Why Start a Blog?
With the rise of surveillance capitalism and authoritarian political leadership, I left most social media platforms for 6months starting at the end of 2024; this was the second time I left all social media, previously I had left social media from 2017-2020. I reactivated my accounts in April 2025 only for sharing posts from this website (the apps remain not installed on my phone). I am deeply concerned about the way algorithms are being used to shift toward a neofeudalistic world order controlled by a few billionaire oligarchs.
I am eternally grateful for everything I have learned from my friends on Instagram, Facebook, and various other online spaces. I’ve also forged real friendships through the use of social media.
As someone born in the late 1980s who didn’t have reliable internet access until my teenage years, I fondly remember the days of decentralized blogs that weren’t moderated by algorithms.
The goal of this blog is to put my money where my mouth is (or ideals are) and continue sharing information with the world.
What is the goal and focus of this project?
I expect to have a broad focus, some of the topics I am looking to cover here are:
- Botany
- Forestry
- Carpentry
- Wildlife Photography and Observations
- Canoe Camping Skills
- Winter Camping
- Winter Trekking
- Gear Reviews
- How I use technology
- Thoughts on the current state of the world
In the end this is a place for me to share what is on my mind and what interests me; and I have broad interests.
Why call it The North Endures?
“The North Remembers” is a phrase in Game of Thrones from House Stark that carries a lot of weight for me.
Here’s what it symbolizes:
- Loyalty and Tradition: The North is fiercely independent and holds onto its traditions. This phrase highlights their long memory and commitment to the past. They don’t forget slights or betrayals easily.
- Justice and Vengeance: It suggests that the North will avenge those who have wronged them. They have a strong sense of justice and will not let injustices go unpunished.
- Resilience and Strength: The North has endured harsh conditions and numerous hardships. “The North Remembers” implies their resilience and ability to overcome adversity. They are not easily broken.
- Warning and Threat: It can also serve as a warning to those who might cross them. It sends a message that the North is not to be trifled with and that they will remember any offense.
Essentially, “The North Remembers” is a reminder that the North is a force to be reckoned with. They are loyal, strong, and have a long memory for both good and ill.
“The North Endures” is a play on the idea of House Stark’s motto while acknowledging the times that we are living through. Endurance is going to be the theme of the following years.
“It is going to get worse before it gets worse.”
“We are already in the American Years of Lead.”
“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” ― Antonio Gramsci
While the lines above sound like I am nihilistic or misanthropic, I am actually very optimistic about humanity’s future.
Will you be using LLMs to write articles?
All of the content generated on this website will be new content I have written for this project, or for other projects that have since decommissioned.
As someone who has always been highly proficient with technical writing both in School\University and subsequently in my career; I have always had trouble with essay and composition writing.
When being creative I also struggle with the feeling of “being watched” or the feeling that I have to “justify” what I am saying to the person proofreading or observing me while being creative — this often collapses my ability to be creative in that moment.
I do have dyslexia, dyspraxia, and am likely on the autism spectrum having someone (or something) proofread will make reading this blog more appealing — Sometimes the person proofreading this blog with be one of the major LLMs (ideally, a LLM ran on my own sandboxed server).