The Advocate

Well everyone, it has been an intense and harrowing year, filled with tragedies both local as well as national. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, issues across the socio-political spectrum have exposed deep fissures of suffering, bigotry, and injustice. There have also been bright spots, from adventures in Zoom to community charity events, but these have largely been muted by the overarching reality that has faced us starkly and unavoidably. In no way has this been more painful than in the lives of approximately 450,000 Americans who have died as a result of the coronavirus. That said, here are my resolutions for 2021: 1. Healing my mind & body. This goes from exercise to diet to medical treatment to therapy and beyond. As I move through my mid 30's with my wife and children, I can't be as cavalier about these issues anymore as I was in my 20's. 2. Cultivating habits for happiness. I mean really reprioritizing professional and personal activities with better boundar

As has become my habit, here are my votes for the 2020 general election, along with reasons and receipts. This will be a long post, so buckle up! (For the tl;dr version, please scroll to the bottom.) For my general overview reference point, please see https://progressivevotersguide.com/california/2020/general/county/alameda and the official Voter Information Guide for Alameda County. For the propositions on the ballot, I am combining my research with LAist.com, SF Gate, MotherJones, and a useful graphic available at https://i.redd.it/t7lqvp58wbr51.jpg . I am also considering individual guides like those by Taina Vargas-Edmond on Facebook. More specific citations are provided in each area. The order of appearance below matches the order of appearance on my ballot. Standard caveats: I have not received in fact or in promise any money from any candidate. I have not received in fact or in promise a vote for a specific interest that would benefit me financially or professionally. I have