My Agreement with this Medium — and something (to begin with) on Sam Harris

This tree had been in a fire. Its resin bled like amber, drying to pollen-yellow. It is entirely hollow. Yet it still grows. Resilience like this is hard to fathom. When we begin to respect the fortitude and brilliance of other species, perhaps we will begin to realise our place in the pantheon. Here’s hoping.

New year is rather a random event from my perspective, although as a Scot, one might expect that I would be rather wedded to the idea of song and celebration. I do love a good poem. And a song (I finally heard the sea shanty that went viral last year on the radio recording of an interview I listened to last night here in Tenerife.) Yes. I’m in Tenerife. I…