Modern greed and what to do about it — [Originally posted on Substack — consider subscribing if you want, but don’t if you don’t] I grew up in NYC, so I’m accustomed to waiting in lines for everything. In a city of 8 million people with everyone in a hurry, I’d wait on line for bagels, elevators, concerts, you…

Writing like David Foster Wallace — [Originally posted on Substack — subscribe for more] I just finished Infinite Jest. David Foster Wallace is a master of the craft. His command of the English language is uncanny, and it’s such a joy to read his work. I’ve listened to The Pale King and Consider The Lobster, and…

A more encouraging way to think of Effective Altruism — [Originally posted on Substack —cross-posted on the EA Forum] I’ve been a vegetarian (nearly vegan) for 6 years. As veteran vegetarians (vetereginarians?) know, vitamin B12 isn’t really found in plants, and so people who don’t eat animals are often deficient in this important nutrient. I’m not exactly sure how this…

The future of cities — [Originally published on Substack — subscribe here!] I’m typing these words from Maui. Why am I living in Maui, you ask? Of course, asking the question reveals its obvious answer: why not live in Maui? In the last decade, and particularly in the last year, we have witnessed a cultural…

And how to be mindful with beginners — [Originally published on the EA Forum and cross-posted on Substack] I love Effective Altruism. ❤ That’s not an exaggeration — I truly love the community and the way I’ve grown as a result of joining the movement. I first heard about EA back in 2013 when its messaging was pretty…

And why it’s (not?) the worst feeling in the world — [Originally posted on Substack — sign up here] One feeling that is almost universally reviled is the sensation of being wrong. We loathe being made aware of when we are incorrect, at fault, or misguided in our thinking. From the embarrassment of confidently stating something inaccurate and being quickly fact-checked…

How we think and speak with others in mind — [Originally posted on Substack — sign up here] Conscientiousness is the awareness of how your actions and behaviors are perceived by others. Everything you do or say in a social context is going to be mediated through the senses of another person — and what is clearly and readily expressed…