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devonzuegel.com

devonzuegel.com
To rent or to sell, that is the question As a real estate developer, one of the big decisions you need to make is whether you will rent or...
a year ago
104
a year ago
As a real estate developer, one of the big decisions you need to make is whether you will rent or sell the buildings you've built. Income from rentals flows in steadily over years, while income from sales hits all at once. This essential difference is simple but has many...
devonzuegel.com
IVF egg retrieval notes I’ve now done two egg retrieval cycles. Given that I had a zillion questions before I started, I...
10 months ago
79
10 months ago
I’ve now done two egg retrieval cycles. Given that I had a zillion questions before I started, I thought I’d share my notes for others who might have similar questions. Things I would’ve loved to know beforehand Overall the process was way easier and less intense than I...
devonzuegel.com
Part 6: Is the proposed new city in California climate resilient? A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the...
10 months ago
79
10 months ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the future of my home state in my lifetime. This post is part of a series I’m writing about this bold proposal. One of the biggest questions I had when I first learned about this...
devonzuegel.com
Part 5: Relationship with Travis Air Force Base A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the...
11 months ago
64
11 months ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the future of my home state in my lifetime. This post is part of a series I’m writing about this bold proposal. Up until recently, the new city’s potential impact on Travis Air Force...
devonzuegel.com
Part 3: The first walkable city in America in a century A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the...
a year ago
63
a year ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the future of my home state in my lifetime. This post is part of a series I’m writing about this bold proposal. As an urbanism nerd, the aspect of California Forever’s plan that I was...
devonzuegel.com
Georgist land taxes balance community benefit & the efficiency of markets One thing I like about Georgist land taxes is they reflect a deep-seated intuition many people have...
7 months ago
55
7 months ago
One thing I like about Georgist land taxes is they reflect a deep-seated intuition many people have that land should be owned by the community, while still employing markets to ensure efficient use of this limited resource. People feel that land is special and should serve the...
devonzuegel.com
Property values should be normalized by acre In the US, it's common for local governments to focus on tax revenue produced by a property, without...
7 months ago
54
7 months ago
In the US, it's common for local governments to focus on tax revenue produced by a property, without considering the costs it adds to the city's budget. This is like measuring how far a car can drive without considering how much gas it uses to get there. Different properties...
devonzuegel.com
The road to hell is paved with asphalt Most roads are paved with asphalt. Unfortunately, there are a lot of problems with asphalt. Bricks,...
a year ago
42
a year ago
Most roads are paved with asphalt. Unfortunately, there are a lot of problems with asphalt. Bricks, cobblestones, and pavers are often much better options, because: 1. Asphalt degrades fast, so once you account for maintenance, it's more expensive it first appears Asphalt...
devonzuegel.com
Edge Esmeralda: A recap of June's popup village This summer, I co-organized a month-long 1,300-person "popup village" in Healdsburg, CA called Edge...
6 months ago
41
6 months ago
This summer, I co-organized a month-long 1,300-person "popup village" in Healdsburg, CA called Edge Esmeralda. This gathering was incredibly fun and rewarding, and it was also a huge accelerant to the creation of the permanent village we are building, Esmeralda. Edge Esmeralda...
devonzuegel.com
The new city in California A new city has been proposed in California, and the plan is going to a vote in Solano County’s...
a year ago
37
a year ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and the plan is going to a vote in Solano County’s November election. The proposed location is in Solano County, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento, and the group behind the proposal is named California Forever. As a...
devonzuegel.com
Part 1: The story so far of California Forever A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the...
a year ago
35
a year ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the future of my home state in my lifetime. This post is part of a series I’m writing about this bold proposal. California Forever was founded by Jan Sramek in 2017 as a way to create...
devonzuegel.com
Part 2: Cluster development preserves California’s landscape A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the...
a year ago
35
a year ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the future of my home state in my lifetime. This post is part of a series I’m writing about this bold proposal. One of the most essential parts of California Forever’s proposal to...
devonzuegel.com
Traveling neighborhoods: a different kind of group trip I've discovered a group trip format that I really love, and I wanted to share it with others because...
11 months ago
33
11 months ago
I've discovered a group trip format that I really love, and I wanted to share it with others because (a) you might find it fun to host or join something like this in the future and (b) selfishly, I would like more people to organize trips like this so that I can join them! The...
devonzuegel.com
A libertarian just won the Argentinian presidency – how did that happen? If you're wondering how the heck a hardline libertarian just won the Argentinian presidential...
a year ago
27
a year ago
If you're wondering how the heck a hardline libertarian just won the Argentinian presidential election, here's some background. First, a key fact is that the government is printing money at an accelerating rate, resulting in 143% annual inflation as of the most recent count....
devonzuegel.com
A libertarian just won Argentina's presidency... what's going on? If you're wondering how the heck a hardline libertarian just won the Argentinian presidential...
a year ago
25
a year ago
If you're wondering how the heck a hardline libertarian just won the Argentinian presidential election, here's some background. First, a key fact is that the government is printing money at an accelerating rate, resulting in 143% annual inflation as of the most recent count. The...
devonzuegel.com
Part 4: Success is tied to benefiting existing Solano residents A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the...
11 months ago
25
11 months ago
A new city has been proposed in California, and I’ve never been more captivated by a vision for the future of my home state in my lifetime. This post is part of a series I’m writing about this bold proposal. California Forever’s proposal includes 10 Voter Guarantees that go far...
devonzuegel.com
The Hard Parts of Open Source, by Evan Czaplicki Speaker: Evan Czaplicki Meeting: Strange Loop 2018 - September 2018 Video:...
over a year ago
22
over a year ago
Speaker: Evan Czaplicki Meeting: Strange Loop 2018 - September 2018 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_4EX4dPppA Slides: https://prezi.com/oowcpzsnwp-8/the-hard-parts-of-open-source/?webgl=0 [ References to videos, books, and articles mentioned in this...
devonzuegel.com
Buenos Aires recommendations I wrote a Buenos Aires guide with recommendations and tips for a group of friends I was traveling...
over a year ago
19
over a year ago
I wrote a Buenos Aires guide with recommendations and tips for a group of friends I was traveling with in December 2021, and I figured it might be useful to other people too. I adore Buenos Aires and spend about a month each year there, so I'm always thrilled to hear when friends...
devonzuegel.com
Podcasts & conferences I've spoken at I haven't done a great job of tracking these, so this list is non-comprehensive: Urbanism and the...
over a year ago
19
over a year ago
I haven't done a great job of tracking these, so this list is non-comprehensive: Urbanism and the Future of Cities (Jan 2023) – Narratives podcast Inflation, Argentina, and Crypto (Oct 2022) – EconTalk podcast Devon Zuegel on Startup Cities (June 2022) Devon Zuegel, creator...
devonzuegel.com
The unconference toolbox by Jason Benn & Devon Zuegel So, you’ve been invited to an unconference! Maybe you’re not entirely...
a year ago
19
a year ago
by Jason Benn & Devon Zuegel So, you’ve been invited to an unconference! Maybe you’re not entirely sure what that means (did the organizers misspell "conference"?), or maybe you’ve been to dozens of these before and you’re looking for some ideas for how to run an awesome...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #5: The evolution of urban utopias (guest episode from Caos Planejado) Alain was interviewed by our friend Anthony for a Brazilian urbanism blog called Caos Planejado, and...
over a year ago
19
over a year ago
Alain was interviewed by our friend Anthony for a Brazilian urbanism blog called Caos Planejado, and we thought it would be fun to cross-post it here. They discussed Brazilian cities, municipal financing, what it was like to live in NYC in the time of Jane Jacobs and Robert...
devonzuegel.com
Topographic theory of flaking Natan Gesher sent me the following email after reading my post about why flaking is so widespread in...
over a year ago
19
over a year ago
Natan Gesher sent me the following email after reading my post about why flaking is so widespread in San Francisco, and I thought you all might find it interesting too: I saw your blog posts about flaking and wanted to share something I've observed from moving around a bit (four...
devonzuegel.com
On bounties Michael Kaminsky recently emailed me an interesting post he wrote about bounties in open source, and...
over a year ago
18
over a year ago
Michael Kaminsky recently emailed me an interesting post he wrote about bounties in open source, and I took the opportunity to write up some thoughts that had been swirling in my head for a while. You can find the (lightly edited) response I sent to him below. ~ Bounties are...
devonzuegel.com
Tutorial: Telegram → Logseq quick notes I've long wanted a notes app with an optional chat style interface for append-only notes. The idea...
over a year ago
18
over a year ago
I've long wanted a notes app with an optional chat style interface for append-only notes. The idea is that I'll use the simpler append-only interface while on the go, and then use full-featured interface to review, edit, and organize those notes when I'm back at my computer. I...
devonzuegel.com
Vacuum tube nostalgia Music enthusiasts will tell you there's nothing quite like "tube sound", the warm, rich sound...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
Music enthusiasts will tell you there's nothing quite like "tube sound", the warm, rich sound quality that old vacuum tube amplifiers bring to the music played through them. And they'll pay top dollar for it! Once considered obsolete, vintage vacuum tube amps now sell at a...
devonzuegel.com
Israel's water miracle The saga of Israeli water management is one of the most inspiring stories of the last 75 years....
a year ago
18
a year ago
The saga of Israeli water management is one of the most inspiring stories of the last 75 years. Israel went from having a serious water problem to being a net water exporter to neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the population grew from ~1 million to well over 9 million. With...
devonzuegel.com
Google Docs' sheet-of-paper metaphor For ages, I've wondered why Google Docs still clings to the sheet-of-paper metaphor when lots of its...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
For ages, I've wondered why Google Docs still clings to the sheet-of-paper metaphor when lots of its users never print out most of their documents. Of course it does make sense for "Print layout" to be an option. Many people do print docs, and students make up a huge portion of...
devonzuegel.com
Making is Show Business now – alexdanco.com Nadia Eghbal’s new book, Working In Public: the Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software, may...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
Nadia Eghbal’s new book, Working In Public: the Making and Maintenance of Open Source Software, may not have been on your short list of books to read this year. It’s admittedly a nerdy topic: it’s about open source projects, roles and responsibilities; the rise of GitHub as a...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #0: Welcome to Order Without Design I'm starting a new podcast called Order Without Design with the most interesting couple I know:...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
I'm starting a new podcast called Order Without Design with the most interesting couple I know: Alain & Marie-Agnes Bertaud. This project is an extension of their book, Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities. With its focus on economic theory, you might not realize that...
devonzuegel.com
My questions about Próspera, answered I recently visited Próspera, a Honduran startup city. I had a ton of questions and figured others...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
I recently visited Próspera, a Honduran startup city. I had a ton of questions and figured others might too, so I wrote an FAQ to share what I learned: Próspera FAQ This FAQ is intended as a reference, covering the basic facts and current status of the project. My hope is that...
devonzuegel.com
Chautauqua: an idea embedded in a place I want to tell you about the place I spent summers growing up. It's called Chautauqua Institution,...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
I want to tell you about the place I spent summers growing up. It's called Chautauqua Institution, and it's one of the most special places in the world — and not just because I spent my childhood there. Chautauqua is special because it is an idea embedded in a place. The place...
devonzuegel.com
Inflation propagates unevenly Inflation hits some parts of the economy harder and faster than others. It's obvious once you say...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
Inflation hits some parts of the economy harder and faster than others. It's obvious once you say it, and yet the way pundits and academics talk about inflation glosses over this reality. As a result, most people who haven't had direct experience with high inflation have a flawed...
devonzuegel.com
The silence is deafening Imagine you're at a dinner party, and you're getting into a heated argument. As you start yelling,...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
Imagine you're at a dinner party, and you're getting into a heated argument. As you start yelling, the other people quickly hush their voices and start glaring at you. None of the onlookers have to take further action—it's clear from their facial expressions that you're being a...
devonzuegel.com
Situated Software Written by Clay Shirky First published March 30, 2004 on the "Networks, Economics, and...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
Written by Clay Shirky First published March 30, 2004 on the "Networks, Economics, and Culture" mailing list. Subscribe to the mailing list. I teach at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), where the student population is about evenly divided between...
devonzuegel.com
Greater Los Angeles I got back from Los Angeles last night and my head is still spinning. I’d move there again in a...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
I got back from Los Angeles last night and my head is still spinning. I’d move there again in a heartbeat. There are three great cities in the United States: there’s Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York – in that order. I love Boston; I even love Denver; I like Miami; I think...
devonzuegel.com
Field notes: Panamá, SEZs, & biotech I just spent a week in Panamá City, and figured I'd share my observations in case they're useful to...
over a year ago
16
over a year ago
I just spent a week in Panamá City, and figured I'd share my observations in case they're useful to anyone else interested in similar questions. The purpose of the trip was to research locations for a gene therapy/stem cell clinic that my friend is planning to start. I also...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #3: Disney World & other underworlds Every place has some dirty secrets, even Disney World. We all have to get rid of waste somehow! In...
over a year ago
16
over a year ago
Every place has some dirty secrets, even Disney World. We all have to get rid of waste somehow! In this episode, the Bertauds and I discuss methods of sanitation and waste management from around the world, and how these hidden systems shape our cities. RSS · Apple Podcasts ·...
devonzuegel.com
Travel photos are underrated I snapped many photos while wandering Haifa last week, as I always do whenever I see something new...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
I snapped many photos while wandering Haifa last week, as I always do whenever I see something new or interesting while exploring a city. I was with my friend Tyler, who conspicuously does not take photos while exploring a new place. I asked him why, and his answer was, "It's a...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #3: Disney World & other underworlds Every place has some dirty secrets, even Disney World. We all have to get rid of waste somehow! In...
over a year ago
16
over a year ago
Every place has some dirty secrets, even Disney World. We all have to get rid of waste somehow! In this episode, the Bertauds and I discuss methods of sanitation and waste management from around the world, and how these hidden systems shape our cities. RSS · Apple Podcasts ·...
devonzuegel.com
Remote work will break the US monopoly on global talent Remote work is creating a new economic niche, and countries that put in the work to fill it will...
over a year ago
16
over a year ago
Remote work is creating a new economic niche, and countries that put in the work to fill it will finally be able to compete with the US to attract talent. This is the once-in-a-generation opportunity for small, stable countries to grow, diversify, and up-skill their...
devonzuegel.com
Everything is Amazing, But Nothing is Ours Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post called Dropbox: the First Dead Decacorn. At the time, it was the...
over a year ago
16
over a year ago
Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post called Dropbox: the First Dead Decacorn. At the time, it was the most widely shared take I’d ever written. I learned several things from writing this piece, and none of them had to do with Dropbox: I learned, for instance, that a great way to get...
devonzuegel.com
Misreading Milei: The American press can only see Argentina through US-colored glasses It's been frustrating to see the US coverage of Milei, Argentina's new president. They are deeply...
a year ago
16
a year ago
It's been frustrating to see the US coverage of Milei, Argentina's new president. They are deeply misunderstanding (or misrepresenting?) what's going on. It seems the American press can only understand Argentine politics through the lens of the US, when really it's just a totally...
devonzuegel.com
Remote work will break the US monopoly on global talent Remote work is creating a new economic niche, and countries that put in the work to fill it will...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Remote work is creating a new economic niche, and countries that put in the work to fill it will finally be able to compete with the US to attract talent. This is the once-in-a-generation opportunity for small, stable countries to grow, diversify, and up-skill their...
devonzuegel.com
Numbers for understanding cities Whenever I think about physical places, I find myself coming back to a few types of numbers again...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Whenever I think about physical places, I find myself coming back to a few types of numbers again and again. I've collected these into spreadsheets so that I can reference them more easily, and I figured they might be useful to others too: Urban densities – Population density...
devonzuegel.com
Podcasts & conferences I've spoken at I haven't done a great job of tracking these, so this list is non-comprehensive: Urbanism and the...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
I haven't done a great job of tracking these, so this list is non-comprehensive: Urbanism and the Future of Cities (Jan 2023) – Narratives podcast Inflation, Argentina, and Crypto (Oct 2022) – EconTalk podcast Devon Zuegel on Startup Cities (June 2022) Devon Zuegel, creator...
devonzuegel.com
Book review: Against the Grain, by James C. Scott The book that etched the deepest grooves in my mind last year was Against the Grain by James C....
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
The book that etched the deepest grooves in my mind last year was Against the Grain by James C. Scott. It explores how the unique characteristics of grain-based agriculture shaped the early history of states. While I did learn many interesting historical facts and trends from...
devonzuegel.com
Unconventional strategies for practicing Spanish Language skills are highly multi-dimensional*, so while learning a language, it's important to come...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Language skills are highly multi-dimensional*, so while learning a language, it's important to come at it from lots of different directions. Here are some of the tricks I've used to practice Spanish that I haven't heard so many other people use. (They're likely useful for other...
devonzuegel.com
Inside Argentina's currency exchange black markets In Argentina, your money is worth double if you skip the airport currency exchange and instead go to...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
In Argentina, your money is worth double if you skip the airport currency exchange and instead go to one of the many black market exchanges hidden throughout Buenos Aires. These illegal exchanges are called "cuevas" (the word for "cave" in Spanish), and they are a crucial part of...
devonzuegel.com
My questions about Próspera, answered I recently visited Próspera, a Honduran startup city. I had a ton of questions and figured others...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
I recently visited Próspera, a Honduran startup city. I had a ton of questions and figured others might too, so I wrote an FAQ to share what I learned: Próspera FAQ This FAQ is intended as a reference, covering the basic facts and current status of the project. My hope is that...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #4: Supersonic planes, levitating trains, & electric automobiles Mobility is central to living in every city. In this episode, we discussed how different communities...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Mobility is central to living in every city. In this episode, we discussed how different communities tackle the question of transportation, and how culture shapes how different transport technologies get adopted. RSS · Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Overcast Mobility is central to...
devonzuegel.com
OSS lazy-loads governance A special characteristic of open source software (OSS) is that you don't need institutional support...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
A special characteristic of open source software (OSS) is that you don't need institutional support to get started. It's interesting to compare this to physical infrastructure, like dams or railroads. Before you can begin those projects, you need upfront capital, permits,...
devonzuegel.com
Contemplating calendars My friends say that my calendaring practice is atypical (and mock me incessantly for it). They're...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
My friends say that my calendaring practice is atypical (and mock me incessantly for it). They're not wrong, but I'll contend that most people underutilize this ubiquitous tool. A calendar is not just a reminder device for keeping track of external events. Used right, a calendar...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #2: Vanished in Guadalajara Alain and Marie-Agnes raised three children while living their nomadic lifestyle. So in this...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Alain and Marie-Agnes raised three children while living their nomadic lifestyle. So in this episode, we dug into how their role as parents shaped how they experience cities. Join us as we roam Bangkok, Guadalajara, Sana'a, Paris, Port-au-Prince, NYC and beyond! RSS · Apple...
devonzuegel.com
Digital vs analog error correction The purpose of this writeup was to summarize something interesting I learned recently, to make sure...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
The purpose of this writeup was to summarize something interesting I learned recently, to make sure I understood it. I figured others might find it interesting, too. ~ ~ ~ Digital signal processing corrects for errors better than its analog counterpart. This is one of the...
devonzuegel.com
Cities reading list Many people have reached out asking what books have been most impactful in shaping my views on...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Many people have reached out asking what books have been most impactful in shaping my views on cities. I've written and rewritten answers enough times that I figured it's most efficient if I just write it up one time here and share the link. 🙂 ~ Order Without Design by Alain...
devonzuegel.com
Empathy for the Devil I. Loan application Before serving time for mortgage fraud, Toby Groves seemed like the last person...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
I. Loan application Before serving time for mortgage fraud, Toby Groves seemed like the last person who would get into that kind of trouble. His older brother had been sentenced for the same crime twenty years earlier, and Toby had seen how it destroyed his family. He swore he’d...
devonzuegel.com
Why do home buyers look at price/sqft more than renters? A question that's puzzled me for a while is why home buyers focus on price/sqft so much more than...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
A question that's puzzled me for a while is why home buyers focus on price/sqft so much more than renters. I asked around for what other people thought and got some interesting answers, so I decided to write up my takeaways. I. Investments demand legibility Homeownership is...
devonzuegel.com
What are startup cities for? While the startup cities industry is still small, it is already quite heterogeneous. Each project...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
While the startup cities industry is still small, it is already quite heterogeneous. Each project has its own distinct set of goals, motivations, and scope. However, this diversity isn’t fully captured by the vocabulary we use right now. To help myself create a mental map of the...
devonzuegel.com
Creating Passionate Users: Attenuation and the suck threshold Attenuation and the suck threshold How long do your users spend in the "I suck" (or "this product...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Attenuation and the suck threshold How long do your users spend in the "I suck" (or "this product sucks") zone? Once they've crossed the suck threshold, how long does it take before they start to feel like they kick ass? Both of those thresholds are key milestones on a users...
devonzuegel.com
On [there being more than] liberty Recently, Ayaz Matin sent me an email asking the following question: When I was looking at your...
over a year ago
15
over a year ago
Recently, Ayaz Matin sent me an email asking the following question: When I was looking at your website I came across these words: Individual liberty is the single most important value that society should uphold. I’m more utilitarian and communitarian now. I still believe we...
devonzuegel.com
Misreading Milei: The American press can only see Argentina through a US lens It's been frustrating to see the US coverage of Milei, Argentina's new president. The American press...
a year ago
14
a year ago
It's been frustrating to see the US coverage of Milei, Argentina's new president. The American press seems to deeply misunderstand what's going on. It seems the US reporters can only understand Argentine politics through the lens of the US, when really it's just a totally...
devonzuegel.com
A Big Little Idea Called Legibility July 26, 2010 By Venkatesh Rao James C. Scott’s fascinating and seminal book, Seeing Like a...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
July 26, 2010 By Venkatesh Rao James C. Scott’s fascinating and seminal book, Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed, examines how, across dozens of domains, ranging from agriculture and forestry, to urban planning and...
devonzuegel.com
Urban sprawl is a tragedy of the commons We tend to choose larger homes than we want our neighbors to choose. The result: sprawling...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
We tend to choose larger homes than we want our neighbors to choose. The result: sprawling development that doesn't match what people actually want from their communities. People aim to maximize access and space when deciding where to live. All things equal, most people like...
devonzuegel.com
Book notes: Against the Grain, by James C. Scott Here are some notes and quotes that particularly stood out to me from each chapter of Against the...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
Here are some notes and quotes that particularly stood out to me from each chapter of Against the Grain. This isn't a summary of the book. It's mostly for my future self to refer back to (and thus probably missing a lot for someone who hasn't read it), but the tidbits are so...
devonzuegel.com
Argentina On Two Steaks A Day (Idle Words) 04.13.2006 Argentina On Two Steaks A Day The classic beginner's mistake in Argentina is...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
04.13.2006 Argentina On Two Steaks A Day The classic beginner's mistake in Argentina is to neglect the first steak of the day. You will be tempted to just peck at it or even skip it altogether, rationalizing that you need to save yourself for the much larger steak...
devonzuegel.com
Independence for whom? I recently spent a day at Sea Ranch, a strange and beautiful place. Sea Ranch is a planned community...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
I recently spent a day at Sea Ranch, a strange and beautiful place. Sea Ranch is a planned community with a distinctive architectural style: simple timber-frame structures clad in wooden siding, and gardens all planted with native flora. The Sea Ranch Design Committee enforces...
devonzuegel.com
Field notes: Miami Update 5-Dec-2021: Read the updated version of these notes here. These field notes are a bit...
over a year ago
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over a year ago
Update 5-Dec-2021: Read the updated version of these notes here. These field notes are a bit different from previous cities I've explored, because unlike those, Miami is my home! So this post partially serves as a life update—I moved to Miami Beach from California a few months...
devonzuegel.com
No Kings: How Do You Make Good Decisions Efficiently in a Flat Organization? At Doist we believe that open and sincere communication improves our decision-making process. That’s...
over a year ago
13
over a year ago
At Doist we believe that open and sincere communication improves our decision-making process. That’s why we’ve built a culture that encourages feedback at all levels of decision-making: from purely technical solutions to team and product management. We built our team...
devonzuegel.com
OWD #1: Tea time in Yemen I'm starting a podcast with my friends, Marie-Agnes and Alain Bertaud, who also happen to be the...
over a year ago
13
over a year ago
I'm starting a podcast with my friends, Marie-Agnes and Alain Bertaud, who also happen to be the most interesting couple I know. Over the course of this first conversation, we traveled all around the globe for a whirlwind tour of the adventurous life they've led together. Audio ·...
devonzuegel.com
Tutorial: Telegram → Logseq quick notes I've long wanted a notes app with an optional chat style interface for append-only notes. The idea...
over a year ago
13
over a year ago
I've long wanted a notes app with an optional chat style interface for append-only notes. The idea is that I'll use the simpler append-only interface while on the go, and then use full-featured interface to review, edit, and organize those notes when I'm back at my computer. I...
devonzuegel.com
America's hidden urban laboratory: the South America hasn't built many walkable places in the last few decades, but there are a few exceptions....
a year ago
12
a year ago
America hasn't built many walkable places in the last few decades, but there are a few exceptions. While collecting a list of these special places, I was shocked to discover that most are in the Southeast. My mental image of contemporary southern development did not include an...
devonzuegel.com
Urban sprawl is a tragedy of the commons We tend to choose larger homes than we want our neighbors to choose. The result: sprawling...
over a year ago
12
over a year ago
We tend to choose larger homes than we want our neighbors to choose. The result: sprawling development that doesn't match what people actually want from their communities. People aim to maximize access and space when deciding where to live. All things equal, most people like...
devonzuegel.com
Markets in everything at the Duomo You're not allowed inside the Duomo with your shoulders uncovered. We learned this the hard way. I...
over a year ago
12
over a year ago
You're not allowed inside the Duomo with your shoulders uncovered. We learned this the hard way. I was wearing a spaghetti strap dress (it's 92℉/33℃ and humid here in Milan), so they stopped my little group at the entrance, after we'd already purchased 3 tickets. Luckily, we...
devonzuegel.com
Uncharted waters: what startups can learn from pirates about compensation Pirate crews developed a surprisingly similar approach to compensation in the 17th century. Just...
over a year ago
11
over a year ago
Pirate crews developed a surprisingly similar approach to compensation in the 17th century. Just like many startups, they also balanced equity incentives with other mechanisms that would be familiar to a startup employee today, such as bonuses. These surprising similarities...