Author Archives: Karl Swedberg

Eulogy

October 30, 2022

[I read this aloud at the funeral service for my mom, Virginia Swedberg, October 29, 2022] The New York Times keeps a database of obituaries for famous people who are still alive. That way, when someone dies, they can just … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellany | 4 Comments

Favorite emails of 2021

December 31, 2021

A couple weeks ago an email arrived in my inbox with the subject, “hi all.” I didn’t immediately recognize the sender’s name, but figured he might be someone I knew from my years working on the jQuery team, a notion … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 2 Comments

13 Thoughts about Matt

October 24, 2020

It has occurred to me that too often we don’t express our loving thoughts and memories of the most important people in our lives until it’s too late and we’re left standing in front of fellow mourners at a funeral, regretting what we’ve left unsaid

Posted in friends and neighbors | 1 Comment

Home Art Tour, Round 1

March 28, 2020

A friend of mine recently posted a picture of a painting hanging in her home on Instagram. She explained that a number of people had commented on it during zoom meetings, so she thought she’d provide some background information. When … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellany | 5 Comments

3 Songs that Lift My Spirits

March 15, 2020

If, like me, you’re struggling with anxiety over the coronavirus or filled with despair over our political situation, I hope these songs will bring you joy.

Posted in music | Leave a comment

100 Lattes

February 15, 2020

Even though I’ve made thousands of lattes over the past 25 years, both for myself and for others, I’ve never come close to mastering latte art. Some days as I pour the velvety-smooth milk over the espresso, it takes on … Continue reading →

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Diane

February 2, 2020

Of all my character flaws, the one that bothers me the most is the way I easily succumb to inertia. Sometimes, I tell myself, this inertia isn’t so bad. Routine and ritual can be healthy, right? When I find something … Continue reading →

Posted in friends and neighbors | 2 Comments

Keeping Tabs

January 8, 2020

Some people have a hard time getting rid of things in their houses or apartments. Some people let their email inboxes pile up. One such person, whom I know and love dearly, has both of those problems—with hundreds if not … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellany | 2 Comments

Three things I noticed

January 10, 2018

Like most technology-addled people these days, and especially those who share the burden of AD(H)D, I find my mind flits around a forest of ideas without ever alighting on a single branch. Still, occasionally something seems so compelling, whether attractive … Continue reading →

Posted in language, miscellany | 1 Comment

Old Obsessions

June 24, 2017

Sometimes it’s hard to let go. For a few years after I stopped teaching English, I kept a section of this site dedicated to writing-related topics. Somehow, people from all over the world found what I had written and started … Continue reading →

Posted in language | 4 Comments