Technology

I was reading Hacker News comments recently when I encountered someone sharing their challenges finding work in technology, attributing it to ageism in the industry. This sparked an insight about a quality that serves professionals throughout their careers: malleability. The Value Equation: Experience and Adaptability # Ageism in technology is a real phenomenon that creates barriers for experienced professionals seeking new opportunities. In market-driven environments, organizations often optimize for perceived cost-effectiveness—seeking talent who can deliver results at the lowest investment. Unfortunately, this calculation sometimes undervalues the profound benefits that experience brings.

The ISOC recently sold the .org TLD registry to a private equity firm for $1.1b. What this means, in the grand scheme of things, remains to be seen, but many people around the web have expressed disapproval. Doge contemplating the Internet, and squirrels

In our increasingly connected world, maintaining personal privacy presents significant challenges, particularly as we carry sophisticated devices capable of extensive data collection. Fortunately, several practical approaches can help you retain greater control over your personal information. This guide offers actionable strategies for enhancing your digital privacy. A photo of my dog, who has nothing to do with digital privacy but makes this post more enjoyable

Dopamine is a chemical in our brains associated with pleasure and reward. Rather than explaining it myself, I’ll share a quote from the book “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion”, (pp. 102-103): All animal brains are designed to create flashes of pleasure when the animal does something important for its survival, and small pulses of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the ventral striatum (and a few other places) are where these good feelings are manufactured. Heroin and cocaine are addictive because they artificially trigger this dopamine response. Rats who can press a button to deliver electrical stimulation to their reward centers will continue pressing until they collapse from starvation.

Almost daily, strangers approach with a familiar question: “Can I pet your dog?” Upon seeing my Shiba Inu, people experience an immediate desire for connection—that spontaneous spark of joy that comes from interacting with an animal companion. While most politely request permission, others instinctively reach out, drawn by the promise of a brief but meaningful exchange.

Make something people want Y Combinator’s guiding philosophy—captured in their motto “make something people want”—has influenced countless entrepreneurs since its first appearance in Paul Graham’s blog post on startup fundamentals.