The jq command line tool is a useful way to query, filter, and reformat JSON files. I use it every day at work. It’s great. However, replacing a jq command having a beefy select() clause with a simple call to rg cut a script’s runtime from 79 seconds to 6.

Choose the right tool for the job.

I’m carrying a pot full of homemade macaroni and cheese to work today. I’ve successfully navigated the first 2 of 3 legs of public transit. A worker came by and asked what I had in this giant pot. I showed him the cheesy goodness and he asked if he could join us for lunch. I said I’d save him a seat and he laughed.

Technology is not evenly distributed, even in the US. Every time I use Apple Pay on my watch here in my ancestral home, which is not often because I don’t go waving my arm at cashiers like a maniac, but still, even at things like a coffee shop, or a McDonald’s drive through — a McDonald’s! — every time, the person says something close to “whoa, you can pay with your watch?”, and I cannot possibly be the first person here to do this.

The current art exhibit at SFO D gates is a bunch of old phones.

A glass museum case full of blue, orange, yellow, black and red lineman test sets, and thick, like 3 inch wide, cross sections of telephone cables.

Mom would never have described herself as a feminist. The local politics made that unlikely. She just didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t do the same job as the men at the railroad, so she went for it — and excelled. She was the first Wire Chief there, responsible for keeping the surprisingly huge and complex communications systems up and running, and therefore the trains rolling.

She was the first computing professional I knew of. When I was a little guy, I was thrilled when she told me that boys were also allowed to work on computers.

My mom at her desk at the railroad office, next to the Xerox Star GUI computer she was using in 1983, before the launch of the Macintosh.

One of the greatest things she taught her kids was not to be afraid to say yes to good opportunities we didn’t feel qualified for. That worked out pretty well over the years. But more than that, she never let us forget that we were completely loved and accepted.

Love you too, Mom.

My mom passed away this morning. We knew this was coming. She’d been sick for a while. The last stages were mercifully brief and comfortable.

I ran 3 miles worth of intervals today, and the numbers weren’t spectacular but they were pretty great by my standards. I’m pleased with how it went.

Commute step 1: Leapt onto Muni as the doors closed.

Step 2: Waited 2 minutes for BART.

Step 3: Waited 30 seconds for a bus.

This was the most efficient trip I’ve had in months.

We’re having visitors in our office tonight, and the office manager reminded us to put away valuables, etc., and also to put away USB chargers so no one would be tempted to sneak over and top off their phone.

If you borrow a random data cable from a desk of the security team, whatever happens next is on you.

Comcast verified that they processed my data deletion request, with exceptions including:

For internal purposes that are compatible with the context in which you provided it, such as to support and enhance he [sic] products and services we provide

No! I don’t want you using my data to enhance your services. On to filling a CCPA complaint it is, then.