Links, August 2, 2024

Make kin not nets

“Kinwork” refers to the work of creating and sustaining kin relationships. Think of the work of checking in on people, arranging gatherings, keeping up the group DM, providing emotional and material support. Because we live within deeply patriarchal societies, kinwork is usually coded as feminine and often presumed to be the work of women. It is also, and for the same reasons, typically disparaged.

The whole piece rings so true to me. I can’t jettison networking outright, but the more closely-knit nature of kin-work is something I’ve found absolutely critical.

I’m catching up on Mandy’s blog and will probably link a few more of her pieces here over the coming weeks.

Observable Framework

The folks behind D3 & Observable HQ released this static site generator not long ago, for creating interactive data vizualizations & dashboards in a jamstack style manner. I used it for a client project this week, and it’s good.

It also uses Plot, which may have the dubious distinction of being the first high-level charting tool I’d enthusiastically recommend.

Stop Trying to Fix Technical Debt

Instead, we should start describing the actual issues the code faces, and what they mean for the business and for the users. Which happens to be precisely what leadership wants to talk about.

Very much this. I’ve met people who just like to do endless refactoring, and “technical debt” is their refuge. That doesn’t mean the concept doesn’t exist, but it’s terribly bad framing, and thinking about what’s actually the problem helps advocate for the changes needed to begin with.

3rd Voice

I hadn’t realized that Evan Dahm, creator of the incredible Rice Boy and Vattu, was working on something else after Vattu wrapped up. This is the only webcomic still in my feed reader.

Topos, GPS, Wayfinding, Ignorance and Serendipity

Most of all: I miss serendipity. I miss that in order to do a thing like camping you first had to show up … and then hope there were spots available. Mmmaybe you could call the ranger station (long distance! expensive!) and mmmmaybe someone would answer and mmmmmmaybe they would “reserve a spot” for you or something, but in general: FIRST YOU HAD TO SHOW UP.

Writer’s Block Does Not Exist

if you’re sitting there with a story in front of you, and the words just aren’t coming, the first thing you should attend to is your body’s needs.

While this piece is primarily about writing stories, a lot of it is applicable to any creative endeavor.