Eric Wagoner
@kestrelsnest.social
Amateur costumer and tabletop enthusiast. Developer at Infinity Interactive. Creator of Locallygrown.net. Former astrophysicist. Nerdy father to nerdy offspring. he/him ericwagoner.com has links to all my many online places and things.
Spent the whole day at a giant high school swim meet, but still managed to get my weeknotes done.
It'll be more challenging next Saturday, when at any given time I'll probably be holding three tiki drinks at Inuhele.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/post...
It'll be more challenging next Saturday, when at any given time I'll probably be holding three tiki drinks at Inuhele.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/post...
Weeknotes: January 11–17, 2026
Everything around me seems to be in motion this week. Kids moving through milestones, colleagues moving on to new things, seasons shifting. Even the birds are starting to come back.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Spent the whole day at a giant high school swim meet, but still managed to get my weeknotes done.
It'll be more challenging next Saturday, when at any given time I'll probably be holding three tiki drinks at Inuhele.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/post...
It'll be more challenging next Saturday, when at any given time I'll probably be holding three tiki drinks at Inuhele.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/post...
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
Woke up to my computer, my source of income, not able to boot. Went to make coffee and the coffee machine was broken. Used my French press and it broke. My backup ancient laptop took an hour just to boot up and is unusable.
So that's been my day.
Coffee stuff all works again so round 2 tomorrow.
So that's been my day.
Coffee stuff all works again so round 2 tomorrow.
January 14, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Woke up to my computer, my source of income, not able to boot. Went to make coffee and the coffee machine was broken. Used my French press and it broke. My backup ancient laptop took an hour just to boot up and is unusable.
So that's been my day.
Coffee stuff all works again so round 2 tomorrow.
So that's been my day.
Coffee stuff all works again so round 2 tomorrow.
I picked a hell of a time to start writing weeknotes but I think it’ll be important for my mental health to be able to look back and have proof that even while the world burned, we still managed to keep going. This week needed pictures to add some color.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
Weeknotes: January 4–10, 2026
The chair arrived. Buddhist monks walked through town. Fried chicken achieved maximum cronch.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
January 10, 2026 at 9:22 PM
I picked a hell of a time to start writing weeknotes but I think it’ll be important for my mental health to be able to look back and have proof that even while the world burned, we still managed to keep going. This week needed pictures to add some color.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
Watch this. It's awesome, and so NYC.
Best TikTok thing going is the two dudes trying food from every country without leaving NYC. If you haven’t seen them yet, it’s incredible. My favorite so far is last week’s. Legit got me emotional.
January 9, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Watch this. It's awesome, and so NYC.
I wrote about how I use AI tools, and the ethical lines I've drawn for myself. The short version: front-load the thinking, hand off the transcription. The tool doesn't get to decide what I haven't already decided.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
AI as Tool, Not Creator: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Front-Load the Thinking
The craft is in the decisions. The tool just handles the transcription.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
January 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I wrote about how I use AI tools, and the ethical lines I've drawn for myself. The short version: front-load the thinking, hand off the transcription. The tool doesn't get to decide what I haven't already decided.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
January 2, 2026 at 6:36 PM
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
Sherrilyn Ifill is an important voice. Bluesky is privileged to have her here.
I’m glad to see Bill say this. But when after a century of just the type of abuse we saw today - relentless and cruel, ensnaring our children and intimidating our communities - young Black people said in frustration, anger, and demand for change “defund the police” - so many of you denounced them.
January 8, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Sherrilyn Ifill is an important voice. Bluesky is privileged to have her here.
New post: I automated standup prep and learned something about my neurodivergent brain and context-switching I’d been masking even from myself.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-20-i-thought-i-had-fifteen-minutes/
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-20-i-thought-i-had-fifteen-minutes/
I Thought I Had 15 Minutes
I automated the five minutes before standup, and accidentally learned something about how my brain works.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
January 6, 2026 at 2:40 PM
New post: I automated standup prep and learned something about my neurodivergent brain and context-switching I’d been masking even from myself.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-20-i-thought-i-had-fifteen-minutes/
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-20-i-thought-i-had-fifteen-minutes/
Current status: Hanging out with my kid outside an elementary school in rural Georgia waiting for a group of Buddhist monks to walk by on their way to Washington, D.C. along with a few hundred other folks.
January 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Current status: Hanging out with my kid outside an elementary school in rural Georgia waiting for a group of Buddhist monks to walk by on their way to Washington, D.C. along with a few hundred other folks.
Two weeks in a row I've been able to publish some weeknotes to my blog. I'm feeling good about this new routine!
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
Weeknotes: December 28, 2025–January 3, 2026
Our time-shifted Christmas week was really peaceful. A couple more days before going back to work on Monday, and I’m trying to make the most of it.
Shipped Took most of the week off for the …
blog.kestrelsnest.social
January 4, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Two weeks in a row I've been able to publish some weeknotes to my blog. I'm feeling good about this new routine!
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
My kids asked for a Yule log cake with two days notice. I'd never made one. The cake split into pieces when I unrolled it. I made it hold together anyway.
New blog post!
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
New blog post!
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
Either Way, There'll Be Cake
A gluten-free Yule log for second Christmas, held together by willpower and ganache.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
January 1, 2026 at 7:41 PM
My kids asked for a Yule log cake with two days notice. I'd never made one. The cake split into pieces when I unrolled it. I made it hold together anyway.
New blog post!
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
New blog post!
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2026-0...
It’s 9pm on (time-shifted) Christmas Eve. Seems like a great time to try and make a gluten free Bûche De Noël!
December 31, 2025 at 6:49 AM
It’s 9pm on (time-shifted) Christmas Eve. Seems like a great time to try and make a gluten free Bûche De Noël!
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
I haven't been writing enough lately so I am bringing back a practice I call doomscrawling. Whenever I reach for my phone to doomscroll, I must first open one of my WIPs in Google Docs and write one (1) sentence.
December 29, 2025 at 3:59 AM
I haven't been writing enough lately so I am bringing back a practice I call doomscrawling. Whenever I reach for my phone to doomscroll, I must first open one of my WIPs in Google Docs and write one (1) sentence.
My new n8n workflow and emailed me some prompts and a template, and all I had to do was fill things in. Easy peasy, and before I even finished my coffee my inaugural edition of weeknotes was live on the blog.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Zero friction. This just might stick.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Zero friction. This just might stick.
Weeknotes: December 20–27, 2025
Slow, like the world was on pause. Everyone else off celebrating while I hung out in the quiet of home.
Shipped Built a pantry inventory app to track dry goods, herbs, and spices. It already proved …
blog.kestrelsnest.social
December 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
My new n8n workflow and emailed me some prompts and a template, and all I had to do was fill things in. Easy peasy, and before I even finished my coffee my inaugural edition of weeknotes was live on the blog.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Zero friction. This just might stick.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Zero friction. This just might stick.
New blog post: I found three opened bags of rice flour this week, two of tapioca starch, and a potato starch I'd forgotten existed. So I did what any reasonable person would do—I built an app.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Where Did I Put the Mochi Flour?
I found three opened bags of rice flour this week. So I built a pantry inventory app.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
December 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
New blog post: I found three opened bags of rice flour this week, two of tapioca starch, and a potato starch I'd forgotten existed. So I did what any reasonable person would do—I built an app.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Our pantry has lots of dry goods in various types of reusable jars and containers. Our spice wall has nearly 100 different items hanging on with magnetized lids. I just consolidated items and found several opened bags of the same thing, several times over.
No more.
pantry.kestrelsnest.social
No more.
pantry.kestrelsnest.social
Pantry
Kitchen Inventory Tracker
pantry.kestrelsnest.social
December 24, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Our pantry has lots of dry goods in various types of reusable jars and containers. Our spice wall has nearly 100 different items hanging on with magnetized lids. I just consolidated items and found several opened bags of the same thing, several times over.
No more.
pantry.kestrelsnest.social
No more.
pantry.kestrelsnest.social
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
In 2021, I gave myself ketamine treatments for my 50th birthday. One of the first signs they were working was that I wanted to build again. I started with a $12 droplet and YunoHost. Four years later, I run my entire social media presence on it.
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Why I Self-Host My Social Media (and You Could Too)
I started with a $12 droplet and YunoHost. Four years later, I run my entire social media presence on it.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
December 21, 2025 at 2:00 AM
In 2021, I gave myself ketamine treatments for my 50th birthday. One of the first signs they were working was that I wanted to build again. I started with a $12 droplet and YunoHost. Four years later, I run my entire social media presence on it.
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Reposted by Eric Wagoner
In 2021, I gave myself ketamine treatments for my 50th birthday. One of the first signs they were working was that I wanted to build again. I started with a $12 droplet and YunoHost. Four years later, I run my entire social media presence on it.
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Why I Self-Host My Social Media (and You Could Too)
I started with a $12 droplet and YunoHost. Four years later, I run my entire social media presence on it.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
December 21, 2025 at 2:00 AM
In 2021, I gave myself ketamine treatments for my 50th birthday. One of the first signs they were working was that I wanted to build again. I started with a $12 droplet and YunoHost. Four years later, I run my entire social media presence on it.
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
New post up! blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-1...
Potentially important new law journal article just dropped. It’s a heavy read but worth it.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The Originalist Case for the President's Power to Pardon State Offenses
Recently, President Donald Trump purported to pardon Tina Peters, a former county clerk from Colorado, for state-level offenses. The overwhelming consensus amon
papers.ssrn.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Potentially important new law journal article just dropped. It’s a heavy read but worth it.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I solve human problems; code is just the medium. Naming my tools after people who inspire me is a small ritual that keeps that truth at the center.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-14-why-my-payment-agent-is-named-george-not-stripe-agent/
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-14-why-my-payment-agent-is-named-george-not-stripe-agent/
Why My Payment Agent Is Named George, Not stripe-agent
I name my AI sub-agents after people who inspire me—not whimsy, but a practice for remembering who the work is actually for.
blog.kestrelsnest.social
December 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I solve human problems; code is just the medium. Naming my tools after people who inspire me is a small ritual that keeps that truth at the center.
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-14-why-my-payment-agent-is-named-george-not-stripe-agent/
blog.kestrelsnest.social/posts/2025-12-14-why-my-payment-agent-is-named-george-not-stripe-agent/
My friend George over at GamesRadar wrote this powerful ode to Gunn's Superman, proclaiming it their movie of the year.
www.gamesradar.com/entertainm...
www.gamesradar.com/entertainm...
Superman captured my heart as the 2025 movie of the year with its hopeful rejection of cynicism
Year in Review 2025 | James Gunn's Superman is the movie of the year
www.gamesradar.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
My friend George over at GamesRadar wrote this powerful ode to Gunn's Superman, proclaiming it their movie of the year.
www.gamesradar.com/entertainm...
www.gamesradar.com/entertainm...
I'm always learning stuff. For example, tonight I learned Maxell is still around.
December 12, 2025 at 6:14 AM
I'm always learning stuff. For example, tonight I learned Maxell is still around.
There's something like nine billion possible phone numbers in the United States alone, and I know it's an impossible task to block them all. But by god it sure looks like I'm gonna have to try.
December 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
There's something like nine billion possible phone numbers in the United States alone, and I know it's an impossible task to block them all. But by god it sure looks like I'm gonna have to try.