July 2025

Favorite introduction to Rust? Tempted to learn a new language and I like the idea of loco.rs.

Hello from week two of #funemployment. So far, I'm having fun not waking up to an alarm clock, doing nothing, and planning the Big Canadian Road Trip. Not going to work still feels really weird, but it's now abundantly clear than I need a break.

This song is GREAT. It's got serious hair metal energy, Bubba's voice is incredible, and it's a new-to-me take on coming out, especially in a song (check out all of his other stuff - runs the gamut, always clever): https://youtu.be/PTwqdDkFaMk?si=rW5fl4TnjWqC_ZxV

This is Pepto color. Nothing else should ever be this color. https://colours.bots.edent.tel/posts/6889597a-29d4-c2c1-99ce-a665a58494d0.json

It’s funny because it’s true https://mk.moth.zone/notes/aasoke0zwgon05pe

It's always interesting to me how, when white men dominate an industry or field, it's because of merit.

But when we (meaning white men) no longer dominate, it's because of quotas, or some form of discrimination.

What's the saying? When you're used to being privileged, equality feels like discrimination?

I totally fixed a non-functioning air conditioner today!! I feel so… handy.

This book is so damn good. Read it!!
https://wandering.shop/@annaleen/114932605661493563

I'm pretty sure Jimmy Carter and my grandfather read this and embraced it early in life. It's good advice and and something to aspire to. And, as a side benefit, everyone will be able to tell that you are not a Republican.

My laptop shipped! It’ll be here soooooooon! I might be a wee bit excited.

I finished Radical Acceptance a week ago, and am still mulling over the idea of “unconditional compassion” - it seems almost an impossible thing to do, and even harder to do 100% of the time.

Buuuuut, feels like a worthy thing to work on.

I suck at cards so I’m trying out “the rally cap of shame”.

This column from @annaleen is short and perfect. I think for people who aren’t journalists, the Fediverse has tons of potential for people to right-size their own communities, and set their own rules. We need to make it easier to run and manage things, but the potential is super exciting.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26735530-100-social-media-is-dead-heres-what-comes-next/

Blast from the past... Woodhands! Dancer is a GREAT song. I remember hearing them for the first time around the time Holy Fuck showed up with Lovely Allen. Enjoy (a song that's too exciting to be played at 6AM, but I'm unfortunately awake, so... here you go): https://open.spotify.com/track/07LeMwwVdUmtGsnI2LM0o7?si=1ee7710d03d8414b

Einstein argued that there must be simplified explanations of nature, because God is not capricious or arbitrary. No such faith comforts the software engineer.

— Fred Brooks

Also, I’d forgotten (how?!) that creating art, even bad silly art, with other people is fun as hell.

My mother-in-law appreciated all of the pickle art we made for her birthday and definitely felt like a big dill.

An excellent article how to build an off-grid, small power solar system. Even on your balcony or window sill!

https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2023/12/how-to-build-a-small-solar-power-system/

#offgrid #solar #pv

Love this graphic

I’ve been listening to Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach - it’s really good, especially as a practical guide to starting mindfulness. But, it has the same problem a ton of other books of this type do - it’s full of woo woo that’ll turn off the people that need it the most.

Maybe that’s a use for AI - rewrite this as if it was Joe Rogan’s podcast.

The work laptop has been shut down and is ready to go to the FedEx store. I’ve removed Slack and my work email from my phone. It’s really real! Bye, Gusto! It was a really fun four years.

Today is quick pickle day! Green beans, carrots + Vidalia onions, and I guess I’ll do cucumbers too.

All for the pickle themed birthday party on Sunday.

I'm awake now, and this song did it: https://open.spotify.com/track/4ndO7iYxLEpqQVhoZ6fxrh?si=0341297664964b5e

Oh no, the GOP is too busy reaping what they sowed to take more money away from sick and poor people. Good.

https://apple.news/Asj64YtGLTKWXOGhbpzUqOw

Last one! Picklecan Gothic (by Brian)

Aaaaand my tribute to Keith Haring.

And his Van Gogh skull smoking a… pickle.

And The Pickle with the Pearl Earring.

And here is my son’s “The Pickle of Man” Magritte tribute.

We’re (for a reason I don’t remember) are doing a pickle themed party for my mother in law this weekend and we’re sitting at the kitchen table making tons of cut out pickles to make a garland.

My son and I are now on to recreating famous artwork. This is my “The Pickle Scream”.

Half formed thought: as AI companies stop selling LLMs at a loss, it’s going to only make the economic divide worse.

I could cry, I’m so happy Sewing Bee is back. I’ve loved every series and the contestants are always tons of fun.

Making one of my all time favorite recipes for dinner. It’s so easy to throw together and is very accommodating to missing ingredients (I never add all the chilis, for example).

https://www.seriouseats.com/easy-pressure-cooker-pork-chile-verde-recipe

I’m interested but how can I be sure this isn’t a baboondoggle?
https://ohai.social/@redsad/114860222691816905

Thanks to everyone's recommendations, I just ordered a Framework 13. It'll have more memory than any two computers I've ever own combined and I can't wait to see if I can use it all at once!

I bought an actual road atlas. It’s huge and full of possibilities.

Ok, but you could resell them as flat earther disco balls. https://mas.to/@Techaltar/114857136767306956

Favorite road trip planner? We’re working on a multi week road trip, and need a way to keep everyone organized and collaborate on things we want to do on stops. Bonus points if we can set a mileage or time in car limits per day. Thanks!

Who knew asking about Linux hardware on Mastodon would result in a LOT of good advice? (Ok, I had an inkling)

For the first time, ever, I don’t have a work laptop. I’ve been a Mac user for 25 years but I think it’s time to switch to #Linux. Anyone have a favorite developer laptop? 14” beautiful screen, lots of RAM, SSD, good keyboard, etc?

I’m currently playing The Plucky Squire, and it’s adorable. The mechanics are fun and the story is full of bad puns. It’s pretty great.

Long weekend wins so far: cold pizza and tshirt hoodie. I love tshirt hoodies.

This is gonna be a loooooong weekend!! Whhhhhheeeeee! #funemployed

It's a shiny new blog post called: Stay Soft

https://lawver.net/2025/07/stay-soft/

#Kindness #love #work #gusto

The last week at a job is exhausting... emotionally. Work-wise, I have nothing to do. Don't tell anyone, but I've played quite a bit of Civ6 while keeping an eye on Slack.

The emotions part is all the goodbye conversations and making sure things are tied up and handed off (which I did last week, which leaves this week REALLY empty).

I'm just now, with two days left, starting to think about how I'm actually going to spend my time. First up: a big ass road trip!

I'm not sure what I did, but I broke Apple Maps. It did fine with the Seattle => Home bit, but when I added the first half of the trip, it got very confused and forgot how to get to Minneapolis.

Currently overflowing with nope. Just... nope. Loads of it. I've got a surplus of nope at the moment. I've got so much, I could become a nope dealer, corner the market and still have enough nope left for a whole neighborhood.

Listening to my Coding Music playlist and not coding feels like a violation. But, it's so good. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1x789XnTmnLwb9nthjXzpQ?si=aa0bd74984234da5

For a lower budget horror movie, I liked "Late Night with the Devil" a lot. It felt SO 70's, and I think enough happened early enough to set the stakes. The ending was a little... off... but I enjoyed the ride.

LOL, I just got a notification in Slack from the "Compliance Bot" that I need to do the annual compliance training. Dear robot, no I don't. I'll be freeeeeeeeeeeeeee in less than a week.

Alright, this is my last week at Gusto. I know they don’t hire everywhere, and it’s in the US and it’s capitalism, but I can do bupkis about it.

What I can do is refer you if you want. If there’s a job on Gusto.com you want to apply to, send me your resume and an (optional) cover letter and I’ll put you in the system.

This offer expires when my employment does, on July 18th (I know that’s two weeks from now, but I’m trying to put a dent in my “flexible” PTO before I flee).

My work email is my first name . last name @ gusto.com.

Do not let naked be the enemy of nude.

Do not let crispy be the enemy of crunch.

Do not let droll be the enemy of funny.

These all brought to you by my stupid headache. https://mastodon.social/@geerlingguy/114801975729417107

This sums up my feelings at the moment. The world still has beauty and kindness, but the nonstop onslaught of cruelty and selfishness is exhausting. https://bsky.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2ullnxyoicn2tzx2paseoflf/post/3lskqzwm3b22z

I've been cleaning up my work laptop, and found this gem. If there was one image that represents me right now, it's this one.

I’ve been rewatching the Long Way * series and I really want an electric motorcycle. It’s such a nerdy midlife crisis cliche and i fully admit it.

Just realized that after next week, I can replace the work laptop on my KVM with my steam deck. I expect improved productivity.

Current status.

People who watch stupid videos at full volume in waiting rooms is an epidemic.

k10k was peak web design.
https://indieweb.social/@classicweb/114767203523444952

The chaotic energy in tonight’s Game Changer is just what I needed. So good. Thank you, @samreich and the whole Dropout gang of weirdos.