The Dawn of Somethings
If you've interacted with me recently, I've probably yammered at you about a book, "the Dawn of Everything" by the Davids Graeber and Wengrow. It's a...
Spring Update 2023
Friends, I've been neglecting this newsletter, but don't worry I've got lots of warm takes stored up for ya! I'm hoping to send y'all notes more regularly...
Spring Update
Some happenings since I last wrote you… Sidetracked has moved to Saturdays at 1p AKT on 88.1FM Anchorage or https://KRUAradio.org. You can also listen to...
GPD &c., 3.9: Quitting Time
Reactions Rachel T. shared this lovely poem from last year. Tuneage: Sidetracked featured Moby's Play last week. Tomorrow (2p AKT, kruaradio.org) we'll...
GPD, &c. 3.8: Not All Video Games
Reactions James F.T. and Salem C. noticed similar omissions. For one, I understated the social value of video games, which is, as James rightly wrote:...
GPD, &c. 3.7: Not Fun
--&-- Video games seem much like Dionysus's wolves.1 They seduce us away from civilized society with the promise of unlimited pleasure. And they prey on the...
GPD, &c. 3.6: Reactions
This issue we're taking a break from me to feature you. Reactions Julia B. enjoyed the Euripides: I relate to the struggle of finding balance between...
GPD, &c. 3.5: Bacchus
Cadmus : Shall we alone of all the city dance in Bacchus’ honor? Teiresias : Yea, for we alone are wise, the rest are mad. Hi from Florida! Anchorage is...
GPD, &c. 3.4: Dofus
Perhaps I could have seen all this coming. You see, I’ve been addicted to video games before. And the pattern of my addiction was almost exactly the same. In...
GPD, &c. 3.3: Kudzu
Reactions Ross B. shares my skepticism about video games: If it was like, 1 hour a day, capped, feels good, move on, that's it. Great. Maybe there is a role,...
GPD, &c. 3.2: Distraction Killed the Canary
Volume 3 : Issue 2. Reactions Several of you noted that last week’s essay portion was too small a bite. Today’s is a more substantial snack. Kate D. says...
GPD, &c. 3.1: It's been a while.
Volume 3 : Issue 1. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything. This is only my second newsletter since January. The reason for the gap will become clear in...
GPD &c. Alaska Journal 1
Today, for the first time since I arrived in Alaska four months ago, it rained. Of course, it has precipitated plenty, just not in liquid form. We’ve had wet...
Postcard 10: Jubilee
Here she is! My new love, Jubilee: A jubilee is a party and a fresh start. Circa 444 BC, the Prophet Nehemiah established the Law of Jubilee, an every...
GPD &c. Postcard 9: the Ferry
Day 2: I prefer when we are moving. My preference is one part homesickness and one part whatever the opposite of seasickness is. To be sure, I got a bit...
GPD &c. Postcard 8: NW Coast
Point Reyes’ idyllic pastures and winding roads were a welcome contrast to the 5’s speedy monotony and smelly CAFOs. The cute little coast towns atoned for...
GPD &c. Postcard 7: Joshua Tree
Maybe it was the quarter tab of acid, but Joshua Tree was the most playful-feeling stop of the trip. I was a little worried on my drive over. The landscape...
GPD, &c., Postcard 6: Sedona
Sedona is my favorite place, so far, and also my lowest mood. I'm giddy on arrival. Sedona's bright red-pink-orange rocks leap out from behind the yellow...
GPD, &c., Postcard 5: Superstition Mountains, Arizona
It was rainy in the desert, which was not what I had signed up for! But on further reflection actually rain in the desert is a rare treat and, truly, I'm...
GPD, &c., Postcard 4: New Mexico
Highlights of New Mexico were as follows: Avoiding the interstate, driving a leisurely 55mph on empty roads across blond plains between lumpy mountains and...
GPD &c. Postcard 3: West Texas
The vast open plains of Texas look brown and barren. Of course. it’s actually full of life. Though I mostly saw the evidence of that life by its absence: In...
GPD, &c., Postcard 2: Mississippi
It's weirdly comforting to know that the potholes haven't gotten any smaller In Jackson. Driving into Mississippi felt at once like going home and also like...
GPD &c., Postcard 1: St. Augustine
Dearest Friends, I've left DC. I'm moving to Alaska. For the next few issues, I'm just going to send you little postcards from the road. My first stop on the...
GPD, &c., Issue 17: In Defense of Othering
hi friends! I'm excited to hear what you think about this one. love, Graham LAST ISSUE: YOUR THOUGHTS Claire G., paraphrasing Brene Brown, shared the...
GPD, &c., Issue 16: Good Boy
It has been two years since I asked you to join me in making this semi-collaborative newsletter. Thanks for being here. I hope you're staying safe in these...
GPD, &c., Issue 15: What I've Learned about Learning
Reactions to Last Issue Here’s three reactions to the last full issue, Against the Wirecutter, pt. 2 (link in case you missed it). I love when you send me...
A Guide to Lazy Days in DC
At first glance, DC is built to serve tourists and yuppies. This makes the city appear very boring and very busy. But it also means DC is full of nice places...
GPD, &c., Query II: What Do You Do in DC?
Next issue will be a guide to lazy days in DC. I'd love to add your recommendations. Many of you do or have lived in DC, or have visited (and if not, please...
GPD, &c., Issue #13: Against the Wirecutter, Part Two
The best of the earth cannot be told anyhow, all or any is best, / It is not what you anticipated, it is cheaper, easier, nearer, -- Walt Whitman the...
GPD, &c., Query I: Who Am I?
It is often easier to see others than it is to see ourselves. I’d love your help seeing me. Who am I? If you’d like a more specific question you could answer...
GPD, &c., Issue #12: Against the Wirecutter, Part One
The Best Is Not The Best Why, oh why, did I go to the wirecutter for bike light recommendations? Sure the wirecutter has guided me to many of my favorite...
GPD &c., Issue 11: Homelessness
Wow! A new newsletter so fast. What’s going on, you might ask? Someones else mostly wrote this one. Thanks to Corey G. and Caitlin A. who shared their...
GPD, &c. Issue 10: the New Mediocrity aka Some Movie Reviews
Reactions to last issue On the subject of power and sexual violence, Mekela P. rightly recommends Elizabeth Bruening’s harrowing story of an all too ordinary...
GPD, &c., Issue 9: The Not-So Simple Tomato
Reactions to Last Issue: For those of you who better digest information when using your ears, Emily recommends Terry Gross’ interview with Michael Pollan....
GPD, &c., Issue 8: Try Psychedelics. Not Too Much. Mostly in a Therapeutic Setting.
Book Review: How To Change Your Mind Michael Pollan changed my life. Sophomore year of college, Will S. recommended that I check out his In Defense of Food....
GPD, &c., Issue 7: On Tidying with Mari Kondo
Mari Kondo’s The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up is a holy text. What I mean is, it is a rather long elaboration on a relatively simple set of ethics. And...
GPD, &c., Issue 6: Barista Theory
Last Week Austin B. and Cara D. independently shared David Graeber's analysis of bullshit jobs, which hits a really bothersome nail on the head. The article...
Issue 5: Unstructured Guilt
I think most people work too much on projects they don’t care about. And I think I am lazy. Ramiro Gomez. Woman Cleaning Shower in Beverly Hills (after David...
Thinking Publicly - Issue 4 - What is Basic?
A stolen epigraph: from The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen via epigraphs by phoebe pan via laura olin's newsletter Reflections on Last Week Thoreau...
Thinking Publicly - Issue 3 - Against the News
SEYTON The queen, my lord, is dead. MACBETH She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-...
Issue 2: Bike Polo is OK
Welcome to week two of this experiment in collaborative newslettering. This week's issue covers bike polo because so many of you ask why I do it, but first...
Issue 1: Join, or Die
I want to escape the toxic realm of social media by creating an alternative venue for us to share rad ideas and culture. I'd like to invite you to join me in...