When most people think of summer, they talk about beaches, picnics, and pools. Not me. My best summer memories are at night, when dusk goes on forever and it’s ten o’clock before the stars come out. We used to hang out on my friend Mary’s second-floor porch, laughing, playing Cosmic Wimpout, and spinning old 78s.

The sounds of a city at night enveloped us. A chopper brumming on the next street over. A party across the way. Crickets mixed with car radios, echoes bouncing off buildings, warped and Doppler-bent. We talked until dawn some days. How was there ever that much to say?

My Picks

RNGdle

It’s great to do something mindless from time to time. Once a day, get a random number. See how many interesting combinations, patterns, and attributes it has, and earn points for their rarity. You can see others’ high scores, and track your own progress. That’s it. Super simple, like playing a lottery where you always win, because it’s free. (Yes, I actually do find this fun.)

Caught In Joy

Karol Pokojowczyk made his fortune in tech, then used it to create the electronic music studio of his dreams. Now, he releases four albums a month on Bandcamp (90+ and counting) that are filled with music that harks back to the best Berlin-school classics, and he shares some of them regularly on his YouTube channel. Great for working or studying, sure, but also worth a closer listen.

World History Timeline

I had a copy of this timeline’s inspiration, by Joseph Priestley, on my wall back in the day. I think it came with something from Edward Tufte. Along with the Chronicle of the World, I could use it to examine the sweep of history from a perspective unlike any other. It’s nice to see it updated, and watch how civilizations rise and fall, fracture and mix, over the span of time. Endlessly fascinating.

At what point does it make sense to ditch a gas car for an electric vehicle?

After I run my Mazda into the ground, I’m almost certainly going to look for an all-electric vehicle to replace it, regardless of the subsidies. NPR does a great job of helping us understand the tradeoffs when we’re considering our next car.

Recently Published

What I’d Tell Someone Just Starting with AI

I had a great talk with a bunch of local nonprofit fundraisers last month, and realized that I’ve never put my advice for the use of these tools in one place. Here are my strategies and tips for getting the most out of LLMs.

Thinking Through AI

I have finally reached a moment where I can see myself ditching the “flagship” AI models someday. There’s a point at which the corporations behind the products become so toxic that the good we can do with them isn’t enough. How do we know? What can I do about it? (Answer: teach!)

In the Groove

A great entryway into the small group swing that reminds me of summer is the Benny Goodman Sextet featuring Charlie Christian, available used online for a very reasonable price. This is a group of some of the finest musicians of the era, playing together in a more intimate setting than a big band stage. There’s Fletcher Henderson on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, and the innovative sound of electric guitar in its first decade played masterfully by Charlie Christian. Goodman brings it all together with his clarinet soaring above and between, bringing new life to old standards and arrangements that still reach down into my soul today.

I can’t believe what a big deal it was to have an integrated band like this back then. Genius is genius, period.

Until Next Time

That’s the thing about a great record, and a great summer: you don’t just remember them, you go looking for the next one. Here’s to the nights ahead. See you next month.