November 17, 2012

Mormons in Pride Parades -- A Critical Reflection

I had hoped this opinion piece would show up in the next issue of Sunstone Magazine.  Alas, I've been informed Romney will take up 99% of it.  I would've thought at least 47% would be dedicated to other topics... ah well.

This past summer for the first time, Mormons marched in Pride parades in substantial numbers, a fact that deserves critical attention.  I believe what follows provides some of that attention, as I consider the possibility that the Church's institutional heterosexism was extended more than disrupted.

April 16, 2012

Lots More School Ahead

Been accepted into the English department (Ph.D.) at the University of Washington.  Will begin this autumn.

Will also begin learning Japanese  >_< ...Yes, I will begin learning a language from scratch in grad school, which I know will be rough on top of everything else I'll have to do.  I could resume learning German, which would be logical (lived in Germany for many years as a kid), but I feel that I'd probably use Japanese more in the long run.

March 16, 2012

Settle Down with a Chinese Girl?

Last night I stayed after class and worked one-on-one with my sifu.  I've been learning Wing Chun for a little over six months, and I think I'm progressing well, thanks to having dabbled in martial arts years ago.  Though I miss the animal energies of my last art (snake, crane, monkey, tiger), the techniques in Wing Chun seem more effective.

We were about to part ways for the evening when we started talking about life.  The discussion led to if I get into a Ph.D. program how I'll have to learn another language, which might be difficult, especially if I choose a language like Mandarin.  My sifu mentioned how it's better/easier to learn a language you'll use -- if you travel to a place.  "You can settle down with a Chinese girl," he suggested (rather orientalist-ly).

February 16, 2012

Chulito by Charles Rice-González

Chulito - by Charles Rice-González
Mangus Books
Rating:  4.5 out of 5
 
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel about a gay, macho Puerto Rican kid in South Bronx.  Other reviews give good summaries, so if you want to know what the story is about in review-like language, it might be better to read those.

(*SPOILERS* below)

January 31, 2012

Hummingbirds in the Wintertime?

Practically every day I see pigeons, crows, seagulls, starlings, robins, chickadees, sparrows.  Closer to the water, there are ducks, geese, eagles, herons and the list goes on. The Seattle Audubon Society says there's over a hundred species of birds that live in the city.  They all have different ways of interacting with humans.

Seattle also has hummingbirds.  Today, one came up to me, noticing me watching it through my bedroom window.  I was in awe as it hovered, investigating me.  I asked what it was doing here in the wintertime.