when things go wrong in my life, the most common phrase i hear is “it’ll be ok”. i suspect the same is true in yours. comfort often comes with the certainty, often misplaced but just as often correct, that the future will be better than the present. the other piece… Read More »the only time is now

there are three types of battle. you can win. you can walk away. or you can be an idiot. that’s not my viewpoint in particular, though i agree with it. it’s one of the most significant advances in military thought of the past five-thousand years. you’ll find it as one… Read More »sun tzu in ukrainian?

do or do not. there is no try. it’s the most famous line from star wars with the potential exception of “luke, i am your father”. but what does it mean and what does that have to do with the current situation in ukraine, russian aggression and desire for empire… Read More »ukraine needs yoda

there is a well-known case study from the 80s telling the story of an autistic child. its details are vague and it has been told in at least six different forms. the original report was actually redacted and it’s not even clear what actually happened but it is a similar… Read More »surprise

there are many things about the english language that truly need to be upgraded for it to be efficient and streamlined, easy to learn and functional without a huge delay for non-native speakers. most of these upgrades would make it far easier for children to learn to use the language… Read More »that’s so last millennium, english!

japanese saws (nokogiri, 鋸) have, for the last few decades, been becoming more and more popular in the west as an alternative to inaccurate, rough push-stroke cutting tools that have been the norm for centuries, requiring thicker steel, more force and causing untold mechanical injury to craftspeople. it is unsurprising… Read More »fundamentals of japanese saws