The Trolley Problem For those of you who haven’t heard of it, it’s a thought experiment that has people grabbling with an ethical issue. And no one has solved it to the majority’s satisfaction. In a nutshell: You are standing at a lever in a train yard. The lever lets…
Category: Adulting
Posts on what I’ve learned about being an adult. Adulting is hard.
Advice for my Younger-self
What would I tell my younger self if I had the chance? In reality, it’s a complicated question since it was my past that made me who I am today. And I like me. Changing the past could have either good or bad repercussions. But let’s pretend that I’m talking…
The Gift of the Business Section
I’m not ever sure how to start this article. I know what I want to say and yet, it’s hard to get down into words. I used to hang out in the Self-Help section of bookstores. I was constantly looking for answers. How to live my life. How to think.…
Being Human and the Road to Hell
As everyone knows, the western states of the U.S. have been besieged with wildfires. Even though they are not raging in Seattle, as I look out my window (Sept 13 2020) It looks like someone had a heyday with a feather duster in a house that has been closed for…
The Measure of Equality
Sometime back in 1997, I did a bit at the Comedy Underground in Seattle that involved me ending up lying on the floor with both of my legs thrust up to the ceiling. There I am, talking to the audience in that undignified position, and there was silence. Everyone just…
The American Dream?
We are living, in some ways, the worst of times, and in some ways the best. I’m speaking of the United States seemingly intent on destroying itself out of fear, frustration, and the need to be right. I could talk more about that, but there is something else to think…
Fuzzy Safety
Wednesday afternoon I was on a Zoom Open House with the Harold Remis Film School. This is a comedy film school attached to The Second City in Chicago and I’m trying to figure out what to do next. During the question and answer session, someone, who was in the middle…
Why We Don’t Wear Our Masks
“…And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re going through…” – David Bowie Every day I get on Crackbook to try and feel connected, and there are hundreds of posts admonishing us to…
The Hijab and the Bikini
A line of young men lay prone in the tall grass. A couple of them have binoculars into which they peer intently. One of the young men looks behind them carefully before trying to take the binoculars away from the guy beside him. All of their attention is focused on…
Delusions of Goodness
Hidden Violence. Violence that might not seem like violence. Violence that might seem righteous. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Okay, I’ve been obsessed with it, mainly because I’ve seen so much of it. Interesting Times There is an old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.” I…