Originally posted on Comic Shop Stories:
I listen to Geeks Guide to the Galaxy podcast weekly. On a recent drive to Hopkinsville, Kentucky I listened to Episode 173, “Queers Destroy Horror.” Gay and lesbian guests discussed topics surrounding LGBTQ characters in horror fiction and movies, the premise of the show title being that somehow being…
My teaching career spans only twenty-years. I have not “heard it all” nor have I “seen it all.” Judging by writing samples which continue to cross my desk I will never achieve either. Interestingly enough, my mentors, with perhaps a decade or so more teaching experience than I, have also not exhausted anecdotes on the…
I am often characterized as being naive. Sometimes, “too straight” or “too conservative” are also added to labels applied to me during conversations. My appearance, the way I dress, walk, conduct myself, comes off as conservative. At least, historically I have appeared as conservative might. A few years ago, I decided my appearance should more…
Graduation was yesterday. I understand from attendees fewer than half of those graduating actually appeared to collect their faux diploma and have their photo snapped with the university president. Unoccupied chairs far outnumbered family and friends in the audience. I suspected as much. I noticed no significant increase in vehicle traffic. My bookstore/coffee shop haunt…
I’m not a big fan of government supporting or trying to legislate some issues of morality. I’m also not a fan of special interest groups that attempt to use government not to protect their own interests but prevent others from expressing their own beliefs. I couch my beliefs this way: the way you conduct yourself…
Look around the global. Think of countries that are economically successful. Here, I will help you out: South Korea, Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, The Netherlands. There are more examples. This enough to make my point. What do all of these countries have in common? Education. All of these countries stress the…
Democracy works best when the constituency is well-informed and well-educated. When populations are well-informed and well-educated, issues and concerns could be discussed in thoughtful and contemplative ways. As the United States is a Representative Democracy, we elect similarly-minded individuals to represent our views within the Senate and the House of Representatives. How do we know…
I love watching the Presidential debates. As a child I remember being irritated by old people arguing about things I didn’t understand, and being unable to turn the channel to a different show. In those days, we were lucky to have 5 channels, the three national networks, PBS, and the local broadcast channel. The debates…
>Afghanistan: Is Victory Turning to Defeat? – Newsweek: International Editions – MSNBC.com It is hard to believe that five years have passed since the U.S. deposed the Taliban in Afghanistan. I remember when the Taliban came to power; the newsworthy anecdote of their ascendancy came when they demolished two 3rd Century A.D. Buddhist statues hewn…
Constant Geography 