2013

A look back at 2013 through curated links: best-of lists, news recaps, cultural moments, and notable figures we lost.

Nat Welch reflects on 2013: Google launches, trips to SpaceX and PAX, weddings galore, and a whole lot of good times with friends and family.

An internet list rant. Specifically, frustration with terrible male dating advice lists written by people who don't understand men.

Exploring Markov Chains and their creative possibilities in programming.

Google Compute Engine is live! See the news: GA release, price drops, and expanded OS support. Run high-performance VMs in the cloud.

Lost Bitcoin fortune highlights the importance of data backups. Don't let a simple mistake cost you everything. Learn from this cautionary tale.

Exploring the intersection of art and the internet: from Venice's waterways on Street View to public domain art and code glitches.

Winamp's gone. Remembering the media player and reflecting on Dropbox's near-death experience at the hands of Apple.

Analyzing early PS4 sales figures. How will international markets and the holiday season impact overall performance?

A look at Google's marketing strategy, focusing on a specific NPR piece analyzing its approach in India and drawing potential parallels.

Google's unified login system has been a long time coming. Examining the inevitable merging of accounts and what it means for users.

Progress on gay marriage in the US is hopeful, but a stark reminder of the global fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality still ahead.

London calling! Random glimpses into life in the UK capital, gleaned from travel guides, news, and expat blogs.

Big news: Nathaniel Welch is moving to London! Find out why, when, and how to get in touch. Plus, he's looking for London & Europe travel tips!

Hands-on review of the Moto X: customization via Moto Maker, impressive features like Active Notifications, and overall feel. Pros & cons discussed.

Startup School insights without the trip: Dorsey's daily habits, Libin's co-founder criteria, and mobile innovation opportunities.

Is gaming culture taking over, or am I imagining things? Plus, links to cool Wolfram Alpha Pokemon data, Infinity Blade, and Ingress.

Inspired by iFixit and Hartmut Esslinger, reflecting on design values and the importance of repair.

Quickly spin up a temporary Git server for peer-to-peer workflows, plus sysadmin tips, Dockerfile best practices, and more.

Pretty page, awful experience. Why Venmo and Gmail still beat Square for quick money transfers.

Exploring lmctfy today. Interesting containerization project, but still a work in progress. Links to related resources included.

Random sysadmin tasks: web server index, nginx redirects, SSH forwarding, using SSH as a proxy, and working with jq.

Exploring the allure of personal weather stations: resources, Raspberry Pi integration, and the possibilities of hyperlocal data.

Valve had an interesting week. Examining the Steam Controller, Steam Machines, and the expanding Steam Universe.

Weekend explorations in mapping and coding, inspired by open source tools and the Google Maps API.

A coveted living room, a mysterious GitHub link, and the allure of shared media. What's the connection?

Explore well-designed portals to niche data, including Google's new "Constitute" tool for searching world constitutions.

Exploring cool Raspberry Pi project ideas from Adafruit: ad blocking, IoT printers, and more. Dive into the world of DIY electronics!

A morning spent pondering video games: history, emulators, playing classics on modern machines, and the harsh realities of indie development.

Exploring Android app database integration. Notes on OrmLite, ActiveAndroid, and new Google Play Store rules.

Yosemite ablaze: News reports and video capture the Rim Fire's devastating impact and threat to San Francisco's vital resources.

Keret House: World's thinnest dwelling open for tours. Imagine owning a timeshare there, in the heart of a bustling city.

Sed Chess, browser-based 3D editors, and CSVs: equally pointless and amazing. Why do these technological marvels bother me so much?

Elevate your coffee game. Expert tips from The Atlantic's Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez on achieving coffee perfection at home.

Dreaming of a MAME arcade cabinet? Explore DIY plans, software, and even kegerator integrations for the ultimate retro gaming setup.

Create. Live. Don't let work consume you. Inspiration from building, culture, and remembering what matters.

Surveillance, Manning's sentence, and the shifting landscape of privacy in America. A look at recent news and growing concerns.

A collection of disparate stories about people, linked by an unseen thread. Team Venture, comics, haiku, Google, and forgotten heirs.

A great skate video find. Watch this full-length from Skateboarder Magazine and get stoked to ride.

Fear for the future. Echoes of past struggles. First hackers, now journalists & loved ones. Where does it end?

Growth hacking: Separating the signal from the noise. A critical look at the hype, definitions, and resources surrounding startup growth strategies.

Ashton Kutcher's surprisingly insightful speech offers a humorous and practical perspective on life, ambition, and personal responsibility.

Exploring the Indie Web movement: its growing popularity, key projects, and the desire for a decentralized internet.

Two powerful spoken word performances explore life's big questions and the impact of education. Inspiring perspectives on value and meaning.

A curious limitation: piping data *into* Vim is common, but using Vim's output *in* a shell pipeline? An unexpected constraint explored.

A poignant comic and two links to restore your faith in love. Prepare for a bittersweet emotional ride.

Critical web software security flaw revealed! Learn about the BREACH attack and how to protect your applications.

Catching up on the whirlwind of Moto X rumors. From camera UI leaks to custom colors, what's really happening with Motorola's mystery phone?

A brief look at a few nice, minimalist leather wallets and travel accessories worth your attention (and money).

Indie game development on consoles in 2014: Will Microsoft and Sony empower self-publishing for independent creators?

Google and Android news: Chromecast, the new Nexus 7, and Android 4.3 are officially here. Get the details on features, pricing, and availability.

A quick rundown of Comic-Con news: Coulson's popularity, superhero movie updates, and hints about the next Avengers film.

Twitter co-founder Evan Williams lists his surprisingly stylish home. See the photos and dream of owning a piece of tech history.

Startup advice: Tech isn't always the first or best solution. Think critically, validate assumptions, and iterate intelligently.

A glimpse into a damp, quiet city night. Fog hangs heavy, a police car patrols, and lines of people wait at the docks under a green glow.

Startup insights worth pondering. A collection of curated advice and thought-provoking links to spark your entrepreneurial spirit.

A look back at the Ouya game console: reviews, quirks, and the promise of a $100 gaming experience revisited.

Art, music, and design collide. Provocative links explore interactive installations, DJ technology, and the state of online music charts.

San Francisco's food scene, dissected. This week: Uni takes center stage.

A brief look at Gittip, exploring both its potential and shortcomings in the context of open source funding.

Connecting with current customers is crucial for growth. Plus, insights on marketing from Dave McClure, Xbox messaging, and Radiohead vs. Spotify.

Tech deep dive: SSL certs, PNG optimization, Twitter's architecture, HTTP/2, and Japan's unique file sharing landscape. Explore these fascinating topics.

Decoding AWS's latest price drop: Separating hype from reality. Did the cost *really* decrease by 80%? Let's do the math.

Video games as a powerful learning tool. Exploring how educators and organizations are leveraging games to engage kids and inspire learning.

Is tipping economically sound? A look at the hidden costs and arguments for abolishing this common practice.

A look at fiery, high-altitude mishaps: spectacular rocket explosions, launch failures, and the surprising reasons behind them.

Exploring the complex, often contradictory, role of video games as both a cultural phenomenon and a powerful art form.

Two takes on the Bay Area: one a love letter tinged with frustration, the other a satirical look at tech's impact on local life.

Is tech really to blame for San Francisco's high rent? Exploring the complex factors behind the city's affordability crisis.

Exploring easier ways to deploy to my own server. Forking Dokku to support multiple sites on a single GCE instance.

E3 2013 highlights: Key announcements and first impressions covering Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Xbox One, Sunset Overdrive, and more.

Exploring the cyclical nature of creativity: how we absorb, combine, tweak, and output, shaping culture through creative "vomit."

Freedom, surveillance, and asylum: Exploring global liberty, data privacy, and the implications of government overreach.

Amazing time lapse footage and rare film captures of truly inspiring art experiences.

Recent revelations confirm widespread surveillance. Paranoia about privacy violations was, unfortunately, warranted.

A curated list of fascinating reads from the week, covering everything from Google internships to digital afterlife planning.

Logstash woes conquered! Sharing the resources that finally cracked the code. Links to helpful guides and patterns included.

"We're a public institution, so the art we have is everyone's property." Exploring the implications of public ownership of art.

Exploring logging and monitoring solutions for my websites. DNS queries, Graphite dashboards, and Riemann are all on the table.

Exploring networking, reliability, and databases through the lens of "Call Me Maybe" and real-world examples like Redis, MongoDB, and Postgres.

Looking for reading inspiration? Get book recommendations from Bill Gates and other curated lists to discover your next great read.

Two interesting reads exploring the evolving landscape of childhood development and the continuing dominance of tech giants.

Discover useful JavaScript libraries for manipulating audio in HTML5. A quick overview for developers working with web audio.

A couple of good tunes for your listening pleasure. Enjoy some electronic beats and retro gaming vibes.

Angelina Jolie's powerful NYTimes piece on her preventative medical choices regarding breast cancer. A personal and impactful story.

Google OKRs done right: the key to measurable Key Results. Plus, a dose of startup reality from SF.

Exploring cool art: suspended tennis balls and geometric projections that redefine space and perception.

A workout you can do anywhere with just a wall and chair? This simple, science-backed routine mirrors gym workouts and saves time.

A worthwhile recommendation: a particularly inspiring and interesting episode of This American Life. Find the transcript here.

Exploring Time Series storage solutions and getting sidetracked by interesting database discoveries. Cube and TheBigDB caught my eye.

Data visualization reveals the stark inequalities in Bay Area public transportation funding and its impact on riders.

Quick thoughts on GitTip's transparency, Google's dominance, and questionable life advice. A brief browse of yesterday's interesting (and not-so-interesting) reads.

Examining the Iron Ring and pondering its potential applications in software development. Could a similar symbol foster professionalism?

Software engineering insights: what separates great programmers from the rest, plus a look at Mac development and the Church-Turing thesis.

A quick dip into the absurd: FoxGirl teachers, Family Guy ads, and Trump's... magical moments? Find unexpected humor in internet oddities.

Data releases on company mishaps and community oddities are fascinating. Exploring examples from EVE Online, Google, and iFixit.

Y Combinator's influence examined: A look at the famed startup accelerator featured in The New York Times.

Johnny Marr does The Smiths, and Sigur Rós goes yellow. Random music news of note, reported here.

Google Glass: security, privacy, fashion, and accessibility. Exploring the implications of wearable tech, from Saurik to Dustin Curtis.

A diverse collection of art to spark your imagination: from coffee foam creations to ghostly plane wrecks and provocative video art.

Straightforward career advice from someone who's been there. Lessons learned and wisdom shared.

Information overload demands critical thinking. Navigating the news requires combining sources to find truth. Are better tools needed to filter the noise?

Unbelievable places, captivating London scenes, and a directory of iSchools. Inspiration and interesting finds to spark your curiosity.

A bizarre and captivating art form emerges from Tokyo's underground scene. Exploring the beauty in the unusual.

Exploring flat design principles and Designmodo resources for creating modern, impactful user interfaces.

An opinion on Twitter's API, potential acquisitions, and the author's possible (and perhaps ironic) termination from the platform.

Google Glass through cyberpunk eyes, executive pay disparities, and the curious case of Google's bike obsession.

A look at Google's ngx_pagespeed project and why it's a valuable tool for web developers focused on site performance.

Discover incredible live music performances from KEXP's YouTube channel. Featuring Benjamin Gibbard, Tegan and Sara, Passion Pit, and Bloc Party.

Dive deep into the early days of The Simpsons with this extensive interview featuring the original writers. Insights and anecdotes abound!

Explore insightful perspectives on product development, company transparency, and understanding complexity in ideas.

Learn how to efficiently configure HTTP headers across multiple websites using Nginx's global add_header setting. A simple trick for sysadmins.

SpaceX's Grasshopper hops again! A look at the amazing video and a question: is this the future of space travel?

Stumbled upon a rare find: straightforward instructions on how to mirror Wikileaks. Save yourself the search, it's right here.

Startups vs. corporate America: which is weirder? A reflection on work culture and feeling bad for someone in the process.

Interesting finds from the weekend: a baseball oddity, the effects of Tylenol, Tesla's predictions, and a wild Rube Goldberg machine.

Speed up your web development with these two clever tricks. Learn about Git checksums for cache busting and SASS recompilation on deploy.

Dreaming of a future home. Inspiration from stunning architectural designs: lava flows, minimalist forms, and modern living spaces.

Why do some technologies fail to gain traction? Exploring the crucial link between innovation and user incentive, using Lucre and Bitcoin as examples.

Dreaming of a Motorola phone comeback. Could Google's design influence paired with stock Android create something truly special?

Security through obscurity fails again. Shodan exposes vulnerable devices, including those named after cyberpunk classics.

Need some visual inspiration? Check out these stunning photography finds, from long exposure transit to neon waterfalls.

Startup traffic insights: Examining the success rate and growth patterns of Y Combinator companies.

A look at the ongoing competition in browser rendering engines, including Blink, Gecko, and collaborations shaping the future of the web.

Google Compute Engine Gold is here! A look at expanded availability, new features, and price adjustments in Google's cloud offering.

Remote work pros and cons, viewed through the lenses of Google and prominent tech voices. A critical look at the evolving landscape.

A review of Dave Chappelle's recent Bay Area popup show, including thoughts on the material and the hype around his "return."

Three articles on building, creating, and clearing your head. Inspiration for your next project, whatever it may be. Now go make something.

A bizarre art roundup: Japanese schoolgirls' Dragon Ball moves, 3D graffiti, and Barbie-inspired oil paintings.

A personal exploration of inspiration and the messy, rewarding process of bringing new creations into the world.

Gaming blurs with cinema: Wolverine's trailer, Metal Gear Solid 5, Battlefield 4 details, BioShock Infinite DLC, and Supergiant's new game.

A thoughtful perspective on the enduring value and power of RSS readers, referencing Marco.org.

A cool project sparks the desire to dive back into C++ game development. Check out this inspiring find on GitHub.

Explore cutting-edge tech: cool code, innovative programming ideas, and promising open-source projects shaping the future.

Missed Heroku's Waza? Catch up on all the talks and highlights online. A quick recap and link to the 2013 highlight video.

Random inspiration: video games, Egyptian apps, FAA rumors, George W. Bush paintings, urban exploration, and more. A collection of intriguing links and thoughts.

Reacting to T-Mobile's move away from contracts. Hoping AT&T follows suit. A quick take on the changing mobile landscape.

Excitement builds for BioShock Infinite: stunning graphics, advanced AI, and immersive worlds promise a captivating story-driven action experience.

Feeling uninspired? A blank mind, a lack of creative drive... sometimes all it takes is a conversation, a tweet, or a new experience to reignite the spark.

A curated collection of inspiring finds: stunning design, Icelandic landscapes, a wild action video, cool code, and a unique new phone.

Explore a compelling money-making idea perfect for blog posts and open source software. Discover the intersection of code and education.

Google Reader's gone. What now? A quick look at alternatives that rose to the top after the shutdown announcement.

Alfred's latest update shines! Plus, discover useful workflows for weather, SSH, CSS colors, and GitHub integration to boost your macOS productivity.

A collection of hidden Easter eggs uncovered. Can you decode them all? From binary to Google I/O, the hunt is on.

Free comics are coming! A look at Marvel's offer of 700 free digital comics and a return to the world of panels and heroes.

A brief look at writing and storytelling through the lens of Gaiman's rules and Pixar's principles.

Is DRM actually helping or hurting publishers? Examining the SimCity debacle and questioning the effectiveness of anti-piracy measures.

Exploring different hiring strategies. Do they deliver results? A look at approaches from Cue Engineering and Harvest.

A thought-provoking discussion: Could the eagles have simply flown Frodo into Mordor? Exploring the plausibility and potential plot holes.

GitHub's impact on collaboration and creation is undeniable. Are we witnessing the birth of a new open-source culture, led by a new generation?

Get inspired by life lessons from a Portland designer. Insights on creativity, work, and finding your own path.

Need background noise? Discover a couple of great websites for productivity: Coffitivity and Raining.fm. Work, play, or sleep better.

Oakland vs. San Francisco: Weighing the pros and cons of a move, considering safety and neighborhood vibes. Personal reflections.

A bizarre but perfect pairing: shockingly good waffles and a truly terrible (yet amazing) music mashup you need to hear.

Gamifying STEM education for young learners. These innovators are shaping the future of education, making learning awesome.

Essential server security tips after initial setup. This guide offers practical advice, but where's the automated script?

Who are you creating for? Explore the importance of identifying your core audience and the impact it has on your work as a creator.

Jon Allspaw's SRE/DevOps wisdom and helpful performance tools for Ops newcomers. A response to a classic Netflix perspective.

Napster wasn't just file sharing. It was a cultural earthquake, shaping how we experience music, information, and the internet itself.

Taking the Proust Questionnaire at 25: a personal reflection on happiness, fears, and aspirations at this stage of life.

Google Glass is getting exciting! Sergey Brin at TED 2013 and other perspectives on the future of wearables.

Why do some populations show lower rates of autoimmune disease despite similar gluten exposure? Exploring environmental factors and potential triggers.

A curated list of inspiring design portfolios from talented individuals at Google and beyond. Explore diverse styles and creative excellence.

NASA's next SpaceX resupply mission to the ISS is targeting a March 1 launch. Media accreditation is now open. I'm going to go see this!

Ruby update out! Get the best method for compiling Ruby on your Mac, plus an example using Ruby 2.0.0.

A recommendation to visit the newly renovated St. Louis Central Library, a stunning Carnegie Library with original marble and stained glass.

"Onions in the varnish" describes unconscious habits and traditions, especially in programming. Where does this phrase come from, and why do we do it?

Discovering a connection with a grandfather I never knew through a shared birthday and a touching tribute. A moment of reflection and remembrance.

Discover cool, free fonts and resources from across the web. Explore open source options and find your next favorite typeface.

Exploring high-density, low-cost storage solutions with open designs. A look at the 180TB Storage Pod 3.0 from 45 Drives.

A clever solution, but beware of hidden costs. Square Checkout hardware dissected and a key missing component discussed.

Migrating off Heroku? A quick list of resources I found helpful, covering logging, monitoring, and infrastructure management.

A chilling short film explores the unsettling reality of surveillance through the eyes of a girl haunted by drone shadows.

Google Glass at Fashion Week: A look at the intersection of wearable tech and the high-stakes world of coordinated product releases.

Another platform bites the dust. Posterous's shutdown highlights the importance of owning your online presence and avoiding walled gardens.

Google Glass: A look back at a bold, early experiment in wearable technology and moonshot thinking.

A visit to the Lebbeus Woods exhibit at SFMOMA. Futuristic architectural visions interwoven with the existing world. Truly stunning.

Intrigued by the hype around a new immersive online world from the Halo creator. Is this the next big thing in gaming?

A unique and surprisingly effective way to pick website colors. Simple, visual, and a refreshing alternative to traditional color palette tools.

Russia's wild roads, insane dash cam footage, and a reminder of how different life is outside the US. Plus, meteors!

The Tesla vs. NYT review debacle: Examining the conflicting accounts, data, and accusations of fakery swirling around the Model S test drive.

Wired's Star Wars coverage shines, especially Chris Hardwick's humor. Recapturing that childhood magic, plus amazing Lego-Star Wars photography.

Why is leaving Heroku so hard, even when performance tanks? Exploring the sticky ecosystem and the allure of "free" with caveats.

A dive into the internet's odd corners: bizarre valentines, resources for those experiencing homelessness, and the geography of love.

Two men, defying expectations, chase an unlikely dream. A movie trailer that proves well-behaved clouds never make history.

Intelligent zooming: Insane or useless? Thoughts on responsive typography and its potential on different devices.

Who you surround yourself with matters. Reflecting on the power of supportive relationships and their impact on growth and well-being.

Software development's biggest problem? Neglecting maintenance. One developer calls out companies, like Apple, prioritizing new features over fixing existing ones.

Discovering cool, open-source projects from Wikimedia! A reminder of the power behind Wikipedia and its community-driven development.

Exploring the tension between freedom and fear when it comes to accessible weapon creation and the implications of 3D printing.

Dreaming of sleek San Francisco studios and modern design inspiration. A curated list of cool places, architecture, and office spaces.

Need a spark? Here's a curated mix of inspiring finds, from design and music to unexpected moments of joy.

Unexpected design wisdom gleaned from an unlikely source, plus curated lessons from top designers.

A funny anecdote about working with the creator of a Raspberry Pi website hit tracker.

Thoughts on GitTip's potential and lingering skepticism. Plus, Gittip hiring and embracing open company principles.

Discover a Markdown library that addresses common gripes and streamlines your workflow. A potential game-changer for developers.

Foursquare's impact on discovering great food, nightlife, and entertainment. A look at its recommendation power.

A quick look at a neat design resource: Subtle Patterns. Plus, a handy bookmarklet to preview backgrounds on your own website.

Exploring the nature of inspiration, from beautiful creations to diverse delivery methods. Hoping to inspire you through this site.

Caught between design and content in these D3.js slides. Exploring data visualization basics and what makes them effective.

A look back at a year of new jobs, travel from Missouri to Burning Man, music, code, and starting new relationships.