We’ve all been told to be proactive—at work, with our health, in life. But what happens when the systems we rely on punish that effort or make it harder to care for ourselves in the moment? In this personal reflection, I explore the gap between the idea of proactivity and the lived reality of trying to plan ahead in a world that doesn’t always reward it. Maybe the answer isn’t more hustle—but more kindness.

Tired of fantasy stories that long for a golden past where witches were burned and power wore a crown? In this essay, I argue that magic hasn’t vanished—it’s evolved. From fungal networks to fiber optics, the Fae didn’t disappear. They just upgraded. Let’s stop mourning the myths of yesterday and start building the enchantment of tomorrow.

Once upon a time, you could buy an appliance that just… worked. These days, it wants your WiFi password and a subscription fee. In this sarcastic breakdown of modern consumer tech, we’ll unpack how companies design for data collection, not for you. Spoiler: your smart fork has trust issues.

I believe there is a middle ground when it comes to AI. It is possible to see the value it can provide while also being aware of the harms it promotes, such as devaluing human input and the theft that many AI companies engaged in to build their models. I believe we should advocate for ethical use of AI models and seek to provide fair compensation to those who have been harmed by it.

Happy Samhain everyone! And Day of the Dead. And Diwali. All the fall holidays! Plus some politics and dont forget to change your clocks on Saturday.

In which I share a moment with my cat and relate some links I found interesting.

After spending a decade writing the novel “Digital Dryad,” I’m considering bringing my writing and web programming skills together to create dynamic games inspired by the vivid world of my novel. Some of my ideas include language learning games that teach you how to converse in “Dryadic” and exciting “choose your own adventure” narratives as well as other ideas. I’m exploring an assortment of game concepts. Gamification of your novel is a wonderful way to expand the reader’s experience in the world of Digital Dryad.

Digital Dryad is out now! Pick up your copy today from Amazon. Available in paperback or Kindle ebook format. It’s also available on Kindle Unlimited.

My author copies have arrived. Only two weeks until they will be available for sale on Amazon! And even my cats approve.

I was wondering why so many YouTubers were upset by a silly meme question. But then I rewatched a Northern Exposure episode, and it makes a lot more sense now.