LATEST BLOG POSTS

Our environmental problems are symptoms. I won’t fight people trying to protect and conserve nature, but the degradation of nature isn’t the problem. Restoring an old growth forest doesn’t change that billions of people are acting in ways to cut down whatever is restored. Many times I’ve described how the suffering and death we and our culture is causing is orders of magnitude times greater than slavery, so I won’t[…] Keep reading →

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 →

Climate Week NYC was a month or so ago, but its sliminess lingers. I’m writing this post not to complain, but to call attention for the need for leadership, integrity, and credibility. I saw none there, but huge demand for it. I haven’t engaged yet with the event planners so attended passively, therefore include myself in showing no leadership there. It’s further motivation to finish my next book, which will[…] Keep reading →

I’d been meaning to write a post like this since what I’m about to describe happens every now and then. Part of the value of a sidcha is developing the skill of integrity. As with any performance-based activity, we learn to practice integrity through practicing the basics. There are probably many basic practices for integrity, but sidchas are a good one. I can think of few things more valuable to[…] Keep reading →

Today I posted about My fifth annual cooking workshop at Drew Gardens: pictures and video. I also made these two videos to show off Drew Gardens. I don’t think I posted a walk-through before. Anyone wondering how much they can change a neighborhood will love these videos. For context, here is what Drew Gardens looked like before, barren and strewn with garbage. After looking at it, watch the videos. The[…] Keep reading →

I love Drew Gardens’ space and community. Every year I lead a workshop on cooking, though less now about low-cost, low-waste cooking. Now I focus on helping them create a food coop there. The city has some programs I consider “push,” where they try to supply fresh, local produce to the community. Having grown up with parents who, because they struggled to make ends meet, started a family food buying[…] Keep reading →

This week I finished: The SCUM Manifesto, by Valerie Solanas: I’d heard about this book, or manifesto, by the woman who shot Andy Warhol. I listened to a podcast or two about it first. They couldn’t tell if the author was serious and crazy or sarcasm or what. Seeing as how she shot an innocent person, I’m inclined to think she’s crazy. The diatribe is bizarre. I kept wondering what[…] Keep reading →

Regular readers know I volunteer to deliver food that stores were going to throw away to groups that make it available for free to anyone who wants it, and sometimes to people directly, always for free. The context: free food distributed with disposable plastic One of the groups, Food Not Bombs, distributes food that many volunteers bring. They also distribute for free hot food that they cook. I believe all[…] Keep reading →

In case you can’t make out the image below, it was lesson number one in the importance of proper form in doing Turkish Get-Ups. In particular, it’s a dent in my floor in the shape of the bottom edge of one of my kettle bells. If you lose control of a kettle bell while doing a Turkish get-up, especially when you’re holding it high above your body and the floor,[…] Keep reading →