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Spencer Wright @pencerw

Fortune favors @the_prepared

Joined April 2009
  • Posts 12,244
  • Following 1,447
  • Followers 2,739
614 Photos and videos
In the 21st century, it's easy to imagine that all technological progress stems from science. But holding a piece of mason's twine, I thought: How did pre-scientific technologies develop? And what do their stories mean for modern concepts of progress? scopeofwork.net/progress-unr…

Progress Unraveled

How did modern-looking rope develop in a society bereft of science?

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Spencer Wright @pencerw
28 Apr 2025
Just published a new essay: "Import, Immature." It’s about the weirdness of buying things (bourbon, sneakers, canned tuna) in 2025, and an attempt to make sense of globalization, trade wars, and tariffs. Hope you enjoy it: scopeofwork.net/import-immat…

Import, Immature.

It's complicated to buy things — anything, really — in 2025.

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Spencer Wright @pencerw
31 Mar 2025
Ever wonder why silica gel desiccant packets are everywhere—in snacks, sneakers, and your new 3D printer filament? I went down the rabbit hole. It’s about porous glass, global shipping, and the infrastructure of dryness. scopeofwork.net/silica-gel/

How Silica Gel Took Over the World

Silica gel packets seem like the only thing keeping our packaged food crispy and our belongings free of mildew. How on earth did they all get here?

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Chris notices the honorable and beautiful parts of labor, and spotlights them with incredible grace. I'm grateful to have been able to see him at work, and so happy to share his gorgeous photography alongside my writing!
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I'm *so* proud to share my profile of Chris Payne, whose industrial photography I've followed for years. Shadowing Chris was an absolute pleasure, and it was inspiring to see him observe other people working. scopeofwork.net/the-honorabl…

The Honorable Parts.

How industrial photographer Christopher Payne spotlights the good in American labor.

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Spencer Wright @pencerw
30 Jan 2024
I never would have thought I'd earn a living as a writer. Lots of weeks (including this one, in ways) it's pretty tough. But the energizing moments—when you surprise yourself, or make yourself laugh, or just press <send> and feel a genuine sense of accomplishment—are pretty sweet
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Spencer Wright @pencerw
30 Jan 2024
I find myself very proud of this week's issue of Scope of Work, which revives some of the formatting of earlier years—with, I think, much more flavorful prose. scopeofwork.net/notes-2024-0…
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Walter Hickey @WaltHickey
12 Sep 2023
Check out this morning's Numlock, which features stories by @a_w_gordon @emilyrsiegel @bbc @dani_lsc @StephenWilmot @pencerw @Stevetdent @krupapadhybbc @BobVanVoris numlock.com/p/numlock-news-s…

Numlock News: September 12, 2023 • Aibo, Elephants, Popeyes

By Walt Hickey

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Sarah Zhang @sarahzhang
30 May 2023
"The world before rubber came into its prime – which is to say, the world before about 1900 – was inflexible, slippery, and poorly cushioned." Really enjoyed this week's @the_prepared on latex: scopeofwork.net/on-latex/?re…
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Helen Leigh ⚡ @helenleigh
10 Apr 2023
In NYC on April 27th? I'm hosting a pre-@ohsummit Hardware Happy Hour in @the_prepared's awesome Brooklyn workshop. Join us for onigiri, beers and nerding out! eventbrite.com/e/hardware-ha…

Hardware Happy Hour - Brooklyn edition

Hardware Happy Hour is an informal way to socialize, show off your projects, and talk about the world of hardware.

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infraterrestrial @hpredko
10 Sep 2022
I'm honestly pretty bummed the news cycle has been a whole lot and hasn't given space for @APndrgrst and @k_pendergrast's immaculate piece about plywood. theprepared.org/features-fee…

Scope of Work

Excellent writing about how things are made — and how it feels to live with them.

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20x200 @20x200
23 Jun 2022
"Fred Scharmen is an architect, professor, and researcher who guides readers through the many proposals for living in space that have been put forward over the decades, exploring the history of ideas as much as the history of technologies." theprepared.org/features-fee…

Scope of Work

Excellent writing about how things are made — and how it feels to live with them.

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The Maintainers @The_Maintainers
27 May 2022
When considering single-use plastic, we don't usually visualize warehouses and industrial containers. Here is a fascinating account on stretch wrap by our friends @k_pendergrast and @APndrgrst, via @the_prepared theprepared.org/features-fee…
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@joeycastillo@mastodon.social @josecastillo
12 May 2022
Hey you! Are you in the New York area? Interested in hardware-oriented stuff? Drop by the workshop of @the_prepared in Brooklyn this evening! 5:30 or so; we’re hosting a Hardware Happy Hour with @helenleigh of @crowd_supply. Details here: eventbrite.com/e/hardware-ha…

Hardware Happy Hour - Brooklyn edition

Hardware Happy Hour is an informal way to socialize, show off your projects, and talk about the world of hardware.

eventbrite.com
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Matt (Joyal.eth)🌟 @Matt_Joyal
5 May 2022
A great history lesson on just-in-time manufacturing and how it played into the supply chain issues of today theprepared.org/features-fee… @the_prepared
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Scope of Work @the_prepared
23 Mar 2022
More reflections on time in this week's issue by @pencerw - from the pocket watch enabling accurate longitudinal measurements to the cesium clock enabling GPS. theprepared.org/newsletter-a…

Scope of Work

Excellent writing about how things are made — and how it feels to live with them.

scopeofwork.net
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Scope of Work @the_prepared
9 Mar 2022
After 107 years, Endurance has proven an apt name. 🚢
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(((Matthew Lewis))) cults & consequences @mateosfo
10 Feb 2022
This is an oil pipeline
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Amreeta @hashtagAmreeta
28 Feb 2022
I guest curated this week’s @the_prepared, a weekly newsletter mostly about manufacturing. Read about cryogenic rate solder 👩🏽‍🏭, spacesuit gloves 👩🏼‍🚀 , and the future of ERP systems 🛍 here! theprepared.org/newsletter-a…
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kottke.org @kottke
18 Feb 2022
A report on how the city of Montreal deals quickly and decisively with all the snow they get during a typical winter. "Sidewalks, bike paths, and streets are all cleared in a snow removal effort that is choreographed and masterful." theprepared.org/features-fee…
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