There’s an issue that’s been swirling around my head (literally and figuratively) since moving back to London. And I’m willing to bet that it’s not just an issue for me, but for many of the other 84% of folks living in the UK who don’t smoke either. I’m talking about smoking in public. First, I… Continue reading Smoking in Public
There’s one topic that I’ve probably complained about on Twitter more than any other, and that’s public phone usage. I see a lot of articles bemoaning how Twitter / Facebook / Snapchat / Instagram / Candy Crush keeps us from interacting with the live humans right in front of us, but I’m more interested in how… Continue reading Using Your Phone (As A Phone) In Public
Yesterday I had a bit of an odd experience. It only lasted a few minutes (and the part that made it questionable lasted maybe five seconds), but it’s stuck with me enough that I thought it’d be a good topic for discussion. And that topic is: Dudes, if you are not friends with a woman,… Continue reading Contemplating Approaching a Woman You Don’t Know
Others have written much about the current U.S. health care debate, but today I wanted to spend some time discussing it as well, with the special focus that this site brings: people acting like jerks about something. In this case, about health care access. The U.S. system is definitely broken. It doesn’t work well for… Continue reading Debating Health Care for a Few Hundred Million People
Folks, I have a confession to make. As I’ve gotten more into this one sports team I love (#LetItReign), I’ve started walking (and sometimes crossing) a fine line between ardent fan and obnoxious spectator. And so, for myself as much as for you, below please find some tips for being a good fan at a… Continue reading Attending a Live Sporting Event (Home Team Edition)
This week’s travel series was inspired because (in the U.S. at least) we are heading into summer. Late May through early September is the time when temperatures heat up, kids are out of school, and people start taking more trips. Whether its a weekend at a nearby beach, or the dream vacation you’ve been planning… Continue reading On Vacation
For reasons I might get into at a later date, this week has been pretty emotionally taxing. There’s a lot going on, but thankfully many of the sources of stress have not been exasperated by people being jerks. So good job, world! Tonight I wanted to offer up a slightly different kind of reflection, one… Continue reading Handed a Flyer by a Stranger
Last week, statues of Donald Trump popped up in a few locations. One was Seattle, and I saw a few people linking to the main article in the Stranger about it. I caught myself giggling at the comment allegedly by the NYC Parks Department about not allowing any ‘unauthorized erections, regardless of size’ on their… Continue reading Mocking Politicians
Earlier this summer, when walking home from work, a man approached me with his hands out as though he were going to grab my breasts. He got maybe a foot from me before I told him to fuck off and he giggled and walked away. I really wanted to kick him in the balls, but… Continue reading You’re A Man Encountering Me in Public
Last night I had the opportunity to see Malala Yousafzai speak at the University of Washington. Security was tight, and as a result the event started about an hour late. The space was also really warm, but people (mostly) handled things just fine. Despite the delays and the heat, Ms. Yousafzai had the room from… Continue reading Interviewing a Nobel Peace Prize Winner