Disrupto Manifesto

Like the rest of the global population, my 20-something generation has been faced with enormous, unprecedented challenges. Though unlike other demographics, we are poised to be the next agents of social change. Others, like myself, refuse to play victim to the ecological, economical and political cards we have been dealt and want to rise to the challenge.

Our parents meant well. Really they did. They told us “just work hard and be a good person and everything will be OK.” The missing caveat, of course, was that there is more to the equation. Virtuous as these ideals may be, the world is not a static place and kindness and diligence are only part of what is required for a fulfilling, sustainable life void of mediocrity.

As an old friend used to say: “This is not a dress rehearsal!” We need to be bold and live self directed lives. We need to take more control of the short time we have and not squander it on a less than purposeful existence. We need to connect more deeply with those around us so as to multiply our impact and acknowledge that there is something bigger than ourselves.

In the words of David Dondero: “If you’re lacking in permanence, you better make your moment potent!”

And rise to the challenge we will. After all, we are the generation that elected the first black president.

We are the generation that grew up with the internet.

We have an incredibly informed world view. We have been all over the world like no previous generation has. And if we haven’t personally been to Kathmandu, the web has certainly provided a virtual portal to easily discover a day in the life of the average Nepalese.

We are the generation that has begun the sea change to reverse a century of excess, glut and reckless abandonment at the expense of future generations. We collect experiences, not things.

We are changing the way we connect with our food, get from A to B, and power our homes and lives. In fact, we are even changing the way change itself occurs, from the bottom of the pyramid, not the top.

We are spiritual, but not religious per se (which seems to lead to significantly less persecution and killing, which is nice).

We are the generation that proclaims that all should be equal in the eyes of the law, regardless of who you want to hold hands with.

We are a new breed. We are young, but wise. We are bold, but careful and calculating. Get ready ‘merica. Because we move. We shake. And we will not be satiated by the status quo anymore.

Boulder Fugue-ing Society

I get bored with routine sometimes. I’m not alone. I think it’s safe to say we’ve all experienced that Bill Murray “Groundhog Day” feeling at some time or another. I’ve been known to take random, seemingly roundabout routes to get from A to B just to avoid the tedium of “sameness.” It seems a little nutty, but it can be rewarding. New places, new sights, sounds, experiences, keep me sane and keep me in the present. I think that’s part of the appeal of travel — no matter how local or distant that may be.

So just imagine my enthusiasm and intrigue when my friend Maggie, a Psych grad student introduced me to the idea of "Fugue-ing.” So, it turns out it’s a legitimate psychological disorder:

A Dissociative Fugue is characterized by sudden travel away from home associated with partial or complete memory loss about one’s own identity.
(Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry)

The musical term fugue, refers to a style of composition where a piece opens with one main theme (home), followed by a series of related wandering “voices” based on the the original theme or melody. You get the idea (sans the memory loss of course -- a drag I’m sure).

(Ironically enough, if you try to Google “Fugue-ing,” you get all kinds of musical results for “Fugue in G,” which, if you think about it is its own sort of internet Fugueing. But I digress).

Okay, so the idea is that you or you and your amigos take off from home with the sole purpose of going somewhere you have never been. Not necessarily getting lost, but that could be part of it as well. It really doesn’t matter where you go as long as it’s new, unfamiliar or maybe even (gasp!) out of your comfort zone. Literally. And no, I’m not talking about Gunbarrell or Niwot (though I suppose that would work for the most skittish among us). I suspect that in Boulder, this could begin at a new (soon-to-be hipster) never before frequented dive bar (i.e. Oscars). But I would encourage all of you to not stop there. Cruise through Boulders seediest of areas, it’s swankiest of hoods, all of those hole-in-the-wall Mexican joints where you cant really tell what’s for sale, if anything at all! It really doesn’t matter as long as it’s a new experience. Really, the opportunities for hilarious or awkward or enlightening encounters are endless.

Now, I’m sure there will be those of you who will say it’s bad to view this as a virtue when it's a bona fide disorder for some. Perhaps, but being joyless is pretty bad too.

I love this concept for reasons beyond just keeping me entertained and in the present. I think it may also be appealing to me because sometimes that’s how my mind seems to work: wandering and rambling, spawning constellations of tangents. Or maybe it’s because I used to read Where’s Waldo books and think that it was just so damn swell that he was always wandering around all those assorted far flung locales. Regardless, I think fugue-ing is the bees knees and I’m going to start the worlds very first fugue-ing club right here in beautiful Boulder, Colorado! Yesss!

Flat Iron

Urban Refugees or Suburban Pioneers?

I think it’s easy to take Boulder’s bike-forward mentality for granted. I know I have. That is, until I braved two wheels in New York or San Francisco or countless other (well, ok, most) locales that don’t have such an extensive system of bike paths, lanes and signs. On a national scale, Boulder really is light years ahead of curve in terms of making getting from A to B all on a bike extremely simple, and, dare I say, enjoyable.

Step outside the bubble and it’s immediately apparent that most cities favor the car over people. So much so, that we are beginning to realize how unsustainable this historical model really is. Los Angeles is the favorite example to demonize and, well it’s just too easy. Everyone knows its freeways are debilitatingly congested, public transportation is a joke, and it’s probably the first city that comes to mind when one mentions choking smog. My personal favorite L.A. Story? The juicy conspiracy theory about the auto industry actually having a hand in the development and design of the worlds most car-centric city.

Here's a novel idea: The IRS will give you a tax break for owning a fuel efficient vehicle, why not a break for bike commuters?

More thoughts to come...


Mat’s Boulder Commute from Mat Barlow on Vimeo.

Mat's Commute from Mat Barlow on Vimeo.

Boulder Goes Bike Platinum