Some of the phrases used to dismiss calls for equity for marginalized groups do something weird: they take words that, definition-wise, seem like a good thing, and insinuate that it’s bad. For example, consider the infamous “Social Justice Warrior” (SJW). Opponents use this term to disparage those who advocate for…
Fellow Canadian? Here’s another collection of links for places to support Black Lives Matter in and outside Canada, and great resources for finding Black-owned businesses in Toronto. I’ve committed to be more mindful about where I spend my money–it’s difficult, especially during a pandemic, but I’m getting there! Apart from…
First, Black Lives Matter: if, like me, you live in Toronto, and you’re wondering where to get your hands on some of the books from the links in my last post, you can borrow a lot of them from OverDrive here. If you’re Canadian, you can donate to Black Lives…
My husband laughed at me when I said that I’d stopped watching the first season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine because it had hit an episode with a trope I can’t watch. I mean, he laughed gently, just like the other people I told when they recommended the show to me. But…
(At first, I thought this blog entry might not work during social isolation, since nobody is running into anybody now. But then I realized–actually, this is the perfect time to post! There are no stakes, people can consider the ideas without having to apply them right away, and nobody will…
Let’s get one thing straight: nobody has to write King Lear during social distancing. “Productivity” is not a priority. If your social distancing means chilling and/or taking care of the day-to-day and/or just focusing on surviving, then that’s what you should do. For me, with my individual personality and disposition,…
Note: I wrote this, like, the day before everything in Toronto went strict social distancing. I’m glad we’re taking such precautions as a community to flatten the curve and protect our vulnerable community members. I think most of this still stands though. An additional few things that are shaping up…
Dexter did it. So did Mulder. And House. Sherlock Holmes did it in both his shows, sometimes more than once. It almost makes you think there should be a support group: “Hi, my name is Sherlock, and…” (“Go on, Sherlock.”) “… I get out of tough situations by faking my…
Among the many reasons I find myself fascinated by modern adaptations of Sherlock Holmes is the way they always implicitly address one of the themes that speaks to me: the relationship between expressing emotions and strength. Most Sherlock Holmes characters swear by the Great Detective’s lived maxim that (paraphrased) emotion…
How did I do with last year’s goals? Who can really say? … This blog. This blog can say. 1. How to own a condo or other residence. Oy yoy yoy, the Toronto housing market. Husband deserves all the credit on this one–he really dug into the market and the…