StreetPass for Mastodon
Genuinely brilliant. StreetPass finds the Mastodon accounts of people whose websites you browse, allowing you to check out their accounts and follow if you're interested. I love it. #Technology [Link]
Ben Werdmuller
Ben Werdmuller helps leaders at newsrooms, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to navigate their biggest technology challenges.
Don't personally guarantee your startup
One of the newsletters I subscribe to ran a sponsored post for Paintbrush, a firm that gives idea-stage founders a $50,000 loan to prove out their idea. The pitch on the front page is, “No rich aunt or uncle? No worries.” My initial reaction was positive: I do think
Why the Hollywood strike matters to all of us
On the wage threat of AI: “Hollywood is showing us how best to take that stand: by unionizing our workplaces, and fighting for strong contracts. Now’s the time to form a union with your coworkers, and discuss what protections you’ll need to face this moment.” #Labor [Link]
An Opinionated Guide To Alt-text
A great, short guide to writing alt text to support data visualization from Jasmine Mithani. #Technology [Link]
Elon Musk's Twitter throttles links to Threads, Blue Sky and New York Times
Really, truly: there is no good reason for any media company or publisher to still be posting on X. #Technology [Link]
School district uses ChatGPT to help remove library books
Probably inevitable, but it nonetheless made my jaw drop. What an incredibly wrong-headed use of an LLM. #AI [Link]
Music
Planet of the Bass (feat. DJ Crazy Times & Ms. Biljana Electronica)
All of the dream / How does it mean? I am going to be singing this glorious nonsense all year. #Music [Link]
Open feedback as a gift
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to build high-performing teams: specifically, teams that build great products that I would also enjoy to be a part of. An incredibly productive team that also happens to be full of jerks is not something I’m particularly interested in replicating; I
#amwriting
Kate McKean describes how she’s writing her novel: Right now, I am getting up early (6ish, not bonkers early) and leaving my house about 7am to go to a local coffee shop to write for an hour or two before my regular work day. I do this Tuesdays and
letter to a friend who is thinking of starting something new
These are the right questions to ask. #Startups [Link]
She Just Had a Baby. Soon She'll Start 7th Grade.
There are so many stories like this one. There should never be another. And yet, we've rolled back the clock at the behest of religious extremists, so there will be many more. This cannot go on. #Society [Link]
The Shocking Voter Purge Crisis of Democracy Revealed
Always a good sign when a democratic movement wants to win through the will of the people rather than through obstructive election fraud. #Democracy [Link]