Degenerative AI
My two worlds, technology and writing, have collided recently around the topic of “generative AI.” If that term is unfamiliar to you, I offer the following explanation.
Silicon Valley Bankrupt
Last month I wrote one of my most-read posts on the ten biggest tech industry scandals of 2022. The early front-runner for the top of the list in 2023? Silicon Valley Bank, which failed spectacularly in the span of 48 hours last week.
The 10 Biggest Tech Industry Scandals of 2022
Corporate scandals are not a new thing in the tech industry. The last few years have seen a range of incidents from executive misconduct, to gross financial self-dealing, to outright criminal fraud.
My Top 5 Books for 2022
For the second year in a row, I set and met a goal of reading 52 novels in the year—one per week for all of 2022. And, again like last year, I’m using this space to call out my top 5 favorites for the year.
Ode to January
January sucks. Let’s face it. January is the undisputed, all-time, undefeated champion of “Worst Month of the Year.” Nobody’s all like, “I really can't wait for January!” It’s more like, “Shit… it’s January.”
Is the Tech Industry Over?
Like my protagonist in Bit Flip, Sam Hughes, I came to Silicon Valley during the late 1990s dot-com boom to pursue a career in the technology industry. In the ensuing twenty-plus years, that industry flourished.
Our Real Inflation Woes
Inflation has continued to be a top-of-mind issue for most Americans this holiday season, with good reason. The U.S. annual inflation rate across all goods rose to over 7% last year.
The World C(orr)up(t)
Like 5 billion people around the world, I’ve been watching a lot of soccer lately. The World Cup is in full swing, and I’m loving the competition—though not the surrounding controversy.
Bad People with Guns
This month, like every month in America, witnessed more mass shootings. Four killed at the University of Idaho, five killed at a nightclub in Colorado Springs, and three football players killed at the University of Virginia.
Make It Stop
If you're like me, and you've donated more than $1 to either major political party in the past three decades, then your phone is likely in a constant state of convulsion as we approach the midterm elections a week from today.
Social Media Zombies
This was a difficult week for the social media behemoths. Meta’s stock price plunged 25 percent—its lowest level since 2015—thanks to the poor performance and prospects of its two main businesses.
The Power of Live Events
One of the aspects of my book launch that I was most looking forward to has been the return of live events.
The Real Publishing Industry
One of the favorite topics of discussion for people in the publishing industry is. . . the demise of the publishing industry. From the rise of the evil empire of Amazon, to the proliferation of self-published books, to the relentless consolidation of publishing houses, signs abound that the industry is “not what it used to be.”
The Importance of Lima
This week, I had the privilege of visiting Lima, Ohio—a town of 35,000 people located about 90 miles northwest of Columbus, and the hometown of Sam Hughes, the protagonist in my novel, Bit Flip.
Virtual Book Tour
This image of the San Francisco skyline that appears on the front cover of Bit Flip was taken by Kehn Hermano and discovered on Pexels.com by my cover designer, David Provolo. I thought it perfectly captured the beauty of the city, with just a hint of an ominous vibe thanks to the long shadows.
Writing Impaired
Today, my book, Bit Flip, finally launches into the world! As I celebrate this milestone and my publicity campaign around the book really kicks into high gear, I’m gradually coming to grips with a physical challenge I didn’t realize I have.
Launch Month!
It is time. For over a year, I have been eagerly awaiting the launch of my book, Bit Flip, and now it is finally available on August 16. This milestone has felt like a mirage for some time—something so distant that it seemed like it may never happen.
Fake It Till You’re Fraudulent
With the recent verdict against Sunny Balwani, the former Theranos COO accused of widespread fraud, the second shoe has finally dropped in perhaps the most notorious fraud case ever for a Silicon Valley venture-backed tech company.
Independence Diminished
The Fourth of July always makes me reflect on the state of America. Along with Thanksgiving, Independence Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. Partly because we, as Americans, uniquely get to celebrate, but it's also a chance to appreciate what we have and identify ways we can improve as a nation.
Rhetoric Reinforcement
I was in San Diego last weekend for a soccer tournament. With two teenage sons who both play competitive soccer, I’ve been to dozens of tournaments, from Sacramento to Seattle, Dallas to Denver. After watching literally hundreds of games, I have come to one undeniable conclusion about soccer, and youth sports more generally: parents are assholes.