Basically 10 things, plus this prefatory material, which doesn’t count, so I totally stuck to 10 things: Last night I had the honor of witnessing Jonathan Kozol speak at UWG (!!–the college of ed there turns out to be badass, I did not know), and I invite you to listen to him too–to be delighted, lit … More Help Me Not Be Such an Ass: September 17-October 15

Hello, fellow Asses. This time: exactly 10 things. 1. This article says it is about how white people avoid taking responsibility for racism; I’d say it’s more about the actual thought processes that go into deflecting any feedback connected to racism. And includes a nice pair of “alternatives to that deflection” principles: How, where, and when … More Help Me Not Be Such an Ass: Sept 2-17, 2015

I have no idea how frequently to post these. It was feeling hard to keep up with “weekly,” but then if “monthly” I find myself just putting shit on facebook in the shorter term, which ends up challenging my mental health, so: I’ll see what happens when I post whenever I get to 10 resources that … More Help Me Not Be Such an Ass: September 2, 2015

So much need, so much help! Today I realized a distinction in the help I amass here–some of it I seek to help me with ways I already know I am an Ass, but often what I choose to put on here is what’s taught me something new about what an Ass I am*. When … More Help Me Not Be Such an Ass: August 2015

In a world that just pukes injustice all over itself, what on earth does it matter if I am such an Ass? in times of inner and outer world messiness, I both hate and incessantly ask this question. It makes me think of Parker Palmer’s idea of “the tragic gap”* (see footnote, but roughly: “gap” … More Help Me Not Be Such an Ass: July 2015

Here’s what I’ve appreciated as I’ve tried to be less of an Ass* these weeks: Video of DeRay McKesson schooling Wolf Blitzer: This is masterful reframing of narrative, over and over, despite Blitzer’s insistence on framing events through a law-and-order lens (cloaked in concerns about violence). From Salon: “There’s no excuse for that kind of violence, right?” … More These Weeks in “Help Me Not Be Such an Ass”: April 22-May 6

While I certainly ask for help being not such an Ass* on a weekly basis, I am going to begin sharing the compiled ass-istance every two weeks. Herewith, (some of) the help which has come to me since April 8: Silt, a poem about mean girls.** (thanks Anne) John Herschend’s short film “Discussion Questions.“ Oh my … More These Weeks in “Help Me Not Be Such an Ass”: April 8-22

Here’s what I turned to for help this week: Al-Jazeera English’s 25-minute video on the spread of drug-resistant TB in India, because my cool mom works with the lab and doctor featured (the one crazily maligned by the Indian government for proving that totally-drug-resistant TB exists). This whole series (101 East) looks good. (Thanks, Mom) … More This week in “Help Me Not Be Such an Ass”: March 30-April 6

Here’s what I’ve turned to for help this week: Hallelujah for the Ghosties, a book of poems by Melanie Jordan…I love this all the more, though not because, Melanie is my friend! I brag freely! It is much help in not being such an Ass to have friends who make art; these are the kind … More This Week in “Help Me Not Be Such as Ass”: March 23-30

This week, I was in New York City, which is a great source of all kinds of help in anyone’s quest, whether it’s to be not such an Ass or to be the hugest Ass one is capable of being. I got lots of the first kind of help from Shyla and Aurora and Aisha, who shepherded me through … More This Week in “Help Me Not Be Such an Ass”: March 16-March 23