Some people want to be remembered. They want statues or plaques or lines in history books. I don’t want to be remembered for my achievements — that would be a lie, or at least not a complete truth. I have achieved nothing alone. …

The distant future. An ancient ark ship flies through the void of space. So long has passed that even with cold sleep, none aboard ever called a planet home. …

Products with profiles should have fields for pronouns. Here’s how. — Your product has profiles — spaces where people can communicate who they are. These probably include a space for a name, and the option to upload a picture. They might include a banner or header image, a short bio, a field for location, or other info. One field you should…

Democracy is neat. Its selling point is that it creates the conditions for political change without violence, and in a methodical and measured manner. Which all sounds great — but the US isn’t a democracy, at least not at the federal level. Undemocratic institutions like the Senate, the Electoral College…

Think again. — Software isn’t secure. This hurts everyone, but it places the most vulnerable at excessive risk. Journalists, activists, queer people, sex workers, union organizers… Everyone deserves safe tools, but the danger isn’t distributed evenly. From time people decide to build secure software to help protect the most vulnerable in society. Sometimes…

There are two aspects to product management: the product, and the management. An effective PM combines the mindset and skills needed to excel at each. To make a great product, the chief demand is empathy, followed closely by curiosity. Empathy — and its cousin compassion — let you understand the…

My gender is the twelve chimes of a venerable and lovingly-maintained clock on a seasoned solicitor’s shelf, resonating through brass and wood, a reminder on an August afternoon to rest for a moment. My gender is the subtle oscillation of a phone face-down on a table, showing a message from…

What advice do you have for aspiring occult practitioners? For me the most important part of founding a secret society is a genuine curiosity. Some people yearn for power or want to perform impressive summoning rites. Don’t get me wrong — ambition is a powerful drive and summoning is a…

Staying healthy and safe during wildfire season — Summary for the hurried: Use an AQI app on your phone to notify you when the air gets gross. When the AQI goes above 150, avoid going outside. Consider sealing windows and filtering the air in your home. When you have to go outside, wear a mask rated N95 or…