AI Writes Code. It Doesn't Read Minds.

Modern LLMs are astonishing execution engines. They generate UI components, APIs, database schemas, and unit tests in seconds.

• But AI operates under one unwavering rule: It only knows what you tell it.

• Vague requirements produce fragile, generic applications.

• Missing business rules lead to broken edge cases.

• Unstated data constraints force the AI to fill the vacuum with flawed assumptions.

Garbage specification in, garbage software out.

The Blueprint is the Key!!

In enterprise data systems and cloud architectures, software projects rarely fail because of bad syntax. They fail because of ambiguous logic, poor data modeling, and misaligned workflows.

Before AI, executing business logic required hundreds of hours of manual coding. Today, LLMs handle that mechanical execution in minutes. That shifts 100% of the value to problem definition.

Solution Architects, Systems Analysts, and Product Leads dominate this space because we think in systems, not syntax:

-Mapping operational workflows before writing code.
-Structuring robust data models and entity relationships.
-Anticipating edge cases that trip up novice builders.
-Defining strict acceptance criteria and security boundaries.
-Specifications Are the New Source Code

Think of an LLM as a lightning-fast junior engineer. It can churn out code at warp speed, but it lacks business context, intuition, and domain knowledge. It needs an architect to direct it.

When you treat AI as an implementation engine rather than a design engine, the output transforms from a fragile prototype into an enterprise-ready solution.

In the AI era, syntax is commoditized and execution is automated. Specifications are the new source code. The people winning the vibe coding era aren't those who type the fastest—they are the non-coding architects who know exactly what needs to be built.

Most people are watching the newest AI models evolve.

State education leaders are writing the rules that will determine whether those models can actually be used.

Over the past few weeks, a pattern has emerged.

Illinois published one of the most comprehensive AI guidance documents I've seen. Ohio now requires every district to adopt an AI policy. Districts are moving beyond "AI is allowed" toward age-specific rules, approved tool lists, human oversight, and documented governance.

• That tells me something important.

• We're leaving the experimentation phase.

• We're entering the governance phase.

• The conversation is also shifting beyond AI itself.
  
  Interoperability standards, data quality, identity management, procurement, and privacy are becoming AI problems because AI is only as trustworthy as the data and controls surrounding it.
  
  I've spent much of my career helping education organizations make better decisions with data. The pattern feels familiar.
  
  Every major technology wave eventually becomes a governance challenge.
  
  Cloud computing did.
  
  Student data systems did.
  
  AI is following the same path.
  
  The districts that succeed won't necessarily have the most advanced AI. They'll have the clearest decision-making framework for when AI should be used, what data it can access, who is accountable, and how outcomes are monitored.
  
  Technology gets the headlines.
  
  Governance determines whether the technology delivers lasting value.
  
  What changes are you seeing in your state or district? Are AI discussions still centered on classroom use, or have they expanded into enterprise governance?

Most people think becoming better with AI means learning better prompts.

I think that's the wrong goal.

An AI operator is someone who knows how to direct AI the way an experienced manager directs a talented employee. They understand how to provide context, break work into manageable steps, verify results, and build repeatable workflows that consistently produce high quality outcomes.

The real advantage isn't asking one brilliant question.

It's designing a system where AI and human judgment work together.

That's why two people using the same model can produce dramatically different results.

One has a conversation. The other operates a process.

Prompting is just one skill.

Operating is a discipline.

I built this page to explain what it means to become an AI operator and why I believe it will be one of the most valuable professional skills of the next decade.

If you're ready to move beyond prompts and start producing consistently better results with AI, I'd love to hear what you think.

The AI Operator Manual…click the pic

So, what is the state of kindness in our world today?

I’ve done a little research on this topic, and the results are fascinating—and a bit contradictory. Let’s dive into the state of compassion in 2025.

The Kindness Paradox: Why Do We All Think the World Is Less Kind?

We seem to be stuck in a strange contradiction.

A wave of recent surveys reveals a deep pessimism about the state of kindness in the world. Most of us feel that, as a society, we are ruder, meaner, and less compassionate than we were just a decade ago.

And yet, when asked about our own lives, a completely different picture emerges. We see ourselves as kind, and data shows small acts of kindness are happening all around us, all the time.

So, what’s really going on? Here’s what the latest research says.

The “Kindness Perception Gap”

The central conflict is this: **We think the problem is everyone else.**

A recent Siena Research Institute poll highlights this perfectly:

70% of people believe society is less kind than it was 10 years ago.

...But 97% of those same people described themselves as “a kind person.”

This gap is backed up by other studies. The 2025 Compassion Report from the Muhammad Ali Center found that 61% of Americans feel compassion has decreased in the last four years.

Where We See Unkindness

This negative perception isn’t coming from nowhere. When asked where they witness unkindness, people had very specific answers:

• 72% see it online and on social media.

• 69% see it in traffic or on public transportation.

• 55% see it in person during public interactions.

It seems our most visible, high-friction public spaces (both digital and physical) are shaping our entire perception of society.

The Good News: Kindness Is Actually... Everywhere

While our perception of kindness is low, the practice of kindness remains incredibly high.

It’s Frequent and Universal: A 2023 UCLA study on everyday social interactions found that people signal a need for help (like asking someone to pass a utensil) about once every two minutes. When those requests were made, people complied 7 times more often than they declined.

It’s Up Since the Pandemic: According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, global acts of benevolence (like donating, volunteering, and helping a stranger) are still 10% higher than they were before the pandemic.

Why This Matters (More Than You Think)

Kindness isn’t just a “nice to have.” The World Happiness Report found that believing in the kindness of others (specifically, trusting that a stranger would return your lost wallet) is a stronger predictor of a nation’s happiness than its GDP.

On an individual level, research shows that performing acts of kindness can measurably reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and increase feelings of social connection. We consistently underestimate the positive impact our own kind acts have on others.

So, What Stops Us?

If we’re all kind people, and kindness feels good, why do we hesitate? “The Kindness Test,” a large-scale study by the University of Sussex, identified the top barriers:

1. Fear of Misinterpretation (66% worried it would be taken the wrong way)

2. Not Having Enough Time (58%)

3. Social Media (52% cited it as a barrier)

4. Fear of Being Seen as Weak (28%)

The Takeaway

The data suggests we aren’t suffering from a lack of kindness as much as a perception of it. We are surrounded by small, positive acts, but we are wired to notice the loud, negative ones—especially online and in traffic.

The world is likely far kinder than we give it credit for.

What do you think? Do you agree that kindness is declining, or do we just fail to notice the good? Let me know in the comments.

Their position is that the Bible reinforces the rule of law and justifies the actions of this administration and the Department of Homeland security. If you’re interested you can see my response below.

My response:

My friend, I can appreciate your position as I can see that any analysis through the lens of Jesus’s teachings would likely grapple with the tension between the principles of law and order and the consistent and strong biblical mandates for compassion, mercy, and love for the stranger and the marginalized. My belief is that Jesus’s response would likely challenge any approach that fails to see the humanity in each individual affected by these policies, and He would lead with compassion, grace, and seek an alternative to simply throwing these people out of the country, breaking up families, and destroying people’s lives.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently showed concern for the poor, the outcast, and the vulnerable. He ministered to those on the fringes of society and criticized religious leaders who prioritized rigid adherence to the law over mercy and compassion. I interpret the actions of Jesus as an example to care for the needs of immigrants, regardless of their legal status.

I think there’s an alternative to spending billions of dollars to round up illegal aliens who have not broken the law other than illegally entering the country. Why can’t those billions of dollars be used to create a pathway to citizenship that these productive individual and families can utilize to become legal citizens? At the same time I believe in enforcing illegal immigration at the border, but I think there is a model that would take into consideration people who have been here over 5 years or some number of years that makes sense and have demonstrated that they are both peaceful and law abiding individuals and not simply throw them out of the country.

The Old Testament, which forms the foundation of Jesus’s teachings, also contains numerous commands to care for the “foreigner” or “sojourner.” For instance, Leviticus 19:34 states, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” This is often understood as a call to empathy and acceptance.

Central to Jesus’s teachings is the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). When asked, “Who is my neighbor?”, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, highlighting a person who showed compassion to a stranger in need, suggesting that neighborly love should extend beyond one’s own ethnic or social group.

So I think I land on the old popular trendy phrase...”WWJD”?

There was a time when I was between jobs that I actually had to go out to the HealthCare marketplace for my benefits. Even with the subsidies, my monthly premium for my family was $2,000 per month. I’m fortunate that I do not have to obtain my benefits from that system today. If these changes go through as you will see below it would be absolutely cost prohibitive.

Here’s the answer to my friends question.

Healthcare Subsidy Reductions Primarily Impact U.S. Citizens and Lawfully Present Immigrants

Recent changes to healthcare subsidies within the Republican budget bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” are set to primarily affect United States citizens and lawfully present immigrants, while undocumented immigrants, who are already ineligible for federal healthcare subsidies, will not be directly impacted by these specific cuts.

Under longstanding federal law, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new budget bill does not alter this existing policy. Instead, the legislation introduces significant changes to Medicaid and the ACA Marketplace that will lead to a reduction in coverage and increased costs for millions of Americans.

Below are the findings by the CBO, but numerous non-partisan financial analyst organizations concur with the same findings.

According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is projected to increase the number of uninsured individuals by 10 million over the next decade. The CBO attributes these losses to several key provisions in the new law:

* Medicaid Work Requirements: A significant portion of the projected coverage loss stems from new work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

* Stricter Eligibility for Lawfully Present Immigrants: The bill imposes new restrictions on lawfully present immigrants, making it more difficult for them to qualify for subsidies. It is estimated that 1.4 million lawfully present immigrants will lose health coverage as a result.

* Expiration of Enhanced Subsidies: The legislation allows for the expiration of enhanced ACA premium tax credits at the end of 2025. This will lead to a substantial increase in out-of-pocket premium costs for millions of subsidized enrollees, the majority of whom are U.S. citizens. One analysis from the health policy research organization KFF estimates that out-of-pocket premium payments for this group could rise by over 75%.

It is important to note that while the rhetoric surrounding the healthcare debate has at times focused on immigrant access to benefits, the practical implications of the recent budget bill will be most acutely felt by U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants who rely on federal subsidies to afford health insurance.

While the long-term effects of any administration’s policies are subject to ongoing debate and analysis, several initiatives from the Trump administration in 2025 have the potential for a positive impacts on the United States. These policies span economic, domestic, and foreign policy sphere

• Investing in Technology and Infrastructure: An executive order in July was issued to facilitate the rapid buildout of AI data centers and the necessary supporting infrastructure, such as high-voltage transmission lines and natural gas pipelines. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial support for qualifying projects through loans, grants, and tax incentives.

  • The Rub: To maintain its competitive advantage in the ongoing artificial intelligence transformation, the United States must make strategic investments. While a new initiative could provide the necessary capital, it is crucial that these funds are not exclusively directed to established technology giants. To foster broad-based innovation and prevent further market concentration, resources must also be allocated to support small and medium-sized enterprises, which are vital to a dynamic and competitive AI ecosystem.

• Deregulation: A January executive order titled “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” mandates that for every new regulation proposed, agencies must identify at least ten existing regulations for repeal. The goal is to achieve a net reduction in regulatory costs, which the administration argues will foster economic growth.

  • The Rub: The debate over U.S. regulatory reform is a choice between two opposing philosophies: the “DOGE” approach, which pursues rapid, widespread deregulation, and a more strategic, deliberate model.

    The former risks significant collateral damage by potentially undermining essential public health and safety standards in its haste to remove rules. The latter, however, operates with precision. It targets only those regulations proven to be inefficient or restrictive while consciously upholding the framework of necessary protections. This ensures economic progress without sacrificing public trust and safety.

• Deductions for Tipped and Overtime Workers: The big beautiful bill introduced new deductions for income from tips and overtime pay. For the 2025 tax year, these deductions are retroactive, meaning eligible workers could see a reduction in their tax liability, translating to more take-home pay.

  • The Rub: While on it’s own, this provision directly and positively benefits lower and middle income workers who depend on tips and overtime to make ends meet. The Rub is that this provision is attached to a much larger legislative package that could introduce policies that have the potential to increase cost of living, insurance premiums, etc., thereby making this provision moot.

• New Deduction for Seniors: A temporary deduction of up to $6,000 was created for individuals aged 65 and older with incomes under certain thresholds, offering immediate tax relief to a segment of the senior population.

  • The Rub: The deduction has income limits, so seniors earning just over the threshold receive no benefit. It is also temporary, making it unreliable for long-term planning. Critically, it does not help the lowest-income seniors who already pay no federal income tax, and it contributes to the national debt.

• Auto Loan Interest Deduction: A new deduction for interest paid on loans for new personal-use vehicles purchased after December 31, 2024, was established, immediately lowering the cost of financing a new car for some buyers

  • The Rub: The new auto loan interest deduction faces significant criticism for being an inequitable and potentially inflationary policy. Economists argue it disproportionately benefits wealthier individuals in higher tax brackets while offering no advantage to lower-income buyers or those who purchase used vehicles. Furthermore, the policy is criticized for encouraging consumers to take on more debt and for creating the risk of artificially inflating new car prices, which could negate the intended savings for the buyer. Ultimately, by reducing federal tax revenue, the deduction also contributes to the growing national debt, shifting the financial burden to future taxpayers.

I'm just an everyman, and this Substack is a collection of my personal musings on everyday life, spirituality, world affairs, and U.S. politics. My goal here is to share my perspective, not to preach a specific viewpoint.

I believe true illumination comes from critical thinking and the courage to look at both sides of an issue, all while leading with love and empathy. I'm not afraid to admit when I don't have an answer, and I hope you'll join me in exploring these complex topics together.