- 12.19 / “Is this a technology that actually empowers users with agency to accomplish the work they choose for themselves? Or… creates new forms of dependency and diminishes self-directed agency?”{br}{br}— [To Hell With Good Intentions, Silicon Valley Edition](https://newsletters.feedbinusercontent.com/b9d/b9d42b15040dfd96df98d9b9a3a648dbfbe18663.html) + [Never Forgive Them](https://wheresyoured.at/never-forgive-them)
- 12.08 / an adult: “a person who can alter their circumstances through their own agency.”
- 12.04 / It’s interesting how many jobs actually prefer half-assed work over doing the best work you can do. I’ve run into this in just about every job I’ve had, from 15–45.
- 12.02 / Everyone’s irritating in their own way.
- 11.29 / I don’t think I’ve ever once felt bored on my own. `(I’ve been bored at work. I’ve been bored in movies. I’ve been bored in conversations.)`
- 11.27 / Why do assholes get to succeed? Why do shitheads have friends and partners? Why do jerkwads… ?
- 11.20 / There are football people and there are basketball people ⇒ authority vs. collaboration / aggression vs. nuance / conformity vs. individuality
- 11.15 / An interesting definition of anxiety: “[You want to be ‘there,’ when in fact you’re ‘here’](https://newescapologist.co.uk/2024/08/24/on-self-help-and-making-the-bed).”
- 11.08 / I blame social media.
- 11.03 / The truth is somewhere between the facts and how it feels.
- 11.03 / “[Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.](https://youtube.com/watch?v=YKPbvAnvtpA)”
- 10.27 / “The greatest single hedge against regret is effort.”
- 10.26 / You have three options: accept, communicate, or move along.
- 10.26 / Ideal isn’t realistic, I get it. But how un-ideal is too un-ideal?
- 10.21 / I mean, dealing with me is no walk in the park either.
- 10.20 / A question a friend asked me years ago that I still think about: “Are you making yourself unhappy?” (aka, is my disappointment actually something **I’m** responsible for?)
- 10.18 / I have very little interest or ability in being a corporatey professional person.
- 10.11 / How do I let go of expectations?
- 10.09 / “Dream job” posted, but I’m not sure I have the energy it’d take to apply. `(Either way, my real dream job is stay-at-home dad.)`
- 10.07 / Love the whole person. (Or{nbs}move along.)
- 10.02 / Where’s the line between reasonable compromise and losing yourself?
- 09.26 / I get too invested. Divesting might be the key to actually being in it.
- 08.22 / I find myself saying this a lot lately: it’s not that simple, both things are true.
- 08.22 / Dating is complex.
- 08.21 / I keep coming back to conversations as a barometer of a relationship. Are we **both** a part of this? Is this fun, interesting, fulfilling? Are we connecting? → Conversations aren’t everything, but they feel like a pretty major thing. 😎
- 08.21 / “[we can… harm someone by seeming very nice to them, while wasting their [time].](https://theschooloflife.com/shop/tsol-press-how-to-find-love)”
- 08.19 / The Swamp at the Omaha Zoo (inside [Kingdoms of the Night](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha%27s_Henry_Doorly_Zoo_and_Aquarium#Kingdoms_of_the_Night)) is still one of the neatest places anywhere.
- 08.14 / “[Everything is never possible.](https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/1823617126801735814)”
- 08.12 / I’m thinking of going pro as a cable manager.
- 08.09 / “Excuse me, are you Joe Sparano?” → Yes I am.
- 08.08 / The Spark: is it a reliable indicator, something to look for?… And to keep looking for if it’s not there?
- 08.07 / The ~~Drew Davies~~ School of Business, Rule #1: [Always be self-promoting](https://linkedin.com/posts/drewoxide_this-is-your-reminder-that-today-is-a-good-activity-7224098265984614400-VYm_). 😎
- 08.07 / My office has been moved to the orange carpet area at work. Depressing!
- 08.06 / Calling yourself an educator instead of a teacher feels off. Teaching doesn’t guarantee learning, but ‘educator’ assumes that the teaching is always effective.
- 08.05 / These Midwest summers are unforgiving. (The winters, too.)
- 08.05 / Is today a Last Hottest Day™? (it’s 100°) → There are many last hottest days every year — each cooler than the one before it. So each is worth celebrating, and there’s hope for the future.
- 08.03 / People are pretty hyped about lakes… ?
- 08.02 / Just realizing that all of my computers (iPhone 13 mini, iPad mini, Mac mini) … are mini.
- 08.02 / I like my job. And I still mostly just want the work day to be over so I can get back to living. 😎
- 08.01 / I should not be entrusted with a container of cookies.
- 07.30 / » Cle Elum » Moses Lake » Coeur d’Alene » [Wallace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace,_Idaho) » Missoula » Butte » Bozeman / I love this WA–ID–MT road trip on I-90. (I made the same drive last year, too.)
- 07.29 / I like using ChatGPT for reverse look-ups → Me: “I took a road trip last year across 1-90 in Idaho. I passed over a mining town that was under the interstate. What is this town?” → ChatGPT: “The town you’re referring to is likely Wallace, Idaho. Wallace is known for its rich mining history and unique location, with parts of the town situated directly underneath Interstate 90.…”
- 07.29 / A photo isn’t an accurate representation of… anything? (a person, a scenic view, a relationship, a moment in time)
- 07.28 / My life in WA was a mixed bag overall, but dang did I make some good friends while I was there.
- 07.28 / I don’t so much “plan” as just assume/hope that I’ll figure it out.
- 07.28 / “You give off Midwest vibes.” → Success.
- 07.28 / “What are you working on these days?” → Dating.
- 07.27 / Being back in places I used to be helps me measure how far I’ve come since the last time I was there. → This is my first time back in WA since I moved home a year ago, and so much has changed for the better. → It’s not WA or NE. It’s being back with people who see me as the same me I see myself.
- 07.27 / * “Your voice is found deep within. Under layers upon layers of what this life has forged.” — [Justin](https://justinkemerling.com/words/finding-your-voice)
- 07.26 / In Seattle, entire days are consumed in transit (any kind). → Something to avoid in the next move.
- 07.24 / Whale watching on the [San Juan Clipper](https://marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:429023).
- 07.23 / I’m not convinced that life with texting is a net gain compared to life before. → Keeping up with unlimited messages is hard. Writing is hard. Typing on this pocket computer is hard.
- 07.23 / I love the energy of airports (although I don’t exactly enjoy traveling).
- 07.23 / » Seattle
- 07.22 / First promotion ever!
- 07.18 / I think all the time about pet accessories: I buy something and it introduces new complications. / Get a new car, it takes 😎
- 07.17 / I’m just not really a sit around and tell stories about a hilarious thing that happened one time kind of person.
- 07.14 / I gotta say: I have good ideas for dates! / It feels odd that there are **still** unwritten gendered rules for dating at all. This one seems to be the guy’s responsibility (for early dates anyway).
- 07.13 / As much as I don’t like texting… if the texting is fun, that’s a great sign.
- 07.11 / Third and fourth dates. That’s when you really meet the person.
- 07.11 / Generally, seems like people are pretty bad listeners.
- 07.11 / “Whatever happens with ~~microcredentials~~, your job is safe.” → But in the meantime, if not-many people believe this project has a future, and the thing I’m working on every day isn’t impacting many lives… is that enough for **me**?
- 07.09 / Red flags (usually): has a cat, into puns, Android/Windows-user, active on social media.
- 07.08 / Now here’s a guy who can communicate his feelings.
- 07.06 / This one’s legit. 😎
- 07.02 / I’m still surprised when people don’t mind (or notice?) when things don’t match, visually.
- 07.01 / Freelancing in mid-life feels silly.
- 06.29 / Replaced my MacBook with a [Mac mini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini) / That’s three fewer screens than I started the year with (having nixed my Switch and e-reader, too).
- 06.29 / First installs on a new computer: [Raycast](https://raycast.com), [Itsycal](https://mowglii.com/itsycal), [Hazel](https://noodlesoft.com), [WebCatalog](https://webcatalog.io), [Arc](http://arc.net) ([Privacy Badger](https://privacybadger.org), [Stylebot](https://stylebot.dev), [LanguageTool](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ai-grammar-checker-paraph/oldceeleldhonbafppcapldpdifcinji), [I Still Don’t Care About Cookies](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/edibdbjcniadpccecjdfdjjppcpchdlm)).
- 06.29 / Dating: a little weird, mostly fun, super interesting.
- 06.28 / I’d hire a teacher (a good one) for any job.
- 06.27 / If it has the potential of really becoming something someday, I think that’s probably obvious from the start.
- 06.26 / Set me up.
- 06.24 / I wanna talk about ideas. Are you an ideas person too?
- 06.22 / I’m always switching between building-up/wanting-more and simplifying/wanting-less.
- 06.21 / “Only in theaters.”
- 06.20 / “… yet.” → Genuinely, one of the most valuable things that’s stuck with me from teaching with elementary teachers.
- 06.19 / Work: the trade-off of a lifetime.
- 06.16 / Everybody’s paired up.
- 06.14 / “We’re putting the design back into design.”
- 06.07 / “Hey man, always good to see you. You’re alright.” — Cubby’s cashier guy
- 06.05 / Got my very own [Casio CV-1](https://guenthoer.de/highend3.htm#cv1): the “World’s Smallest TV” ever!
- 05.28 / Whatever happened to the real world?
- 05.28 / People don’t rally know what to do with sincerity.
- 05.28 / New car: Digital Teal [2024 Hyundai IONIQ{nbs}5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Ioniq_5). → Thank you for everything, Magnetic Gray [2009 Scion xD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scion_xD).
- 05.09 / Every car is the same SUV now?
- 05.03 / No reply…
- 04.28 / Reciprocated interest, expressly–communicated… **that’s** what’s missing here! (And that’s what I’m looking for.)
- 04.27 / But what would this be like if you let your guard down?
- 04.21 / Invented meatball chili. (Pretty sure.)
- 04.15 / When I’m feeling good (in a big-picture sense), I have more and better ideas.
- 04.05 / Teacher type ⇒ kind, curious about other people, positive, creative, thoughtful, a good problem-solver, ambitious.
- 04.02 / * Everybody’s distracted.