Pedal-powered Shanty Boat
The 18’6″ x 6′ Escargot is a pedal-powered boat designed by Phil Thiel. I absolutely love the idea of this small, easy-to-build shanty boat as a house. The minimalist design is beautifully simple....
View ArticlePhil Thiel: the faster you go, the narrower your perspective.
Naval architect Phil Thiel died at the age of 93 in May. Here’s an insight from his Seattle Times obituary: “Phil’s philosophy was, the faster you go, the narrower your perspective,” Cunningham said....
View ArticleKeri Smith on exploring the world. Right now. Wherever you are.
Keri Smith is an artist who works with things that happen to be available: If you get into that habit of experimentation, then it starts to get bigger and bigger, the habit grows and then it translates...
View ArticleHow (not) to buy happiness.
Ten years ago, Cornell Professor Robert H. Frank wrote about How not to buy happiness (pdf): Considerable evidence suggests that if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy...
View ArticlePut Down the Duckie (with epilogue)
To move forward in life, we have to put down our Duckies — or lay aside our old habits. -Betty A. Queen Sesame Street song circa 1990.
View ArticleThe beauty in Scrublands
Antoine Bruy’s “Scrublands” photo series draws from his experiences WWOOFing around Europe meeting farmers, homesteaders and herders who decided to drop out of city life. He wants to continue his...
View ArticleQuestions to ask before giving up
Have you said something nice to someone in the past day? Do so, whether online or in person. Make it genuine; wait until you see something really wonderful about someone, and tell them about it. Have...
View ArticleCourtney Martin on the new “better off”
Courtney Martin gave a TED talk on how we can live with a new American Dream. She calls it the new better off: For too long we’ve pretended that happiness is a king in his castle. But all the research...
View ArticleA tiny retreat vs. social change
Writer Eve Andrews (aka Ask Umbra) reflects on sustainability, the desire for retreat, and what really makes meaningful change. The understanding of “how to be more sustainable” is often framed around...
View ArticleAnthony Bourdain’s advice: move
Some of Anthony Bourdain’s words on travel: If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can. As much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you...
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