This page is an index of the blog posts that I think best reflect my writing and thinking on the themes and topics about which I feel most passionate. I will update it regularly as new signature entries are posted.
Sustainability, Communities and Self-Reliant Living
- Moving from Passive to Active (February 11, 2011) – on trying to be more intentional and clear about who we are, what we want, what gifts we have to bring, where we’re stuck, and how to move forward
- Is Personal Lifestyle Change Effective? (January 5, 2010) – Must we become the change we wish to see in the world?
- Our fears around sustainable living (February 26, 2009) – What keeps us from jumping on the “go green” bandwagon?
- On Doing It Myself (April 14, 2008) – the power and benefits of relying on ourselves more than we’re taught to
- Why do we leave the communities that love us? (January 22, 2008) – how our culture is changing as we scatter farther and wider from home
- Using real names in online communities (October 14, 2007) – why it’s not as scary as you think, and the important benefits that can come of it
- Vacation and vocation (July 20, 2007) – on the joy that comes in moving away from the dichotomy of work life vs. home life
- The joy of nuanced relationships (June 30, 2006) – how living in smaller communities can lead to rich interpersonal connections
- Gas prices and New Minds (May 8, 2006) – why we’re the only ones who can really deal with the problem of high energy prices
- When people driving cars kill people riding bikes (July 1, 2006) – the tragedy of the clash between car culture and bike culture
- What do we know without the Internet? (February 6, 2005) – how the Internet age has impacted knowledge transfer and learning
Dialog, Communication and Framing
- Beyond one hour chunks of time (July 13, 2009) – On balancing a full schedule with a desire to have serendipitous experiences and interactions
- 5 ways to maximize Q&A time at public lectures (August 25, 2008) – engaging speakers at public lectures
- Mainstream media adopts the dehumanizing ‘illegals’ label (April 23, 2008) – on framing the immigration debate
- To challenge and be challenged in conversation (January 11, 2008) – how to have useful conversations when we disagree strongly
- It makes me want to kill myself (September 16, 2006) – on how we sometimes forget about the power of words
- The haters are writing in, what are you doing? (July 13, 2007) – on angry letters to the editor
- Why I Am Quiet (March 11, 2007) – on being an introvert
- The quality of public dialogue in Richmond (October 18, 2005) – on the places and spaces where one community conducts its public life
- The Pieing of William Kristol (March 29, 2005) – on throwing food at people you don’t agree with
Politics and Governance
- Hero Worship (September 14, 2010) – on how to honor the service provided by police officers, fire fighters and members of the military while balancing other needs and risks facing communities today
- Progress in Overcoming a Fear of Change (July 7, 2010) – on moving past oversimplified framing for city governance
- Darfur Genocide, On Our Watch (November 25, 2007) – how can individuals respond in the face of tragic global events?
- No End in Sight to the Assault on Reason (September 2, 2007) – the invasion of Iraq, the framing of political issues
- Curfews as further erosion of a healthy public life (July 24, 2007) – why arbitrary laws limiting personal freedom by age are harmful
- For national security reasons (March 11, 2007) – on using fear and artificial complexity to govern
- Justifying war, values training for war makers (June 3, 2006) – the complexities of trying to make it okay to kill people
- The War on Terror is Over (July 27, 2005) – redefining the way we talk about terrorism
- To alleviate the hazards of old age (March 18, 2005) – on the Social Security system
Media and Marketing
- For More Information, Visit Us On the Web (February 27, 2008) – on our increasing dependence on the Internet for basic survival
- What constitutes good local news coverage? (January 24, 2008) – what kind of media coverage is useful to local communities
- Dihydrogen Monoxide, available at a store near you (July 27, 2007) – on having a basic survival requirement packaged up and sold to us for a profit
- Pal-Item forgets that framing trumps truth? (January 29, 2006) – how news media use presentation to shape our understanding of the news
Customer Service and Consumer Rights
- Good PR via Twitter done right by Sonos (April 14, 2009) – On using Twitter for good customer service
- Is it possible for Sprint customer service to be this bad? (March 20, 2007) – an unbelievable experience with a wireless carrier, and many reader comments about the same
- Customer service done poorly by Ramada (August 27, 2006) – customer service lessons from a stay at a national chain hotel property
- The Customer Can Always Write (June 13, 2005) – on the power and importance of telling companies when they suck
Business and Economic Development
- 10 things about my approach to business management (May 18, 2009) – for better or worse, how I approach collaborating with my co-workers
- 5 Business Values I Learned via Earlham College (March 10, 2009) – You can do good and still do well.
- Oops, we ALL cut the trees down (October 8, 2005) – on the responsibility we all bear for the homogenization of our community landscapes
- Search for more jobs requires driving vision (September 11, 2005) – how to decide what jobs are good jobs to bring to a community
- Big box stores eating big box stores (November 7, 2004) – how big box stores are doing more harm than good across America
- Business incubation contributes to long-term health of community (March 14, 2004) – how communities can foster and support entrepreneurs
Chris Hardie is an entrepreneur, blogger, technology consultant and community builder living in Richmond, Indiana. 
