My name is Gareth Branwyn. I like to disguise myself as a mild-mannered reporter working the technology and pop/fringe culture beats. I’m the former Editorial Director of MAKE, and have contributed to Boing Boing, Wired, Esquire, I.D., and numerous other magazines and dailies. I’ve also written and edited over a dozen books, including the Mosaic Quick Tour, the first book about the World Wide Web. Arlington, Virginia is where I hang my propeller beanie. When not working, I like to pass the time contemplating my navel (it’s an “innie”), dog paddling the media spew, and generally lapping up as much life experience as possible.
Don’t let the Welsh name fool you. I’m a half Lebanese/half Norwegian dude from the malodorous tobacco fields of Chesterfield, Virginia. So how did I get the name “Gareth Branwyn?” It’s a long story, involving a broken heart, a bottle o’ moonshine, a fistful of pharmaceuticals, and a bigshot magazine editor. I’ll tell you about it sometime over a beer or frappuccino.
[Image inset by Danny Hellman]
Mind Bone: Gareth Branwyn's Blog 
Just a quick comment to say I found your writing by following a trail of crumbs, one article link after another, after reading about the loss of Datamancer. (Someone posted a link to your article.)
You have an intriguing outlook. I know sometimes it’s good to know new folks are still out here reading what you write. And I am. (You can see what I make at my wordpress site – hope it amuses you.)
Go forth and be interesting!
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Hello Gareth,
I’m writing to follow up on our brief conversation in the company of Sandy Stone after the panel at #Cyberpunk2014. I’d like to connect you with my peers on Consumers Union’s patient safety team, who are working on medical device warranties – specifically hip and knee implants.
http://safepatientproject.org/
Could you send me an email address you’d like me to use to facilitate an introduction?
It was very nice to meet you this weekend, and thank you for participating in the event!
Thank you,
Gregory Foster
Consumers Union & EFF-Austin
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Hi Gareth,
I read your article on the 3D freehand drawer and I thought it was really cool. Is there an instructables or any sort of documentation explaining how to make it?
http://makezine.com/2010/08/17/3d-freehand-drawer/
Would you be able to put me in touch with MadSimon? Feel free to forward him my email.
Thanks!
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Mr. Branwyn,
I am an artist who enjoyed your recent interview on Erik Davis’s podcast. When you mentioned being a research fellow at GMU I decided to look you up (I relocated to Northern VA not too long ago). I am interested in maker culture and curious about groups/events going on in the DC area. Any you can recommend?
Thanks, and I will be sure to check out the new book.
-Clint Bagwell
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Hey Clint,
Nice to make your acquaintance. (Sorry for the delayed response.) There are a number of great hackerspaces in our area. I would definitely recommend checking out HacDC (http://www.hacdc.org/) and NoVa Labs (http://www.nova-labs.org/blog/). There’s also ReverseSpace in Herndon (which I don’t really know much about). And there’s FabLab DC (http://www.fablabdc.org/) (which is great), IdeaSpace (https://www.ideaspacedc.com/), and the new TechShop in Arlington (http://www.techshop.ws/arlington.html). Lots of good stuff going on.
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