About

Fresh From Cache™ is a technology publication for people who use technology every day and occasionally want someone to explain what's actually going on.

News, how-tos, and explainers on the things that should have come with a better manual. No assumptions about what you already know.

Who's writing it

I'm Joel. I've spent over a decade in IT, which mostly means a long time watching capable people get tripped up by things that didn't need to be this complicated. I run Calmbit, an IT consulting business in Oregon, and I manage IT for a healthcare organization by day.

I like the moment when something clicks for someone. When the thing that felt impossible five minutes ago suddenly makes sense, and you can see it on their face. That feeling is why I got into this work. It's also why I started writing about it.

FFC is also, if I'm being honest, something I built because it made me nervous. Putting a point of view into the world is different from fixing a problem at someone's desk. I'm doing it anyway.

How FFC is made

I use AI as a writing tool, and I'd rather tell you exactly how than leave you guessing. It works differently depending on what you're reading.

• News posts: I have Claude (Anthropic's AI) draft these in my voice from sources I pick, then I review and correct every line before anything goes out.
• Learn, Blog, and how-to pieces: I write these myself. Claude handles mechanical cleanup only, spelling, punctuation, the typo I missed.
• Social posts: drafted by an automation running Claude, and I approve each one before it posts.

Two things hold for everything here, no exceptions. I verify every concrete fact myself before it publishes, and every editorial call is mine. The byline is real, and a person read the piece before you did.

Stay in the loop

New posts go out through the newsletter, one email on Tuesday mornings.

Last updated June 2026.