PinnedErnie SmithinTediumWhen Atari Was PoliticizedThe story of how the “Atari Democrats” came to shape the way politics and technology work together, for good and bad.·14 min read·Mar 24, 2023----
Ernie SmithinTediumLessons In Pivoting: The Live Events Company That Became a Tech Company OvernightThe story of One Day University, an online education platform that learned something about its own ability to survive during the pandemic.·10 min read·Feb 20, 2022----
Ernie SmithinDebuggerThis Cheap, Repairable Smartphone Is Okay, and Maybe That’s the PointThe new Teracube 2e is a sustainable smartphone and a glimpse of a better future for accessories·7 min read·Mar 26, 2021--1--1
Ernie SmithinDebuggerThe iPhone 12 Mini Isn’t a Top Seller — and That’s Just Fine for AppleApple finally created a phone for people who don’t really care about phones·5 min read·Jan 22, 2021--8--8
Ernie SmithinTediumWhy Gmail Always Cuts Off Your Favorite NewsletterPopular email clients, particularly Gmail, have a tendency to cut emails off after a 102-kilobyte limit. Why the heck is that?·11 min read·Dec 26, 2020----
Ernie SmithinDebuggerHow to Break Apple’s M1 ChipMy bad Dropbox organization habits brought Apple’s power-sipping MacBook Air to its knees in just a single day·3 min read·Dec 3, 2020--20--20
Ernie SmithinTediumThe Reason Low Overpass Crashes Are So Fun to WatchWhy low overpasses are often so damaging to trucks, RVs, and other large vehicles — and why the ensuing crashes are so fun to watch.·11 min read·Nov 1, 2020----
Ernie SmithinTediumWhy Iceland Banned Beer—But Not Liquor—for Nearly 75 YearsFor decades, it was easier to get a bottle of vodka in Iceland than a pint of beer. The reason why comes down to Icelandic politics.·13 min read·Oct 13, 2020----
Ernie SmithinTediumNow You’re Playing With PowerHow I found home networking nirvana with a powerline connection, a form of home networking that might be called poor man’s ethernet.·14 min read·Jun 3, 2020----
Ernie SmithinTediumWhy the World Still Needs Laugh Tracks“Canned laughter,” a controversial element of most television comedy, feels unnerving in its quarantine-era absence.·10 min read·May 31, 2020----