6:35am

First full day in Brooklyn. Stepping out of our (co-opted culture) hotel. Summer humidity ramping up, the warm, heavy wind hits me in the face, channeled through a brownstone wind tunnel. So much movement, so many people. Everybody doing something, hurriedly. Everybody on top of each other, all walks of life; but in democratic sort of way in a way. Sounds, smells, most of it unpleasant. But its alive, vibrant chaotic.

Strategically dodging the sun in shade and shadows, we arrive at a Williamsburg coffee bar. Every single table is taken, every single person seated at a booth facing outwards, not one person looks up as people walk in, not a single person is facing another. Everyone is on a Mac, headphones on. Is this any better than the closed-off car culture I’m used to? Arriving at places like this?

I remember how cool I used to think I was, Being an early adopter out on a walks with my white headphones in. Now it’s flipped. Increasing numbers of people in zombie mode, out in the world, barely looking up as they “share” sidewalks, crossing streets as if their indifference would stop 2,000 pounds of metal in motion. No wonder so many people feel lonely in this modern world.

7:03am

It’s so green, it’s so lush here. But also so flat and sparsely populated.