newsletter

🧠 Signals & Noise - # 9

things that I've read, watched, listened to, and created lately.

29 Sep 2025 — 3 min read

A quote, reflection, or question for you to ponder this week.

“The best gift of modern times is to allow yourself to be bored.”

Takeaways of this issue:

Articles worth reading — insights, essays, and web gems.

Best Coworking Spaces in Amsterdam - link
If you are living or visiting Amsterdam, check this list out to see a suitable coworking space for you. I didn't try out any of these, but I'm cooking up the idea.
10 Leadership Lessons from 10 Years of Parenting - link
I'm not one of those people who admire sanctification of parenthood. However, this article offers a very insightful perspective on how we can learn from different aspects of our lives and apply them elsewhere. I didn't think that I'd enjoy it this much.

Books I’ve recently finished or am currently reading, with a few reflections.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - link
You probably already know the book and the whole franchise. If you are looking for a resource where you can develop your English and have fun at the same time, this is your resource. I'm reading it with a big dictionary next to it, taking my time on the words and phrases. It will be helpful in sharpening my English. Although I feel comfortable, I want to reach a level where I can easily grasp the nuances and have a broader vocabulary outside of the software domain.

Compelling videos I stumbled upon — essays, interviews, talks, or short docs.

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why - link
I feel too attached to my phone. I have always felt like that. There was a time I even switched to a dumb phone to give myself peace of mind. Here's why.

— Tim Krief (@timkrief.com) 2025-09-16T14:40:41.275Z

Your Containers Aren’t Alone: Demystifying Container Isolation - Marina Moore, Edera - link
As you might be aware from the previous issue, these days I'm watching a my selection of Container Plumbing Days 2025 recordings. Here is another good one. If you are curious about container isolation, this short walkthrough might give you a general idea. It's a good summary.

The reftable backend: What it is, where it's headed, and why should you care?, Patrick Steinhardt - link
Another gem from The Linux Foundation but this time it's from Git Mini Summit 2025. Steinhardt, is walking audience through the reftable backend. With release 2.45, Git has gained support for the "reftable" backend to read and write references in a Git repository. I should admit, I'm still tinkering it to figure out if it's applicable to use cases that I have in my hand. But it's not a blocker to pass the news.

Understanding & Improving Sleep - link
At this class, Dr. Els van der Helm walks participants through the details of the sleep with practical tips. What I really like is her realistic style. She gives you options with their possible outcomes. I think sleep and its restorative effects are one of the most underestimated things in modern world.