Indirect instructions to friends made it uneatable — I brought seafood macaroni and cheese to a ‘Friendsgiving.’ It was Instagram gorgeous. And then, it wasn’t. I splurged. It had lump crab claw meat and two pounds of shrimp. I didn’t skimp on the cheeses either; smoked Gouda and Cheddar, Gruyere, all topped with parmesan butter breadcrumbs. However, no…

Takeaways as the US grapples with its slave-owning roots — There wasn’t a memorial at the Dachau Nazi concentration camp until 1965. That was 20 years after the Allies liberated the Holocaust site. That’s one of the eye-opening facts from this excellent Atlantic piece about German Holocaust remembrance. Here’s another one: Less than half of one percent of Germany’s population…

Asking adoptees ‘Where are you from?’ is never simple — Where are you from? Usually a basic question, but for international adoptees, it’s not. My typical response is, “I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and moved to Central New Jersey in my teens. I’ve lived in Washington D.C. since 2005.” Which elicits a frown, or quizzical facial expression. …

The perpetual children narrative and consequences — Policymakers view adoptees as children who never grow up. This persistence that we are ‘forever’ children must end. It delegitimizes our narratives and individual lives. We’re sidelined and excluded in policy decisions that affect us. Lastly, it damages the adoptee’s psyche. For those adoptees struggling with feelings of negative self-worth…

If you find it valuable and educational, treat it that way — Imagine being a panelist, surrounded by strangers, and talking about your life. You’ll also be making yourself emotionally exposed and open to their questions. Would you do it for free? Would you do it repeatedly without compensation? You wouldn’t. Why should adoptees? I’ve spoken to current and prospective adoptive parents…

Don’t Blame Immigrants for Working Harder than You — I’m tired of white guys whining about trailing others in the new economy, especially white males without college degrees. What did you think would happen if you decided not to go to college? …

Yes Jay! Thanks for reading, and the comment. The exploration of the vibrant cities, that we know as ancient ones is a cool benefit to be sure. In my eyes, all the problems are fixable. I didn't see anything egregious that would keep me from continuing to watch the series as it unfolds. How many more years do we have to wait until Season 2?

If you need unadulterated J.R.R, read the books. — Nobody is putting a gun to your head to watch the Amazon series. You aren’t being forced to watch The Rings of Power (RoP). If you don’t like a show, then watch another one. There are dozens of shows released monthly across streaming platforms. I’m sure you will find something…

Marriage with a Spouse Who Grew Up Without Options — Heavenly. Peanut butter chocolate cookie, chocolate with chocolate chunks and caramel swirls, white chocolate pretzels, mint brownie. Those were just some of the flavors on offer. I ordered three scoops so that I could have my three choices. I returned to the car, where my wife Sasmita was waiting with…