Here are the notes I read from for this post: I posted the other day an exercise to think about going twenty-four hours without using electrical power. To clarify, that exercise was to think about it. I don’t think many people would do it. Even orthodox Jews leave their refrigerators plugged in, as well as clocks. The meters to their homes would register power being used. I’m talking about the[…] Keep reading →

Here are the notes I read from for this post: I posted the other day an exercise to think about going twenty-four hours without using electrical power. To clarify, that exercise was to think about it. I don’t think many people would do it. Even orthodox Jews leave their refrigerators plugged in, as well as clocks. The meters to their homes would register power being used. I’m talking about the[…] Keep reading →

Here’s an exercise, just to imagine something: Imagine 24 hours without using any electrical power. You know you can do it. That is, you know you possess the ability to do it. You know humans lived that way for almost all of human history. I’m not saying electrical power is good, bad, right, or wrong. I’m not asking where it came from or how green or sustainable it is. I’m[…] Keep reading →

1. My heaviest kettlebell is 28 kilograms or 63 pounds. Now, exercises I couldn’t do at that weight I can do several sets of. It feels great to be able to do something easily that I used to be unable to do. I thought about getting a 32 kilogram (70 pound) on. Now I’ve decided to get one. Nothing special about moving up a weight. What feels rewarding is that[…] Keep reading →

I’m pleased enough with the side effect of regularly meditating that I can sit in a full lotus position for an extended time that I don’t mind posting possibly the most boring video on the internet. After first meditating at a Vipassana retreat in 2007, starting with a ten-day no reading, writing, phone, etc experiment, I practiced irregularly but deeply, doing more 10-day, 5-day, 3-day, and 1-day retreats slightly less[…] Keep reading →

I first meditated almost fifteen years ago, starting with a ten-day no-reading no-writing, no-talking, diving in the deep end. It challenged me, but I went back periodically for more ten-day, five-day, three-day, and one-day sessions. I’ve written about the experiences here. I never felt the tug to meditate regularly, despite my other sidchas. This year I started two days out of my five-day exercise cycle. At the retreats, I usually[…] Keep reading →

I haven’t missed a post here in almost ten years. My left mouse button broke—rather the track pad, an integral part of the computer. I found a used mouse on Craig’s List I can get tomorrow I think I can use while ordering a new track pad, which I think I can install myself. In the meantime I’m seeing if I can post without a left button and keep the[…] Keep reading →