All of this is rehersal. These emails, these web pages, these games, these mobile phone calls. They are all rehersal for something we might call connection. Little machinations that we can undertake to join the big plan.

What's the big plan? It's actually about the same as the old plan - fight, fuck, feed, die, restart. Except perhaps there's a glimmer of hope we might become aware enough to opt out. To stare suffering in the eye and take a deep breath and reach our hands in and grab hold of something light and salvage each other and trudge on to the glowing golden on the horizon.

How can we prepare for our place in the big plan? We could do what we've always done, fight bitterly to protect our piece of pleasure. Or we can believe in collective evolution, that we might actually be smarter over time, that humanity can mostly be trusted, and that by sharing together and hard work life will mostly get better.

What is the ritual of faith? How can I express participatory optimism?
Be kind; sweet or savory, put something in the pot.

In 1994 I started a web site to detail my questions about life in an era of increasing connection. On Justin Links, I wrote about my life, my family, my lovers, my pain and my penis. I helped other people share their minds in the space that became journals and blogs and personal web sites.

After eleven years, I'm taking a break from active personal blogging. Today, I write articles about digital culture, I make short videos, I edit Wikipedia, and I'm a graduate student in the Interactive Media Division at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television.

videos - articles - research blog - curriculum vitae

Natural, reckless, correct skill;
Yesterday's clarity is today's stupidity.
The universe has light and dark, entrust oneself to change.
One time, shade the eyes and gaze afar at the road of Heaven.
- Ikkyu, number 291, Sonja Arntzen translation