So, it’s been a bit since I’ve posted anything here. (And a lot of what was posted had been written and scheduled in late summer.) There are a couple of reasons for that, which I will get into, but it mainly traces back to one general theme: Winter Sucks. My day job is linked to … Continue reading It’s Been Awhile, Or Why Winter Sucks
As the weather starts to cool and the leaves start to change, I have a sudden craving for a good scary story. I stalk Buzzfeed, BookRiot, Goodreads looking for a recommendation. I read dozens of plot summaries on Amazon. And then I buy more books than I can possibly read. All in search of a … Continue reading Don’t Show Me Your Monster
Almost a dozen years ago, I did a study abroad program in Spain. The program I was in was a full immersion style, which kept the group small. There were probably 35 of us total. What this created was a close-knit family in a foreign country speaking a foreign language. And as such, we got … Continue reading Be an Emily
In my spare time, I dabble in photography. I wouldn’t call myself a professional photographer, though I have been paid for it. (Imposter syndrome, is that you?) But one thing that I’ve experienced over the past four or five years, since I really started taking it seriously as a hobby, is what I have termed … Continue reading The Enthusiasm Gap
Over the past few weeks, I have seen the suggestion that we should revert our immigration policy to how it was in 1924. Now, having studied this era in some capacity, I immediately knew what they meant. Moreover, I wasn’t pleased. To bring everyone to the same page, I present a brief description of US … Continue reading A Brief Introduction to US Immigration Law
I enjoy painting. Finding a subject, gathering the paints, and priming the canvas. I like the sound the brush makes on the surface. By the end of a session or class, however, the result is never as good as those around me. The artwork I produce is mediocre at best. I still hang it in … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Excel at Your Passions
In his 2012 book Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010, Charles Murray makes a number of arguments which are not borne out by the data he cites. However, one that has struck me violently while reading is this: It is a woman’s responsibility to civilize her man. The offending section starts on page … Continue reading Men: Women Are Not Responsible For Civilizing You
The other morning I was sitting in the McDonald’s across the street from where my car was having its oil changed. I was minding my own business and trying to get some work done while I waited for my car to be done. A few tables over were a pair of older men whose conversation … Continue reading Your Experiences Are Not Universal
President Trump has announced that mass raids will begin after the 4th of July to sweep up undocumented immigrants for deportation. Whether he knows it or not, and I’m leaning towards not, he is walking in the footsteps of another. It has been widely reported that starting as early as today (possibly going on even … Continue reading When History Repeats: The Palmer Raids
Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp. It was the last stop on a long weekend in Munich before departing for Venice in the evening. It was a dismal day, frequently threatening rain. We took the train from Munich to Dachau and then a bus to the memorial site. Our … Continue reading If You Didn’t Know Better
KT Byrde Writes 