2021 - 2023
This collection spans Mike’s time living in Alexandria, Louisiana, working in Central Louisiana to maintaining and restoring its electric substations throughout the state.
In this first-person POV of downtown Alexandria, Louisiana, Mike marvels at some of the small towns and unexpected places that have made efforts at better connecting their communities with transit and other pedestrian-oriented measures.
Mike marvels at the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) corporation for its unmatched ability to profit from drumming up conflict and division among young Americans.
In the absence of any sort of city recycling service, Mike demonstrates his routine of walking his discarded recyclables to Target - one of the few places that offers any semblance of recycling disposal.
During his first week living the streets of Alexandria, Mike bemoans the lack of consideration for pedestrians and non-motorists in the design and construction of roadways throughout American cities.
Mike reflects on his impending eviction, characterizing his time there as a stagnant state of limbo, and highlighting the spectacular failure of his nonprofit initiative.
Mike reflects on his personal experiences during the holiday season, reminiscing on his mother, a Taiwanese immigrant adapting to American life in Steubenville, Ohio. He praises Steubenville for accepting his mother and recognizing her strength.
Mike kicks back with his new friend Robert and throws an impromptu soiree to commemorate the final days of Crimson House Alexandria, as his eviction date draws ominously near…
Mike struggles to raise the funds needed to save Crimson House Alexandria from imminent closure, to prevent from being evicted from his home in Louisiana.
Mike reflects on the dangers of domestic terrorism targeting electrical infrastructure, explaining the vulnerability of power substations. Pivoting to the subject of addiction and recovery, he describes his father's sobriety as a source of inspiration. revealing his ambition to launch a transformative camping retreat that would aim to subtly guide participants through healing experiences to aid in overcoming undesired addictions.
Mike expresses his deep concern for the political shift in his home state of Ohio, attributing it partly to demographic changes linked to the shale gas boom and an exodus of college-bound graduates away to coastal cities.
Mike shares his thoughts on the declining state of American society, emphasizing the loss of humility and genuine understanding in online and real-life conversations.
Mike also expresses his deep concern for the political shift in his home state of Ohio, attributing it partly to demographic changes linked to the shale gas boom and an exodus of college-bound graduates away to coastal cities.
Two years after the 2020 West Coast wildfires, Mike recounts the traumatic events he faced mere months after moving to Portland, Oregon. Bearing such emotional weight has been a lonely journey, as I was reminded while trying to share this with loved ones who would find themselves overwhelmed.
With the onset of autumn, Mike shares his observations of daily life in Louisiana, particularly the local weather and distinct infrastructure around him. He notes a curious lack of gutters on the surrounding houses and reflects on the risks of living inland during hurricane season.
Mike vents his disillusionment with modern society and personal frustrations, particularly "smart" technology, the polarization of American politics, the struggles of operating a nascent nonprofit, and his spiritual frustrations with the manipulative tendencies of traditional Christian dogma. Throughout the episode, he seeks a form of digital escapism and catharsis, processing his feelings of exhaustion and disappointment through the course of this chaotic rant.
We are almost always our worst enemy. We tend to obsess over our imperfections and shortcomings, and we tend to overhype the accolades of others.
To those growing up in small towns or otherwise overshadowed places, know that even the most glamorous and affluent places in America are filled with people wanting to leave.
Silence is an unnatural state that induces discomfort. But it also reveals the extent to which we are accustomed to a noisy world.
Mike explains his conservative political views, reframing it with the intent of restraining government and/or curbing societal excesses. He likens our persisting depletion of resources to the consumption of frozen beverages in that it occurs in abrupt stages, rather than a linear decrease in supply.
Lamenting on his unsatisfaction in his present work in Louisiana, Mike ponders on the next steps in his career and where that will prompt him to move next.
Seeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfold, Mike expresses anxiety at the parallels he sees with China and Taiwan, fearing a similar invasion of his mother’s home country, as well as admiration for the students and youth of Taiwan who are bravely standing up to the Chinese government in order to keep their democracy alive.
Mike provides an update from his home in Alexandria, discussing his latest project to develop a wireless audio scheme to connect all the Bluetooth speakers in the house, before inviting us on a "virtual date" in which he divulges some personal thoughts and anecdotes in his dating life.
Despite the stigmas of not owning a car, walking affords a much more intimate relationship with the places I live.