The blog post discusses the author's journey into journalism, detailing the self-taught methods of reporting inspired by John McPhee's writing techniques. It outlines the stages of McPhee's method, which includes gathering notes, ...
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James Somers is a writer and programmer based in New York.
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0Should we cool it with the historical present?
2021-10-22 •
The blog post discusses the use of the historical present tense in podcasts and how it can make history feel more present but also lead to confusion if not used carefully. Examples from podcasts like The New York Times's Daily and...
0Introducing Five’Em, a Texas Hold’Em variant
2019-03-14 •
Five'Em is a Texas Hold'Em variant where players are dealt five hole cards and must discard one after each round of community cards. This adds a new level of strategy and decision-making to the game, making it more dynamic and fun...
In 1963, philosopher Edmund Gettier published a paper challenging the definition of knowledge. Gettier cases, where justified true beliefs are not considered knowledge, are common in software engineering. The term 'gettiers' is us...
The DocWriter is a typewriter that sends keystrokes in real-time to a Google Doc, combining the benefits of a typewriter and a word processor. The project involved reverse engineering signals from a typewriter's keyboard switch ma...
0Most book clubs are doing it wrong
2017-07-15 •
The author argues that the standard way of running book clubs, where everyone finishes the book before meeting, is inefficient. He suggests that book clubs should meet weekly, read a few chapters at a time, and discuss along the w...
The blog post discusses the importance of working quickly, emphasizing that speed lowers the perceived cost of doing something new, leading to increased productivity. It explores how speed influences email responses, website usabi...
0You’re probably using the wrong dictionary
2014-05-18 •
The blog post discusses the limitations of modern dictionaries in providing dry, functional definitions that lack color and depth. It contrasts these with the rich, evocative definitions found in older dictionaries like Webster's ...
0More people should write
2012-09-27 •
The author encourages more people to write about themselves and the things they care about, emphasizing that writing changes the way you live and helps you see the world more curiously. Writing with an audience in mind, even just ...
0The best general advice on earth
2012-07-26 •
The text discusses the importance of making useful actions automatic and habitual to free up higher mental powers. It emphasizes the need to act on resolutions and emotional prompts to solidify habits and improve character.