We avoid numbers just like we try to avoid the people they quantify: “¢bull; 88,000: the number of homeless people in Los Angeles County ““ three and a half times the number of students at UCLA. “¢bull; 12,000: the number of homeless people who live in the area downtown known as Skid Row ““ the […]
Author Archives: Daniel Atherton
Insurance’s claims give shallow comfort
As New Orleans residents begin to inch back into the waterlogged city they used to call home, attempting to find new ways to live their old lives, the companies that provide Americans with their insurance are attempting to extract every last dollar from them in a fashion similar to wringing a wet towel. “We’ve been […]
It’s about time we keep our daylight
On a Saturday night in Indiana, Armageddon looms. “This is like Y2K,” Purdue University information technology spokesman Steve Tally said to Wired News, “except this one is really happening.” I, for one, am stocking up on canned goods. Because it is time ““ time for daylight-saving time, and there’s nothing that Steve Tally or anyone […]
Share the pomp and circumstance
I recently received The Call from my parents. I’m sure many of you have had the same conversation. “Let’s talk about graduation,” they said. “Let’s talk about furniture!” I replied. “We should figure out how many tickets you’re able to order,” they said. “We should figure out how many licks it takes to get to […]
It’s hard to endure tech withdrawal
It was shortly after midnight on Sunday when I realized that going without my cell phone, computer, TV or iPod for 24 hours was going to be slightly more difficult than I had anticipated. We have heard how these new forms of technology are essential but evil. It allows us to be connected to anyone, […]
U.S. should focus on healthy forms of competition
We Americans aren’t too keen on international competition. That is to say, we’re not particularly keen on international sporting competitions; we love international competitions of the guns ‘n’ ammo variety. United States 1, Iraq 0! Go team! But when it comes to nation-vs.-nation sporting spats, competitions like the Olympics that are designed to foster international […]
Just ’cause it’s free doesn’t mean it won’t offend
Colin Powell has said, “Free speech is intended to protect the controversial and even outrageous word, and not just comforting platitudes too mundane to need protection.” It is unfortunate that, after his performance at the United Nations in 2003, Colin Powell likely has about as much credibility in Europe as James Frey does with readers, […]