Week #33: Good bye my beloved software
Week of August 11, 2025: Open tabs and links
WHAT IS THIS? A roundup of interesting stuff I read this past week. Maybe it’s helpful to you? Generally, they’re going to be related to leadership, food, culture, digital strategy, investing, fatherhood, writing and other stuff that’s interesting
Reading, Fiction, Movies and the “Empathy Machine” - This article (paywalled) in the Atlantic got me thinking (again) about the power of fiction (and good non-fiction) to get us out of our own heads. Forget the clickbait headline (there’s not just one reason) but give the core idea a chance. Fiction puts you in someone else’s space and time, which means you can get out of your own for a few minutes. Not just as an escape, but as a way of recognizing and affirming that everyone is a little f’d up in their own way. Also, this article introduced me to Ebert’s concept of movies as “empathy machines.”
So Long, Figma - I’ve always like Figma, but I loved Sketch. I’ve let go of a couple cool notes management tools, too. And, I really, really miss Sonic Foundry ACID. Software apps as we know them will change, and they’ll become more like what chatGPT is today. This is a great writeup that a) points to the future of software development and b) makes the case for a well thought through design component system.
Open vs Closed - Reading “The Drawbridges Go Up” makes me sad for a lot of reasons, but also a little bit optimistic. Sad, because this essay is probably right. Despite the possibility of inter-op via MCPs, profit seeking companies will guard against others succeeding. Therefore, one potential outcome from the rise of “Big AI” is that a small number of large companies will essentially dominate the commercial internet. Think: Google, OpenAI, and a handful of others we don’t already know.
But, i’m also slightly optimistic that the tech of MCPs will be adopted by those that believe in an open, free, humanistic internet. It would enable a different kind of “Hobbyist” AI-era. Just like you could make a simple website with a text editor, a browser and an FTP client, you might be able to knit together a powerful AI app as a fun side project. You can already do it if you know the tools, but it’s not quite at the “hobbyist” level yet. MCPs will be a key building block.
Sidenote: Investors expect returns and returns are based on profit. Guess who is the source of profit? Us. I’m concerned we the people will be paying for all this via systems based on advertising, where the super smart AI’s will be working to incept commercial messages into everything without our knowing it. We’re going to be hypermanipulated to keep the ad dollars flowing.
Weathering the Storm - This is a couple weeks old, but new to me. I like the Munk debate series, and I do not think America is entering a “Golden Age”. As a result, I am attracted to posts like this one from Kottke (always reliable) about staying positive when there’s a lot of reason to be worried. And organizations like Weave (the social fabric project). A common thread: Listen more, read more fiction, make things, spend time in nature. Seek joy with friends, explore art. Basically, turn off the screen you’re looking at right now.
Palate Cleansers
Heading into the end of the summer already:
“Last Acts” by Alexander Sammartino - This book is a rush to read. Sammartino is the real deal, a great writer: Stylist, character builder, critic. And the book does everything you want it to do: Make you laugh, cry a little bit, worry about the state of us, recognize the power of kindness and hope in each other. And, avoid drugs. I’m 3/4’s of the way through and I’m not sure I want to know how it ends. This will make a great movie.
Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South - I’m getting ready for a road trip to Muscle Shoals, Memphis, Clarksdale and Arkansas this fall. So, i’m doing some reading to get ready for my trip to the source. Country Soul is an American Studies nerd-dream if you like history and music and Charles Hughes (of No Fences Review ) gives us a very deeply sourced book. You never knew you wanted to know that much about the music of the nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals triangle.
Drive By Truckers - Working on a little music essay project and going deep into the DBT catalog. I think an argument could be made that these guys are the best example of the American Rock Band. Their songs balance entertaining, sometimes goofy takes on characters and piercing social critiques. Their music isn’t everyone’s cup, but if you appreciate American music you should be at least a little familiar with their stuff.
Kathleen Edwards - a great Canadian writer/songwriter, Edwards has a new record coming out in August. It was produced by Isbell and features the 400 Unit. She’s a superb lyricist. Honest, clever, straightforward. An older song, Six O’clock News is on my top 150 of all time. Makes me cry a little every time I hear it. Forgive the bad, old video and audio, but this is a full-band performance and it’s great.
James Gandolfini’s best scene from the Sopranos - Sometimes Youtube serves you gold. I didn’t ask for this, but it is an amazing, moving performance. In series filled with them, I’m not sure this is the best, but watch him move through all the emotions in 3 minutes.
Hope your next week is great!