--- title: The last quiet thing, secret reference desk & Grok date: 2026-04-21 source: mailchimp original: https://mailchi.mp/pathwright/collider-april-21-26 retrieved: 2026-11-09 visibility: public author: /people/justin-hall.person.md --- # The last quiet thing, secret reference desk & Grok [![Inside George Nakashima’s home and workshop](./assets/hero.webp)](https://youtu.be/tVbC_8kLdso) *Inside George Nakashima’s [home and workshop](https://youtu.be/tVbC_8kLdso)* The links are in the liminal space between Spring Break and Summer Vacation. This time we’re colliding the last quiet thing, a secret reference desk, crowds admiring cats, how GPS actually works and a report from last week’s Grok Conf. More on that last one next. Please skip around, read what you want to. Find something interesting in your own internet travels? Send me a link —JH --- *This Just In* ## Grok Conf Report ![Opening sessions / Photo Credit: Zach Suggs](./assets/feature-1.webp) *Opening sessions / Photo Credit: Zach Suggs* This time last week I was programming 170 NFC chips with my coworker Paul. We were prepping for [Grok Conf](https://atlaslocal.com/grok-26), an annual tech conference in Greenville, South Carolina. It ran Wednesday night through Friday. I’m still worn out from it (in the best way), but here’s some highlights. ![Paper crafts with Kelli Anderson during her keynote / Photo Credit: Zach Suggs](./assets/feature-2.webp) *Paper crafts with [Kelli Anderson](https://kellianderson.com/index.html) during her keynote / Photo Credit: Zach Suggs* Attendees were about 50/50 returnees and new folks by my count. The perfect blend! [People](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/makayla-cuthbertson-011496203_grok26-ugcPost-7451041082072678400-ZzzJ) [who](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/benten-woodring_grok-conference-wrapped-last-week-and-id-ugcPost-7452072831812710400-VRSd) [came](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dianamounter_grok-conf-26-unconference-for-web-pals-share-7450210107813957632-arJW) [said](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drewstanley_gettin-grok-y-this-week-always-a-banger-activity-7449553416353320960-Tu95) [a](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brandonreader_holy-grokamole-grok-conference-first-day-activity-7450596041839792128-9_55) [lot](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robertgonzal_its-hard-to-pick-a-favorite-grok-conference-activity-7451057959154913280-ElBI) [of](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cherishbenton_grok26-engineering-developers-activity-7452093069945995264-MQeX) [nice](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7451090342646370304-JhQ9) [things](https://startupgvl.com/new/grok-2026/) [about](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/itsandrewcarver_grok2026-ugcPost-7451296680672399360-U4pB) [it.](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisbmerritt_yesterday-was-the-last-day-of-grok-conference-ugcPost-7451423781300031488-PnEp) ![Grok Conf badge front](./assets/feature-3.webp) *Grok Conf badge front* The custom aluminum badges I designed featured NFC chips that opened a bleeding-edge path full of experimental UI and tech Mark built. Paul and I programmed them so that each badge’s chip matched up with each attendee. ![Grok Conf badge back](./assets/feature-4.webp) *Grok Conf badge back* But outside tech, hearing people connect and process the opportunity and challenge of today was lovely. It’s easy to think that emerging tech calls all the shots. But deep craft, humanity and community shape what actually matters. Keynote speaker [Matt Lehman](http://mattlehmanstudio.com/) quoted it best: “Move me, dude.” We still want to feel something. ![Bro is moved / Photo Credit: Zach Suggs](./assets/feature-5.webp) *Bro is moved / Photo Credit: Zach Suggs* Look for conferences, meet-ups, bookclubs, whatever in your own area. Even I, a person born without an outside voice and who’s more comfortable in my own studio, love getting out and rubbing elbows with folks I don’t know—yet. —JH --- ## Dead Cat *10 curious links that would have killed the cat* [@include](./01-the-last-quiet-thing.link.md) [@include](./02-inside-george-nakashimas-japanese-style-home-and-workshop.link.md) [@include](./03-google-has-a-secret-reference-desk.link.md) [@include](./04-a-visual-explainer-on-the-physics-of-how-gps-works.link.md) [@include](./05-what-live-work-spaces-have-looked-like-through-the-ages.link.md) [@include](./06-how-imax-70mm-film-is-projected.link.md) [@include](./07-residents-of-minneapolis-put-their-cats-in-the-window-and.link.md) [@include](./08-loved-coming-across-the-term-sloppypasta-noun-verbatim-llm.link.md) [@include](./09-the-pioneering-coffee-house-serving-since-1645.link.md) [@include](./10-cinnamon-toast-vanilla-sourdough-cookies.link.md) --- ## New at HQ *in Greenville, SC* After last week’s experiments with NFC chips, a custom path for Grok and brainloads of new ideas, the Lab at HQ is a shambles. We’re [still collating](https://youtu.be/mliy1Cs_XdQ?t=112). More updates next time. --- Until next time, [bee good](https://youtu.be/JMG1Nl7uWko). High five, [Justin Hall](https://www.pathwright.com/about#humans)\ Editor, Partner at [Pathwright](https://www.pathwright.com/)