sustainable systems & storytelling
My boyfriend drives an older car with a 2008 Ron Paul presidential campaign bumper sticker and, over the last few months, someone has been repeatably peeling away the edges of the sticker and keying his car, especially around the sticker. The bumper sticker was meant to convey a message of peace and hope 13 years... Continue Reading →
What will the world look like when human-like AI begin to live, work, and love alongside mankind? And how will society respond to the future as it unfolds before them? Kotov Syndrome, Tim Baughman Jr.'s debut novel and the first book in the Azaes Realm series, delves into that very question. Set in the near-future,... Continue Reading →
I just discovered that a book I purchased through Kickstarter in 2013 for $40 is now selling for $980 (+2,450%), whereas two years ago it was going for $320 (+800%). I bought it because I fell in love with the artist's work in 2008 and, as a broke college student, couldn't afford the actual prints.... Continue Reading →
If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? Chloe Benjamin's novel, The Immortalists, begins in New York City's Lower East Side in 1969, where rumors have spread that a traveling psychic has arrived and claims to be able to tell anyone the exact day they will die. The Gold... Continue Reading →
Our lives are filled to the brim with small stories, but we often fail to recognize the meaning and value that lies just below the surface. In his book, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling, Matthew Dicks--an author, award-winning storyteller, elementary school teacher, and speaking coach--trains the reader... Continue Reading →
From a young age, I knew that I could not go to college unless I did well academically. A full decade before submitting college applications, I knew that education came at a cost. When it came time to apply for college, I spent months researching how best to fund the endeavor. I studied vigorously in... Continue Reading →
I'm five years old and gifted my second piggy bank. This one is not actually a piggy. The clear, house-shaped plastic box has stickers adhered to the front that resemble storefronts. One 2D marquee reads Spend, another Share, and the final Save. The non-traditional piggy bank was meant to teach me to think beyond the... Continue Reading →
I recently listened to an episode of The Art of Manliness podcast in which the host interviewed Ramit Sethi, author of I Will Teach You to be Rich. I first picked up this book nearly a decade ago, as an almost-broke college student trying to figure out how to cut a few more corners. My... Continue Reading →
After over two decades of perfect health, I've spent the last five years navigating a devastatingly broken system. From outlandish insurance premiums and confusing deductible requirements, to lackluster care and unfair loopholes, I am not happy. I've been frustrated but patient as I make strides towards a clear diagnosis and a resolution of symptoms. In... Continue Reading →
I picked up Little Fires Everywhere after it came highly recommended and the work of fiction did not disappoint. Celeste Ng’s second novel snaps the portrait of community, its families and their friends, highlighting the thorny issues that drive them apart and draw them together. The character-driven story delves into a variety of themes, in... Continue Reading →
What would you do if you were asked to give up all of your hopes and dreams to support your significant other in achieving theirs? Would resentment build up or would the major sacrifice feel more like a gift, a selfless offering? In The Atomic Weight of Love, 17-year-old Meridian Wallace faces these very questions... Continue Reading →
When I was growing up, my parents did not allow video games in the home and television was limited to one hour of PBS on weekdays and two hours of cartoons during the weekend. After watching Arthur and Wishbone, I would read books, draft out new inventions, ride my bike and play with friends. I was... Continue Reading →
I recently had a conversation about the current atmosphere of sensitivity, political correctness, and the pressure to please everyone. People seem to either be walking on eggshells or instigating for the sake of being controversial. Quite frankly, nothing tangible or sustainable is being achieved by these attitudes. What's the controversy all about? Between the tear down... Continue Reading →
One of my biggest pet peeves is when my peers say that they'll start saving for retirement when they make more money. I explain the power of compound interests, cost-dollar averaging, and diverting any raises into savings before you have the chance to miss them. Eyes glaze over and the topic is quickly changed to... Continue Reading →
One of my colleagues is actively searching for a new job and I feel as I'm being nudged out of my position, as well. The owner of the company has an abundance of early-twenty-something children and relatives who are quickly filling the small office. Otherwise unemployable, these entitled dimwits have found their place. In exchange for... Continue Reading →
