Roto Ergo Sum
I spin therefore I am
Diptych: How Lord Byron’s Apocalyptic Poem Built the Boeing 747
Summary I explore the hidden connections between a 19th-century climate disaster and modern aviation. We trace how the Mount Tambora eruption caused global cooling. This catastrophic event killed off horses and sparked the invention of the bicycle. I reveal how two bicycle mechanics eventually used those very same mechanical principles to invent powered human flight. Key Takeaways The Mount Tambora eruption in 1815 triggered a massive global climate disaster. Lord Byron wrote his apocalyptic poem "Darkness" during this volcanic winter. Crop failures led to the mass starvation of horses worldwide. Inventor Karl Drais created the first bicycle prototype to replace…
Diptych: How Lord Byron’s Apocalyptic Poem Built the Boeing 747
Summary I explore the hidden connections between a 19th-century climate disaster and modern aviation. We trace how the Mount Tambora eruption caused global cooling. This catastrophic event killed off horses…
The Illusion of the Present: Curating the Artifacts of a Dead Relationship
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes Key Takeaways This article examines the psychological toll of emotional taxidermy following a sudden divorce. I explore how curated domestic spaces trap us in a…
The Ultimate Chocolate Bourbon Cake Recipe (And Its Surprising History)
Let's be honest. There are chocolate cakes, and then there are chocolate cakes. I'm talking about the kind of cake that stops conversation. The kind that's "amazing dark rich decadent ultimate…
Classic Dark Chocolate Frosting
A Moment of Pure Indulgence: The Classic Dark Chocolate Frosting There are certain flavors that feel like a return, a whisper from a half-forgotten memory. The profound, enveloping richness of…
Camouflage and Sequins: The Rigid Militarism of Drag Culture
Key Takeaways This article challenges the perception of Drag as purely chaotic subversion. It explores the surprising structural similarities between military organizations and the Ballroom scene, including the importance of…
Rowing to Mexico: A Deep Dive History of the Boquillas Crossing
Key Takeaways If you are interested in learning about Boquillas Port of Entry history, here are some essential facts to know. One important topic for travellers is understanding Boquillas Port…
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Lions kill zebra, hyenas eat zebra, game drive in Masai Mara Kenya
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
African Safari in Sabi Sands, Kruger National Park - South Africa
Spinning at Lake Victoria
Caldor Fire approaching Kirkwood, CA - time lapse from the meadow
Greenland Ice Sheet
Spinning Around The World - the 2020 Mega Cut
Alex Westerman Spinning Around The World
TWA Flight Center and TWA Hotel at JFK Airport
How Divorce Erases Your Past: A Gay Man’s Perspective
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes KEY TAKEAWAYS The emotional impact of gay divorce remains largely unstudied by modern psychology. Researchers lack sufficient data because marriage equality represents a relatively new…
The Illusion of the Present: Curating the Artifacts of a Dead Relationship
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes Key Takeaways This article examines the psychological toll of emotional taxidermy following a sudden divorce. I explore how curated domestic spaces trap us in a…
The Architecture of Abandonment: Surviving Sudden Divorce
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes Once my life overflowed with sustaining love and connection. Then my husband abruptly ended our twenty-year relationship through divorce. This traumatic departure removed all affection…
About The Writer
Alexander Westerman has worked as a creative director, and has always been fascinated by how visual design can elicit powerful emotions from people. There is something truly magical about creating connections between individuals and the brands they consume. As Alex transitioned into writing, he channeled that passion for vibrant, vivid details into crafting stories that would captivate readers. Through his novels, he brings to life characters who are complex, dynamic, and utterly compelling, all within the context of richly-drawn worlds that are equally as vivid as the people who inhabit them. For Alex, writing is all about turning beautiful, fleeting moments into stories that will last a lifetime in fiction and IRL.