How I've been keepin' on since I last emailed:

• Having a rough start to spring semester.
• Reinventing the wheel in my classrooms, and scaffolding the shit out of my lessons.
• Falling asleep in my chair by 8 pm because I'm so exhausted.
• Not taking a shower this entire last week, because exhaustion. Also, showers are so much work. Also, I'm in training for Armageddon. 
• Listening to Willy Tea Taylor, who plays a gorgeous four string 1927 Martin, and writes exceptional songs.

What's kept you busy?

It's been a long time, so this one is action packed.

Shit Weather Vortex

• The answer to whether or not this weather will get better is this.
• At least we're getting some good internet out of it.
  • Gorgeous animation. 
  • About right. My cousin lives in Black Hawk county in eastern Iowa, and she's been posting weather updates like this. 
  • I'm so with this kid, except I don't go outside, so I'm more like this gal.
  • With all the time indoors, more folks have time to pretend they are a character on CSI/NCIS/Criminal Minds/Law & Order/Bones/X-Files/etc.

Valentine's Day is Over

• Billy Bragg introduced me to Marxist criticism.
• Manufactured crisis.
• Makes Sense.
• But did you sign the card?
• I spy.
• I cannot stop laughing at this. When I searched google images to check the origin, the only thing to pop up was "Possible related search: 'fire drill sign'."

Mixed Now and Laters

I have no idea how to feel about anything anymore. Like:

• This made me cry (in a good? way).
• A new fairy tale:  The big bad bitch in a cape and the lost cubs.
• I am down for this.
• I might have read these books as a teen if they had had titles like this.
• How are any of you following the news not going insane? Is it the sour cream or the chips?
• We missed the window. I almost sent out a newsletter in December featuring this cartoon only.
• I want to see more innovation like this. Amazing. Though, it'd be more amazing if the kid's helmets were strapped on correctly.

KonMari the Patriarchy

Marie Kondo's Nexflix show was must-see-tv this winter, which means I didn't watch it. I was familiar with the guiding principles of her method from her book a few years ago. Right after the show premiered, two different kinds of online conversations about it. People either immediately starting clearing out their crap, or they starting asking what this show means for gender parity in cis-het marriages. What does it mean for parity? Nothing good. Reading about the first episode was painful. Cringe worthy, even. So much so, I don't think I can watch them, no matter how adorable Kondo's voice is.

There were a lot of online complaints about the couple in the first episode. The husband Kevin is pissed his wife Rachel needs to hire someone to do laundry, because she's a "stay-at-home mom"—a phrase I fucking hate, btw—and should be able to handle it on her own. Do you want to know what being a "stay-at-home mom" looks like for Rachel?

In addition to what we think of as typical modern parenting and home upkeep, one of her children is special needs, one of her children was breastfeeding during the taping of this episode, and she works outside of the house as an adjunct professor. (There is nothing part-time about adjuncting. It is brutal.)

That is NOT the work of a stay-at-home mom. That is one woman doing taking on the emotional and physical burden of two full-time jobs with no help from her partner, who can't find his fucking shorts. 

Here are a few excerpts from, "The Emotional Labor on 'Tidying Up with Marie Kondo' Does Not Spark Joy."

• "But babe, why is the kitchen such a mess? And why are we outsourcing the laundry? Why does your husband have to call you because he can't find his shorts?"
• Maybe because he's not doing a damn thing. How do you effortlessly fold up this kind of patriarchy, Marie? Will it also stack neatly in a box in my closet?"
• "None of the dads are piping up to say how they could do more to help around the house — they're all just waiting for Marie to teach their wife to clean up the kitchen already."

Hey can't-find-his-fucking-shorts guy. I've got some suggestions for you: 

• She's got the receipts. Do a fucking load of laundry and put the shit away yourself. 
• Or, be helpful by getting the fuck out of the way and let her do it the way she needs to in order to survive.
• This would work. 
• When all else fails, here is another option. 

A that isn't even the half of it. The classism and racism needs some exploration here. 

Schlocky Stock Photography

The following don't even need commentary from me. 

• Random photos I've been collecting.
• How to have sex according to stock photography.
• Stock photography from the seventies.

Give Today for Social Justice

Donate to The Bail Project. It won't dismantle the prison system, but it will keep minor offenders from wasting away in jails.

Got FOMO? To get this monthly-ish newsletter sent straight to your inbox...

And, as always, being on this email list is optional. If you’d like me to remove you, respond to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line and I’ll take care of it.