This was awesome— big bird nerd here so it was great to see them get their spotlight. Love the takeaway to slow down and enjoy the journey (a common thread in lessons learned from nature!!)
Did you ever hear of the three Ds of dog training? Distraction, duration, and distance! I wonder if Virilio is the inspiration for 2/3 Ds. It makes me think that maybe in addition to theorizing about the direction of humanity, he was also theorizing about pedagogy. In order to learn, to change, we have to imbue our experiences with meaning.
Whoa, no, I’ve never heard of this but it’s sooo fascinating. Love the extension of the principles into pedagogy and learning. The third D is just as profound! Thanks, Brenden!
Loved this, even the shit! I’ve been thinking about how bad instantaneity and certainty makes us at handling uncertainty—where waiting gives time weight, and weighty time makes us feel its passage, anchoring, when the email is certain to arrive instantaneously, we lose the anchor, and floating panic at the unknown.
What’s making all the racket outside our house in the morning - cliff swallows, who think our house looks cliff-like enough to build nests, and their nemeses, the eastern (or western, we’re right on the cusp) peewee. I saw a standoff between the swallows and peewees in our indoor riding arena years ago - peewees on one end, swallows on the other - it was like watching the bird version of “West Side Story”. They would meet in the middle of the barn, where the swallows impressed with aerobatics to rip your heart out, while the more cynical peewees saved their energy for … something else. The following year in the arena we had pigeons; the “sharks” and “jets” had fled. So to have swallows back after nine years (and building on our house, no less!) was a total treat. Plus we have been almost mosquito free this summer, due to the voracious appetites of our feathery friends.
I'm so glad I clicked open on my Substack Post today - something I don't usually do! I echo what others have said about the power of the information - birds, their journey, Virilio's work - but I'm hooked on the writing itself. Thank you for writing the kind of essay I want to read here - personal, thoughtful, and educational, all at once!
I love this. For the last ten years I’ve been following the Snow Geese as they leave their nesting sites in Siberia and fly to the valleys of Northern California to stay for the winter and early spring filling up with rice left in the fields after harvest. During the days they sleep in the ponds provided by government refuge agencies and farmers who flood some of their fields. I also follow the Sandhill Cranes who fly from Alaska to the southern part of Sacramento valley and San Joaquin Valley where they feed on the leftover corn from the summer harvest. At night they fly into the ponds provided by farmers and refuge agencies. It’s a wonderful sight watch the flying as the sun goes down with their soft warbles to each other.
Oh wow, yes, the Sandhill Cranes are on my list for something to go see someday. They're rare where I live now, but I grew up in Iowa and was thinking of going to visit them along the Platte River in Nebraska sometime.
This is superb, got it and as an extra from Substack today.
I rowed a dory from Vancouver Island to Juneau one summer in 1980. Six weeks camping on shore, and slowly floating up the Inside Passage. Most folks I knew didn't get it, but I got something precious: the experience of one day flowing to another, whales, eagles, seals, and loads of wilderness wilderness is r essential to my life, and I now love at the beach. The world is just a row away.
Wow, Paul, sounds like a dream. I live in New York City, so it's hard to find wilderness in the daily, but still, the parks give me something small and powerful. But six weeks--that's the kind of time that can rewire a person. You've got me thinking about doing something similar!
It's becoming harder and harder to find places without Internet distraction, but 6 weeks is worth it. 2 weeks to slow down, 2 weeks to just be, and then the last 2 weeks starting to think about emerging.
The Green River in Canyonlands National Park is a great place to disappear for a while, though we were only able to pack 2 weeks worth of food in our canoe. Still, 2 weeks is 2 weeks. Flat water, no rapids, ancient stone and rock....
And you can always start at the top, below I-70, and get restocked 2 weeks later at mineral bottom, and spend a whole month in the canyon, chilling and exploring. My sister did that a few years back
I relate to this - it relates and expands on ideas that have been in my own head lately.
I was hiking my favorite mountain creek trail and then my perspective changed - as I was moving it created a "motion picture" and I was a character in the scene. If I stopped walking it was like pausing the movie... But as long as I was moving, the visual picture was constantly changing, like watching a movie except I was in it playing a role.
Here in Australia , curlews make long annual journeys to and from Siberia to summer in Australia’s threatened wetlands, in the Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales and in similar extensive wetlands in the Kimberleys region of Western Australia . A miracle of long distance bird migration . Tony Kevin .
This was awesome— big bird nerd here so it was great to see them get their spotlight. Love the takeaway to slow down and enjoy the journey (a common thread in lessons learned from nature!!)
An evergreen lesson for sure. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Mel!
Did you ever hear of the three Ds of dog training? Distraction, duration, and distance! I wonder if Virilio is the inspiration for 2/3 Ds. It makes me think that maybe in addition to theorizing about the direction of humanity, he was also theorizing about pedagogy. In order to learn, to change, we have to imbue our experiences with meaning.
Whoa, no, I’ve never heard of this but it’s sooo fascinating. Love the extension of the principles into pedagogy and learning. The third D is just as profound! Thanks, Brenden!
Loved this, even the shit! I’ve been thinking about how bad instantaneity and certainty makes us at handling uncertainty—where waiting gives time weight, and weighty time makes us feel its passage, anchoring, when the email is certain to arrive instantaneously, we lose the anchor, and floating panic at the unknown.
I agree with Ashara -- this is so well put, Elizabeth!
I’ve been feeling this - thank you for putting it into words!
What’s making all the racket outside our house in the morning - cliff swallows, who think our house looks cliff-like enough to build nests, and their nemeses, the eastern (or western, we’re right on the cusp) peewee. I saw a standoff between the swallows and peewees in our indoor riding arena years ago - peewees on one end, swallows on the other - it was like watching the bird version of “West Side Story”. They would meet in the middle of the barn, where the swallows impressed with aerobatics to rip your heart out, while the more cynical peewees saved their energy for … something else. The following year in the arena we had pigeons; the “sharks” and “jets” had fled. So to have swallows back after nine years (and building on our house, no less!) was a total treat. Plus we have been almost mosquito free this summer, due to the voracious appetites of our feathery friends.
Love the way you captured the seasonal nature of all these dramas, the coming and going of different characters. Your place sounds so special!
I'm so glad I clicked open on my Substack Post today - something I don't usually do! I echo what others have said about the power of the information - birds, their journey, Virilio's work - but I'm hooked on the writing itself. Thank you for writing the kind of essay I want to read here - personal, thoughtful, and educational, all at once!
Thank you, Francesca! I appreciate this kind of feedback so much. Cheers.
To fly to a faraway place never seen, on instinct only...how beautiful, romantic and incredible.
I love this. For the last ten years I’ve been following the Snow Geese as they leave their nesting sites in Siberia and fly to the valleys of Northern California to stay for the winter and early spring filling up with rice left in the fields after harvest. During the days they sleep in the ponds provided by government refuge agencies and farmers who flood some of their fields. I also follow the Sandhill Cranes who fly from Alaska to the southern part of Sacramento valley and San Joaquin Valley where they feed on the leftover corn from the summer harvest. At night they fly into the ponds provided by farmers and refuge agencies. It’s a wonderful sight watch the flying as the sun goes down with their soft warbles to each other.
Oh wow, yes, the Sandhill Cranes are on my list for something to go see someday. They're rare where I live now, but I grew up in Iowa and was thinking of going to visit them along the Platte River in Nebraska sometime.
Do it! You won't regret it!
Absolutely loved this essay—I’m especially fascinated by the idea of chronodiversity. Thanks for taking the time to write this.
Thanks so much, Owen! Yes, that concept sort of blew my mind when I first encountered it!
This is superb, got it and as an extra from Substack today.
I rowed a dory from Vancouver Island to Juneau one summer in 1980. Six weeks camping on shore, and slowly floating up the Inside Passage. Most folks I knew didn't get it, but I got something precious: the experience of one day flowing to another, whales, eagles, seals, and loads of wilderness wilderness is r essential to my life, and I now love at the beach. The world is just a row away.
Wow, Paul, sounds like a dream. I live in New York City, so it's hard to find wilderness in the daily, but still, the parks give me something small and powerful. But six weeks--that's the kind of time that can rewire a person. You've got me thinking about doing something similar!
It's becoming harder and harder to find places without Internet distraction, but 6 weeks is worth it. 2 weeks to slow down, 2 weeks to just be, and then the last 2 weeks starting to think about emerging.
The Green River in Canyonlands National Park is a great place to disappear for a while, though we were only able to pack 2 weeks worth of food in our canoe. Still, 2 weeks is 2 weeks. Flat water, no rapids, ancient stone and rock....
This has been our guide service for canoe and gear rental, place in and take out. Always service with a smile
https://texsriverways.com/
And you can always start at the top, below I-70, and get restocked 2 weeks later at mineral bottom, and spend a whole month in the canyon, chilling and exploring. My sister did that a few years back
This is very good intel! I'm already doing some research about it, starting to dream....
I relate to this - it relates and expands on ideas that have been in my own head lately.
I was hiking my favorite mountain creek trail and then my perspective changed - as I was moving it created a "motion picture" and I was a character in the scene. If I stopped walking it was like pausing the movie... But as long as I was moving, the visual picture was constantly changing, like watching a movie except I was in it playing a role.
Love this imagery, Dinah!
Here in Australia , curlews make long annual journeys to and from Siberia to summer in Australia’s threatened wetlands, in the Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales and in similar extensive wetlands in the Kimberleys region of Western Australia . A miracle of long distance bird migration . Tony Kevin .
Wow, I've just looked up the Macquarie Marshes -- they look amazing! Putting it on my bucket list.
Really got me thinking about time at a time where illness has stopped me dead. Really helping me step back and see in a very different way. Brill !
Thanks, Liz, and best wishes for your health and recovery!
"You can't smell the Roses from the fast lane!" The Zig
Writing that captures and captivates. Thanks.
Thanks for reading, Erl!
Superb, love the illustrations.
Great read. Really enjoyed the artwork as well.