Do I understand correctly that by using your machine and Claude Code or something like it you are avoiding API pricing?

I do the same thing with my subscriptions. Haven't checked the math lately but it seemed more cost effective in the past.

How do you orchestrate the various machines? Sounds like a great idea.

Completely agree. You tell the best story for your product doing it that way.

In a way if people can’t yet use spreadsheets correctly (but they think they do) then it’s impossible to move them away.

Also the OP has much about the programmatic components, but Excel is also an interface. The front end of an unofficial corporate app. And people know (they think) how to use it.

I just listened to a demo of an insurance industry SaaS that isn’t yet public. Goal to move many things out of spreadsheets. Had AI agents built in and all sorts of bells and whistles. But the screens were chaos. I immediately thought it was just too “complicated” to switch a person off the busy/messy system they know - Excel.

Fair take, I think.

But we didn’t have to vote DJT into office as a counteracting force. Whether every decision is bad or not, not my point. It just seemed obvious that he wasn’t the right guy.

Some people can’t vote against their party. Some people believe write in is the move.

A write in, or even just scrawling "FUCK YOU" across the ballot is at least an active protest. It shows that you aren't apathetic to, or okay with, what is going on. It'd be interesting to see a write in campaign for someone with enough public support to be more than just a protest vote though. It'd be interesting to see someone campaign to the public with no interest in participating in the two party system at all, just asking the public to write them in when the time comes.

Voting is a massively multiplayer game, not an individual sport.

If you want to protest, please do it. But throwing away your vote is not a protest, it’s a method of ceding a small amount of power.

Well said. It's not that I disagree with the concept, just that the action itself is not meaningful to the overall process (not without a lot more people doing the same).

I've never written a name not on the ballot but wonder sorts of feelings arise afterwards. Is it "Good, I did the right thing"?

There are plenty of third-party candidates in most elections. However, most people are convinced that they have to vote for the lesser of two evils. In addition, a third party or independent candidate who starts getting too much public support will be likely be sabotaged long before election day. For example look up Butch Ware's recent run for governor in California. It's just the tip of the iceberg in how the two party system maintains control.

I suspect (anecdote) vaping is just as bad if not worse. People vape EVERYWHERE. Almost any place you can't smoke, people still vape. So - that it happens that way makes me think the total exposure is a lurking problem.

Doing something similar with audio equipment. I have an older USB midi controller that doesn’t seem to have official support. Claude helped bring it back to life!

> Some figures in technology (Paul Graham, DHH, Jeff Dean, even Mark Zuckerberg) seem to be pushing on both fronts with rare success

Possibly true, but who knows. Especially Zuck, who does not lead a remotely ordinary life (imo).

Dad of 2 girls. 8 and 4. Maybe this should be titled “being ambitious because you’re a dad”

I am better than ever post kids. Always great, no. Always amazing, no. Not sure I agree with the post otherwise, especially quality vs quantity. High quality interactions are the best.

zuckerberg has a nanny for each of their kids. I know because I am a neighbour.

What I would expect!

Nice post and you have me checking out your broader site and product!

What tells?

Traversing life without a cell phone is a fun experiment. Here and there I forget mine and spend a day without the distraction - glorious way to spend time.