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My friend and fellow activist-writer Norah Stone, who prefers not to have her own website or pages, has graciously allowed me to post this recording of her reading from her micro fiction TEOTWAWKI novel _Alone_. This novel is available in installments by email. Contact me to get on her email list for volume one, which will be coming out Valentine’s Day.

Recording duration 2 minutes 35 seconds.

Thank you so much to a fellow permie and eco/social activist Mike Hoag for this!
I have copy pasted Mike’s words into private email to two of my close cousins, with additional written comments from myself, and also attached a one-minute video of myself so my family would have an authentic voice and video recording of me just in case.

Here is my somewhat more public way of storing the written part of this information. Both so my close people will know my heart, and also to give all of you, my wider community, an example of how you yourself might create such a communication for your loved ones.

From Mike Hoag (author of Beauty in Abundance and other acclaimed books; founder of Transformative Adventures community):

In case I am shot and die in the street at the hands of “the Department of Homeland Security”, and they make me out as a “radical extremist terrorist” while my body is still warm, let me make a record of what I actually believe—what “radical” beliefs make me worthy of execution on the street with no trial by my own government.

Here are the core tenants of my “radical” belief:

I don’t think a masked secret police force should be killing people with “absolute immunity” in our streets. I think that in free countries, the Presidents don’t have secret, unaccountable masked police forces larger and better funded than most countries’ armies. Yet, here we are.

I believe it is deeply disturbing to watch federal officers cheer and applaud after killing a US Citizen in the street. The sworn testimony of the first doctor on the scene stated that those officers made no attempt at first aid, and instead appeared to be casually counting the bullet holes in the body when he approached. I believe those men should not be federal agents, and they should be subject to the laws of our nation, investigation, and a trial before a jury of their peers. Instead, they are still out there, masked, unaccountable, and armed, and given “absolute immunity” on our streets.

I believe we have been—and should continue to be—a nation of laws, where even law enforcement, executive officials, and the President should be expected to abide by the rule of law, and follow the constitution. But I believe this administration has now radically broken with our traditions and laws.

I believe in Democracy. An executive should not claim that constitutional checks and balances no longer apply, that congress and courts cannot check its powers. A President shouldn’t repeatedly state that we should cancel elections. A President shouldn’t repeatedly say “sometimes you need a dictator.” It is a fact that our President and his staff have done exactly these things.

I believe an executive branch should not boldly and unapologetically lie to the people. When we allow that, we no longer have democracy. Yet, DHS, and even the President himself have stated things that all our eyes prove to us are false, that Alex Pretti “brandished a weapon” at DHS agents, “pointed a gun at them,” that he became violent, that he was a “terrorist,” an “assassin” who planned to “cause maximum damage” to ICE agents. If you believe the government is telling the truth, I challenge you to show me any evidence.

I believe the evidence of my own eyes, that a man in a mask became visibly enraged, and illegally assaulted a women, pushing her to the ground with unnecessary force. And Alex Pretti instinctively, calmly, and peacefully, positioned himself between an attacker and a woman being assaulted, without violence. He was then instantly maced, assaulted, beaten by multiple attackers, disarmed, and THEN—unarmed— was shot 10 times by masked assailants who then applauded and cheered. Then these masked men assaulted witnesses, and stole their cameras. All of this is on video. I believe the government gaslighting us about this is definitively “abuse.”

I believe that there is objective good and bad, right and wrong, and I try my best to be a good person. I believe we’re each endowed with moral judgement to know which is which. In school, I learned about the Milgrim “obedience” experiments, where authority figures instructed people to do crimes and harm other people—and many did as told. I learned about the “bystander” effect, where too many of us stand and watch our fellow humans assaulted or murdered, rather than taking action—especially when “authority” is involved. Learning these things, I swore that would never be me, and that I would follow my moral judgement as Alex Pretti did, and attempt to be a helper, rather than a willing supporter of injustice and tragedy.

I believe that we are one American people, and that a government characterizing people with my beliefs stated here are “enemies of the people,” and “terrorists,” and “extremists,” is unAmerican, and will lead to long-term division and ruin for us all. Yet, this is what the executive branch and President are saying.

I believe when a government behaves like this it doesn’t only justify protest—it obligates it. I oppose this administration for the reasons above.

I have the audacity to believe that my views are not actually the extreme, but actually quite conservative, and that the position and actions of this Administration are radical, extremist, and dangerous.

Most radically of all, I believe in our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence.

In 2026, some say these beliefs are so “radical left” as to make me a terrorist, and to justify my assault and execution in the street, without trial, by my own government.

I wonder which of my friends would call me a terrorist if I had been on that street that day instead of Alex Pretti.

PS. Mike is also, along with Laura Oldanie, one of the two lead co-authors of the book Living FREE. Of which I and Eric Brown am among the minor co-authors.

Whoa! Holy cannoli! I’m shocked at what I just unearthed from the bottom of my audio recording app archives. Note to self, declutter your musty dusty electronic cubbyholes more often.

This recording, made in April 2025, is a 21-minute talk which evidently was a rehearsal for the last talk I gave to a UU congregation, before I decided not to give any more live talks for various reasons. By the way, in my opinion I totally bombed that talk when I actually gave it live (by Zoom) — it was nowhere near as good as what I did in this recording. After flubbing a couple of talks in my opinion pretty badly, I decided to get more into writing and phase out speaking.

But today when I stumbled on this rehearsal recording, which I had forgot I had even made … I’m like jeez Louise, this environmental speaker sounds pretty articulate, why don’t we put her in front of a radio microphone lol. So, welcome to my off-off-Broadway TED talk sans video.

I am really not one for tooting my own horn (and that could be an asset or it could be a liability). But honestly, I really feel like this talk of mine is good stuff. It’s about leverage points that we as everyday people can do to counter ecological devastation or at least put the brakes on it. The target audience for this talk, as for most of my other communications, is relatively well-off, white-collar-caste fellow white Boomers.

Not that I don’t communicate widely to many other demographics, but the group I just mentioned is probably the closest thing I have to a demographic “in-group,” therefore the only group I feel it’s “in my lane” to pull off the kid gloves and get a bit stern and bossy with. I still do strive to meet people with empathy and compassion though.

For fellow white boomers: Best leverage points for reducing our eco footprint to counter environmental destruction. Serious cut to the chase, for people who are serious about being part of the solution and are willing to at least consider making some fundamental changes in their default aspirational USA lifestyle.

Talks, recordings, audio, UU, rehearsal for one of many talks that I have addressed to Unitarian Universalist audiences

This is an attempt at embedding an audio recording from the native iOS app into my blog. I made this recording on the iOS voice recording app a few months ago and then realized I didn’t know how to share it to a platform online. Couldn’t see a way to share it on Facebook for example.

Since that time, I have gotten into making video messages as a “hack” to be able to share my audio more widely.

For example, if I’m willing to run my video recording function while I say my audio thing, I can send that in a text message to a friend, I can post it on Facebook or TikTok, and so on. The video can be anything, including unrelated scenery, such as my fabulous garage glam apartment. The video can also be just plain darkness. In other words I make it in video mode even though it’s pitch black. why do this though? Why not just make a video of myself talking? For one thing, I find it a bit of a distraction from attempting to produce the best possible audio for you.

Also, I think many of us are missing out on something that used to be a daily thing, listening to just pure audio. Back in the old radio days we did it all the time. We could listen to the radio while we did basic repetitive household tasks. It was kind of a grounding mixture. And allowed us to learn new things, listen to music, etc., while we worked at the steady flow of basic chores, or just sat back in a chair and enjoyed the luxury of just listening without having to take in any other sensory input.

I first started getting this idea when I started to get super stressed out about being on the radio, because being on the radio nowadays always involves having to look presentable on video as well. And again I feel like it detracted from my focus on the mission and message I was trying to communicate. I’ve been very fortunate to be a radio guest innumerable times back before being on the radio involved having to also be on video.

OK, it looks like WordPress has allowed me to upload the audio file. See paragraph below and click, let me know if you are able to listen to my little nano podcast about enshittification and clothespins. BTW the recording length is 1 minute 41 seconds.

As a bonus of this recording from my little screened porch, you can hear summer insects chirping lightly in the background. Very atmospheric!

I visited my blog just now from the outside, was able to click and hear the recording so I hope you can too!

Enshittification: Clothespins et al. (Experiment with uploading audio to blog)

Since it seems to have worked, I’m giving you a bonus! This is another audio recording that I forgot about; made this one this past summer when I was doing shade experiments here at the low-footprint-living laboratory known as Starshine House / Trailhead 501.

Oh, and Whoa! Holy cannoli! I’m shocked at what I just now additionally unearthed from the bottom of my audio recording app archives. This recording, made in April 2025, is a 21-minute 54-second talk which evidently was a rehearsal for the last talk I gave to a UU congregation, before I decided not to give any more live talks for various reasons. (For many reasons, I haven’t done anything live in person for a long time, other than in my own geo-immediate community, so when I say “live” here I mean live by zoom.)

By the way, in my opinion I totally bombed this talk when I actually gave it live by Zoom on the appointed day — it was nowhere near as good as what I did in this rehearsal recording.

This is good stuff; it’s about leverage points what we as everyday people can do to counter ecological devastation or at least put the brakes on it. The target audience for this talk, as for most of my other communications, is relatively well off fellow white Boomers. Not that I don’t communicate widely to many other demographics, but the group I just mentioned is probably the closest thing I have to a demographic “in-group,” therefore the only group I feel it’s “in my lane” to tell what to do.

This post was inspired by a text exchange with a dear friend who lives in a place with cold and snow. It went something like this.

“I probably could have got out yesterday, but why, where am i going ? The driveway has 13 inches of snow on it!”

I texted back: “You are so smart. I get so tired of these losers who think they need to clear off their driveway and go somewhere. I’m like, save the earth, and stay warm, stay the ***k in your own house lol”

Friends, I urge you: Save the planet, be lazy! If you want some aerobic exercise, then go ahead and shovel your driveway — but still, don’t go out.

I am of course assuming that you have already done the responsible thing and stockpiled plenty of snacks, self-medication supplies, etc. If you haven’t, my deepest sympathies, But you are more likely to remember for next time. And, in the meantime, now could be a good time to explore that “health fast” that you have (not) been intending to do. Distract yourself with Netflix or a craft project.

Or, get really wild and bake something! Did you know –- all those big bags of flour and sugar and salt that’s taking up space in your cabinet can be made into edible items. Yes, I was shocked to find this out also, but once you get used to it it’s pretty cool. Extra bonus points if you have any milk, cheese, or eggs taking up space in your fridge.

I realize this is a bit off the beaten track, but more people are waking up to the wild and wonderful world of actually using up what’s in the deepest recesses of their pantries.

Never is there a better time to slack off than the dead of winter!!! Unless of course it’s the dead of summer.

In all seasons, you have my blessing to slack off for Mother Earth, my dear friends!

Note: this is at least partially tongue-in-cheek, I do understand that some people have to go to the doctor, go to work, and so on. But those of us who are able to push back, and resist the relentless capitalist pressure, should do so for the benefit of all. Push back against those rigid bosses. Eliminate the need for a job by minimizing your overhead. Random oddball side-gigs can cover a lot.

Also on a serious note, I never knew this but supposedly the medical industry is warning anyone over 45 to not shovel snow! Because so many people drop dead from heart attacks from shoveling snow, supposedly. I have always heard occasional reports of people dropping dead shoveling snow, but the numbers seem to be escalating a lot. I wonder how much of this is because a lot of us modern people haven’t learned the proper technique. ???

I also have to wonder if the caution against shoveling one’s own snow is motivated by the snowplow operators industrial complex etc. (“Hey little lady, (or Hey big guy!) leave this to the professionals!”)

Anyway, if you don’t feel able to shovel your driveway, I strongly recommend hiring someone just to be on the safe side. Don’t put yourself at unnecessary medical risk. You’ll be protecting yourself and also supporting a local small business.

Note that I am NOT mentioning the snowblower as an option. Here is this whole season that gives us a break from leaf-blowers, what’s the point if we’re just going to buy a snowblower? Of course if the person you hired happens to use a snow-blower it can’t be helped, and at least you don’t have to keep your own snowblower and take up that space in your garage.) Refrain from buying your own snowblower. Yes I know the relentless big-box hardware store industrial complex will be up in arms at my sacrilegious opinion.

On the general topic of the power of slacking off, check out my book, _constructive laziness: how to save the planet by doing nothing whatsoever_.

(Note, the above is just boldfaced text, not an actual link. Your computer is not broken. This fabulous book is not yet actually in physical existence LOL, but it has been living in my head for years, and I’ve been sharing excerpts of it. And I swear will be launching it as a book as soon as I overcome my laziness and actually write it down! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Added later: A fellow permie commented wonderfully, “All the ways of past movement are totally doable on top of snow shoeing, sledding etc etc. I’m no expert but my bro says their snow days are like our hurricane days. No one wants/can drive anywhere so everyone’s out meeting the neighbors and walking around and just enjoying being humans. No need to ‘only’ be stuck in house 🙂“

#decolonize #dismantlesupremacyculture #LeaveTheLeaves #SlackOffOnSnow #KissOffCapitalism

This is in response to a friend and fellow activist who posted about why she and her husband got divorced. She wanted kids, and at the time they dated and got married, he told her that he too wanted kids.

But then he changed his mind (or he never wanted kids in the first place but was just saying that).

And over time she realized that over the years of the marriage, she had become basically nothing but a live-in servant and emotional support. She thought, what’s the point, if I don’t get to be a Mom (which I want to), and have no hope of being a grandmother.

I wrote the following:

It’s always bothered me, even back when I was interested in dating and marrying, that our society places so much emphasis on the couple relationship.

It’s a lot of burden to place on one relationship, and I think it makes us and our society brittle.

Note, I am very supportive and happy for my friends who are coupled by choice in a mutually happy and supportive and beneficial relationship. 

But also, a lot of us seniors are simply forming or seeking to form small pods and groups where we share housing and expenses and some degree of friendship or social support.

Over the years I have found a lot more love, strength, and durability in cultivating a net of friendship/community. For me, by choice, all of those have been platonic, but there’s no reason why dating or being a couple can’t also be part of a larger, strong community web.

Also, I have been part of strong and healthy community webs where some of the couples, individuals, etc., were non-monogamous.

All too often I see couples be this isolated nucleus, almost like the two-person version of a hermit.

Resilience and anti-fragility via web of relationships is what I’m going for.

Here’s this same post on my DEEP GREEN Facebook page in case you want to share and/or see a more visual version.

Some resources for people who want to get beyond the “nuclear couple monoculture” thing: “decolonizing love” page on Facebook; Desireé B Stephens on Facebook and Substack.

Also, simply observe examples from history to the present day, of indigenous community structures. This includes your own roots if you know them. You can also see healthy community-weighted relationship structures around the world via TikTok. And, if you are lucky enough to be in proximity to a healthy culture, observe how they don’t put the couple relationship above everything else.

And specifically for senior women seeking community-oriented living situations: check out “senior women cohousing” group on Facebook.

To my friends in the states expected to be affected by the extreme cold and winter storms – stay safe. Below I have linked a good article which offers state-by-state info on community resources and tips for staying warm and safe. And I’m sharing a few tips of my own as well.

One of the best things people can do is stay home if it all possible. Stay off the roads.

You know, a lot of the tips for cold weather are not so different from the tips for hurricanes. Power outages are an increasingly common reality, and the more we all prepare & practice, the better.

This article offers tips and resources for staying safe & warm in the forecast severe winter storm / super cold temps that are forecast to affect 30 states. (My photo of cozy candlelight last night in our garage glamp-partment.) The article includes state by state info for the affected states.

The article itself is very helpful, and also within it are good links on shelter resources etc.; I’m going to be exploring these links for more ideas to support our unhoused community. Note, we live in central coastal Florida and are not expected to be affected by the severe winter storm. However, even in the warm states, people can be affected by cold temperatures, so it’s very useful to read up on tips for how people up north learn how to keep warm.

https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-01-22/central-virginia-winter-storm-resources-rva-cville-dominion-vdh-shelters

And here’s this same blog post on my DEEP GREEN Facebook page in case you want to share it there. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16BCmmtLQt/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Ice storm, community resources

PS. You know what they say, sharing is caring! By sharing this blog post and other posts on my blog, you can help people be safer and less vulnerable by building community amid increasingly chaotic conditions. Not just literal meteorological weather conditions, but all sorts of weather conditions.

PPS. In the non-consumer advocate group on Facebook just now, someone just asked if anyone is turning up their heat in anticipation of the severe cold. (Apparently the concept is to pre-store a bit of heat. Something I never thought of.)

Multiple people pointed out it’s more effective to just close off most rooms, and stay in one room together, or as few rooms as possible. In other words, body heat. Other members of the group pointed out that cranking up the heat put extra stress on the grid right when we don’t need to be doing that.

My response to the post:

Hard freeze is rare where we live, but when it happens I just open the taps and shut off the water main, after making sure we have several days’ worth of water stored in jugs in the house.

As I’ve seen lots of other people share here & elsewhere, the easiest & least expensive & safest way to keep warm is just to be in one room, with all the blankets and pets and people etc. And close off as many of the other rooms as possible. That’s what we do.

Also: Regarding water for the toilet, in case there’s to be a super hard freeze and / or extended freeze, I find it best to have ready an emergency “hurricane toilet” (bucket w plastic toilet seat etc.) rather than rely on using precious scarce water to flush. To cut down on odors without adding too much bulk, using kitty litter as cover material can be an option. I’ve used fine oak-leaf litter or fine brown grass clippings as cover matter in such situations but it’s not always available. Also, try to reserve the bucket just for pooping. Minimize peeing in the bucket, to save space in the bucket. Use the toilet for pee only, like a urinal. It’ll get a bit smelly but keeping the lid down between uses to cut down on odors will help. Also, very important, don’t put toilet paper in the toilet. Put it in the bucket or small, covered trashcan. During emergency times, only pee and no solids should go in the toilet. Then later once the water is back on and you’re ready to flush, there’s less likelihood of the toilet clogging from a bunch of accumulated toilet paper. (Ask me how I know this LOL.)

Also – Regarding wrapping exterior pipes to help guard against freezing: There are a lot of things you can use for pipe wrap, including old wool sweaters, flexible foam packaging that some foods come in, that stash of foam pool noodles in the garage etc. You don’t need to buy specialty wrapping. When I lived in Austin, we got a lot more deep freezers than we do here in Florida. I have wrapped my exterior pipes loosely with big plastic garbage bags which I then stuffed with fallen leaves. Very light and fluffy, bulky, traps air.