Monthly Archives: September 2019

The Meritocracy Trap

Posted on September 29, 2019 by JohnMatel

have been a true believer and beneficiary of meritocracy, and I am hesitant to question it, but I am increasingly questioning what meritocracy has become and the outcomes it has created. It is not just me. In his new book, … Continue reading →

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Paradise gardens

Posted on September 28, 2019 by JohnMatel

Gardens are more than just places of beauty. They can and should also be place of contemplation of nature, meaning in life and of our relationship with God. This is a tall order, but it was evidently what the creators … Continue reading →

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Inspiration

Posted on September 28, 2019 by JohnMatel

Travel can be inspirational. Just putting yourself in new surroundings is a start and if you can be in a place that makes you think in time, it is better. We came to Spain with that in mind. We wanted … Continue reading →

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A Thousand Small Sanities

Posted on September 28, 2019 by JohnMatel

Adam Gopnik is clearly the kind of uber-liberal with whom I would disagree all the time. He is also the kind of guy I think I would really enjoy talking to and having as a friend, and his book – … Continue reading →

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Stewardship forest

Posted on September 26, 2019 by JohnMatel

I took advantage of jet lag and got up at 3:30am, so I got down to the farms about the time the sun came up. It is nice to drive in the very early morning, almost no traffic. I can … Continue reading →

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Columbus

Posted on September 24, 2019 by JohnMatel

Almost nobody really knows very much about Columbus, but almost everybody knows that they admire or hate him – until a few years ago it was mostly admiration; today it is mostly hate. Until a few decades ago, Columbus was … Continue reading →

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Prado and other works of art

Posted on September 23, 2019 by JohnMatel

Everybody said that you have to see the Prado Museum if you go to Madrid. I am glad we went, but really glad we did not take the tour, which would have required spending much more time. Let me stipulate … Continue reading →

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Does native still matter?

Posted on September 23, 2019 by JohnMatel

I fight invasive species all the time on my farms. It is an endless battle against ailanthus, multi flora rose and Japanese honeysuckle, among others. Invasive bugs are killing trees I love. This is another endless struggle. Add in climate … Continue reading →

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Trains, restoration and hotels

Posted on September 22, 2019 by JohnMatel

We started our day with a rainy walk to the train station in Cordoba and caught the fast train to Madrid. These trains can reach 300 km/hour. They are always comfortable and nearly always on time. I love trains and … Continue reading →

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Luggage people

Posted on September 22, 2019 by JohnMatel

Chrissy has a theory – more a superstition really and like all superstitions it is right enough of the time that confirmation bias can provide sufficient proof to keep it viable. Her theory is that you can follow people dragging … Continue reading →

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