I recently finished Stephen Fry’s retelling of the Trojan War1, and as often happens with old stories, one episode lingered longer than the rest. It is the moment when Patroclus puts on Achilles’ armor. Achilles, in a fit of pride and grievance, has withdrawn from the fighting. Without him, the Greeks begin to lose ground. … Continue reading Borrowed Armor
Tag: Trust
The Puppets Still Dance
Some music ages like milk. Other music ages like iron. I am not entirely sure which quality I expected when I returned to Master of Puppets after all these years, but I suspect I did not expect to recognize myself in it. In 1986, when the album was released, I was ten years old and nowhere near … Continue reading The Puppets Still Dance
The Laws of Human Systems
Every profession accumulates its own small collection of proverbs. Sailors have sayings about wind and weather. Farmers accumulate aphorisms about soil and seasons. Soldiers develop blunt little rules about leadership and survival that rarely appear in official doctrine. Organizations produce their own proverbs as well.They often masquerade as jokes. Sometimes they appear as cynical observations … Continue reading The Laws of Human Systems
The Bag of Winds
There is a small moment in The Odyssey that I find myself returning to more often as I get older. I am not entirely sure why this one has stayed with me. It is not one of the famous scenes; it passes quickly, as if Homer knew its meaning required little elaboration, or perhaps as … Continue reading The Bag of Winds
You Thought It Was Free
There is an old saying—updated for the digital age—that if something is free, you are the product. It is a useful warning, though I am no longer sure it is sufficient. Because now, it seems to me, you may also be the labor. I am reminded, as well, of the older phrase from The Moon … Continue reading You Thought It Was Free
The Ecology of Trust: What the Internet Teaches Us About Trust and Civilization
Modern cybersecurity architecture begins with a curious assumption: trust is dangerous. Security frameworks associated with John Kindervag operate from a simple premise—no user, device, or system should be trusted merely because it appears familiar. Every request must be verified and every interaction authenticated. Anyone who has spent time working in cybersecurity eventually notices how easily trust assumptions … Continue reading The Ecology of Trust: What the Internet Teaches Us About Trust and Civilization
Three Paths Through the Same Question
For the past year this site has explored a number of overlapping themes—technology, trust, history, genealogy, and the strange ways information moves through human systems. As the archive grows, a clearer structure has started to emerge. Going forward, posts will generally follow a simple weekly rhythm. Technology and Trust Systems Sunday evenings will focus on … Continue reading Three Paths Through the Same Question
