Staying alive in a crisis
In 2007, the Westroads shooting left people stunned that something so dramatic could happen in the Midwest. Yet, recurring gang activity in some parts of town didn't seem to affect the general public.
Saying ‘Happy Holidays’ vs. ‘Merry Christmas’
It's that time of year when you hear "Merry Christmas," often from strangers. In the last few years, though, there has been increasing discussion about whether this is insensitive to those of other religions.
In defense of hipsters
The epithet "hipster" is flung around a lot, but no one seems able to define what a hipster is. Is it someone who dresses oddly, drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon and loves music most people have never heard of? Then we've got hundreds, possibly over a thousand of these characters (myself included) careering around Omaha, all going to record stores and fist-bumping one another.
There’s something rotten in Arizona
Maybe there's something in the water. Maybe they've spent too much time in the sun. Or maybe they're just constitutionally incapable of distinguishing right from wrong, but something is clearly wrong with Arizona's most prominent Republican politicians. Arizona's not known for being the most progressive state in the union; I'm old enough to remember the way they fought against recognizing Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday in the early 1990s.
Profile pictures don’t stop abuse
Yesterday, I changed my Facebook profile picture to one of my many fictional heroes: Sailor Moon. My friends were all doing it (along with the "December Pokémon Profile Picture" event), and I knew it had something to do with awareness for child abuse.
Closing the book on fairy tales
I'm five years old again and squealing with delight. It's the day before Thanksgiving and ABC Family is showing "Beauty and the Beast." Belle, my favorite princess (sorry, Ariel. You're a close second) is singing her theme song about the provincial life she lives in France on the screen in front of me, and I get goose bumps.
What Dr. Who taught me about futile dreams
I will never be a 900-year-old Time Lord
Oh, the nature of a futile dream.
Nor will David Tennant or Matt Smith - sorry, I mean "The Doctor"
Ever love me like he loved Rose or Sara Jane.
Animal rights group is too radical
It's a typical Sunday, and I'm browsing news websites for anything noteworthy. That's when I see the ad. Two scantily clad women holding up dead, skinned rabbits with the slogan, "Here's the rest of your fur coat" printed underneath it.
