-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
Expand file tree
/
Copy pathfeed.xml
More file actions
4087 lines (2779 loc) · 221 KB
/
feed.xml
File metadata and controls
4087 lines (2779 loc) · 221 KB
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
<title>The Pythoness Programmer</title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com</link>
<description>Thoughts on technology, accessibility, and the human experience.</description>
<language>en</language>
<lastBuildDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:37:57 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<atom:link href="https://pythonessprogrammer.com/feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<item>
<title><![CDATA[I'm Off TikTok For Good: A Political Boycott and the Final Snake Skin Shed]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/off-tiktok-for-good-tech-ethics-and-boundaries</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/off-tiktok-for-good-tech-ethics-and-boundaries</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Why I've deleted my TikTok accounts completely and why I'm boycotting tech produced or owned by certain individuals. A reflection on political boundaries in the digital age and the ongoing process of digital decluttering.]]></description>
<content:encoded>< - where I'm building community in a more open, decentralized space
- **YouTube** - [@pythonessprogrammer](https://www.youtube.com/@pythonessprogrammer) - for longer-form content and tutorials
- **Reddit** - [r/pythoness_reposts](https://www.reddit.com/r/pythoness_reposts/) - where I'm sharing important art, civil liberties, decolonization, and tech "reposts" from around the web
- **Newsletter** - [newsletter.pythonessprogrammer.com](https://newsletter.pythonessprogrammer.com/) - for deeper reflections, resources, and updates
- **This blog** - for deeper reflections and resources
## The Wooden Snake Year: Shedding What No Longer Serves
This year has been about shedding. Letting go of what no longer serves. Setting boundaries that feel right, even when they're uncomfortable. Making choices that align with my values, even when they're inconvenient.
Leaving TikTok feels like part of that shedding—part of the process of becoming more intentional about where I show up, what I support, and how I engage with the digital world.
## For Those Considering Similar Moves
If you're thinking about leaving platforms or setting similar boundaries, here's what I've learned:
1. **It's okay to change your mind** - What served you before might not serve you now. That's growth.
2. **Boundaries are personal** - Your boundaries don't have to match mine or anyone else's. What matters is that they feel right for you.
3. **Community finds a way** - When you leave one platform, you find new ways to connect. The community that matters will follow you to spaces that align with your values.
4. **It's an ongoing process** - Digital decluttering isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing practice of checking in with yourself about what serves you.
## Moving Forward
I'm not here to tell anyone else what to do. This is my choice, my boundary, my way of aligning my digital presence with my values.
But I am here to say: **You have agency in your digital life.** You can choose where you show up. You can set boundaries. You can boycott platforms that don't serve you or align with your values.
And if you're doing similar work—questioning platforms, setting boundaries, doing your own digital decluttering—I see you. This work matters.
Here's to more intentional digital living. To boundaries that feel right. To shedding what no longer serves us. And to building community in spaces that align with our values.
Keep your code clean, your boundaries clear, and your values aligned.
Yours in algorithms and accountability,
<Signature />
Your Favorite Pythoness
## Further Reading: Recent Headlines
For those curious about the context behind this boycott, here are some recent headlines and developments related to the companies and individuals mentioned:
### Meta / Mark Zuckerberg: Teen Manipulation Litigation
**Major Lawsuits Over Teen Manipulation (2025-2026):**
- [Lawsuit alleges social media giants buried their own research on teen mental health harms](https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/25/tech/social-media-youth-mental-health-lawsuit-meta-tiktok-snap-youtube) - A major lawsuit alleges Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat contributed to a youth mental health crisis while burying internal research showing harm. Internal documents show Meta researchers acknowledged: "IG (Instagram) is a drug ... we're basically pushers."
- [Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/meta-internal-research-social-media-harm-court-filing.html) - Court filings allege Meta stopped internal research that suggested social media causes harm.
- [Meta must face US state lawsuits over teen social media addiction](https://www.reuters.com/legal/meta-must-face-us-state-lawsuits-over-teen-social-media-addiction-2024-10-15/) - Federal judges rejected Meta's motions to dismiss lawsuits by 30+ states alleging the company designed addictive features targeting teens.
- [How FTC v. Meta Reshapes the Debate on Social Media and First Amendment Protections](https://promarket.org/2026/01/22/how-ftc-v-meta-reshapes-the-debate-on-social-media-and-first-amendment-protections) - Analysis of ongoing FTC litigation against Meta and its implications for platform accountability.
### X (formerly Twitter) / Elon Musk: Platform Changes
- [Updates to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy](https://privacy.x.com/en/blog/2025/updates-tos-privacy-policy) - Significant updates to X's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy took effect January 15, 2026, including changes to content enforcement, user responsibilities, and dispute resolution.
- [Elon Musk Announces Significant Changes to X. Here's What to Know](https://time.com/6961456/elon-musk-x-twitter-updates-changes-premium-features/) - Overview of recent platform changes under Musk's ownership, including premium features and policy shifts.
### Oracle / Larry Ellison: TikTok Sale and Ethical Concerns
- [Larry Ellison and Oracle Won 2025 — but at What Cost?](https://www.inc.com/bethany-mclean/larry-ellison-and-oracle-won-2025-but-at-what-cost/91263583) - Analysis of Ellison's growing influence, including Oracle's stake in TikTok's U.S. operations. The deal involved Oracle securing a stake in TikTok's U.S. operations as part of a group that included Trump loyalists and Jared Kushner's investment group, with investors reportedly paying $14 billion for operations valued at $30-35 billion. **This sale was the dealbreaker that led to leaving TikTok.**
- [Larry Ellison is back on top, 48 years after he co-founded Oracle](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/larry-ellison-is-back-top-48-years-after-he-co-founded-oracle-2025-09-12/) - Coverage of Ellison's rise to become the world's second-richest person, with concerns about media influence through Paramount and CBS News.
- [Oracle earnings may not be enough to assuage debt, AI deal fears](https://fortune.com/2025/12/10/oracle-earnings-may-not-be-enough-to-assuage-debt-ai-deal-fears/) - Financial concerns about Oracle's heavy leverage and negative free cash flow projections due to massive data center buildouts.
### Jared Kushner: Tech and Media Investments
- [Jared Kushner suddenly emerges in the Warner brawl between Paramount and Netflix, backed by Saudi billions](https://fortune.com/2025/12/08/jared-kushner-paramount-warner-netflix-trump-ellison-saudi-antitrust/) - Kushner's private equity firm Affinity Partners is backing Paramount's $108 billion hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar sovereign wealth funds.
- [Jared Kushner Is Now A Billionaire](https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicahunter-hart/2025/09/16/how-jared-kushners-bold-bets-in-the-middle-east-made-him-a-billionaire/) - Coverage of Kushner becoming a billionaire in September 2025, with his firm raising $4.6 billion including significant investments from Qatari and Abu Dhabi investors. Affinity Partners also joined in a $55 billion agreement to take Electronic Arts private, set to complete in 2027.
_Note: This section is provided for context and education. I encourage you to do your own research and stay informed about the companies and platforms you choose to engage with._
]]></content:encoded>
<author>Amanda Nelson</author>
<category>foundations</category>
<category>sustainability</category>
<category>wellness</category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Rest Mode: Creativity, Organization, and the Wooden Snake's Final Shed]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/rest-mode-creativity-and-the-wooden-snake-shed</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/rest-mode-creativity-and-the-wooden-snake-shed</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[How an official pause from client work has led to creative breakthroughs, organizational clarity, and preparation for launching several projects when services resume in March 2026.]]></description>
<content:encoded>< - about how 2025 was a year of patience, adaptability, and quiet transformation. Well, my bullet journal has become the physical record of that transformation.
Every day, I've been tracking not just tasks, but reflections. Patterns. What's working. What's not. What I'm letting go of. What I'm making space for.
The journal has become a witness to this year of shedding—of leaving platforms (as I wrote about in my [TikTok boycott post](/blog/off-tiktok-for-good-tech-ethics-and-boundaries)), setting boundaries, making political choices about where I show up digitally. It's all there, in ink and paper, a record of a year that's been about quiet transformation rather than loud announcements.
I honestly love using this journal to help me see patterns I might otherwise miss. It's been a gamechanger actually—having a physical space to reflect on what's working and what's not, without the pressure of making it look perfect or shareable.
## Revamping Old Projects, Starting New Ones
Here's the thing about Rest Mode: when you remove the pressure of client obligations, you create space for your own creative work to breathe.
I've been revamping old projects that I'd set aside when client work took priority. Projects that felt too personal or too experimental to work on when I had deadlines to meet. Projects that needed time to percolate.
I've also been starting new ones. Ideas that have been brewing in the back of my mind, waiting for the right moment. Concepts that needed space to develop without the pressure of immediate deliverables.
My first project I revamped? The Surviving Capitalism Deck—a deck of cards I've been developing that applies 52 business and systems thinking principles to personal life, teaching everything from financial literacy to critical thinking through a gamified, collectible system. It's been sitting there, waiting. And now, without the pressure of client deadlines, I've been able to see it with fresh eyes—to understand what it actually needs to be, not what I thought it should be.
I'll be launching it as a digital product this year. And I'm gearing up for launching several other projects when my pause is over in March and I go back into more of a "business mode." But here's the key: these aren't projects I'm rushing to finish. They're projects that have had time to develop, to evolve, to become what they're meant to be—applying the Wooden Snake's principle of finding smarter paths forward by giving ideas the space they need to fully form.
## The Wooden Snake's Final Shed
This Rest Mode feels like the Wooden Snake's final shed—the culmination of a year of quiet transformation.
Looking back at my [Lunar New Year post](/blog/lunar-new-year-2025), I wrote about how 2025 was going to be a year of shedding old skin. And that's exactly what it's been. Leaving platforms. Setting boundaries. Making choices that align with my values, even when they're inconvenient.
This Rest Mode has given me the space to reflect on all of that. To see the patterns. To understand what I've learned. To prepare for what comes next.
Applying the Wooden Snake's patience principle, I've been able to observe this entire year of transformation before judging what it means or rushing to the next thing. That observation time? It's been essential.
## What This Means for March 2026
When services resume in March, I'll be coming back with:
- **Clarity** from six months of daily reflection
- **Organization** from the physical and digital decluttering I've done
- **Renewed energy** from honoring my body's need for rest
- **New projects** that have had time to develop properly
- **Revamped old projects** that are ready for a fresh start
But more than that, I'll be coming back with a deeper understanding of what sustainable service looks like. Of how rest isn't a limitation—it's essential for the quality of work I want to provide.
I've learned that the best creative work happens when I'm not forcing it. When I give ideas space to breathe, they become what they're meant to be—not what I think they should be.
## For Those Who Need Permission to Rest
If you're reading this and thinking, "I wish I could take a pause like that," I want you to know: **you have permission to rest.**
Maybe you can't take months off. But can you take a day? A weekend? Can you create boundaries around when you're available and when you're not? Can you give yourself space to reflect, to organize, to create without pressure?
The Wooden Snake teaches us that transformation happens in quiet moments. In the spaces between. In the pauses that feel unproductive but are actually essential. Applying its patience principle, we observe what we need before rushing to the next thing—and sometimes what we need is rest.
## Moving Forward
Rest Mode isn't forever. March 2026 is coming, and I'm excited to return to client work with renewed energy and clarity.
But I'm also committed to maintaining this rhythm—to honoring cycles of rest and renewal, to creating space for creativity to breathe, to recognizing that sustainable service requires sustainable practices.
Here's to rest. To reflection. To the quiet transformation that happens when we give ourselves permission to pause.
Keep your code clean, your boundaries clear, and your rest periods sacred.
Yours in algorithms and accountability,
<Signature />
Your Favorite Pythoness
]]></content:encoded>
<author>Amanda Nelson</author>
<category>foundations</category>
<category>sustainability</category>
<category>wellness</category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[How to Detect AI Art: A Guide for the Holiday Season]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/how-to-detect-ai-art</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/how-to-detect-ai-art</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[This holiday season, AI-generated art is making waves in the corporate world. Learn how to identify AI art and ensure real artists receive the recognition they deserve.]]></description>
<content:encoded><**
The template includes:
- All five detection tips with visual examples
- Clean, shareable design
- Ready to customize for your needs
- Perfect for team training, social media, or internal communications
Feel free to adapt it, share it, and use it to help others develop their critical eye for AI art detection.
## The Bigger Picture
As AI tools become more sophisticated, the line between AI-generated and human-created art will continue to blur. But developing these detection skills serves a larger purpose: it helps us value and support real artists, make informed choices about the art we consume and share, and maintain critical thinking in an age of increasingly convincing AI content.
This holiday season—and beyond—let's champion genuine creativity and ensure real artists receive the recognition they deserve.
<Signature />
]]></content:encoded>
<author>Amanda Nelson</author>
<category>creativity</category>
<category>foundations</category>
<category>accessibility</category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Modern Communication Etiquette for Remote Work in 2026]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/modern-remote-work-communication-etiquette-2026</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/modern-remote-work-communication-etiquette-2026</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It's time to reset expectations around video calls and meeting structure. Requiring cameras on is aggressive, and every meeting needs an agenda—whether you're in person or remote.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
# Modern Communication Etiquette for Remote Work in 2026
## The Camera-On Expectation Is Unreasonable
Let's be direct: expecting people to keep their cameras on during meetings is aggressive. In 2026, we need to recognize that event planners and meeting organizers are not entitled to other people's faces and reactions.
Here's what's happening: people are being asked to perform visibility in ways that drain energy, invade privacy, and create unnecessary cognitive load. Your face, your reactions, your background—these aren't meeting requirements. They're personal choices.
### Why Camera Requirements Are Problematic
**Energy and Cognitive Load:**
- Maintaining "camera presence" requires constant self-monitoring
- People are managing their appearance, background, lighting, and facial expressions
- This mental overhead pulls focus from the actual meeting content
- For many, this performance is exhausting
**Privacy and Autonomy:**
- Your home is not a public space
- People deserve control over when and how they're visible
- Backgrounds reveal personal information about living situations
- Not everyone has a dedicated office space or professional setup
**Accessibility and Inclusion:**
- Some people process information better without visual distractions
- Neurodivergent individuals may find camera-on requirements overwhelming
- Bandwidth limitations make video participation difficult or impossible
- People may need to manage sensory input in ways that aren't visible
**The Reality of 2026:**
- We've been doing remote work long enough to know what works
- Audio participation is valid and effective
- Trust your team to engage without visual proof
- Focus on meeting outcomes, not visual presence
## Every Meeting Needs an Agenda
This applies to both in-person and remote meetings: if you're calling a meeting, you need an agenda. Period.
### Why Agendas Are Non-Negotiable
**Respect for Time:**
- People are giving you their time—the least you can do is prepare
- Agendas help attendees prepare and contribute meaningfully
- Clear structure prevents meetings from derailing
- Time-boxed topics keep meetings focused and efficient
**Accessibility:**
- Agendas allow people to prepare questions or materials in advance
- People can determine if their presence is actually needed
- Clear structure helps with attention and processing
- Agendas make meetings more inclusive for different communication styles
**Accountability:**
- Agendas create clear expectations for what will be covered
- They help track whether meetings achieved their goals
- Action items are easier to identify when structure is clear
- Follow-up becomes more straightforward
### What a Good Agenda Includes
- **Purpose:** Why are we meeting? What decision needs to be made?
- **Topics:** What will we discuss? In what order?
- **Time allocation:** How long for each topic?
- **Preparation:** What should attendees review or bring?
- **Desired outcomes:** What do we need to accomplish?
If you can't create an agenda, question whether you need the meeting at all. Could this be an email? A Slack thread? A shared document?
## Setting New Standards
### For Meeting Organizers
**Do:**
- Send agendas at least 24 hours in advance
- Make camera participation optional and clearly stated
- Start meetings by acknowledging that cameras are optional
- Focus on meeting outcomes, not visual presence
- Respect when people choose audio-only participation
- Create space for different communication styles
**Don't:**
- Require cameras to be on
- Comment on people's backgrounds or appearance
- Assume camera-off means disengagement
- Make people justify why their camera is off
- Use visual presence as a measure of participation
### For Participants
**You have the right to:**
- Keep your camera off without explanation
- Participate fully via audio
- Protect your privacy and energy
- Set boundaries around visibility
- Request agendas for meetings you're invited to
- Decline meetings that don't have clear purpose or structure
**You can:**
- Let organizers know you'll be audio-only
- Request agendas if they're missing
- Suggest alternatives to meetings without clear purpose
- Advocate for better meeting practices in your organization
## The Shift We Need
Remote work in 2026 means we've had years to learn what actually works. The practices that made sense in 2020—when we were all figuring it out—don't need to persist forever.
**What we've learned:**
- Audio participation is effective
- Agendas make meetings better for everyone
- Visual presence doesn't equal engagement
- Trust and outcomes matter more than visibility
- People need autonomy over their participation
**What needs to change:**
- Stop requiring cameras
- Start requiring agendas
- Focus on meeting outcomes, not visual proof
- Respect people's boundaries and energy
- Build trust through results, not surveillance
## Moving Forward
If you're organizing meetings, ask yourself:
- Do I have a clear agenda?
- Am I making camera participation optional?
- Am I focusing on outcomes or appearances?
- Am I respecting people's time and energy?
If you're participating in meetings, remember:
- Your camera is your choice
- You deserve agendas and preparation time
- Your participation is valid regardless of visibility
- You can set boundaries around meeting expectations
The future of remote work is about respect, trust, and effectiveness—not about forcing people to perform visibility or accepting poorly structured meetings. Let's build communication practices that actually work for everyone.
<Signature />
]]></content:encoded>
<author>Amanda Nelson</author>
<category>wellness</category>
<category>sustainability</category>
<category>accessibility</category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Automating New Projects in Todoist with Python]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/todoist-scripts</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/todoist-scripts</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A small set of Python scripts that build out a complete Todoist project—sections, tasks, and sub‑tasks—from a simple JSON file.]]></description>
<content:encoded><
## What it does
- **Creates or reuses a project**: If a project with the same name exists, it adds to it rather than duplicating it.
- **Builds structure fast**: Adds sections, tasks, and optional sub‑tasks from a plain JSON file.
- **Keeps focus on your flow**: I designed this to reduce cognitive load at the exact moment I’m shifting into a new initiative.
## Why this matters for brain-and-energy aware work
The first few minutes of any project are decision-heavy. By externalizing the structure—what sections I use, which tasks always start a project—I protect my energy for the meaningful parts. This is a tiny automation that creates space for momentum and reduces startup anxiety.
## Quick start
1) Create a virtual environment and install deps
```bash
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install todoist-api-python python-dotenv
```
2) Add your Todoist API token
```bash
echo "TODOIST_API_TOKEN=your-token-here" > .env
```
3) Define your project data
```json
{
"project_name": "Client Project Template",
"sections": [
{
"name": "Planning",
"tasks": [
{
"content": "Kickoff notes",
"sub_tasks": [
{ "content": "Confirm goals" },
{ "content": "List stakeholders" }
]
},
{ "content": "Define scope", "sub_tasks": [] }
]
},
{
"name": "Execution",
"tasks": [ { "content": "Set up repo" }, { "content": "First milestone" } ]
}
]
}
```
4) Run the importer
```bash
python import_to_todoist.py
```
You’ll see progress logs as the project, sections, tasks, and sub‑tasks are created. If the project already exists, the script adds the new structure to it.
## Notes and tradeoffs
- The importer intentionally adds tasks each run; it doesn’t try to de‑duplicate similar items. That keeps the script simple and predictable when you’re iterating on templates.
- Put the `.env` file next to `import_to_todoist.py`. The script loads it automatically.
- If you prefer environment variables, export `TODOIST_API_TOKEN` instead of using `.env`.
## How I’m using it
I turn long AI chats into actionable Todoist projects by asking the model for a single JSON payload in the importer’s format. I paste that JSON into `project_data.json` and run the script—done.
### Prompt I use (short and strict)
```text
You are helping me turn our conversation into an actionable Todoist project.
Return ONLY valid JSON in this exact schema (no prose):
{
"project_name": "<short-name>",
"sections": [
{ "name": "<section>", "tasks": [
{ "content": "<task>", "sub_tasks": [ { "content": "<subtask>" } ] }
]}
]
}
Rules:
- Use 3–6 sections that reflect this chat’s themes.
- Each section: 3–7 tasks.
- Use clear, verb-led task names.
- Include sub_tasks only where they reduce ambiguity.
- Do not include comments, markdown, or trailing commas.
```
### Workflow
1. Summarize the chat in my head into 3–6 themes (sections).
2. Run the prompt with a one‑line context: “Topic: `what we discussed`.”
3. Paste result into `project_data.json`.
4. `python import_to_todoist.py` to create the project.
This isn’t flashy; it’s deliberately boring—in a good way. It removes the micro‑decisions that slow me down and lets me get to the work that actually needs my attention.
With digital care,
The Pythoness Programmer
<Signature />
Amanda
Reference: the full README, setup steps, and example JSON live in the repo: [devandapaige/todoist](https://github.com/devandapaige/todoist).
Find the code on GitHub: [devandapaige/todoist](https://github.com/devandapaige/todoist)
]]></content:encoded>
<author>Amanda Nelson</author>
<category>automation</category>
<category>software</category>
<category>workflows</category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[AI Myth-Busting: Your Critical Thinking Toolkit for the AI Era]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/ai-mythbusting-critical-thinking-toolkit</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/ai-mythbusting-critical-thinking-toolkit</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Discover our free AI Myth-Busting resource—a comprehensive toolkit that helps you understand what AI actually is, what it isn't, and how to use it responsibly with critical thinking skills.]]></description>
<content:encoded>< combines insights from our August 2025 newsletter series to help you navigate AI with confidence and critical thinking.
## What You'll Find in the AI Myth-Busting Resource
This comprehensive toolkit addresses three core AI myths and provides practical frameworks for thinking critically about AI tools:
### The Wooden Snake's AI Wisdom
From Mr. Meeseeks to plant medicine: learn how to use AI responsibly in an era of increasing tech complexity and government scrutiny.
**Key Myths Debunked:**
- **"AI is Learning and Getting Smarter"** - AI models are NOT learning individuals. Each conversation is independent, and the model doesn't remember you between sessions.
- **"AI Hallucination is a Bug, Not a Feature"** - Hallucination is necessary for creative thinking. It's how AI generates novel ideas and solutions.
- **"AI Will Replace Human Creativity"** - AI amplifies creativity, doesn't replace it. The best use of AI is as a creative partner, not a replacement.
**The Wooden Snake's Wisdom:** True power isn't about brute force—it's about adapting, observing, and finding smarter paths forward. Learn to observe before you trust, adapt to new information, and find smarter paths forward with AI tools.
### AI Bullshit Detection
From AI hallucinations to government data sharing: develop your critical thinking superpower in the tech-power-government era.
**Critical Thinking Framework:**
1. **Question Everything:** What am I actually asking AI to do?
2. **Check Your Expectations:** Do I expect AI to remember? Get smarter? Be 100% accurate?
3. **Verify Results:** What sources will I check? How will I test suggestions?
**The 3-Question Reality Check:** Before using any AI tool, ask:
- What am I asking AI to do?
- What are my expectations?
- How will I verify the results?
### The Truth About AI
Essential knowledge for creative AI users: understanding limitations, capabilities, and responsible usage.
**Key Insights:**
- **AI as Creative Partner:** Not replacement, but amplification tool
- **Understanding Limitations:** What AI can and cannot do
- **Responsible Usage:** When to use AI vs. other tools
- **Privacy Considerations:** Who owns your data and creative work
## Free AI Learning Resources
The toolkit includes recommendations for free AI tools that support learning and understanding:
**Perplexity.ai**
- Free tier with sources for fact-checking and research
- Perfect for learning how AI can help with research while maintaining source transparency
**Claude.ai**
- Free tier for learning concepts and creative brainstorming
- Excellent for understanding AI's creative capabilities and limitations
**Local AI Tools (Ollama and LM Studio)**
- Privacy-focused options for learning
- Run AI models locally without sharing your data
**Remember:** If someone is charging you to understand AI basics, they're exploiting your confusion. The fundamentals should be accessible to everyone.
## Why This Toolkit is Essential
In a world where AI tools are becoming increasingly prevalent, critical thinking skills are your best defense against misinformation, unrealistic expectations, and potential misuse.
**What makes this resource valuable:**
- **Myth-Busting Focus:** Addresses the most common misconceptions about AI
- **Practical Frameworks:** Actionable critical thinking strategies you can use immediately
- **Free Learning Resources:** Recommendations for tools that support genuine understanding
- **Responsible Usage Guidance:** Understanding when and how to use AI appropriately
- **Privacy Awareness:** Important considerations about data ownership and sharing
## The 3-Question Reality Check
Before using any AI tool, apply this simple framework:
1. **What am I asking AI to do?** Be specific about your goal and understand what AI is actually capable of.
2. **What are my expectations?** Are you expecting AI to remember previous conversations? To be 100% accurate? To replace human judgment?
3. **How will I verify the results?** What sources will you check? How will you test AI suggestions? What's your verification process?
This simple framework helps you approach AI tools with appropriate expectations and critical thinking.
## Understanding AI Limitations
One of the most important aspects of the toolkit is helping you understand what AI cannot do:
- **AI doesn't learn from individual conversations** - Each session is independent
- **AI can hallucinate** - This is a feature, not a bug, but requires verification
- **AI doesn't replace human creativity** - It amplifies and supports it
- **AI has privacy implications** - Your data may be used for training
- **AI requires verification** - Never trust AI output without fact-checking
## From Newsletter Series to Comprehensive Resource
The AI Myth-Busting Toolkit is adapted from our in-depth August 2025 newsletter series. The resource includes:
- **Week One: The Wooden Snake's AI Wisdom** - Debunking myths in the tech-power-government era
- **Week Two: AI Bullshit Detection** - Why your critical thinking is your best AI tool
- **Week Three: The Truth About AI** - What you need to know before getting creative
Each section includes links to the full newsletter articles for deeper exploration.
## Video Overview
The resource includes a 6-minute video recap that covers:
- Essential AI myths
- Critical thinking strategies
- The truth about AI capabilities
- Responsible usage guidelines
This video provides a quick introduction to the key concepts before diving deeper into the written content.
## Getting Started with Critical AI Thinking
Ready to develop your critical thinking skills around AI? The [AI Myth-Busting Toolkit](/ai-mythbusting) is completely free and designed to help you:
- Understand what AI actually is and isn't
- Develop critical thinking frameworks for AI usage
- Learn to verify and fact-check AI outputs
- Use AI responsibly and effectively
- Protect your privacy and data
**Start with the 3-Question Reality Check:** Before your next AI interaction, ask yourself what you're asking AI to do, what your expectations are, and how you'll verify the results.
## Why Critical Thinking About AI Matters
In our current era, where AI tools are being integrated into everything from search engines to creative software, understanding AI's capabilities and limitations is essential for:
- **Making Informed Decisions:** Knowing when AI is the right tool for the job
- **Protecting Your Privacy:** Understanding what data you're sharing
- **Maintaining Quality Standards:** Verifying AI outputs before using them
- **Avoiding Misinformation:** Recognizing when AI might be hallucinating or providing inaccurate information
- **Using AI Creatively:** Understanding how to leverage AI as a creative partner
## Access the Complete Toolkit
[Visit the AI Myth-Busting Toolkit](/ai-mythbusting) to access:
- Complete myth-busting content from our newsletter series
- Critical thinking frameworks and strategies
- Free AI learning resource recommendations
- Video overview and explanations
- Links to full newsletter articles for deeper exploration
**Inspired by the Pythoness Programmer's podcast and newsletter.** Share this resource with friends who need AI clarity!
---
**Ready to think critically about AI?** [Start with the AI Myth-Busting Toolkit](/ai-mythbusting) and develop the critical thinking skills you need to use AI responsibly and effectively.
<Signature />
]]></content:encoded>
<author>Amanda Nelson</author>
<category>foundations</category>
<category>creativity</category>
<category>wellness</category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Back to Basics: Digital Organization & AI-Ready Workflows]]></title>
<link>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/back-to-basics-ai-ready-workflows</link>
<guid>https://pythonessprogrammer.com/blog/back-to-basics-ai-ready-workflows</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Discover Back to Basics—a comprehensive guide to mastering fundamental tech skills that make AI tools actually useful. Build the foundation that supports your creativity.]]></description>
<content:encoded>< helps you master the fundamental tech skills that make AI tools actually useful instead of frustrating.
## The Wooden Snake's Wisdom
Building on August's AI myth-busting foundation, Back to Basics applies the Wooden Snake's wisdom about **patience, adaptability, and quiet transformation** to your digital organization.
**The Four Principles:**
- **Observe:** Understand your current digital patterns before implementing new systems
- **Adapt:** Find systems that work with your unique brain patterns and energy cycles
- **Transform:** Create quiet, sustainable changes that support your creative flow
- **Prepare:** Build foundations that make AI tools actually useful instead of frustrating
The Snake teaches us that true power comes from patient preparation, not rushing into action.
## Week 1: Digital Organization
### The 3-Folder Rule That Changed Everything
This simple framework transformed digital organization and made AI tools actually useful:
**Active Projects:**
- Everything you're currently working on
- Clear naming: "Project Name - Start Date"
- Current deadlines and deliverables
- Subfolders for different project phases
- Easy to find, easy to share with AI
**Reference Materials:**
- Templates, resources, and inspiration
- Organized by category, not by project
- Consistent naming conventions
- AI can easily access and suggest from this
- Builds your knowledge base over time
**Archive:**
- Completed projects and old materials
- Organized by year and category
- Still accessible but not cluttering your active space
- AI can learn from your past work
- The secret to mental space
### The Wooden Snake's Organization Method
Instead of jumping into complex systems, observe your current patterns and adapt gradually:
1. **Observe:** What's your current folder structure? Where do files get lost?
2. **Adapt:** Start with one project folder. Apply the 3-folder rule.
3. **Transform:** Gradually expand to other areas as the system proves useful
4. **Prepare:** Build a foundation that makes AI tools actually useful
## Week 2: Creative Workflow Revolution
### Data Flow from Chaos to Conscious
The second week focuses on creating workflows that support your creative process:
**From Chaos:**
- Files scattered across multiple locations
- No clear workflow or process
- AI tools can't find or understand your content
- Creative momentum lost in digital disorganization
**To Conscious:**
- Clear data flow from creation to completion
- Workflows that support your creative process
- AI tools that can access and understand your work
- Creative momentum maintained through organization
### Building Creative Workflows
The resource includes practical guidance for:
- **Content Creation Workflows:** From idea to published piece
- **Project Management:** Tracking progress without overwhelm
- **File Naming Conventions:** Making files findable by you and AI
- **Version Control:** Managing iterations without confusion
## Week 3: Basic Automation That Serves Creativity
### Automation That Enhances, Not Overwhelms
The third week focuses on simple automation that supports your creative work:
**Automation Principles:**
- **Reduce Friction:** Automate tasks that interrupt creative flow
- **Preserve Energy:** Let automation handle repetitive tasks
- **Support Creativity:** Automation should free you to create, not constrain you
- **Simple First:** Start with basic automation, expand gradually
**Practical Examples:**
- Automated file organization
- Backup systems that run in the background
- Simple scripts for repetitive tasks
- Workflow automation that connects your tools
## Week 4: AI-Ready Foundations
### Making AI Tools Actually Useful
The final week brings everything together to create AI-ready foundations:
**AI-Ready Organization:**
- Clear folder structures that AI can navigate
- Consistent naming conventions that AI understands
- Organized content that AI can access and learn from
- Workflows that integrate AI tools naturally
**AI Integration:**
- How to structure files for AI access
- Best practices for AI tool integration
- Maintaining organization as you use AI
- Balancing AI assistance with human creativity
## Video and Newsletter Resources
The Back to Basics resource includes:
- **Video Overview:** A comprehensive overview of building AI-ready digital foundations
- **Newsletter Series Links:** Week-by-week deep dives into each topic
- **Practical Examples:** Real-world implementation scenarios
- **Tool Recommendations:** Tools that support AI-ready organization
## Common AI Frustrations → AI-Ready Solutions
**Common Frustrations:**
- AI tools that can't find your files or understand your content
- Digital chaos that makes AI more of a liability than an asset
- Spending more time organizing than creating
- AI suggestions that don't match your actual workflow