Benjamin Borowski 🍁
@typeoneerror.com
🔮 Notion warlock at notionmastery.com
🧱 Product maker at weareokidoki.com
🤠 Latest at typeoneerror.com
👨🚒 Volunteer firefighter (Lt.)
👨💻 Hacker (rb/js/ios/php)
🎹 Producer (soundcloud.com/hacynth)
🎧 DJ (mixcloud.com/hacynth)
Avatar by Vic Nguyen
🧱 Product maker at weareokidoki.com
🤠 Latest at typeoneerror.com
👨🚒 Volunteer firefighter (Lt.)
👨💻 Hacker (rb/js/ios/php)
🎹 Producer (soundcloud.com/hacynth)
🎧 DJ (mixcloud.com/hacynth)
Avatar by Vic Nguyen
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Benjamin Borowski 🍁
@typeoneerror.com
· Oct 26
Hello, new friends! 👋
I'm Ben. I'm a software/product guy and one of the world's top Notion experts. I make software and currently run the NotionMastery.com program.
Connect with me if you're interested in my favorite topics: Systems, Complexity, Permaculture.
Here are my favorite books:
I'm Ben. I'm a software/product guy and one of the world's top Notion experts. I make software and currently run the NotionMastery.com program.
Connect with me if you're interested in my favorite topics: Systems, Complexity, Permaculture.
Here are my favorite books:
"The body claims its survival." is one of the most beautiful lines I've ever read. Sheesh.
Well, this article convinced me to buy and read Devon Price's "Laziness Does Not Exist", post-haste.
"The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can 'recover.'” is a shocking wake-up call.
"The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can 'recover.'” is a shocking wake-up call.
You Might Not Recover from Burnout. Ever.
What grows from the ashes of your old life?
drdevonprice.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM
"The body claims its survival." is one of the most beautiful lines I've ever read. Sheesh.
Well, this article convinced me to buy and read Devon Price's "Laziness Does Not Exist", post-haste.
"The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can 'recover.'” is a shocking wake-up call.
"The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can 'recover.'” is a shocking wake-up call.
You Might Not Recover from Burnout. Ever.
What grows from the ashes of your old life?
drdevonprice.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Well, this article convinced me to buy and read Devon Price's "Laziness Does Not Exist", post-haste.
"The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can 'recover.'” is a shocking wake-up call.
"The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can 'recover.'” is a shocking wake-up call.
Got glassesfor the first time and I lose them every time I wear them. I'm always confident they're gone forever every time, but so far they've turned up again. I'm on day 3 of not finding them now though. So much pressure to keep an inanimate object safe all the time, ack! How do y'all do this?
December 26, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Got glassesfor the first time and I lose them every time I wear them. I'm always confident they're gone forever every time, but so far they've turned up again. I'm on day 3 of not finding them now though. So much pressure to keep an inanimate object safe all the time, ack! How do y'all do this?
Reposted by Benjamin Borowski 🍁
The last issue of the year, where I talk about what's on a lot of people's minds: what they can try to do to stop their 2026 from being like their 2025.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Bouncing back from burnout
The causes of burnout are systemic. You can't get out of it just by trying harder.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The last issue of the year, where I talk about what's on a lot of people's minds: what they can try to do to stop their 2026 from being like their 2025.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Hard to identify satire in an "AI" future, isn't it? There's no real company here, and the connections to "reality" are intentionally designed. It seems awful because the reality is. Absurdity as social satire is important speech in an AI environment as AI zealotry is absurd per se. 🍎
"The ads, from a company calling itself Replacement AI, feature dark, dystopian taglines."
The ads, from a company calling itself Replacement AI, feature dark, dystopian taglines.
The ads, from a company calling itself Replacement AI, feature dark, dystopian taglines.
December 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Hard to identify satire in an "AI" future, isn't it? There's no real company here, and the connections to "reality" are intentionally designed. It seems awful because the reality is. Absurdity as social satire is important speech in an AI environment as AI zealotry is absurd per se. 🍎
neighbor gave us a beast of a line-caught chum salmon 🍣
December 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
neighbor gave us a beast of a line-caught chum salmon 🍣
This is a great outlook. Software can and should be both AI-free *and* AI-ready. Consent and optionality are key considerations in the best versions of AI futures. There are too many mixed incentives in built-ins.
December 25, 2025 at 3:31 AM
This is a great outlook. Software can and should be both AI-free *and* AI-ready. Consent and optionality are key considerations in the best versions of AI futures. There are too many mixed incentives in built-ins.
2010 I had a script that set up a VPS, LAMP, and published a site via SVN. Still take a month to build a custom CMS. Notion turned the same process into 1 day. Next decade we'll be able to build our own Notion in 1 minute. I'm curious how software co's think they'll outlast the battle for compute.
After reading this I gave exe.dev a shot and the combination of cheap VMs, the HTTPS proxy with passkey auth and link sharing, and the built-in LLM agent is... incredible.
Like, I know how to use each of these things individually, but combining them feels like when I first learned to script things.
Like, I know how to use each of these things individually, but combining them feels like when I first learned to script things.
Just in time software
I didn’t plan to write software in the grocery store last night. I was tired and hungry, kids in tow. My long shopping list sat in a text message. I wished I could check items off as I found them.…
commaok.xyz
December 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
2010 I had a script that set up a VPS, LAMP, and published a site via SVN. Still take a month to build a custom CMS. Notion turned the same process into 1 day. Next decade we'll be able to build our own Notion in 1 minute. I'm curious how software co's think they'll outlast the battle for compute.
Reposted by Benjamin Borowski 🍁
Let’s see how trivial it is to make an inauthentic account bot manager tool to flood bluesky with fake accounts using this app that lets you create new apps on the fly!
December 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Let’s see how trivial it is to make an inauthentic account bot manager tool to flood bluesky with fake accounts using this app that lets you create new apps on the fly!
Reposted by Benjamin Borowski 🍁
Reality is what you can get away with
December 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reality is what you can get away with
This is experience promised by tools like Notion. A suite of composable primitives to build context for AI tools. Personally I think "speak to create" is too abstract to be anything but disposable (AI as plastic). I think most need some sort of primitives layer to make it reliably effective.
December 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This is experience promised by tools like Notion. A suite of composable primitives to build context for AI tools. Personally I think "speak to create" is too abstract to be anything but disposable (AI as plastic). I think most need some sort of primitives layer to make it reliably effective.
Was going to chill with my time off, but instead I spent the last two days cleaning the garage and reorganizing many of our "junk" closets. Way more cathartic! ABS (always be sweeping).
December 24, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Was going to chill with my time off, but instead I spent the last two days cleaning the garage and reorganizing many of our "junk" closets. Way more cathartic! ABS (always be sweeping).
Five perfect movies (in no particular order):
Akira
Cidade de Deus
In Bruges
Spirited Away
La Haine
Akira
Cidade de Deus
In Bruges
Spirited Away
La Haine
Five perfect movies (in no particular order):
Local Hero
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Ladykillers (1955 obviously)
A Grand Day Out
Paddington 2
Local Hero
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Ladykillers (1955 obviously)
A Grand Day Out
Paddington 2
Five perfect movies (in no particular order):
Rhymes for Young Ghouls
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Tale of Two Cities
Conte d’été
Selma
Rhymes for Young Ghouls
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Tale of Two Cities
Conte d’été
Selma
December 24, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Five perfect movies (in no particular order):
Akira
Cidade de Deus
In Bruges
Spirited Away
La Haine
Akira
Cidade de Deus
In Bruges
Spirited Away
La Haine
Reposted by Benjamin Borowski 🍁
"This story doesn't need a sandworm"
This is almost always wrong. Arguably, EVERY story benefits from adding a huge subterranean worm with quasi-mystical or semi-supernatural powers, or equivalent (similar to Moby Dick).
Obviously the bigger the worm, the more literary quality it adds.
This is almost always wrong. Arguably, EVERY story benefits from adding a huge subterranean worm with quasi-mystical or semi-supernatural powers, or equivalent (similar to Moby Dick).
Obviously the bigger the worm, the more literary quality it adds.
what is your least favorite piece of writing advice and why? 👀
December 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
"This story doesn't need a sandworm"
This is almost always wrong. Arguably, EVERY story benefits from adding a huge subterranean worm with quasi-mystical or semi-supernatural powers, or equivalent (similar to Moby Dick).
Obviously the bigger the worm, the more literary quality it adds.
This is almost always wrong. Arguably, EVERY story benefits from adding a huge subterranean worm with quasi-mystical or semi-supernatural powers, or equivalent (similar to Moby Dick).
Obviously the bigger the worm, the more literary quality it adds.
You know, I'm in a major "deconvenience" mood lately. I have a lot of tech that makes things very convenient for me. But lately I'm in a defiant mood, and convenience is not need. We *can* do more with less; thank you for the reminder.
Oh hey let’s check in on the CEO of Oura to see his surprising take on regulation.
Opinion | With Less Regulation, Your Oura Ring Could Do More
Restrictions on ‘medical devices’ currently prevent us from unlocking some capabilities.
www.wsj.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
You know, I'm in a major "deconvenience" mood lately. I have a lot of tech that makes things very convenient for me. But lately I'm in a defiant mood, and convenience is not need. We *can* do more with less; thank you for the reminder.
tiny bit of .js to update on mouse movement, but it's pretty wild to see what you can do with just css these days! 🆒
Playing with triangles to create mesh deformation in pure #CSS.
Live demo @codepen.io: codepen.io/amit_sheen/f...
Live demo @codepen.io: codepen.io/amit_sheen/f...
December 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
tiny bit of .js to update on mouse movement, but it's pretty wild to see what you can do with just css these days! 🆒
December 22, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Reposted by Benjamin Borowski 🍁
If you have never worked inside a big high-functioning human knowledge organization, this is a good rundown of what that feels like
we are strictly zero tolerance absolutely forbidden to use genAI at work. we have large caseload and a specialized area. Know what we do other than use resources on the intranet? We are constantly on teams asking the brain trust of our department.
December 22, 2025 at 5:03 AM
If you have never worked inside a big high-functioning human knowledge organization, this is a good rundown of what that feels like
I'd rather fight malenia and isshin together in the underwater stage of TMNT than do bilewater again
December 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I'd rather fight malenia and isshin together in the underwater stage of TMNT than do bilewater again
A lot of the arts' critique is standing on principle/defending expression. Creating art is challenging, controversial, and complex. Create AI art if you like! But you cannot protect yourself from the political implications of doing so. Expect criticism! If you feel defensive: what's underneath?
I mean, things are tough all over. If rude criticism stops you from making art, you should probably not be making art.
December 21, 2025 at 12:52 AM
A lot of the arts' critique is standing on principle/defending expression. Creating art is challenging, controversial, and complex. Create AI art if you like! But you cannot protect yourself from the political implications of doing so. Expect criticism! If you feel defensive: what's underneath?
Nod nod. I had started my 2026 planning with my word of the year being "discernment", but a couple weeks ago I "found" something underlying that and it surfaced as "defiance". I also refuse. And with less anger now; I am determined and optimistic. Feels good.
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Nod nod. I had started my 2026 planning with my word of the year being "discernment", but a couple weeks ago I "found" something underlying that and it surfaced as "defiance". I also refuse. And with less anger now; I am determined and optimistic. Feels good.
do androids dream of electric sheep or nah?
What's wrong babe, you've barely touched your machine that makes writers obsolete
December 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
do androids dream of electric sheep or nah?
"Is this a bug with <Software> or with <Model>?"
Interesting framing. I think models can't be "buggy" because they don't have coherent features. Flaws, sure, but not bugs per se. Tricky for downstream integrators (agents) because the bugs are always going to be "yours". AI will make you look bad.
Interesting framing. I think models can't be "buggy" because they don't have coherent features. Flaws, sure, but not bugs per se. Tricky for downstream integrators (agents) because the bugs are always going to be "yours". AI will make you look bad.
December 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
"Is this a bug with <Software> or with <Model>?"
Interesting framing. I think models can't be "buggy" because they don't have coherent features. Flaws, sure, but not bugs per se. Tricky for downstream integrators (agents) because the bugs are always going to be "yours". AI will make you look bad.
Interesting framing. I think models can't be "buggy" because they don't have coherent features. Flaws, sure, but not bugs per se. Tricky for downstream integrators (agents) because the bugs are always going to be "yours". AI will make you look bad.
Reposted by Benjamin Borowski 🍁
Hacker-girl design with drone suit case and cyber tech gear.
I always aim for variety in the character compositions
#ttrpg #characterdesign
I always aim for variety in the character compositions
#ttrpg #characterdesign
December 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Hacker-girl design with drone suit case and cyber tech gear.
I always aim for variety in the character compositions
#ttrpg #characterdesign
I always aim for variety in the character compositions
#ttrpg #characterdesign
Answering your phone is so old timey, I love it!
Man answering his phone on the train: Yes? Correct, I’m not at work (pause) I’m not going to answer that because I am not at work today. No, you’re going to have to ask someone who is. Goodbye.
December 18, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Answering your phone is so old timey, I love it!