gdp's Comments

The Toast : An Open Thread, and Sea Room

Sat, 2 Jul 2016 01:31:52 +0000

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to saying how much this website has meant to me over the last few years. To the commentariat: Thank you for being such a wonderful, weird, wicked smart, ridiculously kind and thoughtful bunch of phenomenal people. It has been a pleasure and an honor to get to interact with you guys in the comments (whenever I managed to push myself into unlurking, that is). Even just getting to read your wit and wisdom has helped make me into a better, more well-rounded person, and for that, I will forever be grateful. You guys led me to Toastie Twitter where I am now proud to call nearly 300 of you my friends. May you always stay too witches. To Nicole Cliffe: Thank you so much for all the time, money, and mental space you have devoted to The Toast. You truly created something precious and unique that has changed the lives of thousands of people. Your iron fist in comment moderating helped create a safe space for so many people to connect and delight in their love of everything from Anne of Green Gables to Gal Science. I always loved reading your articles and your dedication to spotlighting articles that featured women/girls with autism. To Nicole Chung: You've written some of my favorite articles on this site and I can't wait to read your book! Your guiding hand as an editor and as a moderator are so greatly appreciated. It's not easy to do mostly behind-the-scenes work and I can't wait to see your influence on Catapult in the near future. To Mallory Ortberg: Mallory. Mallory, Mallory, Mallory. Sweet Mallory. You've made me cry with laughter more times than I can count. My life would not nearly be as witches without the introduction to cheerful misandry your pieces gave it. I strive to be as unapologetic and bold as you are, as a writer. I'll always buy any book you publish. You make me want to reread every classic lit book I've ever laid hands on and get a move on reading those I haven't. Someday, I'd love to argue about theology with you. Stay classy, you magnificent animal! *raises glass* To a willing foe, and sea room!

The Toast : A note on The Toast

Fri, 1 Jul 2016 14:06:06 +0000

I thought I'd just feel dead inside all day, but now I'm actually crying. Holy SHIT, you guys!

The Toast : Paintings Of The Torture Of Prometheus Where It Actually Looks Like The Eagle Assigned To Tear Out H

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 03:10:08 +0000

I WILL NOT CALL THEM “CUM GUTTERS,” THAT IS TACKY Cut lines, Mallory. They're called cut lines. It's the perfect compromise between stuffy Latin and porny slang!

The Toast : Cocktail Hour: Open Thread

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:55:32 +0000

One of my English professors in college thought that The Sorrows of Young Werther was one of the most romantic depictions of true love that was ever written. I laughed at his face in class.

The Toast : Link Roundup!

Thu, 9 Jun 2016 20:51:41 +0000

That article is horrifying and yet, not in the least bit surprising. As an actor, it is beyond the pale how normalized it is in theater/film for directors to psychologically (and sometimes physically) abuse the actors and crew. It's insulting, degrading, illegal, and completely unnecessary. A director who has to manipulate their actors to get the performance they want is an ineffective and terrible director. Full stop. The theater/film world has always attracted narcissistic/abusive assholes from time immemorial precisely because of the permissive attitude of "anything goes for art." It amazes me how shocked people are when they find out that their favorite director or big-name actor is a terrible person behind-the-scenes. Most of them are. The few that are not, are usually those that fly under the radar and genuinely do what they do for the love of it, and not the fame and glory.

The Toast : Bible Verses Where "Verily" Has Been Replaced With "Fuckin' A"

Thu, 9 Jun 2016 19:16:21 +0000

MALLORY, you TROLL. *gleefully awaits the deleted comments*

The Toast : Daily Meditation: Everything's Okay With Jacques Pepin

Thu, 9 Jun 2016 02:16:40 +0000

I went on a Jacques Pepin binge watch a couple of weeks ago. His voice and manner are basically Xanax to my always-anxious soul. Plus, the way he handles the ingredients is just so earthy and sensual to me, idk. If a hot guy/lady were to cook the same way for me, I'd be putty in their hands.

The Toast : You're A Social Climber. What Horrible Faux Pas Have You Committed At This Dinner Party, Alienating

Wed, 8 Jun 2016 22:56:37 +0000

don't 'what' me, you know what

The Toast : Women Who Have Gone Back in Time: An Annotated Ranking

Tue, 7 Jun 2016 05:19:23 +0000

If only I could fave this a million times. . .

The Toast : Link Roundup!

Mon, 6 Jun 2016 22:35:49 +0000

Nothing in the world!

The Toast : Link Roundup!

Mon, 6 Jun 2016 21:49:34 +0000

Everyone should be the Erlich about yogurt, methinks.

The Toast : Guessing What French Is In Les Miserables

Wed, 25 May 2016 22:00:22 +0000

Rediculous bits of untranslatable French aside, Les Miserables would actually be an engaging book if Victor Hugo hadn't felt the need to mansplain every. single. reference. and. background detail to death for chapters at a time. That man had zero faith in his readers.

The Toast : Cocktail Hour: Open Thread

Tue, 24 May 2016 19:26:34 +0000

I'd love to meet up! I'll drop you an email and we'll figure it out from there. Yay for meeting real life Toasties!

The Toast : Open Thread In Lieu Of Link Roundup

Tue, 24 May 2016 19:19:55 +0000

I'm not a licensed psychologist, so I can't give you a definitive answer, but as someone who was diagnosed as being mildly/highly-functioning autistic this last year, I can share what I've learned about autism and how it presents in high-functioning women. The behaviors you listed are indeed considered to be autistic traits, particularly since they could each fit in one of the three categories used to diagnose autism - sensory difficulties, social difficulties, and obsessive/repetitive interests. When I was first diagnosed I found these websites to be very helpful: - A site run by a woman with Asperger's (now just called high-functioning autism) for autistic women & girls. Her master list of how autism can manifest in women was super enlightening - A fantastic Tumblr post that illustrates what the autistic spectrum actually looks like - An article on a great autistic research website about the "lost generation of girls" who have ASD but were not diagnosed until they were adults or not at all. I have tons of links, book recommendations, etc. if you're interested. If you're only mildly autistic getting diagnosed may not make a big difference. For me, it was hugely helpful in understanding my struggles with depression and anxiety. Having the knowledge that my brain is wired differently and that's ok, helps me be kinder to myself and to invest in creating a self-care routine that works for me and my struggles. I created a google group for Autistic Toasties (self OR officially diagnosed) that you are more than welcome to join, if you like. Just email me at: bookishbroadtoastie(at)gmail(dot)com. I'm also on twitter as @bookishbroad. My account is locked, but I always approve requests by Toasties. Either way, I hope your search gives you peace of mind. Best of luck!

The Toast : Cocktail Hour: Open Thread

Mon, 23 May 2016 17:04:55 +0000

Hot damn! I am definitely going then, those panels sound awesome and right up my alley! Thanks for the 411 :)

The Toast : Cocktail Hour: Open Thread

Sat, 21 May 2016 21:58:10 +0000

Holy shit-snacks, that sounds amazing! Do you know what day the Hamilton sing-a-long is going to be on? I can't swing the whole weekend, but I could definitely drive up for a day trip. Are any Toasties doing a meetup during the con?

The Toast : Cocktail Hour: Open Thread

Fri, 20 May 2016 17:28:29 +0000

As an opera and Broadway fan, I would read the shit out of that essay, just saying.

The Toast : The Best Part Of Jane Eyre Is Guessing What French Is

Fri, 20 May 2016 14:51:22 +0000

My 19-century novel loving self has been waiting for this article since I was 12 years old and completely lost while reading classic lit.

The Toast : Link Roundup!

Thu, 19 May 2016 15:50:13 +0000

Nathan Adrian is the best thing about Summer Olympic years and I'm so happy the media is glomming on to it!

The Toast : We Are Closing The Toast July 1st

Fri, 13 May 2016 16:50:07 +0000

Pretty sure I'm still deeply in the denial stage of grief for this news, but I do want to say THANK YOU to Mallory and Nicole for creating such a wonderful, creative, hilarious feminist community. This place is so much bigger than the sum of its parts and I have a feeling that its impact is so much bigger on our lives than we can even imagine. I know that finding this website was a big turning point for me, and I'm sure that I'm not alone in feeling that. So viva la Toast! And may this community find a way to live on long after all the posts are locked and memories are faded.