I lead a meditation group that meets in person a couple times a month. We’ve found we can get a laugh if we talk in the group about talking about meditation to others who don’t meditate by saying, “I can’t meditate. My mind is too crazy to empty it of thoughts,” or words to that effect. Why does it make us laugh? Because it’s like a knee-jerk reaction that betrays[…] Keep reading →

I read stories on The Atlantic‘s website sometimes, but rarely read the physical magazine. I found a copy in my building’s mailing room’s recycling bin. I guess a neighbor with a subscription didn’t feel like reading this month’s issue. Here’s the issue in particular online. The articles tended to be intellectual, left-leaning or full anti-Trump, but largely portraying either victimhood or implying solidarity with or support for the downtrodden. The[…] Keep reading →

Regular readers know I volunteer once or twice a week to deliver food from stores that were going to throw it away to community fridges, shelters, and other places for people to get it for free. I wasn’t scheduled to volunteer yesterday (Christmas Eve day), but the person who was reported so much overstock that we needed three people to clear it all. Not many other volunteers were around so[…] Keep reading →

People’s language and emotions get intense around wedge issues like abortion, gun rights, and tax levels. One side says the other wants to control women’s bodies, the other says the one wants to kill babies. Such characterizations, mischaracterizations, and seeing the other from your view not theirs makes finding common ground nearly impossible. I call this pattern the worst problem in the world. Yet we have to live together. Secession[…] Keep reading →

Everyone seems to pick sides. Everyone who expresses an opinion seems to support one or the other but not both. I probably missed something or offended someone in what I write below. If so, I don’t mind being told my mistakes so I can learn. There are plenty of ways to look at the situation, and you may have heard more than I have, but I hear people describing the[…] Keep reading →

Longtime readers may know that when I lived for a year in Paris in 1990-91, I was an au pair. I lived with a family and took care of their young daughter. It was a wonderful opportunity for all. I don’t know if you can tell from the pictures below, but my neighborhood library is a popular place for young kids in strollers, taken there by adults. As far as[…] Keep reading →

I’ve been increasingly realizing and pointing out that I am not an environmentalist. I surprised myself to discover it. I had long felt misunderstood when people asked, “If you like nature so much, why don’t you go to the woods live in nature?” It had long been obvious to me that we needed to change culture, not escape it, and New York is an influential cultural center. Then I checked[…] Keep reading →

Most people who call themselves environmentalists are on the political left. I talk to a lot of them. I also talk to people on the right and in other directions. I learn from all of them. I decided to compile them for reference. Some blog posts (I’m sure I missed a few): Podcast episodes:

As always: I post about junkies not to criticize or condemn them as individuals, though I consider adults responsible for their actions. I post about them to illustrate our culture. Their addiction and its harms to others and communities is more acute than most of ours, but it is generally more benign than people with dependencies on flying, driving, doof, takeout, screens, and other things nearly everyone does that hurt[…] Keep reading →