November Is Coming
Valar Votaenus. All men must vote. Valar Morbhulshit. All men must pretend this is democracy. We echo that High Valyrian, playing this Game of the U.S. Throne. We feed that lie we are governed justly whether Lannister or poor, Dothraki or white, as straight as Needle, or as gay as The Redwyne Straits. Rare among […]
Climb Those Walls
With each absurd sound bite, let’s remind ourselves that Trump, Cruz, Carson, Rubio, Bush, et al., serve as lighting rods for fear. They pander to the dimmest American mind. They seek popularity among those who view all Muslims as “terrorists”, all Mexicans as “wetbacks”, all gay people as “faggots”, all black people as “niggers” – […]
Jose Should Go Headhunting
Most of us seem to agree that Jose Aldo’s most dangerous weapon is his rear leg kick, i.e. his right leg kick, and that Conor McGregor’s most dangerous weapon is his cross, i.e. his straight left. First things first: I often see an argument on here about whether or not an orthodox fighter can successfully land his rear […]
Love to Everywhere
We will never bomb or shoot or force others into accepting our ways, no matter our nation, no matter our religion. We prove points by being proof. We make friends by being a friend. Love to Beirut, to Garissa, to Paris, to everywhere the peaceful suffer.
Election Day 2015
So I voted today and gave my sticker to Stink. Unfortunately the ballot offered only two “elections”, both for uncontested incumbents. Although I realize that polls differ across districts, I still find the notion contemptible that this day embodies democracy in any meaningful sense. Yes, it’s not cool to obsess about politics, but given the […]
This Is How We Do It
Today, one my dear friends donated a kidney to a young man in need, doing so in memory of her son Henry, who received a heart transplant at only 5 1/2 months old, passing away only 5 months after the transplant. Jane, to have faced those challenges and that heartbreak and to carry such grace, […]
Lessons in Gratitude
I’m thrilled to share that I taught my first Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing) class tonight at Richmond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense Academy. I have too many people to thank – from all the brilliant coaches and training partners to all you inspiring (and in some cases absurdly athletic) friends – but above all I owe […]
Drone Logic
“…between January 2012 and February 2013, U.S. special operations airstrikes killed more than 200 people. Of those, only 35 were the intended targets. During one five-month period of the operation, according to the documents, nearly 90 percent of the people killed in airstrikes were not the intended targets.” – Jeremy Scahill, reporting for The Intercept […]
A People’s History of the United States
I’ve uploaded this video to help promote one of my favorite books, and because somehow in the America we still recognize today as “Columbus Day”. Thanks to this book – in particular, the final third of this excerpt – I’m encouraged to place my pride specifically where it most belongs, and where it belongs with […]
Brené Brown on Empathy
This reminds me so much of Mom it hurts, until I smile inside, realizing how lucky I am to have come from her and to know her. She was the most empathetic person I’ve met and not just towards me. She never shared videos about being empathetic, nor did she talk about it. She just […]
