Soapbox
Shrooms with a view
An imaging study shows that people tripping on magic mushrooms have a “hyperconnected” brain, creating temporary networks between regions that don’t typically communicate with each other. Another study showed that the “hot” neural areas for mushroom trippers are associated with emotion and memory, specifically in discrete areas usually most active when we dream, the same areas…
A Thanksgiving death: the five stages of vegan grief
(I wrote this post two years ago. This year I have passed into the acceptance phase. Dinner with the family. While turkey will be served, there’s a vegan option on the table too. That’s progress!) Thanksgiving is the only day of the year I (kind of) hate being a vegan. Usually, I am quietly…
Cowboys and pickles in Portland
Or what I learned from pickling: an existential riff. Against all odds, I created pickles this year. Two batches, even. What’s next, knitting? The truth of that makes me weep a little. When I became a vegan, pickles unexpectedly became delicious. Alicia told me they would. I was surprised that this clueless kind woman was…
The Blue Lady of the Oregon Caves: A Ghost Story
The Oregon Caves are no place for taphophobes — those who have an acute fear of being buried alive. Early on in the tour that took us deep inside the namesake caves, the ranger turned off the lights, sheathed his flashlight and let us experience the utter, absolute darkness. We were hundreds of feet…
Dear Cheese, I have to break up with you
Wait, don’t cry (even though your tears would be delicious little curds), you know its for the best. Given how close we’ve been for so long, this probably seems like it’s coming out of the bleu (the one side of you I never really “got”) but you have to understand, it’s not because I…