Recently I upgraded my work laptop from Xubuntu 13.04 to 13.10. The upgrade went well, except for an issue with audio output from VidyoDesktop. Every other application worked fine. Skype, audio from Flash inside both Firefox and Chromium, gmusicbrower, Rhythmbox, and the system sounds all performed as expected. After spending a day spelunking the depths …
Alternative Definitions of Conflict
Some months back, Code Hale mentioned the book Mediating Dangerously: The Frontiers of Conflict Resolution by Kenneth Cloke. I’ve ever so glad he did, as the book has given me a life-changing perspective on the nature of conflict and how to address it. One of the most profound things I learned from the book is …
Making Time for New Projects
There are many privileges I have working at Mozilla. One of them is a decent amount of time off, by American standards. This year Mozilla continued the tradition of closing offices and halting business for the last two weeks of the year. Originally I had thought about getting some volunteer work done during the time …
Lessons Learned, 2013 Edition
Change people’s hearts and their minds will follow. In other words, you have to change people’s hearts before you can change their minds. I’m more important to make a connection than to be precise or correct. We have an extraordinary ability to ensure that our needs are met. This is fundamentally an emotional processes, not …
My Nerd Story
What follows is my tech origin story. Thank you to my colleague Crystal Beasley (@skinny) for the inspiration and for shepherding #mynerdstory (follow along on Twitter and Facebook). Like a lot of folks who grew up in chaotic home environments, memories of my younger years are fragmented and hazy. I can’t say with certainty what …
Notes from Code for America Summit session on “Localization: Benefits & Challenges”
Day three of this year’s Code for America Summit followed an unconference format. Luke Crouch and I facilitated a session called “Localization: Benefits & Challenges.” During the session, each of us talked about why we find localization a valuable and beneficial activity, challenges to localization and brain-stormed tools and solutions. Here are our notes. If …
Community Safety
Trigger warning: Domestic violence and the legal system. I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can help create and maintain safe, healthy and productive spaces for all, but particularly for those most at risk of further trauma. And so when it becomes apparent that one member of the community has been engaging …
My back-to-school, beginning of college story
Trigger warning: This post references emotional and physical abuse. It’s the back-to-school time of year, which always seems to arrive excessively early. Living in the colder Pacific Northwest, summer feels like it’s only getting started by mid-July when big box stores signal the return of fall by with campaigns selling backpacks, pens, notebooks, shower caddys, …