Articles and essays on design, technology, and humanity. For shorter bursts find me on Mastodon.

Black History Month: Catalysts from the Arts

A collection of old photographs, laid out on a table. They show profiles and group shots of Black people in a variety of settings.
Photo by John Barnard

For Black History Month I curated this list of pivotal Black Americans in art. They are legends who have amplified the fight against systemic racism. Either using art as their weapon or inspiring millions (of any race) to take action. In this way, we can better understand that Black art is more than the joy of the craft. It’s a gift that we can use to amplify our resistance against systemic inequities.

Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Stack of vegan cookies on a plate. They are well formed and baked to perfection.

Vegan chocolate chip cookies are yummy. But baking without eggs is an art form, even though baked goods taste better without them. Fortunately, I found a recipe that slays all the others. These cookies are chewy and delicious. I modified the original ever so slightly, and made everything easy to follow. Which means you can make them even if you’re an amateur, like me. Give it a whirl. I believe in you.

Did You Hear That? Instruments and Music for the Curious

Grid of four images featured from the article. The first is a man holding up a very long bronze ess-shaped horn with a serpent head. The second is a pot of mushrooms with wires connected to it. There are two mallets connected to it which are extended to a small keyboard. The third is an old photo of a young woman fiddling with a reel-to-reel tape machine with other retro electronic machines around her. The fourth is a young man playing an upright bass with some custom pads and strips attached to it with LED lights.

Music is an ever-expanding spectrum of delights. People are continuously introducing new instruments and genres. Maybe you think you’ve heard it all. But I have a collection of gems for you. Unusual music, sound effects, and indigenous battle sirens. Hopefully most of it will be new to you.

I Should Have Self-Hosted to Begin With

Illustration comprising snippets of photos. A human is sitting on a simple wooden chair. Their head is a simple wooden birdhouse. They are holding a moon in their lap.

After flawed journeys with Medium and Write.as, I finally figured it out: my content belongs to me, and I should dictate how it’s published.

Being a Mastodon Moderator

Illustration of five anthropomorphic matches, standing upright. Four of them are in a group. Three of them are looking at the fifth, which is on fire. One of them is looking directly at you.

People ask me what it’s like to be a moderator. Our discussions reveal that a lot of what we do is a mystery. So, I’m gonna lay it out for you. Specifically about the unique fediverse moderation model, mutual aid, and mental health.

Jewish American Heritage Month

Illustration of a grid of human profiles. Each is facing to the right with no specific expression. There are people of many ages, genders, and skin colors. They are all wearing different types of clothing with a wide variety of hair styles. One is wearing a yamaka and another is wearing a hijab.

We’re well into Jewish American Heritage Month. In honor of that, I have some (hopefully) enlightening things to share with you. My people are deeply misunderstood. And vehemently hated by many.

Arab American Heritage Month

Colorful illustration of a collage of headshots of Arab Americans in modern and traditional garb.

In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, I want to share some information with you. I hope to surprise, educate, and increase your awareness of our Arab neighbors here in the U.S.

Best Homemade Vegan Tomato Soup

Bright orange creamy smooth soup in a bowl next to a grilled sandwich cut in two on a plate. The green spinach, red tomato, and meaty vegan cheese are protruding from the sliced side.

My family wanted tomato soup, so I made some. The internet recipe looked basic so I went off script and wound up making my own version. I don’t even really like tomato soup, but I loved this. And to go with it, I made a vegan grilled cheese with fried tofu, tomato, and spinach.

The Bell Centennial Typeface Story

Colorful grid of various applications of the Bell Centennial typeface. The name is large and centered. Surrounding it are dates, AT&T, the label “ink trap contractors,” and a typeface sample sentence.

In 1978, Matthew Carter designed the typeface Bell Centennial. It was a special typeface, built for a unique set of goals. What manifested was an adaptable typeface that tackled the printing challenge of “dot gain.”