On Extraction
Today, I’d like to convince you that there is a reckoning coming.
On the Rise of Personal Computing and the End of Personal Computers
The word “computer” has changed quite a bit since it was originally used to describe the people — mostly women — who manually performed calculations on behalf of the United States military. It first evolved to be the room-sized mainframe computers built by the likes of IBM. Then, it was the humble electronic calculators we are all now familiar with. Eventually, through the efforts of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, among others, the term computer referred to the personal computer. This is the era that entrenched the image of The Computer as a mass-produced general-purpose machine that could perform operations much faster than human thought and, critically, had a user interface that required typing and clicking. That is still the definition most of us hold in our heads when we think of a “PC” (and that is the definition I will hold to for the duration of this piece), even though technologically, we have moved beyond that.
On Automation
Yesterday, I went to a cafe, ordered an espresso and sipped it peacefully while I thought about what I wanted to write about this week. At least, that was the plan. But I have a child who requires love, attention and a part-time (full-time?) cleaning crew. So, the espresso was ordered but it was cold by the time I started drinking it because I was following her around the cafe. Then, she threw her water cup across the table and knocked the remaining half of my coffee to the floor, where it pooled and resembled a haggard face (turns out it was just my reflection). I did not get any writing done.
30 for 30
This is a collection of the 30 books I found most interesting, impactful, or worth telling friends about. It’s not necessarily a list of the “30 BEST BOOKS OF ALL TIME”, because that would just descend into snobbery. These are the 30 books that mean the most to me in no particular order. Why 30? Well I recently turned 30.
Welcome
Welcome to my space on the internet!