The Orbit

My dad wrote a list of computer questions on a piece of printer paper, and we worked through them together. I may not have all the answers, but at the very least I think I can help my dad get his footing when it comes to technology. In this episode of "Building the Bridge", Dad asks questions about email, texting, and charging your phone. 

The generational knowledge gap is vast when it comes to the internet and tech. So, I'm sitting down with my father Chris Miller and answering his questions about computers. Today, he asked me a great question: why is there a click and a double click on the mouse? From here, we discuss the function of peripherals and your PC, along with the struggles of learning the controls for video games, applications, and our own desktops. 

2020 was a doozy, but it clearly exposed some of the most important problems that we face in 2021. Using the tools immediately available to us on our computers and phones, I believe we can make lasting systemic change. My friends stream on Twitch, make TikToks, and podcasts, and this blisteringly fast relay of information may be the key to ensuring that our communities are taken care of.

Pirijan is a designer and engineer whose favorite tools are the hammer and the sandwich. He co-creator Glitch, an online IDE for folks who want to learn how to code, and now he's working on his own creation called Kinopio, a mind-mapping tool that gels with how our brains operate. In this interview, we discuss his storied background in tech, his favorite RSS feeds, and brutalism in web design.

Aaron Rasmussen is interested in everything, which helps in his work as an entrepreneur, inventor, and content creator. From California to Boston and beyond, Aaaron has dabbled in robotics, virtual reality, energy drinks, and now education. He co-founded Masterclass, an online teaching platform that allows celebrity experts to share insight on their process. Now, he's working on Outlier.org, an online alternative to college. In this interview, we discuss the challenges of being a generalist, the future of education, and TikTok.

Jonathan Van Belle is a philosopher and writer who explores the big questions about life, the universe, and everything in his upcoming book "Zenithism" (to be released February 14th, 2021). After studying philosophy at UC Berkeley, Jonathan combined his academic inclinations with his playful creativity to produce a body of work that is equal parts poetic, hilarious, and insightful. In this interview, we talk about how he wrote his most recent book, why philosophy is important, and what exists beyond our planet.

Zenithism, by Jonathan van Belle https://deepoverstock.com/zenithism-by-jonathan-van-belle/

I study the future of work - that is, creative folks who run their own small businesses online. When I asked my friends what they wanted in a job, the answers surprised me, and let me to a three-year-long investigation as to what careers young folks are making for themselves. This video is a bit of a thought-dump of all the things I think about on a daily basis, with the intention of inspiring you to try something new.

carla bergman isn't an anarchist, communist "or any -ist, really." Instead, she is interested in prioritizing people over projects. Her book "Joyful Militancy", written with Nick Montgomery, explores the idea of dismantling oppressive forces by creating joy on the interpersonal level. Whether she is working at alternatives to schools or creating space for conversation on her podcast "Grounded Futures", her goal is to maximize our ability to help one another through mutual aid. In this interview, we talk about how she came to write "Joyful Militancy", and what her work looks like in 2020.

It's been five months since my last "Quarantine Diaries" entry, and boy oh boy a lot has happened. I'm playing video games, streaming, and reading. But most of all, I've been resting and taking care of myself. The weight of the world gets heavier almost every week, and in this episode I reflect on the things that make life fulfilling amidst civil unrest and the pandemic. 

In response to unchecked police brutality, my friends in Portland and beyond have taken to the streets to organize and protest. One book that has proven helpful in this is "Joyful Militancy" by Nick Montgomery & carla bergman, a guide to fighting fascism without creating more fascism. In this video, I attempt to summarize some of the key points while also fleshing out my understanding of what it means to dismantle oppressive forces.