In 2018, I went out into the woods to hike a month’s worth of the Appalachian trail. The only constant companion I had with me the whole way was the “History of Rome” podcast. Amateur historian Mike Duncan has a knack for making ancient history come alive with his signature wry humor. It was two … Continue reading The Decline and Fall of the Roman and American Republics
Introduction: Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, we all know there is something wrong with our healthcare system. Atul Gawande, Elisabeth Rosenthal, and others have eloquently laid it out: we pay too much, receive more care than is wise, and end up less healthy than we should be. In the midst of a national dialogue … Continue reading US Care Delivery in 12 Archetypes
“It is a miracle that New York works at all. The whole thing is implausible” E.B. White Before ever setting foot on Manhattan, in my mind there was already a topography of New York filled with familiar landmarks: Central Park where Rachel, Ross, & co. frolicked in front of a fountain… marble halls of the Met where … Continue reading Here is Gotham
Month two of the pandemic. Eating out, social gatherings, toilet paper are all things of the distant past. However, we’ve all started reading again (at least once we’ve finished Tiger King and are sick of re-watching the Great British Bakeoff). Thought this would be a good time to share some of my personal favorites. Each … Continue reading 10 books I recommend (almost) unconditionally
I-35 is an interstate highway stretching up from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota. It transects six states, and at 1,569 miles, it is the 9th longest interstate. It is a fairly unremarkable highway, with none of the storied iconism of Route 66 or the breathtaking views of California’s Highway 1. However, I-35 has the only … Continue reading MSP = DFW with trees
Eskimos allegedly have fifty different words for snow, and the patois of thru-hikers also reveal a particular worldview. My past thirty-days on the trail have given me a peak inside the peculiarities of the thru-hiking subculture. Here is some common hiker lingo I’ve learned Base weight: weight of all your hiking gear excluding food and … Continue reading Hiker vocab 101
Sometimes, I feel like a zombie when it comes to pop culture. Each new album, show, or movie feels at best mediocre. My internal critic reigns supreme, and I can find fault with anything. If there is style it’s missing substance, if there is craft there’s a lack of heart. I don’t like feeling this … Continue reading The Incredibles sequel is like… really good
Terminal 4 at JFK is shaped like the capital letter “J”. The security checkpoint lets passengers in at the bottom of the “J” just before the curve upward. If you are bound for the West coast, your flight departs from the very end at the top of the letter. For three months, I commuted to … Continue reading Terminals and lobbies
Today marks the third day since the improbable occurred. I had never really entertained that tomorrow I might be returning to a country possibly headed towards fascism, but now we feel shell-shocked. I think maybe more than Eric or Helen I’ve shut out the absurd reality. I feel a million miles away from America, practically isolated … Continue reading Journal entry – Skatftafell, Iceland (Nov. 11)
I’m awakened by the PA, and the dropping sensation confirms that we’re about to land. I look out the windows, and am ecstatic that I picked the correct side of the plane to catch the cityscape view for our descent. Initially I’m disoriented as I can’t spot a skyline. There is no coast that would make … Continue reading Mexico City
Jack Wang 