Imagine an academic environment where climate change has made the concept of school “Snow Days” irrelevant. Instead, schools maintain functional equivalence through “Threats of Mass Violence Days.” When they hear reports or predictions of a storm (of violence) blowing in … Continue reading
Marci and I have developed an Election Day ritual. We walk together from our house to our precinct’s polling place at the Kent Free Library. Then, after filling out and submitting our ballots, we walk a little bit further to … Continue reading
Sufjan Stevens recently released a new album called Javelin. I’ve been listening to it for a couple of weeks now, and then I read a review from a student-reporter/commentator at Kent State University, which got me thinking more deeply about … Continue reading
While we were in Quebec this summer, Marci learned how to pull espresso shots like a real barista. Just for fun. Since we happened to have an espresso machine in the place where we were staying. We made our own … Continue reading
I took this picture in Kent’s Mill District yesterday afternoon. Without any context, without any explanation, the sign says, “ATTENTION VISITORS: STAY 6 FEET APART FROM OTHER VISITORS.” One figure seems to represent a woman; the other figure a man, … Continue reading
I recently finished reading Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. I’ve been hearing about it for a while: as assigned reading for one of my kids’ high school English class… in pop culture references… and even in casual conversations (it’s apparently attained … Continue reading
Do you remember the “Arab Spring” from a couple years back? It was a time when many Arabs across the Middle East and North Africa took to the streets in protest. Some countries deposed their authoritarian regimes. Others continue to … Continue reading
I’ve been reflecting on the “great mystery” of marriage. That phrase, “great mystery,” comes from Ephesians 5:21-33. And it says that marriage is “an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” But in addition to the Ephesians … Continue reading
I love trend-spotting. There’s something about a new year and a new semester at Kent State University that makes for ideal trend-spotting conditions. Maybe it’s the Winter Break, where we all had some extra time to rest and reflect. Maybe … Continue reading
I recently finished reading Jeff Chang’s book, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. It was recommended to me by my friend Mark. Even though I’m a slow reader, I had some extra time off over Kent State University’s … Continue reading