Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
Questions From an Unquiet Universe
January, 2020 PHILOSOPHY. I want to be a philosopher. I don’t understand how to get started; keep tripping on the words. As an example, in my efforts to become a deep thinker, should I talk to myself out loud? I get stuck. Should I say“as an example,” or be more economical with language; say, “for example” and do I “talk” to myself or “speak” to myself? More problematic. When I speak to myself, I sound like Lenny Bruce and Lenny wouldn’t “speak, “ he would “talk” and while that would really upset Mrs. Rosman, my high school English teacher, Lenny wouldn’t care and then I begin to wonder if anyone really cares and it turns out to be the longest fucking run-on sentence imaginable. Were Joyce’s stream of consciousness prose brilliant, a clever manipulation of language or just well edited, run-on sentences? Do I use “was” or “were.” Mixing plurality and tenses; stuck on pedestrian linguistics? Trying to be a deep thinker but thoughts are flying through the air like staccato, atonal Jazz notes. Simultaneously grounded and inconsistent. Question, if I’m speaking to myself, who’s speaking to the voices in my head? Answers, no answers. Philosophizing. Success.
By Steven W Meistrich6 years ago in The Swamp
How a Culture of Drugs Is Killing our Youth
featured image credit to: CC Scott Garfitt/Shutterstock 2.0 Last weekend the world, unfortunately, lost another great young soul in the form of artist Juice WRLD. Reports from TMZ claim that the artist who turned 21 December 2nd, passed away after a seizure in Midway Airport in Chicago.
By Adonis Richards6 years ago in The Swamp
What do adverts tell us about society
What do adverts tell us about society? Has politics been taken over by the advertising industry? A casual glance at any form of advertising, from the web to P.O.S displays; from “sophisticated “ features in the press, (that look like news items,) to cereal packets. You can see that the key words are: --- quick, easy, simple, no effort required, instant, ready, just heat, half price, two for one, automated, new, latest. improved, celebrity endorsed; and in food stuffs, Spicy, salty, caramelised.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
ABC and Fox Airing Specials About Prince Harry and Meghan's Transition
It is not unusual for two networks to air specials surrounding the same topics. What is unusual is that ABC and Fox are airing specials on the same night about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's stepping away from being senior members of the royal family and their move to become more independent.
By Margaret Minnicks6 years ago in The Swamp
Is sustainability equal?
Last year at a sustainability fair, I tested students from the University of Tennessee on their knowledge of environmental leaders. They were asked to pick from a group of 16 influential environmental leaders from around the world and match their face to their name and accomplishment. Out of those 16 environmental leaders, 4 were white.
By Madelyn Collins6 years ago in The Swamp
On ‘Daisies’ and Why it does Matter . Top Story - January 2020.
The Czech New Wave was a film movement that emerged in 1963 which writer Simon Hitchman in his 2015 article suggested was due to increasing pressure for socio-political reform within Czechoslovakia. The country was in the midst of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSR) period in which the country was under communist rule. Film makers needed a voice to combat this oppressive rule and thus the New Wave movement began. During this period, a renowned female director, Vera Chytilova; ‘first lady of Czech cinema,’ according to Fox in 2014, released the film Daisies in 1966. The film is a 70-minute experimental, absurdist look at two young girls who, after deciding that the world ‘has gone bad’ decide that they themselves will ‘go bad’ too. They embark on a series of anarchic, destructive behaviours as a rebellion against society. Theorist Shaviro in 2007 wrote that he regarded Daisies as a ‘violently nihilistic assault’ against the conventions of filmmaking, social normalities and even the spectator themselves.
By Jordyn Kelsey6 years ago in The Swamp
Will Liabilities Become “Assets”
In September 2019, US President Donald Trump, in his original manner via Twitter, suggested that the US Federal Reserve move interest rates to a negative zone from zero and below to refinancing the US government ‘s current $23 trillion debt and extend its maturity. The idea of zeroing out rates to stimulate growth is tempting, especially when the amount of accumulated debt is huge and virtually all markets are dependent on changes in the US Federal Reserve monetary policy. But emergency measures that temporarily worked after the 2008 crisis could prove disastrous to the global financial system if applied for populist reasons on a permanent basis.
By Konstantin Kalushniy6 years ago in The Swamp
Senator Moscow Turtle McConnell Has To Go!
Moscow Mitch Time Is Up: In the 80’s, an era when the vast majority of the most educated and diverse generation was born-millennials, the year 1985 is when Senator McConnell was elected to the Senate. Additionally, in 1989 the UN warned about Climate Change, in short 30 years later nothing has been done on Climate Change and Mitch McConnell has screwed an entire generation(s). 35 years Moscow Mitch has been in the Senate and has done absolutely nothing but set the nation and many generations behind another 35 years. Sidebar: in 2017, I wrote an article why elected officials should not be in office for 30 years or more-Mitch McConnell is a clear example. To constantly debate and fight the same issues for 35 years and in some cases for 50 years, illustrates an epic failure of our government and the dysfunction of the government when there are elected officials in office for too long.
By Eve's Politics6 years ago in The Swamp
