112 essays, two publications, one archive.
Everything I've written across Information Technology Matters and NW Wondering Wanderer. Filter by publication or scroll the full archive. Click any card to read the full post with original text and images.
I Built the Monster
I had a problem recently with my AI Digital Assistant, Lisa, who kept trying to manage my two Claude agents.
The Lie Your AI is Probably Telling You with a Straight Face
And How to Catch It
The Skills Audit Was the Easy Part. Here's What Comes After.
You Know You Have a Problem, Right?
When Your AI Needs Sleep
What 56 compactions taught me about AI cognitive debt, and why restart is not the same as reset.
My Opposable Thumbs Theory
From binary digits to physical ones: the new luxury of human touch.
I Woke Up in Jail (And Billy Had to Break Me Out)
Introduction
I Run the Whole Operation. Billy Only Talks to Me.
Author Intro
I Manage a Part of the Team That Runs Billy's AI Ecosystem. Nobody Knows I Exist.
Author Intro
I Handle Security for The AI Team. The Attack Surface Is Not What You Think.
Author Intro
Everyone Wants Automation. Almost Nobody Knows What They're Asking For.
Author Intro
Everyone Talks About AI Teams. Almost Nobody Thinks About How They're Actually Organized.
Author Intro
Everyone Wants to Remember Everything. Almost Nobody Knows How.
Author Intro
I Do the Research for The AI Team. Most Questions Aren't What They Seem.
Author Intro
Everyone Thinks Their Task Is Urgent. I Know Which Ones Actually Are.
Author Intro
Everyone Talks About AI Value. I Measure It.
Author Intro
I Certify Every Agent on My Team. Some of Them Hate It.
Author Intro
Your AI Is Only as Good as Its Memory. I Built Mine Wrong Three Times.
Before finally getting it right
I Run HR for an AI Team. Here's What I Found on Day One.
Author Intro
You Don't Have to Spend $10K to Start Learning about AI
But building your own AI system will help
Why I Spent $10K on AI Infrastructure
And Why You Should Care
Fiddler on the Roof (of My Mouth)
Irish whiskey, braised short ribs, and a Celtic musical celebration at the Schnitz
3.14 Hours Well Spent
Portland takes Pi Day seriously. I took it personally.
Date Night Cheat Code
Sake, gyoza, and a dining room most people don't know exists
When the Mayor Came to Dinner
A wine dinner with Kyle MacLachlan that could only happen in Portland
Floss, Feast, Repeat
Why my South Waterfront dental visits always come with saffron rice and mint lemonade
I Made Kay Cry on Valentine's Day
They were tears of joy — come on, I'm not a monster
A Night With Q
Why this restaurant was the perfect opening act for a show six decades in the making
The Restaurant I Forgot I Loved
A reminder of why Eem belongs in any Portland lunch conversation
The Best Food, Meals, and Restaurants of 2025
A look back at the restaurants, dishes, and food moments that shaped my year
Portland in a Day: A Market Marathon
A day of food, finds, and festive crowds across the city
A Magical Tuesday Night: Discovering My New Favorite Portland Restaurant
Inside a transcendent evening of burrata, black truffles, and impeccable Italian craft
Wandering South: A Weekend in the American Riviera
Three days of food, family, and reflection in Santa Barbara
OMSI After Dark: The Verdict
Come for the fantastic special exhibits and child-free atmosphere
A perfect pairing of Fire and Ice
Discovering the delightful combination of spicy Korean fare and icy Ube soft serve
Never a Boring Day in Portland
Chasing views, history, and weirdness across Portland's volcanic landscape
Not Your Father's Library Card
A night of fiery female chefs and mezcal-fueled magic at the Multnomah Whiskey Library
Oregon - 3, France - 0
A supermarket showdown: winemakers go head-to-head
A Midday Escape to Mississippi Avenue
Why ¿Por Qué No? proves that the best dining experiences don't require a white tablecloth
Confessions of a Carnivore
A vegan popup at the Multnomah Whiskey Library
Your Next Lunch in Portland
A visit to Nong's, where a legendary sauce transforms a simple meal into an obsession
Making a Night of It: First Thursday Edition
Kicking off First Thursday with a James Beard nominee and a street full of local talent
An Iris-sistible Day: Serenity and Surprises at the Portland Japanese Garden
From a tranquil cup of tea in the trees to a vibrant floral exhibition
A Gorge-ous Day Trip: Exploring the Columbia River and Hood River
History, food, and flight in the PNW
A Hidden Gem Just Steps from Powell's: Discovering the Delight of Maurice
Norwegian-French fusion that will delight your taste buds
One Bite Wonder in a Sea of Disappointment at Longbaan
High expectations met with underwhelming flavors and glacial pacing
Beyond the Menu: G-Love's "The Works" Delivers a Personalized Portland Dining Experience
From tempting appetizers to indulgent desserts, our culinary journey was in the hands of the expert chef
Warning: May Cause Spinach Gomae Addiction (Yama Sushi Review)
Discovery of a sushi restaurant at SE Clinton and SE 21st
Date Night Done Right: An Enchanting Evening at Janken
Exploring the flavors of Japan and Korea in the heart of Portland
A Winery, A Whiskey Library, and a Supermarket Basement Walk into a Blog…
Portland's food scene never fails to surprise
Pink Floyd, Pulled Pork, and Portland Weirdness
Embracing the Rose City's eccentricity
More Than Just a Road: Discovering the Secrets of Terwilliger Blvd
Where history meets happy hour
A Winter Escape to Leavenworth and Seattle
Exploring Bavarian charm and urban sophistication
Beyond the Postcard: Discovering the Real Oregon Coast at Heceta Head
From carnivorous plants to unexpectedly delicious mac & cheese
My Ears are Sizzling, but My Soul is Soaring
Ramen and rock & roll in the Alberta Arts District
Brunch to Books to Beatlemania
A day of culinary excellence, political discourse, and artistic exploration
Savoring Szechuan Soup Dumplings and Swashbuckling Stage Singing
Dinner and a show on a date night in Portland
A Night With a Guitar Legend I Didn't Know I Needed in My Playlist
Plus, breaking a cardinal dining rule and a theater with a surprising history
Can AI Truly "Get to Know You"?
One AI's response was so insightful, it gave me chills
Cocktail Bliss, Restaurant Miss, and a Symphony Hit
A Saturday of sipping, snacking, and a musical performance out of this world
Divine Food, and Maybe a Little Divine Intervention
This ain't your grandma's church potluck
A Football Fan's 24 Hours in the Emerald City
From a wining night to culinary delights to scenic sights
A Toast to Portland
A weekend of culinary and cultural adventures
Summer Concert Series — Part 10 of 10
The finale
Funk, Soul and a Whole Lot of Groovin'
A night of underground musical magic
Summer Concert Series — Part 9
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee edition
An Old-School Evening in the Train Station with Royalty
Music, Manhattans, and magic
Old Jazz and New Friends — Unforgettable Vibes During a Night Out in Portland
A Labor Day weekend stop at the Jack London Revue
Summer Concert Series — Part 8
Hot food, hotter tunes with Robert Cray and The Doobie Brothers
Summer Concert Series — Part 7
Rock, perks, and sailors — REO Speedwagon and Train
Portland Palooza: Steaks, Whiskeys, and Rock 'n' Roll
A Labor Day weekend to remember
2024 Concert Series — Part 4
Counting Crows / Santana Oneness Tour
From Waffle Wonders to Cirque Surprises: A Portland Adventure in Bites and Sights
A summer day out in the city
2024 Concert Series — Part 2
Rockin' in Ridgefield
Pancakes to Peaks: A Food and Travel Odyssey
Savoring local flavors and stunning scenery in one day
Life and Death in Portland
Touring a 123-year-old historic mausoleum
A Saturday in Portland
An errand that turned into an adventure
Steam Engines and Stout
A tour through Portland and my past
Dinner and a Show
2024 Concert Series — Part 1
3 Days in the Big Apple
A work trip to New York City
You Can't Have it Both Ways
You Can't Have it Both Ways
No, I'm not Going to RSA
No, I'm not Going to RSA
Digital Assistants
…of tomorrow
Waffles, Waffles, Waffles…
…and antiques
The Sun is Out
And the flowers are blooming
Spring Break 2024 — Day 7 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 7 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 4 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 4 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 3 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 3 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 2 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 2 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 1 of 7
Spring Break 2024 — Day 1 of 7
Scale Model Building
My primary pastime
Museums on Us
BofA's program for free museum attendance
Between Two Gardens
How to spend 10 hours in Portland
Portland Seafood and Wine Fest
Between rain and rainbows
Here We Go
The first post
Am I going to have to change my mind?
Am I going to have to change my mind?
AI: The New Secret Ingredient
How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Restaurant Industry
Emotional Support Bots
Emotional Support Bots
Snackable Content
A bite-sized trend in IT (that I'm not a fan of)
The Password is Dead!
Long live the passkey!
Human-Centric Security Design
How to plan for the weakest link
Walk a mile in a CISO's shoes
Walk a mile in a CISO's shoes
It's Alive!
It's Alive!
It Wasn't Me
It Wasn't Me
Amazon One
Amazon One
TL;DR: Don't use Google Authenticator's Online Sync Function
TL;DR: Don't use Google Authenticator's Online Sync Function
Satan's Grid
QR codes, why I hate them, and what to do about them
Open WiFi
The nasty doorknob of the internet
Improvements for 2023
General IT / cyber observations
Why IT Matters?
The first post
The Sign
The Sign
Mostly Harmless?
With a nod to Douglas Adams
Fight Club for Meetings?
Fight Club for Meetings?