---
title: "Dispatch #36 (February 2026)"
date: 2026-01-29T22:40:09-05:00
draft: false
tags:
- dispatch
references:
- title: "Dan McQuade, 1983–2026 | Defector"
  url: https://defector.com/dan-mcquade-1983-2026
  date: 2026-01-30T03:40:45Z
  file: defector-com-hefgsb.txt
- title: "Food Comas and Some Bests • Buttondown"
  url: https://buttondown.com/nathanlong/archive/food-comas-and-some-bests/
  date: 2026-01-06T18:39:37Z
  file: buttondown-com-lxmsti.txt
- title: "3 books with Samuel Arbesman (Interconnected)"
  url: https://interconnected.org/home/2025/11/14/arbesman
  date: 2026-01-06T18:40:18Z
  file: interconnected-org-9bc7pq.txt
---

Greetings from snowy Durham, North Carolina. [...]

Fortunately, our work is pretty flexible

The only real downside
  - Too cold for all my hobbies

{{<dither IMG_3192.jpeg "782x600">}}Bundled up in a double stroller, both kids happily munching snacks on a chilly street.{{</dither>}}
{{<dither IMG_3258.jpeg "782x600">}}Snowy woods selfie: bundled mom and baby, rosy cheeks, winter headbands, big smiles.{{</dither>}}

{{<dither IMG_3244.jpeg "782x600">}}Pink pom-pom hat, tiny hands in the snow, and a big winter laugh.{{</dither>}}
{{<dither IMG_3260.jpeg "782x600">}}Bundled up and ready for a snowy sled ride.{{</dither>}}

- Miami
- DC
  - Peppa Pig
  - Baby shower
  - Car died
- New car
- Anxiety around politics
- Nico’s a full-on dude
  - Opened the door to find him waking up and saying “hi dad”
- Voice note shortcut
- Dilbert / J.K. Rowling / Om Malik
  - Online makes you dumber
- Stencil + Airbrush
  - <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTB2N2D9>

<!--more-->

Finally, [RIP Dan McQuade][1]. 43 years old. What the hell. I'm off to go hug my family.

[1]: https://defector.com/dan-mcquade-1983-2026

### This Month

* Adventure:
* Project:
* Skill:

### Reading & Listening

* Fiction: [_The Will of the Many_][2], James Islington ([via][3])
* Non-fiction: [_The Magic of Code_][4], Samuel Arbesman  ([via][5])
* Music: I've got a bit of a backlog here; gonna spend some time with the records I already have (assuming the basement warms up)

[2]: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Will-of-the-Many/James-Islington/Hierarchy/9781982141189
[3]: https://buttondown.com/nathanlong/archive/food-comas-and-some-bests/
[4]: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/samuel-arbesman/the-magic-of-code/9781541704480/
[5]: https://interconnected.org/home/2025/11/14/arbesman

### Links

* [Title][6]
* [Title][7]
* [Title][8]

[6]: https://example.com/
[7]: https://example.com/
[8]: https://example.com/