How to clear an inbox
Because last week’s newsletter was such a bummer, and because this was a short week, and because I have tickets to a Valkeries game tonight, let’s do a mailbag and just run through the silliest questions we’ve got. Cool? Cool. Ballhalla!
Kio Stark asks:
Which do you think is a more important invention, the post-it or the index card?
Personally, I have to go with the post-it. Because I’m getting forgetful in my old age, and I’ve got post-its all over our apartment and at work. Post-its reminding me to charge my bike lights, reminding me to take my keys with me, reminding me to grab milk or coffee, etc. I imagine this is only going to get worse with time, and I will eventually need post-its that tell me which shoe is left and which is right.
My monitor at work is also covered with post-its of things that probably shouldn’t be on post-its, like account user names and passwords. Which, honestly, might be safer than having this shit online where Sam Altman’s evil elves scrape every inch of the cloud looking for training data.
The best thing about post-it notes is that you can put the info you need where it’s most likely to be helpful. Like the post-it on the bathroom mirror that reminded me I had a dentist appointment this morning. I saw it as soon as I woke up, and it got me to brush my teeth extra good.
We long ago offloaded all the things we used to remember, like phone numbers and birthdays to different online services. The only phone number I still remember is my grandmother’s, and I haven’t had cause to use it in twenty years.
Now I miss my grandmother.
Dan Ryan asks:
What's the best alcohol for a molotov cocktail? Do you prefer yours neat or full of rocks?
Look, almost all of you have a bottle of cheap vodka in your freezer, and it’s probably been there for years. You’ve long ago decided you’re not going to drink it. Also, even though Waymos are covered in surveillance cameras, none of them are going to think twice about you getting in with a bottle of vodka. You’re just a young person going to a party and bringing a shitty gift for the host. Vodka also isn’t going to ignite and blow up. It’s generally about 40% ABV (alcohol by volume.) So while it’s flammable, it’s not combustible. Meaning, no boom. But it’ll make a mess. And when you end up getting nabbed by the cops, you can point out that no, you didn’t make a molotov cocktail because only an idiot would use vodka to make a molotov cocktail, and you’re not an idiot.
But to answer your question, and only to answer your question, you’re looking for grain alcohol, which is 95% alcohol, and which should always be taken neat.
My lawyer wishes I hadn’t answered this question.
Anonymous asks:
In Jurassic Park, why did the scientists clone dinosaurs instead of inventing time travel to send their guests back to the actual Jurassic Period? Some people would still have died, but not as many!
This is an excellent question. For the purpose of this question, let’s agree that the invention of time travel is just as feasible as cloning dinosaurs, and go from there.
I want to say the reason was that the atmosphere in the Jurassic period wasn’t great for humans. It was pretty high in CO2, and while we could breathe it if we had to, it wouldn’t be great for us in the long haul. Then I remembered that we also invented asbestos and wrapped every schoolbuilding in it for decades, so that’s probably not it. Also, if you’re going to splurge on time machines, you probably have enough VC funding to cover a few gas masks?
A better answer might just be our good old friend capitalism. You can make more money setting up a dinosaur park as a destination, and then enticing people to come to you, than you can by sending guests back in time, and then somehow monitoring their safety. Not that that worked out well in the movie. But hey, we got to watch Richard Attenborough work his way through a dining room table full of melting ice cream.
There’s also the whole butterfly effect of fucking with the past because it can change the future, and after spending thirty minutes this morning watching RFK Jr being interrogated by Congress, I certainly want to preserve as much of this timeline as possible.
Plus, if we wait a few years Sam Altman will bring the Jurassic to us.
Andy Welfle asks:
What is the collective noun of "clusterfuck"?
America.
Wannie Nguyen asks:
What do you think about the “laws of UX” and the millions of articles or thinkpieces we get weekly in the field that are based on shaky findings in psychology with studies that are barely replicated at best?
I think they’re bullshit and everyone’s working a grift in what history books will someday refer to as “The Era of the Con.” I’m kidding. There’s no future. There won’t be any more history books to document what’s happening now. Probably.
Also, I don’t think this is a silly question, you just got grouped in here with these other questions. I’ll try to answer it honestly.
Silicon Valley is long done doing anything real or useful. And since most designers (I hate the phrase UX anything) reading this have some tangential relationship to what happens in Silicon Valley it’s going to affect how we work.
When you work at a carnival there’s nothing to be gained by being the person who’s taking their work seriously. When everyone around you is working a grift it’s really hard to do what you might consider “real work that helps people.” Especially when the people we used to look up to in this industry are now clowns trying to convince you that the AI-generated balloon dog they just handed you needs to be walked. (If you’re wondering whether this is about someone in particular, it probably is.)
From Dana Chisnell:
Where can I find some optimism right now?
I’d get to that bottle of vodka in the freezer before Dan Ryan does!
Seriously, though. Look, the reason I’m doing a newsletter’s worth of silly answers is because last week I hit everyone with a downer. I don’t regret writing the downer. I think it needed to be written. But I also like to take care of my readers, and look out for people. So every once in a while we gotta take a deep breath and maybe have a few laughs, or smell some flowers, or eat some pie.
We can’t ignore all the bullshit that’s happening out there. That’s irresponsible, especially when we’re in a position of privilege. But we also need to take the time to recharge and enjoy this life. After all, this is the problem: the uneven distribution of a life you can enjoy.
Optimism is the fuel that will drive our victory.
There are no guillotines or molotovs without optimism.
I find optimism in riding my bike around town and watching people going about their day, and living their lives. I find optimism in watching people walk their dogs. I find optimism in taking the time to reach out to someone I love and telling them I love them. I find optimism in knowing that, as shitty as things might be, there are still people making art, and writing books, and making music. And I try to support those people as much as I can.
The thing about optimism is that it’s not just about finding it. You also need to create it for other people to find. Optimism is a public trust. Sometimes you take, sometimes you leave a little bit for someone who might need it.
And quite often you will find the optimism you need in the exact same place where you’ve left some optimism for others.
All is love!
🙋 Got a question? Ask it. Who knows what kind of answer you might get.
📣 I’ve got a few spots left in next week’s workshop. Come learn how to talk about your work with confidence. And yes, this includes job interviews.
📘 Finished Karen Hao’s Empire of AI this week. It’s so worth your time.
💩 Malcolm Gladwell is a piece of transphobic shit.
🤖 Ed Zitron’s How to Argue With an AI Booster is worth an hour of your time. Also, it’s really funny.(Maybe not to AI boosters, but they suck.)
🍉 Please donate to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.
🏳️⚧️ Please donate to Trans Lifeline.