it's better this way

31 December, 2025

Burlington, ON

Giving heartfelt notice of a devastating life change.

My grandmother, the final gang member to move on, played a major role in my upbringing. Those iconic morning television shows you so vividly remember before school time, in addition to your morning cream-of-wheat played the foundation blocks of your developing life. Yet, no matter how the inevitable may be in plain sight, you can never really prep for when that phone finally rings. Grandparents serve as sincere inspiration and historic knowledge. Having someone in your life who had been around in the days of an entirely different world, is so valuable. How could anyone possibly experience years of simplicity to a complex series of tragedy, drastic change, and the evolution of the human race, and still maintain a heartfelt smile? The core of the family is forever a legacy, and to your grandparents, it really felt like you could do no wrong.

Appreciating the living is still a ludicrous concept for many. Be forever grateful for the positive relationships you have, big or small. Hold onto your friends, hold onto yourself, and be proud. This experience is finite, so pay close attention to what makes you happy.

I recently came across Phoebe Weston's article in the Guardian about how butterflies are losing their colour due to deforestation (see links). It connected with me so purely as monochrome becomes the new norm in society. Where once there was a vibrance throughout our world, has ultimately become more blank and neutral. It's interesting to note the alteration in diversity from habitat loss. There are far too many similarities in our rapid-developing neighborhoods to the Amazon forests.

We're all losing colour.

Anyway, should you feel the need to vacate the beastly holiday cheer, I hope my absurdist writing room is here for a quick thought.

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The SLOG Movie (1982)

If you're unlucky like me, you simply weren't around for the raw and unkept punk movement of SoCal in the early 80's. I bought this DVD way back and was immediately enthralled with Dave Markey's portrayal of the scene. The way he had captured moments in time with a camera, the feelings between friends and musicians, and all the piercing performances made me want a time machine more than ever. Watching this today simplifies a time before smart phones, and it is surely glorious. You can practically feel the police's presence in the Oki-Dog's parking lot as they pull up with their cruisers.

How long do YOU think punk rock will last?

FOREVER.

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Naomi Klein's Doppelganger (2024)

The rise of conspiracy-thinking and the concept of possessing. Some of the biggest problems society today is dealing with. Many identify themselves with another, but eventually become so unaware of their own, distinct self. We, who create our own virtual versions of ourselves online generally lose sight of our morals & ethics. Throw the new AI Revolution into all this, and it very much mocks the meaning of what it means to be human. Still, I have the utmost intent on uploading my mugshot to Twin Strangers someday. This book is the real deal.

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Asobi Sedsku - Thursday

If there's one song that you may fall asleep to with your earbuds in, I pray this may be that very gemstone. It's hard to forget the ones we waited for, and the band ensures you commemorate those lovely feelings in a dream-pop that's upbeat, but close to the heart. The xylophone break will change something in you.

For a bonus experience, check out their acoustic performance at Olympic Studios.

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WITHOUT ASKING - Alessandra Olanow

Drawing has always been a vehicle for Alessandra - as she states throughout various interviews and podcasts. She uses her sketchbook to hide behind things, demonstrate self-help, and inspire readers to maintain hope. And it's clear to see this within all of her poetry. We navigate through life with every means necessary, despite having our plans fall apart constantly. Most often, out of our control. This practice helps us focus and discover our creative outlet. To learn to anticipate these changes, we may eventually accept them as gifts.

another time. another world.

2 September, 2025

Porphyry Island, Ontario

I spent a portion of this summer living in a lighthouse. The restoration project exists on a tiny little island on Lake Superior, and is composed up of workers who are investing time into fulfilling the mandate. Several volunteer programs, Artists-in-Residency, conservation work and a variety of offerings see Porphyry Island as a revolving door for many who seek the ultimate isolation, and wish to explore these lighthouses. I was there to visually document the unique experience and act as a true Host Keeper, like many of which back in the day. Learning about these souls gave me so much gratitude, and reading their personal journals was a whole 'nother endeavor.

Lighthouses have such a rich past. Acting as a navigation tool for the incoming and passing safety to port. For many, they aren't even aware lighthouses still exist in the province, let alone being maintained by a number of dedicated locals. Currently, most light stations across the country are now full automated, yet the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior are actively trying to revive history.

To verbally paint you an image of the sights and sounds of this island would be next to impossible. The immense feeling I received with the remote landscape, zero light pollution, the roar from what simply MUST be an ocean, and meeting a handful of memorable tourists. And for someone who has yet to get a full eight-hour sleep this year, some of the best snooze of my life.

I am honored to be apart of the story of not only Porphyry, but it's surrounding neighboring islands, too. Some of which, only a handful have ever had the pleasure of visiting. I pray my offering of my Apple Watch to the Gods of Shaganash serve them well, and may the brave kayakers who seek shelter during a sudden storm surge remain cozy in their newspaper-decorated guest rooms.

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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)

I've watched this several times and it never fails to enlighten me. Long live black education films with pure substance and craftsmanship. This flick acknowledges the colonizers who have stripped continents of their resources for generations, and sheds light on the culture and struggles this community sees on a regular basis. Malawi is often referred to as the warm heart of Africa, and it's people are passionate about their families and government, Maxwell Simba is the most badass name ever, and he demonstrates throughout the film that education is important, and should be free for all.

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Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger (2022)

The longevity of writing this novel has to be some sort of record, right? Set in the early 80's, this book alludes to a missing aircraft passenger, but really shadows Bobby Western throughout his travels. It's made up of discussions - conversations about ideas, history, and just sad, questions about life with zero answers. The reader find themselves so engulfed in details, it's as if they're in the very room during the chat on JFK's assassination. This book truly proves that it's never too late to create art, and I'm very much looking forward to the follow-up.

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Miya Folick - Talking With Strangers

This song will push you to take the car and drive across lost roads to find yourself. It brings me great joy that she is beginning to gain more recognition. You can really feel the vibrancy in the way she performs her tunes, and her messaging is a beautiful release of everything that's been bubbling underneath the surface. It's so underrated, it could be our little secret. Winter, here we come. I feel you nearer.

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Noir: Heart Archive by Şeyda Noir

Highlighting the ongoing struggle between emotions and internal thoughts, these poems will energize the ability to express yourself with self-love. We are all encouraged to share our experiences with one another, and brought up to believe that neither of us are alone in our daily challenges. It's uplifting to read pieces like this, to make sense of what it's really like to be human. The inclusion of hashtags here truly bring the elements of community and connection to its readers. Noir is an attempt to guide us through it all, while maintaining its eloquence and simplicity. Poetry you can revisit time after time should forever be prioritized.

Nautical Nonsense

12 June, 2025

Providence, Rhode Island

There's a current study being conducted in the marina of Matunuck. These coastal areas, nearshore tidal zones and other water spaces represent where and how urban pollution, including microplastics and other contaminants, enter the marine ecosystems. Floating wetlands have been developed as a nature-based solution to support biodiversity and improve water quality. The study will provide data towards a filtration method for microplastics and heavy metals. This project also pioneers the use of biocompatible and plastic-free materials by using myco-buoys to construct the floating wetlands. These will be deployed in these environments and monitored regularly.

I can't thank the team at 5 Gyres enough for having me on this project, and I'm excited to share the visuals and representation in the near future. Engineering a pilot study for future sustainable design in ecological restoration is no easy task, and it's important to capture the story in a captivating manner. As fait would have it, the moment we called 'action,' it simply wouldn't stop down-pouring. The things done for science.

A huge shoutout to Roger Williams for finding Rhode Island.

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Your Tomorrow (2025)

Compiled of interviews, memoirs and standpoints during the redevelopment of Toronto's Ontario Place, Your Tomorrow demonstrates the evolution and impact this park had on the city. A perfect representation of how much the residents of this city admired nature space. A story to help the feeble-brain understand that we don't need a business plan for every backyard this place offers, and selling off pieces of Ontario to line your pockets isn't exactly a high praise. I had spent a great deal of my childhood at this park, and during it's abandoned stages, I would reflect heavily whether running or attending a movie at the Cinesphere. It's still an underrated piece of history that brought so many people together, and presently a shameful reality-check for the clueless.

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John Green's Everything is Tuberculosis (2025)

Excited for a new John Green. Deep diving into the current state of such a horrendous disease. Though curable in some parts of the world, it remains a devastating entity for other areas. John contemplates the 'why aren't we choosing to?' task for humanity to distribute the cure where it's needed the most. For many, TB seems like an ancient disease, yet millions die every year from it. I wrote a speech in elemntary about Tuberculosis and am horrified to learn how bad it still is today....

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Hamilton Leithauser - This Side of the Island

The Walkmen proved their legacy when I had finally caught them live a few years back. Hammy's comeback is a time capsule taking you back to your old friends. Written during some pretty tough times, Hamilton portrays themes of disillusionment, acceptance and resolve. A bonafide toe-tapper. With a voice that perfectly paints a memory accompanied by big-band instruments, there couldn't possibly be a better time like the present to inflict this on the music world.

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Somewhere, Someone is Thinking of You by Henry Rollins

The words and lyrics from this man have never not placed a stranglehold on me. From his early days in the DC punk scene, Rollins has existed in some form of car-ride, opening band's cover and even public-poetry - and has been a lyrical master for forever. Sure, by the time you find yourself in the back-half of this poem, there are some questionable thoughts on paper, but what's more punk than truly not giving a damn how people perceive your inner thoughts? The bluntness is shockingly emotional. I think at one point in another, throughout all of our lonely existence, it's moving to fantasize that somebody out there may in fact be thinking of you.