Exploring Ideas: A Blog on Technology, Startups, Food, and More
Welcome to my blog where I share thoughts and insights on technology, startups, and life in Atlanta. Browse through the articles below or explore by topic.
The Chatham House Rule: What It Means and Why It Matters
July 7, 2025
You’re at a conference or high-level meeting, and someone says, “This session operates under the Chatham House Rule.” Everyone nods knowingly while you’re sitting there thinking, “What the hell is a Chatham House, and why do they get to make rules?” I’ve been in exactly this situation more times than I care to admit. It’s one of those things that sounds important and official, but no one ever actu...
The FTC vs. '98% Accurate' Claims: Lessons from the Workado Settlement
July 4, 2025
When the Coin Toss Beat the AI In May 2025, the Federal Trade Commission reached a landmark settlement with Workado LLC that fundamentally changed how AI detection companies can market their products. The devastating finding: Workado’s “AI Content Detector,” marketed as “98% accurate” at identifying AI-generated text, actually performed at just 53% accuracy in independent testing-barely better tha...
Ghost Letters: The Hidden Signatures AI Leaves in Your Text
July 2, 2025
Ever notice something weird when you copy text from ChatGPT or Claude and paste it into your document? Maybe the quotes look fancier than usual, or there’s a dash that seems… different somehow. You’re not losing your mind. AI tools are leaving their fingerprints all over our text, and once you start noticing them, you’ll see them everywhere. These signatures come in two flavors: the ones you can s...
Return on Luck: How to Actually Capitalize on Lucky Breaks
June 30, 2025
Last week I wrote about increasing your surface area for luck-putting yourself in more optional scenarios where good things can find you. But that’s only half the equation. The other half is what happens when luck actually shows up. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most people are terrible at capitalizing on the opportunities they create. The Follow-Through Problem I see this constantly. Someon...
Coconut Milk Poached Kobia in a Tagine with Dill and Lemon
June 28, 2025
I’ve been experimenting with my tagine ever since my wife bought me one. The conical clay lid does something magical to whatever you’re cooking - it circulates steam in this gentle way that keeps everything incredibly moist while concentrating flavors. This coconut milk poached kobia was born out of wanting to try something different in the tagine beyond the usual. The clay pot’s even heat distrib...
What I Wish I Knew About Management When I Was an IC
June 27, 2025
I fell into managment out of necessity not an active choice, as often happens in startups. When you find yourself in a management role in these technical fields, you of course think you know everything, but quickly realize that you had no idea. Not wrong in a “this is terrible” way, but wrong in a “the job is fundamentally different than I imagined” way. Here’s what I wish someone had told me befo...
Simon's Decision Framework: A Simple Structure for Complex Decisions
June 25, 2025
We make thousands of decisions every day, but when the stakes are high, we need a better approach than just “winging it.” Herbert Simon, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and cognitive scientist, gave us a deceptively simple framework that works whether you’re managing a crisis, building an AI system, or just trying to make better choices in your daily life. His framework has three phases: Intellige...
Increasing Your Surface Area for Luck
June 23, 2025
The Thing About Luck I used to think luck was mostly random. You’re either the person who finds a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk or you’re not. You either meet the right person at the right time, or you don’t. Pure chance. But the more I pay attention, the more I notice that “lucky” people seem to have a lot more optional scenarios in their lives. They go to more things. They say yes to more i...
Decision-Making Frameworks That Prevent Family Financial Conflicts
June 20, 2025
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Please consult with qualified professionals before making significant financial decisions. One of the most valuable functions of a family office is providing structured frameworks for financial decision-making. Ultra-wealthy families use sophisticated governance systems to dete...
Password Management and Digital Security for Your Family
June 18, 2025
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute cybersecurity or financial advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for specific security recommendations and implementations. Ultra-wealthy families employ dedicated cybersecurity teams to protect their digital assets and information. While you don’t need that level of protection, implementing strong pass...
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