![\"A](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/5e3d918e9b-m.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/f5a5791138-m.jpg\")
\nFinished The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. Enjoyed it! Making progress on my current ten historical novels reading list
\n![\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/8fb470e91f-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/08/20/finished-the-magic-mountain-by/","date_published":"2026-08-20T06:03:21+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-20 06:03","date_timestamp":1787205801,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"96024788","content_html":"Out at the Founders Meetup Edinburgh last night. Interesting chat with Colin Gray and Cam Blackwood about podcasts and building his business.
\n![\"Colin](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/5cb1230e31-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/08/19/out-at-the-founders-meetup/","date_published":"2026-08-19T09:38:04+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-19 09:38","date_timestamp":1787132284,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"96024752","content_html":"@petecodes.bsky.social For STC, not yet. I do have a Patreon account. Think I’m going to move to Stripe for supporters. Been working on the jobs board instead recently
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3mtbnfalysk23","date_published":"2026-08-17T11:54:50+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-17 11:54","date_timestamp":1786967690,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"96024753","content_html":"@petecodes.bsky.social Awesome!
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3mtbbn6g5us23","date_published":"2026-08-17T08:24:31+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-17 08:24","date_timestamp":1786955071,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"96024754","content_html":"@jamiemchale.com Just posted a link to this into the #jobs channel 🙌
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msxpidiua22a","date_published":"2026-08-13T13:05:44+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-13 13:05","date_timestamp":1786626344,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684382","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social And sure I guess you didn’t mention sources directly, others in the thread did. But doing the reading, discussion of veracity implies you value checking things.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvlbzzmqc22","date_published":"2026-08-12T16:45:18+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 16:45","date_timestamp":1786553118,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684383","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social You were replying to me!
\nI don’t think you owe me anything but why bother unless you wanted to spend a bit of time?
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvkwxrwkc22","date_published":"2026-08-12T16:39:07+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 16:39","date_timestamp":1786552747,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684384","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Also kinda weird that one of your arguments is to check the sources directly and you didn’t bother to look at my website to validate your claim about writing style!
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvfedmyqs23","date_published":"2026-08-12T14:59:13+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 14:59","date_timestamp":1786546753,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684385","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social well thanks for determining the state of my critical faculties!
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvf6w3mqk2t","date_published":"2026-08-12T14:56:11+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 14:56","date_timestamp":1786546571,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684386","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social I have a website that you can read my writing for the past ten year or so if you want to confirm. I’m pretty sure this has always been my style.
\nAnd yes, I just read but I like to find out things as I’m reading. I think the “brain melt” takes are pretty extreme! No ack that LLMs can be useful.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvf4xzqvc2t","date_published":"2026-08-12T14:55:06+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 14:55","date_timestamp":1786546506,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684387","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social You mean now? No. I usually get output that either pushes back on a point I make and/or gives me some sources to look over with a short summary at the top.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvduvjygk22","date_published":"2026-08-12T14:32:41+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 14:32","date_timestamp":1786545161,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684388","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Why can I use my uniqueness of perception to critically use LLM output?
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvcxai2k222","date_published":"2026-08-12T14:16:06+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 14:16","date_timestamp":1786544166,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684389","content_html":"@jamiemchale.com One of the first I listed!
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvc5owask2v","date_published":"2026-08-12T14:01:48+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 14:01","date_timestamp":1786543308,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684390","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Yes, a little. I usually direct my LLMs to give me opposing viewpoints. Accuracy can be thought of as a reasonable opinion a human might hold in these cases, right?
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvbv4efds22","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:57:01+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:57","date_timestamp":1786543021,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684391","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social faith? - I’m not claiming to be the best and the brightest, but I read a fair amount, have academic qualifications, and use AI for work. So on both the “does this make sense to me” and “how does AI act in a subject area I’m an expert in” I think my assessment has a reasonable grounding
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvbmm2jls27","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:52:15+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:52","date_timestamp":1786542735,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684392","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Sure, it gave references and sounded pretty plausible for the discussion. I guess there is a risk of hallucination, but the time invested/learning risk tradeoff seems reasonable to me (and will likely only get better as the tools improve).
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvbd7stck27","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:47:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:47","date_timestamp":1786542420,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684393","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Do you think that my appreciation of the book was helped or hindered by these queries to AI?
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvb3tnbj22m","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:42:53+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:42","date_timestamp":1786542173,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684394","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Dialogues between Settembrini and Naphta (I wanted to check my understanding, and expected comprehension of readers at the time);
\nSo which of these is “brain melting” use of AI? I think these are all reasonable queries, which it seemed to handle pretty well.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvb35hjls2m","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:42:29+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:42","date_timestamp":1786542149,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684395","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social But this is roughly what I do. e.g. currently reading Mann’s Magic Mountain. I asked AI about: TB treatment (previously read a book about TB, wanted a reminder) and it gave me a breakdown with sources; Untranslated French section in the middle (wanted confirmation I understood correctly);
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvb352xas2m","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:42:29+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:42","date_timestamp":1786542149,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684396","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Do you check every reference for everything you read? What about translations, or original thoughts? Lots of different ways that you have to “waste time” with non-AI media too!
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvaemmru22d","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:29:53+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:29","date_timestamp":1786541393,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684397","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Imho if you can get a tool to give you accurate answers a high percentage of the time, and that tool is one that you can use quickly to give you background, references or links on the things you are reading on then you should be fairly comfortable as a general reader.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msvac5pr322d","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:28:31+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:28","date_timestamp":1786541311,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684398","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Well, you can test it out yourself? There are also benchmarks and studies that try to measure the rate of hallucination. Humans are fallible too!
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msv7x72iyk2g","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:22:23+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:22","date_timestamp":1786540943,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684399","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social So if LLMs were improved so their results were comparable to human authors then you’d be in favour of using them as a learning aid?
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msv7qeixzk2g","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:18:34+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:18","date_timestamp":1786540714,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684400","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social But you can get a summary from AI that includes sources? So you can get references to check out, or even books to dig a bit deeper. I’m still confused as to why people are against LLMs as a tool for this.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3msv7atgqys2g","date_published":"2026-08-12T13:09:53+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-12 13:09","date_timestamp":1786540193,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684401","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social You remember that this is a conversation about AI augmenting book reading? I have a book I want to check my understanding or get a few snippets more about a topic then LLMs are good for it.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3mstcav3sjk23","date_published":"2026-08-11T18:58:16+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-11 18:58","date_timestamp":1786474696,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684402","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social Disagree with LLMs for the number for the pub. That is a discrete and unambiguous fact. No one is asking for a nuanced view or how it relates to anything or who else has written about it! Interwar Poland on the other hand…
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3mstaxm2oc223","date_published":"2026-08-11T18:35:11+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-11 18:35","date_timestamp":1786473311,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95684403","content_html":"@brandonfriedman.bsky.social If I can get the same answer with an LLM quicker than I can looking up articles, and the LLM can tailor the answer to my specific query then how does it affect learning? I’m not studying concepts, but clarifying understanding, getting background info.
\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t4pnyauyasdlgunp2yimrdgu/post/3mst57rmcpc2a","date_published":"2026-08-11T17:28:10+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-08-11 17:28","date_timestamp":1786469290,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"95403898","content_html":"Tomato harvest in the garden 📸
\n\n![](\"https://micro.blog/photos/100x/https%3A%2F%2Fimage.tmdb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Fw154%2FqJ2tW6WMUDux911r6m7haRef0WH.jpg\")
Watched: The Dark Knight 🍿
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/07/20/watched-the-dark-knight/","date_published":"2026-07-20T22:19:57+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-07-20 22:19","date_timestamp":1784585997,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"94312980","content_html":"Cycled down to Portobello yesterday. Good fish finger sandwiches from Shrimp Wreck at the front!
\n![\"A](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/083a88747a-m.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/99ffdbd5b4-m.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/4d065ce1e8-m.jpg\")
\nCurrently reading: Age of Reason by Jean Paul Sartre 📚
\n![\"holding](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/a58eafd2af-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/07/05/currently-reading-age-of-reason/","date_published":"2026-07-05T06:42:30+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-07-05 06:42","date_timestamp":1783233750,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"92934357","content_html":"🔗 Friendship Suffices, L. M. Sacasas
\n\n\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/26/friendship-suffices-l-m-sacasas/","date_published":"2026-06-26T06:27:59+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-26 06:27","date_timestamp":1782455279,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"92908463","content_html":"\n“I do think that if I had to choose one word to which hope can be tied,” Illich once said, “it is hospitality.” In the same context, he also claimed that “if there is something like a political life to be, to remain for us, in this world of technology, then it begins with friendship.” “Therefore my task,” he explained, “is to cultivate disciplined, self-denying, careful, tasteful friendships. Mutual friendships always. I and you, and I hope a third one, out of which perhaps community can grow. Because perhaps here we can find what the good is.”
\n
\n\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/25/ai-youre-it-thezvi-ethan/","date_published":"2026-06-25T20:54:05+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-25 20:54","date_timestamp":1782420845,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"92908443","content_html":"Ethan Mollick: Decisions about how to use AI in your organization are increasingly organizational design and strategy decisions, not IT choices: How do you integrate agents into your firm? What intelligence will you outsource? What are the boundaries of the firm? What is the role of people?
\n
🔗 Everyone Arguing About Whether the Midjourney Scanner Can Replace An…, Matt Schwartz
\n\n\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/25/everyone-arguing-about-whether-the/","date_published":"2026-06-25T20:53:18+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-25 20:53","date_timestamp":1782420798,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"92269528","content_html":"The Bitter Lesson is simple. AI gets powerful when you feed it raw, unfiltered data and let learning, search, and compute to the work.
\n
🔗 Agency IS a Virtue, Actually, Dr. Gena Gorlin
\n\nmicro.jamiemchale.com","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/16/agency-is-a-virtue-actually/","date_published":"2026-06-16T07:08:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-16 07:08","date_timestamp":1781593680,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91658051","content_html":"The hardest part of “just doing things” is having things you want to do. Figuring out what you want, and integrating your wants so that they amplify rather than inhibit one another, is essential to the kind of decisive action we associate with High Agency. But having clarity on what you want is not something that just happens to you, at least not for long; it is something you need to build and maintain using your agency. And this includes actively and honestly reflecting on your ideas of what is right and good, lest these ideas end up guilting and...
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Went to see the flamingoes in the wetlands near Bouzigues. Great to see them in the wild! Wish I’d brought my longer lens!
\n![\"\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/a1c95c02de-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/06/went-to-see-the-flamingoes/","date_published":"2026-06-06T17:20:34+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-06 17:20","date_timestamp":1780766434,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91657850","content_html":"Went back to Mèze today, with a little more sun than last time. Lovely port with restaurants, just a short walk from a small beach. Perfect wee family day.
\n![\"H](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/b67114c46b-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/06/went-back-to-mze-today/","date_published":"2026-06-06T17:15:53+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-06 17:15","date_timestamp":1780766153,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91536533","content_html":"Mèze 🇫🇷
\n![\"Colorful](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/e16ba64ac8-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/04/mze/","date_published":"2026-06-04T16:42:19+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-04 16:42","date_timestamp":1780591339,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91465847","content_html":"Spending the week near Étang de Thau in the south of France. Beautiful weather and good food! 📸🇫🇷
\n![\"\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/f8bc32fbc2-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/06/03/spending-the-week-near-tang/","date_published":"2026-06-03T14:08:08+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-03 14:08","date_timestamp":1780495688,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91130896","content_html":"A couple of highlights on AI and writing:
\n🔗 Slop Readers, Jacob Falkovich
\n\n\nHere’s the trick: the substance comes from volition, and the volition, for now, is all human. LLMs can’t write good if you tell them “write something for my catering page”. You’re not giving them any substance, and they won’t bring their own. LLMs write fine enough if you tell them exactly what you want to say and to whom and how, the whole structure of argument and motivation and your personal connection to it. But if you get that far, why let Claude be the only one who hears what you wanted to say? Just publish the prompt.
\n
🔗 W...
micro.jamiemchale.com","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/29/a-couple-of-highlights-on/","date_published":"2026-05-29T07:59:04+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-29 07:59","date_timestamp":1780041544,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91100005","content_html":"🔗 Norma Sancho’s on AI and Education
\n\n\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/28/norma-sanchos-on-ai-and/","date_published":"2026-05-28T21:09:20+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-28 21:09","date_timestamp":1780002560,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"89876232","content_html":"So, the question is not only: “Are students using AI to avoid thinking?” The question is also: “What kind of economy and educational system has made a robot feel more viable, attentive, more dialogic, and more intellectually available than the institution charging students for a degree?” If we want students to think first and use ChatGPT later, then someone has to care about their thinking before ChatGPT enters the room.
\n
Jack watching the boat at Brighouse with his gran 📸
\n![\"Two](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/5eaa760cf0-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/10/jack-watching-the-boat-at/","date_published":"2026-05-10T08:13:48+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-10 08:13","date_timestamp":1778400828,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"89780103","content_html":"Long Meg and Her Daughters. Neolithic stone circle, near Penrith. ~3000 BC 📸
\n![\"A](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/0670f17002-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/07/long-meg-and-her-daughters/","date_published":"2026-05-07T20:13:58+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-07 20:13","date_timestamp":1778184838,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"89771075","content_html":"Family day out at Lowther Castle near Penrith. Great adventure playground and a series of gardens to visit. 📸
\n![\"\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/8378a2d1dc-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/07/family-day-out-at-lowther/","date_published":"2026-05-07T16:17:57+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-07 16:17","date_timestamp":1778170677,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"89665019","content_html":"Day out at the National Railway Museum in York. The attached WonderLab was good family fun with a giant ball run and pneumatic tubes.
\n![\"\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/95b56930d7-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/05/day-out-at-the-national/","date_published":"2026-05-05T20:08:16+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-05 20:08","date_timestamp":1778011696,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"89590263","content_html":"Lovely sunny day out at Piglets Adventure Farm near York. Recommended for a family summer day. Gocarts, pedal tractor, wee beach area were all favourites.
\n![\"\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/ac7b525bc7-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/04/lovely-sunny-day-out-at/","date_published":"2026-05-04T19:28:45+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-04 19:28","date_timestamp":1777922925,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"89590179","content_html":"Train journey down the east coast with the boy
\n![\"\"](\"https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/9177/2026/d06de6e0c5-m.jpg\")
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/05/04/train-journey-down-the-east/","date_published":"2026-05-04T19:27:31+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-04 19:27","date_timestamp":1777922851,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"88478272","content_html":"🔗 Video:
\n\nmicro.jamiemchale.com","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/04/17/video-apps-and-programming-two/","date_published":"2026-04-17T21:15:45+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-04-17 21:15","date_timestamp":1776460545,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"88474909","content_html":"Why would we expect that people can develop and pitch a great idea for a novel interface without ever using and iterating upon a real working version of that interface? Non-programming designers are trying to invent something in an interactive medium without being able to make something meaningfully interactive. And so much of invention is about intimacy with the materials and about tight feedback and about sensitive observation and authentic use. So, it’s a catch-22. To enter into proper dialogue with their medium, a non-programmer needs to get help from a programmer. And that...
\n
🔗 What Will Be Scarce?, Alex Imas
\n\n\nThe same economic forces that moved 40% of the American workforce off farms and into factories and offices will move workers out of automatable commodity production and into what I’ll call the relational sector. By this I mean the human-intensive, provenance-rich, sometimes artisanal part of the economy where the human aspect is part of the value of the good or service itself. The economics of scarcity won’t disappear, it’ll just relocate.
\n
Boutique, prestige, local, status enhancing, caring
\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/04/17/what-will-be-scarce-alex/","date_published":"2026-04-17T20:27:13+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-04-17 20:27","date_timestamp":1776457633,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"88469052","content_html":"🔗 Against Taste - by Will Manidis - Minutes, Substack
\n\n\n","summary":"","url":"https://micro.jamiemchale.com/2026/04/17/against-taste-by-will-manidis/","date_published":"2026-04-17T19:13:48+00:00","author":{"name":"Jamie McHale","url":"https://www.jamiemchale.com","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamiemchale.com%2Ffavicon.ico","_microblog":{"username":"jamiemchale"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-04-17 19:13","date_timestamp":1776453228,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}}]}This is what the taste thesis gets exactly backwards. The patron who built the cathedral was not exercising taste. He was exercising will. He was exercising worship. And that will was devoted to something beyond himself — towards God, towards the city, towards a future he would not live to see.\nStrip the transcendent out and what remains is consumption. However exquisite the eye, however refined the palate, however flawless the Queen Anne proportions — the activity is acquisition. And the acquisition leads nowhere.
\n