Searching for Purpose and Cleaning Our Ocean

Rockaway Beach

"Purpose, It's that little flame That lights a fire Under your ass. Purpose, It keeps you going strong Like a car with a full Tank of gas. Everyone else has A purpose So what's mine?" ~ "Avenue Q"

Okay I think I'm ready to go public with this on the blog now. I've been public with my friends and family about it for about a month now, so I think it's an appropriate time. I did not get into grad school. And for awhile, it crushed me. On my personal facebook, I wrote an explanation as thus:

"Some of you know this already. Most of you don’t but I think I’m ready to go public. I did not get into the doctorate program that I applied to. The initial blow was very hard on me and caused me to become depressed. I’m still grieving it - it’s hard to come to terms with being rejected from something I wanted so bad. I do not want to talk about it. I do not want to plan next steps. I do appreciate everyone’s concern - I know I haven’t been the most fun person to be around lately because of this - but I’m simply not ready to talk about it. I’m only informing people because I’m tired of people asking me about it individually."

Part of the reason it crushed me so deeply is because, well, it seemed like the logical next step in my adult life. You know, that's what archaeologists/anthropologists do. In this field you pretty much get a doctorate or you don't work as anything other than doing the grunt work for the people with doctorates.

I'd spent so long assuming I wanted this that I never once considered if I actually did or not. And - can I be real with you guys for a second here? - I'm still not sure. I have no idea if this is what I really want or if it's just what I think that I should want. Do you see the difference? Because I'm still trying to figure it out.

I know what I don't want. I don't want to be stuck working as a secretary my whole life. I don't want to wake up at 40 and realize I got stuck in a passionless life.

Right now it still hurts too much to think about any passion I may have for archaeology and the like, so I am trying to turn to other things I am passionate about:

• I was at my happiest when I gave tours at the Winchester Mystery House and, later, Hamilton Grange, so I may try to get a NYC tour guide license at some point. I am still undecided about that. I don't have a lot of free time as it is.
• I do want to write a novel. I've written for NaNoWriMo of course, but I want to write one that I actually manage to get published. I don't need it to be a Harry Potter-level bestseller. If just one person counts it as among their favourite books, that would be enough for me. I just... need to stick with an idea beyond a few chapters. (I have so many stories abandoned around chapter three.)
• I am getting deeper into my own religion. I'm considering The Troth's Lore Program and - if I complete that - their Clergy Program. One of my kinsmen will be finishing the Clergy Program soon so I may pick his brain once he does so to see if this feels right for me. 
• And, if nothing else, I am passionate about cleaning up the SERIOUS plastic waste problem that is plaguing our oceans, as you all know from past entries.

And last weekend, in honour of World Ocean's Day, the nonprofit group 4Ocean (I've really believed in their work for awhile, and I have one of their bracelets) hosted a beach clean-up on Rockaway Beach. Well, cleaning up a beach is certainly a good purpose for at least one day, isn't it? So I signed up and went.

I wasn't alone. Thousands of people showed up. Even on the shuttle over from the A-Train, the train was completely filled with people who were just as passionate about this cause! I met people from organisations such as...

Billion Oyster Project -- New York harbour used to have the most oysters out of anywhere in the world, but between New Amsterdam and the turn of the 20th century, New Yorkers had severely depleted the local supply, and in the process had also severely polluted the waterways that surround our islands. The Hudson River and the East River are still recovering. But the thing about oysters, you see, is that they're excellent natural filters. One oyster can filter 5 gallons of water in one hour. So they can naturally help clean up the water. What the Billion Oyster Project does is take oyster shells from restaurants willing to donate them and uses them to create oyster reefs around Governor's Island, Brooklyn, and lower Manhattan, then gets live oysters ti those reefs. Live oysters thrive on the shells of their fallen brethren - who knew?! (There's a metaphor for ancestor work in there somewhere.) Isn't that neat?!

Coastal Steward Long Island -- Like the Billion Oyster Project, this organisation is also creating oyster reefs with recycled oyster shells, just further out on Long Island. (If you eat oysters at local restaurants who donate, you're helping the cause too, congratulations!) They also host education programs at the Marine Environmental Stewardship Centre at Cedar Beach to educate people about local marine ecosystems, and they work with local businesses and schools on preservation and restoration events.

Oceanic Global -- This is a nonprofit currently working with the United Nations to not just raise awareness of the plastic problem, but to broaden the conversation about it into other areas of interest in order to get more people on board towards the solution. I'm making it all sound rather cerebral, I know, but they partner with a lot of great organisations (including Plastic Oceans, the organisation my facebook charity event was for last year) and their website explains so much more.

Lonely Whale -- Lonely Whale is interesting in that I'm really not sure how to describe them other than that they're not like other organisations here. They raise awareness, sure, but do so in modern ways to connect with The Youth. They organise social media campaigns, guerrilla art campaigns, and even recently hosted a pop-up experience right here in NYC called the Museum of Plastic - which I DID go to. (Did you know that single-use plastic water bottles didn't come into wide use until the early 90s? They're younger than I am!) Their #StopSucking campaign was also instrumental in getting cities like NYC to consider plastic straw alternatives, and they really REALLY pushed for policy change surrounding that. While I realise the straw issue isn't simply black and white (some disabled people do need to use plastic straws for example, and inflexible metal or bamboo ones don't work as an alternative for them), those of us who are able to go without, should. 

From Lonely Whale's "Museum of Plastic" pop-up

The Riverhead Foundation -- Another Long Island organisation, they do a lot of marine research, but they also do wildlife rehabilitation and release, so they've seen firsthand a lot of the tragedy that plastic waste can cause. Also, one of the things they help with is local SEAL RESCUES, which is definitely something I can get behind. Eventually I'm gonna make it out to one of their seal releases, and when I do I'll post about it here.

Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy -- As a partner of the National Parks Service, this conservancy helps with things such as restoring natural habitats around the Jamaica Bay region and, yes, helping to organise shoreline cleanups such as the event I was at. They are dedicated to preserving the long-term sustainability of these parklands so that generations of New Yorkers to come can still enjoy it.

And thousands of ordinary people, just like me - not just a bunch of extraordinary geniuses with doctorates (though there could well have been some people like that in the crowd), but also regular New Yorkers from all walks of life - got together and did something extraordinary. Look at how much trash we picked up all together:

4Ocean supplied hemp bags.

All that trash which may have gone into some poor seabird or whale's stomach, or which may have strangled some defenseless seal or turtle, is now going to be recycled, some of it into the bracelets 4Ocean makes for various ocean-related causes. 

Look, I may not know what I want to do with my life right now. I may have no idea what's next for me. I may not be 100% okay with that. But I am happy with the work I did last weekend. For the first time in months, I'm proud of myself. Oh, and I am starting to plan that novel. I'm not saying much about it yet except that some of my favourite Norse myths will be woven into the plot, though the main plot is all original, all me. I'll keep you guys posted if I actually manage to complete more than just an introduction.

-Nym

How To Cut Down on Plastics in Three Parts

As some of you already know, I work at Ellis Island on certain Mondays every month. Well I am very pleased that as of yesterday, plastic bags have officially been eliminated from Ellis Island's Museum Store!

A lot of people don't know this about me, but as of the past few months this cause has become very important to me. We only have one planet and if we don't all do our part, it may not be livable by the time our children's children are born.

And plastic, though it does have its uses (in the medical field for example), is becoming a big problem. The accumulation of plastic in our oceans is fatal to marine animals such as whales, dolphins, seals, and sea turtles, who can get entangled in plastic materials and even mistake it for food. Plastic also takes a very long time to degrade, so we should be a lot more careful than we are with it. Because this problem shows no sign of slowing - in fact, scientists expect plastic waste entering the ocean will increase by a considerable amount by 2025 if we don't all do our parts to change our habits, and soon.

Look, I don't mean to get preachy. Really, I don't. But I like oceans. I like ocean animals and I like our planet and I want to keep all these things around. This is important so we shouldn't be selfish about it - if you can help, even just a little bit, why wouldn't you want to? I know most of the blame lies with big corporations, but every tiny gesture we makes helps just a little.

You guys, just because "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" was the greatest of all "Star Trek" movies does not mean that I want to head towards the future where whales have gone extinct because humans are assholes. So let's do our part in the following ways:

1. Make the switch to reusable products

This is such an easy, simple switch, and it actually helps to save money in the long run. By switching to reusable water bottles, bringing cloth totes to the grocery store, and refusing plastic straws in restaurants/at home (use a reusable metal straw if you absolutely must have a straw - they are fantastic for cold drinks), you help cut down on a lot of plastic waste. Slow down and eat in to avoid takeaway containers and plastic cutlery. And if you absolutely must use something plastic? Reuse or recycle it whenever possible!

Also, you can purchase ocean-friendly plasticless products. For example - and I'm not married to this company so feel free to do your own research and shop elsewhere - but LUSH has a lot of fantastic plastic-free products that smell delicious and work wonderfully. I've made the switch to their solid shampoo bars (which last much longer than liquid shampoo - I use this one, myself) and their "naked" shower gels, both of which cut way down on my plastic waste. And if you like to sparkle, all of LUSH's glitter is plastic-free and biodegradable.

I swear that I'm not sponsored or anything, I just really really love their products...

2. Make a commitment to sustainability

Perhaps this is just a broader interpretation of point 1, but the point still stands. There are a number of ways we can be more sustainable, not just with plastic, but with everything! For example, if you eat seafood (as a vegetarian, I do not), do your best to make sure you're eating sustainable seafood instead of contributing to the species extinctions that things like plastic waste help cause. I've included a link to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's (a beloved California institution) guide to doing so, but there are a number of such guides on the web. Also? Pick up after yourself when you go to the beach, as quite a bit of marine debris gets its start as beach litter. (Seriously, guys, don't litter - what are you, a Captain Planet villain?)

When in doubt, try to remember the 7 R's of Sustainability: Refuse (if offered plastic bags or straws when out and about, say no), Reduce (cut down on how much you're using), Reuse (use products again if they're still good instead of just throwing it out), Repair (if it's broken try to fix it before buying another one), Rot (if something is biodegradable or made of natural materials, compost it instead of throwing it out to go to a landfill), Recycle (duh), and Rethink (if you can't do any of the above then do you really need that product???)

3. Be the one who influences change 

Spread the word about your commitment to sustainability! It may feel like you can't possibly make a difference, but if every single one of us talked to just one or two people, and they all talked to just one or two people, well, who knows what could happen?

Research conservation policies of public officials before you vote, or contact your local representatives about measures that cities like San Francisco have taken such as banning plastic bags and plastic straws. Speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on a restaurant menu, and take part in initiatives that fight for the cause!

This is gonna sound absolutely cheesy, but we can do this if we work together. Yes, it feels like an uphill battle - because it absolutely is one - but it's not impossible.

#SaveTheWhales
-Nym

Fleet Week at the U.S.S. Intrepid

I readily admit to having very mixed feelings about the military. (And about the state of this country in general, but that's another post for another day, really.) In general, I consider myself very anti-war and very anti-US-sticking-its-nose-where-it-doesn't-belong. Like the idealistic hippies of the 60s, I wish we as a planet could "give peace a chance", and like the cynics of later decades, I'm frankly disgusted with the blatant capitalism of it all.

At the same time, I fully understand that for many Americans, their only chance to go to college is to join the military, and I can't fault them for that. I recognise that I am privileged for getting to go to university on my parents' dime, and if I hadn't had that, this may have well been my path too. I did actually consider it. Briefly. Very briefly. (And then I realised that, as a nonbinary lesbian, it prooooobably wouldn't have been quite safe for me.)

And despite it all... I love Fleet Week.

I can't help it! It makes me nostalgic - my friend Ashley and I actually went to Fleet Week in San Francisco quite a few times!

Photo by Ashley, SF Fleet Week 2011

So when I heard Fleet Week was coming to New York City, I knew I wanted to go out and see some sailors. Don't judge me.

There were multiple ports all over the city where navy ships were docked, so I asked Sarah what she would like to do. Since my toe is currently broken, I knew I wouldn't be able to go to more than one, so when Sarah suggested we visit the real U.S.S. Enterprise (that's right, the "Star Trek" ship's name has been used for MULTIPLE U.S. ships) I looked it up.

It turns out that NASA's space shuttle, the Enterprise, resides at the U.S.S. Intrepid, where Fleet Week celebrations were going on! So our goal was set and we set out for our sunny Memorial Day weekend adventure!

Of course, it later turned out she'd meant this Enterprise, the one the "Star Trek" ship was named after, not the one named after it. Turns out that ship is actually docked in Norfolk Virginia... oops... but that error aside it was still a fun adventure of a day!

The Starfleet Academy Experience

I have a confession and an apology to make, all.

For years, I turned up my nose at "Star Trek", believing myself too good for something so "nerdy", even as I regularly nerded out over the Viking age and  the American Revolution. (Hypocritical, I know.)

I didn't feel, at the time, like I was being judgmental. I could respect what a historically diverse show it was without watching it, and I never once looked down on Sarah for being a fan of the show. I just didn't think it was for me. After all, many years ago another good friend had tried for years to get me to watch "Star Wars", and when I finally sat down and did it, I was bored and underwhelmed. And "Star Trek", as a TV series, was much longer - I wasn't about to sit through hours of being bored and underwhelmed.

Turns out I was being unfairly judgmental and I am sorry. Because I finally sat down and started watching "Star Trek: The Original Series" and I am completely and utterly in love with it. Obsessed, even! How could I have let myself miss out on this joy for so many years? And why, because I was afraid it was too nerdy for me? How blind I was!

Even though it came into my life later than it should have, I'm grateful for it now. My confession to you all? I was an asshole, I am sorry for it, and I am now, one week later, a thoroughly devoted Trekkie.

Live long and prosper, bitches

Go ahead and roast me for it. I deserve it for what a jerk I was about it.

But the point is I love it now. I am learning (slower than most adults) to like the things I like without caring so much about what other people might think of me for it.

And this past Sunday, to thank Sarah for introducing me to it, I decided to treat her to a certain Trek-themed museum exhibit before it closes next month. We journeyed back into New Jersey to head to the Liberty Science Centre's Starfleet Academy Experience. Basically this exhibit, in between props and costumes from all the Star Trek series, uses interactive tests and games (including the infamous Kobayashi Maru test) and at the end of it all, you're placed into a different section of Starfleet. Kinda like a sci-fi version of being sorted into your Hogwarts house.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A Short History of Evolutionary Theory

FROM THE ARCHIVES note: This post is from an older blog of mine that has since been taken down from the internet. It is presented here with minimal editing because I still find it interesting enough to share. The original post was published on 2 February 2014.

Before I begin, a note/disclaimer: This post is going to discuss the concept of Evolution. If that offends you, don't read it. In fact, don't read any of my blog. Just don't talk to me. I have no patience for creationist pseudoscience bullshit, I really don't. My entire career is based on the overwhelming evidence that evolution exists and if you can't handle that, you are weak and need to step out of my life. Door's over there.


Still with me? Good. Then let's begin.

Hey guys, remember when I met Charles Darwin?

Fellow anthropologists, I can feel your jealousy.

I majorly geeked out when I met that Darwin re-enactor, and got to talk evolutionary theory with both him and a fellow guest of the event, who happened to have a passion for the stuff. Evolution, when taught by someone who knows their stuff and has a passion for it, can be extremely fun to learn about, and it is my own personal belief that we all should be learning about it, fun or not!

But where did the theory come from? Okay, obviously it's science, it came from Darwin and others observing what they saw around them and coming to logical conclusions based on the biological evidence and the fossil record. Still, is it possible that maybe it wasn't that obvious? Why did it take us until the Victorian era to come to a conclusion that seems so overwhelmingly obvious now?

Friends, I am going to tell you how the idea of Evolution came about.