Brett Kosinski

223 Followers
78 Following
2.5K Posts

By day I'm a software product manager. By night I'm a programmer, knitter, skier, cyclist, cook, guitarist(ish), and a dozen other things besides. He/him.

2024 Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer Campaign: https://support.touralbertaforcancer.ca/fundraiser/4834510

Bloghttps://b-ark.ca
Codehttps://github.com/fancypantalons
Knittinghttps://www.ravelry.com/people/fancypantalons
Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/brettk.indieweb.social.ap.brid.gy

Don't ask why this is important for me, but today I updated to the latest #Debian testing and the VTs disappeared. To fix I had to manually run "systemd enable [email protected]" to get another VT back.

Looks like there's a bug tracking this: https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1129276

#1129276 - systemd: Getty not started after upgrade to 260~rc1 - Debian Bug report logs

Well, if you've got an 11th generation Intel #Framework 13 (i.e. the first gen model) and you start encountering weird behaviours -- in my case failing to properly power on until it's plugged into AC and clock reset issues -- replace that CMOS battery! I got a freebie replacement from #FrameworkComputer and my flaky FW13 is now 100% back to normal.

I have to admit I was too chicken to get the battery replacement module... I do not trust myself with a soldering iron *that* much...

Welp, for the first time in a long time I don't expect to finish a #NoMansSky expedition. Terrain bugs with the Collosus make the expedition basically unplayable as it's impossible to find a safe route from point A to B without getting sucked into random invisible holes in the terrain. Terrain clipping has always been an issue in this game but given the mechanics of this expedition they're dealbreakers.
Chosen and biological families come in all shapes, sizes and constellations. Today, we celebrate all families across Canada.

Every time I see layoffs referred to as "redundancies" in the media, PRs, etc, I throw up in my mouth just a little:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2ywzxlxnlo

Just pure corporate dehumanization on display. #bigtech #bbc #amazon

Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after accidental email

The technology giant confirmed the redundancies hours after it told staff in an email sent in error.

After a ten year career in product management I made the big pivot back into the development leadership track, and you know what? I’m having the most fun I've had in a long time!

#CareerBreak #coding #EngineeringManagement: https://b-ark.ca/2026/01/24/the-career-reset.html

The Career Reset

Back in the summary of 2023 I made the decision to leave my (first and only) position as a VP of Product at Invidi and take a career break. It wasn’t an easy call, but looking back I have zero regrets. It was the right decision at the right time. During those eighteen months I did a lot – traveling, spending time with family, catching up on so many things around the house, and just generally living –1 but one of the most important things I did was reflect on my career, and in particular, on the things that I value most in my work. Later, as I explored re-entering the job market, I thought a lot about my history of confronting failure, sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much. Oddly enough, it wasn’t long after I wrote that post that a path back into the job market opened as, through very little intentional action of my own, a referral led to some casual discussions and then eventually a job offer for a new opportunity. Fortunately, if you’ve been following my blog you might have inferred that things did not work out, and alas that’s true. But, thanks to a little outreach on my part and a subsequent referral from a friend and colleague, a new path opened, this time back into the technical track I left behind so many years ago. And so far, to my immense relief, it’s been pretty darn great. Yes, those an endashes. No, I’m not an AI. Yes I use them. Yes the AI police can go stuff it. I like my punctuation and y’all can’t stop me! ↩

The “B” Ark

Ahh, the #enshittification finally begins in earnest:

https://openai.com/index/our-approach-to-advertising-and-expanding-access/

Imagine all those private things people are typing to their trusted AI friend. Now imagine the machine using that information to maximize engagement and tailor messages to drive them to specific products or services or movements or political parties.

I cannot think of anything more terrifying.

If you thought the Facebook or X algos were scary tools for propaganda, be afraid. Be *very* afraid. #bigtech #ai #chatgpt

Our approach to advertising and expanding access to ChatGPT

OpenAI plans to test advertising in the U.S. for ChatGPT’s free and Go tiers to expand affordable access to AI worldwide, while protecting privacy, trust, and answer quality.

Little known fact, the Gadsden flag actually has two sides. On the back it reads: Tread on them instead

I think from now on, when I donate or sell a book, I’m going to write a heart-rending and fictional inscription on the fly leaf.

Something like:

“Dearest Beatrice, let this book be a symbol of our enduring friendship, and should you ever part from it, then my heart may well be pulped (and yours damned).
Love, Lionel”

#bookstodon

Fun fact: the last time I bought blades, it was a 100pc I bought for about 30 bucks. Pre-COVID.