Video games are a relatively new and widely used phenomenon. Many are violent (8 out of the top 20 games in 2011 had a Mature rating), which some consider to have an impact on the psyche of people. The question at hand is whether the rise of violent video games is impacting society in a way that violent television, movies, literature and other stimuli do not. Continue reading “Video Games and Violence”
Author: chrismtwo
Every day I try to learn and experience new things. The infinite wonder of the universe provides endless opportunity for adventures. My favorite thing is to enjoy these adventures with friends, and to share my stories with others.
At the very core, all people are storytellers. Whether it is a full length motion picture or a chat over a cup of coffee, most of what makes up the human experience is the communication of ideas. For this reason, I am always looking for opportunities to write. I would like to share what I've seen with as many people as possible.
U.S. Predicted to Become World Energy Production Leader by 2020
The United States is predicted to become the world’s leading oil producer by 2020, according to the International Energy Agency’s 2012 World Energy Outlook. The U.S. would overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia, largely due to increased production from unconventional oil resources, such as shale oil and tight oil. Additionally, the U.S. would become the world’s leading natural gas producer, overtaking Russia, by 2015. Continue reading “U.S. Predicted to Become World Energy Production Leader by 2020”
Economics of the Underground Sex Trade
The evolving economics of the underground sex trade impacts millions of individuals worldwide. It affects a multitude of other industries, from child care to the drug trade. A recent study by the Urban Institute explores this mysterious area of economics by examining the trade in eight major U.S. cities. Continue reading “Economics of the Underground Sex Trade”
Tis Better to Give
Let’s all be honest, the process of gift giving is hard. Yes, seeing a person’s face light up when you get them the perfect gift is wonderful. However, the holiday season is a virtual minefield of social expectations and poor judgment. Who are you obliged to give a gift to? What do you do when someone gives you a gift and you didn’t get them anything? Will getting your wife a vacuum cleaner land you in the dog house? Continue reading “Tis Better to Give”
Time
“What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.” St. Augustine Continue reading “Time”
The Scourge of Domestic Abuse
Every nine seconds in the U.S., a woman is assaulted or beaten. Every day, three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partner. Each year, 1.3 million women are the victims of physical assault by an intimate partner and one out of every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Yet only one fifth of victims sought medical treatment, and only one fourth of women reported the incident to police. Continue reading “The Scourge of Domestic Abuse”
The Rolling Stone Tsarnaev Cover and Cognitive Dissonance
The cover photo of alleged bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev which makes him look like a sexy rock star has sparked outrage across the country. How dare they “glorify” this alleged terrorist? Well the truth is, they don’t. In a classic case of judging a book by its cover, people don’t seem to notice that the subheading on the cover itself refers to Tsarnaev as a monster. The outrage existed before the article was even released, so it can’t be unbalanced reporting sparking this uproar. Any judgment of the article itself is already tainted with the lens of anger evoked by the cover image. Continue reading “The Rolling Stone Tsarnaev Cover and Cognitive Dissonance”
The Man the Authorities Came to Blame
How many guilty people should go free before an innocent person is imprisoned? 10? 100? 1,000,000? All of them? Since 1987, over 2,000 people have been exonerated of crimes after spending hard time in prison in the U.S. Continue reading “The Man the Authorities Came to Blame”
How Bad Is the IRS Social Welfare Group Targeting?
As the details of the IRS targeting of conservative social welfare groups unfold, one thing has already been made clear. These abuses took place during both the 2010 midterm election and 2012 general election campaigns. Continue reading “How Bad Is the IRS Social Welfare Group Targeting?”
The Georgia Charter School Amendment
This November 6, there will be something on the ballot besides the choice for president. It is a proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would set up an additional charter school authorization board at the state level. On the ballot, the question will appear like this:
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?” Continue reading “The Georgia Charter School Amendment”
Ronin Pen 