Last week we talked about how mediums—like film and novels—have their own built-in rules, and how those rules necessarily shape the way you can tell stories and express ideas. We made this point, naturally, by talking about Tom Bombadil. This week we’re going to see how the same principles apply online. A social media network […]| Justin Pot
One of the most profound lessons you can learn about media literacy is that it isn’t enough to talk about the content—you need to talk about the medium. People far smarter than me have written books and dissertations about this, but let’s start with an example that’s easy to grasp: the differences between the Lord […]| Justin Pot
Last week YouTube officially announced that the trending page is going away, to be replaced with separate trending pages just for music, podcasts, and movie trailers. It’s the end of “internet culture”. | Justin Pot
I hate running. I used to believe that, over time, this would change. I thought, over time, that I would grow to love running out of sheer repetition. This has not happened. | Justin Pot
I had a great time writing about what to do if you find a shipwreck over at PopSci. The good news: it’s not impossible! The bad news: you don’t get to keep any treasure. I’ve had a really great time lately writing these sorts of articles, well outside of my wheelhouse. I hope you like it too. […]| Justin Pot
Imagine that you, as a philanthropist or activist who wants to help spread democracy across the world, read about a country described as a “flawed democracy.” The report describes the problems that country is facing in this way: | Justin Pot
I regret to inform you that someone made an actual AI Clippy. The application, which is more art project than useful application, run an actual local large language model right on your computer, allowing you to have the conversations with Clippy you once dreamed about. It’s complete with Windows 98-style graphics for period accuracy. I highly […]| Justin Pot
I write a lot. I’ve finished just shy of 150 articles so far this year between Lifehacker, PopSci, WIRED, and PCMag, an average of 25 articles a month. I love it. | Justin Pot
I think dishwashers are great, so I wrote about the science of why you should use your dishwasher over at PopSci. It’s easier to do and better for the environment than hand washing. A point I want to emphasize is that study after study shows that pre-rinsing dishes isn’t necessary, assuming you scrape off excess food and […]| Justin Pot
“Technology makes everything more complicated,” an elderly relative said to me. It’s hard to argue with. | Justin Pot
This is the second article in a series about how to function as a human person online in this clusterfuck of an era. You can read part one, about rejecting anxiety bait, here. | Justin Pot
The past month has been the longest year of my life. I’m sure I’m not alone on this. | Justin Pot