This piece was originally published in Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Spring 2012) of the Southern California International Review (SCIR), USC's Undergraduate Journal of International Relations. Peacemaking efforts in intractable conflicts rarely set high expectations for success. The conflict’s prolonged, historical nature paired with its deep psychological wounds make it nearly … [Read more...] about Shalom Y’all
Perceptions in the Fourth Dimension
A woman walks around her office, excavating messy piles of books and papers until she finally sees it: a daily planner bound in red leather. It is thick with appointments and reminders - work things - but also: birthdays, dinner promises (of which about 70% are kept), unexpected moments of joy and grief immortalized next to their dates, a chronicle of the last eight months and … [Read more...] about Perceptions in the Fourth Dimension
Brain Fodder: Why I Chose a Gun
When Max Weber formalized his definition of state, he was asking to stir up trouble. Luckily, he wasn’t around long enough to bear the heat from peace-touting, anti-war idealists of the sixties. For a polity to be considered a state, Weber postulated, it must hold a legitimate monopoly on violence. In other words, the state must retain exclusive control over violence and its … [Read more...] about Brain Fodder: Why I Chose a Gun
Brain Fodder: Big Kid Toys
Apple’s newest toys have many looking at their wallets and crying just a bit. Of course, the reviews by consumer electronics blogs take window-shopping to a new level. Of all the gadgets and gizmos talked about, the one that I wish I could drop a pretty penny on isn’t an Apple product though. One of the more eye-catching products puts even the highly-anticipated iPad (retina … [Read more...] about Brain Fodder: Big Kid Toys
Brain Fodder: The 4 a.m. Mystery
Necessity demands that a post about ‘the 4 a.m. mystery’ be written during that very hour, however ungodly. If you’ve been running on fumes for the past several hours (or weeks) as I’ve been, John Rives’ talk will give you a nice break from burning the midnight oil. In his lighthearted monologue about the bizarre coincidences surrounding 4 a.m., John Rives offers audiences … [Read more...] about Brain Fodder: The 4 a.m. Mystery