First Class Garbage Man: 3 morsels keeping my hope afloat
I’m currently watching a series of talks about how the world is absolutely fucked due to selfishness, and humanity’s failure to break out of the resource-extractive status quo over the last 60 years: at the first obvious signs of our own demise due to human-induced climate alterations, brought on almost exclusively by corporate profit and shareholder value maximization (capitalism).
I’m writing this while eating ice cream and drinking wine on a $10,000, 16-hour, first-class Delta flight to Seoul, South Korea.
Not only is the irony not lost on me, but I’m actively considering pulling an Elliott Smith with my airline-issued bread knife due to the hyper-hypocrisy.
But, my differentiating factor: I look unkempt, like if Charles Manson & Ed Sheeran had a son. The staff on this plane also knows that I paid $0 for this flight — used benefits and was then lucky to get upgraded. So, several reasons for them to assume I “don’t belong” and to not take me seriously as a person.
(UPDATE: I ended up getting kicked out of my seat because a rich guy near me broke his seat while trying to recline)
This isn’t my first time infiltrating the bourgeois as a lowly peasant: while working at the White House alongside trust-funders, working in tech in Silicon Valley, and rubbing elbows in Hollywood during my time with Sundance. These all let me peek behind doors I shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near (due to my lack of class, non-existent manners, absence of nepotism, failure to perform niceties, and putrid personal hygiene).
Nonetheless: here I am. Once again resenting and hating myself along with those around me. Or at least feeling entirely out of place…speaking of…
That leads me to the point of this entry: I wanted to share three pieces that really struck a chord with me this month as I traverse the world.
Good Old Neon — David Foster Wallace (narration)
If you’ve ever felt none-for-this-world, and that even therapy and therapists were a lost cause in allowing you to feel part of this planet: dive in. I’ve been a fan of DFW for some years now — though I’ve failed to conquer his masterpiece (Infinite Jest) several times now — I have taking a liking to his essays over the years. But, even moreso, I’ve taken a liking to his presence and way of moving about the world (before he hung himself on his porch in 2008). He once explained that he wears a bandana because he has an irrational fear of his brain spontaneously exploding out of his skull. And with that kindred though: I was hooked.
An introduction to the Metacrisis — Daniel Schmachtenberger
I’m brand new to the philosophy of Daniel Schmachtenberger — I came up on this talk while doomscrolling at the airport at 4am. But, as I spent a large portion of my day yesterday on Linkedin debating/arguing with former academics about how society is fucked due to teachers fleeing education in exchange for large tech salaries — I found comfort in the lack of faith in the future of humanity Daniel not only possessed, but professes publicly on a stage. Too many TED-esqie speakers and academics feel the need to wrap a bubbly Hollywood bow on their talks, despite the research and data saying we’ve waited far too long for corrective action, and that likely our children will see the end of times if we dont.
(So far we’ve covered suicide and the decimation of mankind — so let’s wrap it up with something a bit lighter.)
A Therapeutic Journey from the School of Life — Alain de Botton
Alain was declared my favorite author when I was 21ish and read his books “On Love” and “How Proust Can Change Your Life”. He has a remarkable way of translating ancient philosophical and psychological thoughts and concepts into modern, everyday, relatable parables. You will notice me reference him often in my travels, as his book, “The Art of Travel” was quite influential in my maiden traipsing.
In this talk, Alain performs a comprehensive overview about how we are all absolutely batshit insane — and how anyone who claims sanity is not to be trusted whatsoever. He also highlights the importance of deeply assessing our own childhood to make sure we were either raised with healthy attitudes & emotional intelligence — or that we work to correct or build what we lack. And then to do it again. And then some more.
Very succinct, articulate, reminders about how to live a good life and skill-ourselves-up emotionally on the daily.
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Although it’s 2023, I haven’t taken the time to examine if any of these men have been cancelled or called out by one of the major American political parties. I realize this is a major risk that could get me, myself, crucified and potentially cancelled by enjoying their art without a preamble. I accept my fate if that turns out to be the case. All I ask is that you forgo the casket for the environment, and to save money ($2–5,000 on avg!). Although…Walmart does have this hell of a steal at just under $1K:
It appears to be unfinished balsawood — much like the type we learned to whittle in Cub Scouts. Life is a circle.
Craig Wiroll is a ding dong daddy from Dumas & frozen custard aficionado from the Midwest. He is the author of 26 unpublished books that mysteriously burned in a barn fire in 2014. He is a has-been a reality television “star”, game show failure, Asian elephant rehabilitator, waterfall repairman, two-time garlic eating champion, and also worked at Pizza Hut and The White House.
He lives with his cat Dr. Dentist and his lovely /strange partner Nikki — oftentimes out of the back of his 2005 Saturn VUE.
This entry is dedicated to my favorite travel-esque story of the year:
