Bernie May - Practical Managers

Stoics Read-Along What does it mean to live a good life under injustice and cruelty?

What the tech billionaires want their children to learn, and it isn't STEM

There Are Five Lights I remember driving out to Vancouver Island as a child. We camped on the beach. I hid a starfish in the trunk of the car to take home with us. My father was not pleased three days later when he found the source of the bad smell. Then the Trans-Canada was single lane, undivided highway. Once on the island, it was a dirt road to get to Tofino & Long Beach.

There Are Five Lights

I remember driving out to Vancouver Island as a child. We camped on the beach. I hid a starfish in the trunk of the car to take home with us. My father was not pleased three days later when he found the source of the bad smell. Then the Trans-Canada was single lane, undivided…

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Men are Not Competing With Other Men

When is your company worth the effort?

https://practicalmanagers.com/2026/02/07/men-are-not-competing-with-other-men/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Lord Somerset about to feel the consequences of his subordinate's poor decisions: kneeling at the chopping block, the executioner raises his axe

Whether we choose to be leaders, or have leadership thrust upon us, we are always walking a line between loyalties.

practicalmanagers.com/2026/01/31/w...

It's always been important to bear witness, now so especially. So if you see me out in the world wearing mine, and you're out in the world wearing yours, come say hello, and maybe we can do a little community building...

"Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute."

A red knit cap with a tassel

I don't talk about my knitting because it's something I do for myself and family. But I'm casting on a new project tonight, and if you've like to join me, the pattern can be found at:

www.ravelry.com/patterns/lib...

Proceeds to immigrant aid societies helping those impacted by ICE operations.

My Tinfoil Hat Except it's not tinfoilIt's red yarn, andIt keeps Nazis away I don't talk about my knitting a lot because it's something I do for myself. But I'm casting on a new project tonight, and if you've like to join me, the pattern can be found at: Anti-Fascist Knitted Cap Proceeds go to immigrant aid agencies helping those impacted by ICE operations.

My Tinfoil Hat

Except it's not tinfoilIt's red yarn, andIt keeps Nazis away I don't talk about my knitting a lot because it's something I do for myself. But I'm casting on a new project tonight, and if you've like to join me, the pattern can be found at: Anti-Fascist Knitted Cap Proceeds go to…

I'll say what Katie is saying in a different way: As a reporter, when one politician tells you it's raining, and another says the skies are bright and clear, you job isn't to broadcast the debate. Your job is to stick your head out the window and tell the truth.

Do your job.

A large part of what is happening now (and it's never one thing) is because of the control and consolidation of the media by the rich in my lifetime. I'm looking at you, Fox News, especially hard.

Maybe if more chaplains had these guts I'd still be going to a church on Sundays.

It's a good start, but it's far from over. I hope for the best for my American friends and neighbours, but man, have you got a mess to clean up. Good luck and stay safe if you can.

What’s the Good News? In which I talk to my 90-year-old dad about how we might survive and maybe even benefit from the AI revolution I got myself a $600 “no insurance” ticket last week, and AI had a hand in …

AI is here to stay, how do we live with it?

I feel like he's given up taking Greenland militarily. Perhaps his generals have made it clear that only Congress can declare war? Which would be nice.

You guys (Americans) really need to sort your shit out before someone else comes and sorts it out for you. This is getting silly.

He can go shit in his hat...

This is what 'community aid' looks like

Remember, it's only technically Orwellian if it's from the Orwell region of England, otherwise it's just sparkling authoritarianism

My sweetie and I were talking about this the other night...I might argue that the coup began when Mitch McConnell blocked Merrick Garland's appointment in 2016, or the taking place since before the supreme court's Citizens United decision in 2010, or...

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In which I describe to my 90-year-old father
how the world ends
(probably after he's gone)
(but maybe before I am)...

https://practicalmanagers.com/2026/01/10/how-it-ends/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Cory Doctorow Neatly Encapsulates AI: This is a neat encapsulation of the whole AI story: the chatbot can't do your job, but an AI salesman can convince your boss to fire you and replace you with a chatbot that can't do your job. Your boss is an easy mark for that chatbot hustler because your boss hates you. In their secret hearts, bosses understand that if they stopped coming to work, the business would run along just fine, but if the…

Cory Doctorow Neatly Encapsulates AI:

This is a neat encapsulation of the whole AI story: the chatbot can't do your job, but an AI salesman can convince your boss to fire you and replace you with a chatbot that can't do your job. Your boss is an easy mark for that chatbot hustler because your boss…

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The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

In which I try to be temper my 90-year-old but-still-with-it dad's enthusiasm... I was pissed off with ChatGPT the other day. I was trying to…

https://practicalmanagers.com/2026/01/03/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Everything's connected to everything else, like it or not

What It Is In which I try to explain what AI is to my 90-year-old dad, and why he should care.... I've been using ChatGPT on an almost daily basis for over two and a half years now, in my writing (proof-reading and copy-editing), research, and learning. I've also used it to run a Monte-Carlo simulation on a game design, and to translate & transcribed 80-year-old letters…

What It Is

In which I try to explain what AI is to my 90-year-old dad, and why he should care.... I've been using ChatGPT on an almost daily basis for over two and a half years now, in my writing (proof-reading and copy-editing), research, and learning. I've also used it to run a Monte-Carlo…

It’s Not That Bad? In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I would use the console as my 'flight controls' while reclined in the 'launch position' in his good chair, which I'd dragged over for that purpose…

It’s Not That Bad?

In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I…

4 Days, but Worth It I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually takes 9 hours took four days, and it was worth it to be back in the mountains and on the land.

4 Days, but Worth It

I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually…

To Rule an Empire

"Would you have a great empire? Rule yourself first." - Publilius Syrus

Rebecca Klassen to appear on Legacy Maker's TV

For those interested, here is the press release announcing her segment on Legacy Makers TV

www.kget.com/business/pre...

My friend has been working very hard on her non-profit's launch. If you have five minutes Sunday night, you could help her out just by logging into the zoom call:

practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...

I took a break from the online. Now I'm back. Here's what you can expect.

practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...