While the political conflict and turmoil of the recent years can seem previously unmatched and at times, feels close to end times, we must not forget that rivalry and infighting have been a part of U.S. politics since the beginning. This is not to suggest our country is free from present (or past) issues, but to show our situation is not new and far from beyond repair. — Sources of this piece and of other notable information can be found at the bottom of this page.

A brief summary and thoughts upon finishing Michael Pollan’s How To Change Your Mind: What The New Science Of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. — Introduction I recently finished one of the more thought-provoking reads I’ve undertaken in some time. After publicly sharing some of the novel sections surrounding mental health, I received several requests for a more detailed summary/review of this book. …

Amid conflict between the Chinese state and some of its corporate critics, activist groups around the world are forcing countries to consider a partial or full boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Here I explore the background, relevant history, and implications of boycotting the Olympics. — What has recently been going on with Xinjiang (Chinese) cotton, international sanctions, and intensifying opinions on the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics?