Ken Kousen
@kousenit.com
Author, speaker, software developer, and technical trainer. Java Champion, teaches Java, Groovy, Gradle, Kotlin, Android, Spring. Publishes "Tales from the jar side" newsletter and YouTube channel
Tales from the jar side: RAG video, My clawdbot's wins and losses, the SaaSpocalype, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: RAG video, My clawdbot's wins and losses, the SaaSpocalype, and the usual social media silliness
My son asked if training to be a locksmith would be worth it. I told him it would open a lot of doors for him. (rimshot)
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Tales from the jar side: RAG video, My clawdbot's wins and losses, the SaaSpocalype, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Happy Valentine's Day to those who celebrate, or you can add Massacre if you don't.
Whatever. You do you ❣️
Whatever. You do you ❣️
February 14, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Happy Valentine's Day to those who celebrate, or you can add Massacre if you don't.
Whatever. You do you ❣️
Whatever. You do you ❣️
My clawdbot (or whatever it's called now) reminded me that Valentine's Day is tomorrow, so for the first time in years I'm ready ahead of time.
That almost, but not quite, paid for the entire exercise
That almost, but not quite, paid for the entire exercise
February 13, 2026 at 8:32 PM
My clawdbot (or whatever it's called now) reminded me that Valentine's Day is tomorrow, so for the first time in years I'm ready ahead of time.
That almost, but not quite, paid for the entire exercise
That almost, but not quite, paid for the entire exercise
Tales from the jar side: Moltbook implodes, OpenClaw is okay, a RAG demo, My dad's favorite player passes away, my SB pick, and the usual social media silliness, open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Moltbook implodes, OpenClaw is okay, a RAG demo, My dad's favorite player passes away, my SB pick, and the usual social media silliness
When you hear talk about Super Bowl babies born nine months from now, remember that Valentine’s Day is also this week.
open.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Tales from the jar side: Moltbook implodes, OpenClaw is okay, a RAG demo, My dad's favorite player passes away, my SB pick, and the usual social media silliness, open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Temperatures at 7 am this morning, according to Google
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: 21 F
Nuuk, Greenland: 25 F
Marlborough, CT: -3 F
All I can say is, brrr 🥶
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: 21 F
Nuuk, Greenland: 25 F
Marlborough, CT: -3 F
All I can say is, brrr 🥶
February 8, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Temperatures at 7 am this morning, according to Google
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: 21 F
Nuuk, Greenland: 25 F
Marlborough, CT: -3 F
All I can say is, brrr 🥶
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: 21 F
Nuuk, Greenland: 25 F
Marlborough, CT: -3 F
All I can say is, brrr 🥶
Tales from the jar side: Clawdbot née Moltbot née OpenClaw, Moltbook and emergent behavior, The Boss still rules, and the usual Social Media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Clawdbot née Moltbot née OpenClaw, Moltbook and emergent behavior, The Boss still rules, and the usual Social Media silliness
Do train conductors get tunnel vision? (rimshot)
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Tales from the jar side: Clawdbot née Moltbot née OpenClaw, Moltbook and emergent behavior, The Boss still rules, and the usual Social Media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Told a friend I would meet him for lunch, but only if the temperature exceeded the hour.
We're meeting at noon. It's going to be close.
We're meeting at noon. It's going to be close.
January 31, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Told a friend I would meet him for lunch, but only if the temperature exceeded the hour.
We're meeting at noon. It's going to be close.
We're meeting at noon. It's going to be close.
My presentation at the (free!) jChampions Conference is in about 45 minutes. If you're able to attend, be sure to say hi during the live stream :)
Conference: jchampionsconf.com
Live streams: www.youtube.com/@JCh...
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e...
#Java #JChampions
Conference: jchampionsconf.com
Live streams: www.youtube.com/@JCh...
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e...
#Java #JChampions
January 27, 2026 at 2:14 PM
My presentation at the (free!) jChampions Conference is in about 45 minutes. If you're able to attend, be sure to say hi during the live stream :)
Conference: jchampionsconf.com
Live streams: www.youtube.com/@JCh...
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e...
#Java #JChampions
Conference: jchampionsconf.com
Live streams: www.youtube.com/@JCh...
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e...
#Java #JChampions
Reposted by Ken Kousen
Minnesota National Guard members have arrived at a federal building and were directed to distribute donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters. Guard members were issued reflective vests so they would not be mistaken for federal agents.
January 25, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Minnesota National Guard members have arrived at a federal building and were directed to distribute donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters. Guard members were issued reflective vests so they would not be mistaken for federal agents.
Tales from the jar side: Snow, NFL, Dealing with current chaos, Agentic Java, Null Pointers, and the usual social media stuff open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Snow, NFL, Dealing with current chaos, Agentic Java, Null Pointers, and the usual social media stuff
Someone called my phone, sneezed, and hung up. I'm getting sick of these cold calls (rimshot)
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Tales from the jar side: Snow, NFL, Dealing with current chaos, Agentic Java, Null Pointers, and the usual social media stuff open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Reposted by Ken Kousen
The Twin Cities aren’t playing when they say Abolish ICE.
Here’s another graphic for our Minnesota friends.
Here’s another graphic for our Minnesota friends.
January 23, 2026 at 2:56 PM
The Twin Cities aren’t playing when they say Abolish ICE.
Here’s another graphic for our Minnesota friends.
Here’s another graphic for our Minnesota friends.
Reposted by Ken Kousen
THE POPE'S STILL GOT IT
January 19, 2026 at 2:36 AM
THE POPE'S STILL GOT IT
Tales from the jar side: Spring Boot 4, Agentic Java coding, Launch Library API, Spring AI Skills, Stand with Minnesota, and the usual social media nonsense open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Spring Boot 4, Agentic Java coding, Launch Library API, Spring AI Skills, Stand with Minnesota, and the usual social media nonsense
HELP! I need to re-home a dog. It’s a small terrier and tends to bark a lot. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll jump over my neighbor’s fence and get it for you. (rimshot, c/o @DadSaysJokes)
open.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Tales from the jar side: Spring Boot 4, Agentic Java coding, Launch Library API, Spring AI Skills, Stand with Minnesota, and the usual social media nonsense open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
From Reddit via an AI newsletter. It's a perfect encapsulation of the IT world at the moment.
January 12, 2026 at 8:23 PM
From Reddit via an AI newsletter. It's a perfect encapsulation of the IT world at the moment.
Tales from the jar side: AI and Jevons paradox, AI violinists, the JVM Weekly magnum opus, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: AI and Jevons paradox, AI violinists, the JVM Weekly magnum opus, and the usual social media silliness
Aliens are going to be so confused when they show up to overthrow our leaders and we offer to help. (rimshot)
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Tales from the jar side: AI and Jevons paradox, AI violinists, the JVM Weekly magnum opus, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Called it, jChampions conference, Agents vs MCP, Ralph Wiggum plugin, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Called it, jChampions conference, Agents vs MCP, Ralph Wiggum plugin, and the usual social media silliness
Plagiarism: Getting in trouble for something you didn't do. (rimshot)
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Tales from the jar side: Called it, jChampions conference, Agents vs MCP, Ralph Wiggum plugin, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Some days you get the AI, and some days the AI gets you
December 30, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Some days you get the AI, and some days the AI gets you
Tales from the jar side: Shock wave simulator, New hat + AI, Another lesson from It's A Wonderful Life, and more social media posts, by @kenkousen open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Shock wave simulator, New hat + AI, Another lesson from It's A Wonderful Life, and more social media posts
What do you call it when Santa loses his GPS signal? A lost Claus. (rimshot)
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Tales from the jar side: Shock wave simulator, New hat + AI, Another lesson from It's A Wonderful Life, and more social media posts, by @kenkousen open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Reposted by Ken Kousen
The online and free JChampions Conference is coming up on Jan 22, 23, 26, and 27. There will be 28 sessions for ALL Java developers presented by Java Champions.
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
December 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The online and free JChampions Conference is coming up on Jan 22, 23, 26, and 27. There will be 28 sessions for ALL Java developers presented by Java Champions.
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
Reposted by Ken Kousen
The online and free JChampions Conference is coming up on Jan 22, 23, 26, and 27. There will be 28 sessions for ALL Java developers presented by Java Champions.
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
December 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The online and free JChampions Conference is coming up on Jan 22, 23, 26, and 27. There will be 28 sessions for ALL Java developers presented by Java Champions.
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
jchampionsconf.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JChampionsC...
Tickets from Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/jchampions...
Another hilarious and informative summary 🏉 :-)
Matt LaFleur needs to hire a “Red Zone Czar” to remind him that the goal inside-the-20 is to move forward, not sideways.
miketanier.substack.com/p/how-the-nf...
miketanier.substack.com/p/how-the-nf...
How The NFC Was Won. And Lost. And Won.
Wild victories for the Bears, Panthers and Seahawks -- plus another Get Right game for the Eagles -- plunge the NFC playoff picture into complete chaos.
miketanier.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Another hilarious and informative summary 🏉 :-)
If you won't go until you get some figgy pudding, you're going to have a long, cold wait for DoorDash and I doubt you're going to be happy with the result
December 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM
If you won't go until you get some figgy pudding, you're going to have a long, cold wait for DoorDash and I doubt you're going to be happy with the result
Tales from the jar side: False measures of success and happiness, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: False measures of success and happiness, and the usual social media silliness
I'm so old I remember when you could put Xmas cards on top of the TV. (rimshot)
open.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Tales from the jar side: False measures of success and happiness, and the usual social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Gemini CLI, Cursor AI, Trinity College events, and the usual silliness from social media open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: Gemini CLI, Cursor AI, Trinity College events, and the usual silliness from social media
He's making a list / He's checking it twice / He left it at home / He's texting his wife (rimshot)
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Tales from the jar side: Gemini CLI, Cursor AI, Trinity College events, and the usual silliness from social media open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: That don't impress me much, FIFA Peace Prize memes, Trashed pandas, and other social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...
Tales from the jar side: That don't impress me much, FIFA Peace Prize memes, Trashed pandas, and other social media silliness
My grandfather's battalion in Norway successfully disguised themselves as Christmas trees. They were well decorated. (rimshot)
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Tales from the jar side: That don't impress me much, FIFA Peace Prize memes, Trashed pandas, and other social media silliness open.substack.com/pub/kenkouse...