I grew up in Seattle, left for awhile and came back. I used to work in human rights, now I’m some sort of journalist. I write essays and blog posts and sometimes I make videos. I do one podcast with my friend Aubrey and another with my friend Peter; I used to do one with my friend Sarah. I have a newsletter that I update infrequently and a Twitter that I update embarrassingly often. If you want to get in touch, you can e-mail me.
Yes, finally I can comment on your blog! I’ve been reading it for a while now and have shared quite a few of your stories, I always find them well thought-out and provide viewpoints I hadn’t thought about. I’m quite a fan, so keep up the good work 🙂
Love yer work, as always. Welcome to WordPress!
I just discovered your blog today on Google, searching for “the dark side of the fifties”, as I’ve been wondering what all the appeal is about the era. It’s all so stereotypical…like watching re-runs of the same episode of Happy Days or something of the likes. Anyhow, I become increasingly fascinated both by your style of writing, and, obviously, the topics. First off, Germany! That’s so cool! I’ve been becoming more of a Germany fanatic recently, not so much as the Soviet Union and Russia, but Germany nevertheless. Anyhow, yes. I suppose I sound a bit obsessive, but your blog, it’s good readin’.
wonderful blog. Glad I found you. Humor and beauty. Self deprecation and affection. Very nice.
Hysterically funny! Love it! I’m calling Lake Union Air right now for a pepperoni pizza!
Winning.
Meget sjovt…!
Your blog is thoughtful and interesting. And sarcastic as shit. You must come from an amazing city.
Awesome photo (and other!) essays. You are an exceptional story teller. Would you email me? Galen at estately.com?
Welcome to 30 (and welcome back to Seattle?).
I’m so glad you got freshly pressed – you’re a wonderful writer and I love reading your work! I can’t wait to read more…
Hi Mike.
I’ve been following your blog for a while and I have nominated you for the Versatile Blog Award. Come by and check it out.
I am SO happy to have stumbled upon your blog! I’ve been devouring your posts since I first found you on Sunday. You are amazing and I’m in love with how well you write!
I’ve been searching for real content on WP and here it is. Great blog!
Well I figured I just had to comment on your blog because my mother is from Berlin and my father is from Copenhagen! Interesting and very well written, I will check back often!
I like your writing!
Being Danish I wonder how you came up with “rottin in Denmark”? Shakespeare? Did I miss out on something being new in here?
Happy New Year.
😉
I love your blog!!!
Great blog, Mike. You write very well. I logged into WP after ages just to write a comment here. I am enjoying a reading spree right now. Keep writing!
Hello,
I just read your essay on New Republic and found it to be extremely interesting and uplifiting. I found it uplifting as you have articulated exactly the challenges I am facing as part of a not-for-profit in India.
We observed the ‘effects’ of the complex adaptive system in different projects in India and wanted to study such effects in detail. We wanted to find out tell tale signs of situations which could be classified as (CAS). We are still researching the same as part of our new organisation where we specifically restrict our work to the research aspects and use a combination method involving technology, policy, economics and social-science.
One of the problems we constantly have to face is demonstrating the nature of complex adaptive systems. We have to tell donors that scaling/transporting a system (from the west or another part of the country) usually does not work. We even refrain from calling interventions as ‘solutions’. We empasize on developing context specific methods and capabilities in the given location. It can be a long and somewhat expensive and does not always result in glamorous results. Most of the time this is not what donors want to hear and they end up talking to other firms and goups till they find one that agrees with their view point.
I started wokring in a not-for-profit as soon as I graduated. Incidently my PIs were already aware of the challenges of funding and the assessing impact. It is very interesting you talk about a context specific report card. We arrived at the same conclusion and we follow this method to this day!
The current trend among donors (in India or to India) is a severe restiriction of overheads. In one case the entire overhead was cut-off. We are facing tremedous challenges in justifying things like water and electricity for our workspaces.
Thank you for the nice essay. Please do let me know if you want to visit our office anytime you are in Bangalore.
Wonderful blog, good luck
I came over your blog after Googling “I hate living in Denmark” (I only mean it seriously in about 2 out of 3 cases) – you managed to distract me from my immigrant frustrations and I really enjoyed the picture painted in the essays I got to read. Thank you!
Your parents may be disappointed, but if you’re happy…then that’s what matters! I’d love to be in your shoes though, working in human rights, living in Europe!
Super funny reading about dk! 😊 I am sorry that my countrymen did not seem to find you memorable – and sorry, they felt the need to drink in order to speak to you 😉
Thank you for your incredibly insightful essays!
As a wide-eyed undergraduate who has been idealistically chasing the ideals of social entrepreneurship, ethical consumerism & international development… Well, your essay “How not to save the world” really gave me the slap I needed to wake up and brought about a healthy dose of cynicism.
Great work with your blog, I came across it thanks to the article about Denmark and why you couldn’t move back. If I read it before moving there for a year, I’d probably say you are exaggerating. But let me tell you after living there, you couldn’t paint a more accurate portrait! Clearly things have not changed since you wrote that piece, they most likely became worse!
I do look forward to visiting in May, but just for a few days though:)))
I have just read The Epidemic of Gay Loneliness.
Everything you wrote about loneliness and being born ”different” holds true for me. (Except I didn’t have to come out to my family.)
I ‘m coloured. I am immigrant. And I have lived in Europe for most of my life (Yes — I still feel like an immigrant).
The problem with being different starts with your difference — and then you let it become a complex, a crutch.
And every time you come into contact with “others” — you encounter a state of vigilance and your Fight-or-Flee response becomes engaged like a Pavlovian dog-whistle.
This is — I guess — what is meant by the term “Primed to expect rejection”.
This is when your difference is no longer the problem. When you KNOW that not everyone dislikes you for your appearance; but you still FEEL (physically — not just emotionally) ill at ease, because of past experience.
Isolating.
I came across this site because your mom recommended your Huffington piece, “Together Alone.” I thought it was excellent. I don’t think your parents are disappointed in you.
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I recently discovered You’re Wrong About through a moms Facebook group I’m in. Someone posted a meme of Anna Nicole Smith and someone replied with your episode regarding her. I have abandoned my library app until I’m done binging you library of podcasts. Thanks for keeping me company on my long drive!