I'm making the slides for my talk for PyTexas2026 (April 17 to 19 in Austin, tickets now available at www.pytexas.org/2026/ ) Can anyone tell me how to rotate a circle in google sheets?

While I love it, there is a certain hell associated with writing about AI. They used to say that tech books were out of date the moment the ink dried. Well AI blogs are out of date as soon as the TCP handshake completes to the blog you're trying to read.

Part 2 of my current rambling about AI is live! Today's blog: "Code is Now Cheap, Don't Devalue Yourself" Enjoy! mason.dev/blog/code-is...

So I've been chewing on a lot of thoughts about AI, its impact on our industry, what it means going forward, etc. What started as 1 blog is now 3 and may turn into more. 🤣 Check out "We're Witnessing the Evolution of Software Engineering" link in comments. And come back tomorrow for the next one!

25 years ago I got my first main stream Pokémon game. History was made on that day.

Just wrapped up reviewing the submissions to PyTexas for next year’s conference and damn, y’all raised the bar again. This was the most difficult year to decide yet. It’s gonna be an amazing conference this year!

Every couple of months I still update this. Looking for Python communities? Follow! Want to add your own? Comment below!

Y’all aren’t ready for the Ruby resurgence that’s coming. And I’m here for it.

I am honored and humbled to announce today that I have been made a Fellow of the Python Software Foundation. Thank you so much for this honor. As is tradition, I wrote a blog commemorating this occasion. mason.dev/blog/reflect...

I’ve updated the list!

It’s so cute when Claude Code includes timelines in its plans, especially when it’s like “This will take 10 weeks and numerous people to do it” like I’m not just gonna make it do it in an overnight binge session. 🤣

Hey everyone! I'll be speaking at the Python Houston Meetup (PyHou) tomorrow in Houston, TX! Come by and hear me speak about why Events are the Wrong Abstraction and why you should be using Durable Execution. Can't wait to see you there! RSVP below: 🔽 #Python #HTX #Houston #DurableExecution

I am hereby declaring this the summer of side projects. The increase in productivity that I’m getting with Claude Code is wild. Ideas no longer have to sit planned out in Obsidian, we can build them together.

Claude Code is legit a game changer for me.

If you’re going to repeatedly pester me for a review of your business after I was there, to the point of call me asking for it, and you don’t just let me leave a 5-star review but require a minimum character count for text, be prepared for AI written reviews. Harassment isn’t good customer service.

Who’s going to be at AI Engineer Worlds Fair this week in San Francisco?

Privilege is a hell of a drug

I’m incredibly honored to have received a community service award at #PyConUS2025. I love all the work I do with #PyTexas, and look to many more years of contributing to the community. Also, fun fact, I received this award in the anniversary of my first day at my first ever #PyConUS

Today’s the day of the Community Organizers summit at #PyConUS! Whether you organize conferences, meetups, communities, or want to start one, this event is for you! Join us at 10:30am in Room 317 at #PyConUS2025

Ok #PyConUS2025 who’s here? Hoping to hang out with some folks tonight!

I’ve officially reached the “adding custom hotkeys to obsidian” phase.

Spicy hot take 🌶️: Your AI generated marketing videos fucking suck. Random AI avatar acting shocked and that something happened then going into a product spiel? That lack of effort actively makes me want to use your competitor. Quality still matters y’all.

Someone once said we should have named the conference PecanPy, and honestly, it is a Texas sized missed opportunity. Attend the PyTexas Conference April 11 - 13 in Austin, TX or Virtually Get your tickets today pretix.eu/pytexas/2025/

Friday nights are for conference organizing. Everyone knows that.

One of my favorite times of the year tbh

Anyone have any recommendations for resources/courses for learning AI topics? I’m looking to get exposure to the whole ecosystem. List everything you have! I’m particularly looking for content on Inferences, Model Training, Model Deployment, and Data Pipelines

Have a friend applying for college NEW GRAD roles have an interviewer ask how garbage collection works in Python To that interviewer: 1. That is not relevant at all to a college new grad role 2. I guarantee that you probably don’t know how GC works in Python 3. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on

To the person who decided to cement the fence posts in my back yard (previous owner), you’re an idiot. One, this is the reason they rotted and broke in the wind storm. Two, they are a fucking nightmare to replace.

Me going back and forth then deciding to not post my 🌶️ hot take post because y’all aren’t ready for that conversation 🤣

After writing TypeScript for the last few hours, I take back every criticism I’ve ever had about the Python packaging ecosystem. How do people live like this? Blink twice if you’re being held against your will

One of the sneaky hard parts of organizing a conference is running the social media account. I just run out of things to say lol.

Me working on my book: “Oh ya! I like this paragraph! I wonder if I follow my own advice.” *checks my own materials* “Well shit”

I sometimes overhear people talking in public places about the best BBQ in Texas and I often have to bite my tongue. I’ll give you a hint, the best BBQ isn’t in a big city in Texas. You have to drive out to find it. Come visit and I’ll take you to my spots 😜

Since it seems leet code, coding interviews, and all that bullshit is backing up the plumbing and spilling onto the floor, here’s my thoughts on coding interviews.

Christmas Baking Extravaganza update Peanut Butter Chews - Done Cherry Cheesecake Cupcakes - Done (cherries to be added closer to serving) Banana bread - Done Kolaches - in progress. Always takes all day waiting on dough to rise

Todays list for the Christmas Baking Extravaganza: Banana Bread Cherry Cheesecake cupcakes Crispy peanut butter chews Kolaches and Klobasniks Cinnamon Rolls And not baking, but I have to make and can my homemade BBQ sauce for mom because that’s what she wants for Christmas

The Christmas baking extravaganza officially commenced last night. We got the carrot cake cupcakes and Christmas cookies done last night.

Y’all, it’s December 19th. Repeat after me. “Let’s circle back next year.”

🎉 We’re excited to announce that Temporal Cloud is now available on Google Cloud Marketplace! #GCP Take your development processes to the next level & see how Temporal can transform your workflows. www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...

🎤 Calling all Speakers! We have a session on Friday about: * What to expect at #Replay2025, kinds of sessions we're looking for * Pro Tips and Tricks / Dos and Don'ts on Call for Proposals (CFP) * Open Q&A / feedback time to help get your CFP into shape ➡️ Register here! t.mp/replay25-off...

It is always super interesting to see the themes that emerge when reviewing CFPs. Every year it’s different, and it’s always fascinating. I’m only a few proposals in and I already know #PyTexas is going to be spectacular this year.

Did all that turkey from the last week make you sleepy and you missed the #PyTexas CFP? 😭Not to worry! We’ve extended the CFP! You now have until 12/4 at 11:59 to submit! 🎉

Me: Let’s work on the book this morning! *Opens slack* Lesson learned. Don’t open slack.

Only two days left to submit to the #PyTexas CFP!!! 2️⃣ 😱 We want EVERYONE to submit! https://pretalx.com/pytexas-2025/

Productive morning writing! Another 1000+ word morning!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Be sure to soak up some sun, like this Texas Horned Lizard. Fun Fact: The Texas Horned Lizard is the official reptile of Texas #PyTexas #TexasFact

Slower writing morning today. Going to blame the long line at the donut shop 🤣 I still got ~500 words written before I had to go to work, which I’ll take. Little by little this is turning into a book.

📖 update: 1000+ words this morning! Was really in the zone. I see a consistent pattern, I tell my editor this should be a short chapter, and as I’m writing I keep thinking more things and it keeps getting longer. Oh well 🤷‍♂️

Sponsoring #PyTexas is a fantastic opportunity to elevate your brand, connect with a local tech community, and recruit your next #Python engineer. Sponsorship slots are still available. #PyTexas #TechCommunity #SponsorshipOpportunities https://buff.ly/3OfFvOi

Productive morning. A little less words than yesterday, but happy with the work. Here’s to writing a book!