New metric unit for time and space: “How long is the subway ride?” “How many cards can one hand write between the first stop and the last?”

Man, the universe is firing on all cylinders right now.

"There are always reasons not to plant...The garden sows and invites desires. It is an enterprise that thrives on dreaming, backed by care." Another utter gem by my dear Roxani Krystalli womenwritethebalkans.com/essays/light-n…

Gems here for govt service delivery from Stripe's Krithika - give people 'red pen of the user' (paired w user research) and *real power* to shift outputs before launch - outcomes > process check-ins at 80% done - expose decisionmaking from closed rooms to delivery teams

Why read on the beach when you can just read Starting the bibliophile checklist

I deeply believe in Coding it Forward’s model of creating on-ramps for newer technologists into civic service. Annual demo day this week, good chance to glimpse the possible -> codingitforward.com/demoday

.keesh (12/100 substack posts) just released fall apps for his Improvisational Indian Cooking Class: docs.google.com/document/d/1Am… He's one of the best teachers I've ever had. Posting here bc I can't keep track of all the people who wanted the link after hearing me rave this spring.

"The information you gather through the motivation of being an actual actor in a system, as opposed to an observer, is distinct and often pronounced in its value." Dave Guarino, as usual daveguarino.substack.com/p/james-c-scot… (worth sticking around for SNAP reddit system detangling at end)

Ferries: the gift that never stops giving

Sometimes, when the light

Woolf was feeling it.

"We give because someone gave to us. We give because nobody gave to us."

5 days ago my friend forgot her fancy hot cocoa mix at my apartment. 4 days ago, I began a tradition of having a 3pm cup of hot cocoa each workday. …when do I tell her.

Hosting an annual reflection ritual for friends today for the 11th(!) yr. Repeated community is so forever precious.

⏰ The application for our summer 2025 Science & Technology Policy Fellowship closes tomorrow at 11:59pm PT! This full-time, paid opportunity introduces Fellows to real-world policy training and a tight-knit network. Don’t miss your chance to apply 👇: aspenpolicyacademy.org/Fellowship/

So this is a great question. State capacity is an annoying political science term, and classically the definition is something like “a state’s ability to achieve its goals.” If you’re assessing early states, you’re asking a couple basic questions about state capacity: - Can

must read Jennifer Pahlka, featuring Mayor Matt Mahan "I want to find the politicians who are reforming the machinery of government so that it actually works, describe how they spend their time..and how they conceive of their jobs that’s different from others." eatingpolicy.com/p/better-polit…

The work to be done in this world is so interesting and meaningful. Some days I can’t believe we get to do it.