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How a Curious Person Survives the Internet
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The internet is a dangerous place for a curious person. How a curious person survives the internet is not always a straight line, especially when they learn to navigate and make the most out of it. Understanding How a Curious Person Survives the Internet Not dangerous in the “someone hacked my fridge” sense —…
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Celebrating the Joy of Carol Burnett’s Legacy
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The Enduring Impact of Carol Burnett When I was a kid, Carol Burnett would turn to the camera and take questions from the audience. Somehow, even through a screen, she made it feel like she was talking directly to me. It’s amazing how Carol engaged so personally. I wasn’t in the studio. I…
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Why I Just Can’t Be Entertained
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For some reason, it just seems that I can’t be entertained. Most people watch TV, movies, or sports to relax. They want a laugh, a distraction, a bit of escape. I’ve learned something about myself: I don’t get that luxury. When I sit down to watch a show, a movie, or even a…
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The Rich, the Beautiful, and Their Free Pools: Why Home Improvement Shows Make Me Sick
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I was at the gym, doing my thing, minding my own business when it came again, my deep anger at yet another injustice. Not from the weights. Not from the sweat. From the wall-mounted television, casually streaming yet another episode of one of those home improvement shows where a family already living in…
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The Smell of Freedom: A Family Story From East Berlin to Canada
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She was born in Berlin in 1937. She lived through the war, not as a soldier or policymaker, but as a child caught in one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century, hearing the air-raid sirens, seen buildings collapse, and watched her city burn. Then, of course, the division, the Cold War, and…
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Why “Acme” Is the Perfect Company Name (Again)
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From falling anvils to startup gold, the unexpected power of a cartoon cliché. I grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons, and if you did, too, the acme company name probably triggers instant memories: Wile E. Coyote flipping through a mail-order catalogue, ordering rocket skates or a giant slingshot in yet another doomed attempt to…
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Failure Was My Side Hustle—Now It’s My Superpower
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I’m better at failing at side hustles than you are. That almost sounded like something I’m proud of. I say it like someone reading off a war record. Some people have hobbies, and some collect stamps. I collected failed side hustles. At one point, I had so many “ventures” on the go failure started…
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Critical Reasoning and Race
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You’re Not Supposed to Admit It: Why We Need Critical Reasoning More Than Ever People act like racism is something you have to confess to be guilty of. As if unless someone screams a slur or waves a Nazi flag, they’re innocent by default. But that’s not how it works. No one admits to…
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The Serial Hobbyist’s Guide To Affordable Exploration
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Starting a new hobby is like opening a fresh chapter of excitement and creativity. A serial hobbyist sees potential in every new interest. It’s that rush of diving headfirst into a world where anything seems possible, from painting landscapes to mastering a new instrument. But it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There’s often a…
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Confessions of a Serial Hobby Abandoner
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It always begins so innocently. I’m scrolling through Pinterest or caught in a YouTube marathon, and suddenly, I’m inspired. It could be anything – a beautifully carved wooden bowl, a knitted scarf that looks like angels spun it, or some intricate origami cranes that promise a zen-like focus. Before I know it, I have…