Think of these seasonal blog posts as like a “blog within a blog.” An easy-breezy way to add new content (on a variety of topics). These are subject to editing, right up to when the next quarterly one begins.
(1) (Saturday, October 11, 2025) I wanted to post this the beginning of August, but something wasn’t allowing me to do that. I don’t know why it wasn’t working, but the bottom line is now I have a new computer — Windows 11 — and WordPress is cooperating, so I can finally post this. This relates to a “Summer, 2025” blog post that I did.
While posting the “(5) (Wednesday, July 23, 2025), Profiling a Potential Backer” blog post, I noticed there was something about it that somewhat vaguely reminded me of something, but I wasn’t sure what. Then, days later, it hit me. Believe it or not, of all things, it’s a chess book! That’s what it vaguely brought to mind.
I realize that might sound strange, but if I showed you that particular chess book, and explained the similarity, it makes perfect sense.
But the relevancy doesn’t stop there. Because now that I had that mystery solved, eureka, that gave me another brilliant idea (yes, related to saving the planet!). And it ties in with the languaging used in that particular chess book.
If I get funding, this is just one more idea I can’t wait to share. But unfortunately, it might require months of work just to get it explained sufficiently well enough to make it meaningful and impactful for a society that is so bent on going in the opposite direction, where saving the planet is concerned.
It’s also a perfect example of how important and pivotal a role funding plays in saving the planet. Because I’d rather not share the idea. I’d rather instead put it into action. But that could require millions of dollars — or tens of millions — to do it right.
This is also just one more example of how I’m always coming up with big, promising new ideas that I would love to share, and/or act on. And with funding, I would be able to do just that. But right now, that’s impossible. I have so little free time that I need brilliant new ideas, like I need a hole in the head. I get new ideas all the time, and often jot them down, but I’m never actively trying to come up with new ideas. Again, I need more ideas, like I need a hole in the head. I need funding!
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great feeling when I get a really great idea, or a brilliant idea — I love that feeling (!) — but in a sense, so what! If I can’t really do anything with it.
For example, I haven’t listened to Jack Humphrey’s Rewilding Earth podcast in quite some time. It was one of my favorite podcasts. But without funding, I found it too frustrating to listen to. It would wind me up, pump me full of energy, get me feeling like Secretariat, chomping at the bit and raring to burst out of the gate. But without funding, I know that gate’s not opening. And that makes moving forward impossible.
But so be it. Saving the planet has to be a team effort. My ideas won’t work, if people don’t act on them. And my ideas can’t enter the public domain, if no one gives me funding.
One final note. Last month, shortly after writing this blog post (intending to post it, but unable to do so), I had another brilliant idea (actually, it’s two ideas in one). It would provide a far simpler and far less costly, unique way to bring this idea to fruition. You can probably tell, I like this idea a lot. And for good reason. If done right, I believe this could become a major seminal work, and prove very beneficial in the fight to save the planet.
(2) (Sunday, October 12, 2025) Friday, I had two wisdom teeth extracted. One was cracked. I must say, I’m shocked at how completely, utterly painless the whole thing has been. (Knock on wood.) Not a trace of pain. Actually, the only discomfort I experienced was on the opposite side of my mouth. That lower jaw. While the oral surgeon was trying to get one of the teeth out.
The day before the extractions, I completed my move. Finally! While it’s a much smaller room I’m now renting, the house I was renting a room in had major mold issues (so much so that it may need to be knocked down), so I’m relieved to be out of there!
The not-so-wonderful landlord I can now call my former landlord is keeping my rent deposit. He said I’ll get it when he rents the room out. I pointed out that’s illegal and he doesn’t even own the house (it’s been foreclosed). He doesn’t care.
And I don’t know what’s going on with the Subaru I bought. After over $3,500 of work, it still can’t pass inspection. I dread the thought of facing another New York / Long Island winter with a 31-year-old sedan.
There are lots of other things on my plate right now as well. The monthly cost just went up for both of my storage units. I plan to move one of the units to another room, to save $250 a month. But finding time to do that will be difficult.
(3) (Saturday, November 15, 2025) My apologies if you’ve emailed me during these past few weeks and are awaiting a response. I’ve not checked my Ecoideaman email in quite some time. I’ve just been swamped with stuff I really need to get done. For example, moving one of my storage units, in order to save $250 a month, that’s a necessity. And there are address change notifications I still need to tend to. I’d like to at least finish with that. One address change notification I no longer need to tend to: I’ve been getting Science News magazine ever since I was in high school — or maybe even jr. high school — but I’ve decided to save the $99 cost for a 2-year subscription, and not renew.
Also, my COBRA health insurance coverage will end on the 28th of February (I became eligible when I left one company, for another). So anything health care related, it’s probably now or never. The COBRA plan is great. The one I’ll need to switch to is awful. It covers 100%. But only after the deductible — which I recall was $6,500. I’m not even clear on whether I have the option to wait (and have the new plan take effect March 1st), or will be forced to enroll during open enrollment (in which case it would take effect January 1st).
If I had a million dollars, I think one of the first things I’d probably do is hire one part time assistant, and one full time assistant.
Again, if you’ve emailed me, please be patient. Thanks.
(4) (Wednesday, November 26, 2026) Night and Day
Here’s a complete email — without any redactions — that I sent someone recently:
Have dentist today. Pick up laundry. Get to bank! Very important. Both wallets ridiculously low right now. Need before work nap!
The time goes by so fast! So many things I never can get to! It’s absolutely ridiculous!
(That’s why funding is so absolutely imperative regarding Ecoideaman work. Funding would reverse the equation. Instead of having virtually no time at all for saving the planet stuff, I would have virtually no time at all for everything but that. Except mom, if I had funding, I would definitely make time for that!!!)
LOVE, Paul
I sent that email to my mom.
I bring it up only because I’d like to repeat what I put in parenthesis: Funding would reverse the equation. Instead of having virtually no time at all for saving the planet stuff, I would have virtually no time at all for everything but that.
That’s so true. My website would be transformed. Like night and day — as the saying goes. Comparatively speaking, what you see now is just filler. What you’ll see if I get funding is my “52p52” ideas, presented, one by one, plus a whole lot more! Truthfully, while my motivation is saving the planet, I would also have a strong desire to make whomever backs me feel convinced that was one of the smartest decisions they ever made.
Now that I’ve gotten some more explainer stuff out of the way, here’s more “filler”; but I think it’s filler you’re going to especially enjoy. This materialism-saturated season, treat yourself to this: “Oh do you have time / to linger / for just a little while” are the opening lines to Mary Oliver’s free verse poem “Invitation.” I invite you to read it. You can find it online. I stumbled upon it by chance one day while viewing a unique work of art that was inspired by the poem.
(5) (Tuesday, December 9, 2025) Mission Accomplished
It took 10 hours, but I finished moving all the stuff in one of my storage units, into a slightly smaller unit. I’ll save $1,000 over the next four months. Unfortunately, however, while doing that, I noticed an unpleasant smell in the new unit. I soon realized it must be the cinderblock wall. The unit I was vacating on the second floor had all metal walls. The new one has one cinder block wall. Sure enough, numerous Google results indicate cinderblock can indeed retain and give off a smell (e.g., mold or mildew).
Still, I’m glad that’s done. Well, almost done. There were two pieces of furniture that needed to be discarded — a dresser and a bookcase. I got rid of the dresser today; but since both wouldn’t fit in my vehicle, I’ll need another week to get rid of the bookcase. Then, after that, there’ll be plenty of elbow room in there.
Another thing I’m very excited about, is I came up with an excellent strategy for sorting through all the articles, newspapers and magazines — that is primarily what I have stored there. I can toss 90-95 percent of all that stuff. But I just don’t have the time to do it. I haven’t solved that problem, but I now have a really excellent strategy for how to better utilize whatever time I can put into that endeavor.
I remember long ago, perhaps when I was in high school, reading a news story about a woman who had been living underground, for I think it was a year. She was getting paid. It was in the name of science. Scientists were studying how living underground in that way would affect circadian rhythm.
Most people would be like, “Oh, how dreadful.” Me, I was envious. I loved the whole idea of going down into a bunker, with books, newspapers, magazines, pens, highlighters, paper, my *typewriter, food, water, et cetera, then having a whole entire year, to read, write, and organize my thoughts — while getting paid!
A few years ago, I had a unique concept for a book (unlike any I’ve seen). “Experimental Nonfiction: Saving the Planet, Plus a Whole Lot More,” was to be its working title. But I eventually lost interest. Simply put, I just don’t have anywhere near enough time to do anything like that. Lack of time, has always been my biggest bane. I remember reading an article once, that described da Vinci as a procrastinator. That kind of irked me. Because I know what it’s like to have such a wide range of interests, but not enough time to do everything. There are lots of things I start, but can’t finish. It’s not because I’m a procrastinator, it’s because I have to go to work, make dinner, wash dishes, buy groceries, put laundry away, and so forth.
(*Note: I used to love typewriters (Smith-Coronas), and still have three in my other storage unit; but now, I think I can finally do without them. Maybe, this will be the year I finally get rid of them.)
(6) (Wednesday, December 10, 2025) Something “Funny”
I’ll share something funny. Wait, let me rephrase that: I’ll share something “funny.” Sometimes, when I reflect on the irony, that, for example, someone like Trump, could have tens of millions of devoted followers, who just adore him — and who voted for him, twice — and yet, someone like me, can’t get funding, it brings to mind the animation short Charade — which won an Academy Award in 1985, for Best Animated Short Film: