Category Archives: Opinion

Speech of the devil: Words That Work

By Steve | Published: November 8, 2011
Imagine: I recommend reading a book by the guy who gave us “death tax,” “energy exploration” and the Contract with America. Frank Luntz helps Republicans choose words that resonate with Independents. I held my nose and bought his book, Words That Work, hoping to learn the devil’s secrets so I could twist them to good [...]
Also posted in Marketing and PR, Organizational communication | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How about a Support Our Troops tax?

By Steve | Published: March 10, 2011
For the first time in our nation’s history, we went to war AND cut taxes. I propose a Support Our Troops Tax. Figure out the past, present and future costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and set a tax to pay the tab now instead of passing it on to our kids and [...]
Also posted in USAmnesia | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My favorite signs from Rally for Sanity and/or Fear

By Steve | Published: October 30, 2010
I looked at all 300+ signs submitted to the Huffington Post (I couldn’t stop!). Here are my favorites. Tweet
Also posted in Visual storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“We live in the United States of Amnesia”

By Steve | Published: March 20, 2010
Gore Vidal said those words in the documentary Why We Fight. To me, it is the punchline to the question: What do you call the country that ignores the lessons of history and is doomed to repeat them? Vidal was explaining why we don’t understand the animosity that people in the Mideast have for the [...]
Also posted in USAmnesia | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The word for what I feel about Obama: Disappointed

By Steve | Published: November 29, 2009
I’m trying to be patient. But WTF: first we line up behind Russia and China in favor landmines, and now we’ll be escalating war? Tweet
Posted in Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Help! my CPAP and undies are showing!

By Steve | Published: November 17, 2009
Fellow CPAP users: Do you check it or haul it through airport security? I’m a CPAP newbie, in the middle of a road trip. CPAP machine: oxygen mask that I wear so I don’t die in my sleep.  A sleep study revealed that I stop breathing 42 times an hour, which is not good for [...]
Posted in Opinion | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

How much time is left to civilization?

By Steve | Published: October 16, 2009
What was going through that Easter Islander’s mind when he cut down the last palm tree, sealing his people’s doom? Was the last Viking to die in Greenland a wealthy man or a peasant who stormed his farm to butcher his last cow? Jared Diamond excels at putting human flesh on the archaeological bones left [...]
Also posted in Book reviews, Excellent stories | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My responsibility as a white guy

By Steve | Published: October 14, 2009
A sharp Metro State College student asked me about my earlier post on racism during my guest lecture yesterday. He seemed to get the gist of  my story, but I could tell he was confused. I think I was too cute in that post, and I liked my answer I gave him better: As a [...]
Posted in Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why white guys hate to be called racists

By Steve | Published: October 3, 2009
Why shouldn’t you call us white guys racist? Because that’s name-calling and in “post-racial” America we should be neo-mature. Besides, we white males don’t have to be racists to help perpetuate inequality. We can do that by being unaware and/or uncaring about what it’s like to live in the U.S. when you are not white [...]
Posted in Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Proud that he’s an American

By Steve | Published: September 12, 2009
I am asking my relatives to donate to the Central Asia Institute in lieu of birthday and Christmas gifts this year. I figure every dollar that goes to Greg Mortenson’s project to educate Muslim girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan undoes the damage of at least 1,000 military dollars. Mortenson discovered the root of extremism — [...]
Also posted in Life | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

  • Latest Tweets