It's been - checks calendar - a while since I sent one of these emails to you all. You look well.

As usual, I’m publishing a lot on my website. I’m sending this email as a summary and enticement to explore. Follow your interest, follow a link and browse at will.

I recently went on another dangerous and beautiful hike: The Grand Canyon Royal Arch Loop. Here’s one photo (click the link to see more):

It's been - checks watch - too long since I sent one of these emails to you all. You look good.

I've been publishing a lot at my website, but you probably haven't seen it because most people don't use RSS - you use email. So I'm turning this back on. This is an email. Here you go.

Last week I got back from a scary and beautiful backpacking trip in Wyoming. Here’s one photo (click the link to see more):

On repeat, in a groove: Evan Finds the Third Room

You didn't miss anything. I didn't have time to send an update over the last two weeks.

In lieu of writing recently, I spoke quite a bit elsewhere.

On repeat through the rain this week: Since I've Been Loving You

In the past, I've talked with my good friend Vaibhav Krishna about how important it is to recognize your mental reserves and drives as an exhaustible resource. Writing and dissecting software, you will often feel the tug of an idea. Just as often, you will be set upon a problem and find no interest grow as you dig fingers into the solution.

Usually, it's your job to find the solution (and probably define the problem). Hopefully you'll be getting paid for those. You'll slog through the keystrokes and requirements uphill, only to find yourself doing it again next month.

Playing on repeat: Hunnybee

I’m hiring a new full-stack engineer for the OfficeLuv team, and there’s nothing quite like a new hire to kick your team into shape. I’ve written about how new hires are a valuable resource in the past, and each time I focus on drawing more and more value. This current cycle I’ve already noticed a change in my behavior in these past few weeks: I’m cleaning up in anticipation of guests.

Whenever someone agrees to join your team, they are also entering a home. You and the rest of the team have been living and building and rebuilding there, for eight hours daily, in the dust and the muck. You’ve been able to build something that works (you’re hiring!), but there are always dirty areas that you would never write again. You know about these areas - you probably list them over a drink with other engineers.

On repeat: Joe Goddard - Electric Lines

I was dramatically sick Tuesday and Wednesday of last week; I’m guessing food poisoning. The combination of not eating, not exercising, barely drinking, and barely standing made me lose over 10 pounds in about a day. The following day, the dehydration caused me to cramp up so badly I nearly went to the urgent care. There are some patterns you just shouldn't break.

Collect more than one person in a place and they will start patterning themselves off each other. You can see it in Instagram on repeat, on repeat. All these influencers seem to be "influencing" in the same direction.

Intermittently breaking pattern and secluding yourself from an environment of repeated interaction statistically leads to more thoughtful and novel responses. It improves the group’s collective intelligence, too.

Weeknote 2018-08-05

Second-order Effects

On repeat on these hot nights: ultralight beam

I’m currently spending time each week interviewing people for our open software engineer position at OfficeLuv. Most days I’m just searching for candidates, and whenever I do find someone I want to interview (I had 5 interviews on Tuesday), I need to make the questions count.