Author: laptopheaven

In my latest post, I dive into some fascinating reads like roasting current marketing tactics and exploring my morning digital workflow with tools like Flow and Wakeout. I’m also sharing insights on practical AI engineering, understanding modern RAG architectures, and even how to turn Google Docs into podcasts with Gemini. Plus, there’s a tech talk on building a March Madness model using XGBoost!

• Every marketing channel sucks right now: Yes, I’m about to roast every tactic you’re betting on
• 7am to noon: my digital workflow ☀️: Tools I use on a typical day, from Flow to Wakeout
• AI Engineering in the real world: What does AI engineering look like in practice? Hands-on examples and learnings from software engineers turned “AI engineers” at seven companies
• People as Files:
• The evolution of Modern RAG Architectures.: Learn how to choose the best RAG architecture for your business case.
• Talking Tech: Building a March Madness Model using XGBoost:
• Gemini can now turn your Google Docs into podcasts: Gemini can be your editor and your data analyst, apparently.

Hey, friends! In today’s post, I’m sharing a collection of intriguing reads. From the USAID mystery teaching us how to extract GPS coordinates from photos, to exploring Einstein’s wisdom in problem-solving, and even a dynamic product launch checklist. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek into my digital morning routine, and a quick dive into caching strategies. Dive in for some thought-provoking insights!

• How to Extract GPS Coordinates from a Photo: The USAID Mystery:
• The Power of Defining the Problem: We live in an era where rapid solutions are celebrated. The quicker we solve a problem, the more productive we appear. But what if, in our rush to get to a resolution, we’re missing the mark entirely? Albert Einstein’s timeless quote, “If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it”, resonates deeply in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world.
• Your Strengths Are Your Weaknesses:
• The Product Launch Checklist: Your Step-by-Step Guide: Use our product launch checklist and follow our step-by-step program to execute the perfect product launch.
• Every Caching Strategy Explained in 5 Minutes:
• 7am to noon: my digital workflow ☀️: Tools I use on a typical day, from Flow to Wakeout

In my latest blog post, I dive into a range of exciting topics, from how you can use Chat Agent Mode in VS Code to independently edit code, to insights on self-hosted data and calendars. I’ll also touch on AI’s role in education, the impact of tariffs on publishers, and tips for tracking trades on Capitol Hill. Plus, learn about a nifty tool to convert documents to Markdown!

• Agent Mode: Use chat agent mode in VS Code to start an agentic code editing session to autonomously make edits and invoke tools. Use built-in tools, MCP tools, or tools from extensions.
• Owning my own data, part 1: Integrating a self-hosted calendar solution · EmilyGorcenski.com: The first part of what I hope to be an ongoing series about repatriating and owning my own data and tech. In this post, I describe how I integrated my own self-
• Publishers watch warily as tariffs loom over ad budgets and print costs: Publishers are keeping a watchful eye on the outcome of the sustained macroeconomic shock that will arise thanks to Trump’s tariffs.
• Anthropic Education Report: How University Students Use Claude: AI systems are no longer just specialized research tools: they’re everyday academic companions. As AIs integrate more deeply into educational environments, we need to consider important questions about learning, assessment, and skill development. Until now, most discussions have relied on surveys and controlled experiments rather than direct evidence of how students naturally integrate AI into their academic work in real settings.
• How MIT maximizes editorial value with newsletters: Newsletters are a critical piece of MIT’s subscription funnel; the strategy combines consistent call-to-action and smart content reuse.
• MCP: The new “USB-C for AI” that’s bringing fierce rivals together: Model context protocol standardizes how AI uses data sources, supported by OpenAI and Anthropic.
• What’s Trading on Capitol Hill? – Capitol Trades: Tracking Capitol Hill politicians’ trades can provide valuable insights for your investment research. Learn about the STOCK ACT and discover our free solution to track US politician trades.
• microsoft/markitdown: Python tool for converting files and office documents to Markdown. –
• Big Book of R:
• .localhost domains:
• Newsquest now employing 36 ‘AI-assisted reporters’: Regional publishing giant Newsquest now employs 36 “AI-assisted” reporters across its titles, its editorial development director has said.

Hey there! In today’s blog post, I dive into some intriguing tech tidbits. From Meta’s controversial AI benchmark move with Llama 4 to addictive word puzzles like Bracket City on The Atlantic, there’s a lot to explore. We also check out advanced typographic features in Safari, powerful visualization via Apache ECharts, and an open-source coding tool dubbed DeepCoder. Plus, catch a glimpse of ongoing innovations with ElevenLabs MCP and a fascinating arXiv paper!

• Meta got caught gaming AI benchmarks: Meta release Llama 4 and faced blowback from the AI community over benchmark optimization.
• Bracket City: is a daily word game that can be played on The Atlantic. Start as a tourist and play the puzzle each day to become the mayor.
• Better typography with text-wrap pretty: Support for text-wrap: pretty just shipped in Safari Technology Preview, bringing an unprecedented level of polish to typography on the web.
• Apache ECharts: , a powerful, interactive charting and visualization library for browser
• elevenlabs/elevenlabs-mcp: The official ElevenLabs MCP server. Contribute to elevenlabs/elevenlabs-mcp development by creating an account on GitHub.
• Dynamic Assortment Selection and Pricing with Censored Preference Feedback: Abstract page for arXiv paper 2504.02324:
• DeepCoder: A Fully Open-Source 14B Coder at O3-mini Level:

Hey there! In today’s blog post, I dive into the recent change on macOS Sequoia where Apple has replaced the traditional rsync tool with openrsync. If you’re a fan of Unix-based command line tools for file transfers, you’ll want to check it out. Plus, I explore how ADHDers can leverage the productivity hack of body doubling to boost their focus and task completion. Don’t miss it!

• rsync replaced with openrsync on macOS Sequoia: On many Unix-based operating systems, rsync is a command line tool for transferring and synchronizing files on a computer, either between storage attached directly to the computer or between another computer located elsewhere on a network. The rsync command line tool has long been included on macOS, but Apple has provided the last version of…
• The ADHD Body Double: A Unique Tool for Getting Things Done – ADDA – Attention Deficit Disorder Association: Body doubling is a productivity technique where an individual works on their tasks alongside someone else. Find out how ADHDers can use this strategy to their advantage.

Hey there, I’ve just posted a roundup of some intriguing links! I dive into topics like the sheer pleasure of a good side project, the mystery behind kids’ mental health issues, and why speeding through audiobooks might not be as bad as it sounds. Plus, there’s a little nod to Simon Monk’s work and a plea for something to finally give us all a break. Check it out!

• Bored of it: Please, make it stop.
• Something went wrong…:
• The blissful zen of a good side project: One of life’s greatest simple pleasures is creating something just for yourself.
• SimonMonk.org: A website supporting the books of author Simon Monk.
• Against dystopian views of high-speed audiobook listening: The sound and the worry
• The Real Culprit Behind Plummeting Children’s Mental Health: Kids are suffering. In the United States, 13 percent of three- to 17-year-olds had a mental or behavioral health diagnosis. Parents and teachers often blame social media for rising teen depression rates. But many studies show only a correlation between the two (and a low one at that), not causation.

In my latest post, I delve into a range of intriguing topics, from my personal philosophy of “strategic opportunism,” blending long-term goals with short-term needs, to evolving tech trends. I’m excited to share insights on AI’s impact on software engineering, and why these innovations hold the key to future productivity. Plus, I explore why I steer clear of political discussions with friends and much more!

• Strategic opportunism: For the last ten or so years, I’ve used the term “strategic opportunism” to explain to myself how I try to marry long-term plans with short-term needs. The conviction behind it is that there is…
• (52) Post | LinkedIn:
• Everything is a product:
• Why I don’t discuss politics with friends: March 2025
• Senior Developer Skills in the AI Age: Leveraging Experience for Better Results: How time-tested software engineering practices amplify the effectiveness of AI coding assistants.
• AI 2027: A research-backed AI scenario forecast.
• MCP: The Differential for Modern APIs and Systems:
• LLMs: an operator’s view: These things are a key part of your tooling strategy now.
• Training and Finetuning Reranker Models with Sentence Transformers v4: We’re on a journey to advance and democratize artificial intelligence through open source and open science.