Sean McDevitt is a professional copywriter, author, essayist, husband, father, and scrambled eggs maker. Not necessarily in that order.
This site is my online home and "digital hub." From here, you can find links to my most recent essays, quick thoughts, and evergreen notes on a wide variety of topics.
Featured Essays
Start with a couple of my favorite essays from my newsletter, Saturday Night Five.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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Thinking
Short thoughts, quotes, and commentary, mostly about things I've read.
March 2, 2026 8:21 am
Had a hell of a weekend.Went to the Illinois basketball game with Maria on Friday night. Michigan is likely to go to the National Championship, and Illinois is not, though I guess they might make the Final Four if they get lucky in the tournament. They were just completely outclassed.After the game, I sold this anime card of a character from One Piece (Monkey D. Luffy) I received at the game for a cool $100 bill to a guy with a stack of bills, who was soliciting everybody. I had 18 more in my pocket, but that felt weird. I should have sold them. I’ll be bringing them on Tuesday to see if the same guy is around, since another anime card is also being given away. I’ll sell all of them if I can. Maybe I can snag a bunch like last time and make a killing. It seems these cards go for double on eBay.I had never heard of One Piece. Apparently, it was the most-watched Netflix show (among individual series seasons) during the second half of 2023.Saturday, I went to couples’ boxing with Maria, and it kicked my butt. I am sore all over. It was lots of fun, though.Sunday, I spent most of the day with Rocco, the wonder pup, dog sitting and eating like 3 pounds of grapes.
March 1, 2026 9:18 am
So, I guess we are at war with Iran? Anything not to have the Epstein files in the news.
February 28, 2026 9:47 am
“In basketball—as in life—true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way.” – Phil Jackson
February 27, 2026 11:23 am
I watched the Illinois Women’s Basketball team nearly knock off the #9 Iowa team at their place last night. It was pretty exciting.Illinois gave Iowa everything it could handle and nearly toppled the Hawkeyes. The Illini didn't play scared, but just left a few too many plays on the table down the stretch. It's a missed opportunity for what would have been a no-doubt NCAA Tournament clincher and a big boost to their résumé.Bottom line: they weren’t intimidated by Iowa or its fans and played with a lot of confidence.Hoping for a big win on the Men’s side tonight.
February 26, 2026 9:31 am
The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees arrived this week. As always with this institution, the 17 names on the ballot are not all rock and roll. I roll my eyes in their general direction.There are several rock acts among the nominees, including Oasis, Iron Maiden, the Black Crowes, Joy Division/New Order, INXS, Billy Idol, Jeff Buckley, and Melissa Etheridge. I’ll even grant you P!NK is a rock artist even though she’s mostly pop. The remaining nominees are anything but rock and roll: Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross, New Edition, Sade, Wu-Tang Clan, and Shakira. Not taking anything away from these artists, but none of them are rock-and-roll acts by any measurMariah Carey is now up for induction for the third consecutive year. Her holiday dominance and pop chart reign are undeniable, but she isn’t a rock and roll artist. Luther Vandross was a transcendent soul singer. Wu-Tang Clan revolutionized hip-hop. Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation is one of the greatest albums of the 1990s. Shakira is a bona fide global icon. None of that is in question. What is in question every time a new list of nominees appears is why there are so many acts that are not rock and roll included?Sure, rock and roll has always been rooted in blues, R&B, and gospel. However, that seems like a loophole for the Hall to induct virtually any popular music act from the past half-century. If everything is rock and roll, then nothing is.In my humble opinion, none of the non-rock-and-roll-oriented acts should be inducted, and of the remaining acts, only Oasis, Iron Maiden, the Black Crowes, Joy Division/New Order, and INXS really showcase rock's popularity, longevity, and influence.
February 25, 2026 10:51 am
I want to simplify my life. This is difficult for me. One of the best things I can do is a self-evaluation to clear out the chaos. However, being honest with myself is troublesome. I’d rather have someone else tell me the hard truths. Ultimately, that feels expensive.Simplifying also means thinking about the costs in terms of time, pressure, stress, and finances.It all takes time to think and prepare. I’m not sure when I can carve out the clutter to get to the simple.
February 24, 2026 10:55 am
I’m not a big fan of Moby. However, I think he’s really talented and his approach to music is unique and interesting. He has a new album out titled, Future Quiet, and it’s haunting and atmospheric. I need something like this right now. It’s perfect.
February 23, 2026 8:24 am
Illinois basketball blew it against UCLA. Just a complete collapse. Lost another OT game.The Illini squandered a 23-point first-half lead against the Bruins, who were coming off back-to-back blowout losses to Michigan and Michigan State. After going up 33-10 on a Ben Humrichous three nearly 11 minutes into the first half, the Illini gave up an atrocious 85 points the rest of the way. Ugh.I saw an idea that said Illinois wins big and loses small. Meaning either the team beats the shit out of opponents or opponents get lucky/hot, and they win by an average of 3 points.The Illini’s four Big Ten losses have come by a total of nine points, with three of the games going to overtime and two of them — Nebraska being the other one — decided on baskets made at the buzzer. With a little more luck, a very good record could be even stronger.Time for some good luck to come this way.
February 22, 2026 7:10 pm
“To me, all creativity is magic. Ideas start out in the empty void of your head - and they end up as a material thing, like a book you can hold in your hand. That is the magical process. It's an alchemical thing. Yes, we do get the gold out of it but that's not the most important thing. It's the work itself.” ― Alan Moore
February 21, 2026 11:09 pm
“Many people procrastinate because they’re waiting for their motivation to rise. They forget that getting started is what leads their motivation to rise. Passion is not a prerequisite for progress. It’s often the result of progress.” — Adam Grant
February 20, 2026 6:00 am
Before Christmas, my wife, my step-daughter, and I went up to Algonquin, Illinois, to do some unique shopping. We stopped at Syrup for a late breakfast and enjoyed the food immensely. On a whim, I had the waitress add a couple of pumps of vanilla syrup to my coffee. Somewhat unsurprisingly, that little trick turned a good cup of coffee into an amazing cup.Since then, I’ve been adding two or three pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup to my coffee mug, and I’m never, ever going to apologize for it.I know there’s a contingent of people who treat coffee purity as a moral position and I’ve decided they can have all that. For me, the bitterness and the sweetness do something together that neither does alone. It’s just chemistry.Also, it makes 6 am more manageable, which is worth something.
February 19, 2026 6:00 am
Illinois dropped more than 100 points on hapless USC last night. The 36-point victory is Illinois' largest in a Big Ten road win in 80 years.
February 18, 2026 6:54 am
Today is the first day I could legitimately wear a T-shirt or a Polo to work without a coat. I’m sure this is just “Fool’s Spring” and it will get super cold next week. It is nice, so I’ll just take advantage of it and wear my favorite Illinois T-shirt.
February 16, 2026 7:42 am
The Illini game on Sunday was more like it. Heavy domination on rebounding and size. They shot it incredibly poorly from three, like 7 for 30 something, but it didn’t matter because David Mirkovic was making everything, rebounding everything, and playing like one of the best freshman in the country.More importantly, Kylan Boswell has recovered from his broken hand, and his presence defensively was incredibly important. The Illini routed Indiana 71-51 at home Sunday with Boswell back in the starting lineup. Nice cheer when he was announced from the crowd.Having a seven man rotation is so much better than a six man rotation. Even better will be an eight man rotation when Andrej Stojakovic comes back from the high ankle sprain, likely for the Michigan game on the 27th.
February 15, 2026 6:57 am
On Valentine’s Day, I was tasked with acquiring a heart-shaped pizza from Papa John’s for my step-daughter and her friend. I walked into the place to order, and they had Dio’s “Holy Diver” playing at concert-level volume. It was a scene.I placed my order and sat down to wait while they made the pizza. The guy swinging the dough around started singing, and suffice it to say, he was not on the same level as Ronnie James Dio. It was almost amusing, but he was clearly enjoying himself immensely.I texted some friends, knowing they’d also enjoy the situation I was in. They loved the whole karaoke-and-pizza vibe.It was obviously a greatest hits or playlist because the next song was “Rainbow in the Dark” and he continued to add his vocal stylings to the recording.When my pizza was ready, I told the guy at the counter that I was really enjoying the Dio and he gave me a completely blank stare. Like, he either didn’t hear me or his opinion of the music choice/singing was less than enthusiastic.I wanted to say to him, “Do your demons, do they ever let you go? When you’ve tried, do they hide, deep inside. Is it someone that you know?”Somehow, I don’t think he would have appreciated it.
February 14, 2026 8:07 pm
“I think that Valentine's Day is only as good as you want it to be. You know, I don't think it should be anything fancy, nothing crazy. As long as you're spending time with that person that's special, I think that's a great Valentine's Day.” — Prince Royce
February 13, 2026 9:25 pm
Sometimes I wish I gave a shit about horror movies and the like, but I don’t. Friday the 13th was the first horror movie I saw. It might have also been the first sex scene I saw. First boobs were probably Airplane! or Caddyshack. I guess there’s a sex or sexy scene in Caddyshack, too.
February 12, 2026 10:06 pm
I read a long investigative piece into the allegations against Neil Gaiman, and I read the coverage of his publisher moving forward with his new book anyway. I don’t know what happened in those rooms, and I’m not here to adjudicate guilt or innocence. However, I will say the piece raised serious questions about reporting standards, corroboration, and the speed at which accusations become convictions in public discourse. Just to be clear, no criminal charges have been filed, and all the civil lawsuits have been dismissed.Is Neil Gaiman a scumbag? I have no idea. Probably? I don’t really know. And neither do you.
February 11, 2026 8:31 am
Brad Underwood is tired of the shitty officiating in the Big Ten Conference. Start at 13:35 if you don’t want to watch the whole thing.The fix for this is so easy.The Big Ten hires the highest-rated referees in all of college basketball and gives them a real salary, real accountability, and real opportunity. You set up a real league office, just like the NBA, with a staff of around 50 referees (maybe more, I didn’t do the math to see if that’s off) for the regular season and the B10 Tournament. The office then manages their training, evaluation, and performance reviews. The league covers travel and hotels and pays a real living wage for a high-stress job. NBA refs on the low end make $150K. I’d probably start at $50-60K, with the opportunity to earn more based on performance.This should be Tony Petitti's top priority. It isn’t, but it should be.
February 10, 2026 7:39 am
Lindsey Vonn crashed during a training run at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She was coming back after retirement, skiing against people half her age, and she crashed hard enough that her Olympic dreams were dashed. Her response was to keep dreaming.
“…we take risks in life. We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall. Sometimes our hearts are broken. Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is also the beauty of life; we can try.“I tried. I dreamt. I jumped.“I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.”
Just wow.
February 9, 2026 8:15 am
The Super Bowl halftime show featured Bad Bunny with special guests Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. It was great. I loved the dancing, the (real) wedding, and the message. I didn’t know the songs or what he was singing, but the storytelling was clear. He’s not my music, but I’m an old fart. I think the last Super Bowl halftime performance I even think about, years later, was Prince in the rain. Right now, Bad Bunny is one of the biggest musical stars on the planet.There’s always been alternative halftime shows. This year, the one getting all the attention featured Kid Rock, an artist who has not had a meaningful hit since 2008’s “All Summer Long,” which, incidentally, is just a riff on better songs (Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”). I don’t mean to call Kid Rock irrelevant, but he is. The Puppy Bowl probably got better or about the same numbers as the show featuring Kid Rock and a bunch of musicians you’ve never heard of before.Bad Bunny performed to 120 million people in a language that half the country doesn’t speak fluently, and it worked because the performance was excellent and the moment was genuine. That’s it. The NFL didn’t book him to make a political statement. They booked him because he is an international superstar, and the NFL is trying to expand to other non-American markets. Kid Rock and the people putting on this show are yelling at a cultural shift they don’t like and can’t stop. Too bad. So sad.
February 8, 2026 8:46 pm
As soon as Seattle finally scored their first TD after four field goals, the game was over. New England could not find any rhythm and the Seahawks took it to them defensively.It wasn’t much of a game, and at one point, Maria asked if I was enjoying myself. I was mostly meh.I didn’t even think there was a clear commercial winner.
February 7, 2026 7:21 am
“When you write a blog post, you’re creating a standalone document with a permanent URL. It exists at a specific address on the web, and that address doesn’t change based on who’s looking at it, when they’re looking at it, or what algorithm has decided they should see next. The post is there, stable, waiting for whoever wants to find it.” — Joan Westenberg
February 6, 2026 11:56am
James Clear --
Use the moments of high motivation to make it easier when you have low motivation.+ When you feel like you should exercise, set out your gym clothes and water bottle so it's easier to do the next workout.
+ When you feel grateful, buy some Thank You cards so it's easier to write the next Thank You note.
+ When you feel the urge to eat healthy, pick a recipe now so you don't have to decide what to make for the next meal.Use the occasional burst of motivation to make the next habit easier.
February 5, 2026 3:07pm
Ayo Dosunmu has been traded to the Timberwolves.I haven’t been following too closely, but I guess he’s having a pretty good year. The Bulls are in full rebuild mode and are trading all kinds of players. Ayo was posting 15 points, three rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in a reserve role for the Bulls.He’ll join Terrance Shannon Jr. on the T-wolves. Cool.It just means I won’t randomly watch a Bulls game on TV anymore.
February 4, 2026 8:13am
My wife has chided me for continually listening to podcasts focused on Illinois sports or politics. Guilty as charged.To her point, I finally started Remarkably Bright Creatures on audiobook. My wife often finds new books via Instagram Reels. This particular title was among the recommendations and was specifically praised for its audiobook version. She loved the book and could not wait for me to read it so we could talk about it.I currently have about six hours remaining. So far, it is delightful. I’m enjoying the narration quite a bit. Michael Urie is a standout here.I have no idea where the story is headed, but I can’t wait to learn more.
February 3, 2026 8:16am
With Spring Training on the horizon, Chaim Bloom and the St. Louis Cardinals finally moved Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a three-way trade that yielded some prospects and cleared the way for Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker to prove their worth in 2026, and cleared a spot for J.J. Wetherholt to make the show as well.The Cardinals traded Donovan and received a bundle of five assets for their rebuild: 3 prospects drafted in the 1st-2nd rounds, plus two draft picks that give St. Louis 6 of the first 86 selections in the 2026 MLB Draft. The prospects are Jurrangelo Cijntje, a hard-throwing pitcher who needs work in the minors and to stop with the whole switch-pitcher thing, and outfielders Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter, who, as I understand it, are still learning how to hit professional pitching.I guess that’s a good return for two years of Donovan, who was an All-Star, but not really a star. I’m also guessing this completes the offseason moves with Donovan, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Willson Contreras all traded.Bloom has lessened the payroll and broken up the infield logjam.The only players on the Cardinals now making $5 million plus in 2026 are pitcher Dustin May ($12 million) and outfielder Lars Nootbaar ($5.35 million). May is on a one-year deal with a mutual option, while Nootbaar has two years of team control. Both are trade candidates if they’re playing well in July and the Cardinals are out of the playoff picture (and they will be, and they will be traded, zero doubt).The tank-and-rebuild process grinds on as the Cardinals continue to look toward 2028, because it ain’t happening this year or even the following year. Plus, the strike is coming...
February 2, 2026 7:17am
Illinois earned another massive road victory over a Top 5 team on Sunday. The Fighting Illini overran Nebraska 78-69 and flexed their way to another notch on the win streak that currently sits at 11.I think this Illinois team might be special. They move the ball. Everyone can shoot well from the perimeter. And their defensive chemistry has improved over this win streak. Such a fun team to watch and root for this season.It was not too long ago that a very good Illinois team hit a wall in March. This group looks capable of powering through. It all depends on the matchups, but as a 2 seed or even a 1 seed, this squad might make a Final Four.Wouldn’t that be something?On a related note, I’m loving the fact that Illinois basically is running with either the script Illinois jerseys in white, orange and blue or the Fighting Illini white, orange and blue. I know the Nike graphics are still on tap, but they don’t pop like the script and ’89 team style.
February 1, 2026 10:11pm
“…since the baseline is now good enough, the app experience and how LLMs are woven into a people’s daily lives and workflows will be the differentiators going forward.” — Frederico Viticci on AI results
January 31, 2026 7:23am
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” – John Steinbeck
January 30, 2026 6:19am
Illinois basically stiff armed Washington last night to get their tenth win in a row. Sunday at Nebraska will be the next real test. They went undefeated in January. If they beat Nebraska, Michigan State, and Michigan and take care of business the rest of the way, they are getting a 1 seed and winning the Big Ten.I have high hopes.
January 29, 2026 6:13pm
Writer-director Rian Johnson has posted many of his scripts on his website. It is a treasure trove for an aspiring writer. You’ll want to download the Benoit Blanc material, but I recommend starting with the Brick screenplay/novella combo PDF. It’s beautiful.
January 28, 2026 7:30pm
January 27, 2026 4:58pm
“I think it is more difficult these days to define what makes a good citizen than it has ever been before. Certainly all any of us can do is follow our own conscience and retain faith in our democracy. Sometimes it is the very people who cry out the loudest in favor of getting back to what they call “American Virtues” who lack this faith in our country. I believe that our greatest strength lies always in the protection of our smallest minorities.” – Charles Schulz, Letter to a 10-year-old fan, 9th November 1970
January 26, 2026 7:48am
Well, that was a hellava Saturday. I’m still a little stunned.Keaton Wagler put together one of the greatest scoring performances in college basketball history:• It was the most points scored in a road win over a top-10 opponent in AP poll history.
+ His 46 points were the most against a top-10 team since Malik Monk scored 47 against #7 North Carolina on Dec. 17, 2016.
+ Wagler's 46 points were the most against a top-5 team on the road since Buddy Hield dropped 46 points for Oklahoma in a loss at #1 Kansas on Jan. 4, 2016.
• Set the Illinois freshman single-game scoring record.
+ Broke the previous record of 35 points set by Giorgi Bezhanishvili in OT vs. Rutgers on Feb. 5, 2019.
+ Scored the most points by any freshman in a Big Ten game since at least 2010-11.
• Tied the second-most points in the 121-year history of Illini Basketball:
+ 53 – Dave Downey at Indiana, Feb. 16, 1963 + T2. 46 – Keaton Wagler at #4 Purdue, Jan. 24, 2026 + T2. 46 – Andy Kaufmann in 2OT vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Dec. 3, 1990
• Set the Mackey Arena scoring record for a visiting player.
+ Broke the previous record of 39 by Willie Humes of Idaho State on Dec. 11, 1969 and equaled by Sam Vincent of Michigan State on Jan. 10, 1985.
• Scored the most points by an Illini in a road game vs. a top-5 team since at least 2010-11.
+ Became the first Illinois player to score 40+ against a top-5 opponent since Brandon Paul's 43 points vs. #5 Ohio State on Jan. 10, 2012.
• Posted the first 40-point game by an Illini since Terrence Shannon Jr.'s 40-point outing in the Big Ten Tournament vs. Nebraska on March 16, 2024.
• Set the Illinois school record with nine 3-pointers.
+ Broke the previous record of eight treys, which was achieved six times, most recently by Terrence Shannon Jr. vs. UCLA on Nov. 18, 2022. + His 81.8% 3-point field goal percentage ranks as the eighth-best mark by a freshman in program history.
• His 13 field goals are tied for the second-most by a freshman in program history.
+ 1. 14 – Giorgi Bezhanishvili in OT vs. Rutgers, Feb. 9, 2019 + T2. 13 – Keaton Wagler at #4 Purdue, Jan. 24, 2026 + T2. 13 – Deon Thomas in 2OT vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Dec. 3, 1990
• His 11 free throws are tied for the fifth-most by a freshman in program history.
• Scored in double figures for the 12th consecutive game and for the 17th time overall this season.
+ Averaging 20.1 ppg during that stretch.
• Hit at least one 3-pointer in 19 of the first 20 games of his collegiate career, the most games with a triple on the team this season.
• Led the Illini in scoring for the team-leading seventh time this season.
• Scored the Illini's first 14 points of the night and 24 of the Illini's 39 first-half points.
+ Broke his career-high in scoring with nine seconds remaining in the first half.
January 25, 2026 9:38am
“That's him. He just plays. He just hoops. There's nothing that fazes him. He just wants to make the right basketball play. Tonight it happened to be scoring it. It's just his personality. He's so stoic. He's very non-emotional. He's excited, yes. His teammates were thrilled. That's the beauty of Keaton. The most impressive thing is he takes the emotion out of it. In a venue with 15,000 people all against him and he just plays. He took what the game gave him.” -- Illinois head coach Brad Underwood on Keaton Wagler's 46-point performance against Purdue
January 24, 2026 11:58am
“I have one piece of advice: if you read a book you love, tell other people about it. Tell them face-to-face. In your groupchat. On social media. Even on Goodreads. Every book is a lottery ticket, but the bezzlers are buying their tickets by the case: every time you tell someone about a book you loved (and even better, why you loved it), you buy a writer another ticket.” — Corey Doctorow
January 23, 2026 8:28am
I watched The Rip last night and thought it was an entertaining couple of hours.It’s a good heist movie. I love a good heist movie. It's not exceptional, but it's entertaining as hell and, frankly, rips. You could not ask for a better cast for a bottled up, tense whodunnit of an action movie. You couldn't. It's absurd, and that's not even factoring in Damon and Affleck — Yeun, Taylor, Sandino Moreno, Chandler. C'mon.It's not Heat good because nothing can ever touch that movie, but it's not even trying to do anything close to Heat.I didn't see many of the twists coming; maybe they were obvious, but not to me, or maybe I was too caught up in the action, the tension, and the pace to care. I did catch the various numbers given to the team about how much money they might actually find, and I knew that would come back into the story. The phone books were a good touch.
January 22, 2026 7:16am
Andrej Stojakovic, in his previous stops, was the primary everything. At Illinois, he doesn’t have to do that. However, with Kylan Boswell out with a broken hand, he will have to step up and carry the load. The good thing is this Illinois team can score. A lot.They have the best offense in all of college basketball, but the most encouraging thing about them over the last month has been the improvements they've made on defense since the Nebraska game. That's why they've won eight in a row, and that's why I’m getting excited. That's why I want to believe. This team might be special.It’s the next ten games that are the true gauntlet. In those games, we will learn if this team is special or not quite. It culminates in a February 27 Friday night home game against Michigan. In a month, we will know just how special this team will be. I cannot wait to find out.
January 21, 2026 8:12pm
Leo Babauta --
For a lot of my life, I had a very strong attachment to being right. I didn’t realize it, but it aggravated friends and family. I couldn’t see it, because I was so focused on being right.Have you noticed this need to be right in yourself? If so, you might reflect on what it feels like when you notice it in others.Along the same lines, I often feel the need to act like I know what I’m doing or what I’m talking about. This gets in the way of learning from other people, or letting myself be a beginner who doesn’t know what I’m doing. It also … tends to be aggravating to people around me!Do you notice your need to look like you know what you’re doing or what you’re talking about?I don’t have the answers to these things … but I find myself practicing letting go. The need to be right or know things feels like tightness in my body. Letting go feels like relaxing that and not needing to appear any way to anyone.What I’m left with is a more vulnerable place of not knowing. I don’t know if I’m right, I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know much at all. But I’m open.Let me admit I’m not always in this place of not knowing. I still have my attachments. That said, I find it much more interesting to be in the not knowing.Would you be willing to be in that too?
I like this very much and need to incorporate it into my life.
January 20, 2026 12:18pm
There is a cannabis dispensary opening soon in my neighborhood and they recently installed the sign for the business. The name… Wait for it…Really DopeTickles me to no end every time I pass by.
Perfection.
January 19, 2026 12:18pm
This person relates the most unhinged bus story I’ve ever read. It starts with, “I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place.” It just gets crazier from there.
January 18, 2026 12:35pm
Seth Godin --
What do you do regularly?Where do you show up, what do you publish? Who do you ask, and what do you answer to? What gets better because you persist?Are there systems you support or work to change?What do you do when you don’t feel like it? Especially then.The ocean is made of drops. And our practice turns those drops into something of significance.It’s a practice if we show up even if it’s not working (yet). And it’s a practice if we understand how to make it better.Our actions become our habits, and our habits attract others. That becomes our community, and our community builds systems. Those systems feel awkward until they become normal, and then, once normal, they become the status quo.Bolts of lightning rarely change the world, but erosion does. Streams turn into rivers, and rivers persist.
January 17, 2026 7:13am
I finished Wake Up Dead Man, the third movie in this series, last night. It was delightful. Smart. The cast was great. The mystery was sophisticated.I hope Rian Johnson makes 20 more of these.
January 16, 2026 10:25pm
“I am so bored by A.I. One of the things I love about the theater is: A.I. can’t do it. I couldn’t be less interested in computers and fake things. I like people. I like the way they smell, I like the way they talk, and I like the way they think. I think of A.I. as a plagiarizing mechanism. That’s all it is. And I know it’s going to change the world, it’s screwing everybody up, and I’m not in denial about any of that. But I’m in open rebellion.” — Ethan Hawke
January 15, 2026 1:38pm
JD Vance is a piece of s—t --Drew Magary is on fire.
“What does he actually stand for, besides anything that Trump or his sugar daddies in the tech sector tell him to say? And how exactly did Americans benefit from the unprovoked killing of a woman literally named Good? Do you feel any safer thanks to Ross’ open cowardice? Do you feel grateful that he left Good’s children devastated, forever? Are your groceries suddenly cheaper now thanks to Ross’ heroic act of randomly shooting a woman? Did you study all of the camera angles like an NFL ref and decide that actually, Good completed the process of attempted murder? No, no, no, no, no, and no. Vance can lie, slander and spin this killing all he likes, but, thanks to the raw footage, none of it will mask the giant, neon sign blinking over his head that says THIS MAN IS AN AMORAL SACK OF S—T. A fascist. A liar. A champion of genocide.”
January 14, 2026 11:58am
Here’s some advice: Live your life in such a way that when you die, your obituaries don’t open with how you were such a massive racist asshole.
January 13, 2026 9:27pm
Illinois, Daktronics Install Largest Video Display in College Football --
“The new south end zone display will measure approximately 69 feet high by 250 feet wide and will feature a 10-millimeter pixel spacing for high-resolution imagery and improved contrast. The size of the display will allow for larger-than-life content, including live video, instant replays, graphics, animations, game statistics and sponsorship messages.”
I can’t wait to see this thing in action.
January 12, 2026 5:16pm
The Madness of Living in 2026 --Will Leitch has had a hard week. Haven’t we all?
“I have regularly told myself, truly believed even, that this ghastly period will eventually end, that we will get through it, that we will someday tell stories of how we lived through it. I didn’t know how it would end. I just believed it would. May we be so lucky. May we make it long enough to find out.”
January 11, 2026 9:03pm
Seth Godin --
The simple rule: Nine shortcuts take longer and are less productive than simply doing the work the right way the first time.When we look for one-quick-tip and the lazy hack, we’re wasting time we could have spent on the direct path instead.When a shortcut becomes the best way to do something, it ceases to be a shortcut. It’s simply the direct path. It’s easy to find satisfaction in finding the unexplored shortcut that gives us a temporary advantage. However, it won’t last long, and the time spent looking for it is a distraction.Sit down and type. Stand up and lead. Simply begin.
January 10, 2026 7:56pm
It was a good B10 road win the other night, but what I noticed is that Illinois athletics is having fun right now. Robert Rosenthal sees it too:
Think back to the water guns in the locker room in Boston after beating Iowa State in the Sweet 16. Think about the chair thing during the tournament with the players pushing in their chairs at press conferences. Think about Luke Altmyer and his shirts praising his offensive linemen. Then think of the football team having a snowball fight on top of the giant snow pile after beating Northwestern.Think of Brad Underwood purchasing the orange sweatsuit and recreating the AI photo. Think of Tomi smashing the guitar after beating Tennessee the other night.Think about Krush showing up tonight and drowning out the Ohio State postgame tradition of signing "Carmen Ohio" by signing Alma Mater at the same time. And think about these guys going to this length to support the team from behind the bench [referencing the above picture].Think about all of the Illini fans in Orlando making the T-Bar gesture towards the South Carolina fans. Think about the spring practice where the moms participated, not the players. Think about the Illini fan invasions at Duke in September and in Nashville just the other night.Could this be any more fun right now?
Winning cures all, of course.
January 9, 2026 6:50am
This morning’s moment in Waking Up was wonderfully simple.You have one job, and it consists of two parts. Be a good person, and pay attention.Two things.
January 8, 2026 7:50pm
It was murder. Dave Pell of Nextdraft made this Atlantic piece a gift article and it should be read by everyone. Others should listen to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's message: “Get the f-ck out of Minneapolis. It was murder. The New York Times has a frame-by-frame analysis, from three angles, of the murder. She was a poet. It was murder.
January 7, 2026 6:39am
Scott Galloway answered my question on his video.It starts at 11:56. Pretty cool.
January 6, 2026 8:34am
Last night, Montana State won the FCS national championship in overtime on an extra point. Insane game. Being an Illinois State fan for the duration of the game was utterly exhausting.So much happened at the end, I’m probably forgetting something:• Illinois State came back to tie the game from down 14
• Illinois State QB wanted to go for it on 4th and 1, but the coach elected to kick the FG
• Illinois State had that go-ahead FG blocked
• Montana State QB took a sack with 1 TO left in FG range to win it
• Montana State’s center snapped the ball before the QB was ready forcing them to punt on 4th and 28 (!!)
• Illinois State in OT promptly went down and scored, but got the extra point blocked
• Illinois State had an INT off the fingertips that would have won the game
• Montana State was down to 4th and 11
• Illinois State brought the house instead of playing prevent and Montana State had a wideout open in the endzone to tie it
• Montana State kicked the extra point to win itIllinois State went 8-4 in regulation, became the first team to win four road playoff games, a 14-point comeback late vs. No. NDSU and again vs. No. 2 Montana State. They had criss-crossed the country to get to the championship.They were one defensive stop away from winning it all. Heartbreaking.
January 5, 2026 7:39am
“You just gotta keep making s--t up, scribbling--like sitting down and drawing with my kids. It reminds me to do that in my songs. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad. I think it looks great. Let's hang it on the refrigerator.” — Jeff Tweedy
January 4, 2026 7:32am
This is the start of another year in our lives, and I hope to improve upon it, hold steady, and subtly refresh it. I’m jumping in with my head up and keeping a firm eye on the good stuff that’s in my life.
January 3, 2026 9:01am
John Scalzi --
I don’t have a whole lot to say about what’s going on in Venezuela at the moment because like most people, I’m still finding out about it. The one thing I will say, and this rather emphatically should not be construed as a mitigation or an exculpation, is that the folks suggesting this is a line that the US has never crossed before should probably reacquaint themselves with the U.S.’ history in South and Central America. We have done this before, both overtly and covertly, lots of times.“But this is different!” Sure, because every one of these times is different in the details, and likely to be different in its consequence. But in principle it’s much the same, going back to the Monroe Doctrine. The US believes this half of the globe is its own. Again, this is not mitigation, or exculpation, or the suggestion that individually or as a cohort, we throw up our hands and just accept it. It’s just a reminder that we’ve been here before, not all that long ago, and not all that long ago before that.
Sigh. This feels like we’re the bully beating up on a kid in the cafeteria for his lunch money.
January 2, 2026 11:30am
First selfie of the year.
January 1, 2026 6:37am
“Well, we have a whole new year ahead of us. And wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all be a little more gentle with each other, a little more loving, and have a little more empathy, and maybe, next year at this time we'd like each other a little more.” — Judy Garland
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Byline
A collection of articles I've written for publication.
Fighting Illini
From 2018 to 2023, I wrote freelance for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Illinois. All of my writing appeared on fightingillini.com.Over the years, I interviewed coaches, student-athletes, Illinois Athletics staff, and donors, telling their stories.
April 16, 2018 - ‘Illinois Basketball Never Stops’ – New faces, new attitudes
April 18, 2018 - 'It’s a brotherhood' - Football Letterwinners Reconnect
April 19, 2018 - Whitman’s Vision Driving Illinois Athletics
May 24, 2018 - ‘A Promise Kept’ – Former Illini Brandon Lloyd Now an Illini Graduate
June 6, 2018 - United Center Tradition to Continue, with a Twist
June 7, 2018 - ‘Awestruck by our Potential’ - Whitman not taking foot off pedal
June 11, 2018 - 'Showing Progress, Commitment' – Ubben Renovation Plan Unveiled
July 3, 2018 - ‘I'm a product of a great institution’ - Levenick credits U of I
July 9, 2018 - 'The Experience Changes Lives' – Buckley Makes Gift of Education
July 23, 2018 - ‘It’s a Family Reunion’ - Rose Bowl team Honors 10 Year Anniversary
August 30, 2018 - 'The opportunity to commemorate their passion'
September 30, 2018 - 'View from the top is promising' - Delany All-In on Illinois' bright future
October 3, 2018 - 'Where everyone feels accepted' - For Illini Athletics, Inclusion Means More
November 4, 2018 - 'I’d answer the call again' - Be The Match Saves Lives
November 15, 2018 - Susie Atkins Paves the Way for New Baseball Facility
December 12, 2018 - ‘There’s no greater feeling’ Illini Basketball Alums Return to Campus
December 18, 2018 - Belief in Illini Program Helps Raise $47 Million in 12 Months
January 19, 2019 - 'A Smile You Don’t Forget' – Tiffany Hand brings passionate spirit to Illini Athletics
February 17, 2019 - Andres Feliz Scoring Life Opportunities
July 26, 2019 - “He makes people want to be better” -- Illinois Athletics brings student and teacher together
August 1, 2019 - ‘A gift of love’ – Alum Chuck Vermillion honors Illinois’ life impact
August 5, 2019 - ‘Whatever you want in life’ – Corey Liuget leaves mark at Illinois
October 4, 2019 - “The Original Impact Transfer” -- Wayne Paulson Honors Illini Career with Smith Center Gift
October 6, 2019 - Wright Family Legacy Lives on in the Smith Center
October 18, 2019 - 'I’m Coming Home' - Tony Khan Brings New Wrestling League Home
October 29, 2019 - Illini Swimmer Hein Uses ROTC to Boost Leadership
November 17, 2019 - Aussie Blake Hayes Game Changer for Illini
November 19, 2019 - Passaneau Family Gift for Ubben Renovation Honors Father’s Passion
February 21, 2020 - Cancer Center at Illinois Pushing Innovation to Make a Difference
April 8, 2020 - Betty Mood Smith, Smith Center Namesake Passes Away At 90
May 3, 2020 - Illini Equipment Putting Skills to Work for Local COVID Fight
May 7, 2020 - Shelter-in-Place Order Gives Tinervin Family Foundation Added Purpose
May 9, 2020 - Family Honors Lee Eilbracht with Baseball Scholarship
May 10, 2020 - A Mom to No. 11 … A Mom to All
June 3, 2020 - ‘She’ll Always be Remembered’ – Alice Martin’s Spirit Continues Through Illinois Softball
June 10, 2020 - Hall of Famer Gia Lewis-Smallwood Believes Sports Can Lead Fight vs. Racism
September 25, 2020 - Basketball an Outlet for Antigua to Share Hispanic Roots
October 12, 2020 - Aaliyah Nye Finds Family with Basketball and Native American Tribe
November 6, 2020 - The Gang of Nine Loyal to the Orange and Blue
November 20, 2020 - Visions of Grandeur on the Horizon for Atkins Golf Club
December 3, 2020 - ‘The traditions just change’ - How one family tailgate was kept alive
January 1, 2021 - Illini New Year’s Resolution: Build Strength in Numbers
February 14, 2021 - Howard Milton: Breaking Barriers through the Art of Giving
February 17, 2021 - Josh Whitman: Five Impactful Years And Many More to Come
April 22, 2021 - On the Move with Fred Wakefield
June 18, 2021 - Illini of the Roundtable: Whitman Sets Stage with a State of the Department
July 30, 2021 - The Race to $1 Million in 48 Hours; Illini Fundraising hits Milestone
September 19, 2021 - Steinberg Receives Varsity I Achievement Award
November 11, 2021 - It’s all “Homegrown” for new Atkins Golf Restaurateurs Abbie and Ryan
November 18, 2021 - Former Illini Gymnast Develops COVID-19 Breath Test
July 1, 2022 - Allen and Nancy Carter Making Impact for Illinois, City of Urbana
July 10, 2022 - “We’re the Bulldozers”: Removing barriers for Illini success
July 21, 2022 - NIL, the NCAA, and the New Reality of College Athletics
August 29, 2022 - Illini Athletics Finds Fundraising Success in Transparent Approach
October 10, 2022 - The Evolution of Fundraising: An Illini Success Story
November 4, 2022 - Nadalie Walsh Pens Book to Connect the Heart in Coaching
June 22, 2023 - The State of Illini FamILLy is Strong
Transmitter Magazine
From 2020 to 2024, Transmitter Magazine was the premier publication of the radio control lifestyle. Horizon Hobby produced thirteen issues highlighting the people and products in the radio control hobby.For the entire run, I was the Managing Editor writing feature stories, soliciting stories from freelancers, editing, and adding other writing as needed for each issue.
Personal Stories
- The Purdy RC Club
- Living the Dream at BBMods Raceway
- The Miracle of Flight
- A Different Kind of Trail
- Living Between the Seconds
- Dakotah Phend: Prodigy to "Phenom" to Professional
- Sitting in a Lawn Chair in the Middle of the Air
- Winning Time
- A Mile Every Two Seconds
- From RC Pan Cars to NASCAR
- From IMAC Champ to RC Nation
- How to Do What You Love and Still Love What You Do
- A Lasting Legacy in Radio Control
- RJ Gritter: RC Legend Turned Airshow Pilot
Behind the Innovation
- Next Generation Innovation
- All Hail the King
- Behind the Innovation: The Versatile Timber
- Next Level Connectivity
- Behind the Innovation: Mike Patey's DRACO
- Behind the Innovation: 22S Drag Car
- Behind the Innovation: The Losi LMT 4WD Solid Axle Monster Truck
Radio Control Events
- "It's All About You"
- Mudslides and Mayhem
- Joe Nall 2023
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Writing
The latest essays from Saturday Night Five
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Bookshelf
Books I've read, grouped by year.
2026
2025
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Saturday Night Five
My free weekly newsletter which features an original essay and four other things on my mind.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Slashes
Looking for something? Let me direct you to the proper page.
Inspired by Robb Knight, this is my Slashes page. A slashes page is an index of all my “slash pages.” Slash pages are common pages you can add to a website, usually with a standard, root-level slug like /now or /about.Special thanks to Michael Sass for coining the phrase and Manu Moreale for showing it to me for the first time.
#20 Questions
My personal questionaire designed for you to learn a bit more about me.
#About
About Sean McDevitt and this site.
#Bookshelf
Books I've read, grouped by year.
#Byline
A collection of articles I've written for publication.
#Colophon
How this site is designed and built.
#Now
What I'm doing now.
#Saturday Night Five
My free weekly newsletter which features an original essay and four other things on my mind.
#Thinking
Short thoughts and comments, mostly about things I've read.
#Writing
The latest essays from Saturday Night Five
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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Testing
Thinking Time
Being bored is the newest life hack.
January 17, 2026
About
About Sean McDevitt and this site.
Hello! I’m Sean. My professional mission is to provide powerful copy that exceeds expectations. I’m a cross-functional leader, writer, and creative director with a track record of leading creative teams, shaping effective marketing and advertising campaigns, and producing special events.As the lead senior copywriter at Horizon Hobby, my goal is to contribute strong messaging through the power of design and storytelling.
I grew up in a house filled with comic books and science fiction novels, so that's why I have an uncommon knowledge of Star Trek and Star Wars, but I vehemently deny knowing how warp drive works or why lightsabers only go so high.I root for University of Illinois Athletics and the St.Louis Cardinals. I do not have an NFL or NBA team.I’m originally from downstate Illinois, and live with my wife and kids in the Champaign-Urbana area. I studied creative writing at Illinois College and speech communications at Eastern Illinois University.My personal projects include my newsletter Saturday Night Five, the children’s book, Goodnight Princess, and the noir-tinged fumetti, The Beautiful Kill.Through my writing, I share personal stories and explore ideas about being a parent, a husband, a fan, and other things that interest me.My latest book, Captured Ghosts, is coming soon.
Contact me
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have something to share, would like to connect, or have any other reason we should talk.How to contact me:- For anything personal, please email me
- If it’s work-related, use LinkedIn
- I do not use social media. Although I have accounts on these various platforms, I do not actively post on them anymore. They are also mostly locked down. Unless you are a personal friend or family member, feel free to assume I won’t see your message on social media.If you’d like to show your appreciation, you may buy me coffee. If you don’t know what to gift me for my birthday, try my Amazon wishlist.
Privacy and analytics
- This site does not use any third-party tracking scripts.
- This site does not collect any data.
Design and production
If you’re curious about how this site is designed or built, check out the colophon.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Standard Disclaimer
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© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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Evergreen
How this site is designed and built.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Everyday Carry
A dynamic list of the things I carry every day.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
20 Questions
My personal questionaire designed for you to learn a bit more about me.
Inspired by the Proust Questionnaire and the Colbert Questionert, this is my list of 20 questions to have a little fun with and learn a little bit about myself.Feel free to use it on your site. However, I would ask that you link back here if you do use it for your own personal site.
1. What is your favorite word?
I like "Petrichor" quite a bit. It's also my favorite smell. "Quadrotriticale" is also a fun word. However, I think I have to say, "Yes" is my favorite word.
2. What is your least favorite word?
I think the word I hate the most is "No."
3. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Perfect happiness is a moment of stillness where I'm fully present. There's no weight of the past or worry about the future. Just a quiet sense that right now, this is enough.It feels like about 5:30 in the morning, with a distant thunderstorm on the horizon. It's crisp, but not cold outside, and the coffee is the right temperature.
4. What is your idea of absolute misery?
Feeling lost in regret about the past or dread about the future. A cacophony of noise, external or internal.
5. What was your first job ever?
Babysitting my brother.
6. What was your worst job ever?
The summer before college, I worked for the park district. We built a sidewalk, planted a ton of evergreen trees, and built a playset. It was basically digging a lot of holes in the sun.
7. What was your best job ever?
Occasionally, on Saturday, Dad would ask me to work with him at the Pharmacy as a tech. We'd have a morning rush of like five customers and then I'd run to get lunch, and we'd spend the rest of the afternoon talking baseball, reading the newspaper, and basically just hang out. Those were great days.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to try?
I think I would have made a pretty good college professor. I was able to do some adjunct work at the community college level, but I never fully tried to become a full-time professor.
9. What is the trait you hate most in yourself?
I procrastinate too much.
10. What is the trait you hate most in others?
Rudeness. A couple of examples that bother me: Looking at your phone while someone is talking to you, talking loudly on the phone in quiet spaces, and bringing your dog into a restaurant or store when it is obviously not a service dog.
11. What’s a piece of advice you’d give to yourself at 23?
Say yes to more things that scare you a little and say no to more things that drain you completely.
12. What is your greatest extravagance?
I subscribe to nearly all of the streaming entertainment services.
13. What’s one thing you own that you really should throw out?
I just recently got rid of a ratty, old, sweatstained baseball hat that I did not want to throw out. I own a snowblower that I've never used.
14. You have dinner reservations for four, excluding family and close friends, who are the three people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?
Barack Obama, Robin Williams, and Dave Filoni.
15. What is your baseball walk-up song?
For a long time, I always answered this with "Three-Lock Box" by Sammy Hagar. Now, I kinda like "Bleed It Out" by Linkin Park or "Detroit Rock City" by KISS.
16. Have you ever asked someone for an autograph?
Lots of people. I got Larry Bird's autograph when he came to a basketball camp I was at while he was playing for Indiana State. Gene Simmons signed my copy of Mike Grell's Sable novel, which is a weird combination. I've got a bootlegged "Six Million Dollar Man" screenplay signed by Kevin Smith. My favorite one is a comic book artist, George Perez, who drew a brooding Batman and signed it.
17. You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it?
John Cage’s 4′33″. We are so lucky to live in this day and age, where we can just take out our phones and listen to beautiful compositions like this for free.
18. Coffee or Tea?
I drink coffee a lot more than I drink tea, but I love them both.
19. What is something you’re really excited about right now?
Finally completing Captured Ghosts.
20. Describe the rest of your life in five words:
Still figuring it all out.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Not
A list of things this site is absolutely not.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Nope
A list of things I don’t want to do, in no particular order.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Top 4
My definitive ranked list of my top 3 favorites and an honorable mention.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Uses
My inventory of the gear, software, and other stuff about my office/working setup.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Verify
Do you have the right Sean McDevitt? This is the record of my online identity.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Why
How this site is designed and built.
Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here. Intro information goes here.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Colophon
How this site is designed and built.
Programming and production
This site is built using Carrd. I love Carrd, but I wish there was a way to do a full blog on it that isn’t ridiculously expensive.
Design
The current design is a blend of ideas from my own older sites, Maggie Appleton, Matt Widmann, Andy Matuschak, Michael Sass and a lot from Sean Voisen.
Typography
Body copy for all long-form content is set in Source Serif 4. Headlines and user interface elements are set in Outfit.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."
Now
What I'm doing now.
Inspired by Derek Sivers, this note is a reminder to help focus and allocate the right amount of time and energy.This note is updated irregularly.
Focus on being a thoughtful husband and father
This one's always a work in progress, honestly. Right now, I'm trying to be more present. That means paying closer attention to what's going on in the house. Always looking to see what the next right thing is to do.It's less dramatic than it sounds and more important than I want to admit.
Writing and working on this site
I'm getting back into a rhythm. The goal is simple: write more, publish more, overthink less. I've got things rattling around in my head that deserve to land somewhere, and you'll be able to find them here.I'm also leaning into the digital garden idea and will post more to the Notes section when I have time.
Reading more, scrolling less
I keep catching myself reaching for my phone when I could be reaching for a book. So I'm working on that trade-off and I think I have a compromise in adding books to read on my phone and subtracting social media from it.Also, there's a stack on my bookshelf that's been giving me the look, and I'm finally doing something about it.More pages turned, fewer doomscrolls.
Organize my digital media
Years of photos, videos, MP3s, PDFs, ePubs, and other files scattered across hard drives and folders with names like "FINALv3REAL" deserve better.I'm slowly making sense of it all by properly archiving, labeling them accurately, and building a system I'll actually stick to. I'm incredibly fascinated by the Johnny Decimal system, but I'm nowhere near that level of complexity/simplicity yet.Overall, it's the kind of project that's deeply unglamorous and weirdly satisfying.
Finish Collected Ghosts
My collection of short stories and essays has been living in draft purgatory long enough. Captured Ghosts is close... closer than it's ever been to a completed product and I'm pushing it across the finish line.It's the project I'm most excited about and the one I've been most afraid to finish.That's usually a sign it matters.
© 2001-2026 Sean McDevitt | All content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Standard Disclaimer | "No matter where you go... there you are."