University of Utah! Saturday!

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No, I will not write an article about your friend’s band.

“How To Make Fruit Salad”

Update on upcoming speaking gigs

Here’s the confirmed speaking gigs for the Spring semester:

 

University of Utah, Salt Lake City

February 23, 2013

4:00 p.m.

https://sites.google.com/site/shiftuofu/ted-cox

 

Alma College, Alma MI

March 13, 2013

 

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

April 20, 2013

My next writing project: 40 Days with the pro-life movement

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Twice a year, 40 Days for Life protests take place outside abortion clinics across the country. This year, the 40th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, I’ll spend time on the sidewalks with these pro-life activists, collecting their stories and learning more about their motivations and tactics. I’ll also speak with clinic employees, doctors, volunteers, and clergy about the history and future of abortion in America. If all goes well I’ll visit a couple of protest sites outside Washington.

As I’ve researched the topic I’ve already compiled 25 questions I’d like to answer — a number that will undoubtedly grow over the course of my investigation.

I’m excited and nervous about this project. And hopefully I’ll post updates as the 40 days progresses.

To the guy having sex in the car parked in the alley behind my apartment

First off, you probably shouldn’t have been fucking in the front seat of a car in a lit and well trafficked driveway. So, really, this whole thing wasn’t my fault. But I’m sorry for my part in making it even more awkward.

Here’s what happened: The other night I was taking down the trash to the dumpster outside my apartment. I saw you, dude, sitting in the passenger seat of a parked and running car. Nothing strange about that, of course. But then I see the back of someone’s head bouncing up and down and — Christ, you’re fucking someone in an alley.

It was too late to go back inside. I had already made eye contact with you. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to turn around — it was cold and I had chores to do and you’re fucking someone in an alley.

When I moved here my friend Mandy warned that Seattle people love being naked. And I’m fine with that. But it’s a bit of a shock having seen three different neighbors parading naked in front of their open windows. Oh, and the couple having sex in front of an open window clearly visible from my other friend’s patio and to anyone else living above the third story in that giant building a just few yards away.

Let me be clear: Really, I’m happy for you two. Yay, sex! Yay, naughty bits! I’m glad that the two of you were engaged in a vigorous act of consensual pole vaulting. But I didn’t need to look up from the garbage bin to see your cowgirl friend making eye contact with me. Jesus. It was already awkward enough. And I didn’t know what else to do except give her a thumbs up.

Yeah, for that I’m sorry. I didn’t make it any better. But at least cowgirl laughed.

So, again, I feel bad for my part in making this even more awkward. But, really, in an alley?

And thanks a lot for making me feel some dread after going back up to the apartment and realizing there was another bag of garbage to take down.

Check my interview in Montreal’s La Presse

I was interviewed by Ewan Sauves about Journey into Manhood. Being in French, I have no idea what the article actually says:

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/sante/201212/18/01-4604832-le-controverse-week-end-journey-into-manhood.php

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