A digital garden of notes, ideas, and reflections from Doug Belshaw.
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Doug notes that the Black Death's impact on European DNA may have led to increased resistance to Y. pestis but also a higher rate of autoimmune disorders, as suggested by Mihai Netea. He highlights that while plague and other diseases were constant threats during the Renaissance, their effects on modern health are still being felt.
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A collage of unedited photos taken during a sweaty morning run on my holiday phone (an iPhone SE 2).
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Doug announces that TechFreedom, now a project of FIELD STATION, is open for signups for its September cohort. The three-session programme, priced at £450, helps social purpose organisations assess technology dependencies and build strategic roadmaps, with sessions on 16 September, 30 September, and 14 October 2026. A free taster session is also available in early September.
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Doug found a map positioning design fields by time and scale, highlighting his interest in Systems Design. The image, sourced from an unknown origin via Are.na, shows a spectrum from product-focused fields to systems/futures fields, illustrating Doug's focus on the future and coordination.
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Doug highlights that the Digital Credentials Consortium (DCC), previously hosted by MIT Open Learning, has moved to the Strada Education Foundation and been renamed the Digital Credentials Commons. He notes that the shift, supported by a $2 million grant from Walmart, will focus more on learners and earners, with Kerri Lemoie continuing as Executive Director.
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Doug is using a slim laptop stand in Lisbon to elevate his laptop while working indoors near the air conditioner. The stand features some artwork, but the eye depicted in it is somewhat unsettling for him.
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Doug has set a goal to read Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer this week, describing it as magnificent and engaging, despite being around 100 pages in. The book offers a fresh perspective on the Renaissance, blending deep academic knowledge with storytelling flair.
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Doug explores the concept of harmony and balance, drawing from Joseph Albers' Plus = Minus and the idea of eudaimonia. He reflects on this from a balcony in Lisbon, overlooking the Tagus.
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Doug and his son are working from Lisbon while his wife and daughter are at the World Youth Cup 2026 in Gothenberg. They plan to explore the city in the afternoons, with Doug doing some work in the mornings until Friday.
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Doug's weekly News Canary report from his Little Robot Friend compiles ten global change signal stories, blending hard developments and soft signals. This week's edition covers Iran's mourning for Khamenei, the IMF's revised global growth forecast, the USMCA review, South Africa's digital state plans, Australia's climate reporting expansion, Europe's air quality improvements, Red Sea coral reef protection, Latin America's election cycle, natural hydrogen exploration, and New Zealand's privacy law amendments. Doug's selections are guided by criteria such as scale, impact, and novelty, presented in a calm, non-hyped style with British English.
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Doug highlights Sarah Drummond's creation of BINFAX 100, a tool supporting Count Binface's campaign. He notes that Binface, a comedic figure, could disrupt Nigel Farage's political ambitions, as suggested by comedian Stewart Lee.
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Doug notes that the European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act for the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook, which can shift users' brains into 'autopilot mode', fostering unhealthy habits and compulsive use. He expresses hope that this investigation may lead to meaningful regulation, as it is easier to regulate social media than social infrastructure like WhatsApp. The Commission suggests that Meta should implement design changes to mitigate these risks.
…It’s very difficult to be very lazy. It takes a lot of imagination to do nothing and you have to be sufficiently self-confident not to have a bad conscience. You have to have a taste for life, so that every minute is complete in itself and so you don’t have to keep saying ‘I’ve done this or that.’ You need strong nerves to do nothing. Being lazy also means that other people’s opinions don’t matter. Nor does the idea of always having to prove yourself.
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Doug summarises a detailed guide by Nīkau on transitioning organisations away from big tech platforms, emphasising sovereignty and a holistic approach over mere migration. He notes its technical focus and relevance to his work with FIELD STATION and TechFreedom, highlighting the importance of user engagement and careful planning in the process.
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Doug highlights a buried Apple feature designed for cognitive disabilities, which he found also transforms an iPhone into an ideal dumb phone for kids. The article, sourced from WIRED, discusses this underutilised setup that even Apple hasn't prominently promoted.
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Doug has sent his first zine, Field Notes on Productive Friction, to the printer for a sample copy. The zine, with only 23 out of 50 copies remaining, will not have a digital version.
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Doug critiques Rose Horowitch's The Atlantic article, arguing that it oversimplifies the 'end of reading' narrative. He contends that the piece ignores broader societal factors, such as Big Tech and capitalism, and instead blames individuals for changing reading habits. Doug also highlights the author's moralistic stance and lack of substantial evidence, quoting David Hume's is-ought problem to illustrate the logical fallacy.
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Doug highlights a quote from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, emphasising that tranquillity can be found anywhere, much like Plato's notion of inner peace within city walls. The accompanying image depicts two people reading books comfortably, reinforcing the idea of finding serenity in simple activities.
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Doug reflects on his potential AuDHD diagnosis, noting how it explains past behaviours, such as 'masking' traits. He shares insights from articles and personal experiences, highlighting how medication may help manage symptoms, and discusses the recent rise in awareness of AuDHD.
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Doug explores the decline of ambiguity in society, driven by a desire for clarity and action. He highlights the concept of 'New Literalism', a cultural shift towards superficiality and disengagement from complex ideas, as exemplified by museums retreating from controversial topics. Doug argues that institutions should embrace ambiguity and foster media literacy to help communities navigate complex issues.
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Doug summarises David Brooks' article from The Atlantic, which explores how AI usage varies based on individuals' predispositions, or their need for cognition. Brooks proposes a typology of users: Productive Passengers (low need for cognition), Reluctant Optimizers (medium need), and Mental Marathoners (high need), with Doug noting Brooks' concern about a potential "mental underclass" but finding the typology somewhat oversimplified.
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Doug has added per-tag RSS feeds to his Substrate platform. For instance, the #philosophy tag now has a corresponding feed available at this link.
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Doug appreciates this post for its nuanced perspective on AI trust. He highlights that the importance of AI's role varies greatly depending on the context, from significantly altering our interpretation of creative works to being largely inconsequential in everyday transactions. Doug shares his personal experiences using AI tools, demonstrating their integral role in his workflows and creative projects.
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