This week I read: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Having awakened to the persistent imperialism at the root of our culture, I’ve been referring to this book a lot lately. I remember it as one of my favorites from reading it at least a decade ago. I found it as powerful and intriguing as I remember, and relevant to our times. We invade these days with addiction more than weapons[…] Keep reading →

Read this week: William Rees: The Fundamental Issue: Overshoot on the Great Simplification podcast and Warning to People of Earth (broken into 7 parts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7): Rees created the ecological footprint concept. His work is helpful, but what I’m trying to get past: he understands our environmental problems and human problems inhibiting from acting. All facts and view but zero to negative leadership. Krakatoa: the[…] Keep reading →

I’m starting a new regular post: selections of what I read, watched, or listened to each week. This week: A book so fascinating and useful I read it in two sittings (one if you don’t count sleeping). The author, Jason Hickel, is an accomplished economic anthropologist who comprehensively shows problems with growth and the value of degrowth. An article by a podcast guest, Christopher Ketcham, on how wind, solar, and[…] Keep reading →

We can’t create more time or energy. We get what we get. It doesn’t matter how much you want twenty-five hours in a day. You don’t get them. Not if you’re rich or connected either. Likewise with energy. There is only so much energy available. People can dream of unlimited energy, but they still have to eat and fill their car with gas because their energy runs out. Our culture[…] Keep reading →

Sam Harris used to post on Twitter multiple times daily. Anyone who had quit social media could tell it wasn’t improving his life. He was responding to its engineered cues to drive using it. Its engineers refined the techniques its industry evolved to addict people. Doing something he didn’t value but felt he couldn’t stop led him to rationalize and justify after the fact. Doing so enough led him nearly[…] Keep reading →

I forget it I posted this sidcha, though it’s not that challenging, at least not any more, though it was when I started it in January 2022. At first kicking the addiction was hard. Maybe it’s more of a habit. It’s not a restriction though it may seem that way if you haven’t lived it. The sidcha: I don’t eat when a screen is on. Or when I eat, I[…] Keep reading →

As Christmas passed and my neighbors will litter our streets with trees cut down to be used for a couple weeks in a clearly repurposed pagan holiday, we can reflect on traditions and changing them with the times. Traditions don’t last forever. They start not as traditions. No one celebrated Jesus’s birth with fir trees and north pole imagery before Christianity reached northern Europe. No one has to keep celebrating[…] Keep reading →

If you’re thinking of buying a Christmas tree: read this post and the letters from the reader who prompted it. One of my new year traditions is taking pictures of the huge number of trees my neighbors throw out after the few weeks they put them in their homes. How much more obvious it can be that they’re celebrating a pagan holiday from northern Europe than celebrating snow and fir[…] Keep reading →

A friend emailed to respond to yesterday’s post After the Pride and Queer Liberation Marches 2022: Washington Square Park wrecked again. I could cry to say “I have to admit I can’t even get myself to watch the videos, the images are truly horrifying! I don’t know what to say…” I responded with a sentiment I’ve posted to this blog before, but I think it bears repeating. Leading in unknown[…] Keep reading →