essays

These are in reverse chronological order. Scroll down or click here for alphabetical order.

How To Eat Better
3 March 2009

Beyond Civilized and Primitive
15 February 2008 -- My latest thinking on the critique of civilization and where we might be going.

How To Save Civilization
5 September 2007 -- Three words: complexity without growth.

9/11 FAQ
5 September 2006 -- For the anniversary, my position on the controversy.

Fall Down Six Times
15 March 2006 -- Six different collapse scenarios.

What We Learned From Katrina
16 September 2005

The Age of Batshit Crazy Machines
Don't Fear The Singularity
4 July and 3 December 2005 -- Long and short versions of a critique of techno-utopian thinking, especially the idea that machines will surpass humans.

Critique of Civilization FAQ
The Critique of Civilization Changes Everything
8/15 April 2005 -- Double essay, a full frontal assault on the mythology of civilization.

The Slow Crash
2 February 2005 -- One of many attempts to find the middle ground between The Road Warrior and Star Trek.

How to Survive the Crash and Save the Earth
19 December 2004

Troubleshooting America
17 September 2004 -- The history of the USA in computer metaphors and puns.

Six Lies About Immigration
27 April 2004 -- As long as they're coming to equalize wealth and not to cut down trees, they're OK with me!

How to Drop Out
2 April 2004 -- The most popular thing I've ever written. Also check out this page of criticism and response.

Democrats nominate Hitler
18 February 2004 -- I've delisted all my writings about presidential politics, except this one, which seems to remain relevant.

The Animal in the Dark Tower
9 February 2004 -- Basically an update on my thinking about civilization after reading John Livingston's Rogue Primate.

Your Life As Pornography
11 December 2003 -- Not everyone gets this, but it's one of my favorites.

Seven Lies About Civilization
24 November 2003 -- A nice summary of anti-civ concepts.

Arno-geddon
13 October 2003 -- Schwarzenegger and American fascism.

Grand Diversifying Theory
21 August 2003 -- Metaphysical/spiritual manifesto, the sequel to "Science the Destroyer".

The Effects of Highly Habitual People
24 June 2003 -- One of my best essays, and I waited years for a chance to use that title!

21 Stories About Civilization
3 May 2003 -- A personal favorite. The stories are about what civilization means and where it's going.

Who Would Satan Bomb?
5 April 2003 -- Interview with Satan during the US invasion of Iraq. This was super-fun to write.

These Colors Run
19 March 2003 -- America explained.

Twisted Utopian Visions
27 January 2003 -- Some things I might try if I were dictator.

Why do pedophiles get all the attention?
15 January 2003

Against Rights
27 November 2002

Violence Unraveled
11 November 2002 -- What I'm unraveling here is the word.

Science the Destroyer
25 October 2002 -- The most hated essay on this page.

Where was Luke Skywalker on September 11?
2 September 2002 -- He was blowing up a giant grey monolithic structure symbolizing a universal empire, inspired by a bearded guy in the desert!

The Coming Expansion
29 July 2002 -- They usually call it a "depression."

The System Works
13 May 2002 -- We're just in denial about its purpose.

The Soul of Progress
19 April 2002 -- Not my best essay, but maybe my strongest.

J.R.R. Tolkien: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
21 March 2002

Violence vs. Pacifism
7 March 2002

Thinking Through the Fall
21 February 2002

The Mathematics of Responsibility
7 February 2002 -- It adds up to more than 100%.

. . .

Thanks to Helen Highwater of Unknown News who got me started on these things in January 2002 by suggesting I write a regular column for their site.

. . .

Alphabetical Order

21 Stories About Civilization 3 May 2003
9/11 FAQ 5 September 2006
Against Rights 27 November 2002
The Age of Batshit Crazy Machines 4 July 2005
The Animal in the Dark Tower 9 February 2004
Arno-geddon 13 October 2003
Beyond Civilized and Primitive 15 February 2008
The Coming Expansion 29 July 2002
The Critique of Civilization Changes Everything 15 April 2005
Critique of Civilization FAQ 8 April 2005
Democrats nominate Hitler 18 February 2004
Don't Fear The Singularity 3 December 2005
The Effects of Highly Habitual People 24 June 2003
Fall Down Six Times 15 March 2006
Grand Diversifying Theory 21 August 2003
How to Drop Out 2 April 2004
How To Eat Better 3 March 2009
How To Save Civilization 5 September 2007
How to Survive the Crash and Save the Earth 19 December 2004
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow 21 March 2002
The Mathematics of Responsibility 7 February 2002
Science the Destroyer 25 October 2002
Seven Lies About Civilization 24 November 2003
Six Lies About Immigration 27 April 2004
The Slow Crash 2 February 2005
The Soul of Progress 19 April 2002
The System Works 13 May 2002
These Colors Run 19 March 2003
Thinking Through the Fall 21 February 2002
Troubleshooting America 17 September 2004
Twisted Utopian Visions 27 January 2003
What We Learned From Katrina 16 September 2005
Where was Luke Skywalker on September 11? 2 September 2002
Who Would Satan Bomb? 5 April 2003
Why do pedophiles get all the attention? 15 January 2003
Violence Unraveled 11 November 2002
Violence vs. Pacifism 7 March 2002
Your Life As Pornography 11 December 2003