Published in Human Parts·PinnedMember-onlySerendipity vs. iPhoneWhy stumbling upon something meant something — Here are some moments from before the iPhone: Due to a train strike I have ended up in Luxembourg. I have no friends, no connections, no map of the place. I meet a Canadian who is about my age at a youth hostel. We decide to go to a discotheque…I Phone3 min readI Phone3 min read
PinnedMember-onlyA Mushroom Farm in Every Closet?A different kind of urban garden may be the key to feeding ourselves locally — Let’s talk about mushrooms. I’ve been comparing their underground stealthiness to Russian democracy, describing how they grow out of sight, keeping their peace until the right moment. I’ve pointed out that you never do know when they’re going to burst into the light and turn the world upside down. But…Sustainability4 min readSustainability4 min read
PinnedMember-onlyQuitting Facebook Changed My LifeMeta’s stock collapse revealed what I already knew — I quit Facebook, Instagram and every other property owned by what is now called Meta nearly two years ago. It was at the time a rash decision and at first many of my friends and family wondered where I had “gone.” Soon, though, the people who mattered “found” me. It…Tech2 min readTech2 min read
PinnedMember-onlyIs Anywhere Safe from Climate Change?My search for an acre of escape — It was the rock that caught my eye. Dappled with lichen and lighted by the afternoon sun, it appeared to be the perfect place for contemplation. …Climate Change4 min readClimate Change4 min read
Published in Forge·PinnedMember-only12 Things to Do Instead of Picking Up Your PhoneThis is the year to de-center your smartphone — For the sake of yourself and your country, it is time to get off your phone. Yes, I know you needed to see the latest inquiries into January 6th, the most recent QAnon theories, the debunking of those theories and then the debunking of the debunking. Then perhaps you’ll want…Digital Detox6 min readDigital Detox6 min read
1 day agoMember-onlyWhat Pelé Told MeAdvice from an unexpected field — It was not the most auspicious of occasions to meet soccer’s biggest star. An Apple Store in Lower Manhattan had invited Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known to the world as Pelé to demo a new video game made in his image. The set up of the game was embarrassing…World Cup3 min readWorld Cup3 min read
Dec 2Member-onlyThe Year of the CatAn animal’s passing mattered most in 2022 — I did not cry when my father died. I did not cry when I lost both my aunts. My daughter’s wedding produced no tears. A dear friend’s passing left my eyes dry. But every night as I slip into bed and feel for Troppa and find only a cold expanse…2022 In Review3 min read2022 In Review3 min read
Nov 29Member-onlyClicking vs. KnowingIf a tree is googled in a forest is it still a tree? — Counting trees. A whole summer of counting trees. Betula papyriferae, Quercus albus, Fagus grandifolia, Acer sacchirinum. I noted down their names and approximate widths in a soggy logbook, my pencil sometimes tearing through the wet paper as the rain dripped off the brim of my baseball hat. I leaned against…Spirituality3 min readSpirituality3 min read
Nov 24Member-onlyWhy Is the Russian Army So Cruel?It comes down to three “P’s” — Since the war in Ukraine began, those lacking on-the-ground experience in the countries of the former Soviet Union have been shocked by the brutality of the Russian army. …Russia4 min readRussia4 min read
Nov 10Member-onlyWhen Nature Goes BigWe must let the wild world reach its full potential — Every once in a while, in this highly diminished world of ours, one comes across something in nature that has been allowed to reach its full potential. It’s happened to me in the Singer Tract of Mississippi where the sewing machine giant had deeded a swath of cypress to the…Climate Change3 min readClimate Change3 min read
