The Desk
The Desk — Edition 88
Welcome to the 88th issue of the Desk. The Desk is my weekly newsletter covering newly published content and project updates.
Brandon Himpfen
Open Knowledge
Introducing Data & Analytics as a First-Class Category in Awesome Lists
An analytical explanation of why Data & Analytics is being introduced as a first-class category in Awesome Lists, and what this shift reveals about modern systems, governance, and long-term knowledge infrastructure.
Publishing Systems
Why Consistency Matters More Than Frequency in Publishing
An analytical look at why consistency matters more than frequency in publishing, exploring incentives, reader expectations, sustainability, and long-term credibility.
Systems & Ecosystems
Awesome Travel: From Resources to a Dedicated Ecosystem
An analytical look at how travel resources evolve into a sustainable ecosystem, exploring curation, incentives, and long-term structure in travel knowledge.
The Desk
The Desk — Edition 87
Welcome to the 87th issue of the Desk. The Desk is my weekly newsletter covering newly published content and project updates.
Infrastructure Design
Designing a Stable Entry Point for a Growing Project Network
As projects evolve into networks, the point of entry becomes infrastructure. This article examines what makes an entry point stable, why neutrality matters, and how separating routing from explanation improves long-term system durability.
Open Source
Better WP Search v1.1: A Small Plugin Refresh That Makes WordPress Search Feel Better
Better WP Search v1.1 modernizes a lightweight WordPress plugin that improves default search UX by redirecting single-result searches and replacing messy /?s=query URLs with clean /search/query links.
Travel
What Makes a Travel Source Trustworthy in 2026?
A grounded look at what makes travel information credible in 2026, including incentives, maintenance, uncertainty, platform pressure, and why the most trustworthy sources emphasize constraints and tradeoffs instead of hype.
The Desk
The Desk — Edition 86
Welcome to the 86th issue of the Desk. The Desk is my weekly newsletter covering newly published content and project updates.
Travel
100+ Reasons Solo Travelers Choose SoloTraveler.org
SoloTraveler.org is built for independent solo travelers who value openness, practical resources, and confidence over paywalls and fear-based travel advice. Explore 100+ reasons travelers choose a modern, accessible, traveler-first solo travel resource.
Open Data
How Open Data Changes the Way We Evaluate Information
Open data changes how we evaluate information by shifting trust from authority to verifiability, exposing tradeoffs, and improving long-term credibility through transparency and shared scrutiny.
AI
prompts: A Practical Prompt Library for Real-World Use
prompts by Brandon Himpfen is a practical prompt library and prompt builder for AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Browse reusable Beginner and Power User templates for writing, planning, studying, travel, tech help and everyday tasks.