I love AI. Why doesn’t everyone?
But it’s ok to say, “yes, I want to mitigate the negative effects of this massive change, but also, this technology is really freaking cool.”
Hey! Thanks for stopping by. Below are my most recent posts :)
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4 Notes on Seeing a Mature(!) American Chestnut Tree
I got to see a mature-ish American Chestnut!
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Cove on Chestnut Lead Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness
Appalachian Coves are a beautiful, fascinating forest community, no matter the season. In the winter, you can appreciate the sheer height of the Tulip Trees and the passage of light during the day.
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6+ Favorite Books on Sustainable Urban Living (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Sustainable Urban Living…so far.
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TIL about The Cagots
The Cagots, a minority in France whose persecution began in the eleventh century and continued well into the last one….that no one knew how to recognize or why they were persecuted.
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6+ Favorite Books on Human Migration and Displacement (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Human Migration and Displacement…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Housing and Home (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Housing and Home…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on American Cities (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on American Cities…so far.
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Beeches on Rice Camp Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness
I love how beeches hold on to those leaves far past Fall.
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Old Railroad Cable in the Cohutta Wilderness
Whether you are hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Aprk, the Cohutta Wilderness of Georgia, or the Alleghenies of Pennsylvania, you’re probably going to run across some evidence of human civilization, even in deep forest that has been protected for 100+ years.
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6+ Favorite Karen Armstrong’s Religious Histories (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Karen Armstrongs Religious Histories…so far.
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Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I re-read Brave New World and was surprised at how well it has held up. Definitely worth a re-read.
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6+ Favorite Books on the American South (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on the American South…so far.
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6+ Favorite Essential Books on Mindfulness (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Essential Books on Mindfulness…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Modern China (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Modern China…so far.
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Waterfall in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Waterfalls in the Southern Appalachians are rarely grand and tall. They are mostly stair-stepped and draped rhododendron. But they have a human scale and plant diversity around them that makes them so lovely.
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Forty News – The News Cycle from This Day, Forty Years Ago
Brilliant performance art -> Forty News. Events are important, but the daily news is not the medium to understand them.
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6+ Favorite Books on Parenting (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Parenting…so far.
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The Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica
I absolutely love this short video from the Cornell School of Ornithology.
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6+ Favorite Books on Rivers and Water (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Rivers and Water…so far.
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6+ Favorite Paul Theroux Travel Books (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Paul Theroux Travel Books…so far.
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6+ Favorite Memoirs of Unusual Jobs (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Memoirs of Unusual Jobs…so far.
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Trail at Lake Charlotte Nature Preserve
Lake Charlotte is an accidental treasure in the City of Atlanta. It’s a conservation tract right in the middle of a massive industrial area. But the tract is big enough and so dense with mature hardwoods that it’s a scenic oasis in the city. Love it.
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6+ Favorite Eric Barker’s Social Psychology (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Eric Barkers Social Psychology…so far.
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6+ Favorite Practical Guides by Johnny Molloy (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Practical Guides by Johnny Molloy…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Media and Communication (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Media and Communication…so far.
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How I Made a Simple Advent Candle Block
Ever since we started observing Advent, I’ve tried making our own candle arrangement. A couple of years ago, a large…
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Conasauga River in Late Fall
The Conasauga River is especially beautiful in late Fall with floating leaves and remnant pops of color from maples and beeches.
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Google’s Gemini 3 Passed My Deep Local Knowledge Test
I’ve been using LLM projects before ChatGPT even came out. I was using OpenAI’s GPT 3 and GPT 2 back…
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Wyoming Has Fewer People Than 116 Counties
I find this map via Mapper_X absolutely insane. And the first thing that comes to mind is the Equal Representation…
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6+ Favorite Books on Experimental Fiction (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Experimental Fiction…so far.
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6+ Favorite Douglas Brinkley’s Environmental Histories (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Douglas Brinkleys Environmental Histories…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Colonial History and Imperialism (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Colonial History and Imperialism…so far.
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6+ Favorite Mohsin Hamid’s Literary Works (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Mohsin Hamids Literary Works…so far.
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What advice do I give to my students?
Very good career advice -> What advice do I give to my students? by Michael Levin
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Ginkgo Tree Carefully Dropping Leaves
Ginkgo trees really are very different. I love how their leaves come in & then drop suddenly. There’s no slowly dropping them over time like oaks – it’s just like “drop!”.
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6+ Favorite Books on Climate Change and Environmental Challenges (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Climate Change and Environmental Challenges…so far.
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5 Ways To Add Randomness To Life
The Internet has added an astounding diversity of choices to everyday life…but somehow the more choices that we move to…
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6+ Favorite Books on National Parks and Public Lands (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on National Parks and Public Lands…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Digital Culture (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Digital Culture…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Human Psychology and Behavior (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Human Psychology and Behavior…so far.
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A Beaver Chewed Stump
I love seeing direct evidence of wildlife in the forest. This area had lots of evidence of beavers just working hard on their dams.
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America’s National Historic Trails by Karen Berger
America’s National Historic Trails is a lovely coffee table book that covers some of the hidden gems of America’s recreation & preservation systems (i.e., lesser known than the National Park system or National Scenic Trails system)
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6+ Favorite Books from Literary Fiction (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books from Literary Fiction…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books from Southern Gothic Literature (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books from Southern Gothic Literature…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Stoicism (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Stoicism…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Water and Ocean Conservation (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Water and Ocean Conservation…so far.
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Why Continue To Invest In Public Lands?
The Wilderness Land Trust is one of the most effective, focused, and agile conservation organizations in the United States. They…
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Everything Is Television
This. 1000x This -> Everything Is Television by Derek Thompson
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Forest Service Road 68 in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Forest Service roads are incredibly scenic, especially in the Fall. I’m never surprised at the number of folks slowly cruising,…
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Autumn in the Cohutta Wilderness
The colors in the background are the focus, but the composition is deliberate here. The irony of the southern Appalachians is that it’s hard to photograph the trees, thanks to all the trees.
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Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Visitation Statistics
The State of Georgia Auditor did a (fascinating) performance audit of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ State Parks &…
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6+ Favorite Philosophy Books by Alain de Botton (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Philosophy Books by Alain de Botton…so far.
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5 Notes on Playing FootGolf for the First Time
On a recent trip to Jack Hill State Park, I got to try FootGolf for the first time. The Park…
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6+ Favorite Books on Behavioral Marketing (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Behavioral Marketing…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Architectural Design (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Architectural Design…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Digital Privacy and Security (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Digital Privacy and Security…so far.
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Annual Number of Perfect Weather Days in the US
Yes, California is all that.
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The Gopher Tortoise is Gaining Ground
In September, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) announced that the 65th gopher tortoise population (minimum of 250…
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Beech Grove at Atlanta History Center
Belying its name, the Atlanta History Center is mostly gardens & forest with so many nice walks & mature trees.
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6+ Favorite Books on Baseball (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Baseball…so far.
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5 Notes on Visiting Jack Hill State Park
Jack Hill State Park is an underrated State Park in Middle Georgia, surprisingly close to the Coast with a bonus FootGolf course.
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6+ Favorite Books on Arctic and Northern Adventures (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Arctic and Northern Adventures…so far.
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What Made Blogging Different?
Nice reminder -> What Made Blogging Different?
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6+ Favorite Books on War Literature (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on War Literature…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books About Psychological Well-being (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books About Psychological Well-being…so far.
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Atlanta’s $23,000,000 Pedestrian Bridge
This pedestrian bridge crosses Northside Drive at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It is one of the most controversial and irksome pieces of infrastructure in the city of Atlanta.
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TIL How Mechanical Mail Sorting Killed US Passenger Rail
Mail processing automation killed off mailcars…a major source of revenue for US passenger rail.
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6+ Favorite Books on Forest Ecology (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Forest Ecology…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Digital Marketing (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Digital Marketing…so far.
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A Human on a Bicycle Is among the Most Efficient Forms of Travel in the Animal Kingdom
Scientific American updated their classic chart of mobility efficiency. A human on a bike is better than a fish in the water.
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Who I’m Voting For in the November 2025 Special & Municipal Elections in Atlanta, Georgia
Here is the problem that I run into every 2 years. I’m sold on the idea that voting in every…
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6+ Favorite Books on Environmental Economics (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Environmental Economics…so far.
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How to share: 300 guides to help your community thrive
Exhibit A for why the Web is still awesome -> How to share: 300 guides to help your community thrive
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Black Rock Mountain State Park Overlook
Black Rock Mountain State Park in Georgia has some of the best overlooks in the state. Looking south, you can see far off, almost all the way to Atlanta. And looking north, you can see Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. and into the Tennessee River Basin.
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The Inverse Law of Conference Speaking – On my Om
More prestige, Less Value. Good observation from -> The Inverse Law of Conference Speaking
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Morning in Grant Park, Atlanta
I love the autumn light in Georgia, especially in city parks like Atlanta’s Grant Park.
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The simplest, hardest way to "live like a local"
Well-stated perspective -> The simplest, hardest way to “live like a local”
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Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, Massachusetts
I got to visit Bunker Hill in Boston. Like so many other historical markers, especially in urban areas, it’s almost surreal to see the the spot that you hear about since childhood.
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6+ Favorite Books on the Future of Work (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on the Future of Work…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Ancient Civilizations (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Ancient Civilizations…so far.
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TIL about Schelling Point
A Schelling point is a solution people naturally pick when they need to coordinate but can’t communicate. The classic example…
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6+ Favorite Books on Environmental Philosophy (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Environmental Philosophy…so far.
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Beach at Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top Mountain State Parks Beach has been recently renovated. It’s in a nice cove that is protected from boat traffic. It’s quite large with a very scenic area and a large beach area. Definitely a great amenity for a park with lots of trails, lots of cabins, and lots of other amenities.
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Murphy Ave in Atlanta
This spot in Atlanta looks abandoned, industrial, and a bit of a wasteland but it is right at the intersection of MARTA and the Southside Beltline. Hopefully, over the next 20 years, it will become a hub of commercial activity and affordable housing.
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6+ Favorite Books on the American Civil War (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on the American Civil War…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Historical Religious Conflicts (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Historical Religious Conflicts…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Travel in Africa (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Travel in Africa…so far.
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Bird of Prey: A Documentary on Saving The Philippine Eagle
A beautifully shot & beautifully told documentary about (IMHO) the world’s most beautiful bird.
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5 People Rewilding the Internet
The good ‘ole Internet is still out there. And there are still people trying to “rewild” it and promote it.
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Grant Park’s Summer Shade Festival
The Summer Shade Festival is one of the largest neighborhood festivals in Atlanta. It takes place in Grant Park in August every year. It’s always fun and well attended and very, very hot.
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6+ Favorite Books on Personal Finance and Wealth Building (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Personal Finance and Wealth Building…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Evolutionary Psychology (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Evolutionary Psychology…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Technology and Society (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Technology and Society…so far.
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Natural History by DK
I absolutely love DK books. In a world of AI and infinite access to information, they are geniuses at keeping…
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6+ Favorite Books on Human Migration (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Human Migration…so far.
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Atlanta’s New Westside Park
Atlanta has a new largest city park at Westside Park. It surrounds a quarry which doubles as our emergency water supply.
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How does a default WordPress install with the Kadence theme display a post with no title? Let’s see! I didn’t…
