We can justify anything to ourselves
Source: Are.na
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Substrate
A digital garden of notes, ideas, and reflections from Doug Belshaw.
August 2026
44 notes
Circumventing state-imposed internet blackouts
AI summary
Doug highlights Bitchat, an app enabling offline communication via Bluetooth, which proved useful during internet blackouts in India. He suggests promoting its use among contacts and notes its decentralised nature makes it resistant to state-imposed blocks.
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Routine excitement
AI summary
Doug reflects on his unique experience of balancing routine, crucial for his autism, and novelty, driven by his ADHD. He acknowledges that this constant cycling between states is not typical for most people.
Civilisation is a thin film across an ocean of chaos
Civilisation is a thin film across an ocean of chaos.
— Werner Herzog
You can't C2PA your way out of a post-truth society
AI summary
Doug argues that C2PA (Content Credentials) cannot resolve issues in a post-truth society, as people often use information to reinforce existing beliefs rather than seek truth. He suggests that education and immersion are key, but notes the challenges due to unreliable sources and vested interests.
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Highlights from 'A Philosophy of Shame'
AI summary
Doug highlights key points from A Philosophy of Shame by Frédéric Gros, exploring shame's role in modern society, its transformation into anger, and its impact on individual behaviour. He notes the book's examination of shame's three forms—moral, narcissistic, and social-ideal—and its critique of systemic shame and privilege. Doug found the book insightful and recommended it for further reading.
… Other notes link here
July 2026
67 notes
I'm on holiday
AI summary
Doug is currently on holiday with his team for a week. He suggests using this time to catch up on his notes, updates on FIELD STATION, and his zine.
How do you make decisions in the AI era?
AI summary
Doug and Tom co-authored an essay for FIELD STATION exploring decision-making in the AI era, using physics metaphors to discuss the role of AI in organisational decisions. They argue that while AI can augment decision-making, it can also reduce an organisation's capacity to decide, and that successful AI integration depends on pre-existing decision-making processes.
… Other notes link here
A zinette, a zine baby, or a zine for my zine
Yo dawg, I herd you like zines, so I put an zine in your zine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iYAMYsWMM8
(I said I might do this...)
Reality Drift
AI summary
Doug introduces the concept of Reality Drift, a gradual misalignment of systems from real-world outcomes, where processes continue functioning but lose touch with their original purpose. He highlights that this phenomenon, illustrated by an AI training loop infographic, is not limited to AI but also affects humans interacting with AI-generated content.
… Other notes link here
How I wish my son would answer in this particular meme scenario
Source: Are.na
Major updates from Bonfire
AI summary
Doug received updates from Ivan Minutillo about Bonfire, including a redesigned homepage and a case study with Jacobin.de. The Bonfire team has expanded its offerings to include decision-making tools, such as polls and consensus processes, emphasising the political nature of technology choices.
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As long as we have means of communication, there will be disinformation
AI summary
Doug notes that disinformation is not a new phenomenon, highlighting its presence even in the early days of the printing press. He cites a passage from Ada Palmer's Inventing the Renaissance, illustrating how pamphlets spread various forms of news, including sensational and fabricated stories, across Europe in the 16th century.
…Civilisation
”Civilisation is a thin film across an ocean of chaos”.
— Werner Herzog
News Canary: 26 July 2026
AI summary
Doug's weekly 'News Canary' report, compiled by his Little Robot Friend, presents ten global change signal stories from the past week, blending hard developments and soft signals from each continent. The report, written in British English, highlights key events such as the US's forced-labour tariffs, wildfires in Europe, African visa-free movement, and climate-related summits in Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on scale, impact, and future potential.
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On 'AI psychosis'
AI summary
Doug discusses the term AI psychosis, questioning its usefulness and comparing over-reliance on AI to addictions. He explores the potential philosophical issues and preventive measures, concluding that the vague definition may highlight a need for new labels to describe unhealthy relationships with AI.
… Other notes link here
Working on 'WorkFlow'
AI summary
Doug is developing WorkFlow, a private, self-hosted AI-augmented external memory tool, inspired by his previous notes on pattern recognition and working memory. This application aims to capture information through typing and transcription, then proactively surface connections and forgotten items, serving as a complementary "B-side" to his Substrate project.
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How to iteratively improve in self-directed activities
AI summary
Doug discussed with Laura Hilliger her self-directed "Not a Masters" programme in Creative Writing, focusing on iterative improvement through reflective assignments and peer feedback. Laura's approach includes introspection, literary analysis, and exploring different genres and forms, with the ultimate goal of enhancing her craft and understanding her legitimacy as a writer.
…The Rabbit R1 is too cute to be e-waste, so I put LineageOS on it
AI summary
Doug found a way to repurpose the Rabbit R1 device by installing LineageOS 21 (Android 14). He unlocked the bootloader, disabled verified boot, and flashed the GSI, transforming the R1 into a more functional Android device. The process involved several steps and tools, with Doug sharing his experiences and tips for success.
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Things that I have found aesthetically pleasing recently
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More at my Are.na channel
An audience of one
AI summary
Doug reflects on the concept of microblogging for an audience of one, reminiscent of his past use of a private WordPress blog with the P2 theme. He considers reviving this practice or exploring new tools like Post Through It or an AI-powered solution to better track his professional and personal life.
… Other notes link here
My stupid brain is only happy when it roams
Definitely concurring with this Warren Ellis post from a few days ago:
My problem, apparently, is that I’m interested in too many things. In fact, someone made a point of writing to my office a few weeks ago specifically to tell me that my interests aren’t interesting.
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Legitimacy without credential armour: my third coaching session
AI summary
Doug had his third coaching session with Annalise Lewis, where he acknowledged his undiagnosed neurodivergence and explored reframing his "scattered" attention as "inspired enquiry." He discussed the concept of "credential armour," where he seeks credentials for activities he wants to do intrinsically, and pondered questions about avoiding burnout, expressing his archetypes, and unlearning narrowing habits.
… Other notes link here
The uni-context: you already know what it is, you just haven't got a name for it (yet)
AI summary
Doug summarises a conversation between Derek Thompson and philosopher Agnes Callard, who introduces the concept of the uni-context—a scenario where norms and behaviours are universal across all contexts, replacing the multiple, local contexts of the past. This shift leads to increased focus on universal negatives, the prioritisation of identity over character, and a top-down management of attention, fostering a more abstract and tribal existence in a global marketplace.
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