Recent happenings #1

Busier than ever and loving life

Hi everyone,

First off, thank you from the bottom of my heart for subscribing and reading. I got my 100th (and 101st and 102nd) subscriber yesterday—a humbling milestone that I didn’t expect to reach so soon. I realized the other day that this is the first time I’ve felt truly proud of the work I’m putting into the world since Wirecutter was acquired by the Times. Your readership alone sustains me and each comment, message, and reshare makes my day every time.

To recap for new subscribers, I started this project shortly before leaving for Vipassana with the admission that I am a writer, and have somehow managed to publish a new piece each week since then. My next was an essay about a fanny pack that was really about how my purchasing philosophy has evolved since leaving Wirecutter 5 years ago. After Vipassana, I wrote a recap of my experience that garnered some of the most thoughtful and encouraging reactions I’ve ever received on any piece of work I’ve published. I then made my first attempt at humor, discussing the songs stuck in my head during 10 days of silence—which I liked, even if no one else did. Finally, I wrote a quick piece about a bootleg DVD from China and a reflection about a walk from this past March involving some pigs. There’s not much of a through line in all this, except that this project, much like myself, is a work in progress. Maybe someday it’ll have a real title, but for now, I’m enjoying just being me on the page.

Outside of this blog, I’ve published two pieces about my personal summer wardrobe staples in New York Magazine’s The Strategist. One about cotton shorts for the fellas and the other about sock-compatible Japanese flip-flops, which was as beloved by the editors as it was reviled by Instagram commenters. I’m ambivalent about winding up back in “commerce journalism”—as it’s become known in the time since I left the field in 2019—but these personal recommendations are at least fun to write and I hope, fun to read. But the real joy of this work is the opportunity to be edited by the incomparable Winnie Yang, who has done more than anyone to encourage my return to writing. (She also has the best taste out of everyone I know. My apologies to the rest of you.) And it’s nice source of income as I scheme pitches for more ambitious magazine work, which I’ve never done before and feels incredibly daunting. Any and all advice on this front would be greatly welcome!

The aforementioned sock-compatible flip flops. You would not believe how difficult it was to take this photo by myself.

Speaking of income, I’ve been helping my friend and mentor, Wirecutter founder Brian Lam with his new newsletter project, Paklan, which soft-launched in late June. So far, it’s about his journey from new media visionary to humble craftsman by way of Japanese woodworking, but it will be about much more than that in the coming months. I suggest subscribing now to stay updated on what’s next.

Some of my favorites from last year’s class

In addition to writing projects, I’ve been hard at work in the pottery studio at Rising Meadow Pottery. I’ve been focusing mostly on bowls this summer under the tutelage of Nicholas Seidner, whose talent at the wheel is matched only by his kindness and generosity as a person. I have a rule for myself, which is that I only want to make things that I would actually pay to buy because I detest the idea of filling my cabinets with ugly rough drafts to be dealt with at a later date. This means I end up pushing a lot of pots to the brink of my skills—and often beyond. But it also means I might just have some truly special pieces to share with you soon.

In other news, Alex and I teamed up with a local friend to start a co-working space in downtown Poultney. I have no idea if it will be able to cover its own costs, let alone generate meaningful revenue, but it’s a gigantic and gorgeous room in a historic building that feels inspiring to stand in. Sometimes that’s enough.

Well, it’s a mess for now, but look at those original floors and tin ceilings—and walls!

Finally, I think 102 subscribers is as good a time as any to turn on paid subscriptions. After all, both my parents have already pledged their subscriptions and I would like to be able to collect my allowance. Thanks mom and dad! I’m setting the bar low: $5 a month or $50 a year. To be clear, I have no plans to activate any kind of paywall so upgrading to a paid subscription won’t “get” you anything, other than my eternal gratitude. But if you like what you’re reading and want to support me, here’s one way to do it.

Honestly though, sharing my work with friends or communities you think would enjoy it would mean as much or even more at this stage. Or just throw me a like or comment (or a restack, whatever that is…) every once in a while for the algorithm’s benefit. Every bit truly does help.

All this is to say that I am keeping very busy. And for the first time in a long time, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks again for reading. It means the world to me.

Warmly,

Michael