Monday, June 30, 2025
It is possible to identify a natural scale. When an enterprise grows beyond a certain point on this scale, it first frustrates the end for which it was originally designed, and then rapidly becomes a threat to society itself. These scales must be identified and the parameters of human endeavours within which human life remains viable must be explored. — Ivan Illich, Tools for Conviviality (1973)
Started Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson 📚
Okay, it has been 8 years since the last time I attempted Malazan. This time I bought a paper copy which I hope will be easier to handle than the audio of my previous attempt.
Finished House of the Rain King 📚
Wonderful world-building saturated with details like a vivid Ghibli movie, soaked in themes of obligation: the debt, oaths, contracts, and duty that we have towards our communities and the land, and when we need to break those constraints in order to heal.
When I was 16 I went on a 2 week trip to Thailand and Hong Kong. It was life-changing. I really hope she has an excellent time in Quebec studying French.
Midnight at YVR seeing off my daughter who will be spending the next 5 weeks in Quebec! 🛫 First big trip on her own! 🥲
Catching up on my @mekongreview.com backlog and damn this is a great review of Cher Tan’s book Peripathetic by Ruby Thiagarajan. I love the meta-meta-analysis. Gonna buy the book and follow the reviewer 👏 mekongreview.com/we-are-go…
Been reading a lot of AI critique so needed something light to fall back on for a bit… 😅
Globalists by Quinn Slobodian 📚
‘Twas the first day of summer break, when all through the house
Not a child was stirring, not even a mouse.
They all slept in soundly without worldly cares,
While poor Daddy continued to work in his home office downstairs.
Started House of the Rain King by Will Greatwich 📚
Looking through the photos of my time in Iran. Beautiful country. Lovely people. 💔
Me hugging her: “I love you!”
Her hugging back: “I love money!”
#truelove
Currently reading: The AI Con by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna 📚
Happy Father’s Day! 👔 Family got me a nice hand grinder ☕️ so I was up this morning and cracked open my new Joan Vergara Java Variety from Luna Roasters. Very fruity and full-bodied! Looking forward to dialing this in.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
I was watching this cool tour of coffee shops and roasteries in Vancouver that hits a lot of the famous places. The Youtuber does some of these tours when he visits locations so I prepared some reccos for him for the next time he is in Western Japan. Thought I should share them here for you KYOTO WEEKENDERS COFFEE TOMINOKOJI maps.app.goo.gl/yX4yemvBa… Ambiance is top. They aren’t open very often. Don’t bother bringing a laptop since there are no tables.
Yo she did it again!
“… so I was giving fishing vest advice to Vitalik’s girlfriend…”
What a party tonight! 🍻
“The Twitter leaver’s oath. I will not be terminally online. My friendships and community will outlive this website. My heart cannot be monetized. I will not become food for monsters. Should their claws find my flesh, may they drown in my blood.”
🔥
@thedoorthedoor.bsky.social‘s last tweet. h/t @neverpo.st from their most recent Mailbag #8
Started: Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie 📚
Last one in the First Law series. I thought I would wait a little longer but just can’t. Love these books.
Interesting speculation into the future of UI for Apple as per their hints for the upcoming WWDC: www.lux.camera/physicali…
Sebastiaan’s example of “the exhaust flare being reflected in the video playback bar” shows you the level of detail. 🤯
Finished What Comes Before Mindfulness? by Ajahn Sona 📚
This book ended on such a high note that I am biased and putting it at 5 stars. I read it over a very long time—it was my “late night can’t get to sleep” book — but as soon as finishing I thought “I can’t wait to read this again.”