The Dice — 011

A few days ago I wrote about my observation of the Internet becoming increasingly quiet. Some people take this to mean the Internet is dying while others are saying it’s already dead. I don’t buy either of these arguments but it does seem that more and more folks are pulling back from engaging online. Our own Tower of Bable is crumbling while being patched up by more algorithms and AI, and one thing is clear: Few people know where to turn to fill the Internet size whole in their social life.

We'll start there and then roll our way through a few stories of inspiration.

I quit Instagram years ago when I thought it could not get any worse. So when I came across Why I Hate Instagram I was shocked by just how bad it’s become. An algorithm-fueled feed that "thwarts my efforts to see all the photos posted by people I know and chose to follow, I call bullshit.” Sounds like a metaphor for all social network platforms today.

Om Malik recently opined on social media: “It’s starting to be infested with misinformation and AI-generated content. The utility is rapidly declining, and I think controlling or avoiding it altogether is a good way to keep my mind fresh.” So, he’s started intermittent social media fasting.

Want to reduce your time spent on social and find a better life? Kill your apps and reconfigure your phone.

Even if you don't like the subject matter, you have to check out this super 16-bit parallaxed report, Who killed the world?, by data journalist and professor Alvin Chang. Seriously, you have to see this and scroll through it to appreciate the effort that went into making it. Alvin studied 200 science fiction films produced from the 1950s to the current and found that “over the last few generations, it’s been harder for us to imagine this better world.”

Speaking of dystopian entertainment, we’re now three months away from season two of Silo. Now is a great time to catch up on the show.

Found in Steve Makofsky’s Espresso Shots weekly, a simple guide to cure writer's block: “Don’t try to be creative at your computer. Staring at a flashing black cursor against a blank white page will never inspire new ideas.” TL;DR: Get out in the world and start capturing inspiration. Observe and interact with people. Fill your mind with imagery, sounds, smells, and stories. And when your brain is full, then go back to the screen.

For more inspiration and ideas, I recommend reading the article Do Interesting and then the book.

In What's Next vs. What's Now, the wonderfully thoughtful Naz Hamid shares a perspective on what he considers success in life and wealth. “We might put emphasis on the non-worthwhile parts of what it means to "make it." I highly value experiences: travel, experiencing different cultures, and prioritizing health and life outside of work as wealth.”

Bam! As always, Naz is a great source for reflection and recentering the universe.

If you need a second opinion, look no further than the How Much is Enough sign hanging in your local Jimmy Johns.

Internet writing legend Josh “Fireland” Allen is publishing a serialized, pulpy maritime crime comedy called Chokeville. It’s the kind of snappy writing that makes for a great read. For example, here’s a synopsis of chapter 24, My Idiot Mitts: “The sisters go shake down a shipbuilder for the money he owes to a bookie. He’s resistant to the idea, and also naked, and also flings a knife at Mina. Batya is irritated by all this and proceeds to break his fingers. Seems excessive!”

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Related: Josh makes a brief, but very supportive appearance in the brilliant Sandwich commercial for Slack called WFH. It was shot during the pandemic and the making-of is just as good, if not better, than the commercial. 

Also: The Sandwich dad hat in navy (aka the best one) is back in stock.

Continuing on the theme of writing, I have to share this entertaining and very helpful article, Dungeons & Dragons Taught Me How to Write Alt Text. “I don’t know about you,” writes Eric Bailey, “but I’d want to know about the red dragon’s presence and activity a lot more than the quality of the masonry. There’s also another odd bit of putting too much detail on the wrong thing.” The entire article is gold and should be shared often.

On the subject of accessibility, my friend Stacey Swineheart Ganderson recently published her must-read book, WCAG for Designers.

Alright, that about does it for me. Have a great week. Support your local journalists by subscribing and supporting.

Published in Tacoma, Washington while listening to Elton John's Rocket Hour