The idea that civilization ends while we’re alive seems to be an ego-centric view of one’s life experience and “we’re living in the end of times” is a thing that every generation probably believes because being the last humans alive gives your life more purpose than just being a blip on the human timeline.
I think humans are too self preserving to end civilization.
The people in power don’t want to give up civilization because then they lose their power and the people without power want to destroy the current infrastructure so they can then gain more power etc. — no end. Just changing of hands.
I think only thing that’ll end us will be AI — and I do believe that one is real, that it’d be an accident, and that it could happen while we’re all still alive.
I guess maybe I am more like the barista, but just a different shade.
I totally agree with all of this, Alex. You need a big ego to think that history ends with you. On the other hand, I'm also worried about AI. Part of me says my fear is ego doing its thing, but another part of me thinks, yeah, we were bound to build something so powerful that it could destroy us, and it'll totally play out as a very human accident.
I’m with Alex on this one sans the ai part though. Man is way too greedy to end civilization. I think the disparity between those who have a lot and those two have nothing just get wider and wider, and they’ll just keep getting pushed to the fringes. But oatmeal raising cookie me any day.
Oatmeal raisin is a bold choice. It's the non-cookie cookie. And yeah, I've given it shit before because it's "healthy," but the truth is, I've had some damn good oatmeal raisin cookies, and I plan on having more.
I once went to a coffee shop that had oatmeal blueberry cookies. They surpassed oatmeal raising by orders of magnitude and became a cookie I might actually choose to eat even if no other options were available.
Mortimer is adorable. You're thoughtful, funny, and I enjoy reading what you write. Hire this man! I'm now going to find your book online. You're the kind of writer I enjoy. I love people who make me think and can find humor.
About this barista. I was this guy, for a moment in time. Then I realized I was only adding more misery into the world. I remembered I'm not some reactive blob. I can focus on creating a life I enjoy.
That was all going great until my husband nearly died from a stroke in 2020.
I've had to do a lot of emotional and mental work to get back to the ungloomy space I made. But now, more than ever, I appreciate the simple things in life: a day without rushing to the hospital; a new artichoke growing in my garden; not chasing my husband down the street because the medications a doctor prescribed caused my usually funny and calm husband to go berserk...
I think barista man needs some introspection and life experience. Sure, life can be f***ing dark. We don't have to look into the cavernous depths of what we can't control. We can turn toward what is in our control.
Good thing you're a writer. You took his gloom and made it into a thoughtful piece. But another customer may have walked away with more weight on their already bogged down shoulders--spreading his misery like a virus.
Growing up with a volatile, control freak father, I learned that early in life I didn't have control of what I ate, where I lived, my father's dark moods--but I always have control of my mind, what I think about, where I focus, and what I dream of being.
Now you have me wanting to see Mad Max again. Not to ponder anything deep... only because that's when Mel was hot.
Michele, there is so much wisdom and humanity in this comment. I really appreciate you sharing the challenging stuff and your perspective. Thank you! Also, on a less serious note, Mel was a looker back then wasn't he?
Michael, I ate up "Ride Share." Thank you for sharing these human experiences. I learn so much from people's stories. Your micro pieces cover an array of humanity and emotions.
Having momentarily worked in retail in the West Valley, I can only imagine what these drivers deal with on a daily basis. Thankfully, people like you realize they're people with stories to share, not simply cogs to be ordered around and dismissed.
Thank you, Michele! I really appreciate this. If you could do me a big favor and leave a comment on Amazon, that would really help. You could literally just copy & paste what you wrote here. Also, as West Valley retail survivor, I urge you to tell your story!
Last cookie I ate was a TJ's mini chocolate heart. OK, but TJ's best cookie is the seasonal mini Gingerbread People cookies with white fudge icing. Plan to buy about a dozen boxes next December.
2. I actually ate a vegan GF chocolate chip cookie yesterday with a friend at a coffee house. Barista was too busy to talk about the state of the world.
With the king of rampant consumerism Bezos and the architects of social chaos Zuckerberg and Musk each either currently building doomsday bunkers on islands or trying to escape to Mars, I'd say it sure *feels* like there's an ill wind a-blowing our way...
Those bunkers fascinate me. It's like, you could build a bunker, or you could, you know, use your billions to help humanity and you won't need a bunker.
I'm going to make cookies today! I have a lingering bag of those Hershey peppermint bark kisses and I'm going to put them on chocolate crinkles like an alternate universe peanut butter blossom.
Oh, man, I feel this barista. It's not politics or sports or any specific thing. It's just...doom. Like, really, this is the best we could do? Because everyone seems either pretty fucking miserable or working their asses off in order to not be pretty fucking miserable and having only mild success.
Thanks Konstantin! I really appreciate that! If you could do me a big favor and leave a quick review on Amazon, that’ll help more people find the book. 🙏🏻
1. “Doomed” undersells the chaos of the moment, and history in general. There are good paths open. And many, many alternatives.
2. I almost bought a “protein cookie,” remembered I’m a human being, and got a white chocolate chip dose of sanity.
3. Bangers are in the headphones of the beholder.
4. I suppose it’s a split between people that never saw it, people that paid half attention, and powerfully motivated drinkers.
5. Perfectly put. I’ll just add that the performance makes me smile every time.
I've fallen for the protein cookie scam. Total lie.
Protein cookie ha ha ha!
It is a dark temptation, but we remain vigilant.
I have nothing insightful to offer except that I, too, fight doom by ensconcing myself in pillows. Mortimer is my new leader.
Warning about following Mortimer. He will lead you to a land of treats, but he will not share those treats.
This was fun.
I don’t totally agree with the barista.
The idea that civilization ends while we’re alive seems to be an ego-centric view of one’s life experience and “we’re living in the end of times” is a thing that every generation probably believes because being the last humans alive gives your life more purpose than just being a blip on the human timeline.
I think humans are too self preserving to end civilization.
The people in power don’t want to give up civilization because then they lose their power and the people without power want to destroy the current infrastructure so they can then gain more power etc. — no end. Just changing of hands.
I think only thing that’ll end us will be AI — and I do believe that one is real, that it’d be an accident, and that it could happen while we’re all still alive.
I guess maybe I am more like the barista, but just a different shade.
I totally agree with all of this, Alex. You need a big ego to think that history ends with you. On the other hand, I'm also worried about AI. Part of me says my fear is ego doing its thing, but another part of me thinks, yeah, we were bound to build something so powerful that it could destroy us, and it'll totally play out as a very human accident.
1000%. Deep down, I am a prepper, but too lazy and nihilistic to follow through.
I think that’s where most of humanity is. We know it’s gonna end badly, but mustering the will to prep is beyond us.
This series: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8TnkxQr/
Just to add to the chaos is coming vibe 🤙
I’m with Alex on this one sans the ai part though. Man is way too greedy to end civilization. I think the disparity between those who have a lot and those two have nothing just get wider and wider, and they’ll just keep getting pushed to the fringes. But oatmeal raising cookie me any day.
Oatmeal raisin is a bold choice. It's the non-cookie cookie. And yeah, I've given it shit before because it's "healthy," but the truth is, I've had some damn good oatmeal raisin cookies, and I plan on having more.
Better than no cookie maybe. Better than protein cookie for sure.
I once went to a coffee shop that had oatmeal blueberry cookies. They surpassed oatmeal raising by orders of magnitude and became a cookie I might actually choose to eat even if no other options were available.
I've had oatmeal blueberry with white chocolate. It was heaven.
😋😋😋
I kinda think DOOM is the new normal. That barista has it about right.
And he deserves an awesome tip!
He deserves a good tip, a living wage, healthcare, and retirement. I ❤️ baristas.
Mortimer is adorable. You're thoughtful, funny, and I enjoy reading what you write. Hire this man! I'm now going to find your book online. You're the kind of writer I enjoy. I love people who make me think and can find humor.
About this barista. I was this guy, for a moment in time. Then I realized I was only adding more misery into the world. I remembered I'm not some reactive blob. I can focus on creating a life I enjoy.
That was all going great until my husband nearly died from a stroke in 2020.
I've had to do a lot of emotional and mental work to get back to the ungloomy space I made. But now, more than ever, I appreciate the simple things in life: a day without rushing to the hospital; a new artichoke growing in my garden; not chasing my husband down the street because the medications a doctor prescribed caused my usually funny and calm husband to go berserk...
I think barista man needs some introspection and life experience. Sure, life can be f***ing dark. We don't have to look into the cavernous depths of what we can't control. We can turn toward what is in our control.
Good thing you're a writer. You took his gloom and made it into a thoughtful piece. But another customer may have walked away with more weight on their already bogged down shoulders--spreading his misery like a virus.
Growing up with a volatile, control freak father, I learned that early in life I didn't have control of what I ate, where I lived, my father's dark moods--but I always have control of my mind, what I think about, where I focus, and what I dream of being.
Now you have me wanting to see Mad Max again. Not to ponder anything deep... only because that's when Mel was hot.
Michele, there is so much wisdom and humanity in this comment. I really appreciate you sharing the challenging stuff and your perspective. Thank you! Also, on a less serious note, Mel was a looker back then wasn't he?
Michael, I ate up "Ride Share." Thank you for sharing these human experiences. I learn so much from people's stories. Your micro pieces cover an array of humanity and emotions.
Having momentarily worked in retail in the West Valley, I can only imagine what these drivers deal with on a daily basis. Thankfully, people like you realize they're people with stories to share, not simply cogs to be ordered around and dismissed.
I look forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you, Michele! I really appreciate this. If you could do me a big favor and leave a comment on Amazon, that would really help. You could literally just copy & paste what you wrote here. Also, as West Valley retail survivor, I urge you to tell your story!
I'm enjoying your stories in "Ride Share."
Yes! 😄
It was a chewy and delicious Meyer lemon cookie my wife made! I feel very un-doomed eating them.
Oooh! That does sound good.
I usually answer your questions first, but I’m stuck on you being a Raiders fan. Really? What gang are you in?
Further comments to follow.
I have more bad news for you on the Raiders front. https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelestrin/p/my-wife-went-to-her-first-nfl-game?r=1fqhx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
God bless you both -I’m not a football enthusiast at all. But when I lived in the LA area, the Raiders fans I knew had face tats. Some with teardrops.
Raiders Nation is diverse, but it’s often defined by its most extreme examples.
Fogerty totally rocks.
Preach!
Last cookie I ate was a TJ's mini chocolate heart. OK, but TJ's best cookie is the seasonal mini Gingerbread People cookies with white fudge icing. Plan to buy about a dozen boxes next December.
I need to try those cookies next time they come around, Katie. I'm a big fan of the TJ's ginger snaps.
Mike loves those ginger snaps too! They are good.
It’s the bits of candied ginger that really makes those snaps slap!
I think the whole problem is revealed in line 7 of this piece where the barista says, “I haven't had any coffee in months.”
Suspect, right?
Last cookie was chocolate chip cookie frozen and then warmed up in Aharons microwave very good and who knows how old?!?!
Freezing a cookie boggles my mind. Who has the will power to save a cookie for some date far off in the future?
1. If we’re doomed it’s because of AI.
2. I actually ate a vegan GF chocolate chip cookie yesterday with a friend at a coffee house. Barista was too busy to talk about the state of the world.
3. -5. Above my pay grade.
Go Niners. 😊
I fear the AI doom too.
With the king of rampant consumerism Bezos and the architects of social chaos Zuckerberg and Musk each either currently building doomsday bunkers on islands or trying to escape to Mars, I'd say it sure *feels* like there's an ill wind a-blowing our way...
Those bunkers fascinate me. It's like, you could build a bunker, or you could, you know, use your billions to help humanity and you won't need a bunker.
Truth. Like human equivalents of cockroaches though, it appears they will only do what is natural for them when they feel threatened - split and run
I'm going to make cookies today! I have a lingering bag of those Hershey peppermint bark kisses and I'm going to put them on chocolate crinkles like an alternate universe peanut butter blossom.
You're making excellent choices, Amber!
Raider Nation, huh? I guess I'll keep reading you...😝😝😝
Oh yes. I've been a citizen my whole life, but Christina only recently converted. https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelestrin/p/my-wife-went-to-her-first-nfl-game?r=1fqhx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I'm originally from Denver. I'm gonna have to think about this...
Oh, man, I feel this barista. It's not politics or sports or any specific thing. It's just...doom. Like, really, this is the best we could do? Because everyone seems either pretty fucking miserable or working their asses off in order to not be pretty fucking miserable and having only mild success.
Going to have a cookie now.
Look to the cookie!
Always good advice.
Hi Michael,
I just finished reading 'Not Safe for Work' and just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed it! Thank you!
Thanks Konstantin! I really appreciate that! If you could do me a big favor and leave a quick review on Amazon, that’ll help more people find the book. 🙏🏻
No problem!
Thank you, really appreciate it!