Dispatches from the Far Reaches Field notes, journal entries, and dispatches from the far reaches. 2027-07-30T05:03:03Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/ The Cult That Gathers Where the Feed Never Sleeps 2027-07-30T05:03:03Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/misc/the-cult-that-gathers-where-the-feed-never-sleeps/ A warning against binding your organization's voice to a platform you do not control, where algorithms watch and engagement demands its tribute. A warning against binding your organization's voice to a platform you do not control, where algorithms watch and engagement demands its tribute. Instructions for subsurface development in the Last Caretaker 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/misc/rolling-in-the-depths-building-underwater-in-the-last-caretaker/ Hard lessons learned whilst constructing where the old ones lurk. Hard lessons learned whilst constructing where the old ones lurk. Extension of the family dwelling as recommended by the sanitarium 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/exposures/extension-of-the-family-dwelling/ Photographic documentation of the extension of a solarium to promote mental well being. Photographic documentation of the extension of a solarium to promote mental well being. On Mechanisms Whose Purpose I Cannot Fully Account For 2026-08-10T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/exposures/mechanisms/ A collection of devices, gears, and apparatuses gathered over recent months — some inherited, some found, some sent along by correspondents who seemed glad to be rid of them. I have photographed each as faithfully as I am able, in the hope that a careful visual record might succeed where my own understanding of their mechanism has, in every case, eventually failed. A collection of devices, gears, and apparatuses gathered over recent months — some inherited, some found, some sent along by correspondents who seemed glad to be rid of them. I have photographed each as faithfully as I am able, in the hope that a careful visual record might succeed where my own understanding of their mechanism has, in every case, eventually failed. Rendering test 2026-07-12T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/misc/rendering-test/ Test to confirm Obsidian to Eleventy conversions Test to confirm Obsidian to Eleventy conversions Why I Publish What I Ought Perhaps Burn 2026-07-12T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/misc/why-i-publish-what-i-ought-perhaps-burn/ It is not without considerable private debate that I have resolved to make these papers available to all. They were not written for a particular audience; I publish them now for reasons that will, I trust, become apparent to the patient reader: not for entertainment, and certainly not for credit, but because certain things once observed have a way of being quietly forgotten by everyone except the one who observed them — and a record, however incomplete, however unwelcome, seems to me the only honest defense against that particular kind of forgetting. It is not without considerable private debate that I have resolved to make these papers available to all. They were not written for a particular audience; I publish them now for reasons that will, I trust, become apparent to the patient reader: not for entertainment, and certainly not for credit, but because certain things once observed have a way of being quietly forgotten by everyone except the one who observed them — and a record, however incomplete, however unwelcome, seems to me the only honest defense against that particular kind of forgetting. Restoring a 1930s Field Radio 2025-09-02T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/projects/restoring-a-1930s-field-radio/ Found dead at an estate sale. Three replaced capacitors in and it now produces something closer to sound than static. Found dead at an estate sale. Three replaced capacitors in and it now produces something closer to sound than static. Building a Weather Station from Salvaged Instruments 2025-08-23T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/projects/building-a-weather-station-from-salvaged-instruments/ Two barometers, a broken sextant, and a lot of solder, assembled into a mounted instrument panel that mostly agrees with the forecast. Two barometers, a broken sextant, and a lot of solder, assembled into a mounted instrument panel that mostly agrees with the forecast. The Reanimation of Item No. 745: Last Century Wireless Apparatus 2025-08-23T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/projects/notes-on-restoring-a-last-century-wireless-apparatus/ In the summer of this year, a table-top radio — manufactured in the year 1956, its provenance otherwise undocumented — came into my possession by means I need not elaborate upon here. This chronicles the madness that ensued. In the summer of this year, a table-top radio — manufactured in the year 1956, its provenance otherwise undocumented — came into my possession by means I need not elaborate upon here. This chronicles the madness that ensued. On the Sudden and Persistent Attendance of Wild Animals 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/exposures/persistant-attendance-of-wild-animals/ I was asked to assist in cataloging a strange assortment of animals that came and simply did not leave. This is that account. I was asked to assist in cataloging a strange assortment of animals that came and simply did not leave. This is that account. The Correspondent Who Wasn't 2025-07-08T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/fiction/the-correspondent-who-wasnt/ A short story about a research assistant who answers every letter promptly, correctly, and without ever once being seen. A short story about a research assistant who answers every letter promptly, correctly, and without ever once being seen. A Preliminary Account of Anomalous Decay 2025-06-10T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/exposures/preliminary-account-of-anomalous-decay/ A chance overheard conversation between two faculty members reveals that something long feared by a distant mountain people may now be stirring far closer to home - and that the mind itself seems eager to forget it A chance overheard conversation between two faculty members reveals that something long feared by a distant mountain people may now be stirring far closer to home - and that the mind itself seems eager to forget it The Signal That Came in Backwards 2025-05-14T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/fiction/the-signal-that-came-in-backwards/ A dispatch about a shortwave transmission that only made sense played in reverse, and what it turned out to actually be. A dispatch about a shortwave transmission that only made sense played in reverse, and what it turned out to actually be. Abandoning the Daily Rite for the Deeper Web 2022-10-22T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/misc/abandoning-the-daily-rite-for-the-deeper-web/ On stepping back from daily publishing to pursue a Zettelkasten practice, trading raw output for slower, connected thought. On stepping back from daily publishing to pursue a Zettelkasten practice, trading raw output for slower, connected thought. Rites Against the Rigor: The Grimoire of Documentation 2022-10-21T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/professional/rites-against-the-rigor-the-grimoire-of-documentation/ The final dispatch in the series, laying out the documentation that turns a small experiment into a repeatable ritual. The final dispatch in the series, laying out the documentation that turns a small experiment into a repeatable ritual. Rites Against the Rigor: The Obstacles Along the Way 2022-10-14T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/professional/rites-against-the-rigor-the-obstacles-along-the-way/ Challenges to expect when introducing a culture of small experiments, from learned helplessness to the weight of leadership's words. Challenges to expect when introducing a culture of small experiments, from learned helplessness to the weight of leadership's words. Rites Against the Rigor: Five Steps to Begin the Ritual 2022-10-05T00:00:00Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/professional/rites-against-the-rigor-five-steps-to-begin-the-ritual/ Five steps to set up a recurring cycle of small experiments that keep an organization from calcifying. Five steps to set up a recurring cycle of small experiments that keep an organization from calcifying. Rites Against the Rigor: An Introduction 2022-10-01T05:03:03Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/professional/rites-against-the-rigor-an-introduction/ The first of four dispatches on fighting corporate rigor mortis through small, deliberate experiments instead of sweeping change. The first of four dispatches on fighting corporate rigor mortis through small, deliberate experiments instead of sweeping change. The Fear That Devours Empires From Within 2022-09-30T05:03:03Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/professional/the-fear-that-devours-empires-from-within/ An exploration of how fear — ancient, creeping, inherited from the top — calcifies organizations and strangles the will to change. An exploration of how fear — ancient, creeping, inherited from the top — calcifies organizations and strangles the will to change. Five Truths Before You Enter the AltMBA Crucible 2022-09-29T05:03:03Z https://dispatchesfromthefarreaches.com/professional/five-truths-before-you-enter-the-altmba-crucible/ An honest accounting of Seth Godin's intense AltMBA program — the toll it takes, who it suits, and why it isn't for everyone. An honest accounting of Seth Godin's intense AltMBA program — the toll it takes, who it suits, and why it isn't for everyone.