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| Milford Sound. (Technically a fjord.) |
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| Photobomber |
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| Video of arriving at this waterfall |
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| The next morning; note the mountains - seem like greenscreen |
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| (Plant-based cheese's travels continue!) |
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| For any big John Green fans |
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| From here |
One Step for Animals was founded in 2014. Last summer, donations started declining. This got worse in November. Besides our recurring donors and the donor who supports One Step's Spanish-language campaign, contributions have evaporated since January. This includes the largest sources of support from 2023 and 2024.
We understand. All the news - especially in the United States - is overwhelmingly horrible, pressing, and immediate.
Whenever possible, please keep chickens in mind. All contributions will be doubled.
There are several ways you can donate here. Contributions through the PayPal Fund have no fees taken out.
Thank you for caring.
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| Rear view from our first Airbnb near Manipuri. As far south as we've ever stayed. As always, click any picture for larger. |
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| Good evening |
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| This is pathetic compared to what is to come later... |
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| The river where many Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed |
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| LOTR hike (right by where we stayed) |
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| Most of Fiordland National Park is totally inaccessible. So: Seaplane! |
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| Holy Chicken! |
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| Our Own Private |
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| Switzerland |
Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman died by assisted suicide in Switzerland in 2024
Also: Peter Singer and Kasia de Lazari-Radek on what to learn from Danny's death
From 2022's Losing My Religions:
Why oh why do we think we can tell anyone that they can’t end their life in as painless a way possible? Who do we think we are? We let “any butt-reaming asshole” bring any number of new lives into existence, regardless of circumstance, regardless of how much the child will suffer. Yet we deny those same people the right to end their own life? Crazy.
Not that there aren’t issues. But we should deal with how we treat the elderly rather than denying individuals the ability to control their own life.
Let’s hope Switzerland’s death pods become a thing.
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| The last selfie we took Down Under. |
Angela Chen's latest at Vox's Future Perfect is The rise of chatbot “friends.”
Interestingly, sex therapist Marianne Brandon gets to the heart of the matter (emphasis added):
[R]elationships are “just neurotransmitters” inside our brains.
“I have those neurotransmitters with my cat,” she told the Times. “Some people have them with God. It’s going to be happening with a chatbot. We can say it’s not a real human relationship. It’s not reciprocal. But those neurotransmitters are really the only thing that matters, in my mind.”
At this stage of my life, I most appreciate hearing what's going on with friends; an extra bonus if I'm able to be helpful, even just as an understanding ear.
That is just me and my brain chemicals. What works for others' brain chemicals is good - no judgment.
I publish on Substack once a week, and the most recent was the reasoning behind One Step for Animals.
Little did I realize that Kenny Torrella's latest at Vox would have the above graph showing up-to-date data on the failure of decades of "Go Vegan!" advocacy in the United States. (If the graph was the number of animals consumed, instead of pounds of meat, the graph would be even more depressing.)
I don't expect to change any "Vegan" mind, obviously. But I do hope that anyone who takes suffering seriously at least considers supporting One Step for Animals' work.
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| Doesn't take his self-worth from anger. |
This entire bit is worth reading, but this is really worth considering:
Do you actually want to solve your problem, or are you secretly depending on its continued existence? If you showed up to fight the dragon and found it already slain, would you be elated or disappointed?
After all, a righteous crusade gives you meaning and camaraderie, to the point where you can become addicted to the crusading itself. It is possible to form an entire identity around being mad at things, and to make those things grow by pouring your rage on them, which in turn gives you more things to be mad at. This is, in fact, the business model for approximately half the internet.
Even if you don't want to figure out how to transfer points to partners like Hyatt or Air France, you can use those 100,000 points to book $1,250 in flights, hotels, or car rentals through Chase's Travel Portal. We have used Chase points to book stays at great non-chain hotels this way.
Note: If your credit is frozen (e.g., Experian), schedule a thaw before applying. (More on applying below.)
It will help One Step for Animals if you use this link to apply:
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This card is great for those who want flexibility and value when they do not know what kind of free travel they need–domestic flights, international flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. Want to know more? Check out our Rewards Cards 101 mini webinar to get an overview on Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Learn How to Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred (100,000 points valued at over $1,250) or Read Zac’s review here.
For the longest time, I never really understood the word "normative," even after reading definitions. In short, saying something is "right," "good," and "desirable" is declaring it should be the "norm" for everyone.
If you spend any time on the internet, you'll find people making normative statements about everything. Everyone must be Vegan! Veganism is a lifestyle, not a diet. "Fake meat" is not Vegan. You can't drink (smoke, drive, have kids) if you are Vegan.
That's just one example. The same applies to Effective Altruism, rationalism, "Progressive," Woke (anti-racism, allyship), etc. [And, of course, on the right as well, but no right-winger is reading this.]
As you've seen, it goes beyond politics and philosophy. Everything is to be judged, urgently and with total certainty. Using Facebook. iPhone vs Pixel. Shopping at Walmart. Sweet vs savory. Recycling plastic. Cilantro. Are Kids These Days the Worst or What?
Everything from having children to if the Earth is round.
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| "I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of arguments. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right. Have fun." |
So why be upset? Seriously. Just consider it.
But I won't be angry if you don't. 😀
from yet another Matt: The value of technological progress (personal examples)
Pictures below from New Zealand's North Island. We didn't get a picture with NonZero James (DOH!) but were happy to meet him).
On Valentine's Day, we were at a vegan restaurant, and next to us was a young couple on a first date. The guy went on and on and on about how he simply had to work on AI existential risk. We felt so bad for her.
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| Our first sunset in magical New Zealand |
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| Waiheke Island, off of Auckland, was like Hawaii but better |
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| Vineyard on the Island |
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| Mount Taranaki - amazing! :-0 |
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| Wellington (the capitol) |
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| So many flowers on this trip OMG |
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| Wētā Workshop, the visual effects studio for Lord of the Rings (and many others) |
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| We saw so many LOTR filming locations across New Zealand - this one (sign above; below, Anne at the spot) was just in a park in Wellington! |
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| Government buildings in Wellington; On the left is the Beehive. |
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| Vegan bakery had a booth at the Wellington airport. |
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| Also at the Wellington airport. Next stop: South Island, where we rented a car. :-0 |
As a follow-up to the last post, here is yet another example of "Vegans" making veganism all about themselves, rather than a tool to help others who are truly suffering.
We are beyond caricature.
And here is an example of worrying about personal purity over the big picture. (I love Sam's substack title: "Revolutionary Overthinking.")
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| We call these "chicken flowers" |
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| I'm told this is nice for people who are not red-green color "blind" |
