• Why We Need to Stop Seeking Problems in Search of Solutions

    In this glorious postmodern age, in which we enjoy more solutions than actual problems, we seem to be inventing problems just to keep ourselves entertained. It seems in the globalization of humanity we’ve collectively decided that life would be too dull without a few manufactured crises to spice things up. After all, what’s the point…

  • Books as Mirrors

    On a rainy afternoon, where the world outside my windows blurs into a watercolor haze, I’ll turn to cradling a well-worn book. I often choose the books I read on a whim, as if it were calling to me from a crowded shelf. A book worthy of my attention should feel like stepping into an…

  • What is a Real Seeker After Truth?

    “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” – Rene Descartes How do you seek the truth? Do you try to verify what you already believe, or do you put your own beliefs up to scrutiny…

  • The Imperfection of Memory

    There are so many things that I simply don’t remember well. For whatever reason, there are a lot of good memories that I try to recall, but I can’t recall certain details. It drives me crazy. The bad stuff always sticks more in your memory than the good. I’ve always hated that bit about the…

  • Time is Our Most Valuable Resource

    If there’s one thing that absolutely perturbs me about 21st century society, it’s an obsession with time management. Yes, our limited time on this earth is our greatest and most valuable resource. But my experience is that many folks spend more time overoptimizing our schedules and actually waste time in the process. In gathering my…

  • Scenes from Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA

    Taken at the Presque Isle State Park with my Leica Q3 in Erie, Pennsylvania! ~ Amelia Desertsong

  • Scenes from Port Access Road, Erie, PA

    Taken with my Leica Q3 in Erie, Pennsylvania! ~ Artemis (Amelia) Desertsong

  • Smiling While Running

    In her Substack newsletter post entitled “Just Smile and Glide,” Jamie Currie discusses one of her running friends. She remarks on his beautiful running form, comparing it to that of the legendary Eluid Kipchoge. I’ve never been a runner myself, as I prefer brisk walks for my exercise. Still, I’ve always been fascinated by the…

  • How to Manifest Our Own Private Heavens

    The art of asking the right questions is the key to true wisdom and productive manifestation. But what exactly are we trying to manifest? Many of us try to manifest money and status, both which are considered integral parts of success. But what we should really try to be manifesting is our own private heavens,…

  • Wikipedia Speedruns and the Interconnected Nature of Knowledge

    When I first came across the concept of Wikipedia speedruns, I thought they were a pretty stupid idea. Not that they were a bad idea per se, but the idea of a speedrun is that it’s something measurable across time using a medium that’s static. As soon as conditions change, that speedrun must be adjusted…