Hi everyone! I’m Miriam and I’m (obviously) new here. Also, despite what the sidebar would suggest, I am not, in fact, Ed.
Let’s get the labels out of the way first, shall we?
I’m a psychology student, a Russian Israeli immigrant, an ethnically Jewish atheist, a queer sex-positive feminist, a bleeding-heart but skeptical progressive, and a proud and unashamed survivor of a few mental illnesses.
In other words, I’m pretty much everything your mom warned you about. 
This is my laptop and it tells you everything you need to know about me:
I mostly write about social justice, politics, psychology, sexual and mental health, feminism, and atheism. I also often write about my own life as it relates to some of that stuff, so don’t be surprised if you see some pretty personal things on this blog. (On that note, I’ve recently started including “content notes” at the beginning of posts that contain stuff that may be triggering or very uncomfortable for people, so please keep that in mind and take care of yourself if you need to. Also, once my 300+ old posts are imported, be careful with those because the older ones don’t have those content notes on them.)
I enjoy taking apart crappy arguments and criticizing things that desperately need to be criticized, which is why I like to joke that I ruin people’s fun a lot. In reality, though, I think that arguing and criticizing things can be a great deal of fun. I also think that that’s how we make a better world. Shrugging and trying to convince ourselves that things are fine as they are accomplishes nothing and helps no one.
Although I mostly exist solely on the Internet, I also enjoy reading, photography, and exploring large cities. I go to Northwestern University in Chicago. At school, I’m involved in all sorts of activism, particularly dealing with sexual and mental health, sexual assault prevention, and various political things. Improving the campus culture at Northwestern is a big concern of mine, partially because of how badly that culture triggered my depression when I started school here.
As I mentioned, I’m studying psychology and will soon finish my senior year, after which I hope to get a masters in social work and do something counseling-/activism-related, preferably on the East Coast. (I’m a New Yorker at heart.) When I’m not reading, blogging, studying, or doing my activisty things, I occasionally eat, see my friends, and sleep.
Regarding this blog, I’ll have a comment policy and such up later, but for now, the most important rule is this: don’t be an asshole. And especiallydon’t be a bigoted asshole, because I’ll hate that even more. 
I’ll also be importing my old posts once I figure that out, but for now, you can see them back at my old site if you’d like. I’ll also have some sort of list of what I think my best posts are in case, for whatever strange reason, you don’t feel like reading all 300+ of them.
I’m extremely excited to be here and meet all of you, bloggers and commenters alike, and I’m really grateful to Ed, PZ, and the rest of the gang for inviting me here. My ill-considered coup to take over the entire network late Thursday night may have failed, but hopefully I will find a way to make a reasonably good impression here nonetheless.
Update: Archives are up, creep away!
62 comments
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Kate Donovan
December 1, 2012 at 5:37 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
inb4!
<2
Andrew Tripp
December 1, 2012 at 5:39 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
YAAAAAAAAY MIRIAM IS HERE.
As for the coup… our time will come. Mwahahahahaha etc.
Daniel Fincke
December 1, 2012 at 11:44 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Congratulations Miriam! It’s great to see you get this opportunity. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving blogger.
sarahmoglia
December 1, 2012 at 12:06 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
YAY MIRIAM ERMAGERD UR HERE I AM SO EXCITE
<2 <2 <2 <2 <2
Cassy
December 1, 2012 at 12:08 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
OHAI
Reality Enthusiast
December 1, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
You rock, Miriam! Congrats!
SubMor
December 1, 2012 at 12:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Oh yay! This is happy news!
Congrats!
oolon
December 1, 2012 at 12:28 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Cool I was wondering what was going on as Ophelia mentioned you and Paul were joining ages ago! Makes it easier when there are lots of great bloggers in one place – only need to subscribe to the one RSS feed
Looking forward to your posts…
Leafhuntress
December 1, 2012 at 12:33 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hi!
I feel very fortunate that you’re not Ed. Two of them would have been a bit much…
Pity the take over didn’t work, it’s an awesome ftb header.
Brianne Bilyeu
December 1, 2012 at 12:53 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome, Miriam! Look forward to seeing your posts in the FTB RSS
Brett McCoy
December 1, 2012 at 12:56 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome!
Sastra
December 1, 2012 at 12:57 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome, Miriam!
I grew up in Evanston, which was at the time considered a pretty liberal place — partly because of the influence of the university, I think (this was back in the late 60′s, 70′s.). So I especially look forward to reading about why the Northwestern campus culture proved so unwelcoming. Not disputing you, of course — just curious.
Again, glad to see you here. FtB is just getting better and better…
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
December 1, 2012 at 6:04 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
It’s mostly an issue of perfectionism and extreme obsession with appearances rather than political differences, I think. But also, we don’t really have the sort of student activism that you probably encountered anymore, and it’s sad.
keitho
December 1, 2012 at 12:59 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
You sound great, like someone we all should know. Welcome!!!
researchtobedone
December 1, 2012 at 1:06 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
WOOOOOO!!!
davidmc
December 1, 2012 at 1:07 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Helloooo Miriam, love the tag line.
cethis
December 1, 2012 at 1:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome! I’ve liked what I’ve seen of your old location, and I look forward to seeing you here.
Sandiseattle
December 1, 2012 at 1:23 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Heard about you for a while now, glad to see you here.
MG Myers
December 1, 2012 at 1:28 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Congratulations, Miriam! I look forward to reading your blog here.
Rodney Nelson
December 1, 2012 at 1:53 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome.
Lance Wisely
December 1, 2012 at 2:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Awesome to see you at FtB
Tony ∞2012 recipient of the coronal mass erection∞
December 1, 2012 at 2:22 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome Miriam.
I look forward to reading more from you.
hyperdeath
December 1, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome.
And there’s nothing wrong with staging a coup d’etat. It shows initiative.
carpenterman
December 1, 2012 at 2:56 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hello, young Miss. Greetings and felicitations, welcome to FTB, blah blah, woof woof. I see you are a progressive feminist atheist in the midwest. I’m an older, grouchier atheist on the east coast. You got to love the internet.
I’ll try to adhere to your “Don’t be an asshole” comment policy, but truthfully, I can’t make any promises. No bigoted assholery, though; I find every thing annoys me pretty much equally. Especially stupidity. Oh Dog, the Stupid; it drives me absolutely insane. (In this we have something in common, I think.)
Again: welcome.
Stevarious, Public Health Problem
December 1, 2012 at 3:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Oh my! My mother warned me about you unscrupulous car salesmen just last week!
Good thing she warned me!
Christoph Burschka
December 1, 2012 at 3:28 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Whee!
Pity I never got linked to your old site earlier. From what I read so far you make an excellent addition to the band of bloggers here.
Love the smorgasbord of political statements on the laptop cover. It’s hard to condense a personal philosophy into that little space, but you’ve done a great job at it.
F [disappearing]
December 1, 2012 at 4:07 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hello then! I look forward to reading your posts, and digging through the archives of your previous work. woo hoo!
slc1
December 1, 2012 at 4:15 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I go to Northwestern University in Chicago.
It should be pointed out that Northwestern is in the Chicago suburb of Evanston.
Miriam
December 1, 2012 at 4:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
True, but most people don’t know what Evanston is and I didn’t want to bog the post down with endless explanations.
But, fine, I will let you have your glory of actually attending school in Chicago.
Crommunist
December 1, 2012 at 4:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
On behalf of me, welcome.
If you steal my pageviews, I’ll punch you in the shins. IN THE SHIIIIINS!
Miriam
December 1, 2012 at 4:18 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
And I’ll just stand there patiently while you crouch down so you can actually punch them?
Nah.
Crommunist
December 1, 2012 at 4:20 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I’ll drive by from behind you, crouched down on a scooter in punching position. You’ll never see me coming. You’ll HEAR me, probably, so maybe I shouldn’t have WARNED you that I was going to… shit. Dammit. EVERY DAMN TIME.
Miriam
December 1, 2012 at 4:22 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
This plot is as ill-considered as my attempted takeover of the entire network late Thursday night. I’d urge you to think it through a bit more.
shockna
December 1, 2012 at 5:18 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Здравствуйте! Очень приятно!
It occurs to me that I don’t know if you speak Russian, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to actually use the lovely language I’m learning. >.>
Welcome to the network.
Miriam
December 1, 2012 at 5:19 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Привет и спасибо!
bcmystery
December 1, 2012 at 5:54 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Do I detect a Surlyramic in your profile pic?
Welcome aboard. I don’t say much, but I read lots and lots.
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
December 2, 2012 at 1:01 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Yes, you do. I have three of them and counting.
NonStampCollector
December 1, 2012 at 5:55 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Your laptop tells me everything I need to know about you: Mac user. Therefore, welcome.
But just to let you know, I’m Bully In Chief around here. All posts have to get approved by me first. If the feminism isn’t radical enough there’ll be hell to pay.
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
December 1, 2012 at 5:56 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Dammit. Does this mean I need to stop shaving my legs and armpits or else I’ll get kicked off?
Also, that you were able to discern the fact that my laptop is a Mac despite all those stickers is impressive.
julian
December 2, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
More importantly, does it mean Crommunist will have to stop shaving his armpits?
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
December 2, 2012 at 10:24 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Of course. EVERYONE WILL BE EQUAL OR SO HELP ME FSM
Dana Hunter
December 1, 2012 at 5:59 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hello and welcome, Miriam! I can tell from your laptop I’m going to love your blog. And the name is gorgeous. Shame the coup failed – BruteReasonBlogs would’ve been awesome. Ah, well, trial run.
Off to spelunk your archives by way of avoiding research. Hope you’ll love it here!
Xanthë
December 1, 2012 at 8:06 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hi Miriam, and thanks for adding to the awesome sauce of FTB!
stubby
December 1, 2012 at 8:08 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome to FtB, Miriam.
marcus
December 1, 2012 at 9:31 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
So much excitement! Wheeeeeeeeee! Welcome! Welcome!
Onamission5
December 1, 2012 at 9:54 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Whoot! Congratulations on the new locale!
I am an amateur fun-ruiner myself, but I strive, oh how I strive.
Stephanie Zvan
December 1, 2012 at 10:44 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
*happy dance*
poose
December 2, 2012 at 12:13 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hale and welcome, fellow crazy soul!
Looking at your laptop-I can see you’ll fit right in here…
michaeld
December 2, 2012 at 6:37 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Oh hai ^.^
StevoR
December 2, 2012 at 8:07 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
G’day Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner, would it be too paradoxical to say I think I’m going to have fun reading your blog?
Looking forward to finding out reading and maybe commenting here anyhow.
Ron Gove
December 2, 2012 at 9:12 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am looking forward to reading your blog. I particularly liked your Laptop “bumper sticker”: “Some chicks marry chicks–Get over it.” What more needs to be said.
RAG
abb3w
December 2, 2012 at 11:29 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome aboard.
thorgolucky
December 2, 2012 at 11:43 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hurray, social justice! Hi and welcome. {waves paw}
=8)-DX
December 2, 2012 at 1:08 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hyez, have a nice time at this network. And have a nice time networking with people. And nice a network time with the people here. And..
That is all.
ericdutton
December 2, 2012 at 3:17 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I will definitely be following your blog. In addition to being a feminist and an atheist, I’m also a mental health blogger, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of your stuff. I don’t know about the Cheeze-its, though.
Uncle Ebeneezer
December 2, 2012 at 8:28 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Welcome Miriam. You look like a splendid addition to FtB. Feminism, sex, psych, atheism…yay!!
I can already see the heads of MRA/misogyny trolls exploding! This should be fun.
frankb
December 2, 2012 at 11:42 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hi, Miriam. I look forward to reading your posts. I enjoy reading about feminist issues, and as a Mac user you are obviously intelligent:)
Banned Atheist
December 3, 2012 at 10:27 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Speaking as a godless heathen — welcome!
Speaking as a geek — if you want to import your old posts in WordPress it’s under the “Tools > Import” menu option. Works like a charm and you can save as drafts to edit (i.e, to set the publication dates and import images, etc.) Ask Ed to install the “Media Tools” plugin, as well — it will let you import external linked images into your Media library.
Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
December 3, 2012 at 10:53 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Thanks! I actually did it already. You can read them if you’d like!
Kaoru Negisa
December 3, 2012 at 4:08 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Just wanted to say, of all the indie bloggers I read, I could think of none more deserving of being invited to this network than you. Congratulations, and my gReader is updated so I can continue to follow you. Will miss getting the occasional WordPress like from you %)
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
December 3, 2012 at 4:12 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Aww! I still have a WordPress account, so I will definitely still like your posts.
And thank you so much for the kind compliment. Means a lot. Your writing is awesome too.
Kaoru Negisa
December 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
*blush* Thank you in return. Will be looking for those likes.
This blog is moving! | Brute Reason
December 1, 2012 at 11:43 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
[...] intro post is up if you want to see [...]
Behold, Brute Reason! | Ashley Miller
December 1, 2012 at 11:48 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
[...] I actually read Brute Reason (ruining your fun since 2009!) months before I met Miriam (Fun fact: we met at a church.), mainly for the mental health content. Her archives aren’t up, but be assured you’ll like them all. Now go say hi! [...]
Oh, look. It’s Brute Reason | Pharyngula
December 1, 2012 at 12:50 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
[...] we’ve grown again. Now we’ve added Miriam to beat us all up if we get out of line. Share this:PrintEmailDigg Posted in Bloggery « [...]