Family

“Unbowed: A Memoir” by Wangari Maathai, pt. 2

Posted onSunday 23 September 2012Friday 21 September 2012

Being a child of the US, I’ve only seen online, rather than face-to-face, the types of deeply vicious and misogynistic attacks which Maathai describes: [C]ertain people were jealous and wanted me to be taught a lesson and put in my place. They took pleasure in what they perceived as my comeuppance. The message was clear:…

“Unbowed: A Memoir” by Wangari Maathai, pt. 1

Posted onSaturday 22 September 2012Friday 21 September 2012

There is a phrase that’s apparently become popular on Twitter conversations where someone wishes to point out unconscious privilege: they state that the issue under discussion is an FWP, or “First World Problem.” Reading Wangari Maathai’s Unbowed: A Memoir, I found myself often reflecting with bleak amusement that all the issues I’ve ever faced —…

What is Community? part 4: Lupin Lodge

Posted onWednesday 12 September 2012Wednesday 6 February 2013

I’ve written several posts now on Paolo Soleri’s Arcosanti, and his vision of cities as mostly-self-sufficient, compact communities instead of sprawling and isolating urban blights that consume and destroy the land they’re on. I’ve also mentioned some of my agreements and doubts with what I saw in Arcosanti (as a concrete entity somewhat separated from…

What is Community? part 3: Soleri’s definitions

Posted onTuesday 11 September 2012Wednesday 6 February 2013

So does CoH qualify as a community? Does Arcosanti as it stands today, or Lupin Lodge? Paolo Soleri (who is still alive, though I speak of his writing in the past tense) devoted quite a bit of thought to community. According to him, there is a “magic of the big city” (23) as much as…

What is Community? part 2: City of Heroes

Posted onMonday 10 September 2012Monday 10 September 2012

What causes a feeling of community? What creates a coherent sub-culture? Both my housemates play on the on-line multiple-player game City of Heroes, which is being startlingly abruptly shut down by NCSoft, the Korean company that bought the game some years ago. Watching my housemates, I find myself faintly surprised at the real distress I…

Journaling while reading Griffin’s “Woman & Nature”

Posted onFriday 31 August 2012Sunday 27 January 2013

Later edit: I’ve been informed I wasn’t clear regarding this posting — sorry! I should have said what I am describing, in my comments below, is a collection of quotes of other sources put together by Griffin, the book’s author, to show the state of the world as far as women and nature are concerned…

Arcosanti photos

Posted onWednesday 29 August 2012

More Arcosanti photos; click on the thumbnails for a larger, clearer version of each photo. Also, you can read my thoughts on Arcosanti here, for more background, and see more photos at the end of that article. Enjoy! :)

What is female beauty?

Posted onFriday 10 August 2012Wednesday 6 February 2013

Lupin Lodge is a surprisingly nice place! I’m typing this au naturel by the pool, after cooling off from the heat of the day. The Lodge has over 100 acres and has been around for 77 years in 2012, so unsurprisingly it also has a strongly family-oriented atmosphere. There are also quite a few permanent…

Florida & ideological violence

Posted onFriday 27 July 2012Thursday 26 July 2012

Jumping back in time, some thoughts from a few days ago while in Gainesville: It’s a lovely morning in Florida — yes, I made it safely to my parents’ place! Due to different schedules, it’s currently just me sitting in this nice, cool room and looking out into the lush greenery. The occasional tiny lizard…

Beyond grandeur

Posted onWednesday 11 July 2012Wednesday 6 February 2013

Woohooo! I have not only scored a drop-in campsite at the Grand Canyon, but I have also showered and laundered! No worries, I shall modestly acclaim your gasps of astonishment and awe. Showers and clean clothes are awesome! Truly the kami who watch over Dark Star and I are mighty! :) Also, some culinary firsts!…