Requiem for Literacy I first noticed that the medium was indeed supplanting the message in 1967. Just back in the world, I was spending a lot of time at demonstrations against the war in Vietnam. We’d march around and hold our fists in the air, with or without the two-digit peace sign, and chant various […]
Turn Off the Bubble Machine Read More »
Growing up as a late ‘90s / early 2000s kid, I was well aware of the fact that almost every item I owned was stamped with the phrase “Made in China.” As years went on, I learned about outsourcing, as well as stories of horrible factory accidents and abysmal working conditions. It seems such a
Putting the “Fair” Back into Fair Trade Read More »
In recent years I’ve been dealing with a narcissist in my life. I think most people know at least one person with narcissistic tendencies, so with this article I hope to define some traits of narcissism in a way that makes it easier to understand. I’m not a psychologist, so I can’t diagnose anyone; I’m
Narcissism: Life in a Snow Globe Read More »
I would be lying if I did not feel any confusion or emotional disturbance from receiving a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As I recall, I was with my unit in the Army, sitting at a table awaiting a leader’s meeting. The doctor called, and I answered, of course receiving bad news. I began to have
Just Survive, Warrior. Read More »
Caves, shadows, and rings. In his 1955 article for his high school newspaper, The Spectrum, Hunter S. Thompson wrote that “Security” was “another word for rut.” From what I have seen in my 10 years of higher education and 3+ years of teaching anywhere from 11 year-olds to 65 year-olds, I have found the most common
The Gollum Conundrum Read More »
I have this pair of jeans I love. They are perfect in almost every respect: they are comfortable, fashionable, and make me feel and look good. Their one flaw is the same as almost every piece of clothing I own—they lack decent pockets. On the front are things that look like pockets, but they aren’t.
The Pocket as a Social Construct Read More »