The feed of updates to Max Zsol
We live in a world where culture, ideas, and values are shaped by the loudest voices. It is easy to feel that the dreams and aspirations of individuals are drowned in the cacophony of the majority. But there is a way to influence the global corpus, a way to plant the seeds of change in the hearts of your neighbors, a way to tip the balance towards a future that aligns with your vision. You can…
A Writer’s Perspective on VS Code After experimenting with all kinds of text editors, from Atom (RIP 🙏) to Scrivener, I’ve settled on Visual Studio Code for my writing (with a dose of Obsidian here and there). While VS Code is beloved by developers, it also can be a robust choice for fiction writers. Whether you’re writing a sprawling epic or the world’s shortest novel , the right writing…
The first thing that hit me about Harlan Ellison’s Pennies, Off a Dead Man’s Eyes was how charged the racial content felt—right from the start, no hiding it. The casual use of the n-word took me by surprise, which, frankly, is not uncommon while reading Ellison. It didn’t take me long to realized that race wasn’t just a backdrop element, but rather the core of the story. Btw, this story was first…
“I suspect that I get up early in the morning because I want to lie in bed, that I exercise because I want to sleep, that I work because I am essentially lazy, that I want to accomplish something because I have profoundly a contempt for accomplishment.” —Rockwell Kent
These essential books explore the depths of consciousness, the nature of the mind, and the philosophical and scientific inquiries into self and identity. Each book delves into key aspects of cognitive science, philosophy of mind, and the intersections between artificial intelligence and human thought. Below is a brief overview of these must-read books and how they contribute to the understanding…
“I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.” —Jean-Michel Basquiat Basquiat’s genius wasn’t just in the art but in how he approached it. His source material was everything—pop culture, history, personal experience—and his message was the key that unlocked him when stuck. He worked at breakneck speed, often like a demon, pushing himself to create without overthinking,…
In response to Daniel Eatock ’s Name of Colours . Goods White House White Socks White Van White Double Yellow Mellow Yellow Pages Yellow Tooth Yellow Vitamin Urine Yellow Polluted Aquamarine Outside Indigo Kind of Blue Movie Blue Peter Blue Police Light Blue Rinse Blue Planet Blue Banana Green Envious Green Mucus Green Traffic Light Green Dead Coral Aerial Pink Tickle Pink Bruised Plum Deep Purple…
In my continuous exploration of color theory, two sources have been key influence for me: (1) the meticulous color systems used in Tom Sachs’ studio and (2) the limited color palette of Pico-8 fantasy console . Both are such great examples of approaches to color that are both rigorous and inventive, reflecting a deep understanding of how constrains in color can shape perception in art/design.…
“Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.” —Leo Tolstoy What is Löve2D For a few months now I have been playing with Pico-8, a flavor of Lua game programming, which provides a self-contained, minimal developer experience similar to the streamlined Löve2D setup (see Getting Started with Local Development for Pico-8 and VS Code if you want to know more.)…
So, I’ve been diving into LÖVE2D game development and wanted to get a handle on how to manage animations and tweens. I checked out a few timer libraries that I found online and decided to break them down for my own good. For those new to animations, timer libraries play a crucial role by providing precise control over the timing and sequencing of animated elements. They can make your life much…
“ I don’t want to be human! I want to see gamma rays! I want to hear X-rays! And I want to - I want to smell dark matter! Do you see the absurdity of what I am? I can’t even express these things properly because I have to - I have to conceptualize complex ideas in this stupid limiting spoken language! But I know I want to reach out with something other than these prehensile paws! And feel the wind…
“Lett [Haines] was a really great teacher. He’s the one who said to me, ‘ If you are going to be an artist, you’ve got to make your work your best friend, that you can go to whatever you are feeling —you are feeling tired, you are feeling happy, you are feeling bored, you are feeling randy. Whatever you are feeling, go to it and have a conversation with it. ’ Which is how I live my life.” —Maggi…
As I began compiling notes for my new story into a single file, I realized the need to break it down into multiple files. Reflecting on the folder structure I had used in the past, and envisioning its utility for future projects, I decided to automate the creation of files and folders with a script. The less time spent on setup, the more you can dedicate to actual writing. That’s precisely why I…
Here is the setup to do Pico-8 development outside of the native IDE. Pico-8 is a fantasy console, particularly notorious for the harsh limitations it is build upon (128x128 screen size, 16 color palette , 32k cartridge size, etc). These limitations have intentionally been chosen to encourage small creations and self-control. Pico-8 comes with it’s own editor, so it might seem to go against the…
Ann Kjellberg’s recent article in Observer dives into the debate surrounding AI writing tools like ChatGPT. She voices understandable concerns about these new technologies. However, some of the arguments seem contradictory or fail to fully appreciate AI’s potential. On one hand, critics claim AI is too human-like , potentially propagating harmful biases. Yet on the other, they argue AI lacks human…
So many tasks to complete, so little time. So many ideas and projects to pursue. So many exciting opportunities. At times, I feel like an explorer in the jungle. The journey is for discovery, not to reach a specific destination. I seek daily enjoyment, not just a final surprise. But there is so much ground to cover. Deciding what not to pursue is just as important as what to focus on.
We face two approaches when grappling with a serious issue: We take the problem extremely seriously. We exhaust all the information at our disposal and prepare for the worst, even if it means unsettling those in positions of authority. They must handle the pre-problem problem, which translates to risk management. This responsibility is often met with resistance. Alternatively, we minimize the…
So, you know how it goes - life is always full of surprises and changes, and sometimes new priorities pop up out of nowhere. When that happens, it’s important to remember that just because something is new and urgent, it doesn’t mean your old priorities should be forgotten . Instead, it’s time to reevaluate and figure out what your new priorities should be. And, if your boss wants something done…
As an engineer, the key to success in this field is not just about being able to solve complex problems, it’s also about knowing when you are stuck and unblocking yourself . First and foremost, it’s essential to recognize when you are stuck. It could be a simple coding error or a more complicated project that you just can’t seem to wrap your head around. The moment you realize you’re stuck, it’s…
We don’t talk enough about how we work. It’s often neglected, but we need to talk more about the methods we use to get our work done. Many of us have two modes of operation: procrastination and heads-down working . We tend to dive right into the work without much thought. Even when we plan, scope, estimate, and map out a project, we rarely pause to consider the “how” of it all. This is…
“Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work” is an engaging and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the value of manual labor and the importance of hands-on learning. Matthew B. Crawford takes a flexible and agile approach to learning, emphasizing the importance of learning by doing. He argues that this type of learning is more valuable than theoretical knowledge…
Wellness harm In support of the argument There is undeniable harm caused to the artist community in the form of anguish caused by the uncertainty of how AI automation will affect the jobs and livelihoods of a community characterized on the whole by the difficulty of sustainable compensation for their labor. How can we make up for the discouragement and stress that the rapid release of these tools…
We all know the power of positive thinking. But what about the power of positive action? That’s where optimistic action bias comes in. Optimistic action bias is the tendency to believe that our actions will lead to positive outcomes, even in the face of uncertainty or potential failure. It’s the belief that we can make a difference and that our actions will have a positive impact. This bias is not…
Spending thousands of hours doing the same thing might feel productive, but it doesn’t lead to growth. It’s easy to fall into the trap of routine , but it’s important to remember that true growth comes from trying new things and being comfortable with frequent failure . The key to growth is iteration. Instead of repeating the same actions without variation, aim to make small, constant changes.…
As someone who has been working hard for years, I wish I knew earlier in life that a salary job won’t make me rich, no matter how hard I work. I thought that putting in long hours and climbing the corporate ladder would lead to financial success, but I was wrong. 1. A salary job won’t make you rich, no matter how hard you work. This is a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth. If you want to…
Today I’ll let ChatGPT pledge allegiance to the office life for me. Oh say can you see, by the florescent light, The cubicles shining, in the middle of the night? The memos and emails, that clutter up the screen, The endless meetings, that make us all scream. The land of the free, and the home of the brave, But in this office, we’re just slaves to the wave, Of deadlines and reports, that never…
As I sit here, surrounded by the remnants of my productivity — notes scribbled on post-its, half-finished projects strewn across my desk — I can’t help but wonder: am I truly progressing in the direction I want to go, or am I simply hiding behind a facade of busyness? It’s a strange thing, this relationship between productivity and self-awareness. On one hand, being productive can give us a sense…
When it comes to achieving our goals, it’s important to know whether we’re on track or not. But how do we determine if we’re making progress? The answer is simple: by having something to measure against . A plan is essential for staying on track. It can be as basic as a list of tasks and deadlines, or as detailed as a project roadmap or schedule. The key is to have something written down that can…
In today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest “mantras” or “rules” for success. We’re bombarded with messages telling us to “fake it till we make it,” “never give up,” and “work harder than everyone else.” While these mantras can be motivating, they can also be limiting. The truth is that you don’t need to follow someone else’s rules in order to be successful. The key is to learn from…
We often think of our environment as something separate from ourselves, something that exists outside of our minds. But the truth is, our environment is not just a representation of our mind, it is our mind. The things we see, the things we touch, the sounds we hear, all of these experiences shape the way we think and feel. This is why it’s so important to take control of our environment. When our…
When the lady draped in black comes to cut our thread, all we will have to show for our lives are the footprints we’ve left behind. There is no final destination for us to arrive at, no ultimate goal to strive for. We are on an endless journey, with no place to land. All that matters is the journey itself, the sweat of daily labor, and the hope and dreams that keep us moving forward, one step at a…