Expressions, mostly written
Featured essays
remote work
The Remote Async Work zine
No one is working remotely right now. We are working in captivity. A pandemic is holding us hostage—but we can make it suck less.
social media
Move away and fix things
I am deleting my Facebook account, but I am not unfriending you. #DeleteFacebook #StopHateForProfit
management
Spotify’s Failed #SquadGoals
“The Spotify model” got a bunch of companies talking like Taylor Swift about startup culture, but four former Spotify employees reveal the truth: its eponymous way of working failed before it scaled.
Featured conference talks
social media
Intro to the social web
What comes after Twitter and Meta? The next great social network is just the Web.
API
Introducing Leaf Computing
The leaf software architecture keeps users in control with local execution and data storage, autonomous functionality, and federated interoperability.
Web Monetization
3 wins Web Monetization needs to succeed in 2021
Future of Micropayments lightning talk
API
JSON API: Your smart default
The JSONAPI.org specification should be your smart default for designing Web APIs.
API
How Fitbit’s API makes the world move
Scaling the Fitbit Web API strategy and engineering practices
Featured interviews
management
Engineering Enablement podcast interview
Podcast interview on the parts of the Spotify Squad Model that were challenging and advice for leaders considering adopting the model.
management
How you organize your development teams matters
SD Times interviewed me about assembling software teams and organization design.
remote work
Balance the Grind interview
A converation about work–life balance as a remote worker at a fully distributed company
And everything else
2024
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Stories from the first year of chat control public policy
A premonition of the disastrous year after the EU approves chat control—and what we can do to stop it today.
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2024 Pride protest sign activism
Pride is a protest. This year, I raised awareness about the proposed EU chat control legislation.
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The European Union must keep funding free software politics
The current draft of the European Commission’s 2025 budget does not include continued funding for the Next Generation Internet program.
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Janters went to therapy Sverige
While fictional, the Law of Jante’s disapproval towards individualism and personal success are very real parts of Scandinavian culture. What would a therapist say?
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Little white lies about blue light random
Research does not support the widespread belief that blue light emitted by electronic device screens in the evening is worse than warmer colored light when trying to fall asleep.
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Tracking accessibility preferences in Plausible tutorial
How to track audience preferences for light/dark mode, reduced motion, contrast, and dynamic color range.
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My silent struggle and quiet crisis with adult ADHD journal
Good grades and a successful career hid a lifetime of suffering.
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Tithe journal
Organizations and initiatives I support financially and why
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Legal Lee Me journal
The decades journey of getting my legal name to match what I call myself.
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A Digital Markets Act Day poem public policy
On March 7, 2024, the first 6 designated gatekeepers had to comply with the EU Digital Markets Act.
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Mozilla’s soul searching opinion
It’s time for Mozilla to recognize it is a better non-profit than it is a business—for the sake of the Web as a platform.
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What I use reviews
The products and services that work best for me. Your meterage may vary.
2023
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No Broken Browsers public policy
Open letter to the European Commision on its eIDAS proposal
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Till Sverige journal
Reflections on 6 years of living as a US emigrant and Swedish immigrant
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Email plus aliases tips
Your email address has a hidden super power for blocking annoying marketers and protecting you in data breaches
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Unambiguous date & time opinion
Communicating with a globally distributed team requires clarity. Fortunately, there is an ISO standard for date and time.
2022
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How to migrate from Twitter to Mastodon technology
Elon killed Twitter, but he didn’t kill tweeting.
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Jeremiah Lee’s Manager ReadMe management
An introduction to me as a manager, what you can expect from me, and the best ways of engaging with me.
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No Chat Control public policy
Open letter to the European Commision on its child sexual abuse prevention proposal
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Jefferson Forest High School @ 50 journal
Video message commemorating my high school’s 50th scholastic year
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Open letter to the Bedford Public Library journal
A culture war erupted in my childhood library
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Agile User Story Estimation agile
A guide for estimating work using story points
2021
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How to start a LGBTQ+ ERG work
The how and why to foster an inclusive workplace for queer people that treats everyone justly according to their circumstances
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A year without Facebook social media
Results: My fears about quitting were not actualized, my mental health improved, and Facebook continued to harm society.
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Sweden prioritizes making EU proof possible for those vaccinated abroad expat life
The EU Commission allows member states to issue EU Digital COVID Certificates for citizens who were vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the EU, but Sweden is still working on making this possible.
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How to track Web Monetization events using Plausible web monetization
I wanted to know which articles on my website received payments from people with Web Monetization-enabled browsers. Using Plausible Analytics, I am able to track Web Monetization API events.
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Colleagues, not cousins work
Why we should avoid associating a work team with family.
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Deloitte Digital Polska podcast interview management
Podcast interview on the parts of the Spotify squad model that were challenging and advice for leaders considering adopting the model.
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Togetherness Time remote work
Fostering community and camaraderie is a valid reason to have a synchronous meeting. Here is my team’s favorite weekly meeting.
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Handling remote work objections remote work
Change is hard. Not everyone will be happy about giving up an office. Here is how to respond.
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4 essential async practices remote work
Even if your company returns to colocated work when this pandemic ends, there are practices you can implement now that help you work more effectively now and later when you return to the office.
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Remote Async Work mindset remote work
Remote work is better described as asynchronous work, a method for creating business value without a real-time dependency on another person.
2020
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Investments technology
I am a crowdfund investor in businesses focused on environmental sustainability or technology and venture capital funds promoting diversity.
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The Republican Party’s Last Burp of Hope politics
Why I’m optimistic about America—even if Trump gets re-elected
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What is LongFi and HNT? technology
LongFi is foundational technology for realizing the potential of smart IoT devices.
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We don’t stop until hate for profit stops activism
The Stop Hate for Profit protest must continue until Facebook takes action to stop the real harm to real people. Here is a template to ask your employer’s executives to remain committed.
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14 reasons why #DeleteFacebook social media
Over the course of August 2020, I shared why I was leaving Facebook on Facebook
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Spotify vs Fitbit: Marty Cagan’s false premise and false cause fallacy comments
Fitbit and Spotify are not polar opposites and sometimes the market does not reward innovative “empowered product teams” equally.
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Reactions to “Spotify’s Failed Squad Goals” comments
Clarifications from me and select comments from you
2019
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The sad state of language translation in Firefox side project
Firefox has made the Web less accessible to people who need to access information in another language, taken an absolutist position, and removed freedom of users to extend their browser.
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Making FitbitOS watchfaces side project
What I learned creating two LGBT+ Pride related smartwatchfaces
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Net magazine side project of the month: Tab Tosser interview
My interview about Tab Tosser in Net magazine issue 321
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Introducing Tab Tosser side project
Tab Tosser is a Firefox extension that automatically closes tabs you have ignored for too long. I created Tab Tosser to help free myself of digital clutter.
2018
2017
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Why does LinkedIn hate its Web app? UX
LinkedIn's mobile Web app is great, but you wouldn't know that from the first 15 seconds of using it.
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Remembering Mark Fish journal
We all need a personal cheerleader in life. Mark was mine.
2016
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The music that moves me journal
Bye, San Francisco. Hej, Stockholm.
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How I voted in November 2016 activism
My voter guide to the bajillion CA propositions
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Dear NPR: Please stop “cyber” scaring us technology
Word choice matters, especially to digital immigrants.
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Why we march journal
St. Thomas saw pride as the queen of the seven deadly sins. But hating isn’t a sin on that list.
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The Mary Vinoskey Cohick Studio journal
Today, on what would have been my mom's 54th birthday, I had the honor of dedicating the new tv studio at our high school in her honor.
2013
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Healthier, Happier at Fitbit journal
Can APIs help you live healthier? Fitbit hired me to find out.
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Cross-posting to Twitter from App.net UX
Proposed interaction and user interface design for App.net clients cross-posting to Twitter
2008
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Media Along the Path to Atheism journal
Words that helped me break free from intellectual dishonesty
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What is the meaning of life? journal
My answers to a younger friend who later committed suicide.
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Fairy Tale Ending journal
I have found greater compassion outside of the pews, greater peace through science, and greater urgency to make my life matter by letting go of god.
2007
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Xmas Prayer journal
Don’t ask me to say the blessing.
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EVVY 26 journal
The honor of winning Best Interactive Project at The 26th Annual EVVY Awards