Brilliant master or useful idiot? — The term “AI” has been commodified to mean any clever machine. It is used to describe everything from your smart thermostat to the personal data mining program the company used to determine if you get the job. Today, in 2023, the unfortunate fact with which we must all contend is…

Only you can be free. — NOTE: Within this text, wherever gender is not key to the explanation, I am using the Elverson ey/em construction of the Spivak Pronouns. Who are you? Who am I? Liberal? Catholic? Teacher? Is there a word, or is that too restrictive? Could you answer in a sentence? What is your…

Is persistent doubt normal? — While serving as a senior staff engineer at Sun MicroSystems, a colleague entered my office and asked to talk. I offered him a chair and closed the door. I had known him for years as a skilled and accomplished engineer but he was clearly distraught. “How can I help?” …

Can a small startup turn billionaire capitalism on its head? — NOTE: Within this text, wherever gender is not key to the explanation, I am using the Elverson ey/em construction of the Spivak Pronouns. I am an advocate for real engineering. I’ve written extensively about how modern engineering has become a simple, desiccated procedure. Rich corporations hire software engineers largely for…

Why do we crave a transcendent purpose? — NOTE: Within this text, wherever gender is not key to the explanation, I am using the Elverson ey/em construction of the Spivak Pronouns. In 2002, I was at the Conference on World Affairs, held at the University of Colorado every April. I was attending a panel discussion between four scholars…

Understanding the problem is not enough. — NOTE: Within this text, wherever gender is not key to the explanation, I am using the Elverson ey/em construction of the Spivak Pronouns. I sometimes imagine this fictional exchange. Two people side-by-side. One is carrying a large box full of books, the other watching on. The watcher finally asks, “Is…

The ways that religion cements devotion — NOTE: Within this text, wherever gender is not key to the explanation, I am using the Elverson ey/em construction of the Spivak Pronouns. Many, among the talkative rational people, have referred to MAGA/QAnon as a cult. Some may be willing to call it a religion; but, to be fair, a…

On the auction block again… — Yes, I abandoned my writing for a while. On January 28th, the competitor that bought Rosetta Stone from the hedge fund (yes, that Rosetta Stone) laid off all but a few engineers. The ones that remained found jobs shortly thereafter. …

What if there were such a thing? — Late in the 17th century, the seas around Britain were thick with ships heavy-laden with jewels, embroidered cloth, spices from the East and actual coin minted from gold and silver. Because of the tremendous value in any single ship, piracy was a lucrative vocation. Because a fool and his money…