I found this bookmark at my mom’s house. She and my stepfather don’t remember buying it so my mom figures someone gave it to them. Here’s the front. Don’t the flowers look pretty? When I was a kid we’d sometimes pick flowers or leaves and press them between pages of books, so making a bookmark of them makes sense. They aren’t flowers, though. They’re pictures of flowers, printed onto paper,[…] Keep reading →

A little over a month ago, I wrote in How long can I keep my fridge unplugged? how learning about fermentation and uses of electric power led me to see how long I could last in the winter with my refrigerator unplugged. Deciding to start First, I want to reiterate my process to decide to start the challenge. First the idea to try it came. Then I wondered if it[…] Keep reading →

People call for diversity and equality but where is the call for more men on the covers of Vogue or Elle? I don’t see one. Am I missing the call for equality? I hear it for representation on corporate boards, university departments, and STEM fields, but with these covers the ratio is 100:0. Vanity Fair looks egalitarian with a few token men. Are we not worth picturing? You could say[…] Keep reading →

When you avoid packaged food long enough, all the garbage and missing flavor becomes the food and doof‘s main identity. There’s more packaging, advertising, and other non-food stuff that will fester in landfills for centuries or at best cost money and resources to decompose. These pictures are what Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s look like when you avoid packaged food. In fact, these stores contribute to places like in these[…] Keep reading →

I prefer blackboards to whiteboards, which are plastic and chintzy, their markers plastic and chemically. Blackboards, on the other hand, are made of rock. Chalk is made of chalk. They’re from the Earth. But my big issue is that markers are nearly always out of ink, which I find out too late, by using them. With chalk, you can tell by looking, as this bar chart I made shows: Try[…] Keep reading →

Heroes and role models Acting on one’s environmental values is a leadership issue we are shirking. However challenging, stewardship, responsibility, and action improve our lives, families, and communities. We are missing out on richer, more fulfilling lives. Want evidence? I made images of heroes and role models of mine responding as most people today do to acting on their environmental values. Not heroes I also made images of people who[…] Keep reading →

Today I gave my talk at TEDxWaltham, “What Everyone Gets Wrong About The Environment.” Before I got home, an attendee emailed one of the most encouraging and heartwarming reviews I’ve received: “I just wanted to tell you, I was extremely inspired by you and your talk today. I can’t remember a time when I was more impressed by someone’s philosophy and dedication to action. I hope we can chat soon[…] Keep reading →