The impact factor

It is said that on the day of my birth, stock markets around the world crashed. The Bermuda Triangle swallowed a cruise ship, stars in distant galaxies went supernova, and entire civilizations were destroyed by the aftermath.
And by 'It is said,' I mean just now. I just said it.

Some of it, in theory, is true. But that's all just coincidence. The truth of it is that my life hasn't had all that much of an impact on the universe at large. Or, really, even the planet.

Depression is an asshole

One of the most common things people are told when they are depressed is to 'get over it.' We are told to just feel better, to buck up, to stop feeling so down on ourselves. I'm not going to talk about how stupid that is. ("Just stop being depressed? why didn't I think of that?")

No, instead I want to talk about the other side of the argument. Because we say those same things to ourselves. We tell ourselves to get better. We tell ourselves to stop being so upset about everything, to stop feeling so down. That not everything is as bad as it looks, that things aren't all our fault.

Gender, genetics, and the mind

What is gender? For most people, that's an easy question. So easy that they don't even understand why someone would ask.

It's just gender, you know?

Well, okay. How many genders are there?

Two. Male or Female.

What about the transgendered? What about someone born male but dressed and acting female?

Still either male or female.

Okay. How about when someone defies the categories of gender entirely? Neither trying to act like a man nor trying to act like a woman. But rather intentionally acting in such a way that defies both genders?

Okay, fine. Three genders. I still don't see your point.