i have always loved trying to understand systems, and the systems that built those systems. i spend a lot of time thinking about how to get there from here. I own/consult at futureemergent.com.
essay
You’re hiking in the early morning. It’s still dark out. You woke up early—about the hour when a decade ago you’d be going to bed. But instead, you’re rising. You’re a little on edge. The anticipation for this hike made it hard to go
working
I have a philosophy that I often share with the teams I work with. Mistakes are a natural part of life. I make mistakes all the time. But I try to understand the mistakes I make. I try to figure out what I can learn from them. A mistake, repeated,
working
One of my favorite workplace neologisms is the term, “anecdata.” Depending on the day, it’s also my least favorite neologism. The word is a portmanteau of anecdote and data. It’s an observation that lacks perhaps the rigor of academia but that we know to be true anyway. In
walkthroughs
This series documents my experimentation with the use of Targeted Universalism (TU). I used the Othering and Belonging Institute‘s primer on the subject. There are five steps: * Exploring TU * Step 1: set a universal goal * Step 2: assess general performance * Step 3: identify groups * Step 4: understand the structures
essay
This post is narrated! Listen below… There is a photo near the desk where I worked full-time before the pandemic. I used to look at it every time I walked past. It’s a photo from the eighties, as far as I know, though the image is not in color.
essay
messenger My very first real job after college was a part-time job padded out to make a full-time salary. I had a boss who did not read his email. At least, not on a computer. Instead, every email he received came out⏤printed⏤in a stack on the printer that
working
Science lab is the first place I remember learning about passive voice. We learned to write these papers with complete neutrality. We observed our subjects with dispassionate remove. The reports needed to reflect that. “The materials were weighed on the scale.” “The subject was observed flying in a north-south direction.
personal
One day I received an email from a colleague of mine. Someone from the community had reached out to her in search of food. He was living alone, disabled, unable to travel for food or stand in a line. A local church delivered groceries to the apartment where he lived.
working
These past few years have brought strong activism and support for marginalized communities. But the change we need isn’t finished. It may not have even started yet⏤sometimes it’s hard to tell. This past week, another police officer murdered Daunte Wright, another unarmed Black man. The murder occurred
essay
what happens when we decide to play a different game
start the future
I’m continuing the series where I try creating a new organization that serves a public good. I can be intentional about my goals and work with people who align with these intentions. I’ll start by researching different organization types in the united states. This is an essay about
essay
One of my favorite weird fiction tropes is the time loop. Groundhog Day might be the most famous. Looper is a favorite of mine, and Edge of Tomorrow, Palm Springs, and Russian Doll are other great examples. Pretty much every series of Star Trek has at least one episode with
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