sustainable systems & storytelling
Hello there! How are you? Can you believe that it has been a year since the pandemic sparked fear and uncertainty across the globe? With the advent of lockdown, people were given the opportunity to use COVID-19 as a reason to pursue their goals or an excuse not too. Either is perfectly acceptable, but I... Continue Reading →
Hello dear friend! How are you? How has you week been? I have been exhausted for no good reason and I don't have all too much to say. My employer announced this week that the (small, but solid) company purchased significant acreage and have plans to build cabins and create a forest retreat for employees,... Continue Reading →
My boyfriend drives an older car with a 2008 Ron Paul presidential campaign bumper sticker and, over the last few months, someone has been repeatably peeling away the edges of the sticker and keying his car, especially around the sticker. The bumper sticker was meant to convey a message of peace and hope 13 years... Continue Reading →
Every month, I report the progress of my yearly goals in order to monitor progress (or the lack thereof) and hold myself accountable. Where did February go? It's been simultaneously a hectic and a quiet month, spent on miscellaneous chores and hobbies around the house. With two months down, here is my progress thus far.... Continue Reading →
What will the world look like when human-like AI begin to live, work, and love alongside mankind? And how will society respond to the future as it unfolds before them? Kotov Syndrome, Tim Baughman Jr.'s debut novel and the first book in the Azaes Realm series, delves into that very question. Set in the near-future,... Continue Reading →
Hello dear friend! I can't believe February is already wrapping up and ushering in March. How are you? How has you week been? I have a habit of falling down different rabbit holes and my boyfriend is the same, so we inundate each other with new information and ideas constantly. Hot topics this week have... Continue Reading →
Two weeks ago, our garden began blooming. Then, one week ago, the green foliage began to recede. Today, it fully disappeared. And today, I finally discovered why. As I walked past the window overlooking the patio, I noticed a flash of movement. On closer inspection, I saw a small squirrel nibbling on a nasturtium leaf... Continue Reading →
Have you ever seen a pricey dress you couldn't bear to walk away from? Or a new television deeply discounted before the big game? What about a $99 round-trip flight to your hometown? Or that once-in-a-lifetime $300 flight abroad? Have you ever considering picking up more gear for your hobbies, taking a last-minute trip, or... Continue Reading →
I just discovered that a book I purchased through Kickstarter in 2013 for $40 is now selling for $980 (+2,450%), whereas two years ago it was going for $320 (+800%). I bought it because I fell in love with the artist's work in 2008 and, as a broke college student, couldn't afford the actual prints.... Continue Reading →
Over the last decade, there have been numerous hacks which resulted in millions of peoples' personal data being compromised. In June 2015, United States Office of Personnel Management announced that it had been the target of a data breach targeting personnel records. During that hack, my name, birth date, social security number and more were... Continue Reading →
Hello! How are you? What exciting things are going on in your life? How is vaccine rollout going in your city? How is your creative spirit these days? Do you have any plans for the week ahead? It's 80 degrees in Phoenix and I am insanely jealous of the snow I'm seeing across others' posts,... Continue Reading →
If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? Chloe Benjamin's novel, The Immortalists, begins in New York City's Lower East Side in 1969, where rumors have spread that a traveling psychic has arrived and claims to be able to tell anyone the exact day they will die. The Gold... Continue Reading →
Rumor is that a cold spell is sweeping the country, blanketing cars and yards with snow and making otherwise excitable dogs anxious about going outside to do their business. Meanwhile, Phoenix has been dipping into shirts and t-shirts weather and enjoying the 10-week period during which it doesn't feel like we're living in an oven... Continue Reading →
While most of America is thinking about wool and Goretex, this desert rat is thinking about linen, cotton lawn, and the impending Phoenix summer. Last year, we suffered the the most brutal summer in history--145 days of triple digits, 53 days over 110, and 14 days over 115, and only two days of measurable rain.... Continue Reading →
The other day, I read a blog post by artist Austin Kleon on how blogging is a forgiving medium, as compared to ink, pastels, or performance. You can quietly go into correct a typo and no one will be the wiser. You can update an opinion, or simply click delete button if an old thought... Continue Reading →
