I just finished writing my statement of purpose for my grad school applications on the need for transparency paired with robust, public-interest media in order to counteract corruption in the policymaking process. Almost as soon as I’d hit save and finally, after weeks of agonizing revisions, put the piece to rest I opened the New [...]
NPR recently profiled a new book about mixed-race America. Looks really interesting, and the stuff in the interview with the authors about the “what are you?” question obviously resonated.
Stranger: Where are you from?
Me: Ummm, I live in Cambridge?
Stranger: No, I mean, originally.
Me: Well, I grew up in Michigan
[awkward pause]
Stranger: But where are your parents from?
Me: My dad’s from Chicago and my mom’s from upstate New York
[another awkward pause]
Stranger: yes, but what is your nationality
Me: Uhh, I’m American
At this point, depending on my mood, [...]
I have approximately 50 books sitting on my shelves at home that I should be reading (because I buy books like I buy shoes) so it’s saying something that Zeitoun skipped the line. It was worth it.
Zeitoun is Dave Eggers’ latest about a unique family from New Orleans and their Katrina experience. Abdulrahman Zeitoun is [...]
Note: Again, as with part one, I’m a little late with posting this.
The weather finally changed, and it’s been absolutely idyllic as a result. Karst is beautiful, and reminds a lot of the area of Portugal we visited in July, but somehow more remote (maybe it’s the more significant language barrier). One funny [...]
Note: this was drafted with the intention of posting it from the trip, but, well, that didn’t happen. So just pretend this was a live blog…
There’s one significant plus to having a nomadic boyfriend, and that’s that I have a really great excuse to visit some very cool places that I’d otherwise never see. [...]
I recently received a note from a college friend, currently serving as a Captain in the Marines. He’s stationed in Afghanistan, and like most service people in war zones, he doesn’t exactly have tons of time to post status updates on Facebook or check in via email on a regular basis. So to keep in [...]
While my African and Caribbean friends were gloating about Usain Bolt’s win in the 100 meters at the World Championships for Track & Field, another controversy was building off the track. An 18-year old South African, Caster Semenya, won the women’s 800 meters, blowing away the field. The problem, for many people, is that they [...]
Yesterday, I finally got down to see the Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Even though it was a complete mob scene, I’m glad I made it, and not just because it was ungodly hot out and the MFA is nicely air conditioned.
Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese were [...]
Yesterday, one of my favorite Berkman fellows, Aaron Shaw (we share a love of North Oakland), gave a brilliant talk at the Berkman Luncheon Series on the research he’s doing on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Since you can watch the video yourself (and I highly recommend that you do) I won’t spend too much time [...]