Column

Men remain silent on their mental health due to lack of resources Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status or background. It doesn’t strongly target one group over another, making every case equally important. However, it’s easy to recognize that there are groups that don’t get the same amount of attention […]

Migrating cranes turn to farmlands and preserves to make up for wetland loss in the Central Valley The Sandhill cranes start out as black strands on the horizon — just silhouettes against a hazy pink sky. They drift down into the flooded fields at sunset with their feet below them, like parachutists. They stand in […]

I almost took the path to Trump. Here’s how — and what stopped me. I almost voted for Donald Trump. Not in the physical, cast-your-ballot sense. I proudly cast my real vote for Hillary Clinton on that fateful November day last year. Following her election loss, I was angry at my neighbors for voting Trump […]

Movies must avoid glorifying war and instead show the damage they do to humanity Twelve years ago, I stumbled upon the movie “Saving Private Ryan” on television and figured that I could watch it. It seems rather bad for an 8 year old to watch people get their legs blown off. But since I liked […]

We’re headed for trouble unless we can overcome cynicism and learn to work together It’s like a bad episode of “Intervention”: 16,000 scientists from 184 countries issued a second “warning to humanity” earlier this month, exposing the consequences of the world’s dependence on pollution-causing industries and hoping that we’ll see through years of denial and […]

Nonprofits help those who struggle with mental health feel less alone It’s easy to feel alone while struggling with mental health. On one hand, the feeling of being alone is better than being surrounded with people because no one wants to negatively impact another’s positive mood. But on the other hand, being alone is not […]

Hobby, political groups seem a lousy replacement. Or are they? Of all the intellectual topics thrown around the dinner table or coffee shop, religion is one of the most compelling. Everyone speaks political language these days, and there’s nothing more cliche than opening a conversation — or a column — with a snark on Trump […]

Why removing dictators doesn’t guarantee peace or democracy Seven years ago, hope resonated through the Arab world. In what became known as the Arab Spring, millions of people took to the streets of their towns and cities and demanded change. These demands usually revolved around desires for democratic reforms and an end to political corruption […]

A coping mechanism supported by well-known authors From my own experience, writing has been a significant coping mechanism. Someone once told me that writing is for those who can’t articulate, and those words have stuck with me. Writing is a way to let the suffocating thoughts out of my head. Most of the time what […]

Despite what the DOI says, walruses can’t save themselves Last month, Pacific walruses were among the 25 animals to be denied endangered species status by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although environmental groups have petitioned for the walruses’ protection, the U.S. Department of the Interior defended the decision: “While the Pacific walrus will experience a […]

The party can come together in opposition against the president Just last week, the Democratic Party successfully won various elections across the country, especially in Virginia and New Jersey. In both states, the governor’s race ended with resounding majorities in favor of the Democrats. The tide now seems to be turning against the Republican Party, […]

Solely flaunting the flag shows insecurity, not unabashed patriotism A few months ago, over summer break, I was walking through my neighborhood when I saw a raised flatbed truck with filthy exhaust streaming out the back end. As it turns out, this is not uncommon to find in Arizona suburbs. Often packaged with, well, a […]