This Manual Gives Complete Descriptions

A short story of the Unix Programmer's Manual

History is a process of transforming monuments from the past into documents

—Michel Foucault

I often drive into New Jersey recreationally, seeking state parks and reservations with fresher air than whatever the Gramercy Park sky above me has. It was on one such drive that I sought out the natural tranquility of a particular wildlife preserve in Union Coun…