Author: laptopheaven

Beyond the Scroll: How Magazine Publishers Can Reclaim the Reader’s Mind

“Recognize that not everything with a pastel icon and a ping is there for your benefit.”
— BoSacks

The Dilemma: Competing with the Slot Machine

Once, the publisher’s task was daunting but clear: deliver stories, images, and ideas that made readers linger. Today, it’s like trying to read poetry in the middle of a casino. The pings, scrolls, and algorithmic lures of Big Tech have reduced attention to a commodity—and readers themselves to “users,” tugged endlessly by invisible levers.

As BoSacks warns, the game is rigged: every feature of modern platforms is built to keep us hooked, our focus fractured, and our time for sale. In such a world, magazine publishers could be forgiven for feeling obsolete. But in truth, it’s in this chaos that the publisher’s mission is needed most.

The Magazine’s Legacy: More Than Content

Magazines have always offered something different: not just information, but context; not just images, but experiences. The weight of a well-made issue in hand, the rhythm of page after page, the immersive escape of a story told with intention—these are not relics. They’re the antidote.

When every digital platform feels like an endless scroll, what readers crave—whether they realize it or not—is a place to pause, reflect, and connect more deeply. Magazine publishers don’t need to join the attention rat race. They need to double down on what they already do best.

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity

From Fracture to Focus

It starts with the courage to do less, but do it better. In a world where infinite content is the problem, curation is the solution. Publishers can choose to publish fewer stories, but make each one count—well-researched features, slow journalism, and essays that reward more than a passing glance.

Remember, print magazines thrived not because they were fast, but because they were focused. That’s a lesson worth reviving online. Replace infinite scroll with a finite, carefully-crafted issue. Highlight narrative arcs, not just clickable headlines. Treat every digital edition as a destination, not a distraction.

Redesigning for Reflection

Design is more than aesthetics; it’s psychology. Digital spaces don’t have to mimic the anxiety of the feed. Publishers can create “distraction-free” reading modes, slow down the pace, and signal to readers that this is a place for focus. Subtle cues—a clear beginning and end, less clutter, fewer pop-ups—can turn a screen into a sanctuary.

Rebuilding Relationships

The era of the faceless “user” is over. Magazine readers are a community—curious, discerning, and seeking more than just a dopamine rush. Publishers can rekindle relationships through thoughtful engagement: host live events, invite readers behind the scenes, and foster real dialogue in spaces designed for slow conversation, not viral outrage.

Editorials can take the lead, naming the manipulations of Big Tech and offering tools for digital well-being. By being transparent—about ads, data, and editorial process—publishers can offer the kind of trust that algorithms never will.

Advocacy and Innovation

Now is the moment for publishers to become champions of digital wellness. Imagine a future where magazines are at the center of teaching digital literacy, collaborating with educators and wellness experts, and pushing for ethical standards in tech. Instead of chasing engagement, imagine building loyalty and membership around genuine value—offering exclusive, ad-free experiences or print editions that reward commitment, not compulsive behavior.

The Publisher’s Challenge—and Invitation

BoSacks ends his essay on a note of hard-earned hope. “Maybe one of you will read this, pause, and put the damn phone down for five minutes. That’d be a start.” Publishers can do more: you can give readers a reason to linger, to think, to be human again—even if just for a few pages, or a few precious minutes.

The question is not how to keep up with the scroll, but how to lead readers out of it.

Publisher’s Checklist: Reclaiming the Reader’s Mind

  • Publish with intention: Focus on quality over quantity—feature fewer, deeper stories.
  • Design for attention: Offer clean, distraction-free reading experiences, online and off.
  • Reframe the reader relationship: Treat readers as community, not users; foster dialogue, not just clicks.
  • Educate and advocate: Use your platform to teach digital literacy and call out manipulative tech.
  • Champion wellness: Partner with wellness experts; offer guidance on screen time and mindful media.
  • Innovate value models: Build membership and loyalty around substance, not addictive mechanics.

Editorial Strategy Guide

  1. Editorial Calendar:
    Schedule quarterly “deep issues” focused on themes that reward long-form, investigative, or narrative journalism. Balance topicality with timelessness.
  2. Digital Experience:
    Develop a “reading room” digital section—minimal UI, no autoplay, and a clear beginning and end to each story or issue.
    Offer print or printable PDF versions for offline consumption.
  3. Community Engagement:
    Launch slow forums, member-only Q\&As, or periodic live discussions that prioritize depth over volume.
  4. Content Mix:
    Add regular columns on digital wellness, attention, and the psychology of media. Bring in guest experts and voices from education, mental health, and technology.
  5. Revenue and Partnerships:
    Prioritize partnerships and sponsors aligned with well-being, education, or the arts. Experiment with reader-supported models (memberships, donations, exclusive access) that reinforce your mission.

Remember:
Your greatest strength as a publisher is not speed, but significance. In an age of distraction, offering depth, focus, and meaning is an act of leadership. The world doesn’t need another feed; it needs a place to think.

Daily Links: Monday, Jul 21st, 2025

Hey there! In my latest blog post, I’m sharing a peek at my ultimate self-hosting setup, unraveling the myths about asynchrony and concurrency, and I’m kickstarting a DIY series on creating your own backup system, emphasizing the strategy before diving into scripts. It’s an exciting mix of tech strategies you won’t want to miss!

Here’s What Science Really Says About Getting Fit and Staying Healthy

Let’s be real—fitness advice online is a total mess. Everyone’s shouting conflicting tips, and it’s impossible to know what actually works. That’s why I loved this article that breaks down the real, science-backed stuff about exercise and health—no hype, no BS.

Here’s the gist:

  • Getting visible muscles and changes takes time. Like, months. Not days or weeks.
  • Forget “toning.” It’s just building muscle and losing fat—there’s no magic trick.
  • Cardio and strength training? You need both. Your heart and muscles will thank you.
  • If you’re super busy, HIIT workouts (short, brutal bursts) can actually get you pretty fit without eating your whole day.

The best part? You don’t have to be perfect or an athlete. Just move regularly and put in some effort. That’s really it. Your future self (and those jeans you want to fit better) will be so grateful.

Check it out here: https://bakadesuyo.com/2025/07/exercising/

Sandcastles, Spaghetti, and Software: Surviving the Chaos of AI-First Coding

What happens when software development gets upended by AI? According to Scott Werner, we’re all improvising—and that might be the only honest answer.

The Wild West of AI-Driven Development

Scott Werner’s essay, Nobody Knows How To Build With AI Yet, is a must-read snapshot of the modern AI development experience: exhilarating, uncertain, and utterly unpredictable. Werner invites us behind the scenes as he builds “Protocollie” in four days—not by mastering every detail, but by collaborating with an AI and improvising each step.

The most striking realization? There is no longer a set path or best practice for building with AI. What worked yesterday may already be obsolete. Documentation, if it exists, is more like a time capsule of one developer’s process than a blueprint for others.

Expertise: Out the Window

Werner challenges the myth of expertise in this era. In a world where AI tools, workflows, and even “the rules” change every few weeks, everyone—veterans and newcomers alike—is a beginner. “We’re all making this up as we go,” he writes, with a mix of humility and thrill.

His “four-document system,” cobbled together out of necessity rather than design, illustrates this point. The documents aren’t definitive; they’re just artifacts of one experiment, already nostalgic by the time they’re published. What matters isn’t following a set of instructions, but being willing to experiment, iterate, and leave markers for yourself (and maybe others) along the way.

Sandcastles at Low Tide

The essay’s strength lies in its metaphors: AI development is like jazz improvisation, sandcastle building, or throwing spaghetti at the wall. The sticking isn’t what matters—the act of throwing is. In this landscape, the most valuable skill isn’t syntax or architecture, but the ability to express clear intent, communicate with your AI “pair programmer,” and let go of any illusion of permanence.

Documentation? Less a how-to manual, more a set of “messages to future confused versions of ourselves.”

Why You Should Read This

If you’re a developer, technical lead, or just someone curious about how AI is changing work, Werner’s reflections will resonate. They offer a mix of hard-won wisdom, permission to experiment, and an honest look at the anxiety and exhilaration of the new normal.

Memorable Line:
“Maybe all methodology is just mutually agreed-upon fiction that happens to produce results.”

Want to Go Deeper?

  • What does it mean to be an “expert” when tools and workflows change weekly?
  • How can we create documentation that helps others without pretending to have all the answers?
  • What risks and rewards come with building “sandcastles at low tide”?

Read the original essay if you want to see what it really feels like on the front lines of AI-powered creation. And then? Make your own trail markers—someone else might find them, or you might just need them yourself next week.

Who should read this?
Developers, tech leaders, innovation managers, and anyone excited (or a bit terrified) by the rapid evolution of AI in software.

A Homelab Perspective on Backup Strategy

“Data must always be restorable (and as quickly as possible), in an open format, and consistent.”
— Stefano Marinelli

Why Your Homelab Needs More Than Just “Copies”

If you’re running a homelab—whether it’s for learning, hosting services, or managing family data—you’ve probably told yourself “I’ll back it up later” or “I’ve got my files on another disk, so I’m safe.” But after reading Stefano Marinelli’s “Make Your Own Backup System – Part 1: Strategy Before Scripts,” it’s clear that many of us (myself included!) have been lulled into a false sense of security by confusing “backups” with mere file copies.

Marinelli’s core message?
True backup starts with a plan, not with scripts, disks, or the latest cloud storage.

Key Takeaways for Homelabbers

  • Plan First, Script Later:
    Don’t just whip up a cron job to rsync your /home directory. Start by asking: What do you really need to protect? How much downtime can you live with if something breaks? Where should your most precious data actually live?
  • Full Disk vs. File Backups:
    Do you back up the entire drive (system and all), or just the irreplaceable stuff? Full disk images are great for quick, all-in-one restores—especially for VMs—but can eat up tons of space. File-level backups (using rsync, tar, etc.) give you granularity, but restoring a borked system is way harder unless you know exactly what you’re doing.
  • Snapshots Are Essential:
    Filesystems like ZFS and BTRFS aren’t just for big enterprise setups—they’re your friend! Snapshots freeze your data at a specific point, so you’re not backing up half-written databases or files mid-change. This is the difference between a backup that works and one that silently fails.
  • Push or Pull?
    Marinelli makes a strong case for the “pull” model: your backup server fetches data from your machines, not the other way around. This means your main server never has to open up ports or risk exposure, and you keep one central point for management and restores.
  • Own Your Data:
    The article strongly advocates for keeping backups out of the “big tech” cloud. For homelabbers, that resonates—part of the homelab spirit is self-reliance and not being beholden to someone else’s infrastructure or fine print.

What’s Missing (and What to Ask Next)

Marinelli doesn’t dive (yet) into the weeds of scripting, automation, or how much this might cost you in hardware and time. He’s laser-focused on strategy—which is honestly what most homelabbers skip in their rush to install the next shiny tool.

But if you’re like me, you might be wondering:

  • How do I automate snapshot-based backups in a way that’s easy to restore?
  • What’s the best way to test that my backups actually work—without nuking my main system?
  • Are there open-source tools that make “pull” backups easier for a home environment?
  • What’s the smartest way to mix local and “cloudy” (maybe self-hosted) offsite storage?

Should You Read the Original?

If you’re running a homelab—whether you’ve got a single Raspberry Pi or a rack of old enterprise gear—you owe it to yourself (and your data) to rethink how you do backups. Marinelli’s post is a reminder that strategy trumps technology. The how-tos are coming in his later posts, but even as a stand-alone, this first part is pure gold for anyone who wants to sleep better at night knowing their family photos, media libraries, or home services are safe.

Final Word

Don’t wait for disaster to figure out if your backups work. Start with a plan, learn the difference between copying and true backups, and—most of all—make sure you can restore what you care about, when it matters most.

In Defense of Sharing AI Output: Why “AI Slop” Isn’t the End of Meaningful Communication

Rethinking proof-of-thought, noise, and the upside of a more open AI culture.

Is sharing ChatGPT output really so rude?
A recent essay compares AI-generated text to a kind of digital pollution—a “virus” that wastes human attention and diminishes the value of communication. The author proposes strict AI etiquette: never share machine output unless you fully adopt it as your own or have explicit consent from the recipient.

It’s a provocative take, inspired by Peter Watts’ Blindsight, and it raises important questions about authenticity, value, and digital trust. But does it go too far? Is all AI-generated text “slop”? Is every forward or paste a violation of etiquette?

Let’s consider another perspective—one that recognizes the risks but also sees the immense value and potential of a world where AI-generated output is more freely shared.

“Proof-of-Thought” Was Always a Mirage

The essay’s nostalgia for a lost era of “proof-of-thought” is understandable. But let’s be honest: not every piece of human writing was ever insightful, intentional, or even useful. Spam, boilerplate, PR releases, and perfunctory office emails have existed for decades—long before AI.
Authenticity and attention have always required discernment, not just faith in the medium.

AI may have made text cheap, but it has also made ideas more accessible and the barriers to entry lower. That’s not a bug—it’s a feature.

Sharing AI Output: Consent, Context, and Creativity

Of course, etiquette matters. But to frame sharing AI text as inherently rude or even hostile misses some crucial points:

  • AI output can be informative, creative, and valuable in its raw form. Sometimes a bot’s phrasing or approach offers a new angle, and sharing that output can accelerate understanding, brainstorming, or problem-solving.
  • Explicit adoption isn’t always practical. If I ask ChatGPT to summarize a dense technical paper or translate a snippet of code, sometimes the fastest, most honest way to help a friend or colleague is to share that result directly—with attribution.
  • Consent can be implicit in many contexts. In tech, research, and online forums, sharing logs, code snippets, or even entire AI chats is often expected and welcomed—especially when transparency and reproducibility are important.

The Upside of “AI Slop”: Accessibility, Efficiency, and Learning

What the “anti-slop” argument underplays is just how much AI has democratized expertise and lowered the cost of curiosity:

  • Non-native speakers can get better drafts or translations instantly.
  • Students and self-learners can access tailored explanations without waiting for a human expert.
  • Developers and researchers can rapidly prototype, debug, and collaborate with a global community, often using AI-generated code or documentation as a starting point.

Yes, there’s more noise. But there’s also far more signal for many people who were previously shut out of certain conversations.

Trust and Transparency, Not Gatekeeping

Rather than discouraging the sharing of AI output, we should focus on transparency. Label AI-generated text clearly. Foster norms where context—why, how, and for whom AI was used—is always provided. Give people the choice and the tools to ignore or engage as they see fit.

Blanket prohibitions or shame about sharing AI content risk re-erecting barriers we’ve only just started to dismantle.

Questions for the Future

  • How do we build systems that help us filter valuable AI output from true “slop”?
  • What new forms of collaborative authorship—human + AI—will emerge, and how do we credit them?
  • How can we leverage AI to reduce noise, not just add to it?

A Call for a More Open, Nuanced AI Etiquette

AI is here to stay, and its output will only become more sophisticated and pervasive. The solution isn’t to retreat or treat all shared AI text as digital poison. It’s to develop a culture of honesty, clarity, and context—so that AI can amplify, rather than degrade, our collective intelligence.

So yes: share your ChatGPT output—just tell me where it came from. Let’s make etiquette about agency, not anxiety.

The 3 Roles That Build Great Strategy Talent: A Review of Bandan Jot Singh’s Insights

In the fast-moving world of product management, crafting and executing a solid strategy is often more complex than simply delivering features. Bandan Jot Singh’s recent article, “The 3 Roles That Build Great Strategy Talent,” offers a fresh and practical framework that product managers and leaders can adopt to navigate this complexity more effectively.

Singh identifies three critical roles that shape strong strategy talent: The Realist, The Investor, and The Challenger. These aren’t formal job titles but behavioral stances that individuals can embody at different points in the strategy process to ensure it’s robust, well-supported, and adaptable.

Why These Roles Matter

Much like mapping customer journeys involves planning for “unhappy paths” or edge cases, product strategy requires anticipating risks, securing resources, and revisiting assumptions continuously. Singh highlights how many teams neglect these “unhappy paths” in strategy, leaving their plans vulnerable to market shifts, stakeholder dynamics, and operational realities.

Breaking Down the Roles

  • The Realist: This role is about spotting cracks early — the misalignments between what’s planned and what’s happening on the ground. For junior PMs especially, who are close to customer feedback and delivery challenges, raising early red flags backed by data builds trust and prevents costly surprises.
  • The Investor: Getting buy-in and resources isn’t just about asking; it’s about making a persuasive business case. Framing requests in terms of impact, ROI, and alignment with company goals can move leadership to commit people, budget, and support.
  • The Challenger: Strategy should never be set in stone. When priorities or market realities shift, challenging assumptions and advocating for pivots keeps the strategy alive and relevant. This role requires courage and a culture that welcomes questioning without fear.

Leadership’s Role

Singh also emphasizes how product leaders must embody these roles with greater finesse. They set the tone by encouraging dissent, packaging strategy in business language for executives, and demonstrating that revisiting strategy is a sign of strength, not failure.

What’s Missing?

While Singh’s framework is clear and actionable, the article doesn’t deeply address how organizational culture or hierarchy can impede these roles, especially the Challenger. Psychological safety and navigating internal politics are crucial elements for enabling these behaviors in practice.

Why You Should Read the Original

If you’re a product manager, leader, or anyone involved in strategic planning, Singh’s article offers a valuable lens to rethink how you engage with product strategy. It reminds us that strategy isn’t a static plan but a living, breathing process that requires a balance of realism, investment, and challenge — and that each of us can step into these roles to drive better outcomes.

You can read the full article here: The 3 Roles That Build Great Strategy Talent by Bandan Jot Singh

Daily Links: Saturday, Jul 19th, 2025

I’ve shared an array of topics on my blog recently—perfect for tech enthusiasts and budding leaders. Dive into AI with an expansive glossary, learn strategic insights for product managers, explore tools for autonomous systems, and discover the revolution of AI-assisted coding with Claude Code. Plus, get practical advice for new managers and insights into why self-taught engineers often excel. Let’s explore these intriguing topics together!

Why Every Product Manager Should Make Strategy Their Side Project

If you’re a product manager constantly juggling delivery deadlines and leadership expectations, Amy Mitchell’s recent article, “Make Strategy Your Side Project,” is a must-read. Rather than treating strategy as a distant, high-level exercise, Mitchell offers a fresh and practical take: strategy is something you build right alongside your day-to-day product work.

What Sets This Article Apart

Most advice on strategic thinking can feel overwhelming or disconnected from the reality of busy product teams. But Mitchell cuts through that noise by emphasizing small, solution-level strategy — the kind that solves recurring patterns or friction points within your product or team.

She debunks the myth that strategic projects come fully formed on your plate. Instead, you need to spot opportunities in customer feedback, cross-team friction, or delivery bottlenecks — and then build a case for them carefully, framing these projects as hypotheses rather than “big strategies” to manage skepticism and risk.

The Power of Starting Small and Following Through

One of the most compelling insights is how starting small and staying close to delivery work can set you apart. Mitchell points out that many product managers have ideas or decks, but few follow through when the work gets messy or unrewarded in the short term. This follow-through — involving stakeholders, tracking progress, and closing the loop — is what builds trust and influence.

Her “Billboard Test” is a simple but effective tool: Would your team be proud to say, “We figured that out. That changed how we operate”? If yes, you’re on the right track.

Why This Matters for Product Managers Today

In today’s fast-paced environments, leadership demands both immediate results and strategic thinking. Mitchell’s approach offers a way to reconcile those pressures, making strategy less of a distant moonshot and more of a continuous, manageable side effort.

Whether you’re trying to stand out in a crowded product team or earn more visibility with senior leaders, the article provides actionable advice for embedding strategy work into your routine without losing focus on delivery.

Final Thoughts

“Make Strategy Your Side Project” is a timely and practical guide for product managers who want to grow their strategic impact organically. By focusing on small, product-rooted projects and following through with rigor, you can earn the influence and visibility leadership is looking for.

If you’re ready to rethink how you approach strategy and want actionable steps to start today, I highly recommend reading Amy Mitchell’s full article.

Daily Links: Friday, Jul 18th, 2025

Hey there! This blog post is a treasure trove of diverse content. I dive into some intriguing reads and discoveries, like Bridget Read’s history-packed book “Little Bosses Everywhere”, a nifty programming trick for writing better code, a look at enhancing RAG with ELO Scores, and even how to artisanally craft your own git repositories. Come explore these topics with me!