I have just switched pronouns from he/they to they/multitudes, so here are some thoughts about what this change means. 1. I have ambivalent feelings about “coming out” with my new pronouns because such an action is usually a burden foisted upon those of us who do not fit neatly within the strictures of cisgender heterosexuality.Continue reading “Some Thoughts About My New Pronouns”
Category Archives: Miscellaneous
My Article in the New York Times
About a month ago I was contacted by an editor from the New York Times who asked whether I would be interested in writing an article to accompany a photo essay about Mennonites in Belize. I said yes, and the article was published today. You can read it here. Aside from several pieces in theContinue reading “My Article in the New York Times”
Books Acquired Recently
Fitzpatrick, Cat, and Casey Plett, ed. Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers. New York: Topside Press, 2017. Plett recently sent me a review copy of this anthology, which comes out in September. It is massive, nearly 500 pages in length. I love the work that Topside publishes and am very much lookingContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently”
Clinching Safety
I took the above photograph at the end of Sunderland’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal yesterday afternoon, which ensured that the Black Cats are safe from relegation this season. The caption, “Clinch safety,” is a simple statement within the context of the match, but it also struck me as a profound statement about life. Isn’t thatContinue reading “Clinching Safety”
Lucy
I decided to see the movie Lucy today because the commercials I’d seen for it made it look like it would raise some interesting philosophical questions about what it means to be human rather than simply being a stereotypical action film, and I was not disappointed. I enjoyed it thoroughly; it was one of thoseContinue reading “Lucy”
Book Acquired Recently: Stand Our Ground: Poems for Trayvon Martin & Marissa Alexander
Osayande, Ewuare X., ed. Stand Our Ground: Poems for Trayvon Martin & Marissa Alexander. Philadelphia: FreedomSeed, 2013. I received this anthology from my father, who works with Osayande at Mennonite Central Committee. I am incredibly excited to read it, as it looks to be an important addition to the long tradition of politically-activist poetry anthologiesContinue reading “Book Acquired Recently: Stand Our Ground: Poems for Trayvon Martin & Marissa Alexander”
Does Facebook Make Us Unhappy?
This fascinating New Yorker article by Maria Konnikova surveys a number of recent studies about how Facebook affects users’ mood. Most of the studies argue that surfing Facebook tends to worsen our mood because it is a passive activity that often leads to jealousy regarding others’ lives. We are happy during the brief moments whenContinue reading “Does Facebook Make Us Unhappy?”
Random Friday Thoughts
I taught my final class of the school year on Wednesday, and for the past two days have just been relaxing and letting my mind wander. It hasn’t hit me on a visceral level yet that I don’t have to teach another class until late August, but my brain is already going on all sortsContinue reading “Random Friday Thoughts”
The Office Series Finale
The Office series finale last night did a good job of ending the show. I’ve always felt that Steve Carell’s final episode should have also been the show’s final episode, but since it was not, last night’s episode did about as good of a job of ending the show as was possible. Yes, it wasContinue reading “The Office Series Finale”
Thoughts on Bill Hader Leaving Saturday Night Live and Endings in General
Bill Hader announced this week that he is leaving Saturday Night Live at the end of this season. While I got into SNL at the tail end of the Will Ferrell/Chris Parnell/Tracy Morgan-into-the-Tina Fey/Amy Poehler/Maya Rudolph days, Hader’s generation (Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig, Kenan Thompson, with Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen having been there aContinue reading “Thoughts on Bill Hader Leaving Saturday Night Live and Endings in General”
Daniel Shank Cruz 