Easy/lazy tech journalism

Choose either one: When a new technology comes out, review it breathlessly. Explain without nuance or caution how it will instantly change the world. Go into the details of this first instantiation of it and assume it will never change, it’s done, here we go. When a new technology comes out, describe the scam that…

How to Create a Decent One-Page Local Business Site in the Face of the Google Website Shutdown

Nothing could be worse for a business than existing customers thinking you no longer exist. With millions of Google Business Profile websites being shut down, Miriam Ellis outlines your options for a free/cheap replacement site, with tons of tips for making a strong 1-page presence.

I Asked ChatGPT How to Answer Salary Expectations in an Email — Here’s What I Got

Like most job seekers, I’ve had to answer the dreaded salary expectation question over email. No matter how many times I’ve done it, it’s still nerve-wracking to put a number out there. What if I undercut myself because my number was too low? Or worse, what if I miss out on the job opportunity because…

Make or buy?

If you’re a writer, it probably doesn’t pay to chop down trees and make your own paper, or even to set up a little machine shop to make your own pens. That’s pretty obvious. Should the smoothie shop make its own almond milk? It’s pretty clear that Starbucks should have a team of architects, lawyers…

The illusion of concern

When organizations reach scale, digital interactions belie our expectation that someone in charge actually gives a damn. Once there’s math to do, the CFO does the math. It quickly reveals that no, the search engine shouldn’t bother having a customer support team. That UPS or Fedex should simply hang up on you if your package…

Problems and the clover

Systemic and existential problems dance their way through three circles: If it’s not solvable, we’ll pretend it’s not a problem. If the cultural cost of solving the problem is too high, we’ll pretend there’s no solution. People don’t spend a lot of time planning for death because there’s no solution to it and the social…