On seeing something old in something new.

On older people losing privacy and agency as we age. Also, a protest at a nativity scene, why we have two nostrils and not just one big hole, the coolest pop-up books, Cory's guide to criticizing AI, an awful Texas traffic stop, Maggie's link to how to fix a soup (or any dish), and looking forward to Public Domain Day 2026.

Organize your bowls before you head to the stove.

It's time to jump out of the pot. Also, how a bad mood spreads, wool from gay sheep, cats miaow more at men, witchcraft repairing a sweater, free electricity, Maggie's link to the Temple Marching band playing Fall Out Boy, and Julia's Wizard Zines.

Experimenting with online and in-person encounters.

On self-assessment and improvement. Also, the creator of Lite-Brite's obit, Lee does the Time Warp, 3D self-folding objects, how to say nothing, taking a swipe at dating apps, Maggie's link to Jameela Jamil on extreme weightloss in Hollywood, and Johanna Rothman's kickstarter for Effective Public Speaking. This issue is number 296 and not (as it appears in the newsletter) 297.

What would you put in a post card encouraging people to vote.

On evaluating how much to be paid. Also, Song Around The World with WAR's "Why Can't We Be Friends", Knitting and Science, When an entire Scientific field changes its mind, an octopus plays piano, Maggie's link to a connection between Sailor Moon and High Fashion, and FoxTrot's Binary Sudoku.

On growing the magic pie.

On snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Also, a beer tuner, doom scrolling without the scrolling, a garden in a single bag of soil, sketching while you travel, Maggie's link to what it takes to feed the English Rugby team, and Paul Samuels asks Do ya still need it.

You can't do everything but you can do something. You are that one.

When name calling becomes the norm.

On knowing where to end a story. Also, a home urine scanner, design a tree for Apple for Christmas, being Cinderella for someone, dinner deals for those who need it, Maggie's link to the differences between ASL grammar and English grammar, and the Human Only Public license.

On what things are actually worth.

On learning how to be a lucky person. Also, reading about the home of the brave, the data a smart vacuum sends to the manufacturer, my recent keynote "That One", GM abandons CarPlay support, Maggie's link to Beethoven played by penguins, and the history of the East Wing.

On making changes for the following year.

On showing up at small local events. Also, Nathan Lane reads a letter, lead in protein powder, aperiodic pride pin, stealing music, AI and money, Maggie's link to a course on the Classics and Taylor Swift, and the AT protocol.

The thing before the thing.

On making history simple again. Also, is social media dead or dying, the No Kings rallies, a cartoonist's review of AI art, Jane Fonda relaunches free speech group, the birth of the sociopath, Maggie's link to people who follow baseball, and Wiley's email to Tim Cook.

On seeing opportunities in things that already exist that don't quite meet your needs.

On why we can't give up on others. Also, Benjamin Button reviews macOS, a Vintage Computing Nerd looks at War Games, when Picasso saved Matisse's paintings from the Nazis, Social media provenance challenge, why the web is free, Maggie's link to a video on animation magic, and Brent on why NetNewsWire is not a web app.

On the power of small nudges in either direction.

On the importance of knowing. Also, Amazon Fresh is too weird, the Banana Splits in San Francisco, an IndieWeb playground, the Onion's Epstein documentary, beetle survives by running, Maggie's link to the trailer from "Long Story Short", and the Lux team reviews the iPhone 17 Pro cameras.

On quitting quietly or otherwise.

On anticipating the game being played. Also, Bernie in Trump country, Sand Banks(y), Just Ben (no Jerry), hallucinations are mathematically part of AI, Maggie's link to a familiar looking cat, and Adam Fowler's not so new posts about the Swift extension for VS Code.

On being so far ahead that you don't notice when the world has caught up.

On giving an answer no matter what. Also, update to my free music app Top Tracks, Carrot: the Musical, everyone can be a democracy superhero, high school student develops AI model and discovers more than a million space objects, Maggie's link reminds us to remove cat before take-off, and Max links to improvements in the Swift for Wasm project.

On living online and in real life while considering other people.

On taking a field trip to grand jury selection. Also, KFC releases chicken jelly beans, dog owners afraid to vaccinate their pets, supermax detention center for toddlers (satire), Wikipedia maintenance is resistance, self-publishing, Maggie's link to a betting app sponsoring SEPTA, and James Dempsey releases an Ode to Liquid Glass.

On celebrating anniversaries good and bad.

On treating our audience with respect and my feelings about the Thursday Murder Club movie. Also, maybe your kid would do better with a landline, some card magic, an episode of Johnny Fever on WKRP, the Women's Rugby World Cup, Maggie's link to a marching band arrangement of music from Encanto, and an interview with Steve Ballmer.

On the benefits of doing the work needed in advance.

The story continues - I purchase a washing machine. Also, Bishop Barber at the Cleveland City Club, the sovereign individual and the paradox of the digital age, Conservative Christians who believe empathy leads to sin, new protest songs from Woody Guthrie, There is no trolley problem. Maggie links to the Trivial Pursuit Breaking Bad video and Craig Hockenberry explains Liquid Glass.

Sometimes the best moments are spent doing nothing - at least nothing worth reporting.

On living many years beyond the warranty and it still not being enough. Also, self-reflection from Kareem, AI and the Sorcerer's Apprentice, Sugarcane burning, 4000 lattes to go, Maggie's link to Pokeman dishes, and McCloud's Google Chrome comic.

On fighting the not give a ____ economy.

The war on facts continues on multiple fronts. Also, Bye-bye AOL dialup, You're Invited to the Beautiful Ballroom, eliminate meetings when you can, Lex is a loser, Maggie's link to John Carroll Lynch on "Sorry, Baby", and the pico-mac-nano.

On why I don't submit CFP proposals to speak at conferences.

On not contributing to a meeting. Also, a low tech roller coaster, pinball in Oregon, two great ads for alternative energy, why your iPhone doesn't cause speaker interference anymore, Maggie's link to a dissability friendly pasta recipe, and Matt Massicote writes an article for NSHipster.

When life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness become alienable.

When skill and will comes up against might. Also, the Ted Lasso boys cover Shatner covering Pulp, Lehrer's lyrics and music, stripping away humanity, South Park's NSFW PSA, Jon Stewart on Colbert's cancellation, Maggie's link to Confessions of a Fast Food Employee, and the Icon Factory is ready to pixelize you.

On gritting your teeth and digging in.

On moving forward by walking away. Also, AI music from dead artists, call for Miss Sweetie Poo, the temperature of Uranus, ChatGPT on women's salaries, Maggie's link to Pigeon impressions, and Simon Wolf's page on current projects.

On not responding immediately.

On reading the manual before you need it. Also, the Broadway Paradox, the Monty Python Live (mostly) Stage Show Online Auction, the reason why "Peggy" is short for "Margaret", Akilah Hughes on Erasing Jackie Robinson, Maggie's link to Cleveland landmarks from Superman, and a flashback to Rich Hickey's Simple Made Easy.

On setting goals that aren't too big or too small - ones that are just right.

On learning more than how to make a bowl of ramen. Also, a nerve-wracking computer generated video of trains nearly missing each other, an AI assisted book on AI, the Anne Frank rules, the masked agents of ICE, Maggie's link to bugs you may be eating, and Louie on Apple's new design language.

On the importance of appreciating what's available in each season.

What to a Liberal is the Fourth of July? Also, bad reviews from people who didn't read the book, Canada invites us to come hug it out, customer service hangs up on you on purpose, the unfair share bar, Maggie's link to a primer on spotting AI fakes in videos, and Tim Condon on how he lost 25 thousand pounds runing a successful conference.

Lessons from cooking on how much of a task's time requires our attention.

On the passing of my mother-in-law. Also, stop motion skateboarding, a new Psycho Killer video, Timothy Snyder on No Kings, Teachers love theories, Maggie's link to the Queen's Gambit and Meyers-Briggs, and Donny Wals on @concurrent.

On preparing to teach in this new reality.

In which I suggest a more dynamic and vibrant home for Swift.

On the importance of silliness, humor, and music. Also, the VA can refuse to see some patients, the art of saying "no", introducing the Fediverse, HP and Palm, Maggie's awesome Father's Day gift, also her link to a father's film of his kid's gymnastics, and Natalia's books remain on sale.

What to do when the right adopts Malcolm X's mantra "by any means necessary."

On taking a trip to the future. Also, a lesson from the movie Ants, WaPo uses non-professional writers with AI, Joy Reid provides perspective to what's going on in LA, Bell Labs and innovation, Maggie's link to game design in "The Mole", and in memory of Bill Atkinson.

On Choice, responsibility, and fairness.