael Richards](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724245/) talks about auditioning for "Seinfeld" and discusses the racist rant at a heckler during a set at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood in 2006 that [destroyed his career](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/how-seinfeld-star-michael-richards-destroyed-his-career-in-3-minutes.html/). If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I laughted a bit at this rant on technology in the 80's from Bill Murray. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/AskCarolLynne/status/1454615101508513794) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "*Can you build a website from a piece of paper?*" was the question that spawned [Paper Website](https://paperwebsite.com/). Read about how this project was born, and the inspiration behind it - [More](https://daily.tinyprojects.dev/paper%5Fwebsite) - "**How Will You Measure Your Life?**" explores a simple thought: **Create a Strategy for Your Life** \- [More](https://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life) - From the dark side comes "**11 Reasons Not to Become Famous (or "A Few Lessons Learned Since 2007")**" - [More](https://tim.blog/2020/02/02/reasons-to-not-become-famous/) - My favorite read of the week is "**10 Interesting Things Lurking Inside Tedious Meetings**". [Jessica](https://substack.com/profile/233404-jessica-hagy) tries to rationalize that there's always 'something or someone worth showing up for.' A great read - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-interesting-things-lurking-inside) - "**The Attention Diet**" is a beautiful post about the distractions that have started to overwhelm, well, everything - [More](https://markmanson.net/attention-diet) - This whole [Peloton and Sex and the City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OguSNOLnrwc) thing is crazy. First, I was upset how they killed off a character on a Peloton, then the brilliance of [Peloton's response 'ad'](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2OQcSRLA%5Fs), and now they've pulled the ad due to the [allegations of sexual misconduct](https://www.npr.org/2021/12/16/1064978410/peloton-pulls-ad-chris-noth-sexual-assault-allegations). More in "**And Just Like That, Peloton Is Trying to Rewrite That Scene in the Sex and the City Sequel**" - [More](https://gizmodo.com/and-just-like-that-peloton-is-trying-to-rewrite-that-s-1848203215) - "**Getting to 👃 me**" is a fun read on [Adam](https://substack.com/profile/23300858-adam-harmetz)'s favorite smells. Who *doesn't* like the aroma of roasted whole coffee beans? - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/getting-to-me) - "**How to rest well**" explores why it's essential to take downtime to recharge. It's not about being lazy, its the key to a good life and productive career - [More](https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-rest-well-and-enjoy-a-more-creative-sustainable-life) - A rather long but poignant guide that asks you to dig a bit deeper inside and ask yourself: **am I happy?** and "**why we need a life philosophy**" - [More](https://ramses.blog/why-life-philosophy/) - '*If you aren't falling down, you aren't stretching your limits enough*' or, falling is a **requirement for advancement**. Read more in "**Make A Habit of Falling Down**" - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/make-a-habit-of-falling-down) - "**The Five Sicknesses of the Human Soul**" explores some of the teachings from [Marcus Aurelius](https://dailystoic.com/marcus-aurelius) '*for what ravages the soul weakens mind and body*.' Fantastic and quick read - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-five-sicknesses-of-the-human-soul) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with the epic video of Keanu Reeves and the idea of NFT's. Be well and see you soon for the highly anticipated **"Things I Like" 2021 edition**!✌🏻 ### Continuity URL: https://makoism.com/continuity/ Last updated: 2021-12-11T12:53:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/411239e6-9b2f-4ddc-905e-69268b42daa8_5762x3841.jpeg) If there were a single word to describe thoughts this week, it would be **continuity**. While I am not solely referring to this week's outage of Amazon, it amuses me when people are **shocked** at how interconnected everyday life is to cloud providers. For example, a [headline from the Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-outage-disrupts-lives-surprising-people-about-their-cloud-dependency-11638972001) reads: "**Amazon Outage Disrupts Lives, Surprising People About Their Cloud Dependency.**" It describes that shock people felt 'when Amazon Web Services was interrupted, some vacuum cleaners, light switches and cat-food dispensers stopped working.' Software in a nutshell: > [](https://twitter.com/unormal/status/1003619797886799874) One of the most challenging conversations I have with people (until, of course, everything falls over) is that you need to **plan for failure**. No one wants to spend time working on "boring things" like making sure they can withstand a cyberattack or infrastructure disappearing, but there is a level of comfort when **you accept** that this stuff **is** going to go south. **Spend time planning for continuity.** Last week I wrote a bit about living a more [intentional life](https://makoism.com/an-intentional-life/). One of the more powerful things I have been working on this year is **IF / THEN** pivots when things fail. Psychologists call this thinking "[implementation intentions](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065260106380021)"; it's a simple principle, which states that you should know ahead of time what you'll do if you go off course, and what that means for you. **IF** this happens to me, **THEN** I do that. The THEN should be well defined - almost automatic - when it needs to kick in hits. Studies have shown that this thinking creates [strong mental links](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14792779343000059) that can help you push through and achieve goals. In [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits), James Clear nails it: **It's the planning of precisely what you're going to do to make that change that's critical.** Plan for failure: it's how to succeed. In the meantime, sit back and imagine that everyone who hasn't planned for continuity, or tested their disaster recovery plans, probably had a meeting similar this week: If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I enjoyed this 'reflection' back with Jason Sudeikis on his time with Saturday Night Live as both a writer and a cast member. His comments on imposter syndrome and how he got his role on SNL (by dancing) stood out for me. I also had no idea that [George Wendt](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001841/) ([Norm!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXED2AVlbR0)) is his [uncle](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jason-sudeikis-with-uncle-cheers-star-george-wendt-picture-2014242/). ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/VessOnSecurity/status/1468457819296968705) ## **Latest obsession** File under 'total splurge’, but I recently acquired these [Daneson Toothpicks](https://daneson.com/collections/4-pack-collection/products/single-malt-no-16-bourbon-no-22-4-pack). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/61244a9c-86d9-4ab0-a0a0-fec249192aaf_600x600.jpeg) toothpicks I have the four pack which includes 2 of these tubes of whisky toothpicks: - Single Malt No.16 - Fourteen-year-old Islay scotch whisky imbued with notes of oak tannins, peat, almond, and vanilla. - Bourbon No.22 - Steeped in six-year-old cask strength Kentucky straight bourbon. Expect notes of oak, leather, caramel, and almond, and hints of fruit once this toothpick is warmed up. They're incredibly subtle yet flavorful. What toothpicks were meant to be; you can keep the toothpick in your mouth for hours. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Hackers shut down the biggest cheese manufacturer, and it's why "**That Cream Cheese Shortage You Heard About? Cyberattacks Played a Part**" - [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-09/that-cream-cheese-shortage-you-heard-about-cyberattacks-played-a-part) - In this weeks best read - "**How to Be Great? Just Be Good, Repeatably**" looks at why '*being dependable and disciplined*' is the key to greatness - [More](https://blog.stephsmith.io/how-to-be-great/) - "**We Eat at The Worst Michelin Starred Restaurant, Ever**" is an excellent read about a genuinely disastrous meal - [More](https://everywhereist.com/2021/12/bros-restaurant-lecce-we-eat-at-the-worst-michelin-starred-restaurant-ever/) - On the flip side, read "**I Made My Shed the Top-Rated Restaurant on TripAdvisor**." An amusing true-life story on how someone gamed the system, top-rated their shed, and served people frozen dinners to prove how 'fake' most of these restaurant reviews are - [More](https://www.vice.com/en/article/434gqw/i-made-my-shed-the-top-rated-restaurant-on-tripadvisor) - The '*Big Quit*' isn't about quitting in "**Three Myths of the Great Resignation**" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/great-resignation-myths-quitting-jobs/620927/) - It's that time of year when I'm reviewing most of my digital workflow for [the annual report](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/), and"**Digital gardens let you cultivate your own little bit of the internet**" explores some of the personal knowledge mapping space - [More](https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/03/1007716/digital-gardens-let-you-cultivate-your-own-little-bit-of-the-internet/) - "**The Popular Family Safety App Life360 Is Selling Precise Location Data on Its Tens of Millions of Us**" is just gross. I hate how people are trying to protect their kids, and then the vendor goes and sells location data to data brokers. People scream about Apple's privacy focus, but here's a good read on why they are concerned - [More](https://themarkup.org/privacy/2021/12/06/the-popular-family-safety-app-life360-is-selling-precise-location-data-on-its-tens-of-millions-of-user) - A fantastic read on "**Why we need a life philosophy**," which focuses on why you need to find a good flow in life - [More](https://ramses.blog/why-life-philosophy/) - In "**How to Care Less About Work**," a look at what you want to do and not do with the rest of your lives. Also see last weeks post on living '[An Intentional Life](https://makoism.com/an-intentional-life/)' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/how-care-less-about-work/620902/) - A look at content creation and the power of "**1,000 True Fans**". I love that there are a few hundred people who read my ramblings every week - [More](https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/) - Oregon Trail is one of the first computer games that I remember from elementary school - I never knew its history until I read "**'Oregon Trail' at 50: The story of a game that inspired generations**" - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90702587/oregon-trail-computer-game-50th-anniversary) ## **Fin** Wrapping up this week with a glimpse back at the "lost interview" of Bruce Lee from a 1971 edition of The Pierre Berton Show. In this clip, he discusses the art of expressing the human body. Enjoy. Be well. ✌🏻 ### An Intentional Life URL: https://makoism.com/an-intentional-life/ Last updated: 2021-12-04T11:45:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/98a0ad9b-1ab6-47a6-929e-107e12859003_5753x3835.jpeg) time [Hello, friend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCKDrDvaOKE)... Whether or not you celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday last week, I hope that you were able to have a few days that were more relaxing and away from the typical day-to-day bustle around your home or office. My week started didn't start with good news: I received a text that a former employee and friend of mine passed away from cancer ([fuck cancer](https://www.letsfcancer.com/)). It was unexpected and quick; a surprise to those that knew her. It was a sad reminder of just how short your time on this rock hurtling through space is, that **unfair** things can happen to even the most kind person and how the universe is mainly uncontrollable and unforgiving. Tim Urban's [Your Life in Weeks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html) has been on my mind lately and I'm well aware that **more than half of these bubbles have been filled for me**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/850b5711-fb96-4a7a-a415-845beaff2642_1400x1149.png) The last few years haven't been easy on me and my family. I've had to deal with heart issues that I never thought I'd experience at 50, shifting to a job which required relocating (along with the impacts of that), then another switch to ultimately make things right and move us back home. And like many, had to figure out new ways to lead people through unprecedented change during a global pandemic. Yet, I keep coming back to my notion of time. The last years have seen my professional and personal priorities shifting significantly in ways I never predicted; I am trying every day now to **dedicate space to things that matter to me**. We only have 24 hours in a day – **I am focused on changing my mindset on what I do with them**. I haven't cracked this entirely yet, and sure, I've had days where I slip back into old habits. But I'm *trying* every day to **live a more intentional life** and focus on bigger things: Self-care. Family and Friends. Learning and unlearning how I interact with people. I am taking the time to reach out to friends I haven't talked to recently. Shifting focus on what matters and (more importantly) letting go of what doesn't. I’ve stopped living on auto-pilot. Focused on **where and how I want to spend time.** I've made great strides towards "**life 2.0**", but also keenly aware that I have a long way to go until I'm there. It's a work in progress; keep trying to make every day better. **Live intentionally**. **Bring joy where you can.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This week, I was introduced to the concept of the [Hedonic Treadmill](https://www.healthline.com/health/hedonic-treadmill) (thank's Derek). Described as: > *is a metaphor for the human tendency to pursue one pleasure after another. That's because the surge of happiness that's felt after a positive event is likely to return to a steady personal baseline over time.* Think of it as "[Chasing Unhappiness](https://thequestpod.substack.com/p/tqdissue06)" and that '**the pull of accumulating more and more 'things' eventually keeps you running in place forever.**' [Justin Kan](https://twitter.com/justinkan?), the co-founder of Twitch, recently had a lot to say about it. It's worth the watch. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/jessicahagy/status/1461767608051462147) ## **Latest obsession** I love this one, and it's perfect for the holidays. Inspired by the Japanese wrapping cloths "[Furoshiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furoshiki)," the folks at [Tom Bihn](https://www.tombihn.com/) took the [Shepherd's Wool Utility Cloth](https://www.tombihn.com/products/wool-utility-cloth?variant=14816891699263) to create a video showing how you can wrap gifts. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Continuing this week's theme, '*we all have a finite amount of time to live, and within that mortal countdown we devote some fraction towards our work*' via "**work on what matters.**" - [More](https://lethain.com/work-on-what-matters/) - In my favorite post of the week, "**10 Healthy Reasons to Procrastinate**". There are some really good reasons why particular work should be put off for now - [More](https://jessicahagy.substack.com/p/10-healthy-reasons-to-procrastinate) - "**Please Buy Literally Everything**" takes a look at the chaos and psychological tricks that are played on you as a consumer this time of year. One way the author has countered this is by 'asking myself whether the object in question helps me create or consume' .. good stuff in here - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/please-buy-literally-everything/) - Looking back: What a wild read, "**Someone Unearthed A 1997 Wired Article Predicting '10 Things That Could Go Wrong In The 21st Century'**". Number 9 in the list: '*An uncontrollable plague - a modern-day influenza epidemic or its equivalent takes off like wildfire, killing upward of 200 million people*' 🤔 - [More](https://digg.com/2021/wired-article-future-predictions-came-true) - Looking forward: "**What next? 22 emerging technologies to watch in 2022**" - [More](https://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead/2021/11/08/what-next-22-emerging-technologies-to-watch-in-2022) - I've started my annual list of '[things i like](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/)', which evolved out of doing a yearly review, so I always enjoy reading about how others take this time to reflect and live more intentionally. "**How to do an Annual Review and Set Goals for Next Year**" has an interesting framework around this process - [More](https://martineellis.medium.com/how-to-do-an-annual-review-and-set-goals-for-next-year-613ae585c10f) - Another great "**2021 in review**" to read - [More](https://lethain.com/2021-in-review/) - "**Dave Grohl retraces his life-affirming path from Nirvana to Foo Fighters**" as part of his new book, [The Storyteller](https://www.amazon.com/Storyteller-Tales-Life-Music/dp/0063076098) (which is now in my 'to-read pile) - [More](https://www.npr.org/2021/11/24/1057250055/dave-grohl-storyteller-from-nirvana-to-foo-fighters) - File under 'who knew?' but "**Why Ocean Spray Intentionally Labels Its Cranberry Sauce Upside-Down**"; the answer may surprise you as there is science behind it - [More](https://apple.news/AXjQSN9%5FzRwW7pqprGKUf3Q) - Simply brilliant, but this artist uses "**Ceramic Mosaics Mend Cracked Sidewalks, Potholes, and Buildings in Vibrant Interventions**." Read more about 'the pavement surgeon' - [More](https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/05/ememem-street-mosaics/) ## **Fin** [Jason Sudeikis](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0837177/) seems to be everywhere lately with [Ted Lasso](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/). Still, I enjoyed his portrayal of a passive-aggressive swim coach in the latest [Foo Fighters](https://www.foofighters.com/) video - [Love Dies Young](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/jason-sudeikis-foo-fighters-love-dies-young-video-tedd-lasso-1235050142/). Be well. ✌🏻 ### Attack The Ideas URL: https://makoism.com/attack-the-ideas/ Last updated: 2021-11-20T12:17:45.000Z **Programming Note: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, I’ll be taking a hiatus next week and will be back the week after.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f7a8c3c1-84dc-4e79-991c-e68ecdaae472_4528x3019.jpeg) It's been a busy week pre-Thanksgiving; I've started working on the popular '[Things I Like](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/)' annual review, been heads-down at work, and trying to get things for a few days of needed rest and refocus. I’ll keep it short, and in order to keep your **favorite weekly dose of bliss** being timely, I'm going to start with an excellent [tweet from Tim Urban](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1461620476363612169): > *Grateful for the friends that are fun to argue with. 6 qualities they have in common:* 1. *Their motivation for claiming is more "obsession with finding the truth" than "winning a competitive game."* 2. *Their conviction level fits their knowledge of the topic.* 3. *They attack my ideas, not me.* 4. *They get that I'm doing the same and don't take my disagreements personally.* 5. *They're independent thinkers whose views are often hard to predict. They never agree with me just for the sake of being agreeable.* 6. *They acknowledge when they're wrong.* I loved this post. [Who Over What](https://makoism.com/who-over-what/). **Always**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** [Canlis](https://canlis.com/) is known to most Seattle folks as one of the best dining experiences that the city has to offer, so my mind was blown 🧠🤯 on the [adapatibility](https://makoism.com/consistently-flexible/) here. "[Seattle fine-dining restaurant Canlis serves Dick's burgers during power outage](https://www.king5.com/article/features/seattle-fine-dining-restaurant-canlis-serves-dicks-burgers-during-power-outage/281-169fc36a-9f80-4db2-bc8e-0edae79b2e82)" ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/oatmeal/status/1422631731874516992) ## **Latest obsession** I discovered [The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows](https://www.youtube.com/c/obscuresorrows/) this past week and instantly ordered [the recently published book](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501153641). Described as "*a dictionary of made-up words for emotions that we all feel but don't have the words to express*," I thought it was fascinating and a must-read. Take the word [ambedo](https://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/post/9660178280/ambedo): > *n. a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee—which leads to a dawning awareness of the haunting fragility of life, a mood whose only known cure is the vuvuzela.* I could watch the [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osrvO9Q3PtI) all day. Brilliant stuff. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Another under 'who knew! - "*modern bowling balls contain an asymmetric weight block in the middle that looks like a car's starter*" in "**How Bowling Balls Are Made**" - [More](https://kottke.org/21/11/how-bowling-balls-are-made) - Going to leave this one here: "**Stop Letting OKRs Masquerade as Strategy**." Read on around the pros/cons of OKRs - [More](https://rogermartin.medium.com/stop-letting-okrs-masquerade-as-strategy-a57fc2cea915) - In the most poignant read of the week, "**Climbing the wrong hill**" explores what '*(we) should learn from computer science: meander some in your walk, randomly drop yourself into new parts of the terrain, and when you find the highest hill, don't waste any more time on the current hill no matter how much better the next step up might appear.*' - [More](https://cdixon.org/2009/09/19/climbing-the-wrong-hill) - Want to make your conversations weirder and more interesting? "**Try Asking People Why Things Matter to Them**" - [More](https://sashachapin.substack.com/p/a-strangely-powerful-question-that) - In the same vein as the last link, "**How to Ask Useful Questions**" provides some additional prompts around context and avoiding friction when trying to get answers - [More](https://joshkaufman.net/how-to-ask-useful-questions/) - I never realized that, in relative terms, Forks are the new kid on the block. "**Knives and Spoons Are Ancient. Not Forks.**" explores more than you ever cared to know about Forks - [More](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/design/2012/06/the%5Fhistory%5Fof%5Fthe%5Ffork%5Fwhen%5Fwe%5Fstarted%5Fusing%5Fforks%5Fand%5Fhow%5Ftheir%5Fdesign%5Fchanged%5Fover%5Ftime%5F.html) - Want some tremendous insight into the grocery business? Look no further than "**Trader Joe Wrote a Memoir**" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/trader-joe-wrote-a-memoir) - "**13 Ways Of Looking At A Post-It Note**" dives into the quintessential 'tool for thought,' the Post-It Note, and its ability to 'organize our mental work, find and sort information, and make sense of the world' - [More](https://clivethompson.medium.com/13-ways-of-looking-at-a-post-it-note-6d72cd035c7d) - It doesn't matter if you like the music of KISS, but you can't take away the business sense of front-runner Gene Simmons. "**Gene Simmons of Kiss Says This 1 Word Made Him a Millionaire**" explores the **brand** of KISS, not the band - and that makes all the difference - [More](https://www.inc.com/steve-strauss/the-one-simple-word-that-gene-simmons-says-made-kiss-a-billion-dollar-business.html) - I'm always a sucker for great in-depth articles on the magic of film-making, and in "**How They Shot the Breathable Fluid Scenes in 'The Abyss'**," they explore the techniques that [James Cameron](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/) used to film [Ed Harris](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000438) 'breathing water' - [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/the-abyss-breathing-fluid/) - A great read on meditation, an view the *practice of exploring the mind* is "**An Adventure and Not a Chore**" - [More](https://tinyrevolutions.substack.com/p/tiny-revolutions-82-an-adventure) ## **Fin** I finally got around to watching [No Time To Die](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382320/) last week, and as always - a standout for me was [Hans Zimmer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001877/)'s fantastic soundtrack. I’ll leave you with the music video for "Final Ascent." Be well. ✌🏻 ### Consistently Flexible URL: https://makoism.com/consistently-flexible/ Last updated: 2021-11-13T11:33:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/73efffa3-d51c-480c-8f0b-f689a0246b10_4000x2666.jpeg) When it comes to accomplishing anything, one of the critical components always discussed is **consistency**. When training for triathlon or marathons, I learned that sticking to my coach's program was essential. Not only did it help prevent injury, the habits I formed became building blocks, each more and more challenging over time. Combined, these helped me get to a level that I need to participate in Ironman 70.3 events or slug out a 26-mile run. That being said, one of the more powerful skills that I have become reliant on through the years is **adaptability**. Failure to understand this or adequately prepare for it leads to something known as "**the Seneca Effect**." > *"Increases are of sluggish growth, but the way to ruin is rapid." - Seneca* That is - building something of *value* takes time, and **shit falls apart fast**. When things do go south (and it eventually will), you need to shift into different ways of thinking. Being resilient and bouncing back from misfortunes and viewing them as opportunities to learn is critical. Stoics always teach that you can only **focus** on what you can control, and you can't dwell on what happens to you in life. You only can control **how you respond**. Some ideas to help you build up skills around being adaptable: - Ask lots of questions from diverse groups - Pain and suffering is often due to **attachment** \- allow yourself to have a backup plan and let go! - Leverage your [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) - Check your emotions at the door - Constraint results in freedom. I love this one - prepare by introducing artificial constraints into your ecosystem (you cant use certain technologies on a project, etc.) Another thing that is important to understand is that when you get to a certain point, **effort doesn't help anymore**. It can have adverse effects. Look at how many climbers on Everest die because they just can't let go of the summit, or how many athletes injure themselves because they are trying to be consistent with training, not giving themselves time to heal. Yes, persistence and consistency are two virtues that will help you achieve goals and be successful, but having a path and being flexible when shit goes south is how to keep yourself in the game. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism?) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** From "[Letters of Note](https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/make-your-soul-grow)": > *In 2006, a group of students at Xavier High School in New York City were given an assignment by their English teacher, Ms. Lockwood, that was to test their persuasive writing skills: they were asked to write to their favorite author and ask him or her to visit the school.* 5 students chose Kurt Vonnegut; who turned out to be the **only** author to reply. His advice, "**make your soul grow**" is timeless. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/719f8860-bac9-4dcd-a81c-eccd1d26236d_700x935.jpeg) so it goes ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/SoVeryBritish/status/1457315946721337345) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - The key to managing in life is adaptability. In "**Persevering When Your Run Turns to Crap**" and how runners know '*that once you get through the pain cave, there are great things about to happen on the other side*.' Excellent advice in here for all - [More](https://medium.com/runners-life/persevering-when-your-run-turns-to-crap-1fddc18dc1c7) - "**Why Craftsmanship Matters**" goes along the theme of this week [Makoism](https://www.makoism.com/)on **consistency** and how to achieve the status of craftsman requires consistent long-term investment. Worthy advice for any part of life - [More](https://javascript.plainenglish.io/why-craftsmanship-matters-f7a496cdf87b) - "**Idea Storming**" is another fabulous article from [Adventures in Life](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/). This week, they explore the 'act of creation and how ideas feed each other - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/idea-storming) - "**What Becoming a Parent Really Does to Your Happiness**" dives into 'research has found that having children is terrible for quality of life'.. I'll post this link and let you decide for yourself - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/does-having-kids-make-you-happy/620576/) - While I have enjoyed Nutella, I never realized that 400,000 tons of the stuff were made annually from a global supply chain. In "**What Nutella Teaches Us About Global Supply Chain Risks**," read more about the consequences that they now face between 'global struggles like the fight against climate change and the drive to stamp out human-rights abuses' - [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-11-07/what-nutella-teaches-us-about-global-supply-chain-risks) - Easy one to file under 'no thanks,' but "**Do look down: Scaling one of NYC's tallest skyscrapers**" explores New York's craziest new attraction that you will **never** see me try - [More](https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-new-york-new-york-city-83b8add9210b83ef22172e787f1ce4a3) - This one is fascinating - "**The Libraries of Famous Men: Bruce Lee**" looks at 'the reading life of Bruce Lee' and talks about 'some titles he's known to have read, enjoyed, and learned from' - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/reading/the-libraries-of-famous-men-bruce-lee/) - "**Revisiting 'The 4-Hour Workweek'**" examines the classic book from [Tim Ferriss](https://tim.blog/) and how it predicted many of the new opportunities and challenges that face remote working today - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/office-space/revisiting-the-4-hour-workweek) - I'm a huge fan of [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) (I'm writing this in IA Writer now) and have been enjoying their perspectives on writing they publish on their blog. In "**On Apps and Coffee**," they explore that "apps are not coffee but coffee machines" - [More](https://ia.net/topics/on-apps-and-coffee) ## **Fin** Closing this week out with a rare 1977 interview with Sir Alec Guinness talking about his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Great stuff. Be well. ✌🏻 ### It's About Time URL: https://makoism.com/its-about-time/ Last updated: 2021-11-06T11:19:42.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f135f4b4-0829-40d3-a02d-1f7b129f4b60_3840x2160.jpeg) time Let me guess: every week starts, and you look at your calendar and cringe at the number of meetings or tasks you have in the upcoming days? I was in the same boat. It was a constant swarm of 30-minute meetings (often with no plan or outcomes), sessions where dozens of invites show up (and few are genuinely engaged), and random things that were popping up all over the week, disrupting any moment that I had put aside to *think*. > [](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1448277978560057346) I've been viewing my calendar differently for the last year, and it's starting to pay off in significant ways. Calendar management is now considered with a lens that "**time as currency**"; it's paying off in huge ways. Side note: I'd also recommend [Greg Mckeown](https://gregmckeown.com/about/)'s remarkable book, [Essentialism](https://books.apple.com/us/book/essentialism/id730186570) to get some additional thinking on this, but... > *In order to have focus, we need to *escape* to focus.* While others view the calendar as an '[allow list](https://critter.blog/2020/08/03/your-calendar-should-be-an-allowlist-not-a-blocklist/)', I took a more strict stance on the calendar to be around **deliberate focus**. > *It seems obvious, but when did you last take time out of your busy day simply to sit and think? I don't mean the five minutes during your morning commute you spent composing the day's to-do list or the meeting you spent zoned out reflecting on how to approach another project you were working on. I'm talking about deliberately setting aside distraction-free time in a distraction-free space to do absolutely nothing other than think. - *Essentialism** Here's the methodology I've been working with: - I use **categories** with calendars; green is "calendar management," dark gray is "cannot move" (a doctors appointment), yellow is "open office hours," etc - Set some core working hours. 9 am-5 pm PST, for example. - I block out the calendar outside of core working hours, "CM: Block." - 30 minutes at noon for lunch, I block (in green), "CM: Block" - Friday afternoons, at 1 pm-5 pm, I block (in green), "CM: Focus Friday" - I want time at the end of the week to focus, read, wrap up the week, learn a new thing, etc - One day a week, I also have a block of "open office hours" - feel free, schedule a catch-up, let's chat about random shit, but I *know* I'll be interrupted. Now that I have the general week blocked out, *each day* I also pick a 2-hour block as "CM: Think (but flexible)" - these are movable, complete-time blocks if a meeting pops up, but it also ensures I have a solid 2-hour continuous block to be productive and in 'the flow.' For other meetings - every **other** week, I have 30-min 1:1 meetings with my direct reports. In the same time block, in the alternating week, I have my direct's staff meeting. We have a standing agreement on any team meeting: be able to give **the gift of time**. On Tuesday AM on the day of our 1:1's, if there's nothing pressing I need to talk about, I send out: > *As promised – I am always happy to give the gift of time back. You're scheduled for a 1:1 later today; please let me know if you want to keep it (happy to!) or give time back to free up the calendar. I have nothing new/urgent on my end at this time.* **75% of the time, the meeting frees up**. In any meeting I send out to others, I always try to have two critical things: an agenda and an expected outcome/decision. These are all simple tasks to better grasp the calendar - do what works for you. My methods are always a work in progress, and this system continuously fluctuates. I end up moving around my CM blocks all the time - and it's OK - as long as I get them in at SOME point in the day. **Time is a gift. Remember that - everyone loves gifts.** If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This week I discovered [A Machine For Helping You Doodle](https://betterhumans.pub/a-machine-for-helping-you-doodle-ce1c38529f2b), and it's something that I need to do more of. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/31675dbf-504f-45d4-911c-2c4d95ada28f_700x659.png) doodle Here's the concept: doodling helps cognition. [Clive Thompson](https://clivethompson.medium.com/) created a 'style' of doodling as a kid with the following rules, similar to an etch-a-sketch: 1. *You draw one single line. It can be as long as you like.* 2. *To start the line, you put your pen down.* 3. *You can make right-angle turns only, either 90 degrees or -90 degrees.* 4. *You cannot back up. You must always move forward.* 5. *You don't lift your pen until you're ready to stop. When you lift the pen, the doodle is done.* Now he's turned it into a brilliant web app to play with. I need to doodle more, and this will get me started (though I still may scribble on paper), but this is so cool. [Check it out here](https://openprocessing.org/sketch/493770). ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/yeoldedad/status/1453892876941750277) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Journaling in [DayOne](https://dayoneapp.com/) every day and writing this newsletter weekly has helped me focus more and more on what matters to me. "**Start Writing**" talks about the benefits of the deliberate practice of *writing* \- [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/start-writing) - "**Seek The Edge**" is another excellent read, "*For at the edge lies what is needed most for growth: new sights, experiences and challenges aplenty*" - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/seek-the-edge) - I have been saying this one for years - but it's super important to "**Build a culture of learning at work**." Having your team structured for 'continuous learning' is how to achieve velocity - [More](https://www.strategy-business.com/article/Building-a-culture-of-learning-at-work) - Mark (thank you!) sent me the post "**Culture Shock**," which looks at the US from the view of someone who has moved here two months ago. Super insightful read - [More](https://siddhesh.substack.com/p/culture-shock) - "**Apple's app tracking policy reportedly cost social media platforms nearly $10 billion**" is not unexpected; but I feel that these platforms are trudging too deep into our privacy - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/31/22756135/apple-app-tracking-transparency-policy-snapchat-facebook-twitter-youtube-lose-10-billion) - I am always looking for helpful tips on giving talks, and in "**How to do a talk when you don't like giving talks?**" there are some perfect points to remember. "**Be you**" is one of the hardest, but most effective ways to present - [More](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-do-talk-when-you-dont-like-giving-talks-david-hieatt) - Always been a sucker for good new thinking for productivity tools, and this article goes into the rise and fall of 'planner' apps. Read more in "**Your Next Productivity Tool is...**" - [More](https://medium.com/keep-productive/your-next-productivity-tool-is-8cf9532bb80d) - My sleep sucks, and even though I've recently discovered I have mild sleep apnea, I found "**5 Nutrients to Eat for Better Sleep and How to Incorporate Them Into Your Diet**" a good read on finding things to help me sleep better - [More](https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7921549/nutrients-for-better-sleep) - I plan to write more on what my latest workflow is on reading/notes and highlights, but "**Why You Should Be Curating Your Ideas**" explores 'the creative flywheel' and how you can decide what's worth keeping - [More](https://thesweetsetup.com/why-you-should-be-curating-your-ideas-video-replay/) ## **Fin** Continuing on the theme of time, here's a video of Hans Zimmer's beautiful score "Time" (from [Inception](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/)) from "The World of Hans Zimmer" tour. One of my favorites. Be well. ✌🏻 ### Who Over What URL: https://makoism.com/who-over-what/ Last updated: 2021-10-30T10:37:51.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/851ad4a8-2d48-4898-82be-a1649cd9dc57_5184x3456.jpeg) For those that really know me, you know that I'm not a fan of popular trends. This triggers something in me to head off in some completely opposite direction of the group-think, partly for the sake of humor, but I do find value in trying to look beyond the words (travel the [road less traveled](https://www.amazon.com/Road-Less-Traveled-Timeless-Traditional/dp/0743243153)). I also believe many of these overhyped trends, regardless of their source: technology (Cryptocurrency, VR, NFTs, Metaverse, 8-track tape), trendy health or diet fads (avocado diets, activated charcoal, meat alternatives), or even the latest woke servant leadership-think all tend to be panaceas or quick talkable quotes rather than to be *honest, tangible fixes or advancements*. **And for those wondering**, [iron doesn't ](https://mikedavisdpt.typepad.com/michael%5Fdavis%5Fdpt/2010/11/iron-sharpens-ironor-does-it.html)*[actually](https://mikedavisdpt.typepad.com/michael%5Fdavis%5Fdpt/2010/11/iron-sharpens-ironor-does-it.html)*[ sharpen iron](https://mikedavisdpt.typepad.com/michael%5Fdavis%5Fdpt/2010/11/iron-sharpens-ironor-does-it.html) \- rubbing two pieces of metal together will result in the production of heat via friction, not a sharper blade. I've been spending a ton of time in 2021 re-evaluating many things surrounding how I've worked, things that matter, where I find sources of strength, and how to view work, health, life, friends, and loved ones. Months ago, I stumbled upon a great tweet that I refer to that has grounded the later half of the year: > [](https://twitter.com/sajma/status/1402092397153095680) It requires repeating: > It's more important **WHO** you work with than **WHAT** you work on. Never have such simple words summarize all the complex feelings I was going through. So, I've been trying to surround myself with **quality instead of quantity**. By building a great [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/), I have a trustworthy group who I hold accountable and they hold me accountable. I opened up office hours on my calendar to take time to connect to new people. I worked on **active listening** to expand my thinking (people know in meetings I cant help myself - so i’ve been muting myself). I reached out to hear diverse and varied opinions—built relationships. Avoided the memes. I also learned that it's key to focus on getting **the right things** done, not '**all the things**' done. These are the ones you want to **surround yourself with**. They will help you become more than *you* thought. And you will become more to *them* than you realize. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** "*Listening is more than the act of hearing. It's creating an environment in which the other person FEELS heard. If we truly listen to someone else's perspective, we can gain understanding and engage in more meaningful dialogue.*" A powerful watch from Simon Sinek on the **Art of Listening** and an excellent reminder that this is something I **need to practice continuously**. Creating an environment for people to 'empty the bucket' has impressive side effects. (*Side note: I need to watch the powerful documentary [White Right: Meeting the Enemy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpWUZ3NG%5FDo)from [Deeyah Khan](https://deeyah.com/) which is referenced in the video.*) ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/cdixon/status/1452689811781787648) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I still need to see [No Time to Die](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382320/), but I enjoyed "**James Bond Stoicism**" which examines how his philosophy "takes infinite pains beforehand and leave as little as possible to chance." Lots of lessons in this one - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/james-bond-stoicism/) - File under 'who knew' - did you know that "**Ernest Hemingway hunted tuna with a machine gun**" - [More](http://www.factfiend.com/ernest-hemingway-hunted-tuna-machine-gun/) - "**Woman sues Kellogg over lack of strawberries in strawberry Pop-Tarts, seeks $5 million**" tops the list of this year's wacky lawsuits. Somewhat curious where this one goes because I question what's in their S'Mores variety - [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/woman-sues-kellogg-over-lack-of-strawberries-in-strawberry-pop-tarts-seeks-5-million/) - You could almost say *Writing IS Thinking*, but notebook maker [Lochby](https://www.lochby.com/) has a good read on "**Why You Should Learn How To Write: How Writing Improves Thinking**." Valuable lessons on developing critical thinking in here - [More](https://www.lochby.com/blogs/all/why-write-and-how-writing-improves-thinking) - "**Runner Who Suffered Heart Attack During Boston Marathon Hopes To Come Back Stronger**" strikes a personal note. Anytime I read about runners and heart attacks, I have flashbacks to my health journey, and it's good to read she made it through ok and is well on the road to recovery - [More](https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/10/20/boston-marathon-runner-meghan-roth-heart-attack/) - [Michael Lopp](https://randsinrepose.com/) always knocks it out of the park, and "**The Sabotage List**" is no exception. I love the concept of having a list 'of important projects I'm currently not doing for... reasons' - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-sabotage-list/) - I've previously talked about '[inversion theory](https://smakofsky.medium.com/interstellar-b75beeac73a9)' when it comes to life, and "**Deconstructing your path**" recommends '*researching someone that inspires you, then working backward throughout their career. Deconstructing an outcome is a fun way to peel back the layers of a career*' - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/deconstructing-your-path) - "**The Great Resignation Is Accelerating**" posits that a more prolonged-term effect of the pandemic is going to change worker **expectations fundamentally**\- [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/great-resignation-accelerating/620382/) - "**Young Lust – Explained and Demystified**" decodes the many "beeps" and "boops" that, for the untrained ear, are just random sounds but captures a moment in time (1979) where telephone technology was in a state of transition - [More](https://telephoneworld.org/landline-telephone-history/pink-floyds-young-lust-explained-and-demystified/) - What we have given up in terms of privacy for the promise of self-improvement what "**Intimate data: can a person who tracks their steps, sleep and food ever truly be free?**" dives into; it is a hard one to balance - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/05/intimate-data-can-a-person-who-tracks-their-steps-sleep-and-food-ever-truly-be-free) - Remember that piece of art that "self-destructed" after being sold at an auction back in 2018? Well, now the details have sold for even more in "**Shredded Banksy artwork sells for $25.4 million at auction**" - [More](https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-london-banksy-arts-and-entertainment-2afc1f803d58f96dc21e485e40d785f0) ## **Fin** I have always been a huge fan of Pixar, and seeing where they are going with [Lightyear](https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/27/22748435/lightyear-trailer-disney-pixar-chris-evans) with the trailer that dropped this week still shows that they have that unique blend of storytelling and creative genius. The origin story for Buzz Lightyear. Not the action figure, but the *actual* space ranger. Brilliant. ### What’s your story? URL: https://makoism.com/whats-your-story/ Last updated: 2021-10-23T09:04:26.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/5395c4ce-c3e3-4894-89fe-ebd07dd7c5aa_4256x2832.jpeg) Welcome back after a [quick break last](https://makoism.com/restdaybrag/) weekend. I was able to get much-needed rest and recharge before getting back into the flow of things. I do appreciate you sticking through it with me, so let's get back at it. :) To set a bit of background, about a month back, I started a new role. As a believer in "[The First 90 Days](https://www.amazon.com/First-90-Days-Critical-Strategies/dp/1591391105)" framework, one of the most important things to focus on when starting out is **building new relationships** — not only with your team but across the organization. This is even more difficult in today's "remote" world as you end up finding yourself in lots of 1:1 "virtual coffee" meetings doing basic introductions (rather than going for walks or face to face coffee). It's critical to spend more time listening — getting a firm understanding of the history, the culture, the struggles, and triumphs that will set you up for success on how to navigate down the road. During these bonding conversations with my new co-workers, it dawned on me the value of having real experiences and talking about them helps give better *insight into who I was*. I feel fortunate to have had some incredible ups and downs these past 50 years, from amazing travel or personal triumphs to having tremendous lows with unexpected cardiac issues. **They are all part of my story**. In one of my favorite scenes from the underrated [Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/), Sean O'Connell (played by Sean Pean) teaches Mitty how to live in a "perfect" moment: Personal anecdotes of experiences that you've been through can be a tremendously powerful and humanizing tool. Now, I'm not suggesting that you run out and climb [K2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2) to become a better storyteller, but being able *reflect* into your past and recount travels, a great (or terrible) meal, or some life experience *allows you find new unique skills in the present*. It's important to understand that these experiences don't always have to be about *achievements or success* either — we're all human — we all have flaws and have made mistakes. Sometimes those experiences contain the most powerful lessons of all. I guess the bottom line is that you can't recount experiences if you aren't out there, um, **experiencing them**. :) **Go find your story**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Once again I'm pointing to a video from Simon Sinek. I enjoyed his view on "fall fast" instead of "fail fast". ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/dog%5Ffeelings/status/1450966672882356226) ## **Latest obsession** This year has been a total obsession with the fine art of playing cards, and my latest deck, [Fulton’s Day of the Dead](https://fultonsplayingcards.com/products/fultons-day-of-the-dead-playing-cards?variant=41295939567801) is a masterpiece. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/0ee1ca47-eb78-4e8b-ab13-83654e23fa29_4032x3024.jpeg) cards I don’t know what it is about collecting cards (I probably have 20 crazy decks now), but there’s something deeply magical about this art. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I am a *huge* fan of [Tom Bihn](https://www.tombihn.com/) and their incredible bags, so I was interested in their thinking about "**The Iterative Design Process**" they go through with any design - [More](https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/iterative-design) - "**A Typical Friday in Oregon, as Imagined by My East Coast Friends**" could also apply to Washington peeps, but it's satire at its finest - [More](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a-typical-friday-in-oregon-as-imagined-by-my-east-coast-friends) - In "**Time Is Weird**," look at an interesting alternative view on how to *think*about time. "*It seems to compress and expand without cause or reason as the world shifts around us and our personal lives are disarrayed and upended by the ongoing pandemic and other chaos-variables like climate change, ideological extremism, and economic volatility*" is one way to put it - [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/time-is-weird/) - "**The 25 Most Iconic Book Covers in History**" is precisely that - a look at what makes a book cover iconic, and the best of all time - [More](https://lithub.com/the-25-most-iconic-book-covers-in-history/) - "**The death of the newsfeed**" explores the pros and cons of algorithmic feeds versus 1:1 messaging - [More](https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2018/4/2/the-death-of-the-newsfeed) - Imagine a game that simulates in real-time the 8-hour drive from Tucson, AZ to Las Vegas, NV. But, the boring game can't be paused, and you have to stay on the straight road driving a bus that constantly veers right. "**Desert Bus: The Very Worst Video Game Ever Created**" dives into the crazy game from the minds of [Penn & Teller](https://pennandteller.com/) \- [More](http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/desert-bus-the-very-worst-video-game-ever-created) - "**How 'The Shining' Drives Its Audience Insane**" is an in-depth look at the script of the classic film and how it was intended to have the viewer 'slowly go insane together and not offer one moment of comfort' - [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/the-shining-drives-audience-insane) - [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/) talks about the creative life being a loop or spiral in "**Circular time vs. linear time**" - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2020/01/06/circular-time-vs-linear-time/) - "**Want to Live Longer? New Study Shows You Should Focus More on Exercise Than Weight Loss**" looks a recent study on why movement and exercise is more important than just dropping pounds - [More](https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/exercise-more-important-than-weight-loss-live-longer-study-48534842) - A brutally honest but interesting look at "**Why I Do "Friendship Audits" Every Year**," and purging yourself of those that break promises - [More](https://forge.medium.com/why-i-do-friendship-audits-every-year-3b69b9d9cb33) ## **Fin** Maybe it's the kid in me, but I cannot wait for the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife movie to come out this November. Ending off this week with the latest trailer which dropped recently. See you next time! ### #RestDayBrag URL: https://makoism.com/restdaybrag/ Last updated: 2021-10-16T10:18:03.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a81de882-c87a-40bc-bfca-1d43f614527f_6000x4000.jpeg) Inspired by those that brag about rest days instead of “epic” adventures, this week I’m leaning hard into it and taking a quick [Makoism](https://www.makoism.com) **[#restdaybrag](https://twitter.com/restdaybrags)**. > [](https://twitter.com/ameliaboone/status/822170125411307521) I’ll be back next week and to hold you over until then here are the top 5 newsletters and writing from the last 12 months. **See you next week on the flip side; well rested**. [A Personal Board of DirectorsA few weeks back, I posted on LinkedIn an idea that seemed to click. The post was about the concept of creating a personal board of directors: I find tremendous value in having a “personal board of directors”. Cultivate a trusted circle of former or current colleagues, advisors, networkers, and even a critic or two that you can bounce ideas …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) [The BucketDisclaimer: I’m feeling saucy today … Something that I have spent a lot of time this year has been enforcing simple boundaries. Learning how to say ‘no’ (and not in any type of jerky way) — has become an important superpower for my own sanity. I’d recommend if you are a manager of a team or group, you may want to consider helping them enforce bound…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/the-bucket-5d5ecbae9ce7/) [Personal Mission StatementThis past week, Apple posted a tribute to Steve Jobs to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his passing. It's been a while, but I remember watching the original interview he gave back in 1995, and the impact that this wisdom had on me: Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you cal…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/personal-mission-statement/) [2021 EDCEvery year I do a write-up on “things I like” which has a look at apps that I use on a day to day basis, my general workflow on processing email and work items, and most importantly - my Everyday Carry (EDC). It's been about a year since I have gone through it, and finally got around to making some refinements - notably going with USB-C for all of my ch…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/2021-edc/) And of course, last year’s annual review which is getting a (spoiler) **major** overhaul for 2021. [Mako “Things I Like”: 2020Here it is folks - the sixth annual end of year report: The 2020 guide to “things that I like”. It’s an ongoing attempt to keep track of things/apps/processes that I have found useful in surrounding myself with, an ongoing attempt to maximize my daily workflow and put me in the ‘zone’. Like everyone else, this year has taken a wild and unseen turn over t…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/) ### Personal Mission Statement URL: https://makoism.com/personal-mission-statement/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T03:05:06.000Z This past week, [Apple posted a tribute to Steve Jobs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeSAjK2CBEA) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his passing. It's been a while, but I remember watching the original interview he gave back in 1995, and the impact that this wisdom had on me: > *Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it... Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again.* Simple, yet transformative and also easy to overlook and to forget. **You have the power to change things.** I know it's always easier said than done. Still, as I get older (dare I say a slight amount wiser?), grounding yourself in a few things you hold dear.. your convictions .. things that define who you are as a person or leader .. **a personal mission statement**, can be a powerful force in defining your success and happiness. **Identify your purpose and why it matters so much to you: A manifesto on how you want to live.** It will help be a guide, especially in times of darkness or feeling lost or overwhelmed. A map to meet long-term goals. Maybe someday I'll write a longer post on tips or tricks on coming up with a personal manifesto; they aren't easy, and I haven't got it all figured out. Just work on smashing it down over time to concise and revisit creating something rock solid that emotes your vision. If you don't have one, **why not start today**? And if you have no idea where to start, rip off the great mentor Dicky Fox says: '*the key to (this business) is personal relationships*.' That's a good one. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I've been a big fan of [James Mickens](https://mickens.seas.harvard.edu/), Professor of Computer Science at Harvard, ever since seeing his keynote at a conference a few years back. In "**my love letter to computer science is very short**," he examines tech companies, user data, and ethical use of data. A quick must-watch for this week. (For extra credit, go watch "[there are no secrets](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDwUJa4%5FIJE)"). ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1445454111223123968) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - For all the condiment fans out there (you know who you are), here's "**The Ketchup Conundrum**." While there's a bunch on different types of mustard, this read tries to put a lens on why ketchup has stayed the same - [More](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/09/06/the-ketchup-conundrum) - [Halide](https://halide.cam/) is a must-have app for the iPhone, and in "**iPhone Macro: A Big Day For Small Things**" the team digs into the new camera system and the incredible macro lens in the iPhone 13 Pro - [More](https://lux.camera/iphone-macro-camera-a-big-day-for-small-things/) - Now that season 1 has wrapped up, "**What kind of show was Marvel's 'What If…?' meant to be?**" explores the pros, the cons, and the potential of the series (spoilers within) - [More](https://www.engadget.com/marvel-what-if-episode-nine-series-finale-120020465.html?src=rss) - "**Rachel, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross . . . and Wolfgang**" looks at [Wolfgang Van Halen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang%5FVan%5FHalen) and his happy place - an armchair in a replica of [Central Perk](https://friends.fandom.com/wiki/Central%5FPerk), the coffee shop on the sitcom' Friends.' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/11/rachel-joey-monica-phoebe-chandler-ross-and-wolfgang) - "**What Pop Culture Tells You About Turning 45**" - You're old. That's what it tells you. - [More](https://williamfleitch.medium.com/what-pop-culture-tells-you-about-turning-45-b1ec5069c237) - "**Why online communities die**" examines the barren wasteland of online communities, and what makes others survive Digital Darwinism - [More](https://stewfortier.substack.com/p/why-online-communities-die) - Vision ([Captain America: Civil War](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498820/)) posits: '*Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe.'*, but in "**Conflict Is Rocket Fuel for Teams**" a look at the potential positive side on how teams come together through conflict and challenges - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/conflict-is-rocket-fuel-for-teams) - I didn't know about da Vinci's journal habit until I read "**How To Journal Like Leonardo da Vinci**." I feel like I now need to reference each of mine as a **codex** (side note: [dot grid](https://www.lochby.com/collections/frontpage/products/field-journal-refill-dot-grid?variant=32294878871588) remains the superior paper type) - [More](https://www.lochby.com/blogs/all/how-to-journal-like-leonardo-da-vinci) - "**How 30 Lines of Code Blew Up a 27-Ton Generator**" looks as '*secret experiment in 2007 proved that hackers could devastate power grid equipment beyond repair—with a file no bigger than a GIF*' - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/how-30-lines-of-code-blew-up-27-ton-generator) - From [Finn's Cave](https://finnscave.com/) comes "**Entrepreneurial Motivations: Light and Shadow Forces**"; a great look at the hidden motivations behind starting companies, and the toll it can take on you - [More](https://finnscave.com/2021/10/01/entrepreneurial-motivations-light-and-shadow-forces/) ## **Fin** Finishing this week with a few zen garden videos by the fabulous [Yuki Kawae](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGSpxD0XXHnbXtDJJqMqDw/videos). Considered a "[zen artist](https://www.intheknow.com/post/yuki-kawaes-sand-gardens-are-the-ultimate-asmr-experience)," I've killed more time than I'd care to share on watching these mesmerizing works. ### New Traffic Pattern Ahead URL: https://makoism.com/new-traffic-pattern-ahead/ Last updated: 2021-10-02T10:21:54.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2e7f4602-1e93-4540-a5d5-35d127f37985_5184x3456.jpeg) It's been a super busy week for me starting a new role, but something was rattling around my skull that I had been thinking a lot about as of late and wanted to share. Plans don't *always* work out the way you intended them to. The most important thing is how you **react**. Without getting into the nitty-gritty details, my cardiologist recommended this week that I shouldn't run marathons anymore due to potential scarring from past atrial fibrillation. **Well shit.** Getting this advice *kinda* messes up my plans for a "comeback" race in 2022\. I had mentally been prepping to get back into shape for next year's Chicago marathon, which changes things. I didn't know what to feel. I cared. But I didn't care too. It was weird. But being told "**you cant do something**" (or even worse, you *shouldn't* do something) has always been a bit of a shiny object for me. I want to do it **even more** then. It’s a problem. This time, I decided to pivot. Change the goal. I can't run 26.2 miles? What if I make the new challenge "**how fast can I run one mile**." It's known as the "[Magic Mile challenge](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-running-blog/2013/jul/23/magic-mile-challenge-run-fast)". All of my training this week has now altered to re-focus on this new challenge. **I guess the point of all this is, don't give up**. If you are trying to do something, and a roadblock comes your way, **change the game**. Take on a different challenge. Move forward. Pivot. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I enjoyed "**5 Things You Need to Understand to Stop Being Lazy**", which is from a book I recommend: [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits). If you're looking for some tiny things that you can change every day to make yourself more productive, healthier, or whatever habit you want to build, there's some great advice in here. ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/julian/status/1440395568107311109) ## **Latest obsession** I've written previously about the extraordinary [Smith Tea Maker](https://makoism.com/the-path/). Now back in stock for a limited time is the best blend: [Silent Night (No 12)](https://www.smithtea.com/products/silent-night). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/9fbb5d25-cb1d-4dbf-902a-157ec6b7b5aa_650x513.png) Described as 'A caffeine-free candy cane in a cup. Northwest-grown peppermint leaves waltzing in a winter wonderland of cinnamon, ginger, and sweet licorice.' Highest Recommendation. Just save me some. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**The Four Energies**" looks at how energy is split between '*what you love and what upsets you*' - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2021/09/29/the-four-energies) - "**The Return of the Runner**" is a wonderful spoken-word piece from my friend [Chris Johnson](https://www.zerenpt.com). It came in to my inbox this week right as I needed it, and it resonated with a lot of my feelings hearing "I cant" do something - [Listen](https://vimeo.com/617418714) - "**Why the Best Things in Life Are All Backwards**" is an essential read this week on how trying too hard to get the things you want in life may have the opposite effect - [More](https://markmanson.net/why-the-best-things-in-life-are-all-backwards) - '*There's a lot more to being a clown than just putting on a big red nose and a big baggy pair of pants.*'. So "**Clown shortage: Appeal for new recruits in Northern Ireland**" feels like the perfect 2021 story - [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-58733754) - "**Bad Bosses: Stories of asshole managers—and the workers who fought back**" describes some absolute lunatics in the workplace in - [More](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/09/bad-bosses-workers-fought-back-asshole-managers-nurse-guard-amazon-microsoft/) - I had to read this one twice. It's so bizarre. Just read it - "**Goldman Sachs, Ozy Media and a $40 Million Conference Call Gone Wrong**" - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/26/business/media/ozy-media-goldman-sachs.html) - File under **huh**; I'll never look at money the same. "**15 Microprints Hiding in United States Currency**" puts each form of US Currency (literally) under the microscope - [More](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/68109/15-microprints-hiding-united-states-currency) - "**' Logan Noir' and A Brief History of the Black-and-White Cut**" explores the vibe of noir films and the art of several black and white releases. On a side note, also check out [Greg Williams downright amazing B&W shots of Daniel Craig's James Bond](https://gregwilliams.com/007-x-gwp) \- [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/logan-noir-brief-history-black-white-cut/?amp) - "**To fight burnout, workers can't allow well-being to feel like another to-do**" feels to be an essential thing to focus on - burnout is a global problem, and some of the methods to force workforce well-being are contributing to the problem - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90678148/to-fight-burnout-workers-cant-allow-well-being-to-feel-like-another-to-do) - I've mentioned [Craig Mod](http://www.twitter.com/craigmod) 's fantastic writing as he uses walking as a method to drive his creative work. "**Walking as a Productivity System**" looks at how he uses '*a walk as an operating system that he can use to support, feed, and inspire all the basic functions of his writing*' - [More](https://every.to/superorganizers/walking-as-a-productivity-system) - One of the big mistakes I often run across is when an organization says, "we have to move fast." As a runner, I've learned that you *slow down* to go fast, and "**The Measure of Time**" articulates this well - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-measure-of-time) ## **Fin** My wife and I caught this performance on [The Voice](https://www.nbc.com/the-voice) the other night, and it was something that I wanted to share. Enjoy [Holly Forbes](https://www.leoweekly.com/2021/09/listen-to-kentuckys-holly-forbes-sing-a-blistering-soulful-version-of-rocket-man-on-the-voice/) performing [Elton John's "Rocket Man"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket%5FMan%5F%28song%29) during [The Voice Blind Auditions](https://www.nbc4i.com/entertainment-news/the-voice-night-3-cliffhanger-where-things-stand-halfway-through-season-21-blind-auditions/). ### Someone Better Than You URL: https://makoism.com/someone-better-than-you/ Last updated: 2021-09-25T10:37:42.000Z ![outstretched hand](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c1b61136-2f66-4069-9418-eaf758afd2ee_6144x4069.jpeg "outstretched hand") freedom This week I came across an article in which [Warren Buffett offered up some advice back in 2004](https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/it-took-warren-buffett-2-sentences-to-offer-best-advice-you-will-hear-today.html) to young people on how to be successful: > *It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and you'll drift in that direction.* What struck me about this obvious (yet fantastic) quip is that I've been circling a similar concept for a good chunk of the summer, and this article brought it all into focus. If you've been reading [makoism](https://www.makoism.com/), you have guessed that I've been going through a ton of change recently - a move, figuring out what I want to do next, and establishing a path to "life 2.0". My mantra has boiled down to a simple thought: **Surround yourself with people that are better than you or that compel you to be better.** Maybe life *isn't* any more complicated than that simple philosophy. Cut the negative out. Focus on those that make you want to be better. At work. In life. Look, we all have choices to make. As described in ["](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/life-begins-at-its-perceived-end)**[Life Begins At Its Perceived End](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/life-begins-at-its-perceived-end)**["](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/life-begins-at-its-perceived-end): '*An ending and a beginning look much the same. The difference lies in the direction you choose to face*.' My path is different from the next person's. Everyone needs to decide, on their own, where they need to go and how they want to get there. For me, I want it to be a meaningful journey. I'll wrap up this week's opening thoughts with a nod to a classic Spiderman film - be who **you choose to be**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Recently I discovered [James Victore](https://www.jamesvictore.com/) through the [DO Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/blogs/talks/james-victore-you-only-have-teachers). Described as "part Darth Vader, part Yoda," his book "[Feck Perfuction](https://www.amazon.com/Feck-Perfuction-Dangerous-Ideas-Business/dp/1452166366)" is now on my to-read list. I got a ton out of this talk; the concept of daily "**cruising pain**," for example, that "feeling Sunday night when you have to go to work Monday morning." And if you don't fix these pains, *they will make you smaller every day*. In his blunt words - **fix your shit**. **You have no friends. No enemies. Just teachers.** ## **Thought of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/decustecu/status/1438612221588738066) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In my favorite post of the week, [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/) updated his amazing "**Putting Time In Perspective**" article. In it, he tries to provide a perspective on time, where he 'mapped out the history of time as a series of growing timelines—each timeline contains all the previous timelines.' Brilliant and reflective. - [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/putting-time-in-perspective.html) - Somewhat mind-blowing that '*the concept of file folders and directories, essential to previous generations understanding of computers, is gibberish to many modern students*.' Read more in "**Kids who grew up with search engines could change STEM education forever**" - [More](https://www.theverge.com/22684730/students-file-folder-directory-structure-education-gen-z) - New phones mean new cameras. And in "**iPhone 13 Pro Camera Preview: The Hardware Changes**", Lux does its usual fantastic job of breaking down what's new - [More](https://lux.camera/iphone-13-pro-camera-preview-the-hardware-changes/) - A break-in at a kindergarten ended up giving up its suspect when the thief "*tried to download new stories onto the device a month later it sent his home location to the manufacturers*," and they informed the police. Read more in "**IT phoned home: Storytelling box foils kindergarten thief**" - [More](https://apnews.com/article/oddities-entertainment-europe-burglary-b9588de6fed04d9270829b3899bb3402) - Cost cuts are destroying supply chains and causing all sorts of crazy (never-seen-before) shortages. "**Sorry. No French Fries with any order. We have no potatoes**" examines the wide-spread trouble that schools, fast food restaurants, etc. are having sourcing ingredients - [More](https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/shortagewatch-sorry-no-french-fries) - **Hard work** vs. **Soft work** is a great way to examine the relationship building that goes on as part of your job. [Derek Thompson](https://twitter.com/DKThomp) explores "**Hard Work Isn't the Point of the Office**" and if offices are essential - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/offices-microsoft-study-out-group-connections/620137/) - A humorous look at the fantasy regarding people having enjoyable, productive commute time. In "**The Myth of the Productive Commute**," the author explores what (in reality) *would* be a perfect commute - "12 minutes of walking in perfect weather" - [More](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-myth-of-the-productive-commute) - In "**Hundreds of Ways to Get S#!+ Done—and We Still Don't**", a good look at the glut of productivity tools and how they don't make us any more productive. This article was good as I am always re-evaluating my workflow - perhaps I spent too much time on that. Naaaaa :) - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/to-do-apps-failed-productivity-tools/) - "**The Avocado Test**" is a play on [the famed marshmallow test](https://kottke.org/18/06/willpower-wealth-and-the-marshmallow-test); eat it immediately, and it's underripe or wait too long, and it's all brown inside - [More](https://kottke.org/21/09/the-avocado-test) - "**Writing for Money, Writing Just Because**" is a good one. Writing 'just because' was the genesis of this newsletter; it wasn't to build an audience, but rather a simple, human activity to get my creativity flowing. The fact that it found an audience is **a bonus**, but I am glad you're along for the ride - [More](https://write.as/matt/writing-for-money-writing-just-because) ## **Fin** As a nod to my thoughts a few weeks back in "[The Empathy Machine](https://makoism.com/the-empathy-machine/)," I wanted to comment on this past week's episode of Ted Lasso. It was an odd one, a strange trip down the late evening post-lost escapades of Coach Beard. I wasn't a fan of the episode, except for these few moments of him letting loose on the dance floor. Until next time... ### The Moth URL: https://makoism.com/the-moth/ Last updated: 2021-09-18T10:17:11.000Z ![lightbulb](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b4c0e5d0-027c-4f35-8d73-bc9e857ffbba_5184x3456.jpeg "lightbulb") lightbulb This week we saw the [passing of Norm Macdonald](https://deadline.com/2021/09/norm-macdonald-dead-obituary-comedian-saturday-night-live-weekend-update-anchor-was-61-1234833212/) to cancer at the age of 61. [Fuck cancer](https://www.letsfcancer.com/). It just keeps taking - [Alex Trebek](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2020/11/08/alex-trebek-dead-80-why-pancreatic-cancer-so-deadly/6215281002/), [Eddie Van Halen](https://people.com/music/eddie-van-halen-son-wolf-posts-childhood-photo/), [Chadwick Boseman](https://www.biography.com/news/chadwick-boseman-colon-cancer-battle), [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/100306972/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-champion-of-gender-equality-dies-at-87) and on and on. One of my favorite memories is this clip of Norm Macdonald is when he was on Conan telling a "moth" joke. We're all victims in getting wrapped up in the day-to-day BS; sometimes, it is super helpful to ask yourself, "how much of it really matters" and "am I happy"? It's (once again) a reminder of how important every day should be ([memento Mori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento%5Fmori)). > *"I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." - Steve Jobs* It shouldn't take a health incident, some scare, or someone you admire passing to wake up to the things we actually **accept** every day. What's stopping you from making a change? The first step, is always the hardest one. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I've always enjoyed [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net/)'s books and blog; this week he tackles "**How to Build Confidence**", and the relationship between confidence and failure. ## **Thought(s) of the week** > [](https://twitter.com/bob%5Fburrough/status/906961509892288512) > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1438120202038829063) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Some wild advancements with sensors and wellness. This one comes from a National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University team, which developed a "**Foot pressure sensors detect Parkinson's disease**." The primary tech for this was a $25 Raspberry Pi along with a bunch of [FlexiForce](https://www.tekscan.com/products-solutions/force-sensors/a301) sensors to measure gait - [More](https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/foot-pressure-sensors-detect-parkinsons-disease/) - Several leaked reports this week in the Wall Street Journal on Facebook. '[Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls](https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739)', '[Facebook Employees Flag Drug Cartels and Human Traffickers](https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-drug-cartels-human-traffickers-response-is-weak-documents-11631812953)' and '[Facebook Tried to Make Its Platform a Healthier Place. It Got Angrier Instead.](https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-algorithm-change-zuckerberg-11631654215)'. A good summary is in "**Facebook keeps researching its own harms — and burying the findings**." - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/16/facebook-files-internal-research-harms/) - I had never heard of **ultradian rhythms** before reading this article on "**Avoid Burnout and Increase Awareness Using Ultradian Rhythms**." From the text, "circadian rhythms have lesser known cousins that can help us optimize our internal body clocks for maximum efficiency and well being. These are **ultradian** rhythms, or rhythms that play out in increments shorter than a day" - fascinating stuff - [More](https://betterhumans.pub/avoid-burnout-and-increase-awareness-using-ultradian-rhythms-5e64158e7e19) - If you're in the security field, a great read about "**Thoughts on the OWASP Top 10 2021**". The problem lies in that the issues presented don't have a "clear identity" - [More](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-owasp-top-10-2021/) - "**Why Convictional Shuns Slack**" is an interesting read on the rise of asynchronous communication at companies - [More](https://www.protocol.com/workplace/why-convictional-shuns-slack) - Edward Snowden has another great read (which is an excerpt from his book [Permanent Record](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250237231)). "**9/12**" explores his decision making process on why he joined the army and how it was "*born not only in the executive branch and the intelligence agencies, but also in the hearts and minds of all Americans, myself included*" - [More](https://edwardsnowden.substack.com/p/9-12) - "**HR Answers Your Questions About Returning to the Office**" is McSweeney's at its finest - [More](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/hr-answers-your-questions-about-returning-to-the-office) - I've had the fortune of eating at Club 33 twice; here's an "**Inside Disneyland's VIP Club 33, the Holy Grail of Luxury for Disney Fans**" (which now looks to have several pictures removed) - [More](https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/disney-club-33-disneyland-restaurant) - "**How Work Became an Inescapable Hellhole**" explores how '*technology has created a nonstop barrage of notifications and interactions*.' My simple advice for anyone: **create boundaries** \- [More](https://www.wired.com/story/how-work-became-an-inescapable-hellhole/) - I didn't know the history here, but "**How Ice Cream Became the Ultimate American Comfort Food**" is a fun read on the role that Ice Cream has played throughout the years - [More](https://www.eater.com/22639428/the-secret-history-of-food-excerpt-ice-cream-history) - "**Remember the creepy house from 'The Silence of the Lambs'? Now it's a vacation rental.**". No thank you, I'll pass - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/silence-lambs-house-vacation-rental/2021/09/09/b59e3e34-0c2b-11ec-aea1-42a8138f132a%5Fstory.html) - I love this post: "**Unlearning**." Simplification comes "*you start crystallizing knowledge into those simple core principles from which everything else stems*" - [More](https://www.fabrizio.so/notes/unlearning) ## **Fin** Closing out this week with additional memories of Norm this week from Howard Stern. Be well. ### Good Times, Bad Times URL: https://makoism.com/good-times-bad-times/ Last updated: 2021-09-11T10:06:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ad8652a4-63ae-4576-a75d-f5f60d9b86b2_4439x3171.jpeg) rock on At the start of the week, I often have an idea regarding what I'm going to ramble on as I craft these newsletters. Something crazy happens that motivates me in a particular way, or I catch a new film or TV show that gets me thinking on a topic. But this week was **busy**. Lots of tasks to chip through the to-do list; as you may remember, I mentioned that [we moved recently](https://makoism.com/this-train-dont-stop-there-anymore/). The garage has been full of boxes that we've been slowly making progress on, and we've been very mindful of what we keep after this move. I think I've been to Good Will or the dump 20 times. Then, late last week, we were robbed. One of the cars was left unlocked by accident; someone got in, took the garage controller, and proceeded to help themselves to items in there while we slept. I didn’t feel a huge sense of loss (ok - my wife’s bike was taken and they left mine.. :)) .. but I felt a large amount of sadness about *what is happening* with society (and don't get me wrong, I know we're not the first to go through this, nor will be the last). Thankfully, it was limited to the garage, and no one entered the house. But it's scary, and you feel a sense of **violation**. So in wrapping up this week, I'm just going to leave this 'kindness boomerang' from [Matisyahu](https://matisyahuworld.com/) here (along with [a link to an acoustic version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=188kmAtK%5F3E) meshed with Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry) > *It's not about win or lose, 'cause we all lose, When they feed on the souls of the innocent blood, Drenched pavement keep on movin', Though the waters stay ragin'.* > > *And in this life you may lose your way, your way. It might drive you crazy, But don't let it phase you, no way, no way!* If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I stumbled upon an article in the NYT and a Ted Talk from Adam Grant on the concept of "languishing." "*[Languishing is a sense of stagnation and emptiness](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html)*" that seems to be an increasingly common theme amongst many of my friends over the last year-plus. Described as "**the neglected middle child of mental health**," he dives into the "*void between depression and flourishing - the absence of well-being*." The talk (which doesn't seem embeddable, but [here is a link to watch](https://www.ted.com/talks/adam%5Fgrant%5Fhow%5Fto%5Fstop%5Flanguishing%5Fand%5Fstart%5Ffinding%5Fflow?language=en)) focuses on three steps to conquer it: **Mastery, mindfulness, and mattering**. 1. **Master Something** \- getting a sense of fulfillment permeates your life. 2. **Be Mindful** \- avoid 'time confetti' - stop shredding your focus and dedicate time to something. 3. **Do stuff that matters** \- "build intimacy with those we make an impact with now." Again - take the time and [watch this one](https://www.ted.com/talks/adam%5Fgrant%5Fhow%5Fto%5Fstop%5Flanguishing%5Fand%5Fstart%5Ffinding%5Fflow?language=en). ## **Thought of the week** Two great ones this week... > [](https://twitter.com/karaswisher/status/1435475330530168833) > [](https://twitter.com/MrBlindPenguin/status/1434161529876779016) ## **Latest obsession** Over the last few months, I have been playing more with [readwise.io](https://readwise.io/) as a tool to highlight articles, books and podcasts. This week on their blog they [teased a sneak peak](https://blog.readwise.io/readwise-reading-app/) of their upcoming reading application to take on Pocket, Instapaper, etc. > *Reading for betterment can be pleasurable, but pleasure is not the ultimate intent. Instead, there is a deeper purpose. This might be to expand the boundaries of knowledge through original research; to become a more eloquent speaker; to inquire into the meaning of life; or to simply internalize a memo for work.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e9c0bdb1-b68b-43da-b9cf-8f2d4d7613e2_2678x1430.png) I am looking forward in seeing where this develops as I am continuously working on improving my [knowledge workflow](https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - [Omar Shahine](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarshahine/) wrote an incredibly insightful post on "**Learning Leadership: Reflecting on 22 years in Product Management**". Get the notepad out - lots of good stuff in here - [More](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/learning-leadership-reflecting-22-years-product-omar-shahine) - [Subbu](https://m.subbu.org/) knocks it out of the park with "**Let’s Discuss Attrition**" - [More](https://m.subbu.org/lets-discuss-attrition-c20a78f5f683) - As part of the "[great re-evaluation](https://makoism.com/the-empathy-machine/)," the article "**What If People Don't Want 'A Career?'**" explores career **rejectionists**. What I loved about this was the focus on motivations - '*they want to work for places that see them as three-dimensional human beings and that actually invest in them and their futures without expecting workers to sacrifice everything*.' **Damn straight**. - [More](https://warzel.substack.com/p/what-if-people-dont-want-a-career) - Trying to break through analysis paralysis? Rands has a great post on accountability and just breaking through and deciding something in "**Ok. So, You Can't Decide.**" - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/ok-so-you-cant-decide/) - "**The secret to happiness at work**" boils down to a simple thing: your **job needs to be rewarding** \- [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/09/dream-job-values-happiness/619951/) - In one of the more odd finds of the week, "**How to Make Coffee Like a Civil War Soldier**." I have no idea if this tastes any good - not sure I want to even try - but it was interesting - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-make-coffee-like-a-civil-war-soldier/) - "**What needs to change? That's easy. How and when is the hard part.**" explores how *timing is everything* when it comes to change. Well worth the read. - [More](https://theskip.substack.com/p/what-needs-to-change-thats-easy-how) - [Contact](https://makoism.com/contact/) is one of my all-time favorite films. In "**Hitting the Books: What exactly did Jodi Foster hear in 'Contact'?**", a real astronomer breaks down what the 1997 film got right and wrong. - [More](https://www.engadget.com/hitting-the-books-the-science-of-sci-fi-cinema-vincent-piturro-mc-farland-153043662.html) - Advice that I knew from my coaches as I learned how to become a runner, but organizations often fail to recognize -"**Marathon lessons from Molly Seidel: Train** **slow** **to run** **fast**" - [More](https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/training/marathon-lessons-from-molly-seidel-train-slow-to-run-fast) - A detailed look at the iconic "backbone of making its galaxy an interconnected universe of potential" in "**Star Wars Hyperspace Explained**" - [More](https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-hyperspace-explained-1847586635) - "**Freedom Lies In the Spaces Between**" explores the space between every action and reaction. This space provides you "an opportunity to decide" and "defines who you will become." An insightful read - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/freedom-lies-in-the-spaces-between) ## **Flashback** [A Personal Board of DirectorsA few weeks back, I posted on LinkedIn an idea that seemed to click. The post was about the concept of creating a personal board of directors: I find tremendous value in having a “personal board of directors”. Cultivate a trusted circle of former or current colleagues, advisors, networkers, and even a critic or two that you can bounce ideas …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/06224db7-5b8f-4ca3-8c38-8e2568089a2b_120x120.png)Makoism](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/) ## **Fin** I didn't know [the behind the scene story](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/style/craig-weekend-daniel-craig.html) of [@CraigWeekend](https://twitter.com/CraigWeekend). Every week since March 7, 2020, he reposts Daniel Craig's introduction of the band on SNL to over **450k followers**. Without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, the weekend. > [](https://twitter.com/CraigWeekend/status/1433925019109756934) ### What is... URL: https://makoism.com/what-is/ Last updated: 2021-09-04T10:15:09.000Z ![marbles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c2268b9d-db55-4dae-bd02-8c8c2634b944_6000x3248.jpeg "marbles") endless possibilities This week will start with a big old **SPOILER ALERT** if you haven't watched [What If...? Episode 4](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/what-if/7672ZVj1ZxU9), you may want to skip this week's topic. Or - **better yet** \- go watch it, then read on. I was inspired to write about it since it is fresh in my thoughts and in my opinion, the best episode of the series to date. (Heck, I'm even listening to [the soundtrack](https://music.apple.com/us/album/not-again/1583867473?i=1583867486) while I write this). Here we go... last chance to skip over... If you're still here - you are likely familiar with the concept of the show [What If...?](https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/what-if); each episode explores a key event in the [MCU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel%5FCinematic%5FUniverse) that plays out differently than what we've seen in the films across the [multi-verse](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Multiverse) by a character making a different choice at a critical moment. Episode 4 takes on [Doctor Strange](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1211837/) and asks the question: '[What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/What%5FIf...%5FDoctor%5FStrange%5FLost%5FHis%5FHeart%5FInstead%5Fof%5FHis%5FHands%3F)?'. In this part of the multi-verse, things play out a bit differently than what we saw in the film; Strange suffers a different kind of wound. Instead of crashing his car and losing the ability to perform surgery with the cursing of his hands, the love of his life, Christine Palmer, is killed in the crash, leaving him heartbroken and emotionally devastated. Seeking for answers by mastering the Mystic Arts, he still becomes Doctor Strange; but one night on the anniversary of her death, the frenzied doctor messes with the time stone and continually goes back in time to try and save Christine. No matter what he does, **she keeps on dying**. It turns out that there's a reason she can't be saved - her death is an '**Absolute Point**'; *an "unchangeable, unmovable" event that will continue happening, even though the circumstances and context may change*. Strange's arrogance and obsession that he can fix anything send him deeper and deeper down a dark path (*spoiler warning again*) that ultimately destroys the universe. In the end, he is alone, trapped in a tiny crystal — pretty dark stuff. So, what does this have to do with what I've been spending time thinking about this week? It's pretty straightforward: **life**. Shit happens. [So it goes](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/apr/15/fiction.kurtvonnegut). > *"Our life is what our thoughts make it." - Marcus Aurelius* We are all faced with both *good and bad things* that happen to us. You may lose a job, have a painful breakup, win the lottery or suffer unexpected loss or health issues. The stoic lesson here is **how you choose to respond to those things**. You can blame, seek vengeance, be better or be bitter. But you still can't control those things from happening. Your thoughts will determine your action, and to land in a better place, you need to figure out ways to stay positive in your thinking. I doubt many of you will end up destroying reality, but I for one, am working hard to have a different view of things when the shit happens. It's all about **perspective**. > [](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1433401964528820226) If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Watching the incredible changes to planet earth with hurricanes, wildfires, ice caps melting, etc., I can't help but think about a letter that [Kurt Vonnegut wrote to the people living in 2088](https://www.ecowatch.com/kurt-vonnegut-letter-to-the-future-kick-kennedy-1935826979.html); warning about climate change. > *And here is a crazy idea I would like to try on you: Is it possible that we aimed rockets with hydrogen bomb warheads at each other, all set to go, in order to take our minds off the deeper problem—how cruelly Nature can be expected to treat us, Nature being Nature, in the by-and-by?Now that we can discuss the mess we are in with some precision, I hope you have stopped choosing abysmally ignorant optimists for positions of leadership.* Incredible wisdom and humor in this piece read by Benedict Cumberbatch. ## **Thought of the week** Many great ideas in this on how to have a conversation with something more thought-provoking than "How Are You?" > [](https://twitter.com/KatVellos/status/1379201335266996224) ## **Latest obsession** [The Grovemade Pen](https://grovemade.com/product/black-pen-and-pen-stand/?initial=491) is the only pen that I have on my desk these days. It's wonderfully designed: > *Machined facets prevent it from rolling away. The solid steel and premium hardwood stand provides a hefty home where you don’t even need to retract the ink.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2db69de7-202f-412e-bcb5-6322dda6b5ec_500x500.png) grovemade pen ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Choose wisely: '*You can make time for things that matter, or you can make time for more email*.' In "**The Best Time-Management Advice Is Depressing But Liberating**" read about how, as humans, we always '*seek ways to cram ever more into our finite number of days*' and proposes a radical shift in thinking. '*That we will die not having done a tremendous number of things we care about; that every commitment we make to a person, place, or line of work rules out countless others that may fulfill us; that our lives are already ticking away*.' A wonderful read - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/08/oliver-burkeman-advice-time-productivity/619723/) - "**5 Skills to Help You Develop Emotional Intelligence**" permeates every aspect of your life. A great look at self-awareness and how to channel your emotions - [More](https://markmanson.net/emotional-intelligence) - The Virgin Galactic test flight from a few weeks back doesn't appear to have been as flawless as initially thought (shocking!). In "**The Red Warning Light on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Space Flight**," read about the FAA's investigation of its off-course descent and some of the post-flight weirdness involving the firing of Mark Stucky, Virgin Galactics lead test pilot, and flight-test director. - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-red-warning-light-on-richard-bransons-space-flight) - **Assume. Positive. Intent.** are three significant words to help build bridges and establish psychological safety in organizations."**The Art of Not Taking Things Personally**" is a beautiful article that dives into common patterns that are often misinterpreted - [More](https://medium.dave-bailey.com/the-art-of-not-taking-things-personally-b7a8395ce172) - "**Why Your Work Ethic May Be Sabotaging Your Success**" look at how '*disciplined runners know how to not to always do the max*.' Read about how some know how to scale back and achieve long-term success and others always push **too** hard and are plagued by injury - [More](https://www.podiumrunner.com/training/dont-always-give-it-your-all) - "**Great ideas always sound like they're far too soon**" is an essential read from [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/) this week on how '*if you wait until the market is telling you exactly what it wants, you're almost certainly too late.*' - [More](https://seths.blog/2021/08/great-ideas-always-sound-like-theyre-far-too-soon/) - File under 2021: "**' Entire Freaking Cow' Spotted In Car Waiting in Line at a Wisconsin McDonald's Drive-Thru**." The cow was one of three calves they recently purchased at auction, and the owner stopped at a drive-thru on the way home - [More](https://people.com/pets/cow-at-drive-thru-mcdonalds-video/) - "**Why I hate the phrase 'breaking down silos'**" and other cliches used frequently as a substitute for critical thinking. '*The people who use these phrases are almost never the ones who are out there in the muck and grind, struggling to solve real problems*' - [More](https://charity.wtf/2021/08/27/why-i-hate-the-phrase-breaking-down-silos/) - I bought this one immediately; check out "**Mela — Silvio Rizzi's New Recipe Manager App for iPhone, iPad, and Mac**" as a way to store, catalog, scan, and discover recipes. It does a fantastic job of importing recipes from almost every website I've thrown at it; **highly recommended** \- [More](http://toolsandtoys.net/mela-recipe-app-silvio-rizzi/) - [Playdate](https://play.date/) was another **instant** buy for me. Now read "**The Story of the Playdate gaming handheld**" (or [listen to the podcast](https://podcast.panic.com/#episode006)) - [More](https://panic.com/blog/the-story-of-playdate/) - "**Solving for stress**" (another read this week from Seth) looks at '*The solution to stress isn't reassurance. It's accurately understanding the world as it is, and making choices about what we do and how we do it*' - [More](https://seths.blog/2021/08/solving/) ## **Fin** I couldn't resist waiting to send this out when I discovered it to several friends. It's **epic** and I wanted to close out this week with it. Be well. > [](https://twitter.com/cosmonautadrift/status/1432113681618321417) ### The Empathy Machine URL: https://makoism.com/the-empathy-machine/ Last updated: 2021-08-28T10:27:49.000Z ![Crushed up ice cream cones](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a7320c54-31fe-455d-a462-4a630957f498_4944x3552.jpeg "Crushed up ice cream cones") crumbles Last year, everyone I know adored AppleTV+'s hit series [Ted Lasso](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso). Perhaps it was due to timing — with the craziness and uncertainty of the world at the start of the pandemic, everyone seemed to need the radical positivity driven at them by [the Lasso way](https://wiss.com/blog/the-lasso-way-management-lessons-from-ted-lasso/). It's interesting. In its sophomore season, the show has been getting a fair share of (usual Internet) bashing and critique for all corners. "*It's too canned*." "*It's too nice*." "*Everyone just loves each other*." "*It's a let down*." **Everybody is a critic**. *Side note: I do agree and think [M.G. Siegler is on to something](https://500ish.com/ted-lasso-times-two-5f0e2cc12233) that it is *too long* to wait a week between each 24-minute episode (he proposed to drop two episodes a week - I love that idea).* After the first two episodes, we had [a forced break](https://makoism.com/the-hardest-part/) after the first two episodes — our move curtailed any television watching. It did enable us to binge a bunch of episodes this past week, though, and it was worth the wait/binge. [Roy Kent](https://ted-lasso.fandom.com/wiki/Roy%5FKent) is the pulse of the show, and watching his arc is when it all clicked for me where this is going. It's about the **reconciliation of what was and what is**. It's about change. Your past. Your future. **What you become**. Your "brand." > *"I suppose the best brand is just being yourself." - Higgins, when asked by Rebecca, his "brand" when he met his wife* **What you accept and are willing to.** And, spoiler alert - when you finally realizes what you are **meant to do**. My gut is telling me it's going to get a bit dark for Ted. We are going to learn about a past that fuels the overkill of "nice" that he hides behind. He is going to need to confront it in order to evolve. I can't wait to see where this goes; **we are all on similar journeys in life**. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I do *love* movies. "**The Purpose of Cinema**" nailed it for me. Coupled with a voice-over by [Roger Ebert](https://www.rogerebert.com/) on empathy and a great version of [Imagine by AudioMachine](https://music.apple.com/us/album/imagine/1492572438?i=1492572439), it gives all the feels: > *"The movies are like a machine that generates empathy. If it’s a great movie, it lets you understand a little bit more about what it’s like to be a different gender, a different race, a different age, a different economic class, a different nationality, a different profession, different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us"* ## **Thought of the week** Nothing short of **epic** calendar management skills at work here. > [](https://twitter.com/zhaovan8/status/1430592057849040899) ## **Latest obsession** I can admit it - I try out **way too many** bags. My latest crush is a small sling bag that smashes down to fit inside another overnight bag. Check out the new [Waterfield](https://www.sfbags.com/)[Packable Sling Bag](https://www.sfbags.com/collections/slings/products/packable-sling-bag). ![A bag that folds into a small pouch](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f03e9ae5-ec80-4a31-a221-5fda708a4bbb_1246x713.png "A bag that folds into a small pouch") WaterField sling It's a minimal bag - weighing at only 9oz, it can store 7.75 liters of "stuff"; perfect for running around town or throwing tech gear together for a quick hike. It's wrinkle-free, water-resistant, and cleans easily. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Best read of the week is easily "**Check Your Work, Ask for Help, and Slow Down**"; get your notebook ready and dig in on why '**urgency is often the lie**' - beautiful nuggets in this - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/check-your-work-ask-for-help-and-slow-down/) - "**Building A Better Internet Diet**" explores how you can '**rebuild how you connect to the internet**.' Personally; I leverage tools like [MailBrew](https://mailbrew.com/) and [Feedly](https://feedly.com/)to sort through the junk-food that is vying for our attention daily; there are some perfect tips in here - [More](https://jamestynioniv.substack.com/p/building-a-better-internet-diet) - In [a follow-up](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/rubber-bird-is-a-mystery-but-town-thinks-its-just-ducky/) from [a link last week](https://makoism.com/the-hardest-part/), "**Giant rubber ducky takes flight; where will it land next?**" - continues the mystery as the giant rubber duck that appeared in a Maine harbor **has now vanished** \- [More](https://apnews.com/article/oddities-europe-business-4c015c91e48893dc2a9da50d3554140a) - "**The world’s fastest-accelerating roller coaster is shut down after riders report fractured bones**"; how very 2021 😳 - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/25/japan-rollercoaster-broken-bones/) - "**Burning out and quitting**" is the story of how '*the monotony of another exhausting day with 7 hours on Zoom, then trying to do real work, at 1am, with a glass of wine on the couch*' affected one person, but I sense something many are going through. A well-written and thoughtful piece to spend some time digesting - [More](https://mayakaczorowski.com/blogs/burnout) - [Chris](https://cdixon.org/) writes an important piece on "**Why decentralization matters**" and the 'next era of the Internet' - [More](https://cdixon.org/2018/02/18/why-decentralization-matters) - If there's any single skill that I'd advise anyone to build/practice/fine-tune and rework, it's the ability to **be a storyteller**. In "**Just tell a story**," the author explores the power of '*making it memorable by telling a story*' - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/storytelling) - [Adam Harmetz](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/) wrote a great article on "**Celebrating 16 Years at Microsoft**". There's a treasure of super valuable lessons in here to be learned around career, people, strategy, and leadership - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/celebrating-16-years-at-microsoft) - What's not to love about "**The 100-year-old diary fell from the ceiling of her San Francisco home. What was inside changed her**". A fantastic story that fell into the author's lap - [More](https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2021/san-francisco-diary-love-story/) - In "**How the Adirondack Chair Became the Feel-Good Recliner That Cures What Ails You**" I learned that the chair is ‘rooted in the history of disease’ as part of a wilderness cure. **Wild** \- [More](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-adirondack-chair-became-feel-good-recliner-cures-what-ails-you-180978322/) - "**The Curse of Knowledge**" examines cognitive bias and that most "forget what it was like before you learned." An essential read in creating a learning environment and psychological safety in teams - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-curse-of-knowledge) - The pandemic keeps challenging ‘what is normal’ concerning the workplace. Interesting to see that studies show face-to-face interaction may not be a factor in creating **strong interpersonal bonds among colleagues**. "**Employees Are Lonelier Than Ever. Here's How Employers Can Help.**" examines the negative side-effects of loneliness in the workplace - [More](https://hbr.org/2021/06/employees-are-lonelier-than-ever-heres-how-employers-can-help) ## **Fin** Any self-respecting MCU fan has watched the new [SpiderMan: No Way Home](https://www.marvel.com/movies/spider-man-no-way-home)teaser 30 times to figure out how this film will play out; so why not end this week by linking to it? 😀 See you next week friends! ### The Hardest Part URL: https://makoism.com/the-hardest-part/ Last updated: 2021-08-21T10:12:55.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d676716a-fc75-4f3b-b0ac-a841921f4331_4608x3456.jpeg) As I alluded to last week, it has been a slow grind through significant personal changes this summer for us. After I had a second heart attack (NSTEMI, or Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) this past April, we knew that we needed to push towards making adjustments to many aspects of our lives. *(Side note: I'll dig deeper into heart health and all that at some point, but not today.)* Change is hard; and scary — and without having a lot of the short-term items figured out, we decided to return to Seattle after three years in Portland. Having a lens on the long-term **Life 2.0** goals in mind, we started to edge towards 'Life 1.5' in a location that we collectively were happier. This piece from Tim Urban on change resonated with me: > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1428032916320407552) It's tough to make a change (no one said it was easy), even more so if you find yourself in a *partially* comfortable situation. Humans accept things that they disagree with **because it's easy**. Many colleagues/peers/friends I've talked with complain about something and don't often really understand how much they control some situations. It's easy to accept things the way they are and that they will never get better if you are comfortable. But - take the first step. It's hard, I know. Sometimes a push is needed, but you generally need to **stop talking about it** and make the change you need. What better time to start than today? Once you take the first step, step two is more straightforward. Keep pushing forward. You got this. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, or if you'd rather keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** As a subscriber to [The Daily Stoic](https://dailystoic.com/), I was a bit surprised to learn that [Ryan Holiday](https://ryanholiday.net/)(author of '[The Obstacle is the Way](https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358)') had opened a bookstore in Jan 2020 with his wife. [The Painted Porch](https://www.thepaintedporch.com/), located in Bastrop, TX, was envisioned as a place to '*host events, welcoming customers from the community, and drawing people to this beautiful street on the bluffs of the Colorado River*.' They put their life savings into it. And, right as it was about to open, *the pandemic hit*. This story documents the journey and reinforces many of the practical philosophies that Ryan always writes about Stoic philosophy. Sometimes '[life just is](https://dailystoic.com/no-one-can-make-you-upset/)'. **Important lessons**. ## **Thought of the Week** > [](https://twitter.com/thedolectures/status/1428024483856666627) ## **Latest obsession** One of the newest obsessions I have is using magnets with the iPhone 12 Pro to stick it to things. I know; it's wierd. But check out this [Car Vent MagSafe mount from Moment](https://www.shopmoment.com/products/car-vent-mount-for-magsafe). It's awesome to walk into the car, and just magnet it for CarPlay. Highly recommended. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/673c77a1-b428-41b5-9e22-42f01a86912c_800x566.jpeg) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I found this post on "**Self-love**" from famed Internet comic [The Oatmeal](https://theoatmeal.com/) to be one of the essential reads of this summer. 'I love **me**' is something that most people grapple with, and it's **damn important** \- [More](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/self%5Flove) - "**Your Path Is Discovered, Not Planned**" along with the context of this week's theme, a glorious look at how to map out path's in life, and the unexpected roads not traveled - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/your-path-is-discovered-not-planned) - Not sure I agree with what "**Why Managers Fear a Remote-Work Future**" is asserting, but I'm seeing more and more companies grappling with how to move forward. The '*our culture is our office*' argument doesn't cut it for the future of technology workers (and frankly, **actions should define culture**) - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/07/work-from-home-benefits/619597/) - "**How Matte Painting Expanded the Star Wars Universe**" is an 'exploration of the art you almost never notice' in a galaxy far, far, away - [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/how-matte-painting-expanded-the-star-wars-universe-59b3973e1095/) - "**Big bird on water is mystery, but town calls it just ducky**" explores just that - how a giant rubber ducky magically appeared in a Maine harbor with the word '**Joy**' emblazoned on the side is more of what we need in 2021 - [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/rubber-bird-is-a-mystery-but-town-thinks-its-just-ducky/) - Ted Green has been collecting *the sounds and sights of transit systems* for more than a decade; "**The Hidden Melodies of Subways Around the World**" beautifully explores this art - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/13/arts/subway-train-sounds.html) - "**The Sizzle and Steak Edition**" looks at the more profound science on how restaurants work and the psychology used to get customers to buy more expensive menu items - [More](https://whyisthisinteresting.substack.com/p/the-sizzle-and-steak-edition) - A billion-dollar jewel heist and struggle to catch a band of thieves reads like the plot to a film, though "**The Dresden Job**" is as real as it gets - [More](https://www.gq.com/story/the-dresden-job) - This one hit home for me: "**Tim O'Donnell Reveals He Suffered Heart Attack During Challenge Miami**." As someone who had a **very** similar occurrence (my LAD was blocked 90%), it's important to remember to get yourself screened regularly for blockages. Tim (as well as myself) were very, very, very lucky - [More](https://www.endurancesportswire.com/tim-odonnell-reveals-he-suffered-heart-attack-during-challenge-miami/) - Steven Sinofsky continues his \*\* excellent\*\* series on the arc of the PC and Microsoft with one the most controversial, and now loved, assistants in "**Clippy, The F\*cking Clown**" - [More](https://hardcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com/p/042-clippy-the-fcking-clown) - "**I Have Finally Solved the 2-Year-Old Mystery About Who Stole My Office Chair**" is a fun, true-crime story for the modern office - [More](https://jezebel.com/i-have-finally-solved-the-2-year-old-mystery-about-who-1847480347) - I highly recommend the book [Atomic Habits](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits); "**Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.**" is a beautiful excerpt from it - [More](https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems) - The topic of D.B. Cooper (not, [it wasn't Loki](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwqrHtxLRjM)) has always fascinated me, and the search for answers will continue for far into the future. "**Crime historian conducts dig for evidence in skyjacker D.B. Cooper case**" - [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime-historian-conducts-dig-for-evidence-in-skyjacker-d-b-cooper-case/) ## **Fin** > *For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well just turn back, *keep right on going*.* ### This Train Don't Stop There Anymore URL: https://makoism.com/this-train-dont-stop-there-anymore/ Last updated: 2021-08-14T10:08:52.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/64581bfc-6a31-457e-b22a-1bd48ba8de5e_6602x4401.jpeg) the move Sorry for the "abbreviated" update this week and the off-schedule post. **It's moving week**: The family and I are heading out of Portland and **back to Seattle**. And it's been nothing short of a whirlwind of a week between packing, unpacking, boxes, and more boxes. Without my usual commentary, I thought I would send over a few more interesting links that I read through the week. I just ran out of time with everything going on to do a deeper dive. Please enjoy these, and next week we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming. I hope this finds you well! If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**How Seattle’s Scarecrow Video plans to share its vast library nationwide**" - [More](https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/how-seattles-scarecrow-video-plans-to-share-its-vast-library-nationwide/) - "**The smart home is flailing as a concept—because it sucks**" - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90660570/the-smart-home-is-flailing-as-a-concept-because-it-sucks) - "**On Being ‘Strategic’**" - [More](https://cate.blog/2021/08/09/on-being-strategic/) - "**The Source of Motivation**" - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-source-of-motivation) - "**Traumatizing Toilet (Rememories 1)**" - [More](https://jefftweedy.substack.com/p/traumatizing-toilet-rememories-1) - "**Anything Exciting Happen Today?**" - [More](https://jamestynioniv.substack.com/p/anything-exciting-happen-today) - "**How does an 'Adventurer' earn enough money to make it their full-time job?**" - [More](https://alastairhumphreys.com/how-does-an-adventurer-earn-enough-money-to-make-it-their-full-time-job/) - "**Tesla driver presses the wrong button and it cost his son $19,000**" - [More](https://www.drive.com.au/news/tesla-driver-presses-the-wrong-button-and-it-cost-him-19000/) - "**Don’t Just Declutter, De-own.**" - [More](https://www.becomingminimalist.com/dont-just-declutter-de-own/) - "**Want to pretend to live on Mars? For a whole year? Apply now**" - [More](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-oddities-business-science-mars-182cc63732fbabeb7120df2fc637b85a) - "**This man stands outside the Tokyo Olympic Village every day to motivate athletes**" - [More](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/this-man-stands-outside-the-tokyo-olympic-village-every-day-to-motivate-athletes-080521) - "**Personal Computing On An Amiga In 2021**" - [More](https://thedorkweb.substack.com/p/personal-computing-on-an-amiga-in-2021) - "**The Power of NO... And How to Say It**" - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-power-of-no-and-how-to-say-it) - "**The Way I Heard It Was...**" - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-way-i-heard-it-was/) ## **Fin** I hope you are having a great summer and staying healthy! See you in a week. ### I Can See For Miles and Miles URL: https://makoism.com/i-can-see-for-miles-and-miles/ Last updated: 2021-08-07T11:49:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/749b64aa-eb09-4b66-b740-dbe2edc036a5_3390x1904.jpeg) road This week I started to watch the YouTube site of [Beau Miles](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm325cMiw9B15xl22%5Fgr6Dw) (thanks to [Scott Nasello](https://twitter.com/scottnasello) for the link!). The video that started my multi-hour consumption of his videos was a short film entitled '[The Human Bean: 40 days on a tin-bean diet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYsTlfhDSDY)'. The experiment was inspired by John Steinbeck's Tortilla Flat, in which a family of poor, super healthy kids eats an almost exclusively bean diet. Beau wanted to see what the diet did to his mental and physical state. It's a worthy watch. But the one I wanted to lean in on is '[A Mile an Hour](https://beaumiles.com/films/a-mile-an-hour/)'. He describes it as: '*A different kind of marathon; running one lap an hour, for 24hrs, around my perfectly mile long block. The rest of the time I do as much as possible; making things, odd jobs, fixing stuff. It's about running, doing, and thinking.*' Throughout the 24 hours, he focused on both **running and taking on a variety of projects**. In a [blog post](https://beaumiles.com/2018/05/to-my-body-the-idiot/), Beau goes through a breakdown of the goals for the day. That is, outside the 4 hours of running and 2+ hours of cooking and eating. He did *approximately 8 hours of jobs (28 completed); pruning trees, fixing broken things, mending pants, hanging pictures, oiling the fence, chopping wood, shaving, playing scrabble, writing...* Phew! I'm tired just after reading how the 24 hours unfold. You should watch the whole process unfold with the video; it's a great one. The takeaway is perfect: > **You can do a lot in 86,400 seconds*. We get this slab of time, as the reading goes (as we all know) every day of our lives (thanks Johnny). Filling it with what might be called 'tasks of purpose,' you subject yourself to feeling time as slow, fast, exciting, or cruel-based on the task at hand. Your body, which is, in fact, your brain (which is you), dips and spikes around a whole range of realities and energy.* So I found myself asking more than once this week - "**what did I do with my 86,400 seconds**" today? Often I was happy with the answer; other times, not as much. But it's an essential lens into not only how but **what** you spend each day doing. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This year, whether personally or professionally, I have found that having a "[Personal Board of Directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/)" is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. [Adventures in Life](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/) calls these folks '[Accountability Partners](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/accountability-partners)'. > *My accountability partners will keep me going. They will ...* > > *Hold me accountable to my aspirations* > > *Support me when I need it most* > > *Remind me of *why* often* > > *I will do the same for them.* I love where [Coach Willis](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/people/23128943-coach-willis) has centered his focus on. ## **Thought of the Week** I can't remember when I discovered the art [Hugh MacLeod](https://t.co/XGUzfu5S51?amp=1) \- I think it was back in 2009 with his book "[Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity](https://www.amazon.com/Ignore-Everybody-Other-Keys-Creativity/dp/159184259X)" (I even have a signed copy from its launch). I've honestly been following his work for even longer; it’s always inspiring and thought provoking. > [](https://twitter.com/hughcards/status/1422187194295504902) ## **Latest obsession** [Scan Thing](https://scanthing.app/) is a **wild** app for capturing and saving "objects" around you for iOS and Mac. With it, you can quickly scan objects, people, animals, plants, and art - an excellent tool for writing decks directly from the camera, an image, or a PDF. **Super useful and fun.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/162d9d55-09b2-45d7-9903-4be5de32a589_1584x1407.png) untouched “scanthing” of my morning coffee ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Fascinating story behind the naming of the Welsh village "**Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch**". A tailor came up with the name to make the village an attraction; it kinda worked. - [More](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch) - "**The Side Hustle Blues**" explores the fastest way to kill the side hustle - focusing on more than one thing at a time. [Adventures in Life](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/) is quickly becoming a weekly staple for me - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/the-side-hustle-blues) - '**The orchestra speaks**'. There is no more iconic superhero movie theme than [Superman: The Movie](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078346/) from John Williams. [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk1aQx9hTaE) and read more on "**How John Williams Changed Superhero Movies in 5 Minutes**" - [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/how-john-williams-changed-superhero-movies-in-just-five-minutes/) - Another one is from "[Adventures in Life](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/)". "**Face the Storm**" offers solid advice on how to '*stop running from the inevitable, and face it head on*' - [More](https://adventuresinlife.substack.com/p/face-the-storm) - '*I hope Zuckerberg is in jail by then ... this is an enemy of the United States of America. He doesn't give a $&;! about us… it's just about filthy lucre ... and Sheryl \[Sandberg\] is a complicit.*' Powerful words from [Ken Burns](https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/) in [this week's Sway podcast](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/02/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-ken-burns.html) "**‎Is Ken Burns Taking Up Too Much Space? He Doesn’t Think So.**" - [Listen](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sway/id1528594034?i=1000530731305) - **Best leadership read of the week**: "**But, will it make the boat go faster?**". Having clarity on what you want to do next, and how to base decisions off a single question - [More](https://planyournext.com/p/will-it-make-the-boat-go-faster) - It's 2021, so nothing surprises me anymore. "**People hanging hammocks on power lines is another example of stupid things kids do**" proves the point - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/01/utah-hammocks-on-power-lines/) - "**Take Charge of Your Life by Changing Your Route**" explores the idea that '*most of us are running the wrong route and don't even know it*' and how, like runners, in life, things that are rewarding are achieved by 'choosing the route' rather than letting the world dictate the route for you - [More](https://medium.com/runners-life/take-charge-of-your-life-by-changing-your-route-fe1d6a891d04) - Who can argue with "**Happiness Is a Warm Donut**"? I can get behind the premise of '*during difficult times, there are small ways I can experience happiness*' - [More](https://forge.medium.com/happiness-is-a-warm-donut-52fcf66df4d2) - Fun for the entire family this summer in "**Roadside America - Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions**". Pick a state, and you'll find out the weirdest attractions for you to go visit (such as "[Dick and Jane's Spot](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7812)") - [More](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/) ## **Fin** This week I discovered a wacky fan edit of a cult-classic scene from Twin Peaks. Pieced together from the [audio book](https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-of-Twin-Peaks-audiobook/dp/B01K5R06F6) version of [Mark Frost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark%5FFrost)'s "[The Secret History of Twin Peaks](https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Twin-Peaks-Novel/dp/1250075580)" it contextualizes an interview with [Douglas Milford](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/Dougie%5FMilford) and reminds us that '*the owls are not what they seem*'. ### The Circle of Life URL: https://makoism.com/the-circle-of-life/ Last updated: 2021-07-31T11:09:14.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/89826802-bfa5-4056-a40f-8e004c1719f6_4032x3024.jpeg) yes, i took this photo in South Africa :) This week I spent watching way more of the Olympics than I have in previous years; it's been somewhat frustrating to have news alerts firing off on my phone early in the morning with the big events that happen on the TV coverage later that night. There are two significant things I wanted to touch on this week. [Lydia Jacoby](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/alaskan-teen-lydia-jacoby-wins-gold-u-s-upset-100-n1275104), the 17-year-old swimmer had a tremendous upset in the 100-meter breaststroke that **embodied everything that you ever dreamed that the Olympics represented**. Hailing from [Seward, Alaska](https://www.seward.com/) which has one pool, a common joke that she '*trains every day out there with the whales and sea lions*'. Watching this race, her hometown's support and explosive support, **gave me all the feels**. Amazing athlete and huge respect deserved; I can't wait to see how her story unfolds in the next few years. The biggest story (which I hope you aren't sick of hearing about), is what's going on with the US Gymnastics team. A few weeks back [I talked about Naomi Oaska](https://makoism.com/be-a-goldfish/) and her focus on mental health, and the article ['The Radical Courage of Simone Biles’s Exit from the Team USA Olympic Finale'](https://www.newyorker.com/sports/replay/the-radical-courage-of-simone-biless-exit-from-the-team-usa-olympic-finals), dives deeper into the issue facing many athletes. > *Anyone who has followed the tumult of USA Gymnastics in recent years knows the immense, the immense, inhumane pressure that Biles and her teammates have borne. Since the revelations of Larry Nassar’s abuse, athletes *say they have struggled to get reassurance*, from both the sport's governing body and the United States Olympic Committee, that their health and well-being are a priority. USA Gymnastics *has relied on Biles* to buoy its reputation during a scandal and to boost its scores in international competition.* [Olympian Michael Phelps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael%5FPhelps) talked a lot about these pressures in the [2020 HBO documentary "The Weight Of Gold"](https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-weight-of-gold). A highly recommended watch if you haven't already seen it. He [sums up her anguish](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-phelps-says-simone-biles-anguish-broke-my-heart/) in [a post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1420248321969594374): > **"We're human beings. Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is okay to not be okay."** I'm not sure where I am going with this, but as someone who has suffered the health effects of stress, have had my feelings of impostor syndrome, and as a human who spends way too much time in my head, I was originally going to open with about a great post from [Michael Loop](https://randsinrepose.com/) about "[Asking for Help](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/ask-for-help/)". > *Yeah. We’re in a hurry. We have a deadline. Everyone is scurrying around so competently. In this hurry, we create the erroneous perception that stopping to teach is somehow slowing the team down when the reality is that we are not just investing in future speed, but in team health: the selfless act of teaching is one of the greatest accelerants to building trust in a team.* In no way am I comparing the challenges or struggles that affect an Olympic athlete what we \* every day\* people go through (except remembering these athletes are also people) - the point I wanted to get out there this week is that it is **okay to not be okay**. Talk to your family, friends, your [personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/). **We're all in this together.** If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** The **[The DO Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/)** continue to be a tremendous source of inspiration for me. This week I came across a talk from [Chris Baréz Brown](https://www.barez-brown.com/) in 2015 on "[How To Have The Most Amazing Life Right Now](https://thedolectures.com/blogs/talks/chris-barz-brown-how-to-have-the-most-amazing-life-right-now)" > *"I'm going to do the things that feel right for me, and not worry a shit about what other people think"* **Love this**. Check out his latest **energy experiment** which is writing a hand-written note every day to say "**thank you**" to someone. Powerful stuff. Chris is the founder of "[Upping Your Elvis](https://www.uppingyourelvis.com/)" and [author of the book](https://www.amazon.com/Upping-Your-Elvis-Chris-Barez-Brown/dp/1913532631/) of the same name. He has a [great blog](https://www.barez-brown.com/post/the-big-resignation) that's worth the time to check out. ## **Thought of the Week** > [](https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1420738460428771329) ## **Latest obsession** Earlier this year, my wife purchased a [Yukon Solo Stove Smokeless Backyard Fire Pit](http://toolsandtoys.net/solo-stove-smokeless-backyard-fire-pits/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b77c2981-e9a1-4552-a046-8eb5ec0b5475_1920x1070.jpeg) smoke free [This thing](http://i.refs.cc/iaowBdqT?smile%5Fref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo4NDg1MDgzMjZ9) is **awesome**; it's '*designed to burn efficiently and produce as little smoke as possible in the process*'. I would recommend getting the stand to be sure there's enough airflow under it, but it ups the enjoyment of sitting around the fire without the nagging smoke. There's something magical about having a fire-pit as part of hosting friends or family, and deep conversations with co-workers without having a bunch of smelly clothes afterward. [Check it out](http://i.refs.cc/iaowBdqT?smile%5Fref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo4NDg1MDgzMjZ9). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here are a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Super interesting article (and [podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/0njxeKJKFtoJhCRF1ShmL4?si=GKuS3KQcR8-hNKoShUVjUw)) that dives into **60 Songs That Explain the ’90s**; each episode tackles a song that personified those 10 years. I found [episode 38](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kBjBDm9X5752nidYpEFuP), "**Madonna Strikes a Pose**" fascinating - [More](https://www.theringer.com/2021/7/14/22576849/madonna-vogue-history) - The French government has a smartphone app that gives 300 euros to every 18-year-old in the country. The idea was to inspire cultural purchases, such as books and music but teenagers had a different idea: "**France Gave Teenagers $350 for Culture. They’re Buying Comic Books.**" - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/arts/france-culture-pass.html) - **True story** \- Back in the '90s, I had an exec once tell me that '**no one will use the Internet for business**', after I showed him a prototype of a web-based version of a tool we were building in [Mosaic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic%5F%28web%5Fbrowser%29). [Steven Sinofsky](https://medium.com/@stevesi?source=post%5Fpage-----21312a5c8aea--------------------------------) has been nailing it lately, and with "**\[…\] is a toy**" he explores when inventions appear, how they are often labeled as '*incapable of doing real work*' - [More](https://medium.learningbyshipping.com/is-a-toy-21312a5c8aea) - "**Cutting the cord: Apps, savings, and a networking headache**" - I cut the cord earlier this year, moving my TV to YouTubeTV. While the interface has some family members confused, it's a much better experience to let the cable/fiber providers just be a pipe for the Internet into my house - [More](https://sixcolors.com/post/2021/07/cutting-the-cord-apps-savings-and-a-networking-headache/) - "**The future of social is private**"; yes, I couldn't agree more. Hit me up if you want an invite to '[Friends](https://grex.substack.com/p/say-hello-to-friends)' a **private media sharing platform** I've been testing or [join the waitlist](https://heyfriends.app/join/waitlist) \- [More](https://www.protocol.com/newsletters/sourcecode/instagram-facebook-new-privacy-rules) - "**How Doing a Life Review Can Help Your Understand Your Past, Present, and Future**" is a great idea. I need to sit down, take some time, and '*look back so I can look forward*' - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/podcast-how-to-do-a-life-review/) - In "**We Need To Talk About The Insecurity Industry**", Edward Snowden talks about '*the greatest danger to national security has become the companies that claim to protect it*'. Another mustread - [More](https://edwardsnowden.substack.com/p/ns-oh-god-how-is-this-legal) - A wonderful perspective on how "**Poking Holes in Our Stories**" allows us how '*not to take thoughts at face value; just because I think something doesn’t make it so*' - [More](https://tinyrevolutions.substack.com/p/tiny-revolutions-76-poking-holes) - FUN! I love '[what if](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9D0uUKJ5KI)' questions and "**If 8 Popular Websites Existed In The 90s**" nails these favorite sites - [More](https://zyro.com/popular-websites-90s) - "**The Real Reason You’re So Distracted (Spoiler: It’s Not Your Phone)**" and how to fix it - [More](https://forge.medium.com/why-youre-distracted-all-the-time-hint-it-s-not-tech-s-fault-5f8819874c9e) - How many times will organizations not have a good policy in place around domain expiration and things they link to? "**A Defunct Video Hosting Site Is Flooding Normal Websites With Hardcore Porn**" is the latest faux pas when an old video site (Vidme) had it's domain registration taken over - [More](https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj8xz3/a-defunct-video-hosting-site-is-flooding-normal-websites-with-hardcore-porn) - If I am on a treadmill, I run with headphones; if outside, I do not. In "**The Benefits of Running Without Headphones**" they explore the side benefits to ditching them - [More](https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/without-headphones) - File under '*storytelling*' techniques; Alignment is a description of a character’s morals and beliefs, and in "**D&D Alignment 101 (MCU Character Examples)**", the author does a great job of using the Marvel Cinematic Universe to explain how storytellers 'uses alignment and conflict to get you addicted to characters' - [More](https://www.gameoutonline.com/dnd-alignment/) ## **Fin** Finishing up this week with an inspiring moment from the cast of the [The Lion King](https://lionking.com/) getting together in person for the first time in 15 months. **Special thanks to my wife who sent this to me to get me moving**. > *Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba Sithi uhm ingonyama!* Which amusingly enough, [translates from Zulu](https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/circle-of-life-english-lyrics-lion-king/) as > *Here comes a lion, father, Oh yes it’s a lion.* Enjoy this one. **Be a lion**.And be there for each other. ### 2021 EDC URL: https://makoism.com/2021-edc/ Last updated: 2025-03-01T16:42:55.000Z Every year I do a write-up on “[things I like](https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/)” which has a look at apps that I use on a day to day basis, my general workflow on processing email and work items, and most importantly - my **Everyday Carry (EDC)**. It's been about a year since I have gone through it, and finally got around to making some refinements - notably going with USB-C for all of my charging needs across all devices. The goal was to be able to charge **any** device, get smaller and more durable cables, and make the whole package incredibly light. I’m pretty happy with what I ended up with: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3b0e44fe-e040-411d-b4c2-e5190bb81023_1024x768.jpeg) 2021 EDC Essentials Here’s the shopping list: - [Nite Ize S-Biner Dual Carabiner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HN6CW4) — to clip on water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK)) to bring heart medication everywhere. Unfortunately needed these days. - [1ft Anker USB-C to Lightning](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XYX3WNY) — charge the phone or AirPod Pro’s - [3ft Fasgear USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W Power Delivery, Right Angle](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FY1S99B/) — charge the iPad Pro, M1 MacBook Air or anything else USB-C - [6” USB Type-C to Micro-B 2.0 Short Charger Cable](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LONQ7R6) — for some oddball devices - [Satechi USB-C Wireless Charging Dock](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP862ZM/A/satechi-usb-c-watch-airpods-charger) — charge the Apple Watch or AirPods (Pro) - [Leather cable straps](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WNS98W) — because they are functional and look cool. - [Anker Nano II 65W GaN II PPS Fast Charger Adapter](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T5QN2TR/) — this is a **killer** USB-C charger that's fast, can easily charge a laptop, iPad, etc and is the only charger you'll need. - [EverRatchet Keychain Tool](https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Infusion-EverRatchet-Ratcheting-Keychain/dp/B07FCRH3D6) \- one of the best flat multi-tool thats a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, bottle opener, box opener, 7 wrenches, and more in a compact 20g footprint. - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small, bright, it’s a no brainer for the daily bag. - [AirTag](https://www.apple.com/airtag/) \- because I may lose the EDC? - [Fisher Bullet-Pen](https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-400B-Space-Bullet-Pen/dp/B000WGD13U) — small, awesome for writing, and you just never know when you need one. [Read a review here to see why this is the best pen](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2014/2/19/fisher-space-pen-bullet-review). Not shown that's also with me: - [Tom Bihn Ballistic Organizer](https://www.tombihn.com/products/mesh-organizer-pouch?variant=16620957063) — what I carry all this in (in my bag); however it looks like the Ballistic is out of stock, with production starting soon. - [KardiaMobile 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) — one of the unfortunate realities for me these days, I need to carry an EKG reader with me. While the AppleWatch is great for a simple and quick 1-lead EKG, this amazing gum-stick sized device can do a medical grade 6-lead EKG that’s easily sharable with my doctors. - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — essential for 2021. - [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black?fnode=3d8f3c1d4dcf55f805bfbdf4691b3c94a996457258e4fa8b5346bc108590cad003bbdb70441ebb67cc48bf3ee90423e2bfa5a9bdaca784bbb5ccec17b21b98f5bb2a7c34ea12f0583c10d530eca159e0e92d63b714bc96da89bd4cc867d494e3) — really like the Woolenex case over the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works great with wireless charging as well. - [Lochby Pocket Journal](https://www.lochby.com/collections/frontpage/products/pocket-journal) — amazing quality ultra portable field journal case. Also added this [paracord keychain lanyard](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L8K1HSX). - [Field Notes Dot Grid Pitch Black](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/pitch-black-notebook) — Dot Grid notebooks are superior, and Field Notes makes the best ones which fit beautifully in the Lochby. - [Pete’s Pirate Life](https://petespiratelife.com/) — Challenge Coin — yo ho yo ho. ### Time URL: https://makoism.com/time/ Last updated: 2021-07-24T11:57:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/96da2597-d2e8-49ad-a063-27857c67ba20_6980x4267.jpeg) time I've spent an inappropriate amount of *time* thinking about **time** recently. The reflection most likely is a result of the season 1 finale of [Loki](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/loki/6pARMvILBGzF) and my own fondness for the various theories of **time**, the universe and the nature of loops that are represented in film and books. In the finale (**SPOILERS**), we ultimately meet a not-so-mysterious being known as "*He Who Remains*". The character explains that *he alone* ended a multiverse war caused by his variants from other timelines by creating a singular, circular timeline that is policed by a bureaucratic organization known as the TVA; remove him, and **all-out chaos** breaks out. Endless possibilities; some terrifying, some wonderful. In a lesser-known (but a **must-watch**) Marvel show, [Legion](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5114356/) \- David (a schizophrenic who is a mutant) attempts to explain a similar multiverse theory using cold French fries to a homeless friend: The Australian-American science fiction television series, [Farscape](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187636/), [John Crichton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5FFarscape%5Fcharacters#John%5FCrichton) has an exchange with a being known as *Einstein* on the nature of **time** itself: Each show lots of examples on how **time** loops, how alternate choices can lead to multiple existences and the concept of "*what if?*". [But what do most people get wrong about time](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191203-what-we-get-wrong-about-time)? > *Most tend to think of time as linear, absolute, and constantly “running out” – but is that true? And how can we change our perceptions to feel better about its passing?* Back in March, "[What Story Will We Live by Now?](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/word-less/202103/what-story-will-we-live-now)" referenced [Viktor Frankl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor%5FFrankl)'s book "[Man's Search for Meaning](https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0807014273)" and started me thinking about how people **navigate time**. Akin to Nietzche, Frankl ponders that "if you found a big '*why*' you could tolerate any '*how*'." In essence, a self-designed method of **time travel**. [Vonnegut](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/what-kurt-vonneguts-slaughterhouse-five-tells-us-now) explores that **time** and free-will work under very different rules. "*The past, present, and future all exist simultaneously and forever and are simply there, fixed, eternally*". The notion of free will is almost "**comical**". I’m not sure where I've landed with all of this (circular loops?), but I know that I want to start using **time** as a focal lens to provide a way in thinking deeper about experiences; a method to know yourself and provide guidance on how to improve relationships and change reactions in the future. **Time** can be *a form of currency*, that needs to be used and fostered wisely. "[The Shortness of Time](https://fs.blog/2017/03/seneca-on-the-shortness-of-time/)" ponders: > *Time is invisible, so it’s easy to spend. It’s only near the end of our life that most of us will realize the value of time. Make sure you’re not too busy to pay attention to life.* The harsh reality is that **who knows how long all of this lasts**? **You can only enjoy each and every moment while you can**. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Speaking of "time"; I cannot stop thinking about a Twitter post from Tim Urban a few weeks back. > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1367871165319049221) There are many things that effect those paths: choice, internal obstacles and external factors that you can't control. As [C.S. Lewis said](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.%5FS.%5FLewis) in [The Screwtape Letters](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060652934): > *It is the most temporal part of time — for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays... Hence nearly all vices are rooted in the Future. Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust and ambition look ahead.* ## **Latest obsession** My nephew claims I am addicted to licorice; he's right. My latest obsession is [Wiley Wallaby Australian Style Licorice](https://www.amazon.com/Wiley-Wallaby-Australian-Gourmet-Licorice/dp/B01LDF0WLC). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/99e028de-1b4e-4b15-a936-5f098b9bd94d_1233x1500.jpeg) yum From their website: > *Eleven years ago, we got tired of eating licorice that was flavorless & impossible to chew and knew we could do better.* And yes, they did just that. No dairy, no fat, no high fructose corn syrup. All yummy. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - 🎹 Yes! "**Being Crushed by Falling Piano Still Funniest Way to Die**" is from a CDC annual report on causes of death - [More](https://thehardtimes.net/culture/report-being-crushed-by-falling-piano-still-funniest-way-to-die/) - 🕰 "**5 Signs You Need Some Alone Time**" discusses '*Being alone is a healthy skill to be cultivated. Being alone is when some cool stuff happens: Inspiration. Reflection. Insight. Wonder. Clarity. Rest and Restoration*.' A worthy read - [More](https://firstthings.org/5-signs-you-need-some-alone-time) - 😴 "**The 7 types of rest everyone needs – and how to get them**" explores different types of rest, and rest deficits - [More](https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/mental-health/7-types-of-rest-deficit-tired-all-the-time/539221) - 💼 [Tom Bihn](https://www.tombihn.com/) bags are among my favorites. In "**Zipper Updates**", read more than you ever wanted to about their zippers - [More](https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/zipper-updates) - 🖨 Memories of the late '80s are riddled with the computer club I belonged to and [The Print Shop](https://www.howtogeek.com/737306/how-the-print-shop-turned-people-into-banner-wizards-in-the-1980s/). For the uninitiated, Brøderbund Software created an app that allowed anyone with a PC to make large banners, signs, and greeting cards. Amazingly, you now can relive the experience (and even create a PDF) with "**The Print Shop Club – Create Apple II Print Shop Printouts On-Line!**" - [More](https://theprintshop.club/) - 👾 Check out the video about "**The Game Prototype That Had to Be Banned by Its Own Studio**". Halfbrick Studios (maker of Fruit Ninja and other popular titles) created a new title in which the '*currency of the game was *trust**'; it caused so many issues internally with people constantly playing it, they abandoned the project - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOYbR-Q%5F4Hs) - 🍿 Great tricks to adopt into your presentation skillset in "**7 Storytelling Tricks to Steal From Late-Night Talk Show Convos**" - [More](https://forge.medium.com/7-annoying-talk-show-tricks-for-a-great-story-31dbe527e1e9) - 🎧 "**How Spotify Has Changed Music Libraries Forever**" looks at the trouble and churn of long term access of your online music library - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/07/spotify-streaming-music-library/619453/) - 🌎 **Pangaea** is a "supercontinent" that formed on Earth about 335 million years ago which formed today's continents; In "**Map of Pangaea with Modern-Day Borders**", check out what that looks like. Or if you want, you can [check your address here](https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#750) on ancient Earth - [More](https://kottke.org/20/05/map-of-pangaea-with-modern-day-borders) - 🌭 In what's the grossest story that I've recently read, "**What you’d need to do to burn off the calories consumed by hot dog-eating champ Joey Chestnut**", this human consumed 23,000 calories in 10 minutes 🤮 - [More](https://www.ksat.com/health/2021/07/05/what-youd-need-to-do-to-burn-off-the-calories-consumed-by-hot-dog-eating-champ-joey-chestnut) ## **Fin** In a conversation with someone from my '[personal board of directors](https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/)', I referenced [Leonard Snart (aka Captain Cold)](https://arrow.fandom.com/wiki/Leonard%5FSnart) on "making plans". Coming from personal experience (especially when it comes to marathons or Ironman :) ), you should always allow the flexibility to adjust (rules 3 and 4). Snart’s four rules to planning are: > *1) Make the plan* > > *2) Execute the plan* > > *3) Expect the plan to go off the rails* > > *4) And... Throw away the plan* ### Be a Goldfish URL: https://makoism.com/be-a-goldfish/ Last updated: 2021-07-17T11:17:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d5ad8a14-9272-4e7c-8f49-8bafd15af85a_6048x4024.jpeg) goldfish [Naomi Osaka took a public stance](https://time.com/6077128/naomi-osaka-essay-tokyo-olympics/) on mental health issues a few weeks back. While a large number of media, celebrities, and news applauded her honesty and bravery, others **brutally** criticized her. One even sunk to the depths of calling her "*an arrogant spoiled brat whose fame and fortune appears to have inflated her ego to gigantic proportions*." (No link, will not give them clicks). I find this type of attitude **disgusting** and I'm sorry if some of you unsubscribe. It may be a bold statement, but I firmly believe that **everyone is dealing with problems they don’t advertise**. While society today revolves around people's [perfect Instagram appearance](https://time.com/4793331/instagram-social-media-mental-health/), when you peel back the photoshopped square exterior, often life is way '[harder than it looks and not as fun as it seems](https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/hard/)'. While social networks are now being attributed to "high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and the 'fear of missing out'", it's important to recognize that your colleagues/team/friends/family are all dealing with their own unique issues. We're all not perfect, and we're all on the journey together. Personally, as someone who's had to deal with my own health scares, I've been finding tremendous healing and recharged purpose if you take a minute, reach out, be a human being. If you are struggling, reach out to others. **You are not alone**. Closing out this week's headline video, I recommend [Kate Bowler](https://katebowler.com/)'s wonderful TED talk on "Everything happens for a reason - and other lies I've loved". Be well friends. --- *The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.* --- If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I'm sure everyone is equally as excited as I am for [Ted Lasso, Season Two](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy) to drop on AppleTV+ on July 23rd. Here's a trailer in case you've been off-planet and missed it: The series has quickly become a **beacon** for a new type of coach/leader, someone many strive to become. Articles such as "[Leadership Lessons From Ted Lasso](https://www.thefivecoatconsultinggroup.com/the-coronavirus-crisis/ted-lasso)" to "[Lessons from Ted Lasso on leadership](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/357695)", articulate common themes that are worth reflecting upon (in no particular order): 1. Humility gives you greatness. 2. Listen to everyone. 3. You have to enjoy the process. 4. People are the most important part of any organization, and motivation changes person to person. 5. In a team, the "I" does not exist. 6. New talents + experience. 7. Surround yourself with people who are not afraid to tell you the truth. 8. Never underestimate the element of surprise. 9. Believe. ## **Latest obsession** [Last week](https://makoism.com/superman/) I wrote about Whiskey and alluded to magical cherries. This week, we are going to talk about [Luxardo Maraschino Cherries](https://www.luxardo.it/liqueurs-and-distillates/original-maraschino-cherries/). [Epicurious describes](https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/in-praise-of-luxardo-cherries-article) them in perfect detail: > *Out of the jar or tin, Luxardo cherries are nothing like the candy-apple red lumps bartenders plunk into kiddie cocktails. They are a touch of class, the dark, perfect capper to a stiff drink. Their red is so deep, it's almost black; their syrup thicker than molasses on a chilly day. The taste is nutty like Amaretto and fruit-forward, without the sticky and acrid taste that waxy imitation maraschinos have. Slip one into a classic cocktail and there's no comparison.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f26e60fc-4d60-4db0-adf7-04ce29acec91_540x401.jpeg) yum And yes, **they are worth the money**. These are great in mixed drinks, and even more importantly, on ice cream. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - 📉 When does efforts hit a point of diminishing returns, or even negative return? "**The Perfectionist Trap: How to Know What’s Good Enough**" explores when enough is **good enough** \- [More](https://michaelsender.com/2021/07/14/the-perfectionist-trap-how-to-know-whats-good-enough/) - 🍿 [Loki](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/loki/6pARMvILBGzF) is my favorite Disney+ MCU series to date; and regardless of how you feel (confused?) about the show, the aesthetics are impressive. Read more about it in "**How Loki built a different reality with retro hardware**" - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/13/22574400/loki-retro-hardware-tempad-kasra-farahani-interview-marvel-disney-plus) - 🎳 I keep going back to this one, trying to understand the reason behind "**Man Finds 160 Bowling Balls Under Stairway During Home Renovations**". Back in the 50's, damaged bowling balls were made available for people to use as landfill, so that may provide a clue, but it's meta on many levels - [More](https://www.newsweek.com/160-bowling-balls-michigan-house-concrete-stairway-1608774) - 💪🏻 "**Disagree and Commit: The Importance of disagreement in decision making**"; as a leader, it's important to create an environment of psychological safety where you can openly disagree, but then rallying the team once a decision is made - [More](https://hackernoon.com/disagree-and-commit-the-importance-of-disagreement-in-decision-making-b31d1b5f1bdc) - 🙋‍♀️ Without spoiling the article, "**One Simple Question to Anchor Your Day**" is worth the 3 minutes of reading time - [More](https://forge.medium.com/how-you-can-anchor-your-day-with-just-one-simple-question-36aaae17c73f) - 💼 "**How to Achieve Sustainable Remote Work**" examines how "*companies must move away from surveillance and visible busyness, and toward defined outcomes and trust*" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/how-to-achieve-sustainable-remote-work) - 🐐 "**Goat lottery planned to protect Hawaii historic park**" - if interested, you need to apply for a permit and indicate how many goats you want. Feels appropriate for 2021 - [More](https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-e49d1c95a3decc358333e40ffaddbc3c) - 🌋 "**The Internet Is Rotting**" explores 'absence of central control' of the Internet and link rot/content drift creates huge black holes of information with almost 53% of articles being "broken" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/06/the-internet-is-a-collective-hallucination/619320/) - 📆 I wholeheartedly agree with"**People Who Brag About Being in Back-to-Back Meetings Deeply Misunderstand Productivity**". If your calendar controls your life, it's an illusion of being busy and being important. A fantastic read on the **power of an empty calendar** \- [More](https://medium.com/curious/people-who-brag-about-being-in-back-to-back-meetings-deeply-misunderstand-productivity-ed00701d3f69) - 🦅 I **love** when there's a *useful* case for AI - [Merlin Bird ID](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id773457673). Think of it as the "**New Shazam for Birds Will Identify That Chirping for You**" - [More](https://gizmodo.com/new-shazam-for-birds-will-identify-that-chirping-for-yo-1847164904) ## **Fin** While I've been researching mental health this week I came across this compilation video of Anthony Hopkins on "*What is the Meaning of Life*". Next week I need to need to get less serious for a moment. Stay tuned and see you soon. ### Superman URL: https://makoism.com/superman/ Last updated: 2021-07-10T11:50:44.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/8701b47b-fded-45df-aeab-e83753a3aad5_2200x1467.jpeg) flying high This past week we heard the sad news that film director [Richard Donner passed away](https://deadline.com/2021/07/richard-donner-dead-superman-lethal-weapon-director-1234786372/) at the age of 91\. Donner was known for many films: [The Omen](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075005), [Superman](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078346/), [Superman 2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081573) (uncredited, but there is [a Donner cut](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0839995)), [The Goonies](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218), and [Lethal Weapon](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093409) to name a few. Many feel that his work on Superman (which had one of the best taglines - '*You'll believe a man can fly*'), eventually [carved the way ](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/richard-donner-superman-marvel-cinematic-universe)for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to the article: > *One word was said to be Donner’s favorite: “*verisimilitude*.” This word hung in Donner’s office throughout production on Superman: The Movie, via a photo of the character holding a sash emblazoned with the word. Essentially, it means “plausibility,” a word Jon Favreau (likely emulating Donner) hung up while directing Iron Man.* But more importantly, Donner was known through the industry as a director who **made work fun**. This can be seen and felt in his movies; [Gene Hackman retells an amazing story](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gene-hackman-lex-luthor-honors-richard-donner-hilarious-superman-anecdote-1234978365/) of the first day on Superman: > *“I showed up for the first day of makeup tests for Superman with a fine Lex Luthor mustache I’d grown for the role,” he began. “Dick, wearing his own handsome mustache, told me mine had to go. He bargained to lose his if I did mine. True to his word, he celebrated my last razor stroke by *gleefully pulling off* the fake whiskers he’d acquired for the occasion.”* And [actor Sean Austin writes](https://twitter.com/SeanAstin/status/1412143015729065987): > *Richard Donner had the biggest, boomiest voice you could imagine. He commanded attention and he laughed like no man has ever laughed before. Dick was so much fun. What I perceived in him, as a 12-year-old kid, is that he cared. I love how much he cared. - Goonies Never Say Die* I'm saddened as a film fan by his passing but have always admired his leadership skills and his humility. His wife recounted how important it was to "**have fun when the chips are down and lift everybody up. He also taught me not to sweat the little things. He gave me the gift of realizing it’s fine to relax and focus on what’s important.**" **Sound advice worth taking.** If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** After taking a break last week, I can't remember what drove me to save several links discussing "[The Prisoner's Dilemma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s%5Fdilemma)" (maybe I will remember it as I write this). Perhaps it was an [episode of Loki](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/loki/6pARMvILBGzF). The Prisoner's Dilemma is defined in game theory as: > *A situation where individual decision-makers always have an incentive to choose in a way that creates a less than optimal outcome for the individuals as a group.* It provides a methodology for understanding how to strike a balance between cooperation and competition and can be used for strategic decision-making. For teams, it represents many of the real-world scenarios they face when members of the team compete against each other, instead of collaborating. Here's a great video describing the theory. ## **Latest obsession** One of my personal goals that I had set for myself during the pandemic was to become more knowledgeable about Whiskey. I know it sounds silly or emotional, but there is an allure to the entire *experience* of Whiskey: > **It soothes the mind, relaxes the body, and warms even the coldest, most curmudgeonly heart.** An interesting fact is that Whiskey has high levels of polyphenols (plant-based antioxidants linked with lowering your risk of heart disease) — maybe it could be considered being good for you. :) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/cfad9786-c974-41c4-b946-9d5586f5ca04_400x600.png) yum Fast-forward to a few weeks back, my neighbor generously gave me a fantastic bottle of [Angel’s Envy Kentucky Bourbon](https://www.angelsenvy.com/) (it's finished in Port Barrels), and [the entire process](https://www.angelsenvy.com/whiskey/process/) is a true labor of love: > *We guide each batch’s conditioning, blending our handcrafted bourbon in small batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time. It’s typically aged for up to 6 years.* > > *While we lose about 5% of the spirit each year to evaporation, or “the Angel’s Share,” what’s left behind after we’re done is truly worthy of envy.* > > *Once it’s deemed ready, we finish our bourbon in ruby port wine casks, which adds subtly distinct flavor nuances that enhance the whiskey without challenging it.* > > *Our port finishing process lasts between three to six months, depending on taste.* **Highly** recommended for drinking straight on the rocks or perhaps the key to your next Manhattan (and don’t get me started on [Luxardo Maraschino Cherries](https://www.amazon.com/Luxardo-Maraschino-Cherries-418-mL/dp/B00AQB146W)). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - 🧠 In what has got to be one of the best use-cases for AI, check out [Brickit](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brickit-lego-ideas/id1477221636); the app scans a pile of loose bricks, and recognizes the brick types you have, and tells you what you can build. Amazing! [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90652594/got-a-pile-of-random-lego-this-amazing-app-tells-you-what-you-can-build) - 📚 "**Long overdue books returned to Massachusetts library**" is an understatement. On July 1, the library stopped charging late fees, so Bob Alvarez returned several books checked out in the 1920s and 1930s he found in a box in the basement - [More](https://apnews.com/article/ma-state-wire-massachusetts-oddities-41bbe4d7a1b47d7b42ee800fc9da0468) - 👀 Take it for what it's worth, but "**10 things you're doing now that you'll seriously regret in 10 years time**" explores some obvious, but not often curbed, behaviors that will have long term consequences - [More](https://hackspirit.com/10-things-youre-doing-now-that-youll-seriously-regret-in-10-years-time/) - 🎟 I *love* this idea of the "**Lucky Lotto, chaos engineering but for teams**". It goes like this - every Monday, a random person wins the 'lotto', and the winner gets to work on some side project and is completely unavailable to colleagues and the rest of the team to focus on the project. **Brilliant**.- [More](https://danlebrero.com/2021/06/30/cto-dairy-lucky-lotto-chaos-engineering-for-teams/) - 📷 A fascinating look at "**Developing 120-Year-Old Photos Found in a Time Capsule**". Mathieu Stern found a box of glass plate negative images of pets hidden away 120 years ago. Using the cyanotype technique, he documented the development of the film - [More](https://kottke.org/21/06/developing-120-year-old-photos-found-in-a-time-capsule) - 🚀 The challenge of remote work isn't technological, they are managerial. "**Why Remote Work Is So Hard — and How It Can Be Fixed**" looks at the challenges and potential solutions as we all head into the future of work - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/can-remote-work-be-fixed) - 🌋 "**Why Failure Is More Important Than You Think**" explores '*your success is often explained by the failures in your past*'. It's how we each embrace and learn from those failures is the important part - [More](https://dariusforoux.medium.com/failure-why-its-more-important-than-you-think-b5d38f7ad5e6) - 💸 Speaking of failures, [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/) has a great piece on "**How much does a mistake cost?**" and the investment needed in **preventing them**. '*Spend the time and spend the money and the errors can be avoided*.'; Amen! - [More](https://seths.blog/2021/06/how-much-does-a-mistake-cost/) - 💻 I've mentioned Steen Sinofsky's [Hardcore Software](https://hardcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com/) in previous weeks, but "**Accelerated Cookie Licking**" was a kicker. The concept of **cookie licking** \- *when one group would lay claim to an area by pre-emptively announcing (via slides in some deck at some meeting) ownership of an initiative* \- is **crazy** \- but it happens! - [More](https://noenthuda.com/blog/2021/06/19/accelerated-cookie-licking/) - 🦠 "**How memes spread through society like a 'mind virus'**" explores how information '*are ideas that are not just readily spread but can also induce new behaviors in their carriers*' - [More](https://www.engadget.com/hitting-the-books-ascent-of-information-caleb-scharf-penguin-random-house-153000554.html) ## **Fin** The [1984 game Karateka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karateka%5F%28video%5Fgame%29) was an early martial arts side-scroller that was a #1 bestseller and a major influence to generations of gamers. If you are interested, there is a publication of designer Jordan Mechner's private journals called "[The Making of Karateka](https://www.amazon.com/Making-Karateka-Journals-1982-1985/dp/1480297232)" which I would recommend if you want to understand the incredible journey of this game. **But this one was new to me**. Did you know about the Easter egg where you could boot the disk **upside down**????? ### Breathe URL: https://makoism.com/breathe/ Last updated: 2021-07-03T13:06:14.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/688c418f-734b-4a62-98b0-c18e19c1ee44_4032x3024.jpeg) Water This week I am taking some much needed R&R, having good food and spending time to reflect and think. I have a bunch of **great** reads for next week already lined up, so we’ll seen you then. Have a safe and healthy weekend! ### The Crawl URL: https://makoism.com/the-crawl/ Last updated: 2021-06-26T10:18:41.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e712e666-977e-4119-9b7d-6eca5a533880_2400x1600.jpeg) lava I'm sure that I am not the first person that is starting to come to terms on what a slog 2020/2021 has been and how it's affected my views on connections, people, life, work, health, etc. The [changing mindset](https://www.npr.org/2021/06/24/1007914455/as-the-pandemic-recedes-millions-of-workers-are-saying-i-quit) of '*what's important to me*' is present in many conversations I've been having, as a large majority of my friends and colleagues have been trying to figure it all out. The rest of 2021 is going to be an interesting time. One moment in sports history that I keep coming back to through this slog was the battle in the finish chute of the 1997 Ironman World championship race - known as "**The Crawl**". The finish for the woman's race came down to the final 20 feet between Sian Welch & Wendy Ingraham. Each determined to finish despite their collapsing bodies; they pushed through to cross the line. No matter what. Right now most of us are in '[the neutral zone](https://forge.medium.com/just-quit-your-job-please-do-this-next-9767e3711957)'; an "*in-between time when the old is gone but the new isn’t fully operational*". Just know: **We will all get through this.** *(If this inspired you, there's an [interesting retrospective](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVzbJcgLB1Q) with Sian Welch and how she is using CrossFit to get her back into the Ironman world.)* If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This week brings me to a classic TED talk from [Sir Ken Robinson](http://sirkenrobinson.com/) (who passed away in 2020) entitled "**Finding Your Element**". ### My point is we all have natural talents. They’re all different, but many people never discover them. And the reason is that natural talent is like natural resources in the earth. It’s often buried beneath the surface. There have to be conditions which should bring it up and you then have to refine and cultivate these resources that you have. This was an amazing talk in which he goes through the basic principles around guiding you to do work we enjoy with a sense of contentment and purpose. ### To be in your element you have to love it. And if you love something you’re good at, well, as they say, you never work again at that point. He hits the nail on the head: ### It is astonishing now, **I think how many people feel disengaged from what they do.** It's a longer watch (\~55 minutes), but a good one when you have some time; however, dont fall asleep and swallow your AirPod (see below). ## **Latest obsession** I am **obsessed** with products from Portland-based [Grovemade](https://grovemade.com/) \- my entire desk is composed of the [Desk Shelf system](https://grovemade.com/desk-shelf-system/) down to [the pen](https://grovemade.com/pen-and-pen-stand/). One of my "latest obsessions" from them is the [Grovemade MagSafe Stand (Walnut)](https://grovemade.com/product/magsafe-stand/?initial=642). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/1d6306fe-9c9f-4d61-af8a-a32e31678fd4_500x333.png) This thing is **SOLID** and looks amazing on the desk. With a base made with machined 3/4" solid steel, this stand is weighted and steady at almost 3lbs. In addition, I bought a [MagSafe charger "skin" from dBrand (black)](https://dbrand.com/shop/apple-magsafe-charger-skins), to make it look even more "at home" on the desk. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - 🎧 A fair warning for those that listen to music or watch videos around bedtime - try not to because this could be you. "**Man accidentally swallows an AirPod, still works after it's 'recovered'**"; it's good to know they survive ingestion - [More](https://macdailynews.com/2021/06/22/man-accidentally-swallows-an-airpod-still-works-after-its-recovered/) - 🚀 Once again [Subbu](https://m.subbu.org/) knocks it out of the park with his [leadership blueprint](https://beyouonlybettereveryday.medium.com/6-steps-to-create-a-leadership-blueprint-to-be-the-leader-you-want-to-be-with-examples-f152bcbb1e27). In "**My Leadership Document** ", he discusses his beliefs and behaviors on leadership - [More](https://m.subbu.org/my-leadership-document-2021-edition-132aec22fc0e) - 🚢 In "**A boat captain finds message in a bottle after almost a hundred years**", read about tracking down the writer of a note thrown into the ocean back in 1926 - [More](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/michigan-letter-in-bottle-trnd/index.html) - 🦾 *Three* shocking articles this past week that highlight our digitally connected lives and "**who really owns**" the devices we have in our homes: - "Peloton disabled a free feature on its $4,000 Tread+, forcing owners to pay a $39 monthly fee to use" - [More](https://www.businessinsider.com/peloton-treadmill-customers-threaten-class-action-lawsuit-over-treadmill-membership-2021-6) - "'**Woke up sweating**': Some Texans shocked to find their smart thermostats were raised remotely" - [More](https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/remote-thermostat-adjustment-texas-energy-shortage/285-5acf2bc5-54b7-4160-bffe-1f9a5ef4362a) - "'**I’m totally screwed**'; WD My Book Live users wake up to find their data deleted" - [More](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/mass-data-wipe-in-my-book-devices-prompts-warning-from-western-digital/) - 📆 "**You Should Plan to Be Spontaneous**" is a crucial productivity secret nobody talks about; the art of [timeboxing](https://www.nirandfar.com/schedule-maker/) and using it for devoting time to "*life domains*" - [More](https://nireyal.medium.com/planned-spontaneity-is-the-biggest-productivity-secret-nobody-talks-about-7598057462ce) - 🗺 In "**A Grid of Emotions**" explorer [Ben Sauders](https://bensaunders.com/) explains a monitor system he uses to share emotions accurately and honestly while on major solo expeditions to the arctic. Many of [the lessons learned there](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lessons-lockdown-learnt-ice-ben-saunders) have helped him navigate the last year of lockdown - [More](https://bensaunders.com/news/a-grid-of-emotions) - 📍 I'm not sure if this is creepy or comforting, but "**People keep finding late loved ones on Google Maps**" - [More](https://www.vox.com/recode/22539126/google-street-view-maps-dead-relatives) - 🚀 Steven Sinofsky has a great read on "**Creating the Future of Work**" and what comes next and the role of software and technology in the next evolution of the office - [More](https://medium.learningbyshipping.com/creating-the-future-of-work-449c66707e35) - 😬 Oops: "**Florida town accidentally sells municipal water tower**" - [More](https://apnews.com/article/fl-state-wire-florida-oddities-06eafdb630de8b57ffdefd0a947cb7cf) - 👅 I always enjoy a good origin story and in "**A BIT OF HISTORY: The Rolling Stones' Tongue logo**" dive into the creation (which was only £50) of this iconic rock symbol - [More](https://rollingstonesdata.com/2021/06/13/a-bit-of-history-the-stones-tongue-logo/) - 👀 Agree or disagree with [Edward Snowden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward%5FSnowden), but his new newsletter **Continuing Ed** has started out with an insightful post "**Lifting the mask: On liberty, on privacy**". I really enjoyed his book [Permanent Record](https://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238) and look forward to see what he does with this new blog - [More](https://edwardsnowden.substack.com/p/lifting-the-mask) - 📚 I'm on a Vonnegut kick lately, and "**This Kurt Vonnegut Quote Completely Changed The Way I Approach The Idea Of 'Happiness'**" was one of the more inspired ones which '*urges you to please *notice when you are happy*, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, '*If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is*.'*"- [More](https://www.bustle.com/p/this-kurt-vonnegut-quote-completely-changed-the-way-i-approach-the-idea-of-happiness-8684802) ## **Fin** While I was thinking about "The Crawl", another famous crawl is a scene from one of my favorite films, "[The Shawshank Redemption](https://makoism.com/the-shawshank-redemption/)" ### There are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. **That’s yours**. ### The One About Food and People URL: https://makoism.com/the-one-about-food-and-people/ Last updated: 2021-06-19T11:18:03.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/4383a79b-87dc-4261-bcfa-0828fc126097_5093x3396.jpeg) food Next week, I'm heading into more [micro-adventures](https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/) on [San Juan Island](https://www.visitsanjuans.com/); a bunch of "jeep glamping", hikes and exploration. It's been *good for the soul* as I've been spending a lot of time thinking, walking and (potentially way too much) self-reflection. This year has been **a wild one**, and I've been focusing into a better place on the things **that matter** and the things that 'seem to matter but really don't'. Family, Friends, Relationships, People, Connections. Experiences. This week I stumbled upon an amazing video of [Anthony Bourdain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony%5FBourdain), who tragically passed away at the age of 61 in June of 2018\. Bourdain traveled the world, experienced people, customs and culture through cuisine and explored the human condition by having simply "**an open mind**". In his book "[The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones](https://www.amazon.com/Nasty-Bits-Collected-Varietal-Usable/dp/1596913606)" he states: > *Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.* > > *Most of the time, those marks — on your body or on your heart — are beautiful. *Often, though, they hurt*.* While his suicide was tragic, his lessons live on. As I am spending a large part of this summer digging deep into my own self psyche, humans, connections, life, leadership, this is a wonderful watch and gives you something special to think about. I hope you enjoy it. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** **\*\* SPOILER ALERT \*\*** The [Bad Batch on Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-bad-batch/4gMliqFxxqXC) has been **nothing less than spectacular**, and this week (Episode 8) saw the long waited return of my favorite bounty hunter, [Cad Bane](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Cad%5FBane). In the [Clone Wars series](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star%5FWars:%5FThe%5FClone%5FWars), Bane became one of the leading bounty hunters during after the death of Jango Fett. He was hired by Darth Sidious to steal a holocron from the Jedi Temple and eventually kidnap force-sensitive children. Eventually, he began to mentor Boba Fett in the ways of bounty hunting, and was rumored to be the source of the Fett's dented helmet (from a blaster). I yelled aloud "**YES!**" (*I know - I'm 8 inside!*) when he make a shocking return this week. I hope this sets up something in either [The Mandalorian Season 3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FMandalorian) or [The Book of Boba Fett](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-book-of-boba-fett) to see Cad Bane in live action. My inner geek would **rejoice**. If you aren't watching Bad Batch, you're really missing out on some of the best Star Wars there is. ## Tweets of the Week A few of the highlights from this week [on Twitter from me](https://twitter.com/smakofsky): - [June 18](https://twitter.com/smakofsky/status/1405883730476945409?s=20): Companies need to accept a) securing things isn’t something you bolt on at the end, you build it in as foundation. b) it’s not “how”, but “when” and how fast can you maintain continuity. c) people will always be the weakest link. - [June 16](https://twitter.com/smakofsky/status/1405203628965593088?s=20): So…. When do we get Apple Notes on the Watch? watchOS8? - [June 14](https://twitter.com/smakofsky/status/1404446856155787268?s=20): Unpopular opinion: Monday’s. ## **Latest obsession** Need to charge your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods on the go? The [Anker Wireless Power Bank PowerCore III 10K Wireless](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899Z4YPZ) is a super light and slim power bank that can charge pretty much anything. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/40f86467-19ad-43c9-ad92-8719ac3a77e0_500x500.png) Wireless Power Bank PowerCore III With 10W Wireless Charging and 18W USB-C Quick Charge, this is now the go-to battery in my EDC. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Shameless plug here, but in "**How one tech exec used Feedly to power his passion project**" check out how I use the amazing [Feedly](https://www.feedly.com/) to bring you this newsletter every week - [More](https://blog.feedly.com/how-one-tech-exec-used-feedly-to-power-his-passion-project/) - A wonderful talk (I recommend [watching the video](https://devstreaming-cdn.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2021/10308/18/BA664ADF-042F-4084-8565-61FC83578C92/downloads/wwdc2021-10308%5Fhd.mp4?dl=1)) at WWDC on "**Accessibility by design: An Apple Watch for everyone**". I've thought a lot about the future of computing, and **it's on our wrist**, but this goes into the mindfulness and play that went into the creation of the Mickey Mouse watch face with all of it's accessibility quirks - [More](https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2021/10308) - A **$10 stolen cookie** was all that was needed in "**How Hackers Used Slack to Break into EA Games**". Security cannot succeed in any organization as 'policy'; it needs to be the foundational building block for how software is built and in the DNA of everyone - [More](https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kvkqb/how-ea-games-was-hacked-slack) - "**‎Flush - Toilet Finder & Map**" is the quickest way of finding a public bathroom or restroom. Yes, a database of over 200k public restrooms - [More](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flush-toilet-finder-map/id955254528) - Why we love, and hate the Avocado in "**The Hyped and Humble Avocado: An Analysis**" - [More](https://anonymousbird.medium.com/the-hyped-and-humble-avocado-an-analysis-da8b681604cb) - Willpower isn't used up like gas in a tank; "**You Don’t 'Run Out' of Willpower**" dives into a resource that everyone owns and there's plenty of it. A wonderful read when you feel 'burnt out'. - [More](https://nireyal.medium.com/you-dont-run-out-of-willpower-f6da657bfc7c) - On a Thursday in 1983, a ticket to the New England Aquarium in Boston was purchased that "allowed the holder to return at any time (due to being late). In "**New England Aquarium accepts ticket saved for over 37 years**" read about the ticket that was **redeemed 40 years later** \- [More](https://apnews.com/article/oddities-environment-and-nature-11ad122cf85aefd27ee309115d7f5c7a) - "**Fix Your Heart or Die: The Startling Empathy of David Lynch**" explores the human empathy that winds it's way through all of David Lynch's collective works - [More](https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2017/09/25/fix-heart-die-startling-empathy-david-lynch/) - Many people I talk with have been thinking a lot over the last months about how friendship means and effects us; who we lean on, who we walk with and who we've discarded. A fascinating look at "**The Circles of Friendship**" in which Jason Kottke explores the book '[Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships](https://www.amazon.com/Friends-Understanding-Power-Important-Relationships-ebook/dp/B08W4XPK7G)'. - [More](https://kottke.org/21/06/the-circles-of-friendship) - "**It’s Official: We OD’d on the Internet**" is a deeper view on how draining all of the online interaction that occurs today is draining our brains - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/its-official-we-od-d-on-the-internet-4e6bc9172638) - "**The Picasso Principle — Habits of Highly Prolific Minds**" explores creative minds and '*If you can persistently create and share your body of work and don’t stop, give up or break the cycle, you will become unstoppable.*' - [More](https://medium.com/personal-growth/the-picasso-principle-habits-of-highly-prolific-minds-99d63df9a6e4) - "**Man stuck for days inside giant fan at California vineyard**" is as weird and as 2020/2021 as it sounds - [More](https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-california-business-2f835a75cbd4849ac6b3e0222878d3ef) ## **Fin** In one of my favorite scenes from the series **Twin Peaks** (sparked by the [David Lynch post above](https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2017/09/25/fix-heart-die-startling-empathy-david-lynch/)) is Albert Rosenfield, played by the wonderful [Miguel Ferrer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001208/). While Albert was a '*cynical and even cruel figure*', this confrontation with Sheriff Truman crystalizes a bold statement on David Lynch’s personal values. > *Now you listen to me! While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I’ll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King…I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method…is love. I love you Sheriff Truman.* **See you next week!** ### Hoist the Colours! URL: https://makoism.com/hoist-the-colours/ Last updated: 2021-06-12T11:01:26.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c9623eeb-c6f8-4f24-848a-2785f212c834_2048x1365.jpeg) yo ho yo ho "**It’s more fun to be a pirate than to join the navy**" is one of my favorite all-time (rumored) quotes from Steve Jobs. I say "rumored" as it was supposedly [used as inspiration](https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Pirate%5FFlag.txt) during a 1983 off-site retreat in which the Mac team set the tone for their mission. Who knows if it was actually said or not. :) But by billing the team as "*pirates*", they wanted to inspire and set forth a challenge to a key problem (that continues to exist in 2021) in most large successful organizations - companies grow and gain revenue, but slowly morph into disciplined structures and become **tied up in bureaucracy.** A pirate's nature is to *rally against the norm*. A pirate is an [agent of change](https://www.fastcompany.com/1665840/an-hr-lesson-from-steve-jobs-if-you-want-change-agents-hire-pirates). > *A pirate can function without a bureaucracy.* > > *Pirates support one another and support their leader in the accomplishment of a goal. A pirate can stay creative and on task in a difficult or hostile environment.* > > *A pirate can act independently and take intelligent risks, but always within the scope of the greater vision and the needs of the greater team.* If you're looking to stir things up a bit, try to shift your focus; consider the ‘*[code is more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9ojK9Q%5FARE)’*, have a little fun and *feel the wind behind your sails* \- I'd suggest [fly the flag](https://petespiratelife.com/); you'll be surprised in what a little disruption can bring to your team. :) If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This one struck a cord with me; I've spent **countless hours** refining my own systems and automation regarding my own workflows and productivity systems. [Anne-Laure](https://nesslabs.com/) has a wonderful watch on "*our desire to be more productive can turn into a harmful addiction to productivity content: this is toxic productivity. It's completely disconnected from reality, it can be addictive, and if you take it at face value you may pick up some completely ineffective methods.*" ## **Latest obsession** I've started to explore the idea of taking [microadventures](https://alastairhumphreys.com/microadventures-3/) (more on this in a follow up post) and one of the best items I've found [for my bag](https://makoism.com/did-you-chop-down-this-tree/) to accompany [the Matador Pocket Blanket](https://matadorup.com/collections/accessories/products/pocket-blanket) is the CLIQ '*bottle-sized chair for anywhere*' While I don't recommend sitting for a 10 hour day in this chair (I've tried, your butt will hurt), having an ultra-light small form factor chair that's weatherproof and waterproof is a game changer - it's no bigger than a water bottle and 3.65lbs. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Glorious! I've been the most excited to [the new Loki series on Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/loki/6pARMvILBGzF) out of any of the new offerings. The first episode has finally landed this week and it is **everything** that I hoped for. "**A Marvel Series That Cares Little for Marvel’s Universe**" dives into the series (minor spoilers) - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/06/loki-disney-marvel-comic-book/619142/) - "**Miranda Kerr And Gwyneth Paltrow Endorse Wim Hoff Breathing To Ease Anxiety And Stress**" is a conversation on [Wim Hoff](https://www.wimhofmethod.com/) (which I've [mentioned previously](https://makoism.com/manners-maketh-man/)) view on the importance of breathing for mental health - [More](https://graziamagazine.com/articles/how-to-wim-hoff-breathing/) - "**In Praise of Small Menus**" examines the '*true luxury (is) having someone else make decisions for you*', the effect of the pandemic on the size of menus, and the joy of experiencing restaurants by eating *exactly* what they want to feed you - [More](https://www.grubstreet.com/2021/06/in-praise-of-small-menus.html) - I was 50 when I learned "**Do You Know What the Color of Your Bread Bag Twist Ties Really Mean?**". How did I not know that the bag twist colors actually meant something - [More](https://www.tlcme.com/stuff-we-love/do-you-know-what-the-color-of-your-bread-bag-twist-ties-really-mean) - I was also 50 when I learned that "**Knowing the Difference Between a Couch and a Sofa Can Make Furniture Shopping Easier**". Big learnings this week! - [More](https://lifehacker.com/knowing-the-difference-between-a-couch-and-a-sofa-can-m-1847038924) - Something that I've been devoting a lot of time thinking about is the value of "**experiences over stuff**". Having "*openness to a wide variety of life experiences, from visiting interesting places to considering unusual political views, brings happiness.*" is a key theme for "**Don’t Approach Life Like a Picky Eater**" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/05/neophilia-novelty-happiness/618998/) - Criminals flocked to using a new encrypted messaging app; instead it turned out to be an FBI-run sting operation. "**Hundreds arrested in massive global crime sting using messaging app**" explores the app that was designed to monitor drug smuggling, money laundering and even murder plots - [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-57394831) - "**I Think in Flowcharts**" is a wonderful read on using charts to help figure out how to use flowcharts to decision making to help "*give a sense of control when it’s hitting the fan*" - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/i-think-in-flowcharts/) - The NSA recently published new documents that dive into techniques that "*a skilled code-maker should leave at least some non-random patterns in the cipher, so as to not make their puzzle impossible*"."**Declassified Cold War code-breaking manual has lessons for solving 'impossible' puzzles**" is a great read on puzzle solving and thinking - [More](https://phys.org/news/2021-05-declassified-cold-war-code-breaking-manual.html) - "**Hey, so, I Think I Fucking Hate the Internet**" is a no holds barred look at the horrible state of what's going on with social media, people, and "*feeding off of others in an effort to stave off the boredom, frustration, and despair a global catastrophe inflicted upon us*". Definitely food for thought on how much time and energy you put into these things - [More](https://www.nooctothorpe.com/blog/2021/6/4/hey-so-i-think-i-fucking-hate-the-internet) - As a reader of this weekly newsletter, you already know how much I love notebooks. "**100 Ways to Use Your Pocket Notebook**" expands on some really useful ways to use them - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/100-ways-to-use-your-pocket-notebook/) - "No" is not a dirty word; "**The Audacity of Nope**“ explores more avenues in which saying "no" can actually be a good thing - [More](https://bonsuthompson.medium.com/the-power-of-no-1e246a1081d4) ## **Fin** To wrap up this week, I wanted to share a wonderful TEDx talk from 2015 that I recently stumbled upon called "**The creative act of listening to a talking frog"**. Some very wise words on "**why are we here**", and magical lessons learned along the way with the **conspiracy of craziness**, presented by Kermit the Frog. ### Harmony and The Field URL: https://makoism.com/harmony-and-the-field/ Last updated: 2021-06-05T12:28:48.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/48bfff7e-13d1-4f32-a312-07cb31168289_3936x2624.jpeg) everyone needs a helping hand Interesting the alignment of world events and what I had planned on writing about this week. [Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/%5F/id/31543237/naomi-osaka-withdraws-french-open-one-day-fine-threat-harsher-sanctions-skipping-media-obligations) this past Monday over mental health concerns, which seemed to spark all sorts of controversy from the press. I found her decision to speak out **incredibly brave** and a reminder to everyone on how important it is to focus on **well-being** and **prioritize personal health**. Stress and anxiety are **very real** issues that can have devastating physical and mental effects on you. Which brings me to the clip of the week; a personal favorite of mine, [The Legend of Bagger Vance](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146984/). The box office bomb (who cares what it made) revolves around the redemption of Rannulph Junuh, a young golfer played by Matt Damon who is dealing with depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome on returning from World War I. He is visited by the mysterious Bagger Vance (Will Smith), who helps Junuh along a spiritual journey through the game of golf that compels him to confront his demons, cope with fear, and **learn to trust his inner voice**. > *"Inside each and every one of us is our one true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned. . . . Something that's got to be remembered." - Bagger Vance* Wise advise for anyone, these days. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** This week I rewatched a wonderful lecture from my favorite author, [Kurt Vonnegut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt%5FVonnegut), who discusses "**The Shape of Stories**". In trying to understand and explain the human condition, using anthropology as a methodology, he began to map out "stories shapes" in a linear fashion. The revelation he had was that these shapes are just as interesting as the shape of any other object. Vonnegut found that the 'tidy, satisfying arcs of many stories' at **odds with reality**, and throughout his works tried explore the nature of good and bad, fortune and loss in various attempts to **breaking these shapes**. He ditched '*straightforward chronologies and clear-cut fortunes*'; and argued a straight line made it impossible to distinguish good from bad. All moments past, present and future have always existed and will always exist (which is explored in his masterpiece [Slaughterhouse-Five](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five)). and for those [who love infographics](https://www.openculture.com/2014/02/kurt-vonnegut-masters-thesis-rejected-by-u-chicago.html): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/4fef756e-082e-4db0-b9a5-44460297b476_842x653.png) the shape of stories ## **Latest obsession** I love **physical** notebooks. There's something magical about writing on pen and paper that just can't be reproduced with digital notes. My favorite notebook right now is the [Lockby Pocket Journal](https://www.lochby.com/collections/notebooks/products/pocket-journal). Called "your ultra portable pocket notebook" the Pocket Journal is a rugged waxed canvas case with nylon zippers and interior organization pockets. Also comes with a 3.5" x 5.5" Dot Grid Refill. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/9b8c5de0-bc87-426c-94b0-3139482f7cce_400x400.png) notebooks + dot grid **Simple**. **Perfect**. I have both Brown and Black Waxed Canvas. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - **WARNING AND PSA** \- wanted to make sure people were aware that "**Amazon Sidewalk Poised to Sweep You Into Its Mesh**". Personally [I shut this off immediately](https://www.theverge.com/22463257/amazon-sidewalk-privacy-how-to-opt-out) as it enables smart home devices (such as Echo, Alexa, Ring) to communicate with others outside of your home. Privacy nightmare IMHO - [More](https://threatpost.com/amazon-sidewalk-to-sweep-you-into-its-mesh/166581/) - "**The Elimination of Choice**" is my **favorite read of the week**. Removing 'choices' from your world removes decision paralysis - [More](https://petershankman.medium.com/the-elimination-of-choice-de5abcb23fe5) - **Brilliant** idea: "**Stay Interviews (the opposite of Exit Interviews)**" .. ask the questions and have conversations with your team and colleagues on what keeps them at a place - [More](https://critter.blog/2021/06/02/stay-interviews-the-opposite-of-exit-interviews/amp/) - "**Intermittent fasting could significantly shape long-term memory**"; I've been experimenting with IF ([doing 16/8](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-8-intermittent-fasting)) since March, and for me it's working well. Haven't yet lost all my COVID weight, but feeling a lot better - [More](https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/intermittent-fasting-and-long-term-memory) - I never was a dog person (even growing up), but when Ollie, [our golden retriever](https://www.instagram.com/walk%5Fwith%5Follie/) came into our lives, **everything changed**. Read "**Puppy Experiment Shows How Dogs Connect With Humans From Birth**" on the ability of dogs to communicate with their owners. - [More](https://gizmodo.com/puppy-experiment-shows-how-dogs-connect-with-humans-fro-1847025031) - "*Don't do 'meh' work*" is the focus of "**The Mediocrity Trap**". One of the most 'highlighted' posts from the week is the exploration of the cost of doing work that falls short on impact. Put simply: mediocrity brews mediocrity. - [More](https://cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-2352-the-mediocrity-trap) - "**Why it’s difficult to build teams in high growth organizations**" explores the challenges with team stability when lots of new people are coming and going - [More](https://jchyip.medium.com/why-its-difficult-to-build-teams-in-high-growth-organisations-e1aee8446337) - "**Apple Has a Decade-long Lead in Wearables**" explores the new [AssistiveTouch feature](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrnxP7XIho), which is crazy amazing - you have got to watch the video to see how '*a series of hand and finger gestures can be used to control everything from answering a call to ending a workout*' - [More](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2021/5/27/apple-has-a-decade-long-lead-in-wearables) - [Sandman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSandman%5F%28comic%5Fbook%29) was my favorite DC Comic growing up, and I'm over the moon that it's coming to Netflix as a new series. Let's hope they do it justice with a look at "**Neil Gaiman talks 'Sandman' Audible adaptation, how it differs from upcoming Netflix show**" - [More](https://ew.com/books/neil-gaiman-sandman-audible-adaptation-netflix-show/) - File under "[The Hulk](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Hulk)", but "**4 Psychological Reasons You Feel Angry All the Time**" explores the antidepressant nature of anger and why **it can feel good to be angry** \- [More](https://medium.com/personal-growth/4-psychological-reasons-you-feel-angry-all-the-time-35581bf1ef38) - How companies are going to face the hybrid/remote/return to office opportunity is looked it in these great articles: - "**Don’t Let Employees Pick Their WFH Days**" - [More](https://hbr.org/2021/05/dont-let-employees-pick-their-wfh-days) - "**Employees Are Quitting Instead of Giving Up Working From Home**" - [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-01/return-to-office-employees-are-quitting-instead-of-giving-up-work-from-home) - A look at "**How Pixar Uses Hyper-Colors to Hack Your Brain**" - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/how-pixar-uses-hyper-colors-to-hack-your-brain) ## **Fin** I was watching a show this week (I can’t remember what), and the 1965 song Sinnerman ([Nina Simone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57J0jPyZRs) from the album 'Pastel Blues') was used as background music. While this song has appeared in many films and shows (such as Miami Vice, The Blacklist, Lucifer, etc), there's no scene that sticks out more in my mind than the 1999 remake of [The Thomas Crown Affair](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0155267/) and [the "bowler hat" heist](https://stillcrew.com/nina-simone-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-the-thomas-crown-affair-b765dec29a55). > *Oh, sinnerman, where you gonna run to?* > > *Sinnerman where you gonna run to?* > > *Where you gonna run to?* Here's a clip for your viewing pleasure (music kicks in about 1m in); See you next week friends. ### Your Move Chief URL: https://makoism.com/your-move-chief/ Last updated: 2021-05-29T11:09:07.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f924d641-6fe1-4e98-9a99-cdfff496c6b7_4032x3024.jpeg) **I don't know the reason**; perhaps it's from having a year+ of being penned up in a home office in front of non-stop Zoom calls sitting in the same office chair. Or maybe the terror of turning 50 last month. Or maybe it's some form of self-therapy while coming to grips with the reality that I've had two scary health incidents in under 20 months. Whatever the reason may be, I've been thinking a lot lately about **experiences** you go through; what shapes a person's journey through life, how it molds perspective, how they can ground you to the things that really matter. **How real experiences makes you a better storyteller and leader**. I went down this rabbit hole when I ran across this monologue from [Good Will Hunting](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/). I started to reflect on my own experiences (another sign of age) and how they've shaped the "**core**" things in my life. One example I pull from is from 1997 - I became captivated by the amazing account of the [Everest disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996%5FMount%5FEverest%5Fdisaster) from [Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air](https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785). > *"This forms the nub of a dilemma that every Everest climber eventually comes up against: in order to succeed you must be exceedingly driven, but if you're too driven you're likely to die."* and > *"With enough determination, any bloody idiot can get up this hill," Hall observed. "The trick is to get back down alive."* While most people would be satisfied with **just reading about it**, something in me just **drew** me there. I had to go and see the mountain with my own eyes. Feel the ground beneath my feet. Breathe that air. I wanted to understand it all. Now - getting to the top wasn't something I was interested in at all, but I wanted **context** to the experience. Finally in 2001, I was fortunate enough to make it a reality when I went for a 22-day trek in the Himalayas to basecamp. **The experience: life and perspective altering.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/dc24aff8-a82c-4740-a67c-4c804474dff1_1460x973.jpeg) "not everything about life can be learned from books" I guess where I'm going this week - is to simply get out there and experience things. Live them. Not through the lens of a book or your phone - but really experience them. It makes all the difference. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking In a watch that's **laugh out loud** from 1984, watch "*How to send an international 'E mail'*" staring [Tony Bastable](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/05/broadcasting.guardianobituaries). An early look at portable computing, an acoustic coupler, and a train. What a far way we have come in such a short period of time. ## **Latest obsession** For both my M1 MacBook Air, and the M1 iPad Pro, I've come to love these [USB-C right/angle cables from Fasgear](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FY1S99B/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/5651cdd9-8e58-42ff-9375-4c1fb19171ac_500x500.jpeg) Outside of being durable, super fast, and having 100 watts power, the added bonus of right-angle plugs allows them to look nice on the desk. I've bought both the 3ft and 6ft variants for my EDC bags. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - "**Why workers are calling BS on leaders about returning to the office**" examines the moment-by-moment changing perspective on what a 'return to the office' looks like from companies. I think the combination of "broken remote-work promises" along with the challenges companies will face with other companies now allowing people to work "wherever" will change the landscape of the digital workforce forever - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90639348/why-workers-are-calling-bs-on-leaders-about-returning-to-the-office) - In the most 2020/2021 post of the week, "**'The Shining' The Musical: A Disorienting Nightmare of a Film Slips into the Absurd**" reimagines the film as a musical. "*Just imagine for a second if in the midst of Jack Torrance slowly going insane, the spiral was amplified with a jaunty song, a little dance, perhaps*". Brilliant. - [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/shining-musical-disorienting-nightmare-film-slips-absurd/) - '*Let's not blame a person, but here's the person to blame*' examines the Salesforce [incident](https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=000358392&mode=1&type=1) from May. "**Subverting the process**" dives into the nitty gritty of the whole incident - [More](https://surfingcomplexity.blog/2021/05/25/subverting-the-process/) - "**Simone Biles Dials Up the Difficulty, 'Because I Can'**", looks at the "*Yurchenko double pike*", a vault "*so dangerous that no other women even attempt it*". - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/sports/olympics/simone-biles-yurchenko-double-pike.html) - This one is just wrong; "**Yearbook Photos of Girls Were Altered to Hide More of Their Chests**" shows that a high school in St. Johns County, Fl digitally edited students photos with clumsy alternations that "added a black bar had been cover more of her chest" - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/us/yearbook-photos-st-johns-girls-altering.html) - "**The Tragic Final Days Of My Neighborhood RadioShack**" is a look at one of the once-popular chain's last stores being liquidated - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/3044213/the-tragic-final-days-of-my-neighborhood-radioshack) - I was bummed to see a post on "**The Content Diet**" disappear (maybe it's a glitch so maintaining the link for now), but it was a great review on how consuming different things during the day **affects what one does** in that specific day. The primary theme was "**monitor your inputs and note how these inputs affect your outputs**", a method that resonates very well with the "*you get out of things what you put into them*" mindset - [More](https://noteable.substack.com/p/the-content-diet) - "**Morning Pages**" are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, that are done first thing in the morning; the idea is that its the foundational tool for creative discovery - [More](https://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/) - *Hopelessness explored*, is the central theme of "**The Timeless Nihilism of the David Fincher Film 'Seven'**". A wonderful retrospective of director David Fincher's effort '*not trying to sugar coat life, choosing instead to depict the harsh cruelty of humanity and the cycle of violence it perpetuates*'. - [More](https://filmschoolrejects.com/timeless-nihilism-of-se7en/) - "**When to Say 'Yes' and When to Say 'No'**" explores the art of saying 'yes' **until you have** to say 'no' and how this can cause some individuals to turn into people-pleasers - [More](https://markmanson.net/newsletters/mindfck-monday-83) - In "**Why mentorship matters**", a discussion on the "*four types of mentors*" and what situations are the most applicable for them. - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/why-mentorship-matters) ## **Fin** Wrapping up this week with a recent interview and retrospective with [Tom Hiddleston](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1089991/) on **10 years of Loki**. While I've enjoyed the other [Disney+ Marvel series](https://www.disneyplus.com/brand/marvel), I've been really waiting for the [upcoming Loki series](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/loki/6pARMvILBGzF), starting on June 9th. ### The Resilient Parasite URL: https://makoism.com/the-resilient-parasite/ Last updated: 2021-05-22T11:23:56.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/16b2d94b-19a7-4992-8f2b-8b118d40c887_5174x3449.jpeg) Downward Is The Only Way Forward I thought this week was going to be [another commencement address](https://makoism.com/why-so-serious/) to open things up, but I am honestly unable to find the source of this 2018 speech from Arnold Schwarzenegger on "[Rules of Success](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbW088AtTVk)". Here's the cliff notes as well as a condensed video that digs into them: 1. **Have a Vision** \- You've got to have a vision of what you, not what others, want to do. Know where you are going. 2. **Ignore the Naysayers** \- Always listen to yourself and ignore those trying to sway you away from your vision and goals. Don’t listen to people trying to discourage you. 3. **Work Your Butt Off** \- Whatever you decide to do, work hard at it. Don’t do things half-heartedly. Give it your all. Don’t make excuses. There are no shortcuts in life. 4. **Advertise** \- Let people know about your work. 5. **Don’t be Afraid to Fail** \- Failure is a natural part of life. A failure is someone who falls and never gets back up. A winner falls, gets up, dusts himself off, and keeps moving. Don't be afraid to fail! 6. **Help others** \- Don’t forget to give back. We all struggle sometimes, and we all get a helping hand along the way. Recommend you grab a notebook, take 10 minutes, and watch. There's tons of valuable insight and wisdom in this one. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I recently watched a video from Steve Jobs in that he describes his view on how the best teams are built and ultimately become self-managed. He didn't want "*seasoned professionals*" but instead focused on hiring people that are *insanely great at what they did*. **Real leadership** (instead of just managing people) is being able to articulate a common vision so people can understand it, and align the team on it. ## Shameless Plug Every week, [Kelly White](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyleewhite/) (VP of Digital Product Strategy and Partnerships at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) hosts "**Learning to Lead**" on [Clubhouse](https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/learning-to-lead). It's every **Saturday morning, 9:30am PST**, and i've been joining weekly; it's one of the few Clubhouse events I've found valuable, raw and honest. Highly recommended that you join! (Shoot me an email or [DM me on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/smakofsky) if you need an invite to Clubhouse) ## Latest Obsession I can't remember when I discovered the magic of [The DO Book Company](https://thedobook.co/) (it's been years that I've been following their 'Doers' movement) and their [series of books](https://thedobook.co/collections/all) and [events](https://thedobook.co/pages/events) have become one of my staples that I always recommend to colleagues and peers when they want to start **investing** in a different type of leadership. A **more human**type of leadership that believes in action and positive change. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/84b3b748-d8d4-4dbb-a714-4d7954ca214c_337x499.jpeg) I'm currently reading [DO Team](https://thedobook.co/products/do-team-how-to-get-the-best-from-everyone), which they recently [published an excerpt](https://medium.com/do-book-company/lets-talk-about-trust-7b1c030ed35f) on leading with trust. > **Teams make life better, richer, more fun and more productive. Teams lift you up and carry you with them. Teams make good businesses great, and great organizations even better. Invest in your team and the world will be your oyster. From happy, engaged, motivated and empowered people comes magic.** The book, written by [Charlie Gladstone](https://www.charliegladstone.com/), focuses in on making the *experience* of working with people a positive, happy and motivated one. I cannot say enough about these books. Buy them all. :) ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Creepy and beautiful: "**Lost Italian Village Emerges After Decades Under Water**" explores the village of Curon, which was intentionally flooded to make way for a nearby hydroelectric plant. They recently had to drain the lake and the remains of the city emerged - [More](https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/lost-italian-village-emerges-after-decades-under-water) - "**Sinead O’Connor Remembers Things Differently**" looks back at how that incident on Saturday night live ([where she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II](https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/01/arts/pop-view-why-sinead-o-connor-hit-a-nerve.html)) as the moment her life got back on track. - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/arts/music/sinead-oconnor-rememberings.html) - I don't understand where/why these gender reveal parties have become epic [events causing destruction](https://www.pressherald.com/2020/09/07/california-fire-sparked-by-device-to-reveal-babys-gender/). The latest: "**Man charged in gender reveal blast that rocked nearby towns**" - apparently you need 80 pounds of explosives to announce your newest arrival - [More](https://apnews.com/article/nh-state-wire-127833da01414a739ff949b7ec828399) - This is neat. "**Google’s Project Starline is a 'magic window' for 3D telepresence**"; imagine the next video conference being more through a window rather than a headset - [More](https://www.engadget.com/google-project-starline-191228699.html) - "**You Become What You Focus On**"; I've heard it expressed as "*you get out of things what you put into them*", [Darius Foroux](https://dariusforoux.com/) has a wonderful read on the stoic's view on gaining control over what you focus on - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/what-you-focus-on/) - Is modern life making us weak? "**How Too Much Comfort Is Making You Miserable**" looks at how as a people, we have lost appreciation for what we have, and that the "*move the goalposts mentality and social comparisons make us miserable.*"- [More](https://elemental.medium.com/how-too-much-comfort-is-making-you-miserable-3086c70de59b) - In case you wanted to know - this is "**How to Buy a Ghost Town**". Apparently, there are more than 3,800 of these available for sale across the United States - [More](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-buy-a-ghost-town-1846902155) - "**I hate everybody including you**" is a fun read on "the art of saying no" through [letters of note](https://news.lettersofnote.com/) that "are tactful and eloquent; others are entirely free of both". Love it! - [More](https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/i-hate-everybody-including-you) - It doesn't matter if you are a leader or individual contributor - "**Why You Should Have Difficult Conversations**" is a good read on why they are important - [More](https://markmanson.net/newsletters/mindfck-monday-82) - "**I Want My Mutually Assured Destruction**" looks at how interwoven "messages about nuclear weapons, nuclear war, and the end of humanity" with music videos dominated MTV in 1981\. A fascinating look at the end of the Cold War and music television - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/05/my-mtv-cold-war-retrospective/618812/) - In "**Feedback is a Mirror**", [Michael Loop](https://randsinrepose.com/) explores the nature of feedback: "*One of the many benefits of feedback is that it breaks your ongoing inner narrative. It breaks it. It mentally forces you to stop in your tracks and consider the feedback not because you want to but you are incapable of ignoring it. The feedback is that compelling.*" - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/feedback-is-a-mirror/) ## **Fin** From the humor vault, closing out this week with a crazy video from 1981 in which Leonard Nimoy **co-stars with a glowing talking rock**, introducing the Magnavox Magnavision VH-8000 LaserDisc Player. Cringe-worthy, but super enjoyable. See ya next time! ### Why so serious? URL: https://makoism.com/why-so-serious/ Last updated: 2021-05-15T12:07:13.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/9bb69e8e-a866-449a-b9ad-5e4a0e82b72d_5219x2936.jpeg) city I'm not sure what's been drawing me towards these commencement speeches as of late (spoiler - there's another one coming next week), but I am finding that there are incredibly powerful ideas interwoven in them. Maybe it's simply because they are they rooted in tradition; or that some ideas or insights shared to the next generation are manufactured to have impact; or maybe as I get older, there's a bit of deeper reflection and soul searching for patterns that reinforce or alter my own perceptions on how to navigate our brief time on this rock. Or, maybe it's nothing more than the simple challenge to be a better leader/father/husband. **To be a better human**. *To experience a different type of life*. In January 2016, Matthew McConaughey gave one of these incredible motivational speeches at the University of Houston, which has been compiled into a short video called "**This is Why You're Not Happy**". There's some amazing stuff in here, sit down and take it all in. > *If happiness is what you’re after, *then you’re going to be let down frequently and you’re going to be unhappy much of your time*. Joy, though, joy is a different thing. It’s something else. Joy is not a choice. It’s not a response to some result. It’s a constant.* I've also recently been reading his book "[Greenlights](https://greenlights.com/)", which are his journal notes that have been compiled into a guide on how to "**get relative with the inevitable**". He describes the book as being "*about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.*" **How to be more me.** I like that. A lot. The full commencement address, which is 45 minutes long, [can be found on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmCTQ%5FmkzHU). If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking For your enjoyment, here is a 1997 interview with Jeff Bezos entitled "Web and Internet Pioneers". Some amazing insight on how "attention is a scarce commodity". ## **Latest obsession** The latest addition to my desk (thank you Liz!) is the amazing [Stagg EKG Electric Kettle](https://fellowproducts.com/products/staggekg). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b40554cd-54e0-460a-8464-a8bec6631b10_500x500.png) Maybe it's an artifact of the being in the home office all day long, but I love having an amazing gooseneck kettle that stays hot for hours so I'm not running back and forth to the kitchen. This thing is awesome. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - What a great quote - "*We wanted the unboxing to feel like it’s your birthday*" from Michelle Enright, Head of Packaging Experience at Sonos in "**Roam’s Packaging Represents a Premium Approach to Sustainability**" - [More](https://blog.sonos.com/en-us/roam-sustainable-packaging?linkId=118654019) - File under "what could possibly go wrong" (I think there's been a few movies that opened with this scenario). Apparently, "**Russia Is Going to Try to Clone an Army of 3,000-Year-Old Scythian Warriors**" - [More](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a36383243/russia-wants-to-clone-ancient-army/) - Two "meme" discoveries this week for folks to enjoy: - "**The World Has Learned the Man Behind the Nodding Guy Meme**" - [More](https://time.com/5623465/nodding-guy-meme/) - "**An oral history of the Dawson crying GIF and its outsized legacy**" - [More](https://www.vox.com/culture/22364676/dawson-crying-gif-secret-history-dawsons-creek-legend) - [Seneca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca%5Fthe%5FYounger) was against too much rest, claiming "**sometimes rest itself is restless**". I found this insightful post that dives into the notion that "*sometimes the answer is not just to rest, *but to find a way to stop worrying**" in "**On resting vs working**" - [More](https://medium.com/darius-foroux/on-resting-vs-working-680088de95e) - Sure - it's 2021 so why not. Here's all you need to know about hydration with the new [Pantone Pee Chart](https://kottke.org/21/05/the-pantone-pee-chart). Read all about it's creation and meaning in "**Pantone and Highland Spring Release a Helpful Pee Chart Because Y'all Need to Hydrate**" - [More](https://www.printmag.com/post/pantone-and-highland-spring-release-a-helpful-pee-chart-because-y-all-need-to-hydrate) - "**How I Approached a Recharge Week**" is a great dive into how one team leader dived into a week off when today it often feels that is can be "*a waste of vacation days when stuck at home*" - [More](https://blog.mindthebeet.com/p/how-i-approached-a-recharge-week) - Amazon has neither confirmed nor denied that Nina Rolle is the voice of Alexa, but "**Meet the real Alexa: voice actor reportedly responsible for Amazon’s AI assistant revealed**" - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/11/22430185/alexa-voice-actor-amazon-nina-rolle) - "**Everest and COVID-19: What's going on and should they still be climbing?**" looks at the terrible situation in Nepal. On one hand, Everest in 2021 has not seen a single death, but COVID is spiking again in a country that only has 1600 intensive care beds - [More](https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/opinions/everest%5Fand%5Fcovid-19%5Fwhats%5Fgoing%5Fon%5Fand%5Fshould%5Fthey%5Fstill%5Fbe%5Fclimbing-13577) - With the way technology is advancing, next we won't even need actors. A new company, Flawless, calls themselves a 'neural net film lab' that uses "deepfake" techniques to manipulate video footage to make a subject appear to be saying something he or she is not. Read more about it in "**Movie dubbing sucks. One filmmaker is using AI to fix that.**" - [More](https://www.inputmag.com/culture/movie-dubbing-flawless-scott-mann-ai-neural-network) - "**Why Short-Term Solitude Makes You a Better Thinker**" explores how to rely on your own thinking, and other people influence our opinions and thoughts all the time. "**Solitude helps you focus on things that matter**" - [More](https://forge.medium.com/why-short-term-solitude-makes-you-a-better-thinker-9244f47ac22c) - [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net/) always hits it out of the park, and in "**Why You Should Have Difficult Conversations**", he dives into a key aspect of self-awareness in that '*Knowledge is knowing lots and lots of stuff. Wisdom is understanding how your mind uses that stuff.*' - [More](https://markmanson.net/newsletters/mindfck-monday-82) - I've been enjoying each of the new [Disney+ Marvel](https://www.disneyplus.com/brand/marvel) series (though I cannot wait for [Loki](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW948Va-l10)), check out this on "**How Marvel’s FX team created a new 'visual language' for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier**" - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/8/22426341/marvel-disney-fx-falcon-winter-soldier-effects) ## **Fin** [Christopher Nolan's](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634240/) "[The Dark Knight](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569)" remains one of the best **movies** of all time (not only a 'superhero' movie). Wrapping this week up is a behind the scenes interview with both Nolan and [Heath Ledger](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005132/) on how they crafted the most iconic performance of [The Joker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joker%5F%28character%29). ### A Personal Board of Directors URL: https://makoism.com/a-personal-board-of-directors/ Last updated: 2022-11-19T15:14:01.000Z A few weeks back, I posted [on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/) an idea that seemed to click. [The post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/smakofsky%5Fleadership-activity-6792797045439787008-Vdn6) was about the concept of **creating a personal board of directors**: > *I find tremendous value in having a “personal board of directors”.* > > *Cultivate a trusted circle of former or current colleagues, advisors, networkers, and even a critic or two that you can bounce ideas off of, help you with professional development or provide some clarity to major decisions.* > > *This group needs to be able to give you honest feedback; and more importantly you need to be able to take it.* > > *You’re not in this alone, and seeking guidance isn’t weakness; it’s perspective.* I had several people reach out to me, so I thought it would be useful to get additional thoughts in a place with an **unexpected mid-week post**with more thinking on the concept. ## What is a “personal board” The idea of a '**personal board of directors**' (PBOD?) is not one I invented but something that I have found incredibly valuable for me when making decisions, working through a hard task, or navigating career and leadership challenges. Truth be told - I can't even remember where I learned of this from, but the idea is similar to how a board of directors function at a company: they are your support team. This isn't a typical board though - I'm **not suggesting** formally invite people to join your board (they *may not even know it exists*) — the members probably will never even meet, and they don't work as part of a team. > **Corollary : I once held an event, aptly called "MakoCamp", where I brought a bunch of these directors together for a day of no-agenda discussion. It was amazing and probably deserves it’s own post.** The board is **personal**. It's for you, by you. The key to having a successful board is rooted in the concept that "*you don't know the answer to everything*". Check your ego at the door. ## Who should be on your board? Here's some ideas on who you should populate your board with (and by no means is this complete). You want to find individuals that you **trust**, those that will have different opinions, are willing to listen and help answer questions, be a sounding board, play devil's advocate., etc.: Some ideas on who could be a good "board member": - **Diversity** \- You want to have people on the board with different backgrounds, both professionally and personally. Different fields are **awesome**, with that diversity will come better advice and perspectives. - *For example - if you're in engineering, have someone who is a lawyer on the board. You’ll find their struggles and challenges provide you with new insight.* - **Dynamic** \- You want the board to expand and collapse based on where you are in life or a decision. - *For example, if you are exploring a life change, the board needs to be larger. If you're exploring a technical solution, perhaps that's a smaller group.* - **Mentors and Peers** \- always great to have people in the mix that you want to learn from, as well as former or current colleagues. - **A critic** \- do not surround yourself with "yes" people. Or overtly negative people. But you want someone in there who will have a different (not negative) viewpoint. - **Family** \- **dont do it**. Bias is too big with family. Just saying. :) I wouldn't approach someone with "*hey, do you want to be on my board of directors...*" (that’s weird); this is more of a process for your mind and for yourself. ## In closing.. There isn't a right or wrong way to do this. My only advice is that you find a way that works for you. Use the board to challenge yourself to grow and how have to **pay it forward**. Be there for them. Thank them (hand-written notes are amazing!). Having a group of individuals that can encourage you, challenge ideas, support and uplift you will help you in the long run grow both personally and professionally. The trust in others will help push you along the journey to amazing places that you never realized you needed to go. ### Some Like It Hot URL: https://makoism.com/some-like-it-hot/ Last updated: 2021-05-08T12:25:02.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/15b4a782-70ab-4384-a08b-93dadb3ea6a7_6000x4000.jpeg) chess, not checkers An artifact of recently turning 50 is that I've been spending time (yes, probably too much time :)) thinking and reflecting about the choices that I've made and where I am in life. Heavy stuff. Or amusing stuff. I guess it depends how you look at it. :) While I was doing a bunch of reading and research, I came across a compliation of speeches from Robert Downey, Jr that resonated with me. In them, he talks about how you can overcome things that come your way and find peace of mind while keeping passion alive. You screw up. You push forward. **And we need breaks**. > *Making the choice to overcome your problems is the hardest thing of all. But if you keep going and never give up you will find that you can get out of the negativity and pursue anything you desire. However bad things get, you must never give in. Focus on yourself, get back into a positive mindset and then pursue your certain something with all you have when the time is right for you.* If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking I came across one of the most unlikely sources yet fascinating watches about problem solving and the ability to understand **what's going on around you**. In this case - reading body language. In a video published by Tennis TV, Agassi reveals that he realized that **Becker's tongue** was the big giveaway to which direction his serve he was going to go. If his tongue pointed straight, then that meant he would be launching a serve down the middle. If the tongue pointed to side of his mouth then a wide serve was incoming. Incredible. ## **Latest obsession** This may sound like a silly one, but one of the greatest additions to my EDC this year has been the [EverRatchet Ratcheting Keychain Tool](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FCRH3D6). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/239fad75-6e5d-4185-a897-bf91f59233d2_150x300.jpeg) It's a simple and elegant tool that has a #2 Phillips Bit, 1/4" ratchet, fire flint, scraper, 7 wrenches, bottle & box opener in a handy low profile format that goes with me wherever I go. **Small but strong, and highly recommended.** ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - In one of the more interesting posts of the week, "**How I Mastered the Art of Ventilating My Home**", [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com/) takes you through his obsession with fans and home ventilation. What started out as an attempt at a mold-free life, turned into an experimentation with pressure gradients and fluid-mechanics. Facinating - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/09/diy-ventilation-home-pandemic/616150/) - I tried to make smash burgers on the grill (and a cask iron skillet) for the first time this week, and they came out **surprisingly** well! In "**Why have flat-grilled “smashburgers” recently become so popular?**", a look at the [Maillard reaction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard%5Freaction) which occurs to give them their distinctive flavor - [More](https://www.stlmag.com/dining/ask-george-flat-grilled-hamburgers-smashburgers-why-so-popular/) - Snapchat has a "speed filter" that 'documents real-life speed, hoping for engagement and attention from followers'. Well, now "**Snapchat Can Be Sued Over Role In Fatal Car Crash**" because of it. It's always amazing what people will do for 4 minutes of Internet fame - [More](https://www.npr.org/2021/05/04/993579600/snapchat-can-be-sued-for-role-in-fatal-car-crash-court-rules) - "**The Soviet RBMK Reactor: 35 Years After The Chernobyl Disaster**" explores what happened and the aftermath of Chernobyl (side note, if you haven't watched [the HBO series](https://www.hbo.com/chernobyl), it's a **must watch**) - [More](https://hackaday.com/2021/05/05/the-soviet-rbmk-reactor-35-years-after-the-chernobyl-disaster/) - Always been a HUGE fan of [Guy Kawasaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy%5FKawasaki) (especially [the amazing 10/20/30 rule](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M13SObffog)), so I was pleased to discover that he now hosts the "**‎Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People**" podcast. Subscribed - [More](https://guykawasaki.com/remarkable-people/) - "**Productivity Is About Your Systems, Not Your People**" dives into four different ways to improve your efficiency. I found this read provided useful insights around aligning responsibility with authority - [More](https://hbr-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/hbr.org/amp/2021/01/productivity-is-about-your-systems-not-your-people) - "**How to Jump From a Speeding Car**" you know, just in case you ever need to know how - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-jump-from-a-speeding-car/) - I never knew that NPR got into the Star Wars saga by producing a radio drama of the original trilogy. Read "**'Star Wars,' The Trilogy That NPR Turned Into Radio Drama**" - [More](https://www.npr.org/2019/12/19/789279631/star-wars-the-trilogy-that-npr-turned-into-radio-drama) - "**The night Lincoln was assassinated, his new bodyguard went missing**" looks deeper into John Frederick Parker, and his dereliction of duty that changed history - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/05/02/lincoln-missing-bodyguard-assassination/) - Is stress good or bad for you? In "**Are You Working Too Hard?**" goes over the neurological effects when you encounter stress - [More](https://hbr.org/2005/11/are-you-working-too-hard) - As someone who has difficulty in relaxing or disconnecting, "**On taking time off**" is a great discussion on how to take extended time away from the office in order to reset, refocus, and get the most out of it - [More](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/sabbatical-time-off) - "*Time perception matters because it is the experience of time that roots us in our mental reality.*" - heavy stuff, but in "**Why Time Slows Down When We’re Afraid, Speeds Up as We Age, and Gets Warped on Vacation**" examines how humans construct the experience of time - [More](https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/07/15/time-warped-claudia-hammond/) ## Fin To wrap up this week's newsletter, I encourage you to treat yourself to this powerful video from 2012 of a flashmob performing the Beethoven's 9th symphony. Simply beautiful. ### The Woodsmen URL: https://makoism.com/the-woodsmen/ Last updated: 2021-05-01T11:01:51.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fac9f3f9-b661-4d36-bae7-0c4200ac6939_4032x3024.jpeg) Silence I took a brief hiatus last week in an attempt to get some much-needed rest and recovery while I quietly celebrated my 50th birthday (ouch). As usual, things didn't work out exactly as planned - I didn't get much rest, but it was a well-needed change of scenery. The [San Juan Islands](https://www.visitsanjuans.com/) which **arguably are one the most beautiful spots in the world**, enabled me to at least spend more time hiking/walking/thinking and just *being*. Right before sunset one afternoon, I jetted over to **Lime Kiln Point**, aka "[the whale watch park](https://parks.state.wa.us/540/Lime-Kiln-Point)" (where the picture above was taken). Unfortunately, I didn't see any whales this trip — but was great to get time to take it all in. No one else was there; just me, the sky, the water, the air, the sunset. **Breathing. Absorbing. Thinking. Walking**. I've been discovering how much of a creative act walking actually is. Looking inward. Listening to yourself. It reminded me of a scene towards the climax of the movie "[The Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/)", in which Sean O'Connell (played by [Sean Penn](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000576/)), spent hours watching a rare white tiger and hesitates before taking a photo: > *"Beautiful things don't ask for attention"* And that > *“If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to *stay in it*. Right there. Right here.”* In the craziness of today's world, I'd recommend doing something similar. It's helping reset a few things for me, making me feel more alive. More in touch. **Be in the moment**. **Highly recommended**. :) If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## Forward Thinking [James Hoffmann](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ) won the [World Barista Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%5FBarista%5FChampionship) in 2007 and has one of the most entertaining and informative YouTube channels for coffee enthusiasts. While I search his site often for reviews on various equipment or techniques, I **really**enjoyed his brilliant work in "Drinking Donuts (In Coffee)" ## Latest Obsession I drink a ton of tea. Like, a **LOT** of tea. Recently I talked about the [best tea infuser](https://makoism.com/the-path/), this week I want to share my favorite loose-leaf tea: [No 40 - BonBon](https://www.smithtea.com/products/bonbon) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e0f5181a-3de6-4003-a222-655dfe1594ee_350x350.png) Described as "*A delightful, caffeine-free confection in a cup, combining the creamy flavor of Northwest grown peppermint leaves with sweet cinnamon, licorice, ginger, and distinct notes of chocolate. One sip and you'll feel like a very grown-up kid in a candy store.*" I steep **3 or 4 cups a day** of this stuff. Totally addicted. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Sparked by two different conversations that I had this week on the usage of TLA's (three letter acronyms) and how bad they are, "**There Is Only One Thing IMHO Can Mean**" revisits the debate on if that "**H**" is for "**honest**" or "**humble**" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/05/there-is-only-one-thing-imho-can-mean/559481/) - One of the things I pride myself in is open and transparent conversations, and if I'm being honest - *I've been under a *shit-ton* of stress the last 2 years*. "**Why Focus is a Mental Health Must**" looks at the 'Focus Work Movement', something I intend to explore - [More](https://medium.com/the-ascent/why-focus-is-a-mental-health-must-cf294b6c5998) - Based on their previous work on the animatronic Spiderman known as [Stuntronics](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BIMS8ZDBd0), I'm not at all surprised to read that "**Disney Imagineering Project Kiwi is a free-walking robot that will make you believe in Groot**" - [More](https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/23/disney-imagineerings-project-kiwi-is-free-walking-robot-that-will-make-you-believe-in-groot/) - "**Passenger survives being hit in the head by flying turtle**" pretty much sums up 2020/2021 in a nutshell - [More](https://apnews.com/article/oddities-59c4124eb0f8bb7c630c206b93702864?utm%5Fcampaign=SocialFlow&utm%5Fsource=Twitter&utm%5Fmedium=AP%5FOddities) - Ever wonder what happens if you never returned a video tape? Read "**She never returned a VHS copy of ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch,’ 20 years later, she faced a felony.**" to find out - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/26/carol-mcbride-davis-sabrina-vhs/) - Microsoft posted a fantastic article "**Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks**", which furthers the point that back to back virtual meetings are stressful - [More](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/brain-research) - Incredible art work here in "**Bored in the pandemic, she made art by bruising bananas. Now she has an international following.**" follows [Anna Chojnicka](https://www.instagram.com/anna%5Fchoj/?hl=en) and how she figured out how to draw/bruise a banana peel through oxidization - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/04/21/banana-art-sketch/) - For years, the Mac came with a 'death sound', that would play when the machine was unable to boot; in "**Mac Chimes of Death**" you can now listen to all of them - [More](https://512pixels.net/2021/04/mac-chimes-of-death/) - [Chain Reaction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw4AV%5FBeE24) from [Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey%5F%28band%29) hit my playlist the other day during a long drive, and I started to reminisce about the 1983 video game based on the band. Read "**Journey – Hardcore Gaming 101**" to find out more about this classic hit - [More](http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/journey-arcade/) - "**It's Not Cancel Culture — It's A Platform Failure.**" examines the problems with Twitter's Trending Topics and the issue of 'context collapse' - [More](https://warzel.substack.com/p/its-not-cancel-culture-its-a-platform) - "**A New Threat to New York’s Clean Energy Goals: Bitcoin Mining**" adds one more thing to the problems of Bitcoin: **environmental disaster** \- [More](https://www.nysfocus.com/2021/04/13/new-york-bitcoin-mining-threat/) ## Fin This week I'm going to leave you with [David Lynch](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000186/)'s daily weather report. The “Twin Peaks” creator, for some reason only known to him, has been delivering the weather from LA relentlessly every day since May of 2020. It's wild. Brilliant. And totally David Lynch. ### We interrupt this program... URL: https://makoism.com/we-interrupt-this-program/ Last updated: 2021-04-24T12:43:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bca6435c-6f00-49a1-a279-85747f19d2f5_4032x3024.jpeg) Lighthouse This week I am taking some much needed R&R, getting in good food and some time to reflect and think. I have a bunch of great reads for next week already lined up, so we’ll seen you then. In the mean time enjoy this classic video of Robbin Williams outtakes from his visit to the set of Sesame Street. ### The Path URL: https://makoism.com/the-path/ Last updated: 2021-04-17T12:36:13.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bb9b466b-398c-4ce7-8f5c-0c6869d574a4_2000x1334.jpeg) the path An area that I spend a lot of time researching, learning, modeling are leadership skills that the best leaders exhibit on a day to day basis, different forms of leadership and stoic philosophy. I know it's a weird combination, but there's a ton in stoicism that has helped my mental models. I really liked this talk [Simon Sinek](https://simonsinek.com/) called "**There's NO Such Thing as 'Soft Skills'**". For him, "**Human Skills**" are what makes the best leaders, and companies desperately **lack** good ways to to train leaders. In this short video, he goes into trust, how it plays into performance and trustworthiness, and how organizations **accidentally promote toxic team members which creates toxic leaders**. Something I’m sure many have seen time and again. > *"Ask anyone on a team, 'who the asshole is' and it'll be easy to spot the toxic person — everyone is going to point the same person. Equally, it's easy to identify who on a team you can *trust* by simply asking 'who is trustworthy'"* If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** A conversation earlier in the week prompted me to rewatch this classic [TED talk](https://www.ted.com/talks/james%5Fveitch%5Fthis%5Fis%5Fwhat%5Fhappens%5Fwhen%5Fyou%5Freply%5Fto%5Fspam%5Femail) from [James Veitch](https://veitch.me/). In it, he recounts he many interactions with email spammers and what happens when you actually start replying to them. You really should watch it. ## **Latest obsession** I've been feeding an obsession over the last year with various types of loose-leaf teas (many from [Steven Smith Teamaker](https://www.smithtea.com/)), and of course, had to research the **best** tea infuser. Every article I researched pointed to the [Finum Reusable Stainless Steel Coffee and Tea Infusing Mesh](https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Stainless-Coffee-Infusing-Brewing/dp/B000J3JFJU). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d1568f89-8eef-4a90-be01-10058d38e808_600x705.png) infuser For the last several months at least 3-4 times a day, I use it to brew the most incredible blends. I know, I'm a total dork. But for $10 it's a **no-brainer**. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - You may not know the name Zoe Roth. But you've **have seen** her photo on millions of photos across the internet as 'disaster girl' thanks to a picture her dad took of her when she was five. Read all about her story in "**‘Disaster Girl’ of meme fame walks among us in North Carolina.**" - [More](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250391541.html) - "**The Titanic Wreck Is a Landmark Almost No One Can See**"; well - apparently you can for $36,000\. An interesting article on the implications (biological and ethical) of visiting the doomed ship - [More](http://atlasobscura.com/articles/can-you-visit-the-titanic-wreck) - Engineering work can look like magic to others; but in "**Embrace the Grind**", the author explores how the history of magic tricks can teach you the real secret. "*Being willing to do something so terrifically tedious*" works in tech too - [More](https://jacobian.org/2021/apr/7/embrace-the-grind/) - I've been enjoying working my way through the **amazing** content that [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com/) has shared. "**Walk as Spreadsheet**" explores his usage of spreadsheets to "map" his long walks - a row is usually a day of walking, date, town numbers. Columns are for cost of inns, notes, addresses, etc. His philosophy is that "*when a walk is a spreadsheet it’s a pulsing thing of potential, extremely abstract though the days are hard-bound by the cells of finance software*" - [More](https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/115/) - When I had my peak interest in triathlon, [Chrissie Wellington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrissie%5FWellington) had exploded on the Ironman stage. I'll never forget [her insane comeback](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtslGL9Qat8) in 2008 from a flat in Kona to win; so I really enjoyed reading "**Chrissie Wellington on... Mental strength**" - [More](https://www.220triathlon.com/training/long-distance/chrissie-wellington-on-mental-strength/) - [Let's do the time warp again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w0WPkB3XJ4)! a fun look at "**'Rocky Horror Picture Show' is back after playing to an empty theater for 54 weeks**". Yes, they kept it running in a theater when no one could watch it - [More](https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2021/04/rocky-horror-played-to-an-empty-theater-for-54-weeks-now-audiences-return-to-portlands-longest-running-movie.html) - "**I’m Not an Asshole. I’m an Introvert**" looks at different ways you can use being an "introvert" as an excuse for being rude - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/im-not-an-asshole-im-an-introvert) - "**These are the worst trips in the world**" looks at 13 books that document real-life travel stories gone wrong - [More](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/these-books-are-all-about-the-worst-trips-in-the-world) - I've always warned my kids that putting something out on the Internet was like putting it on a bathroom wall - it's there forever. "**I Called Off My Wedding. The Internet Will Never Forget**" explores this new era where crawlers, ad targeting, AI, won't let you forget **anything** you post - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/weddings-social-media-apps-photos-memories-miscarriage-problem/) - Seneca said that '*time is invisible so it's easy to spend*', and "**The Shortness of Time**" explores four ways in which we misunderstand and abuse "time" - [More](https://fs.blog/2017/03/seneca-on-the-shortness-of-time/) ## **Fin** Wrapping up with a video from [Thomas Wilson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001855/), best known as Biff from [Back to the Future](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763) as he celebrates his 62nd birthday with a song regards to the frustrations on being asked the same questions by fans, **over** and **over** and **over** again. > [](https://twitter.com/right%5Fmovies/status/1382725414510948359) ### Carpe Diem URL: https://makoism.com/carpe-diem/ Last updated: 2021-04-10T13:37:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3a8e4f3d-fb8c-4f40-9d35-bcd424f7c157_3893x2562.jpeg) the road ahead As a subscriber of this experiment/newsletter, you have seen many videos and quotes from Steve Jobs that I've [shared over](https://makoism.com/all-that-glitters-is-gold/) the last year. I promise you that I'm not a fanatic but I've have been spending more time recently revisting (perhaps out of nostalgia?) a few of his past lessons that shaped my thinking over the years. I came across a video of his [2005 commencement address at Stanford University](https://news.stanford.edu/2005/06/14/jobs-061505/) earlier this week that I had seen years ago and it struck me as an incredibly **important one** to remind myself of as we spin through space for a limited time on this rock. The entire speech a wonderful tool to understand the art of storytelling ([here's a breakdown of the 'three stories'](https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/in-2005-steve-jobs-gave-an-incredible-speech-heres-what-to-steal-from-it.html)) but the important part is ultimately the message he delivers: > *I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.* I know far too many people who are unhappy with their "present" situation. The **power** each of one of us has is that **it's within your individual grasp** to make those changes. Don't let things around you dictate that and **continuously evolve**. > *Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.* If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** I came across a powerful video from author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek on "*what to do when you want to give up*". He touches on a simple concept that help anyone in a situation where they are thinking about quiting: "**someone having your back**" is the thing that will get you through. ## **Latest obsession** I've owned a bunch of coffee mugs over the years and recently "upgraded" to a [YETI 20oz tumbler](https://www.yeti.com/en%5FUS/drinkware/tumblers/20oz/21070060018.html#pos=6) w/ [a tumbler handle](https://www.yeti.com/en%5FUS/accessories/rambler-tumbler-handles/YRAMH.html). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/552d762b-ccf0-449c-94c1-3a257fbd7788_1100x624.jpeg) handle **Seriously**: who *really* wants a small 11oz or 16oz mug when you can have a nice 20oz cup (or 30oz!) that keeps your drink hot for hours, and comes with has an amazing magnetic lid for a coffee on the go without spills. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - As a former employee at Microsoft, I've seen a bunch of internal prank and spoof videos (including the famous '[Microsoft designs the iPod package](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXnJraKM3k)'); but I had never heard of this one before. It's awesome! Read about "**Microsoft Coffee. The Last Prank Before PR Ruined Everything**". - [More](https://microsoft-coffee.medium.com/microsoft-coffee-25545836a7e3) - The **most important** read of the week: "**After Working at Google, I’ll Never Let Myself Love a Job Again**". An opinion piece by Emi Nietfeld who describes the dangers of work becoming a "surrogate family"; especially when that place was protecting someone who was harassing her. - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/opinion/google-job-harassment.html) - "**Hear How AI Software Wrote a ‘New’ Nirvana Song**" is a look at AI software that studied vocal melodies, chord changes, guitar riffs and solos, drum patterns, and lyrics up to 30 songs by Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain in an effort to guess what their “new” compositions would sound like. - [More](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/nirvana-kurt-cobain-ai-song-1146444/) - I personally stumbled across this with my kids when they were younger, but in "**Blood, Poop, and Violence: YouTube Has a Creepy Minecraft Problem**" WIRED does an investigation that found tons of kid-focused videos with disturbing thumbnails that the platform shows on the topic pages of popular games. Parents beware! - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/) - "**Are we too busy to enjoy life?**" ponders if 'being busy all the time can give us an illusion of productivity which may feel reassuring, but isn’t there a risk we are too busy to enjoy life'. - [More](https://nesslabs.com/too-busy-to-enjoy-life) - Mark Manson looks at the last year as "*a kind of hydrostatic stress test for each place and each person around the world*"; in "**Finding the Best and Worst in Ourselves**", he dives into the '*stress test of our daily lives*' - [More](https://markmanson.net/newsletters/mindfck-monday-77) - "**Enemies of Execution: How To Stop Procrastinating**" goes through several ways to defeat enemies of execution: the things that stop us from taking action, staying productive, and becoming better versions of ourselves. - [More](https://www.lochby.com/blogs/blog/enemies-of-execution-how-to-stop-procrastinating) - Read about [Annie Withey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie%5FWithey), the founder of [Annie’s Homegrown](https://www.annies.com/). "**Annie's Mac and Cheese is based in the Bay Area, but Annie is not**" is a retrospective on her life and how she has stayed on her farm in Connecticut. - [More](https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/Annie-s-Mac-and-Cheese-is-based-in-Bay-Area-but-16049782.php) - "**Culture DOESN’T eat strategy for breakfast!**" is a debunking of [Druker's famous quote](https://www.thealternativeboard.com/blog/culture-eats-strategy) and what determines success for a company. - [More](https://medium.com/swlh/well-culture-doesnt-eat-strategy-for-breakfast-4e3a96ab688c) - In "**How Sounds Are Faked For Nature Documentaries**" Richard Hinton talks about how he creates fake sounds for nature documentaries; I never realized there was an art to this, but it is facinating. - [More](https://kottke.org/21/04/how-sounds-are-faked-for-nature-documentaries) ## Fin Leaving things on a more humorous note this week. As a huge Marvel fan, I've been enjoying [The Falcon and The Winter Solider](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9208876/) \- and in what's going to become the new Yule log - please enjoy **one solid hour of Zemo dancing** awkwardly. ### All That Glitters is Gold URL: https://makoism.com/all-that-glitters-is-gold/ Last updated: 2021-04-03T14:08:29.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b1a3d71e-13ad-4bb2-8cb1-141c19ea20c1_3000x1670.jpeg) golden hour [Off Camera with Sam Jones](https://offcamera.com/), has been described as '[the anti late night celebrity interview](https://decider.com/2017/07/10/off-camera-with-sam-jones-is-the-anti-late-night-celebrity-interview-show/)' that is a website, magazine, television show and podcast that focuses on long form conversations with actors, writers, musicians (or just anyone who 'piques his interest'). I've been listening to more of his interviews while having breakfast, and I stumbled across this great interview with Ethan Hawke. In the frank and honest talk, Sam and Ethan discuss (with a "*we live in a society*" nod) about getting older and how he thought "*being an adult would be easier than it is*". Something that I think about a lot as I creep towards celebrating my 50th in a few weeks is that life is hard. I've been through things I never thought I would have, but have had many adventures along the way. > *Why be sad if something bad happens, learn to *not to fear the struggle*, as you grow from it.* A few of the seasons are [available to watch on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80102549), as well as [the episode with Ethan Hawke ](https://www.netflix.com/watch/80145717). If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** Digging back through the archives, I came across one of my favorite videos of Steve Jobs handling tough questions during a 1997 developers conference. I like to think of this one as one of the best examples of how to respond to someone insulting you. He pauses. He thinks. And then responds in a way that is not only reflective, but magical. A worthy re-watch. ## **Latest obsession** **Overnight Oats** have become one of my pandemic MVPs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b9ac6c01-9488-488e-979b-0cc6061ff5a3_4032x3024.jpeg) oats! Its a no-cook method to making oatmeal, which you can prepare the night before, in which you "soak" raw oats with milk (or in my case, almond milk). They have a ton of healthy benefits (lots of protein, great source of fiber and high in antioxidants). While you can find thousands of recipes online, this simple mix has been **great**: - 1/2 cup oats - 1 tbsp chia - 1 tbsp cocoa (if you want a chocolatey flavor) - blob of nut butter - 2/3 almond milk or coconut almond milk - 1 tbsp or less maple syrup - splash of vanilla - 1/4 - 1/2 mashed banana - mix it up ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - When you think of [The Jetsons](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055683/), you are most likely reminded of a cute 1960's cartoon that depicts a world that is powered by the wonders of technology. [DC Comics](https://www.dccomics.com/) this week **retcon'd** the whole thing in **The Jetsons is actually a bone-chilling dystopia** \- [More](https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/3/16598440/jetsons-dystopia-dc-comics-future-apocalypse) - **Here’s how many avocados it would take to kill you**; if you are wondering, the average man would need to intake 240 - [More](https://www.popsci.com/how-many-avocados-it-would-take-to-kill-you/) - I've never heard of Pizza Toast prior to **A 600-Mile Quest to Savor Japan’s Kissaten and Pizza Toast**, but now I want to try it. I've been reading [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com/)'s journey walking through Japan have found it a facinating and beautiful journey - [More](https://www.eater.com/2019/12/16/21003452/japan-kissaten-traditional-cafes-pizza-toast-travel) and [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5SLi-GZ0Z4) - **The UK’s new £50 note celebrates Alan Turing with lots of geeky Easter eggs**. I love this in so many ways - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/25/22349884/alan-turing-50-pound-note-design-uk-revealed) - In "craziest thing I read this week" comes **A Bestselling Author Became Obsessed With Freeing a Man From Prison. It Nearly Ruined Her Life** .. Sit down for a few minutes with a cup of coffee and read this bizarre tale of obsession - [More](https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/03/24/a-bestselling-author-became-obsessed-with-freeing-a-man-from-prison-it-nearly-ruined-her-life) - **Make The Default Path Weird** is a fun read on how *the default script is boring* \- [More](https://boundless.substack.com/p/make-the-default-path-weird-133) - I have to admit, there's a few surprise ones in this list of **10 Beloved Movies That Roger Ebert Hated**. How could you not love the brilliance of [Fight Club](https://makoism.com/fight-club/) \- [More](https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2487719/beloved-movies-that-roger-ebert-hated) - Like everyone else, last week I was obsessed with the container ship that was stuck in the Suez Canal. **The Big, Stuck Boat Is Glorious** \- [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/03/were-going-to-need-a-smaller-boat/618414/) - What a **great** idea: **You Should Be Using an Email Signature That Protects Your Time** \- [More](https://debugger.medium.com/you-should-be-using-an-email-signature-that-protects-your-time-171c08041821) - Finally, I enjoyed this article on **Outgrowing software**. In a time when '[software is eating the world](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460)', what's left afterwards? When the dust settles, the same questions remain - [More](https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2021/3/18/outgrowing-software) ## **Fin** For no reason whatsoever, outside it's an amazing performance that brought Robert Plant to tears, enjoy [Heart](https://www.heart-music.com/)'s [2012 performance at the Kennedy Center Honors for Led Zeppelin](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidwismer/2012/12/27/hearts-ann-wilson-kills-led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven-at-kennedy-center-awards-see-it-here/?sh=7d2c89226c66). See you next week. ### Everlong URL: https://makoism.com/everlong/ Last updated: 2021-03-27T13:33:19.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d8245353-dd68-404f-a46d-67560b8ac378_7776x4374.jpeg) rocks This week I stumbled on an amazingly powerful 2011 graduation speech from actor [Denzel Washington](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000243/) in which he advises to "**fail big**". His powerful life advice asks a simple question: > *"do you have the guts to fail?"* He goes on… > *"if you don’t fail... you’re not even trying... and to get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”* I've re-watched this one 5 or 6 times this week, and if you're going through one of **those** weeks where you need a kick in the pants to get you progressing forward with **life**, spend 15 minutes and watch this one. You won't regret it. Remember… > "*if you hang around a barbershop long enough — sooner or later you will get a haircut*" If you're interested in more of my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). ## **Forward Thinking** [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/) has been an incredible source of humor and thought-provoking inspiration for me over the years from his amazing writing and stick-figure illustrations. This weeks 'forward thinking' is his TED Talk from 2016: **Inside The Mind of a Master Procrastinator**. In it, he discusses his habitual procrastination, the process he went through (which includes MRIs) to understand more about the brain of a procrastinator and non-procrastinator and the mercilessness of the '*Instant Gratification Monkey*'. Another worthy watch. Oddly enough, I came across a [tweet from Tim](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1374474602177462279) this week that provides humor and truthful insight into the world of technology[1](#footnote-1): > [](https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1374474602177462279) ## **Latest obsession** I **love** paper journals; I have **way too many** of them, but there's something magical about the feeling of writing on paper versus electronic ink. My favorite one by far is Lochby's [Pocket Journal](https://www.lochby.com/collections/notebooks/products/pocket-journal); I picked up the black waxed canvas version with a 3.5" x 5.5" Dot Grid Refill. (For completeness, I use a [Fisher Space Pen](https://www.spacepen.com/) as my writing utensil of choice) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f0d39fba-d2af-47c9-bb76-b5f12ae06ba1_800x800.jpeg) It's lightweight and can be taken anywhere for thoughtful commentary or mindless doodling. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - Love watching these ‘**Behind the Magic: The Visual Effects of The Mandalorian Season 2’** videos. Season 2 had almost 5,000 visual effects shots, and this look at how they did it is equally as impressive. This is the way - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb6Aww3LIDE) - When I'm ready (and truth be told, I'm not yet ready), I plan on writing more about my out-of-nowhere heart attack; but this article hit home for me: ‘**How To (Almost) Kill Yourself (Really) On a Smart Trainer’**. "*Athletes may be the last to realize they have heart disease or recognize their symptoms*" sounds awfully familiar - [More](https://zwiftinsider.com/how-to-almost-kill-yourself-on-a-smart-trainer/) - Quitting is equated to failure, but it **can** be a smart strategy. ‘**If There’s No Light At The End Of The Tunnel: QUIT’** explores this (which reminds me of [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/)'s fantastic book, [The Dip](https://www.amazon.com/Dip-Little-Book-Teaches-Stick/dp/1591841666)) - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/quit/) - **‘The Invention of a New Pasta Shape’** is a wonderful look at [cascatelli pasta](https://www.sfoglini.com/products/sporkful), which has been *specifically engineered* to maximize the amount of sauce that sticks to it - [More](https://kottke.org/21/03/the-invention-of-a-new-pasta-shape) - **‘To Become Who You Want to Be, You Have to Face the Gap’** is my pick of the week. A look at the [Ira Glass Gap](https://vimeo.com/85040589) where the "*you have to try being bad at something before you can get good at it*". - [More](https://forge.medium.com/to-become-who-you-want-to-be-you-have-to-face-the-gap-b7437a8212be) - I hadn't heart of [micromorts](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/well/live/putting-the-risk-of-covid-19-in-perspective.html) prior to this article on ‘**How Much Risk Should You Take Now?’** A Miromort is *measurement used by scientists (and insurance companies) to calculate risk and is equivalent to a one-in-a-million chance of dying* \- [More](https://gen.medium.com/the-return-of-the-micromort-28a61d1bd3c7) - The internet is constantly disappearing; it’s a world of broken links and missing files. A look at [Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine](https://archive.org/web/) in ‘**You Probably Don’t Remember the Internet’** \- [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/03/remember-the-internet/618350/) - "The reverse meeting" is ‘**Combating Zoom Overload’** \- [More](https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2021/03/18/combating-zoom-overload-with-reverse-meetings/) - As you know (from above), I'm a huge fan of the benefits of journals. So you can count on seeing articles that explain how awesome they are. In ‘**Why Successful People Keep Journals’** a look at using them as a way to document experiences in life on getting things done. - [More](https://www.writepads.com/blogs/news/why-successful-people-keep-journals) - A sad look at the ‘**Six Things Millennials Have in Common with Dr. Frasier Crane (No. 5 Will Drive You Into a Deep Depression)’** \- [More](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/six-things-millennials-have-in-common-with-dr-frasier-crane-no-5-will-drive-you-into-a-deep-depression) - The infamous story of Trader Joe's "Two Buck Chuck" in ‘**How Trader Joe's $2 wine became a best-seller’** \- [More](https://thehustle.co/how-two-buck-chuck-changed-the-wine-industry/) ## **Fin** I've listened to the [Foo Fighters](https://www.foofighters.com/) for a long time, but they elevated in epic-ness this year the more I learned about [Dave Grohl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave%5FGrohl) and the bands history. This week, at [Oates Song Fest 7908](https://johnoates.com/oates-song-fest-7908/), comes the story of how their hit song '[Everlong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y)' was created (and includes an amazing acoustic version). --- 1. The 'tweet of the week' may now become a new ongoing item in this newsletter experiment. [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote NaN in the text.") ### Did You Chop Down This Tree? URL: https://makoism.com/did-you-chop-down-this-tree/ Last updated: 2021-03-20T14:12:20.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a6c0190b-c01b-4a55-8854-2095591c4911_5616x3744.jpeg) tree Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://makoism.com) and this is a somewhat weekly list of interesting articles, books, podcasts, music and videos that I come across during the week that helps me grow my mind garden. I hope you enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](//) **The Lorax**, written in 1971, shows a world with no trees left. The point of this is not a commentary on the [banning/censoring](https://drseussbanned.weebly.com/why-was-the-lorax-challenged.html) of the book for portraying the foresting industry in a negative way. > "**I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues**" Instead I wanted to put out there on how I think about change and leadership. I cannot understate the power of **speaking up**, regardless of where you are in an organization, on things you believe in. If you are in a leadership role or have a platform - speak for those who **don’t have a voice**. Don't become disheartened; continuously pursue the change you want to see. Whether it’s battling “that’s not the way we used to do it” thinking, large imbalances of diversity in workforce or toxic behavior; speak up. Remember - "**unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's just not.**" **Be The Lorax**. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://makoism.com/?intent=follow). ## **Forward Thinking** One of the stand out re-watches for me this week was a 2012 [TED talk](https://www.ted.com/talks) on "The Six Degrees", by Kevin Bacon. It follows his journey on his initial reaction of *embarrassment* and the eventual embracing of the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. It led him to finding [SixDegrees.org](https://www.sixdegrees.org/), a charitable initiative that links people to charities and each other for the purpose of **making a difference**. ## **Latest obsession** I have fallen head over heels for [The Matador Pocket Blanket](https://matadorup.com/collections/accessories/products/pocket-blanket) and [Mini Pocket Blanket](https://matadorup.com/collections/accessories/products/pocket-blanket-mini) as a must-have accessory. They're lightweight, water-resistant outdoor blankets that you use for a picnic, getting work done at the top of a hike, or even a nap on. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3e4f218e-0edc-4b08-bc08-fd665f6a5723_2000x1140.jpeg) The best part? These blankets are freaking compact and small that it can fit in your pocket or **clip on your keychain**. ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - As someone who always is dubious of consulting firms, this read on **McKinsey’s partners suffer from collective self-delusion** brutally hits the nail on the head - [More](https://www.economist.com/business/2021/03/03/mckinseys-partners-suffer-from-collective-self-delusion) - This weeks favorite read is from [Subbu](https://subbu.org/)**On Being Present**. There's way too much good advice in here to pick out one nugget, go read it - [More](https://m.subbu.org/on-being-present-f8a111e4f618) - **A forgotten Cold War experiment has revealed its icy secret. It’s bad news for the planet.** is a fascinating article about humanity's vulnerability to climate change - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/03/15/greenland-ice-sheet-more-vulnerable/) - This week saw the passing of **Dick Hoyt, Part of Legendary Boston Marathon Duo**. Runner's World has a great look back at this legends life - [More](https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a35866273/dick-hoyt-legendary-boston-runner-dies-80/) - I love my [AirPod Pro's](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MWP22AM/A/airpods-pro); in **AirPods as a Platform** a look at the takes a deep look at what may become of them as a platform play - [More](https://julian.digital/2020/04/19/airpods-as-a-platform/) - A great watch from this week that I was sent from several different places on the Internet from a 1997 interview on how "*a couple of geeks (laughing) want take on (more laughing) Sears*". A hilarious early look at Amazon - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViwhkcxO9T0) - I'll be the first to admit, I love sitting in my sweatpants all day long while working (which, may be alright considering [my employeer](https://www.nike.com/)). In **Americans Need to Go Back to the Office**, a look at the 'work at home rules' that have gone out the window in 2020/2021 - [More](https://index.medium.com/youre-still-doing-remote-work-all-wrong-cd0482f3a16f) - *Walking is thinking*. Found a great exploration of this in **Walking, Thinking, and the Paradox of Self-Reflection** \- [More](https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/06/25/thomas-bernhard-walking/) - Lots of people are **here** and want to get **there**.In **You are Going on a Quest** a look at different paths for leadership-minded engineers - [More](https://randsinrepose.com/archives/you-are-going-on-a-quest/) - "*How the pandemic taught me to look closely at the world, and how I hope to carry that forward out the other side*" in **Looking Closely is Everything** \- [More](https://craigmod.com/essays/looking%5Fclosely/) - A look at the shifting tides from algorithmic feeds to high-attention relationships in **The New Era of Social Media Isn’t About Feeds** \- [More](https://onezero.medium.com/social-media-moves-beyond-the-feed-6aef3a2cb563) ## **Fin** In a **great post** from [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/2021/03/16/he-could-sing-the-phone-book-or-an-oven-manual/), on "Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s songwriting process” comes this classic video '*where the actor Richard E. Grant asks Elton John if he can create a song out of his oven’s instruction manual. *Elton obliges*.*' ### The Rot of Memory URL: https://makoism.com/the-rot-of-memory/ Last updated: 2021-03-13T16:04:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a9722a5c-4520-4cdc-98e9-82ac7143dab7_5184x3456.jpeg) memories Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a somewhat weekly list of interesting articles, books, podcasts, music and videos that I come across during the week that helps me grow my mind garden. I hope you enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](//) [Wandavision](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/wandavision/4SrN28ZjDLwH) was a super *slow burn* for many, but finally wrapped up a week ago. I enjoyed the overarching story and looking back now, it concluded with the only possible outcome. I know several folks who aren't as versed in the comics backstory and it was a hard watch for them being fans of the MCU. Wanda's grief was the villain of the show, and it nags at me that she **mentally tortured** a town of people - I hope this is addressed in later films. The pinnacle moment for me was the battle of [Spectral Vision](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Spectral%5FVision) and [Hex Vision](https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Vision/Chaos%5FMagic%5FRecreation). The metaphysical debate regard the [The Ship of Theseus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship%5Fof%5FTheseus) was something unexpected, yet deeply true to the nature of that character. I don't know why; but this one scene I've **watched over and over**. I went down several rabbit holes on the Internet: reading, listening to talks and researching the Greek thought experiment around theory of identity: **what makes X "X"**. It consumed way to much of me questioning "me" this entire week. Disney+ also just released a great [behind-the-scenes special](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/marvel-studios-assembled/3RUQKboZV3FF) if interested in killing time before the premier of [The Falcon and The Winter Solider](https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier), next week. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my blog posts](https://makoism.com/?intent=follow). ## Forward Thinking The Amphicar is an *amphibious automobile* which was launched at the 1961 New York Auto Show. From reports, "It's not a good car and it's not a good boat", had around 3,900 units sold until its production stopped in 1965\. [Lyndon B Johnson owned one](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/18463/lbj-president-who-marked-his-territory), and being the joker he's known for would "*drive down a steep incline toward the lake, pretend to lose control, and then yell, "The brakes don't work! We're going in! We're going under!" The car would splash into the lake, and as everyone else was screaming, Johnson would be doubled over laughing.*" Hilarious. ## Latest obsession ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b65827b6-4fc7-433d-b22b-ef028ddcf77a_4032x3024.jpeg) yum This week's latest obsession is [groundwork organic coffee](http://www.groundworkcoffee.com/). Starting 30 years ago in Venice Beach, they've expanded to two roasters in Los Angeles and in Portland. I stumbled across them early in the week on a random trip to [Zupans](https://www.zupans.com/), and have been enjoying their [Bitches Brew](https://www.groundworkcoffee.com/products/bitches-brew) blend (with hints of dark chocolate and salted caramel). Highly recommended for your morning espresso or americano. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - My social feed in 2021 is much better off having it filled with [Oprah's interview with Harry and Meghan Markle](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/07/media/oprah-harry-meghan-interview-how-to-watch/index.html). But the **real** news is about those patio chairs designed by '[Brady Bunch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBrady%5FBunch)' actor [Christopher Knight](https://www.christopherknightbrands.com/christopher-knight-home-products) in **Patio chairs at center of Oprah's Meghan and Harry interview**\- [More](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/business/oprah-patio-chairs-christopher-knight/index.html) - Because summer is coming, and **why not** '**A Brief History of Ketchup and Mustard**\- [More](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642371/ketchup-mustard-food-history) - **Tech's pandemic reckoning** provides a look at the pro's and con's that have played out with big tech over the last 12 months - [More](https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-login-863f033c-b94f-4afe-a4f8-828af25a61ad.html) - When, where, and how far will birds migrate? Find out with **bird migration forecasts in real-time**\- [More](https://birdcast.info/) - We've all read stories of the struggles small businesses have had during the pandemic, here's one that shows how one man, turned a global disaster into a business plan in '**He put it all on the line opening his butcher shop a year ago. Then the pandemic hit'**\- [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/he-put-it-all-on-the-line-opening-his-butcher-shop-a-year-ago-then-the-pandemic-hit/2021/03/08/33aaa302-8023-11eb-81db-b02f0398f49a%5Fstory.html) - A great reminder to lens in on speed - how '**Speed is the killer feature**' and a huge differentiator before you weight down your product in feature bloat - [More](https://bdickason.com/posts/speed-is-the-killer-feature/) - '**Do You Know What Kills More Dreams Than Failure?'**\- [More](https://johnpweiss.com/blog/164762/do-you-know-what-kills-more-dreams-than-failure) - I don't want to spoil this wonderful read of a 98-year-old British veteran and a golden engagement ring that is told in '**How a ring tells the story of a forgotten secret agent**'- [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-56215177) - It's a story of a tree and it's sap '**How real Vermont maple syrup is made'**\- [More](http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/alleyinsider/silicon%5Falley%5Finsider/~3/Rm02w5b3r1M/vermont-maple-syrup-real-how-its-made-forest-trees-2019-6) - File under "no shit", but **E-mail Is Making Us Miserable**\- [More](https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/e-mail-is-making-us-miserable) ## Fin Here’s an extended version of the final battle from WandaVision. ### Rising tides URL: https://makoism.com/inclusive-leadership-ab700f48c7b4/ Last updated: 2021-03-09T11:18:44.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bbb94a21-00c1-410c-9ed7-3021ded7d951_1024x768.jpeg) water **Bring people with you.** We’re facing crazy times right now; a year into “work at home” and we’re faced with traditional work being turned inside out. *Nothing* is like it used to be any more. It’s important to understand that change effects everyone in different ways; everyone is in a unique situation. Be an ear for them and bring them WITH you on the journey. Connect people together from all different functions; you’ll find the rising tide lifts all the boats. One thing to be watchful for though — there are those that cling tightly to the past; I guarantee you will hear the cries of “*that’s not the way we used to do it*”; **be warned**, it can be a total anchor for a persons growth or for an entire organization. ### Beautiful Polished Rocks URL: https://makoism.com/beautiful-polished-rocks/ Last updated: 2021-03-06T17:13:01.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/38002212-c433-4d89-8fc5-be5f428c6fbc_6000x4000.jpeg) rocks Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a somewhat weekly list of interesting articles, books, podcasts, music and videos that I come across during the week that helps me grow my mind garden. I hope you enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) Lately I find myself spending a lot of time thinking about team dynamics, leadership, humans, and what are the traits that comprise the **best teams** that I have been a part of in my career. These may not have been the most "influential" or ones that made tons of money, but instead I wanted to focus on the teams that have impacted **me** to be a better human. As I approach 50 perhaps I am getting a wee-bit sentimental, but was surprised to discover how deeply these gut feelings around what makes teams great have been resonating with people. I've been sharing a lot of these ideas on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky) and as [blog posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) as a stream of consciousness (such as "[carry the fire](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/smakofsky%5Fyou-just-keep-going-activity-6770345285915959296-Tfc8)"). We'll see where it all leads; like I've said before, this is all a work in progress. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## Forward Thinking From 1993, [Bill Gates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill%5FGates) explains the Internet to [David Letterman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FLetterman). ## **Thought of the week** One video that I like to reference when talking with colleagues on psychological safety and differences of opinion as a key factor to elevating a team, is from a [1996 Robert X. Cringely](https://www.cringely.com/2011/10/21/the-steve-jobs-interview/) "lost interview" with Steve Jobs. In it, Jobs tells a story from his youth, and a "*metaphor for a team that is working really hard on something they're passionate about.*" .. Take the 5 minutes to watch, it's worth it. ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - The power of walks is something that I need to work more of into my work interactions, and frankly, my entire life. **Walk with me** \- [More](https://richardbrophy.medium.com/walk-with-me-8a532452b0c1) - A long and poignant read from [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/) on **The Fermi Paradox**; the simple question around if there is intelligent life in the universe, **where is everybody?** \- [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html) - Clubhouse has been a curiosity and I'm not really a fan; but I can why it appeals to some. In **Clubhouse Cured My Imposter Syndrome** they put into words some of the things I've been feeling - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/clubhouse-cured-my-imposter-syndrome/) - Distractions can pull you away from things you want to do, and diversions can be healthy. **Life Hack: Understand the Difference Between “Distraction” and “Diversion”** \- [More](https://nireyal.medium.com/life-hack-understand-the-difference-between-distraction-and-diversion-c930896257e2) - **Animagraffs** are animated infographics about everything; this is something wonderful about the Internet - [More](https://animagraffs.com/) - I *love* that there are people that think about this stuff in **Why Paper Jams Persist** \- [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/why-paper-jams-persist) - Ryan Holiday has **100 Very Short Rules for a Better Life** \- [More](https://forge.medium.com/100-very-short-rules-for-a-better-life-f7f5191c7586) - **The Cube Rule of Food Identification** in which the author provides an answer to the age old question of "Is a HotDog a Sandwich" - [More](https://cuberule.com/) - File under super creepy. **AI ‘Deep Nostalgia’ brings old photos, including very old ones, to life** \- [More](https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/28/22306097/ai-brings-still-photos-life-meme-twitter-geneaology-myheritage) - Do you miss the noise from your local bar? Or looking for some great background noise to pipe into your Zoom calls? Check out **imissmybar.com** \- [More](http://www.imissmybar.com/) - **“True Crime Addict” and the Problem of Internet Sleuths**\- [More](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/true-crime-addict-and-the-problem-of-internet-sleuths) ## **Fin** As [WandaVision](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/wandavision/4SrN28ZjDLwH) comes to a close, for me (and a large part of the Internet) this is **the scene** that the series will be remembered for. I'll do a deeper review on what I think of the whole 9 episodes, but not yet. ### Constant Reinvention URL: https://makoism.com/constant-reinvention/ Last updated: 2021-02-27T19:31:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/7563c44c-2b96-4363-b7b4-9dd018d3721f_1920x1040.png) time Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a somewhat weekly list of interesting articles, books, podcasts, music and videos that I come across during the week that helps me grow my mind garden. I hope you enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) After a year of every week following the same basic format, I decided to throw [chaos magic](https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2021/02/27/wandavisions-mysterious-chaos-magic-explained/?sh=47bb136d30eb) into the mix and shift things around and start playing with the format. It’s been a fascinating journey in keeping this going and it’s been both inspiring and fufilling to hear both the good and bad feedback when I talk with folks. The reality is that I don’t have any master plan for this newsletter. It started as a method to [write, write, write](https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-nonfiction/jerry-seinfelds-5-step-comedy-writing-process) and a way for me to document what I’ve been thinking about or themes that drive my week. [Writing is remembering](https://theswaddle.com/is-this-normal-does-writing-help-you-remember/) and you've been a part of my own self-therapy. It's been great to share these nuggets with old and new friends and colleagues, please keep the feedback coming! Over the next few weeks, you may see changes on how this is hosted - [Substack](https://news.furrygoat.com/) or [Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) or elsewhere - rest assured it will be invisible to you. I'm working right now on optimizing the workflow on sharing information and long term retention. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## Forward thinking David Bowie, from a 1999 interview on "Reinvention" and incredible insight on the evolution and potential of the internet. Best parts about the future of [the Internet starts at 7m in](https://youtu.be/FiK7s%5F0tGsg?t=420). ## **Thought of the week** > *"If all we’re doing is asking ourselves questions, but never coming up with an answer, well, that can lead to some very imbalanced insanity at times." — Matthew McConaughey* Had a long car ride this week, and was able to start chipping away at the backlog and listened to [Tim Ferris](https://tim.blog/) and [his incredible interview with Matthew McConaughey](https://tim.blog/2020/10/19/matthew-mcconaughey/)(side note: bought his book, [Greenlights](https://www.amazon.com/Greenlights-Matthew-McConaughey/dp/0593139135/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20), immediately and is on the "to read" pile). The [podcast can be found here](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/474-matthew-mcconaughey-on-his-success-playbooks-powerful/id863897795?i=1000495276979). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Here's a few of the articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - **Steve Jobs on Consultants** \- [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c4CNB80SRc&feature=emb%5Flogo) - **David Lynch’s Industrious Pandemic** \- [More](https://apple.news/AGFo8w5m0SxOQ6gfMnIcyeg) - **The Prices on Your Monopoly Board Hold a Dark Secret** \- [More](https://apple.news/AWCPJZyH3RkalrzER-UwbMQ) - **Arizona Man Is Accused of Faking Own Kidnapping to Evade Work** \- [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/us/brandon-soules-fake-kidnapping.html) - **A Ranking of All 118 Sweaters Seen on Twin Peaks** \- [More](https://www.thecut.com/2014/10/ranking-of-all-117-sweaters-seen-on-twin-peaks.html) - **Why Is Facebook Launching An All-Out War On Apple's Upcoming iPhone Update?** \- [More](https://www.npr.org/2021/02/26/971367875/why-is-facebook-launching-an-all-out-war-on-apples-upcoming-iphone-update) - **How to dramatically reduce the time you’re spending on emails** \- [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90606868/how-to-dramatically-reduce-the-time-youre-spending-on-emails) - **Art Mystery Solved: Who Wrote on Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’?** \- [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/21/arts/design/edvard-munch-scream-inscription.html) - **Flim, an Intelligent Movie Screenshot Search Engine** \- [More](https://kottke.org/21/02/flim-an-intelligent-movie-screenshot-search-engine) - **Why the Slow Ways are so Important** \- [More](https://travellinglines.com/why-the-slow-ways-are-so-important/) - **The Right Lessons** \- [More](https://exilelifestyle.com/the-right-lessons) ## Fin ### Cast Away URL: https://makoism.com/cast-away/ Last updated: 2021-02-20T14:51:21.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/f710fa32-758e-4f67-95f7-8d1fd2d9b5e9_4023x2263.jpeg) island Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) I have no idea what pulled me to watch the 2000 film [Cast Away](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/), staring [Tom Hanks](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158) this week. The story as you are aware, is of an executive who undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island. Many have criticized the movie as coming close but missing the mark, on telling a tale of '*discovering what's truly important in life*'. During early screenings, the movie also was a complete 'dud'. I what I came to find out much later on (and made me really like this movie), is that [both Hanks and the filmmakers ](https://observer.com/2020/12/cast-away-anniversary-william-broyles-tom-hanks/)**[decided to ignore the feedback, and just make the movie they wanted to make](https://observer.com/2020/12/cast-away-anniversary-william-broyles-tom-hanks/)**. "*They had believed they were making something great and the early feedback robbed them of that belief. Ironically, though, it gave them boldness in return. If we’re going to fail, let’s fail with the movie we want to make*" - which is the lesson here. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Remember departure boards (Solari boards) from airports and train stations? You know; those giant signs with flaps that refresh, showing the new range of departures. Qantas Airlines has even said that [guests in their lounges love to hear them just as much as they like to see them](https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2016/12/01/the-solari-board-a-disappearing-icon-of-airport-design-finds-new-life-in-qantas-lounges/). A love letter to travelers past (and boy do I want one of these in my office) - [More](https://whyisthisinteresting.substack.com/p/the-departure-board-edition) Think you had a bad day? Then read about an Alaska woman who was using an outhouse, and was bitten from below by a bear - [More](https://apnews.com/article/alaska-woman-outhouse-bear-attack-61a23fa15190c00e17a07bc152f9dabb) If you wanted to put all the humans on planet Earth, yes, all 7.3 Billion People in one building, how would that work and what would it look like. As always a fascinating take on life from 'Wait But Why' - [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/7-3-billion-people-one-building.html) On the lighter side of good news (and who couldn't use some in 2021), a man who lost his wallet in Antarctica in the 1960's just had it returned - 53 years later - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/02/09/wallet-lost-antarctica-navy/) One skill that I have been consciously working on the last year is the simple art of listening. This is exemplified in this story of how a politician won over a warlord, by practicing th lost art of listening - [More](https://ideas.ted.com/the-lost-art-of-listening/) Akin to the software development concept of [Choose Boring Technology](https://mcfunley.com/choose-boring-technology), **Make Boring Plans** is an important step in getting good at creating engineering strategy- [More](https://www.elidedbranches.com/2021/01/make-boring-plans.html) What an incredibly exciting week for NASA and space exploration as their [Perseverance rover](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/mars-perseverance-tianwen-hope.html)[landed on Mars](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/science/nasa-peseverance-mars-landing.html). This mission is to focus on the discovery of any microscopic inhabitants that may have existed there - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/will-we-recognize-life-on-mars-when-we-see-it/) I learned this week that back in 1983, when I was 12, the US came incredibly close to nuclear with the Soviet Union. Incredibly, according to new documents, the main thing that prevented World War III was the failure of both US and Soviet counterintelligence - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/soviet-nuclear-war-able-archer/2021/02/17/711fa9e2-7166-11eb-93be-c10813e358a2%5Fstory.html) The science behind persuading those that are unpersuadable and deep rooted beliefs on control; a good article on understanding the deeper psychological aspects of this (and something I need to bookmark and reference) - [More](https://hbr.org/2021/03/persuading-the-unpersuadable) New evidence is coming out with the pandemic on schools and some old thoughts being put to the test on why we send sick kids to school and an over-emphasis on 'attendence' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/02/when-schools-punish-sick-kids-poor-attendance/618045/) Fascinating read on the 2 different ways in which 'disruptive innovation' can happen. One way is to see what's right in front of you to understand what the 'newest thing that’s coming to take you out of the game'. But the big one is things happening at 'macroscopic level' and those changes that happen in 'society that take many decades to reach their tipping point' - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/this-is-what-a-harvard-economist-warned-me-about-a-decade-ago-ff231d0d4fbb) ## **End Thoughts** > *I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island.* > > *And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing.* > > *Because tomorrow the sun will rise.* > > *Who knows what the tide could bring?* ### Little Things URL: https://makoism.com/little-things-95421779a97c/ Last updated: 2021-02-16T16:44:51.000Z #### “Big things have small beginnings” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/66697be2-7c5f-428f-8b34-21882e5b89e6_1024x682.jpeg) drops in the ocean **Little things add up to big ones over time.** Often “**boil the ocean**” projects that attempt to make huge course corrections, cultural changes, or technology shifts in an organization (or life, for that matter). But I think the biggest lesson that I’ve taken from my own experiences is that it’s really about **the little things** that are done consistently over and over that add up to major long term impact. While I try to steer away from “work specific” topics, the best example I’ve seen of this what I learned from reading a bunch about [Bill Bowerman](https://www.theweek.in/leisure/society/2019/07/24/the-story-behind-the-nike-trainers-that-are-the-costliest-in-history.html). He calculated that for every ounce (28 grams) of weight that he could shave off from a shoe added up to over **55 pounds** (25kgs) over the course of running a single mile (1.6 km). **One** **ounce** **ads up to 55 pounds. Think about it.** I know that “little things” aren’t what people like to talk about, it’s not “sexy”, but focus on them — in the end, you’ll look back in years and be in awe of where you’ve come from and where you are now. ### Black Hawk Down URL: https://makoism.com/black-hawk-down/ Last updated: 2021-02-13T15:35:47.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b164ac82-e5e8-419b-99bf-4a2f107df18a_5760x3840.jpeg) helicopter For no reason whatsoever, I chose to watch [Ridley Scott](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000631)'s 2001 film [Black Hawk Down](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/) about an ill-fated U.S. military raid in 1993 in Somalia this week. In many ways, it could be overlooked as a typical war movie: good guys, bad guys. But few films have captured the sheer intensity of battle and the incredible courage of soldiers. Through the well-orchestrated action sequences and amazing use of sound to depict the horrors of it all, there was something special in this film around the importance of teams. I know it may sound corny, but there's real lessons to be learned in this movie (or the book) regarding the importance of the **team** (heck, [it looks like HBR even wrote about it](https://hbr.org/2003/01/black-hawk-down-at-work)). If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" More than 100 million people now wear an Apple Watch only after 5 1/2 years. As the watch continues to evolve into a new paradigm of computing, I'd expect this to continue to grow. In similar news, a new [Mount Sinai study finds Apple Watch can predict COVID-19 diagnosis](https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/09/mount-sinai-study-finds-apple-watch-can-predict-covid-19-diagnosis-up-to-a-week-before-testing/) \- [More](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2021/2/11/apple-watch-is-now-worn-on-100-million-wrists) A few weeks back, [I found out about the horrible story](https://smakofsky.medium.com/strange-days-8b2a197c9f54) of the kids song '*Do You Know The Muffin Man*'. In what may become a new regular feature of diving into these, I stumbled upon the 1760 origin of *This Little Piggy*; and yes - it's about a piglet being fattened up to be slaughtered. Enjoy - [More](http://www.sporcle.com/blog/2020/04/what-is-the-story-behind-this-little-piggy/) One of the 'time hacks' I've started to implement in [my ToDo list](https://furrygoat.com/mako-things-i-like-2020-56173b92817d) is include a rough guess to how much time/effort/energy is needed for an item. For example, I'll use tags such as "\~5m" or "\~1h"; when I have a block of time open, I'll try to tackle a few extra upcoming things. This article had some great ideas of random things to do when you have breaks in the day - [More](https://forge.medium.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-discovering-more-time-each-day-to-get-things-done-and-feel-more-relaxed-7a5b23a4874) Where did the meme "Kilroy was here" which started after WWII, come from - [More](https://www.thoughtco.com/killroy-was-here-4152093) No matter how many digital systems I set up, there's still something tactile and satisfying about **real** notebooks. I was fortunate enough to get a Midori [Traveler’s Notebook](http://toolsandtoys.net/reviews/the-midori-travelers-notebook-review/) a few years back; a look at how one person uses it to block time and plan - [More](https://thesweetsetup.com/how-i-time-block-and-plan-in-a-travelers-notebook/) As always, [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/) has a great take on '*learning to play the fool*'; Think about things "you’ve forfeited because your parents, your peers, your school, your society, have not allowed you to be playful, free, and foolish in the learning process." - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2021/02/10/learning-to-play-the-fool/) Shocking now that Clubhouse is gaining popularity, we are starting to get a deeper glimpse into how it raids your contacts, and can [potentially even violate your privacy](https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2021/02/10/clubhouse-the-hot-new-social-network-has-big-privacy-problems/?sh=1074897ee4c3). While I have an account, I struggle to find it useful (although many do); it's not clicking for me - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/clubhouse-is-suggesting-users-invite-their-drug-dealers-and-therapists-a8161b3062fc) The history of "Peloton" bikes - [More](https://fortune.com/2021/02/04/peloton-bike-company-oral-history/) Back on the future of the Apple Watch, an interesting read on this authors journey as he "swapped my iPhone for an Apple Watch" and find out what happened - [More](https://franzschrepf.medium.com/i-swapped-my-phone-for-an-apple-watch-and-heres-what-happened-95c0323085d7) While burn out existed before the COVID pandemic, we've hit new levels of chronic burnout in 2021\. I found this article fascinating which looks into the history of it, *why* things are even worse now, such as no-one adjusted work loads and unhealthy levels of screen time and calls. Zoom fatigue is real; and some tips on what we can do collectively to break this - [More](https://hbr.org/2021/02/beyond-burned-out) ## **End Thoughts** > *Sergeant, you got your men this far.* > > *You did it right today.* > > *Now you gotta start thinking about getting them out of here.* ### The Last of the Mohicans URL: https://makoism.com/the-last-of-the-mohicans/ Last updated: 2021-02-06T17:56:22.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d5d61af7-127c-4abe-bdc1-3b6f81456de5_2560x1705.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Share or Follow](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) 1992's [The Last of the Mohicans](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104691/) is the topic of this week's [Deep Links](https://furrygoat.com/). Co-written and directed by [Michael Mann](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000520) (yes, [Heat](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113277/)) is set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and tells the tale of a white man adopted by the dying Mohican tribe, who becomes the protector of 2 daughters of a British colonel from the vengeful Huron warrior, Magua. The movie can be described as one of the best period films ever made; and I'd challenge you to find a better climax scene than the final 12 minutes of this movie. Interestingly enough, it's **almost completely dialog-free**, it's all music and action. An incredibly impactful and effective method of filmmaking. Side note: this movie features [another amazing film soundtrack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tjdswqGGVg) from Trevor Jones. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Recently discovered "[The Best Media Poster Database](https://theposterdb.com/)" - which evolved from a [Reddit](https://reddit.com/) forum into one of the best sources of film posters on the internet. If you have your own media libraries under a system like Plex, this is an incredible repository. I especially enjoyed looking through the "[Textless](https://theposterdb.com/textless?sort=Recent)" poster archive - Texless Posters | TPDb - [More](https://theposterdb.com/) I'm always a sucker for a great list of [new productivity tips](https://furrygoat.com/the-purge-32fb1d2381db) that I can use to streamline how I work, elevate app usage, or enhance how I'm thinking about things. [Darkroom](https://darkroom.co/), is by far the best photo app for iOS, here's a few tips to working in it - [More](https://medium.com/the-bergen-company/ten-productivity-tips-tricks-for-your-darkroom-workflow-77ce83f78894) As a coffee fanatic and someone who is starting to learn more about bean roasting (part of my "Life 2.0" plan), I loved the concept of "bean to brew". Follow Ben Fitt's journey to serve espresso in Hawaii made from his own small batch harvest - [More](https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-hawaii-the-quest-for-the-greatest-cup-of-coffee-in-the-world-11612273213) In this weeks spy stories, read about **The Lunik Heist** \- the CIA's plot to steal a Soviet satellite - [More](https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/01/28/1016867/lunik-cia-heist-steal-russian-satellite-space-us-ussr/) I recently learned of "[Five Card Nancy](https://austinkleon.com/2021/01/30/five-card-nancy/)" ([more here](https://www.scottmccloud.com/4-inventions/nancy/index.html)) and love the concept. I was working on a blog post around [Oblique Strategies](https://austinkleon.com/2018/03/04/card-games/), but may alter that to reflect more of the 'past, present, future' draw that Austin describes - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2021/01/30/five-card-nancy/) File under "please hack my clothes" as Microsoft files a patent to turn your shirt into a computer - [More](https://www.protocol.com/microsoft-shirt-computer-patents) The more I use Slack, the more I am convinced we are using it (and other tools) incorrectly. While it's been touted as an e-mail replacement, I find if I leave it open, it's turned into more of a constant distraction from enabling me to focus on any type of "[deep work](https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692)" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/slack-is-the-right-tool-for-the-wrong-way-to-work) Kurt Vonnegut’s "[Slaughterhouse-Five](https://www.amazon.com/Slaughterhouse-Five-Novel-Modern-Library-Novels/dp/0385333846)" is my favorite book without question. Never has an author moved me or has changed my perspective on things such as Vonnegut. Here, Salman Rushdie does a deep dive into the nature of war and humanity by dissecting the classic - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/what-kurt-vonneguts-slaughterhouse-five-tells-us-now) Hyper-local news has been skyrocketing with everyone in lockdown. The idea of online 'local news' could be revitalized with new editorial, marketing channels; a look at 'The Local News Revival" - [More](https://every.to/napkin-math/a-local-news-revival) When I scroll through Instagram (the last holdout I have for anything related to Facebook), I'm presented with 2 or 3 things from friends, and the a flurry of crap from promotional posts. Vanity Fair went far deeper digging into the dark side of 'Influencer Culture', and now I want to leave these social platforms even more - [More](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/fake-famous-the-dark-side-of-influencer-culture) A simple cure for doom-scrolling - stop listening to or reading CNN and watch HGTV - [More](https://forge.medium.com/i-traded-cnn-for-hgtv-and-im-so-happy-c6cf49d2adaf) ## **End Thoughts** > *No! You stay alive!* > > *If they don't kill you, they'll take you north up to the Huron lands.* > > *Submit, do you hear? You're strong! You survive!* > > *You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you!* > > *No matter how long it takes, no matter how far. I will find you!* ### Strange Days URL: https://makoism.com/strange-days/ Last updated: 2021-01-30T17:16:39.000Z ![windows](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e4e25469-4d0b-4f42-9237-0a8b545db7bf_4896x3264.jpeg "windows") windows A recent thread inspired me to revisit the 1995 film [Strange Days](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114558/) this week. It was as trippy as I remembered it - the story of an ex-cop named Lenny, played by [Ralph Fiennes](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000146/), who hustles tech called SQUID; which is a headset that records the wearer’s experiences for others to later 'plug in' and experience it themselves. It virtually allows you not *only* to see and hear the experience, but to *feel it*. In classic Hollywood form, he eventually uncovers a conspiracy when he obtains a shocking and violent murder; it leads him down an unescapable path that surfaces a society that is rampant with racism and political corruption; he threatens to uproot it all. The film flopped, [making $8 million](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl192054785/weekend/) in the box office. What struck me as interesting about Strange Days, was that the feel of the world was more in tune with 2020 and the problems we face, instead of the setting of New Years Eve of 1999\. Perhaps the reason it bombed was that it was almost ahead of its time; it captured a future overwhelmed with fear, privacy-violating tech, social media and people filling their own void by living their lives through Instagram-faked lives. IMHO, Strange Days is a good rewatch. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" A plain, brown rock on the outside. But when it was cracked open, a geologist found a rare formation that looks like [Cookie Monster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookie%5FMonster) \- [More](https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/geologist-finds-cookie-monster-rock/) The kids song '*Do You Know The Muffin Man*' has a super dark history. **The Muffin Man**, aka **the Drury Lane Dicer**, was the first known serial killer in England. Between 1589 and 1598, he murdered 15 children by luring them into his bakery by pulling a muffin on a string. Once inside, he would knock them out and then kill them. The song was later invented as a warning to stay away from the bakery - [More](https://sarahcottrell.medium.com/do-you-know-the-muffin-man-he-was-a-serial-killer-who-preyed-on-kids-eaf12c90a8d1) Speaking of horrible - Watch an analysis of '**Steam Wand Scrambled Eggs**' - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnfxk%5FslKIk) Joe Biden wanted a moon rock, and this is the store on 'lunar sample 76015,143' which now resides in the Oval Office - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90597086/the-story-behind-the-moon-rock-in-the-biden-oval-office) When building software, not everything has to be **innovative** or **next generation**. '*Good strategy identifies a problem with the current situation, proposes a principled approach to overcome it, and then shows you a coherent roadmap to follow. Strategy is not in the business of razzle-dazzle, it’s in the business of getting to the *core* of the issues so that the solution becomes *simple and obvious*. Good strategy provides the clarity that *enables boring plans*.*' - [More](https://skamille.medium.com/make-boring-plans-9438ce5cb053) Imagine having a device that was designed to save your life, hooked to your heart and **having it hacked**. This goes into the fear of ICD's, pacemakers, and other internet connected devices that are hackable **inside you** \- [More](https://onezero.medium.com/i-live-with-a-digital-security-threat-inside-my-body-ca6b9da0b316) Many of the faces on the Apple Watch are 'reinterpretations' of real-life watches. I found this article to be a fascinating look at the iconic watch patterns that were remade to take advantage of the digital age. Here's a deep dive into '*the iconic watches that inspired Apple Watch faces*' - [More](https://www.arun.is/blog/apple-watch-faces/) I enjoyed this read on how being 'polite' can be a motivator in large groups and can influence them to please a few dissenters, in 'The Tyranny of the Minority' - [More](https://critter.blog/2021/01/27/the-tyranny-of-the-minority/) A great reverse-engineering technical look at 'Blastdoor' and the changes made by Apple in iOS 14 to block message-based, zero-click exploits - [More](https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-look-at-imessage-in-ios-14.html) [Vulture](https://www.vulture.com/) recounts '[The Sweatbox](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYFbgfso%5FWo)', a '*no-holds-barred, occasionally funny, often heartbreaking look at how the Disney sausage is made, and sometimes unmade*'. If you ever wanted to dive deep into what went on behind the scenes during the making of 'The Emperor’s New Groove' - [More](https://www.vulture.com/article/an-oral-history-of-disney-the-emperors-new-groove.html) ## End Thoughts > *This is your life, right here, right now! It's real-time, you hear me, real time!* > > *Time to get real, not playback. You understand me?* > > *Memories are meant to fade.* > > **They're designed that way for a reason.** ### The Importance of Exercise URL: https://makoism.com/the-importance-of-exercise-7e6dc8de026/ Last updated: 2021-01-24T23:29:50.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bee12b06-711f-4f26-8b45-7dc73063a145_1024x682.jpeg) In an earlier post, I mentioned that it’s been really [important for me to keep low stress in stressful times](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/8133-stress-10-ways-to-ease-stress); and that I’ve tried to carve our **30 minutes to read**, **30 minutes to write** and **30 minutes to play**. **Every. Single. Day.** Another thing I have been striving towards is some form of daily exercise. Doesn’t matter: run, bike, walk, strength, hike, etc. And while I haven’t raced a marathon or competed in 70.3 triathlon in almost 2 years now, the volume of “moving my body” has steadily increased through 2020 and into 2021. ![fitness graph](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/087d3fcc-176b-44e0-95cd-151a20109659_278x600.png "fitness graph") run forest run! The simple action of **keeping consistent** has been a big part of not allowing the craziness of 2020 get to me. It’s proven [that exercise directly effects the brain](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-works-and-why/201803/how-your-mental-health-reaps-the-benefits-exercise), not just your body. And, the best part is that **it doesn’t have to be** a hard run or bike — today I just did a 30 minute fitness walk on the treadmill to keep moving. Some weekends I’m on [Zwift](https://www.zwift.com) for 90 minutes or longer — others it’s taking a walk outside when it’s sunny (rare in Oregon, but it’s amazing when it is nice out). ### Streets of Fire URL: https://makoism.com/streets-of-fire/ Last updated: 2021-01-23T17:25:00.000Z ![fire](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c8799cf5-e96c-4023-b24c-125fa2981727_5184x3456.jpeg "fire") fire I've heard this movie called "**the best movie you never saw**", 1984's [Streets of Fire](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088194/). stars [Michael Paré](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001595), [Rick Moranis](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001548), [Willem Dafoe](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000353/) and a then 19-year old [Diane Lane](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000178). Described as "A Rock & Roll Fable", it's a bizarre mix of mid-1980's pulp inter-twined with a retro-1950's look and feel; it's the story of a mercenary is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang. This week I **needed** mindless-retro-brain-candy to watch. Streets of Fire nailed it; on one hand, **it's an over the top terrible movie with terrible dialog; Yet at the same time one of the coolest movies** with catchy tunes you'll see. You'll remember the hit song "[I Can Dream About You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrGf%5FiyoWgs)" - it's from this movie. Director Walter Hill described that he wanted to make the perfect movie for him as a teenager "*incorporating custom cars, kissing in the rain, neon, trains in the night, high-speed pursuit, rumbles, rock stars, motorcycles, jokes in tough situations, leather jackets and questions of honor.*". **Nailed it.** If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Super interesting read on flipping the '*temporal switch*', and the journey that the article's author went through as he moved to Colombia and got used to a slower pace of life. Moving from **clock-time** to **event-time** and where each has it's place has me rethinking my concept of time/work/life balance - [More](https://kadavy.net/blog/posts/clock-time-event-time/) My news feeds [were overflowing with regards](https://thebolditalic.com/the-real-star-of-the-inauguration-poet-amanda-gorman-80c0f74883f8?gi=2a37be1ffc8) to the **amazing** poetry of [Amanda Gorman](https://www.theamandagorman.com/) at the presidential inauguarion this past week. '*Poetry is a weapon. It is an instrument of social change*'; her insights are well beyond her years - [Watch](https://youtu.be/Wz4YuEvJ3y4) '**Creative burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion around creative work**' and how to bounce back when you hit the wall - [More](https://nesslabs.com/creative-burnout) For those that know me, I talk about the "5 Year Plan" all the time. This article on '**the life plan**' goes into great detail on how to plan days, months and years in advance to get towards your long term goals - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/the-life-plan/) Something that I have been focusing on, with varying degrees of success (depending on the day) is becoming a better **listener**. I am aware that I always want to jump in, problem solve and have a bias towards action, and to improve your own writing/solving the solution lies in listening - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/to-become-a-better-writer-become-a-listener/) Paradox-Free Time Travel Is Theoretically Possible, Researchers Say - [More](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917556254/paradox-free-time-travel-is-theoretically-possible-researchers-say) **Lorem Ipsum** refers to text that is used as replacement text when real text is not available. **Bacon Ipsum** is a meatier alternative and perfect for 2021 - [More](https://baconipsum.com/) New views on how 'paradox-free' time travel may be possible - [More](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917556254/paradox-free-time-travel-is-theoretically-possible-researchers-say) [Austin Kleon](http://www.twitter.com/austinkleon) has an interesting use for Twitter's search capabilities; using it to discover what 'people you follow' are saying on a particular item of interest. This is a pretty cool use case that I'm going to wire up a [shortcut](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios) to handle - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2015/01/22/people-you-follow/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry%5FSeinfeld) on the differences between 'creation mode' and 'edit mode' and why never to do them at the same time - [More](https://perell.com/note/the-jerry-seinfeld-guide-to-writing/) A new study continues to highlight the health benefits of the [Apple Watch](https://www.apple.com/watch/), now with it's ability to detect COVID-19 before symptoms appear. By looking at HRV (funny enough, I've [been tracking HRV for stress](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/heart-rate-variability-new-way-track-well-2017112212789) for months), smartwatches can detect subtle changes in people’s heartbeats - [More](https://mobilesyrup.com/2021/01/17/study-apple-watch-can-detect-covid-19-before-symptoms-appear/) Journaling daily has had a profound impact on my life. It doesn't take much time (with amazing tools like [DayOne](https://dayoneapp.com/)) - this read dives deep into using journals to '*understand what was going on and what I might be able to do about it was to write about the problem*' - [More](https://medium.com/better-humans/30-minutes-of-journaling-that-changed-my-life-20afd6a8fc38) ## End Thoughts > *Well! Looks like I finally found someone who likes to play as rough as I do.* > > *Yeah, this must be your lucky night.* > > *I’m lucky? I guess maybe I am. And you’re dumb — real dumb if you think you can pull this off.* > > *I think you’re forgetting somethin’ — I got the gun.* > > **I can get guns, smart guy, lots of ’em. Now why don’t you tell me your name?** > > *Tom Cody. Pleased to meet ya.* > > *I’ll be comin’ for her. And I’ll be comin’ for you, too.* > > *Sure you will. And I’ll be waiting.* ### The Mind Palace URL: https://makoism.com/mindpalace-54667ab6d98b/ Last updated: 2021-01-17T17:27:27.000Z ### The Mind Palace ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/464f246a-b4a6-43a2-bbd7-160efa7a1984_1024x768.jpeg) looks like a brain This is an **update** to my earlier post on [The Mind Garden](https://furrygoat.com/the-mind-garden-c2dc956bade5) as I’ve been spending a bunch of time on this over the last several months, and have had several folks reach out to see where I’ve landed. While earlier I talked about [Flow](https://furrygoat.com/flow-77d6348dbfc1) and [mind gardens](https://nesslabs.com/mind-garden) my more recent focus has been inspired from none other than [Sir Arthur Conan Doyle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur%5FConan%5FDoyle)’s famous detective, [Sherlock Holmes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock%5FHolmes). The [most recent BBC/Masterpiece series](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1475582/) reinvented the character brilliantly, and leveraged a fascinating concept from Ancient Greece known as **the mind palace**. The [basic memory technique](https://www.lifehack.org/562103/sherlock-holmes-memory-palace-proven-technique-can-practice-daily-life) is described as: > you visualize a complex place in which you could physically store a set of memories. That place can be a building such as a house, but it can also be something like a road with multiple addresses. > Every room is home to a specific item you want to remember, and when you need to recall a memory, you can walk through the building in your mind, seeing and remembering each item. While I haven’t gotten anywhere near memorizing things (my wife would say that I have no memory), I need to leverage two tools — [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) and [Reeder](https://reederapp.com) — that get me close to the digital equivalent of it. #### Feedly Ever since [Google abandoned Google Reader in 2013](https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-second-spring-of-cleaning.html), I have been using [Feedly](https://feedly.com) as the backend service to handle my RSS feeds. You can think of [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) as a site/storage that allows you to read all of your publications, blogs, and newsletters. That’s the wonderful thing when tech is designed to inter-operate, it can be used [on the web](https://feedly.com), [their mobile app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/feedly-smart-news-reader/id396069556), or a variety of other [RSS (Really Simple Syndication)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS) readers such as [Reeder](https://reederapp.com) (which I use; more below). It was super easy to import my legacy “feeds” into [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) and be on my way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/88f999f0-5343-412c-acb5-6d8436817d80_1024x861.png) Feedly **A note on subscription services** — When [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) offered a [pro “lifetime” subscription](https://feedly.com/i/pro/landing-pro) for the first 5000 people; I was fortunate to grab one. When they introduced Pro+ with additional AI features (called Leo), they offered an upgrade for those users — I quickly grabbed that. Today they continue to offer subscription plans for both; and while it’s not as wonderful as *lifetime*, it’s worth the monthly cost to support them. Feedly is my news feed **backend** — it allows me to stay in sync across the devices I use and have sources I follow organized. It has the usual integrations that you would expect with [Pocket](https://getpocket.com) (which I’ve recently dumped), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/), [Evernote](https://evernote.com) (which I dumped years ago), etc. #### Newsletters In September, [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) [added the ability to receive newsletters](https://blog.feedly.com/get-newsletters-in-feedly/). As my inbox was starting to overflow with them, this **was a fantastic way to start receiving them** in the same “reader” that I was using to consume the rest of my feeds. Suddenly my “reading content” was starting to centralize; which was an amazing boost to my productivity. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c1b5ac71-de45-4e4d-8481-3aee7a29a935_248x396.png) folders I created a folder in [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) called (obviously) ‘newsletters’, and added feeds for any I could find (for ex, any [Substack](https://substack.com/) newsletter or medium site can [be added by ending the URL with ](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038239391-Is-there-an-RSS-feed-for-my-publication-)**[/feed](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038239391-Is-there-an-RSS-feed-for-my-publication-)**) or used [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) to create a created a **unique** email address for each newsletter I wanted to subscribe to. My email was once again “freed” from random things to read. #### Information Bonanza Now that articles and newsletters are in a single place, I started to mess with what “other” information I could put in there. [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) brilliantly allows you [integrate with things like Twitter](https://blog.feedly.com/get-tweets-in-feedly/). You can add/follow Twitter accounts, hashtags, lists, and searches directly into your [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) reading. In fact, [Feedly supports tons of various integrations](https://blog.feedly.com/the-11-types-of-sources-you-can-add-to-feedly/) where you can add: - **Newsletters** and **Twitter** — as mentioned above. - **Reddit** — follow [Reddit](https://reddit.com/) searches, subreddits, your [Reddit](https://reddit.com/) homepage - **Keyword alerts** — monitor a [specific keyword on Goggle News](https://blog.feedly.com/follow-google-news/), have the article show up in your reading list. - **Research Journals** — I haven’t dug too deep into this, but looks like [you can use PubMed feeds](https://blog.feedly.com/streamline-your-scientific-research-with-pubmed-feeds/) as well as other research journals. - **YouTube Channels** — subscribe to [Youtube](https://youtube.com/) channels and get lists when new videos are published. - **Podcasts** I’ve begun to start adding in more content from various places while I’m trying to avoid information overload; that’s where Leo comes in… #### Leo AI Now that you have all this information in a single place, keeping up with the things you really care about can become a bit overwhelming. [This is where the Leo AI comes in](https://blog.feedly.com/leo/). [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) offers finite control over your feeds to help you prioritize topics, trends, and keywords of choice; deduplicate repetitive news; mute irrelevant information; summarize articles, etc. For example, I have Leo agents built that examine all of the content I am subscribed to, and if it relates to the topic of “storytelling”, Leo makes it a priority in the things that I read. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/cf50ae99-6ebc-4ba5-a4fb-4f6019bfd3d6_961x600.png) Leo’s AI **This has been an absolute game changer for me**. There’s a ton of other functionality — read later, annotations, summaries, boards, newsletters in [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) that I didn’t get into; but there’s a plethora of super fun things to try in here to optimize how you discover and consume content. #### Reeder The second part of my mind palace is [Reeder](https://reederapp.com) on both [Mac](https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1529448980) and [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1529445840). Reeder 5.0 is where I go to read and curate content. It’s both a news reader and **read later client** in one app, and supports iCloud syncing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/23cc4c8e-1d93-4723-b843-982b0cbd3959_1024x789.png) Feedly via Reeder It’s pretty straightforward from here — I read/review all my [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) content in app, and my reading/sync list is automatically shared between all of my devices. If there’s content that I want to save in the **digital mind palace**, I save and tag it within [Reeders iCloud Read Later](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/) service. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/085a593b-1b78-4c94-b6da-04ac4f679ad9_1024x789.png) Read it Later [Reeder](https://reederapp.com) also [supports things such as widgets](https://www.imore.com/reeder-5-sneaks-app-store-ios-14-widgets-icloud-sync-more) if you’re into that. #### Summary In the end this workflow has been working **very** well for me this year. I was able to get rid of several old tools, and have been spending more time reading and discovering new content through Feedly’s fantastic integrations. I hear more is coming soon from Feedly on this front — the best part is that it’s all done with standards — so my front end reading workflow in Reeder won’t have to change. Until next time…. ### Scott Pilgrim vs the World URL: https://makoism.com/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world/ Last updated: 2021-01-16T16:42:58.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b3e9255e-e41e-48fd-ac58-4b94c97b5973_6240x4160.jpeg) ready…. fight! 2010 saw the release of the now cult-classic-film-adapted-from-a comic, [Scott Pilgrim vs the World](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/). It stars [Michael Cera](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148418/) as a '*a slacker musician who must win a competition to get a record deal, and battle the seven evil exes of his newest girlfriend Ramona Flowers*'. The movie is fast, wacky, and as close to a real-life video game as you could do on film - including tons of 8-bit humor and 40 game 'references' throughout this teen-angst Nintendo romp. It's perfectly cast movie with plenty of over the top performances from [Chris Evans](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262635), [Aubrey Plaza](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2201555), [Brie Larson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488953), [Anna Kendrick](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0447695) and [Brandon Routh](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746125) to name a few. What I really love about this movie is that it perfectly wraps a nostalgic video game aesthetic with around a powerful feeling many have around their own inability to deal with the past. In a wham-bang finale, it totally delivers a simple and powerful message that **you will get through this, and you will be fine**. Something that I think many need in 2021. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Over the past few months, [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/) has been digging into the history of conspiracy theories, the power of social media and the rise of mainstream conspiracism in '**Shadowland**' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/shadowland/) I've long been a fan of *small notebooks to jot down thoughts* (outside of just emotional connection to writing); but now there's been a study investigating on how terrible laptops are for note-taking and long term memory. Bottom line: '*Typing is fast. Handwriting is slow. Weirdly, that's precisely why handwriting is better suited to learning.*' - [More](http://www.businessinsider.com/handwriting-helps-you-learn-2014-12) Sea shanties, the [latest Tik Tok craze](https://www.cnet.com/news/sea-shanties-are-all-over-tiktok-heres-why/), is what we all needed right now. I've probably listened to '[The Wellerman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8QpbqDT7tE)' 100 times by now. A look at why everyone is obsessed with them and how they are [here to save us](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/13/sea-shanties-tiktok-nathan-evanss-wellerman/) \- [More](http://www.wbur.org/artery/2021/01/15/why-is-everyone-obsessed-with-sea-shanties-a-gloucester-shanty-singer-explains) Mobile adoption continued to explode in 2020 with consumer spend at app stores at $143 billion. In [App Annie](https://www.appannie.com/en/)'s annual '[State of Mobile](https://www.appannie.com/en/insights/market-data/state-of-mobile-2021/)' report '*mobile app downloads grew by 7% year-over-year to a record 218 billion in 2020 and consumer spending grew by 20%*' - [More](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/13/app-stores-saw-record-218-billion-downloads-in-2020-consumer-spend-of-143-billion/) Want your [Girl Scout Cookies](https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/all-about-cookies/Meet-the-Cookies.html) during the pandemic? [Grubhub](https://www.grubhub.com/) has you covered - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/girl-scouts-delivery-grubhub.html) I've been fascinated with [StageCraft and how it's reshaped filmmaking in ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUnxzVOs3rk)*[The Mandalorian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUnxzVOs3rk)*. [The Midnight Sky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXUUqr3AFKs), a new film on [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/), used the same technology for filming shots of Barbeau Observatory, and here's a behind the scenes look at it - [More](https://www.fxguide.com/fxfeatured/the-midnight-skys-virtual-production-using-stagecraft/) Rolling Stone recently did an interview with filmmaker [David Fincher](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000399/), digging into his early life and influences in filmmaking - a must read this week - [More](https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/david-fincher-rolling-stone-interview-1096204/) You could file this under [Internet of Shit](https://twitter.com/internetofshit) \- there's new bathroom tech that's been released at CES that analyzes your waste in the toilet and makes dietary recommendations. What can I say, it's 2021 at it's finest - [More](https://www.cnet.com/news/toto-expands-touchless-bathroom-tech-and-debuts-a-health-analyzing-toilet-at-ces-2021/) I found this '*video of a robot performing surgery on a banana*' oddly relaxing - [More](https://frankdiana.net/2020/12/21/watch-a-robot-perform-surgery-on-a-banana/) Speaking of relaxing, there are tremendous benefits to thinking, positive energy and good old fashioned distraction from taking morning walks - [More](https://medium.com/illumination/how-to-improve-your-day-with-a-morning-walk-8207cbd39a30) Stratechery dives deep into Internet 3.0, the shifting of big tech power and the differences between US and the rest of the world when it comes to free speech. An amazingly insightful read - [More](https://stratechery.com/2021/internet-3-0-and-the-beginning-of-tech-history/) For all the film geeks, an enterprising developer faithfully has recreated the [PIN cracking technology from Terminator 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB82FNPoiPM&feature=emb%5Ftitle) \- [More](https://bert.org/2021/01/04/t2-pin-cracking/) ## **End Thoughts** > *When I'm around you, I kind of feel like I'm on drugs.* > > *Not that I do drugs.* > > *Unless you do drugs, in which case I do them all the time.* > > **All of them*.* ### The Prestige URL: https://makoism.com/the-prestige/ Last updated: 2021-01-09T17:43:32.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bb0d7067-1e2b-4ee4-a2fb-c64778da19a8_5184x2916.jpeg) magic I know what you're thinking - another [Christoper Nolan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634240/) post, but this week's featured watch was the 2006 film [The Prestige](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/), starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. The movie centers on two rival magicians who are in a 'one up' battle to create the ultimate illusion all while they sacrifice everything in order to create the world's greatest magic trick. If you want to dig deeper into the psychology of the film, it centers on identity, narcissism, obsession and sacrifice. How how far an individual will go. The consequences of actions and one's willingness to tread deep when there is no turning back. While I won't spoil the ending to what I consider to be one of **Nolan's masterpieces**, I will comment that I always enjoy the **controversy and rethinking**many of his earlier films leave with the audience with to dig for deeper clues and meanings. Maybe Cutter (played by Michael Caine), explains it best: "*Now, you're looking for the secret. But you won't find it because, of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled.*" If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** With the new year upon us, I kept on seeing this meme posted across social media: '*None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.*'. The odd part - every time I saw it, it was attributed to **different** people ranging from Keanu Reeves to Anthony Hopkins. After researching it, I was able to find out who the real author was. - [More](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/keanu-reeves-live-life-fully-quote/) One of my favorite gross and humorous items that was released at Disney's Animal Kingdom [was their '](https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/news/a31929/disney-land-opens-poop-candy-shop/)**[Poop-Themed Candy](https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/news/a31929/disney-land-opens-poop-candy-shop/)**['](https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/news/a31929/disney-land-opens-poop-candy-shop/) at Zuri's Sweet Shop. Controversy about them quickly followed and it was pulled from the park, but here's a look at their famous 'giraffe poop'. - [More](https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/06/18/first-look-zuris-sweets-shop-and-the-poop-candy-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/) Sports in 2020/2021 has been an odd thing; this is a fascinating look at the various 'cardboard sports fan' cutouts that have been appearing across games this year. From Tom Hanks to Pedro the Dog and even Barak Obama, these stand-in's for people have interesting stories behind them - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2020-in-review/the-year-of-the-cardboard-sports-fan) This read is an incredibly detailed dive into the Apple Watch's 'Solar Face' - I never realized the amount of incredible detail and special nuance that it had until I read 'The Anatomy Of Nightfall' and will play with this one more - [More](https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-eerie-beauty-of-the-apple-watch-solar-face-and-the-anatomy-of-nightfall) With a catchy name - the BHI260AP, is [a new chip from Bosch](https://www.bosch-sensortec.com/products/smart-sensors/bhi260ap/) that '*can be taught to recognize any activity using AI, so an athlete could train their fitness tracker to detect and record every individual exercise in their routine*' - [More](https://gizmodo.com/a-new-fitness-tracker-sensor-can-learn-and-recognize-al-1845887462) Not sure what to say about this, except you have to read the write up on how researchers have figured out how to '**use urine to heat homes**' - [More](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/01/02/using-urine-to-heat-homes) New year, new opportunities - Anil Dash has a fantastic write up on his annual '**personal digital reset**' to help make his online life a 'bit more pleasant'. Lots of great tips in here; personally I'm not going as far as factory reseting my phone, but there's lots of great systems in here to make things a little less cluttered and chaotic - [More](https://anildash.com/2020/12/31/a-personal-digital-reset/) Have you ever been on a walk and seen a birdhouse-like structures that contained books? The concept of '**neighborhood libraries**' has a fascinating history - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-benefits-of-installing-a-little-free-library-in-your-front-yard/) With 22 seconds left, Russel Wilson made an odd pass to receiver David Moore, who gained five yards before running out of bounds. The next play, the Seahawks took a knee, finishing their season with a 26-23 win. Why did they run such a strange play? David Moore **earned a $100,000 bonus** with that catch - [More](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2021/01/04/russell-wilsons-late-pass-gets-wr-david-moore-100000-bonus/4126783001/) A nice article on consistency, and how '*writing a lot is not enough*' - [More](http://shime.sh/writing-a-lot) In this great TED talk, Monica Lewinsky looks at the online culture of humiliation in 'The Price of Shame' - [Watch](https://www.ted.com/talks/monica%5Flewinsky%5Fthe%5Fprice%5Fof%5Fshame) ## **End Thoughts** > *Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts.* > > **The first part is called "The Pledge".** > > *The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't.* > > **The second act is called "The Turn".** > > *The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back.* > > **That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige".** ### Contact URL: https://makoism.com/contact/ Last updated: 2021-01-02T17:29:03.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d134f692-e69c-4a69-bf9b-0fd031f7cf05_3264x2448.jpeg) Jumped back this week to another classic film, [Robert Zemeckis](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000709/)'s 1997 [Contact](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118884), based off the novel from astronomer [Carl Sagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl%5FSagan) and starred [Jodie Foster](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000149/). The film's plot is straightforward - It's about Ellie, a talented scientist whose colleagues believe she is wasting her time and energy on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. After discovering evidence that someone **is** out there, and that these aliens are purposefully communicating with us, it dives into the deep conflicts between humans (rather than focusing on the aliens). It's more about how humanity would respond to this type of discovery - the effects of political powers, the perceived power of religious groups, and the evolution of humankind. When it was released, the film was impactful/criticized and it '*has a captivating depiction of the eternal struggle between science and religion*', but there's many subtle layers to this film: the role of how media and technology frame our world, the journey of a young girl through a tragedy, and the sheer forcefulness of being pushed to look through other's perspectives. Years later, this film continues to hold up as a masterpiece. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** [Forte Labs](https://fortelabs.co/) has an important read this week on ‘Windows of Opportunity’, by doing an introspective on [Gary Flandro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary%5FFlandro) from NASA, and '*rare set of circumstances and a brief moment of time in which an otherwise impossible outcome is potentially achievable*'. As I look back across my own life, I can pick out several transformative moments when things aligned which shaped the following years to come - [More](https://fortelabs.co/blog/windows-of-opportunity/) Unfortunately, I have to agree with this article on the de-evolution of Instagram. What was once a timeline filled with creatives with interesting content, it’s morphed in a narcissistic cult of personality. I feel there’s the opportunity for someone to re-think the mess that social networks have become to something more personal, more private, more... social? - [More](http://morrick.me/archives/9133) Super cool on the geek front - the entire archive of [Computerworld](https://www.computerworld.com/) has been released for free based on digitized microfilm. The entire archive from 1967-2014 is available, searchable and downloadable - [More](http://blog.archive.org/2020/12/30/computerworld-archives-back-from-vintage-microfilm/) Monkey Island was on of the greatest games I can remember from my childhood. Developed at Lucasfilm Games, “The Secrets of Monkey Island's Source Code” takes a deep dive into the SCUMM game scripting language (*Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion*) and explores unused concepts, how they handled certain aspects of the game story and art, and their development process - [More](https://gamehistory.org/monkeyisland/) [Waterfield Designs](https://www.sfbags.com/) makes my favorite bags and I’m more than excited to get ahold of [their new case for the AirPods Max](https://www.sfbags.com/products/airpods-max-shield-case). Check out this video on this amazing company - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0eUzhE7BZg&feature=youtu.be) Interesting read on the mental mindset between ‘open mode’ and ‘closed mode’. John Cleese of Monty Python said that “*creativity is not possible in closed mode as we’re too focused on our to-do lists and fueled by productive stress - open mode is a relaxed... expansive... less purposeful mode... in which we’re probably more contemplative, more inclined to humor (which always accompanies a wider perspective) and, consequently, more playful.*“ - [More](https://perell.com/note/open-mode-and-closed-mode/) A look at ‘*focus as a process, not a result*’ and the effects that interruptions and context switching has on our **flow**. - [More](https://medium.com/the-innovation/stop-thinking-about-productivity-and-start-thinking-about-focus-d54d9008c622) 10 incredible benefits of being lazy. Sounds good these days, to be honest - [More](https://nesslabs.com/benefits-of-laziness) To close out 2020 and start fresh in 2021, Seth Godin has a great read on ‘*amplifying possibility. Amplify possibility. Dial down the spread of disinformation, trolling and division. Make it almost impossible to get famous at the expense of civilization. Embrace the fact that breaking news doesn’t have to be the rhythm of our days. Reward thoughtfulness and consistency and responsibility*‘ - [More](https://seths.blog/2020/12/amplify-possibility/) Lots of reading this week on time; in ‘Don't Kill Time’, David Perell examines the differences between work, play and relaxing. Which, is fundamentally different than wasting time, and the benefits of when you view time as a resource - [More](https://perell.com/essay/dont-kill-time/) The Ivy Lee Method is a famous system for getting more done and its a simple mindset: ‘Do the most important thing first each day’. On the onset it appears easy to do, but it requires focus and consistency - [More](https://jamesclear.com/ivy-lee) I enjoyed this post from [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/) on the concept of ‘circular time vs. linear time’ and how we each perceive the passage of time. The circular view is to treat time as a [spiral](https://austinkleon.com/2018/02/26/the-lifelong-creative-learning-spiral/) and that it doesn’t have an end, a loop, in which you never really “arrive” to a destination on a project, but start over at a new starting point - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2020/01/06/circular-time-vs-linear-time/) ## **End Thoughts** > *You wanna hear something really nutty?* > > *I heard of a couple guys who wanna build something called an “airplane,” you know you get people to go in, and fly around like birds, it’s ridiculous, right?* > > *And what about breaking the sound barrier, or rockets to the moon, or atomic energy, or a mission to Mars? Science fiction, right?* > > *Look, all I’m asking, is for you to just have the tiniest bit of vision.* > > *You know, to just sit back for one minute and look at the big picture. To take a chance on something that just might end up being the most profoundly impactful moment for humanity, for the history… of history.* ### Mako “Things I Like”: 2020 URL: https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2020/ Last updated: 2023-04-30T17:41:22.000Z Here it is folks - the *sixth annual* end of year report: **The 2020 guide to “things that I like”.** It’s an ongoing attempt to keep track of things/apps/processes that I have found useful in surrounding myself with, an ongoing attempt to maximize my daily workflow and put me in the ‘zone’. Like everyone else, this year has taken a wild and unseen turn over the last 12 months, and where I would be normally be running through what’s new in my EDC and my mobile setup, this year has been firmly focused on maximizing my mental health, balancing lots of Zoom calls, and optimizing my “at home” work environment. It saw lots of unexpected pivots from what I used to be focused on with lots of changes in positive ways that were unexpected. The theme for 2020 was not focused on optimizing time between meetings and travel — but a constant drive on finding better ways that I could mentally survive and thrive. ## **Deep Links** Based on the urging from a few peers, friends and colleagues, I was asked if I would start sending out interesting content that I had discovered online — and [Deep Links](https://news.furrygoat.com/) was born. The result was uncanny and unexpected but incredibly encouraging: people really enjoyed it! I started to receive lots of questions/feedback and connections from just putting it out there; talking bluntly; and focusing on things that I found interesting. I am happy connect (here’s a [link on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakofsky/)), feel free to reach out! One personal side benefit was that it was good for my headspace — 2020 was about the following *a mental workflow*: **read for 30 minutes, write for 30 minutes and play for 30 minutes every day**. To join the club (free!), [follow me here](https://makoism.com/) or [have it delivered to your mailbox every Saturday](https://news.furrygoat.com/). Here’s a list of the top 5 articles from posting every week: 1. [Xmas or Bust: The Untold Story of ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’](https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/xmas-or-bust-the-untold-story-of-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation-173969/) 2. [(in)Secure Development — Why some product teams are great and others aren’t…](https://tldrsec.com/blog/insecure-development-why-some-product-teams-are-great-and-others-arent/) 3. [Tossing a Bird That Does Not Fly Out of a Plane](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/yellville-turkey-trot/576184/) 4. [Invite a llama or goat to your next corporate Zoom meeting or video call for under $100](https://www.businessinsider.com/zoom-video-goat-2-meeting-llama-sweet-farm-animals-cameo-2020-4) (side note: I did this with my team, and it was great) 5. [The Next Platform: WFH](https://500ish.com/the-next-platform-wfh-899d9a5d40d4) And by far, the most popular blog post was [The No People](https://furrygoat.com/the-no-people-f97f3e299d11), in which I encourage folks to “reach out and embrace the ‘**no people**’ and make them part of your tribe”. In 2021, one of the efforts I am making is around being more intentional in my writing. When I read something that sparks an idea, I have begun to take down that theme and use it to inspire a weekly post. We’ll see how that continues through the next year. ## **The Purge (the annual audit)** ([From: “The Purge”](https://makoism.com/the-purge/)) I find it to be an incredibly useful exercise to audit things in my technology “stack”. This isn’t about the apps I am using or things I’ve installed that are sitting there collecting dust, but taking a hard, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, workflow; heck look at anything in the *entire ecosystem*that encompasses my day to day computing devices and workflow. Here a basic outline of the flow that I have used, and continue to find useful: - **Apps** — examine the apps on your phone, iPad and laptop . Have you used the app in the last 2 months? *If not, you don’t need it*. **Delete it.** - **Media** — do you need **all** those documents/movies/music on your phone or laptop with you? With streaming, wireless and clouds today do you need 24,000 songs, 19 movies and every receipt with you? *If not, store things away in iCloud or Google or Amazon helps keeps my devices light.* - **Subscription** — ask yourself: are you getting *value* out of that application subscription? *If not, cancel it*. My litmus test here here — if it’s a service (media, storage, etc., where they are paying costs for hosting, etc), I will keep it going. If it’s for an app that’s more “static”, like a calculator, text editor, photo editor, I will buy a lifetime subscription (if offered), or won’t do a subscription for it and move on. Apps are in a weird phase right now — I don’t mind annual upgrade charges (and they should be priced right — not this $.99 or even $9.99 BS — it **takes time and people to build software**, I don’t mind dropping $59 for something great to support it). **I cannot take being nickel and dimed monthly.** - **Higher Learning** — Do you have time set aside for writing in your journal every day? do you have a few hours aside a week for learning? do you read enough? *I *make* time to journal entry in DayOne every day — even if it’s a sentence.* - **On the day to day** — what is the best way to manage your day, get thru your to-do list, how to deal with the landslide of email, how to optimize reading for content that is interesting? See my earlier post on [Flow](https://makoism.com/flow-23a/). Whatever your own process may be, it’s incredibly freeing to declutter oneself. More importantly, it allows you to focus on the things that **really**matter. ## Flow ([From “Flow”](https://furrygoat.com/flow-77d6348dbfc1)) One of the things I pride myself on is that I try to respond to messages as quickly as possible. While this has sometime’s gotten me into trouble (sometimes it’s best to let things stew), I am do get asked how this is doable given the constant stream of noise that most of us deal with every day. The answer is easy: **My inbox is empty.** I’ve been able to keep this philosophy pretty consistent over 10 + years now (despite the recent ‘[inbox zero is wrong](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-you-thought-you-knew-about-inbox-zero-is-wrong/)’), and I follow the general rule that I would not let email overwhelm me — **Email is not my task list**. The trick, while difficult at times, is to keep your Inbox *below 5 items before the end of each day*. Trust me friends, once you get there, it’s **amazing** how liberating this can be. The workflow is pretty straight-forward, for **every** new mail: - If I don’t need it and can delete it, I **delete** it immediately. - If it’s something that I can **answer immediately**, I do. Then the email goes into the ‘year’ folder or **deleted**. - If it’s something that I **need for information later**, it quickly goes into the ‘year’ folder. If the email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast or what ever else that I can consume later, it quickly goes into [Pocket](https://app.getpocket.com/). Then is **deleted**. - If it’s something that I need to **think** about or take **action** on, it quickly goes over to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item, with tags, a project and a due date. Then the email goes into the ‘year’ folder or **deleted**. The process is simple and quick and my inbox **never** becomes a dumping ground for tasks. ## Surviving 2020 A few new things that I have been spending more time on now that I am constantly at home. ## Coffee After trying a ton of different espresso roasters, [Tony’s Coffee](https://www.tonyscoffee.com/) of Bellingham, WA consistently was my “go to” bean of choice. I’m fond of their [Espresso Noir Dark Roast](https://www.tonyscoffee.com/product/espresso-noir/) — it pulls a perfect shot almost every time; I’ve used it for both espresso and cold brew. [Tony’s has been awarded “roaster of the year” in 2021 from Roast Magazine](https://www.roastmagazine.com/resources/Articles/2020/2020%5FIssue6%5FNovDec/Roast%5FNovDec20%5Fa2%5FROYMacro.pdf); an honor well-deserved. ## Tea Late this year, after I was given a box of their [Soothe Sayer, No 15](https://www.smithtea.com/collections/wellness/products/soothe-sayer), I discovered and fell in love with the various blends from [Steven Smith Teamaker](https://www.smithtea.com/) right here in Portland. Last week, I ventured over to [their tasting room](https://www.smithtea.com/pages/tasting-rooms) to try and get a few of their limited blends, such as [Silent Night](https://www.smithtea.com/collections/holiday/products/silent-night), before they run out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/9088713a-3ea1-4165-958b-d46b2c4b5292_200x200.jpeg) It’s founder, [Steven Smith, created/sold Tazo tea](https://www.smithtea.com/pages/about-smith), and went on to establish this small local brand that built itself out of an old blacksmith shop. Fascinating back story, and delicious tea. ## Pizza Oven One of our early “pandemic” purchases was an [Ooni Koda](https://ooni.com/collections/ovens/products/ooni-koda) pizza oven. I’ve always wanted to get one of these small portable ovens that could fire up super hot (900 degrees) and cook a pie in 60 seconds with an authentic artisan taste. And boy — did it deliver. To be honest, it took time to get down the technique (and we had a few smoldering messes and epic failures), but now Friday night is **always** homemade pizza night. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/7da6718c-096a-47da-bd97-8cc0593deff2_700x525.jpeg) If you are going to get one, I’d recommend getting at least 2 pizza peels (we [went with these slate ones](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NQC1ABC)); this way you can be prepping the next pie while one is cooking. Also get yourself a round steel oven spatula (we [went with this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MG9RVK)) as the key to not having a charbroiled pie is to be consistently turning it. The round spatula makes this incredibly easy. ## Journaling Another area of self growth for me in 2020 was continuing a digital “[commonplace journal](https://criticalmargins.com/the-commonplace-book-as-a-thinkers-journal-4d65231f30ec)” in [DayOne](https://dayoneapp.com/). Outside of my normal journaling (where I have a daily log of what’s on my mind to declutter my thoughts when I wake up), the commonplace journal has become an important part of my routines. > *For centuries, authors and thinkers have kept commonplace books: focused journals that serve to collect thoughts, quotes, moments of introspection, transcribed passages from reading — anything of purpose worth reviewing later.* In DayOne, I now have a separate journal where I store all the quotes and clips and moments of thought that I want to keep together for reflection. ## **Best Things to Watch in 2020** TV Shows and Movies that I have enjoyed or that have inspired me this year: - [Umbrella Academy](https://www.netflix.com/title/80186863) — Seasons one and two are on Netflix. - [Watchmen](https://www.hbo.com/watchmen) — While this came out late in 2019, I feel that this series is one of the best of the year. - [Ozark](https://www.netflix.com/title/80117552) — I know I was late to discovering Ozark — but we binged all 3 seasons over a few days. - [The Mandalorian](https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/the-mandalorian) — Yes, it fills my childhood geekiness with the Star Wars that I always wanted after the original trilogy. The work of [Dave Filoni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave%5FFiloni) and [Jon Favreau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon%5FFavreau) have been nothing short of epic in what they’ve achieved in two seasons. - [Soul](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948372/) — A late entry as this was released on Disney+ on Christmas Day, but it stuck a particular note with me (and [lots of others](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a35077555/pixars-soul-twitter-reactions/)) on what one needs to prioritize and focus on in life. ## Setup While I am given a work laptop, I like to reference it as **the brick**. It used to travel back and forth to work every day, but now that this year has been been at home, it idly sits in a bag most of the time. I find it unfortunate that I actually *need* a work laptop, as its primary function is to VPN to the office. (Side note: I think I need to do a post of the ‘appearance’ of security, versus the reality of security at some point). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2284379f-b13c-471c-91d0-5ad368a1e17a_700x525.jpeg) making it pretty and functional My home laptop is a shiny new [M1 Apple Silicon MacBook Air](https://www.apple.com/mac/m1/). 12 months ago, I was well on the way to having an iPad centric computing environment, and now I’m back on the Mac in full force. **Hands down, this laptop is the best laptop I’ve ever owned**. I would love to see Apple in 2021 evolve the **iPad Mini 6** into an edge-to-edge device, as I find the iPad Pro 11.5” too large as a ‘around the house’ device. Here’s where my setup is as we end 2020: - [MacBook (Air 512gb/16gb, M1, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — I am on this laptop all day long in my home office. I love it. - [iPhone 12 Pro (512gb, Pacific Blue)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-12-pro/) — Goes with me **everywhere**; the only change I went with in 2020 was with the new “blue” option. - [iPad Pro 11.5 (512gb, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) — Now, during the day, it sits on the desk as a secondary display or a quick way for me to check the calendar or email. It has become once again, an on the couch, reading in bed, sitting on the porch, etc. - [Apple Watch 6 Cellular](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-6/) — The 6th generation of the watch was a no brainer — it’s the center-piece of [my health tracking](https://furrygoat.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5). - [MB Pro 13”](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-13/) — work laptop. I **hate this machine** — not needed except that work requires certain restrictions/policies to be installed on a laptop to be on the network . I have an ancient [Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) “media server” that is used to archive content and backup the Synology NAS to [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html). Other random gear that I include in my workflow / EDC (Every Day Carry): - [Peel Case](https://buypeel.com/products/super-thin-iphone-11-pro-case) — super thin and super tough case - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — with [memory foam](https://www.complyfoam.com/products/app-comply-foam-tips-compatible-with-airpods-pro/) are my primary headphones for calls. - [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black) — the Woolenex case is miles above the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works great with wireless charging as well. - [AirPod Max](https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/) — I know, the case is stupid. But the sound quality on these are amazing for listening to music and watching movies. - [AirPod Max Waterfield Case](https://www.sfbags.com/products/airpods-max-shield-case) — I am waiting for these to arrive, as mentioned, the AirPod Max “bra” case is terrible. - [Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro 11.5](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MXQT2LL/A/magic-keyboard-for-ipad-air-4th-generation-and-ipad-pro-11-inch-2nd-generation-us-english) — this is a “dock” at the desk. It’s a great keyboard, but heavy to carry around with me. When not at the desk, I put on the old style normal-non-keyboard cover for “consumption” mode. - [Bolt Crossbody Laptop Bag](https://www.sfbags.com/collections/ipad-pro-sleeves-and-bags/products/bolt-crossbody-laptop-bag) — since 2018, been the daily bag of choice for me. - [Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD Portable Charger USB-C](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WD5TY8) — went with a charge bank that has USB-C, light and super slim. Upgraded all the in-bag cables to USB-C as well. ## Gear at the Desk - [Magic Mouse](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA02LL/A/magic-mouse-2-silver), [Magic Keyboard](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english) — At the desk - [Magic Keyboard](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english) - [MagSafe Duo Charger](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MHXF3AM/A/magsafe-duo-charger) - [MagSafe Charger](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MHXH3AM/A/magsafe-charger) - [Grovemade MagSafe Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/magsafe-stand/) - [Stream Deck Mini](https://www.elgato.com/en/gaming/stream-deck-mini) - [OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock](https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock) - [Blue Yeti Nano](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti-nano/) and [Blue Yeti Compass](https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/compass/) - [Dell Widescreen 3421 USB-C](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-34-curved-usb-c-monitor-p3421w/apd/210-axqc/monitors-monitor-accessories) - [Grovemade Monitor Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/wood-monitor-stand/?initial=64) - [Grovemade Pen and Stand](https://grovemade.com/product/black-pen-and-pen-stand/?initial=491) - [Sonos One](https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/one.html) - [Logitech Brio 4k WebCam](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/webcams/brio-4k-hdr-webcam.html) - Pete’s Pirate Gear — candle, challenge coin and dice Things to work on in 2021: lighting. I need to fix the light in my home office for better video conferencing. ## EDC Cable Bag As I didn’t travel this year, the cable bags have stayed the same. In the past, I end up reworking *micro “cable bags”* that are designed so I can just pick up one and go. This year I’m down to 2 — my everyday cables, and a travel bag. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/747cd529-7a4b-4875-99c6-b464c353fc63_700x419.jpeg) - [Tom Bihn Ballistic Organizer](https://www.tombihn.com/collections/organizer-pouches/products/ballistic-organizer-pouch?variant=16620959751) — all of this (except the notebook) gets stuffed in here. - [Nite Ize S-Biner Dual Carabiner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HN6CW4) — to clip on water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK)) to bring heart medication everywhere. Unfortunately needed these days. - [1ft Anker USB-C to Lightning](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XYX3WNY) cable — charge the phone or AirPod Pro’s - [1.6ft Anker USB-C to USB-C](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076D76DRQ) cable — charge the iPad Pro or anything else USB-C - [Short Apple Watch USB-C](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XTQKHDR) cable — charge the Apple Watch - [Leather cable straps](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WNS98W) — because they are functional and look cool. - [RAVPower 61W Wall Charger PD 3.0](https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Charging-Delivery-Foldable-Compatible/dp/B07TC53ZYD) — while I still like the Anker thin charger, this charger is small enough and can still power the 13" MBP, iPad, and anything else USB-C. - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small, bright, it’s a no brainer for the daily bag. - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — the only issue I have with these is that they dont stay in my ear as well as the previous generation AirPods. - [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black?fnode=3d8f3c1d4dcf55f805bfbdf4691b3c94a996457258e4fa8b5346bc108590cad003bbdb70441ebb67cc48bf3ee90423e2bfa5a9bdaca784bbb5ccec17b21b98f5bb2a7c34ea12f0583c10d530eca159e0e92d63b714bc96da89bd4cc867d494e3) — really like the Woolenex case over the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works great with wireless charging as well. - [KardiaMobile 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) — Another one of the unfortunate realities for me these days, I need to carry an EKG reader with me. While the AppleWatch is great for a simple and quick 1-lead EKG, this amazing gum-stick sized device can do a medical grade 6-lead EKG that’s easily sharable with my doctors. - [Lochby Pocket Journal](https://www.lochby.com/collections/frontpage/products/pocket-journal) — amazing quality ultra portable field journal case. Also added this [paracord keychain lanyard](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L8K1HSX). - [Field Notes Dot Grid Pitch Black](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/pitch-black-notebook) — Dot Grid notebooks are superior, and Field Notes makes the best ones which fit beautifully in the Lochby. - [Fisher Bullet-Pen](https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-400B-Space-Bullet-Pen/dp/B000WGD13U) — small, awesome for writing, and you just never know when you need one. [Read a review here to see why this is the best pen](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2014/2/19/fisher-space-pen-bullet-review). - [Pete’s Pirate Life](https://petespiratelife.com/) Challenge Coin — yo ho yo ho. ## Travel Cable Bag I have another bag “ready” for when I travel; I can grab this kit, throw it into the GORUCK or whatever bag, and know I have everything I need: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/81125a54-1ba0-4587-831f-33a98a538c25_3678x2758.jpeg) - [Tom Bihn 3d Organizer Cube](https://www.tombihn.com/collections/accessories/products/3d-organizer-cube-fabric-mesh) - [Anker 65W 4 Port PIQ 3.0 & GaN Fast Charger Adapter](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZCGYP27) — Small multi-port charging block than can charge the phone, iPad, MacBook Pro, etc. - [Gl.iNet Travel Router](https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNet-GL-AR750S-Ext-pre-Installed-Cloudflare-Included/dp/B07GBXMBQF) — see the next section for more info on it. - [SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive USB Type-C](http://amzn.to/2krisWf) — just in case - Apple Watch Charge Cable - USB-C to USB-C Charge Cable - Lightening Charge Cable - 2 Micro-USB Charge cables (one to power the router), the other in case I need to charge anything else. ## Other Travel Gear No changes here in 2020 either. However, when I go on a trip, I throw together a few things outside the EDC Carry Bag to make life easy - [GORUCK](https://www.goruck.com/) — Finally treated myself to a [GR1 Rucksack](https://www.goruck.com/rucksacks/gr1/) and a [smaller 15L Bullet Ruck](https://www.goruck.com/rucksacks/bullet-ruck/) as my new travel bags. If you aren’t familiar with them, you should [read Ben Brooks](https://brooksreview.net/2017/03/goruck-gr1-revisiting-the-ultimate-backpack/)[reviews](https://brooksreview.net/2018/10/goruck-bullet-ruck-15l/). - [Tom Bihn Aeronaut](https://www.tombihn.com/products/aeronaut-45) — has been a workhorse for years, but I’ve been slowly migrating to the GORUCK. Still love this bag and use occasionally. - [Packing Cubes](https://www.tombihn.com/products/packing-cube-aeronaut-45?variant=16487688775) — always using 2 or 3 of these — just amazing for organization. - [FireTV 4K Stick](https://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Stick-4K-with-Alexa-Voice-Remote/dp/B079QHML21) — Been enjoying just plugging this thing into the hotel TV, connecting it to the travel router, and off I go with my content. # The 2020 Apps List ## The “Nuked” List Here’s a bunch of stuff I got rid of: - Nuked [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/) for article storage and now using [Reeder’s “read it later” functionality](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/reeder-5-review-read-later-tagging-icloud-sync-and-design-refinements/). Another subscription cancelled. - [Hello Weather](https://helloweatherapp.com/) — Nuked. - [Sound Hound](https://soundhound.com/) — Nuked. - [Music Harbor](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/musicharbor-track-new-music/id1440405750) — Nuked. - [Pythonista](http://omz-software.com/pythonista/) — Nuked, moved on to Pyto. - [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com/) — Nuked, no travel any more. - [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/) — Nuked. Terrible new subscription plan forced me to find an alternative. ## Apple Watch Apps I recently did a post covering my usage of the Apple Watch, along with the apps I use there. If interested, [check that out](https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/). ## Page One / Homepage This list contains the apps that I use every day; my page one on the phone and the pad. - [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) (Mac and iOS) — Last year I moved from OmniFocus to Todoist to Things, and I’m still on it. It’s a key part of every day’s flow. - [Reeder 5](http://reederapp.com/ios/) (Mac and iOS) — huge resurgence in RSS reading this year, and I’ve been using Feedly as a way to get newsletters via RSS instead of having my inbox flooded. - [Notes](https://www.tomsguide.com/us/ios-notes-features-and-tutorial,review-4503.html) (Mac and iOS) — Still using Notes for all my note taking. - [IA Writer](https://ia.net/writer) (Mac and iOS) — I switched from Ulysses to IAWriter this year. It’s a much better writing tool for me, and I wasn’t a fan of Ulysses subscription model. - [DayOne](http://dayoneapp.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I use DayOne for jotting down simple thoughts daily. Clearing my mind at the start of every day of the “junk” has been helpful for me to maintain better clarity. - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/) and [Apollo](https://apolloapp.io/) (Web and iOS) — continuing to use Reddit this year as a resource — but like Twitter, you need to curate your subscriptions carefully. - [Weather Line](http://weatherlineapp.com/) (iOS)- after using Hello Weather for years, I wanted to go with a change. Weather Line is a beautiful app (with a “lifetime” subscription) and a fresh, innovative design. - [Tot](https://tot.rocks/) (Mac and iOS) — Tot is a weird one for me, but it works — think of it as a simple utility to throw down scrap notes that syncs between your laptop, pad and phone. - [1Password](https://1password.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I have my entire family on [1Password for Families](https://1password.com/families/). In there, I have a good 800+ passwords and logins for sites that I have no idea what the password is. It’s essential for personal security in 2020, IMHO. - [Slack](https://slack.com/) (Mac and iOS) — necessary evil for work. - [Training Peaks](https://www.trainingpeaks.com/) (Web and iOS) — My coach and all my structured workouts are on this. - [Medium](https://www.medium.com/) (Web and iOS) — I read a lot on Medium these days, and still paying for a subscription. This is one I am monitoring in 2020 to see if it’s worth keeping. - Tweetbot - [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/) — I have been enjoying the articles from The Atlantic this year. The style of reporting, the balanced views, have made this a daily read. - [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/) — This is a harder one, and I’m not sure if I plan to keep the subscription going past March this year. While I grew up always trusting what I’ve read in the NYT, some of their decisions on reporting headlines lately have made me second guess keeping it. - Messages, Calendar, Photos, Camera, Maps, News, Stocks, Music, Wallet, Notes, Safari, aTV, Books — All stock iOS/Mac apps ## Media Consumption (or, my streaming nightmare) - [Apple One](https://www.apple.com/apple-one/) (Web and iOS) — This way I get News+, AppleTV+, Fitness+ all in a family package. Apple Arcade still seems to suck. - [HBO Max](https://www.hbomax.com/) (Web and iOS) - [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/) (Web and iOS) - [Amazon Prime Video](https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011) (Web and iOS) - [Disney+](https://disneyplus.com/) (Web and iOS) — The Mandalorian. Enough said. :) - [CBS + Showtime](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/08/apple-tv-plus-subscribers-get-cbs-all-access-and-showtime-bundle-at-a-great-value/)\] (via AppleTV) — For me, its about Star Trek, but this deal is a good one. - [HD HomeRun](https://www.silicondust.com/) — The Prime has a cablecard interface, and allows me to stream channels to any Apple TV, iPad, Phone, etc., in the house. - [Channels](https://getchannels.com/) (iOS, AppleTV) — Stream live from the HD HomeRun to any Apple TV, phone, pad, etc. Works incredibly well. - [Sonos](https://www.sonos.com/en-us/home) (Mac and iOS) - [ReelGood](https://reelgood.com/) (Web and iOS) — I use this to find “where” something is streaming. Searching across all the subscription services for where you can stream a particular title from is a PIA and this app helps out. Summary: Theres too many damn streaming services now; it’s costing me more than cable did. In 2021, I will cut the ties with Xfinity though and move to [TMobile TVision](https://www.t-mobile.com/tvision) or [YouTube TV](https://tv.youtube.com/). ## Photo / Video - [Halide](https://halide.cam/) (iOS) — allows for shooting RAW photos on the phone, and the BEST camera app - [Darkroom](http://darkroom.co/) (iOS) — the BEST photo editing app for your phone - [Pixelmator Pro](http://www.pixelmator.com/pro/) (Mac) — photo editing - [Pixelmator](http://www.pixelmator.com/ios/) (iOS) — photo editing - [Photofox](http://www.photofoxapp.com/) (iOS) - [MetaPho](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metapho/id914457352) and [MetaGear](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metagear-metadata-editor/id1163328498) (iOS) — trying to find a great metadata editor on iOS; and cant figure out a way on device to edit tags in 2020; it’s ridiculous. - [Retouch](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/touchretouch/id373311252) (iOS) — brilliant app for removing unwanted items from photos - [Annotable](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/annotable-annotation-markup/id1099850421) (iOS) — which the built in tools have gotten better in iOS 14, this is the best app for marking up photos - [LumaFusion](https://luma-touch.com/lumafusion-for-ios-2/) (iOS) — professional grade video editor for iPad and iPhone - [Spectre](https://spectre.cam/) (iOS) — for long exposure shots ## Programming / Coding / Tools - [Prompt](https://panic.com/prompt/) (Mac and iOS) — I use this all the time to SSH into a Mac box — home, or at the office - [Blink](https://www.blink.sh/) (iOS) — SSH and Mosh client for iOS - [iSH](https://ish.app/) (iOS) — Linux emulator that has extreme promise — can run native apps directly on the phone/pad w/o a jailbreak; been using this one A LOT to get “computer” work done on the phone or pad. - [Pyto](https://pyto.app/)\] (iOS) — Allows you to code Python on iOS, write widgets or shortcuts, etc. - [Working Copy](https://workingcopyapp.com/) (iOS) — Git integration - [xCode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/) (Mac) - [Textastic](https://www.textasticapp.com/) (iOS) — Text Editor - [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) (Mac) — Text Editor ## Privacy and Security - [1BlockerX](https://1blocker.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I’ve tried several, but 1Blocker is the best mix of configuration, control and whitelisting. Now with selective blocking, I have upgraded to 1Blocker on both Mac and iOS. - [MicroSnitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch) (Mac) — Alerts you to when an app or process uses the mic or camera. - [Little Snitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html) (Mac) — Allows you full control over what apps can do on the network - [KnockKnock](https://objective-see.com/products/knockknock.html) (Mac) — Malware scanner for the Mac ## Utilities - [Screens](https://edovia.com/) (Mac and iOS) - [Bartender](https://www.macbartender.com/) (Mac) - [KeepingYouAwake](https://github.com/newmarcel/KeepingYouAwake) (Mac) - [Caffeine](http://lightheadsw.com/caffeine/) (Mac) - [iStats Menu](https://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/) (Mac) - [CardHop](https://flexibits.com/cardhop-ios) (Mac and iOS) — amazing contacts app that offers way more power/flexibility than what’s built into the OS - [Scanner Pro](https://readdle.com/scannerpro) (iOS) — turn your phone into a portable scanner. - [Stitch It!](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stitch-it/id554594252) (iOS) — Simple app to stitch together screenshots ## Communications / Social Networking - [Signal](https://signal.org/) (Mac and iOS) — for secure messaging - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/) (iOS) - [Linky](https://pragmaticcode.com/linky/) (iOS) — great app for sending clips to Twitter; though I use this for “text shots” — you highlight text and it turns it into an interesting image. ## Storage / Documents - [iCloud Drive](https://www.apple.com/icloud/icloud-drive/) (Mac and iOS) - [Keynote](https://www.apple.com/keynote/) (Mac and iOS) - [Numbers](https://www.apple.com/numbers/) (Mac and iOS) ## Travel - [TripIt](https://www.tripit.com/) (Web and iOS) — because it’s free from work # Homescreens **iPhone Homescreen 2020** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/640ae629-28cc-4b57-9100-dc5dfdba82aa_700x738.png) **iPad Homescreen 2020** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/9e4acfd8-88d4-429e-91fc-8ac5b9fe74c0_700x1001.png) ### Soul URL: https://makoism.com/soul/ Last updated: 2020-12-26T17:45:20.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/880e767a-8963-4148-9d34-7b74bce763da_1200x676.png) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) In past newsletters, I have thrown down a few comments about a classic film that I've watched over and over, but this week, I wanted to comment after watching [Pixar](https://www.pixar.com/)'s latest film '[Soul](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948372/)', which dropped online for streaming yesterday (Dec 25, 2020) on [Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/). Without spoiling too much of the film, the synopsis is straightforward, it '*follows a middle school music teacher named Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), who seeks to reunite his soul and his body after they are accidentally separated, just before his big break as a jazz musician.*' While the movie features jaw-dropping animation, an amazing score (a combination of jazz from Jon Batiste and 'The Great Before' and 'The Great Beyond' from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross), the themes in this film are deep and touched something for me that most people needed in 2020 - that '*life has so much to offer, it’s full of possibilities, you just need to know where to look.*'. Everything worked for me in this movie - **highly recommended**. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** What a beautiful find this week - [tree.fm](https://www.tree.fm/) \- a site that lets you tune into random forests from around the world - [More](https://kottke.org/20/12/listen-to-a-random-forest) The mystery of skyjacker D.B. Cooper is one that continues to fascinate me (even MCU's [Loki will make a return in his series as D.B. Cooper](https://screenrant.com/loki-mcu-db-cooper-plane-trailer/) :)). Here's the quick summary for the unfamiliar: '*On Thanksgiving eve in 1971, a man wearing a suit and black tie boarded a Boeing 727 in Portland. Once on board, the man—who gave the name Dan Cooper—sparked a cigarette, ordered a bourbon and soda, and handed the flight attendant a note alleging that he had a bomb in his attaché case. He demanded $200,000 in ransom (over $1.2 million today) and four parachutes. The flight crew relayed the demand to law enforcement—and, during an emergency stop, Cooper received his money. The plane returned to the air and Cooper parachuted out, never to be publicly seen or heard from again.*'. HBO recently released '[The Mystery of D.B. Cooper](https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-mystery-of-db-cooper)' - [More](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/12/db-cooper-hbo-max-documentary) Huh - the science behind how the human eye processes light explains in detail **why**pirates wore eye patches - [More](https://tomsmith585.medium.com/brain-science-explains-why-pirates-wore-eye-patches-f36c11aa2fdf) In one of the more depressing reads of the week, the 'Pigeon Lady' from 'Home Alone 2' has long since stepped away from film and the holiday season is one of isolation and darkness — [More](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/home-alone-2s-famous-pigeon-lady-on-christmas-christmas-can-be-very-dark-for-me.html/) [Nesslabs](https://nesslabs.com/) digs into the research around '*the illusion of productivity*'. As humans, "*instead of stopping for a few minutes to ask ourselves why we’re doing something, we keep on mindlessly churning work that may or may not lead to a goal we actually care about.*". Remember: **being busy does not equal being productive** \- [More](https://nesslabs.com/illusion-of-productivity) File under '**sarcastically shocked**', even though [Google promised 2 years ago](https://ai.google/responsibilities/)**not** to use their AI tech to develop weapons for the military, it tuns out Alphabet (their parent company) continues to invest in companies who's purpose is war - [More](https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/12/22/google-promised-not-to-use-its-ai-in-weapons-so-why-is-alphabet-investing-in-ai-satellite-startups-with-military-contracts/) As a privacy advocate, I wonder where social networking is going to morph into as people become more conscious about what they put online, who has access to that data, and what the data is actually being used for. [Stratechery](https://stratechery.com/) does it's usual amazing deep dives into where social networks have been and where they are going in 'Social Networking 2.0' - [More](https://stratechery.com/2020/social-networking-2-0/) Harry Houdini was not only a master magician, but a master of **deliberate practice**. A look at his life, and lessons he learned to help him achieve greatness - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/lessons-in-manliness-from-harry-houdini/) The [story that emerged last week](https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2020/12/21/if-it-hadnt-been-for-the-prompt-work-of-the-medics-fsb-officer-inadvertently-confesses-murder-plot-to-navalny/) that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) had admitted to poisoning Alexey Navalny through being socially engineered is straight out of spy film. The [entire interview is amazing to read/listen to](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwvA49ZXnf8&feature=emb%5Ftitle), and [Rachel Tobac](https://twitter.com/RachelTobac), CEO of [Social Proof Security](https://www.socialproofsecurity.com/) has a thread on twitter that's a fantastic summary (unrolled here for your reading pleasure) - [More](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1341119963650686976.html) Cited as one of the top 10 movies ever made, Christopher Nolan’s '[The Dark Knight](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/)', perfectly (IMHO) crafted The Joker as a true agent of chaos. A look at the filmmaking and 'agency of chaos' - [More](https://cinephiliabeyond.org/the-dark-knight/) ## **End Thoughts** > *Lost souls are not that different from those in the zone.* > > *The zone is enjoyable but when that joy becomes an obsession it becomes disconnected from life.* > > *For a time I was a lost soul myself - Tetris.* ### Play Chess, Not Checkers URL: https://makoism.com/play-chess-not-checkers-df51db85ccbb/ Last updated: 2020-12-21T23:05:48.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/26861ef3-8cac-4ffc-ac62-f3247a581ac4_1024x682.jpeg) chess I can’t remember where I first heard the concept of “*playing chess instead of checkers*”, or even where the quote came from. Perhaps it was [Kobe Bryant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe%5FBryant): > These young guys are playing checkers. I’m out there playing chess Or, from the film [Training Day](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/) or from the book [Chess, Not Checkers](https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Not-Checkers-Leadership-Performance/dp/1626563942) by [Mark Miller](https://www.tmarkmiller.com) > If you want to build a high performance organization, you’ve got to play chess, not checkers. > \[..\] > When you see recurring problems, the methods you’ve used successfully in the past have to be reevaluated. No matter where the true origin is, my own experiences with [inversion](https://furrygoat.com/inversion-e83977acc73a) is that you want to surround yourself with the people on your team, your co-workers and with your relationships who have the ability to be **proactive instead of reactive**. These are the people who see the **end game**, they know how to spot [high degrees of noise](https://furrygoat.com/the-bucket-5d5ecbae9ce7), they know how to navigate it (and take it for the little it’s worth), and will be able to plan **past** the next move. In many situations (at work, in life, whenever) strategies and goals are treated as simplistic problems — much like “checkers” — you move one piece at a time to accomplish the single task: **eliminate the other player’s pieces**. I’d offer you a different choice — **context**. You see, in chess, you have to understand how each piece works; thinking forward to the effects that each move and counter-move is made, working smarter than your opponent. Predicting outcomes and navigating the problem from the higher ground. Oddly — you’ll find that it’s often a simple choice to work smarter, **not harder**. Establish **context** to problems. Understand that context before jumping head first into simple solutions (that’s where most go). Ask yourself — ‘*what am I missing*?’ Or ‘*what is missing*?’ **Play chess, not checkers** my friends. You’ll find life to be a much more interesting game. ### Interstellar URL: https://makoism.com/interstellar/ Last updated: 2020-12-19T21:31:39.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c4bc6a31-bdd5-468b-9240-9ecf2786f3b9_2999x1436.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) If you are a frequent reader of my weekly [Deep Links](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow), you’ll recognize a pattern when it comes to the types of films that I enjoy, directors that I follow and even soundtrack composers that I fall back on. This week was the 2014 [Chris Nolan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634240) film [Interstellar](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/); ([soundtrack by Hans Zimmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar%5F%28soundtrack%29) — [listen here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF1eYbfbH5k)), which follows a team of explorers who travel through a wormhole in space in an attempt to search for a solution to humanity’s survival. While I’ll avoid any spoilers if you haven’t watched it, it’s a solid action/adventure, although the science of the film can be confusing (especially if you haven’t recently [had a brush up on your physics](https://www.space.com/27692-science-of-interstellar-infographic.html). The main thread of the film is concept of **love**, it which Anne Hathaway’s character, Amelia Brand, describes it as: > *the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space. Maybe we should trust that, even if we can’t understand it.* The Humanist would say that this movie is really about **humankind saving itself, through itself**. I can’t think of another film that resonates with everything we have experienced as a planet in 2020. **We need to save ourselves**. It’s uncertain times, and I can’t recall another time where we’ve been collectively been responsible for each others health and well being. Here’s to 2021\. Be well, friends. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks “Deep Links” In 1981, an arcade in the Portland, Oregon area was the scene of countless gamers coming down with migraines, heart attacks, addiction, seizures, strokes, and even amnesia, all due to one game cabinet: Polybius. Digging deeper, it turns out that ‘Polybius’ is real — [More](https://www.inputmag.com/gaming/polybius-is-real-video-game-urban-legend) Now that the second season of ‘The Mandalorian’ has come to an epic close, here’s a closer look at the sound design used in the series. ‘*Our goal as a sound team to drive the story forward with what the director wants to convey, and we’re a tool in the arsenal to make that happen…*’ — [More](https://blog.sonos.com/en/sound-of-the-mandalorian/) Running has been a staple in my life for the last several years, and was an important part of my recovery from an unexpected heart attack last year (side note: I *was* running when it happened, but in no way was it related). In ‘*Why I Was Afraid to Run*’ is an analysis on why people fear the sport and how to break through that — [More](https://medium.com/runners-life/why-i-was-afraid-to-run-ac4303875f13) Say what you will about the [recent Apple v Facebook privacy](https://seekingalpha.com/article/4395149-apple-vs-facebook-shots-fired-in-privacy-wars) back and forth; all you need to know about Apple’s stance is an interview years ago with [Steve Jobs](https://www.apple.com/stevejobs/). For myself, I agree with Apple’s position here — **it should the users choice** — [Watch](https://www.loopinsight.com/2020/12/17/steve-jobs-on-privacy/) A strange story from Peoria, Illinois — an artist is contracted to paint a [Cookie Monster](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Cookie%5FMonster) mural on the side of a building, and artist who did the job now says he was tricked by an impostor. And that’s not even the weirdest part of the story — the painting was of a ‘Soviet-style Cookie Monster’ — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/us/communist-cookie-monster-mural.html) [Hey.com](https://hey.com/) launched a new marketing project called [dumpsterfire.email](http://www.dumpsterfire.email/) — a flaming dumpster with a printer and conveyor. You email that address, prints out your email, and drops it into the rolling flames on a livestream. How it was made — [More](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-making-of-a-dumpster-fire/) One of the best descriptions of how Apple’s new iPhone 12 ProRAW works — [More](https://blog.halide.cam/understanding-proraw-4eed556d4c54) *‘Over-meeting is a symptom of bad company communication or even worse company culture*’; a discussion on how the pandemic has changed meeting culture and how stress relates to the number of meetings you have. Something I think everyone is familiar with this year — [More](https://annehelen.substack.com/p/too-many-meetings) After 50 years, the Zodiac Killer’s cipher has finally been cracked. Not by the FBI, but amateur codebreakers; a fascinating read on how it was finally broken and it’s meaning — [More](https://gizmodo.com/zodiac-killers-cipher-cracked-by-amateur-codebreakers-m-1845867780) With the popularity of [Substack](https://www.substack.com/) in 2020 and the rise of the newsletter, read more about the veteran [MailChimp](https://mailchimp.com/). A history lesson in the company that started out as a side project and now brings in $700m/year in revenue — [More](https://entrepreneurshandbook.co/a-web-designer-turned-his-side-project-into-a-700m-year-revenue-business-without-vc-money-55cd13ee560) The ‘Shopping Cart Theory’ proposes that an individual’s moral character can be determined by whether they choose to return a shopping cart to its designated spot or not — [More](https://scoop.upworthy.com/viral-shopping-cart-theory-determines-moral-character) ## **End Thoughts** > *Today is my birthday.* > > *And it’s a special one because you once told me that when you came back, we might be the same age.* > > *Well, now I’m the same age that you were when you left… and it’d be really great if you came back soon.* ### The Bucket URL: https://makoism.com/the-bucket-5d5ecbae9ce7/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T03:03:52.000Z *Disclaimer: I’m feeling saucy today …* Something that I have spent a lot of time this year has been **enforcing simple boundaries**. Learning how to say ‘**no**’ (and not in any type of jerky way) — has become an important superpower for my own sanity. I’d recommend if you are a manager of a team or group, you may want to consider helping them enforce boundaries whenever you can for them as well — trust me, they need them. Be their shield. Now here’s a simple idea: **we all have buckets**. The nature of a bucket is that it can be filled to a certain point then it starts to overflow. Once it spills, there’s a mess all over the floor; no one likes cleaning up messes. Let’s look at the different buckets you have in your life every day/week/month — time, patience, workload, stress, **fucks**. Yes, fucks. A few years back, [Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net) posted his legendary article on [The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck](https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck), which was followed by a book with the [same title](https://markmanson.net/books/subtle-art). As Mark says: > Think about the amount of time and energy that you have given a fuck about. \[…\] > The point is, most of us struggle throughout our lives by giving too many fucks in situations where fucks do not deserve to be given. > > \[…\] > Because when we give too many fucks, when we choose to give a fuck about everything, then we feel as though we are perpetually entitled to feel comfortable and happy at all times, that’s when life fucks us. > > \[…\] > Developing the ability to [control and manage](https://markmanson.net/personal-values) the fucks you give is the essence of strength and integrity. I’d like to think of ‘fucks given’ **as a form of currency**. I’m not saying *don’t give a fuck* about anything — that would be irresponsible — use [inverted](https://furrygoat.com/inversion-e83977acc73a) thinking. By choosing **how to spend your fuck currency** you now control the *ultimate* power **you and you alone** have: the ability to let go of the things that are are not bucket worthy. Throw them away, it’s that easy. You’ll begin to observe that there’s a **high degree** of noise all around you; and there’s increased value to those few items that you choose to put in the bucket. Oddly — another thing you’ll start noticing is that there are plenty of folks who equate *noise to value*; those are the ones you want to steer clear from — they will want to throw everything they can in your bucket and cause a mess on the floor. They don’t give a fuck about your bucket, and these folks will drain you until there’s nothing left. If this year has taught me anything, it is that if you’re not careful, you can fill your bucket with low value things every day. You need to choose wisely how you want to fill the bucket of fucks, and you’ll start building the muscle around focusing on the **high value** things that matter. The rest — throw it away, and **don’t give a fuck**. ### The Men Who Stare At Goats URL: https://makoism.com/the-men-who-stare-at-goats/ Last updated: 2020-12-12T17:11:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/0b4a2af2-2329-4e58-b958-d152e7e6ec05_4928x3264.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) The opening of 2009's [The Men Who Stare at Goats](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234548/) states '*more of this is true than you would believe*', and while the film is basically a dark comedy, its groundwork apparently is far closer to the truth than you would imagine. The military has [used witches](https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/06/dinner-with/), [drug experimentation](https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/11/inside-the-armys-far-out-acid-tests/), [sonic blasters](https://www.wired.com/2008/02/i-was-a-puke-ra/) as methods to enhance the army with psychic soldiers. While the movie plays off of this to the extreme, soldiers attempt to become invisible, walk through walls and even kill a goat just by staring at it, there's something oddly 2020 about the entire movie; the absurdity that could actually be based in some form of reality. Or perhaps it's the comforting thought that Jedi Knights may actually exist. :) If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" [National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/) is often cited as one of the greatest holiday movies ever made. In it's 25th anniversary, a look back at the untold story of freak snowstorms, cast freak-outs and zany antics in it's production - [More](https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/xmas-or-bust-the-untold-story-of-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation-173969/) I have to admit, [Miley Cyrus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miley%5FCyrus) is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists of the year. After listening to [several incredibly honest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hmaXdNz9uk)[interviews on Howard Stern](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYVKljFm3MU), and [an amazing performance of Heart of Glass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbdRLyixJpc), here's a look at her career and how this former Disney star is set to reignite Rock and Roll - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/12/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-catchy-defiance/617287/) In 1942, on the shores of a lake high in the Himalayas, hundreds of bones and skulls, some with flesh still on them were found. The mystery of who these actually belonged to (indications it may have been an ancient army from Crete) goes back several hundred years, in 'The Skeletons at the Lake' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/12/14/the-skeletons-at-the-lake) File under '*what could possibly go wrong*', as Microsoft files a patent to **create chatbots from your dead loved ones** \- [More](https://www.inputmag.com/culture/microsoft-files-patent-to-create-chatbots-from-your-dead-loved-ones) 2020 has created a new model for work: one that is remote. In '**We're Never Going Back**', a look at the future state of companies and how they are going to need to adapt to the new workforce. Is it *even up to companies to decide*, or are the employees going to force the decision; as the best employees have more options than ever - [More](https://notboring.substack.com/p/were-never-going-back) A look at the psychological effects of bringing things together by 'clicking' together parts - LEGOs, IKEA furniture and Ziploc bags - [More](https://insidescience.org/news/legos-ziploc-science-snap-fit) [Tim Ferriss](https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/before-tim-ferriss-became-tim-ferriss-a-true-story.html) wrote the book '[The 4 Hour Workweek](https://amzn.to/2W1uJAp)' and is known as a personal productivity guru. But now his view is a bit different; and that success isn't always about output. An interesting look at his new mantra of '*not everything that is meaningful can be measured*' - [More](https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/tim-ferriss-is-no-longer-living-tim-ferriss-lifestyle-neither-should-you.html?utm%5Fsource=pocket&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=pockethits) In one of my favorite reads, '**Writing Is Thinking**' looks at the benefits to putting ideas down on paper (physical or digital) and the payoff of **good writing** and crafting purposefulness - [More](https://alistapart.com/article/writing-is-thinking/) Mark Manson dives into mental illness and some of the more positive benefits to being 'slightly' crazy, given '*we're all a little bit insane*' - [More](https://markmanson.net/benefits-of-being-slightly-crazy) '**52 things I learned in 2020**' looks at some random insights gathered over a year like no other - [More](https://medium.com/fluxx-studio-notes/52-things-i-learned-in-2020-6a380692dbb8) A look 'inside at Uber' during a time of heated internal politics, a re-write of their app in Swift and some pretty bad engineering pivots (note - this is a long tweet that has been threaded for easier reading) - [More](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1336890442768547845.html) ## **End Thoughts** > *The Jedi Warrior will follow in the footsteps of the great imagineers of the past:* > > *Jesus Christ, Lao Tse Tung, Walt Disney.* > > *The role of The New Earth Army is to resolve conflict world-wide. Jedis will parachute into war zones, utilizing sparkly eyes technique, carrying symbolic flowers and animals, playing indigenous music and words of peace.* ### Inversion URL: https://makoism.com/inversion-e83977acc73a/ Last updated: 2020-12-10T03:24:05.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d176e55d-6f40-4760-9767-59d5a777e505_1024x682.jpeg) Invert Over the summer, I came across several posts that talked about a mental model known as **[The Inversion principal](https://hemang66.wordpress.com/2016/04/13/inversion-principle/)**. It’s based on a simple tenet from the German mathematician [Carl Jacobi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl%5FGustav%5FJacob%5FJacobi) — ‘**invert, always, invert**’ that he used to solve the most complicated problems he faced. The idea is as follows: flip the problem upside down; start at the solution and work backwards to where you are now. Begin at where you want to end up, consider everything that got you there in reverse order. In other words: *define the outcomes you don’t want and plan the path to avoid hitting them*. Inversion exercises are used to help you figure out what you need to do to get to an outcome, as well as help you become aware on things you will need to get you to where you want to go. Pitfalls to avoid, skills you need to master and issues you will encounter along the journey. **You need to think forwards and backwards.** [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus%5FAurelius) as well as other stoic philosophers called this *[premeditatio malorum](https://dailystoic.com/premeditatio-malorum/)* — a ‘*premeditation of the evils and troubles that might lie ahead*’ — in other words — imagining the worst case scenario. **Avoiding these mistakes** sometimes is even **more powerful** skill than actually achieving success. [Charlie Munger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie%5FMunger) put it best in ‘[The Power of Not Making Stupid Decisions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzXwjzm%5F-zY)’, in which he says: “*It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.*” ### The Abyss (Special Edition) URL: https://makoism.com/the-abyss-special-edition/ Last updated: 2020-12-05T17:22:02.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d1bddcb7-2688-4508-b084-15092a5a1787_4896x3264.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) [The Abyss (Special Edition)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096754/) is [James Cameron](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116)'s 1989 film about an undersea oil-rig diving team who are called on to assist in the recovery of a lost nuclear submarine and find themselves encountering an alien aquatic species. When I talk about the film, I have to continuously refer to the film's "[special edition](https://www.amazon.com/Abyss-Extended-Version/dp/B00024ZJPA)" - what was released into theaters due to fear of a film over 2 hours, had almost 30 minutes chopped out of the story. **It was a complete mess**. But when you watch the restored original version clocking in at 171 minutes (which has additional character arcs, a 'humanity on trial' ending), restores the true story: [an exploration of humanity and love](https://cinephiliabeyond.org/the-abyss-james-camerons-exploration-of-humanity-and-love-in-the-heart-of-the-ocean/). Do yourself a favor though, check out the special edition. Avoid the theatrical cut. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" If you want to truly be an empathetic leader, there's high value in spending time understanding how [psychological safety](https://medium.com/@Harri%5FKaloudis/psychological-safety-at-work-what-do-psychologically-safe-work-teams-look-like-5585ab0f2df4) is measured and fostered in your organization. HBR has an insightful look at 'how can you increase psychological safety on your own team' - [More](https://hbr.org/2017/08/high-performing-teams-need-psychological-safety-heres-how-to-create-it?utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=hbr&utm%5Fsource=twitter) Remember that fun catchy tune on The Muppets, '**Mahna Mahna**'; you may or may not realize it's origins - [More](https://slate.com/culture/2011/11/mahna-mahna-how-a-ditty-from-a-soft-core-italian-movie-became-the-muppets-catchiest-tune.html) [Dave Chappelle](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152638/) has an amazing [Instagram "special"](https://www.instagram.com/tv/CH-rR9znT3g/) which speaks about his old show, which includes **five fundamental lessons** about how the Internet has changed the content business; a great summary of these are over on Stratechery - [More](https://stratechery.com/2020/five-lessons-from-dave-chappelle/) To control stress and your life, the most important skill to master is **attention management** \- [More](https://hbr.org/2018/03/to-control-your-life-control-what-you-pay-attention-to) Josh Spector has a great list of one-sentence communication tips to help you express ideas more clearly - [More](https://joshspector.com/one-sentence-communication-tips/) While the **subscription box** isn't a new idea, the oddness of 2020 has popped up a new genre of 'at home mystery boxes'; a serial, ongoing puzzle/mystery that tries to dive into immersive gameplay. As described: '*When you play, you have to question: is this real? Is this not real? Drawing a line to familiar tales that plant breadcrumbs from reality to fabulous findings: We're right there watching Indiana Jones and National Treasure and The Goonies, and that's the feeling we want our players to have—an adventure.*'. Think of it as a escape-room monthly mystery experience for your home - [More](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/12/meet-the-new-generation-of-puzzle-makers-bringing-mystery-to-your-door/) What happens when no one has a reason to dress up? '*How the Fashion Industry Collapsed*' looks at the uprising of sweatpants - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/06/magazine/fashion-sweatpants.html) Lots of pieces written this week on the [sale of Slack to Salesforce](https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/04/why-slack-and-salesforce-execs-think-theyre-better-together/), along with the fear on how this will ultimately ruin Slack. [Platformer](https://www.platformer.news/) has a really good take on Microsoft and it's role in crushing Slack - [More](https://www.platformer.news/p/how-microsoft-crushed-slack) A look at an incredible team at Google, **Project Guideline**, which is using computer vision to give blind athletes the ability for independent exercise - [More](https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/accessibility/project-guideline) Many (including myself) have practiced one form or another of '[Getting Things Done](https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0143126563)' as a way to manage information and task overload. A look at the shifting landscape of 'personal productivity' methods and their failings - [More](https://apple.news/ARhWlWbqRRuKYtWmEZ6zJbw) Some deeper insight to fitness tracking, the numbers they generate, and how they can also sabotage our bodies and brains - [More](https://elemental.medium.com/the-dangerous-allure-of-the-quantified-self-7705f19c6f75) ## **End Thoughts** > *You never backed away from anything in your life!* > > *Now fight! Fight! Fight! Right now! Do it!* > > *Fight goddammit! Fight!* > > *Fight!Fiiiiight!* ### Jacob's Ladder URL: https://makoism.com/jacobs-ladder/ Last updated: 2020-11-28T17:14:43.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/0707dad9-41f9-4992-8679-30cd78fc57f4_6000x4000.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://smakofsky.medium.com) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope that you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/jacobs-ladder-4bdf6e78f25). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) This week I revisited the 1990 horror movie [Jacob's Ladder](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099871/) starring [Tim Robbins](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000209/?ref%5F=tt%5Fov%5Fst%5Fsm) as Jacob Singer - a man trying to make sense of his life and memories. Jacob is haunted by hallucinations and flashbacks, and by an ever growing conspiracy theory all through the lens of PTSD from his traumatic tour of duty in Vietnam. [Roger Ebert](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001170/) best [described the film](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jacobs-ladder-1990) as '*a paranoid-schizophrenic state as effectively as any film I have ever seen. Despite an ending that is intended as victorious, the movie is a thoroughly painful and depressing experience - but, it must be said, one that has been powerfully written, directed and acted.*'. '*Not every movie has to be fun*' is how he ends the review, and while Jacob's Ladder certainly isn't a fun watch, its a powerful story which bends the psychological state of those watching; and it was well worth re-investing time in it. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** For the last week, I have been basking in the glow of a new [Apple Silicon M1 MacBook Air](https://www.apple.com/mac/m1/) (16GB/8Core/512GB/Space Gray). While plenty has been written online already about them, I believe these chips are going to be near impossible for Intel to catch up. I *love* this machine; it's almost everything I've wanted from a device running OSX (outside of being on the iPad Pro). Here's a deeper look at the "black magic" of the M1 - [More](https://www.singhkays.com/blog/apple-silicon-m1-black-magic/) In the 'bizarre' news of the week, brings us back to 1991 when [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail%5FGorbachev), former leader of the Soviet Union, made a [Pizza Hut](https://www.pizzahut.com/) ad. Apparently he was (rumored) to have been paid close to $1m for the spot, which was used to finance a research foundation after he left office - [More](https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/28/mikhail-gorbachev-pizza-hut-ad-thanksgiving-miracle/) and [Watch](https://youtu.be/fgm14D1jHUw) File under '**the most horrible Thanksgiving tradition**' you'll read about, the Ozark's annual 'Turkey Trot' tosses a bunch of them out of a plane. Remember - turkey's don't fly - and for 77 years, this horrible cruelty remains a staple - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/yellville-turkey-trot/576184/) In one of the most 2020 stories yet, a helicopter pilot spotted a mysterious metal structure within red rocks while counting bighorn sheep in Utah. The 'monolith' easily reminds everyone of the film 2001, and has apparently been there for 4 or so years ([according to Google Earth](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55071058)). Who doesn't like a fun mystery? - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/23/helicopter-pilot-finds-strange-monolith-in-remote-part-of-utah?CMP=oth%5Fb-aplnews%5Fd-1) Speaking of mysteries, in November of 1987, during a routine 9pm news broadcast in Chicago, the signal was hijacked in an act of video piracy by an unknown person wearing a Max Headroom mask and costume, accompanied by distorted audio. The mystery has never been solved, but you can watch it unfold here - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWdgAMYjYSs&feature=youtu.be) and [More](https://www.wbur.org/endlessthread/2019/11/22/to-the-max-headroom) When I worked at Disney, one of my favorite things to show fellow cast members or visitors to the Studio Lot is the underground tunnels that used to be be used by Disney Animation. These tunnels '*allowed animators in the years of hand animation to move animation cels from one building to another without exposing them to the elements*', and I had heard rumors that many shots for the ABC series [Alias](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285333/) were done there - [Watch](https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-video-takes-a-tour-of-the-hidden-tunnels-underneat-1845732556) A look the history of McDonald's - [More](http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/alleyinsider/silicon%5Falley%5Finsider/~3/7J4sIwXIFP4/what-mcdonalds-was-like-1950s-2020-7) The concept of a "business moat" is a powerful one, it's '*a key competitive advantage that sets a company apart from its competitors*'. There apparently are many shared characteristics of companies that have understanding of and know how to strengthen their 'moats' - [More](https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/business-moats-competitive-advantage/) Who would have guessed that Dolly Parton funded the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine? (Side note: [apparently she didn't know she did either](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/18/entertainment/dolly-parton-moderna-covid-vaccine-reaction-trnd/index.html)). I found this article particularly interesting regarding her life story - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/19/the-united-states-of-dolly-parton) *No shit* \- apparently children are swearing way more during this crazy year of quarantine - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-children-are-swearing-more-during-quarantine) A deeper look at the technology adoption curve and how it maps to ideas in an attempt to give insights as to which business models work. A thoughtful analysis (as usual) from Stratechery.com - [More](https://stratechery.com/2020/the-idea-adoption-curve/) The blend between video games and movies, especially on the technology front, continues to merge in interesting ways. While we've all seen some amazing virtual sets on [The Mandalorian](https://www.polygon.com/disney-plus/2020/10/29/21540244/how-to-watch-mandalorian-season-2-schedule-premiere-release-time) which was built on the [Epic Unreal Engine](https://www.polygon.com/tv/2020/2/20/21146152/the-mandalorian-making-of-video-unreal-engine-projection-screen), this read goes into how game cameras have learned new techniques from the movies - [More](https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/9/21551132/game-cameras-movie-cameras-mandalorian-marvels-avengers) ## **End Thoughts** > *Eckhart saw Hell too.* > > *You know what he said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won’t let go of life, your memories, your attachments. *They burn them all away*.* > > *But they’re not punishing you, he said. They’re freeing your soul.* > > *So, if you’re frightened of dying and… and you’re holding on, you’ll see devils tearing your life away. But if you’ve made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth.* ### Apple Watch URL: https://makoism.com/apple-watch-ad50316a11b5/ Last updated: 2020-11-22T16:45:38.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ba2cde9a-a7e0-424e-9a8e-d6021688110c_1024x682.jpeg) Ticking away…. #### General Take I really believe that the [Apple Watch](https://www.apple.com/watch/) (along with the AirPods and AirPods Pro) are the beginning of [a new paradigm shift](https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/22/21299362/apple-airpods-pro-update-automatic-switching-spatial-audio-wwdc-2020) for “personal” computing. While it’s taken 6 revisions to get there, having a wrist-based notification and health platform always with me is invaluable. I often find myself going out for long walks without my phone, just bringing the cellular watch and AirPods Pro as my “on the go” computing platform. Without getting into the same overviews that most talk about ([you can find plenty to read on it](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/9/30/apple-watch-momentum-is-building)), I thought I’d put together a few things on how I use the Watch. #### Faces / Complications For my normal day, I use the Infograph face. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c3474c03-1f30-4153-8aa3-20d723c98f6d_368x448.png) The complications in use are (links are below in the “apps” section): - Top Left: Current & Day Range (Heart Analyzer) - Top Right: Calendar - Bottom Left: Steps App - Bottom Right: Stocks - Sub-dial Top: Battery - Sub-dial Left: ECG - Sub-dial Right: Hydrate (Habit Minder) - Sub-dial Bottom: Weather Temp As I am also super interested in health tracking (since I have a heart condition), I switch over to Infograph Modular when I want more information: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ee1dde9d-33a6-4624-a474-95e0bef2e526_368x448.png) - Top Left: Current & Day Range (Heart Analyzer) - Date: Day Name and Number - Middle: Recent Heart Rate Chart (Heart Analyzer) - Bottom Left: Hydrate (Habit Minder) - Bottom Middle: Battery - Bottom Right: Weather Temp #### Personal Notifications Over the last few years, notifications have become a super powerful method for me to receive at a glance information for that which I care about. Originally inspired by blog posts on [Streamlined Pushes](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/3/4/streamlined-pushes) and [Shell/Watch Notifications](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/2/25/push-it-real-good), I’ve been wiring up more and more into [Pushover](https://pushover.net) (available on Mac and iOS). What is Pushover? It’s a pretty cool service — for an incredibly cheap one-time price ($4.99) you can create **custom notifications** that can be **triggered** from almost everywhere. - On a computer, you can use [NTFY](http://ntfy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/); there I have long-running shell commands that let me know when they are completed. For example — I have a remote shell script that executes [YouTube-dl](https://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/), moves the downloaded video to iCloud Drive, then notifies me after a YouTube video has been downloaded. It’s a simple and elegant way to use Siri Shortcuts to download/transcode a video. - I have alerts and monitoring trigger notifications from the house. - [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com) notifications are now wired via Pushover — every day at the close of the stock market I get a notification of stocks I’m interested in, I get notifications when new iOS releases are out, when SpaceX is launching a rocket, etc. - .. the list is endless, and up to your imagination. The idea of a “**personal notification system**” for things that I care about (rather than apps bothering me) has been game changing. #### Watch Apps Finally, here’s a list of my favorite apps for the Watch: - [AutoSleep](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autosleep-track-sleep-on-watch/id1164801111) — While WatchOS 7 brings native sleep tracking, I’ve been using AutoSleep for years and will continue to do so (here’s [a good writeup on additional differences](https://itigic.com/autosleep-vs-native-apple-sleep-measurement-differences/)), but the information (including readiness/HRV) in AutoSleep is super useful for me. - [Cardiogram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cardiogram-heart-rate-monitor/id1000017994) — extends the information Apple’s heart rate collection and provides good extended looks at your heart’s health. - [Chirp](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chirp-for-twitter/id1397430041) — lightweight Twitter client - [Day One](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/day-one-journal/id1044867788) — I use Day One as a “commonplace journal” and having voice entry via the watch when I’m out and about is useful. - [Deliveries](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deliveries-a-package-tracker/id290986013) — package tracking. - [HabitMinder](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/habitminder/id1253577148) — allows me to create simple complications on the watch face for tracking my daily water (or other habits) intake. - [Headspace](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-meditation-sleep/id493145008) — for meditation and mental wellness. - [HealthView](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthview/id1020452064) — allows you to show any health metric as a complication or on the watch, and I use it to give me data about blood pressure, HRV, sleeping patterns and more. - [Heart Analyzer](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/heart-analyzer/id1006420410) — is one of the most powerful ways to visualize and access your Apple Watch heart and blood oxygen data. - [Home+](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/home-4/id995994352) — I use this so I can easily access things like my garage doors from the watch. - [Lumy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lumy/id908905093) — A bit of a novelty; but Lumy nice visuals on when the “golden hour” occurs for photos (it’s a period around Sunrise or Sunset at which the light is often soft, warm, and perfect for capturing beautiful visuals). - [Lyd](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lyd-watch-remote-for-sonos/id1451243766) — Control Sonos devices in your home. - [MiniWiki](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/miniwiki/id1448143759) — quick/light access to Wikipedia from your wrist. - [Nano](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nano-for-reddit/id1344097185) — quick/light access to Wikipedia from your wrist. - [PCalc](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pcalc/id284666222) — the best calculator, hands down. - [Pushover](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pushover-notifications/id506088175) — allows you to have notifications as a complication or widget on the watch. - [Retro Twist](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/retro-twist-old-school-mashup/id1519386476) — the *only* game I’ve ever really played on the watch; it’s an old school mashup of classic games designed for the watch. - [Shazam](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shazam-music-discovery/id284993459) — identify what song you are hearing, right from the watch. - [StepsApp](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stepsapp-pedometer/id1037595083) — Step counting that allows you to put your daily steps on the watch face - [Things](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/things-3/id904237743) — my every day to-do list manager. - [Yelp](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yelp-food-delivery-services/id284910350) — just in case I want to look up a restaurant nearby. ### The Martian URL: https://makoism.com/the-martian/ Last updated: 2020-11-21T17:21:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2dc8c9a5-d03d-47de-9944-e0cd32ffd4b3_2880x1800.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://smakofsky.medium.com) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope that you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/looper-af077dd6165). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) It is a somewhat common plot device in film or book to have the main character stranded in a far off location, left for dead, and their only chance of survival is by their own ingenuity. On the surface, the 2015 [Ridley Scott](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000631/?ref%5F=tt%5Fov%5Fdr) film '[The Martian](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/)' simply falls into that. But it's a fun ride, with tons of great lessons and a bit of science that was great to re-watch this week. While the movie plays liberties with some space science, the botany in the film is apparently pretty accurate: Martian soil could be suitable for growing crops. But what I really like about this movie more than the science is the **stoic nature** of Mark Watney (played by [Matt Damon](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000354)). While most would view the situation as dire, Watney breaks down the impossible task into a series of solvable problems. One at a time. Slowly. Some have setbacks, but he moves through them towards a single goal: getting home alive. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** I saw this come across Slack and have to **got** to give it a go with my team - the [LEGO 'Serious Play'](https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay) method. Basically, it's a system for ' *facilitated meeting, communication and problem-solving process in which participants are led through a series of questions, probing deeper and deeper into the subject. Each participant builds his or her own 3D LEGO model in response to the facilitator´s questions using specially selected LEGO elements.*' - [More](https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay) and [More](https://seriousplay.training/) From the '*I'm not surprised but still angers me*' pile, people are mostly unaware of the data tracking that occurs in most applications and the implications on personal privacy. This week we read about how a Muslim prayer app with over 98 million downloads tracks usage and personal data which makes its way into data brokers, and ultimately the U.S. Military - [More](https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgqm5x/us-military-location-data-xmode-locate-x) It truly baffles me when people cheat in [marathons](https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/10/after-apology-runner-has-unlikely-chicago-marathon-result.html), [triathlons](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/sports/julie-miller-ironman-triathlon-cheat.html), etc - now apparently [Zwift](https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/10/after-apology-runner-has-unlikely-chicago-marathon-result.html) has banned **2 pro racers** for altering their data - [More](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/11/zwift-bans-two-pro-racers-for-altering-data-an-explainer-of-sorts.html) I often steer clear of politics, but I *love* maps, and this article dives deep into the mapping and charting of the 2020 election - [More](https://hi.stamen.com/how-we-watched-the-election-at-stamen-fd3cedae7ed9) First principal thinking, or '*the building blocks of knowledge, the foundational understanding acquired from breaking something down into its most essential concepts*' is examined through the lens of how Julia Child (the "French Chef") built her career. The message is a simple, yet powerful one: '**If you want to learn how to think for yourself, you can’t just follow what someone else came up with**' - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/11/how-julia-child-used-first-principles-thinking/) [Clayton Mansel](https://synapse.substack.com/people/11796845-clayton-mansel) has [a great new newsletter](https://synapse.substack.com/) entitled '**Synapse**' where he has some fascinating reads on neuroscience. In 'Circus Tent of Behavior' he dives into how the why around why behaviors happen and what is the science behind what lead to that - [More](https://synapse.substack.com/p/circus-tent-of-behavior) A fascinating look into the story of Jerold Haas, a coder who was on the brink of being rich then was found murdered - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/strange-life-mysterious-death-of-virtuoso-coder/) I know I was late to the party with '[Ted Lasso](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/)', but we finally watched it last week week, and what a fantastic show. By far, this is one of the best shows I've seen about [coaching and leadership](https://trailrunnermag.com/training/why-ted-lasso-is-the-best-show-about-coaching-and-athletics.html); [Brene Brown](https://brenebrown.com/) recently had a podcast that's well worth the time to listen in on, in which she describes that the show is 'required viewing for leaders she trains' - [Listen](https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-jason-sudeikis-brendan-hunt-on-ted-lasso/) In 2021, NYC's pay phones are going away to be replaced by Wi-Fi kiosks (which makes me sad, it's such a staple of NYC); in the meantime, they have been turned into public art - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/09/pay-phones-turned-into-public-art-in-titan) [Mount Everest](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/mount-everest/) has a special place in my heart after I trekked to basecamp in 2009; I was curious on how Covid-19 was affecting their economy. Annual income highly depends on climbers and it's had a crushing effect on many in the region - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/02/world/asia/coronavirus-nepal-tourism-remittances.html?referringSource=articleShare) Finally, a great read on Lenny Kravitz and the creativity process - '*making something out of nothing*' - [More](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331038) ## End Thoughts > *At some point, everything is going to go south on you. Everything is going to go south, and you’re going to say ‘This is it. This is how I end.’* > > *Now you can either accept that, or you can get to work.* > > *That’s all it is. You just *begin*.* > > *You do the math, you solve one problem. Then you solve the next one, and then the next, and if you solve enough problems, you get to come home.* ### Looper URL: https://makoism.com/looper/ Last updated: 2020-11-14T17:12:35.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/da2771bd-f4c8-4230-a869-8ec1020dd4e2_2281x1456.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope that you’ll enjoy it, find something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://smakofsky.medium.com/looper-af077dd6165). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow or Share](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) I've always enjoyed how wackiness of time travel films. The paradoxes that they can create along with the endless possibilities with jumping forward and backwards through time are fun to imagine (counterpoint - if you're Kurt Vonnegut [all time is psychological not physical](https://www.litcharts.com/lit/slaughterhouse-five/themes/time-time-travel-and-free-will)). This week's watch was [Rian Johnson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0426059/)'s 2012 film '[Looper](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/)', which imagines a future where mob hitmen are tasked with killing people by sending victims back in time to be murdered, then dumping the bodies. The job is simple: Be at a scheduled place and time, shoot the hooded figure that appears, take bars of silver strapped to the victim, then dump the body and cash in your payment. **Here's the catch**: at some point the mob will send 'a looper's' future self back in time, and they will serve as their own past self's target. Without giving away the plot, the main arc of this film is about **learning what's worth saving**; time travel is merely the plot device to get us there. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## This weeks "Deep Links" This week marks the 50th Anniversary of the incredibly horrific 'exploding whale' incident in Florence, Oregon. In case you've never heard of it, the Oregon Department of Transportation blew up a decaying sperm whale with dynamite attempting to get rid of it's rotting carcass; you can watch the video for the horror that followed - [More](https://kottke.org/20/11/the-50th-anniversary-of-the-iconic-exploding-whale) Google released a fascinating article/patent this week around using AI for the automatic creation of videos from a web page - [More](http://ai.googleblog.com/2020/10/experimenting-with-automatic-video.html) [Fuck cancer](https://www.letsfcancer.com/). [Again](https://people.com/music/eddie-van-halen-son-wolf-posts-childhood-photo/). [And again](https://smakofsky.medium.com/black-panther-68e4baa63c85). [And again](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/100306972/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-champion-of-gender-equality-dies-at-87). This week we lost Alex Trebek, long time host of Jeopardy! [to pancreatic cancer](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/health/alex-trebek-pancreatic-cancer.html). 2020 keeps taking and taking - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/arts/television/alex-trebek-jeopardy.html) Did you know that in the early 1900's, it was legal to mail a child via the US Postal Service? - [More](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/635706/when-usps-let-you-mail-children) I enjoyed this post a few weeks back from [Troy Hunt](https://www.troyhunt.com/) on dealing with 'followers' and comments on topics. To quote "*people \[expressing\] their displeasure when I post about a topic they're not interested in then deciding to have a whinge that my timeline isn't tailored to their expectation of the things they'd like me to talk about*". On a similar vein, [Peter McKinnon](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3DkFux8Iv-aYnTRWzwaiBA) recently posted a video on "[Why Everyone is Wrong about the MagSafe Wallet](https://youtu.be/7A3i1DX8caE)" and got flack about it. Bottom line; like both, I write about all sorts of weird, random things and do it for myself not others (but I'm glad you're reading!) - [More](https://www.troyhunt.com/if-you-dont-want-guitar-lessons-stop-following-me/) In what has to be one of the **best** 'feel good' stories of 2020, I've been enjoying Dave Grohl's (Foo Fighters) epic drum battles with 10-Year-Old Nandi Bushell - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/arts/music/dave-grohl-nandi-bushell-drums.html) Ever wonder where old media goes to die? A look at the CD Recycling Center in Salem, NH where the material can take one million years to decompose in a landfill - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/07/style/the-uneasy-afterlife-of-our-dazzling-trash.html) I am a creature of habit — and end up eating the same things almost daily. "How Bad Is It to Eat the Same Thing Every Day?" - [More](https://vitals.lifehacker.com/how-bad-is-it-to-eat-the-same-thing-every-day-1845643884) From the 'I don't need this, but it's super cool' camp; someone created a huge electronic ink poster than updates daily with the front page of The New York Times. What a neat hack project - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/the-morning-paper-revisited-35b407822494) During this past summer, I was starting to lament the fact that I didn't take advantage of the new 'work from home' wave that was hitting where people would rent RV's, or go to an exotic location to deal with the pandemic and lockdown. Here's some horror stories from those that did - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/business/digital-nomads-regret.html) Sorry, I'm personally still not going to eat at McDonald's, but apparently they have revealed a new McPlant line of meatless burgers - [More](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/09/mcdonalds-to-test-mcplant-which-includes-its-own-meat-free-burger-next-year-beyond-meat-shares-fall.html) 'They observe the loud beasts, rather than become a beast', a look at being one of the 'quiet people' in meetings is not only an amazing skill to work on, but how active listening can make you more of a 'doer' than a 'talker' - [More](https://medium.com/the-ascent/quiet-people-in-meetings-are-incredible-7bb05ef9acd1) ## End Thoughts > *I don't want to talk about time travel because if we start talking about it then we're going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws.* ### The Purge URL: https://makoism.com/the-purge/ Last updated: 2020-11-12T02:44:28.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3a86fa24-0234-49c5-aef8-8f5ae0eb538a_4032x3024.jpeg) *Program Note: I am trying to blog at least once a week, outside of my weekly "Deep Links” posts. [Please follow me](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow) if you want in on all the action.* I find it to be an incredibly useful exercise to audit things in my technology “stack” frequently. This isn’t just about the apps I am using or things I’ve installed that are sitting there collecting dust, but taking a hard, honest look at playlists, subscriptions, tools, workflow; heck look at anything in the *entire ecosystem* that encompasses my day to day computing devices and workflow. [Continue reading ...](https://furrygoat.com/the-purge-32fb1d2381db) ### The Usual Suspects URL: https://makoism.com/the-usual-suspects/ Last updated: 2020-11-07T20:23:29.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/7a59cadc-6d2a-42ed-b38f-51ce7d961a08_5184x3456.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Follow My Posts](https://smakofsky.medium.com/) While this week has been the **longest** Tuesday ever, I revisited one of my favorite movies, [The Usual Suspects](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/). While it’s ending may be one of the best in film history (and yes this contains spoilers), it certainly has been marred later by the allegations of Kevin Spacey’s misconduct. For this post, I’m going to key in more on the film itself and it’s big reveal. The concept of an [unreliable narrator](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-an-unreliable-narrator-4-ways-to-create-an-unreliable-narrator-in-writing) is a classic writing/film technique in which the storyteller ‘*withholds information, lies to, or misleads the reader, casting doubt on the narrative*’. The thing that stood out for me when re-watching it this week was the presence of unreliable narrators in our **every day lives**. The parallels of social media we all face in 2020; our own micro and macro ‘unreliable narrators’; pummeling our news feeds with misinformation and manipulation of and the [algorithms to turn people against each other](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-algorithm-bias-right-wing-feed-a9536396.html). It’s somewhat horrifying how those little devices in our pockets have become our source of many truths we choose to believe in. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky) or [my posts on Medium](https://smakofsky.medium.com/?intent=follow). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** My **watch of the week** \- Bud Haggert was the **top** voice-over talent on technical films in the late 70's, and '*wrote this script because he rarely understood the technical copy he was asked to read and felt he shouldn't be alone*'. Watch and enjoy his tele-prompter free explanation of "The Turbo Encabulator" - [Watch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag) Tired of the same old Zoom meetings that end up discussing one or two topics and leaving all the important things until the end or not even discussed? Here's how to run a '**Lean Coffee**' style of discussion - [More](https://critter.blog/2020/11/03/better-discussion-meetings-with-lean-coffee/) A look inside the MLB's efforts to create artificial crowd noise, which involves 30 iPads and the sounds from a PlayStation game - [More](https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/09/05/baseball-fake-crowd-nosie) **[My inbox is empty](https://furrygoat.com/flow-77d6348dbfc1)**. I wrote a few weeks back about the process for quickly processing email so that your Inbox doesn't become your to-do list. The Washington Post this week had a similar thought on 'why you shouldn't organize your email' - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2016/10/31/why-you-shouldnt-organize-your-email/) When I think back to my childhood, the concept of making a movie was a pipe-dream due to the cost of the equipment and the technology involved. Fast forward to 2020 and read how a novice filmmaker used '*a smartphone, a microphone, a tripod, a stabilizing gimbal, and video-editing software on my computer. I had no film crew, no expensive cameras, and did no post-production except what I could accomplish on my own*'. I'm jealous of what my kids will be able to achieve - [More](https://fortelabs.co/blog/how-i-made-a-documentary-film-with-digital-notes/) There are huge differences between taking notes when reading versus listening. Here's a great read on how to capture ideas without interrupting your reading flow - [More](https://nesslabs.com/how-to-take-notes-while-reading-a-book) Before [Slack](https://www.slack.com/), before [ICQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICQ), before [IRC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet%5FRelay%5FChat), before [CompuServe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompuServe) Chat there was **Diversi-Dial**. I remember my early computing childhood, where I'd be dialing into the local D-Dial with a 300 baud modem on a [Vic-20](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore%5FVIC-20) to chat with *6 other people*. - [More](https://paleotronic.com/2019/09/28/diversi-dial-an-apple-ii-party-line/) and [More](http://www.ddial.com/highlight.html) In my opinion, this is wrong — it feels like a violation of a graveyard. Soon you will be able to go visit the Titanic Wreck for a 'mere' $125,000 - [More](https://gizmodo.com/tourists-will-soon-be-able-to-visit-the-titanic-wreck-f-1845581670) Using veins as a conduit to the brain; by '*mounting electrodes on an expandable, springy tube called a stent and threading it through a blood vessel that leads to the brain*' is being explored as a new method for brain-computer interfaces. Scary stuff. - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/a-new-way-to-plug-a-human-brain-into-a-computer-via-veins) Speaking of becoming more robotic, [Disney Research has released findings](https://la.disneyresearch.com/publication/realistic-and-interactive-robot-gaze/) for creating new '*system that gives humanoid robots more realistic gazes and head movements*'. [Westworld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westworld%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29), here we come - [More](https://www.engadget.com/disney-research-realistic-gaze-robot-horror-180500473.html) [Chaos Engineering](https://www.gremlin.com/community/tutorials/chaos-engineering-the-history-principles-and-practice/), the notion of '*hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst*' has a bigger lesson in 2020 for everyone: '*From chaos, a greater understanding of resilience* ' - [More](https://www.protocol.com/newsletters/cloud/from-chaos-a-greater-understanding-of-resilience) Apple has filed for a few more patents this past week, with one in particular focusing on how to make Siri more like talking to a real person - [More](https://www.protocol.com/apple-siri-talking-patent) ## **End Thoughts** > *Who is Keyser Soze?* > > *He is supposed to be Turkish. Some say his father was German. Nobody believed he was real. Nobody ever saw him or knew anybody that ever worked directly for him, but to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could have worked for Soze.* > > *You never knew.* > > *That was his power.* > > **The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And like that, poof. He's gone.** ### The Game URL: https://makoism.com/the-game/ Last updated: 2020-10-31T17:48:30.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b80e07b2-38eb-43e2-b2e2-6b11d7e36172_5600x3733.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. As I've been going through films, I have begun to notice a common theme: same directors, similar composers, common themes continuously resonate with me in different ways. This week, we'll chat about [David Fincher](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000399/)'s 1997 paranoia movie, [The Game](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119174/). [Michael Douglas](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000140/) (yeah, Hank Pym in [Ant-Man](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970)) plays an investment banker who has everything that anyone could want, and nothing else. His brother shows up on his birthday with a curious gift: a certificate for a game of unknown objectives in which anything goes. The game is "tailored to each person" and it begins. It then builds on a simple question: 'What do you get for the man who has everything?' 2020 is a year in which conspiracy theories and surveillance culture thrives. In many ways similar to the movie, we all used to be in control of things that *we aren't any more*. Many feel a sense of helplessness of being trapped in homes, with our lives locked down. Many things that were once convenience, is now luxury. The point is, as with this film, is **how we come out the other side of these experiences as better human beings**. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** I find [Chrissy Teigen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrissy%5FTeigen) incredibly **real** despite her stardom. Last month, she shared her miscarriage in an incredibly open way online, and this week posted one of the most griping and honest essays on "what happened" - [More](https://chrissyteigen.medium.com/hi-2e45e6faf764) What a great read on the difference between *[tactical hell](http://powerseductionandwar.com/archives/how%5Fto%5Fcrush%5Fka.phtml)* vs **grand strategy**. I've called this in conversations with people '**the 5 year plan**' - laying out and carefully observing the chessboard to make the micro-movements to get what you want in the long term - [More](https://ryanholiday.net/life-as-a-grand-strategy/) Dunkin' Donuts has added a spicy donut to its menu - '*a donut infused with the world’s spiciest pepper*'. A deep look at the new Spicy Ghost Pepper Donut is about as 2020 as it gets - [More](https://www.theringer.com/2020/10/22/21528332/dunkin-donuts-spicy-ghost-pepper-donut-review) **Does parenting even matter**? The role of genetics and the job of 'loving, supporting, accepting and enjoying' kids is more important than the anxiety-ridden way to parent that many have been lead to believe is far more important - [More](https://www.todaysparent.com/family/nature-vs-nurture-does-parenting-even-matter/) Been a long time fan of [Kelsey Hightower](https://twitter.com/kelseyhightower), principal engineer for Google Cloud (I was fortunate to have lunch with him and a few colleagues last year). In this Protocol expose, a look at his incredible career and his unique storytelling techniques that has made him and incredible leader. '*It's not about the job, it's about what I bring to the job*' - [More](https://www.protocol.com/kelsey-hightower-google-cloud) Fonts are used to trick people with malicious URL's. The usage of 'i' vs 'l' in certain fonts is one out of many ways used to trick people into going places on the internet where they don't want to - [More](https://www.troyhunt.com/humans-are-bad-at-urls-and-fonts-dont-matter/) The best camera app for your iPhone, period. Introducing [Halide MkII](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/halide/id885697368) \- [More](https://blog.halide.cam/introducing-halide-mkii-30f9f2bceac3) '*No one knows why the Louvre is called the Louvre*'. Revisiting the Louvre in Paris - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/26/in-love-with-the-louvre) I learned about [Discord](https://discord.com/) from my teen who spends way too much time on it. Many are calling it the 'future of the internet' and how it's the new center of the gaming universe - [More](https://www.protocol.com/discord) An art exhibition of shoes from 'The Great Shoe Spill' of 1990 when a storm in the North Pacific swept five shipping containers off the deck of a freighter headed towards the US. Computer monitors, sex toys and 61,280 Nike sneakers spilled out into the ocean; and has now been turned into an art exhibition - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/style/if-the-shoe-floats.html) A new Consumer Reports study shows an increasing concern around privacy from consumers, and that there are considerable benefits for 'companies that differentiate their products based on privacy and data security.' - [More](https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2020/10/consumer-reports-study-finds-marketplace-demand-for-privacy-and-security/index.htm) Invented to help folks deal with 2020 is a new '*Game to Get You Un-Stuck On Crappy Feelings*'. Introducing **Five Nice Things** \- [More](https://siobhan.medium.com/a-game-to-get-you-un-stuck-on-crappy-feelings-86742b3706f) ## **End Thoughts** > *There's a tiny camera looking at you right now.* > > *That's impossible.* > > *You're right, impossible. *You're having a conversation with your television*.* ### Wall-E URL: https://makoism.com/wall-e/ Last updated: 2020-10-24T19:29:44.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/7a45d113-85da-4e79-bfcf-80c041f60394_5184x3456.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://www.furrygoat.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. The first 20 minutes has no spoken dialog, and from what I've been able to find online, [Wall-E](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) only has 17 lines of dialogue and 862 words in the entire movie. While many may consider it a classic children's movie, it really is a movie for adults. The visual storytelling is the core of the film where the little things you see and feel through the journey of a small robot who endlessly cleans up the mess on a future consumption overrun Earth is a gut punch. It's Pixar's finest work to date. While Wall-E starts out highlighting a bleak future, the story unfolds by rewarding us with a glimmer of hope, something we all need right now in 2020, with a simple message that **actions are louder than words**. Finally, as a long time Pixar fan, I've always enjoyed the little 'in-jokes' that pop up all over their films. While you can search online for the meaning behind many of them, A113 (the secret directive of AUTO), was a classroom at Cal Arts where Pixar animators learned their skills. If you need a good, uplifting film to watch with the family, make it this one. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Since it's introduction, I've been excited about the [Apple Watch](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/9/30/apple-watch-momentum-is-building), [AirPods Pro](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2019/11/19/airpods-are-becoming-a-platform) and the entire platform that is evolving around 'personal networks' and augmented audio. This week, M.G. Siegler takes a look at [Marsbot for AirPods](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/marsbot-for-airpods/id1481091266), a concept that is not a walking tour of a city, but 'a running commentary about interesting places you walk by on the street' - [More](https://mgsiegler.medium.com/audio-augmented-reality-9dc19cc0fed3) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt%5FVonnegut) (so it goes) is one of my favorite authors due his dark, satirical nature. In his autobiography, his response to his prettiest contribution to culture was '*his master’s thesis which was rejected because it was so simple and looked like too much fun*'. The idea: stories have shapes that can be drawn. You should spend 5 minutes and watch his presentation of this in "The Shapes of Stories" - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP3c1h8v2ZQ) [Bethanys Table](https://www.bethanystable.com/) is one of the local restaurants here in Portland, and I love how they are re-inventing themselves and pivoting as they face 'the pandemic business model'. A fascinating view on how small businesses (and, please support them!) are focusing on 'why our core customers choose us' - [More](https://www.bethanystable.com/the-pandemic-business-model/) I discovered the writing of OMD with his popular post [Apple Inc: A Pre-Mortem](https://ohmdee.com/apple-inc-a-pre-mortem-568d1a0b7d72) back in 2017\. Last week he returned with a detailed take on Google's shortcomings (and strengths) in 'Diagnosing Google' - [More](https://ohmdee.com/diagnosing-google-14cdee217b16) **Storytelling** is one of the most effective and powerful skills you can learn (side note: [Pixar has a free online course](https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar/storytelling)!). It doesn't matter what you do for a living; building this muscle will help you give better presentations, feel more at ease in conversations, and perhaps even entertain your kids a bit more - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/parenting/bedtime-stories-for-kids.html) [Hivemapper](http://hivemapper.com/) is taking a fresh approach on making maps by leveraging off the shelf drone and dashcams to create a global 3d map at a fraction of the cost (up to 60% less) of traditional mapping companies. The have tech that 'can take nearly **any**source video of the physical world and convert it into an accurate 3D map'; wild stuff - [More](https://blog.hivemapper.com/how-we-are-scaling-the-future-of-mapping-a624a09d687) Great ideas in here to talk to your kids about other than 'what did you do in school today?' - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/24-better-questions-to-ask-kids-about-how-their-day-went/) The three types of 'jumping to conclusions' and how to shift yourself into a **growth mindset** *instead* of educated guessing - [More](https://nesslabs.com/jumping-to-conclusions) Brett Sutton, an Australian triathlon coach, is an endless source of quality wisdom around training. This week, in 'squad note that can help you!', he talks about a runner of his who's secret was in that *he never timed anything*. The reason why is worth the read - [More](https://www.trisutto.com/en/teams/home-of-triathlon/blog/squad-note-that-can-help-you) While most of us are still in the health data "gathering" stage using Apple Watches and FitBits (and personally, I'm still trying to correlate the data to actionable effects), it looks like there are several Silicon Valley companies have been dipping their toes in and obsessing over 'anti-aging' drugs in attempts to prolong life - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/03/silicon-valleys-quest-to-live-forever) This weeks 'interesting read' is a story from [The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/) in which 'The F.B.I. tried to recruit an Iranian scientist as an informant; and when he balked, the payback was brutal.' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/21/the-man-who-refused-to-spy) ## End Thoughts > *Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to day 255,642 aboard the Axiom.* > > *As always, the weather is a balmy 72 degrees and sunny, and, uh... Oh, I see the ship's log is showing that today is the 700th anniversary of our five year cruise.* > > *Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be... doing the exact same thing they were doing.* > > *So, be sure next mealtime to ask for your free sep-tua-centennial cupcake in a cup. Wow, look at that.* ### Fight Club URL: https://makoism.com/fight-club/ Last updated: 2020-10-17T19:38:57.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/6327bc48-5506-4b77-9b66-919f33e93184_4895x2729.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. > *"The first rule about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club."* > *"The second rule about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club."* While I have never read [the book by Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Club-Novel-Chuck-Palahniuk/dp/0393327345), [Fight Club](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/) is one of those films that takes everything you are watching, puts it into a blender and turns it inside out (much like 2020). [LitHub](https://lithub.com/everyone-misunderstands-the-point-of-fight-club/) describes it as "*the existential dread of having everything you’ve been told to want and still feeling empty.*"; put simply, Fight Club is a critique of the struggles of the world. If you are a long time (since March) follower of [my blog](https://furrygoat.com/) or [this newsletter](https://makoism.substack.com/), you've likely recognized that I've been heading on the journey to understand Stoicism during this pandemic. It's been a personal exploration that's a combination of trying to deal with self-discovery as I turn 50 next year, a methodology for dealing with 2020, coming to terms of having heart issues and the realities of that, coupled with constant work stress and sleep issues. It’s a lot. I am unaware of many other films other than **Fight Club** that touches on all the virtues embodied in what Stoic believe: [Wisdom, Justice, Courage and Moderation](https://dailystoic.com/4-stoic-virtues/). This week's "**End Thoughts**", draws on one of the more darker scenes of the film in which the concept of '[Memento Mori](https://dailystoic.com/memento-mori/)' is rooted in; Marcus Aurelius is quoted as saying '*You could leave life right now... do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life.*'. Do yourself a favor; **do not be Raymond K. Hessel** (watch below after the links). If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** [Tim Urban](https://waitbutwhy.com/wait-but-who) is one of my favorite writers on the Internet with [Wait But Why](https://waitbutwhy.com/). I recently re-watched his fantastic TED Talk on 'Inside The Mind of a Master Procrastinator' and it reminded me of how much I appreciate his humor, style and storytelling techniques - [Watch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU) You know them — the 'heroes' — the folks that publish code at midnight, work crazy ass hours and burn out to meet deadlines. An interesting look if we decided to '**punish the heroes**' instead of rewarding them for going the extra mile. Instead we should be rewarding the people who make death march projects unnecessary by simplifying scope - [More](https://critter.blog/2020/10/15/the-hero-culture-conundrum/) People always ask me (as someone who has spent a ton of time research and working on privacy and security) what the 'safest' messaging tech is, my answer is always for them to use [Signal](https://signal.org/en/). **No one** but the person you are talking with can read your messages (Facebook can't track you); heck — even [Edward Snowden recommends it](https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/778592275144314884). A super fascinating look at 'The Inside Story of How Signal Became the Private Messaging App for an Age of Fear and Distrust' - [More](https://time.com/5893114/signal-app-privacy/) A look at the driving factors between drive when facing adversity, and the potential depression that comes from the lack of it - [More](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/the-relationship-between-hardship-struggle-and-meaning/) Over the last several years (and honestly this is something that I have been slacking on over 2020), I've tried to study the public speaking qualities of folks I admire such as [Guy Kawasaki](https://guykawasaki.com/the%5F102030%5Frule/) (Watch: [The 10/20/30 Rule](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M13SObffog)) and [Nancy Duarte](https://www.duarte.com/) (Watch: [The Secret Structure of Great Talks](https://www.ted.com/talks/nancy%5Fduarte%5Fthe%5Fsecret%5Fstructure%5Fof%5Fgreat%5Ftalks/transcript?language=en)) in order to create my own unique style with presenting and storytelling. From the archives, a great article on the traits of becoming a powerful public speaker - [More](https://www.duarte.com/presentation-skills-resources/to-become-a-powerful-public-speaker-master-these-qualities/) From this weeks travel reads (*do you remember travel?*) a look at **St. Matthew Island**, one of the most remote places in Alaska. '*To set foot on this scatter of land surrounded by endless ocean is to feel yourself swallowed by the nowhere at the center of a drowned compass rose*' in 'The Island That Humans Can’t Conquer' - [More](https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/the-island-humans-cant-conquer/) Even though the memory of summer is fading fast, who doesn't like S'mores. Here are new ways to supercharge your S'mores - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/4-ways-to-upgrade-your-smores/) In order to move from '*time measurement*' to '*time management*' and how to focus on results instead of hours of work, some great strategies in here - [More](https://nesslabs.com/time-is-not-a-measure-of-productivity) Another look at the danger of deep-fake technology and that they are '*dangerous not only because they make people believe that false things are true, but also because they make people believe that true things are false*' - [More](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/12/opinion/dangerous-form-unanswerable-speech/) I'm not sure if I'd agree with the thoughts here around 'why' so many advocates of *agile and scrum* methodology feel this is it's success is based on. But the concept of Parkinson’s Law, where '*work complicates to fill the available time*' is very real - [More](https://critter.blog/2020/10/14/parkinsons-law-and-friends/) I have always heard that walking is the best way to think out a problem or relax. Your body chemistry changes — more blood and oxygen is getting to the muscles and brain. Here's a good look at '*Why Walking Helps Us Think*' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/walking-helps-us-think) ## **End Thoughts** > *I know who you are. I know where you live. I'm keeping your license, and I'm going to check on you, mister Raymond K. Hessel. In three months, and then six months, and then a year, and if you aren't back in school on your way to being a veterinarian, you will be dead...* > > *Raymond K. Hessel, your dinner is going to taste better than any meal you've ever eaten, and *tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of your life*.* ### Forrest Gump URL: https://makoism.com/forrest-gump/ Last updated: 2020-10-10T16:59:40.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e4048c2e-e0aa-4e66-917a-9ec14177ef3d_6000x4000.jpeg) Hi again, I’m **Steve Makofsky** and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Subscribe now](https://www.makoism.com/subscribe) For as long as I can remember, my wife and I joke that we're '**peas and carrots**' which is an obvious reference to the 1994 film from Robert Zemeckis, '[Forrest Gump](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/)'. I can't remember a film that came out of nowhere and quickly achieved the status of an American classic. Few films have this unique combination of heartache, friendship, loss and humor through the storytelling in which Forrest achieves through his extraordinary feats coupled with historical fact. A few of take-aways from Forrest Gump are timeless: - Do What You Love, No Matter What - To Have Good Friends, Be a Good Friend - Stay Positive and Focused - Expect the Unexpected and Be Open-Minded **Things that we all need more of in 2020.** If you need a quick pick-me-up - rewatch this movie. You'll laugh, smile and remember simpler times. Last, an observation that I never picked up on until recently, is that '[Forrest wears a different form of a blue checkered shirt in the first scene of each age transition in the film](https://collider.com/galleries/forrest-gump-behind-the-scenes-facts/)’ to signify a change in time. Watch for it; it's always fun when you learn something new of a movie that you've seen 100's of times. And remember, life **is** like a box of chocolates. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** [Season 2 of 'The Boys'](https://www.amazon.com/The-Boys-Season-2/dp/B08C8NJQSH) just wrapped up this week (**highly recommended**). Despite it's over-the-top parody of the superhero genre, this season tackled systemic racism in a hauntingly effectual way - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/12/a-star-of-the-boys-on-sending-up-the-superhero-genre) We lost another great this week in [the passing of Eddie Van Halen](https://people.com/music/eddie-van-halen-son-wolf-posts-childhood-photo/), easily one of the greatest guitarist of all time ([and again](https://makoism.substack.com/p/black-panther), [fuck cancer](https://www.letsfcancer.com/)). Two great articles (one authored by Eddie) on his incredible innovations on hacking guitars: - The Mad Genius of Eddie Van Halen - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/10/mad-genius-eddie-van-halen/616684/) - How the Late Rock God Eddie Van Halen Hacked His Guitar - [More](https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a15615/how-eddie-van-halen-hacks-a-guitar/) An amusing take from LegalEagle breaking down all the laws that Indiana Jones broke, penalties he'd face for grave robbing, transporting stolen artifacts, murder, etc thru his various archeological adventures - [Watch](https://youtu.be/8ezHMpZsyAs) Chilling photos have been documented of the ghostly ruins and structures of the [Chernobyl Exclusion Zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl%5FExclusion%5FZone) in a new book '[Chernobyl: A Stalkers Guide](https://www.amazon.com/Chernobyl-Stalkers-Guide-Darmon-Richter/dp/1916218423)' - [More](https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/10/darmon-richter-chernobyl/) A look at the amount of time you need to get into a creative 'flow' state every day. I love the concept of '[altering how you perceive time](https://medium.com/swlh/the-bizarre-reality-that-we-can-change-our-own-perception-of-time-d78619fbc496)' to make things look and feel different - [More](https://medium.com/the-ascent/3-hours-of-creative-flow-every-day-is-all-you-need-to-change-your-life-4afa8df5eec) **What is 'enough?** Asking that key question is the key to avoiding burnout according to this read. The important take away to set a boundary for your day and [call it quits](https://dariusforoux.com/hemingway-working-habit/)when you get there - [More](https://dariusforoux.com/avoiding-burnout/) '*Disagreements exist as a place to start negotiating*' in 'How to Have a Disagreement Like an Adult' - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/style/deepak-chopra-disagreement-advice.html) Another stoic tactic that I have been taking part of is '*going back and revisiting your notes: after you take notes in a book, you let the book sit for a week ..... there’s a kind of constant creative revisiting that goes on, one that leads to new ideas, and new writing. (Re-vision is re-seeing.)*' - [More](https://austinkleon.com/2017/12/15/on-the-importance-of-revisiting-notebooks/) I always love workflow tips and tricks, so I really enjoyed this look at a few 'guerrilla productivity tactics' that burn relationship capital. I'd advice, use these at your own risk - [More](https://critter.blog/2020/10/05/guerrilla-productivity-tactics/) An eye-opening look at how people cheat the self-checkout lanes at various markets, with classics such as 'the switcheroo'. Accounting for millions of dollars of theft, it explores the psychology behind risk-taking of swiping tomatoes from Safeway - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/stealing-from-self-checkout/550940/) ‘The End of the American Internet’ - [More](https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2020/10/3/the-end-of-the-american-internet) ## End Thoughts > *For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean.* > > *And when I got there, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going.* > > *When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well just turn back, *keep right on going*.* ### Sleep URL: https://makoism.com/sleep/ Last updated: 2020-10-09T15:43:21.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a74592b7-6ebf-454a-b3e6-cde18975842e_3084x2056.jpeg) Sleep and I have **never** been friends. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a light sleeper and have had trouble getting more than 7 hours of sleep a night. And yes — I am jealous of you folks who end up getting 8 or 9 hours on a regular basis. (*side note: on the rare occasion that I do get over 6.5 hours, it feels almost ‘superhuman’*). But lately it’s been getting **worse and worse**. I fall asleep, wake up 60–80 minutes later and lie there thinking: work, life, the world, COVID-19, my own heart issues, the kids, fires, the uncertainty of everything. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/4f15a0a3-1e88-4cbf-aaa5-9838cacb5d16_581x600.png) Yep, last night clocked in at 3 hours, 56 minutes. My sleep “bank” is literally in the toilet. The night before was similar just under 4 hours. Nothing has changed with regard to my diet or caffeine intake; I have 2 cups of espresso first thing in the AM, no other caffinated drinks in the day. **I can’t be the only one having more trouble sleeping as of late?** Over the last few months I’ve been trying to understand more about stoic philosophy; apparently I am not alone here. [Many are choosing](https://medium.com/@axasos.036/quarantine-stoicism-finding-peace-during-a-pandemic-e5615d29a829) in [this time of pandemic](https://evidentstoics.wordpress.com/2020/09/11/covid-19-externalities-and-opportunities-to-practice/) to search out ways to keep our inner well-being at peace. This morning, I received [an incredibly timely email from Daily Stoic](https://dailystoic.com/what-is-your-anxiety-costing-you/): > *One of the most wonderful passages in [Meditations](https://geni.us/E3o9ruq) is where Marcus Aurelius looks at his own troubles with worry and fear. “Today, I escaped my anxiety,” he writes, “or rather, I discarded it, for it is within me.”* > > *Your anxiety is within you, worse it is eating at and harming you. It does not make your life better — no, it comes at the expense of life. Which is why we must, as best we can, *let it go*. Not let it control us. Not let it take from us the things we can never get back.* It had me thinking that in the end perhaps it’s all just that simple: **just let things go**. This is certainly a work in progress for me. More to come on this one… ### Hope URL: https://makoism.com/hope/ Last updated: 2020-10-08T03:16:37.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/58be7306-0d9e-4a72-8793-ea285d779cc3_5760x3840.jpeg) Watching tonight’s debate had me trying to pin down what’s been troubling me the few last months (I know — what isn’t shocking in 2020). Everyone I know has had a hard year; fortunately my family has been spared from any COVID-19 related issues. But we are certainly dealing with the same daily stresses as everyone else from at home virtual-school hybrid, the world tearing itself apart, out of control fires, killer bees, etc.. For me, it’s been all “ok”; my own stress has been from a new heart condition that started with an unexpected heart attack in Aug of 2019, followed by a second heart surgery to help with atrial fibrillation in November. So a lot of my concern lies with keeping myself safe now that I have a “higher risk” condition of heart disease through this madness. But lately, I’ve been sensing something bigger is missing from most everyone I talk to — and that is **hope**. Thinking back, my first profound understanding of the concept of ‘hope’ was when I was 17, back in 1989, and it surprisingly came from a comic book. Even to this day (as I approach 50 next year), I remember **a feeling**when I read it. Issue 4, of [Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSandman%5F%28Vertigo%29) was entitled “[A Hope in Hell](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Sandman%5FVol%5F2%5F4)”. The story goes like this; **Morpheus**, the Lord of Dreams, has to reclaim several lost artifacts after having spent a long time in prison on Earth. After tracking down his pouch of dreamsand, his ruby amulet, the next item to get back was his helmet. It’s being held by the demon **Choronzon** in hell; so he travels there and enters a battle of wits to get it back: > *CHORONZON: I am a snake, spider-devouring, posion-toothed.* > > *MORPHEUS: I am an ox, snake-crushing, heavy-footed.* > > *CHORONZON: I am an anthrax, butcher bacterium, warm-life destroying.* > > *MORPHEUS: I am a world, space-floating, life-nurturing.* > > *CHORONZON: I am a nova, all-exploding… planet-cremating.Choronzon: I am anti-life, the Beast of Judgment. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds … of everything.* > **And what will you be then, Dreamlord?** > > *Morpheus: “*I am Hope.*”* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/4c3e91a8-7f96-4ad9-b32b-e95b2178e7bf_860x668.jpeg) Mic drop. Helmet reclaimed. So in 2020 — maybe it’s really as simple as that — everyone needs a simple dose of hope these days. There aren’t any easy answers for this; I just know that **every day** I’m trying to remind myself to have hope. To embrace what I have and not to focus on the bad things that can happen. My only wish to you, dear reader, is that each one of us can find hope in *something*. Frankly — It’s the only way we’re going to get through all this. Together. ### The Mind Garden URL: https://makoism.com/the-mind-garden/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T01:58:12.000Z Earlier in the week I wrote about [Flow](https://furrygoat.com/flow-77d6348dbfc1) and a general methodology on how I handle my Inbox. Another area where I’ve been in a constant state of evolution over the years is how I treat other sources of information, retain knowledge and continuously learn across the constant barrage of daily information. One of the most useful things I’ve learned about is treating it as a “[mind garden](https://nesslabs.com/mind-garden)”. Instead of simply ‘consuming’ and forgetting articles/blog posts/podcasts, I try to treat anything that I want to use later as “seeds” for my mind. [Joel Hooks](https://joelhooks.com/digital-garden) has an incredibly insightful way to view this type of method of information collection and curation: > *A garden is usually a place where things grow.* > > *Gardens can be very personal and full of whimsy or a garden can be a source of food and substance.* > > *What makes a garden is interesting. It’s personal. Things are organized and orderly, but with a touch of chaos around the edges.* > > *Just like plants in the garden I’ve got posts that are in various stages of growth and nurturing. Some might wither and die, and others (like this one you are reading) will flourish and provide a source of continued for the gardener and folks in community that visit.* It’s somewhat of a pivot from where I started a few years back where I was constructing a digital [commonplace journal](https://criticalmargins.com/the-commonplace-book-as-a-thinkers-journal-4d65231f30ec). There I was just dumping quotes and articles in a more traditional fashion. > *For centuries, authors and thinkers have kept commonplace books: focused journals that serve to collect thoughts, quotes, moments of introspection, transcribed passages from reading — anything of purpose worth reviewing later.* The curation process for me has evolved into a ‘mind garden’; content has transformed into more of a living collection of connected nuggets, discovery is part of the curation — and the best part is that it extends into a variety of tools. Today, my personal mind garden spans across: - My daily journal in [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/) - RSS feeds and blog reading in [Feedly](https://feedly.com/) - Article storage in [Pocket](https://app.getpocket.com/) - Note taking in Apple Notes - To-Do lists in [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) - Highly curated lists and topic searches in [Twitter](https://twitter.com/). While this is continues to evolve, I’ve now been working on linking where possible to connect the tools, and consistently tag. The benefit has been that I can search and curate ideas consistently, all in support of allowing my mind garden to grow. ### The No People URL: https://makoism.com/the-no-people/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T01:54:03.000Z You know them — I **know** you do. In every company, regardless of your role, there’s another team that’s comically (or tragically) referred to as the *‘*no people**’. This could be legal, privacy, security, architecture, engineering, quality assurance, human resources. It doesn’t matter what their function is, they exist to block **you**. And when trying to ship software, the ‘no people’ are the last people you want to talk to — their **sole purpose** in life is to say ‘no’ to you, isn’t it? To slow you down. **To block you**. To make your life more complicated. To make you miss ship dates. It is inevitable however — before your product/software/whatever goes out the door, you will have to engage with them at a point and the obvious thing occurs — you haven’t done something they need, didn’t think about a particular situation or series of circumstances, you forgot to encrypt a piece of important data, etc. Next come the **compromises**: meetings, slack messages, texts. And in an effort to make sure the product goes out on time, regardless of the concerns raised by the ‘no people’, it almost always ends with words I can’t stand: ‘**the business is willing to accept the risk**’ Don’t let it kid you — this is code for ‘*we know it’s a mess, let’s hide the peas and carrots under the mashed potatoes and pretend it doesn’t exist until we get called out on it*’. Today, I offer you an *amazing alternative* that few take advantage of: actually reach out and embrace the ‘no people’. Make them part of your tribe. Talk to them early. Understand their concerns. Alleviate their issues by making their issues the heart of how you build things. Involve them. [Shift left](https://www.bmc.com/blogs/what-is-shift-left-shift-left-testing-explained/). **Be their champion.** Listen. Build Trust. Show actions over words. There is **no easier** way for your team to build velocity by tackling the ‘no people’ concerns as foundational bedrocks in how you construct things. And when you do that, something magical happens. The ‘no people’ become your ultimate champions — they are your biggest advocates. You’ve solved something for them. It changes everything. ### Flow URL: https://makoism.com/flow-23a/ Last updated: 2020-10-05T00:04:00.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/6ea06593-15cf-4b89-b0b9-a02220513395_1400x933.jpeg) One of the things I pride myself on is that I try to respond to messages as quickly as possible. While this has sometime’s gotten me into trouble (sometimes it’s best to let things stew), I am do get asked how this is doable given the constant stream of noise that most of us deal with every day. The answer is easy: **My inbox is empty.** I’ve been able to keep this philosophy pretty consistent over 10 + years now (despite the recent ‘[inbox zero is wrong](https://www.wired.com/story/everything-you-thought-you-knew-about-inbox-zero-is-wrong/)’), and I follow the general rule that I would not let email overwhelm me — **Email is not my task list**. The trick, while difficult at times, is to keep your Inbox *below 5 items before the end of each day*. Trust me friends, once you get there, it’s **amazing** how liberating this can be. The workflow is pretty straight-forward, for **every** new mail: - If I don’t need it and can delete it, I **delete** it immediately. - If it’s something that I can **answer immediately**, I do. Then the email goes into the ‘year’ folder or **deleted**. - If it’s something that I **need for information later**, it quickly goes into the ‘year’ folder. If the email was a link to an article, a video, a podcast or whatever else that I can consume later, it quickly goes into [Pocket](https://app.getpocket.com/). Then the email is **deleted**. - If it’s something that I need to **think** about or take **action** on, it quickly goes over to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item, with tags, a project and a due date. Then the email goes into the ‘year’ folder or **deleted**. The process is simple and quick and my inbox **never** becomes a dumping ground for tasks. ### Watchmen URL: https://makoism.com/watchmen/ Last updated: 2020-10-03T19:39:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d67384f2-7671-4dd2-bbbd-067e0e60ba40_5496x3670.jpeg) Hi again, I’m **Steve Makofsky** and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. --- **Program note* \- in an effort to try an exercise my brain more frequently, I am going to attempt an experiment of 'writing every day' for a week over on my blog, [Furrygoat](https://furrygoat.com/). I may try and cross-post those posts over to this newsletter, but given it's all play right now, we'll see.* --- [Alan Moore's Watchmen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen) is one of my all-time favorite graphic novels from my teenage years. Regardless how much Moore hates what Zack Snyder's 2009 [film adaptation](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/) did with the story, it's a great watch and quite possibly one of the most iconic comic movies ever created (side note: [he also hates HBO's sequel series](https://qz.com/quartzy/1732050/why-alan-moore-wants-nothing-to-do-with-hbos-watchmen/), which is in ways even **more** impressive and a [must watch](https://www.hbo.com/watchmen)). There are many complex themes in the film, too many to go into in a quick summary; but the basic storyline is about the Cold War and mankind quickly edging towards nuclear apocalypse, all wrapped around the murder of a costumed hero known as 'The Comedian'. The film evolves through the psychology of Rorschach, an anti-hero who's own morality **won't allow** him to compromise the truth when he ultimately learns around a larger plot to unify mankind. I really don't want to spoil this film, but one of the largest *contested* directions is how [the ending was ](https://collider.com/watchmen-ending-explained/)**[fundamentally](https://collider.com/watchmen-ending-explained/)**[ changed](https://collider.com/watchmen-ending-explained/) from the comic (a giant squid was too much?). Interestingly enough, the [HBO series went back](https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/watchmen-squids-rain-squid-monster-hbo-series) to the source material, so I highly recommend that as a follow up watch. Shockingly, this is where I first learned of the [Tulsa race massacre](https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/21/us/tulsa-race-riot-black-wall-street-watchmen-trnd/index.html). If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** One of my favorite workflow tips is to ‘**declare bankruptcy**’. Too much email in the inbox? Too many items in the backlog? A fresh look at viewing this methodology as a ‘fresh start’ - [More](https://critter.blog/2020/09/24/declare-bankruptcy-and-dont-be-ashamed-of-it/) Folks outside the security community don't talk frequently about the concept of ‘[threat models](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threat%5Fmodel)’. [Daniel Miessler](https://danielmiessler.com/) takes a fresh look at this **situational awareness** superpower that '*gives you the ability to adjust your defensive behaviors based on what you’re facing in real-world scenarios*' - [More](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/everyday-threat-modeling/) Given the importance of the 2020 vote ([get out and vote!](https://www.vote.org/)), here's a handy guide to track your mail-in ballot - [More](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-track-your-ballot-after-youve-mailed-it-in-1845187269) Two **great** reads today from professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, [Kevin Love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin%5FLove). Kevin has written open and honestly about the effects of mental health being a '*pandemic no one is talking about*' and **his own experiences battling depression and anxiety**: - Everyone Is Going Through Something - [More](https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/kevin-love-everyone-is-going-through-something) - To Anybody Going Through It - [More](https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/kevin-love-mental-health) I've been seeing pictures of [kids forced to use Taco Bell WiFi](https://www.parents.com/news/photo-of-kids-using-taco-bell-wifi-is-a-startling-reminder-of-the-digital-divide/) in an attempt to handle the craziness of remote 'school' and it's just heartbreaking. A stark reminder about kids getting left behind by remote learning - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/05/the-students-left-behind-by-remote-learning) '**[Skill Stacking](https://critter.blog/2020/09/30/skill-stacking/)**' is not a term I had heard before, but it makes sense. While few us of can become the **best** at something, you're better off *stacking* \- '*it’s easier and more effective to be in the top 10% in several different skills — your “*stack*” — than it is to be in the top 1% in any one skill*.' - [More](https://forge.medium.com/how-to-become-the-best-in-the-world-at-something-f1b658f93428) I picked up Reed Hastings new book '[No Rules Rules](https://www.amazon.com/No-Rules-Netflix-Culture-Reinvention/dp/1984877860)' this week (ironically, adding to my pile of books that I'll have to declare bankruptcy on). Anyhoo, it looks like it's a good read on how Netflix manages through '*innovation and creativity in a corporation entails a culture of freedom and responsibility*' - [More](https://mondaynote.com/managing-a-news-operation-the-netflix-way-235b7ec96c40) An interesting look at a new form of worker; the '**workamper**'. The employee who roams the country in an RV or van, lives on the road at campgrounds and just works remotely exploring wherever they wish - [More](https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/09/09/tim-eastman-workampers/) I keep writing about the [Apple Watch](https://www.apple.com/watch/), and the **inevitable** next generation of computing with notifications/health and personal-area networks. This week, Above Avalon wrote on how the momentum for a fundamental shift is occurring (with over 100m wearers now). I'll be talking more about the Watch and how I use it for health tracking later this week - [More](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/9/30/apple-watch-momentum-is-building) Given you are likely reading this in your email, you're not alone; there's a resurgence of newsletters going on this year - [More](http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2020/the-resurgence-and-importance-of-email-newsletters/) How 2020 - there's now flights for '**people who miss flying**'. What's wild about it? These flights take off, fly around for hours, and go back to where they started. They are nothing more than 'flights to nowhere' and **they are selling out all over the place** \- [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/19/travel/airlines-pandemic-flights-to-nowhere.html) ## **End Thoughts** > **Adrian Veidt*: I did the right thing, didn't I? It all worked out in the end.* > > **Dr. Manhattan*: 'In the end'? Nothing ends, Adrian. *Nothing ever ends*.”* ### Miller's Crossing URL: https://makoism.com/millers-crossing/ Last updated: 2020-09-26T20:47:43.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2402bdc0-de31-424b-9e4c-c63f58c1015a_4096x2731.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. For this week's watch, I went back into the archives and checked out the 1990 Coen Brothers’ gangster epic '[Miller’s Crossing](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100150/)'. Given this movie recently passed it's 30-year anniversary, I was eager to dive back into the incredible cinematography over a sleek story that dives into morality, betrayal, and of course - *hats*. You **cannot** watch this film without understanding how important hats are - they are shields. The plot is pretty dense and there's **lots** of dialog. Characters are constantly double-crossing one another. Up is down. Down is up. There are epic gangster shootouts (including the [incredible Danny Boy scene](https://youtu.be/vgz-CKRzs-4)). But the most memorable moment of this movie is the shot of Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne's character) floating through the forest on a breeze. The Coen brothers have commented that the **entire film** was conceived based on the idea of “the incongruity of urban gangsters in a forest setting.” If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** There is a fantastic video compilation of David Lynch, on '*being a madman for a relentless 8 minutes and 30 seconds*'. The real nugget of goodness however is Austin Kleon's observation around how **ideas are seeds** \- '*you get an idea and it is like a seed. And in your mind the idea is seen and felt and it explodes like it’s got electricity and light connected to it*' - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZpi8zAqe0) and [More](https://austinkleon.com/2020/09/24/david-lynch-on-ideas/) The iconic poster for [Star Wars](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/) was created in only 36 hours; this is the story behind it - [More](https://geektyrant.com/news/the-story-behind-the-iconic-poster-for-star-wars-being-created-in-only-36-hours) An interesting read around the redesigning of sugar and the move away from artificial sweeteners - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/28/the-race-to-redesign-sugar) We recently saw the [passing of the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/politics/ruth-bader-ginsburg-dead/index.html) ([fuck cancer](https://www.letsfcancer.com/), [again](https://makoism.substack.com/p/black-panther)). In all of the articles I read about her life and wisdom, I really enjoyed these 2 in particular: - "*The Big Three*": Human Kindness, Smarts, Grit. - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2020/09/21/rbg-the-big-three/) - "*Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Advice for Living*" in which she is quoted as saying "*In every good marriage, it helps sometimes to be a little deaf*"; or, more simply '*reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade*'- [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/opinion/sunday/ruth-bader-ginsburgs-advice-for-living.html) File under "**holy crap scary and so 2020**", Amazon has released a new indoor drone with a camera to fly around the inside of your house and does autonomous surveillance. I can't think of a more horrible privacy-violating device, but they seem to keep hitting it out of the park when designing our future technology-induced dystopia - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/ring-always-home-cam/) Speaking of horrible and privacy, given the growing influence of AI and data, two incredibly important reads this week on the bias and what can go wrong: - "*A Primer on Algorithms and Bias*" - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/09/algorithms-and-bias/) - Twitter is looking into why its photo preview appears to favor white faces over Black faces - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/20/21447998/twitter-photo-preview-white-black-faces) **There are No More Rules** in 2020; an insightful post from [Peter Shankman](https://www.shankman.com/) on "*when there are no rules, you can truly do whatever you want. no rules means that even if you fail, it’s cool. you can just start over with something else*" - [More](https://www.shankman.com/there-are-no-more-rules-copy/) Most people aren't even aware [of what QAnon is](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/qanon-nothing-can-stop-what-is-coming/610567/), but [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/) seems have purged them, completely by accident - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/09/reddit-qanon-ban-evasion-policy-moderation-facebook/616442/) One of the **more interesting** discoveries of the week, is a look at the art of hand crafting fly-fishing rods with [Tom Morgan Rodsmiths](https://tommorganrodsmiths.com/). A small shop in Bozeman, Montana, only produces 250 a year and each rod takes about 6 weeks to produce. One of the best reads in awhile on the love of a craft - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/travel/montana-fly-fishing-rods.html) ## End Thoughts > *I’m talkin’ about friendship. I’m talkin’ about character.* > > *I’m talkin’ about–Hell, Leo, I ain’t embarrassed to use the word.* > > **I’m talkin’ about ethics*.* ### Gladiator URL: https://makoism.com/gladiator/ Last updated: 2020-09-21T23:34:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/5637c10c-8b01-44ef-bcb3-9cc38c2fdca5_6000x4000.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. [Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator'](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/) was this weeks **classic** watch; while considered by many a cinematic masterpiece of storytelling and visual - it could be broken down to the simple concepts of "**vengeance and redemption**". My goal for the watch wasn't to revisit one of my favorite films or to enjoy the [epic score](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUmIELyNGrU) (another [Hans Zimmer classic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl57NQ6GcF8)), but rather to explore the films portrayal of the stoic nature of both Marcus Aurelius and Maximus. Certainly the film [has taken it's liberties with historical accuracy](https://www.historyhit.com/historical-inaccuracies-from-the-film-gladiator/), but these challenging 2020 times has me leaning hard into finding some sense in all the madness. In [his book Meditations](https://dailystoic.com/meditations-marcus-aurelius), Marcus Aurelius ponders about using what is thrown at them as the path, as raw material to make things better and shape their reality. "*A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it*". If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** As technology becomes more pervasive in every day life, the "revenge effect" of technology and the unintended consequences will continue to haunt us. Rarely do we consider where [shifting harm](https://fs.blog/2019/09/externalities-why-we-can-never-do-one-thing/) can be the result of the ripples tech creates - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/09/revenge-effects/) Time management is a recurring theme for me in 2020\. A look at how Marc Andreessen value "open time" and delegation - [More](https://a16z.com/2020/09/07/on-productivity-scheduling-reading-habits-marc-andreessen/) One from 2015 that I have in my "favorite reads" is '*How to Develop the Situational Awareness of Jason Bourne*'. Developing the unconscious ability to **understand what is going on around you** to be a skill that requires constant attention and practice. It's incredibly valuable to continuously refine this super-power - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-develop-the-situational-awareness-of-jason-bourne/) [Long ago](https://furrygoat.com/the-evernote-exodus-9f1c08f6c465) I fell **out of love** with Evernote due to weird privacy, pricing and feature lags. This week, after a huge re-write, they re-launched their new iOS application, and while it hasn't won me back, I'm hoping they can nail the note-taking space (my gut is saying they'll be acquired though) - [More](https://www.protocol.com/evernote-reboot-ian-small) Would you [need a third thumb](https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/7/6/15927362/3d-printed-prosthetic-third-thumb-dani-clode)? While deemed by a few as an "unnecessary" prosthetic, teaching your brain to work with an additional finger is somewhat fascinating - [Watch](https://youtu.be/UD%5FLwZD2Kls) Since the Apollo program, something has happened to humanity's ability to solve big, complicated problems. While this one is from 2012, many of the same themes resonate today - [More](https://www.technologyreview.com/2012/10/24/254875/why-we-cant-solve-big-problems/) After dealing with the smoke/air quality in the Pacific Northwest the last week, prompted me to find out more about climate change and these "mega fires" that have been happening. What I found out was saddening - there's data and experience that can help prevent them; and few are listening - [More](https://www.propublica.org/article/they-know-how-to-prevent-megafires-why-wont-anybody-listen) In the "bizarre story of the week" category, '*The Married Woman Who Smuggled Her Boyfriend Out of Prison in a Dog Crate*' - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/10/toby-dorrs-great-escape/615487/) It now looks as if Big Oil has been misleading the world in that plastic would be recycled. "*All used plastic can be turned into new things, but picking it up, sorting it out and melting it down is expensive. Plastic also degrades each time it is reused, meaning it can't be reused more than once or twice.*" - and it's cheaper to just use 'new' plastic - [More](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled) A look at how weather forecasting is getting better and better, but the reality is that '*there will always be a gap between the weather and the forecast*' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/01/why-weather-forecasting-keeps-getting-better) Remote working is slowly becoming the new norm across companies and Gitlab is at the forefront of this transformation. A deeper look at their workforce of 1,300 people that are spread across 67 countries - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90548691/extremely-transparent-and-incredibly-remote-gitlabs-radical-vision-for-the-future-of-work) ## End Thoughts > *My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.* ### Good Will Hunting URL: https://makoism.com/good-will-hunting/ Last updated: 2020-09-12T19:37:14.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/170d506f-30f3-4c58-851f-6a8723c6389a_4032x3024.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. A few weeks have passed since the painful anniversary of [Robin Williams death](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/robin-williams-death-biography-dave-itzkoff-excerpt), and it's been 'on the list' to watch a few of my favorite films of his. Few films have had as much emotional impact on me than the classic '[Good Will Hunting](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/)', a story of discovery which is deep and raw in the exploration of love, failure and **trust**. The story (as described by Rotten Tomatoes) is straightforward - "*The most brilliant mind at America's top university isn't a student, he's the kid who cleans the floors. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will's last chance is a psychology professor, who might be the only man who can reach him.*" Through the course of the movie you experience the true friendship that develops through their therapy sessions, and are drawn into each characters unique battles with inner demons. Both have protective walls and self-sabotage, and through each other, learn how to start putting their own tragic past behind them. The "[its not your fault](https://screenrant.com/good-will-hunting-behind-the-scenes-secrets-details-facts/)" climatic therapy scene is still one of the most memorable in recent movie history. It's a wonderful film from every angle (and its not surprising that Robin Williams apparently ad-libbed a lot of his lines). If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # **This weeks "Deep Links"** The **must-read** of the week is the incredible story of **Myron Rolle**, who walked away from the NFL to not only become a Neurosurgeon, but played a key role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic out of Massachusetts General Hospital - [More](https://huddleup.substack.com/p/the-former-nfl-player-turned-neurosurgeon) and [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ4k76E3Ht0) When you discover 13 coffins, closed for 2,500-years in Egypt - given the way 2020 has gone, do we think *now* is a good time to open these? What could go wrong? - [More](https://www.foxnews.com/science/13-coffins-closed-for-2500-years-discovered-in-egypt) Dentists are seeing a surge in '*tooth trauma*', and it's coming from a surprising source - **ergonomics**. With more people than ever working at home, awkward body positions and poor posture turns into teeth grinding problems at night - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/well/live/dentists-tooth-teeth-cracks-fractures-coronavirus-stress-grinding.html) Remember [Winamp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winamp)? If not, it was a media player created by [Nullsoft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nullsoft) in the late-90's, was sold to AOL (and finally landing at Radionomy). While the player supported a variety of media formats (including MP3 and WAV) for playback, it was known for its iconic user interface and its ability to theme (or 'skin') the app in all sorts of unique ways. Today we can look at '*The Winamp Skin Museum*' to relive its beauty in full glory - [More](https://www.theverge.com/tldr/21430347/winamp-skin-museum-nostalgia-90s-00s-internet-art-history-ui) A famous maraschino cherry company, its owner, and an unlikely connection to local beekeepers in '*The Maraschino Mogul*' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/23/the-maraschino-moguls-secret-life) How [Fitbit](https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/home), combined with [Ring footage](https://ring.com/), became entangled as the key witness in a brutal murder case - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/telltale-heart-fitbit-murder/) [Anne-Laure Le Cunff](https://nesslabs.com/about), founder of Ness Labs, is quickly becoming a weekly staple for me. This week she talks about "Good stress" and *'how we can trigger that positive feeling by seeking motivating challenges'*, and the means around "debugging" procrastination - [More](https://nesslabs.com/pressure-and-procrastination) While I've tried to steer away from anything "pandemic" related in [Deep Links](https://makoism.substack.com/), this look at the backlash parents are getting at certain tech companies as policies have been differing between those who have children, and those that do not - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/05/technology/parents-time-off-backlash.html) How a single frame from '*The Simpsons*' can capture the emotional connection to an entire episode. There are several social accounts now that have cropped up to 'showcase the most beautiful scenes, colors, sets and abstract compositions' from the timeless show - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/the-aesthetic-splendor-of-the-simpsons) Hranice Abyss, the world's deepest freshwater cave, is now estimated to be 1km deep - and no one knows what's down there (maybe next week we should re-watch [The Abyss, Director's Cut](https://drafthouse.com/show/the-abyss-directors-cut)) - [More](https://gizmodo.com/no-one-knows-what-lurks-at-the-bottom-of-this-freakishl-1844987777) Portland has passed nation’s **toughest** restriction on facial recognition technology, banning city agencies and businesses in public areas (a private business could not have a camera equipped with the technology capturing people on a public sidewalk, for example) - [More](https://www.opb.org/article/2020/09/09/portland-passes-nations-toughest-restriction-on-facial-recognition-technology/) [Above Avalon](https://www.aboveavalon.com/) has a good take on the App Store, and how 'competitors have turned to guerrilla warfare tactics to wage a battle against Apple'. One of the better debates (and clear-headed views) on the App Store, it's developers and the customers - [More](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/9/10/attacking-the-app-store) ## End Thoughts > *No, I'm not kiddin' you, Will. That's why I'm not talkin' right now about some girl I saw at a bar twenty years ago and how I always regretted not going over and talking to her.* > > *I don't regret the 18 years I was married to Nancy. I don't regret the six years I had to give up counseling when she got sick.* > > *And I don't regret the last years when she got really sick. And I sure as hell don't regret missin' the damn game.* > > **That's regret*.* ### Scent of a Woman URL: https://makoism.com/scent-of-a-woman/ Last updated: 2020-09-05T20:28:28.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c20b8582-b9cc-4ee0-97cb-5837f4468667_3000x2000.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Shifting gears this week into a 28-year old film that tells the story of the blind veteran and young student caretaker. [Scent of a Woman](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105323/) was nominated for 4 oscars, in which Pacino won the best actor award. While preparing for the role, it is said that he visited institutions for the blind, and trained himself *to unfocus his eyes*so he could perform as good as being sightless - which led him [to falling into a bush and incurring a cornea injury during production](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/84058/15-facts-about-scent-woman). Putting aside the stellar performances from Pacino and 2 incredibly young actors [Chris O'Donnell](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000563/) and [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000450/?ref%5F=fn%5Fal%5Fnm%5F1), the essence of this film is **integrity**. The themes of friendship, pain and loss are thread throughout the film, but the famous monologue by Frank Slade's (Pacino) to the school board captures something that is too often missing in 2020\. A worthy re-watch if you haven't seen the film in awhile. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # **This weeks "Deep Links"** Nothing has pleased me more in 2020 than the time I spent deleting **everything** I could from my Facebook profile. I'd rather just delete the entire account, but still find that I need it to access a few groups I'm a part of. But that process, of deleting data from Facebook, proved to be incredibly hard (I eventually created scripts to automate it). This is, of course, on purpose - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-social-media-privacy-dark-patterns/) When I was a cast member at Disney, I used to love to participate in the annual fundraiser event known as [Minnie's Moonlit Madness](https://blog.disneygeek.com/2020/01/30/minnies-moonlit-madness-2020-disneyland-resort/); It's held after-hours, where employees and friends (in a team of four) compete in a park-wide scavenger hunt - while tied together. Someone decided to take it to the next level though by causing his own private "hide and seek" game while the park has been closed by turning (the shuttered 11-acre) Discovery Island into a personal campground - [More](https://www.newsweek.com/best-game-hide-seek-ever-body-cam-footage-shows-police-hunting-trespasser-shuttered-disney-1528983) First off: regardless of the title of the article, this isn't AI. I wouldn't even call it "*cheating*". But these students figured out that teachers were using an automated system of keyword matching to grade papers, and gamed the system - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/2/21419012/edgenuity-online-class-ai-grading-keyword-mashing-students-school-cheating-algorithm-glitch) **Shocking** (ok, not really). Here's a great talk on what anyone working on consumer technology and children have known for years: Kid Smartwatches are incredibly insecure and give up tons of privacy data without parents in the know - [Watch](https://vimeo.com/443286364) A great home project: turning an Apple iSight into a **modern** HD camera using a Raspberry Pi - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/todays-webcams-are-boring-so-i-brought-back-a-classic-291cc7c94c76) This weeks stoic read: Life is hard; you can't escape it and you can only defer decisions for so long - [More](https://ryanholiday.net/hard-facts/) I always enjoy these technology tear downs - this one is on **digital pregnancy tests**. Apparently *all they do*, when you dissect them, is read a traditional paper test strip, and displays the word "pregnant" or "not pregnant". Save your money - [More](https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2020/9/4/21422628/digital-pregnancy-test-teardown-processor-ram-ibm-pc) **Dark Patterns** are described as "*the ways in which software can subtly trick users into doing things they didn’t mean to do*". How do you spot them, and more importantly avoid them in software and on the Web - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-spot-avoid-dark-patterns/) I've always been amazed by magicians (which probably explains my current obsession with decks of cards); this was a great biography/read on **Apollo Robbins**, a legendary pickpocket. He's even been approached by the Department of Defense to consult on behavioral influence and con games - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/01/07/a-pickpockets-tale) A fascinating read on how the Internet breaks down our ability to have reflective thought and the damage that is being done to our brains by too much instant messaging, and the fragmentation of memory - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information) The "edge" is the next big thing in cloud computing; the concept is simple: *you put compute and storage closest to the location where it's needed*. First hop. With the rise of 5G, I can see this being one of the big needle movers (it certainly isn't going to be blockchain) of the next few years. Protocol discusses 'edge' with several CEO's - [More](https://www.protocol.com/braintrust/edge-computing-use-cases-hype) # End Thoughts > *Out of order? I'll show you out of order!* > > *You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask. I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a *FLAMETHROWER* to this place! Out of order?!* > > *Who the hell you think you're talking to?!* ### Black Panther URL: https://makoism.com/black-panther/ Last updated: 2020-08-29T20:31:31.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/7c66f850-0b6f-433f-ab71-180b0d2c6ab4_1127x1070.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. **[Fuck cancer](https://www.letsfcancer.com/)**. Seriously. This week I had planned on taking on a lighter film or two and in common 2020 form, had the wind knocked out of me when I read the news about the [tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/movies/chadwick-boseman-reaction.html) at the age of 43 to cancer. While he played many roles from [Jackie Robinson](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/movies/42-with-chadwick-boseman-as-jackie-robinson.html), [James Brown](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/movies/get-on-up-stars-chadwick-boseman-as-james-brown.html) and [Thurgood Marshall](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/movies/marshall-review-chadwick-boseman.html); he was known most famously as T’Challa, The Black Panther. Not only was the film a groundbreaking cultural phenomenon, the role shattered stereotypes and brought tremendous strength and depth to a super-hero character; Chadwick's portrayal gives the film its humanity. And now we find out the entire time while filming he **was** **also** **fighting stage three colon cancer**; shooting these between surgeries and chemotherapy. It's just heartbreaking. In one of the most moving video's I've watched since last night, was his commencement speech at [Howard University](https://home.howard.edu/) in 2018 ([view the entire 35 minutes on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIHZypMyQ2s)) on "*The Power of Purpose*" was particularly wonderful. It's a crushing loss, in a year that has taken so much from everyone already. Wakanda Forever. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # This weeks “Deep Links” In more sad news [Sir Ken Robinson](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/26/sir-ken-robinson-obituary) also passed this week from cancer. He was one of the world's leading thinkers on creativity and innovation. He was highly critical of today's education system, and I will never forget the impact his 2006 TED Talk "*Do Schools Kill Creativity?*" had on me - [Watch](https://www.ted.com/talks/sir%5Fken%5Frobinson%5Fdo%5Fschools%5Fkill%5Fcreativity?language=en) An inside look at **In-N-Out**, owner Lynsi Synder's troubled past, and what the burger chain has in store for it's future - [More](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2018/10/10/exclusive-in-n-out-billionaire-lynsi-snyder-opens-up-about-her-troubled-past-and-the-burger-chains-future/) The power of scheduling distraction into your calendar, and the power of blocks of time that allow your mind to refuel - [More](https://nesslabs.com/structured-distraction-breaks-at-work) There's an interesting sub-culture that is starting to form around the AppStore that 'sits outside' of the AppStore - [TestFlight](https://developer.apple.com/testflight/). A look at [Departures](https://departures.to/), a website that documents public links to join beta apps that stay in "beta" forever forever as a way to build exclusive audiences - [More](https://www.protocol.com/testflight-app-store) While [SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/) and [The Boring Company](https://www.boringcompany.com/) (and yes - I am one of the lucky few who got a "[not a flamethrower](https://www.boringcompany.com/not-a-flamethrower)"), the one I've been watching for some time is [Neuralink](https://www.neuralink.com/). This week they [demo'd their first brain implant working in a pig](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53956683), but here's a read from 2017 that goes into way more details of what they are trying to accomplish - [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2017/04/neuralink.html) Now we have [Goldman Sans](https://design.gs.com/d/story/goldman-sans/), a '*neutral, with a wink*' font from Goldman Sachs - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/business/goldman-sachs-font.html) One of my favorite apps on iOS is [Darkroom](https://darkroom.co/). It has won [Apple Design Awards](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-honors-eight-developers-with-annual-apple-design-awards/), and is easily the best photo editing tool you can have on an iOS device. Here's a bunch of deeper tricks and tips for it - [More](https://medium.com/the-bergen-company/10-things-you-likely-didnt-know-about-darkroom-655a4e8ee836) While I covered David Fincher's "[The Social Network](https://makoism.substack.com/p/the-social-network)" a few months back on [DeepLinks](https://makoism.substack.com/), I was fascinated with this detailed look at Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher's behind the scenes look at the production of the film - [More](https://cinephiliabeyond.org/the-social-network/) "*Accidental destruction*" and how clumsiness may be a pattern, rather than accident. It's becoming evident through this pandemic that people are becoming clumsier - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/clumsy-quarantine-breaking-glass/615832/) There is a well-founded rise in the mistrust of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Given the abuse these sites have down with your personal data, and the rampant spreading of mis-information, people want a more exclusive and safe place to share. MIT Technology looks at the rise of "private micro-networks" - [More](https://www.insidehook.com/daily%5Fbrief/tech/private-social-media-networks-future) Garmin is the latest to get on the HRV kick with their new "Body Battery" - [More](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitness/why-your-body-battery-may-struggle-to-charge-when-you-start-to-get-sick/) Releasing direct to streaming this week is [Bill & Ted Face the Music](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1086064/), 29 years after the last sequel. Many have described it as a "crash course on decency and kindness" and may be just the thing everyone needs in 2020 - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/bill-and-ted-face-music-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-interview/615772/) **30 minutes of reading; 30 minutes of writing; 30 minutes of play.** It's how I've personally be handling this unique time, and now the New York Times has a good take on how play is "*is an action you do that brings you a significant amount of joy without offering a specific result*". Sounds like what everyone needs this week - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/smarter-living/adults-play-work-life-balance.html) # End Thoughts > *In my culture, death is not the end. it's more of a stepping off point. You reach out with both hands and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into a green veld where... you can run forever.* ### Se7en URL: https://makoism.com/se7en/ Last updated: 2020-08-22T19:44:02.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/3b51deca-802f-4478-a7aa-6627171fe909_6183x4127.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Given how 2020 has been unfolding between riots, pandemics and general nuttiness, I decided to go all-in and revisit David Fincher's 1995 masterpiece [Se7en (aka "Seven")](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114369/). I'll keep this **spoiler-free**; if you haven't seen the movie, you are missing out if you haven't experienced this dark and timeless film. Go watch it. **Tonight**. The story at the highest level, is the journey of two detectives that are investigating a series of murders by a serial killer, who's M.O. are the "seven deadly sins". Each murder represents a sin; and it's one of those films where you never really can tell which direction it's going to go; and the ending is shocking with one of the most famous scenes of all time. The observation that I had, and what I found to be one of the most interesting aspects of the film is there is never mentioned a time or place for when this movie occurs; there are little/no pop-culture references. Per the commentary track with Fincher, "sin is not modern" and that is best captured by Somerset's ending voice-over '*"Ernest Hemingway once wrote, '*The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.*' I agree with the second part."*' If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Yup! It's been 20 years since Fabio **killed a goose with his face on a roller coaster**. According to the article, "*he hit the goose on the first drop. That means he had to ride a roller coaster, which is supposed to be fun and thrilling, with the knowledge that a bird just exploded on his face*." And yes, it's the most 2020 thing I read all week - [More](https://medium.com/@miketoole/it-has-been-twenty-years-since-fabio-killed-a-goose-with-his-face-on-a-roller-coaster-a87d51285890) In my favorite read of the week, Peter Shankman, author and 2x ironman athlete, has some incredibly important and timely advice and wishes for you on his birthday this year - [More](https://www.shankman.com/my-birthday-gift-to-you/) It has been 35 years since **Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar** was released upon the world, but I can remember how impactful this game was to me. What made this game revolutionary was that "*your moral compass guided their actions*" as your character developed through the experience. A deep look at '*The Computer Game That Led to Enlightenment*' - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-computer-game-that-led-to-enlightenment) Something I didn't know or think about - there are countless ways for a **cheese to go extinct**. Here's a look at the art of cheesemakers who's "*quest to save cheeses*" goes down to the detail of the environment they are created in - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/how-a-cheese-goes-extinct) While I have steered away from talking about anything around pandemics and COVID-19 on [Deep Links](https://makoism.substack.com/), the **digital divide is growing** more and more as we head back into the "online" school year. Interesting find from [Wired](https://www.wired.com/) on various conversations around addressing educational inequality - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/the-pandemic-is-forcing-everyone-to-face-the-digital-divide/) SANS Institute, one of the best in-person and on demand places for information security and research was recently attacked and had a data breach. 28,000 records containing PII (personal information) for it's members were revealed to hackers by a simple phishing scam, once again proving that "people are the weakest link" - [More](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sans-shares-details-on-attack-that-led-to-their-data-breach/) Outside the hilarious [goofs](https://www.pocket-lint.com/games/news/microsoft/153438-flight-simulator-gallery-mistakes-glitches) and [gaffs](https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/3/21348000/microsoft-flight-simulator-crash-landings-breaking-laws) (and the typo that led to a [212-story obelisk](https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/21/21395084/microsoft-flight-simulator-melbourne-obelish-openstreetmap-bing-maps-data-glitch)) Microsoft's latest version of Flight Simulator is an amazing feat of AI-based mapping technology - [More](https://www.protocol.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-2020) Flip the cliche "**think outside the box**" mentality into something that's more powerful - a change in mindset that reframes challenges as having "*all the building blocks for innovation are right there in front of you, and that the solution only requires the reorganization of existing elements*". A great read on '*Thinking *inside* the box*' - [More](https://nesslabs.com/systematic-inventive-thinking-inside-the-box) How 32-time champion James Holznagel 'hacked' the Jeopardy! buzzer by practicing over 27,000 times to lower his reaction time from 228 milliseconds to 126 milliseconds. This and other lessons learned on how to master the buzzer - [More](https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work-jeopardy-book-excerpt.html) A fantastic interview with Orson Welles on the art of filmmaking and the art of the director - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/what-to-stream-a-blazing-interview-with-orson-welles) and [Watch](https://www.cinematheque.fr/henri/film/125173-orson-welles-a-la-cinematheque-francaise-pierre-andre-boutang-guy-seligmann-1983/) ## **End Thoughts** > *Oh really? So, what were you doing? Biding your time? Toying with me?* > > *Allowing five innocent people to die until you felt like springing your trap?* > > *Tell me, what was the indisputable evidence you were going to use on me right before I walked up to you and put my hands in the air?* ### Edge of Tomorrow URL: https://makoism.com/edge-of-tomorrow/ Last updated: 2020-08-16T19:49:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/60835e7e-07a4-403a-b21f-0b13d7576fcc_5100x3300.jpeg) Hi again, I’m Steve Makofsky and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Edge of Tomorrow (a.k.a. “Live. Die. Repeat”) was one of those movies that I wrote off and never bothered to watch in the theater, and eventually caught on a flight. But holy cow, what a fantastic sci-if adventure that has a [sequel in the works](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a868028/edge-of-tomorrow-2-plot-cast-trailer-release-date/). While this film was nothing short of a box-office flop, I thought it went way deeper than a “fun watch”. Without giving away too much of the plot, it provides interesting lessons around embracing failure, the importance of structure and daily habits and the discovery that tomorrow really is about the exploration of those unknown possibilities. Or maybe I’m just looking for deeper meaning in something that was great popcorn brain-candy. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # This weeks “Deep Links” My favorite read of the week (and the month) was a look back at “*Sixty Years of Green Eggs and Ham*”. I had no idea that it came about from a $50 bet - [More](https://brianjayjones.com/2020/08/11/sixty-years-of-green-eggs-and-ham/) Fascinating read on the end of World War II and how the Nazi’s tried to use the supernatural psy-ops propaganda in an attempt to cause terror and demoralize allied troops. Meet the Nazi Werewolves - [More](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/nazi-werewolves-who-terrorized-allied-soldiers-end-wwii-180970522/) One of the largest known living organisms in the world is a 3.7 square mile, 35,000 ton fungus living in Oregon - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/05/18/the-secret-lives-of-fungi) Brilliant re-thinking of time management and how you should be using your calendar as an “allow” list versus a blocklist. Based on the simple concept of “if you want to talk to me, this is when you CAN”, instead of the norm which is seeing when you CAN’T book someone’s time. I need to experiment more with this - [More](https://critter.blog/2020/08/03/your-calendar-should-be-an-allowlist-not-a-blocklist/) In 2020, it’s hard to cut through the “fake news” rhetoric. Personally, I have recently subscribed to The New Yorker and The Atlantic (and will let my New York Times subscription expire). This article goes into the effect of the “paywall” and noticed something was off: *the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, the New Republic*, all **have paywalls**. *Breitbart, Fox News, the Daily Wire, the Federalist, the Washington Examiner, InfoWars* **are free**! - [More](https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/08/the-truth-is-paywalled-but-the-lies-are-free) Recent studies on the brain are being used to analyze on you can break bad habits - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/28/can-brain-science-help-us-break-bad-habits) Riot Games published an article that describes how they measure the maturity of it’s development teams based on how they discuss and interact with security teams - [More](https://tldrsec.com/blog/insecure-development-why-some-product-teams-are-great-and-others-arent/) A look at digital minimalism, and the usage of social media as a platform for conversation- [More](https://medium.com/techuisite/a-reflection-on-digital-minimalism-2adfae68c8c4) Special cell phone SIM cards are used by the criminal underground to spoof any number - [More](https://www.vice.com/en%5Fus/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted) A whimsical look at understanding your own procrastination style - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/know-your-procrastination-style) 64% of Americans drink a cup of coffee every day, and 55% of all coffee drinkers would rather gain 10 pounds than give up the drink for life. Here’s 37 amazing coffee facts, from one coffee addict to another - [More](https://bestbythenumbers.com/37-amazing-coffee-statistics-everyone-needs-to-know/) Ever wonder how vulnerable GPS is? The answer is that it is, and it’s a lot more than you think - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/how-vulnerable-is-gps) Between 1999 and 2001 was an Internet “gold rush” which crashed and burned. A great historical look back at the start, the bubble and eventual collapse of scores of companies as the Internet came to life - [More](https://level.medium.com/the-black-internet-gold-rush-that-wiped-away-75-million-in-18-months-7c6be78ddc95) ## End Thoughts > *I’m going to tell you a story. It’s going to sound ridiculous. The longer I talk, the more rational it’s going to appear.* ### V for Vendetta URL: https://makoism.com/v-for-vendetta/ Last updated: 2020-08-08T21:16:48.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/0fef6afb-02c5-42cb-9c7a-69bffa3dd97a_7142x4761.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. The 2005 film, [V for Vendetta](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/), is based on a graphic novel written by Alan More back in 1982\. The story is of a post-apocalyptic version of the United Kingdom where the rule of the country is under a police state. V, our main character (Hugo Weaving), is an anarchist who has a campaign to bring down his former captors and the fascist state while inspiring a young protégée, Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman). In an odd way this film rings a familiar bell to the state of the world in 2020, our reality is creeping closer to this dystopian future daily. This film centers on how difficult defending democracy can be, and how far ideas can bring you. Although [Moore has criticized the film](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/movies/the-vendetta-behind-v-for-vendetta.html) (if you haven't [read the original work](https://www.amazon.com/V-Vendetta-30th-Anniversary-Deluxe/dp/1401285007) you should), it does feel like that this crazy place is closer than one could have imagined. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # This weeks “Deep Links” In any other year, this sentence would be absurd but Egypt has invited Elon Musk to visit the country to see for himself that the pyramids were in fact, not built by aliens - [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53627888) An incredible look at the stories behind 14 different album covers of Van Halen. Each one tells a story of the personal and professional struggles of the band throughout their long career - [More](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-album-covers/) About a year ago, I started sleeping with a "gravity blanket"; a 25-pound blanket that promised to increase serotonin and melatonin levels and put you into deeper sleep. Today, I can't sleep without the damn thing (which made travel pre-covid a bit of a nightmare) - it's like you're getting a hug every night, and I've found that I can't sleep now without it - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-and-off-the-avenue/the-seductive-confinement-of-a-weighted-blanket-in-an-anxious-time) What better place for a Dark-Web empire to be established than the inside of a cold-war bunker. The story of CyberBunker and their existence inside of Traben-Trarbach - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/08/03/the-cold-war-bunker-that-became-home-to-a-dark-web-empire) Ben & Jerry’s has made it part of its culture to "*use ice cream to talk about difficult issues*". A look at the company, it's founders, and the talk of what a Trump-flavored ice cream would be - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/27/magazine/ben-jerry-interview.html) "**Wisdom is earned, not given**" - in the art of "*Thinking For Oneself*" - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/07/thinking-for-oneself/) The landline telephone had a place within fiction that enabled surprise, suspense and uncertainty - "*it is a cherished and endangered device, one full of possibility.*" In 2020, is that replaced by the cellphone? A great read on "**An Elegy for the Landline in Literature**" - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/an-elegy-for-the-landline-in-literature) Several years ago, an Israeli lunar lander that crashed into the moon spilled "[Tardigrades](https://www.wired.com/2014/03/absurd-creature-week-water-bear/)" all over the moon. A fascinating look at if they're alive - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/a-crashed-israeli-lunar-lander-spilled-tardigrades-on-the-moon/) A consistent theme of my weekly reading is to try to find topics that help promote thinking on what I can do better. Here's "**12 Questions That Will Change Your Life**" - [More](https://thoughtcatalog.com/ryan-holiday/2017/09/12-questions-that-will-change-your-life/) The newest way to cure Zoom-burnout: video games. More and more meetings are starting to take place within games, such as Grand Theft Auto. "Hey boss, let's go rob a bank and talk about TPS reports" - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/business/video-game-meetings.html) A linked system between notes, known as *Zettelkasten*, could be a key in increasing your productivity - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90535318/this-simple-but-powerful-analog-method-will-rocket-your-productivity) # End Thoughts > *Beneath this mask there is more than flesh, Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.* ### Vanilla Sky URL: https://makoism.com/vanilla-sky/ Last updated: 2020-08-02T20:01:18.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/bf882c2d-3dc8-4e18-91d6-f07e953e2a9a_5751x3871.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopfully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. In 2001, right after his critically acclaimed film "[Almost Famous](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181875/)" Cameron Crowe released [Vanilla Sky](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259711/), an American adaptation of the 1997 Spanish film [Open Your Eyes](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125659/). The film, following their previous collaboration on [Jerry Maguire](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116695/), was deemed **all over the map** \- it was called everything from "[incoherent jumble](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vanilla%5Fsky)" to "*self-destructive cinematic havoc*" to [Roper saying it was one of "](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kMh9QEdax0)*[the best films of the year](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kMh9QEdax0)*["](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kMh9QEdax0). I don't get why people were rubbed the wrong way with this film; it had an [amazing soundtrack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5F0Czk6UK2%5FY), and provided plenty of delicate layers on layers that made the movie's ending up to your own interpretation. In ways, it reminds you of a Twilight Zone episode (which later on I found out it was indeed inspired by *[Shadowplay](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734618/)*). The plot is straightforward: it's the story of David Aames, a man who has everything, who's choices catch up to him when crazy ex-lover (played by a bonkers Cameron Diaz) drives their car off a bridge, killing herself and horribly disfiguring him. Actions have consequences, and this film twists and turns into nightmarish scenarios. The ending? Cameron Crowe himself [has said there's 5 different ways to interpret the film](https://screenrant.com/vanilla-sky-hidden-secrets-references/). [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla%5FSky) describes it best as "*an odd mixture of science fiction, romance and reality warp*"; I've always viewed this film similar to [Inception](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/) \- looking at subconscious blips, heartache, introspection and self-confrontation. It's one of my favorite films to this day. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # **This weeks “Deep Links”** The Twitter hack last week made headlines; read the story of how a 17-year old hacked Twitter, and got caught - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/how-alleged-twitter-hackers-got-caught-bitcoin/) I've been super cautious never to post photos of my kids online for a variety of reasons (and boy, I have stories about this). But that's not the case for many and kids today are facing a new reality that their whole life is online without their consent - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/02/when-kids-realize-their-whole-life-already-online/582916/) The inversion principal is a crazy interesting mental model based on the idea of "invert, always, invert". It "*forces you to either stop doing certain things or avoid the actions that lead to the negative outcomes*" - [More](https://www.anup.io/2020/07/20/invert-always-invert/) Apple [recently patented](http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10719692.PN.&OS=PN/10719692&RS=PN/10719692) "vein-matching biometrics"; it uses the shape of your veins to unlock your phone. Crazy cool idea, and makes unlocking your phone with a mask on much easier (and apparently solves the "evil twin" problem) - [More](https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/07/21/future-face-id-could-map-a-users-veins-to-foil-evil-twin-attack) Nothing made me happier over the last few months than erasing everything that I had ever posted on Facebook (and blocking their tracking everywhere I could). Now Facebook employees are speaking about about the network that they have built in “Facebook Is Hurting People At Scale” - [More](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/facebook-employee-leaks-show-they-feel-betrayed) "*The experience of Disney World under these circumstances is one of unsettling solitude*"; in "**I Went to Disney World**", a look at the happiest place on earth during the pandemic - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/07/disney-world-during-pandemic-extremely-weird/614617/) I'm guilty of consistently falling down the "life hacking" rabbit hole. The constant quest to burn through inefficiencies and being able to game the constant information overload is now getting a critical look at the practice. "*It is possible to devote so much time to organizing your work that you never actually do any of it*"; I'm not sure I agree with the assessment as I'm constantly being asked about my workflow - [More](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-end-of-life-hacking) Nothing is more symbolic of the Star Wars saga than its iconic score from John Williams. A look back at the collective work and ongoing magic of a music legend - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-force-is-still-strong-with-john-williams) If you manage people, try to understand what level of "career conversationalist" you are with your employees - [More](https://managingdev.com/career-conversation-levels/) In 1971, Jim Irwin (Apollo 15) left a small piece of Oregon lava rock on the moon. Read the story on how a man from Bend, OR helped get it there - [More](http://www.offbeatoregon.com/1208c-astronaut-left-oregon-lava-on-moon.html) "*Find canvases for other people to paint on*" - simple advice from Ryan Holiday to "*discover opportunities to promote their creativity, find outlets and people for collaboration, and eliminate distractions that hinder their progress and focus*" - [More](https://ryanholiday.net/career-advice/) “Reality” is constructed by your brain through visual illusions. This article questions the conflict between perception and what is really going on in the brain - [More](https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/20978285/optical-illusion-science-humility-reality-polarization) ## **End Thoughts** > *Do you remember what you told me once? That every passing minute is a another chance to turn it all around.* > > *I'll find you again.* > > *I'll see you in another life... when we are both cats.* ### Tron: Legacy URL: https://makoism.com/tron-legacy/ Last updated: 2020-07-25T20:58:39.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/63cd624a-e52c-4147-a807-a7034a1fa4ea_4745x3163.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. I hope that you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. This week, with the rumors of [Tron 3](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a33239398/disney-tron-3-update/) finally being in the works, I decided to re-watch the 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy. While I've listened to [Daft Punk's epic score](https://ohmy.disney.com/insider/2016/09/09/computerized-daft-punk/) as background music a thousand times, I really haven't revisited the film since it was released. Although the CGI (specifically the [de-aging of Jeff Bridges](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aU2pyMCRm0)) is a bit dated and cheesy now, it still remains a visually stunning film. And frankly - a way better watch than I remembered it to be. The plot isn't a complicated one - filled with tones of loss and remorse, along with the journey of a man trapped in a world he created and can't escape from, but it's still a fun way to spend a few hours in the overall energy of the film. Post-credits: after the movie was released, there was a brilliant clip released (which should have been the end of the theatrical film, IMHO), teasing Tron 3, Dillinger's son and the MCP. End of Line. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # This weeks “Deep Links” Time during lockdown has had me reading more and more about Stoic philosophy and it's been transforming my thinking on many things. In "Now's the Time to Sharpen Your Sword" - now is the time to get ready, use today to prepare, to sharpen, to build and to learn - [More](https://dailystoic.com/nows-the-time-to-sharpen-your-sword/) Bringing your "future self" into current day decision-making helps you thinking about consequences of those "in-the-moment" decisions. A look at **Temporal Discounting** and harnessing the power for regret - [More](https://nesslabs.com/temporal-discounting) A beautifully crafted interactive look at each moment of the Apollo 11 mission from launch to the moon landing from the New York Times - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/18/science/apollo-11-as-they-shot-it-ul.html) File under strange but true: KFC is working with a Russian bio-printing company to create 3d printed chicken nuggets (side note: I always viewed chicken nuggets as lab-produced) - [More](https://global.kfc.com/press-release/meat-of-the-future-kfc-and-3d-bioprinting-solutions-to-use-a-bioprinter-to-produce-kfc-nuggets) In a hand-written memo, a father left a recipe for fried meat on a stick to his daughter when he passed. The recipe for [Kushikatsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushikatsu) (a Japanese street food), not only saved her business, but turned the struggling business into an $82m venture - [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-23/how-her-dying-dad-s-lost-recipe-made-hiroe-tanaka-a-millionaire) A look at a college students version of Cards Against Humanity went viral, and how he growth-hacked Instagram to get there - [More](https://davidkemmerer.co/growth-hacking-instagram/) Do Lectures presents "The Scrappy Thinking Manifesto"; a must read for all scraps thinkers out there - [More](https://www.thedolectures.com/blog/scrappy-thinking-manifesto) Ever wonder how Costco keeps prices low? I never realized that Kirkland products are made by the same people who make the branded products that sit next to them on the shelves - [More](https://napkinmath.substack.com/p/how-costco-convinces-brands-to-cannibalize) "You come to understand that people are neither for you nor against you, they are thinking about themselves". A look at **Personal Renewal** and an understanding of your impact on others - [More](https://fs.blog/great-talks/personal-renewal-john-gardner/) Above Avalon looks at Apple and a take that it's a design company selling tools can improve people's lives, and the experience ecosystem that surrounds it - [More](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/7/22/the-secret-to-apples-ecosystem) Something everyone needs these days; a look at how experiences and understanding of health has shifted views towards "happiness" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/10/get-rid-of-everything/543384/) ## End Thoughts > *Excellent words, sir. Were you pleased with my execution? The crowd seemed quite energized.* > > *It wasn't meant for *them*.* ### Heat URL: https://makoism.com/heat/ Last updated: 2020-07-18T20:31:32.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/caaeedc5-7d36-4f65-b734-8504876aaff0_4134x2759.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Michael Mann's 1995 crime drama "Heat" remains a gripping film around the duel of an obsessive detective and the criminal he tracks, and how parallel their lives are. Not only does the film contain one of the loudest and perfectly crafted shootout scenes that I've seen, the coffee shop meeting of Pacino and De Niro is that of movie history. There are plenty of unforgettable parts of the film, and an incredible finale set to [Moby's “God Moving Over the Face of the Water.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xy9g45WzkI) I tried to write a summary of the film a few times, but honestly nothing captures it better than this [review in Vulture](https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/how-michael-manns-heat-has-improved-with-age.html): "*Heat may have been billed as a cop thriller, but its timelessness rests on its portrait of broken men, the unfathomable patience of the women who love them, and the human wreckage they all leave behind. Twenty years later, it still breaks your heart.*" If you're interested in my daily ramblings, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). # This Weeks “Deep Links” Ever wonder what happens to the 25 million pieces of luggage lost from airlines around the world? A fascinating look at the secondary market for luggage, and the bizarre/rare/unusual items that are sold (including a Gucci suitcase full of ancient Egyptian artifacts from 1500 BC and Hoggle, a Jim Henson puppet from the 1986 film, Labyrinth) - [More](https://thehustle.co/unclaimed-baggage-store-that-sells-lost-luggage/) This week, Microsoft announced a partnership with Land O'Lakes to build AI to help farmers plan their crop cycles, protect soils and harvest more grain. This includes "Fitbit" type devices **on cows** \- [More](https://www.wired.com/story/microsoft-courts-new-customers-farm-cows/) Did you know that the U.S. and Britain went to war over a pig in 1849? Being familiar with the San Juan Islands up in the northwest part of Washington, I knew of both [American Camp](https://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/historyculture/american-camp.htm) and [English Camp](https://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/historyculture/english-camp.htm), but never got into the details around a farmer killing a pig that escalated in 5 British warships and 400 soldiers ready to go at it - [More](http://allthatsinteresting.com/pig-war) During World War II, the Red Cross was allowed to distribute care packages to prisoners, which included [Monopoly Games that hid escape kits](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/how-monopoly-games-helped-allied-pows-escape-during-world-war-ii/266996/) with tools like compasses, files and money. This included decks of cards containing hidden maps with escape routes - [More](https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/wwii-decks-of-cards-hidden-maps.html) Two workflow articles that center on the minefield that is your daily calendar: - The trick (which I've been doing for a **long** time) is starting with a full calendar filled with activities that matter to you before others fill it with noise - [More](https://medium.com/make-time/start-with-a-full-calendar-8da582cc4890) - Structuring a plan around "me time", "make time" and "meet time" on your calendar is another look at prioritizing personal goals with room for flexibility - [More](http://grahamjenkin.com/2010/03/27/me-make-meet-how-to-manage-a-ux-managers-calendar/) The more I have been reading over the last few months around Stoic philosophy, the more it's been changing my life. It resonates with me; this week an article on "differentiating between what we can change and what we can’t" - [More](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2020/07/08/we-only-control-how-we-respond-ryan-holiday/) Want to know why you can "smell rain"? - [More](https://theconversation.com/why-you-can-smell-rain-101507) I love notebooks and I buy a ton of them. I need to do better though on being effective in using them - [More](https://medium.com/@shauntagrimes/the-one-notebook-habit-699af3480e7d) The power of positive feedback versus criticizing or rejecting others; and for all "gatekeepers", first, be kind. - [More](http://www.zeldman.com/2020/07/16/first-be-kind/) People give off little sparks that come from certain habits of acting, certain ways of doing everyday things. Understanding **personal magnetism** \- [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/5-ways-to-build-your-personal-magnetism/) Regardless of what you think, we all have areas in which we are close minded. A look at the behaviors that trigger close-mindedness and the benefits from the continuous effort on open-minded behaviors - [More](https://nesslabs.com/closed-mind-to-open-mind) # End Thoughts > *There is a flip side to that coin. What if you do got me boxed in and I gotta put you down? Cause no matter what, you will not get in my way. We've been face to face, yeah. But I will not hesitate. Not for a second.* > > *A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.* ### The Dark Knight URL: https://makoism.com/the-dark-knight/ Last updated: 2020-07-11T22:41:20.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/808e7c6f-ac8d-4682-bc64-9c95ecd6ea84_3456x2304.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. This week, not only did I rewatch [The Dark Knight](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/), but the entire [Nolan Batman trilogy](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDark%5FKnight%5FTrilogy) of films (*side note: I also watched Batman v Superman, which remains a terrible movie*). But for this week's Deep Links, I'm going to focus on the middle film, **The Dark Knight**, which in all respects revolutionized superhero storytelling in modern cinema. What makes this movie even more wonderful - take away the comic book elements; this is still a fantastic nail-biting crime drama that often reminded me of another movie which inspired it, [Heat](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113277/). Good vs Bad. Right vs Wrong. The movie is seeded in realistic struggle with imperfect heroes and brilliant storytelling. I could spend an entire page just writing about Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, the thin line that is drawn between chaos and order, the tragedy of heroes or the central themes of "guilt" and "faith" that are drawn throughout the entire canvas of the film. Or perhaps mention another incredible [Hans Zimmer score](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eOGrTWvTmA) that is the undertone for the entire trio of movies (I'm noticing a pattern). In the end, I can't say it's just a fantastic movie that remains one of my favorite films to this day. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Have you ever wondered what it's like to do a [TED Talk](https://www.ted.com/talks)? Tim Urban goes into humorous detail about his talk (which is [also a must watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU)) in "Doing a TED Talk: The Full Story" - [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/03/doing-a-ted-talk-the-full-story.html) I have fond memories of [The Far Side](https://www.thefarside.com/) from when I was a kid, laughing my through every collection and each new one that showed up in the daily paper. He retired in 1995 for "*fatigue and fear that if I continue for many more years my work will begin to suffer, or at the very least ease into the Graveyard of Mediocre Cartoons*". Imagine my surprise this week when Gary Larson decided to start publishing new work (for the [first time in 25 years](https://www.cnn.com/style/article/gary-larson-new-stuff-trnd/index.html)). What's most interesting is that his new work is "*the result of my journey into the world of digital art*" - [More](https://www.thefarside.com/new-stuff) Proudly, I still have my [Newton MessagePad 100](https://msu.edu/~luckie/gallery/mp100.htm); this week there was a really interesting look at the UI components that made it special. - [More](https://uxdesign.cc/what-the-apple-newton-taught-us-about-ux-27-years-ago-427c6be66a59) As we are enter the 4,938th day of COVID, a look at how gaming has become a new normal during the pandemic - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/gaming-during-the-pandemic-is-starting-to-feel-like-work-33367af7d7e5) Every week, there's another article around data privacy and the information companies (especially data brokers) are gathering about you. Jordan Wright, a R&D engineered at Duo Security decided to write up his experience around requesting his data and what detailed information he received from bulk data collection of his private life. - [More](https://duo.com/labs/research/data-companies-are-watching-me) Speaking of privacy and security, a look inside [Have I Been Pwned](https://haveibeenpwned.com/); a website that is designed to check if you have an account that's been compromised in a data breach. My personal email is now been 11 data breaches, which is why I've been using a [password manager](https://1password.com/haveibeenpwned/ohno/) for years and recommend 1Password to anyone who is on the Internet. - [More](https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/03/have-i-been-pwned/) "*Masterclass is selling credibility*", and it's not really about "mastery" - [More](https://napkinmath.substack.com/p/why-masterclass-isnt-really-about) My inner 9 year old loved this, but I never knew that '**Butt**' is an actual unit of measurement - [More](http://gizmodo.com/butt-is-an-actual-unit-of-measurement-1622427091) I never heard of "**Encrochat**" before reading this article. Encrochat's phones are modified Android devices; installed with its own encrypted messaging programs which route messages through private servers, and even physically removed the GPS, camera, and microphone functionality from the phone; becoming a global phone network for organized crime - [More](https://www.vice.com/en%5Fus/article/3aza95/how-police-took-over-encrochat-hacked) Beautiful to watch: NASA releases a 10-Year Time Lapse video of the Sun - [More](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/watch-a-10-year-time-lapse-of-sun-from-nasa-s-sdo) Some amazing tips on taking a different approach to reading. I've started to implement some of these, and agree that "Everything I Knew About Reading Was Wrong" - [More](https://hackernoon.com/everything-i-knew-about-reading-was-wrong-bde7e57fbfdc) The Apple Watch, IMHO, from the beginning has been a quiet revolution that is slowly evolving a new era of "personal" computing. One thing is for sure though, the future of health care is already sitting on most people's wrists - [More](https://www.protocol.com/manuals/health-care-revolution/future-of-health-care-wearables?share%5Fid=5650853) ## **End Thoughts** > *They need you right now, but when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper! You see, their morals, their code, it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these... these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not? a monster. I'm just ahead of the curb.* ### The Shawshank Redemption URL: https://makoism.com/the-shawshank-redemption/ Last updated: 2020-07-04T20:59:44.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e1d8fce1-4583-46cd-91a1-f67b6ff80753_5385x3590.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Another easy one to write about this week is [The Shawshank Redemption](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/); easily one of the greatest movies ever made. Honestly, I can’t say how many times I’ve watched this movie: it’s one of those films when you’re flipping through the channels, you always stop and watch until the end. So – probably seen the ending 100 times and the beginning only a dozen. 🙂 The interesting thing about this classic film that you may not know – it was **a total dud** at the box office when it opened in 1994 – earning (not even) $1 million opening weekend, and dropped out of the theaters at $16 million. For comparison – Avengers Endgame had a *$1.2 billion* opening weekend. A [later interview with Tim Robbins](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/09/shawshank-redemption-anniversary-story) nails why this movie turned out to be so important to people: “*in a way it works as a whole for whatever your life is, that no matter what your prison is—whether it’s a job that you hate, a bad relationship that you’re slogging through, whether your warden is a terrible boss or a wife or a husband—it holds out the possibility that there is freedom inside you. And that, at some point in life, there is a warm spot on a beach and that we can all get there. *But sometimes it takes a while.*”* If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Since it’s the 4th of July here in the states, why not post a link to the “Best Way to Ice Drinks in a Cooler” – [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-best-way-to-ice-drinks-in-a-cooler/) (side note: stay home, wear a mask) As a person who is constantly reworking how I take and store notes and knowledge management, I try to read as much as possible about systems to hack a way to a more efficient routine. But apparently there are corners of the Internet that actually fight about how to organize notes, in “The Notetaking Cold War” – [More](https://superorganizers.substack.com/p/the-notetaking-cold-war-c7d) [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/) is quickly becoming my favorite place to discover, learn and dive into some amazing storytelling. This week had an article about **Charlie Santore**, a professional safecracker in Los Angeles. “*They have some place where they keep things and they don’t want anybody else to know what’s in there. There’s something sort of esoteric or ambiguous about that like the safe is someone’s little space—someone’s psyche—and not everyone’s psyche is a clean place, you know?*” – [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/12/professional-safecracker-reveals-his-craft/577897/) **Sounds the privacy alarms**; a look at how companies and data brokers are harvesting our data and how one reporter tried to get the data they are collecting on him. Read how it went – [More](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/data-harvesting-by-companies/) An oldie but goodie on the changes to on’s chemistry while going for a walk. When we do, the heart beats faster, circulating more blood and oxygen to all organs; including the brain. It’s why walking helps us think – [More](https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/walking-helps-us-think) A fascinating look at the 1964 AT&T “Picturephone” – a telephone with video as well as audio at Disneyland. It was $16 for a 3 minute call – [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90522554/watch-the-first-videoconference-which-took-place-50-years-ago-today) Really being able to unwind and rest is something that I often struggle with due to “technology induced ADD”. Some tips on how to truly relax – [More](https://zenhabits.net/resting/) One of the most powerful things you can do in life (or in business) is to focus on “actions over words”. This read boils success down to a similar notion with “do the real thing and stop doing fake alternatives” – [More](https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2020/05/04/do-the-real-thing/) A few steps you can take today on living a simpler life – [More](https://nosidebar.com/im-ready-for-a-simpler-life/) What a great excerpt from [The Ringer](https://www.theringer.com/) on “The Vapors”, which was deemed the grandest casino in what was once the premier gambling destination in America – Hot Springs, Arkansas. A true American story on the rise and fall of Hot Springs – [More](https://www.theringer.com/2020/6/29/21289292/the-vapors-david-hill-arkansas-casino) Guilty as charged, and I need to get better at not “doomscrolling” and not letting myself get overwhelmed with tragedy – [More](https://www.wired.com/story/stop-doomscrolling) While patent filings are often just ideas, take a look at this one from Apple who has filed for a wearable made entirely out of fabric – [More](https://www.protocol.com/apple-fabric-wearables) ## End Thoughts > *There are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours.* ### Inception URL: https://makoism.com/inception/ Last updated: 2020-06-27T19:14:09.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/d10d8dfb-bfc7-4497-bc53-3876181665d5_4032x3024.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopfully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Picking an easy one to write about this week as we’re upon it’s 10 year anniversary of theatrical release: **Inception**. Apparently taking over a decade to write, the film beautifully explores the nature of dreams and origin of ideas (even check out this [infographic on how it all works](https://www.inception-explained.com/)). Roger Ebert described it best, “*If you knew how it ended, that would tell you nothing unless you knew how it got there. And telling you how it got there would produce bafflement. The movie is all about process, about fighting our way through enveloping sheets of reality and dream, reality within dreams, dreams without reality.*” One of the more interesting aspects of the film is that it actually uses more [practical effects rather than CGI to show it’s mind-warping reality](https://www.wired.com/2010/07/inception-visual-effects/). From its **still-debated** ending, the stunning cinematography, multiple story layers and the [powerful score from Hans Zimmer](https://youtu.be/xdYYN-4ttDg), Inception easily ranks in my top 5 favorite movies. And while [Tenet](https://youtu.be/LdOM0x0XDMo) may or may not be a secret sequel ([there’s a lot of speculation around this](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/is-christopher-nolans-tenet-a-secret-inception-sequel-1228880)); I can’t wait to see what the mind of Christopher Nolan brings to cinema later this year. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** It’s embarrassing that I learned about the Tulsa massacre of black Wall Street from watching [HBO’s “The Watchmen”](https://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/hbo-2019/the-massacre-of-black-wall-street/3217/) earlier this year. I never heard of this in school, but it’s an incredibly sad and horrible part of American History - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/us/tulsa-greenwood-massacre.html) Sure, I’ve done the 30 day minimalism challenge, but this article explores why getting rid of things is so difficult (guilty as charged). “Remember your stuff doesn’t hold your memories, your dreams, or your identity. When you let go, those precious parts of yourself stay with you.” - [More](https://minimalism.life/journal/why-decluttering-is-hard) Personally, I really enjoyed having WWDC “virtual” this year; I hope this format remains in the future. If you missed all the latest with regards to what’s going on with iOS, macOS and Apple Silicon; here’s the overview for you - [More](https://www.macstories.net/news/ios-and-ipados-14-the-macstories-overview/) Want to better understand folks like [Wim Hof](https://www.wimhofmethod.com/practice-the-method) who can withstand extreme cold? I found this read particularly fascinating as it dives into “the outer limits of breathing”, and why breathing through your nose is the key - [More](https://www.macleans.ca/society/health/youve-been-breathing-all-wrong/) I’ve personally found lists to be the best way to keep track of work, life, goals; my entire workflow revolves around them. Here’s a few interesting one’s I found this week around lists and workflow: - Everything is a list - [More](https://slate.com/technology/2012/08/workflowy-the-note-taking-app-that-changed-the-way-i-organize-my-life.html) - How to never lose another memory again - [More](https://superorganizers.substack.com/p/how-to-never-lose-another-memory) - Forget Forgetting. Build a Zettelkasten. - [More](https://superorganizers.substack.com/p/forget-forgetting-build-a-zettelkasten) Speaking of workflows, I now have a weekly review every Friday afternoon at 3pm. I like this focus “direct your life with intention” - [More](https://nesslabs.com/weekly-review) I’m incredibly excited for this [new feature in iOS 14](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/23/ios-14-clipboard-pasted-notifications/) around what apps are “doing” under the covers. For example, it’s [already revealed that apps like TikTok are spying on your clipboard](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/25/tiktok-clipboard-access-ios-14-caught/). It’s not shocking, but the average consumer really has no idea how much they are being tracked; here’s Okta’s annual privacy report - [More](https://www.okta.com/cost-of-privacy-report/2020/) Something that isn’t shocking given how 2020 is going - apparently “My Little Pony” has a Nazi Problem - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/06/my-little-pony-nazi-4chan-black-lives-matter/613348/) My dad sent me this one, and wow - it’s nuts. Apparently someone “hacked” a joke that Pepsi made during a promotion, and they nearly had to buy a Harrier Jet for him (after 3 years of court cases). Apparently, it’s now a staple in law schools - [More](https://medium.com/better-marketing/pepsi-nearly-had-to-buy-a-harrier-jet-for-a-customer-98424e32aa46) It’s better to prepare to be surprised by life, instead of expecting the past to repeat itself - “Stop Preparing For The Last Disaster” - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/06/last-disaster/) Let’s keep 2020 the craziest year ever - apparently massive dust plumes from the Sahara are heading to the US - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/saharan-dust-plumes-are-blowing-into-the-us/) Understanding some of the workplace trends that may not survive the pandemic - [More](https://corporate-rebels.com/workplace-trends-that-may-not-survive-this-crisis/) # End Thoughts > *What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? *An idea*. Resilient... highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed - fully understood - that sticks; right in there somewhere.* ### The Secret Life of Walter Mitty URL: https://makoism.com/the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty/ Last updated: 2020-06-20T18:32:49.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/253be7a0-d0c9-4263-b5f0-f28af1627caf_4021x2681.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Back in 2013, I remember seeing 'The Secret Life of Water Mitty' in the theater. And like most of my friends, the critics totally roasted the movie afterwards, with Richard Roeper calling it "one of the more disappointing efforts of the holiday season". Roger Ebert said at the time, "I hated, hated, hated this movie". It doesn't get much worse than that; it quickly vanished and was mostly forgotten. But something (outside of the excellent soundtrack) about what I had watched struck a cord in my psyche - I loved this movie. I bought it when it came out, and probably have watched it a dozen times over. The plot is a simple one: it about a man (played by Ben Stiller) who constantly "zones out" and daydreams about exciting adventures. When in reality, he's led a pretty boring existence; his entire life has been from the sidelines, never taking risks or embracing moments around him. Through a series of circumstances (a missing film negative), he starts down the path of a slow, but valuable, awakening. For me, the lessons from this film hold a stronger importance in 2020 more than ever: **You need to let yourself go a little, as time is easily wasted**. Frankly: screw the critics, I rank this movie as one of the best inspirational movies I've seen. I'm sure it's on some streaming service today; it's worth the 2 hours to treat yourself to a simple film about the rediscovery of one self. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** In one of the most bizarre stories of the week, apparently a few former eBay employees started a crazy harassment campaign to a couple that ran a newsletter that highlighted struggles with eBay. They sent roaches, spiders, a bloody pig face mask, a pig fetus and porn in a campaign that is claimed to have gone [all the way to the top](https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-ebays-harassment-campaign-didnt-happen-in-a-vacuum/) \- [More](https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/877659807/feds-former-ebay-employees-sent-newsletter-writers-roaches-spiders-and-pornograp) One of the themes that I have spent a ton of time reading about and trying to getting more knowledgable on is the concept of [psychological safety](https://hbr.org/2017/08/high-performing-teams-need-psychological-safety-heres-how-to-create-it) in teams. Project "Aristotle" from Google did some fantastic research in this space - [More](https://rework.withgoogle.com/print/guides/5721312655835136/) Once again on the Facebook privacy theme - be aware how easy it is for the authorities is to get your Facebook data - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/cops-are-increasingly-requesting-data-from-facebook-and-you-probably-wont-get-notified-if-they-5b7a2297df17) While many tout "agile" and "devops" as the peak of productivity as you can create and ship code faster than ever; other parts of the business can fall further behind and break your business - [More](https://medium.com/@jakebrereton/your-agile-and-devops-practices-are-breaking-the-rest-of-your-business-7b8c2f38b70e) Om once again nails it wrestling between convenience and consequences of technology; this time he focuses on the struggles with Twitter's new "Tweet Talk" feature - [More](https://om.co/2020/06/17/tech-and-the-inevitable-unintended-consequences/) A thought provoking read on taking a stand when your employees does something that you morally don't agree to. Published by the New York Times, which was pulled into controversy around a recent opinion piece - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/business/taking-a-stand-in-workplace.html) I always enjoy tricks and tips on presenting; here's a look at how to craft content differently for the world of videoconferencing we are living in - [More](https://www.duarte.com/presentation-skills-resources/content-virtual-communication/) Something that many have focused in on, that the new operating system is "you"; a look at the potential of the Apple Watch and it's place on building an OS for Health - [More](https://divinations.substack.com/p/healthos) Bose dumps AR. More companies to follow suit, I'd imagine. - [More](https://www.protocol.com/bose-gives-up-on-augmented-reality) An amusing letter in which a teacher literally tells off Neil Armstrong for "faking" the moon landing - [More](https://kottke.org/20/06/teacher-tells-off-neil-armstrong-for-faking-the-moon-landing) Supermarkets typically house between 15,000-16,000 different products in spaces up to 42,000 square feet; this is a deeper look into how these stores use analytics to determine how and where things go in the store - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/07/supermarkets-are-a-miracle/612244/) The "[Hey](https://hey.com/)" email service from Basecamp debuted this past week. To be honest, I gave it a look, and while interesting, the last thing I need is **another** email address to deal with. Besides [its interesting take on re-envisioning email](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCeYTysLyGI), Apple's [rejection of it](https://www.protocol.com/hey-email-app-store-rejection) into the AppStore has certainly shaken the tree; developers are calling for major change to the AppStore now, a few days before WWDC - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/opinion/apple-app-store-hey.html) More than you ever wanted to know about the history and origins of "search engines" - [More](https://carlhendy.com/history-of-search-engines/) ## **End Thoughts** > *To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. *That is the purpose of life.** ### Immortal Beloved URL: https://makoism.com/immortal-beloved/ Last updated: 2020-06-13T20:57:37.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/1888441d-b2d7-4f54-8fac-c6b80894574f_5184x3456.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopfully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Wanting to take a break from the heaviness of 2020, I decided to start rewatching a few of the films that really had an impact on me that I haven’t seen in a while. This week it was the 1994 classic “Immortal Beloved”, a biopic of Ludwig van Beethoven, who is played by Gary Oldman (in arguably one of his best performances). The story centers around a letter that is found after Beethoven’s death addressed to his "immortal beloved", and weaves together some incredibly beautiful scenes towards the discovery of the identity of this mysterious person through an exploration of his life and music. With the backdrop of his famous compositions, the film explores Beethoven’s compulsive nature, his relationships with people, his eventual hearing loss and final descent into emotional instability. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** What happens when the company you work for (and in the case of the article, they reference Facebook) crosses your own ethical line - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/06/facebook-silicon-valley-trump-silence/612877/) By asking yourself a simple question, “What do I have to do to make this the best thing that happened to me?” is an incredibly powerful tool to reframe life’s events and cause transformation - [More](https://markmanson.net/newsletters/mindfck-monday-34) You may have seen the [disgusting incident](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/501244-police-searching-for-man-in-viral-video-who-attacked-teens-took-George-Floyd-flyers) when some guy on a bike with sunglasses attacked an adult and some children that were posting fliers near the Capital Crescent Trail. It was horrible and shocking; but imagine the nightmare for Peter Weinberg, who was mistaken by folks online as the biker (it wasn’t him). Read what it’s like to get doxed - [More](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/what-its-like-to-get-doxed-for-taking-a-bike-ride.html) File under “oopsie” - the time when Pepsi had a typo on winning bottle caps and caused riots across the Philippines - [More](https://medium.com/better-marketing/pepsis-40-billion-typo-caused-deadly-riots-3d671295d1bd) A psychological study of why people and personality traits that stain the Internet with “trolling” - [More](https://dradambell.com/why-people-become-internet-trolls/) Apparently your heartbeat has unique waveforms that are created from the expansion/contraction of the heart that are unique enough to identify you. ECG readings are more accurate than fingerprints that can identify you - [More](https://onezero.medium.com/your-heartbeat-can-give-away-your-identity-like-a-fingerprint-43760bc0004e) Using loneliness as a connection in “The Art of Being Alone” - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/06/being-alone/) A look at security efforts at Microsoft, and the work of Bret Arsenault - [More](https://www.protocol.com/bret-arensault-microsoft-ciso-profile) You guessed it - there’s now a patent for social-distancing selfies - [More](https://www.protocol.com/apple-patent-selfie-covid) Viewing your mental health as a wallet; knowing what empties it and strategies to invest in to have big returns - [More](https://nesslabs.com/mental-health-budget) Given everything going on in the world today, I found this to be an incredibly thought-provoking essay from a former police officer entitled “Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop” - [More](https://medium.com/@OfcrACab/confessions-of-a-former-bastard-cop-bb14d17bc759) Understanding Loki through various classic mythologies (not the Marvel one), and what we can learn from him - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/viking-mythology-loki/) ## **End Thoughts** > *If you hear a marching band, is your soul exalted? No, you march. If you hear a waltz, you dance. If you hear a mass, you take communion. It is the power of music to carry one directly into the mental state of the composer. The listener has no choice. It is like hypnotism.* ### The Social Network URL: https://makoism.com/the-social-network/ Last updated: 2020-06-06T19:13:17.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fc4254a8-53c8-4c1e-8b57-d35a9e12ea41_5988x4000.jpeg) Hi again, I’m [Steve Makofsky](https://www.furrygoat.com/) and this is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hopfully you’ll enjoy it, have something new to think about, and [share it with your friends](https://makoism.substack.com/). In case you forgot, this is in your inbox because you asked me to send it to you. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. I really debated on whether or not to send out a “Deep Links” newsletter this week, given the heaviness (and hopefully awakening) that the world is experiencing right now. But in the end, I finding writing and communicating somewhat therapeutic, so here we are. This week I spent watching the events unfold in shock, horror and sadness every day across social media and the news. There certainly has been plenty already written; the fact is, it comes down to “**action over words**”. My own “action” that I need to start immediately is to educate myself; I realize that I am woefully uneducated about many things and had trust in things I shouldn’t have. On that note, given the ever increasing role Twitter and Facebook has played in our lives, I decided to re-watched Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Network” ([Trailer](https://youtu.be/lB95KLmpLR4)) this week. In 2020, we find these sources of “news” ever present and are becoming “[arbiters of truth](https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-is-an-arbiter-of-truth-whether-he-likes-it-or-not/)” whether they want to or not. Regardless, many people feel like they **can’t escape them**; some feel like it’s the only way to stay in touch with people, others are compelled to keep up some form of social presence, some just lurk on there and never post. I haven’t been active on Facebook in years outside of wishing people happy birthday, and will probably delete my account soon as many others have [done as well](https://om.co/2020/06/02/leave-facebook/). Finally, I can’t mention The Social Network without calling out the amazing soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It’s iconic theme “Hand Covers Bruise” ([Listen](https://youtu.be/9SBNCYkSceU)) still is on my most played “background music” list. I can’t wait to see if they make a sequel, as the story is far from over. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## **This weeks "Deep Links"** Before travel became non-existent, I picked up a [GoRuck GR1](https://www.goruck.com/rucksacks/gr1/) and a [GoRuck Bullet](https://www.goruck.com/rucksacks/bullet-ruck/) for my “one bag” carry on; but I have been discovering more around the benefits of rucking - [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-benefits-of-rucking/) Word is that Microsoft is laying off journalists and replace it with AI - never a good idea; last time they let an AI take over, it [turned into a racist asshole](https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/24/11297050/tay-microsoft-chatbot-racist) \- [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/30/21275524/microsoft-news-msn-layoffs-artificial-intelligence-ai-replacements) The 2020 CX Report is out - it’s a fantastical yearly look at the trends in digital transformation. The highlight is that “the Internet has become exactly what Bowie predicted in 1999” - [More](https://cx.report/2020-cxreport/) I haven’t gotten into the whole ASMR thing, but interesting to see Disney turn classic cartoons into relaxing ambient noises - [More](https://www.theverge.com/21267545/zenimation-disney-plus-show-classic-animated-scenes-asmr-ambient-noise) In the “obviously 2020” theme, there is now a bill that would prevent the President from nuking hurricanes - [More](https://www.nextgov.com/policy/2020/06/bill-would-prevent-president-nuking-hurricanes/165900/) [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/), one of my favorite authors, has really been hitting it out of the park this week: - Maybe everyone else isn’t faking it - [More](https://seths.blog/2020/06/maybe-everyone-else-isnt-faking-it/) - Stuck on enormity - [More](https://seths.blog/2020/06/stuck-on-enormity/) - I can’t imagine - [More](https://seths.blog/2020/06/i-cant-imagine/) - Consider a gap year - [More](https://seths.blog/2020/06/consider-a-gap-year/) I hadn’t heard of the Pareto principle before reading this; but its an interesting technique to use around simplifying your life - [More](https://medium.com/swlh/use-the-pareto-principle-to-simplify-your-life-b9da4c49f3e9) Mark Manson explores some ways to read and process everything that is going on around him. I found his reminders and way of working through them helpful lenses to look at the world today - [More](https://markmanson.net/newsletters/mindfck-monday-33) Apple has spent millions of dollars on automating their production lines; and guess what? It can't match human skill - [More](https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/06/04/how-apple-learned-automation-cant-match-human-skill) Another look at how the Internet is effecting the very concept of “time” and culture - [More](https://mailchi.mp/om/internet-has-redefined-the-meaning-of-time-culture) Finally, on the privacy side of things - did you know that printers have almost invisible micro-dots that can be used to identify you? - [More](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170607-why-printers-add-secret-tracking-dots) ## End Thoughts > *You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole.* ### The Right Stuff URL: https://makoism.com/the-right-stuff/ Last updated: 2020-05-30T20:22:12.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ace4320e-ccbd-44ec-85ee-b2d4ba9dbd1f_9216x6144.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. Writing this weeks post while I await for SpaceX to launch the historic [“Demo-2” mission to the International Space Station](https://www.spacex.com/) this morning. While I often wonder what Elon Musk is thinking when he posts something off the wall, I absolutely loved his interview with CBS earlier this week and his own take of “[Extreme Ownership](https://youtu.be/ljqra3BcqWM)”. > *“I’m Chief Engineer of the thing. If it goes right, it’s credit to the SpaceX/NASA team. Goes wrong, it’s my fault”.* [Watch](https://twitter.com/flcnhvy/status/1265641541323890688?s=21) Which brings me to Philip Kaufman’s vision of Tom Wolfe’s classic book “The Right Stuff”. While the story of test pilots and the beginning of the US’s manned space program, it is much more a story about the human pursuit of courage, pushing limits and the cost of what comes with that. Having recently rewatched it, it feels somewhat dated, but Bill Conti’s score with coupled with the “walking mercury astronauts” scene still stirs an emotional reaction; it iconifies space travel and the human spirit for me, despite everything going on in 2020 in the world today. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks "Deep Links" Did you know that if you have the right information on something (apparently anything), it can be used as a check? Yes, you can also use a giant fish as one too - [More](https://home.barclays/news/2016/08/evolution-of-the-cheque/) Given the discussions of the past week on social networks, you probably want to familiarize yourself with “Mainway” - the NSA’s tool for mapping your social network - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/inside-the-nsas-secret-tool-for-mapping-your-social-network/) Anne-Laure Le Cuniff is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors over at [Nesslabs](https://nesslabs.com/). Her life lessons post (which, IMHO are way beyond where I was at 30) are fantastic and worth the time going through and evaluating how they impact your own life - [More](https://nesslabs.com/30-life-lessons) Empowerment and empathy are 2 themes that any good leader/manager try to grow in their teams. While this is a quick checklist, it’s still valuable to constantly check yourself on what sets good leaders apart from great ones - [More](https://hackernoon.com/good-managers-vs-great-managers-ag4j3vyc) Grasping the various sides of risk that can only be learned through experience - [More](http://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/the-three-sides-of-risk/) Pandemic or not; these mental models for yourself, society and the future are different ways to help open your mind to new ways of understanding the crazy around us - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/05/pandemic/) Interesting post this week from Mark Schwartz over at Amazon on “Guts” and leading through uncertainty - [More](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/guts/) Using certain words (and I’ll add body language) is an important part of changing people’s mindset. Here’s a good list of which words to use and what to avoid - [More](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/would-you-be-willing-words-to-turn-a-conversation-around-and-those-to-avoid) Lots of great classics in this list of “30 Movies That Are Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before”; always on the hunt for new ones that are a bit off the beaten path. Great to see “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” in there - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/05/30-singular-films-watch-quarantine/611956/) Mapping - hieroglyphs, mind mapping, Wardley maps, and general cartography is a different thinking model than “thinking in sentences” - [More](https://nesslabs.com/thinking-in-maps) As a fan of Bruce Lee’s philosophy of “Be Like Water”, I can’t explain how excited I am for this new '30 for 30' film from ESPN - [More](https://www.slashfilm.com/be-water-trailer/) Did you know that Wite-Out is still one of the top sellers these days? Why is that? - [More](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/who-still-buys-wite-out-and-why) I’ve been really looking forward to Christopher Nolan’s Tenet - apparently they crashed a real 747 instead of using computer graphics because it was “more efficient” - [More](https://www.gamesradar.com/tenet-christopher-nolan-747-plane-crash-interview/) “Writing is Thinking” an important read; and one that I hope gets you started in writing more - [More](https://medium.learningbyshipping.com/writing-is-thinking-an-annotated-twitter-thread-2a75fe07fade) ## End Thoughts > *Monkeys? You think a monkey knows he's sittin' on top of a rocket that might explode? These astronaut boys they know that, see? Well, I'll tell you something, it takes a special kind of man to volunteer for a suicide mission, especially one that's on TV.* [Subscribe now](https://www.makoism.com/subscribe) ### Cloud Atlas URL: https://makoism.com/cloud-atlas/ Last updated: 2020-05-23T21:26:40.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ce206b8d-916e-4bb8-a4fa-d87fac579bca_3062x1862.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. **Cloud Atlas** (based on the book by David Mitchell) is one of those films when you watch it (regardless of what the critics may have thought as it was somewhat panned), had an instant emotional connection with me. I’ve re-watched the 172-minute epic multiple times, and I always discover something new to think about or a quote that alters my perspective. Tom Tykwer wrote and directed the film along with The Matrix filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski, as well as composed the incredible score ([Listen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdiLxyGH8Lg)). The movie takes place over 6 timelines over a period between 1849 - 2346, and stars the **same** actors playing multiple characters (even with different races and genders) through each narrative. The concept of how “moral choices effect your current and next life” weaves between each narrative that culminates in a masterpiece of filmmaking. If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks "Deep Links" **Resilience** is word that gets thrown around a lot these days; Giles Duley’s **amazing** talk made me rethink the very definition. If there’s one thing you watch this week, this is it - [Watch](https://www.thedolectures.com/talks/giles-duley-change-growth-and-resilience) At the onset of staying at home, I purchased a [pizza oven](https://www.amazon.com/Ooni-Outdoor-Pizza-Portable-Winning/dp/B07PN5R5WY), an [air fryer](https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-FD401-Fryer-Stainless-Pressure-8-Quart/dp/B07S85TPLG) and now I’ve been learning to [roast my own coffee beans](https://www.sweetmarias.com/drum-roasting-starter-kit-2.html). It’s given me something to think about other than what’s going on in the world; apparently the rest of the world agrees with record sales of flour - [More](https://marker.medium.com/inside-the-flour-company-supplying-americas-sudden-baking-obsession-623034583579) Edward Snowden’s book “[Permanent Record](https://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238/ref=nodl%5F)” really was an eye-opener for me; while I dont agree with his methods, it certainly threw the curtain back on a world you can’t ignore once you know it’s there - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/edward-snowden-operation-firstfruits/610573/) From “tales of the ridiculous”, apparently a grandmother posting some Facebook photos of her grandchildren violated GDPR privacy laws and now is being fined - [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/22/21267348/facebook-gdpr-privacy-photos-fine-grandmother-grandchildren) How change happens and that “what has been holding us back is fear of the unknown and attachment to the familiar” - [More](https://ma.tt/2020/05/gradually-then-suddenly/) Self publishing (and other forms of “blogging”) have been popular since the late 90’s (I’ve been maintaining [Furrygoat in one form or another since 2004](https://www.furrygoat.com/)). It really drifted off course with the rise of social networks, but there’s been sense that we’ve lost something, and a call for them to return - [More](http://tttthis.com/blog/if-i-could-bring-one-thing-back-to-the-internet-it-would-be-blogs) and [More](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/its-time-to-get-back-into-rss/) Stoicism and approaching fear; powerful concepts in the age of anxiety - [More](https://fs.blog/2020/05/rethinking-fear/) **Carpe Diem No More**; The concept of “seize the day” to deal with uncertainty in our current world isn’t always the best advice - sometimes mental time travel is the key to finding happiness - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/smarter-living/to-build-resilience-in-isolation-master-the-art-of-time-travel.html) Understanding Hanlon’s razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which is adequately explained by opportunity cost - [More](https://erikbern.com/2020/03/10/never-attribute-to-stupidity-that-which-is-adequately-explained-by-opportunity-cost.html) Not sure what to make of David Lynch’s video weather reports from his bunker outside of it’s so David Lynch, that I love it - [More](https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2020/5/18/21262370/david-lynch-videos-weather-bunker-twin-peaks) Seeking out new challenges and new things to achieve the goal of “learning” something new; the science of intrinsic motivation - [More](https://nesslabs.com/intrinsic-motivation-3) Why “why” may just be the wrong question to ask - [More](https://surfingcomplexity.blog/2020/05/22/why-you-cant-just-ask-why/) The Atlantic (probably one of my favorite online news sources of the last few years), laid off 20% of their staff this week due to a decline in ads - [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/atlantic-layoffs-media-coronavirus.html) Every year, the Verizon DBR (Data Breach Report) is a fantastic look at the basic problems that plague the security world; this quick read from Daniel Miessler hits the high (and low) notes of 2020 - [More](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/analysis-of-the-2020-verizon-data-breach-report/) A simple change of perspective can help you through tough mental struggles - [More](https://forge.medium.com/oh-i-see-4de0e2206458) ## End Thoughts > There is a natural order to this world, and those who try to upend it do not fare well. This movement will never survive; if you join them, you and your entire family will be shunned. At best, you will exist a pariah to be spat at and beaten-at worst, to be lynched or crucified. And for what? For what? *No matter what you do it will never amount to anything more than a single drop in a limitless ocean.* > > **What is an ocean but a multitude of drops?** ### Fury Road URL: https://makoism.com/fury-road/ Last updated: 2020-05-16T20:50:03.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ac20bd4f-149f-43cb-b531-fac8296567de_7952x5304.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. Yesterday marked the 5 year anniversary of the film [Mad Max: Fury Road](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392190/) and this past week, the [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/movies/mad-max-fury-road-oral-history.html) recently chatted with the cast, and [George Miller is also now finally talking about a prequel](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/movies/mad-max-sequel-furiosa.html). Truth be told, despite my friends telling me how good of a movie it was, it did take me almost **4+ years** to finally watch it late last fall. It was one of those movies that always seemed to get pushed to the bottom of the watch list. It ended up that this wasn't a movie that you just watched - [you rock out to it](https://www.vulture.com/2015/05/mad-max-review.html). It's intense, from the crazy framing and editing to the sound. Scratch that - **it's a complete audio/visual frenzy**. But more importantly, it also tells a brilliant story about empowerment and redemption. And those things, in 2020, are needed more than ever. (Also - if you haven't seen the EPIC "black and chrome" edition - you're missing something really special) If you're interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). [Subscribe now](https://www.makoism.com/subscribe) ## This weeks "Deep Links" While [The Last Dance](https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/2806434b-1deb-4c5c-aae0-04b1ab8eebf7/the-last-dance) is still on my quarantine watch list, [M.G. Siegler](http://500ish.com/) nails it again on "tough love" leadership and why being an asshole **isn't a requirement** to be a great leader: *"it doesn’t change the fact that not only are there other ways to tease such greatness out of people — different people require different methods."* \- [More](https://500ish.com/the-great-asshole-fallacy-82e108a755c7) Seth Godin also has a great quick read on leadership and building **bridges** and **tunnels** \- [More](https://seths.blog/2020/05/bridges-and-tunnels/) As someone who is trying to multi-task through the day of Zoom meetings and getting stuff done, I now want to research the Pomodoro style of sprints to my work day. A 45-minute "mono task" sessions sounds *amazing* right now - [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90504724/i-was-more-productive-in-one-deep-focus-session-on-zoom-than-in-the-last-8-weeks) I rewatched one of my favorite TED Talks on "The Art of Misdirection" from Apollo Robbins. The talk highlights "flaws in our perception", which seems more appropriate than ever in 2020 - [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZGY0wPAnus&feature=share) As I've struggled with finding better balance in my life, "the art of letting go" has been incredibly helpful. It's not just about letting go of physical things, but rather the full gamut of releasing old goals, expectations, people, the illusion of control, etc. that tie us down and prevent one from moving onwards. - [More](https://nesslabs.com/learning-to-let-go) The deep, deep sea - it's one of the last unknown regions on Earth and the explorers who are voyaging into the unknown - [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/05/18/thirty-six-thousand-feet-under-the-sea) One of the most fascinating pieces I've read in the last few weeks tells the story of a real 'Lord of the Flies' incident around what happened when 6 boys were shipwrecked for 15 months; and it goes very different than in the book - [More](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/09/the-real-lord-of-the-flies-what-happened-when-six-boys-were-shipwrecked-for-15-months) Very excited to start reading [Michael Lopp](https://randsinrepose.com/)'s "The Art of Leadership: Small Things, Done Well" - [Read](https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-art-of-leadership/id1513245255) Been a long time fan of Jesse Thomas, who has now retired from triathlon in a great retrospective post and where he's going to be spending his time now being CEO of [Picky Bars](https://pickybars.com/) \- [More](https://www.triathlete.com/culture/triathlife-so-long-and-thanks-for-everything/) A grim look at the mental health issues that Facebook moderators are developing; it's truly a sad and grim look at the dark side of social media and the PTSD that is developing - [More](https://www.theverge.com/interface/2020/5/13/21255994/facebook-content-moderator-lawsuit-settlement-mental-health-issues) Another great read this week on [Marcus Hutchins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus%5FHutchins) and his role in stopping the Wannacry cryptoworm - [More](https://www.wired.com/story/confessions-marcus-hutchins-hacker-who-saved-the-internet/) While you're in lockdown, here's a review of great socks to be wearing - [More](https://www.gq.com/story/best-quarantine-socks) GitLab had a great post around the disruption of the business world, and that it's time to focus on family and friends first, work second - [More](https://changelog.com/posts/family-and-friends-first-work-second) My family is obsessed with every season of Survivor, which is why this article around "The Paranoid Style in American Entertainment" caught my eye. The stark reality is that with enough footage, anything can be turned into "reality" - [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/05/survivor-20-years-later-keeps-teaching-us-trust-no-one/610981/) A few months ago, I wrote about the GoRuck Shemagh (which is still one of my favorite accessories). More reading on how the Shemagh is one of the best things to have on your travels (when one is able to travel again) - [More](https://packconfig.com/packessentials/pack-essential-shemagh/) Finally, 2 *great* new podcasts this week: - Winds of Change (and how the CIA was involved in the writing of the Scopions' Wind of Change) - [Listen](https://crooked.com/podcast/wind-of-change-episode-1-my-friend-michael/) - Dithering - A new podcast from Ben Thompson and John Gruber. Three episodes per week, 15 minutes per episode. Not a minute less, not a minute more. [Listen](https://dithering.fm/) ## End Thoughts > My name is Max. My world is reduced to a single instinct: Survive. As the world fell it was hard to know who was more crazy. Me... Or everyone else. [Subscribe now](https://www.makoism.com/subscribe) ### Manners. Maketh. Man. URL: https://makoism.com/manners-maketh-man/ Last updated: 2020-05-09T22:14:08.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/4057add6-7dfa-4483-9a2b-3c3e17165269_3484x2613.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. [Subscribe now](https://www.makoism.com/subscribe) One thing that I’ve been really enjoying during “lockdown” is revisiting so many of the classic TV shows and movies that really resonated with me for some reason or another, and this week both [Kingsman: Secret Service](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802144/?ref%5F=fn%5Fal%5Ftt%5F1) and [Kingsman: The Golden Circle](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4649466/?ref%5F=tt%5Fch) were on the watchlist when on the bike trainer or the treadmill. Forget for a minute about the insane [hyper-violent fight scenes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1WWDBTda2Y), or the [perfect soundtracks that they are set to](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE8hDGYEOEc). *These stories are ultimately about *transformation* and re-discovery of one’s self.* It’s a sentiment **many** people I know are sharing as well — the longer it goes being home, the clearer it’s becoming that lots of **people don’t want things to go back to the way they were before**. In some ways, it’s similar to how I felt after having a heart attack: I am in way more control in creating a life that I **want** to live, and not being forced to live the life that is my *current* reality. Personally, it’s an area of self-exploration that I need to go deeper on. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks “Deep Links” Slowing down during frantic times seems to be really on target for me and [Do Lectures](https://www.thedolectures.com/) had a brilliant read on “The Pause Manifesto” — [More](https://www.thedolectures.com/blog/the-pause-manifesto) Looking forward to watching Seinfeld’s latest Netflix special ([23 Hours to Kill](https://www.netflix.com/title/80170847)), as everything we’ve been recently viewing is pretty dark ([Ozark Season 3](https://www.netflix.com/title/80117552) and [Defending Jacob](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/defending-jacob/umc.cmc.5h5mr0shyyqqahqdv55ywyilr)) and honestly, just could use a **laugh**. — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/05/old-fashioned-comforts-jerry-seinfeld/611275/). On the same vein, a Seinfeld inspiration — Do. The. Work. — [More](https://ricklepage.com/essays/do-the-work/) Pretty shocked (and incredible respected) reading the post from [Tim Bray](http://tbray.org/) as he left his VP role at Amazon due to it’s treatment of warehouse workers — [More](https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2020/04/29/Leaving-Amazon) [Wim Hof](https://www.wimhofmethod.com/), aka “The Iceman” (who’s uncanny ability to withstand freezing temperatures), has been talking about the benefits of cold therapy, breathing and commitment for some time now. Read more about his background from an older [Rolling Stone article](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/wim-hof-says-he-holds-the-key-to-a-healthy-life-but-will-anyone-listen-196647/), but his latest video is a quick look at how to “Activate Your Brain 100%” — [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S68fobUptNc) I love how creative Hollywood is getting during COVID-19 in trying to storytelling in new and exciting ways. This season, the finale of [The Blacklist](https://www.nbc.com/the-blacklist) will be partially animated ([Sin City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Dj6ktPU5c) style) with actors James Spader and Megan Boone recording audio from their individual homes — [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/5/21248661/blacklist-finale-animated-coronavirus-remote-working-editing-james-spader) and \[[Watch The Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx-YW2meDIM)\] The Atlantic had a great piece on the new normal and offices, and the shifting landscape that work from home is really here to stay this time — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/05/work-from-home-pandemic/611098/) What was once a rally cry for me personally around minimalism and getting rid of stuff, Om really nailed it on Marie Kondo: “Tidying up is akin to a bandaid or a painkiller — it takes care of the symptoms but it doesn’t really cure the disease. And that disease is called rampant consumerism.” — [More](https://om.co/2020/04/28/wait-rakuten-bought-marie-kondo/) Next level: Michael Shattuck runs 65 hours **every**. **single**. **week**. Yes, that’s a marathon a day. — [More](https://www.outsideonline.com/2412303/mike-shattuck-running-bipolar) For tech companies, they aren’t struggling in “lockdown”; and what its going to happen is 10 years of work transformation in several months. Those that have been resisting video conferencing, remote work, etc have all been pulled “kicking and screaming” into the future — [More](https://om.co/2020/05/03/the-inevitable-has-happened/) The transformation of Val Kilmer — a look at his rise, fall, and his own personal misery — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/magazine/val-kilmer.html) More on the struggles of work/life balance these days (see above on “the pause manifesto” — [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/working-from-home-in-covid-era-means-three-more-hours-on-the-job) I have 400+ unique passwords, and I don’t know what any one of them are. People are the worst problem for “security”, and if you’re not already using a password manager in 2020, there is no excuses any more — [More](https://www.fastcompany.com/90500670/we-still-stink-at-passwords-and-theres-really-no-excuse) As a huge Seth Godin fan, this was an interesting read on how he (or actually doesn’t) organize — [More](https://superorganizers.substack.com/p/seth-godin-hates-being-organized) Kevin Kelly, the founding editor of Wired, turned 68 and shared 68 bits of unsolicited advice; and many of them really struck a cord — [More](https://kk.org/thetechnium/68-bits-of-unsolicited-advice/) If you found any of these interesting, please [Share](https://makoism.substack.com/) this with your friends. ## End Thoughts > Now, my point is that the lack of a silver spoon has set you on a certain path that you needn’t stay on. If you’re prepared to adapt and learn, you can transform. > It was a blank! Yes, Harry! Yes! It was a fucking blank! That’s right. It was a blank. I would never hurt Mr. Pickle! Yes, Harry! He lived a ripe old age! He died of pancreatitis! ### Shattered URL: https://makoism.com/shattered/ Last updated: 2020-05-02T20:57:08.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/8139aa42-316b-4aff-a971-44a112033c62_2388x991.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. Ever since my dad took me to the movie theater in 1978 to see the first Star Wars movie (later to be called officially “[A New Hope](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/)”), like so many of my generation, I’ve been a fan. It was with the same child-like excitement many years later, I was able to experience with my own kids to see “[The Force Awakens](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/?ref%5F=fn%5Fal%5Ftt%5F1)”. And while the last trilogy of films have been met with many mixed feelings and reviews, I personally felt they were simply **fine**. However, if you really want appreciate the essence of Star Wars, the real story has been continued in off-shoot series such as [Rebels](https://www.starwars.com/series/star-wars-rebels), [The Mandalorian](https://www.starwars.com/series/the-mandalorian), and the [Clone Wars](https://www.starwars.com/series/star-wars-the-clone-wars) animated series. All are excellent in their own rights and **I promise this is spoiler free (mostly).** Over the last few weeks, Disney+ has released the final season of the Clone Wars, and I’ll say it — **this** is the Star Wars you’ve been missing. If you’re a fan and want to get the **whole** story of what’s been going on (and I surmise will lead into Mandalorian Season 2), you really should spend some of your time while we’re isolated to catch up on Dave Filoni’s masterpiece. The “[Siege of Mandalore](https://www.starwars.com/databank/mandalorian-super-commando)”, the origin of the [DarkSaber](https://www.starwars.com/databank/darksaber), [Thrawn](https://www.starwars.com/news/who-is-thrawn), what *really* happened to [Darth Maul](https://www.starwars.com/news/5-darth-maul-greatest-moments) (and how he made that [shocking cameo](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/solo-star-wars-darth-maul-alive-died-cameo-explained) in [Solo: A Star Wars Story](https://www.starwars.com/films/solo) and that [he was actually right](https://filmschoolrejects.com/clone-wars-explained-darth-maul-phantom-apprentice/)), and the overarching story of one of the series **best** characters, [Ashoka Tano](https://www.starwars.com/databank/ahsoka-tano), are all told in the many seasons. While the latest chapter (Shattered) aired last night and wraps up next Monday, I wanted to share a bit of the behind the scenes on how they used Ray Park (the original actor/stuntman) behind Darth Maul to bring his *true* fighting style to life in one of the best lightsaber battles of the series. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks “Deep Links” Since last week’s post on “Brain Forests” and the search for organizing knowledge collected, I’ve been going deep into the rabbit hole around a **backup brain**, association and long term retention (perhaps ill end up doing a blog post on knowledge systems). This read asserts that the internet has become “a dark forest” of information — [More](https://onezero.medium.com/the-dark-forest-theory-of-the-internet-7dc3e68a7cb1) Being busy can give people an “illusion of productivity”; but are we getting too busy to enjoy life? — [More](https://nesslabs.com/too-busy-to-enjoy-life) Why We All Need To Pause Right Now — [Watch](https://www.thedolectures.com/talks/rob-poynton-why-we-all-need-to-pause-right-now) Ever wonder, um, why we say ‘um’? A super interesting look at ‘conversational minutiae’ and filler words — [More](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-secret-life-of-um) Maybe I’m in the majority, but I’d love to see the studios start doing simultaneous releases on digital as well as theaters; personally I’d easily pay $100 for a release day viewing of something like Black Widow, but it seems like the movie theaters aren’t up for it. AMC, while down, cuts off their nose to spite their face — [More](https://500ish.com/trolls-world-tour-indeed-8f79fc9ce836) The changing landscape of camel startups (those that survive unforgiving environments) and what it will take to be around now that the world has changed — [More](https://marker.medium.com/the-new-hot-startups-will-be-camels-not-unicorns-53d480535916) Last August, I had a heart attack while running on the treadmill. However, what’s made me a true believer in the Apple Watch, was that 2 weeks earlier it was warning me about atrial fabulation (which I promptly ignored); here’s 5 stories about people that didn’t and it saved their lives — [More](https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-watch-saved-my-life-five-stories/) A *huge* miss by Apple in a time when everyone is alone, but together — I don’t understand why they don’t release FaceTime on AppleTV, and allow you to plug in a USB-C webcam, creating a “FacePod” — [More](https://500ish.com/apples-missed-facepod-opportunity-b21313e515cd) Nigglywiggly; a new word that my son taught me this one this week. Did anyone actually know that’s what the paper in a Hershey Kiss was called? — [More](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nigglywiggly) A bad outcome doesn’t necessarily mean you made a bad decision. Pixar and the concept of “ugly babies” and “loonshots” — [More](https://marker.medium.com/the-decision-making-secret-shared-by-pixar-and-a-world-chess-champion-538c69015ee7) Really liked this concept of (AFK — Away From Keyboard) that I’ve started to implement it myself. With “zoom fatigue” setting in — setting aside mindful time to read, write and even play; this time has become invaluable for me — [More](https://mailchi.mp/om.co/away-from-keyboard-afk-reinterpretation-of-self) Great read about “shadow IT” and the dangers it places on an organization. The first rule of security is that “security isn’t policy”, and what most companies don’t realize is that by making their employees lives *harder* by instituting weird security things, they are inviting more of this into their world — [More](https://blog.1password.com/challenges-of-shadow-it/) The benefits to walking keep making themselves known; I used to love going for “walk and talks” for 1:1’s rather than sitting in the office — [More](https://thereadystate.com/why-you-should-walk-more-according-to-kelly-starrett/) Embracing the beautiful mess — [More](https://surfingcomplexity.blog/2020/04/18/embracing-the-beautiful-mess/) The fear of missing out (FOMO), and how it has negatively effected our life. Personally, I felt a huge relief when I quit from Facebook, and this article dives into the psychology behind “the joy of missing out” — [More](https://nesslabs.com/jomo) A facinating look at the details of how Stephen Wolfram keeps track of his “personal infrastructure”; from his desk environment to how many keystrokes an hour he types — [More](https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2019/02/seeking-the-productive-life-some-details-of-my-personal-infrastructure/) More on the COVID-19 Front: - The Effect of the Global Pandemic on Active Lifestyles — [More](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/general/the-effect-of-the-global-pandemic-on-active-lifestyles/) - Why **not** to ask *“how are you?”* these days — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/04/should-i-still-say-how-are-you-during-a-pandemic/610639/) - The Pandemic Will Change American Retail Forever — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/how-pandemic-will-change-face-retail/610738/) ## End Thoughts > *It’s all of us!* > *The entire Grand Army of the Republic has been *ordered* to hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights.* ### Chevaliers de Sangreal URL: https://makoism.com/chevaliers-de-sangreal/ Last updated: 2020-04-25T23:25:22.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/2a31a416-73d5-4229-befa-ba82306a172c_2000x1170.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. One thing that I have always enjoyed as part of the movie watching experience, is an incredible score. I recently came across “[Making Waves](http://www.dailynebraskan.com/culture/review-making-waves-a-delightful-documentary-about-sound-in-cinema/article%5F66c416fe-1636-11ea-880b-579e593e04c6.html)”, a documentary about sound in cinema, and it reminded me of the sheer brilliance of **Hans Zimmer**. So here I am, a week later on a non-stop listening spree. Zimmer has scored many of the films that have change the landscape of modern film: Gladiator, Inception, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, and The Dark Knight. This is only the start. One of my favorite pieces is ‘Chevaliers de Sangreal’, from [The DaVinci Code](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/) — it’s played at the end of the film when Langdon realizes the duality of the cryptex’s map, and finally discovers the current location of the Grail. It’s true a masterpiece, and is later followed up with a sequel in [Angels & Demons “503”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMyT-Zuuy3w). Since you’re locked up right now, I’d highly recommend watching “[Hans Zimmer — Live in Prague](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctkq6mYRHPo)”, which is sometimes on Netflix and is available on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/hans-zimmer-live-in-prague/id1467928460) if you want to see a true master that lifts the soul at work. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks “Deep Links” Not really sure what to say about this, other than gross, but “Here’s What a Man Found After Opening a 25-Year-Old Can of Spider-Man Pasta” — [More](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/623548/see-what-25-year-old-can-of-spider-man-pasta-looks-like) File under “shocked”, but now after a [WSJ article](https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-scooped-up-data-from-its-own-sellers-to-launch-competing-products-11587650015), lawmakers want to investigate Amazon about using data from their sellers was used to create it’s own products — [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/24/21234522/democrats-david-cicilline-jerry-nadler-amazon-bezos) I had **no idea** about the history of Mac and Cheese, and that it was once (in 1390) considered the meal for the royal court — [More](https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/history-of-mac-and-cheese) I really enjoyed this “from home” version of ‘Times Like These’ from the “Live Lounge Allstars” that aired on BBC Radio 1 — [Listen/Watch](https://youtu.be/7GElP4YdrBE) Another great watch — ‘Last Dance’ started to air on ESPN — 6.1 Million apparently watched the first 2 episodes — [More](https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/tv-ratings-espn-last-dance-1234585226/) It looks like I need to read a new book, [How To Be Idle](http://idler.co.uk/) — [More](https://austinkleon.com/2020/04/24/manifesto-of-the-idle-parent/) Basecamp Founder David Heinemeier Hansson on Why It Is The Biggest BS To Chase Being A Unicorn, His Relationship to Wealth and Status and Why Now More Than Ever It Is A Myth Entrepreneurs Have To Raise VC — [More](https://thetwentyminutevc.com/davidheinemeierhansson/) Brett Trisutto, an amazing triathlon coach, has an amazing read this week called “Reset or Forget”. The most poignant comment was “**Forget about winning positions, focus on what you have power over**” — [More](https://www.trisutto.com/en/teams/andrewwright/blog/reset-or-forget) Security is a mindset that needs to be a part of the foundational makeup of any organization. Not an afterthought or a “no machine”; here’s a good exploration of the history of infosec — [More](https://capsule8.com/blog/security-delusions-part-1-a-history-of-cloud-compunction/) This single post shook my entire week; I’ve been spending a ton of time rethinking about how I collect notes, how I interconnect thoughts, and how to curate a “digital garden” (I used to call this a ‘backup brain’) — [More](https://joelhooks.com/digital-garden) I’ve never been able to develop a rich habit around bullet journaling, but there are recent studies that they can help relieve depression and anxiety — [More](https://www.writepads.com/blogs/news/are-bullet-journals-a-new-tool-in-mental-health-management) On the sports front — Welcome to the **National Valet Olympics** — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/parking-for-gold/549407/) Google continues to freak me out with regards to privacy, as it now wants to create devices to track baby’s heart rates — [More](https://www.protocol.com/google-nest-apple-shark-patents?share%5Fid=5473799) More on the COVID-19 Front: - 7 Predictions for a Post-Coronavirus World — [More](https://marker.medium.com/7-predictions-for-a-post-coronavirus-world-aaac052c8514) - This Is Why You Can’t Remember Yesterday — [More](https://elemental.medium.com/this-is-why-you-cant-remember-yesterday-e2faab45f74a) - This is the end of the office as we know it — [More](https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/4/14/21211789/coronavirus-office-space-work-from-home-design-architecture-real-estate) ## End Thoughts Finally, since we have all the time in the world right now, I’ll share one of my favorite scores from Zimmer (which is also called “Time”), from the movie [Inception](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/): > *What is the most resilient parasite?* > *Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea.* > *Resilient… highly contagious.* > *Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate.* > *An idea that is fully formed — fully understood — that sticks;* > *right in there somewhere.* ### 2020 Desk At Home URL: https://makoism.com/2020-desk-at-home/ Last updated: 2020-04-19T23:33:00.000Z Every year I do a write up on “[things I like](https://furrygoat.com/mako-things-i-like-2019-3ab20c6899af)”. Last week I [re-worked my Every Day Carry (EDC)](https://furrygoat.com/2020-edc-15167b8d2054), and next I wanted to kick up my desk setup. Who knows how long we’ll be in this weird state, and I wanted a workspace that felt good to be in front of most of the day. If you’re interesting in a weekly list of things I find interesting, please [subscribe here](https://makoism.substack.com/) or in my daily ramblings, you can also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). I’m pretty happy with what I ended up with: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/8eb41cc7-7670-4567-a74b-d4770e35364c_1600x1200.jpeg) What’s there (here’s the shopping list): - [MacBook (Air 512gb/16gb, 1.6ghz, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — I didn’t upgrade this past March, but it’s fine for when I’m at home. - [iPhone 11 Pro (256gb, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-11-pro/) — Goes with me **everywhere,** except when I’m not going anywhere. :) It’s in a superslim [Peel Case](https://buypeel.com/products/super-thin-iphone-11-pro-case). - [Magic Mouse](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA02LL/A/magic-mouse-2-silver) (Black), [Magic Keyboard](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english)— At the desk only. Really wish Apple made a black keyboard that would match the rest of my setup. The mousepad isn’t anything special — a standard [Belkin neoprene](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006HTZ0). - [Spigen Wireless Charger](http://amzn.to/2nA92ZI) and [Aukey QuickCharge 3 Charger](http://amzn.to/2kqVgHI) — I really never thought much about wireless charging before, but it’s just so damn convenient to drop the phone on it. - [Twelve South BookArc](https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/bookarc-macbook?variant=9173860483129) — one of the cooler and more unique stands for a “docked” MacBook. - [Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Monitor](https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/ultrasharp-27-4k-usb-c-monitor-u2720q/apd/210-avjv/monitors-monitor-accessories) — One plug in for the Mac and additional USB-C and USB-A ports. The most recent purchase since I’ve been spending more time than ever before in the home office. - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — the only issue I have with these is that they dont stay in my ear as well as the previous generation AirPods. They are enclosed in the [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black?fnode=3d8f3c1d4dcf55f805bfbdf4691b3c94a996457258e4fa8b5346bc108590cad003bbdb70441ebb67cc48bf3ee90423e2bfa5a9bdaca784bbb5ccec17b21b98f5bb2a7c34ea12f0583c10d530eca159e0e92d63b714bc96da89bd4cc867d494e3) as the the Woolenex case over the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works great with wireless charging as well. - [Powerbeats Pro](https://www.beatsbydre.com/earphones/powerbeats-pro) — While I generally use the AirPods Pro for calls and video conferencing, I use these for working out and longer days due to the 9–12 hour battery life. - [Synology 918+ NAS](https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS918+) — I use iCloud for most of my sync needs, but I have a good 25TB of home storage for movies, photos and whatever else I need (Plex, Docker, etc) in this handy unit. It’s the backup of my backup. - [Tribit XSound Go Speaker](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07594HZ6Y) — Wanted to get a small, rechargable speaker for the Mac when im at the desk that sounds great. - [Loyal Stricklin Aviator Mug](https://loyalstricklin.com/collections/aviator-mugs) — Beautiful way to drink my morning tea. - [KardiaMobile 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) — Another one of the unfortunate realities for me these days, I need to carry an EKG reader with me. While the AppleWatch is great for a simple and quick 1-lead EKG, this amazing gum-stick sized device can do a medical grade 6-lead EKG that’s easily sharable with my doctors. - [Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 EDC Flashlight](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BLTP9ZD) — I always like having a small LED flashlight around. Ya never know when you’ll need it. - [Pete’s Pirate Life](https://petespiratelife.com/) Dot-Grid Notebook, Challenge Coin and Pocket Pen— yo ho yo ho. And.. that’s it, for now.. ### SETEC Astronomy URL: https://makoism.com/setec-astronomy/ Last updated: 2020-04-18T22:53:58.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/551eb525-2fa1-49c9-8605-84c5b4726027_7492x4973.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. Day “X” of being socially isolated has had me thinking a lot about personal privacy mixed in with the need for what needs to be done to get through all of this craziness. And while [Massachusetts has launched their first efforts](https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/04/18/contact-tracing-massachusetts-covid19-coronavirus) to identify people you have had close contact with, I still wonder around *what things we are also giving up*. I’ve read [the Apple/Google contact tracing ](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-google-contact-tracing-strengths-weaknesses/)spec; it seems really good albeit some potential flaws, I can’t lie as I was up **a lot** the last few nights with my mind racing around what we *lose*. Which brings me to the movie Sneakers — a classic (and still probably one of the best) movies on ‘hacking’. Give it a watch while you are all stuck at home wondering about “who controls the information”. If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). #### This weeks “Deep Links” Originally from 2010 in [The Paris Review](https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6012/the-art-of-fiction-no-203-ray-bradbury), was one of the best interviews I read this past week (which I had never seen before) was with Ray Bradbury about a fictional (or, perhaps not) character named Mr. Electrico. Not wanting to spoil the it, just go and read where Bradbury basically ‘hacks’ the interview — [More](https://www.wired.com/2012/06/mr-electrico/) M.G. Siegler hits the nail on the head in exploring the simple thing that we all missed as the next real “killer” platform — **working from home** — [More](https://500ish.com/the-next-platform-wfh-899d9a5d40d4) I hadn’t read about the devastating story around Lee Holloway, one of the early employee’s of CloudFlare and his eventual decline. A really sad and tragic read — [More](https://www.wired.com/story/lee-holloway-devastating-decline-brilliant-young-coder/) Halide remains one of **the best** camera applications for your iPhone, and they recently did an incredibly detailed look Ito the new LIDAR camera in the recently released iPad Pro. Probably a great sneak peak into what the next iPhone camera will have — [More](https://blog.halide.cam/lidar-peek-into-the-future-with-ipad-pro-11d38910e9f8) I don’t know about you, but “that’s no moon; it’s a space station” was the first thought I had when I read about NASA’s new moon-based telescope (the picture doesn’t help) — [More](https://www.livescience.com/nasa-telescope-far-side-of-moon.html) The New York Times also agrees with me on the movie ‘Sneakers’ — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/movies/stream-movie-sneakers.html) There’s a basic fact when it comes to security: everything is hackable. Daniel Miessler weighs in on one of the more important themes around “implicit tradeoffs we make in life with regard to functionality vs. risk” and the pro’s and con’s of Zoom — [More](https://danielmiessler.com/blog/everything-insecure-matters-getting-giving-up/) Speaking of Zoom — I am **so** inviting a goat or llama to one of my upcoming work meetings — [More](https://www.businessinsider.com/zoom-video-goat-2-meeting-llama-sweet-farm-animals-cameo-2020-4) Neither of my boys are interested in Animal Crossing, but I am seeing tons of people playing this right now as it “serves up unexpected consolation by offering surrogate habits — a structured, if fictional, alternative to normal life.” — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/04/animal-crossing-isnt-escapist-its-political/610012/) In another bit of movie nostalgia, I guess I knew (but forgot) that the “Cannonball Run” was a real thing. With the highways mostly empty right now, why not try to go cross country in 27 hours by car — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/speeding-tickets-cars-coronavirus.html) Another skill I’ve been working on this week — “How to Crack an Egg With One Hand” — [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-crack-an-egg-with-one-hand/) From 2014, a look at how Google needed to reinforce undersea fibre cables after sharks decided to have lunch on them — [More](http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/14/google-undersea-fibre-optic-cables-shark-attacks) [Helvetica](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkoX0pEwSCw) (yes, the font) is another essential movie watch. You never realized how much of an impact a single font has had on your life — [More](http://www.cnn.com/style/article/helvetica-60-years/index.html) More on the COVID-19 Front: - California COVID-19 Traffic Report Finds Silver Lining Crashes and Traffic Are Down by Half, Saving State $40 Million Per Day During Shelter-In-Place — [More](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/california-covid-19-traffic-report-finds-silver-lining) - Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting\* — [More](https://forge.medium.com/prepare-for-the-ultimate-gaslighting-6a8ce3f0a0e0) - Computing devices, Communication tools, Entertainment and an Internet connection is all you truly need — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/technology/personaltech/virus-essential-tech.html) - How spending has transformed during the time of a pandemic — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/11/business/economy/coronavirus-us-economy-spending.html) - And finally, on the genius/boredom front — someone couldn’t get a Nintendo Switch, so he built one from scratch — [More](https://www.inputmag.com/gaming/genius-gamer-builds-a-nintendo-switch-from-scratch-to-battle-price-gougers) #### Closing Thoughts > *There’s a war out there, old friend.* > *A world war. And it’s not about who’s got the most bullets.* > *It’s about who controls the information.* > *What we see and hear, how we work, what we think…* > *it’s all about the information!* ### New York Groove URL: https://makoism.com/new-york-groove/ Last updated: 2020-04-11T18:16:17.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e43ea6bf-f5bc-4b59-ab92-a5b24f67edcd_2400x1600.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. To be honest, it was another Another hard week filled with long Zoom meetings and little free time to get some time for personal reflection and good habits. I’ve definitely fallen on the side of indulgence and put on a few pounds already, something that I’m taking immediate action to fix. Effective this past Thursday, I’ve gone back to a strict “no inflammatory” lifestyle again (no gluten, no dairy, etc), and I am already feeling better. Now it’s time to undo the rest of the weight-gain damage I’ve done over the last month. :) In these times, it’s important to also reflecting back on the tao of [Agent Dale Cooper](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/twin-peaks-the-tao-of-agent-cooper-122164/): > *Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it, don’t wait for it, just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men’s store, a catnap in your office chair or two cups of good hot black coffee.* If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks “Deep Links” Years ago, I deployed a “DNS Black Hole” on my at home network to block ads; I highly recommend checking out [The PiHole](https://pi-hole.net/) if you’re looking for an ‘at home’ project. Not only will it save you bandwidth at home (20% of my traffic is “ads” that are now blocked) you’ll be safer online. Cloudflare has introduced new DNS resolvers this week called “1.1.1.1 for Families”, for making simple DNS changes at home (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). You can use 1.1.1.2 (for no malware) and 1.1.1.3 (for no malware or adult content) — [More](https://blog.cloudflare.com/introducing-1-1-1-1-for-families/) Fascinating read around maps and the distortion of reality and abstractions that they create, which can tend to lead to misguided (or accelerated thinking) — [More](https://fs.blog/2015/11/map-and-territory/) On the home project list while stuck at home, been organizing, cleaning up and getting rid of tons of “objects”, especially in the kitchen — [More](https://thewirecutter.com/blog/kitchen-organization-projects/) Pre-ordered [Sarah Frier’s new book “No Filter”](https://books.apple.com/us/book/no-filter/id1470000263) on the history of [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/). This pre-read gives some fascinating inside details of Zuckerberg and how he held them back (as a side, they were acquired for $751m and now are worth $100 billon) — [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-04-07/zuckerberg-s-jealousy-held-back-instagram-and-drove-off-founders) Ever wonder how jigsaw puzzles are made? I didn’t until I read this and it’s kinda beautiful — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/business/coronavirus-jigsaw-puzzles.html) Bullet Journals are super interesting, and here’s a look at how they can be used in a variety of ways including helping your personal finances — [More](https://www.writepads.com/blogs/news/5-ways-to-use-a-bullet-journal-to-help-boost-your-personal-finances) I’m a huge fan of the “old” NASA ‘worm’ logo — and now it’s back — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/science/nasa-logo-worm-spacex.html) Due to the drop of pollution in India — this is the first time the Himalayas have been visible in 30 years — [More](https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/himalayas-visible-for-first-time-in-30-years-as-pollution-levels-in-india-drop) Microsoft buys Corp.com to reduce namespace collision and hopefully stops some of the bad guys — [More](https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/04/microsoft-buys-corp-com-so-bad-guys-cant/) Google is now using AI to fill into video and audio in low quality calls — [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52138100) A buyers guide to some better “working at home” headsets — [More](https://ma.tt/2020/03/dont-mute-get-a-better-headset/) I had my first heart doctor appointment this week as well over Zoom, and my doctor said the same thing — they’ve been asking for telemedicine for years, and we’ve had rapid change in just the last few weeks — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/world/europe/telemedicine-uk-coronavirus.html) The craziness of what happens on the open seas couldn’t have a better example of when a Venezuelan navy vessel sinks after ‘ramming a cruise ship’ — [More](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52151951) Recently, I bought a [Shemagh from GoRuck](https://www.goruck.com/shemagh/) because my neck/head was getting cold on early morning walks with the dog. Now with COVID, face coverings to combat the spread of germs is even more important, so here’s a guide on how to properly tie one — [More](https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-tie-a-military-style-shemaghkeffiyeh/) More on the COVID-19 Front: - The Three Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/04/how-increase-happiness-according-research/609619/) - I Love You All, But I Fucking Hate Zoom — [More](https://medium.com/@MCSnugz/i-love-you-all-but-i-fucking-hate-zoom-5fab2255e51f) - The Asian Countries That Beat Covid-19 Have to Do It Again — [More](https://www.wired.com/story/the-asian-countries-that-beat-covid-19-have-to-do-it-again/) - Homes Actually Need to Be Practical Now — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/03/finding-privacy-during-pandemic/608944/) - Stop Trying to Be Productive — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/style/productivity-coronavirus.html) - Bill Gates Says Virus Death Toll May Not Reach Experts’ Worst Case — [More](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-05/gates-says-virus-death-toll-may-not-reach-experts-worst-case) ## Closing Thoughts > *Many years since I was here,* > *On the street I was passin’ my time away* > *To the left and to the right,* > *Buildings towering to the sky* > *It’s outta sight in the dead of night* > *Here I am, and in this city, with a fistful of dollars* > *And baby, you’d better believe* > *I’m back, back in the New York groove* ### The Final Cut URL: https://makoism.com/the-final-cut/ Last updated: 2020-04-04T22:01:38.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/b285f73e-30e1-4585-8549-62eb6172bf9e_2550x1700.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. This week marks almost a month since I decided to self-quarantine due to my higher risk profile. While I’ve generally had a great headspace the last 30 days, focusing on taking care of myself not only physically but mentally, felt a bit different than the previous ones. **Lots** and **lots** of meetings this week really dragged things out for me; and gave me a reminder that I need to put time blocks in my calendar **every day** to ensure some breathing room for sanity. Also bought a [pizza oven](https://ooni.com/products/ooni-koda) — figured that if I didn’t burn down the house, I may as well learn a new skill. We’ll see how that goes — the first attempt was a flaming mess. :) If you’re interested in my daily ramblings, also follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/smakofsky). ## This weeks “Deep Links” I figured I would use some of the time at home this week to clean up my cable bag which has relatively stayed the same for the last few years — [More](https://furrygoat.com/2020-edc-15167b8d2054) Why AI in cameras today make you look different than what you actually look like — [More](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/no-you-don-t-really-look-like-that) Thought provoking questions on crafting the life you want to live — [More](https://hackspirit.com/10-steps-creating-a-life-love-for-next-decade/) Personally a big fan on dot-grid notebooks, but a look at the best notebooks and covers out today — [More](https://www.carryology.com/utility/edc/best-notebooks-and-notebook-covers-for-edc-and-travel/) Recently I’ve become a fan of unique challenge coins — [More](https://mentalfloss.com/article/12630/brief-history-challenge-coins) *“Obstacles will come your way. Guaranteed. Think of them as a gift. They will make you stronger. They will make you more creative. Rather than break you, they will define you.”* — [More](https://medium.com/@dolectures/manifesto-of-a-doer-dd1baa873f1f) Ah, VxWorks. Apparently the OS stops filtering out stale data from key flight control displays on the Boeing 787; and the fix? Completely power off the aircraft before it gets to 51 days to prevent ‘misleading data’ being shown to pilots — [More](https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/04/02/boeing%5F787%5Fpower%5Fcycle%5F51%5Fdays%5Fstale%5Fdata/) On one hand, Zoom has some pretty bad security practices and I fear that with the rush for everyone to jump on and use them, it could be opening things up in very unexpected ways. On the other, I really wish the infosec community understood that many people in classrooms and in companies don’t get to choose what tech is rolled out to them. Instead of shitting all over them, maybe help them? — [More](https://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb/blog/2020-04/2020-04-02.html) Speaking of Zoom — if you’re going to buy it’s stock, buy the right stock — [More](https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/27/the-sec-really-wants-investors-to-stop-buying-the.aspx) New book out this week from the folks at [DO Lectures](https://www.thedolectures.com/workshops) — “Do Present; How to Give a Talk and be Heard”. [Read](https://thedobook.co/products/do-present-how-to-give-a-talk-and-be-heard) I have an on-again-off-again relationship with using Mind Maps — [More](https://www.writepads.com/blogs/news/mind-mapping-for-business-development) As always, Seth Godin has a great take on things: *“We can’t change how things are, but we can change how we will approach today.”* — [More](https://seths.blog/2020/04/how-would-you-like-things-to-be/) Seth also has an interesting take on multiple devices — are you using the same device to do work as you are to distract yourself from work? That could be a mistake — [More](https://seths.blog/2011/03/are-you-making-something/) Uh, **no thank you**. *“A Sardinian specialty made by allowing cheese skipper flies to lay thousands of eggs in a wheel of pecorino, casu marzu is served with a host of tiny yet visible larvae alive and writhing in it. (Dead maggots are a sign that the cheese has gone bad.) When you scoop some of the creamy-mealy cheese out of the rind and make to eat it, the maggots protect themselves by coiling up like organic springs and leaping up to half a foot away from danger, all too often onto your face.”* — [More](https://theoutline.com/post/8843/casu-marzu-cheese-sardinia-illegal-dangerous) More on the COVID-19 Front: - White House Economists Warned in 2019 a Pandemic Could Devastate America — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/business/coronavirus-economy-trump.html) - Some dude ran 130 laps of his year to complete a “quarantine marathon” — [More](https://www.guernseypress.com/news/2020/03/30/marathon-was-130-laps-of-grahams-garden/) - Some basic tips for working from home without driving you or your family crazy. — [More](https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/a-biginners-guide-to-working-from-home-without-driving-yourself-your-family-crazy.html) - How enforced isolation, social distancing and the craziness of what’s going on today fit into society and the mental side effects — [More](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/the-history-of-loneliness) ## Closing Thoughts > *And if I show you my dark side* > *Will you still hold me tonight?* > *And if I open my heart to you* > *And show you my weak side* > *What would you do?* [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvARL0Hzcoo) ### 2020 EDC URL: https://makoism.com/2020-edc/ Last updated: 2020-04-01T23:31:00.000Z Every year I do a write up on “[things I like](https://furrygoat.com/mako-things-i-like-2019-3ab20c6899af)” which includes a look at apps that I frequently use on the day to day, my general workflow on processing email and work items as well as my Every Day Carry (EDC). Since we are all locked at home, I figured I would use some of the time to clean up my cable bag which has relatively stayed the same for the last few years. I wanted to be able to charge my devices, get smaller cables, and make it incredibly light. I’m pretty happy with what I ended up with: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/ae622904-eb2c-4cdc-894f-ac9be8ea987b_1600x958.jpeg) What’s in there: - [Tom Bihn Ballistic Organizer](https://www.tombihn.com/collections/organizer-pouches/products/ballistic-organizer-pouch?variant=16620959751) — all of this (except the notebook) gets stuffed in here. - [Nite Ize S-Biner Dual Carabiner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HN6CW4) — to clip on water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK)) to bring heart medication everywhere. Unfortunately needed these days. - [1ft Anker USB-C to Lightning](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XYX3WNY) cable — charge the phone or AirPod Pro’s - [1.6ft Anker USB-C to USB-C](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076D76DRQ) cable — charge the iPad Pro or anything else USB-C - [Short Apple Watch USB-C](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XTQKHDR) cable — charge the Apple Watch - [Leather cable straps](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WNS98W) — because they are functional and look cool. - [RAVPower 61W Wall Charger PD 3.0](https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Charging-Delivery-Foldable-Compatible/dp/B07TC53ZYD) — while I still like the Anker thin charger, this charger is small enough and can still power the 13" MBP, iPad, and anything else USB-C. - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small, bright, it’s a no brainer for the daily bag. - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — the only issue I have with these is that they dont stay in my ear as well as the previous generation AirPods. - [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black?fnode=3d8f3c1d4dcf55f805bfbdf4691b3c94a996457258e4fa8b5346bc108590cad003bbdb70441ebb67cc48bf3ee90423e2bfa5a9bdaca784bbb5ccec17b21b98f5bb2a7c34ea12f0583c10d530eca159e0e92d63b714bc96da89bd4cc867d494e3) — really like the Woolenex case over the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works great with wireless charging as well. - [KardiaMobile 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) — Another one of the unfortunate realities for me these days, I need to carry an EKG reader with me. While the AppleWatch is great for a simple and quick 1-lead EKG, this amazing gum-stick sized device can do a medical grade 6-lead EKG that’s easily sharable with my doctors. - [Lochby Pocket Journal](https://www.lochby.com/collections/frontpage/products/pocket-journal) — amazing quality ultra portable field journal case. Also added this [paracord keychain lanyard](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L8K1HSX). - [Field Notes Dot Grid Pitch Black](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/pitch-black-notebook)— Dot Grid notebooks are superior, and Field Notes makes the best ones which fit beautifully in the Lochby. - [Fisher Bullet-Pen](https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-400B-Space-Bullet-Pen/dp/B000WGD13U) — small, awesome for writing, and you just never know when you need one. [Read a review here to see why this is the best pen](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2014/2/19/fisher-space-pen-bullet-review). - [Pete’s Pirate Life](https://petespiratelife.com/) Challenge Coin — yo ho yo ho. And.. that’s it, for now.. ### Time For Me To Fly URL: https://makoism.com/time-for-me-to-fly/ Last updated: 2020-03-29T17:26:22.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fd79f6f6-abc2-466c-92c3-06635dfea3bc_2753x2065.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. While my wife and I have been binging on Ozark Season 3 (which fortunately dropped this week), my youngest made another comment about something interesting he had read online. Apparently Tangled (by Disney) had some striking similarities to our current state of social distancing. An tower of “isolation” in a kingdom called “Corona”. Fascinating. ## This weeks “Deep Links” As I am currently writing this on an iPad with a connected trackpad in iOS 13.4, seems only appropriate to take a look at the incredibly useful cursor support in the latest OS — [More](https://www.wired.com/story/ipad-trackpad-cursor/) Who knew that there was a bank that offered loans in Italy for cheese? Currently its stocked at something like 430,000 wheels and is estimated value around 190 million euros — [More](https://vinepair.com/articles/cheese-bank-italy/) People are flocking to Zoom and other videoconferencing methods as more and more work from home. ‘ZoomBombing’ has become a real problem apparently — unwanted guests broadcasting porn or listening into work calls — [More](https://threatpost.com/as-zoom-booms-incidents-of-zoombombing-become-a-growing-nuisance/154187/) As a long time reader of The Oatmeal, some amazing reflections over 10 years about creativity — [More](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/creativity%5Fthings) While Logan was a great movie, it’s even better when watched in black and white — [More](https://austinkleon.com/2020/03/22/in-praise-of-watching-your-favorite-movies-in-black-and-white/) A beautiful photo essay from the New York Times this week of famous places, and how they look without any people around — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/23/world/coronavirus-great-empty.html) Conspiracy theories and a breakdown of the character traits on how people think — [More](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/bad-thinkers) While I’ve known about Yale’s Happiness course for some time, they have made it available now for free on Coursera. If you haven’t taken a look, while stuck at home, it’s a valuable usage of time — [More](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/13/i-took-yales-most-popular-class-ever-and-it-completely-changed-how-i-spend-my-money.html) One could argue that businesses are built on targeted advertising, but it’s becoming more and more of a privacy problem when applications and devices are gobbling up more and more of your personal data. This article goes on to imagine a world in which Congress bans targeted advertising (I would love that world, personally) — [More](https://www.wired.com/story/why-dont-we-just-ban-targeted-advertising/) I recently saw “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, and this read goes deeper into the relationship between the author and Mister Rogers — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/12/what-would-mister-rogers-do/600772/) Now leaning into the Coronavirus news of the week, I am continuously inspired on how some companies, such as [Tom Bihn](https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/masks-ppe) and [Nike](https://www.businessinsider.com/nike-is-making-face-shields-for-healthcare-workers-during-coronavirus-2020-3) are leaning in and looking for helping out and providing unique solutions to PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). More on the COVID-19 Front: - How a year in space helped formed tips for spending time in isolation — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/opinion/scott-kelly-coronavirus-isolation.html) - The effect of the outdoor community, and some of it’s messaging right now around the coronavirus pandemic — [More](https://www.alexroddie.com/2020/03/the-outdoor-community-needs-to-change-its-messaging-regarding-the-coronavirus-pandemic-and-right-now.html) - What you are feeling right now, is not isolation, it’s grief — [More](https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief) - On the humor side, McSweeney’s never fails to deliver with ‘Self-Quarantined: The Adult Activity Book’ — [More](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/self-quarantined-the-adult-activity-book) - A fascinating read about a group of scientists that are stuck in the arctic due to coronavirus — [More](https://www.vice.com/en%5Fus/article/8843ap/scientists-are-stuck-on-an-ice-locked-ship-in-the-arctic-due-to-coronavirus) ## Closing Thoughts > *I’ve had enough of the falseness* > *Of a worn out relation* > *Enough of the jealousy* > *And the intoleration* > *I make you laugh* > *And you make me cry* > *I believe it’s time for me to fly* [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54OtWleMQeQ) ### The Gambler URL: https://makoism.com/the-gambler/ Last updated: 2020-03-21T19:12:26.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/28f283ba-48df-4c6a-bd0d-ba2640a52108_619x410.jpeg) This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. My 13 year old son made a really interesting (and profound) observation this past week — “dad, with all the news on the virus, people are missing some really important things that are going on in the world”. **And he’s right**. I tried to keep my “virus” updates to the early morning and before bed, and spent a lot more of my time reading articles and watching videos that got me back to thinking. Here’s what I found the most interesting. ## This weeks “Deep Links” While I’m not the biggest country music fan, you can’t argue that “The Gambler” is probably one of the most recognizable songs of the genre. Was really sad to see that Kenny Rogers passed on this morning — [More](https://www.al.com/life/2020/03/the-gambler-kenny-rogers-actor-and-singer-dies-at-81.html) How NASA transformed itself by creating a culture of ‘rebel thinking’ and fighting the status quo — [More](https://corporate-rebels.com/nasa-rebels/) “We Trust You” are the 3 most important words when establishing remote working — [More](https://corporate-rebels.com/the-ultimate-remote-work-policy/) A look inside ‘Naked and Afraid’; and apparently it’s as real as the show proclaims — [More](https://www.outsideonline.com/2410017/naked-and-afraid-real-blair-braverman) While ‘War Games’ inspired me to learn as much as possible on how computers work, all the ways they could break, and ultimately led me to being responsible for a security organization within The Walt Disney Company, apparently President Reagan had a different impression. After watching it, he was infatuated and asked the Joint Chiefs if this could **really happen** — he was equally unimpressed with their answer — [More](https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/wargames-ronald-reagan-cybersecurity) The old privacy battleground on data rages on. While many proclaim “data is the new oil”, I really prefer looking at it like “uranium”. Apparently NYC has a new tap-to-pay system which fosters a new contactless payment across their buses and subway. The downside — there’s massive collection of user data from everything from device identifiers, location, and data that can be used to basically map out a riders entire pattern of life — [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/16/21175699/mta-omny-privacy-security-smartphone-identifier-location-nyc) Since being at home, we’ve been trying to do more “family game nights”, and I am **not** a fan of Monopoly, so this read on “How To Ruin Monopoly and Make People Hate You” is more timely than ever — [More](http://kotaku.com/how-to-ruin-monopoly-and-make-people-hate-you-1755400721) Given how crazy the world has been the last few years, I’ve been joking for some time that the multi-verse split when [David Bowie died in 2016](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death%5Fof%5FDavid%5FBowie). Wired explores the latest in quantum physics around the same theory — *there may be endless worlds with countless versions of you* — [More](https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/weirdest-idea-quantum-physics-catching-there-may-be-endless-worlds-ncna1068706) Every morning, I try to have a cup of coffee ready for Liz. In “The Power of Making a Cup of Coffee for Someone Else”, they capture the magic around the ritual from the start of grinding beans to the look of approval upon the first sip — [More](https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/make-coffee-for-someone-today-kindness-article) Studio are taking a beating right now, here’s two articles that start to look at the future of movies. During this “stay at home” phase, it’s really an ideal time for studios to test out at home digital-first releases of films. Looking at what [Pixar did with ‘Onward’](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/entertainment/onward-disney/index.html), I’d love to see a future where this becomes the norm as [rather than a nightmare](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/03/the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-hollywoods-nightmare/608104/). On a similar front, Movies Anywhere is going to allow you to start “loaning” movies to friends in May — [More](https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/17/21182425/movies-anywhere-screen-pass-feature-share-loan-digital-movies-friends) On the COVID-19 front: - 3D printing came to the rescue in Italy where it was being used to print values for reanimation devices — [More](https://www.3dprintingmedia.network/covid-19-3d-printed-valve-for-reanimation-device/) - Game Theory and the virus — [More](https://theoutline.com/post/8852/time-for-some-completely-unhelpful-coronavirus-game-theory) - Face it — “we’re not going back to normal” — [More](https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615370/coronavirus-pandemic-social-distancing-18-months/) - A fascinating look at **Patient 31** and how he/she contributed to the spread of coronavirus in Korea — [More](https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-SOUTHKOREA-CLUSTERS/0100B5G33SB/index.html) ## Closing Thoughts > *Every gambler knows* > *That the secret to survivin’* > *Is knowin’ what to throw away* > *And knowin’ what to keep* > *’Cause every hand’s a winner* > *And every hand’s a loser* > *And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep* [Watch](https://youtu.be/7hx4gdlfamo) ### Social Distancing Edition URL: https://makoism.com/social-distancing-edition/ Last updated: 2020-03-15T21:57:02.000Z This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. Like everyone else, this week was filled heavy reading around Coronavirus, what it means to work from home/remote, and general panic. At one point, I had to unsubscribe to the work Slack channel as it was just too much. Please stay healthy, and stay home! ## Here’s this weeks “Deep Links” Mastercard is pioneering new payment technology that identifies commuters by the way they walk. New technology using behavioral biometrics (such as gait, face, heartbeat and veins for cutting edge payment systems of the future) seem to be the next evolution — [More](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mastercard-is-pioneering-new-payment-technology-that-identifies-commuters-by-the-way-they-walk-2020-02-14) Recently I have discovered “Dot-Grid” paper with notebooks — the hybrid is simply a superior form of paper (which is described as “a halfway house between lines, plain, and grid, those subtle dots provide structure when you need it and freedom when you don’t”) and [I’ve upgraded](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/pitch-black-memo-book) exclusively to it — [More](https://productiveandpretty.com/how-dot-grid-paper-will-make-you-more-productive/) Need to get more in line with this for meetings, personally, but I like the ideas of having a “single agenda” concept where you “fit the agenda on one page and ensure any supporting documents fit entirely on one page” — [More](https://medium.com/swlh/the-one-page-rule-255e2c636740) On the **COVID-19** front, a few articles really made me think: - Are the electric hand dryer’s really that much safer? New evidence looks like they’ve been blowing particles onto your clothes instead. — [More](https://www.wired.com/story/wash-your-hands-but-beware-the-electric-hand-dryer/) - Almost prophetic — Bill Gates gave a talk in 2015 at TED around how we are not ready for the new outbreak — [Watch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Af6b%5FwyiwI) - Early last week, when everyone started talking about “social distancing” — this seemed like an extreme. 5 days later, we are here — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-cancel-everything/607675/) Given most of folks are starting to work from home, a few great tips and tricks from those that have been doing this already: - Work in the Time of Corona — [More](https://blog.alicegoldfuss.com/work-in-the-time-of-corona/) - How Progressive Companies Survive and Thrive In Crises — [More](https://corporate-rebels.com/times-of-crisis/) - Life with COVID-19 — [More](https://omar.shahine.com/blog/2020/3/8/life-with-covid-19) - OMG I’m working remotely, now what?! — [More](https://benediktlehnert.github.io/) - Crisis Leadership — [More](https://medium.learningbyshipping.com/crisis-leadership-c75d31f9dc4) - Google Research Reveals 7 Secrets of Successful Remote Teams — [More](https://medium.com/liberationist-thoughts/google-research-reveals-7-secrets-of-successful-remote-teams-8c4437ee4857) ## Closing Thoughts > *Remember, Red.* > *Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.* > *I will be hoping that this letter finds you, and finds you well.* > *Your friend, Andy.* [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K30e9O3Nng) ### Almost Famous URL: https://makoism.com/almost-famous/ Last updated: 2020-03-08T21:24:10.000Z This is a semi-whenever list of interesting articles, podcasts and videos that I come across during the week. Hope you enjoy it, have something new to think about, and share it with your friends. #### Here’s this weeks “Deep Links” Team culture vs company culture vs organizational structure — which one wins? As someone who has believed in the power of teams, it’s often swimming upstream when it comes to effecting company culture; some places it works and it others, the body rejects the organ — [More](https://corporate-rebels.com/importance-of-team-and-teamleader/) While everyone is thinking that Direct to Consumer is a “new” thing, an unpopular (but probably dead on) take is that “DTC is just a sales channel, and it should be treated as such.” — [More](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/potentially-unpopular-opinion-future-dtc-luke-weston) I love the idea of small daily challenges and the concept of “[dont break the chain](https://austinkleon.com/2013/12/29/something-small-every-day/)”; right now I’m on a 5 year “streak” of keeping my commonplace journal up to date. With the 30 and 31-day challenges, just “do the work every day. Fill the boxes.” — [More](https://austinkleon.com/2020/03/01/31-day-challenge/) and [More](https://austinkleon.com/2017/11/01/30-day-challenge/) While many tout the benefits on how AI will change the landscape of work, there’s already human-based biases that are finding their way into automated tools; and without understanding that, the potential of what these systems can do can be incredibly damaging — [More](https://onezero.medium.com/how-automated-tools-discriminate-against-black-language-2ac8eab8d6db) On the COVID-19 front: - Interesting views on how this will effect society — [More](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/style/rewilding-stone-age-bushcraft.html) - How it will effect the concept of remote “work” — [More](https://ma.tt/2020/03/coronavirus-remote-work/) - The most insightful and scary read on the virus is that “never before in human history has it been so easy to do so much without going anywhere.” **You already live in quarantine.** — [More](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-you-already-live-quarantine/607474/) As someone who discovered running, which lead into triathlon, I can clearly point to exercise and getting in shape as something that saved my life when I had a heart attack last year. This is a compelling read about some things that the author wish he knew when starting running 20 years ago. — [More](https://medium.com/swlh/i-started-running-20-years-ago-heres-what-i-wish-i-knew-back-then-58e9284bd943) Not agile. Not waterfall. The BaseCamp team has a super interesting reading about “shaping” work. The concept is around taking abstract project ideas and define key elements of the solution before even starting work. — [More](https://basecamp.com/shapeup) #### Closing Thoughts > Turning back she just laughs > The boulevard is not that bad > Piano man he makes his stand > In the auditorium > Looking on she sings the songs > The words she knows, the tune she hums [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FqW9wqUI4Lg) ### Country Roads, Take Me Home URL: https://makoism.com/country-roads-take-me-home/ Last updated: 2020-02-29T22:27:16.000Z Still experimenting a bit with the format as this evolves, and would love any feedback to hear if these finds are useful or thought provoking. I certainly don’t want to waste people’s time, just passing along things I find interesting. ## Here’s this weeks “Deep Links” From the “oldies but goodies”, a look a what you could buy with the entire worlds net worth of $241 trillion. [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/03/combined-wealth-world.html) A look at forgiveness and the mental health benefits of not carrying around a pile of resentment with you. However, always remember — “forgiving doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting”. [More](https://markmanson.net/forgiveness) I’ve always joked that the weakest link in my home security is my family; Even scarier when the new attack surface is **you**. [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQP0On85ZdQ&feature=share) “Don’t think too much about your life after dinnertime.” — some interesting advice on dealing with problems in the daylight. [More](https://austinkleon.com/2018/08/27/a-very-simple-rule/) The Mandalorian still continues to surprise and amaze me. Instead of using traditional blue and green screens for special effects, they used rear-projection on “a dynamic, real-time, photo-real background played back on a massive LED video wall and ceiling” all based on the Unreal game engine. [More](https://ascmag.com/articles/the-mandalorian) Quick read on paradigm shifts and the most dangerous words in technology — “we have always done it this way”. [More](https://winterwindsoftware.com/paradigm-shifts/) Still keeping my eyes (or ears, in this case) on podcasting; I think there’s an ever growing place for this. Staples is opening up podcasting “studios” in their stores in Boston as an experiment. [More](https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/19/staples-podcast-recording-studios) One of my favorite TED Talks, JJ Abrams on “The mystery box”. [Watch](https://www.ted.com/talks/j%5Fj%5Fabrams%5Fthe%5Fmystery%5Fbox?language=en) A sobering look at laying out human lifespan visually. [More](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html) ## Closing Thoughts > *I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me* > *The radio reminds me of my home far away* > *Driving down the road, I get a feeling* > *That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday* > *Country roads, take me home* > *To the place I belong* > *West Virginia, mountain mama* > *Take me home, country roads* ### Ramble On URL: https://makoism.com/ramble-on/ Last updated: 2020-02-22T22:15:07.000Z Heavy week reading this week as I spent more time than usual on airplanes, so figured I would clear out the backlog. Here’s this issue of “Deep Links”: - [10 Types of Odd Friendships You’re Probably Part Of](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/10-types-odd-friendships-youre-probably-part.html) — Tim Urban always has provocative and interesting takes on society, technology and the effects of things in between. In this one from 2014, he does a fascinating job of exploring different friendships you may have. - [Anarchitecture: An Introduction to Anarchic Software Development](https://hackernoon.com/anarchitecture-d8643tlw) — Forget DevOps, agile and test-driven design and welcome to the world of “developer anarchy” and “self-organizing teams”. - [Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule](http://www.paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html) — An interesting view on how to carve up the day on when you have time, and what time you are willing to compromise with disruptions. - [11 traits of unforgettable leaders](https://link.medium.com/c7CV5xXV93) — are you a leader, or just a “boss”? It’s a simple list of things that instill trust. - In [Meetings](https://link.medium.com/CjoBQuGpb4), the concept of “Swiss cheese” calendars and the difficulty in getting real work done. - [Why No-Code and Low-Code Software Is the Industry Disrupter You Should Pay Attention To](https://www.inc.com/soren-kaplan/why-no-code-low-code-software-is-industry-disruptor-you-should-pay-attention-to.html) — An interesting take; I’ve often joked that the **evolution** of DevOps is into “NoDevs”, and this article reflects on the “No-Code” nature of platforms like [Zapier](https://zapier.com/), [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/) and [Shortcuts](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shortcuts/id915249334). Event-based, activity flows are the future IMHO. And finally, from the Podcast list: - [When Setbacks are Your Biggest Training Asset](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trained/id1414073313?i=1000460055173) — really have been enjoying the TRAINED series of Podcasts; this one is with the founder of OrangeTheory, Ellen Latham, and dives into “focus on positive”. ### Deep Links URL: https://makoism.com/deep-links-3d50734208f3/ Last updated: 2020-02-16T23:45:40.000Z ## **Preamble** Part organizational, part experiment, I thought I would go ahead and start posts every few weeks that contained interesting content that I find from around the Internet. My goal is **not** to create another newsletter for people to subscribe to (don’t we all have subscription fatigue?) but rather a place for me to curate some interesting topics and be able to easily share them out with anyone who finds this stuff interesting. While I thought my [Pocket archives](https://getpocket.com) would serve that purpose — it just turns out that not that many folks use the service (it is a great “read it later” service if you haven’t checked it out). So here I am going to try to use [Substack](https://makoism.substack.com) as a place to curate the links from [Medium posts](https://furrygoat.com). If you want to directly join me on this journey, you can [go directly here](https://makoism.substack.com/subscribe?utm%5Fsource=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Ffurrygoat.com) and have this delivered to your mailbox. --- ## Deep Links For the initial batch of links, I’m going to just clear out the backlog of several posts I’ve been hoarding so I can move forward with some form of normal cadence. - [Apple Watch and a Paradigm Shift in Computing](https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/2/5/apple-watch-and-a-paradigm-shift-in-computing). I know it seems a way off, but I truly believe the future of “personal area networks” involves devices like the Apple Watch taking a much deeper role in one’s general computing tasks. - A brilliant take on the usage of “out of office” emails in order to take control of your inbox. “Our inbox works for us — not the other way around.” [Perspective: Out of office](https://makoism.com/an-idea-for-you/the-greatest-auto-reply-email-ive-ever-seen-5356c502ba74) - [Focused, Not Busy](https://www.theminimalists.com/busy/) As usual, [The Minimalists](https://www.theminimalists.com) have a great opinion piece that in the world of technology that we live in, everyone is constantly multitasking and dares to ask “*It is not enough to be busy. The question is: what are we focused on?*” - [The Key to Finding Happiness: Stop Trying to Be Happy](https://markmanson.net/stop-trying-to-be-happy) Another great read on the eternal search for happiness with a simple message — “*Happiness is not the same as positivity*”. - One area that I keep rolling around with is the concept of “control”, and how much of life is dealing with things that you can’t control. In [Focus on What You Can Control](https://minimalism.life/journal/focus-on-what-you-can-control), the author dives into 3 things that you **can** control daily: Your attitude, your effort, and your actions. - And lastly, [adjusting my workflow](https://furrygoat.com/mako-things-i-like-2019-3ab20c6899af) is a constant work in progress for me. [Productivity Tips](https://makoism.com/personal-growth-lab/5-productivity-techniques-you-can-apply-right-now-to-create-a-highly-successful-day-d48ef56fee7b) Hopefully you’ll enjoy these deep links! [Sign up now](https://www.makoism.com/subscribe) ### Thread Reader Automation URL: https://makoism.com/thread-reader-automation/ Last updated: 2020-01-05T00:29:00.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/5d1ad431-c82d-4667-b14c-827c69a79a5c_1600x1064.jpeg) I often hear people complain that [Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/) is total chaos. To be honest, I really enjoy using it daily as a source of technology discovery, but it didn’t really become effective and under control until I started to move people off my timeline and into curated “[lists](https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/twitter-lists)”. For example, here’s a few: - **Portland** — restaurant's, local news, things going on in the area - **Swoosh** — work colleagues - **Friends** — close friends - **Health** — all aspects around health, physical fitness, health devices, etc - **InfoSec** — security twitter can be incredibly noisy (with both good and bad content), so I have moved it off to something to read when I **want** to, not when its in the timeline. - **MindChangers** — people that really have great topics/posts that make you stop and research, etc. - **WorkFlow** — apps and tools feed My timeline is light, often focused, and is enjoyable to read. One of the tools that I really enjoy using [ThreadReaderApp](https://threadreaderapp.com/) — it’s premise is simple: “**Transform Twitter Threads into a Readable Page**”. Often people posts long content over a series of multiple tweets (which have a max length of 280 characters), and ThreadReaderApp pulls all of these into a **single** page that you can bookmark, or store as a PDF (with subscription). Unfortunately, they don’t offer an iOS app at this time, but I’ve put together a useful Shortcut which you can “share” a twitter link with, and it will automatically unroll the multiple feeds and store it on your ThreadReaderApp account. To recreate it, create a new shortcut as follows: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/e01e5c56-907c-4afe-9264-d12d506781f0_1125x2436.png) Once you have built the shortcut, you can then use the sharesheet to send over a URL to ThreadReader to add to unroll to your collection. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/6d7875da-9eba-4f5e-b65a-9f82549bef18_1600x1202.png) Enjoy! ### Mako "Things I Like": 2019 URL: https://makoism.com/mako-things-i-like-2019/ Last updated: 2022-06-17T01:59:09.000Z This is the 2019 guide to things that I have found to maximize my daily workflow in my evolving setup. Two years ago, I attempted to move this more towards a “living document”, but I failed miserably at keeping any consistency, so here I am at the end of year putting this together. In some ways, I love this tradition (and others guides around the same topic as I always find something interesting and new to play with), and on the flip side, I kinda hate feeling like I *have* to keep doing it. So, this is for you — the ones who ping’d me and asked where this years summary is — you guilted me into it. You will find that many of the things this year echo similar flow to previous years, but I am keeping them here for ease of reading. ### The Purge (the annual audit) I find it a worthwhile exercise to audit frequently — this not only means what apps I am not using, but really looking at playlists, subscriptions, etc.. The flow that I have used and find useful: - **Apps** — examine the apps on your phone, ipad and laptop — have you used the app in the last 2 months? *If not, you probably don’t need it* - **Media** — do you need all those documents/movies/music on your phone or laptop with you? Seriously — do you need 24,000 songs with you at all times? *If not, storing things away in iCloud keeps my devices light.* - **Subscription** — are you really getting *value* out of that application subscription? My litmus here — if it’s a service (media, storage, etc., where they are paying costs for hosting, etc), I probably will keep it going. If it’s for something more “static”, like a calculator, editor, etc., I won’t do a subscription for it. Apps are in a weird phase right now — I don’t mind annual upgrade charges (and they should be priced right — not this .99 or even 9.99 BS — really it takes time and people to build software). I just cannot take being nickel and dimed monthly. - **Higher Learning** — do you have time set aside for writing in your journal every day? do you have a few hours aside a week for learning? do you read enough? *I *make* time to journal entry in DayOne every day — even if it’s just a sentence.* - **On the day to day** — what is the best way to manage your day, get thru your to-do list, how to deal with the landslide of email, how to optimize reading for content that is most interesting? I find if I keep auditing myself, I’m able to get thru mundane tasks, keep my devices lean and have plenty of time to learn, expand and grow. The biggest growth item for me in 2019 was starting a digital “[commonplace journal](https://criticalmargins.com/the-commonplace-book-as-a-thinkers-journal-4d65231f30ec)” in DayOne. > *For centuries, authors and thinkers have kept commonplace books: focused journals that serve to collect thoughts, quotes, moments of introspection, transcribed passages from reading — anything of purpose worth reviewing later.* It’s a separate journal where I store all the quotes and clips and moments of thought that I want to keep together for down the road reflection. ### Flow The *number one* thing people ask me: how are you so quick to answer emails, slacks, etc? Easy: **My inbox is empty.** I’ve been able to keep this pretty consistent over the last few years and follow the general rule that I would not let email overwhelm me nor is it my task list. That being said, I really try to keep my Inbox *below 5 items before the end of each day*. It’s **amazing** how liberating this workflow is. The flow is pretty straight-forward for **every** new mail: - If I can delete it, I **delete** it immediately. - If it’s something that I just need for information or later, quickly goes into the 2019 folder. - If it’s something that I can answer immediately, I do, and then it goes into the 2019 folder or deleted. - If it’s something that I need to **think** about, or take **action** on, I shoot it over to [Things](https://culturedcode.com/things/) as a to-do item, with tags, a project and a due date. Then it goes into the 2019 folder or deleted. The process is simple and quick and my inbox is **never** a dumping ground for tasks. ### Podcasts I have tried time and again to get into these, and in 2019 made a real effort — I don’t know how people can listen to hours and hours of Podcasts every week. This year I have been trying to experiment more with listening to those podcasts that provide high value content in short bursts. My current favorites: - [Reset](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reset/id1479107698) - [Art of Manliness](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-manliness/id332516054) - [Trained](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trained/id1414073313) ### Favorite Reads I read a ton this year, but these are my favorites: - [The Obstacle is The Way](https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Ancient-Adversity-Advantage/dp/1781251495) — loosely based on the Roman philosophy of stoicism, it’s all about turning what appears to be “blockers” into your advantage. - [The Unicorn Project](https://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-Project-Developers-Disruption-Thriving/dp/1942788762) — follow up to [The Phoenix Project](https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Project-DevOps-Helping-Business/dp/1942788290) and really is a must-read for anyone in technology and digital transformation. - [Permanent Record](https://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238) — wether you agree or not with what Edward Snowden did, this books is a must-read to understand what’s going on with your data and personal privacy in the digital age. ### Must Watch TV Couple of simply outstanding shows this year, but if I had to summarize my top three: - [The Mandalorian](https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/the-mandalorian) — I have spoken. ‘Nuff said. - [The Watchmen](https://www.hbo.com/watchmen) — As someone who collected and read the original comics, I was really concerned when I heard that HBO was going to do a reboot/sequel. It not only held to the source material, was easily one of the best written and executed series I’ve seen in some time. [Incredible soundtrack](https://store.nin.com/products/watchmen-soundtrack) too from Trent Reznor and Atticus Rose. - [Mr Robot](https://www.usanetwork.com/mrrobot) — while not a new show, Season 4 just concluded this with the series finale, and outside of the first season, 4 was a complete home run. So many twists, turns, and an epic conclusion. ### Overall Setup While I am given a work laptop, it mostly sits in the bag and goes to/from work .. at home, it sits in the bag most of the time. At work, it sits on the desk plugged in to a large 36” monitor. While I *need* a work laptop, it’s just that — a terminal to do some work on it and VPN to the office occasionally. My “home” laptop is a newer MBA, but to be frank — this thing *rarely* leaves the desk any more. It’s really startling how little I use a laptop around the house in 2019. The day to day really revolves around the iPad Pro 11” and the iPhone 11 Pro. Once again, I ended 2019 with a fairly light and simply setup: - [MacBook (Air 512gb/16gb, 1.3ghz, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/) — **Rarely** leaves the desk. - [iPhone 11 Pro (256gb, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/iphone-11-pro/) — Goes with me **everywhere** - [iPad Pro 11 (512gb, LTE, Space Gray)](https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) — Goes with me for travel, to the office, on the couch, reading in bed, etc. - [Apple Watch 5 Cellular](https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-5/) — The 5th generation of the watch was a hard call for me this year, but due to my own health problems (and the amazing things the 4 did — more later), I felt compelled to upgrade. - [MB Pro 13”](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-13/) — work laptop. I still **hate** this machine — its a brick and totally not needed except that work needs certain restrictions/policies to be installed to be on the network . At home, there is an ancient [Mac Mini](https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/) “server” that is used to archive media, run [Homebridge](https://homebridge.io/), and archive the NAS to [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html). Other gear that I include in my EDC (Every Day Carry): - [Peel Case](https://buypeel.com/products/super-thin-iphone-11-pro-case) — super thin and super tough case - [AirPods Pro](https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/) — the only issue I have with these is that they dont stay in my ear as well as the previous generation AirPods. I am going to attempt to [add some memory foam](https://www.macstories.net/stories/how-i-modded-the-silicone-tips-of-airpods-pro-with-a-memory-foam-layer/) as these are great for calls, music and short flights. - [InCase Airpods Pro Case](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HP0A2ZM/A/incase-airpods-pro-case-with-woolenex-black?fnode=3d8f3c1d4dcf55f805bfbdf4691b3c94a996457258e4fa8b5346bc108590cad003bbdb70441ebb67cc48bf3ee90423e2bfa5a9bdaca784bbb5ccec17b21b98f5bb2a7c34ea12f0583c10d530eca159e0e92d63b714bc96da89bd4cc867d494e3) — really like the Woolenex case over the rubber ones that pick up all sorts of pocket lint. Works great with wireless charging as well. - [Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD Portable Charger USB-C](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XNX88G) — went with a charge bank that has USB-C, light and super slim. Upgraded all the in-bag cables to USB-C as well. - [Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro 11](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MU8G2LL/A/smart-keyboard-folio-for-11-inch-ipad-pro-us-english) — currently using it when I bring the iPad to work, but in other situations, I just use [a foldable Smart Cover](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KR3N7YX) and throw the [Logitech Keys To Go](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/keys-to-go) in the bag for the rare times I need a keyboard. This allows me to keep the normal cover on the pad as the keyboard cover is incredibly annoying when in “consumption” mode. And why I went with this cover instead of the standard Apple one — has more built in “viewing” angles and doesn’t require a stand. - [Bose 700 Wireless Headphones](https://www.bose.com/en%5Fus/products/headphones/noise%5Fcancelling%5Fheadphones/noise-cancelling-headphones-700.html#v=noise%5Fcancelling%5Fheadphones%5F700%5Fblack) — I only use these on long haul flights, but they do a great job. - [Bolt Crossbody Laptop Bag](https://www.sfbags.com/collections/ipad-pro-sleeves-and-bags/products/bolt-crossbody-laptop-bag) — since 2018, been the daily bag of choice for me. #### Gear at the Desk - [Magic Mouse](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA02LL/A/magic-mouse-2-silver), [Magic Keyboard](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english) — At the desk only - [Spigen Wireless Charger](http://amzn.to/2nA92ZI) and [Aukey QuickCharge 3 Charger](http://amzn.to/2kqVgHI) — I really never thought much about wireless charging before, but it’s just so damn convenient to drop the phone on it. #### EDC Cable Bag Every year, I end up reworking *micro “cable bags”* that are designed so I can just pick up one and go. This year I’m down to 2 — my everyday cables, and a travel bag. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/fe79ec70-5f1e-4bdb-b58a-80faf167fef8_1600x987.jpeg) - [Tom Bihn Ballistic Organizer](https://www.tombihn.com/collections/organizer-pouches/products/ballistic-organizer-pouch?variant=16620959751) - [RAVPower 61W Wall Charger PD 3.0](https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Charging-Delivery-Foldable-Compatible/dp/B07TC53ZYD) — while I still like the Anker thin charger, this one is small enough and can power the 13" MBP, iPad, and anything else USB-C. - [USB-C Charge Cable](https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-USB-Type-C-Gen1-Cable/dp/B01GGKYUKI) — Charge the pad - [USB-C Lightening Cable](https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MQGJ2AM-USB-C-Lightning-Cable/dp/B07CMN7DCX) — Charge the phone - [USB-C Micro-USB Cable](https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-USB-Type-C-Micro-B-Cable/dp/B01LONQ7R6) — Charge headphones or anything else - **Pill Containers** — had to order a few water-proof pill containers ([this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVXT3XD) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MY9JQKK) to bring heart medication everywhere. - [Fisher Bullet-Pen](https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-400B-Space-Bullet-Pen/dp/B000WGD13U) — small, awesome for writing, and you just never know when you need one. [Read a review here to see why this is the best pen](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2014/2/19/fisher-space-pen-bullet-review). - [Lumintop 110 Lumens Cree XP-G2](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJ3FPJU) — I never realized how useful it was to carry a small flashlight everywhere, and I use this way more than I ever expected. Small, bright, it’s a no brainer for the daily bag. #### Travel Cable Bag I have another bag “ready” for when I travel; I can just grab this kit, throw it into the GORUCK or whatever bag, and know I have everything I need: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/5750e11a-0091-4590-9159-45e61e24f01a_1600x1199.jpeg) - [Tom Bihn 3d Organizer Cube](https://www.tombihn.com/collections/accessories/products/3d-organizer-cube-fabric-mesh) - [Anker 65W 4 Port PIQ 3.0 & GaN Fast Charger Adapter](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZCGYP27) — Small multi-port charging block than can charge the phone, iPad, MacBook Pro, etc. - [Gl.iNet Travel Router](https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNet-GL-AR750S-Ext-pre-Installed-Cloudflare-Included/dp/B07GBXMBQF) — see the next section for more info on it. - [SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive USB Type-C](http://amzn.to/2krisWf) — just in case - Apple Watch Charge Cable - USB-C to USB-C Charge Cable - Lightening Charge Cable - 2 Micro-USB Charge cables (one to power the router), the other in case I need to charge anything else. #### Other Travel Gear When I go on a trip, I also throw together a few things outside of the EDC Carry Bag to make life easy - [GORUCK](https://www.goruck.com/) — Finally treated myself to a [GR1 Rucksack](https://www.goruck.com/rucksacks/gr1/) and a [smaller 15L Bullet Ruck](https://www.goruck.com/rucksacks/bullet-ruck/) as my new travel bags. If you aren’t familiar with them, you should really [read Ben Brooks](https://brooksreview.net/2017/03/goruck-gr1-revisiting-the-ultimate-backpack/)[reviews](https://brooksreview.net/2018/10/goruck-bullet-ruck-15l/). - [Tom Bihn Aeronaut](https://www.tombihn.com/products/aeronaut-45) — has been a workhorse for years, but I’ve been slowly migrating to the GORUCK. Still love this bag and use occasionally. - [Packing Cubes](https://www.tombihn.com/products/packing-cube-aeronaut-45?variant=16487688775) — always using 2 or 3 of these — just amazing for organization. - [FireTV 4K Stick](https://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Stick-4K-with-Alexa-Voice-Remote/dp/B079QHML21) — Been enjoying just plugging this thing into the hotel TV, connecting it to the travel router, and off I go with my content. ### Best of 2019 #### Travel Hack: A Travel Router This year, I decided I had enough with crappy and (often) unsafe WiFi hotspots and have started to carry around a travel router when I travel. Currently, the best one I’ve found is the [GL iNet 750S Travel Router](https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-ar750s/) ; Not only do I get screaming WiFi access for all my devices on it there are a few other great perks: - **Plug into the LAN** — when I can, I try to still have it plugged into the LAN due to speed. But this device can also act as a “bridge” to normal hotel Wifi. - **Privacy and AdBlockers** — all the devices that connect get the benefit of the adblockers and DNS blackholes - **VPN** — You can have the router VPN home so you have a private connection - **Tools** — I like to put some of my dev tools on the router itself; so I can use it as a quick remote “shell” so I can use Blink or iSH and ssh to it for doing some more advanced work with AWS or networking tools. Also looking at their [new LTE travel router — the Mudi](https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-e750/) which is due out in January for the added convenience of not even relying on the hotspot provider and just throwing a [Google Fi](https://fi.google.com/about/) SIM in it. #### Health Tracking This year was a particularly hard one for me with a completely unexpected heart attack this past August. Given the particularly healthily lifestyle I live between both diet and exercise, this came as a **complete shock** to me. You can’t outrun DNA, but it did force me into understand the data of what was going on with my bodymore carefully. > **Side note:* the Apple Watch actually detected atrial fibrillation more than a month before my actual heart attack — and I kinda shrugged it off with “I should get that looked at some time”.* This lead me to find out about the [Kardia 6L](https://www.alivecor.com/kardiamobile6l) from AliveCor. While the Apple Watch is **great** for on the go and constant readings, it has what is known as “1-Wire” detection (the hospital uses as 12-Wire). This tiny Kardia device does a “6-Wire” reading, which can detect AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia & Normal heart rhythm. According to their research, the 6-lead EKG “gives your doctor more detailed heart information and provides doctors visibility into certain arrhythmias that are leading indicators of cardiovascular disease.” For $149, it was a no-brainer for me. Regardless of device, it was incredible that I could (on either device) create PDF’s that I was able to send over to the doctors office if it detected anything odd going on; and the dr’s can see what is going on instantly without me having to go in. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/09c174e3-19e3-425c-8d64-912978b306a2_1125x2436.jpeg) Amazing that we have this level of medical equipment on your wrist and easily available to you at home. I’m a true believer in the personal wellbeing and health space; and can’t wait to see where this all goes. **Medical / Health Apps** Given what happened this year, I’ve also really focused in on tracking more about my overall heath, and consolidating that information in Apple Health (still bitter no iPad app though). Even the hospital and doctors offices here in Portland have their records available for you in Apple Health — and I often get my lab results before the doctors office calls me. [More information on getting your health records sync’d with Apple Health can be found in Apple’s HeathCare site](https://www.apple.com/healthcare/health-records/). Here’s a bunch of apps I’m using to track various aspects of my overall health, diet and exercise: - [HeadSpace](https://www.headspace.com/) — for meditation and mental wellness. - [Pedometer++](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pedometer/id712286167) — offers a great complication so I can put my daily step count on the watch face. - [CardioGram](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cardiogram-heart-rate-monitor/id1000017994) — extends the information Apple’s heart rate collection and provides good extended looks at your heart’s health. - [HealthFit](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthfit/id1202650514) — I use this to get workouts from the Apple Watch into other health tracking I use such as Training Peaks and Strava. - [AutoSleep](http://autosleep.tantsissa.com/) — sleep tracking - [MyNetDiary](https://www.mynetdiary.com/) — calorie and micro-nutrient tracking - [Strava](http://strava.com/) — More of an exercise “social network” I use this to track runs, bike rides, etc. - [Training Peaks](https://www.trainingpeaks.com/) — where I have my coach create training programs, schedule workouts, and monitor overall fitness - [Garmin Connect](https://connect.garmin.com/en-US/) — Kinda needed when you have tons of Garmin devices (bike computers, watches) - [Zwift](https://zwift.com/) — Virtual training for running and cycling — I use it mostly with biking and import structured workouts from Training Peaks. But it’s super fun to ride with hundreds of other virtual riders from around the world. - [Wahoo Kickr](https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-trainers) — Smart trainer that I use with Swift or any other structured bike workout — great for simulating different levels of road resistance, power, etc. #### Personal Notifications I’ve been doing more this year with custom notifications. Originally inspired by blog posts on [Streamlined Pushes](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/3/4/streamlined-pushes) and [Shell/Watch Notifications](https://www.caseyliss.com/2017/2/25/push-it-real-good), I’ve been wiring up more and more into [Pushover](https://pushover.net/) (available on Mac and iOS). Pushover is pretty cool — for an incredibly cheap one-time price ($4.99) you can create custom notifications that can be triggered from almost everywhere. - Using [NTFY](http://ntfy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/), I can have long-running shell commands let me know when they are completed. For example — I have a remote shell script that executes [YouTube-dl](https://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/), moves the downloaded video to iCloud Drive, then notifies me. It’s a simple and elegant way to use Siri Shortcuts to download/transcode a video for later viewing. - I can have alerts and monitoring trigger notifications from the house. - All my [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/) notifications are now also wired via Pushover — so I get a notification instantly when a new iOS release is out, or if SpaceX is launching a rocket. - etc .. the list is really endless. The idea of a “personal notification system” for things that I really care about (rather than apps just bothering me) is very compelling. #### Other Hot Items - [Ubiquiti](https://ubnt.com/) — absolutely the BEST network gear on the planet. Still building out the home network on this; I’m up to 4 mesh access points and couldn’t be happier - [Homebridge](https://homebridge.io/) — despite the cluster that Apple Home is, I’ve consolidated there and Homebridge enables me to get non-homekit devices (such as my garage door opener or Nest) into Apple Home. - [Pihole](https://pi-hole.net/) — I hate ads. By building out a *very* simple ad-blackhole — I dont need to install anything on the devices in the house (ranging from Alexa’s to XBox’s to the TV) to drop ads on the floor. This is an incredibly simple way to also increase your home throughput when 25% of your traffic is dropped on the floor. **If there’s one simple home network upgrade to do, this is it**. - Backups — Not much change here this year — 2TB iCloud Backup for the family, and the home network is backed up on [BackBlaze](https://secure.backblaze.com/r/01qmgz). ### The 2019 Apps List #### Page One / Homepage This list contains the apps that I use every day; my page one on the phone and the pad. - [Things 3](https://culturedcode.com/things/) (Mac and iOS) — Last year I moved from OmniFocus to Todoist to Things, and I’m still on it. It’s a key part of every day’s flow. - [Reeder 4](http://reederapp.com/ios/) (Mac and iOS) — my RSS reading is dwindling, but I’m still reading here. - [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/) (Mac and iOS) — web page archive and reader. - [Notes](https://www.tomsguide.com/us/ios-notes-features-and-tutorial,review-4503.html) (Mac and iOS) — Still using Notes for all my note taking. - IA Writer (Mac and iOS) — I switched from Ulysses to IAWriter this year. It’s a much better writing tool for me, and I wasn’t a fan of Ulysses subscription model. - [DayOne](http://dayoneapp.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I use DayOne for jotting down simple thoughts daily. Clearing my mind at the start of every day of the “junk” has been really helpful for me to maintain better clarity. In 2019, started using it also to archive out all my Instagram photos, as well as keep a “Commonplace Journal” where I keep quotes and article clips that I will want to reference in the future. - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/) and [Apollo](https://apolloapp.io/) — really discovered Reddit this year as a resource — but like Twitter, you really need to curate your subscriptions carefully. - Home (Mac and iOS) — built into the OS now - News (Mac and iOS) — built into the OS now - [Fantastical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical) — Much better than the built in calendar, but I have this installed mostly for using the watch complications and Notification Center. - [Hello Weather](https://helloweatherapp.com/) — while I still use Dark Sky as the “source”, Hello Weather just has a nicer UI and better Apple Watch app #### Media Consumption - [HBO Go](http://markdown-to-medium.surge.sh/www.hbogo.com) (Web and iOS) - [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/) (Web and iOS) - [Amazon Prime Video](https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011) (Web and iOS) - [HD HomeRun](https://www.silicondust.com/) — The Prime has a cablecard interface, and allows me to stream channels to any Apple TV, iPad, Phone, etc., in the house. - [Channels](https://getchannels.com/) (iOS, AppleTV) — Stream live from the HD HomeRun to any Apple TV, phone, pad, etc. Works incredibly well. - AppleTV (Mac and iOS) — built into the OS now - Music (Mac and iOS) — built into the OS now - [Sonos](https://www.sonos.com/en-us/home) (Mac and iOS) - [Sound Hound](https://soundhound.com/) (iOS) - [Music Harbor](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/musicharbor-track-new-music/id1440405750) (iOS) — really neat app that looks at your Apple Music library, gives you really detailed information on upcoming releases, similar tracks, etc. - [Disney+](https://disneyplus.com/) (Web and iOS) — The Mandalorian. Enough said. :) - [ReelGood](https://reelgood.com/) (Web and iOS) — I use this to find “where” something is streaming. Searching across all the subscription services for where you can stream a particular title from is a PIA and this app helps out quite a bit. #### Photo / Video - [Pixelmator Pro](http://www.pixelmator.com/pro/) (Mac) — photo editing - [Pixelmator](http://www.pixelmator.com/ios/) (iOS) — photo editing - [Halide](https://halide.cam/) (iOS) — allows for shooting RAW photos on the phone, and the BEST camera app - [Photofox](http://www.photofoxapp.com/) (iOS) - [Darkroom](http://darkroom.co/) (iOS) — easily the BEST photo editing app for your phone - [MetaPho](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metapho/id914457352) and [MetaGear](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/metagear-metadata-editor/id1163328498) (iOS) — still trying to find a great metadata editor on iOS; and still cant figure out a way on device to edit tags. - [Retouch](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/touchretouch/id373311252) (iOS) — brilliant app for removing unwanted items from photos - [Annotable](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/annotable-annotation-markup/id1099850421) (iOS) — which the built in tools have gotten better in iOS 13, this is still the best app for marking up photos - [LumaFusion](https://luma-touch.com/lumafusion-for-ios-2/) (iOS) — professional grade video editor for iPad and iPhone - [Spectre](https://spectre.cam/) (iOS) — for long exposure shots ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/a227ed81-721d-451d-90e0-800152340640_2048x1536.jpeg) #### Programming / Coding / Tools - [Prompt](https://panic.com/prompt/) (Mac and iOS) — I use this all the time to SSH into a Mac box — home, or at the office - [Blink](https://www.blink.sh/) — SSH and Mosh client for iOS - [iSH](https://ish.app/) — Really interesting Linux emulator that has extreme promise — can run native apps directly on the phone/pad w/o a jailbreak; been using this one A LOT to get “computer” work done on the phone or pad. - [Working Copy](https://workingcopyapp.com/) (iOS) — Git integration - [Pythonista](http://omz-software.com/pythonista/) (iOS) — Code Python 2/3 right on the decvice - [xCode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/) (Mac) - [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/) (Web and iOS) - [Textastic](https://www.textasticapp.com/) (iOS) — Text Editor - [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) (Mac) — Text Editor #### Privacy and Security - [1BlockerX](https://1blocker.com/) (Mac and iOS) — I’ve tried several, but 1Blocker seems to have the best mix of configuration, control and whitelisting. Now with selective blocking, I have upgraded to 1Blocker on both Mac and iOS. - [MicroSnitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch) (Mac) — Alerts you to when an app or process uses the mic or camera. - [Little Snitch](https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html) (Mac) — Allows you full control over what apps can do on the network - [KnockKnock](https://objective-see.com/products/knockknock.html) (Mac) — Malware scanner for the Mac - [1Password](https://1password.com/) (Mac and iOS) — The best password manager out there. #### Utilities - [Screens](https://edovia.com/) (Mac and iOS) - [Bartender 3](https://www.macbartender.com/) (Mac) - [Caffeine](http://lightheadsw.com/caffeine/) (Mac) - [iStats Menu](https://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/) (Mac) - [Weather Underground](https://www.wunderground.com/) (iOS) - [CardHop](https://flexibits.com/cardhop-ios) (Mac and iOS) — really amazing contacts app that offers way more power/flexibility than what’s built into the OS - [Scanner Pro](https://readdle.com/scannerpro) — turn your phone into a portable scanner. Dropped Scanbot after they went subscription only, and this is a fantastic replacement. - [Stitch It!](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stitch-it/id554594252) — Simple app to stitch together screenshots #### Communications / Social Networking - [Slack](https://slack.com/) (Mac and iOS) — for work - [Signal](https://signal.org/) — for secure messaging - [Tweetbot](https://tapbots.com/tweetbot/mac/) (Mac and iOS) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/) (iOS) - [Linky](https://pragmaticcode.com/linky/) (iOS) — great app for sending clips to Twitter; though I mostly use this for “text shots” — you highlight text and it turns it into an interesting image. - [Medium](https://medium.com/) (Web and iOS) — I read a lot on Medium these days, and still paying for a subscription. This is one I am monitoring in 2020 to see if it’s worth keeping. #### Storage / Documents - [iCloud Drive](https://www.apple.com/icloud/icloud-drive/) (Mac and iOS) - [Keynote](https://www.apple.com/keynote/) (Mac and iOS) - [Numbers](https://www.apple.com/numbers/) (Mac and iOS) #### Shopping - [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/) (Web and iOS) - Apple Store (Web and iOS) - [Deliveries](http://junecloud.com/) (Mac and iOS) — great for tracking packages - [Starbucks](http://starbucks.com/) (iOS) - [Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/) (Web and iOS) — Movie tickets #### Travel - [TripIt](https://www.tripit.com/) (Web and iOS) - [Flighty](https://www.flightyapp.com/) (iOS) — Probably the best flight app I’ve ever seen/used; nicely integrates with TripIt to pull in my “lifetime” of travel, and has more information (like where is my inbound plane) that you’ll ever need. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/c7957b1a-f3bb-478a-aa33-0fe6e0bd9623_1600x1724.png) #### Homescreens **iPhone Homescreen 2019** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/9498660b-d7fc-4ef8-b6f5-cde0da1678b9_1600x1724.png) **iPad Homescreen 2019** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/public/images/0751f0bf-ea1b-4d30-9209-4731e5f0c82a_1600x2290.png) And that’s a wrap! See you next year!