Reading about the social features The Verge are building into their site and I can’t help but be reminded how of how Google really screwed up with Blogger (one of many in a long list of screwups). I read somewhere they still have millions of active blogs but you wouldn’t know it through their search I guess.

The Verge, really doubling down on blogging as the social network, here’s a nice thread on Bluesky by Nilay Patel:

Verge quickposts are a bit "fake" today -- they're just Wordpress entries designed to look more or less like tweets. Since the beginning, I've wanted to make them "real" -- to turn our feed into a true social feed, with all of the social features (and interop with Bluesky and Mastodon!) that brings

— nilay patel ([@reckless.bsky.social](http://reckless.bsky.social)) August 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM

A reminder that the hyped math of AI productivity doesn't add up

Colton Voege writes No, AI is not Making Engineers 10x as Productive. I would extend this conclusion to any profession or craft: There is no secret herbal medicine that prevents all disease sitting out in the open if you just follow the right Facebook groups. There is no AI coding revolution available if you just start vibing. You are not missing anything. Trust yourself. You are enough. Oh, and don’t scroll LinkedIn.

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Green bean fort. Courtesy of my wife and son 📷

A green bean fort and green garden area is surrounded by tall grass and trees.

🎵 I recorded a snippet of my one of my attempts to learn Fresh Tendril by Soundgarden and just when I think I’ve nailed the count on it, the beat inverts by an offbeat eighth note.

Pretty amazing: The first 100% effective HIV prevention drug is approved and going global

An epidemic that’s been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the milestone approval of the first HIV drug that offers 100% protection with its twice-yearly injections. It’s a landmark achievement that stands to save millions of lives across the globe.

And it is royalty free:

The makers are also providing affordable access to the drug in the US and beyond, signing royalty-free licensing agreements with six generic manufacturers to produce and supply it.

Unboxing

A small box labeled Macintosh with Apple branding and marked as a collector's edition is sitting on a surface.An open cardboard box contains a white plastic insert labeled TOP.A cardboard box contains a small, rectangular plastic holder with vents, revealing an open slot in the center.A small, vintage-style computer with a CRT display and a floppy disk slot is shown on a dark surface.A miniature model of a classic Macintosh computer is held in a person's hand, showing a lit-up screen with icons.

Today I learned that eggplant is, botanically speaking, a berry.

I have now hit that milestone where I’ve had to increase the system wide font size on my phone.

I thought that working on my CV was going to be stressful but I’m finding myself in a place of deep thought over what my deal actually is, somewhat refreshing tbh. I am mainly focusing on conveying clarity, not trying to play some business jargon LinkedIn game. No, not running it through ChatGPT.

A History of Mac Settings via @taoofmac.com @rcarmo@mastodon.social

Thinking of Ozzy and playing Sinatra’s “My Way” in my head. I watched a bunch of videos on his last performance in Birmingham, what a life.

Because of Ozzy I’ve gotten to experience great drummers: Bill Ward, Randy Castillo, Tommy Aldridge, and my all time favorite: Mike Bordin.

Listening to “In My Life” from 2005’s Under Cover album.

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert should bring their stuff to PBS (and maybe even run for office).

Speaking of, starting at $5 per month (or $60 per year) gets you access to everything PBS through their PBS Passport donation/subscription service.

I’ve had the CD since I was 18 or something. Pure bossa, as if the musicians were in your living room. You can hear the clinking of the ice in the whiskey glass, the lighting of the cigarettes. Super excited for this vinyl copy I just ordered.

Check out their version of Nature Boy

Album cover: Two musicians perform on stage, with one singing and the other playing a guitar, under the title Toquinho e Vinicius: O Poeta e o Violão.A vintage record label features album details for O Poeta e o Violão by Toquinho e Vinicius, listing songs and contributors.A vinyl record label features details of the album O Poeta e o Violão by Toquinho and Vinicius, listing several tracks.Two men are holding a guitar, and a list of songs appears beside them, with the text Toquinho e Vinicius O Poeta e O Violão at the bottom.

I feel compelled to divert my subscription money away from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others to public broadcasting outlets in light of the funding cut shenanigans passing through Congress right now.

Tip o' the hat to the companies that list which states are ineligible for remote work in their job posting.

Wag o' the finger to those that don’t.

For when coffee inevitably becomes more expensive.

The Forgotten Drink That Caffeinated North America for Centuries

Cynicism aside, I’m always pleasantly surprised at American native plants and fruits and such that are often not in our collective food supply chain. Every summer we spend a lot of time outside picking mulberries as a little snack.

Pawpaws are on my list to try next.

Well stated, sir.

Dare Obasanjo (@carnage4life@mas.to)

Using your incredible power to bully others is boring and expected. On the other hand, kindness is gangster.

Jesus. This is tight.

I guess I’m continuing my “we are not a serious people” series.

A compilation of news headlines discusses Trump's threat of 50% tariffs on Brazil regarding Bolsonaro's trial.