In many ways, my personal experience with life after public shaming has gone exactly as one might expect: depressing, painful, and weird. Yet, at some point over the past three years, after managing the existential crisis of fractured identity, and learning to refrain from scratching at the phantom limb of…

From disdain for regulations, to passion for bureaucracy, notes on day tripping during the coronavirus. I can’t say that the Berkshires is the first place that would normally come to my mind when I think of a nice little getaway, but what I can say is that from where I…

There is a moment in her new book The Pahrump Report , when Lisa Carver responds to a question about her occupation by answering: “I am a writer.” …

If you’ve spent enough time on social media, you’ve probably experienced it: someone you know begins to exhibit signs of mental instability for everyone to witness in the spotlight of social media. It could be an unsurprising turn from someone who has always struggled with mental illness, or an unexpected…

One of my neighbors is that type who was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, but since she had a taste of living in Brooklyn for four years, she calls other locals “townies”. Last night, she brought up her perceived difference between the local discount store that she loves…

Santa, coffee and QAnon in Buffalo, NY Protests are all the rage of late, so the placard-gripping gathering out front Spot Coffee in Buffalo, NY last week seemed as normal as outdoor seating. Nothing I couldn't navigate through to get a cup of coffee. Spot Coffee is a liberal business…

I know this picture has been around the block already, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Can’t stop looking at it. Who is this woman? I know the answer is out there, but I don’t really want to know, let me wonder forever. …

On Frank Sherlock and Redemption At a recent writing conference, I attended one of the many similarly titled panel discussions that revolved around what “we” are supposed to do with the work/art of people/men who have behaved badly. During the question and answer session, a man in the audience stood…

OMG. Yesterday I found out that the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway stop — the one I get off at to go work — was where Michael Jackson’s video for “Bad” was shot. I decided that I could no longer support that stop by stopping at it, so I made plans to get…