The tabs I perpetually return to most often on my phone

I've ended up with a few perpetually open tabs on my mobile browser (side note: are those tabs?) and thought it'd be interesting to share here what's organically ended up being referenced most by me, aside from the WMATA "next train" app.

States of the Union, updated

An update to https://willslack.blogspot.com/2013/03/states-in-union.html (and updated again in 2024)

Final score: Been to 38, technically visited 6, looking forward to 6.

• Alabama
• Mom's college reunion, Huntsville scout trip (coldest camping ever)
• Alaska - Not yet
• I recognized Anchorage from the air flying back to DC from Asia, which was cool.
• Arizona
• Visited Tucson for a few days in 2016, enjoyed the Saguaro fuzz on hills and the desert museum.
• Arkansas
• Heifer Ranch experience, overnight.
• California
• Weddings + many work trips, enjoyed Magic Castle with my cousin and his wife
• Colorado*
• Only Denver Airport, where you can be kicked off a plane because it's too hot to take off with full load.
• Connecticut*
• Saw many "bury" cities on way through on Greyhound but never actually stepped outside the bus, so this doesn't count. Have driven through before but I don't think I ever interacted with anything but a gas station.
• Delaware
• Overnighted with a friend there before driving back to DC in the very early AM.
• Florida
• Disney World, work trips.
• Georgia
• Home state; been up & down & all around (Columbus, Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Savannah, Valdosta, Macon, Rome, etc etc). Work trips as well.
• Hawaii - Not yet
• Idaho
• Work trip + conference, Boise is gorgeous. 
• Illinois
• Work trips to Peoria and fun visits to Chicago, especially St. Patrick's weekends.
• Indiana
•  Stayed in Indianapolis on my way to my first job and then with friends on a cross-country road tour where he was getting a degree, post tour in Iraq.
• Iowa
• Several work trips. Enjoyed Fort Dodge the most.
• Kansas
• Work trip to Topeka for a few days auditing a hospital install, visited a famous compound.
• Kentucky
• Visiting the cousins that raised Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic.
• Louisiana
• Visiting and staying with friends in Monroe; haven't been to New Orleans yet.
• Maine
• Stayed in this fine state during a political trip to NH. The coastal areas are lovely - and without cell coverage.
• Maryland
• Lived in Capitol Heights while interning; stayed in Baltimore and worked in greater Baltimore
• Massachusetts
• My college state, also Boston to stay with friends as well as Lawrence.
• Michigan*
•  Many transfers through my second favorite airport (Detroit) with fun fountains and a great light tunnel.
• Minnesota
• Spent two nights in the state so far, including hanging out at a bar with a bunch of Minnesotans.
• Mississippi*
•  Drove through on way to Houston, can't recall stopping.
• Missouri - Not yet
• Montana
• Drove through in 2024 and stayed in Missoula, had lunch in Winnett on way to North Dakota. Some bad snow/ice so diverted from I-90 to state route 200, which was lovely.
• Nebraska - Not yet
• Nevada - Not yet
• New Hampshire
• Political stuff during college, especially in Portsmouth.
• New Jersey
• Driven through, stayed with family friends who had a perfect temperature for sleeping in their basement.
• New Mexico
• Family touring and sightseeing, memorable work trip to Clovis.
• New York
• Tourist trips to NYC, some upstate visits as well. Receptions above the Hudson with smart political people.
• North Carolina
• Second favorite state with connections and time in most major cities & near Thurmond Chatham Wildlife Management Area many summers. Backpacked as well.
• North Dakota
• Drove through in 2024, had dinner in Bismarck and stayed just over the state border in a Fargo suburb.
• Ohio
• Work trips to Zanesville, saw several friends in Cleveland.
• Oklahoma*
•  Drove in and out of a corner of the state the first time we were in Texas, I think.
• Oregon
• Work trips, Portland is gorgeous and features confusing roads
• Pennsylvania
• American history tourism, Pittsburgh is beautiful. Also visited an LDS temple open house.
• Rhode Island
• A few times, mostly to see a wonderful friend and her family in South Kingstown.
• South Carolina
• Cousins used to live here, done beach weeks on the coast, and I-85 is real boring.
• South Dakota
• Visited Pine Ridge Reservation, specifically Red Shirt Table. Really appreciated the time spent exploring the badlands on foot.
• Tennessee
• Field trips as a kid, time in Nashville as well with friends for a wedding and seeing cousins.
• Texas
• Visiting family in Amarillo, a wedding in San Antonio, Austin for a church thing, and brother at school.
• Utah*
• Transited through Salt Lake Airport on way to a conference at Sun Valley.
• Vermont
• A really interesting trip to the Northeast Kingdom that I'll never forget, featuring a "Christian" communistic cult.
• Virginia
• Family stays near DC, also been through Richmond at 3 AM and stayed there a night as well. Also spent some time in Charlotteville with colleagues.
• Washington
• Work trips, visiting family and friends as well. Rainier looming over the highway south from Seattle is a favorite travel memory.
• West Virginia
• I (kind of ) learned to snowboard here and went on a fun whitewater rating trip down the Gauley River.
• Wisconsin
• Third state of residence. Also been upstate to Tomahawk a few times.
• Wyoming - Not yet

Part of My Professional Community (and some guests)

Embracing the animal or the human

I woke up this morning thinking about the difference between acting naturally and acting humanly.

Naturally, we pursue animalistic behavior - violence is common in history, as is all manner of horrible behaviors towards others. Our animalistic side is deeply tribal, discards the Golden Rule, and acts based on intrinsic feeling.

Some of those aspects of us are helpful; others are harmful. We've enacted our Rights into law, we've embraced our shared humanity in each other, and we've built a global civilization based on shared rules and practices that enable strangers to connect and communicate.

What do we do with those natural parts of ourselves that don't fit in a world of common humanity? How do we channel them?