Juror #63

For three weeks, I have been on an on-call period of federal jury duty service. Every Sunday night I call the juror hotline to see if I am needed, and so far the same recording has blasted through the phone each time, “you are NOT needed for jury service at this time, please call back…

Partying With Astronauts

One time I went to a Christmas party at an astronaut’s house. I was thirteen years old and the thought of a world existing outside of my egocentric teenage bubble seemed unrealistic, maybe impossible. I remember standing in the astronaut’s gigantic kitchen staring at a shadowbox on the wall, it reminded me of the exhibits…

5 Times Our Government Didn’t Suck

With the current Federal Government Shutdown, the morale in our great nation is pretty low. I spoke with my dad last night who said he had to send home 97% of his department at the Air Force Base, some of them leaving in tears. These people have families and other financial responsibilities that, unlike government jobs, cannot…

What I Really Meant To Say

I wish that we, as a human race, could somehow make a big, executive decision to stop sugar coating, quit playing games, and just say things as they are. In our society, there is a plethora of unwritten rules and “social norms” about how we should respond to situations or topics. Because of this, when…

When I Grow Up

I am excited to post a guest entry today by a man who has been both a door to door salesman, and worked in the future weapons department at the Pentagon. He has sold shoes for JC Penny, and navigated drug busts by aircraft in foreign countries. He has a pet chihuahua named “Teddy”, and…

When Your Worst Case Scenario Happens

Yesterday I read a tragic article about a 13-year old girl, Natalie, who died from anaphylactic shock due to accidentally ingesting peanut butter. After reading the first few sentences of the article, I grew angry with several questions racing through my mind. Why the hell didn’t they have an EpiPen on hand? Why did she…

Interview With An Inmate

I am fascinated with prisons. I actually have a secret desire to go to prison (not long term) just to see what it would be like and how I would adapt to the social structure and unspoken rules I’ve heard so much about. The psychology and sociology nerd in me is fascinated with the complex…