Regular readers know I’m learning about addiction because I see it as relevant to much of our polluting behavior. I’m not trained as a psychologist, so I’ve looked up the term for a definition and found a lot, not all consistent with each other, many conflicting. Combining many sources, my working definition is “a brain disorder where someone can’t stop choosing rewarding stimuli despite hurting themselves or others.” I put[…] Keep reading →

I’m continuing living clean from my addictions to polluting behaviors. Last year I kept my fridge unplugged for six and a half months. If unplugging the fridge sounds weird or stupid, check out my post on why I would and what I got out of it: 12 Sustainability Leadership Lessons Unplugging My Fridge for 6.5 Months Taught Me. Also consider that much of the world lives without a fridge, many[…] Keep reading →

I’m beginning to think that every meal and snack of nearly every American involves some polluting, disposable packaging. When I see people consuming on the street, they’re nearly always consuming doof. Even if they buy food, it’s nearly always packaged. Not that I’ve been checking, but I can’t remember a time I saw someone eating an apple on the street. Hundreds of times a day I see people carrying disposable[…] Keep reading →

People and nations are funding Russia’s invading Ukraine, where tens of thousands have died and millions have become refugees. The laws of supply and demand dictate that any use drives up price, so any use helps fund Russia, being such a big supplier. Everyone acts like the only alternative to burning fossil fuels is burning different fossil fuels, as if humans haven’t thrived for hundreds of thousands of years without[…] Keep reading →

This month set a record low electrical use at only 10 kWh, or less than one dollar on supply charges. I don’t remember what I did this month to keep it so low, or rather what I didn’t do. Note I still use hot water for my showers, which my building heats with natural gas, though my showers are only a couple minutes. The two reasons I’m sharing I’m sharing[…] Keep reading →

As you know, I pick up litter daily, including at least three pieces from the northwest corner of Washington Square Park since the pandemic brought such hopelessness to it in the form of syringes, pipes, and the community and police abdicating responsibility to it. I don’t expect to revitalize the area by myself, but I’m not going to do nothing. I’m going to do something. As I walked along yesterday,[…] Keep reading →

In one of the highlights (lowlights?) of our second conversation, Sam shares that fentanyl users don’t like its experience as much as heroin’s. On the contrary, it’s worse. It pops them out faster from the euphoria, which makes them want to take more. It’s a worse experience that addicts them more. Their suppliers don’t care about the experience. They care that it sells more, which makes them more money. It’s[…] Keep reading →