Raphell

I really enjoy lists like this. These days, recommendation systems tend to push the most popular and addictive content, which makes it harder to stumble upon hidden gems. But I’ve found that older or more obscure novels often carry a different kind of imagination. They’re not following formulas and they’re not tied to movies or franchises. It feels like reading someone’s raw creative mind before it got polished or filtered. I’m also curious if anyone has a book that barely anyone talks about, but left a lasting impact on you. I’d love to add it to my list.

The most helpful advice I’ve heard is not to aim for perfection. When you focus too much on structure and technique, the talk often feels stiff. What really connects with people is speaking about something you truly care about. The first time I gave a talk, I memorized the entire script and completely blanked on stage. Later, I spoke from the heart instead and it worked much better. Instead of trying to impress the audience, it might be more important to ask yourself why this matters to you.

I’ve always felt that self-hosting and self-sovereignty aren’t mutually exclusive. Most people don’t avoid freedom because they don’t want it, but because it’s too much hassle. The real question isn’t who wants control, but whether there’s a simpler way for ordinary people to have this sovereignty without wrestling with a pile of tech.

I don’t think planting trees is only for cooling things down. Sometimes it’s just about helping people feel like they can go outside. In really hot places, even a bit of shade can change your mind about stepping out.

I know someone who had a clear psychotic break and still hasn't fully recovered. The scariest part wasn't when he lost control. It was that he truly believed everything made perfect sense. The more you tried to care for him, the more he thought you were acting and trying to manipulate him.

My cat does the same thing. Whenever I lie on my side, they slowly roll over to snuggle against the same side every time. If I face the "wrong" way, they fidget and squirm for a while until they settle in.

Reading this study made me realize that cats are actually very good at finding balance.

I get it. But I'm just someone who likes to think things through and say them simply.

We keep stressing about not having enough time, and then physicists come along and say, "Well, time might not even exist." It’s like carefully trying to organize a desk that isn’t actually there. Maybe focus is the only real resource.

I never really took time seriously until one of my cron jobs skipped execution because of daylight saving. That was the moment I realized how tricky time actually is.

This article explains it really well. The part about leap seconds especially got me. We literally have to smear time to keep servers from crashing. That’s kind of insane.

I never really took time seriously until one of my cron jobs skipped execution because of daylight saving. That was the moment I realized how tricky time actually is. This article explains it really well. The part about leap seconds especially got me. We literally have to smear time to keep servers from crashing. That’s kind of insane.