The Archives

  • RENUNCIA: A Demand for Decency

    July 18, 2019 by

    Tear gas and rubber bullets, fireworks thrown into crowds of police, signs held aloft, and chants of “renuncia! renuncia! renuncia!” (“resign resign resign”). This was the scene NBC News filmed the night of July 17th in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a continuation of protests that began on the 15th, citizens are calling on the… Read more

  • Playing With Fire: Defunding Wildfire Management Efforts

    July 9, 2019 by

    When my parents moved to the Rogue Valley in 1992, it was raining ash. They drove into town under a dull orange sky while temperatures soared into the hundreds. My mom recounts that they wondered out loud if they were moving to Hell. By most accounts, Southern Oregon is beautiful. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound:… Read more

  • Prague, Protests and Politicians

    June 24, 2019 by

    Background: I’m currently on vacation in Prague with some of my family. Considering I’ve never been here, I came with the intention of doing very little writing. I had planned on maybe finishing an article I have been working on, or maybe writing a little on some Oregon politics that I have been following. What… Read more

  • Glitter Doesn’t Make it Better: Classism and TSwift

    June 18, 2019 by

    Think what you want about Taylor Swift, she’s written some bops, changed her image time and time again, grown up navigating intense public scrutiny, and really embraced her cat-mom persona. Most recently, she’s come under fire for co-producing a music video to her newest song “You Need To Calm Down” that some say is problematic.… Read more

  • 06/10/19 – Notes on Ken Cuccinelli

    June 10, 2019 by

    This morning at work I received an email from US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS), as I do every morning. Today’s email told me that Ken Cuccinelli had been appointed Acting Director of USCIS, effective June 10th. I looked at the date on my computer, June 10th. I, for one, had never heard of Ken… Read more

  • Mark Morgan: Context and Opinion

    May 29, 2019 by

    This exploration of mine started, as it so often does these days, with a tweet. Mark Morgan, head of CBP for the end of Obama’s presidency is being rehired by Trump to head up Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the wake of this announcement, while waiting to see if he will be confirmed by the… Read more

  • The Trouble With Lawn Signs: Exclusion and County Politics

    May 15, 2019 by

    Before I can jump into the real argument of this piece, let me give you some necessary background information: During the 2018 midterms, one of the races happening here in Jackson County was for the position of County Sheriff. The incumbent Sheriff, Nathan Sickler was challenged by a retired law enforcement officer from Utah. The… Read more

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