Links of links, quotes of quotes

Hello!

Writing this in between visits with friends and other things going on this weekend, so will move straight to the links:

• Deb Chachra’s latest Metafoundry, “determinate tomatoes”, is full of lovely reflections and links. I’m eager to see what the rest of this generative year brings of Chachra’s writings.
• Robin Sloan delivered some thoughtful advice to his younger self in “Fogbound”, the January edition of his newsletter. (And, as is the theme, links!!)
• Mike Monteiro recently wrote a piece which included this, quoting Marisa Kabas who was quoting Jamelle Bouie (quote me, we can be four or five levels deep on this!): “There is a cohort of men who resent the responsibilities and obligations of adulthood—of the fact that you owe things to other people.” WHEW!! Great piece.
• Mandy Brown on how reading ought to be more than the practice of empathy: “To reduce reading to the practice of empathy is to divorce it of its real power and pleasure: to enjoy the fruits of another person’s creative effort, to think with the writer and their characters, not becoming them, but becoming more fully yourself.”
• Bruce Schneier offers a framework for deciding when to use AI: should I approach this task as work (AI may be fine), or exercise (AI atrophies the very skill you’re trying to develop)?
• Excellent to see that online passport renewals will now be generally available in Canada. Huge props to the teams behind this!
• Dave Rupert offers a tangible example of “voting with your dollars” by explaining how powerful the “number chart” can be: “Collectively we can influence the number chart. It could be a coordinated buying campaign or boycott, but I think it could be as simple as re-patronizing small businesses you already enjoy.”
• Debbie Millman’s responses to the Oldster Magazine questionnaire are delightful.

All the best for the week ahead!

Lucas