Incessant Experiences

Protests are occurring in [INSERT COUNTRY NAME]. Let’s talk about Turkey.  Protests have turned violent, and have turned non-violent.  Which is fair, reflective and fairly accurately of human emotions and the way humans deal with emotions.  You either go from frustrated to violent because you feel a lack of self-control, because you feel restricted and … Continue reading →

As with most political issues, whenever I think about affirmative action, I quickly reach a mental impasse that shuns all solutions. On one hand, my liberal sensibilities tell me we must provide opportunities for those who did not receive them, and that without affirmative action, we would add miles to the gap between rich and … Continue reading →

Let me set up the situation for you: 1. Our Senate just passed a border patrol act. The 67-to-27 vote prevented any filibuster of the plan to devote roughly $40 billion over the next decade to border enforcement measures, including nearly doubling the number of border agents to 40,000 and completing 700 miles of fencing. … Continue reading →

Marijuana is no longer the undisclosed business it once was in America.  For decades growers have hidden in their homes and in deep forests, in small communities where an alternative lifestyle has flourished. I can imagine that growing marijuana (considering non-cartel related growers only) in an accepting community feels good (such as outlined in the … Continue reading →

This graffiti was found on a street near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.  This picture was taken in February 2012 by the author.   Would you believe me if I said Al Qaeda’s actions in Egypt has helped fuel dissent of King Abdullah II in Jordan, and the demands of the people for political reform, … Continue reading →

With increased tension between Turkey and Syria, Israel and Syria, and Syria and opposition groups (it’s naive to lump them into one category such as rebels, or revolutionary forces, or under one umbrella organization newly popped up from Doha, Qatar, as they are not an organized opposition, they are groups of opposition) my natural curiosity … Continue reading →

Profiles of people have always sought to give a clear understanding of a person for the reader, usually through the facts of their life, the “important” events, if someone can really determine that.  I struggled with this notion, and knew in my heart that it was not the only way to profile someone. The man … Continue reading →

If you want ideas: A big issue I have with our current system is its lack of incentives for more active participation by the common citizen.  And I think that stems from a feeling of inability, a lack of power, this idea that as soon as you cast your vote it’s as though you’ve cast … Continue reading →

Must I be forced to choose between, as is oft said, the lesser of two evils? How dare you suppose that those are my only options. How dare you suppose that if I will not vote for them, that I must at least vote for a third party. How dare you suppose that not voting … Continue reading →

Just a quick bit to say: Yo!  I know I haven’t been posting at all lately, but that’s not because I’m in anyway in a bad place, in fact, quite the opposite.  I’ve been staying organized, staying on time, getting things accomplished, and I’m in a real fucking good place because of it. That’s not … Continue reading →

I’ve two literary goals.  The first has been one for about a year now, the other has just been thought of.  They are, in chronological order 1. to have a piece of work published in an issue of the Paris Review and 2. to have a book banned by the Catholic Church. The former is … Continue reading →

I took this picture on a wonderful day in the winter.  It was the Summer’s Winter, as I keep calling it.  This day was probably hovering around fifty degrees, in January.  So, you can understand why.  My girlfriend and I had just finished lunch, were standing by the river, I was taking pictures of her … Continue reading →

And so, the question is: Are you happy? What was your immediate reaction to this?  For just like me telling you to not think about a pink elephant, or to, you inevitably will.  And so I’m wondering, for your own sake, what was your knee-jerk reaction. There are numerous ways within which to consider this … Continue reading →

This was a short writing exercise for one of my classes this semester. I stand under the shower head and let the warm water run over my body.  The clasp is missing a screw and so the water shoots down towards the wall, away from me and I’m forced to hold it up so the … Continue reading →

I’ve just arrived in Cairo from the Sinai where after ending my volunteership (is that a word?) at Habiba Organic Farm I, among others, inhabited some bungalows in an abandoned camp directly beside the Habiba Village on the beach in Nuweiba.  I lived in a bungalow, about 40m from the ocean, slept and woke to … Continue reading →

I’m sitting in my brother’s apartment in Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. It’s February 21st.  It’s a small neighborhood on the West side of the Nile. It’s as dirty as anywhere else, and just as crowded. I arrived late at night, hopped in Nasr’s car and drove quickly to where my brother lives because there was no … Continue reading →

So, in the drafts there are 4 half-written pieces, not to mention the ones on my computer, and not on WordPress. However, I’m traveling, and it’s hard to get into a rhythm of work when doing so.  So, until I’m in the Sinai (about two weeks or so) I’ve given up on trying to be … Continue reading →

  Apologies – something went wrong with last week’s comic upload and I didn’t catch it until now. The good news is, there shall be two comics this week!

To what do you dedicate yourself? For that is who you are.  It doesn’t have to be one answer, it can be 5,000.  But, it could be just 2 things. But, to what do you dedicate yourself? I dedicate myself to experiences in the fullest sense.  My craft is writing, and I have a strong … Continue reading →

*Note: This is full of grammatical mistakes, of which I’m leaving in for now, but will edit at a later date to be more cohesive and clear.  J — I apologize for the slowing of posts.  I currently am in transit from Iowa City to Egypt, first via Chicago and now I’m in Long Island.  … Continue reading →

Yo.  This guy is beautiful to my ears.  Is that possible?  I dunno.  But he’s brand new.  He’s signed to Communion Records, which was co-founded by one of the members of Mumford & Sons (tied for first place for awesomest band ever according to Jared Krauss). Just check this out. And when you’re done check … Continue reading →

You miss it all when you’re not around. You never even know, on the other side of the world, that he’s going to his first day of pre-school, or the first time he actually plays with other children. It’s when you see the picture and he’s bigger, taller, thinner. It’s when he says, “Hi Uncle … Continue reading →

Hello! My name is Malachi and I’m going to be posting on here every Wednesday from my travel web comic, Itchy Feet. You get ’em here five days before on my site. So…enjoy!

I needed to share this picture with you.  This is one of my favorite pictures I’ve ever seen. That guy in the suit on the right with the glasses and the hair…perfect.  I would be him.  Also, her shoes are interesting, totally non-wedding like, but they work.  The light, the houses, the feel of 35mm … Continue reading →

After reading this post at “Turning Bedouin” I’m very excited to arrive at the organic farm in Habiba Village, near Nuweiba, South Sinai, Egypt.  I’ll be arriving there mid to late march and staying most likely until early May. The article talks about tourism beginning to rise again, with the stability that the post-revolution period … Continue reading →

So, apparently American Airlines has changed their policy to serve free beer and wine on flights on international flights between America and Europe, Asia and some Latin American destinations. Discretion of amount to passengers via Cabin Crew. I hope this is the case for Aeroflot, the Russian airline, which I bet it is since…well..I dunno, … Continue reading →

“You are not what you own.” Scouring the internet for all manner of things I might need as I prepare to begin a new chapter in my life (I’m leaving Iowa City and moving to Egypt for some indefinable amount of time, a few months, a year, who knows).  Lenses for my 35mm Canon 7E, … Continue reading →

There should be a Google search when he says “Google it”.  I should be able to click on that phrase and have it Google what he is telling me. Laziness aside, can someone answer a question for me?  Maybe two. 1. Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina Primary?  Are you serious?  (this all counts as … Continue reading →

During my first week in Egypt I went to an area of the city called Coptic Cairo with a couple friends.  It is one of the oldest areas in Cairo, if not the oldest (evidence of settlement in the area dates to around 500-600 BC).  There are many wonderful, old edifices, including the Hanging Church, … Continue reading →

Yeah.  I’m leaving in a month.  Barring something crazy, I’ll be living abroad, Egypt to be exact in nigh on a month. I’ve got to think things through. I need to go. And so it begins.  I’ll be…

First, the driving in this country is fantastic. There are literally no traffic stops in Egypt; no speeding tickets, no seatbelt tickets, no reckless driving tickets, nothing. Well  none that I have witnessed, at least. It matters not if there are only three lanes, you’ll see traffic five abreast, possibly six. Despite the lack of … Continue reading →

Sometimes you’ve just got to indulge. Am I right?

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You can read the other article: Published Jan. 3, American Foreign Policy Hasn’t Changed Much In it I talked about Noam Chomsky‘s article giving me impetus to write the piece and the background of the main point of my article. — The American government works for the interests of the military-industrial complex, which makes its … Continue reading →

Continued from my first ever post Meeting Some of the Neighbors with the same introduction: I flew to Egypt in August of 2010 in order to study at the American University in Cairo. Upon arriving, I couldn’t speak a word of Arabic, had little knowledge of societal norms, and even less time to receive this … Continue reading →

I was inspired by the article I reference below and it led me to want to make a few points, the first on American foreign policy and the second on the War on Terror. In reading a post by Noam Chomsky titled “On Resistance”, written in 1967 at the height of the anti-war movement, not … Continue reading →

I flew to Egypt in August of 2010 in order to study at the American University in Cairo. Upon arriving, I couldn’t speak a word of Arabic, had little knowledge of societal norms, and even less time to receive this vital information from my friend whose family’s flat I would be staying in, as his … Continue reading →

I decided to talk a bit about my site avatar, which is an image I took the day I turned twenty-one.  I’d drank the night before, a bit more than normal.  It being the midnight I turned 21.  I had to get up at 7:00am the next morning, woke up at 7:21 and found a … Continue reading →

Two days before Christmas, I can’t stop thinking about Egypt.  Christmas has lost some of its luster.  I just don’t ascribe to it as much anymore.  I loved today when I was in Bread Garden eating from the hot bar with Jani and a group of gentleman ranging from probably their fifties well into their … Continue reading →