Iria Vasquez-Paez
Bio
I have a B.A. in creative writing from San Francisco State. Can people please donate? I'm very low-income. I need to start an escape the Ferengi plan.
Stories (411)
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Overcoming Fascist-Racism
The thing about hating somebody different from you is that you don’t get a chance to actually talk to this person. Talking to somebody different from you helps you overcome stereotypes, lack of knowledge, and, in general, the way racism can sink its teeth in you. The modern-day fascists are racist people who want to curb immigration completely. They support everything certain people do to stop it because the ban wasn’t totally successful. There is also such thing as being uncomfortable around people different from you. The key is to keep talking to them until you beat your discomfort.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Better Ways of Protesting the Alt-Right
I can’t go to protests since I get very stressed around violence, then you can figure out a way to protest with writing, song, poetry, fiction, journalism, and more. I want to give rise to my fiction again for starters, fiction about how fascism is overcome. Staying home, rather than counter protesting, is easier to deal with for some people because we do not have to face the negativity on the street. We don’t come home with injuries, fear, or anxiety from having to stare down the violence. I protest in my own way.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
The High Cost of Living in the Bay Area
I live in San Jose, where the cost of living is somewhat better than in Mountain View, but the skyrocketing rent is something that needs to be looked at more by City Council. We practically need to have better rent control. Renting a house or apartment and buying gasoline are the single greatest expenses people living in the Bay Area have to make (Mercury News). When the economy is going well, businesses expand because they have the money to hire more employees. When things are not going so well, they drop employees.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Food Waste in the United States
What happens to all that restaurant food we do not eat? We waste it by throwing it away. What happens to food that expires in the grocery store? We also waste it. 15,000 tons of food is thrown away in households daily (The Guardian). A third of the daily calories Americans eat is wasted. The types of food thrown out the most are fruits and vegetables, followed by dairy and meat. We unnecessarily waste food. 30 million acres of land, 780 million pounds of pesticide, 4.2 tons of irrigated water. The thing is, according to this cited The Guardian article, rotting food clogs up landfills, releasing methane into the air, which is a greenhouse gas.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Feast
How Exactly DO You Get 'Made in the USA' Goods?
It is hard to find solid "Made in the USA" goods. Go to any store, and you cannot easily do this. Goods are from other places all the time. Yes, it is difficult to find "Made in the USA" products in your house or at the store. Sure, the United States manufactures stuff like medical equipment, airplanes, movies, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, but still, all this means is that we are barely caught up to the rest of the world. We need to set up "Made in the USA" goods to beat other countries.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Why Everything Is Made in China These Days
Seriously, you can’t even find a decent American flag that is made in America these days. I’m not kidding. Go to any store, look around. You cannot find anything made in the USA. We Americans have a retail habit. We like keeping the institution of the store around. Yes, China is developing a huge manufacturing industry, but only because Made in the USA is a rare, hard to find breed, while “Made in China,” is everywhere.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Cliffnotes Website
What I want to start is a website that will feature literature cliff notes and citations online from tons of different books including science fiction/fantasy and American literature all across the board, as well as eventually global literature. This website, which is currently fictional, would make sure that people to get paid for reading a book and writing a summary as a work from home sort of gig. We would have selections of books to read, and then write about, all in the category of literature only. A book would be available digitally as well, like Project Gutenberg has books on their website, since I would have to program a website that can highlight sections of the book for paper writing.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Journal
Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine culture is global in its reach because people socialize at coffee shops. Caffeine addiction is all about drinking coffee with somebody. I’d go out when I didn’t want to be alone back when I was an addict from 1992-2010. Yes, I started the slippery slope of caffeine addiction back when I was in 6th or 7th grade. Children have trouble recognizing addictions but if treated, they can. Caffeine gives most people an energy boost, particularly when they feel they cannot function because they didn’t get enough sleep. In this world, many do not sleep the whole night.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Longevity
Non-Profit Organization
I have an idea for a non-profit, which is to establish a non-profit as well as shelter, dedicated to helping people escape abusive families, as well as get on or off disability. This non-profit would serve people who have disabilities in my community but not have an attitude about it like Momentum for Mental Health or NAMI. Such non-profits have an “uppity” air about them as if your disability matters way too much. I need to staff my non-profit with staffers who understand my mission is to serve disabled people. The non-profit would need to compile resources such as staff, as well as a shelter location.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Families
My Churro Shop
It is rare that you find churros in the United States that aren’t homemade. Churros are also known as the cruller or the Spanish donut. Some restaurants do have churros, like Rubios or Costco. I’m talking about a full-service Spanish-Chilean cuisine sit down restaurant, lactose-free bakery, and a Spanish tapas place. I’m also inclined to offer caffeine free tapioca tea, you know, the Chinese kind with the tapioca balls in it. You have to know where to get churros for now. We’d also have sorbet of a few varieties for dessert. You'd have chocolate dipping sauce with the churros.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Feast
Sugar-Free Baking
Sugar-free baking is my specialty. You use stevia and honey. While there is also a substitute for brown sugar, brown sugar is okay to include but you need to reduce the amount you use instead. You can make sugar free baklava while making the honey syrup. Sugar substitute stevia actually has some sugar in it but it is less caloric than real sugar. The thing about artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Equal, or Xylitol is that some of it can kill you. Artificial sweeteners are not necessarily the healthiest option. Stevia comes from a plant, and it has no calories.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Feast
The Homeless Problem in the United States
Throughout the world, the homeless exist. They do not have steady jobs or homes. They are usually on illegal substances, like marijuana, and often alcohol as well. They have to exist outside all the time while those of us with homes exist indoors. Working people resent the homeless population and look at them with disdain. Even low-income people who have living arrangements, or pay low rent as part of their situation, can’t often give the homeless their “spare any change.” Many of us tell them no. Homeless bums have no other options other than being a bum when the shelters are full.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
