According to a recent study whose conclusions were literally just reached on Sunday at around 7pm, there are more devoutly religious people in Seattle than in San Francisco. Such a finding is startling at first blush since Seattle is such a hyper left-leaning city, and everyone knows that the only non-Republicans who can possibly be […]
WRITING
Stuff I Like: Europe in the ’90s
I’m not a sociologist, so I don’t really know when I technically “grew up.” Since I went from age 6 to 16 in the 1980s, a case could be made that I grew up in that decade. Still, I feel like it was during my time aged 16 to 26 that I actually became who I am […]
Lessons in Humanity from My Hippie Uncle
Words and Art by Amanda I credit my uncle with giving me a conscience regarding social issues. Before becoming Fundamentalists, my parents named him, my father’s brother and the only Democrat, hippie, vegetarian, nature loving, travel the world on foot, humanitarian, please-donate-to-Unicef-as-my-Christmas-present male in the family, as my godfather. I am eternally grateful for this […]
Stuff I Like: Über Poignant Films
I don’t know about you, but I am something of a film buff. When it comes to my favorite film genre, however, unfortunately it doesn’t really have a convenient label, so I’ll have to describe it and give examples. I absolutely love those films that lean heavily on dialogue and conversation, that are character-driven, that […]
Bullying and Body Dysmorphia
By Amanda Tonight my daughter came into the family room and announced, “I just saw myself in the mirror and I look so cute!!” Her confidence (arrogance?) used to worry me, but I remember talking with my sister-in-law about it once and she advised me to let it be, “Life,” she said, “will wear her […]
Stuff I Like: Wordsmithery and Woe
Being a writer myself, I have a deep affinity for words and their smithing. I have long maintained that it’s one thing to tell a great story, but another to tell it well, and beautifully. I would consider popular tales like the Millennium Trilogy, the five volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire, and the Harry Potter series to be […]