Life is Not a Grade
In 2003, for a junior year high school English, I wrote many short essays as part of a weekly homework assignment. One of these has hung around in my archives for many years, a more substantial piece called “Life is Not a Grade,” a whimsical yet insightful expedition into the notion that our existence cannot […]
No Doubt’s “Spiderwebs” – An AUDIOPHILES Review
No Doubt is that rare band which skillfully skates across the thin ice of mainstream success without falling through into the icy waters of sell-out accusations. They emerged from the Southern California ska scene in the late 1980s, injecting a vibrant, punk-tinged energy into the airwaves of the 90s. With Gwen Stefani at the helm, […]
Literature and Tenderness
“Literature is built on tenderness toward any being other than ourselves.” – Olga Tokarczuk This powerful assertion from Olga Tokarczuk’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech once stirred the literary world. It’s a profound statement that I identify with deeply, along with many other lovers of literature. After all, literature is more than a mere arrangement of […]
Creating a (More) Perfect Sentence
The concept of a “perfect” sentence is as elusive as a mirage in a sprawling desert. We chase it, knowing full well it recedes from us with each step we take forward. As a writer, I’ve come to recognize that while there may be objectively bad writing, the art of composing sentences is profoundly subjective. […]
How to Gain Momentum in Life and Get Things Done
You may have read a lot about how we need to build up momentum in our lives in order to find success. What does it mean to gain momentum? Once we do, what benefits does having momentum give us in life? Why We Need Momentum in Life Think of momentum this way. Say you’re riding […]
My Fascination With Bridges
I have long been a fan of bridges. Their construction, their architecture, and their beauty are an art form. More than anything else, they stand as permanent examples of making connections. After all, bridges are for crossing. Bridges are some of the most beautiful structures in the world. When you drive, bike, or walk over […]
My Complicated Relationship with Nostalgia
Nostalgia is a curious creature. It sneaks up on you in the most unexpected moments, like when you stumble upon an old action figure buried deep in the basement or hear a familiar theme song that instantly transports you back to a simpler time. I still feel great emotional attachment to cherished franchises from my […]
Simplistic Solutions
Oftentimes, when life presents us with a perplexing puzzle, the answer appears too elementary, too simplistic to be true. Our minds, fickle as they can be, often betray us, leading us astray with misguided comparisons and irrational judgments. We end up overcomplicating situations where the answer is actually straightforward if we just take a step […]
American Nightmare: The Capitalist Horror Story
The Dream That Was In a not-so-distant past that now seems as mythical as Atlantis, the American Dream shimmered on the horizon like a beautiful, elusive butterfly. It was a simple, yet profoundly powerful vision: a promise of boundless opportunities, where hard work was the only key needed to unlock doors to prosperity and happiness. […]