Page 1 of 29
#
I often think of this post on leaky abstractions by Joel Spolsky whenever I’m unraveling multiple layers of code, trying to debug a performance problem. As programmers we get lazy and build up complex systems that hide problems. I’m usually good at spotting this, but not always.
I should paint myself into a corner
For a year or so, I've been working to wean myself from as much macOS-only software as possible. The idea lurking behind this move has been, "What if I move to Linux?". I can't shake the thought, even though it would be a terrible idea. As a counter, now I'm wondering if I should use nothing but macOS-only software. That way it would simply be too much work to switch, so maybe I'll stop thinking about it. Yeah right.
The Week #238
- 🏃♂️ Close followers of the blog may have noticed, I did not run 2 times this week. I only ran once. I still closed my rings each day (often doubling), but it's hard to convince myself to go out in the cold.
- 🦋 I realized I don't really enjoy posting on short form social media any longer. I think because the way Twitter went, the trolls, and AI ingesting all the things, I don't trust it like I used to, which bleeds over into not posting. Even replies, I'll find myself composing something and stop more often than not.
- 💪 We setup a home gym in Leo's room since he's not using it. I should have done this ages ago. Currently we have my kettle bells (existing), a bench (new) and two adjustable dumbbells (new). We put some some thick 2cm mats in the floor. Now with Leo's playing Minecraft, I can sneak upstairs of pump some iron.
- 🇬🇧 I've grown a bit concerned about Leo's English levels. His listening is native, vocabulary is good, pronunciation of individual words is good, but producing sentences remains a challenge. When we read books, I've started to (try) to get him to shadow me, and that seemed to help, but he needs more. Often bi-lingual kids go back one parent's country for the summer and that's how they level up...but that's not really an option for us. International school, while expensive (💸), for the time being isn't an option because the daily commute length and base-levels not being enough to study.... maybe we just need to move for a couple of years? I'm not sure if Sophie (🐶) could do another long flight at her age...and we can't just leave her, she's a member of the family.... Open to ideas 🙏🏻
Comment by email
#
Cold day in Austin, might see some snow tonight. Working on server fixes and performance. We also submitted Strata 1.2 for iOS to Apple for review, so hopefully that’ll hit the App Store soon, with Android to follow later this week.
American Hearts
Today I want to share with you a song that has stuck with me for a couple decades and has been a source of catharsis for shaking off that existential dread. I’m talking about Piebald’s 2002 single American Hearts. (video)
[Hook]
HEY! You're part of it
YEAH! You're part of it
HEY! You're part of it
YEAH! You're part of it
[Verse 1]
I walk the streets of a Carolina
Watching people pushing shopping carts
And there's a guy above me
And he's washing windows
Making ten bucks a pop
And he says to me...
[Hook]
HEY! You're part of it
YEAH! You're part of it
HEY! You're part of it
YEAH! You're part of it
[Verse 2]
And I say, "Sir, well have you heard that this country is unequal still?"
History continues itself
Continues itself
History continues itself
And I did not create the rules
From all I've heard
And all I've seen
This place has broken
My American heart
From all I've heard
And all I've seen
This place has broken
My American heart
[Hook]
HEY! You're part of it
YEAH! You're part of it
HEY! You're part of it
YEAH! You're part of it
From the first snap of the snare to the final piano chord the song grips you for the whole ride. The staccato bass line powers the song and surrounds itself in an envelope of noise from the dual guitars and a cacophony of drum hits. The lyrics and chord progressions are simple but together they produce something bigger. The song only has two major parts, but the way they drop instruments in and out it feels like four. And best of all, it makes you want to punch a hole in the sky.
Every so often – out of nowhere in the middle of my day when I’m feeling frustrated by a situation beyond my control – I’ll shout to myself “HEY! You’re part of it” as a little mantra to remind myself that, yes, I’m a participant in the democratic capitalist American experiment. I’m a participant in the prosperous parts as well as the unjust parts. I’m part of it. And due to America’s broad empire-like influence, you’re probably part of it or impacted by it too. And it breaks your heart at times.
Trust
Some general thoughts on the subject of trust.
Trust is, quite literally, the glue that holds society together. Without trust, every human interaction and relationship is impossible. Every societal framework is built on trust.
Money is built on trust. The trust that one can exchange a token of ascribed value for a good and then turn around and exchange it for some other good of equal value to the holder. Lose trust in any part of such a transaction and money becomes effectively worthless.
This is what we saw in the 2008 global financial crisis. Explained very simply, one very large financial institution lost trust in the value of the holdings of one or more other very large financial institutions and basically said, “I don’t trust the value of what you are using to guarantee your money” The moment that trust was lost, the entire financial system collapsed.
The Great Depression was caused by people losing trust in the stock market, banks, and other financial vehicles.
All war begins when one country/society loses trust in another. The Russians invaded Ukraine because they no longer trusted it would not join a perceived enemy. The Israelis do not trust the Palestinians and vice versa. The early United States 13 colonies lost trust in the government of England.
The rise and fall of the Roman Empire? Et tu Brute?
All of this is to point out that a loss of trust in society — trust in government, trust in institutions, trust in each other — is the cause of a break down and, if left uncorrected, end to that society. Period. There is no “but”. You can not have a society without it. Society rises and falls on the strength of it.
Consider where we are as a nation — a people — today and make of this fact what you will.
#
In the last days of Trump's first term, I had a nice little web app that told you how much time remained in his term. It was a one-line change to make it work again, which, sigh, is necessary now.
#
In the last days of Trump's first term, I had a nice little web app that told you how much time remained in his term. It was a one-line change to make it work again, which, sigh, is necessary now.
