I recently took a lot of photos of trees because I’ll be using them as references for my next hobby: learning how to draw them. I used to draw a lot, but I haven’t picked up a pencil for nearly 10 years because I gave myself the daunting task of writing a book, which somehowContinue reading “An Ode to Trees”
Category Archives: america
A Lowell, AZ Photo Safari
Erie Street is the last surviving piece of commercial Lowell, Arizona, a former copper-mining town just outside Bisbee. Walking down the street feels strangely like stepping onto a movie set from the mid-twentieth century. Old cars and trucks line the road as if their owners simply never came back for them. Behind the storefront windowsContinue reading “A Lowell, AZ Photo Safari”
A Trip Down Vehicle Lane
Sometimes it’s not the destination that matters, but the journey itself that creates the most memories. For my earliest excursions, I typically remember the vehicle itself, so I want to share some stories about the cars that took me on my earliest adventures. The first vehicle I ever owned was a 1978 Oldsmobile Starfire Firenza,Continue reading “A Trip Down Vehicle Lane”
Disowning the 4th of July
I want to remain hopeful, but I can’t shake my pessimism about America’s future. I want to believe that we can vote, petition, and protest our way out of the challenges we face. However, it has become increasingly difficult to overlook how fragile those mechanisms appear, especially as the institutions themselves seem to be driftingContinue reading “Disowning the 4th of July”
Under Their Control
The economy increasingly feels like a rigged casino. The ultra-wealthy are amassing fortunes larger than the budgets of entire nations, while the rest of us are forced to reevaluate what we can sacrifice in terms of rest, stability, and time. Wages are stagnant, prices are rising, yet those in power respond by telling us toContinue reading “Under Their Control”
Modern Life
A shooting recently occurred at the hospital where I work. A patient became agitated and barricaded himself inside a bathroom. When security unlocked the door, he rushed them with a handgun and shot one guard in the shoulder. It was just another day in America, and the incident barely made the news. Sadly, this wasn’tContinue reading “Modern Life”
The Politics of Now
America will not be the first nation to slide toward authoritarianism, nor will it be the last. Democracy appears fragile not only here but across much of the world. Many say, “It’s going to be a hard four years,” as if this moment were limited to a single term. However, the person at the centerContinue reading “The Politics of Now”
Gilded Rage
“Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley” by Jacob Silverman critiques Elon Musk as a polarizing figure in modern tech culture. The book explores how ultra-wealthy individuals often view democracy as a constraint on their ability to accumulate wealth. Silverman delves into Musk’s complex persona and highlights how his libertarian views symbolizeContinue reading “Gilded Rage”
Dying Trees
The summers here have been hot. I often walk around my neighborhood and take photos of all the dying trees. This my “Dead Tree Project” which I started in 2023 when I started documenting the effects on local vegetation after 54 days above 115F (46.1C) degrees this summer in Phoenix, Arizona. Dystopian bus stop. ThisContinue reading “Dying Trees”
Democracy Thoughts
When we were in Athens, I still believed that the United States was a democracy. However, as I write this now, I’m not so sure we are anymore. Back then, I could never have imagined America transforming into an oligarchy, theocracy, plutocracy, fascism, authoritarianism, corporatocracy, techno-feudalism, or any other undemocratic regime. Sadly, I now see allContinue reading “Democracy Thoughts”
