Links I’d share in private #23

Welcome to another edition of Links I’d share in private, a (bi-)weekly blog post about all the things and content I come across the Internet during my intense web binging, worthy of being shared to you all (instead of in all of my private group chats 🤣).

Back to work!

Today was Back-to-Work day for me. After two weeks of relaxing vacations during the Holidays, I went back to work. And it’s a first for me: after many, MANY, years, I was motivated to go back to work! Gasp – a first in more than a decade, for sure! Having found myself in a role that genuinely energizes me, I realized how different this January feels. Gone is the usual dread of returning to the office, replaced by an unexpected eagerness to dive back into my projects.

The change is striking – I actually caught myself smiling this morning, mentally planning out my tasks for the week. It’s amazing how finding the right professional fit can transform the entire work experience. Don’t get me wrong – those two weeks of holiday relaxation were wonderful, but for once, they didn’t feel like an escape from something I dreaded.

This newfound enthusiasm makes me reflect on all those previous years when January meant forcing myself back into a routine I resented. What a difference it makes when your work aligns with your interests and values. Perhaps this is what people mean when they say you should do what you love?

Now on with the Links I’d share in private part!

Keywords: This week’s Links I’d share in private touches on various topics, including: tech surveillance tools, car dependency stress, anti-woke culture, Gen Alpha social media, web accessibility guidelines, privacy protection tools ,driver accountability systems, user experience, design psychology, evangelical Halloween views, OSINT investigation methods, mobile privacy OS, community volunteering, interface design psychology

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TO READ

• 99 Ways To Show Love Besides Gifts This Holiday Season: I prefer celebrating birthdays over holiday gift-giving, as they honour the unique moment each person entered the world. Rather than exchanging presents out of seasonal obligation or custom, I believe in giving meaningful gifts throughout the year when the moment feels right. This list offers thoughtful gift ideas that transcend traditional holiday expectations.
• We Need More Consequences for Reckless Driving. But That Doesn’t Mean More Punishment: Quebec’s no-fault insurance system, while providing universal coverage, may inadvertently reduce driver accountability since there are few direct consequences for poor driving habits. This lack of immediate financial or legal repercussions could contribute to reckless behaviour and serious accidents on our roads. A system with more direct consequences for dangerous driving might better encourage responsible behaviour. This article explores ideas to promote accountability and reshape the mindset of reckless drivers.
• How extreme car dependency is driving Americans to unhappiness: Road rage and chronic stress are symptoms of North America’s car-dependent culture, where endless commutes and traffic congestion contribute to widespread dissatisfaction and diminished quality of life. This article examines how our reliance on automobiles shapes not just our cities, but our mental wellbeing and daily happiness.
• Who’s Afraid of These Gen Alpha Queens? Yet another article on the Generational differences between Gen Alpha and all the other generations. But it’s an interesting question: should we be afraid of the youngest generation that is gaining access to social medias? It’s a rite of passage for a younger generation to be branded by its predecessors as a scourge on society.
• Why Evangelicals Are So Weird About Halloween: The hardline stance of American Evangelical movements, particularly their attempts to control social practices and impose their beliefs on others, exemplifies religious overreach at its most concerning. Their opposition to Halloween traditions like costumes and trick-or-treating demonstrates how puritanical views can needlessly stigmatize harmless cultural celebrations.
• Why I changed my mind about volunteering: In the last few years, there is a shift from focusing solely on systemic change to recognizing the value of individual acts of charity. Initially influenced by left-leaning ideologies that prioritized mass protests and policy reforms over personal volunteerism, I reconsidered this stance after engaging in activities like donating blood and participating in local charitable efforts in my neighbourhood. These experiences highlighted that, while systemic solutions are crucial, immediate, practical aid provides significant community benefits and personal fulfillment.
• Everyone is numbing out: The dark side of ironic detachment and possible antidotes for our apathetic world. Or how becoming numb to the human experience is slowly killing us.
• Searching for Truth: the article gets into the philosophical quest for understanding truth; it examines various theories of truth, including correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic approaches, highlighting the complexities and challenges inherent in defining and attaining truth. It also emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, open-mindedness, and the willingness to revise one’s beliefs in light of new evidence.
• The cultural power of the anti-woke tech bro: Silicon Valley’s tech culture has morphed from libertarian ideals into a self-styled “counterculture” that frames opposition to diversity and social progress as rebellious, appealing particularly to those seeking a hyper-masculine identity in response to perceived social threats. This article give an overview into this mindset, driven by fear of social changes and a desire to feel desired.
• What Kind of Revolution Do You Want?: When people feel powerless, they become cynical. When the problem they’re facing is serious enough, that cynicism can turn into support for violence. And as the support for violence is normalized, it creates an environment and culture in which violence actually occurs.

. TO SEE

• FM MOOD: TRIBUTE TO MF DOOM | Camp Flog Gnaw Music Festival 2024 | Full Set

• if you’re looking for new movies to watch, this article Top 10 most overlooked, underrated and unfairly dismissed movies of 2024, and how to watch them now can give you an interesting list
• The Worst Album Covers ever created: sincerely, I laughed when seeing a lot of these covers. Hilarious!

TO FOLLOW

• Tiny Pricks Project: Interesting concept of this Instagram account: stitching quotes on tissues. Very pretty, and inspiring.

TO HEAR

• Dream Chimney’s Mix of the Week #556 is by Joi N’Juno

• This week’s MixCloud playlist: Manna Heaven Interface October 2023 (3) by Paul Squires

RECIPES

• Quick & Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup: I’ve been drooling non-stop after seeing the recipe

DESIGN

• Designing for Decision Making: The Psychology of Choice: This article looks into the psychological foundations of decision-making in digital environments, exploring how UX professionals can craft interfaces that balance efficiency with user autonomy. By understanding the cognitive mechanisms at play, we can design experiences that not only simplify choices but also lead to more satisfying outcomes for users.
• The Intersection of Design and Psychology – Crafting User-Centered Experiences: the article explores how applying psychological principles enhances user-centered design, covering reducing cognitive load through simplified interfaces, leveraging Gestalt principles for intuitive layouts, and using color psychology to influence emotions and actions. It also emphasizes the importance of typography, persuasive techniques, and emotional design in creating engaging experiences: by integrating these insights, designers can craft functional, intuitive, and emotionally resonant products that foster deeper user connections.

CYBERSECURITY & INFOSEC

• The Technology the Trump Administration Could Use to Hack Your Phone: American-centric piece of journalism, Other Western democracies have been roiled by the use of spyware to target political opponents, activists, journalists, and other vulnerable groups. Could it happen here? Quick answer: DUH! It IS happening already.
• Surveillance Self-Defense: Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communications: if you feel lost on securing your devices and online presences against surveillance by companies and governments, this ressource by the EFF is for you. Tons of guides, tools and tips on how to secure yourself online.
• OSINT Methods for Image Investigations: a list of online tools and libraries to help you in your search for information on images
• 38C3 videos are now out! The last CCC conference happened at the end of December 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Lots of interesting talks in hacking, cybersecurity, infosec and tech to watch. Some are in German, but there are tons of talks in English too.

TECH & WEB

• Mobile OS to test: /e/OS – /e/OS is an open-source mobile operating system paired with carefully selected applications. They form a privacy-enabled internal system for your smartphone. In the same vein as LineageOS, another OS to try on your mobile phones if you are tired of the Google ecosystem spying on you.
• 25 Accessibility Tips to Celebrate 25 Years: as a fan of web accessibility, this article is a nice refresher over accessibility tips and tricks to code on your website and web app.
• BioArt Source: Build figures, presentations, and illustrations with 2,000+ science and medical art visuals.