When “How It’s Made” is more important than sleep

There was an awkward moment when I first walked into my bedroom as my roommate Anthony was walking out. Although our moments together are usually quite awkward, this one particular moment was differentiated from the others by the fact that it was occurring at six in the morning. I was heading to bed as he was heading out to work.

October 19, 2008

There was an awkward moment when I first walked into my bedroom as my roommate Anthony was walking out. Although our moments together are usually quite awkward, this one particular moment was differentiated from the others by the fact that it was occurring at six in the morning. I was heading to bed as he was heading out to work.

Facing off: Why McCain is better

Over the past several weeks, I’ve outlined the main criteria for why I believe Sen. John McCain is the best choice as our next president. I’ve presented various reasons: his background and experience, his economic policy, his accuracy concerning the troop surge in Iraq, and his continual devotion to put the United States above his personal and political interests.

October 14, 2008

Over the past several weeks, I’ve outlined the main criteria for why I believe Sen. John McCain is the best choice as our next president. I’ve presented various reasons: his background and experience, his economic policy, his accuracy concerning the troop surge in Iraq, and his continual devotion to put the United States above his personal and political interests.

Resurrecting political civility

Politics. It’s a word that conjures up images of people yelling, the colors red and blue, and the ever present elephant and donkey. But like it or not, debating is the name of the game and there’s really no way to skirt around it. Luckily, in America we have been granted the privilege of free speech and we are at liberty to express our opinions. This is a fantastic thing – may we never take it for granted.

October 14, 2008

Politics. It’s a word that conjures up images of people yelling, the colors red and blue, and the ever present elephant and donkey. But like it or not, debating is the name of the game and there’s really no way to skirt around it. Luckily, in America we have been granted the privilege of free speech and we are at liberty to express our opinions. This is a fantastic thing – may we never take it for granted.

Alone on Parent Weekend

I knew why my parents couldn’t make it this past weekend. I’m from Florida, and the logistics of spending the weekend and the plane ticket money for another trip across the country weren’t in our favor. It just didn’t make sense — I gave my mom a tour of the campus during orientation, and I talk to my parents on the phone every week. They know what’s going on in my life, and that I’ve adjusted all right.

October 14, 2008

I knew why my parents couldn’t make it this past weekend. I’m from Florida, and the logistics of spending the weekend and the plane ticket money for another trip across the country weren’t in our favor. It just didn’t make sense — I gave my mom a tour of the campus during orientation, and I talk to my parents on the phone every week. They know what’s going on in my life, and that I’ve adjusted all right.

A touching problem

Contact. What does it mean, anyway? It’s a sports term, a way to fix vision, and a totally foreign concept to most Americans. With phones, computers, and video games, one wonders whether direct human contact will eventually disappear completely. To quote the near-prophetic line from “The Emperor’s New Groove”: “No touchey!”

October 14, 2008

Contact. What does it mean, anyway? It’s a sports term, a way to fix vision, and a totally foreign concept to most Americans. With phones, computers, and video games, one wonders whether direct human contact will eventually disappear completely. To quote the near-prophetic line from “The Emperor’s New Groove”: “No touchey!”

Supporting Russell Crowe for President

We have an election coming up and we need to decide who the best candidate for the job is. Some might say it’s Barack Obama, some might say it’s John McCain, some might look at one of the vice president candidates and say, “Hey, that’s actually a woman.” I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. But to be brutally honest with you, I don’t really like any of them. In fact, if they were both in my apartment right now I’d be scared about how they got there and tell them both to wipe their feet because I don’t own a vacuum.

October 14, 2008

We have an election coming up and we need to decide who the best candidate for the job is. Some might say it’s Barack Obama, some might say it’s John McCain, some might look at one of the vice president candidates and say, “Hey, that’s actually a woman.” I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. But to be brutally honest with you, I don’t really like any of them. In fact, if they were both in my apartment right now I’d be scared about how they got there and tell them both to wipe their feet because I don’t own a vacuum.

Remembering to “take it to the Lord”

I don’t know about you, but when I was in junior high, one of my mom’s friends would send me business card sized “Pass It On” cards in the mail to encourage me. One had a picture of a teddy bear and said, “No God, No Peace.” Another read, “Keep Hangin’ On,” and depicted a cat clutching a tree branch with its paws.

October 13, 2008

I don’t know about you, but when I was in junior high, one of my mom’s friends would send me business card sized “Pass It On” cards in the mail to encourage me. One had a picture of a teddy bear and said, “No God, No Peace.” Another read, “Keep Hangin’ On,” and depicted a cat clutching a tree branch with its paws.

Facing off: Democratic foreign policy

When it comes to foreign policy, Sen. Barack Obama has stuck to his principles and held fast to his plan for the United States. He was against the war in Iraq from the very beginning, and in 2002, he spoke out against it saying the war would lead to “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences.”

October 7, 2008

When it comes to foreign policy, Sen. Barack Obama has stuck to his principles and held fast to his plan for the United States. He was against the war in Iraq from the very beginning, and in 2002, he spoke out against it saying the war would lead to “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences.”

Becoming the Hulk – without working out

I do need to work out. Don’t get me wrong. The only exercise I have is walking to and from the grocery store, which probably justifies my recent purchase of a watermelon and the negligence of my forgetting of said watermelon, the rotting of said watermelon in my refrigerator, my lack of disposing of said watermelon, and the resulting fruit flies that have inhabited our kitchen.

October 7, 2008

I do need to work out. Don’t get me wrong. The only exercise I have is walking to and from the grocery store, which probably justifies my recent purchase of a watermelon and the negligence of my forgetting of said watermelon, the rotting of said watermelon in my refrigerator, my lack of disposing of said watermelon, and the resulting fruit flies that have inhabited our kitchen.

Facing off: Republican foreign policy

In this election cycle, the main focus of foreign policy has been Iraq. Over six years have passed since the United States overthrew Saddam Hussein. Foreign policy extends beyond Iraq, but because of Iraq's prominence, foreign policy is inextricably linked to that country.

October 7, 2008

In this election cycle, the main focus of foreign policy has been Iraq. Over six years have passed since the United States overthrew Saddam Hussein. Foreign policy extends beyond Iraq, but because of Iraq's prominence, foreign policy is inextricably linked to that country.

On being relational

Yesterday, as I was walking to my dorm, a boy — let’s call him Tim — smiled gently and said, “Good afternoon. How are you doing today?” As I had never met this boy, his personable salutation caught me off guard. “He’s weird,” I thought to myself. Perhaps, though, this guy got it right.

October 6, 2008

Yesterday, as I was walking to my dorm, a boy — let’s call him Tim — smiled gently and said, “Good afternoon. How are you doing today?” As I had never met this boy, his personable salutation caught me off guard. “He’s weird,” I thought to myself. Perhaps, though, this guy got it right.

Avoiding the awkward turtle

Life is filled with the awkward turtle. If you have no idea what that is, place your right hand directly over your left and wiggle your thumbs in an awkward motion. See? There you have it. But seriously, life has awkward moments scattered across it, and some are more frequent than others.

October 4, 2008

Life is filled with the awkward turtle. If you have no idea what that is, place your right hand directly over your left and wiggle your thumbs in an awkward motion. See? There you have it. But seriously, life has awkward moments scattered across it, and some are more frequent than others.