Writings

Lately, every time someone shows me a YouTube video on their computer or phone, I find myself freaking out just a little. The ads, the list of recommended videos, the endless comments… there’s just so much going on on the screen, and I find myself easily distracted and maybe a bit overwhelmed. In contrast, if you watch a YouTube video on my laptop, you’ll find it to be a much different experience. What you will see is the video and its description, and basically nothing else. If you want to see the comments or the recommended videos, you can scroll to see a “Show More” button. But, other than that, you just get the video you came to see. ...

Skill and concern mixed together can be powerful, and there are people today with seemingly more of both than ever. In almost any field you can list, you will be able to find someone who is at least 10x more skilled than you, and 10x more concerned than you are. I think it’s worth learning from those people. How does someone 10x as concerned as you approach the problem you’re facing when they have the skills to do something about it? ...

Lately I feel like I’ve come to a place with internet and tech usage that I’m really liking, where I’ve been able to derive great value from what the internet has to offer, while being better at protecting myself from some of its more poisonous elements. Here are a few tools/tips that I’ve found helpful for coming to that place, which I think anyone who uses the internet could benefit from: ...

The process of being lead out of deception can be painful and hard. The status quo is the status quo for a reason: it’s more comfortable than the alternative. Lies can make us feel warm and fuzzy; but they are still lies. If we truly want freedom, there’s only one option: Only the Truth sets us free

The lack of a currently viable solution is not a legitimate reason to disregard a problem. See also

So many things in our lives we know are awful for us, but we keep them in our lives anyway. Social media, junk food, most so-called “news”, extreme amounts of internet and screen time, etc. What if we just STOPPED? What if we just got rid of them? What if we stopped being ok with the things we know our making our lives worse and shorter, and replaced them with the things we knew were good for us — good books, lavish amount of time with friends and family, whole food, time outside, real journalism, etc.? ...

TL;DR: You need a password manager to use the internet safely and efficiently today. I use and recommend Bitwarden. In 2020 there were nearly 8 Billion online accounts compromised by hackers.1 Statistically speaking, at least one of your accounts was probably in that list. Several of mine were. When a hacker compromises an online account, many times the email addresses and passwords of those accounts are among the compromised content. Because many people re-use the same email address and password in many places, when a hacker gets a hold of a user’s username and password, it is super easy for them to take that username and password and start trying that combination on other online accounts… Like your email, your work accounts, your bank, or other valuable or sensitive accounts. ...

You’re wrong about something. I am, too… Likely many things. It’s good for us to ponder that truth once in a while. We are all working with incomplete knowledge, meaning we can’t possibly be right about everything. The universe is too infinite and expansive. The physical, biological, and social systems on our planet are too intricate and incomprehensibly dense. There are assumptions that you and I hold about reality that are assuredly incorrect. ...

Creation works in cycles. Air in, air out. Food in, food out. Day in, day out. Respecting the seasons we’re in — knowing where we are in our personal cycles — can mean the difference between keeping rolling forward, and derailment. Ever try inhaling and exhaling at the same time? So it is with doing the right thing in the wrong season.

Download Audio Blessed are those who do not jump to conclusions, for they will see the world with unveiled eyes. Blessed are those who humbly assume they’re not right about everything. They will inherit understanding. Blessed are those who react with sadness instead of outrage, for their tears are seeds that will grow into trees of joy. Blessed are those who love vehemently, unconditionally, and indiscriminately, for they will be beacons of hope in an ultra-polarized world. ...