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NOT NORMAL
A random collection of back-of-the-envelope calculations, short stories, half-baked theories, bad poems, and more.
Many of these relate to the idea of normalcy, what it entails, and what it does not.
We are fortunate to live in a time where right and wrong, traditions, and norms are being renegotiated.
Yet, only through exploring what is normal can we experience the depths of the clash.
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I know when your memory started
I cannot remember when I lied. But I feel the shame I felt when I learned you knew about it. I failed you. I learned better.
Apr 28
Dread Butterfly
This hurt. Becoming a dad and facing dread. The fear, shock, and fury will forever be ingrained in me.
Apr 22
Enjoying My Joy's Joy
Averaging tells us that children make us unhappy. We do not remember mean. My best memories are filled with the joys of parenthood.
Oct 22, 2025
Care Work Feminist: The Dad I Wish my Grandchildren will Have
Being a dad is often a story of being the "below average" parent. I can't do things my partner can. This is no excuse for care work inequity
Feb 11, 2025
A Below Average Parent
Historiography of myself, my history of mental health, and my healing through conversations with my parents.
Nov 20, 2024
Murderers are disappering around where I live
Have you ever looked at a very old man and wondered if they are a murderer? I do. Here I try to estimate this chance. I should not have.
Nov 1, 2024
I Procrastinate Myself into Mental Slavery
Some thoughts that came up after listening to a new song.
Oct 9, 2024
An Awkward Truth
This is what happens when you use your brain to think about statistics in the wrong way. I wish I could stop this thought from recurring.
May 1, 2024
How did you tell your children about climate change?
My daughter will live to see climate change become under control. Here I write my initial thoughts on how to introduce her generation's foe.
Nov 7, 2023
On Serendipity and Joy
Joy happens at random intervals. But one can design life to maximize the number of joy events per unit of time, i.e. its cross-section.
Oct 31, 2023
Hurt People Hurt People
I find it very convenient how when conflict happens in the Middle East we forget that the conflict was started by actions Europe made.
Oct 10, 2023
My Least Threatening Look
Men are threatening. But, I own a piece of fabric that, at one time, helped the world forget my innate threat.
Aug 28, 2023
Waiting for Popo
I am currently a toilet, a job that fills my life with purpose, has some shitty work conditions but at least let me wait and reflect on life
Jun 22, 2023
Nine Nights
The gendered parental capability gap is unacceptable. How come we praise men caring for their children and forget the women who do the same?
Jun 8, 2023
The Big Ambivalence
Ambivalence is strange. A pull that pushes and breaks. A feeling of possibility and joy with anger and trauma. Useful, purposeful, enraged.
May 28, 2023
This Cold, Never Again
If we meet the Paris agreement's goals, our world will never be as cold as it is today. Never again will the temperature be as mild. #WTF
Jan 16, 2023
Normal Hearts and Normal Eyes: On Why I Chose a Life in Science
Science is a calling as much as a tool for winning bread. Many routes lead to it. Here I present two signals that guide my pilgrimage.
Dec 20, 2022
Emancipate Yourself From Mental [Load] Slavery
A written proof of me not being able to do a tiny thing at home without telling someone/anyone about it. The gender care gap is a sad truth.
Nov 26, 2022
![Emancipate Yourself From Mental [Load] Slavery](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec1421_20682a60b3464c8b8120c709a88c0193~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_441,h_496,fp_0.50_0.50,lg_1,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/ec1421_20682a60b3464c8b8120c709a88c0193~mv2.jpg)
![Emancipate Yourself From Mental [Load] Slavery](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec1421_20682a60b3464c8b8120c709a88c0193~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_441,h_496,fp_0.50_0.50,lg_1,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/ec1421_20682a60b3464c8b8120c709a88c0193~mv2.jpg)
Pet Talk: Smaller than Small Talk
After years of traumatic pet talk experience, I came to realize how much it has stunted my emotional growth. Pet talk is truly the worst.
Nov 8, 2022
Normal Joy
I used to think that normal things were bland. That special was best. How wrong I was. Oh how much joy lies within a normal act.
Nov 1, 2022
A Blinding Brown Rainbow
Have you ever felt swept away; your life and image of yourself changed in an instant? You'd learned to despise change. But you love this one
Sep 1, 2022
Jr: On Advertising Lack of Originality
I've always find it funny how we all need to write evidence that someone's parent forgot to create a new name for their Jr., III, IV...
Aug 23, 2022
Wait until after you are a full professor. NO!
On good and weak advice. Such as: "Please fight for justice and climate change, but only after you are a full professor"
Aug 15, 2022
Educating Royalty
Today I learned that next year the future monarch of the kingdom where I work will be among my students. Here I try to put this into my head
May 30, 2022
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