Just a few weeks ago, not many people knew the name Ahmed Mohamed. Although an undeniably popular first and last name among Muslims, the combination was unlikely to generate a…
Textbook de-appreciation
Oh, how things change
Get out! (And go camping!)
There is something intrinsically therapeutic about getting the hell out of civilization and losing oneself in the wild for a while. Perhaps I’m preaching to the choir here (Portlanders being…
Soccer is making its name in American sports
With the recent victory against Japan by the United States Women’s National Soccer Team in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Americans have been recognizing and paying attention to the…
What makes a story last?
How do certain stories—recently the Harry Potter, Hunger Games or Game of Thrones series—attract the attention of so many fans? Why these stories, but not others? Listening to and reciting…
Dating advice: realistically speaking
One of the best parts of dating is being excited about someone new. One of the worst parts about dating is listening to what everyone else has to say about it….
I wrote this “like a girl”
There are words and phrases that have become such a strong part of our day-to-day vernacular that oftentimes we don’t realize what we’re actually saying. One of the most common…
Let’s talk about genre
When Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest novel The Buried Giant was released, it sparked a heated debate about the borders between fantasy and literary fiction and the importance of genre. Although it was…
A reading about readings: How the hell are horoscopes still relevant?
Most people are generally aware of what their zodiac sign says about them in a horoscope. You may have the reliable, practical, ambitious traits that come from being born a…
Why you should hate Piper Chapman
If you haven’t seen it you’ve definitely heard of it: Orange Is The New Black. And if you have seen it then you probably hate the main character, Piper Chapman….