Hi, I’m Mark. Glad you’re here.
I work in #PlatformEngineering and #SoftwareEngineering, after a long stretch in #Perl and now deep into #Go, #Docker, #Kubernetes, and #AWS. I like systems that behave, tools that justify their existence, and explanations that don’t waste anyone’s time.
https://PhoenixTrap.com is where I #blog about the engineering side of that: production, clarity, and the discipline required to build things that hold up under pressure.
I’m also an #Objectivist, which for me means treating ideas as tools for living, not ornaments.
https://TheBeautifulPrison.com is where I explore — through #fiction and #essay #writing — the philosophical side: consciousness, identity, boundaries, and what happens when a self is tested. If you’re curious about the deeper themes behind my posts, that’s the place to look.
Outside of work and writing, you’ll see #BassGuitar, conventions like #DragonCon, and the occasional bit of structured nonsense.
This #Mastodon instance is #SelfHosted because I like owning my infrastructure and my identity; it keeps the whole thing honest.
If something I say sparks a thought, feel free to reply. I enjoy good conversations — especially the kind where two people are actually trying to understand each other.
Pull up a chair.
