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Current Curiosities
[Reading] Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion [Listening] Aretha in Paris [Watching] A Killer Story and Kill. Bury. Print. IT'S NOT ACTUALLY FOUNTAIN PEN DAY Apparently, I cannot read my calendar because Fountain Pen Day is Friday, November 6, not Thursday, October 1. But let's celebrate anyway because every day is a fountain pen day! And wouldn't you know it? I have five demonstrators inked and in rotation. Here's what I'm writing with this week in my Field Notes:
This morning, I'm curious what are you writing with? What are you writing about? And what are you reading, listening to, and watching this week? Thank you very much for your time. If you are interested in a consultation or have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Ooly Fab with Monteverde Horizon Blue * Two things can be true: Honest work always has value and I'm severely underemployed given my education and experience. If you're looking for a plucky former educator, researcher, and community engagement leader, please check out my profiles on LinkedIn and Indeed.
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Current Curiosities
[Reading] The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay by Eliot Glazer [Listening] "Rotta the Pod (The Mandalorian and Grogu)" from Return of the Pod* [Watching] The Mandalorian and Grogu IS THIS THE WAY? I love Star Wars. I love every movie and every television show (except Resistance). Like, I'm happy simply existing in the universe, following the entangled adventures of characters playing out over the course of generations, over millennia. With its continual battle between light and dark, Star Wars feels almost mythologically Greek, and its chaos and hope and mischief and tragedy keep me returning to the galaxy again and again. Now that I've watched The Mandalorian and Grogu twice after avoiding reviews while waiting for it to stream, I'm not sure what I think. Was it fun? Yes. Did I expect something more? Also, yes. Did something feel off? Absolutely. This post is truly rough-draft thinking! The Mandalorian and Grogu feels like several proposed episodic arcs for The Mandalorian frankenstiened together for a single movie. I wonder if the story would've been better served by staying on the small screen, by the pacing of eight episodes rather than two condensed cinematic hours. It was fun to see both Rotta (after his initial appearance in The Clone Wars) and bounty hunter Embo with his canid companion (from The Clone Wars) return to the galaxy in The Defenders-level stories of the Mandoverse. Maybe, though, that's what I enjoyed most - seeing the years of creativity and collaboration between Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau continuing to weave together the universe and drive this current era of Star Wars forward - even if that forward movement recycles familiar tropes and enmeshed characters. Anyway, here are the good, the bad, and the queer for The Mandalorian and Grogu: The Good
The Bad
The Queer Pascal? Pedro Pascal? Maybe. I'll just be over here wishing and hoping and thinking and praying and planning and dreaming. Star Wars has never been great about queer and trans inclusion in the galaxy. Though in the original trilogy, C-3P0 gives audiences a shiny glimpse at queerness in a galaxy far, far away. And Billy Dee Williams' in-out-in sexual fluidity gave queer nuance to the flamboyant Lando Calrissian. The sequel trilogy, like many a college freshmen, seems to have lightly explored queerness. There is undeniable chemistry between Fin and Poe, giving audiences a real will they won't they. (Spoiler: They won't because of capitalism and toxic fans.) Then there is Rey's apparent asexuality and aromanticism. (A gurl's got other shit to do!) Finally there is the hasty lesbian kiss at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.** Could Star Wars and Disney do more for queer and trans inclusion? Yes. Will they? Probably not. Overall, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a shallow, silly romp and adds another chaotic adventure to the expanding Mandoverse. Thank you very much for your time. If you are interested in a consultation or have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Kaweco Ice Sport Highlighter with Noodler's Firefly * I waited to listen to the episode until after posting this Mini Curiosity. Okay, I listened to the pod and noticed some similar takes, which makes sense. I've subscribed to Return of the Pod (and its predecessor Jabba the Pod) from the beginning and generally take a similar approach to Star Wars. ** Perhaps unpopular, but I love the chaotic cartoonish energy of The Rise of Skywalker. I planned on quietly taking the month of August off, but Dolly Parton died today. So I'm skipping the usual Current Curiosities for some rough-draft thoughts on Dolly Parton's passing.
Like many an Elder Millennial, I first encountered Dolly through mockery on the elementary school playground. It took me years to connect the buxom butt of juvenile jokes (sorry, team, I love alliteration) with the gorgeous, confident woman starring in Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk, my favorite sick day movies when I was a kid. (A baby homosexual!) I'm sad my first impression of Dolly was through bawdy humor, though she seemed to be in on the joke, often being the first with a witty remark. And by beating others to the punch(line), she modeled being comfortable in your own skin. I'm glad my first impression of Dolly was challenged and complicated by her music and acting and generosity. Later, I fell hard for her music while I worked toward a doctorate in English literature and navigated a hella toxic relationship and workplace. As I listened to "Here You Come Again" and "Dumb Blonde" and "Wildflowers" (with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris), among others, I reflected on Dolly's optimism and strength. Dolly and her songs became a sort of life preserver during that time, a lifetime ago. Bittersweet memories, indeed. When my grandma, who I've mentioned before, lost her sight, she traded her television for a record player. Dolly was the first record Grandma Gum requested (along with some truly bizarre 1960s Christian-country stuff). I love that Dolly is another connection between me and the Ol' Greek. We differ, however, on which is her best song. I'm firmly "I Will Always Love You," which I first heard via Whitney Houston and The Bodyguard soundtrack, but Caroline remains adamant "Coat of Many Colors" is the superior song. We're islands in a generational stream, I guess. Dolly was more than a signer, songwriter, and actor. She advocated for queer and trans communities and was an early ally during the AIDS epidemic. Dolly ensured children of every socio-economic background had access to books as a tribute to her late father, who never learned to read. And Dolly funded Moderna's covid-19 vaccine, saving an incalculable number of lives. What a human. We should all strive to be more like Dolly. I made it through the workday, but once I sat down on the couch and "I Will Always Love You" shuffled on, I let out a sob. What a human. I will always love you, Dolly. Thank you very much for your time. If you are interested in a consultation or have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Pelikan M205 with Wearingeul Lee Yuk Sa P.S. I hope Dolly and Whitney are kikiing up there and maybe, just maybe, duetting. Current Curiosities
[Reading] Object Lessons: Pencil by Carol Beggy [Listening] "Dreams" The Cranberries [Watching] You've Got Mail Today is the first Saturday in August, which means it's Stationery Store Day! Similar to Bookstore and Record Store Days, Stationery Store Day celebrates these often retro and niche shops and the folks engaged in analog writing and other paper crafts. To celebrate Stationery Store Day, here're a few of my favorites:
Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): TWSBI Vac Mini with Sailor Manyo Sumire Current Curiosities
[Reading] Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid [Listening] Houseplant Houseparty Double LP [Watching] Spider-Noir Today is National Ballpoint Pen Day! While I mostly write with demonstrator fountain pens, Sharpies, and occasionally wood pencils, I do marvel at the ingenuity and engineering of ballpoint pens. Prior to the development of ballpoints, folks used messy fountain pens or dusty graphite pencils. (Offices must've been a mess! I mean, they still are, but in the contemporary sense of messy. Just kidding - kinda.) The first ballpoint patent was submitted on October 30, 1888, by American John J. Loud. Instead of using the capillary action of fountain pens, Loud's invention used a small ball bearing, drawing ink out of the reservoir as it rolled across the page. This first model was scratchy and unreliable and often clogged, but with curiosity and experimentation over the next fifty years from inventors around the world, the modern ballpoint pen came to prominence. Hungarian László Bíró, a newspaper editor who moved to Argentina to escape the Nazis (original recipe), made the next significant improvement to ballpoints by incorporating thicker newsprint ink instead of runny fountain pen ink. Bíró applied for a British patent on June 15, 1938. (Outside of the United States, you will still hear ballpoint called biros.) World War II spurred the next round of innovations and patents. Marcel Bich began manufacturing Bíró's ballpoint pens under the name Bic (yes, that Bic) in partnership with a Spanish firm. Then, in a shrewd move, America firm Reynolds International Pen Company altered Bíró's design, bypassing his patent. In 1945, Reynolds launched its ballpoint at legendary department store Gimbels for $12.50 (over $200 today), kicking off a short-lived moment when ballpoints were luxury items. But by the mid 1950s, the market was oversaturated and prices plummeted. Ballpoints became an everyday tool and their contemporary ubiquity underscores the importance of these little marvels, the significance of curiosity and ingenuity. So the next time you pick up a ballpoint, consider the rich history of this commonplace tool. My Favorite Ballpoint Pens
Clearly, I love the ink (blue obvi) and writing experience of Bic pens, but want the extra weight of a metal body. I'm curious, what is your favorite ballpoint pen? And what are you writing with it? Journaling? Drafting essays? Jotting down to-do lists? Doodling? Regardless how you use your ballpoint pens, happy writing and happy National Ballpoint Pen Day! Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Caran d'Ache 849 [Ballpoint Pen] Current Curiosities
[Reading] The Stranger by Albert Camus [Listening] Soul Christmas [Watching] The Holiday The Gospel Truth: Percy Jackson Goes the Distance Much like Real Housewife of Salt Lake City Angie Katsanevas, I'm obsessed with being (half) Greek. Indeed, you can only reread Stephen Fry's Mythos, Heroes, Troy, and Odyssey or relisten to the back-catalogs of Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!, Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, or The Ancients so many times. I binged the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians over a weekend and loved every bonkers minute! And the second season is off to a legendary start, even featuring an ironclad! In elementary school, I became obsessed with Civil War ironclads, which is funny for a pacifist ironically named after a twentieth-century general. But I've been gripped by these silly ships since playing Pigskin and Slamjam in Social Studies. Both were ten-week U.S. geography trivia worksheets that required using actual atlases (books of maps, not the Titan) and encyclopedias (because the internet was off-limits and honestly not super helpful in the 1990s). Anyway, one of the perennial questions asked something like which team would fly closest to a sunken ironclad? and what cape did the ironclad sink in? and bonus: what is the name of the ironclad? Obviously, the last answer is the USS Monitor. The thing I like most about Percy Jackson and the Olympians is how the show (I know it was a book series first, but I haven't read it and do not plan to) translates Greek mythology into a contemporary setting. The show achieves this by layering different historical aesthetics onto the present. In addition the aforementioned ironclad (crewed by the dead), the show also incorporates Art Deco architecture and motifs, which lends an air eeriness and spiritualism and opulence to the show. Percy Jackson also does a stellar job of imaginatively mapping the mythical Aegean onto the continental United States with the Sea of Monsters translocated to the Bermuda Triangle or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis morphing into a temple to Athena (and a brief critique of American settler-colonialism!) or the secret entry to Hades' realm being guarded by a tacky 1970s-inspired Procrustes in a Los Angeles mattress store. This show! Anyway, here is the good, the bad, and the queer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Good
The Bad
The Queer While the queerness of Greek mythology and society seems to have been erased for the comfort of Disney audiences, viewers familiar with the mythology can still glimpse it in palimpsestic relief. And Percy and his fellow demigods offer a parallel for queer and trans audiences, existing out of sync with dominant human (hetero-patriarchal) society. As Percy and company navigate their non-normative godlike identities, LGBTQ+ viewers have an opportunity to safely explore ways of being and accepting their own identities. Finally, Percy Jackson offers viewers a Harry Potter-like experience without all the violently anti-trans, occasionally racist baggage. Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Spoke Design Icon [Fountain Pen] | Noodler's V-Mail Midway Blue [Ink] Current Curiosities
[Reading] And Don't F&%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul's Drag Race by Maria Elena Hernandez [Listening] It's A Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings [Watching] The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder We Wish You A Merry Christmas (As Long As We Benefit From It) It's that time of year again when anti-trans red kettles clutter store entrances and organizations begin laundering their reputations through nonprofits and via official social media posts of team members volunteering in the community. The motivation behind the publicity photos shifts the narrative from helping those in need to focusing on the organization appearing to be made of good white people. Motivation matters. And it's clear organizational giving and volunteering is actually about increasing profits and gilding reputations damaged by credible complaints of discrimination and harassment from marginalized employees or by harming communities and the environment. For example, a while ago I volunteered at a local food bank with some friends. We wanted to bond and have fun and do some good. We arrived at the same time as an organizational volunteer group from a well-known financial institution. As my friends and I sorted nonperishable goods and toiletries into individual and family-sized packages, I noticed the organization's group was standing off to the side chatting with each other and looking at their phones. Not one of them was actually volunteering. When their time was up, the organization's group made sure to take photos that were immediately shared across social media in order gain local accolades for the financial institution's alleged community engagement during the holidays. The organization's opportunism and the hollowness of its engagement at the food bank shocked me and changed how I see organizational philanthropy. I began to look critically at LinkedIn posts of local organizations laying out their collections of toys or school supplies or shelf-stable food on tables in the same manner the DEA lays out drugs and guns seized during raids. These photos are less about the act of giving to and service to others and more about the quantity of stuff (including money) collected. Through social media, organizational giving and volunteering is not only profit-driving and reputation-laundering, but also has become a capitalist size-measuring competition. Organizations document their piles of collected stuff, with the biggest piles given awards and status by nonprofit gatekeepers. If organizational philanthropy isn't documented on social media and recognized by nonprofit gatekeepers does it even count??? Motivation matters. Organizations have lost sight of why we volunteer, why we serve others. It's our responsibility to our fellow humans. We volunteer to give back to our community because we are part of the community and a thriving, healthy community supports everyone. Motivation matters. Here are some considerations to make when coordinating your organization's annual philanthropic efforts:
Showing up and volunteering is not enough. Successful organizational philanthropic efforts are scaffolded learning opportunities. This is why Learning & Leadership Development teams should plan, execute, and debrief giving and volunteering opportunities. Volunteer teams need to understand the causes and impacts of the particular issue targeted by your organization's philanthropy. Volunteer teams also need a chance to debrief their experience serving, to unpack their thoughts and feelings, to reflect on high-level systemic issues and the lived experiences of those whom they're serving. Moreover, sustained and ongoing giving and volunteering opportunities are more impactful (for volunteer teams and nonprofits) than one-and-done events. One Final Consideration: Does your organization need to photographically document its philanthropy? And what motivates your organization to publicize its giving and volunteering? Maybe skip the official social media posts this year and just be present in the experience of giving and volunteering. Motivation matters. That all being said, I hope y'all get out there and thoughtfully and purposefully give back to our shared community this holiday season — and beyond! Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Nahvalur Triad [Rollerball] | Monteverde Capri Blue [Ink] Current Curiosities
[Reading] Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 by Tim Hamilton [Listening] Lovett or Leave It Presents: Bravo, America! (with Dorinda Medley) [Watching] Heated Rivalry World AIDS Day Today is World AIDS Day. And for this first time in nearly 40 years, the United States government will not recognize World AIDS Day, a day honoring those we've lost, reflecting on the medical and societal progress we've made, and celebrating the resilience of the diverse communities impacted by HIV/AIDS. Trump and his Republican Party continue to pass legislation, sign executive orders, and update policy guidelines targeting and harming queer and trans communities, stripping us of basic rights. Not recognizing World AIDS Day is part of the wider MAGA agenda to erase LGBTQ+ communities from American society. Trump's violence against queer and trans communities is not limited to the United States. His administration made cuts to global HIV prevention programs denying nearly 2.5 million people access to preventive medications. A true accounting of the consequences of Trump's callus and deadly decision may never be known. This is why real, active allyship matters. This is why supporting and voting for diverse candidates for public office matters — because our health and our very lives are on the line. Local LGBQT+ Healthcare Resource The two major hospital chains in town are not always affirming or welcoming to queer and trans patients and often their providers do not have the necessary education to address the specific healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ communities. Canopy Medical Center is a safe, affirming option for LGBTQ+ healthcare in Fargo-Moorhead. I received my Mpox vaccine doses at Canopy in 2023 when Sanford Health refused to provide it. My experience at Canopy was great — and I cannot recommend Heidi and her team more highly! Matthew Shepard | 1 December 1976 - 12 October 1998 Today is also Matthew Shepard's birthday. He would have been forty-nine years old. I was twelve when I watched the initial coverage of Matthew's brutal murder in Wyoming on The Today Show while getting ready for school. As a closeted queer kid living in red-state North Dakota (which has sadly only become redder), I became terrified of my own identity. That morning, I learned being myself could get me killed. That morning, I doubled-down on concealing my identity, choosing to become (or at least outwardly appear) straight. I spent the next decade actively hiding my real self from others. I dated girls. I played football (for a season — gross). I joined track and cross-country. I developed a frat boy persona (uff da) based on straight guys in movies like American Pie. I wanted to be Josh not Christian, though that I was using characters from Clueless should've been, well, a clue that this was not going to work. In college, exhausted, my straight-presenting veneer slowly and unexpectedly began to crack. Between freshman and senior years, I went from exclusively dating women to discreetly exploring my identity. But senior year, an argument with a roommate in which I was outed sent me running right back into the closet. (And while I firmly believe no one should be outed, I kinda deserved it.) An invasive grilling by a campus pastor earlier in the week also didn't help. When I turned twenty-five, I decided it was time to finally and fully be myself, to come out. I was ready. And I did. (More on that later. Maybe. Who knows.) For me, there are two legacies of Matthew Shepard's life and death. First, I take my safety and the safety of other LGBTQ+ folks incredibly seriously. As a queer adult, I felt safest living in Lawrence, KS. I lived in LFK, a liberal bubble in red Kansas, for nearly a decade while working on a PhD. In Lawrence, I felt safe dating and holding hands in public — just existing. Then, I moved back to Fargo, ND. Even though West Fargo is my home, the metro has become increasingly more conservative and reactionary over this Trumpy decade. In Fargo, I realized I was reverting to old habits — concealing my identity, locating quick exits when near groups of cishet white men, etc. Ultimately, I prioritized my safety and moved to Moorhead, MN, on the east bank of the Red River. Moorhead feels safer, more affirming and is filled with community-oriented and curious folks. In Moorhead, I live comfortably as myself. (And yes, I avoid crossing to the Fargo side of the Red as much as possible.) Second, Matthew's life was cut short, and he was never able to become a queer elder. At nearly forty years old, I suppose I am (becoming) a queer elder. Now, and in new ways, I feel like it's my responsibility to be visible and vocal and take up space because queer and trans people have historically not had long life expectancies. And to bring this post full circle, we do not have many queer elders in the generations above us due to the silence and inaction of the Reagan Administration during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Being a queer elder is a privilege — one I'm taking increasingly more seriously. Today is World Aids Day. Today is Matthew Shepard's birthday. Today we honor both. Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Jacques Herbin Converter-Filling [Fountain Pen] | Sailor Shikiori Zaza [Ink] Current Curiosities
[Reading] Travels with Charlie: In Search of America by John Steinbeck [Listening] We Can Be Weirdos with Dan Schreiber [Watching] Thunderball Stumbles Are Steps, Too This morning, I finally watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps. I wanted to like the movie more than I did. On paper, what's not to like??? Pedro Pascal??? Yes. Sarah Niles??? Absolutely. Julia Garner??? Please. Natasha Lyonne??? Love. Retro 1960s futurism??? Stellar. PanAm blue supersuits??? Fabulous. And yet the stakes couldn't feel lower even as the fate of the world (and a baby) hangs in the balance. Normally, I'm just happy to vibe in the MCU and catch up with existing and new characters. So I wonder if I didn't connect with Fantastic Four because it doesn't feature an established MCU character like Black Widow or Nick Fury — yet. (I felt similarly about Eternals until Brave New World.) First Steps feels untethered from the MCU, and yes, I know it takes place on a different Earth in another universe, but this lack of connection to the broader MCU made the movie feel more like a live-action The Incredibles. The Good
The Bad
The Queer Johnny Storm is a closeted homosexual, no??? Well, let's look at the evidence. First, he sports a (bad) platinum blonde dye job and thick dark eyebrows. Nothing broadcasts post-break-up white gay male angst quite like abrupt and drastic hair changes. Second, little about his overcompensating performance of heterosexual masculinity reads as authentic. He talks about women like he's never been with one, but not in that shy, adorable Captain America way. Johnny does, however, scan as someone desperately trying to overcompensate for and hide his true identity (novel for a superhero movie, I know) from those closest to him. Third, he features a seemingly impressive package in every tight-pantsed outfit — a classic gay sartorial choice. And fourth, Johnny's superpower is flaming. He's literally a flamer. Has there ever been a clearer metaphor??? (I haven't read the comics, so maybe Johnny eventually comes out — or maybe he doesn't and that's his choice.) I may need to give The Fantastic Four: First Steps a second chance with fresh eyes in a few weeks. Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): Ooly Fab [Fountain Pen] | Sailor Shikiori Zaza [Ink] Current Curiosities
[Reading] It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror edited by Joe Vallese [Listening] Lovett or Leave It Presents: Bravo, America! (with Dr. Terry Dubrow) [Watching] Have I Got News for You Today, Wednesday, October 1, marks the beginning of LGBTQ+ History Month, which began in 1994 by a Missouri high school teacher. This month we reflect on our queer and trans history, honoring those who came before us, and continue our fight for equality, liberty, and justice. This LGBTQ History Month is particularly important as Trump and his MAGA regime strip rights away from queer and especially trans communities across the country. Below are a few queer and trans selections from my bookshelf. What additional titles would you suggest folks read to learn more about LGBTQ+ history and the current fight for our rights? Sections From My Bookshelf
If you're a Fargo-Moorhead local, be sure to check out More Than Words Bookshop in person or support them online via their Bookshop.org storefront. Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form. Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, Creighton Today’s Pen(cil): TWSBI Eco-T [Fountain Pen] | Noodler's V-Mail Midway Blue [Ink] |
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