Welcome to Checkpoints!
What is Checkpoints, you ask? It's your monthly dose of cool—curated snippets from my internet travels. Expect to find articles, books, websites, movies, music, and more that have caught my eye (and ears). If they struck a chord with me, they might just resonate with you too. And hey, if you stumble upon something awesome this month, feel free to hit reply and share it with me!
Technology:
Periodic Table of Tools - Check it out: This visual display of analog tools is pure eye candy. Maybe you'll spot some familiar items from your garage!
Going Cashless is a Bad Idea - Read the article: A thought-provoking deep dive into the world of cashless transactions. It's more than just convenience at play here.
PNG file chunk inspector - Explore it here: For the tech-savvy, this tool is a godsend. Whether it's pulling metadata from an image or deciphering the prompts behind a stable diffusion-generated image, it's incredibly handy.
What Happened to the New Internet? - Reflect on it here: An honest, vulnerable reflection on the crypto scene from 2020 to now. It's an insightful piece that's definitely worth your time.
Artificial Intelligence:
Holly Herndon’s Infinite Art - Dive into the art: Holly's work, alongside her partner Mat Dryhurst, never fails to inspire. This piece delves deep into their creative process and thinking.
LLMs Understand and Can be Enhanced by Emotional Stimuli - Explore the paper: Adding "emotions" to prompts can significantly enhance LLM responses. It's a fascinating glimpse into the emotional intelligence of AI.
Generative AI for Beginners - Start learning: This free resource is perfect for those looking to get a grip on Generative AI. Highly recommended for beginners!
Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior - Read the study: Imagine "The Sims" powered by AI. This study opens a window into what we might learn from AI-to-AI interactions.
Work/Life:
Reality has a Surprising Amount of Detail - Rediscover it here: I revisited this gem and was reminded once again of the complexity and nuance of reality. It's a refreshing perspective worth a second look.
The Failed Commodification of Technical Work - Consider the perspective: A critical look at why understanding the craft and human intricacies matters more than just commodifying business practices.
Why Limiting Work-in-Progress Works - Get insights: A practical piece on enhancing productivity and focus by limiting simultaneous tasks.
How to Get Useful Answers to Your Questions - Learn the art: Master the skill of asking questions in a way that yields the most useful answers.
Coordination Headwind - Tackle complexity: As organizations grow, so does complexity. This read offers tactics to mitigate and manage the chaos.
Meeting Philosophy - Discover a new approach: Not a one-size-fits-all, but definitely a straightforward and fresh take on meetings.
Recently Watched:
Scavenger’s Reign: An out-of-this-world animation with a storyline that's just as captivating.
Dune: Finally caught this adaptation of the classic book. It's as epic as I hoped it would be. Can’t wait for part 2!
Blue-eyed Samurai: Dark, binge-worthy anime with a gripping samurai narrative.
Currently Listening:
Ondatropica - Hummingbird: Afro-inspired grooves that'll make you move.
Los Esplifs - Me Estoy Poniendo Viejo: Fresh cumbia beats with a psychedelic twist.
Animanz - Gypsy Woman: A vibrant Latin spin on the 90s house classic.
The Soul Chance - Who Could it Be?: A modern reggae track with soulful old-school vibes.
The Frightnrs - 30-56: Smooth reggae that's perfect to slow-dance to.
Insulini - Rumba Alienigena: A unique reggaeton-cumbia mix made for lively nights.
Projects:
Crate Digger GPT - A GPT made for music lovers and crate diggers.
Memory States - “Generation Loss EP”, my new jazz/world project out Q1 2024.
As we roll into the holidays and the new year, I'm excited to see what new discoveries and insights it brings. What are you exploring or jamming to this month? Share your finds, and let's keep the learning and grooving going!🌀