Life is hard. It is an endless search for meaning, but that meaning is difficult to find. We often pose many anxiety-inducing questions: What should we do in a failing economy? Why can’t I find a job? Why am I busting my butt to get decent grades? Why have hundreds of thousands been killed in Darfur? Why did cancer take my friend’s mom? What am … Continue reading Find your religion
Note: The following is a satire. The intent is to lampoon conservative fears of an Obama victory. Please do not take this seriously. It is has been three years since Barack Obama was elected, and his 2012 reelection campaign has prompted many to look back upon the last three years to explore the changes that have taken place. Indeed, the changes have been vast, causing … Continue reading If Obama wins: A satire
Do you own a laptop computer? Mobile phone? Sony Playstation? Instead of asking, “What is the meaning of life?” or “Why is the sky blue?” perhaps you should ask, “How many people died in order to manufacture my cell phone?” The phrase “blood diamond” is not a new concept. Americans hear about the horrible mining industry through the television, other news sources and even through … Continue reading Blood cell phones
Dear Diary, The feelings have been getting stronger no matter what I do. The last few weeks have grown simply unbearable. I wake up with sweaty palms, a palpitating heart and abstract, poetic lyrics swirling around in my head with no means of escape. I’ve been in denial long enough, and I can’t lie to myself any longer. Diary, I think I’m in love with … Continue reading It’s official: I’m in love with Regina Spektor
Would you know what I meant if I told you I were sun-drunk? Bear with me for a second; I think you know exactly what I mean. This intoxication comes not from the bottle but from hours and hours at The Lake soaking up the sun, pure and unapologetic. When you eventually retreat back indoors, you still feel the heat of the day in your … Continue reading To Minnesota, with love
John McCain and the other Republican candidates across the country are experiencing a political nightmare right now. I feel, however, that this election could be the perfect opportunity for the Republican Party to reestablish the conservative principles that can best get us through our country’s current economic crisis and all of our other serious domestic and foreign policy challenges. For far too long, many Republican … Continue reading Principles over politicians
Heather lives in a little house with a big apple tree in the front yard and lots of tall grass in the backyard. Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, two hands and two feet. Heather also has two mommies. Mama Jane and Mama Kate.” The above quote is from the well-known and groundbreaking children’s book, Heather … Continue reading Tolerant toddlers: tolerant teens
I’ve said before that I am someone who looks for and seeks out change in the world. I think I ought to talk about that a bit. You know, the whole “change” bit. As strange as it might seem, it’s actually the timeliest concept I can think of right now. Change, as I imagine it, should be a habit. There are a lot of people … Continue reading Complacency
As our country hurtles toward a presidential election defined by change, we fly by the tenth anniversary of a horrific crime that illustrates just how much, in one decade, that country has remained the same. On the night of Oct. 6, 1998, just outside of Laramie, Wyoming, two men brutally beat gay college student Matthew Shepard, tied him to a fence and left him to … Continue reading Matthew Shepard: An anniversary of hate
Within the liberal arts educated, NPR listening, New Yorker reading academic subculture exists a movement toward promoting science education and awareness to people who, like me, are not scientists. In the last four years, the NPR program Radio Lab has grown in popularity and established itself as a leading force in this movement. The show covers big topics like music, sleep, laughter, language and many … Continue reading Of science and storytelling
