Essays

1090 results
Page 47
Two Danish backpackers in front of the Vienna State Opera in July 2005. Photo by KF, via Wikimedia Commons.

Giving in to wanderlust

Don’t understand wanderlust? Keep your comments to yourself — or, even better, read The Alchemist.
Lane Blackmer

Lane Blackmer

Essays 5 minute read
Maurice Prendergast, "May Day, Central Park, 1901"

Celebrating the month of May

It’s May — enjoy yourself!

There's plenty to celebrate this month, so pace yourself.
Roz Warren

Roz Warren

Essays 4 minute read
"The Buffet," Jean-Louis Forain, 1884.

Gastronomes gone wild

Out of this world

When foodies enthuse, what are they really saying?
Perry Block

Perry Block

Essays 3 minute read
What can of worms are you opening when you download an app?

How much privacy do you have with your smartphone?

How Big Brother works – maybe

That smartphone you’re carrying around really isn’t a private device at all, and soon the police may be allowed to ask for it when they pull you over.
Rick Soisson

Rick Soisson

Essays 3 minute read
Do you want to mess with these women? No, no you don't.

Freeze! It’s the library police!

Library Squad! A group of enraged, middle-aged librarians. We’re brainy. We’re relentless. We’ll hunt you down. We’ll never give up.
Roz Warren

Roz Warren

Essays 4 minute read
This 1908 play popularized the phrase "the melting pot."

How A DNA ethnicity test made me realize I’m American

A vial of spit and a couple of months later, a DNA test revealed my ethnic makeup — but what did it really tell me?
Lane Blackmer

Lane Blackmer

Essays 4 minute read
Allen Ginsberg: no time for metaphysical bullshit. (Photo by Michiel Hendryckx, via Wikimedia/Creative Commons)

A call from Allen Ginsberg

"Interesting" encounters at the underground paper The Drummer. Ah, the '60s.
Bob Ingram

Bob Ingram

Essays 4 minute read
What breed of dog am I? ("NICO Looks at Himself," Georgia Pinaud; rights released.)

Online personality quizzes

Who am I?

Think twice before you assess “What Disneyland theme park do you belong in?” Is knowing, scientifically, that you’re an Epcot type worth the price of your privacy?
Jackie Schifalacqua

Jackie Schifalacqua

Essays 3 minute read
"First-Down Moses" by Rico San; via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Go down, Twitter

What would happen if God communicated with Moses, not through a burning bush, but through social media?
Perry Block

Perry Block

Essays 3 minute read
Photo by Katie Sayer, via Creative Commons/Flickr.

In defense of uselessness

There is no higher calling than doing something gorgeous for no reason in particular, and it is time to stop apologizing for it.

Michael Lawrence

Essays 2 minute read