Doug Jones
Doug Jones

  • Amelia Wattenberger

    Computers used to be physical beasts. We programmed them by punching cards, plugging in wires, and flipping switches. Programmers walked among banks of switches and cables, physically choreographing their logic. Being on a computer used to be a full-body experience.

    Interesting article about computer interfaces in the age of AI. I do think a more multi-modal/tactile experience would benefit a lot of people (myself included). Just think how much more engaging a video game is compared to a wall of text.

    Via Robin Sloan. Although Sloan is not a fan of the imagery in the post, I thought it was effective! I read the article in full before Sloan’s post and was so engaged in the ideas there that I didn’t notice any of the criticism he raises with the art.

  • Finished reading: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan 📚

    I’ve now finished all of the books in the Penumbraverse, having read them in reverse chronological order. I’ve enjoyed each one!

  • Finished reading: Sourdough by Robin Sloan 📚

    Fun read! And I appreciated that the main character is a software engineer who became burnt out and changed course to other pursuits.

  • Travel mishaps left us “stuck” in San Juan for a night…but I’m not upset at all.

    A vast grassy field with several people scattered throughout, under a partly cloudy sky. A historic fort is visible on a hill in the background, with the ocean to the right.

    Entrance to an old stone fortress with a wooden gate, featuring classical architectural elements like columns and a carved pediment. The sky is partly cloudy.

    Scenic view of a coastal area with historic fortifications, grassy fields, and a red-domed building in the foreground. People are walking and relaxing on the grass. The ocean is on the left and a vibrant town is visible in the background.

    A cobblestone street lined with colorful buildings adorned with ornate balconies. Strings of white lights hang overhead, illuminating the scene at night. Wall-mounted lanterns provide additional warm lighting, creating a festive atmosphere.

  • A few favorite photos from Culebra.

    Sunset over a canal with vivid clouds reflecting on the water. Brightly colored buildings line the right side, while lush trees frame the left.

    A serene sunset over the ocean with a sailboat silhouetted against the vibrant orange sky. The sun reflects on the water, creating a shimmering path. An island is visible in the background with some clouds adding texture to the sky.

    Two cans of Medalla Light beer on sandy ground with small rocks and dried seaweed around them, illuminated by warm sunlight.

    Sunset over the ocean with a glowing sun reflecting off the water. Silhouetted islands in the background and a sandy beach with scattered seaweed in the foreground.

  • Finished reading: Old Man’s War by John Scalzi 📚

    Good, quick read. I’m looking forward to digging into the rest of the series, eventually.

  • An old, rusted tank sits partially submerged on a sandy beach, covered in colorful graffiti. The blue ocean and a sky with clouds are in the background.

    Playa Flamenco, Culebra

  • Finished reading: Moonbound by Robin Sloan 📚

    I really enjoyed this book! I’d recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and sci-fi as it’s a really fun mashup of the two genres.

  • Everyday 087

    A tall communication tower against a clear blue sky, surrounded by modern apartment buildings. In the foreground, there is a chain-link fence with an open gate, leading to a paved area.

  • Everyday 086

    A street sign covered with various stickers and graffiti. The stickers include a hand with crossed fingers, a red bicycle, a labeled “Videodrome” with goggles, a face wearing shaded sunglasses, and a text stating “I am Lonely too.

  • Everyday 085

    A fallen tree log with a tiny decorative door set into its side, surrounded by fallen leaves on the ground. Sunlight streams in from the top left corner.

  • Nature filled Saturday

    We’ve been lucky in Atlanta that the tail end of winter and beginning of spring has had some really pleasant weather so far. Most days are cool mornings followed by temps warm enough for t-shirts.

    I spent most of Saturday outdoors in nature, taking advantage of the weather.

    Saturday morning was spent with Trees Atlanta helping to remove invasive plant species from the park in my neighborhood. The target was Carolina cherry laurel which is considered invasive in this area, but native in the Carolinas.

    Later, I took the dogs for a walk around the trails of Mason Mill, which has some nice elevated boardwalks and trails that head off from it.

    Here’s some photos of one of those trails that starts out running underneath the boardwalk.

    A wooden bridge with visible support beams spans over a dirt pathway in a forest. The area is surrounded by trees with sparse foliage, and the ground is covered with fallen leaves and pine needles. The sky is clear and blue.

    Then it winds off away.

    A narrow dirt trail winds through a woodland area with tall, leafless trees and some shrubs showing early signs of greenery. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting shadows on the path. The sky is clear and blue.

    Active freight rail passes through the center of the park.

    A train partially visible through a dense thicket of bare trees and branches, with a clear blue sky in the background. The scene captures the interplay of natural and man-made elements.

    Underneath view of a wooden bridge with beams and supports, spanning over a small creek. The surrounding area features exposed soil and vegetation with sunlight filtering through the branches.

    This was my first time trying out these paths and it was fun to find two City Champion Trees, meaning they are the largest examples of the species in the greater Atlanta area.

    A tall red maple tree stands prominently on a woodland path. Bare branches extend upward against a clear blue sky. A sign in the foreground reads “City Champion Red Maple, Acer rubrum.” Surrounding bushes and trees show early signs of foliage.

    A large tree in a forested area with a sign in front. The sign reads “City Champion River Birch” with the scientific name “Betula nigra.” It lists measurements from 2021: 11’ 2” circumference, 72.7’ tall, 80’ crown spread.

    A view from the boardwalk trail.

    A calm, reflective pond bordered by dry, brown vegetation and tall, leafless trees against a clear blue sky. Sparse greenery is visible, adding to the winter landscape feel.

    Later, we met up with a friend to walk around Murphy Candler Park.

    Three people are smiling in an outdoor setting with leafless trees in the background. The person on the left has a beard and wears glasses and a blue cap. The person in the middle also wears glasses and a denim shirt. The person on the right has glasses on their head and is also wearing a denim shirt.

    From left to right we have: me, my partner Beth, and our friend Shubam. (Hi, Shubam!)

    It was a great day! I’m feeling content that I was able to spend so much time outdoors. Easy access to nature, even right outside my door, is one of the things that I really enjoy about living in this city.

  • Everyday 084

    Auto-generated description: A tall tree with bare branches stands among smaller pine trees under a clear sky.

  • Everyday 083

    A small plant with thin branches and several red and green leaves set against a blurred background of natural vegetation.

  • Everyday 082

    A small plant with red and green leaves emerging from a thin stem, set against a blurred natural background.

  • Finished reading: Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler 📚

    I really enjoyed this series, but ended up preferring Sower over Talents. Very glad to have read the two books back to back, as I felt I may have bounced off of Talents if I had too much time between the two.

  • Everyday 081

    Auto-generated description: A barren tree trunk stands beside leafless branches under a clear sky.

  • Everyday 080

    A close-up of a yellow leaf on a bare branch, set against a background of tangled branches and trees under a clear blue sky.

  • Everyday 079

    A monochrome image of a forest with tall trees. In the center is a tall, broken tree trunk, surrounded by bare branches and various types of foliage. The sky is clear in the background.

  • Everyday 078

    Close-up of reddish-brown soil covered with scattered dry pine needles. Ice crystals can be seen in the soil.