Things I’d Rather Not Forget
Tech
I, Developer
10/22/2026What earlier waves of automation can tell me, and what they can't, about AI and my future as a developer.
Learning Python and DuckDB with Japan Travel Data, Part 1: From Weather CSVs to Parquet
10/21/2026A project I actually wanted to build: downloading Japanese weather data, working through CSV encodings and quality flags, and preparing ten years of daily observations for 56 destinations.
Learning Python and DuckDB with Japan Travel Data, Part 2: Four-Day Itineraries in SQL
10/21/2026Building four-day windows from ten years of daily observations, checking missing data, and calculating monthly weather match rates with DuckDB.
Learning Python and DuckDB with Japan Travel Data, Part 3: Accommodation Data, Scoring, and Validation
10/21/2026Reading accommodation statistics from Excel, adjusting for month length, checking regional differences, and deciding how to present the results after testing a combined score.
Three Image Tools I Wanted for Myself
9/9/2026A birthday poster led to three small browser tools: remove a background, convert an image, and make it bigger. No account, and your image stays on your device.
Micro Habit Development Sheet: A Sticker Chart for Grown-Ups
9/8/2026A small printable habit sheet, inspired by the sticker charts that somehow work on kids—and sometimes on their parents too.
An Unexpected Path into Web Development
8/21/2026Why philosophy, art, and a builder's mindset have felt unexpectedly useful in my path into front-end development.
What Is the Best Primary Key?
5/11/2026Auto-increment IDs are simple, but are they the best choice for a primary key? A practical breakdown of UUID v4, UUID v7, ULID, cuid2, Nano ID, and when each makes sense.
Is JavaScript pass-by-value or pass-by-reference?
3/25/2026A pragmatic explanation of how JavaScript handles values and references, with clear examples and mental models for understanding assignment and equality.
JavaScript Event Loop
3/24/2026How the call stack, task queue, and microtask queue work together in the browser, and when the browser updates the screen.
How to Handle Concurrent Requests in JavaScript
3/21/2026Learn practical techniques to limit and control concurrent API requests in your JavaScript apps, with queue examples for Axios and fetch.
Jotai and a Pseudo-Flux Pattern Behind Custom Hooks
3/19/2026Why I kept a dispatch-style API behind custom hooks when moving from Recoil to Jotai, with a small example for larger B2B and internal applications.
requestAnimationFrame (rAF) and requestIdleCallback (rIC)
3/17/2026A practical guide to JavaScript's render and idle phases, with real-world examples and code walkthroughs.
React: Why Changing a Variable Does Not Trigger a Re-render
3/16/2026A short note on variables, props, and React re-renders, with a small example of subscribing to state outside a component.
Travel
Where to Go in Japan by Month: 8 Places Chosen from 10 Years of Weather
10/21/2026Miyakojima (宮古島) in winter, Chichibu (秩父) in spring, Kushiro (釧路) in summer, and Kurashiki (倉敷) in fall. Compare 10 years of weather across 56 places, with an interactive monthly chart and ideas for each stop.
In Japan? Get a Melon. A Whole One.
8/21/2026Tokyo has many luxuries, but few are as gloriously excessive—or as delicious—as a whole Sembikiya muskmelon.
Osaka with Kids: Universal Studios & More
3/20/2026A practical guide for families traveling to Osaka with children, featuring Universal Studios Japan, Kids Plaza, and Hug Museum. Tips for planning, access, and making the most of your visit.
Eat Japan with Kids
3/18/2026Where to eat with kids in Japan: family restaurants, Japanese fast-food menus, and conveyor-belt sushi, with ordering tips and ideas for sharing.