Finished reading: Wool by Hugh Howey 📚

Excellent story, and fun to experience the book version leading up to the third TV season. Can’t wait to dive into Shift, but should I wait until after I’ve seen its season?

Stunned and saddened to read that Om Malik has passed:

Om Malik passed away on June 24, 2026, at Stanford Hospital after a long health journey with his heart. He was surrounded by family and friends.

My condolences to his loved ones. I’ve been reading Om’s blog for years and always enjoyed his insight, and especially his interweaved creative endeavors. His photography has always been striking. He’ll be missed.

Om’s most recent post was a personal note saying he was taking a break for some time to himself, and to read some mystery novels. I hope he enjoyed them. His final sign off:

Be well.

Finished reading: Steve Jobs in Exile The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary by Geoffrey Cain 📚

Wow, it’s incredible that NeXT technology is at the heart of so much of our tech still today, despite the own-goals that stymied the company from start to finish.

With our rugged terrain and option of unrelenting trails, the Adirondacks make a superb training ground for big mountain goals, both foreign and domestic. We’re proud to have helped clients prepare for their treks across the globe — and that our high peaks keep them coming back. 💪 Can’t wait to hit the trails with you again, @sekoshan!

Review text from S Seko giving five stars to Onward Mountain Guides praising Jarrod for excellent communication and guidance for a South American hiking trip. Smiling hiker posing on rocky terrain amid a forest backdrop. A hiker wearing a green backpack stands on a rocky trail overlooking a dense forest. Text above reads: Before each hike he communicated the night before and in the morning to confirm meeting places and routes. During the trip he set a perfect pace for me and my friend and had perfectly scheduled snack break stops. Jarrod was never concerned about additional stops if we needed to layer up or down stop for pictures get something out of our bags etc. Overall Jarrod was incredibly organized supportive knowledgeable patient and communicative. I honestly had a blast with Jarrod and it won’t be my last time hiking with him

Reflecting one week later on our Presidential Traverse and I’m struck by the drive that Todd has shown in this Northeast Ultra 8 challenge. We’re 3 hikes in, with 66 miles and nearly 30,000 feet of elevation gain under our feet, and there’s no slowing this man down. Very proud to be on his team as he takes on the hardest hikes of the northeast. Our 10 summits last Friday gifted us stunning views with perfect weather. Can’t wait to get back to NH to see more of the White Mountains!

Person wearing a headlamp stands next to a trail sign reading USFS AMC RMC Appalachia Valley Way Airline and Diverging Trails holding paper with text Miles 66-88 The Presidential Traverse Northeast Ultra 8 Hike 3/8 logo for North East Ultra 8 and Forward Mountain Guides surrounded by greenery at night Two men stand on a rocky mountain peak smiling. One gives a thumbs up wearing a blue cap and beige jacket holding a hiking pole. The sky is overcast with distant mountains. Two hikers smile and gesture with peace signs on a rocky mountain summit. One stands holding trekking poles. A wooden sign reads Lowe’s Path Gulfside Trail Gray Knob Cabin. A person wearing outdoor clothing and a blue cap is sitting atop a large rugged boulder, surrounded by a rocky terrain under a clear blue sky. A person wearing hiking gear walks with trekking poles on a snow-covered mountain slope surrounded by rocky terrain under a cloudy sky. A person with a backpack sits on rocky terrain, displaying a hand gesture. They are wearing a blue cap and sunglasses. The surrounding environment includes mountains under a cloudy sky. Two individuals in hiking gear rest on a rocky mountain top with a vast hilly landscape behind them. One person holds a trekking pole. The cap text says Saddle Up And Hike. A person wearing a blue cap and sunglasses stands beside a sign at Mt Washington Summit in Mt Washington State Park 6288 FT 1917 M surrounded by rocky terrain. Two hikers smiling on a rocky mountain summit with expansive views of distant mountains. One wears a beige shirt and blue cap showing hand gestures. The other in red holds trekking poles. Two hikers stand on a rocky mountain summit smiling. One gives a thumbs-up while holding trekking poles. Text on the hat reads KIRKLAND & ELLIS and ONWARD MOUNTAIN GUIDES. A person stands on rocky terrain raising both hands displaying hand signals surrounded by a mountainous landscape wearing hiking gear and a blue cap with text saying Mount Washington Observatory. Two hikers wearing outdoor clothing and sunglasses stand on a rocky trail surrounded by trees. One shows ten fingers indicating a count. The cap reads Kirkland & Ellis. Two people wearing outdoor gear standing on rocky terrain smiling with one giving a thumbs-up and the other holding up hands. They are surrounded by trees and distant mountains. Mountains rise in the distance under a cloudy sky while a rocky terrain with sparse vegetation fills the foreground leading to a green valley in a vast landscape.

A few shots from a week of excellent hikes with Tom. Even though he’s already a 46er, there’s something about these mountains that keeps him coming back. Must be those amazing views! 😍 ☑️Phelps ☑️Giant ☑️Wright ☑️Algonquin ☑️Pitchoff ☑️Indian Head ☑️Colvin

Two people standing on a rocky mountaintop gesture peace signs wearing outdoorsy clothing surrounded by a scenic view of forested mountains and a partly cloudy sky. Man wearing a red shirt and green cap holding a hiking pole stands on a rocky ledge in a lush green mountainous area with a lake in the distance under a blue sky. White flowers bloom with green leaves growing under moss-covered fallen branches in a dense forest setting filled with lush foliage. Hiker wearing a yellow jacket and backpack walking with trekking poles on a rocky mountain summit surrounded by distant peaks under a cloudy sky. Two pairs of feet in hiking boots stand on a rocky surface near a metal survey marker. One pair of legs wears blue pants, the other yellow. Trekking poles are visible to the side. A person wearing a blue cap and green shirt photographs distant forested hills with a smartphone while standing on a rocky outcrop under a cloudy sky. A person in a yellow jacket stands between two large boulders on a rocky surface beneath a cloudy sky. A winding road traverses a lush, green landscape surrounded by dense trees. Mist hovers over a distant mountain, partially obscuring it. The atmosphere is tranquil and overcast. A person stands on a large rock formation wearing hiking gear under a clear blue sky surrounded by lush green mountains and scattered evergreen trees. River flows through a lush green valley flanked by tree-covered mountains under a bright blue sky with clouds. Two people wearing bright jackets stand smiling on a cliff overlooking a lush valley with a winding river under a clear blue sky scattered with clouds. A metal survey marker is embedded in a weathered concrete surface. It is circular with engraved text reading County of Santa Cruz. Pine needles and dirt are scattered on the surface. A person wearing a cap and jacket points at a distant mountain from a viewpoint surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Aspiring 46ers and anyone looking for a fun group experience to summit an ADK high peak, these hikes are for you! Join an OMG expert guide for a focused, educational day on the trail aiming for one of the high peaks. Our small group size keeps things moving with individual attention, and raises our chance for a summit!

June 9: Tabletop with @heyjb.me June 13: Marcy with @rhodes_and_trails (learn all about Marcy’s alpine ecology) June 18: Santanoni with @heyjb.me

Spots on group hikes are hard to come by in the ADK, so we’re pleased to offer these options. Please share!

onwardguides.com/group-events

A mountainous landscape with lush green forests under a cloudy sky. Text reads Upcoming Group Hikes with Onward Mountain Guides. June 9 Tabletop. June 13 Marcy Alpine Ecology. June 18 Santanoni. Small group size 4ppl. Summit a high peak. Friendly guide. $200.

Exciting news! We are thrilled to welcome Katie Rhodes (@rhodes_and_trails) to our guiding team! Katie brings her extensive experience guiding in the high peaks, as well as expertise as a professional ecologist and competitive trail runner. We couldn’t be happier to have her on board to lead hiking and backpacking trips for our clients. We know you’ll enjoy her infectious love for the natural world.

Katie will be leading a group hike up Mt. Marcy on June 13 with a focus on alpine plant life. As you hike, you’ll explore why the mountains look the way they do, what makes these alpine ‘islands in the sky’ so special, and discover some of the state’s rarest plants in bloom!

Register — and see the rest of our group hiking schedule — on our website (link in bio). Spots are limited!

A person wearing a blue shirt and purple pants is crouching on a rock smiling. The background features a colorful autumn forest with vibrant orange and red foliage. Text boxes overlay a landscape with mountains, a clear sky, and close-up foliage with white flowers. Text: Hi, I’m Katie! My journey building outdoor skills started in college where I spent two years learning land navigation, wilderness leadership skills, and outdoor program management — eventually earning my Outdoor Education Association Outdoor Leader accreditation. Since then, I’ve earned my New York State Guide License (#8363) for hiking and camping, my Leave No Trace (LNT) Instructor certification. I’ve also spent time leading a volunteer search and rescue organization, and instructing Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Leadership, and Adirondack Ecology courses. I recognize that I guide on the stolen lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) & Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee) people. A portion of all guiding payments I accept are donated back to the tribes from whose lands we all benefit. I’m passionate about building a relationship with the trails, land, and mountains I’m lucky enough to access, and love empowering others to experience the magic and healing of the wilderness. I spend my days as a conservation ecologist and alpine researcher, and my free time as an avid trail runner. These give me the unique opportunity to share my knowledge of both the trails and the ecosystems around them. While I feel a deep connection to all wild places, the Adirondack High Peaks are my home away from home, and I am currently working to publish my research on temporal changes in Adirondack alpine vegetation in order to further our understanding of this special place. Purple flowers bloom vibrantly atop a lush mountain ridge under a cloudy blue sky. Text reads Alpine Ecology Group Hike with Katie Limited spots Mt. Marcy June 13. Pink flowers bloom among dense green foliage and intertwined branches on a forest floor scattered with dry twigs and moss. A bee lands on a cluster of white flowers amid a lush green garden setting. A person wearing a knitted hat and backpack smiles in a mountainous landscape with snow caps. In the top corner, text reads ONWARD MOUNTAIN GUIDES.

✅ Our second trail of the Northeast Ultra 8: The Devil’s Path. 28 miles and nearly 10,000 feet of elevation gain made for an intense day. But the dry conditions, good scenery, and great company were all wonderful. It’s so cool to see Todd attack this challenge with gusto, and walk away having learned new lessons to apply each time.

A person wearing a headlamp holds a sign reading Mile 38 Elka Park NY Prediger Trailhead The Devil’s Path Northeast Ultra 8 Hike 2/8 in a dimly lit outdoor area near an information board. Trees stand tall against a vibrant sunset sky with hues of orange and pink filtering through dense forest foliage creating a serene natural atmosphere. Person lying horizontally inside a narrow rock crevice, wearing a red cap and blue jacket, surrounded by a forest floor with scattered stones and foliage. A person stands holding hiking poles silhouetted against a vibrant sunset on a mountain trail surrounded by lush trees and overlooking an expansive landscape. A densely forested hill sits under a vibrant evening sky with scattered clouds and a fading sunset casting a warm glow across the landscape. Two hikers smiling in the forest while one holds a hiking pole and the other makes a peace sign wearing colorful jackets and backpacks surrounded by trees and rocks. White flowers with pink centers bloom among green leaves and a fallen branch in a forest setting, surrounded by dried leaves on the ground. A winding tree root grows over moss-covered rocks, partially obscuring a path through a dense forest. A pink item is visible among the rocks, adding color to the scene. A dense forest covers a hilly landscape with evergreens and deciduous trees at dusk. The sky above displays soft pastel hues from the setting sun, adding warmth to the scene. A hiker wearing a red cap and blue long-sleeve shirt stands on a rocky forest trail holding a hiking pole surrounded by green trees with mountains visible in the background. A person stands on a rocky ledge holding a trekking pole amidst lush green forest with branches overhead. They wear a red cap and hiking attire. A large rock formation with moss and lichen creates a narrow passage beneath. A small red disc with unreadable text is attached to a rock. Surrounding tall trees provide a green canopy. A person in outdoor attire points at a tree marked with a red circular sign reading “Private” while hiking in a dense forest. A tall metal fire lookout tower stands on a grassy hill beside a small brown wooden cabin surrounded by dense evergreen trees under an overcast sky.

Nick Heer tested Siri AI against its original third-party version, and Apple’s 2018-era version:

Though this is a test conducted on the very first version of Siri A.I. from a fixed point in Calgary, it seems to work quite well. So far, it is better than any version of Siri Apple has released yet and, as you can see above, it is almost as good as the original 2010 demo, before Apple acquired the company.

Glad it’s finally improving. That the 2010 version still has a leg up in some regards, though, is brutal.

🧵 WWDC26 Tidbits Thread. I love scouring the web for all the little things making it into each year’s OS releases! Here are some of my favorites…

🧵 WWDC26 Keynote Thread… Let’s see what’s in store!

Watched: The Pitt Season 1 📺

This show captured my attention like nothing else I’ve seen lately. Really A+ television. It’s also given me newfound respect for the work my wife does. She worked in a trauma center for a few years, and is now an emergency department PA. Tough stuff.

😍

May the 4th be with you. We couldn’t resist; Limited Edition 019 is here, featuring a glossy white body (which Cerakote appropriately calls “Stormtrooper White”) with black accents. As always, available for one week only, then gone forever! studioneat.com/products/limite

Limited Edition 019

I can’t believe I’m signing up for Flickr because Squarespace no longer offers a native photo gallery block that isn’t an entire page section. 🙄 It’s become so tedious to edit my business website that I actively avoid it—a real problem. The idea of rebuilding elsewhere is daunting, but I’ve got to.

Finished reading: Apple - The First 50 Years by David Pogue 📚

Fantastic book. I really like Pogue’s writing style. One for the annals of Apple history.

Please, can we stop with “Twitter/X” thing? Twitter is long dead. It’s X now. That’s its name. Just call it by its name. Don’t dignify X with any of the caché that the Twitter brand might still hold.

In honor of Apple TV announcing that Ted Lasso’s fourth season is coming in August, I’m wearing my custom-made AFC Richmond Squad shirt! ⚽️

Available on the HeyDingus Store. 😉

A person taking a selfie in a room with a shelf of folded clothes on the right and jackets hanging on the wall behind. The person is wearing a black T-shirt with white text listing names: “Ted&, Beard&, Keeley&, Rebecca&, Higgins&, Nate&, Roy&, Jamie&, Sam&, Dani.” They have a short haircut and are smiling at the camera. They’re wearing yellow shorts and have a red watch on their left wrist.

WordPress made… Micro.blog? From their new ‘social’ blog theme announcement:

Here’s what makes this different from a social app: every quick thought and every reblog is a real WordPress.com post on a site you own, and every reply is saved as a comment. You get the speed and feel of a social feed, with the permanence and portability of a blog. Export it, back it up, migrate it to another host. It’s yours.

I love the new goal arc in Pedometer++. It’s a good reference to the Apple Watch’s fitness rings, but distinct and easier to fit onscreen. But what I like most is the visual of effort required to complete your goal. It’s hard to get started (going “uphill” on the arc) but once you get halfway, you might as well ride the downhill to the finish!

To start with the home screen has been clarified to be more legible at a glance. With some incredibly fun (to use and to make) animations to celebrate when you reach your goal.

Had a blast re-upping my Wilderness First Responder certification this week! There are a lot of things that can go wrong in the backcountry — this training helps us to be ready to help you. Big thanks to our awesome instructors from @wildmed and @adkmtnclub, plus the rest of the student team, who made this week great. ⛑️

Three people are gathered around a wooden picnic table in a forest clearing examining various camping gear and supplies including a yellow plastic board and a red thermos. A group of people carrying an individual on a stretcher through a forested area with a small wooden cabin nearby under tall trees. Man standing on a picnic table places hands on another man’s shoulders as two others watch in a forest setting with equipment on the table.

You know what? That is a lot of products to figure out how to develop, manufacture, price, market, sell, and ship to millions of customers in dozens of countries around the world. It boggles the mind.

Apple Products & Services Introduced During the Tim Cook Era.

Summer High Peak hiking will be in full swing before you know it! Get your day booked with the highest-rated guide service in the ADK before we fill up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A man wearing a hat stands outdoors against a clear blue sky and trees. Text reads: Derrick MacDonald 6 reviews 6 months ago 5 stars I had a great time with Jarrod yesterday hiking my first & second High Peaks He was well prepared polite, and a great communicator He really helped me achieve this goal I will definitely be asking him for his services again in the future

John Gruber looking from a different angle:

I don’t think you can argue that Cook ever did anything for any reason other than what he believed was in the company’s best interest. […] There’s a nobility to his singleminded focus on Apple itself, as an abiding institution, and his faith that what’s best for Apple will ultimately prove best for everyone involved with it: employees, shareholders, users, and, yes, even developers. […]

And, if you agree that Apple itself was Jobs’s greatest product, Cook really is a product person after all.

Jeez, he’s a good writer.

David Sparks offers his view as someone who has been behind-the-scenes of other corporate transitions — Ternus is unsurprising; change will come slowly; he’s optimistic:

What happens next is the harder question. Apple is too big to change direction quickly. New CEOs at companies this size do not reshape the company in their first year. They learn where the levers are. They keep the trains running. The real signal of Ternus’s hand on the tiller will come later, probably well into 2027 or beyond. What products get greenlit. What gets killed. How the company talks about itself.