Hi Friends,

Wow, a lot has changed in the last few years. Have you noticed?

Communication chains have been compressed, while supply chains have been stretched. Zoom has brought everyone closer together, but handshakes and hugs are harder to come by. 250mbps connections are now slow, while 5-day delivery seems zippy. Once only a minor horror —getting on a plane has turned into an Orwellian nightmare of invasive probing, medical questioning, and existential dread. Trying to find an empty row on a plane is not purely an exercise of comfort but rather one of preventing infection. Recently, they have brought back booze to most flights, so I think we’re trending in the right direction.

Over the last few years, the Dorsia team has moved on to new projects, ventures, and adventures. We explored some new verticals, tried new business models, and ended up in places we never imagined. Unfortunately, during this period, I let the site fall into disarray; images stopped loading, a lack of updates prevented the app from being listed, and the content pipe dried up. In addition, the weight of the infrastructure made the system hard to repair while we were focusing on new ideas and projects. I should have taken it down or fixed it sooner—my apologies.

The post-pandemic (or rather, post-infected) world has radically changed the travel landscape. The major tourist trails have been blocked off. Beloved institutions have shuttered their doors. Some of our dearest proprietors have been lost. With all the bad, there has been some good. Cities reclaimed territory from throngs of sign-wielding tour directors, sightseeing buses now block fewer intersections, and natives have been able to reinterpret the relationship with their surroundings. The reduction of visitors has seriously impacted the livelihoods of our neighbors, but new ideas and creative use of spaces — places once occupied by trinket shops hocking “Welcome to NY, Now Duck Motherfucker” T-shirts have taken root.

Over the next few months, I will be exploring how Dorsia should evolve in this new world. A societal realignment of values, a heightened focus on craft, and most importantly — a greater appreciation for hospitality workers who put their lives on the line to keep us entertained and nourished, will impact what it means to be a travel guide. In addition, I will be focusing on reducing the technical overhead, so there can be a greater focus on keeping content up to date, and hopefully introduce a collaborative element with Dorsia’s users.

I have taken the site down until I have something new and improved to put up. In the meantime, please reach out to me at andrew [at] dorsia [dot] io, with any ideas you have. I’m all ears.

I am looking forward to hearing from you and excited about what's to come.

Yours Truly,

Andrew
@armynante
1/12/22