In 1966, Eliot Wigginton, fresh out of an Ivy League university in upstate New York, moved to Georgia to teach English to ninth graders. The school was nestled in the Appalachian Mountains; a place with a folk subculture he knew little about. Appalachian people, rooted in self-reliance characteristic of a Native American tribe, were kept

Food, on average, is shipped 1,500 miles before it reaches our plate. Knowing this fact changed my Thanksgiving. As I sat there looking at homemade mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, caprese salad, stuffing and turkey, I wondered how many different states all this food came from. People know that vehicle exhaust is adding greenhouse gasses

A friend of mine shared a joke on his Facebook page, “God made every person different—he got tired by the time he got to China.” I forwarded this to my friends back home and they had a good laugh. I guess it comes from the Chinese stereotype: “learned by rote, uncreative.” Likewise, during all the

The hot topic of energy and climate change has been part of the presidential debates since 1988. This election is the first time since that candidates have been silent on the issue. Domestic energy production is reaching into our every day lives. This year, it’s the collegiate National Debate Tournament topic. Yet the topic of

On a trip to San Francisco and Oakland earlier this month, I used a friend’s bike to do my sightseeing. Before I set out, she offered me her helmet. When I declined, she looked at me like I had three heads (all cycling without helmets). I explained that I had never worn a bike helmet,

  October was Disability Awareness month, but it’s never too late to mention some helpful tips to help people with disabilities feel welcomed and respected. Remember, a disability is only one aspect of a person’ identity. Disability doesn’t mean inability. In general, ask individuals with disabilities if they need help before providing them with any

While this election is over, the analyses and rundowns haven’t subsided. Just like confetti flying at the end of the Super Bowl, what’s expected to mark the finale of the football season only rings in voices predicting the NFL draft. Then there’s the actual NFL draft. Then, NFL draft aftermath. Trying to pinpoint what demographic

At 4:35 a.m. I turn my alarm off. I have already hit snooze at 4:17 and 4:26. I wake up with an extreme lack of sleep over the past few days but I am not tired; in fact I can hardly contain my excitement. It’s Election Day. As a Seminole County Elections Official, this is

  While fitness isn’t included in the university’s required resume-building senior seminar classes, it might be best for graduates to educate themselves in current and continuing realities in the workplace. In the age of booming healthcare costs, overweight or obese Americans (two-thirds of the population) become a financial loss to companies: risks of arthritis, heart

Around half past nine, about two hours behind schedule, just as the moon hangs a light yellow low in the crisp November air I depart St. Petersburg for Oviedo. I’ll travel ‘tween these two cities three times in as many days starting on Sunday; as I have work for the University of Central Florida Friday