Greetings!

Welcome to Issue 006 of Marginal Thoughts. Let’s dive right in.

The Meditation

Learning is a gift we often take for granted or ignore altogether.

💡 How do you prioritize learning and when’s the last time you stopped to be thankful for it?

The Blog

Rebranded Website! - I rebranded my personal website and combined my thought and software development blogs into one site.

What Is Christian Meditation? - An exploration of a contemplative practice with deep historical roots that we don’t often talk about — and why to add it as a practice to your life.

Think Again - Book Review of Adam Grant's case for intellectual humility — and why the ability to change your mind might be the most underrated skill you can develop.

Project - New Site - A look behind the curtain at how and why I built the new site — for anyone curious about what goes into building a personal corner of the internet.

Python In 30 Days - The first entry in a 30-day challenge I gave myself to learn Python — a small experiment in learning in public.

The Marginalia

Can AI Make Good Design? - This podcast explores whether generative AI models like Claude Design can actually produce beautiful designs. Key Takeaway: AI alone can’t produce good design yet, but it’s getting closer daily.

Overcome Procrastination - A great episode of the Hubermanlab Podcast, in which Andrew and his guest discuss the psychology of self-control and procrastination. Ket Takeaway: We are masters at giving ourselves excuses, but learning a few easy habits can overcome that tendency.

Coding Is Dead? - A great podcast style video with a CEO of a $100M AI vibe coding startup discussing the state of computer science and how to have a career in the field with the advent of AI. Key Takeaway: Learn to use AI as a tool and focus on systems design thinking.

Gratitude

I am grateful to live in a world that allows us to learn and for the ability to scratch my unending intellectual curiosity.

-Ian