The political spectrum is populated with hypocritical weirdos just like you. People with good intentions, lack of time and loads of frustration; people worried about the future and the real, gripping ethical problems our world is facing. Unfortunately, most of the political talk I hear assumes one of two things: 1. conservatives are defined byContinue reading “Ten questions to expedite your demise”
Author Archives: Katie Botkin
Airtraveling
The difference between home and away is that away, the only familiar thing distracting you is your own mind. Until away gains normalcy, you wait, listening, and so your hearing seems more acute. You hear yourself, who you were and who you are and the disparity between expectation and reality. The older you get, theContinue reading “Airtraveling”
Contemplating genetics
I went to the doctor yesterday, my first-ever real check up (other than the wandering into the living room, flopping onto the couch, and expositing on my symptoms to my father). I apparently have a heart murmur. That wasn’t so surprising; I went in because my heart was doing something funny. What was surprising wasContinue reading “Contemplating genetics”
Mr. Schmidt
Today I took some photos of the local blacksmith. He was trained by his father, according to the German tradition, he said, that you don’t just let your kids sit around. He underwent eight more years of schooling afterward to become a master of his trade. It was snowing outside as I left, and droveContinue reading “Mr. Schmidt”
The non-localizable language
Watching a documentary on the practice of rumspringa (“running around,” sometimes also referring to the whole period of adolescence), when 16-year-old Amish kids release themselves from their normal boundaries and go out into the world (or out into the back field) to taste and see if they want to live as others do, or elseContinue reading “The non-localizable language”
Christmas anecdote
Scott bought a very nice shovel to shovel our walk; it’s light and functional and sturdy. It’s been snowing almost without ceasing lately, however, and finding the time to keep up with it is another matter. Time, in fact, is always the problem; there’s never enough time to do everything. Yesterday Scott returned home forContinue reading “Christmas anecdote”
Food personality quiz for the holidays
Not sure who you are or what you like? This quiz is meant to test your personality and also to advise you to look for select recipes this holiday season. Simply answer the questions below and follow up with my patent-pending assessment at the bottom. For breakfast, you’re eating scrambled eggs. To flavor them, youContinue reading “Food personality quiz for the holidays”
Walking around Buenos Aires
Hotel vs Hostel: the sequel
Modern open-air for $120 per night, or transformed Victorian house for $10 a night. $10 a night will get you a place with little soap, yes, but soap does not cost $110 a bar, so you still come out ahead. Hostel pluses also include impromptu lessons in Portuguese and Spanish, and conversation in French andContinue reading “Hotel vs Hostel: the sequel”
Hilton vs Hostel
Shouldering my red backpack, worn from travel, and walking down to the lobby crowded with bellboys, suits, and small children, I could feel my senses engaging again. After having spent a few days attending a conference at the Disney Hilton, which rang in at the reasonable price of $199 per night, I was heading outContinue reading “Hilton vs Hostel”
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