Category Archives: Addiction

Another time garbage nearly brought me to tears

on January 27, 2026 in Addiction, Doof, Habits, PollutionAndDepletion, SIDCHAs

Two days ago I posted My first time since starting not finding litter in Washington Square Park, because over six inches of snow covered it. Since I committed to picking up at least three pieces per day until three days pass when I can’t find three pieces to pick up, I wondered if the snow would make it possible. I also offered to take any bets that people would litter.[…] Keep reading →

My first time since starting not finding litter in Washington Square Park, because over six inches of snow covered it.

on January 25, 2026 in Addiction, Doof, Habits, PollutionAndDepletion, SIDCHAs

I’ve committed to picking up at least three pieces of litter from the northwest corner of Washington Square Park since it became overrun with fentanyl, meth, and all that results from it during the pandemic. I decided I’d keep up the sidcha until three days passed in which I couldn’t trivially find three pieces of litter, as I wrote three years ago in On when I should stop picking up[…] Keep reading →

There will always be something just beyond our grasp we crave. Or we can learn to stop craving.

on January 20, 2026 in Addiction, Choosing/Decision-Making, Freedom

Artificial intelligence is just the latest instance of a technology that, by polluting and depleting, deprive people of life, liberty, and property without due process of law. People think of the perks it might bring them despite violating the Constitution. So they convince themselves that it will actually benefit those it hurts. They can’t say exactly how, but they think if we just use more of it, it will somehow[…] Keep reading →

How do we know the people living here when Europeans arrived were indigenous?

on December 1, 2025 in Addiction, Awareness, Freedom

First I have to make as clear as possible: I oppose imperialism, colonialism, and outcomes they produce such as slavery, racism, genocide, and the coercive, often violent and deadly destruction of cultures, including indigenous ones. That opposition contributes significantly to my work, since living unsustainably drives all those results. In light of that connection, since I know no one even trying to live sustainably, which is necessary to lead others[…] Keep reading →

Top 2025 Christmas Gifts … or landfill within a week?

on November 26, 2025 in Addiction, Tips

Below shows the results if you search Amazon for “Top 2025 Christmas gifts.” I will bet over 95 percent of them will be in landfills, bottoms of drawers never to be used again, or some equivalent by the end of January. I’m pretty live-and-let-live about what makes people happy (though not when it hurts someone else without consent), but I couldn’t find one item there whose existence made the world[…] Keep reading →

My first time doing a NY Times crossword puzzle

on November 22, 2025 in Addiction, Habits

Last week I was working at the library. I ran out of scrap paper. They have a bunch. On the other side of a sheet was something they provide every day: the New York Times crossword puzzle. It was a couple days old when I got it, hence it being scrap. I was about to use the back side, which was the side I wanted. I scanned a few clues[…] Keep reading →

My short conversation with a guy injecting heroin into his neck in broad daylight, steps from my front door

on November 20, 2025 in Addiction, Relationships, Stories

I walked past this fire truck the other day. It was bright daylight, not nighttime, like when I took this picture. I saw a guy standing about where the “18” is on the truck’s bumper, facing toward the truck, doing something with some stuff on the bumper, keeping it hidden, looking at himself in the reflection on the chrome on the grill. He was focused on what he was doing[…] Keep reading →

Today’s business models: Why we fight to keep what makes us miserable

on November 19, 2025 in Addiction, Freedom

People have figured out business models to lock people in: Find what people want, deliver it, then become the intermediary. That is, cut them off from it without you. The results Now people think Facebook and American Airlines connect them with family even though they cut us off from them. They we Instagram brings us friends even though it cuts us off from them. We think restaurants bring food but[…] Keep reading →

The average American spends 5 hours per day on social media but claims not to have time to cook. Yeah, right.

on November 12, 2025 in Addiction, Relationships

The title says it all. Anyone who spends more than an hour a day on Instagram or Facebook is lying to themselves and others if they claim they don’t have time to cook. It’s the addiction speaking. Claims you’re spending time with family are lies too. I’ll be happy if you correct me if I’m wrong, but history, anthropology, and personal experience tell me that f your children are older[…] Keep reading →

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