I don’t want to talk about about rape today. Or any day. March 21 is World Poetry Day. I love reading poetry. I love writing poetry. And six of my last seven columns have been on intense topics: Consent, “Don’t Say Gay” laws, criminalizing gender affirmation, Nazis, and Ukraine. I could use a break. We…
Category: A Piece of Our Minds
A Long Week (Sunday Summary)
How is it that every week has the same seven days in it and yet some weeks feel so much longer than others? This is one of those weeks that feels longer, although it’s no more a long week or short week than any other. And as I look a the calendar for the week…
Poetry: What is It? (Watch/Listen/Read)
Erika Writes: Recovering from a Wearying Week The word of the week is “weary.” That’s really the only word I can come up with for how I’m feeling right now. I’d like to say a few days of good, solid rest will resolve that, but I don’t really believe it. I’ll do my best to…
Consent: Changing the Conversation
Rape and sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of gender identity or gender presentation. Likewise, issues of consent can apply to anyone. One of the things that I struggled with as I was writing this is the very binary way in which everything I read and watched during my research fell into an either/or…
Sunday Summary: International Edition
Welcome to our Sunday Summary for the week of 7 March-12 March 2022. We’re more international than usual this week–Adam is visiting Bangalore right now, Erika is still bringing us her stories from the USA. And of course J.D. Saward is writing from Australia. The state of the world hasn’t improved since last week. Among…
Tell me a Story (Caturday Questions)
So. Adam always makes fun of Erika (A.K.A. “Human-Mom”) for having cat-friends who (let’s be real) are total jerks. Every other moment they are perched on her neck. Or under her elbows. Or on her upper-arms. It makes writing a challenge. Kind of like when the physical therapist has you walking with those weights strapped…
Making Room for Simple Joy (Watch/Listen/Read)
In our Watch/Listen/Read this week, Adam and Erika discuss how to find simple joy in difficult times. Favorite books. Favorite songs. Memories of favorite places. And of course their fake viola wars. These things bring joy in times of sorrow and difficulty. Adam Writes: So my eReader broke a few days ago. Thankfully I had…
Bangalore Letters #1
It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it? But “Bangalore Briefs” sounds a bit like a legal service or a clothing store that specializes in undies. And “Bangalore Bulletin” just sounds official in a way this will not be. Best not to overthink it. The Story So Far For those of you who have…
Affirming Gender is not a Crime
When I got pregnant with my first child, it seemed like the moment the stick had turned pink, the first thing people asked was: “Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?” When I was far enough along to know what I was having, that question became: “Are you having a boy or a…
Sunday Summary: Hope
We are, as always, glad we can bring you such great content to read. As we all struggle to understand what’s going on around us, and to maintain hope right now, we hope that the writing from our 2 Rules contributors can help you find something you need. Whether it’s peace, hope, inspiration, or something…