Expressions, mostly written
Featured essays
remote work
The Remote Async Work zine
No one is working remotely right now. We are working in captivity. A pandemic is holding us hostage—but we can make it suck less.
social media
Move away and fix things
I am deleting my Facebook account, but I am not unfriending you. #DeleteFacebook #StopHateForProfit
management
Spotify’s Failed #SquadGoals
“The Spotify model” got a bunch of companies talking like Taylor Swift about startup culture, but four former Spotify employees reveal the truth: its eponymous way of working failed before it scaled.
Featured conference talks
Web Monetization
3 wins Web Monetization needs to succeed in 2021
Future of Micropayments lightning talk
API
JSON API: Your smart default
The JSONAPI.org specification should be your smart default for designing Web APIs.
API
How Fitbit’s API makes the world move
Scaling the Fitbit Web API strategy and engineering practices
Featured interviews
expat life
Sweden prioritizes making EU proof possible for those vaccinated abroad
The EU Commission allows member states to issue EU Digital COVID Certificates for citizens who were vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the EU, but Sweden is still working on making this possible.
management
How you organize your development teams matters
SD Times interviewed me about assembling software teams and organization design.
remote work
Balance the Grind interview
A converation about work–life balance as a remote worker at a fully distributed company
And everything else
2022
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Open letter to the Bedford Public Library journal
A culture war erupted in my childhood library
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Agile User Story Estimation agile
A guide for estimating work using story points
2021
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How to start a LGBTQ+ ERG work
The how and why to foster an inclusive workplace for queer people that treats everyone justly according to their circumstances
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A year without Facebook social media
Results: My fears about quitting were not actualized, my mental health improved, and Facebook continued to harm society.
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How to track Web Monetization events using Plausible web monetization
I wanted to know which articles on my website received payments from Coil subscribers. Using Plausible Analytics, I am able to track Web Monetization API events.
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Colleagues, not cousins work
Why we should avoid associating a work team with family.
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Togetherness Time remote work
Fostering community and camaraderie is a valid reason to have a synchronous meeting. Here is my team’s favorite weekly meeting.
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Handling remote work objections remote work
Change is hard. Not everyone will be happy about giving up an office. Here is how to respond.
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4 essential async practices remote work
Even if your company returns to colocated work when this pandemic ends, there are practices you can implement now that help you work more effectively now and later when you return to the office.
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Remote Async Work mindset remote work
Remote work is better described as asynchronous work, a method for creating business value without a real-time dependency on another person.
2020
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Investments technology
I am a crowdfund investor in businesses focused on environmental sustainability or technology and venture capital funds promoting diversity.
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The Republican Party’s Last Burp of Hope politics
Why I’m optimistic about America—even if Trump gets re-elected
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What is LongFi and HNT? technology
LongFi is foundational technology for realizing the potential of smart IoT devices.
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We don’t stop until hate for profit stops activism
The Stop Hate for Profit protest must continue until Facebook takes action to stop the real harm to real people. Here is a template to ask your employer’s executives to remain committed.
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14 reasons why #DeleteFacebook social media
Over the course of August 2020, I shared why I was leaving Facebook on Facebook
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Spotify vs Fitbit: Marty Cagan’s false premise and false cause fallacy comments
Fitbit and Spotify are not polar opposites and sometimes the market does not reward innovative “empowered product teams” equally.
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Reactions to “Spotify’s Failed Squad Goals” comments
Clarifications from me and select comments from you
2019
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The sad state of language translation in Firefox side project
Firefox has made the Web less accessible to people who need to access information in another language, taken an absolutist position, and removed freedom of users to extend their browser.
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Making FitbitOS watchfaces side project
What I learned creating two LGBT+ Pride related smartwatchfaces
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Net magazine side project of the month: Tab Tosser interview
My interview about Tab Tosser in Net magazine issue 321
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Introducing Tab Tosser side project
Tab Tosser is a Firefox extension that automatically closes tabs you have ignored for too long. I created Tab Tosser to help free myself of digital clutter.
2018
2017
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Why does LinkedIn hate its Web app? UX
LinkedIn's mobile Web app is great, but you wouldn't know that from the first 15 seconds of using it.
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Remembering Mark Fish journal
We all need a personal cheerleader in life. Mark was mine.
2016
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The music that moves me journal
Bye, San Francisco. Hej, Stockholm.
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How I voted in November 2016 activism
My voter guide to the bajillion CA propositions
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Dear NPR: Please stop “cyber” scaring us technology
Word choice matters, especially to digital immigrants.
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Why we march journal
St. Thomas saw pride as the queen of the seven deadly sins. But hating isn’t a sin on that list.
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The Mary Vinoskey Cohick Studio journal
Today, on what would have been my mom's 54th birthday, I had the honor of dedicating the new tv studio at our high school in her honor.
2013
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Healthier, Happier at Fitbit journal
Can APIs help you live healthier? Fitbit hired me to find out.
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Cross-posting to Twitter from App.net UX
Proposed interaction and user interface design for App.net clients cross-posting to Twitter
2008
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Media Along the Path to Atheism journal
Words that helped me break free from intellectual dishonesty
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What is the meaning of life? journal
My answers to a younger friend who later committed suicide.
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Fairy Tale Ending journal
I have found greater compassion outside of the pews, greater peace through science, and greater urgency to make my life matter by letting go of god.
2007
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Xmas Prayer journal
Don’t ask me to say the blessing.
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EVVY 26 journal
The honor of winning Best Interactive Project at The 26th Annual EVVY Awards